I'm playing pretty loose with canon events in this chapter, so be warned. I'm also aware that after reading this chapter you might consider Scarlette somewhat of an Mary Sue but I'm really trying my hardest to keep her the same character we started off with in chapter one. The only difference being that we're switching from a silly enemies to lovers romance to the actual plot of the manga and anime. My take on it of course.
Alright, enough of my rambling! Let's go!
A few days later Scarlette found herself waiting at the Domino Station, anxiously chewing at her bottom lip. Only hours remained until Seto would announce his Battle City Tournament that night. And after she had seen the awesome power of his Egyptian God-card, Obelisk the Tormentor, she pitied anyone who would face him. Obelisk was a true feat: during Seto's trial-run of the card she had almost believed the gigantic monster had been real due to the fact it had short-circuited everything.
She heaved a deep sigh, sending Seto a quick ''I love you'' text before putting her phone away. Yugi had called her the day before asking if she could talk to the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle. The spirit seemed to be very down as of late, not knowing about his unknown past. And after their last conversation, Scarlette was more than willing to help. If this spirit had been her brother in a previous life she owed to him to help him what he needed to find answers to-
'Yugi-you can't-this isn't a duel!'
She turned her head meeting the slightly embarrassed, taller version of Yugi ranting at the piece of jewelry around his neck. It honestly made him look like a crazy person. Keep an open mind, Scarlette, she had to remind herself as she approached.
Looking upon the so-called spirit confused her, if anything else. They were close to being a mirror image of one another; it was jarring and she now knew there was more going on than she was willing to believe at first.
'I hope I didn't keep you waiting', he stated, somewhat awkwardly so. She merely shrugged, amused by seeing that usually so stoic man look so embarrassed. It was amusing if anything.
'No, I just got here. Come on', she gestured with her head; 'I know a great place we can get something to eat.'
Scarlette noted how absent the nameless spirit opposite her was. He was staring out of the window, chin resting atop of his hand while his eyes scanned the passing crowd. From what Yugi had told her, the spirit had been in a lot of turmoil lately. Least not by the fact that someone had tried to steal the Millennium puzzle.
She felt for him, she really did. In some ways, she was just as lost about her past as he was. She now knew thanks to Seto that the Egyptian exhibit in the Domino museum held these stone tablets that depicted a battle between the Pharaoh and a mighty sorcerer.
I should tell him about it, she mused in silence, it's only fair. And maybe it'll help him look for answers he needs…
She felt a familiarity with Yugi and him. And not just because they looked alike. She had somehow always sensed that platonic bond, however deeply it may have been hidden. But ever since all this talk of Egyptian artifacts, a lot of feelings she was a stranger to had surfaced.
'Yugi told me, about what had happened', she began carefully, catching his attention; 'about how you almost lost each other.'
He nodded in response. 'Yes, our bond was almost severed when the puzzle was broken. But I fear that this was only the first of many attempts to take it', he stated with a sigh.
She softened her gaze then reached for him. And when she placed her hand atop of his, she shuddered. Unlike before, she didn't fight the twines of fate that had entwined her, Seto and him in this strange occurrence of events.
'Scarlette, you are one of the keys to my past. And we both know that. And no matter what happens, I will protect you the best way I know how to', he promised.
She didn't want to grow emotional, but did anyways; feeling the weight of his promise because of the threat that would come their way. She felt it was inevitable and that Yugi and the spirit would find themselves among more danger than ever.
'I know. I'll be by your side every step of the way', she answered then bit her lip; 'and I might know a way for you to at least get some answers to your past', she added.
When he frowned at her, she explained: 'There's an exhibition on ancient Egypt at the museum. Seto was invited to attend a private tour about a week ago and even he couldn't deny the weight of what he was shown.'
He seemed to hesitate, looking so uncertain. 'We don't have to', she quickly said; 'we can do something else, it's up to you.'
He offered a ghost of a smile then glanced out of the window. 'Forgive me. I have been feeling like a stranger to myself lately. I cannot seem to reach these memories of my past, not even my own name…'
She twiddled with her straw. 'Maybe it's best to start with what you do remember. Even if it's the tiniest details', she offered.
He gave a soft nod. 'I know it that I come from Egypt', there was a meaningful pause in which he looked her way. 'When Yugi put together the Millennium Puzzle and our bond was struck, I was reborn in a sense. As if it were fate that led Yugi to solve the puzzle and brought us together for a very important reason. I just wish I knew what that reason was.'
