Game Shop
Atem opened his eyes and then noticed the time. It was upside down. He turned himself around to get a better look but- He fell to the floor. Okay. Pain is a drawback in a body. Forgot that. He looked to his door. At least no one was there to see that. He stood back up. It was almost noon in nearly an hour. His body had needed rest. He reached for the door, opened it and looked out towards Yuugi's room. Atem started to head to Yuugi's room. The door was still closed. He wasn't the only one who slept late. He knocked on the door. "Yuugi?" Hm. He was still sleeping hard. Food. It was amazing how fast his body could go to waking up to craving food. Bodies were demanding. He was going to the kitchen but noticed Masika's door was open. They were up at least.
"I agree, he was terrible."
He could hear Masika through Anzu's door.
"Exactly. And? I mean. If you and Atem aren't with us-"
"Never assume anything, this could only last for a small time."
"I know." Anzu looked at the mirror. "That's what makes it hard. I used to hate the fact Yuugi acted like such a kid." She sighed. "Now? I love it. I love the way he is and I don't ever want Yuugi to become anyone else. He has a playful spirit that always makes me feel . . . but. If you do come back?" She traced a lonely heart in her mirror. "I hate this. He was fine without me but then this whole thing started. Now he knows how dangerous our time was together and so do I."
"Still, you were making out again last night. Until we have absolute certainty on what is going on, full out should be out of the question with this one," she warned her.
"This one is the one." Anzu rubbed her forehead. "I told Jounouchi yes right before it all happened. I wanted to stay in Japan, and work out something else. I wanted to stay with Yuugi." She tried to distract herself. Maybe Satiah would like some makeup? "Do you want some makeup?"
"Why?" Satiah asked.
"Sometimes it makes you feel nicer to look pretty." Even though that didn't make a difference with Yuugi. Her clothes were actually not in the best shape and Yuugi had helped her with quite a few garments. "Do you want some lipstick? Oh, we need to find you some clothes. Mine will fit, but I know it's not what you prefer. Maybe I have something?" She looked through her wardrobe. Masika had a more chilled personality as a whole. She could pretend to be several different ways, but more often than not, she didn't like to stand out. Let's see? "I never imagined I'd be trying to find you something to wear." What could she wear? "Do you see anything you like?"
"I don't have much preference, Anzu. Do we have crackers? I am getting hungry. I've eaten crackers, shrimp and hot food. I prefer the crackers and shrimp so far."
"Well, we are going to expand on that," Anzu smiled at her. "I'll fix you a late breakfast. Yuugi and Atem should eventually be getting up." The best outfit she had for her? A cerulean blue blouse with a long black skirt. Still not something she could see Satiah wearing, but it would work for now. "I won't have the best second pair of shoes. You'll have to keep wearing those. I do have some extra socks and undergarments I haven't opened yet. Since we look almost like twins, it should be fine." She gathered all the clothes. "There you go."
Anzu left the room as Satiah got dressed. She spotted Atem not far away. "Breakfast?"
"Yes. I am hungry," he admitted. She went past him to the kitchen. "Masika is up with you?"
Masika? "Who?"
"Satiah's real name," Atem revealed. "I encourage you to use it for her."
"Masika." Anzu started getting out ingredients. "That's pretty. She never told me that."
"She kept it hidden. There is power in names, but she should try accepting it instead of rebelling against it. Try it and see how she responds." Atem sat down but his body yawned against him again. "That action is annoying."
"Long night." Anzu understood that. Clearly a long night. Satiah hadn't exactly revealed what happened much except that Bakura couldn't be near her anymore. "This shouldn't take long." She heard someone else come in. "Morning, Satiah. Go ahead and take a seat. I'm sure Yuugi will pop up soon." She thought about what Atem said. Masika. Maybe she'd ask about it later.
Satiah yawned and scratched her neck lightly. "This blouse is itchy."
"Yeah, sometimes they can be a little itchy. It's pretty on you though," she complimented her. "I'll serve you guys up, then I'll go wake up Yuugi."
