Chapter 10- Canon Catches Up
Okay so we lied a little about the angst and pain. That's next chapter, not this one.
The day that Mutou Yugi is born, Hinata accepts that she will have Bakura Ryou for a little brother come his birth in September.
The relief both she and Youko feel with Yugi's birth is overwhelming. To know that they hadn't killed the boys or anything was a burden lifted from their shoulders. (Not to mention the joy of living with the knowledge that they're not genderbends of the two).
And while she knows her own future sibling will be adorable, Yugi is one of the cutest babies ever. Getting to hold him and interact with him is a challenge though, because Youko is so protective of him. She barely lets her own parents or grandfather hold him. It's not a surprise though, Youko has been thrilled with the thought of a younger sibling, and now that he's here, well…..no one can fault her for her possessiveness.
Of course, she isn't much different after her own darling brother is born.
It's a strange day, really, and it isn't until much later that she realizes why. (When she is all Ryou has left of biological relatives in the world and a part of her heart freezes over). She hadn't thought much of it at the time, she'd just been excited to meet her brother, but… in hindsight, everything is so much clearer.
Osamu had been acting strange again and muttering to himself, he had gone on another supposed business trip, (how her mother couldn't see his lies and excuses is beyond her) and left without a word. Right before the due date of his own son. (She wasn't surprised really. His behavior and actions over the last several months made his thoughts very clear to her. She just never realized the other reason for his distance until it was too late.)
They're all gathered in the room when Marie announces the name. Ryouichi, like she'd suggested months before. Their good one.
He is quickly nicknamed Ryou and everything feels right in the world. Marie weakly jokes about having two near-identical children (Ryou being close to the spitting image of Marie herself, while Hinata has Osamu's features and Marie's colours and Amane being a perfect mix of the two) and for a week or so… everything is good. Just perfect.
They're all happy. One big family. They all get together and have meals, and play days. The kids all brag and play fight over who has the cutest siblings. It's heartwarming. But then….
Then, suddenly… Yume is gone.
And everything shatters.
It's heartbreaking to watch your best friend mourn and lose herself to the pain of loss. To watch the passionate, sunshine of a girl, who loved all and was so outgoing become a withdraw and silent figure.
To see her fire go out…
Watching Youko pull away from everyone and cling to Yugi, it hurt. It hurt to watch her be so emotionless, to watch her be wary of her grandfather (who had known, it turns out. He knew and didn't tell them). To see her refuse to let anyone near Yugi, and it especially hurt to see the once vocal girl become silent like the dead.
Like she once was.
It's not right.
At all.
Youko is meant to be fiery and passionate. The sun itself. Full of life and warmth and comfort. She's not meant to be cold and dead. (Really. That's her thing. Hinata is the moon, pure and bright but cold.)
She confronts her on it on a cloudy and grey November day. Because in the end, she's really the best one to do it, and damn it all to hell, she is not going to just stand by and let her best friend suffer and wither away.
"I know you're in pain. I know your grief. But this has to stop, Youko," she says, fighting to keep her voice calm when all she wants to do is cry and beg for whatever has stolen Youko to give her back. "Please, don't shut us all out. Don't make the same mistake I did back then."
She's sits with Youko for a little while, knowing (hoping really) that it's all up to Youko herself to come back. She's grateful when she finally does speak, even if the words are bitter and broken.
Hinata can only guess at what emotional turmoil she must go through. Mentally, she tries to prepare herself for what might be in store for her own future.
Life and loss always go hand in hand, it seems…
She leaves not long after that. Osamu arrives to take her home. The hand that holds hers is cold and limp, when all she wants is warmth.
The next day, after a restless night of sleep, they all learn that the rainstorm has taken Mutou Yakumo with it to never return again.
Arriving at your best friends house and learning that she had finally spoken and settled things with her grandfather is a huge relief.
Finding out that your best friends father left, never to return, and gave up his custodial rights of his children to his own father is awful.
"He just-...he just left?" She asks in disbelief. "Just like that? How could he do that?"
Youko shrugs helplessly. Anger and tiredness clinging to her body. She looks even more worn and tired than she did yesterday.
They're both hidden away in Youko's bedroom, Grandpa is settling Yugi and Ryou into the crib in the livingroom. Marie is off to attend a school function with Amane.
"He said…" she rasps out with a voice that is more hoarse than usual "that he couldn't handle it, anymore. That he saw ghosts everywhere… and that we didn't need him anyways".
Hinata is furious.
She wants to follow Yakumo wherever he goes and make his life a living hell. Wants to see him destroyed for doing this to her best friend - for breaking a girl who was only just beginning to put herself back together again.
"How dare he!" She hisses through gritted teeth. "Who does that?! What kind of a despicable coward do you have to be to walk out on your own family?!"
Youko shrugs helplessly. "That's what I told him, but… I don't know how much of it went through. I was just… so angry".
She looks ages older suddenly and drained. The room darkens ever so slightly.
"Forget it. I'm done talking about him. He's dead to me." Youko snaps tiredly. She gets up from the nest they've made in the middle of the floor and grabs something from under her pillow. "I've got something important to show you."
Youko turns around and Hinata notes that she's clutching something tightly to her chest. "It's…." Youko hesitates, like she doesn't want to show what she has.
There's a flash of gold.
"No… that can't be…" Hinata thinks, stunned into silence.
Youko gently releases her hold on the item and holds it out so Hinata can see it fully.
The Millennium puzzle box glistens in the light, it's eye staring at Hinata, taunting her with its mere presence.
