I do not own YGO! DUEL MONSTERS.

Anxiety: what Mana was feeling as she entered, just behind Yami and Yūgi, into the huge room where the art exhibition would be presented.

She gathered saliva under her tongue and then swallowed it loudly, closed her eyes taking a deep breath, and then pretended the frivolous serenity with which she had intended to be.

Of course, the feeling was not as great as when she saw Ryou Bakura or the painting in that gallery. If that were the case, both Yami and Yūgi would have felt the worry and fear as their own, but it was not so, and instead, they both peeped at the surroundings, refusing to separate from each other, or from her, in any case.

Trying to change her mood to a merely more calculating one, she looked up at the stage around them. The ceiling was high, and the columns and walls were a fairly clean smoke white, perhaps not to overshadow in any way the paintings and creations that were either hung or on a pedestal of the same shade. To avoid accidents, almost the entire hall was surrounded by discreet guards and those red strings that clearly indicated a prohibition on the way. As in the gallery, the lights were warm, sadly, and simple ambient music filled the spaces between conversations and observations.

Finally, almost all the people who had attended were around thirty to seventy years old, with the exception of the conservatory students, of course, who in turn wore formal clothes and presented some of their crafts with a firm full chest of pride.

Mana found herself with a slight hint of envy inside, thinking that she should be the one standing there explaining what had inspired her, or what the work in question was called, but she soon discarded that line of thought. Desperate thoughts.

Yami glanced at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you okay?" he wanted to know.

She could only nod, preferring not to lie to him with a tremulous voice or a lost look.

Before Yami could comment further, Yūgi's slight movement calling her caught her attention. The younger Mutō pointed his jaw in one direction and, when Mana also looked, a slight smile escaped from the struggle of thoughts and emotions inside her.

The couple made up of Mahad and Ishizu came briskly towards them, both with a relieved rather than surprised expression.

"Young Mutō, I'm glad you were able to come," said his older brother with that distinctive cordial touch in his words.

"It's just you?" Ishizu wanted to know by looking quickly at Mana, not knowing what to think, and then searching among the small crowd that surrounded them.

Mana realized that perhaps she was looking for Téa, but Yūgi was more than quick to intervene just before they entered a terrible and awkward silence.

"Our grandfather is likely to come later," he said with a smile that Mana couldn't identify. "He had to do a few things before."

"Oh," Ishizu smiled. "I see. In that case I hope he arrives before the main attraction."

"Main attraction?" Yami asked curiously, practically stealing the words from Mana.

It was Mahad who replied:

"The Past in Dreams," he said. She was flattered many times inside and outside the conservatory, although the painter is not known or famous, critics had such a good opinion that they thought of giving value to each painting that was presented today.

Mana gasped unconsciously and looked at Yami. He, for obvious reasons, was forced not to look back at her, but he didn't have to do it for her to understand.

It was the same collection from the gallery.

"What time?" Yūgi ventured to ask with quite realistic curiosity.

Mahad looked at his black watch. Mana recognized the object as a birthday gift that she herself had chosen.

"In an hour or so," he replied, and pointed carelessly back. "They are making the preparations while the same painter is psyched up. It is his first live performance and he is nervous."

"Do you know him?" Yami wanted to know.

Ishizu nodded.

"He is close to the family, especially Mana. The two of them have been together since childhood and, oh, what was the story like?" she turned to her fiancé.

A graceful smile split Mahad's face.

"Nothing complicated. They met at the conservatory after moving from London about ten years ago. Ryou has an amazing ability to capture what he sees on canvas, while Mana is more of the type that projects what she thinks."

"Hmm..." at that moment, Yūgi and Yami shared a confused look, something that only twins could understand, but it was enough for both Mahad and Ishizu to suspect something.

Mana tilted her head with narrowed eyes, seriously intrigued by the following actions the twins took; but, just before she could ask them, a senior man, who was wearing glasses and wearing a black suit with a red tie, caught the eye of all those present standing right in the middle and making the ambient music gradually stop.

