All I Wanted Was A Friend

Our First Shadow Game

Yuugi and Yami took the receiver off of the landline and punched in the numbers they memorised from the Domino High directory. The phone felt heavier than it should have been. The array of dial tones did not do anything to ease their nerves either. Well, it was mostly Yuugi's nerves, but Yami felt everything he did, so he was arguably just as nervous.

The tones abruptly ended with a crackle. "Ushio residence," spoke a deep and threatening voice.

Yuugi gulped. "U-Ushio?"

"Aah, Yuugi." The voice lightened immediately yet did not lose any of its underlying danger. "Let me guess, troubles with money? Don't worry, I can pay you in return tomorrow at school." The proverbial slime dripping from Ushio's tongue was almost audible.

"No," Yami took the lead. "I have the money."

"Oh?"

"I just wanted to pay where no one could see us." Yuugi couldn't tell if it was Yami or him who said it, so he decided that they both did.

"Ah, I see. Do you have a time and place in mind?"

"School, right now."

"Right now?" Ushio repeated, "I see. I look forward to seeing you. If you're not there... I'll make sure to tell you tomorrow the importance of arriving on time." Suddenly, there was the clack of plastic followed by a continuous robotic note.

They hung up the phone.

Let's go Yuugi, said Yami.

Right.

Yuugi and Yami left the Game Shop, dressed in their school uniform, and wearing the Millennium Puzzle around their neck. The midnight air outside was cool, the wind rustled slightly through their hair. There wasn't a car in sight, and during the entire walk down the darkened parody of the usual route to school, they met no one. Every time Yuugi began to feel nervous, Yami would meticulously go over the plan.

Ushio will be forced to cheat. Yami explained, sending waves of calmness to his partner. He will take the money on his hand and attempt to run off with it. Then we inflict the Penalty Game, and we can take back our money and head back home. We will be fine.

But what if he tries to do something dangerous? Like, stab his own hand or maybe even us!

Yuugi. Breath with me. In. They inhaled slowly through their nose and held it. And out. They slowly exhaled through their mouth. I will not let anyone get hurt. In... You can trust me. I will not do anything that you would disapprove of. And out... If anything happens that you do not like, I will be able to tell.

Yuugi continued to follow Yami's guidance, allowing the calming effect of the slow movement of air going in and out of him to combine with Yami's assurances. He found that breathing with Yami was very easy, as he was using the same lungs as his other self. It reminded him of a thought he had not that long ago.

Why is it so easy for both of us to control our body at the same time?

That is a good point. Yami conceded. I am not entirely sure...

I mean, I can tell that we're both walking, right? It's not just one of us moving our legs. It's both of us, and it's just, Yuugi looked down at their footsteps for emphasis, easy. Like, if two people tried to play a video game with one controller, they'd have to practice for a while to be able to play normally. Not that I'm complaining, but how come we don't need practice? Yuugi felt Yami sort through a few unorganised ideas.

Perhaps, Yami theorised, it is the same as it always has been for you, with moving around with your body, I mean. And I am merely doing it the same way you always do? Similar to how I can remember your memories, but not any of my own, I am using your body and not my own. I am just as used to it as you are.