"Grandpa….he said….he felt that I needed it now instead of later. I think the gods or something influenced him a bit. But he….he also said it was his apology to me for what he did."
She can only stare in shock and awe at the seemingly innocent box.
"This is…" she trails off quietly. "I have- there are no words… how are we- how are you even…"
Youko pulls it back to her chest, clutching it like a lifeline. "But wait, there's more...." she says wryly with a tired but excited smile.
Hinata blinks. Then she deadpans: "You did not just…Youko, you little shit. Bad Youko".
"My Mistress is indeed a troublemaker, but please refrain from calling her such things Daughter of the Moon." A deep male voice says from behind her.
Years later, she will deny any claims of her screaming and jumping to supposed safety on Youko's dresser while Youko just laughs and laughs and laughs at her misfortune.
Hinata watches in shocked disbelief as Youko scurries to Mahad- the motherfucking Dark Magician- that is standing behind where Hinata had been sitting, and reaches for him while chastising him for calling her mistress again. With a small, bemused smile he scoops her up into his arms.
Hinata is positive her brain just broke.
"Don't be scared Little Moon! We mean no harm!" A feminine voice suddenly sounds from next to her.
Hinata shrieks again and tumbles down from her perch. She braces for her impact with the ground, only to be caught and held carefully to someone's chest. "Whoa there! You should be more careful Little Moon! That could have been a nasty fall."
She looks up. Blinks. Rubs her eyes, shakes her head.
The illusion is not going away.
She looks down.
She is very much being held in the arms of a girl who's hovering a foot off of the ground. A girl who is very recognizable and very much a certain apprentice of the Dark Magician.
She reaches up to clutch her head. "No…. no, it's too early for this!" She whimpers. "How and why are the Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl here?"
Youko just shrugs, looking as comfy as ever in Mahad's arms. He's holding her steady and secure, a gentle expression on his face.
Leagues apart from Mana, who is suddenly busy squeezing the life out of Hinata. (Which is totally unfair. What did she do to deserve this?)
"Oh, the little chosen daughter of Khonsu is so cute!" She gushes, hugging Hinata tightly to her chest. "Little Sun is cute, too, but you're like a living piece of the moon itself, Little Moon! Look at you with that snowy hair!"
She is quietly contemplating the consequences of cursing out Mana and if the following regret will be worth it, but then Youko actually lets out a little snort and all wishes of swearing like a sailor go down the drain.
Because that is the first time in months that Youko has shown genuine joy, and she can't take that away from her.
So if being treated like a living teddy bear is what it takes… then she'll grin and bear it.
Still… for all that this is a good development in her best friend… there are questions to be answered.
"As amusing as this is, we need to ask you guys questions. We need answers." Youko says from her place in Mahad's arms.
He nods. "Answers you will get, Children of Sun and Moon, when you ask them".
"Oh, well, isn't he amusing," Hinata thinks, eyeing the smug smile on the spirit's face. Mana giggles.
Youko huffs and reaches up, grabbing Mahad's cheeks and pulling them apart. "Smart ass. So unbecoming of a High Priest." She says sassily.
Mana actually laughs, then. "Awww, you're so cute, Master! I never thought you'd be good with children".
"They are not children," he gets out through gritted teeth, a little spark of something making Youko let go of his cheeks. (She subtly rubs at her hands, like he'd given her a little shock). "I want to make that perfectly clear - we are well aware that the two of you are more than ordinary children".
"That's not going to stop us from treating you like it, though!" Mana says cheerfully.
Oh…
Hinata sees Youko clutch the puzzle box and shrink down and into herself, like she's trying to hide and she squirms in Mahad's arms. Hinata herself feels a sense of dread. How would people react and feel if they knew that the two of them weren't what they seemed?
Mahad sighs and sits down on the edge of Youko's bed. Mana does much the same, though she's still hovering in the air, keeping Hinata securely in her lap. "We won't tell anyone. Not just because we were sworn to secrecy by the gods, but also out of respect for you," he informs them calmly.
"...thank you." Youko mumbles, still having the deer in headlights look on her face.
Hinata feels much the same. It was a shocking message to get, but…
Her heart feels a little lighter, now. Similar to how it felt when she realized Youko was in the same boat as her.
"We're not alone in this. We're not going to have to fight this battle on our own".
It's reassuring. Like she's got a sturdy wall at her back. Youko formed the ground under her feet so she stopped falling through the sky, and now these spirits have put support behind her so she won't be looking around aimlessly.
"Why us? Why were we chosen? What do the gods even want us to do?" Youko asks, almost commandingly, in a firm voice.
Mana sighs. "The gods didn't choose you. Not… you specifically. There were other candidates, but… the ones who chose you…"
"We were the ones who chose you, my Mistress." Mahad answers when Mana falters. There is a sad, almost angry frown on his face and he looks pained.
Hinata feels her heart stop and dread creep through her body. Youko looks like she feels the same. Shock and something else covering her face.
"...what?...why?" Youko asks in a small voice.
The mage closes his eyes.
"We were approached by the gods when we first… passed over. They told us that if our Pharaoh were ever to best the Thief and banish the Great Evil, someone else would have to step in and help him".
"Ra himself told us that he saw that his Chosen Son would win the battle against the Great Evil, but at the cost of his own happiness," Mana continues the explanation.
