I'm not dead!

Long story short, Murphy's law commands that family, college, and personal problems must always synchronize for better effect.

I am back tho and the "break" allowed me to review my planning for the story on the long run which should mean faster updates and better chapters in the future.

A million thanks to everyone who is still sticking around for this mess of a fic, it means the world to me xoxo


Attending school felt like such an inconsequential thing compared to the events that would take place in a week's time but perhaps a mundane couple of days was just what they all needed to charge up and prepare for the challenges to come.

Between classes Tesem was able to catch on to some of the happenings she had missed from Saturday's night. The funny little details of Jonouchi and Mako's poker match, Mai's failed attempt to get the boys to play a rather risqué game with pokis (which better explained why Yami had preferred the dancefloor over staying at their table), and many other sweet tidbits that somewhat alleviated the sour aftertaste that night had left in her mouth.

The less enjoyable side of the evening wasn't mentioned at all and she had an inkling that Katsuya had something to do with that.

She was endlessly grateful for that consideration, feeling more than happy to move on and pretend certain things hadn't happened at all.

Later during lunch the gang gathered on the roof as they usually did when they desired a little more privacy in their conversation than the homeroom offered, the subject in everyone's mouth now being of course the oncoming tournament.

"Jonouchi, are you planning to enter?."

"Of course I will Honda!"

Tesem busied her lips with her bottle of water to hide a grimace, the overbearing enthusiasm from the boys reminding her of what they remained ignorant about.

It had been Yami who requested that she and Anzu withheld the truth for just a while longer, to which they both agreed although reluctantly.

Lying to Yugi didn't settle well with her, not after the openness they had shared after recent events but she had to respect the spirit's decision, understanding that his reserve didn't come from a place of evil.

Her eyes drifted toward the golden pyramid hanging from Yugi's neck.

She sure hoped that this growing trust she had started to harbor toward Yami wasn't misplaced. She had witnessed the human side of him, knew it a little better than the magic that still caused her skin to crawl whenever she fixated on the puzzle and its link to her own fate.

There was more to it, a secret yearning she couldn't even begin to comprehend, a blind hope for something, an ally perhaps, someone to rely on. A savior.

She mentally scoffed, the voice from within her skull coming with a queer mixture of bitterness and longing that made her chest physically ache and constrict.

Knowing that the entity sharing her mindspace possessed insight into all these inexplicable emotions that felt so alien without the context of memories was beyond infuriating but she refused to believe that this knowledge was being kept from her willingly.

Ishizu had revealed that there was a great significance to the Pharaoh's lost memories, hence the importance of retrieving them no matter the trials that they would have to face to do so.

Perhaps there was no ancient relic dedicated to her own quest but it felt right in her heart to assume that the same engines of destiny that had sealed the remembrance of his past life had a hand in keeping the secrets of her own life beyond reach.

Tesem's pulse picked up responding to the creature's agitation, a quick confirmation about the accuracy of her conjectures.

Easy there Hound. We will disclose the truth together, I promise you.

She poured her heart into that promise.

The hurt she had sampled over months of tiny revelations needed to be put to rest. They both deserved it.

A world apart from her internal musings the conversation moved forward.

Yugi also confirmed his interest in participating. The subtle frown that twisted his handsome features and his evident hesitance regarding the ante rule drove a spectral blade deep into her chest.

He was a clever boy, already aware that something was amiss but too kind to bring his concerns forward when everyone was so evidently excited.

She had to look away to dissimulate the hard set of her jaw and the building tension in her brow. Fulfilling her promise would prove harder than she anticipated.

"What about you Tesem?" Yugi's voice came friendly but openly laced with a note of concern.

She mentally chided herself for letting her emotions run rampant and allowing them to spill onto her expression.

With a muted sigh she turned back and sweetened her expression. "I don't think I qualify as a renowned duellist. Besides, even if you already hooked me up with an awesome deck I do not have a card rare enough for the ante rule."

It was a bit of a relief really, knowing what she knew, that it wasn't predestinated for her to actively participate. She could focus solely on supporting Jonouchi and Yugi that way, protecting them against the foes that were sure to make an appearance during the tournament.

