Author's Note:Hey lovely readers! I know I'm late in posting this chapter, and for that I apologize. I've been pulling overtime at work because we've been so shorthanded so I haven't had much time to dedicate to writing. But I am back with a new chapter for all of you. Enjoy!

Chapter 3-Visions of the Past, Fears of the Future

I had no idea what the hell I was in for the next day.

Hell, I still wasn't sure I believed it to be honest. Between there being...what, was I supposed to call them two Yugis or something? No, that wouldn't be right, the taller of the two clearly wasn't Yugi Muto. He had said so himself. Then what was I supposed to call him? Yugi had said he started calling him 'Pharaoh', maybe that would work...

Ah who cares what to call him?! You have the tournament to focus on too don't forget. You can barely afford the distraction today as it is. Don't put any more energy into it than necessary. I shook my head, shaking the thoughts aside for the moment as I got dressed, throwing on a pair of dark gray jeans with a purple midsleeve shirt and a light purple tank top on top of it. As I pulled my second layer over my head I sighed audibly through my nose.

I glanced at the digital clock beside my bed, realizing I had about 30 minutes to get to the museum, and it was a 20 minute walk at least. Quickly I grabbed my knife and my tag necklace from next to the clock, sliding my knife into my back pocket and throwing the chain of my necklace over my head.

I still didn't know why I carried that thing around with me. That was a long time ago and you should get over it. Times change and you know damn well people do too. Hell he's probably not even here anymore anyway.

Though maybe some part of my mind wanted nothing to have changed, I knew better. Like I said yesterday, things were a lot different since I was last in Domino City.

Shaking myself out of my musings I realized I needed to hightail it if I was going to make it by noon, the clock now reading 11:35. Turning I headed down my front hallway, grabbing the keys and my phone off the table beside the door and opening said door, closing it and locking it behind me.

Something else was going on here, I could just feel it.

I grunted audibly at my phone as I made my way up the stairs in front of the Domino Museum. Ten missed calls and numerous threatening messages, all from my mother swearing that she was going to rip into me the minute she found me. Not that I cared; I'd be damned if I missed out on a tournament in my hometown, especially knowing it was the only way to get my card back from the Rare Hunters.

Besides, I hated living with that hellspawn and she'd have to drag me back kicking and screaming if she tried. Dueling and music were the only two outs I had and she was not about to take them away from me any more if I had any say in the matter.

Quickly shutting my phone off and putting it back into my pocket I nearly collided with someone, barely stopping in time to catch myself. I stepped back with a quiet apology before the figure turned towards me. His eyes widened slightly before he nodded; it was Yugi, or the taller Yugi to be a little more precise. "So, you really came Catalyna. Curiosity got the better of you?" He chuckled quietly as he spoke; I crossed my arms over my chest before I replied, taking in his appearance for a moment. He had ditched the jacket from yesterday, favoring a dark blue sleeveless shirt and black pants. That huge golden pyramid was still around his neck; if yesterday was anything to go on it probably had something to do with the whole "two Yugis" thing. The choker he had on yesterday was gone as well, and to be honest...he didn't look half-bad.

...Not that I was interested or anything, just an observation.

"I...suppose you could say that," I replied after a moment. Hopefully I didn't come off as rude by more or less staring at his appearance. "I'm guessing what you have to show me is in the museum right?"

If he thought me rude he didn't mention it, nodding instead. "Yes, follow me." He waved a hand towards the entrance, turning and starting towards it. I followed him inside, looking around as I did so. They had numerous displays, from the usual dinosaurs to planets and whatnot. "Is this your first time in Domino City?," he asked after a moment, not looking back as he walked. My gaze set on him for a moment, debating whether or not to answer.

"...No. It's...my hometown, actually..." I trailed off as I looked away, eyes settling on the saber toothed tiger in a display case as we passed it. I felt his gaze on me as he turned back to look at me, but I refused to look back at him. Like hell would I give any stories about my time here. Not to somebody I had just met, that was for damn sure.

I think he realized it too, because he turned his gaze forward once more as we continued towards the back of the museum. I faced forward as well, tilting my head curiously. "...the ancient Egypt exhibit?," I questioned quietly after a moment. He stopped and looked around briefly as we stepped into said section of the museum.

"Yes, this is it." He looked back to me. "I know you probably won't believe all of this at first, but...trust me, it's all true. And you might have some role to play in all this." Uncrossing my arms I raised an eyebrow.

"And that role would be...?"

