Transcending Memories: A Bond Unsealed- Chapter 2

A Yu-Gi-Oh Fan-fiction
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Author’s Note: Though it may seem evident to some, I have taken the character of Teana from the Yu-Gi-Oh: Forbidden Memories video game on the original Playstation, and I have decided to recreate her as my own. In addition, I will call Anzu “Tea,” her English dubbed name in this story; given that the two names are so similar to each other. I will also continue to switch from Yami’s perspective to Teana’s throughout this fan-fiction, but I will attempt to separate these points of view to avoid any and all confusion.

Also, I will admit that I am uncertain of the exact “rules” concerning Yami’s so-called “World of Memory.” It is my assumption that major incidents are occurring as they once did, yet I still find it highly unlikely that *every* word that Yami has said, or even what has been said to him, are identical to those spoken the first time he experienced these events; especially since he is unable to remember how any of this happened previously! That much was proven in the real manga when Yami called Simon/Shimon “Grandpa;” which the elderly man obviously found confusing! This was also true when Simon tried to interpret Yami’s strange behavior when he first returned to the “past.” And so, I've decided to follow through with this concept: that the characters can interact and play off Yami’s behavior, regardless of whatever happened beforehand.

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Chapter 2


                    “Yami, no...” Teana breathed, unable to move forward.

    The room was deathly quiet, and he was so still... He had been hurt! She could see the evidence of piercing wounds across his body. And the blood, there was so much of it; a pool forming beneath him! Struck by a wave of dizziness, Teana's stomach churned; the nausea worsening by the second! But before her legs could give out, before she could collapse upon the floor, Teana felt that sharp jolt again, urging her to rush to Yami's side!
 
    But even as she knelt before him, she felt...torn. Torn between her paralyzing dread and the pressing need to bind his excessive injuries! And yet, seeing the red stains seeping through his white tunic made her even more fearful! She could barely stand to look! Her hands shaking, they shifted slightly from side to side, reluctant to make contact. What if she caused him more pain? Or if she did touch him, would he still be-

                    "Yami, can you hear me?!" Teana called, as her hand shot out. " Yami answer me, please!”

   Despite her terror, she reached out to him, clutching tightly onto his hand...

                     *Thank goodness. It's still warm...* She thought, as her grip loosened.

    Placing his palm on her cheek, a part of her wanted to take comfort in that fact; however, it did not necessarily mean that he was-

                    “Alive.” Teana voiced, stubbornly. “You're alive! I know you are! Yami please! Please speak to me!”

    Still there was no response. He hadn’t uttered a syllable, moved a muscle. Only the silence endured... It was as if she was trapped in a living nightmare; her breathing alone disrupting the inactivity.

                    “Yami...” She said softly, attempting to rouse him again.

     Entwining her fingers within his, Teana could feel herself wavering, the lump expanding at the base of her throat.

                    "Why...? Why won't you answer me?!" She exclaimed, suddenly. "You're stronger than this... Gods! This is nothing compared to-! And you're giving up? Just like that!? No! I won't let you! Do you hear me!? Come on, Yami! Fight! You have to!"

    Even with those words, there was no reaction. Nothing. This couldn't be real... She begged, prayed that it was all just a bad dream! But as she gazed blankly upon his lifeless form, Teana felt just as empty; her grief dousing what fire was left in her. And that wasn't the worst part... The pain, the hopelessness would eat away at her...  Only now, she was truly alone...

                   *I can't...think like this...* She tried to muster. *If I do, he might-! No, it doesn't matter... Nothing matters...* 

    She wanted to give into it, to the despair; the beckoning darkness... She couldn't help Yami now, and maybe she never could... Wearily, she leaned downward; her cheek resting against Yami’s heart.

                    "I couldn't do it, Yami...  I'm sorry...  I'm so sorry....." Teana lamented. 

   Closing her eyes, as she laid with him, she surprised herself, with one last mournful cry...


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                    *What is that? That sound...?*

    The end was near. It was inevitable... But even as the darkness loomed over him, Yami had heard a voice! A voice strong enough to pierce through the shadows; guiding him to the light!

                    *It’s faint... But I hear someone, crying... But why? What’s happening?*

    Despite these questions, Yami knew one thing, that someone was there; by his side. But who...? Feeling the pain rush back to him first, a small hiss escaped Yami's lips; unheard by the stranger present. He then felt a slight weight against his chest, but couldn't be sure; his eyes refusing to reopen! With another breath, he detected a light but powerful fragrance, the aroma of an exotic flower; a perfume of some sort!

                   *This scent... Where have I-? I’ve encountered it before! I know I have! But when exactly?! Just what is going on?! I don’t understand any of this!*

   Inhaling again, it caught the attention of the one lying with him; prompting her to scramble off him with a gasp! Her...

                    *There's a woman here...* He affirmed.    

    At long last, Yami's eyelids responded, as he struggled to focus on the mysterious figure.

                     “Yami, you are alive!”  He heard the woman say, unable to contain her emotion.

                     *That voice... Even her voice sounds familiar! So very familiar...*

    Fully awakened, Yami's vision gradually began to clear. He could now see the woman’s shoulder length brunette hair, her light blue eyes, and then, the contours of her face...

