Both Yami and Nataki agreed that Akana needed to rest, despite her protests. If she was being honest with herself, she really did feel physically and emotionally drained from releasing the ancient beast that had been dwelling inside of her for the past three millennia. Being the most powerful of the three Egyptian Gods, Ra tended to be in a more shallow state of slumber, requiring a greater deal of mental focus and discipline from the person harboring it to maintain its partially conscious state. Still, the nature of its summoning was more tedious, creating, for lack of a better word, a fail-safe mechanism. After all, who but the nameless king could recite the chant fluently in Egyptian and control the divine creature?

Obelisk, on the other hand, had been forced into a much deeper state of sleep after Nataki's initial lifetime, his consciousness buried as a defense mechanism against triggers that could rouse it. Unlike Akana, Nataki had no recollection of how to manage the divine beast she harbored inside, meaning that if it ever did regain full consciousness . . .

A shudder had caused Akana to stir in the King of Game's arms as he walked alongside Nataki toward her apartment. It wasn't as if the light demi-goddess was incapable of beating Obelisk into submission if necessary. No, her concern was for Nataki, who would be unable to do anything to stop it, and surely endure physical and mental trauma in the monster's wake. And despite the unique relationship that had formed between the mighty god and Kaiba's predecessor, Akana would be lying if she denied having her doubts about the CEO's capacity to reign in Obelisk if it became too unruly. Even worse, she feared that he would exacerbate the creature's energy, feeding off the man's all-consuming lust for power.

What would become of Nataki?

She would blame herself – not partly, but fully for whatever damage was incurred through Obelisk's divine reawakening.

She would be instilled with an unshakable fear of the Egyptian God.

She would start to suffer from a fractured state of mind.

All because of him.

Bitterness coated Akana's palate at the mere thought or mention of Seto Kaiba. The man was a true narcissist with an unquenchable thirst for power, and he would, albeit unknowingly, inflict physical and emotional trauma upon Nataki in the process – her well being would be completely in his blind spot.

And that was Akana's worst and only fear – always had been, and always would be.

So when she had discovered his existence this lifetime, the urge to eliminate him was her initial reaction, like an instinct. But Nataki had willingly welcomed Kaiba into her life and, even worse, had sought his presence, blissfully unaware of the danger she had invited along with him in the process.

Stupid girl.

Truthfully, Akana had been upset with her, practically seething beneath the calm, cool, and collected composure she had worn on the surface. But she had realized quickly how this would have created an adverse effect, pushing Nataki away from herself and closer toward Kaiba. And to be fair, Nataki had no idea she was setting herself up for the fall, biting into that poisonous apple (a fitting metaphor, she argued, for his lies and hidden intentions) just like she had previously.

Despite the 'clean slate' nature of Nataki's existence – her memories of each lifetime being buried deeper with each consecutive rebirth – Akana had assumed that Nataki's past, filled with strife and heartache by the hands of Kaiba's predecessor, would act as an instinct telling her to stay the hell away from him. But it had, in fact, done just the opposite. It made no sense, really. But the more Akana considered it, she came to reason that, perhaps on an unconscious level, Nataki was struggling to come to terms with her feelings of loss, shame, and regret, unable to accept the idea that someone she had cherished so much had hurt her so deeply and left a permanent emotional scar.

Maybe you're trying to find something positive in him so that you can forgive him, but I assure you, that's more laborious a task than finding a poppy seed in the desert sand. She had thought to herself on numerous occasions. A true waste of time.

Yet, there was also something admirable about Nataki's determination to do so. Indeed, this quality was an inexorable piece of her personality and character since her first lifetime.

Even so, Akana rationalized in her mind that Kaiba was not a man who deserved her forgiveness, and she would always hold him accountable for his manipulative, self-centered ways which always left pain in their wake. And more than anything, she swore she would never let him hurt Nataki ever again. The most recent transgression committed by the man (and undoubtedly his most deplorable one, as far as she saw it) would surely put an end to Nataki's need to forgive him. For how could she overlook Kaiba consciously threatening the safety of her friends?

Nataki, no . . . Necomi. Her mind echoed these words like a mantra. I'll make sure you come to understand what I've known all along. Finally, you'll be able to relinquish these chains you've created, binding yourself to him, so you could convince yourself that the heartache you endured was for a man worthy of it. And if you won't do it, I'll cut those chains myself. I'll save you from him.