She kept listening, suddenly feeling like a bad person for not believing this sooner. It was obvious to her that the bond Yugi and the spirit had was a very close one. And that almost losing one another must've been close to traumatizing.
'I understand', she answered him; 'ever since I started having these visions, I didn't know what purpose they had and I still don't. I don't know the how or why I was reborn in this time but I'll follow my heart', she reached for him giving him another smile. 'and it's telling me to help you, in any way I can.'
He nodded in agreement. 'I always tell Yugi the same thing, to follow his heart and do what makes him happy', he answered making her smile.
She finished the last of her milkshake then stood up. 'Alright, let's go. We might as well have some fun today before we head to the museum.'
The Domino Museum held an eerie atmosphere that evening. Scarlette glanced around the countless artifacts on display. She hoped that at least one of these could help the spirit in a meaningful way. But judging by his unchanging facial expression, that wasn't the case. She also didn't see the stone tablets that Seto had spoken of. She couldn't imagine they had been removed so quickly. Or were they hidden somewhere else-
When he took a sharp turn to the left, Scarlette followed him to an open door that led to a set of downward stairs. 'Are you sure we're allowed to go down there?' she asked only to stop herself short when she noted the glowing eye on his forehead.
Gulping deeply she stepped over the rope to follow him, nerves swirling in her gut. His silence unnerved her; he was sensing something she couldn't and she wasn't so sure she liked it. For all her brave talk there was still this part of her that was simply terrified of Egyptian curses and these ancient artifacts. If there was such an item that could control people's minds, how could they be sure whom to trust?
Following the spirit's gaze, she gasped. When she looked upon the stone tablet ahead, she finally understood. Standing beside the spirit, she then realized that everything up until now, had been real. He had been an Egyptian Pharaoh; the image depicted on the tablet looked exactly like him.
'Oh my god', she breathed out as her eyes dropped to the pendant around the carved pharaoh's neck. 'He even has the Millennium Puzzle like you do', she was shocked.
'Hmm', the spirit nodded then turned his attention towards the man pictured opposite him. His eyes then widened. 'Look, my opponent looks like Kaiba. And the monster above him-'
'The Blue-Eyes White Dragon?' Scarlette felt more and more dizzy; the knowledge of the spirit and Seto having been enemies in the past frightening her. Seto had told her of course but to truly see this before her now, it was scary.
'Why am I fighting Kaiba? What was the purpose of this duel?' The spirit heaved a deep sigh: 'Every time I think I have answers, more questions arise.'
'Perhaps I can be of assistance, my Pharaoh.'
Both turned their heads at the female voice coming behind them. A beautiful, dark skinned woman with jet black hair emerged, hands folded together in front of her. 'Who are you? And what do you know?' the spirit asked.
The woman approached both of them and bowed her head. 'My name is Ishizu Ishtar, Pharaoh, Princess. And I have uncovered many of the mysteries surrounding you and these ancient carvings using the powers granted by my Millennium necklace', as she explained both their eyes widened.
Around her neck, was a golden necklace with the same symbol as the puzzle. Scarlette gasped. 'Another Millennium item?' she was dumfounded; 'how many of those are there?'
The woman named Ishizu smiled tenderly. 'Seven in total, Princess Sahirah', Scarlette shifted in unease at being addressed in that manner, though she was glad she now knew her past name.
Ishizu turned to the spirit whom was just as shocked. 'Like your Millennium puzzle, my necklace has a certain magic. With it I was able to look into the past five thousand years ago back to a time where these monsters you see were real and the world was brought to the edge of ruin', she explained; 'however, there was one Pharaoh that possessed a power strong enough to defeat this threat.'
The spirit tightened his jaw. 'And who was this Pharaoh?' he questioned.
'It was you, Atem. You were the one that defeated this evil. But now, this very same evil threatens the world once again. And it's up to you to defeat it', Ishizu went on.
Scarlette swallowed, wrapping her arms around herself. 'What about-' 'your visions?' Ishizu answered making the other woman gape at how she was aware of what she was about to say.
'Your visions brought you to your brother, Sahirah. And though you don't hold as much power as him, you're still destined to be by his side', Ishizu said gently then closed her eyes for a moment.
When she opened them again, she spoke: 'I know your memory has faded, Pharaoh and that you seek many answers. If you enter the upcoming Duel Monsters tournament, you will find these answers', she had turned around to walk away: 'when you return home there will be an invitation waiting for you. Choose to take it and you will fulfill your destiny', she gave them both a last glance.
