A/N: I'M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG! My laptop has been broken for ages and I thought it'd be fixed but I only just got told I'll need a new one. I've had to write this on my mother's laptop and let me tell you... writing fanfiction on someone else's computer, especially a parent's, is the most stressful thing I've ever gone through in my life. Thank you for all the continued support, I don't know where I'd be without it.
Side note: Bella isn't an OC, she's a girl you can battle in the Yu-Gi-Oh! mobile game Duel Links.
Chapter Seven: Things as They Really Are
"No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist." ― Oscar Wilde
The act of dragging oneself from a relatively comfortable cocoon of bedsheets was one Yugi was already reluctant to partake in on any given day of the week, but with his fever and its habit of making fabric stick to skin, it only made everything that much more unpleasant. He would've groaned in annoyance if his throat wasn't so dry.
He kicked his blankets away sluggishly, knowing he had to get up. Lying in bed all day, however tempting the offer seemed, would only prove to be self-destructive in the end. His sleep schedule was bad enough already.
Yugi was, in a word, tired. Exhausted seemed to be a better description, something that illustrated the visible creases under his eyes, the hunch of his shoulders, and the paleness to his skin. It was strange, seeing as of a few minutes ago; he'd been dead to the world for thirteen hours straight, asleep from the moment his friends had left, all the way to the next morning.
Either way, he assumed it was his own fault for messing with dark magic, assuming it wouldn't have side effects. It was the Millennium Puzzle, his Puzzle, after all, he knew its history. The bad and the good. It was the good that he tried to focus on, to convince himself that he was doing the right thing. Either way, he would stay in the dark until it was reconstructed, having to wait it out to see what the outcome would be.
He just hoped Pegasus could find a way to fix his Millennium Eye, for his sake. Would his sight be impaired? Would he be okay with it in its current condition? Where was he?
Yugi didn't know what to think.
He instead focused his thoughts on eating something, getting his strength back even though the central piece of his Item was tucked away in his pocket, absorbing any energy he had to give whenever it touched skin. He wasn't sure if his sudden habit of toying with it had resulted from his anxiousness to rebuild the Puzzle or if it was the Item's own influence, grasping for power. Hell, it could've been a mixture of both.
The kitchen was empty when he reached it, the kettle still warm to the touch from his mother's morning coffee. By the absence of her handbag on the stool she always sat it on and her keys from the hook, it seemed she was at work, and with his Grandpa working the counter downstairs, Yugi virtually had the house to himself.
It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling, he'd been used to the quiet ever since his father had left to work overseas, but he never really knew how lonely it felt during school hours up until now.
How does Grandpa do this every day? He didn't like thinking about how he'd cope with such a situation for hours on end by himself. The silence would send me insane.
Speaking of the elder, Grandpa Mutou had set medication out on the kitchen counter, alongside a note and a bottle of water. Yugi smiled at the sight, picking up the note first, squinting at his grandfather's messy script.
Yugi, my boy! I hope you've been sleeping off that fever!
Make sure to have breakfast and take some tablets. I'll be in the shop if you need me.
-Grandpa
It was just like him, and a fondness swept through Yugi as he put the note in his spare pocket, taking the pills as instructed, and moved toward the fridge for something to eat.
Unfortunately, someone downstairs had other plans for how his morning was going to go.
"Hell-o? Anyone home?" It was a young girl's voice, from what he could tell, more high-pitched and upbeat than any teenager he'd encountered for sure.
A young girl, wandering around in the Game Shop, was denying him leftover pancakes. The nerve of her. Yugi shut the fridge door, sighing in exasperation. I guess breakfast will have to wait.
Only when her voice sounded again did he feel like he had to respond.
"Won't be a moment!" He called back, cringing slightly as the last word of his sentence died out into nothing more than a hoarse whisper. He coughed into the back of his hand, hoping to clear his throat.
Where's Grandpa? He wondered absently, tiredly palming his eyes as he trudged down the staircase. He's supposed to be on register today…don't tell me he just left the place unattended.
As he expected, there was a girl, a middle-schooler, he assumed, waiting patiently at the register to be served. Her dark hair was tied back in pigtails with cherry-red ties, and instead of a uniform she was wearing a hoodie and a skirt. Yugi gave her a slightly quizzical look, (it's a school day today, why is she here?) before falling into his usual, bright, customer-service persona. She smiled just as cheerfully at him when he resumed his post, and he did his best to return the gesture, wondering how sick he looked. Definitely paler than usual, he was certain of that, but he must've seemed exhausted, judging by the look she gave him when he wandered inside.
Still, he had to make the effort. "Hey, sorry for the wait. My Grandpa's supposed to be in charge of this today, and I'm supposed to be in bed." He gave a laugh, and she gave a look that seemed…sympathetic? "How are you?"
"I'm okay." Her brightness from just a moment ago had evaporated, and he didn't see why. "Um, sorry mister, but are you okay? I-I'm not trying to be rude." She flushed, one hand gripping a booster pack a little tighter, another sliding into her hair. The girl seemed uncomfortable with her words, or at least how he'd react to them.