The sound of a key being turned into a doorknob roused Akana, causing her to slowly open her eyes. As she looked around at her surroundings she realized that she was not in front of her apartment, but Nataki's. She supposed it made sense – both her stalwart companions had seemed extremely worried about her, and naturally would want to keep a vigilant watch, which meant having her stay with one of them. The Kame Game Shop wouldn't have been their best option, considering Yugi lived in a high profile spot of both business and social gatherings, bringing with it a constant, re-surging sea of people.

"Thank you so much, Yami-san." She heard Nataki's voice, soft and appreciative as always, as the door was pushed open.

"Of course." He replied as he stepped inside and carefully lowered Akana onto the couch, noting that her eyes were open. He offered a small smile. "It appears she is awake now."

"Thank goodness." Nataki sighed while gently propping a pillow behind her head. A few seconds later, she disappeared down the hallway, re-appearing with a soft, lilac colored blanket soon after.

"Rest here, Akana-san." She advised, at which the King of Games merely nodded in agreement. As the light demi-goddess fixed her attention on the pharaoh she saw despondency and guilt hazing over the dark maroon in those violet eyes of his. It made her heart sink.

Kneeling down beside her, Yami forced a small smile. "Is there anything you need?" He asked, his voice soft and laced with concern. "Anything at all?"

Akana shook her head 'No,' and smiling she added, "All I need is a place to catch my bearings. I will be fine, rest assured."

Yami opened his mouth to offer an apology and Akana slowly caught it, her hand closing over his lips. He seemed taken aback by the gesture, but did not move her hand away.

"You have nothing to apologize for." She offered while casually moving it up the side of his cheek, tracing a few fingers against his skin. "The fault is not yours to claim."

The nameless king knew she was right, but the feeling of desperation still plagued him. He should have anticipated that Kaiba would pull a move like that. The CEO was betting with all of their lives, and hadn't even flinched. Then a sudden thought dawned on him. No, not all of their lives. He had isolated Nataki from the duel, from the threat he had planned for himself and the two of them.

Why?

If his prerogative was ultimately to summon Obelisk out of Nataki, why hadn't he had used her as a defense against Ra, knowing full well that, if that Egyptian God Monster had threatened him, wouldn't that provoke the other to his defense? Then again, he knew that Akana would have forbade it, prevented it from happening at any cost.

And yet as his mind continued mulling it over, he recalled that there was also that split second when Nataki entered the chamber and Kaiba had regained some semblance of rational thought, his complacence shattered in place of concern for her safety.

His motives and actions seemed to conflict each other when it came to Nataki, and that was interesting to the nameless king. Did it have something to do with the past they shared? Isis had mentioned that the demi-goddesses had developed unique relationships with the masters of the Egyptian Gods they harbored within themselves. Kaiba and Nataki – what were they to each other? Or rather, what had they been to each other? The pervasive need to recall more and more of the past plagued Yami.

Truly, he began to consider if it was possible for Kaiba to be influenced, even on an unconscious level, by decisions he had made in his previous life, perhaps as repercussions. The CEO had always refuted that claim, denied the possibility of some ancestor's choices determining the fate of his current existence. But if there was anything Yami had learned since his regained consciousness (courtesy of Yugi, who assembled the puzzle and awoke him from that slumber), it was that fate could not be discarded or ignored. Ultimately, one would have to come to terms with his or her destiny – it was unavoidable.

"My pharaoh?"

The calm voice of Akana, combined with her hand bringing warmth to his cheek, had pulled him out of his train of thought.

"Yes?"

"What is it?" She inquired reading into his furrowed brows as evidence of something troubling him.

Yami hesitated a moment, not sure if he should invite her to delve into speculations about Kaiba. She was exhausted – it was evident in her breathing, which was a bit shallower than normal. For now, she needed to rest. Everything else could wait.

"Nothing." He lied. "Just a bit rattled is all."

"Understandable." She said with a nod.

Before they could converse more freely on the matter, Nataki returned, carrying a tray with a teapot of hot water, empty mugs, and a box of assorted tea bags.

"Would anyone care for some tea?" She asked congenially. "I also have ice cubes if you'd prefer a cold glass."