"Right. In the can- the original timeline, Ate-the Pharaoh defeats the Great Evil and Akefia. But he goes to the afterlife once everything is done. I think he thought he had to out of obligation. And Akefia just disappeared, which isn't fair. With his life and what happened to him, what the evil did to him. He deserved, they both deserved happiness." Youko says almost absentmindedly. "Really, even At-the Pharaoh shouldn't have had to do what he did. It was his father and Akna-ass who committed the sins. They should pay for what they did, not him. The child should never pay for the sins of the parent."
"Language, Young Mistress," Mahad scolds. "It's below your status".
Youko stares up at Mahad for several moments, "he's a motherfucking, evil asskissing, traitorous son of a bitch." She says with a straight face. "And as for the Gods-" Mahad's hand smacks over Youko's mouth before she can say anymore.
"Well, that's obvious. Never said it wasn't true. But mind that tongue of yours, it's unbecoming of a Qu- Hikari," he shakes his head. Hinata and Mana both giggle at his expression.
"But to get back on track," Mana interrupts, the mood quickly turning somber again. "Ra, for all that he is detached from the lives of mortals like the rest of them, did not want his Chosen Son to sacrifice even more than he already has. So he made a plan. A plan that will either change nothing or everything".
"I don't get it. Everything worked out mostly in the original ser- timeline. Why bother trying to change things? It could end up worse." Youko says, rubbing her head with a frown.
Hinata sits quietly as Mahad and Mana (try) to explain the reasoning of the gods to them, but there is a lot she doesn't understand.
That is, until Mana says:
"They needed someone of pure heart and strong soul. And because we knew the Pharaoh so well, we were asked to-"
"To choose new bearers of the Puzzle and the Ring," Hinata whispers with growing horror.
"You…..you did this to us?" Youko asks softly, horror and rage coloring her voice. "You- You killed us!? You ripped us from our lives!? Our families!? For what? A small chance that things could somehow be better!?" She snarls, fiery rage coloring her voice as it gets louder.
Darkness flickers around them. The shadows move on their own. The room grows cold. Hinata doesn't know who's doing it, but she doesn't care.
She just feels cold.
"No, you don't understand, it's nothing like that," Mana pleads as Mahad throws up a barrier that prevents any shadows from reaching them.
Youko struggles and thrashes in Mahad's arms, fighting to get out of them and away from him.
"We don't want excuses, nor do we care for your explanations," Hinata hisses, struggling in arms that suddenly feel confining instead of comforting.
"We were alive! We had families and our own lives! And you killed us!" Youko roars out struggling harder to escape Mahad's hold, the shadows grow darker, bigger and lash out against the barrier. "We were trapped in darkness, all alone! We weren't given a choice! You TOOK EVERYTHING AWAY FROM US!" She finishes, sobbing as tears roll down her cheeks.
Hinata feels broken. Tired. Tears pool in her own eyes.
"WE DIDN'T KNOW!" Mana cries out, a small blast of light sweeping throughout the room, rendering all still and quiet. Even Youko is frozen in shock.
"We didn't know…" she whispers, something cold dripping onto Hinata's head. Tears. "They just told us we had to choose… to find someone who would be worthy of this gift, they called it. Someone with the potential for greatness".
"We never meant for this to happen, we did not know that the gods would do what they did." Mahad murmurs, holding Youko close and rubbing his hand over her back. "We thought that you would be given a choice, time to prepare for everything, anything but what they did. We assumed, and you paid the price. And for that we are so sorry. We will forever bear the guilt and sin of what happened to you both."
It's silent.
No one moves.
Surprisingly… Hinata herself is the first one to break the silence.
By laughing.
It's a cold, humorless thing that creeps up through her throat, reaching maniacal levels. It doesn't feel like her, like something else is doing the laughing, but… it's also so incredibly satisfying to do so. To let go of all of her frustrations and sorrows in some way.
Mana and Mahad look alarmed, worried.
"A gift they called it…" she wheezes out when the laughter finally stops. She's shivering, her body feeling like it's filled with millions of tiny bugs just crawling beneath her skin.
"What utter bullshit…" Youko finishes for her in a angered whisper.
"A sin indeed," Hinata murmurs.
"A crime upon innocents," Youko agrees.
"A gift? To be ripped away from your family and life? To be murdered for no reason? To be forced into a world and life of danger and darkness? Oh yes, that's a real gift alright." Hinata says sarcastically.
They both go quiet.
"...why us?" Youko asks a few moments later. "Out of so many people, out of everyone…..why did you choose us?"
"...would you like the truth or a big tale about destiny that would have most children at your supposed age gasping with shock and awe?"
"Mana!"
Mahad's scowl could make paint peel straight off of the wall.
"I'm not in the mood for roundabout answers or silliness or shit. Just give us the goddamn truth." Youko snaps, looking just as pissed as she feels.
There's a brief silence.
"We chose you because you both are strong where it matters the most," Mana says, her hands weaving gently through Hinata's hair. "You've both got hearts that are big and willing to welcome others, but you have the skills to see who deserves that welcome and who don't".
"You know when to hold onto your beliefs and when to let go," Mahad says then. "Flexibility is important when it comes to magic, but you also need to have the will to control it".
"You have your own demons to overcome, we'll admit that," are the next whispered words from Mana. "But we sensed in you the compassion to know when to push them aside in order to tend to the needs of others. Some would call that self-sacrificial, but… in this world of give and take, that's needed".
"We searched for a long time in our world and yours. It was luck that we found you." Mahad picks up where Mana stopped. "We sensed the strength of your souls and your potential in many ways. We watched you for a long time, grew to know and care for you both. With you, Youko, we knew you would fit well with our Pharaoh, that you would balance him out and guide him. And we knew with you, Hinata, that you would have the strength and heart to overcome and stand up to the the thief and his darkness."