Yugi didn't understand what was wrong. He had his best customer service smile on. He'd brought his can-do attitude with him. He was determined, even if he was sick out of his mind and possibly delirious from a dark magic-induced fever, to make sure this sale went well. This girl would walk out of the Kame Game Shop with her arms full of booster packs, or he wasn't the King of Games.
His customer tilted her head to the side, twirling one of her pigtails almost a little nervously, and tried for a smile. "Um…it's nothing, really…" She said, averting her eyes sheepishly, "…but you..."
"I look pretty sick, I know." He assured. "I don't mind if you mention it, I probably don't look that great." He ran a hand through his messy hair for effect.
"It's not that..." Her face burned an even brighter shade of red. "Um...you're still in your pyjamas. Just, with the way you were acting, I didn't know if you knew."
Yugi barked out a laugh that sounded hysterical even to his own ears. "What? I have no idea what you're talking about…" He glanced down, just to humour her, and yet, just as she said, the blue, star-printed fabric stared back at him. He tugged at the front of his shirt, just to make sure, and then closed his eyes. He'd forgotten to change before coming downstairs, the thought not even crossing his mind in his delirium.
At that moment, he was ready for the ground to open up and swallow him.
God damn Millennium Items.
Even though Téa had prepared herself for having another day without Yugi, (who knew better about his current state than her, Joey, and Tristan?) it was still odd not to have him around. More than a few times she found herself glancing towards the door a few minutes after class had started, hoping he'd turn up. Unfortunately and with no real surprise, he didn't appear, and she went about her day normally.
Well, just a bit more distracted than usual. It was the previous afternoon which had invaded her mind and captured her thoughts. Not only Yugi, but what she'd seen shining in his fingers. When she saw that glimmer of golden light, she recognised it immediately. There was nothing else on Earth that could possibly glow like that, not that she'd ever seen. It had to be the Millennium Puzzle, there was no doubt in her mind.
Had he finally been able to start reassembling it? Why would he keep something like that from the rest of them, and only take out the pieces once he thought no one could see him? She thought he would've been ecstatic to share the news, especially as it'd been a few months already since it'd fallen apart at Duellist Kingdom.
There had to be more. More that she wasn't seeing or placing together.
When they'd approached him after Duellist Kingdom and he'd admitted, albeit reluctantly, that the Puzzle wouldn't allow him to reassemble it, it struck each of them as peculiar.
Téa, who had watched him try and put it together over months at his desk during lunch breaks the previous year, knew how dedicated he was to it. It made the situation even stranger. Why would the Puzzle reject its chosen bearer, the only one capable of solving it in three thousand years? Yugi had been the sole person able to come close to touching it disassembled without suffering the curses of those that had disturbed the tomb it'd been discovered in, so the shift was entirely out of character, if the Item had one at all.
Her brow creased in thought. She'd known Yugi for most of her life, and he always told her everything, so why was this a secret? They'd spent so much time together, trusted each other with so much, yet, he was hiding something from her. Why wouldn't he tell her he could put the Puzzle back together if he'd been so stressed about it?
...Is that what's making him ill?
Her grip on her pencil loosened in surprise at the revelation, sliding from her hand, tumbling quietly onto her desk. That had to be it...the timing was too convenient. She looked to her left, past Yugi's empty chair, and glanced at Joey. The blond was, albeit reluctantly, taking notes, having been reprimanded for daydreaming too many times already. The night they'd gone out to the arcade, he and Yugi had gone outside for a while, talking to themselves. Joey had said he found Yugi was sick once he'd followed after him, the shorter duellist having left the group's table in an unexplained hurry.
While they were out there...what did they talk about? Did Yugi mention the Puzzle? Her fingers curled into fists. Joey had to know something, and whatever it was, she was going to find out.
Téa nudged him after the lunch bell rang, asking him to meet outside so they could talk in private, and he joined her without question. They stood beneath one of the larger trees for shade, shoulder to shoulder.
It was only after she was certain no one would hear them that she asked. "Monday night," She started, and he raised a brow, perplexed, "you and Yugi were talking for quite a while. Did...did he mention the Puzzle?"
"Huh? The Puzzle?" Joey scratched his head, looking baffled. "Yeah, we talked about it for a little, I guess. He's still pretty bummed about-"
"I meant about solving it." She didn't mean to cut him off, but she was impatient. "Did he say anything about solving it again?"
"Ah, well, he didn't seem to have much faith in himself in that regard." Joey's shoulders slumped, but his eyes were hard. "And I hate when he gets like that, y'know? He was actin' like he was nothing without that thing, which is bullshit." A certain edge came to his voice toward the end of his sentence, but then he took a breath, and calmed down. "I couldn't stand for that, so I told him it was the other way 'round."
His words caused her to falter. "Yugi...really thinks that?"
"I know, right? It's so stupid." He grinned at her, though, optimism gracing his tone. "But I think he got a bit more confident after we talked."
"It's because of people like Ushio, isn't it?" Téa murmured, voice growing soft. "I just...I didn't know he'd say something like that. I thought..."
