You're Only Deceived Once

By SariaSubi-kun

SariaSubi: Whoo! Got another reader! Go me! Well, um, Evil StormSister, what does (sic) mean? Um…yeah. Anyways, this is now a romance and action/adventure fic! Whoo! Um…lets see…Tea and Yugi? Not Yami? Ah whatever, I'll think about it. Um…I've decided to do something about the whole major couple (which the reviewers voted on, and they know of it, so I will not reveal it here!) of this story…but there is a surprise! Yes, I have been congratulated on suspense, and I'll do it here, too! Muahaha!

Chapter 8

            The next day, Tea and Yami were at the Museum. Ishizu explained to Yami his past, and he was just overwhelmed.

            Matsu was too. Although Yami didn't see her, she was there, hiding in the shadows. Say something about Krita! Please! She begged her friend in her mind, but Ishizu said nothing. I can never get her to say ANYTHING about Krita. It's always, "You must find out yourself. You are destined to." Destined my ass.

            But nothing really came to her complete satisfaction. All of it was interesting, but nothing important.

            If I am EVER going to find Krita, I gotta find out SOMETHING about her!

//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//
           

            Pretty bracelet.

            Those words were such lies.

            Yugi wandered down the empty alleyway, taking a shortcut home. Everything Ishizu said to Yami was every puzzling, but he knew what he had to do: stop history from repeating itself and enter this new tournament that Kaiba was holding.

            He sighed. Yugi told his thoughts aloud to the atmosphere, "I guess yet again Yami and I must save the world from another dark evil." There was no one in the alley, so it never intimidated him. No thugs to hurt him; he was beyond the bullying stage. For some reason, the whole bullying issue reminded him of Bakura. He knew for the longest time that Bakura was the target for bullying in his old school. That's why Yugi's group of friends became friends with the silver-haired boy. But Bakura was always alone, looking off into space. And you could barely tell that the evil spirit of the ring was in control of his mind. Sometimes Bakura's hair spiked up a bit or the most distinguishing feature was that horrid smirk the spirit gave off. Still, it was depressing how Bakura, who was really kind, was still being bullied and used.

            Yugi was so deep in thought, he barely noticed that the back door to one of the stores on the street that opened up into the alley had opened. He was jarred out of his thoughts and looked up. There, he saw a purple cloaked man, holding something in his arms, it seemed, running out of the store. He obviously didn't look like he worked at Mom's Laundry.

            Purple robe! Yugi realized, his eyes widening. It's just like that robe that Bandit Keith was in when that strange evil spirit forced him against his will to steal my puzzle and duel me! That might be one of those…what were they called? Rare hunters!

            "Hey!" Yugi called after him. The man turned around, his arms hugging closer whatever he was carrying. He had a wild look about him, his jostled gray hair everywhere, his wrinkles badly decorating his countenance. His teeth were yellow, crooked, and cracked. His eyes were bloodshot and yellow, and the same wild look of desperation was in them. He mumbled a sound of surprise, then turned and ran.

            "Come back!" Yugi ran after him, waving his arm. The old man began to run with unbelievable speed, but somehow he slowed down. The crazy mind he had within him didn't understand. A force in the back of his mind was deliberately making him slow down.

            Oh no,  he thought, Master Malik will be furious if I can't get this to him! He looked back at Yugi and tried to run faster, but he only became slower. Again, he looked back at Yugi, but it took longer for his head to turn, and it even hurt. Yugi was yelling, but no voice was coming out of his mouth. It was like the boy was mute…or the man was deaf. Deaf and slow. And soon mute. His eyes widened, the wrinkles stretching from the wide expression of shock. Oh no. My pretty…

            Before Yugi even knew it, for as everything happened quite fast, the man stopped running, and, like a huge gust of wind was blowing against him, his body was thrown backwards, hitting Yugi until its momentum slowed. Yugi, with the man on him, crashed into some garbage cans with a flash of pain panging into his back. He gasped; the man's impact into him knocked the air out of Yugi. He clutched his chest, and after a few short breaths, everything with him was normal again.

            But nothing was normal with this man. Yugi could barely look at him; his eyes were rolled back into his head, and his ugly mouth was open, yet not breathing. It was obvious he was dead. Yugi peered over him and looked into his arms, which were still hugged to his death. Just barely, he could see a glint of gold, it was probably jewelry. Yugi very gingerly pried the man's arms off the piece to take a good look at it. Man, he still held onto this even into his death… But the depressing thoughts were replace.