"Dear guests..." Mana knew it was the principal of the arts conservatory. From what she remembered, he was a serious and strict man despite the friendly smile he expressed, however she couldn't remember meeting someone who loved both art and music as that gentleman.

The principal of the conservatory gave a word of thanks about attending the exhibition, also added how proud he was of his students that year and how excited to introduce "that genius" who had arrived in their classrooms ten years ago.

A tightness in her chest made her lips tighten. Those words...

"Mana," then Yami pulled her out of her daze with his deep voice. He nodded to the side and started walking.

Until that moment, Mana hadnʼt noticed that Yūgi, Mahad and Ishizu had disappeared. Following a few steps away from Yami, Mana could see that they were heading towards an isolated side of the property. They weren't exactly discreet, but also not outrageous. If she had to say it somehow, it was as if Yami was perfectly camouflaged with that stylized environment. Of course, some people turned to glance at him out of the corner of their eye, either because of his attractive appearance or suspicious attitude, but none stopped him from wherever they were heading.

And then they stopped in front of a huge door.

"Are you ready?" he wanted to know.

Mana didn't know what he meant.

"I... Don't know? What are you talking about?"

A long sigh escaped his lips, making her frown, as it was pretty obvious that he expected her to say something like that.

"I knew it. You are distracted."

"I always am."

"Well, today you are more. We have been talking for a long time with Mahad and Ishizu while you were spacing out. No, even since we arrived you have been acting more abnormal than other days," he closed his eyes as if calming himself and continued: "I know this must be hard on you, but trust me and Yūgi, okay? This cannot fail. Just... Try not to get into any crisis or run away in terror."

"Hm? Why would I do that?!" she questioned. A bad feeling had begun to run down her spine.

And, without Yami warning her, he opened the huge door away from the crowd.

She gasped unconsciously as she passed under the threshold, and had much reason since around her, a lot of pictures and paintings with a well-known style appeared as if they had been waiting for her for a long time.

In silence, and almost in the dark by the discretion of that room, Mana left Yami a few steps behind as she began to look through each of the colorful canvases.

In one, huge dunes, under a bright sky, stretched to the horizon. A couple of riders were there, they seemed to be self-absorbed, as if the rest of the world didn't matter. One wore a blue cape up to his head, so Mana surprised herself to recognize him as a man, while the woman wore a brown cape with the hood down on her back. That left her untamed brown hair in plain view.

She repressed the urge to put her hands in her own hair by swallowing saliva and moving on to the next picture.

In that, the same guy in the blue cape was leaning back on a balcony of... What would it be? Dry earth? Rocks? Adobe?... She couldn't say it clearly, but she was sure that not even the dirty dust could take away the majestic aura that overflowed that man, who had been painted from a well-calculated angle so that was the purpose

The next painting was the one they saw in the gallery. It was still just as disquieting because of the number of priests in ot and the indescribable sense of familiarity it gave her, but at this point Mana was too engrossed in all the paintings in general and in her thoughts that there was no room for fears and doubts.

Once again she looked around and noticed, without surprise, that each of the paintings were focused on that mysterious man in a blue cloak and powerful aura. From a point of view full of admiration and, at the same time, full of longing. The kind of sad longing that someone felt for something they knew could never be completely theirs, no matter how close they were.

An unrequited love, perhaps? One as close as unattainable?

That certainly conveyed the paintings, which made it strange to think that it was a boy who had painted them —which was not bad, she thought.

But... Why did she feel that way? Strange?

She raised a hand tentatively towards the man in the painting and went through it without hesitation. She knew then. Those paintings were hers and, at the same time, they were not. The feelings that pierced the canvases were as much hers as they were foreign. As well-known as unknown.

As close as distant.

She shook her head with grief and turned her gaze to Yami, wondering if he would have, by the work and grace of fate, the same thoughts as her. If he would feel the same as her.