                     *TEA?!* Yami thought to himself. *Why is she here?!  What does this mean?!*


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                    "Oh Yami, I knew you wouldn't- That you couldn't be-! You know what? I won't even count this one, ok?" Teana sighed, with a halfhearted chuckle. "But seriously, this is the last time! You can't scare me like that ever again! But I should've known better. That if anyone in the whole world could find a way to come back, you could! I mean, of course you wouldn't be beaten by that awful thief, no matter what he was capable of! We've been through so much, gone up against some pretty terrible things, huh? But you never let it stop you! Not then, and not now. You put your own life on the line! And this time, you did it for everyone's sake... That's you.  It's what I always saw in you..." Teana choked, as fresh tears streamed down her face.

      With Yami's hand still in hers, Teana very carefully brought it to her lips, kissing it gently with profound gratitude. She then gripped it with a wary tightness, resting it near her heart; to reassure herself that this was indeed a reality! 

                    "Still, for a minute there, I was really scared... I know! I know! You're heard it before!  But tonight, I was sure that you were-! And I couldn't stand it... It killed me to think that I would never see you alive again!" Teana sobbed. "But that doesn't matter now! You did come back. You came for me again..."

     Closing her eyes momentarily, Teana focused on what to do next.

                    "You're going to be ok... You'll see! I'll go get help! I'll find someone who can treat your injuries and then we'll-"

     Repositioning his blond bangs, Teana soon found herself puzzled by the look on his face; the foreign, unreadable expression that she'd never seen before!

                    “Yami, what is it?  What’s wrong?!”  Teana pleaded, with a renewed sense of foreboding.

     

    As that feeling swelled, she noticed Yami's eyes, in particular.  Despite gazing into her own, the only emotion she could recognize was a strange, disturbing bewilderment...  Did the battle affect his mind as well as his body?  Was it just a simple lapse?  A temporary wave of confusion? No... As impossible as it seemed, it was almost as if she was staring into the eyes of someone else entirely, someone who had no inkling of who she was at all!

                    “Don’t-  Don’t you recognize me?”  Teana asked, uneasily. “Yami, it’s me! Teana!”

                     “Teana....” Yami breathed.

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                    *Teana...?*  Yami thought again.

    His mind racing like a modern day processor, he struggled to analyze this new development, attempting to smash the barriers that protected any portion of his memory; whatever fragments he could possibly access! This girl, this Teana... Looking at her face, he only thought of Tea! The resemblance was uncanny; with the exception of deeper skin tones, much like his own.  And yet, as Yami continued to study her, he now noticed a few other subtle differences as well.

    She was of course dressed in Ancient Egyptian attire; a short white linen dress that appeared similar to those that he had seen throughout his fleeting stay in this world.  Such minute detail only supported the fact that she wasn’t an illusion, or the product of some bizarre dream!  She also wore an array of colorful accessories of varying shapes and designs: a beaded necklace, bracelets, anklets, a jeweled belt hanging loosely around her waist, and a pair of crimson hoop earrings. Furthermore, she had placed singularly colored beads throughout her hair as well.  This was topped with a vibrant headband, and a solitary braid on the left side of her face.  However, perhaps the key distinction between her and the future Tea was this woman’s more mature appearance.  Much like Yami himself appeared to be older than Yugi, similarly this Teana seemed to be a few years Tea’s senior.

    Regardless of that, this girl’s existence here presented Yami with more questions than it did answers.  Like Seto Kaiba, was Tea also a figure from the past, reborn in the present?  And if so, why had he met her in this manner; when he could pulled from this world at any moment!

    Yami ceased his musings, seeing the growing sadness and apprehension in Teana’s eyes.  It was such a sorrowful expression; one that was able to stir him from within. And with it, a strange sense of guilt began to build; as he realized he was the cause of her pain.  He hadn't meant to reveal himself, but clearly she had sensed something from his behavior!  Or maybe it was the reverse, his lack of response that had drawn Teana’s attention.  Her gaze fixed sharply onto his, as if she were searching for something; something that had once been there, perhaps?

    Those sad eyes!  What was it about them?  The memory was just beyond his grasp! Tea... Teana... Tea... Teana... Those names rotated endlessly, until together, both past and present collided into one!  And then, suddenly, there was a vision!  One that was faded, distant; but one that he could still connect with...
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Chapter 3: 

Transcending Memories: A Bond Unsealed- Chapter 3
A Yu-Gi-Oh Fan-fiction
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Author’s Note (April 2010): Ah, what fun I had revising this chapter! I suppose that I can say that Chapter 3 is where the story truly begins, and because of that, it was reworked considerably in comparison to the original. Firstly, I attempted to add some insight, and a bit of foreshadowing, to both Yami and Teana’s characters. And aside from detail and description, I found several grammatical errors in the previous version which I hope have been corrected in this one. Furthermore, given that this chapter was generally lighter, as opposed to the story’s overall darker tone, I simply decided to follow through with the prior events; while trying to amplify them in any way possible. Though what happened in the older version remains intact, I like to believe that there is a bit more life to this one, or perhaps a certain kind of