Then, finally, they both say:
"We chose you because you are kind. And there is too little kindness in this place".
It takes both Hinata and Youko some time to digest the reasons. Hinata can't speak for Youko, but… she still wants to be angry at the spirits and the gods. It's a simmering ember, deep inside her heart. Yet at the same time… aren't they victims of the lies and games of higher powers, too?
"We truly are sorry for how you came here though." Mana says sadly, "We sincerely thought that you would have a choice, that the gods would allow you to prepare for the transition over. We never thought that they would do what they did. And we are so sorry for our role in your suffering."
Hinata sees Youko sigh tiredly and then their eyes lock, and somehow they have a whole conversation in that shared look. Youko nods her head at Hinata, and Hinata nods back.
"...one final question," Hinata says, leaning her head back to look up at Mana, who smiles down at her.
"Ask away, Little Moon!"
"What are the consequences if we fail?"
Dead silence.
It's the spirits turn to seemingly have a conversation through looking at each other, expressions slowly becoming more and more pale and horrified as each second passes.
Hinata and Youko share a look of terror and dread.
.
.
.
There is always a price to pay.
After the shock that is the death of Yume, Hinata notices Marie being a little more… clingy. Anxious, maybe. Every activity is done more carefully now, everything is a potential danger.
It's a little, how can she put it… stifling. Or cloying. Because every warning, every little "be careful, sweetheart" is meant with her best intentions in mind. But when Hinata can't even carry a glass of water without being told to be aware of even a loose thread in the carpet, and even then it has to be done while under supervision… that's where she draws a line.
It starts out small. Little things that are easy to dismiss as her regular behavior, if only amplified a little by the presence of a new baby.
But as time passes… it slowly spirals out of control.
The first true clue (or reminder, really, because Marie wasn't well before giving birth to Ryou, and she feels foolish to have believed in a positive change) is when she and Amane are helping Youko look through a box of Yume's stuff. It's an observation made with all of the innocent wisdom of a child in mind.
"Ne, Mommy's been acting a little strange lately, hasn't she?" Amane whispers to them, glancing back at Marie, who is watching them like a hawk.
"Mother's been strange since forever," Hinata whispers back, handing Youko a scarf to inspect. Her friend immediately buries her face into the fabric, inhaling deeply. She then carefully wraps it around her neck and strokes it, tracing the design on it.
Amane shakes her head, looking more conflicted than ever before. "No… it's like… before aunt Yume died, she was… she was weird, but all mommies are. Protective, fun, loving… now it's like the protectiveness is overshadowing everything else".
Hinata frowns, glancing back at Marie, too. She's been distracted by Solomon and baby Yugi, but her eyes keep straying to them, even as they're just seated around the box, looking through very soft things. More than once a "careful with that" or similar has been thrown their way.
Youko looks up from the scarf, a sullen look on her face. "At least you have a mother to worry about you… and a dad, even if he's away a lot more, lately".
Hinata grimaces and pats Youko's hand comfortingly. Amane winces a little, but doesn't say anything. They've both come to realize that Youko gets a little… prickly, when the topics fall on mothers in particular, and Yakumo as a topic is not to be touched with a 10 foot pole, unless you want to face her fury in all of its glory - friend or not. (And unwittingly her magic and the shadows. Fortunately, Mahad or Mana are quick to come to the rescue in such situations - Mahad most often.) (It helps that she's been seeing Mr. Taylor to help her sort through the grief, too).
(The others don't know that, of course. Only Hinata. Grandpa possibly suspects of it though. He's been around magic before among other things. He's no ignorant fool.)
They don't speak more of it that day, focusing on helping Youko go through the box. (She ends up keeping everything, though it comes as a surprise to no one).
They spend the next three or so weeks going through Yume and Yakumo's things. Youko keeps most of Yume's things like jewelry, clothes, and some mementos she loved. (Luckily they are able to convince her to get rid of the items she really doesn't need or would use though.) Yakumo's stuff is all thrown out mostly. It's all boxed up and donated or trashed. Youko doesn't even look through any of it.
Hinata gets her next clue to Marie getting worse when they're all gathered in the Taylor home about a week later. All the children, all the mothers - yes, even Sally. (Anzu and Suzuki are trying to build new bridges, it seems, much to Marie's displeasure).
Joey, Youko, and Hinata are all seated, holding their siblings while Amane, Tea, and Tristan are gathered around them. They're all talking and cooing over the babies when they hear the mother's voices raise while talking. Without prompting, aside from a look from Youko (their unspoken leader), they all quiet down to listen.
"...will not… don't you know how dangerous it… out of the question…"
"Now now, Marie, isn't that a little harsh? I think it's a lovely initiative, Sally. It's been awhile since I visited the western marketplace, and I've heard good things about this Winter Market".
"...thank you," the younger woman murmurs. "It's nothing, really. I got extra tickets through work, and well… I may not be the best mother, but… I guess it's never too late to start over?"
"Not the best mother?!" Marie hisses. "You abandoned your child on the first day we met you! Name one reason why we should trust you the safety of our children!"
"I have no delusions about having done everything right," Sally shoots right back, her voice strained, as if trying to remain calm and collected. "But make no mistake: I am still willing to learn and improve. I… I push things off on… other people… that I shouldn't. I know it's wrong. But that does not mean that I'm not willing to try to start over. To change".