"Hey, don't go beating yourself up over it, 'kay?" He nudged her shoulder with his own. "We can't read his mind and know how he's feeling unless he tells us."
"Still..."
"He'll be fine if he's got us." Joey assured. "And we're always gonna be there, right? So, case closed."
She smiled a little at that. "I guess you're right."
"I'm always right." was his proud response, and she burst out laughing at that. "So, why do you want to know about it?" He nudged her again, this time teasingly. "Feeling left out?"
Téa rolled her eyes. "As if..." She folded her arms over her chest, turning her head. "I... I just had a thought, that's all."
"You gonna fill me in?" When she looked back, his gaze met her own. She had his full attention, now. "Téa, come on, I'm not that dense. I know when something's wrong." He leant back against the tree trunk, frowning. "Don't be like Yugi and keep it to yourself until something goes bad. You know how that always ends up."
She winced at that. Joey was right, after all, there was no use dancing around it. Not when Yugi's safety might be on the line...
"That's just the thing." Her words came out rushed, panicked, even. "I-I think Yugi's hiding something."
"What?" He was aghast. "What do you mean?"
"Well...you said he was sick on Monday, but he was playing it off." There was no point in backpedaling now, she needed to have it out there if she was going to get anywhere. "Then, Wednesday morning, he had a headache and was going home to rest, right?" She started to fidget, fingers locking and twisting together as she worked through her words. "But I got there that evening and he had a full-blown fever and he looked exhausted."
"So...he got worse?"
"No, what I'm saying is that he couldn't have gotten that sick that fast. It's not possible."
The blond's lips curved into a sullen pout. "I'm not getting what you're saying...you're all worked up because Yugi was hiding the fact he was sick?"
"No," Téa gave an exasperated sigh. "I'm saying that he's hiding the cause, Joey." She pushed off the tree, spinning on her heel to face him. "I don't have much evidence, but I think his Puzzle's making him ill."
The incredulous stare she received didn't exactly make her feel confident in her theory. "H-How?" Joey spluttered out. "That thing's his Item, it protects him, why would it-"
"Because I spied on him yesterday, just for a moment." She confessed, cheeks burning with shame. "And I saw something gold in his hands. It had to be the pieces of the Puzzle. What if he's giving his energy to it-"
"'Cause it's all out of juice from everything that happened at Duellist Kingdom." Joey finished with a heavy sigh, sounding like he was echoing a conversation he'd had before. "Look, I don't know what to tell you. Let's say, for a minute, you're right, and that is what's going on." He shrugged his shoulders. "What can we do?"
"What can we - what do you mean? We have to tell him to stop!" Téa glowered at him, practically shaking at his nonchalance. "He's making himself sick-"
"He was chosen for that thing!" He fired back, voice rising into a shout. "It's some weird, stupid destiny crap, like his Grandpa said! It's not some huge coincidence that's Yugi's the first person to solve the freakin' thing in three thousand years, is it?!"
Téa shoved him back when he stepped toward her, fuming. "I'm not going to sit by and watch him destroy himself over some stupid thing-"
"We might have to." Joey said, softer this time, and when he moved closer, this time she didn't push him away. "We're not like him, Téa, we're not a part of this crazy dark magic stuff, are we?"
Tears were brimming in her eyes. "But we're his best friends..."
"I know." She didn't expect to hear his voice waver. "But in these... Shadow Games," The duellist swallowed, trying to sound stronger, "and all their spiritual shit, we're just bystanders."
Part of her knew he was right, that they, no matter how much they loved him, could only stand and support Yugi through this darkness. They'd be forced to watch him overcome the worst of it from the sidelines, unable to partake in his fights because it was what destiny had decided. The other part didn't want to accept that - no, fuck destiny - because he was her best friend, and she wouldn't let someone she loved so much go through something like this. She wanted to shield him from it, to hide the Puzzle somewhere far away, hell, even give it to Pegasus, just so they could return to their normal lives.
But that couldn't happen. It was a harsh truth, but they had to accept it.
His fate had been sealed eight years ago, when Sugoroku Mutou had bestowed upon him a cursed treasure like no other.
"It's not that I don't trust him-" Téa's voice broke, her tears finally spilling. "I always have, but I-I hate it when he shoulders all these burdens by himself. I-" She hiccuped, covering her face, just as Joey swept her into his arms. "I just want to help him."
"We will." Joey hushed. "We just gotta believe in him, like we always do, and when he figures everything out and he lets us know what's going on, we'll be there."
"When's that going to be?" She blubbered out, dropping her hands from her wet cheeks just so she could wind her arms around his neck. "When will he let us in?"
"When he's ready." There was no doubt in his voice, and she knew he never doubted those close to him. "All we have to do is wait."
Yugi didn't make his reappearance downstairs until he'd showered and changed. He didn't want to think how stupid he must've looked, let alone smelt. He felt bad for the girl, whoever she was.
"Let's try this again," he said once sauntering back to the counter, his face burning, "how can I help you?"
Her pigtails bounced as she ran back over to him, beaming. "J-Just this one, thank you!" She said, pushing a booster pack across the glass surface he was leaning on.