"Do not wake up Yuugi too long," Satiah threw her warning, but Anzu wasn't going to address it. She just served her up and went to Yuugi's room.
Anzu opened the door and looked in. He was actually dressed, like he got up earlier, but was defeated and passed out on top of the bed. It was past three when they all went to sleep for good last night. He's so cute when he sleeps. No, no. She couldn't. Yuugi, friend. Satiah was right, what if she did come back? All that extra power. It wasn't the first time she'd been with someone. Just Satiah with her was fine. There was no problem the first time she was with Yuugi either. But, Atem too?
That power hurt and she'd never forget that feeling. Overstuffing her to capacity making her feel like she wanted to explode. Clearly, Satiah didn't have a problem holding that power, but she did. So? They had already addressed that last night. "Yuugi?"
He barely opened one eye and looked at her. He smiled. Even tired in bed, he always had a smile that melted her. "Morning again." He started to move around and noticed the time. "Yikes. I did need more rest."
"Everybody did. I'm in the middle of making breakfast. Up." She tried to pull him up. "Come on, Yuugi. You've got two spirits with old but new bodies trying to eat breakfast. You don't want to miss that." Satiah would probably be poking at the food. She needed to get back there soon.
"Oh yeah. I? I need to get Atem some clothes. A shower. A toothbrush. So does Satiah. Sorry." Yuugi started to get up. "I'll be just a second, Anzu." He picked up his phone. "Calls already. I'm popular today. Thanks for breakfast."
She could make breakfast every day for the rest of her life for him, and it would still never make up for what he did for her. "Your welcome. This way, Yuugi."
She went ahead and headed back to the kitchen. Satiah was handling the food like a champ. As she continued to cook, Yuugi came in, but he didn't look good. "What's wrong, Yuugi?"
Yuugi put his phone in the center of the table. "We've missed a lot. I should have stayed up after all."
Message 1: Yuugi! Kaiba has Shizuka! I can't believe this. I drove her all night because she kept saying she'd walk out of the apartment if I didn't drive her. We ended up driving all night and into the morning and we ended up at Kaiba Corp. I figured that was it but then Kaiba just took her! I've been- end of message.
Message 2: Sorry, I got cut off. Long story short I've called Jounouchi and you and I have waited out here for a long time! It's past daybreak but he's got to have her in there somewhere. I'm going to try and break into Kaiba Corp, I don't trust her with him!
Message 3: So, Yuugi? I know it's real early but Honda broke into our company. He's been arrested. We'll sort it out when I find out more, like why he was that stupid. Tell Jounouchi his sister is here too. Kaiba wanted her to stay last night in the guest bedroom. Thanks.
Message 4: Jounouchi's phone is ringing off the hook but it doesn't matter because he's possessed again! He's trying to take back control, but he still hasn't changed. I'll let you know when he gets better. If he does.
Message 5: Yuugi. Kaiba Corp just had someone break into it and I don't mean your stupid friend. My brother got shot. My. Brother. Got shot! Also, I have the millennium rod now. If you want more details I learned, pick up your ****ing phone!
Message 6: Yuugi. Sorry, I hate leaving messages. Just let uh, Rider know that it will be okay. She can't see him until um . . . whatever is going on with her energy disappears . . . but we'll find a way that she can be with her friend. Maybe virtual playing or by the phone? We'll work something out. I won't give up on them.
Message 7: This is an automatic response to let you know that your dueling cards are now on the way. You will receive another message when they arrive.
"We have a busy day to catch up with," Yuugi said. "Atem, come with me. We'll get you dressed and I have extra toothbrushes."
Kaiba's Mansion
Atem looked at the millennium rod. He hated what he was hearing. This was bad, real bad. "I broke this connection." It was the reason he had left in the first place. To break the connection once and for all.
"To yours," Kaiba said. "I told you. It's not yours."
"Then why would Atem even insert the puzzle to break the curse over in the afterlife?" Yuugi questioned. "This makes no sense."
