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Jonouchi and Honda weren’t bad people, they just weren’t very nice people. Unfortunately for Yuugi, Ushio Tetsu didn’t seem to know the difference. He went home battered and bruised and feeling like he was just hit by a bus after being beat by his so-called “bodyguard” for protecting and refusing and standing up for himself just like Anzu told him to why didn’t Ushio stop?! And Yuugi put together his puzzle with resentment burning in his gut, he wanted Ushio to hurt to feel how he felt and realize how much of a hypocrite he was and he wanted Ushio to pay —
The puzzle was complete. Just one last piece and he’d be finished with the treasure that’d stumped him for eight long lonely boring years but it wasn’t there. It wasn’t there and he turned the box over and hunted through his backpack and cursed himself for bringing it to school because it was his treasure and he lost it! He pulled on a sweater and rocketed out his bedroom door intent on going back to school to search for it there but then he nearly bowled over his grandpa who had something in his hands. The golden eye staring up at him from his grandpa’s wrinkled palm seemed accusing and eager all at once and he couldn’t help but get a bad feeling about finishing the puzzle but he had to he’d spent so long on it it’d be stupid to give up now! He thanked his grandpa in a daze and wandered back to his room, mind clouded with warring feelings of no stop you don’t know what you’re doing what you’re unleashing put the piece away and don’t ever look at it again and finish the puzzle yuugi finish what you started don’t leave it here to rot and he just didn’t know what to do—
It clicked in surprisingly easily, considering the puzzle was hollow. He almost expected it to fall inside, an anticlimactic end to a rush of panic and giddiness flooding his veins and making his hands tremble like leaves in the wind. A slow smile spread across his face as he cradled the completed puzzle in his hands, tears threatening to well up and spill over from all the emotions swirling around in his stomach. That heart-stopping feeling of something’s wrong was still present, but the rush of pride and satisfaction beat it back until he fell asleep on the desk still clutching the strangely warm metal of his finished treasure.
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He woke up in bed with an ache in the back of his hand and dressed in his pajamas and the puzzle was looped on a cord dangling by his head but that was strange didn’t he fall asleep at the desk last night? When he moved a sharp ache shot through his ankles like he’d jumped and landed weird but that wasn’t possible right? He felt like he hadn’t slept a wink but that’s normal he was fifteen he’s always exhausted but he couldn’t help but wonder why he felt like something huge had happened while he’d been unaware.
His suspicions just increased when his mom asked if he was alright, that she’d heard him bumping around his room and laughing last night when she came up to check on him. He told her he didn’t remember, that he must’ve been sleepwalking because that was true right? He’d fallen asleep and he didn’t remember anything until he woke up in his bed halfway across the room wearing pajamas with the puzzle dangling off his headboard
But that’s okay. He laughed it off and went to school, noting with mild interest that Ushio was rolling around in a pile of leaves and garbage, proclaiming it money and he couldn’t help but feel vindicated because this is what he deserved and he was glad someone had finally put Ushio in his place though his hand throbbed at the sight for some odd reason but he shrugged it off again because he’s okay he’s just tired.
Then Jonouchi called him a friend and apologized and Yuugi felt his breath catch in his throat because his wishes came true all he wanted was a friend and now he has one and he couldn’t be happier but he still wondered why why was Ushio rolling in the garbage what happened to him why couldn’t he remember?
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After the sixth time waking up in a place with no memory of how he got there or what he’d been doing, Yuugi started to get worried. Doubly so because his clothes smelled like smoke and an unfamiliar acrid stench like beef and pork and sulfur but not like that at all and he couldn’t place it what is it why is it on my clothes?! He didn’t want to think about it, so he balled up the clothes and shoved them in a plastic bag to burn to ashes destroy the evidence get rid of later. He didn’t want to be anywhere near them anymore, not after how the lingering stench burned his nostrils and made his stomach turn.
When he stumbled downstairs with the puzzle bumping around his neck he still couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him but he didn’t tell anybody he didn’t want to worry them or god forbid make them send him away. He’d just ignore it and it’ll go away like the monsters under his bed when he was little or all the bullies who picked on him and beat him and took advantage of his kindness AND TREATED HIM LIKE WORTHLESS GARBAGE —
Stop. Rewind. Where did those thoughts come from? He’d never wish true pain on anybody, no matter how hurtful they are. He hated conflict and violence, he’d said so himself not even three weeks ago! So why was he so angry all of a sudden? This isn’t him, this isn’t right no this is right this is what you should be feeling you’ve been too kind too long Yuugi but it’s not right it’s not what he wants to do? You’re too nice and people walk all over you and even Anzu thinks you’re weak just give in this is what’s meant to happen this is justice Yuugi!
He tugged hard on his bangs, wanting the voice and the conflicting feelings and the confusion to just stop just go away! “Yuugi? Are you alright?” His breath caught in his throat and he wanted to tell his mother everything but his throat closed up and his mouth turned up into a smile without his permission and he couldn’t control his body anymore what’s going on?!
“I’m fine, Mom. Just…a little tired.” And then it was over and he was staring at the floor shellshocked because he couldn’t control his body anymore oh god something’s wrong with him and he turned and left without another word because how the hell was he supposed to explain something like this?!
“Fine. I’m…I’m fine,” he whispered as the door closed behind him. He wouldn’t tell anybody, couldn’t tell anybody, not while whatever passenger that shared his mind was still around.