His interest was sparked as he swiped it up, gazing at the cover. The sight of Black Luster Soldier adorning the front with a glassy sheen made him smile. "Oh, Chaotic Compliance, huh? That's a good choice."
"Is it?" She seemed unsure.
"...Haven't you bought a booster pack before?"
Colour flooded her cheeks. "Um...n-not exactly." She fidgeted with the string of her hoodie, averting her eyes. "I'm kind of starting out today."
"Oh, that's great!" He didn't think he'd be this happy for someone who'd interrupted his breakfast. "Do you know how to play?"
"Kind of..." she couldn't really bring herself to look at him for very long. "I watched a bit of Duellist Kingdom when it was airing." She mustn't be good with people, maybe that's why she's so nervous, Yugi figured. "That's what made me want t-to start."
"Duellist Kingdom?" His smile broadened. "I'm glad it inspired you."
"A-And that was you on there, right?" The girl's eyes were bright. "You're the King of Games now, aren't you? Yugi Mutou?"
"That'd be me." Please don't tell me she's a fan and her first impression of me is some delirious, pyjamas-wearing weirdo. Yugi felt like now was a good time for the internal screaming to resume. "If you'd like, I can teach you some of the rules, maybe find you some cards."
She grinned. "That'd be awesome!"
Not even ten minutes later, Grandpa Mutou arrived with lunch, giving his grandson, and the girl he was with, a quizzical look upon finding them. The two sat next to one of the booster-pack stacked shelves, sorting through cards and discussing how to use them. He would've been proud if he weren't worried for the teenager's health.
"Yugi," He said, a touch of concern in his voice as he neared them, "shouldn't you be in bed?"
"Hey, Grandpa!" Yugi was cheerful when he looked up. "I'm just teaching Bella here about Duel Monsters. She got inspired by some of my matches in Duellist Kingdom, isn't that great?"
"Yes, but," he smiled briefly at Bella out of politeness, but his main concern was Yugi, "are you alright to do so?"
"I think being active's better for me than lying in bed all day." Yugi replied, not exactly addressing his question, but the sheen of sweat on his forehead in itself was answer enough. "And you forgot to put the CLOSED sign on the door before you left."
"Can't blame an old man for being forgetful." was Sugoroku's only joking remark before he disappeared upstairs to put away his groceries.
"So..." Bella chimed in, looking too timid to have interrupted them. "What about this one?" She passed over a card, and Yugi glanced at it briefly.
"Psychic Path is a good spell card and all," He allowed, eyes travelling to the pile of cards by her side that she'd approved of, "but its really only useful if you have psychic-type monsters."
"It says I have to banish them too," She made a face, "...that seems unfair."
"You can't expect to get anywhere in a game like Duel Monsters without sacrifice." The Puzzle piece in his pocket hummed at that, and he frowned. I guess that 'sacrifice' doesn't only apply to the game, huh?
"Like with tribute summons?"
"Exactly like tribute summons." He brightened up. "The Dark Magician's my favourite card, but I can't get him onto the field without sacrificing two monsters because of his power level."
"I like Dark Magician Girl." Bella admitted shyly, smiling softly. "She's...pretty."
Yugi laughed quietly. "Yeah, I guess she is." He reached forward, taking one of the cards Bella had collected to look at. "But most of your cards are Fairy attributes. Dark Magician Girl is a Spell-caster type."
"I kinda like fairies more."
"Then we'll build you a Fairy-based deck." Yugi decided, a fond expression on his face. "You know, one of my friends had only Fairy-type monsters in her deck."
The girl seemed entranced. "What's she like?"
"Strong." It was the first word to come to mind. "Kind. She fights for what she believes in, and for her friends." He handed the card back to her, grinning. "She even fought on behalf of me once."
Bella looked down at her booster packs in awe. "With her cards?"
"That's right." He was sorting through more of the makeshift deck, shuffling distractedly. "I couldn't have become the King of Games without all of my friends, after all. Including her."
"Your friends sound amazing!"
"They are." Yugi agreed, wondering if their next adventure would be soon. "I don't know what I'd do without them."
"I..." the middle-schooler bit her lip. "I hope I'll be able to find friends like that, someday."
Yugi smiled at her gently. "I'm sure you will," he assured, patting her shoulder, "you just need to find people that are like you."
She brightened slightly at the idea. "Like me?"
"People that believe in what you believe in."
She nodded at that but the sound of the door opening cutting off whatever she was about to say. Her eyes widened a little. "Oh, my Mama's here." She jumped up, dusting off her skirt.
Yugi chuckled after noticing her looking forlornly at the cards they'd picked out together. He gathered them into a pile, and passed them over. "Here."
"For me?" She was smiling again, eyes sparkling with hope.
"You deserve it." He motioned for her to take them, smiling. "Go on, Bella."
Her eyes lit up and she dove forward, throwing her arms around his neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She cheered. "I'll come back sometime soon, promise!"
"I'll look forward to that." He laughed. "See you later."
She skipped off excitedly, rushing to her mother, who Yugi knew from their chat had just finished a doctor's appointment. He waved goodbye as they left, shaking his head.