A scream. Mai looked back at them all, frightened. Her eyes were wide. Her mouth hung open and she looked like she was terrified. "Two, it's the two!" Mai pointed to Atem, Yuugi, Anzu, and Satiah. "It's the two! Jounouchi!"
"There, there, it's okay. What is it, Mai?" Jounouchi stepped into the room and looked a little freaked too.
"Atem and Satiah have their own bodies," Anzu said to Jounouchi.
"Yeah. S-sorry. Um. Came over when I could move, 'cause heard the news. Didn't hear this news." Jounouchi gulped. "Um. Processing that in a second." His eyes narrow on Kaiba. "Kaiba, where is she?"
"Not far," Kaiba answered. "In her new room."
Hm? "What new room?" Atem asked. "Who?"
"My sister, Shizuka," Jounouchi answered. "She apparently wants to move in with Kaiba, against any good judgment and I am so mad about it right now, but I'm sort of-"
"Terrified."
"Yeah. That."
Terrified? Really? "Am I that terrifying?" Atem asked. He didn't look much different than Yuugi. He didn't look a terrible zombie.
"Yeah, um. Mai's dreams, Yuugi. Remember when I said she had dreams of the future?" Jounouchi gestured to them all again. "Twin Yuugi's, twin Anzu's? Ring a bell?" He held her closer. "It's okay, Mai. Mai?"
Mai was frozen. She was moving but only in trembles with rapid chest breathing.
"If her dreams were real. Damn!" Jounouchi tried to bring her out of it. "Mai? Babe? Mai, speak to me."
"Sorry, they got their bodies last night," Yuugi said. "We didn't mean to traumatize Mai."
"Great job on the information sharing, Yuugi," Kaiba criticized him.
"Like you should talk!" Jounouchi seemed torn between yelling at Kaiba or taking care of Mai. "Now why am I getting a call that my little sister is here living with you, what gives? I just had her living with Honda behind my back. You okay, Mai? It'll be okay."
"I'm glad you asked because I was just in the middle of ruining everybody's good day with some damning information," Kaiba answered. "Right now, your sister is sitting with Mokuba for me since, wow, I think I have information that is fairly important to share in person." Kaiba turned around and started typing on his computer. "This is what we got." On screen, the video footage played. "Mokuba, Shizuka and I were ambushed and my little brother was shot in Kaiba headquarters. People were coming at us on the elevator when we tried to get him to the hospital. Fourteen people. I fought how I could, but they weren't aiming at me. They were aiming at Shizuka Kawai. They know her gift as the dragon." He focused up on her image.
They all heard the audio where Kaiba yelled for her to summon it. Then, he said the words himself. He viewed outside of the footage again. "The Blue-Eyes annihilated some but look at those statistics on it. It was more powerful than any card could be. I took the opportunity to grab that ." He focused on the millennium rod. "That was the end of that. I killed them all for what they did to Mokuba! All but one to send my message not to bother me again."
"You used my sister's dragon?" Jounouchi asked.
"Yep, and with the extra ba and ka, there will be a hell of a battle when the time comes," Kaiba said knowingly.
"You know about ba and ka?" Jounouchi asked. "How do you know about that?"
"Seto Kaiba has gained some extra memories of his afterlife since he started visiting," Atem answered.
"Nyuh?" Jounouchi once again looked puzzle. "Whatever, but my sister is not yours, Kaiba. You're using her to drain her own energy to use it," Jounouchi accused him. "Mai, please snap out of it? I could really use some backup right now."
"Pharaoh." Kaiba looked toward him. "Summon the Dark Magician."
Atem looked at Jounouchi. "Summon the Dark Magician?"
"It's yours . Don't you get it?" Kaiba said. "I'm not shacking up with Shizuka because of feelings. I don't have those. She's connected to the monster that is connected to me. Summon the Dark Magician, your monster, and I bet the same thing happens."
Atem looked at Jounouchi again. It had never been that way before. A human controlling a human that controlled a monster?
"If I'm part of something to help, count me in," Jounouchi said. "Try it."
Atem gestured toward Jounouchi. Might as well try it. "I summon the Dark Magician!"