"You do not deser-"
"Marie!" Suzuki's voice takes on a harsh tone. "That is quite enough. Friend or not, I won't accept that tone or language in my house - I hear enough of 'not deserving anything' from my cousin in the main branch of the family, thank you very much".
Marie grows silent. Their little group all turn their eyes on Tristan, briefly, who shrugs and whispers: "Mom's family is rich - at least the main branch is. Stuck-up, too, according to her. Ooto-something".
They go back to listening in on the conversation when Anzu speaks up.
"...-seen you around the adult education center. Are you going back to school?"
Sally nods once. "Jared doesn't really… contribute… to the household much these days, so I've decided to take classes in advanced mathematics while I'm on maternity leave. It'll give me better job options once I'm done, and well… it's nice to get out of the house more. Enjoy what youth I've got left, you know?"
There's a bit more chatter, but ultimately, it ends with Marie standing her ground. "You can take your children to that market, but I'm not letting my little angels join in on it. All sorts of dangerous things could happen! What if there's a fire? What if they get sick from the food? Imagine the germs in that place!"
Sally sighs heavily. "Mrs. Bakura, with all due respect… do you really have so little faith in me that I would intentionally endanger children? I assure you, reckless and irresponsible person that I've been in the past, I have never willingly caused a child harm - emotional or physical. Besides…" Hinata sees the woman look straight into Marie's eyes. "Do you have so little faith in your friends' abilities as mothers that you don't trust them with your own children?"
Hinata is very tempted to whisper "someone get some ice for that burn" under her breath, but she doesn't do it. Instead she watches as her mother's face goes even whiter than it usually is.
"What are you implying, Sally Wheeler?" Marie says through gritted teeth. Sally shrugs.
"Nothing, really. I'm just saying… I understand if you don't trust me with your children, but… Anzu and Suzuki would be there. You as well, if you'll accept the invitation. You trust them, right?"
Hinata decides right then and there, as Marie just sits there at a loss for words, that Sally Wheeler isn't as bad as she thought previously. No… this woman is a badass, deep down.
An inspiration against the well-intentioned smothering.
She gets up from the floor and trots over to her mother before anything more can be said, tugging on her pant leg. "Mother?"
Marie looks down, doing her best at covering up her displeased expression. "Yes darling?"
"I wanna go to the market and skate with Ama-nee," she says, calm as ever. "There's a skating rink, right?" She looks at Sally with big, hopeful eyes.
She is rewarded with a friendly smile and a little nod. "Of course! An open-air rink has been set up with skate rental."
Amane, perking up at the words "skating" and "rink" comes running and latches on to Marie's arm. "Please, mommy, can we go? I promise to look out for all of my little siblings and I could bring Sana-chan and Chuusei-kun too and we can all teach them how to skate, and I promise we won't show them any advanced tricks yet, and it'd be so much fun!"
Hinata's gaze is locked on Marie's face, on her expression. She can see the war in her soul - her dislike of everything that has to do with Sally (with Joey being the one exception) and her inability to say no to them, but also… something else.
For a moment… it looks like they're actually going to be told no for a change.
"The babies aren't coming with you," Marie finally says sternly. "I don't care how safe it is, my little Ryou isn't going to be exposed to the cold when he's so young, and I refuse to let Yugi be exposed to anything like that after his premature-"
"Excuse me, Auntie Marie?"
"Ah, yes Youko-Chan?"
Hinata can see the fire ignited in Youko's eyes, and knows that even if she might agree with Marie on keeping Yugi safe, she is also not going to let anyone dictate what she or Solomon should and should not do when it comes to their youngest. Close friend of the family or not.
Thus, she's pretty sure that Youko is going to argue against what her mother just said out of pure spite alone.
Her friend takes a deep breath.
"Please refrain from assuming that you have the right to decide anything that has to do with my baby brother without at first consulting Grandpa or myself".
There is something almost delicious about seeing the look of sheer shock and disbelief on all of the adults' faces. And it's quite understandable. Youko's been a virtual mute for a few weeks by this point - at least around other adult-bodied people that aren't Grandpa or non-living beings. This one sentence is the most Youko has spoken in a long time that doesn't include screaming for people to get away from her.
And she uses it to tell off Marie.
She spots Mahad out of the corner of her eye, tense and ready to interfere, should Marie's reaction be a negative one.
The one who responds is Suzuki.
"Mutou Youko," she says calmly, her voice switching to "mom" faster than she can blink. "That is no way to speak to your elders, young lady. You're a child - you, too, are not in any position to make decisions concerning your brother".
Youko bows her head politely, though she keeps her eyes trained on each adult. "I'm sorry, Auntie Suzuki, but… I just don't think that any of you should make these decisions without Grandpa being present. He is, ultimately, both mine and Yugi's guardian, and no matter if you are family friends it is not up to you to decide whether or not to "let" myself or my brother do anything without consent from him".
It's silent for a few moments. Then, suddenly, Sally bursts into near-hysterical laughter, startling both Hinata and Youko.
"You're a gutsy little one, aren'cha?" She leans forwards to ruffle Youko's hair, then does the same to Hinata and Amane, winking at them. "Both of you, really. You're going to be menaces when you grow up".
Marie sputters indignantly. "My little angels are NOT going to be menaces!"
"Easy now, Marie-dear," Anzu butts in, calmly patting the fuming mother's shoulder. "It was just a harmless joke, right Sally-san?"
Sally just smiles and sighs a little. "Of course it was. And even if it wasn't, them knowing how to take charge is a good thing, I'd say. Natural leadership and all that".