"I'm not sure. That's why I thought coming to Ishizu might help."

I nodded, "Well, I'm open to listening, I guess..." He nodded as well before I spoke again. "Though, may I ask a question?"

"Of course." I scratched my head slightly in embarrassment.

"You said you're not Yugi, and since I'm guessing I'll be talking to you most of the day anyway...what the hell do I call you? You never really gave me a name..." He blinked before he laughed amusedly.

"My apologies, I did not think of that." He looked towards the back of the building, a far away look appearing in his eyes for a brief moment. "I suppose...you could call me Pharaoh...or Yami...either one works fine. People have been calling me both as of late." He looked back to me once more, the look in his eyes gone as quick as it had appeared. "Though when we're around people it might be best to call me Yugi." I chuckled quietly.

"Of course. Don't want anyone thinking you're crazy do we?" He closed his eyes for a brief moment, chuckling quietly as well.

"Right." He opened his eyes as we both heard footsteps approaching, both of us looking towards the noise. A tan woman with long black hair approached us, wearing a long sleeve light tan dress with black detailing the edges.

"My Pharaoh, back so soon?"

"Yes, and I brought a friend along with me." He gestured to me with a hand as the woman came to a stop in front of me. "Catalyna, this is Ishizu Ishtar, she's the one in charge of the Egyptian exhibit here." She held out a hand to me in greeting, and after a moment of hesitation I shook it with my own, causing her to stiffen slightly as our hands met. She held my hand in her own for a moment, her eyes widening as she did so.

I blinked in confusion, "Um..." She blinked before shaking her head ever so slightly, nodding at me.

"My apologies Catalyna. I hope I did not startle you." She released my hand after she spoke, clasping both of hers together behind her as she continued. "I think I now know why he brought you here."

I tilted my head curiously, "And why's that?" She turned her back to us before she looked over her shoulder at us.

"Follow me. I have something I need to show you." She turned her gaze forward as she began to walk; Yami (because I decided calling ANYONE 'Pharaoh' was just too weird; that was what I had thought at the time, anyway) began following her, stopping and motioning for me to follow as well, which I did after a moment.

"Tell me, do you believe in destiny, Catalyna?," Ishizu began again. I bit the inside of my cheek lightly as I thought.

"...To be honest, I'm not really sure. Why do you ask?"

"Because you may have a destiny that not even you are aware of." She looked back at me briefly. "I believe you may have a connection to the ancient past, and if my vision is anything to go on I am right in believing so."

My eyes widened, "Wait, you have visions?," I asked disbelievingly. She nodded as we came to a stop in front of a glass-encased stone tablet, turning towards both of us.

"Yes, and if I'm not mistaken, you have visions as well, do you not? Visions you cannot explain?" I stopped in my tracks; hearing that anyone knew I had visions scared the hell out of me.

Having a mother who was extremely skeptical to anything of the like (and would consequently punish me any time I talked about it) would do that to you.

My expression must have given away what I was feeling because Yami clapped a hand on my shoulder, causing me to look at him. "Don't be afraid Catalyna. You have no reason to be."

"He is right, Princess. You are not insane." Ishizu clasped her hands together in front of her. "I know many people may think that way of you but I assure you, you are not hallucinating any of what you see. They are visions and they are indeed real." I turned my gaze back to her, narrowing my eyes slightly.

"...why in the hell did you call me 'Princess'?," I asked quietly. I was still not entirely sure I could trust her. Her knowing I had visions really shook me. I mean, if she knew about that, what else did she know about me?

She smiled gently at me before she turned away, heading once again towards the very back of the museum. "Follow me, this way." As she continued I looked back towards Yami.

"...this is insane. How in the hell...-"

He lifted his hand off my shoulder to cut me off. "Ishizu has powers, much in the same way I do. You remember, what happened with that Rare Hunter?" I nodded. "It is kind of like that. Her power derives from a certain item she has, like my Puzzle," he explained, touching the chain around his neck gently. "Although...you don't seem to need an item for what you see..."

I looked down slightly, "...You'd be right about that," I uttered quietly. I was not used to people treating me normally after learning what I would occasionally see. I didn't care of course; being abnormal was something I had to live with, so I learned not to worry about what people thought.

What mattered was what I thought of myself, everyone else be damned.

He set a hand on my shoulder gently once more. I couldn't help but to look up at him; he gave me a sympathetic look. "I know you joke about it, but I know what it's like to feel different from everyone else. You're not alone in that." He smiled after a moment. "You're not crazy though, I promise you."