He hadn't really been a mentor to anyone other than Joey, and Grandpa had mainly taken over in that case. Sure, he'd taught a few kids wandering around the rules of the game, but not to this extent.
Maybe he'd really help this girl out. The thought cheered him up.
The fragment in his pocket, that had been mostly silent since he'd had company, started to hum again, louder than before. Now that he was alone, it could distract him and turn his thoughts to his current mission.
Massaging his forehead with one hand, the other went to retrieve the piece, but regret flooded through him just as the agonising pain did.
He squeezed his eyes shut, specks of black colouring his vision. What am I doing?
"I don't understand why you lot keep passing us around like some plaything." Bakura muttered, scowling at Joey as he presented them to Téa with a dramatic bow.
The blond's smile was sly when he straightened up. "That's because none of our schedules match up as well as Yugi's does."
"And while he's sick," Téa continued, smirking when Joey patted her on the shoulder sympathetically at the trade off, "we have to make sure you three know where you're going."
"Tell that to our cousin." Bakura said. "He took us to the wrong room and we were wandering around aimlessly till Wheeler came and found us."
"And you two weren't unfortunate enough to be under Seto's supervision during mathematics." Atem replied, practically pouting at Téa and Joey. "He's as tall as he is heartless, he left without us."
"He was trying to get rid of us, but he just did a poor job." Malik said, unfazed. "I'm simply surprised he thought he took us to the correct classroom."
"Well, we were going to bribe him..." Téa giggled behind a hand, causing the cousins' focus to gravitate towards her. "Just mention him getting a Duel with Yugi and you're set, right, Joey?"
Joey laughed out loud at that. "We would have him on a leash the second you'd bring that up. Maybe we should try it, sometime..."
"Wait, what?" The irritation from Bakura's face had molded into confusion. "A Duel with Yugi? How the fuck could that make him do shit for you?"
Téa stared at him blankly. "You're his cousins and you've never heard of his and Yugi's ongoing rivalry?"
"I swear I hear him monologue about his revenge at least twice a day." Joey murmured thoughtfully.
"Hold on a second," Atem interrupted, "you're saying Yugi beat Seto?! He's the best duellist in Japan!"
"Seeing as you didn't get the memo, I guess we'll have to tell you." Téa said, beaming with pride. "Yugi's number one now, but...not just in Japan."
At their befuddled expressions, Joey stepped in. "I don't know if you guys are playing dumb or you've just been living under a rock for the past three-four months." He said, arching a brow. "But he's the goddamn King of Games. Got the crown and everything at Duellist Kingdom."
"You're shitting me." Bakura spat, but there was no malice, just pure shock. "That midget beat Maximillion Pegasus?!"
"He could probably Duel circles around you, too." Joey glared. "Ask any of our pals, or hell, even ask Kaiba."
"Anyone here that follows Duel Monsters could confirm it if you don't believe us." Téa added, glancing around at the students passing by. "But for now, we should probably get going."
"Ha, I hear that." Joey smirked, and with a parting wave, he was on his way.
The cousins, however, stayed with Téa. "Get going?" Malik asked. "You mean, to see Matsuo? Hard pass."
"Well that's negative."
"It's also fair," Atem inputted, "given her strange fascination with us and our case."
Téa playfully rolled her eyes. "Save the complaining for after class, would you guys? We're already a few minutes late."
"The horror." Bakura grumbled sarcastically under his breath, pushing off of the wall as if he was going to walk away. Téa shot him a warning look. Atem stepped forward and placed a placating hand on his shoulder, and their gazes met. Bakura held it for a moment, then relented.
Téa elbowed Atem lightly after they entered their classroom, in awe, "How did you do that?"
Atem chuckled, whispering back, "If you live with someone for a certain amount of years, you know how to get through to them." He motioned toward his cousin with his head. "Well, most of the time."
She laughed at that. "I'm sure."
Their usual table was free when they arrived, which the group flocked to upon sighting it. Téa and Malik set up their laptops, only the former was more so using it to create an illusion of studying, while the latter was focused on actually researching photographers. Atem was practicing in his sketchbook, the same type Yugi used, Téa noticed, and Bakura left briefly, only to return with a cube of clay to mould. He glared in a way she could've mistaken for embarrassed when they stared at him curiously.
"Matsuo said she bought some clay, specifically for me." He grumbled. "Remind me to kill Yugi when he's better - apparently he recommended it."
"Oh, don't be like that," Atem said, smiling mischievously behind his fingers, "it was mostly a group effort."
"It was a group discussion." Malik agreed, not even flinching when Bakura threw an eraser at his head, his go-to means of expressing anger. Well, at least that was what Téa thought it had to be. It was the only way to show his aggression without using his fists and getting another suspension.
She sighed, wondering how Yugi had dealt with the three for the past two weeks. Then, her eyes widened. Yugi. I haven't heard from him today. I hope he's okay...
With a sweeping glance of the room to ensure the supervisor's attention was elsewhere, she fished her phone from her skirt pocket, holding it under the table to make it less obvious.