And judging by his expression, she knew it was so. However, his eyes were not focused on her or on the paintings about that mysterious man, but on one completely removed from the original collection, as if the artist, on purpose, wanted to keep it hidden in the dark.

She squinted her eyes and... She didn't know what exactly she saw, as her senses were clouded by hearing a voice fully expected as overwhelming.

"I knew it wouldn't be long before you got to me," he said, coming from a corner, as if he had been waiting for the perfect time to make his appearance. He wore a dark suit like most of the guests, except for the golden pendant that adorned his chest and wild white hair.

Bakura would have passed for someone civilized and completely fond of contemporary art, however, despite the sweet features of his face, Mana could no longer see him with the same eyes as before.

That painting... While Yami was surrounded by strange paintings, without a doubt, the one that caught his attention couldn't be other than the one that had nothing to do with the Egyptian theme of that collection.

Of course, he had heard Bakura speak, but he paid no attention to it except to that secluded canvas. Unlike the warm tones around it, it was bathed in cool shades of green and other varieties that simulated a strange and cloudy sky. Some white spots were falling around. Snow, maybe? No. It was feathers. And in the middle of it, surrounded by the storm, there was a person hugging their legs. Her skin was light, but the shadows gave her a slight tan, while her hair, long and straight, but messy, was of a strong and bright blond. Part of her face was hidden between her knees, but what little he could see gave her away completely.

It was Mana. She was different, very changed, but it was her. He couldn't confuse her.

He heard footsteps approaching and soon Bakura was closer than he had expected.

"She is beautiful, isn't she?" he smiled. An expression that seemed sad, but Yami could sense the sardonic. "It is a pity that she couldn't come to the exhibition, I am sure she would have loved my collection."

"Her collection," Yami corrected, taking a step back and regaining his composure. "All of this except for that painting," pointed out Mana's painting. "Belong to Mana, don't they?"

Bakura looked at him with both eyebrows raised.

"Relax, Mutō," he shook his head before smiling. "These are definitely my paintings, you know? They have my brand. My signature."

Yami shook his head.

"It's not true," he accused. "All these paintings are—They have a romantic feeling made by the same person, while that one is... Cold. Spiteful."

"Well, I didn't know you were such an art critic."

"And I am not. So it's surprising how much hatred you emanate toward her," he said.

Bakura smiled as if the mere thought of it was absurd and then shrugged.

"Even if you say that, it is true that I painted these pictures, you know? I could do it again. Because—"

"Because your specialty is to capture what you see, or should I say 'copy'?" Bakura turned his head abruptly as if he had heard terrible blasphemy. Yami allowed himself to smile sideways. "It seems what Mahad said is true. Is that why you hold a grudge against Mana? For being able to project her dreams and thoughts on canvas while you can only imitate the crude reality?" hesaw the boy clench his fists. "Is that why you pushed her down the stairs and, after remembering them well, you tore them apart?"

"You are saying stupid things, do you realize? Mana fell down the stairs as she carried her paintings to the restoration room. Didn't you know how clumsy she is?"

Yami felt Mana's outrage even though Mana said nothing. However this time he did repress the smile that threatened to escape.

"Clumsy, maybe. But not stupid," he avoided adding the 'like others' before saying: "You know, Bakura, there are three things that only the culprit and the victim could know," Yami started to walk while listing with his fingers. "The first: who is each, in case it was a mystery. The second: the reason why they acted as they did. And finally: the context that surrounded them."

Bakura's expression, while not exactly calm, changed suddenly. Realizing that he was right, relieved as he was, Yami knew it would mean nothing if...

The door opened and this time, Yami smiled.

Bakura turned around with fake calm as Ishizu and Mahad, followed by Yūgi, entered. Her blue eyes were completely incredulous and horrified, while Mahad's only showed the hottest of fires.

"Is that true, Bakura?" Mana's brother asked, though he didn't seem to need confirmation.

Bakura denied.

"It's... It's something I remembered after talking to the police..."

"And why didn't you say so before?" Yūgi lashed out.