"I'd love some." Akana replied gently. "Thank you, Nataki-san."

"None for me, thanks." Yami stated flatly. "I should be returning to the Kame Game Shop. Yugi has some homework to finish for school tomorrow, and then he has to help his grandfather build some more shelves for merchandise that arrived recently."

Nataki nodded. "Okay, I'll take the first watch."

"I'm not trying to storm the castle." Akana scoffed, a hint of humor flickering in her dark golden eyes.

"We know." She replied softly while setting down the tray on the coffee table. "But Yami-san and I talked on the way back, and we just think it's for the best to keep an eye on you for the next day or so."

Akana's eyes narrowed and she grimaced. "Unnecessary."

"Please." Yami said, his voice resolute. "Just humor us."

Akana sighed in exasperation. She knew how stubborn he was, and how Nataki worried, and resigned herself to sifting through the box of tea bags. Her lips curved into a small smile upon finding a packet that read 'Green tea with lemon and ginger.' As she busied herself making a cup of tea, Nataki followed Yami as he headed toward the door.

"Keep me updated." The King of Games muttered in almost a whisper and Nataki nodded.

"Of course."

With a small wave in her direction, Yami opened the door and disappeared from view as Nataki closed it. She sighed before returning to sit beside Akana, who was waiting for her tea to steep.

"Which kind did you pick?" She inquired.

"You tell me." Akana teased, wafting the steam gently in her direction.

"Ah, green tea. That's a delicate flavor." Nataki noted. "It helps me relax, so hopefully it'll do the same for you."

"I'm sure." Akana turned her head so she could face her more directly. "Please, stop worrying so much."

"I'm sorry." Nataki winced slightly. "I just hate all of this."

Akana said nothing as she waited for her to elaborate.

"I hate not being able to protect you. You've always protected me, and you offered to help Yami-san knowing how much it would drain you." Nataki retrieved a tea bag and dropped it inside a mug before pouring some hot water into it carefully. "I wish Yami-san hadn't asked that of you. It was too dangerous. Not only did the Egyptian God fatigue you, but it also destroyed Kaiba-san's computer and the inside of the chamber." Staring at the steam rising from the mug she added, "I was terrified, assuming the worst, that something awful had happened to all of you."

Akana's golden eyes narrowed, scrutinizing her words.

So she doesn't realize what Kaiba has done.

"What makes you think the computer was 'destroyed?'" She inquired.

"Well, it was sparking a ton, and the safety mode light changed from ON to OFF, so I'm thinking the shock waves from the Winged Dragon of Ra damaged the computer, among other things." Nataki paused a moment, wondering why Akana was asking her such a question.

"The computer was fine, Nataki-san." She stated, her tone eerily low, face hardened suddenly. "Kaiba had programmed the safety mode to turn off."

Almost instantaneously, a hush fell over the small apartment. Every small sound seemed amplified – the dripping of the faucet, the ticking of the wall clock, the breaths being taken by both girls as they sat. Nataki's entire form seemed tense, as if she had been transfixed, frozen by Akana's words.

"You're not serious?" She finally asked, urgency in her tone. "No, that's not . . . there's got to be some sort of misunderstanding."

Akana's eyes widened slightly and her nostrils flared a bit. She was clearly insulted and did little to hide it.

"Do you truly believe I would lie to you?" Golden eyes boring into Nataki's as if peering into her very soul. "Especially about something so horrible?"

Impossibly dark blue stared back in challenge, but recoiled, darting to look down at the mug cupped in her hands. "Since the first day I met you it was crystal clear that you've never liked Kaiba-san." She offered, eyes still averting Akana's gaze. "Or the idea of me being anywhere near him. You didn't want me to interact with him at school, or work for him, despite the fact that our lives are interwoven to an extent because of our destinies."

Because I was trying to protect you. Akana's mind screamed.

"And you have undoubtedly experienced my concerns about him firsthand. Yet somehow, despite his words and actions confirming them, it seems I am still the one you hold immense skepticism for." Tucking a few strands of golden hair behind her ear she continued, "Why is it, Nataki-san, that when it comes to my word against his, you are more willing to accept his side of the story?" Her voice was slightly acidic, her tone noticeably biting, and Nataki could feel it, causing her to recoil further into the couch.

