An interesting development...

[adarkjudge]

[To say that the other Yugi had been watching like a hawk after the puzzle was stolen would be an understatement. Usually, he was more than happy to lazily watch from the back of their mind, or just rifle through their memories when he "woke up" after resting for a while. But lately, he'd been staying "awake," keeping an eye out for threats and carefully steering Yugi around if he sensed one.

But it had given him an odd view he hadn't before. Normally, he'd been happy enough to just watch and let his other personality enjoy himself, but now... he felt a desire to do a few things himself. And so, he'd done something he never did before. Two things, in fact.

The first was that, when he took over, he let Yugi stay awake -- and why not? There was nothing he needed to protect Yugi from now. The second...

Was that he had asked permission, first. Yugi had been shocked -- cute little other half he was -- but agreed, and now he seemed fascinated by the feeling, or lack thereof.

Right now, the other Yugi can be found wandering most anywhere around the Campus, occasionally pausing on the roof for a breath of air or the lounge to munch on a snack.]

Comments

[youreternalservant]

For a moment there, I thought you were going to faint. [A soft chuckle.]

[awishforfriends]

I'm stronger than that, now! Thanks to you.

[Though he does eat a couple of Yami's chips. Mmm...]

Ah, but... mou hitori no ore, he actually asked permission to use my body sometimes, when he feels like he wants to be in control.

I'd feel bad, since we're the same person, if he couldn't... but it feels a little weird to just be watching what's going on and seeing myself move without me doing anything. It's a little scary, even if he tries to be nice about it.

[youreternalservant]

It's like being a spirit, isn't it?

[Like Mahad himself.]

It's a little frightening, but remember... the other you isn't an enemy who's intruding on your body. If you get too scared, I'm sure he'll let you back in control in a heartbeat.

[awishforfriends]

Yeah, I think so... he says it's because of the Puzzle that we can do that, even though we're the same. I think it's kind of cool! It means that one of us doesn't have to feel like we're being shut away.

[His hands go down to cup it again fondly, looking back up to Mahad with a smile and a nod.]

Yeah...

[Behind Yugi, Yami gives a firm nod to Mahad, telling both of them that's easily the case.]

He would.

[youreternalservant]

[He returns the nod, smiling. There's no distrust in him. Not for either of these two.]

I'm unfamiliar with most of the Puzzle's abilities. They were never demonstrated to us back in Egypt. But it's been known to manifest spirits before, so I'm not too surprised.

It's good to see you two interacting.

[awishforfriends]

It feels a little weird to be able to talk to... "myself" and it be someone different at the same time. But, he's tried so hard to protect me and my friends, and I know he's not a bad person, so I'm trying hard to get used to it.

I don't want him to feel lonely.

[youreternalservant]

I'm not surprised. Few people gain the opportunity to speak to the other parts of their soul that they hide deep within.

But don't force it. Just treat him like you would any of your other friends. You'll find that ease settling in in time.

[awishforfriends]

[That... makes a lot of sense, actually.]

Mm! I'll do that. You're always really smart, Mahad!

[youreternalservant]

[He laughs softly.]

I am a magician, after all.

[awishforfriends]

That's true... you had to study a lot to be a really good one like you are, right?

[If the lessons he's been taking are any clue...]

[youreternalservant]

Yes... I spent most of my time study. Even after my 'death', I kept studying in the afterlife. It's the only way to grow stronger, where magic is concerned... to study, and to keep pushing your limits.

[awishforfriends]

Then you probably know about a lot of things... do you have any idea about why we're here, or how we got here, or anything like that?

[youreternalservant]

Can you be more specific? Do you mean why we're on this island, or something more complicated?

[awishforfriends]

I meant the island. I'm not asking about life or anything!

[That's a little out of the scope of what he tends to think about.]

But I was just wondering about it... I know it was magic somehow, because I just opened a door and walked out of a broom closet here. But I still don't know anything about how or why it happened.

[youreternalservant]

I can tell you what I've pieced together, so far. It's not perfect, but it's the closest thing to an answer that I have.

Firstly, this place connects not just different places, but different times. The existence of Black Magician Mahad, Henry Tudor and Yugi Muto in the same place makes that clear. The question then, is 'when' are we?

When I left here for that time, I was in the regular afterlife I knew. But there was no connection to the spirits I knew there. It was a lonely existence. Despite that, it was not a fabricated place. Fabricated places give off a feeling to them. They're built and sustained by energy, and that cannot be easily hidden.

Most likely, this is a place that exists outside of time, but is connected to it at various points. When a person makes contact with those hidden 'doors', regardless of intention, they are simply pulled through - and the door closes behind them. The shift usually knocks the person out, causing them to wake up there. but in your case, you were unaffected by it. Most likely, it was the effect of the Puzzle that prevented you from simply passing out on the spot.

[awishforfriends]

[Hm... a place outside of time... that would explain a lot, actually. And it does give him a little hope about something.]

So... whenever we figure out how to open the "door" again, does that mean that it'll probably put us where we came from? The same point in time from our timelines?

[youreternalservant]

Yes. Most likely, those doors are fixed points in time. You won't return home days or weeks later, as long as you go through the same door.

[awishforfriends]

That's good!

[Yugi sighs a little, seemingly relaxed about that.]

I didn't want to make Grandpa worry, or leave him alone if he really needed me... and I didn't want Jounouchi-kun or Honda-kun or Anzu to worry about me either! I already do enough of that just by getting hurt.

[His hand goes to rest on his knee, feeling the scar from the knife ache suddenly.]

[youreternalservant]

Rest assured. Once we find a way to open the doors, I'll make sure you find the right one. Nobody will even know you were gone, most likely.

[There's soft affection in his voice as he sinks down beside him to check that he's not injured.]

Does it still hurt?

[awishforfriends]

Thank you, Mahad! I appreciate that!

[Ah... the affection makes him smile a little more, and he looks down as the magician checks his leg. There's no new injuries there, just the marks from the old ones.]

...Sometimes. Is it supposed to?

[youreternalservant]

Some wounds hurt long afterwards. Since this is to a joint, you might experience phantom pain for a long time... especially in cold weather. You should keep it warm through the winter, to prevent that.

[awishforfriends]

[His hands shift a little, Yugi looking at it worriedly. Why is it that people seem to always try to hurt him...?]

Okay, I'll try to do that. But... what if the building disappears again?

[That had been an absolutely miserable time for him, and staying constantly curled up to Mahad hadn't done all that much to make it any better. There's a reason he's pointedly avoiding going outside...]

[youreternalservant]

I'm not sure. We can always try to build a small hut in the forest. If we can find a generator and a portable heater, it should do as a good backup for it that happens.

[He doesn't want Yugi to freeze either... if the building vanishes again, they'll need to be ready.]

[awishforfriends]

[His hands go to rub at his arms, just the thought reminding him of that awful chill. Hopefully, Pegasus won't mind the heater being turned up tonight...

If he's even there.]

Maybe they're in the North Dormitory? If they're anywhere around here...

[youreternalservant]

I can go look, if you wish. I've read up enough since coming here to know what they look like.

[The north wing... that place is suspicious.]