Malik lightly tapped her ankle under the desk, stretching forward slightly so he'd reach her from his seat. He gave her a knowing smile when she looked across. "That's not really subtle, you realise."
"And you're supposed to be the goody-two-shoes or something, aren't you?" Bakura said, not bothering to keep his voice low as the two had. "You're not really setting the best example for us."
"I don't really care." She whispered back, looking hurriedly over her shoulder before she lowered her head once more. "I'm checking up on Yugi."
Atem glanced up at that. "Truly?" He questioned, a teasing smile touching his lips. "Tell him its been hell without him and that his friends traded us around the past few days like we were toys."
Téa smiled at that, and Malik leant over the desk, trying to catch a glimpse at what she was texting. He arched a brow. "Could you tell him to get better soon? He's the only one willing to put up with us."
"You can tell him I don't believe he beat both Seto and Maximillion Pegasus." Bakura said when she glanced his way, poking away at his clay. "And, if he did, I'm not apologizing."
"Of course you wouldn't." Téa sighed, shaking her head. "I'll let him know. Thanks, guys."
/
Direct Message: The King of Games, 2:39pm, Wednesday
Téa: Hey, just checking up on you. How are you feeling?
Téa: Everyone's missing you at school. x
/
She placed the phone on her desk, under her pencil case just in case Ms Matsuo came to check on them, and began to wait.
Yugi had forgotten how long he'd been walking for, after a while. He'd come to doors that wouldn't open and paths that led into nothing but dead ends and pitfalls. The most confusing aspect was the stairs that started travelling south, into the depths of darkness below, but then wind around in the opposite direction and even upside down, defying how gravity would've intended for them - or him - to go.
The paths he'd taken, each and every one of them, had all finally spiralled back to the same hallway he'd started in, so he simply stopped avoiding it and gave in to wherever he was meant to go.
There was no source of light in the corridor, other than the Puzzle that weighed against his abdomen, which was shone softly, but barely. He could scarcely see his own feet, let alone what was ahead, and that filled him with dread.
The only way to see any further than the little shimmer that his Item gave off was to touch it, to let it steal his light to provide its own externally. It didn't seem like a fair trade, but the Puzzle wasn't complete, and as he kept going, the darkness would grow, crowding closer and closer. It was foolish to believe something so close to falling apart could protect him from the surrounding shadows.
Regardless, he pushed on, even as his legs lost their strength and felt like they were about to give out under the strain. Something was telling him to keep going, whispers in the back of his mind and heart encouraging him to continue. The duellist didn't recognise the voices, but a part of him felt as if he'd heard them somewhere before.
Perhaps they were a memory that'd dissolved over time and what he could hear was all that remained. Fragments, like those of the Puzzle, that would thread together to unveil the answer to the mysteries that kept him up at night. When he finally reconstructed it, Yugi felt like everything would fall into place.
Everything would be okay.
He tapped his Puzzle a few times, wincing slightly at the headrush his action brought, and breathed a sigh of relief as his surroundings momentarily brightened. There was a door, at last, at the end of his path, the pale pastel blue standing out as an obvious contrast to the cracked golden walls that enclosed it. It was open slightly, unlike the others he'd encountered, inviting. His eyes widened as the sensation of familiarity that came with it became clear.
It was his Soul Room. He'd been here before. The Millennium Puzzle had brought him here once the Egyptian he'd met at the museum had invited himself into Yugi's mind. Shadi.
When he entered and glanced around, he found it was almost in the same condition it had been as last time. Gentle pastel colours, various games from Egypt and Japan alike decorating the floor. However the defining fact that made him realise something was amiss were the golden pieces of his Puzzle scattered alongside the toys. Yugi moved forward cautiously, stepping with extra care, closing a hand around the chain that held his Item, only for it to disappear out from under his fingers. He backpedalled slightly, looking around for the source instinctively, just as the walls began to shudder.
The segments by his feet began to rush forward, drawing towards the centre of the room when they slipped into place, constructing into the Item they'd once been before his eyes. He could only watch, gazing upon it in awe as the Puzzle, in all its completed glory, floated towards him, gently settling into his open hands. Cautiously, he closed his fingers around it, and felt his muscles tighten at the stream of magic that raced through.
Then, he felt nothing at all, and that was when his legs finally did give out. He crashed into the floor, gasping for air, and his own Soul Room caved in around him.
Yugi woke with a jolt, coughing loudly, tears prickling in his eyes.
The first thing he was aware of was the heat flickering against his palm, and he let his fingers go slack, unwinding from the vice grip that he'd unconsciously held a handful of golden fragments in during his slumber.
He stared at them in awe, just as he did with the indentations they'd left against his skin, and released a shuddering breath. It was just a dream, he assured himself dazedly, I'm okay.
The buzzing of his phone, however, made him jump, and he released the pieces in his hand just to reach for the device. He squinted at the notifications as they ran across his screen.
A fondness came to his eyes at the sight of Téa's messages. The King of Games, The Queen of Dance, the thought of the matching contact names they'd jokingly picked for each other never ceased to make him smile.
Her messages, however, just made him laugh.
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 2:39pm, Wednesday
Téa: Hey, just checking up on you. How are you feeling?