"It's not like that." She countered albeit somewhat weakly, her tone soft. "I really do believe in you, Akana-san. More than most would argue I should. I have this voice in the back of my head telling me to trust you, so I do, without much hesitation."

"And yet you also hear this voice insisting that you trust Kaiba?" She scoffed indignantly.

"No, my decisions regarding Kaiba-san tend to be in opposition to what that voice is actually telling me."

Akana pursed her lips. "Then why don't you listen to it?"

Nataki's eyes seemed glassy, and Akana could tell she was provoking the tears to come. She bit her bottom lip but remained unwavering, needing to drive her point home.

"Well?"

"It's hard to explain, okay?" She tried, a single tear streaming down her cheek as she blinked. "It's like I can't help it. I think I want to believe in him so badly . . . "

You really can't help it.

Akana sighed in frustration.

Well then, you leave me no choice.

"Fine." She replied tersely. "But I know for a fact that Kaiba disengaged the safety mode."

"How can you know something like that?" Nataki asked, her voice cracking a bit.

"Because he told me himself." A pause. "And Yami-san."

The room suddenly began to spin, and Nataki wondered briefly if stress could bring on vertigo. Or maybe she was just on the precipice of a splintered mind.

"Kaiba-san told you that he did that?" She asked, her tone conveying her disbelief.

Akana nodded and it was enough to steal the air from her counterpart's lungs, causing her head to fall forward. Her raven bangs concealed her eyes, but Akana knew that she was crying more steadily now.

"Why would he . . . ?" Nataki continued finally after a long pause.

Because he has sociopathic tendencies and cares only for himself, obviously. Akana thought to herself, but decided to choose her next words carefully – for what reason, she couldn't be sure. Somehow, even though she knew telling Nataki the truth was the right thing to do to protect her, bringing her to tears by doing so did not bode well with Akana.

"He wanted to ensure that Ra could be summoned, and argued that the Egyptian God would not appear without an actual threat." She stated flatly, her nose crinkling in disgust.

Still, as she saw Nataki's now sullen state she couldn't fight back the urge to reach across the couch for the poor girl and embrace her.

"I'm sorry that this upsets you, but it should. And you deserve to know." She started anew, her voice softer now. "You need to know what his true colors are, Nataki-san."

After a moment of not receiving any sort of response Akana added, "I never meant to hurt you. Only to protect you from him. Just as I should have last time."

"Last time?" Nataki's eyes finally acknowledged hers, staring at those warm pools of gold filled with concern. "What do you mean 'last time?'"

I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you . . .

Akana reached for her hands, which were now clutching the mug with a vice grip. Gently, she pried the cup from Nataki, set it down onto a coaster, and retrieved her hands into her own. "I made a terrible mistake my first lifetime." She said softly, remorse painted on her face. "And it has haunted me ever since. Your existential self was . . . enamored with him. I knew he would bring you heartache, and that he was just using you as a means to an end, but you were determined to earn his affection, no matter what it took."

Nataki couldn't explain the sudden sinking feeling in her chest, but it felt . . . fresh, raw even. Scattered images, blurry and distorted, yet somehow obviously involving both her and Kaiba's past selves, seemed to flicker like a candle flame though her mind, and it began to unnerve her. Despite all of this, however, she gestured for Akana to continue.

"You offered everything you had to him, and he took it – all of it. He reciprocated your earnest feelings with feigned interest and false pretenses. You believed them to be the truth, or at least I think you wanted them to be the truth so badly that you took whatever he gave you and convinced yourself he felt the same way. You died heartbroken, your soul never truly relinquished of the shame . . . and loss."

The dark demigoddess, at that moment, sitting before Akana, seemed entirely dispassionate – as if she had become a hollow shell, her soul having left her body to seek sanctuary someplace where it could hide from the truth, and the implied pain that came with it.

"Do you understand now?" She inquired, squeezing Nataki's now slightly cold hands. "Do you understand why I am so adamant about keeping you away from him?"

Akana wouldn't realize that what she had set into motion extended far beyond convincing the poor girl to avoid Kaiba. Indeed, revealing this tidbit of information would prove to be a catalyst, which ultimately would begin to tug at the threads of Nataki's existential self, her overall identity, unraveling more about herself than she was prepared to come to terms with. Pleasure and pain would marry in the process, leading the dark goddess to question everything she believed to be true about herself and the people she cared about.