I stared at him for a long moment before I gently shoved his hand off my shoulder. "...I don't need your pity...but thank you I suppose." I went to move past him, walking towards where Ishizu was. I didn't want to admit it but the way he was looking at me...it got under my skin. And I didn't appreciate it. It made me feel way too vunerable.

As I walked up to Ishizu she turned back towards me. "Catalyna. You wanted to know why I called you a princess?" She gestured behind her, where a huge stone slab with numerous writings on it sat on the wall, encased in glass. She moved aside as I stepped up to it, looking up at the carvings.

My eyes widened significantly when I saw the carving that looked eerily similar to the duelist walking up behind me. I spun around to face him, hand pointed at the stone tablet before me. "Are you for real? Is this you?," I inquired, staring at him disbelievingly. He chuckled, coming to stand beside me as he looked up at it.

"Apparently so." He looked up at his own image carved in the stone as he continued. "If I am honest with you...I didn't believe it myself at first. It is a bit hard to believe I know." He looked at Ishizu. "The thing is...if she has anything to do with this..."

She clearly knew what he meant, because she closed her eyes, smiling for a moment before she stepped aside. She held a hand out to direct us to another stone tablet in a case. "I apologize for not telling you the first time you spoke with me Pharaoh, but I could not show you this unless she was here to witness it as well. I felt it only appropriate." We looked at each other for a moment before stepping to the case.

...And my mouth dropped open in shock as I saw images of what seemed to be him...and what looked like me standing beside him. I quickly looked back to Ishizu, her chuckling at my expression as I did so. "Are you serious? What the hell is this?," I asked, pointing at the tablet in front of us.

Her expression turned serious once more. "Yes, I am." She looked back to it as well as she continued. "I told you you have a connection to the ancient past, and now that I've met you and had a vision of you I am certain now. This is your ancient self, 5000 years in the past. According to this tablet your ancient self was a princess, quite versed in magic and deeply involved with the royal court." She turned back to me, smiling gently. "And your past self had visions as well, though she could call upon them whenever she wished. Something I think you're not fully capable of yet." I crossed my arms, staring back up at the tablet before me.

"So you think I could control them the way she could?"

She nodded, "Yes, I do believe that is possible." I hummed thoughtfully.

"...Not saying for sure that I believe you, but...if that really is me, then what's he doing up there with me?," I asked, pointing my thumb over at Yami, who looked at Ishizu expectantly.

"...I am not entirely sure, but..." She looked back up at the glass-encased tablet once more. "If I am not mistaken in my translation, you two were...very well acquainted in the ancient past."

"What do you mean, Ishizu?," Yami asked, causing her to smile once more.

"...I cannot say. That is something you two must find out on your own. But if I am correct, you may find out sooner than you think." I uncrossed my arms as she finished, staring at her with more than confusion.

"...You do this a lot, speaking in riddles and all?"

She laughed quietly, "Some people have been known to say I speak cryptically, yes." I scoffed.

"Can't say I'm surprised." I shook my head before I spoke again. "So let me see if I've got this, he's a freaking king of ancient Egypt and I'm a princess? Do you know...how crazy you sound?" She chuckled quietly once more.

"Have you not had a vision of you two since you met?" I went quiet for a moment; I knew I HAD at least two visions—or at the very least feelings—that he and I had met long before yesterday. Clearly, she saw the truth in my expression as she spoke again. "You have had a feeling that you knew him even though you just met. Does that not strike you as odd?"

"...what's your point?"

"If you choose not to believe, I understand, but I implore you: please take these notions you have into consideration, Catalyna. I know you can see there is truth in what I am telling you. And I can assure you, I am here to help in any way I can. Besides, I know you want to stop the Rare Hunters and Marik as much as I do."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise, "You know about them?"

She nodded, "Indeed I do, and the Pharaoh will need your help in order to stop this threat. This goes back over 5000 years, and it will be one of the toughest challenges either of you have faced. Which is why I am asking you so insistently."

I looked down in thought for a long moment, trying to process everything I had just heard. Me? A princess? Seriously? There's no way.

But...she does seem like she believes it... I turned my gaze back to Yami, who was staring at the carving of the two of us intently. And he clearly believes in it too...is there really some substance to this?

I knew what my logical side was telling me. This was all bullshit and they were crazy for even thinking it was true.

But the other part of me...