'Until we meet again, Pharaoh Atem.' With that, she was gone leaving Scarlette and the spirit, no, Atem to ponder the bombshell that had been dropped on them.
'Atem? So that's your real name?' she asked him then put a hand to his shoulder. He grasped at her hand, giving her an emotional glance. 'Are you alright?' she wondered.
'I am. But I must enter this tournament and win it to fulfill my destiny', he tightened his hold on her; 'and you must promise me that you'll be careful. Now that I know you are my sister, I cannot let anything happen to you', he spoke with such certainty that she could do nothing but embrace him, sniffling.
And when she did, she felt his arms slip around her holding her close. With this new knowledge laid bare between them, she felt more closer to him than ever before. To at last have an answer to all these questions and doubts she had had all these months, it was such a relief.
What concerned her however, was the fact that Seto and him had fought in the distant past. What if that was fated to happen again? Would she once again become caught in the cross-fire? Could she choose her lover over her own brother?
'As long as you promised the same thing', she spoke softly with tears in her eyes; 'I don't want to lose you.'
He took her by the shoulders, tender, soft but determined. 'You won't', he assured her.
The Domino town square was crowded that evening.
As Scarlette an Atem wandered through the mass of people they caught sight of several old faces. Among them being Mai Valentine; a female duelist that had also taken part in Duelist Kingdom's tournament.
Though when Scarlette saw a mop of blue hair dressed in pink in the distance, a bright smile grew on her face. 'Delany! Over here!' she called catching the girl's attention.
'Scarlette! Is that you?!' the blue-haired woman came running over to them with the biggest grin; practically jumping on Scarlette. 'I haven't seen you in forever! I'd almost forgotten you moved to Domino!'
On and on she went making Atem raise an eyebrow when the two women broke apart. Scarlette grinned at her then turned to her brother. 'I'd like you to meet Delany James-', she was barely able to introduce the other woman before Delany shook his hand.
'Yugi Mutou, right? It's an honor to meet you. You're much taller and more handsome in person!' she giggled with pink cheeks much to Scarlette's slight embarrassment. Though Atem didn't very much seem to mind.
'Ah yes-a pleasure to meet you, Delany', his violet eyes stayed on her for a moment longer before he looked away. 'Are you here for the tournament?'
'Hell yeah I am! Scarlette sucked at Duel Monsters when we were kids but me, I've made a pretty good name for myself', Delany grinned from ear to ear.
Scarlette put a hand to her forehead. 'I just didn't get into it. I wasn't that bad-' 'oh come on. You lost to me when I was still using Watapon', Delany cut her off with a grin.
'Don't make me regret calling you over, you cotton-candy nightmare', Scarlette grumbled.
'Heh', Delany twirled around in her pink with white polka-dot dress, smug. 'It's called an aesthetic.'
'Well, you most certainly stand out', Atem spoke up receiving a death-glare from Scarlette. 'You're taken her side?' she huffed though a hidden smile peaked at her lips.
Delany smiled (timidly?) at her brother's comment, crossing her arms over her chest. 'I have to ask, though, who's organizing this tournament? The invitation was anonymous', she wondered.
'Well there aren't many people with a lot of money to organize such an event', Scarlette stated. Like my douche of a boyfriend, she added mentally.
And as if on cue, all the commercial screens plastered across the buildings switched to Kaiba's face. 'Greetings, Domino City. As you can probably tell, all elite duelists are now gathered in one place. Reason being is that you've all been invited to my exclusive Battle City tournament which will make Duelist Kingdom look like some renaissance fair.'
A wave of scoffs and groans was heard around them.
'Each of you will be able to use my advanced DuelDisk-system and you'll duel using the new Duel Monsters rule book. Meaning that if you lose, you forfeit your rarest card!'
'So basically if you lose one duel and lose your ace card you're fucked. Great', Delany huffed.
The approaching sound of whirring helicopter blades drew their attention away from the screen. Scarlette, Atem and Delany gaped up at the KaibaCorp. helicopter flying overhead. Seto stood there on the rail, in his new white, padded coat glowering down upon the people present.
And when his blue stare locked onto her through the crowd, she felt a regrettable chill at the sheer rage brewing in his gaze especially as his eyes moved from her to Atem and back.