"We also need to get the new duel disc, owning one is part of the requirements."

"Duel disc? Oh hell no. Will we be playing with the same hellish contraption Kaiba brought to Duelist Kingdom?"

"Apparently yes, a newer version of it." Yugi said with a small shrug.

Their chat moved on to the possible dynamics for the encounters as well as the duellists who would be joining as participants next week.

Tesem was happy to participate with her very colorful opinion about two of the competitors she already had the misfortune to come across.

The ensuing influx of related anecdotes and laughter buried her worries deep where they couldn't bother her, at least for the time being.

After a little while the school bell rang, summoning them back to class, and they all hurried down the stairs between giggles and breathless plans of meeting up after class to check out the stores that did carry the new duel disc.

During their last homeroom period Jonouchi and her slipped away to visit the dojo in order to get her signed up in the mixed martial arts club as promised.

He showed her the arena and gym where they carried out their practice and training, a place much more spacious and welcoming than she had first expected even if the smell of sweat and a minute amount of blood still lingered beneath the overpowering odor of pine scented cleaning product.

It was curious how in times of peace the ability to hurt another became a sport. Not that she was against it, on the contrary, her fulfilled hopes of finding an outlet for certain frustrations and violent impulses she had spent months trying to supress had her practically bouncing up and down as they went forth to the office in the back to speak with the couch.

When all was said and done her and the Hound's shared excitement had her feeling light headed, excited for the two weekly training sessions and open gym hours starting as soon as tomorrow.

It felt nice to have something to look forward to for a change.

.oOoOoOo.

She hummed involuntarily, appreciative of the glittery visage of the slowly descending afternoon sun that reflected from building to building cast the world above their heads in the most beautiful shade of gold.

Their group of friends had made it to the busy downtown streets where they had been told about several shops that carried the duel disc but after an hour's worth of exploration they discovered that only one of the aforementioned shops hadn't yet run out of Kaiba Corp's latest stock.

"I guess they sold out really quickly after the Tournament's announcement." Was Anzu's educated guess.

"That's probably why he organized the event in the first place, Kaiba's greed knows no end." Jonouchi's distaste for the man flowed without semblance of censorship, pulling Tesem's attention back to their ongoing conversation and away from her distracted contemplation.

"Awfully avaricious of him but you have to admit it was a clever scheme." The hazel eyed blonde gave her a strange look, nearly scandalized after she did the unthinkable, compliment Seto Kaiba. "Oh come on, I know you hate the guy but it's true.

"Do not speak to me." Those words would have been extremely severe if his seemingly offended facade didn't break into a playful grin when he looked at her.

She bumped his side. "Don't be jealous Jono-kun, even with all his millions I'd never trade your friendship like that."

"Well that would be just stupid, if you accepted his money we could split the profit."

"Ohh I like the way you think"

The both of them broke into eye watering laughter before Honda stepped in, snickering even as he chided them. "Come on now, let's hurry before this last place runs out of discs too."

And so they pressed onward, following the instructions of a stranger which landed them in a scarcely transited alleyway where a single door stood with a plain sign haphazardly pasted on top which read 'Game Shop'.

Compared to the other spots they had visited that day, that last one was… well it was a dump if she was being completely honest. With a restaurant's trash bin only a couple meters to the left and no decoration such as posters or announcements of any kind it was hard to believe that such a place received any clientele whatsoever.

"Maybe they just opened recently?" Was Anzu's optimist's take to which Honda and Jono nodded almost in unison.

A strange gut feeling made Tesem pause while the others moved on ahead. She felt The Hound stir in her mindspace, standing to attention like it had done many times before when it sensed something a normal human couldn't.

At the door just in front of her Yugi stalled briefly and placed his hand on the puzzle. Although Tesem couldn't see his expression for a split second she felt privy to his and the item's voiceless exchange. The Pharaoh must have noticed something out of place too.

She parted her lips meaning to inquire about it but Yugi grabbed the doorknob and disappeared inside before she could steal his attention.

She huffed at the closed door before following. It couldn't be that bad if Yami hadn't said a thing, surely there wasn't need to worry with the tournament itself still a week away. Right?