"I... forgot. It's just that I was so busy coming and going from the hospital while I finished painting..."

He had started to sweat coldly and he stuttered looking everywhere and, at the same time, none in particular.

"It can't be... You did it!" Ishizu exclaimed, pointing an index finger. "You—You are —How could you betray her?!"

If Bakura had shown any hint of guilt and regret, even acknowledgment, it soon disappeared when his scowl furrowed and his jaw clenched so tightly that he trembled.

"Betray her?!" he repeated. "She couldn't even paint the apple they put in front of everyone and still flattered her to the point of ceasing to evaluate! I, on the other hand, always did what they asked me to do perfectly. Portraits, paintings, stupid geometric figures... And for what?! She had all the credit for nothing! And she said everything with... With such happiness... So calm and pride. As if she was the only one with that talent. They have always, always compared us. It was always 'Mana who paints and Bakura who copies.' she never made the slightest effort to progress."

"And you did?" Mahad questioned, his voice tight, as if at any moment he was going to scream or break. "Did you progress? Is that what it meant to throw her down the stairs for you?"

"And what did you plan to do after shw woke up, huh?" Ishizu asked. "Try to murder her again? Amazing! Guards!"

Her screams were so desperate that the uniformed men were quick to arrive as soon as possible. Assuming he would try to run away, Yami stood behind Bakura, but Bakura, instead of making a move, just smiled as if everything was fun.

However, as soon as he saw that smile, it disappeared as if it had never been there, being replaced by an expression full of regret and terror.

"No, it's not what you think! I can explain it! Mahad! Ishizu!"

Ignoring his pleas, both of Mana's family members stepped aside as journalists, photographers and other guests took note of what was happening.

That would be a big stain in many ways, Yami supposed, before looking up at Mana, who had held herself in expectation.

Her gaze betrayed sadness, but she didn't seem eager to show it aloud. The two shared one last look of camaraderie before Yūgi called them.

Once most of the uproar had ceased, both Yami and Yūgi were called to give their statement of events to the police. They didn't have an official version of how or when they had come to investigate all that, but they seemed satisfied with what little they said.

Thanks to Mahad, they were both able to sneak out of the reporters using a kind of back door, through which employees entered and exited.

And, being in tranquility, Mana was finally able to speak.

"How did you make all this happen successfully?" she wanted to know.

Yami shrugged his shoulders.

"While you were lost in your world, Yūgi and I talked to your brother about a possible suspect who was present among the guests."

"We asked them to help us by hearing what he had to say, and it was only a matter of conviction to follow us. The rest falls to Yami."

Yūgi nudged Yami friendly, to which he laughed.

"It was more improvised than planned, but I figured if I made him talk enough, at some point he'd drop something interesting."

"Hmm..."

Turning in a corner contrary to the one they were supposed to take, Mana realized, then, that they were not heading to the Mutō home.

Before she could ask, the huge and elegant Domino Hospital made its way into her field of vision and her heart clenched in her chest.

Yūgi smiled sadly at her.

"I think it's about time, right? You already remembered and everything was solved. You just need to recover both your peace and that of your family."

Mana nodded, holding a hand to her chest, then looked at Yami.

He smiled at her with that same warmth as ever, only an image appeared overlaid on Mana's eyes.

An image of that man in the cape, with the Millennium Puzzle hanging from Yūgi's neck.

"Then I'll try to recover as soon as possible so I can find you."

"I'll be waiting," he said so casually that he hardly realizes he had ever heard that phrase before and since Yūgi made the same joke, a warm sense of déjà vu touched her. And Mana knew that if she could, she would hug them both with all the strength of a brown bear.

Instead, she could only smile as they made their way to a stop in front of the transparent glass doors of the hospital.

With just a wave of the hand, Mana walked through the doors without even opening them, however, before walking away completely, she quickly turned around and returned directly to Yami.

He was surprised to feel something on his lips and soon Mana was no longer by his side.

Not by his side, not anywhere.