The conversation switches to other things, then. Hinata goes back to playing and pushes all thoughts of her mother being weird to the side of her mind, in favor of thinking about learning how to skate from her Ama-nee and her cool friends. (No matter her mental age, an older sibling's friends will always be so much cooler than your own - it's a fact of life).
They end up going to the market a few days later and have a great time there, even if her mother spends most of the day either sulking on the side or screeching like a distressed pterodactyl about being careful.
Luckily when Grandpa had come to get Youko and Yugi, he had solved the problem and agreed and even enforced what Youko had said for regarding Yugi. (Much to the shock but eventual acceptance by the mothers.)
He sits off to the side, surrounded by mothers and babies, while Amane and her friends do their best to teach them the ins and outs of skating and figure skating. (Hinata will, to her dying day, remain firmly convinced that nothing was more magical than seeing Amane do her beginners' jumps and spins, looking like a winter sprite, even in her thick clothing).
The amusing part of it all was watching the kids all fall and mess up but still have fun. It was a fight to get poor Tristan and Youko away from the walls though. Youko, the poor girl, kept slipping and falling no matter what and Tristan wasn't much better off. They eventually got the hang of keeping their balance and staying upright though.
(They have an amusing conversation about it later, her and Youko…)
"It's a frozen death-trap".
"It's not that bad."
"I used to be decent at this! Now I'm practically killing myself trying to stay standing!"
(Mana just laughed throughout everything).
Her mother's protests and horrible mood aside, it was a good day. (They do end up sick for a few days after the trip, but they both agree it was worth it.)
.
.
.
It didn't last unfortunately.
Osamu was the next one she really started noticing changes in. She'd noticed them before, but… as the months passed, and her mother's behaviour worsened, so did he.
She knows she isn't the easiest child to love. She knows she's unsettling at best and stand-offish at worst, but… she wouldn't call herself unlovable. (She's got her good sides, right? She does her best to not be too difficult, to help out when she can.)
And yet… that's how it feels like, when she's in the same room as Osamu. And even that becomes an increasingly rarer occurrence, as time goes on.
He feels… cold. That's the only way she can describe it.
Cold.
Dead.
Only when he's with Amane does he feel a little warmer, but it's weakened by the intense feeling of ice and darkness she can sense from him.
It's not like her own coldness or inner darkness. Mana tells her so, when she asks about it.
"That man… he's given up," she says, patting Hinata's head where it's laying on her bent knees. "There's a darkness overshadowing him. He's not well, and I fear he's not safe either Little Moon."
As time goes on, the spirit appears more and more, and stays longer and longer with her whenever Osamu is home. She's always near, always watching. Both her and Ryou, really.
It's a bitter pill to swallow.
Her own father is no longer safe for her anymore.
He's often away for weeks - sometimes even months, and comes home smelling of dust and incense. He starts leaving little artifacts here and there, notebooks filled with illegible writing. (She thinks she can sometimes make-out the words "youkai" or "Yuki-Onna". Realizing that they're often couple with her name, although it's often scribbled out, sends chills down her back).
He often talks to himself, muttering things under his breath and glaring at the wall.
Marie doesn't realize anything is wrong. Either that, or she ignores it, even as she gets more and more lost in her mind.
In the dead of night, plans are made. Plans she shouldn't have to make, shouldn't have to need at age 4.
Things change, slowly.
Most for the better. Some for the worse.
They all grow, and learn. Bond together more. Become closer.
Somewhere along the way, Youko finds a stray black cat with reddish-brown eyes and names it Panther Lily. Lily for short. (Because of course she does, the nerd).
.
.
.
And like that, a year passes.
She has a hard time believing they've already reached 2001, when they're already almost done with January and celebrating Joey's 6th birthday.
It's a small affair. They've all gathered at Tristan's house for daycare and just bring presents. Sally supplies them with mini-cupcakes before heading to work and that is that. Regardless, Joey is happier than ever. (Especially because he, once again, is the oldest).
The three minis are there, and Panther Lily, too. As the toddlers toddle around everywhere and babble in broken sentences, trying to mimic the birthday song they sing, the cat follows them around, meowing and sleeping on them when they finally tire out and pass out on their blanket. (At this point, the adults have all given up on stopping the cat from following and going anywhere with Youko. It somehow always escapes whatever they've locked him in and finds them no matter what.)
It all feels like a distant dream to Hinata. To all of them, really, in their own ways.
The seasons passed, as winter became spring became summer became autumn and then winter again.
They breathe. The listen. They learn. They grow.
Always moving forwards, never stopping.
Spring 2000, Suzuki turns them into a little choir and signs them up for a local competition in the first week of June. They place 3rd in their age group, but they celebrate it like a major victory, because they manage to beat a choir with more members, all consisting of kids older than them.
(Youko is beyond ecstatic. She stands tall and proud on the stage, singing her little heart out - even getting to do a small solo).
Spring is also the time of dance recitals and showing off what they've learned in gymnastics and other sports. It's a hectic time, but they all pull through. Grandpa is always there with his camera, crying about how proud he is of all of his girls, and when Joey and Tristan play in soccer matches in their mini-league they're always gathered on the sides to cheer them on.
In between all of that, they learn all sorts of seemingly useless things that come in handy more than once. Knowledge of the Egyptian language lets them have completely private conversations (except when Grandpa is around, but he can keep a secret) and through Anzu they can an understanding of nature and how to make coded messages - just through mentioning or drawing the flowers alone.