It didn't bode well that her own attempts at optimism didn't sound convincing to herself, she'd have to take a crash course from Mazaki someday.

The inside of the store was as modest as the outside, with a counter, a few piled boxes of what she presumed was merchandise and a couple posters haphazardly scattered about.

There weren't any displays of the most popular games from the season or any curious little figurines that would bring some life to the place like in Kame Game shop. There were only duel discs, piled carefully on top of one another behind the cash register and a shifty-looking shop attendant whose smile she decided was too snake-like for her liking.

She paced around, eyeing their surroundings while the crew went to speak with the man in charge (Gods was his mustache distracting with how ridiculous it was).

The price of the discs was expensive as expected but a ray of hope came in the form of a special offer for duellists of high ranking in Kaiba Corp database.

The strange selection process attracted her attention but when she tried to sneak a peek at the monitor the shopkeeper brusquely turned it away and started sputtering something about confidentiality and corporate policies.

Tesem's gaze narrowed paper-thin but she turned away after a very brief moment, giving the sketchy man room to breathe.

Her friends seemed quite content and enthusiastic at the moment and she would loathe to stain their mirth with what could very well be nothing.

They were safe as long as she and the golden pyramid were nearby. Reminding herself of that made relaxing a little easier.

Soon enough they were out of the sketchy shop with both Yugi and Jonouchi holding discs of their own, the large piece of equipment officially marking them as competitors for the upcoming event.

"Let's get an ice cream to celebrate." She offered with renewed enthusiasm shining bright in her tan features, soon mimicked by the expression of everyone as they set course for the nearest ice cream stand.

Moments like those made everything so worth it, the worry and the uncertainty, all of it.

At that point Tesem wouldn't have cared if she was given the chance to move on and forget somewhere else where the phantoms of her past couldn't reach her, she'd still pick them, this small group of friends that lately had started to feel more and more like a family.

Gods, she only hoped that this peace they were having could last a little longer…

Up until the sun finally began its plunge into the horizon the world appeared to agree with her wishes.

There had been no ill intended individuals lurking close enough to be sensed by the spirits of the Hound or the Pharaoh, giving them freedom to talk and laugh the evening away to their heart's content.

Her unease was nearly gone by the time everyone was ready to go home but when Jonouchi started to hurry off on his own it made a re-appearance so strong it had her feet moving after him before her mind could even catch on.

The curious look he gave her reminded the egyptian girl of the need for an excuse.

Something other than 'I think you may be in danger' to be precise.

"I don't really wanna head home yet, do you mind if I take a detour and accompany you?"

"I am not going home either."

"That 's fine."

She hurried along and waved the rest of her friend's goodbye in passing.

As she fell beside Katsuya with an upbeat stride her eyes caught the violet shade of Yugi's gaze who gave the smallest of nods before turning to join the rest.

A smile came unbidden to her lips. They had been on the same wavelength after all, Yami, Yugi and herself.

Her chest warmed at the thought of the three of them counting each other as allies in regards to their friend's safety.

"Where are we headed then?" She inquired after settling by Jonouchi's side, matching his long strides with ease as they moved on down the street to a less busy part of town.

"I well- I want to visit my sister. She is getting her eye operation the day after tomorrow and she asked to see me before it happened."

A little crack in his voice and the way he didn't seek her gaze while speaking alerted her of his affected state.

She slowed down the pace and sought to meet his eye. "What 's wrong?"

He appeared to hesitate for just a moment before halting completely. "It's just that my mother is with her and I… I don't think I am ready to see her again."

It was heartbreaking to witness the hurt that spilled from a wound he had managed to conceal so expertly for so long.

Cast aside by a parent and robbed of a sister.

It made sense now why he had been so bitter and violent in the past, before his friendship with Yugi had put to rest some of his demons. She hadn't witnessed the change but having experienced a similar transformation herself made it hard not to feel empathy for her blonde friend.

"Do not put the weight of the world on your shoulders like this, I am here, I could go with you if it helps." An awkward family reunion was hardly a scenario where her addition would do any good but for a friend that hardly mattered.

She'd dance a waltz to distract the mother if it allowed Katsuya to reunite with his sibling.

