You know... we always thought there was...


7

Something to it

Everything was so weird, and that place was so large... And you didn't notice the mistake you'd made until you realized that the zeppelin wasn't just for show, that it was actually taking off... with you on it! When you found a security guard and asked him what the deal was, he looked at you like you'd grown another head (how come you didn't know a thing about SUCH a tournament?), and told you that no, the zeppelin wouldn't be landing until the duels were over... Well, you shrugged. Lucky you that no one was waiting you at home- the worst that could happen was that you could need a change of clothes. And you'd even brought a bag with a sweater inside in case it got chilly. Whatever.

You snuck into an empty room and unofficially claimed it as yours. It had a couple of beds more, but no one seemed to be appointed to them, or however the heck people dealt with rooms, so it was you alone there. It was all beyond insane... you'd only meant to peacefully watch a couple of duels in the sidelines, and then, ended up flying over God knew where. As you lay on the bed, which was unsuspectedly comfy, you decided the best you could do was explore the place to try to find some familiar face. That Yugi guy would be coming, you guessed, and maybe even Joey from Art classes.

You stretched out one last time and hopped on your feet. "Well," you said to yourself, "come on. It's all been weird, but it can't go on like that forever, eh?" So you stormed out of the room, ready to go on the quest of your life...

...And nothing of the sort happened, of course, because you slammed into someone who was just walking past at the same time.

"Oh, sorry, sorry," you said quickly, rubbing your forehead in the spot where you'd hit the poor person.

"Do not worry, miss Khemet," a familiar voice spoke.

Familiar?

Oh, Rishid... wait? Rishid? Indeed, the man from the Museum looked kindly at you. He wore a dark, heavy cloak that partially covered his face, but his amber eyes stood out in a peculiar way, almost feline.

The white corridor is deserted- it must be because a duel was going on, you heard it from the loudspeakers some half an hour past.

"I would've never thought I'd find you here," you commented, then added, "I think I didn't thank you enough the other day..."

He smiled slowly, sternly. "I wish I could be thanked. But I'm not able to help master Malik..."

Malik...

That name had been echoing in your head, along with the fear (and curiosity) it brought. Malik? It was all too confusing for you, but the thing was, the letters of his name were stitched to your subconscious, not in a pleasant way, mind you. Your lips moved on their own to silently form the words Yami Malik.

Rishid must have taken notice of your unsettled face, and he must have read your lips too. His own lips pursed, and his brow creased, and you saw too how he was having an inner battle. You didn't wholly like to see this otherwise collected man with such an expression on his face. It was only then that you noticed that from his belt loop hung that... ceremonial knife with the Eye of Horus that this Yami Malik person had meant to kill you with. Fear nested in your heart again, and you lost any sense of safety you could have recovered when you discovered you were flying on a large blimp far away from people who meant you evil.

"Miss," he finally said, almost in a whisper, "I would like you to meet my master. He is really a kind person, it's just... he's not been quite himself as of lately."

You raised your eyebrows. "Are you serious?" you thought, "I had enough of him only last time..."

"Also, for the time being, I would have you call me Malik instead of Rishid... it's some type of... roleplay between me and my master. He goes by Namu during the tournament."

Gullible you didn't suspect any kind of dirty game, just shrugged it off as some quirk of these Egyptians. "Fine by me," you said nonchalantly, though not unfriendly. Absolutely unaware that you had become some sort of accomplice to a non-saint plan.

You chewed on your inner lip for some seconds, wondering whether you should ask him what he'd meant by Yami Malik, why he'd winced like he had when you'd inadvertently mouthed the name. So you asked him.

He evaded the answer, by repeating, "you should meet my master, then he might tell you himself..."

"Okay," you told him, "I'd talk to him... he won't try to kill me again, will he?"

Rishid shook his head no, with great sadness distorting his features. "It was not master Malik you met that day..." he whispered enigmatically, his voice so forlorn it sort of pained you too.

"If you'll be here, I'll tell him to knock your door."

You were going out when you met... crashed against Rishid, but you decided this might be more important than what you were going to do, so...

"All right, I'll be waiting for him."


Author's note: My Internet connection was deadd... but thanks to some computer technician who was actually a graduate from Oriental Studies and knew Chinese and Ancient Sumerian, the problem was fixed. Ho! Not just -anyone- fixes my dear computer! (which, btw, is called Horus ;) )

R&R! Pleeeease or the Winged Dragon of Ra will eat me ;_;