Téa: Everyone's missing you at school. x
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 2:41pm, Wednesday
Téa: You're really missing out on a lot. Bakura's been given clay.
Téa: I think he's trying to make a self portrait? Help?
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 2:52pm, Wednesday
Téa: Okay, I've been proven wrong. It's supposed to be of Atem... I think.
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 2:53pm, Wednesday
Téa: Either way Atem's not really impressed and I've never seen Ms Matsuo so openly horrified when looking at someone's work.
Téa: And we had JOEY in our class last year, so that's saying something.
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 2:58pm, Wednesday
Téa: Atem's destroying the sculpture while Bakura's in the bathroom. I'll keep you updated.
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 3:03pm, Wednesday
Téa: Bakura's come back and he doesn't seem happy XD
Téa: ...And now he has a pair of scissors OH GOD I NEED TO GO
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 3:08pm, Wednesday
Téa: Malik wrestled the scissors from him and now he's stormed off to the other side of the room.
Téa: Atem's laughing. He seems pretty proud of himself. Oh, and Malik's taking pictures of the sculpture on his phone.
Téa: Well...it's not really a sculpture anymore. I don't really think it was one to begin with.
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 3:09pm, Wednesday
Téa: Oh, by the way, these three wanted to say a couple things.
Téa: Atem says, and I quote, "It's been hell without you and your friends traded us around the past few days like we were toys."
Téa: Malik's message was actually kind of sweet, he wants you to get better soon since you're apparently the only person willing to put up with them.
Téa: Bakura...well, we told him how you beat Kaiba and Pegasus, so he said he wants you to know he doesn't believe you could do both of those things.
Téa: Oh, and "if he did, I'm not going to apologise."
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 3:11pm, Wednesday
Téa: We sure know some crazy people, don't we?
Téa: Text me when you wake up, btw x
/
He was snickering by the end of it, typing out his response the second he finished reading the last one.
/
Direct Message: The Queen of Dance, 3:12pm, Wednesday
Yugi: Can you come over after school? I need an in-depth recount ASAP.
Téa: Like you even have to ask.
/
"So...do you actually need new cards, or are you here with some mysterious, ulterior motive?" Atem asked, periodically jabbing his cousin in the arm as they stood, waiting outside the Kame Game Shop.
"I thought this would be a good place to murder you, actually." Bakura said, deadpan. "I came to scope out the burial site."
Malik whistled. "That's cold. You could at least do it somewhere like a graveyard, it'd be less suspicious."
"You should do it under the cover of darkness, too. Then there's less chance of witnesses." Atem suggested, pursing his lips in thought. "It might be cold out, though."
"He could always wear a jacket." Malik replied.
"Ooh, good idea." Atem elbowed him. "Better stay warm if you want to keep your strength. You know, for the actual part where he digs a grave for my handsome, lifeless body-"
"What the fuck is wrong with both of you?" Bakura exclaimed, shoving them both away. "Why are you helping me plot the murder of one of you?!"
"Boredom, mostly." Malik said. "It helps pass time."
"The one time we help him, he shuts us down." Atem mused. "Speaking of help, do you have any accomplices?"
"You can count Mana out." Malik started laughing, looking at Atem. "She wouldn't be too keen on burying her brother."
Atem pretended to look horrified. "I'd hope not."
Bakura rolled his eyes. "If I've said it once, I've said it a million times - I hate you both."
"We know."
They entered the Game Shop in silence after that. Bakura led them to one of the back corners, where some old board games were stacked, and the three pretended to browse through the collection so they wouldn't draw suspicion.
After a quick glance around, he decided it was safe enough to divulge his plan. "Yugi's sick, so he won't be here working, which makes this the perfect time to investigate." He started. "We'll be able to sneak by whoever else is on shift and check out whatever disturbed the Millennium Ring."
"Does it really matter if Yugi's working or not?" Malik asked, arching a brow. "I'm sure we would've been able to sneak around whether he's here or not. Atem could just sweet-talk him like last time."
Atem gave him a blank look. "I'm not even going to ask why you thought that was what I was doing-"
"Anyway," Bakura cut in, "I'm sure whoever is here isn't as painfully observant as our little guide."
Atem tilted his head to the side. "That's like a roundabout compliment."
"Then be sure to tell him what I said," Bakura muttered sardonically, "and that he can take it or leave it."
His plan went into effect, then. Malik was to look busy walking around browsing, Atem was to distract whoever was at the counter, and Bakura would sneak through the door his Ring was pointing towards and follow the path it wanted to show him. Even with Atem missing an Item and Malik's locked away under Ishizu's care, Bakura had faith that whatever it was, he could handle it.
Atem sauntered over to the front counter, finding an old man tending to it, and smiled at him in greeting. "Hello," he said, "I was wondering if-"
The elder's eyes crinkled. "Ah, are you a friend of Yugi's?" He asked, which paused Atem in his tracks, the teenager staring at him in surprise. "I just noticed you have the same uniform."
"Uh..." Atem nodded slowly. "Yes... yes, you could call us that."