Winter brings Amane's turn to shine, as she skates almost every day with Sana and Chuusei. Hinata is spellbound by the jumps and spins and turns, sitting dutifully on the side with wide eyes. After every practice, Hinata joins her sister on the ice for a few short minutes. It's during one of these times that Amane's teacher approaches Hinata and her mother.
The teacher, Mr. Yuriko, expressed amazement at Hinata's grace and natural talent on the ice without any training. In a matter of an hour, he convinces Marie to sign Hinata up for classes and training. Amane is one big grin for a week. And Hinata finds herself enjoying it, too - a lot more than she initially thought she would. She finds freedom on the ice, an escape. Just her and the frosty surface, going at speeds she couldn't reach before…
It's like flying. Like she's a shooting star.
Sana and Chuusei take her under their wings immediately, adopting her into their families much like she's adopted the families of all of her friends. Sana gives her tough love, and Chuusei is like the older brother she didn't know she needed.
Within a half a year she's advanced up several levels and is placed into Amane's group.
On their days off and most free times, especially when they're sick and recovering, Youko works on the puzzle. It's a slow process and in the year and some odd months she's been working on it, she's only been able to fit together a few pieces. It's frustrating for Youko. She knows the shape and everything, but it just won't go really. They both assume it's magic bullshit that's preventing the completion so soon. Surprisingly, one day, when the others sit down and help Youko, they are able to get a few pieces together. After that they all take to helping Youko whenever they're around.
(Youko tells her in secret about the strange zaps of something she gets from the puzzle, sometimes. It's one of the few things neither Mahad nor Mana will explain to her, and she finds it infuriating, even if she's got a feeling what it is. Youko also tells her how she's taken to talking to the puzzle, in hopes that the Pharaoh can hear her and not feel so lonely and trapped.)
In the end, it is as it is… they grow. They live. They thrive… as much as they can, at least. The babies slowly become toddlers and start rolling, then crawling, then taking their first, shaky steps, and saying their first words…
Youko is still quiet on certain days, still mourns her losses. On the days of her mother's death and burial respectively, she doesn't say a word. She barely even moves. She just sits quietly in front of the little altar and cries and prays. Mahad and Panther Lily don't leave her side throughout it all. Once Hinata hears her whisper "I miss you… more and more, every day…", but she acts like she didn't hear it.
December and her birthday comes and goes and they're all 5… and then they're suddenly in 2001 and on their way to turning 6 and starting school - an entire year early for all of them, except Joey - their lucky oldest one.
In April that very year, they're all dropped off at Domino Public Elementary, placed in the same class and everything.
And so their school days begin.
It's as boring and draining but fun as she and Youko remember.
They're learning things they mostly know but also new things since they're in Japan instead of America.
The system is so different from the American schooling system. It's weird but nice. They focus on many different things, and she has a distinct feeling that they're being pushed more than they were in their old lives.
They unfortunately end up sick again shortly after starting. They're gone for almost three weeks. (Youko muses that it's probably because it's a new environment and there are new bacteria and the like that they don't have immunity to yet.) Luckily, they have wonderful friends who bring them their homework and they're smart enough to not be behind their classes when they return.
Along with classes, clubs, and after school activities, they continue to learn from Grandpa and the parents, and they quickly gain a reputation as a group of close-knit and smart children. They're friendly towards other people, but… Hinata knows that their growing up together and being through so much may have made them a little… disinterested… in other people. (She doesn't necessarily see this as a bad thing, but… she can't tell if it's good, either).
Youko and herself also continue with the lessons that Mahad and Mana had started to give them shortly after they were first summoned.
Magic, language, writing, laws, cultural studies. Basically everything about life in Ancient Egypt.
It's a lot to learn and study. It's hard and draining but it's invaluable knowledge and worth it. The hardest thing to grasp is magic though.
Spells… methods of channeling power… all of the differences between the types (because, as they learn, it isn't just black and white, Light and Shadow) and what they do. Because even Light has its drawbacks. Not to mention all of the different types of elemental magic and those that fall in unspecified categories and what happens if one is used in connection with another or what protects against which types. And there are the studies on plants and how the planets and stars affect everything.
They become witches. Sorceresses. Summoners and Spell Casters.
Or, well… they will be, one day, according to Mahad.
It'll be a while yet before that though. They've got a long way to go still.
They form new, loose friendships with a few of the other kids in their class. Hinata notices that they're those who are a little frail or otherwise peculiar. The ones bullies like to pick on, the ones who are behind.
It's during their very first Summer Break that Youko finally finds the information Yume stored about her sister - Youko's aunt Shizukana.
It's not a lot, in all honesty. A bunch of letters - the latest of them all from Yume, but returned to sender - and an old address… a few names, too. Nothing more.
But it's a beginning, and both Youko and Grandpa pounce on it like a cheetah jumping at an antelope. For days nobody sees the remains of the Mutou-household. Then they all emerge and return to life as if nothing happened.
(Later, Youko tells them that Grandpa did his best, followed every clue, but very little came up, and so they decided to push the search back a little, in order to be able to function like normal humans).
(Once she's alone with Hinata, Youko further admits that Grandpa basically told her to let him handle the search for Shizukana and go be a child. "It's not your battle to fight, little one. Enjoy your time of happy obliviousness while you still have it", he'd said. If only he knew…)
That "happy obliviousness" last only until shortly after the beginning of their new semester.
Because in the Fall of 2001…
.
.
.
.
Hinata is left in the dust as canon finally catches up to her when she and Ryou, like Youko and Yugi before them, find themselves not only virtual orphans, but also a sibling shorter.
