The Puzzle in the Puzzle

Chapter 3: The Search Begins

        They were walking slowly through a long, dark, hall.  It was the path Yugi and Shadi had taken when Shadi had first entered the Pharaoh’s soul room at Duelist Kingdom .  At least, that’s what Yugi and Shadi were hoping, but the truth was, they were relying on instinct – this was truly a labyrinth.  And even if this was the passage they hoped it was, there was no guarantee it would lead them to an answer.  Still, the Dark Magician guarded the way, which meant something important bust lie beyond him.  It was the only clue they had.

        They walked slowly for obvious reasons.  The way was full of traps and mechanisms as Shadi, and Yami Bakura, had already found out.  Not even Yami knew where they all lay.  Which begged the question ‘why’?  It was his mind after all, or soul room, or puzzle, whatever.  It was his. Fortunately Yami Bakura, despite his earlier mishap, excelled in finding and neutralizing such pitfalls.  

         He was a thief after all.

        Somehow Yami didn’t mind Yami Bakura’s ability to do this, though he knew it should make him uneasy.  Yami Marik was another matter entirely.  Yami had the feeling the spirit was memorizing every millimeter of the passage.  And of course, there was always the fact that he himself didn’t know what lie ahead.  His memories were still hidden.  Was there a reason for that?  Had he hidden them himself ?  Why?  What would happen if they returned?

        All in all Yami was very uneasy.  He almost laughed at the irony.  This was his mind, or at the very least a representation of it – and of all those trapped here he was the least at home.

        “Yami?” Yugi’s small voice sounded beside the ancient pharaoh, drawing him out of his thoughts.

        “Yes Yugi?” He responded quietly, hoping not to draw the attention of the others.

        “What’s wrong?” the small teen tilted his head up to study the spirit’s face.

        Yami briefly considered dismissing the question, but decided against it.  He trusted Yugi, had always confided in Yugi, and Yugi deserved to know the truth, even if there were other ears present.

        “Yugi, you know that I can remember very little of my past.” It was a half question.  The wide eyed teen nodded, but he clearly didn’t understand where this was going.

        Yami sighed, “I just wonder: why?  Did I seal my own memories away fearing them or perhaps because they were painful?  Was it an unintentional side effect of whatever sealed me within the puzzle?  Did someone else do it?”  He had stopped moving and was staring at his feet, “I simply don’t know.” He said wearily.

        A small hand on his own caused him to look up slightly.  Yugi smiled at him, genuine warmth and assurance in his eyes, “We’ll find out.” He said confidently, “together.”

        Yami smiled as well, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.  “Yes Yugi.  I have no doubt that whatever happens, you’ll be by my side in the end.”

        The teen’s smile widened as he saw the confidence and pride in the spirit’s eyes.  Yami wanted his help, needed him, had faith in him.  And that made him very happy.  Friendship and trust were the most important things a person could have. For a few moments they stood, sharing a reassuring look.  Then Yami stirred, his gaze flickering to the others further down the passage.

        “We had better get moving.”

***

        “What do you mean we’re lost?” Marik ground out.

        Shadi seemed oblivious to the Egyptian teen’s anger.  “This is not the way.”

        Marik had to force himself to breath as his fist involuntarily clenched.  They had been walking forever and now he decided… “You said this was the way.”

        Shadi shook his head, “I said that I believed this was the way.  And now I see that it is not.”

        “Well, we’ll just have to take another way then.” Yugi intervened hastily.  “Umm, that passage two turns ago looked kind of familiar.” He scratched his as the others looked at him in disbelief, “Or maybe not.” He said quietly.

        “Maybe we should try to go back to the main room and start again with another door.” Bakura ventured.

        “And maybe we’ll be trying doors into eternity.” Yami Bakura snapped, “I say we just continue on from here.”

        Yami Marik snorted and pushed off from the wall he had been leaning against.  Choosing a random corridor he began to walk down it.

        His sudden movement caught Marik’s eye.  “And where do you think you’re going?” he shouted.

        His yami continued walking at a leisurely pace as though he had heard nothing.

        Marik growled.

        “It appears that we are going that way.” Yami indicated the retreating spirit and began to walk after him.  He hated to allow that ‘man’ the lead, but they could not be separated, and he was not likely to turn around to follow them.

        Yugi and Bakura quickly followed behind.  Yami Bakura too began to walk.  He wasn’t sure how to get out of here, but sticking with that cursed pharaoh was likely his best bet.

        Shadi arched a brow at Marik who, with a final angry grumble, set off after the others.  Shadi brought up the rear.

        Several turns later they found themselves in a large open room lined with tablets.  Unlike the tablets in the passage Shadi and Yugi had gone down before, these were blank.

        “What are they?” Bakura peered closer at them, “They look an awful lot like story stones.” Bakura’s father was an archeologist, in fact, he had purchased the ring on one of his digs, and Bakura knew a little bit about ancient cultures.

        “You mean for telling stories?” Yugi asked. 

        Bakura shook his head, “No, for recording them.  With hieroglyphs.” He expounded.

        Yugi nodded.

        “No, that isn’t what they were for.” Yami interjected thoughtfully, as though he were sorting it out in his head as he spoke, struggling to remember.

        “Story stones?” Yugi asked.  Bakura was rarely wrong about such things.  And he vaguely remembered his grandfather saying something similar about story stones once.

        Yami shook his head, “No, not that story stones aren’t for that. I meant that they aren’t story stones. But I’m not sure what they are…”

        “They’re Kumman tablets.” Yami Bakura said harshly, “they were sacred stones on which duel monsters were carved.  You see, only certain stones could channel the shadow energies.  I –I can’t remember why.” His voice caught at the end, one might even say broke, as though he had lost the thread of memory.  It was odd to see him so vulnerable.  “We should keep moving.”  He said quickly, clearly uncomfortable.  Yami nodded.