"That's a shame." The man made a face. "He won't be around the store this afternoon, I'm afraid. He's still quite sick."
"Oh, he is?" the student frowned. "I hope he's going to be alright."
"Me too, son." He squared his shoulders, attempting to settle for a cheerier expression. "But, with that out of the way, is there anything you need help with? We have a game here for everyone." He peered at the boy closer, scratching his chin. "And you...something tells me you're a fan of Duel Monsters."
"...How do you-"
The jingling of a bell behind him made him flinch, startled, and he chose not to finish his sentence, instead turning on his heel to see who'd come in.
Sure enough, Téa waltzed over, a bag slung over her shoulder, books tucked under her arm. As she noticed him, she stopped momentarily to stare in surprise, then brushed it off with a smile. "Hey, Atem." She said. "I didn't expect to see you guys here...but I did hear from Yugi that he recommended it to you."
"Ah, Téa!" the shop keeper said happily, and Atem wondered if she was a regular to receive such a reaction. "I was wondering when you'd visit next. Although, you're later than I expected."
She laughed at that. "I was just borrowing out some books from the library and lost track of time." She patted the books she held for effect. "I came to visit Yugi, but..."
Atem smiled sympathetically in understanding when she glanced around, disappointed. "He's not around," she let out a sigh, "so I guess he's still too sick to work."
"He helped out while I was on a lunch break, which he really shouldn't have done." The man replied, his concern apparent in his aged features. "He's been around, so maybe that's a sign he's getting better, but... I'm not sure if its just me, but he's looked quite distracted lately."
"He's been like that for the past couple of days." Téa nodded in agreement. "I can't really understand why, though..."
"Hmm..." The two hummed in thought for a moment before Téa turned to Atem. "Oh, have you two been introduced to each other?"
"No, we haven't." Atem replied, smiling politely back at the elder. "My name is Atem, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"So formal." the man chuckled. "So you're that Atem. Yugi couldn't stop going on about you and your...cousins, I believe?"
Téa barely gave Atem a second to think about his words. "And this is Sugoroku Mutou." She said cheerfully. "Yugi's grandpa!"
"Everyone just calls me Grandpa." Sugoroku added, brushing a few strands of hair from his face, which Atem only just noticed looked just like Yugi's, only without the colour. How did I not notice?
"That's because you're, like, everyone's Grandpa." Tea was giggling. "Especially to Joey and Tristan."
"If I don't raise those boys right, who will?" Sugoroku countered, and Atem laughed. Smirking at his response, he motioned toward Téa. "Téa, why don't you go put your books down somewhere? I'm sure they must be heavy."
"I can help." Atem offered, but she shook her head.
"Thank you, but I'm fine." Her eyes were full of amusement. "I think you're needed elsewhere, anyway."
He followed her gaze and saw Malik waving his way, attempting to get his attention. He sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're correct."
Atem moved away from the counter, surprised to find both Malik and Bakura back at the same place they started Bakura's so-called plan. He made a face. "Why are you still here?"
Bakura scowled. "I tried sneaking through this back door and I found a staircase." He grumbled. "Turns out there's, like, a house upstairs. Someone lives here. Probably the old man. So, I'll need backup-"
"You mean Yugi's Grandpa?" Atem cut in to clarify, his cousins gaping at his words.
"That's his Grandpa?!" Bakura rolled his eyes. "Great, just great."
"It's interesting that out of all the game-selling stores in Domino, Yugi chose to direct us toward the one that his grandfather owns." Malik said thoughtfully. "Not to mention the fact he works here."
"Can we get back on topic?" Bakura hissed.
Malik smiled. "Ah, yes. The topic of you breaking into an old man's home."
"I didn't even know this was a home up until two minutes ago!" Bakura retorted, sighing angrily. "What does it matter, anyway? If the Ring's pointing upstairs, we have to check it out, don't we?"
"I didn't expect to be breaking into a home today." Atem remarked, frowning. "Especially not one belonging to someone in Yugi's family."
"What difference does that make?"
"You're correct." Atem clapped him on the back. "It doesn't matter whose home it is, it's still breaking and entering."
"I haven't broken shit-"
"Just entering, then." Malik grinned.
"Shut up." Bakura elbowed them both. "Seriously, shut up. The Ring's reacting to something..." He looked around, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Something down here. Keep your eyes peeled."
"For what?" Atem asked bluntly. "A mysterious, three thousand year old artifact? Got it."
"Didn't I just tell you to shut up-"
"Hey, guys." The three flinched at the new voice, turning around in unison to see Yugi smiling at them politely. "Téa told me you were here."
Malik looked alarmed at his abrupt appearance. "Where did you even come from?"
"Upstairs..." Yugi arched a brow. "I do live here, you know."
"You what?" Bakura choked.
Yugi didn't seem to hear him, his eyes trained downward, his eyes going wide. "What is that?"
Atem looked down as well, unable to stop himself from staring at the sight of Bakura's Millennium Ring materialising over his shirt, one of the prongs lifting itself skyward.
Bakura looked just as surprised at it showing itself, yet even more so when the prong gleamed gold the moment it settled into position...pointing directly at Yugi.