The Dark Magician appeared with his scepter, like the last time Jounouchi summoned him. His power level, there was an aura coming off of him Atem could feel. He was even stronger now. Twice as strong? No, more. "Jounouchi's life force."
"Plus yours," Kaiba pointed out. "He could destroy this mansion in a single shot."
"Jounouchi and I are put at risk to summon." Atem understood. The gods gave them power over another human that had a monster. They didn't get the monster directly, instead the power was amplifying by all the extra ba and ka. That was new, Atem had never even heard of it before. "Dark Magician, return to Jounouchi."
Dark Magician went away again.
"Neat trick. Great to help. Not so great knowing my sister is risking her life for this too, Kaiba!" Jounouchi yelled at him. "I don't care what she has, you can't claim her because she's got your favorite dragon card. Give her back."
"I'm not keeping her against her will," Kaiba said. "If I did anything to your sister I'm certain the Blue-Eyes would defend her. It's her protector. Just like the Dark Magician is yours, Pharaoh. Probably to watch out for the Dark Magician Girl."
"Kaiba." No. Damn it, I didn't need Jounouchi or Mai to feel uncomfortable about Mana.
"What do you mean?" Jounouchi glared at Kaiba, but then switched it to Yuugi and then Atem. "What's he mean?"
"The name of your future child is that of the original summoner of Dark Magician Girl," Atem revealed. "I didn't want you to feel awkward about your child. She was a normal . . . sorceror's apprentice."
"Uh? Kay. Summoner of ancient past." Jounouchi looked toward Mai. "Well, I don't think she heard. Kaiba. I need my sister and I need a doctor."
"Your sister chose to stay. Just like her big brother, she wants to help," Kaiba answered. "I'll get a doctor in here for your . . . whatever you call each other now." Kaiba called for assistance through his collar.
"What about Honda?" Jounouchi asked too. "Did you drop charges? You better have."
"Once everyone is gone from here, he can be sprung. This is it though, he better not try and come back to my property again," Kaiba warned him.
"My sister is not property," Jounouchi yelled.
"I meant the headquarters, my personal home and everything else." Kaiba was getting fed up. "Do we really want to spend the whole time on this? I'm not staying here to debate, I'm ready to go back to Mokuba."
"Jounouchi, we need more information," Yuugi said. "A millennium item popped up. We have to know more. Please?"
"Fine, for now." Jounouchi followed with Mai to the doctor that appeared. "I'll be back soon."
"Great. Now that the family trauma is over." Kaiba went back to his computer. "We've got one real sick situation here. And when I say sick, I mean royally screwed . Look at this." He pulled up several tabs on the computer, including the serial killer that had been in Death-T. "The most ruthless in the world. Do you know how many escaped and were never to be seen? It happens sometimes, but not this much." He showed the statistics on the computer. "Serial killers with the same kind of traits as mine had. Gone. Presumed escaped, yet no unexplained murders that happened again fit their MO."
"Where's Jounouchi?"
Atem turned and looked at Shizuka. She did look fine.
"Are you okay?" Yuugi still asked.
"Yeah. I? I need to find my brother." She hung onto the wall. "He's not happy with me."
"You're supposed to be watching Mokuba for me," Kaiba complained. "He wants more than a doctor to talk to."
"Satiah went over to him," Shizuka said, "so I came over."
"Masika?" Atem looked around. She sure could move quietly.
Kaiba's computer started to sound. "Incoming important world news reports. Not good." He started to go in a different direction of his work. "It only dares to interrupt my work when the same special reporting issue is covered by ten different countries."
Ten different countries?
Mokuba's Hospital Room
Satiah waited beside Mokuba. A nice boy when she was stuck in the card, she still remembered him fondly. If it wasn't for him, she would still be in that card. Kaiba never would have freed her. Mokuba kept reminding her of someone from her past. She just didn't know who. She breathed in worry, hoping he would be okay. That bandaged area didn't look good. "Mokuba?"
He opened his eyes. "Anzu?"
"No," she corrected him. "It's Satiah."
