I still feel like this is way too short.
The next morning, fortunately for Ryou, was a Sunday. The lack of school meant that he was free to join up with Yugi- not that he got the chance to. At seven o'clock he was disturbed from breakfast by a harsh pounding at the door.
There was only one person he knew who would do that at this time of day.
So Ryou left his scrambled eggs and shuffled over to his apartment door, where, as he predicted, Malik Ishtar almost punched him in his haste to keep knocking.
" Oh jeez, Ryou, sorry… hang on, how come you're up this early?" Peering around the blonde boy, Ryou could glimpse a very disgruntled- looking Yugi. He glared at Malik.
"I like to wake up at the same time we'd go to school to make sure my sleep schedule doesn't screw up. You know I have insomnia." He crossed his arms. "'The more important question is, why are you here? As you stated, it's six."
Yugi let out a short laugh, Malik elbowed him. Then the Egyptian smirked and spread his arms with a flourish. " Why, to see the exhibit of course! I'm not going to let anyone see those things on full display before me. Ishizu hasn't even dropped a hint of how they're set up!" he whined.
Like Yugi, Malik also had a relative who worked at the museum; his older sister, Ishizu Ishtar. She was an intimidating presence, and the few times Ryou had met her she had scared the living daylights out of him. To be fair, though, she truly loved her brother.
"Fine, just give me a moment to brush my teeth, alright?" Malik beamed. "I knew I could count on you! After all, dragging another person from bed would've been a bit much…"
Yugi leaped to his defense, and Ryou decided that he was going to take as long as possible.
Line here
By the time they made it to the museum, everyone's mood had lifted considerably. Ryou stopped dead when he took in the gigantic banner stretched across the white columns. The Smithsonian always put these things up when there were new, important exhibits, but seeing it in person was still a bit astounding. The pale boy stared up at a high- definition picture, bigger than he was, of the exact same ring he had touched last night.
"Come on, guys! We have to beat the crowds!" Malik charged ahead, a laughing Yugi in his wake. Ryou grinned and sped up the impressive white stairs, eventually catching up when the two shorter boys opened the heavy door. When they passed, a security guard eyed them warily and started to amble their way, before a tall Egyptian lady wearing lots of jewelry cut him off.
"Rex! It's okay, they're with me!"
The guard gave her a defending look but eventually wandered off, still glancing at them once in a while.
"Malik, I see you've brought your friends to see our newest showcase." Ishizu smiled. Malik had only a few friends, but they were good ones that she trusted. "Come on, I was just about to go up there anyway."
The exited trio followed the regal lady. Ryou noticed that the general atmosphere was a lot friendlier when it wasn't night. Even the giant dinosaurs and skeletons weren't so bad. And by the time they entered the exhibit, Ryou was wondering why he found it creepy in the first place.
And then he looked around and gaped.
The room was rectangular, offset with light wood and red carpets, gold wall hangers set for the Egyptian theme. The artifacts themselves were set in glass cases. He spotted heavy gold earrings, delicate necklaces, and some sort of circlet. They were stunning craftsmanship, especially when you considered the time period they were created.
Ryou was interrupted by Yugi tapping him on the shoulder. "You okay?" the boy asked kindly. "It is a bit overwhelming when you see it for the first time."
Ryou was shocked out of his stupor. "Hang on, you've seen this before?" Yugi bit his lip, realizing the mistake. Malik threw his hands up and grinned guiltily.
"Sorry! Ishizu made us swear not to tell anyone before it opened! Besides, we haven't seen the way the Items are set up yet. And she knows where I sleep." Yugi opted for puppy dog- guilty look. Ryou sighed, he couldn't stay mad at his friends. He crossed his arms.
"Fine, but no more secrets! And you have to tell me everything from now on." Yugi and Malik quickly agreed.
Ishizu cleared her throat, making the trio jump. "Weren't you going to look at the Items? You should probably get a move on before the crowds come in.
Ryou, Yugi and Malik spun around to the far side of the room. It was half- hidden in shadow, but the Items were clearly illuminated.
Built into the far wall was a display case, four of the seven artifacts sharing equal space, with small plaques inside to show the names. Above this space capital gold letters proclaimed "The Millennium Items." In front of this, on raised pillars entombed in glass, were the Puzzle, the Ring, and the Rod. As Ryou rushed over they seemed to glow faintly. Yugi and Malik joined him, wearing identical smiles.
Ishizu spoke up. "If you want to know why those three are separate, there is a reason. They were in a separate chamber, more guarded then the others, and as you can see they have what seem to be riddles on them. Go on, read them." She motioned toward gold lettering not unlike the sign, which was painted underneath the name cards. Ryou read them out, feeling a small shiver slip up his spine.
"The light who solves this puzzle will have a soulmate in the dark."
"The light who wears this ring will gain a thief and a friend."
"The light who bears this rod will be warped by the darkness."
Besides Ryou, Malik stared at the final description. It was rather morbid, and downright creepy. Judging from the others faces, they shared the same idea.
Just then came voices outside. Ishizu was guiding the first visitors in, press people with noisy attitudes and bright cameras. "C'mon," Malik muttered, "We better wait this out until they're done swarming like a shark to blood. We can see the rest later."
And so Ryou was led away from the ring for the last time in his life.