She had told him she would go out with a friend that day, but hadn't told him that friend was Yugi. Part of which had to do with his earlier jealous fit over her sharing time with any other man. It was ridiculous-
'Don't forget to register and pick up your DuelDisk because exactly two weeks from today, my Battle City Tournament will begin!' he exclaimed with a smirk. Though she knew better. He'd have a go at her for meeting up with Yugi.
'Are you fucking serious?!'
Scarlette ran after Seto in a huff, struggling to keep up with him due to his longer legs. Though when he spun around on her she took a startled step backwards. The look in his eyes was murderous and try as she might, it frightened her.
'What were you doing with him? Huh?!' He seethed at her.
She refused to cower in front of him, let alone when she had done nothing wrong. He had no right to be this angry and jealous when they had been meant to be together. She had only tried to help Yugi and Atem, nothing more. This was the second time he had accused her of cheating on him. And she was sick of feeling she had to step lightly around him constantly.
'You're being ridiculous-' 'no other man is going to take what's mine, Scarlette!' He cut her off.
She scoffed. 'What are you going to do? Lock me up?!' She yelled.
He narrowed his eyes into thin slits. 'I might', she knew that was his anger talking but did he really have so little faith and trust in her? It frankly hurt he thought that way of her. She hadn't done anything to earn his distrust.
'There's nothing going on between me and Yugi, okay?' She quelled her own anger, instead reaching out for him. But he pulled away from her with such venom he might as well have slapped her across the face. And somehow, that would've hurt less.
'Then why didn't you tell me you were meeting up with him?' He hissed.
'Because I shouldn't have to! I'm a grown-ass woman, Seto. I don't have to run every decision I make by you and you're an asshole for assuming I would', she told him off.
His intense glare didn't let up: he had to be aware he had overreacted. But she knew Seto; he still kept his walls up, yet expected her to keep hers down at all times.
After a few gruesome moments of silence, she exhaled deeply. 'If he was that Pharaoh all those centuries ago as I was that princess, that means he's my brother', she said, tearful; 'and just because he's your rival doesn't mean you can give me a hard time for hanging out with him', her voice grew softer, more emotional.
But at that moment, Seto was so overtaken by his own emotions that he seemed to hold no regard for hers:
'That doesn't change the fact you lied to me!' He snarled.
She felt her bottom lip quiver. She hated it whenever he got so upset and angry. 'I didn't-!' 'So you kept shit from me, it's the same thing!' He cut her off then stalked over to her, towering over her.
'You belong to me-' 'so that means I can't have any male friends?! You can't expect me to be okay with that!' she fired back.
He tightened his jaw at her. His gaze was practically spewing fire at that point. But she refused to back down now. She wasn't his docile little girlfriend and she would never be that. Yet that didn't change her deeply rooted feelings for him.
'But I love you regardless-' he had harshly pulled away when she placed a hand on his forearm. And try as she might, it hurt to see him act this way towards her.
'We'll talk later', he declared.
'Don't walk away from this, Seto!' She was fighting her tears, upset by how he had accused her of cheating again. She had always been faithful to him.
'I have a tournament to orchestrate, Scarlette', he walked away from her leaving her to clutch at her own arms.
'You can be such a bad boyfriend sometimes', she had choked out the words without even thinking.
'Maybe you should look for a new boyfriend then', his cruel statement stung, she wouldn't deny that. Yet at the same time, a creeping fear welled up inside her. Was he really going to break up with her over something as silly as this?
'You don't meant that-' 'I do', he cut her off with a menacing, downright mean glare.
She began to shake her head in denial. No, I don't want to lose him, she thought, not like this…
'Seto, please. I'm sorry', she had cowered, which was extremely unhealthy given what he had accused her of but she couldn't be without him. She loved him. Didn't he see that?!
There was a twinge of softness in his gaze before that coldness took over again. 'We're done', he declared making her sob.
'Don't leave me!' She had broken down crying; pleading and begging him to stay. To not throw all of their love away like it meant nothing. But he left her standing there as he walked off. Each step away from her was another crack in her aching heart. She quietly began to cry, so hurt and betrayed by his actions. How could he do this to her?!
I personally hate this chapter.
For one, I don't like heavy dialogue that I have to follow. Second, I feel like I failed building Atem and Scarlette's relationship and third, I hate the breakup scene. So if you'll forgive me, I'll be over here crying in a fucking corner at how the last chapter was such a failure xD
Please don't forget to leave a comment and I'll see you loves next time! ;)
~Denise1374