"Oh, you looked like Anzu. Sorry." Mokuba smiled. "Hello." He tried to sit up.
"Stay down." She examined him. He was about the age of Anzu when she first joined with her. How time had gone on.
"It's okay. I've got some energy." Mokuba continued to prop himself up. "It was a graze Big Brother said, but he was really worried. There was a lot of blood." He grinned. "They have me on a lot of medication. It helps with the pain, but it made me tired. I feel better seeing you again. I missed you, Satiah."
Yes. Who did I know like him? It must have been someone. Was it Heba? No, she was a little girl. I'm sure of it. It could be anyone. It could even be her he reminded her of, when she felt lost. All she could do was enjoy his presence. "I missed you too. I miss our conversations. Besides Anzu, there was no one to talk to for a very long time." Had he got better over time about missing his parents? "How have you been?"
"Running a billion dollar company," he answered. "It's been tough. Seto left at a time where he was changing technology like crazy. Kids were literally all thinking together to play and create duel monsters. Then, poof, off he went! He came back sometimes, but he hardly let me know when he did. I don't think he wanted to build my hopes that he'd stay. He kept going back to the afterlife, over and over. He just had to beat the Pharaoh, no matter what."
Talk about obsession. Seems we were complete opposites with the afterlife. He wanted to join it. She wanted to escape it. Even if it contained her memories. Honestly, probably because it contained her memories. To live in the afterlife as you did in life. She didn't want to know why she kept leaving to Bakura back then. She didn't want to know anything else. "Kaiba is here now. Someone must watch over you that isn't a doctor in order for him to leave."
"He's a good brother. I am really glad that the Pharaoh came back too," Mokuba said. "My brother can stay close by me again. I missed him."
"You're never alone, Mokuba." Kaiba walked in. "And you? You're a sneaky one."
"Hi, Seto." Mokuba waved. "I feel better. I've got some energy again."
"Since Satiah came?" Kaiba questioned.
"Yep. She always made me feel better," Mokuba said. "That's why she came to see me. We were good friends."
"Not like she's had a lot of practice," Kaiba belittled her. "Her friends include the lost cheerleading American and a dangerous ancient thief."
"She'll make more friends." Mokuba looked back at her. "I'm sorry about Heba."
"I am too. I think. She was a good girl." That name in her thoughts. So many fractures I'll never know. I'd never want to know. Torn. She felt torn when she was near Mokuba. The day she finally had to go to the afterlife, then at least she'd know who he reminded her of. - "There's." Her voice was stiff. Dry. Visions and screams passed through her. "What? There." She couldn't explain it.
"Satiah? What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Mokuba called toward her. "Don't cry. What's wrong?"
"I just . . ." Millions of voices just screamed in agony.
"Hey, have you seen my sister?" Jounouchi came into the room. "I've got to try and talk her out of being Kaiba's puppet. Hm?" He went over toward Satiah. "You okay?"
"She just started crying." Mokuba tried to move.
"No way, stay there, Mokuba." Jounouchi bent down next to her chair. "Hey, former Spirit Lady, are you okay?"
"Anzu." She moved away. "I'll see you soon, Mokuba. Get better. Okay?"
"It's insane." Atem watched the news footage as Satiah came back in. She had gone over to Anzu. She must have somehow known.
"Maybe there is another possible reason you coming back was optional," Kaiba said as he kept watching the imagery. "Maybe because it doesn't make a hell of difference. What is that power?"
Australia. The continent. Sinking. Millions of people on the continent were trying to figure out what to do. Islands were land that came out of the water, but for unexplained reasons, the land was sliding off, as if gravity was pulling down each pebble of sand. Rescue teams were being deployed to save as they could, but everything was simply falling like dominoes and getting buried in water. They were going back deeper and deeper.
Anzu held Satiah, both holding on together.
"It's sinking so fast, no one knows what to do," Kaiba said. "We aren't even fighting and were about to lose a whole continent if we don't do something." He asked for his private jet through his collar. "Go and watch, there's a driver coming for the private jet. I'm not leaving Mokuba."