He gave her one of those disarming smiles that showed a side of him often overshadowed by his usual goofiness. If her interest hadn't already been claimed by a sweet boy and his ancient companion she would have blushed then and there.

"You are right Tesem-chan. My sister wants to see me, that's all that should matter."

.oOoOoOo.

"What do you mean by 'visiting hours are over'? I want to see my sister!"

Jonouchi's incensed voice echoed in the near empty hospital lobby, his female friend's attempts to soothe him just barely stopping him from creating an even bigger scene.

The receptionist, an aged woman with an award worthy resting bitch face, proceeded to state the hospital's policy once more before giving an unsubtle glance toward the security guard.

Under different circumstances Tesem would have been game for a forced break in but the pungent scent of sterilizing agent poorly masking the lingering essence of blood and other bodily fluids had her feeling desperate for a lungful of fresh air. "It's ok, we will come back tomorrow." Her voice sounded slightly breathless.

Once they were past the double doors her mind came down from its escalating flight or fight high, her heartbeat evened and her gaze focused again, purposefully on her blonde friend's face.

He didn't seem to have noticed her very brief inner freakout and continued to glare at the red cross above the hospital's entrance as if this alone would make the stubborn employee change her mind. She took the chance to wipe her clammy palms on her skirt while he was looking away.

"It can't be helped." She surgically peeled away any trace of relief from her voice and mentally chided herself for being so dense.

He had told her that his sister was waiting for a surgery. Where else would she be if not a hospital?

Tesem had thought herself brave and completely over her aversion for hospitals but it appeared that Yugi had kept all the warmth and safety they had shared in that stark white room with himself.

"Fuck, this is my fault. I stalled because I was being a coward and now you came all the way over here for nothing."

Not for nothing. No she hadn't forgotten, a corner of her consciousness was still very much on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary, any evil beyond that which was intrinsic to every big city.

So far nothing had alerted her, Jonouchi was safe and the day was finally coming to a close.

"Tomorrow will be another day. After I beat your ass during club hours we will have time."

His expression lit up again, just like that. It was quite remarkable how easily he could bounce back up from both physical and emotional hurts. "In your dreams newbie."

"Mmm that's actually not a bad idea, I should hurry and get back home then. I could be trash tomorrow but I'd quite relish wiping the floor with a dream version of you."

"Heh, I am sure you will be pretty good, I have seen it, you have the reflexes of a fighter."

"That's a massive compliment coming from you." She couldn't help but smile even though her disbelief was still very clear in the angle of her eyebrows.

"It is true. Maybe you were a special agent before, or a ninja." He punched the air and did a high kick with the mandatory 'hiya!' to make the display look extra ridiculous.

"Wouldn't that be something?" She chuckled lightheartedly. "Better watch out tomorrow then."

Jonouchi's company was always a treat but she had to cut their time together short. It was late and they both ought to get home before the people who cared about them started to get worried.

He of course offered to accompany her but she was still worried about what would happen if he headed off on his own after they reached Arthur's home.

It was a very tranquil neighborhood which meant that there were very few people out and about at that late hour, which meant less eyes around to witness a premeditated crime… Besides, his bus stop was way closer.

He was stubborn about his gentlemanly duties but she was twice as stubborn about how little she cared for such things when they were so clearly impractical.

They bickered, laughed about it and when the clock was close to hitting 8:30 he finally got on the blasted bus and she was free to enjoy the 20 minute walk back home alone.

The euphoria sourced from having spent hours in the company of someone with such a high energy level lasted her a good five minutes before the silence got to her.

Being alone had never truly bothered her, at least not before arriving in Japan and meeting these people who had welcomed her into their lives with the same openness Arthur had shown from the very beginning.

I am getting too used to their company.

Is this a bad thing for us?

No, I don't believe they could ever be bad for us, but I am afraid.

Having nothing could be painful and lonely but it was also safe. Cherishing something meant that it could be taken away and be it destiny or a yet unknown foe it was clear to her that someone out there was intent on doing just that.

We won't let them take more away from us — he won't either.

The hound guided her attention ahead to where the street split into two, on one side the way home and on the other a path that led back Downtown where everyone had parted ways earlier.