            And the shock that did replace it overwhelmed him more than Ishizu's speech, or just as much to be fair. It's….it's a…Millennium Item!

            "But how can this be?" he exclaimed out loud, "I swear there are only seven. I mean, I know the other seven's names I don't know, but I also know this isn't one of them. Yami, it just isn't!"

            Yami again appeared beside his young partner. "I don't recognize this one. Even though Ishizu said in my past life I sealed away the evil in the Items, and still don't remember that, you're right; this isn't one of the items." Yami closed his eyes in thought, then opened them with shock. "This item is pure evil! It's been possessing people's minds to do the will of some other individual, though I cannot think of whom…" He held his chin and thought long and hard, and Yugi tried to think of someone as well, but he didn't know anyone evil except…

            "Yami!" Yugi called out, "could the will be of that evil spirit we sensed when it forced Bandit Keith to take my puzzle?"

            All the pharaoh could do was stare in utter disbelief at the item before him. What in the world could this all possibly mean?

            The answer never came, though. Instead, a loud shriek bounced off the walls of the alleyway horribly, stretching for miles, but only Yugi and his spirited Yami could hear it. The bracelet leaped into the air by itself, and the shriek, like that off a phoenix, resounded, shattering Yugi's and Yami's hearing. They had to bend down and cover their ears.

            "Where is she?" it screamed, "WHERE?!" The distraught voice faded, and so did the item, taking to the air and flinging itself far from the two's reach.

            The blinding light faded, and Yami and Yugi could see again. Yugi was just dumbfounded.

            "Yami…what was that?"

            "I…" he shook with disbelief, "I don't know, Yugi…I don't know…"

//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//

            The sands of Egypt were distant, and the warmth was a little fading, but still not cold enough for heavy robes. Still, the wanderer wore them, a golden key on his chest. His brown skin stood out little beneath his covers, but he read a foreigner. He walked with his eyes set on only one destination.

          The evil he sensed had struck his two items all the way in Egypt. He left his post at the tombs to come here and talk with an old friend.

          The Domino Museum, she said she was at, he told himself. Yes, I see it with my eyes. It is not far. He progressed through the busy streets of Domino and found his way at the steps of the great museum. He walked up, catching glances from visitors on his way by. He didn't mind; it wasn't like he had green skin and claws, but he never had such thoughts anyways.

          The person he was looking for was already waiting in the Egyptian exhibit with a welcoming smile. Ishizu bowed her head. "It is so good to see you, Shadi."

          He nodded. "You as well. I see you've been doing fine." She nodded respectively and he explained himself. "I have been taken from my post at the pharaoh's tomb by a new sense of evil."

          "Evil?" Ishizu blinked. "Surely you cannot mean the Millennium Bracelet."

          His tone didn't change. "We cannot speak here. Is there any place private where we can go?"

          "Well," she held up her hand, "the museum's closing in a few minutes, so why don't I give you a small tour of my exhibit."

          He nodded, barely cracking a smile. "Alright then."

          Ishizu sighed mentally, never letting her old friend seeing her disappointment. No one knows Shadi as well as my family and I do, but he could at least smile. It's been so long since I've last seen him. She put a smile on her face and led him down the hallways. Never did his expression change. Maybe every once and a while he asked her a question or two, but when she answered, he responded with nothing but a nod. If he seems so bored, why did he even come with me? Ah, he is so enigmatic sometimes. A half-hour passed and the museum closed. Ishizu led her companion out an unknown back door to a pavilion closed off to visitors. It was really a small garden that she and Matsu sometimes found themselves in. It rather calmed her.

          "No one can bother us here." Shadi nodded and sat down on one of the benches. Ishizu sat next to him and smiled.

          "I cannot talk on petty matters for now, Ishizu, I must find out if you know about this evil that is surrounding this area."

          Ishizu's smiled faded, but she was still confused. "I think the Millennium Bracelet has broken free of its captor."

          "How many times Ishizu have I told you there is no Millennium Bracelet."        

          "Shadi, I know you have guarded the items, but there is one. Krita created it herself, remember? I know it's not official, but she calls it the Millennium Bracelet, so that is what we have to name it for now."

