"I wander through fiction to look for the truth
Buried beneath all the lies
And I stood at a distance
To feel who you are
Hiding myself in your eyes"
-Before It's Too Late, Goo Goo Dolls
𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕𓁕
"Anything yet?" the man demands.
"We apologize Mr. Kaiba," a scientist replies before another archaeologist adds, "We've tried everything but we can't solve it."
Slamming his hands on the table, he shouts, "I don't care if your team has to stay the whole damn night, solve that puzzle now!"
Both men look at the verge of passing out.
"Is that understood?" he threatened.
"Yes, sir." they both answered before scrambling out of his office.
Seto Kaiba sighed in frustration.
"I'm so close. I can feel it." he mumbled to himself before he went back to his laptop.
𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏𓀏
"You do know there is no going back, " the god said.
"Yes," the young woman replied without any sign of emotion.
"Everyday, you mortals surprise me. You all would do anything for selfishness."
"You're wrong," the woman said.
The bright orange eyes of the bird stared at the woman, intrigued at what she was about to say.
"I do this, because I love him. With all my soul and heart. He is my everything, as I am his."
The god smiled.
"Very well then."
Mana shrieked in agony, witnessing the scene unfolding before her. The pair of eyes suddenly launched itself at her and darkness consumed her.
𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒𓀒
"Miss! You're awake!" a nurse yelled happily as Mana gasped for air.
"Oh this is joyful news! I will go get the Doctor- are you alright Miss?"
Mana slowly brought her hands to her face and touched it lightly.
It was wet.
"Miss, why are you crying?"
Mana continued to weep, her heart piercing in pain at each second, as she managed to say, "I-I don't know."
Then she felt something hot in her face. Gently touching it with her fingers, Mana gave a frightened expression at the blood that her nosebleed was leaving.
"I-" she whispered weakly.
"Doctor!" the nurse yelled, running out the room. Mana could only sit in shock.
Slowly her eyes landed on the flowers beside her.
Lotus flowers.
𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎𓁎
"How long was I out Mr. Muto?"
Mr. Muto sighed deeply.
"About a week, Mana. You made us all worried."
She smiled weakly. "Oops. My bad."
Mr. Muto, however, didn't smile back.
"It's a miracle you have no complications and only minor injuries. You were on the verge of dying."
Mana slouched.
"I just can't seem to understand how such an experienced archaeologist like you could have made such a rookie mistake to slip in the excavation?"
"Who sent me the flowers?"
They both spoke at the same time.
Mr. Muto rubbed his temple, "I believe they were sent from someone who works in the museum. I think Isisu was her name?"
"Ishizu Ishtar," Mana hummed.
"Mr. Muto."
"Yes?"
"What else did you guys find on the site?"
Mr. Muto smiled.
"Well I don't know if you were aware but you found the last Millennium item."
Mana almost jumped out of bed, had it not been for the needle in her wrist.
"You also found some sort of crook yet it's different from a Pharaoh. It's not a stick as it has engraves written on it."
"When I'm not with you, know that your own faith and strength will guide you." Mana heard the voice whisper in her mind.
No. No. NO.
It was impossible.
"Mana- Mana- are you alright?" Mr. Muto panics as he sees Mana freaking out.
"I-I-" is all she can say.
Standing up, Mr. Muto rushes to her side and grabs her by her shoulders.
"Mana, look at me. Calm down child. What's wrong?"
Mana is still a bit shaken but manages to calm down. Looking at the flowers beside her she says, "Mr. Muto, I know it may sound weird but, do weird things occur around you?"
Mr. Muto is silent for a moment before he laughs weakly.
"Mana dear, have I told you the story on how I found the Nameless Pharaoh's tomb?"
Mana perks up at that comment.
"I was naive and careless." Mr. Muto begins before he tells his story to Mana.
Not so far from them, a few miles away, Kaiba's team tries to solve the puzzle but they have no success.
"Dammit!" Kaiba yells in frustration as his team stands in fear.
"Get me the museum curator on the line now!"
𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁𓀁
A few days have passed and after Mana had gotten cleared up, she returned immediately back to the museum.
Right besides Mr. Muto.
"When can I see the puzzle? I have been dreaming of this moment for ages." she pouts.
Mr. Muto chuckles.
"Patience Mana. Beyond these elevator doors we will see the puzzle and maybe finish this quest once and for all."
Mana smiles.
However when the elevator's doors opened, the site was anything from what they expected.
Scientists and archaeologists were running around the room.
"What is going on here?" Mana asked.
"Oh dear, perhaps I forgot to mention to you that we still haven't been able to solve the puzzle just yet." Mr. Muto said.
"What? But what's the hurry? This takes time and patience." Mana replied.
"The showcase for next year is what's in a hurry. They have decided to move the display till a month from now and CEO Kaiba demands for the puzzle to be complete." Mr. Muto replied.
"Kaiba." Mana growled under her breath.
Entering the room, Mana spots the wand- the crook. The newly found crook is on display along with the other five millennium items.
"Mana, here it is." Mr. Muto said as he led her to a table.
Mana just awed the puzzle. It glows of its gold, so pure and so beautiful. Yet why, instead of putting her at ease, it made her have a sour taste in her mouth and her heart clenched in pain?
"Ah Mr. Muto, has your team finally solved the puzzle?"
Mr. Muto and Mana turn and look at Kaiba walking out of the elevator with a small child behind his trail.
"I apologize, Mr. Kaiba. Mana here just got discharged and I couldn't help but worry about her."
Kaiba just looks at her unfazed as he makes his way towards them.
"However, I know someone who might be able to solve this puzzle. Is it alright if I bring him into this research project?
Kaiba looks at Mr. Muto, unimpressed.