It was there in the corner where she noticed a pair of ruby eyes intently peering her way.

She should have been surprised to see him still out and about but curiously she wasn't. It was as if a part of her had already sensed his proximity and knew of his intention for their paths to meet again. She just hadn't fully realized it until she saw him.

"Everything went well." He stated plainly once he had come close enough to join her, effortlessly matching her leisurely strides.

"Yes, Katsuya has a lot on his plate right now but thankfully nothing happened tonight." They walked side by side but her eyes remained ahead, not in avoidance but rather as an inadverted show of trust. He noticed. "I am pretty sure he would be fine on his own anyways. He's a fighter."

"Against an honorable opponent perhaps but you and I both know that whoever sent Keith after Yugi and the puzzle is anything but."

She needn't look to notice the anger radiating off of him.

His expression must have turned grim because the few passersby that crossed their path seemed to very deliberately avoid looking at him as they hurried by.

"I really hope the so-called ghouls will at least give us until Monday before they show their faces again." Tesem said doing her very best not to show the way his rage unnerved her. The instinctual part of her brain seemed incapable of ignoring the fact that he was dangerous, even if she was almost sure that he wouldn't harm her.

"That would be nice but we can't lower our guard."

"Were you worried?" She was very tempted to add 'about me' but she caught herself being too hopeful for the answer and thus bit down on the words before they could escape her mouth.

"I always am." He said simply but after giving a side glance her way added. "But I trusted that nothing would happen with you there."

"Nothing scarier for any would-be assailant than a girl in school uniform." She said jokingly.

His chuckle was rich and warm, as rich as hot cocoa on a rainy evening.

Tesem scratched her arm to get rid of the unwelcome appearance of goosebumps.

"You would be surprised." His smile was pleasant, lacking that competitive edge that often turned such gestures into grins. "Word has gone around about your association with me so the people who feared Yugi and I have decided that you are not to be messed with. If our enemy moves in the same circle he will know to be wary of you."

"Have you found anything about the person who wants to harm you?"

"Yugi hasn't found anything online about the Ghouls and it doesn't seem like any of the local criminal organizations have had any contact with them." He shook his head lightly, his hands closing into fists and opening again several times, a clear sign of his frustration. "But meeting Ishizu confirmed that the leader has a millenium item in his possession, which means he must have access to magic very similar to mine."

"That's just great." She gritted out bitterly, sliding two fingers along the engraved surface of her choker as she thought about how futile bettering herself at hand-to-hand combat was if they were going against a maniac with the power to control minds and Gods only knew what else.

"I will protect everyone." The conviction with which he said those words comforted her even if a part of her wasn't convinced that he could keep such a promise.

He may have been the ancient recipient of a power none of them could quite comprehend yet but his soul was still human and whoever their enemies were she feared that their strength may match the Pharaoh's.

"You don't have to do it alone you know?" She allowed herself the liberty of placing a palm on his back, a gesture that was tender but brief. He gave no indication of being bothered by the contact but his eyes turned to her and lingered, intense as ever. It was hard to control the urge to avert her own gaze but she managed. "I don't really know why or how but it's clear that I am meant to help you."

"Tesem, you don't have to fight my battles if you don't want to. A stone relic cannot force you."

But destiny can… And it already has. "I don't— ugh!" She stumbled to a halt and her hands went to her head.

A nasty throb pierced her head from ear to ear cutting short the incensed words of the Hound which made the entity recoil like a wounded animal into a deeper part of her subconscious.

The pain came and went so suddenly it left Tesem feeling dizzy and disoriented. She forced in a shuddering breath and released her temples to try and find purchase to keep her balance.

Warmth greeted her as strong hands seized her forearms, providing the stability she needed to ground herself with a gentle touch. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. It is… it was just a headache." Honestly she had no idea what that had been. When she turned inwards for answers she felt the Hound slipping away beyond reach the same way it had done before, when its intervention had alerted her of an imminent danger to Yugi and the puzzle.

She looked up and encountered the full weight of his gaze, narrowed and searching as he inspected her expression. He didn't look convinced by her words but to her surprise his grip gave and his form retreated allowing her more space once he was certain that she wouldn't topple over.