"...If this really is true, this is some crazy shit," I concluded, nudging the ground with my foot. Yami turned back towards me.

"So you believe it's true?" I nodded as I looked back to him.

"Yeah, I think so...it's insane, but I don't think both of you could be crazy. Odds are what you're saying is the truth. Either that, or she's just really that good at manipulating people into believing her." He blinked at me before he laughed; Ishizu chuckled as well.

"I suppose you have a point, Catalyna." He turned back towards Ishizu. "Thank you Ishizu; I think we both just gained an ally to help us in this fight."

She smiled gently at both of us. "I believe you may be right, my Pharaoh. Thank you for taking the time to listen and to believe in us, Catalyna. I know none of this would be plausible under normal circumstances."

I waved a hand at her. "Nah, don't thank me. There's no need. I've never really had 'normal circumstances' to begin with. But you know that already," I concluded with a wry smile. She returned the smile in kind.

"True, my princess-"

"Please," I interrupted her, "Catalyna is fine. Don't give people a reason to think I'm weirder than I already am."

She nodded after a moment, "...I understand, as you wish Catalyna." She let her hands fall to her sides. "Unfortunately, I have a great deal of work to do, so I must part ways with you now. Feel free to look around a bit more if you like." She bowed to both of us briefly. "I wish you both luck in the troubling times to come." I nodded and she smiled briefly as she straightened, turning and walking away from the both of us.

We were both silent for a long moment; I gazed back up at the stone tablets before us, deep in thought. I couldn't believe I was honestly considering the whole thing, but...they couldn't BOTH be lying, could they?

It'd take a hell of a lot of coordination on both their parts, and why would they even go to the trouble? Neither of them knew me before this.

"...So...you believe I'm not lying?," Yami began again quietly, turning back towards me.

"...It'd be a hell of a lie if it was...," I commented, turning towards him as well. "I suppose...I'll consider it being a real thing. For the time being anyway." I cracked a small grin. "Kinda hard to say no when this tablet with my supposed face is right in front of me." He blinked before he laughed, shaking his head as he did so.

"That is true. Well..." He glanced up at the tablet once more before he looked back to me with a smile. "If you want, I can tell you what else I know about all this. Since I think you might believe me now."

I nodded, "Yeah that sounds good." I placed a hand on my hip, shifting my weight slightly as I continued. "Though, can we do it over lunch? I'm starving; I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday." He stared at me dumbfounded for a moment, frowning at me.

"When's the last time you ate?"

I shrugged, "Yesterday...morning, I think it was? It was early too; I only know that cause I woke up on the plane and ate like an hour before we landed." He gestured me to follow him after I spoke, which I did so as he spoke again.

"A plane...where'd you fly in from?"

"America, actually." I scoffed lightly. "Glad to be away from it too."

He looked to me with a raised eyebrow as I matched his pace with my own. "...Something wrong with home?"

I gave him a dry look, "Like you wouldn't believe..."

"Really? After what I've told you?" He stepped ahead of me as we reached the front doors to the museum, opening it and holding it open for me as he looked back to me. "Try me."

"Wait, so you mean to tell me your mother won't even let you duel? Are you serious?," Yami uttered disbelievingly from across the table as I nodded.

"Mm-hmm...," I uttered as I swallowed another mouthful of food; clearly I was way more hungry than I realized earlier, but if he paid it any mind he didn't say anything about it. Hell he'd even been nice enough to pay for my burger, fries, and drink after learning I hadn't eaten in over 24 hours.

And I never turned down a free meal. It was just rude to, anyway. "Yeah, she really doesn't like the whole idea of entering tournaments or anything of the like. Then again, she really doesn't like much of anything...aside from money anyway..." I trailed off, leaning my elbow on the table before me and sipping my drink through the straw. To be honest, I hated bringing up anything having to do with THAT particular subject, but he had bought me lunch...and as long as I hadn't given up too much information things would be fine.

Besides...he didn't seem like the probing kind to me.

He crossed his arms on the table before him, pushing his tray slightly forward as he leaned against them. "Is she...really that controlling?" I nodded simply. He sighed quietly. "I'm sorry to hear that. What you put up with from her can't be easy."

I shrugged, leaning against the table with an elbow. "Eh, I've learned ways to get around it. Or away from it, I guess would be the better term," I said back, causing him to chuckle quietly.

"So then, how long are you staying?" I swallowed another mouthful of my drink before I gestured to him with the cup in my hands, clearing my throat as I did so.