Some people were getting interviewed on what they saw, before they were wiped out. That exclusive rare footage was being brought up. Atem pointed it out.
"Dragons? Can't be. They aren't summoned dragons I know." Kaiba tried to get in deeper on the video, but it was limited. "How are dragons destroying a continent?"
"I know those dragons," Atem proclaimed. "Yuugi, You know those dragons too."
"I? I think maybe I do." Yuugi looked toward Anzu, then back at Atem. "It can't be though. Right?"
In the beginning, when Atem first joined Yuugi, right before they met Ryou Bakura. Atem had barely escaped his soul being captured, and for a few minutes, lost Yuugi's soul. "It is."
"Imori." Yuugi's voice sounded weak. "I don't know what happened exactly. Imori stole the millennium puzzle and made me play a game for it back. I um . . . I lost."
"Yes." Atem would fill in the pieces. "You lost and your soul was taken. I managed to escape by touching the millennium puzzle he'd been wearing. I risked my soul to save yours. Those are the Dragons of the Dragon Cards. They cost a person's soul in order to play the game."
"Talk about high stakes." Jounouchi entered the room again. "Mai's getting a little better. I calmed her down some. What am I missing?"
"The fall of Australia," Shizuka mentioned. "We need to help."
"The source is the game. We need to get to who is playing the game." Yuugi looked at Atem. "That won't be easy."
"That ancient and dangerous game could be played anywhere in the world." Even if he had the puzzle, he couldn't correct it. The death toll was falling into the millions. "I sealed it away." It was sealed into darkness, he made sure that no mortal could ever get to it again. "Whatever took it, is not mortal." He glanced toward Anzu and Masika, both clinging to each other. "I think they can hear it."
"Anzu?" Yuugi went over toward her. He placed his hand on her back."Anzu. We'll need to get going."
"Anzu still has some too, Yuugi." Masika had most of it, but Anzu still clearly had some of his energy too. They were holding onto each other for support. "They each have some of my power."
"I thought that was gone from Anzu?" Yuugi sounded worried as he tried to grip Anzu better. "Anzu? Anzu?!"
"They hear the screams of agony, from those who cannot save themselves. The power does that." Atem went over to Masika. "The emotions are amplified since they both hear it. Pull Anzu away and I'll pull Masika." It wouldn't end it, but at least they wouldn't hear that hell.
Atem had heard that hell before. Yuugi and he eventually broke the duo apart. Yuugi cradled Anzu sweetly while Masika just stood there. Drowning in her thoughts. "This is all I can do." He couldn't even take her from that feeling. I could hold her. Someone holding bodies next to each other, it makes them feel better. They were extra sensitive to learning about themselves though and she only clung to Anzu. A body she knew well. It would be better to go slow.
"At the rate it's sinking, it won't be even two days before it's all gone. Maybe less," Kaiba said. "The private jet is ready, but even if you run for it. We don't know where to go."
"What can we do? What's going on?" Shiziku came over, almost tripping but she caught herself. Kaiba didn't bother her about it. "Kaiba?"
"If Australia was an animal, it'd be endangered and about to be extinct," Kaiba explained. "It's speeding up. Scientists can't understand it."
"But, it's all just land mass out of water. It's no different than where we live, how is it doing that? Other waters would be affected." She looked toward the monitor, probably wishing she could see. "What about other areas?"
"No, it has to be the land. It's being squashed into the ocean," Kaiba reasoned. "It's not the water, a force is pushing the ground down."
"There must be something we can do," Shizuka cried out. "Please? Kaiba? Anything?"
"The game can be played anywhere. Last time, it was played right within Domino City," Atem tried to explain.
"This isn't the way the game worked though," Yuugi pointed out. "It was only if no one played that the world would start to fall apart."
"That's it then." Kaiba leaned back in the chair. "Kids have one less continent to memorize in school if this continues. What the hell?"
Atem moved closer to the screen. Reports were coming back. "This is just vicious ." Parts of Australia that had been sunk, were starting to resurface. The land was being brought back up again, grain by grain. "Someone is toying with people's lives!"