"I do." Was all she offered before pulling away from Akana's gentle hands. Reaching for her tea, she took a sip and stood up. Truthfully, she hadn't believed that Kaiba was capable of such callousness, such tunnel vision to the point he would risk someone else's safety if it meant getting what he wanted – past self or present self. The repercussions of such an epiphany had left her feeling almost paralyzed, and she needed space to sort through her now conflicted mind. It was too much, a dimly lit past emotional trauma threatening to shatter the floor beneath her.

"I'm sorry it came out so abruptly, Nataki-san. But you need to know what kind of person he is. I've been trying to tell you since I moved here, in subtle ways, but you refused to listen." Retrieving her tea and blowing a gentle puff of air into her mug she added, "I've told you what I needed to tell you, and you may do with the information what you think is best."

"Well, I think we both should relax now." She said calmly, offering a small smile that Akana could tell was forced. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like. Let me know if you need help getting up or need anything. I'll be in my room working on some homework."

Akana opened her mouth to thank her, but before she could form the words Nataki had disappeared out of sight, her entire demeanor seemingly crestfallen. The light goddess tried to sit up, to follow her, but felt the wind knocked out of her as an immense heaviness pushed back against her, causing her to reluctantly fall back against the pillows. "Thank you, Nataki-san." She replied finally, another wave of exhaustion claiming her consciousness. "And again . . . I really am sorry."

Shutting the door gently behind her, Nataki settled onto her bed and allowed herself to collapse gracelessly against her pillows. They quickly began to absorb the moisture from her tears and muffled the sounds her gentle sobs made as they left her. Pain she couldn't even understand as being her own filled her, and she wanted nothing more than to disappear.


After almost an hour of just laying there trying to diffuse those painful feelings, she sat up, retrieved her science textbook and began to complete the assigned homework. As she took notes, she absentmindedly flipped back to the beginning of her notebook and read over the information she had jotted down during her tutoring sessions with Kaiba. They were short, concise blurbs more than anything, with sketches drawn by him scattered across the page, clearly labeled. She recalled how she had felt working with him – anxious at first, but then eager. Grouchy demeanor aside, had been a great tutor.

Hopping off the bed Nataki slowly opened her bedroom door and tiptoed down the hall. She looked over at Akana, who seemed to be asleep. Retreating back to her room, Nataki quietly latched the door shut behind her and reached for her phone.

"I need to talk to you ASAP. It's about what happened today when you and Yami-san were dueling." She sent the text and waited a bit for a reply, her eyes staring fixated at the screen. After ten minutes, she had resolved herself to looking away and resuming her homework. Just as she was in the middle of recording a few more notes her phone vibrated softly, the buzzing sound muffled by her bed sheets.

"Now isn't the best the time." Kaiba's reply seemed laced with irritation, and she could imagine him saying those words to her in person, and hearing the tension in his voice. "I've just started repairs on my computer and duel chamber."

"Okay. Sorry to bother you." Nataki texted back. She figured he would be busy, but the urgency inside her to find out why he had done what he did was eating away at her. "Please let me know when you're able to talk." She added. He probably thought she was being pesky, but she needed to hear his side of the story before she could figure out how to feel about everything . . . and him.

Another long, drawn-out silence on his end followed, this time closer to twenty minutes, during which Nataki had busied herself with her schoolwork once more. She assumed that there was nothing else he would have to say on the matter presently, but impatience was gnawing at her relentlessly. She tried to forget Akana's words, but every so often they crept back inside her thoughts and stole her attention, like a bandit. Finally, the hum of her phone receiving a text roused her from that train of thought, and a single word came through.

"Tomorrow."


A/N: Another update (albeit far too long after the previous one /sobs forever/ But I meant what I said - I DO plan to finish this story, even if it takes a long time.

I am not sure why or how, but somehow this story recently obtained a handful of new followers, which has made me feel so reassured that this is a story worth following! I eagerly await your thoughts/feedback! :)

On another note, I promised myself that this fanfic would not turn enormous, and (ideally) I want it be no more than 100 chapters so . . . WE ARE OFFICIALLY HALF WAY THERE! :D