"Hey now, I answered one of your questions, how about you answer one of mine?"

"Ah, question for a question, then?" I nodded in affirmation. "I suppose that's only fair. Well then, what would you like to know?" I looked around at the tables surrounding us for a moment before leaning over the table slightly, lowering my voice as I spoke.

"If what she said was true, Ishizu said...you were a pharaoh in that whole 'ancient past' thing? That true?" He blinked before chuckling, nodding as he did so.

"As far as I know, yes, it's true. Though I honestly don't know what happened then...or why I'm here now. To stop an ancient evil, and to find my past and who I really am: that's why I'm joining the tournament." He sipped at his drink quietly before he set it down and spoke again, quieter this time as to not draw attention. "Supposedly I stopped the evil 5000 years ago, but it's coming back and I have to stop it once again. The Rare Hunters are part of that threat, I'm sure of it."

I hummed quietly, popping another fry into my mouth and chewing it as I looked up at the ceiling in thought. "Wouldn't surprise me. They're all a bunch of assholes, liars, and thieves. And their leader is the worst of the bunch."

"Have you met him?" I looked back at him after he spoke, shaking my head.

"No, but I've had enough run-ins with his gang to know how much of a dick he is." I set my drink down, a little harder than I had meant to. "He stole my card straight out of my deck; a band of his cronies ambushed me outside a tournament building one night when I was still in America."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, "They attacked you?" I nodded firmly. "Did they hurt you?"

"Well, they knocked me pretty good, I'll give them that." I pulled the collar of my shirt aside slightly to show a scar on my shoulder, causing his eyes to widen. "Got that trying to fight them off with no weapon. Stupidest thing I've ever done." I pulled my shirt back into place quickly, not wanting it exposed any more than necessary. "I had two cracked ribs from them kicking me in the side multiple times, and a good few bruises to match."

"Wow," he uttered disbelievingly, leaning back in his seat with his arms folded over his chest. "I knew these Rare Hunters were dangerous, but physical assault..." He shook his head. "And on a girl like you as well...that is truly despicable. I'm glad to see you pulled through it safely." I nodded.

"Me too. Honestly I'm lucky that's all I got." I patted my pants pocket with a wry smile. "Though it taught me never to leave the house without a weapon. Lesson learned I suppose."

He stared at me in disbelief for a long moment before he closed his eyes, smiling as well. "Right." He opened his eyes once more. "I'm glad you came out of it for the better."

"Yeah well, better than me groveling at his feet, begging to get my card back. Or worse, taking up his offer to join him, that's for damn sure."

He leaned forward once more. "So he offered you a place in the Rare Hunters?"

I nodded once more. "Yeah, that's why that guy was following me last night. Apparently his leader was 'interested in my dueling talents'," I answered, using my hands as air quotes before I scoffed. "Hell of a set he's got on him, stealing and assaulting me then asking me to join him. What an asshole."

"I have to agree with you on that." He looked down for a moment before looking back up at me with a nod. "I know you may have just met me, but I promise you: I'll do my best to make sure that doesn't happen to you again." I blinked at him.

"Well...thanks I suppose..." I scratched my head awkwardly; I wasn't used to people protecting me, especially people I barely knew. And I had no clue why but the way he said it...it ate at me, for some reason.

Whatever the hell was going on with me, I hardly understood it. "I mean, I can take care of myself, but...I appreciate the help. Especially if it helps me get my card back."

He gave me a friendly smile, not daunted by my awkwardness in the slightest. "We'll make certain you get that back too. A deck is not complete without every card it needs, no?" I laughed at that.

"That's very true. Throws off deck balance and all that." I couldn't help but to grin back at him; it was nice, actually being friendly to him. He reminded me of good times, even though I'd barely known him a full day. It was refreshing after coming out of my old toxic environment, though I still felt that awkwardness too...

...Had we really known each other before all this?

...man...I'm starting to think Ishizu may have been on to something...I'm really losing it aren't I...

"Before I forget, I had asked you one other question..." He trailed off as he pulled me from my thoughts and I stared at him for a moment before it clicked with me.

"Oh right, how long am I staying?" He nodded. "Hmm...I was gonna stay until the tournament ended, but..." I shrugged after a moment. "I guess we'll see."

He nodded once more. "That's good to hear. I hope we get to be good friends, Catalyna," he concluded with a smile. I crossed my arms, leaning back with my soda in hand as I returned the friendly gesture.

"Honestly, I hope so too."