News footage of the event was turned off. Most likely, to hide all of the . . . dead. "We need to find who is doing this," Yuugi said. "If we don't, they'll just do this again."
"How? Tell me just how you plan on doing that?" Kaiba complained. "For one, we don't know how to find- ugh. Jounouchi, let go of Shizuka."
"Shizuka Kawai to you!" Jounouchi was pulling her away from the computers. "You shouldn't be here, Shizuka, this place is not for you. It's dangerous. Let me take you home."
"She is home." Kaiba wasn't faltering. "Now what are we going to do about this? If they could do this to Australia, they could do it anywhere. They don't even need water, it's just pushing down the Earth."
"The millennium ring could detect what the user wanted." Yuugi looked at the computers. "Finding the ring wouldn't be any easier."
"No, but I think you are on the right track for once, Yuugi." Kaiba turned around. "Pharaoh. Smooch the light goddess. She might have the power of that ring inside of her."
"She did drive Bakura mad." Could that power be in her?
"Anzu." Yuugi pulled her towards him and kissed her.
Right. "They both have the power." Did Anzu hold enough in her? "Yuugi?" He was still kissing her.
"Earth to Yuugi," Jounouchi said. "Hey, make out later, did you get anything?"
"It's faint." Yuugi smiled at Anzu. "Feeling better?"
"I'm okay. Sorry," she apologized. "Overwhelming. You aren't supposed to do that," she warned him. "Friends, Yuugi."
"Friends help friends find villains before the world is destroyed?" Yuugi tried. "I don't think you have nearly as much power as Satiah had. I can sense it a little. I really should try again."
Now is not the time for jokes. Atem criticized him.
I'm not joking, Atem, I can feel it. It's not very strong. To the south? Yuugi looked South and tried walking. "It's too general."
"Then don't kiss the general girl. Someone kiss the born again spirit girl brimming with power," Kaiba said.
"I can't. I'm in a committed/non-committed thing with Mai," Jounouchi said. "Yuugi's got Anzu."
"Yuugi doesn't have me," Anzu corrected him. "Sort of not."
"But I thought-"
"Not right now," Anzu yelled at Jounouchi. "This isn't helping."
"I'm not leaving Mokuba, so figure it out already," Kaiba criticized them.
"Anzu. This way." Yuugi took her hand outside the room.
"Yuugi."
"We need to try again," Yuugi insisted. "Atem and Satiah aren't going to be comfortable with kissing, you know that." He knew things were tricky enough between the two of them. Whether it was together, or whether Kaiba got tired of the wait and grabbed Satiah. It wouldn't be good either way.
"I know." Anzu looked ashamed. "Why does it have to be this way? It's hard to think of you as a friend when we . . ."
"Saving the world." Yuugi moved closer to her, slowly stealing a kiss until she started moving into it. She had the power, he knew it. He could feel it. It was weak, but she had millennium power contained in her too. Then? He really felt it when she breathed into the kiss. He pulled away. Don't get pulled in, Yuugi. If Atem and Satiah come back. That energy would hurt her. Maybe. Maybe it was a one-time thing, but could he risk it? Even if Atem took back his power, if he was back with him, could that power overwhelm her again? Don't. "Okay." After this whole thing is over, then we'll see where we can stand.
"I will leave Yuugi afterwards, if I end up back with him. I promise that, Anzu."
Atem's voice creeped around the corner along with him. Yuugi glanced at Anzu, then back at him. "I found out which way to go."
"Great, but it still stands," Atem said again. "If or when I lose this body, if I don't go back naturally, then I will find a way back." He went back in but called out for the others.
Yuugi looked back toward her. Maybe with that promise from Atem himself, she would be with him and . . . stay? Maybe. Another time, Yuugi.
But don't wait that long, Other Me. Atem's voice interrupted him as they all started to walk away.
"I'll be back for Mai and my sister," Jounouchi called behind him. "Oh, and we'll pick up Honda later too. Guy can handle some jail time, no problem."