          Shadi sighed. "It matters not what the name is, you are right on that. But, if this item exists, which I trust you that it does, do you think it contains the powers of a Millennium Item?"

          Ishizu's lowered to the floor. She took a deep breath. "I honestly don't know. All we can think now is that the bracelet has found its way away from that Rare Hunter."

          "And landed into the hands of whom?" Shadi leaned forward, looking straight into Ishizu's eyes. "And I hope you will say Lady Ayako."

          "Shadi, we don't call her Ayako now."

          He blinked in puzzlement. "What do you mean, Ishizu?"

          She leaned forward and whispered something into his ear. His eyes widened a little and he said, "Oh, I see." Ishizu drew back and nodded.

          "So you see? There is nothing to worry about. Matsu is taking care of everything. She's been trying to search for Krita nonstop."

          "Has she been successful?"
          Ishizu straightened her dress with her hands, folded them, and looked down. "I haven't helped her with it. I knew that if she would be the owner of this Millennium Item, she would have to discover it on her own. Just like Yugi did when he found our pharaoh." She stood up.

          Shadi followed. "Yes," he looked distantly towards the sky as she did, "I hope the memories of our Pharaoh reawaken and can save us from this evil."

          "Yes," Ishizu looked down solemnly, "my brother…"

          Shadi looked at her and his eyes softened. He placed a warm hand on her shoulder. "Please, do not be distraught, Ishizu. King Yami will solve everything."

          "I know," she nodded, blinking back tears, "I just wish Malik would return to the way he used to. He is so headstrong…I wish the kind brother I had would return."

          "Come, Ishizu, he will. We just have to believe in our pharaoh."

          "Yes," she nodded, looking up at him with new strength in her eyes, "we must."

          Shadi smiled. "That is the Ishizu I know."

          Ishizu smiled back and turned to walk back towards her home, which was right behind the museum. She turned back to Shadi. "By the way, Shadi, do you—"

          But he did it again; Shadi's famous I-tell-you-about-the-new-apocalypse-and-then-POOF-I-vanish act. But Ishizu smiled. He'll be back.

//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//

            "Crap, crap, crap, crap, and guess what, thin air? Crap damnit!" she whistled to herself, walking through a nearby park. "This absolutely sucks. But you know what?" Matsu asked herself, "Life has sucked anyways. Lemme just find you Krita!" she whined. "Just, like, fall out of the sky or something."

          She was jarred from her daily complaining when she heard a loud shriek fill the sky. The wind howled, and it seemed like Matsu was the only one experiencing this; the whole park was empty. The screeching became louder, and so did the wind's howling. "Man, did someone let a phoenix out or something?" she screamed over the loud noise, covering her ears. A gold blinding light stained her eyes, and she couldn't see at all except for that one light. Is this the light of Ra or something? No…Malik isn't here. He wouldn't go after me here, would he…?!

          The shriek sounded again, but this time, Matsu took her hands from her ears and stood, looking straight into the light. She blinked with astonishment. "Krita?" she said distantly.

          The light started to fade, and the Millennium Bracelet floated in midair. Matsu gasped in awe at it, and absentmindedly reached forward…

          A spirit formed where her hand was. It took the form of a shadow, a shadow that was a clone of Matsu. It looked exactly like her; her height, the oval shape of her head, the way her hair curved in ruggedly, like small sharp ends, the way she aligned her shoulders, everything. But as Matsu started to look closer, she saw that this girl was obviously not her. She was Egyptian, like Ishizu and Shadi, and had their brown colored skin. Her eyes were a honey brown, and her hair a dark chocolate, much like Joey's eyes. In all, she was an Egyptian form of Matsu.

          She cocked her eyebrow. "Matsu, eh?"

          Matsu blushed a little. "Well, I kinda had to…"      

          The girl nodded. "I understand. Well, Matsu, at least I found you. Do you know how much it sucks in that Shadow Realm?"

          "Well," Matsu put her hand on her hip, "for a five thousand year old spirit, you sure talk like your from around here."

          Krita rolled her eyes. "I was handled by thieves and thugs, I had to pick up some vocabulary."

          Matsu's eyes lit up and she clapped her hands together. "But Krita-san! I've finally found you."

          "Not quite," she shook her head seriously, "my body is with that dark maniac."

          Matsu gasped. "You mean Malik?" Krita nodded.