"Who?"
"My grandson. He dedicates his life to games, puzzles, and dueling. I know he can solve this puzzle."
"Tch. You almost had me fooled Mr. Muto. Why do you think I would want a highschool boy if I have the best scientists and archaeologists at my service?"
Mr. Muto frowns, "Because none of us have figured out the puzzle yet and if you keep refusing for my grandson's help, you'll only continue to waste more time."
"Fine, call him and have him on the first flight here tomorrow," Kaiba finally says before looking back at Mana once more.
"Why are you looking at me like that Miss Mana?"
"I don't think you should mess around with Egyptian treasures Mr. Kaiba. These are sacred items and treasure."
"Tch, you should watch what you say. Not all of these treasures deserve respect. At the end of the day, they're just things."
"How dare you say that! First the Nameless Pharaoh and now the Millenium Puzzle?" Mana wanted to scream but chose to stay silent.
"That's what I thought," is all Kaiba replied at Mana's silent response before turning back to look at Mr. Muto.
"Tell your grandson I'll have a plane ready when he's at the airport." and with that Kaiba walked away from the two archaeologists.
"I have to call my grandson and inform him to pack. Excuse me Mana." Mr. Muto said before rushing to call his grandson.
After watching Mr. Muto walk away, Mana turned around and continued to study each piece of the puzzle.
Why was this last item found alongside the crook? Why was it buried in a secret room? Why under the royal garden? Just what is its secret?
"Excuse me, ma'am?"
"Ahh!" Mana yelps in surprise.
"You scared me! I thought it was just me looking at the puzzle." Mana breathlessly managed to say to the small kid.
The small kid smiles.
"Hello. I'm Mokuba Kaiba. I was just wondering-"
"Wait-Kaiba? As in CEO Seto Kaiba is your-"
"Big brother? Yes, he is. We aren't much alike but that's what siblings are for, you know?"
Mana frowns sadly.
"No, I do not."
"Oh."
They're silent before Mana says, "Oh my name is-"
"Mana. I know. You were all over the news for discovering the last Millenium item. You're also an archaeologist. It's nice to finally meet you."
Mana smiles.
"Care to join me for lunch? I'm starving and to tell you the truth, I haven't eaten a proper meal since the day I fell into the hole. Hospital food just isn't it."
Mokuba chuckles.
"Alright, I'll join you for lunch. Well, until my brother finds me."
Mana laughs.
Truth be told, she just wanted to get out of the puzzle's sight as soon as possible. Something did not feel right for her. Being near it made her feel uneasy.
Grabbing Mokuba's hand, Mana walks towards the elevator to go to the cafeteria.
"Mana?"
"Yes?"
"I was just wondering what you saw down there."
"Hmm? Down where?"
"Down the hole? What did you see?"
Mana sighed.
"Nothing but complete darkness. I was scared and lonely."
"Ah." Mokuba lets out.
𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣𓀣
It was much later that night when Mokuba entered the office and threw himself on the sofa.
"So, did she say anything intriguing?" Kaiba asked, staring outside the window and down the city below.
"No. She said nothing." Mokuba replied.
"Damn knew it." Kaiba cursed under his breath.
"If my visions are correct, Mana might be a key to helping you solve your Blue Eyes White Dragon mystery."
"What?"
"I don't want to make false assumptions but I think Mana sees visions of ancient Egypt."
"What the heck are you saying? First you make me announce to my team that the Nameless Pharaoh's spirit is cursed and now you want me to believe that some archaeologist of mine can see the past? I think you're an insane woman."
"No, listen to me. She just might be the clue to finally figuring out the secret of the Nameless Pharaoh."
"Tch, fine. I'll have my little brother hang out with her. She might tell him anything that might confirm your assumptions."
"Ah, smart move CEO. What kind of woman lies to a small innocent kid."
𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍𓀍
Like Ra set, Ra rose the next day.
Mana stepped out of the elevator and made her way towards the room where the puzzle was being kept and studied.
Thankfully tonight she had not experienced one single dream of ancient Egypt.
Yet something told her it was just for last night.
"Wow Grandpa, this really is the last Millenium item?"
"Yes, for crying out loud. How many times am I going to repeat it to you, Yugi?"
Mana's head perked up.
Yugi?
Mr. Muto's grandson sure had arrived quickly.
Mana began walking towards their direction with a cheery smile.
"Good morning Mr. Muto! How are-" Mana stopped talking as his grandson turned around to face her.
The young man smiled at her.
"Hello!"
Mana however just looked at him with a frightened expression, as if he was Death itself.
"Yo-You-You're that man." Mana managed to stutter, taking steps back. Trying to keep him a distance away from her.
The young man, Yugi, looked at his grandfather confused while Mr. Muto looked scared.
"Mana? What's wrong? What man?"
Mr. Muto turned towards his grandson, with a raised eyebrow.
"Have you two met before?"
Yugi shook his head frantically, raising both his hands up in surrender.
"No Grandpa! I swear! I have never met her in my entire life."
"That's a lie."
Both men turned towards the shaking young woman.
Mana pointed at Yugi.
"You were there that day. At the site, when I was alone."
Yugi looked petrified at his grandfather's raging face.
"No no! It wasn't me!"
"Yami! You said your name was Yami!"
"Mana!" Mr. Muto suddenly yelled furiously. Both Yugi and Mana jumped from the fright.
The old man narrowed his eyes at Mana, as he said in an angered voice, "I thought you informed me that no one showed up that day."
Mana froze.
"My my, it looks like the truth finally comes out."
Mana quickly spins around.
Seto stands a few feet away, with a scowl in his face. Besides him is Ishizu Ishtar.
She wore a grim expression.