A/N: The time has come… the time to end this chapter on a cliffhanger! *Evil laughter*
Okay, in all seriousness… this one was difficult to write. Partially because I've started up my 3rd year of university and spends a lot of time studying for both classes and my BA, leaving me incredibly tired, and partially because we've got a lot of AUs that we're also trying to keep track of. And it just. Kept. Growing! In fact, this chapter WAS going to be much longer, but we decided to move the angst to the next chapter, so it wouldn't feel… cluttered, I guess, is the best word for it.
Like last chapter was Youko centric, this one is Hinata centric, but spanning a much longer time period. Despite the tragedies and sorrows they face, the kids grow, learn, enter school… life continues.
Mahad and Mana are established as main support characters, and their roles in how Hinata and Youko ended up in this world is revealed. Someone knows their secret, but they're willing to help them! But something a little darker is hinted at beneath the surface and charm of learning magic. Like with almost everything in life, there's a price to pay for everything, especially failure. Especially for those who try to defy their destiny.
Reintroducing Sally Wheeler - Sally 2.0! Just like the kids grow and change, so do the adults in their lives. Some for better, some for worse, as is the perfect example with Sally and Marie. One is willingly trying to change for the better, while the other tries to hold onto the past and, in the end, changes for the worse because of it. Osamu isn't much better off, and Hinata discovers that maybe, just maybe… she isn't as safe in her own home as she previously thought.
Other miscellaneous things happen. Amane's friends and her hobby/passion of figure skating is revealed. Youko asserts her independence to overbearing mothers, looks for Shizukana and gets a cat. Yes, Panther Lily is absolutely a Fairy Tail reference, for those wondering. (Fun fact: he was originally going to be named Yami, but we decided to change it. Stars' reaction to the suggestion of Panter Lily was, and I quote: "Fuck yes!" end quote. The nerd XD).
But this is Yu-Gi-Oh, and Hinata is a Bakura. Reborn into an alternate timeline or not, certain things are just bound to happen. Because almost none of the main characters have a happy backstory.
But that covers it for this chapter. Next time, things REALLY go downhill for the Bakura family.
In other news! Do you guys ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes? Do you wish there was a place outside of the fic where you could contact Stars or me? A place where you might send us stuff and maybe read a stray snippet now and then? Well, look no further, because we've got a Tumblr now! It's .com, and this is where we'll be posting new updates and general bits and pieces of what goes on in the story. We've literally got nothing there, yet, but we hope to remedy that soon enough!
With that out of the way, all there's left for me is to say: thanks for reading, and we hope to see you next time!
NordicTwin
A/N:
Hello again my Ducklings! Sorry (not sorry) for the cliffhanger.
Phew! Can't believe it's already been a month since our last update! This was a doozy of a chapter to write. So much we wanted to do but had to cut out so that it wouldn't be too long. Struggles to get the right emotions and things down and describe everything.
Sorry for the wait though. We've both been busy, especially Nordic. I've tried writing by myself but it's a struggle. I can usually only write (and write well) when I'm writing with someone else and not by myself. We also, as Nordic mentioned, have a shit ton of awesome AU's and snippets that love to distract us (among other things).
So this is somewhat a filler and time skip chapter. We're trying to show them living and all that it also get to canon and the main events. It's a hard balance to find.
So we learn more about how the girls arrived in the world and the roles Mahad and Mana had in it. We see the sinister part of how nothing is ever free and there's always a consequence to failing and all that. Mana and Mahad will be regular fixtures in the girls' lives from now on so expect more of them.
Hmm...lot of little things happen this chapter. Establishing more details about the others. Having time passing and everyone growing. Showing how people can change (for better or worse) over the years. Etc. Finding old info on Shizukana but not having any luck. (That will be a thing. It's gonna take a while for anything to happen.) Pets are always great and comforting, so Youko gets a cat. (yes, the cat was gonna be named Yami but I thought that in the end it would cause too much confusion later one. And constantly writing kitty-yami was a bit much.)1
Ugh. I'm really stuck. Not sure what else needs addressing or anything. (That's what happens when you have a summary/fuller chapter.) Anyways, stuff happened and time passed. Then we leave you hanging.
So, moving on from chapter talk.
The Caught in the Game Blog is now set up and ready to go!
So if you have any questions, comments, fanart, or anything you want to give/submit to us, you now can! Woo! *throws confetti*
We will be posting the chapter links to the fic as well as anything you guys submit or any snippets we write and all that jazz.
The blog is caughtinthegame . tumblr . com (I know, real original isn't it? ;D)
Shoutout to all of the people who viewed and all of our current followers and faves and our new followers and favorites (Pleasereadmything, Faerydaea, KamiKaze no Kage, desertfox.x, Lulu Heart, atwistedconundrum, Sara Ivy Wolf, SaiKaiya01, Lyrashin, Alimpson, avert 1523, and CompYES) And thanks to everyone who left Kudos!
And EXTRA thank yous and love to Flaremage, usagi-no-usotsuki, Kara, ren7720, and Contentkarma347 for the reviews!
Please, PLEASE leave us comments and reviews, especially if you have any questions or are confused! We love them so very much! We get so motivated to write when we get reviews!
Thanks again to the amazingly talented and lovely Moirei for Beta-ing for us, as always :)
So yeah…...The pain and suffering (mostly) starts next chapter.
That's it for now, thanks again for reading my duckies, and we'll see you all next time on Caught in the Game!
Counting Sinful Stars
Edited/Beta by Moirei
Finished & Published September 18, 2017