*Flashback*

          "Master, I am not sure what we should do with the girl. Her spirit is not at rest, and her body is rotting again."
          "Do I have to do everything! Odeon, I thought you could handle this." He slammed his hand down on the corner of the table and turned violently and stormed out of the room.

          Odeon kneeled. "Forgive me Master Malik."

          Malik waved it by and motioned for Odeon to get up and follow him. "That priestess had been giving us nothing but trouble. She fades in and out of consciousness and tells us nothing. When she falls unconscious, her body starts to rot. This is what happens when you try to revive a mummy without its spirit.

          The sight wasn't pretty when Malik walked in with his Millennium Rod. And a scream could be heard over the ocean, but no one was there to hear it.

*End Flashback*

//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//

            Joey closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. He thought he might dream about something like his sister coming out of surgery okay, or maybe this tournament that Kaiba was hosting. But no, it wasn't that. And it totally freaked him.

          When he opened his eyes, he was in a dark void, dressed in his regular big white and blue shirt and jeans. He looked around dumbly, thoroughly confused where he was.

          "Hey, I'm in a dream aren't I? Well, somethin' happen already!" he called out to the void, which was swirling different shades of green. His answer came in a cold laugh, obsessing* him, poking at him with a sharp needle. "Hey!" he called out angrily to the laughter. He kind of recognized it, but he wasn't sure; like he only had met the voice a day ago.

          "Joey Wheeler," the voice droned, laughing coolly, empty of emotion, only hatred.

          "Show yourself, coward," his hand balled into a fist, his head whipping in different directions, looking for the source of the taunting.

           Soon he was surround by three shadows, all the same. They all stood there, monotonous of feeling. Then, a cool chill ran up his spine as an evil, white smile grew on all their faces, jerking into a devilish smirk.

          "Hey, who are you?" he whirled around, looking at all of them.

          They were only outlined; gray, dark shadows, but he could see them; one was wearing a white shirt that stopped above the navel, and a long skirt as if she were from ancient times, wearing the ancient attire. Egypt? He questioned the dress. The figure smirked and laughed. Joey shook his head and looked at the other one. Her clothing was starting to gain color, but her head was still in shadow.

          "Hey, I recognize 'dat outfit!" he pointed at the ghost. It was familiar: from the bottom up, Japanese sandals, loose blue jeans, a white shirt under an open yellow shirt, or blouse (whatever). He gasped. "Matsu!" Her face came into view. Joey barely recognized her; her hair was down this time, curving in like rugged sharp ends of hair. Her mischievous green eyes glinted when she smiled, humming an evil laugh that curled the tiny hairs on his skin. "But 'den, who's de other girl?" he pointed at the third Matsu-figured shadow. Unlike the other two, this one wasn't smiling. Her clothes were much different from Matsu the Shadow: as they slowly inched into view, Joey saw she was wearing black jeans, much like Yami's, and a black backless shirt, the back holding the shirt together by a few straps. On her hand was a golden bracelet with the eye of Horus on it. Linked to it was a thin golded chain, connected to a ring on her middle finger, the ring gold with the eye as well.

          Joey gasped again. "A Millennium Item?" The girl's face came into view, and Joey couldn't believe his eyes.

          She looked nothing like Matsu. Her hair was a dark forest green, so dark it was almost black. And her eyes; they showed only pure darkness and hatred. They were a crimson blood red, and they bore into Joey deeply.

          "M-Matsu?" She frowned darker and raised her arm without the ring, slapping him across the face. Joey fell to the ground, groaning in the stinging pain. As he looked up from the ground, the three spirits surrounded him; Egyptian Matsu, Matsu the Shadow, and Evil Matsu, he called them in his mind. On all three of them, the Millennium Bracelet glowed, and soon the light became too much for his eyes as he screamed……

          Joey forced his eyes open from the nightmare. Drops of sweat slid down his chest, sticking him to the bed. Was it that horrible? He asked himself. But yes, it was. He had a nightmare about Matsu. Man, if I had a dream about a girl, I would at least expect it to be a good dream. But that? What the hell was 'dat? And that Millennium Item…if that was even what it was…

          "I gotta tell Yugi," he breathed hoarsely, trying to catch his breath.

A/N: the * next to obsessing means this: obsessing over something doesn't always mean to contantly be well…obsessed with something. Obsess can mean to haunt or taunt. In this case, that is what it means. Keep on reviewing for your favorite pairings! Thanx!