His frown gave indication of his lingering doubt but the nod he gave her showed that he would accept her answer— for the time being.

Yugi would have been proud to see the man that had once gone against entire crime organizations without his knowledge now begin to respect boundaries.

Tesem found the absence of his physical presence to be startlingly jarring. Instinctively she wrapped her arms tightly against her chest and placed her own hands where their skin had touched to preserve that comforting feeling before the breeze took it away.

Later she would have to question herself about the way she had started craving the spirit's touch almost as much as she desired Yugi's. One weakness was already hard enough to cope with but two?

I find their presence reassuring, that is all. Yet again she was unable to sound convincing inside her own head.

"I-I need you to know that helping you recover your memories is a choice I have made of my own accord." She faced him fully, lifting her chin to hold his gaze in order to convey the significance of her confesion. "We are allies, not only because I hope to get answers too but also because we care about the same people."

"We do, don't we? …I appreciate it, more than you know." His smile was genuine and amiable as it reached his eyes but it seemed to fade too quickly.

Something troubled flashed across his eyes for a millisecond before he schooled his features back into perfect impassivity but even that wasn't fast enough to conceal everything before she noticed, not at that distance and with her focus already on him.

He tactfully reminded her of the need to hurry before Arthur lost his mind from worry and finding little reason to keep stalling she agreed.

They continued walking now in a mutually accommodating silence, their destination now close enough to see in the distance.

The tan teenager could take a gamble as to which particular line of thought could have dampened his mood that way but she wasn't about to bring up the subject.

What she said could have elicited the memory of that one exchange of words which not only resulted in her finding out about their shared interest in Yugi but even worse, it had ensured that Yami was aware that she knew

Thinking about how he would act regarding that particular matter and more importantly when had a couple droplets of cold sweat sliding down the back of her neck.

In reality Tesem had only been partially right. The memory of that one alcohol influenced conversation had in fact swam into the forefront of his thoughts bringing a familiar swarm of worries with it, but that would hardly be enough to test the iron grip he usually held on his temper.

No, it was the fact that a minute detail about her confession had bothered him for a reason he couldn't quite pinpoint and the lack of clarity in his own head was something the spirit found more disquieting than the countless life or death situations he had faced just last year.

He couldn't stand leaving a good puzzle unfinished, it went against the very essence of his being.

Once at the front of her guardian's home Tesem paused. The idea of just hurrying on inside crossed her mind but she promptly discarded it after finding that to be a very cowardly course of action.

She inhaled deeply and turned toward him, somehow succeeding in keeping her face neutral even as she encountered his visage, dark and magnificent in the gloom, perfectly at home in the shadows that had always seemed to gravitate toward him as if they had a will of their own.

It was hard to make up her mind as to whether she found Yami's threatening aura captivating or scary as hell. Probably both.

"Thank you for walking me home." She broke the silence in a hushed voice, mindful of the dark windows of the neighboring homes where entire families were already fast asleep.

"Don't even mention it."

Tesem smiled meekly, unable to suss out the kind of atmosphere that had settled between them. There was no hostility there, that much was clear. "Goodnight then."

"Goodnight Tesem." He said and then dipped his head down and bent at the waist in a simple bow, little more than protocol in the country where they stood but something about the way his eyes remained locked on hers all the way put the motion of her diaphragm on pause.

For some reason she liked watching him do it so much that she forgot the part where she was meant to do the same.

Realization came a second too late, she was staring like a fool and his expression was one of cocky victory.

She had seen that face before, on a dimly lit dance floor.

They were still playing that game, huh?

Heat pooled on her cheeks but she made no attempt at hiding it, she snickered and then tried to stifle a laugh with her hand but the sound escaped her anyways. "You are something else Yami." Spoken through her fingers those words nearly sounded like an endearment. "See you tomorrow."

His lips curled up and some strange satisfaction darkened the shade of his eyes before he nodded and turned in his heels, stalking off with all the grace and poise of a nocturnal predator.

She allowed herself the pleasure of watching him for a few seconds before she shook her head and forced her feet to move in the opposite direction.