You're Only Deceived Once
By Saria-Subi-kun
SariaSubi: Hello! Yes, I am so happy at the response at this story. Two people reading it now! w00t! Maybe I can get three in the next month…
I am so into a Yu-Gi-Oh mood now that I downloaded the theme song and am playing it right now…I feel like hugging Malik.
And also this: Um…yeah. I really don't know too much in depth about Bakura's history. I know his father is an archaeologist who found his Millennium Ring on one of his digs, and I hear his mother is dead, but I think I'm going to change a little of that. Maybe.
Chapter 9
Matsu blinked at the bracelet that she kept on tossing in the air as she walked towards Ishizu's home. I never really expected the Millennium Bracelet to actually fall from the sky… But that wasn't all that confused her. Krita's spirit was here, but her body? Why did Malik have it?
She shook her head. Ah, I forget so much about her past. But— Matsu stopped her train of thought as the bracelet's eye started to glow. Another item is nearby? No, I know I'm not close to Ishizu-sama's home. Whose could it be?
Matsu looked out of the corner of her eye and found a young man standing before her, confronting her. She frowned. He had off-white jeans with a striped polo shirt under and open blue shirt. He seems familiar to Krita...somehow.
Though, she was annoyed at his smirk. "Can I help you with something, sir?"
A golden ring with spikes hanging around its perimeter with the eye of Horus in the center magically appeared through his shirt. This presence feels familiar. The silver-haired boy smiled wickedly. "Yes, in a way you can help me. Hand over that bracelet and I'll let you walk away alive."
Matsu frowned, but then her green eyes grew small as her eyes widened. Grave robber?!
"Who the hell are you?" she whipped around to face him, starting to get on her guard.
He grinned. "I am a collector of Millennium Items. And you, my dear, hold one."
Matsu's features softened a little, but only in puzzlement. This isn't the real person inside that body, is it, Krita-san?
{No, it isn't} the spirit answered, {the boy inside that body is trapped in shadows. He is screaming to be released, I can hear his pleas. Put the bracelet on, Matsu. I have a feeling you remember how to use this item.}
Alright. Matsu stood straight, let's do this.
Reaching into her blouse's pocket, she whipped out the bracelet. The eyes of the spirit of the Millennium Ring widened, but the bracelet was not given to him. She snapped it onto her wrist and the small ring onto her finger. She held her arm in position in from of him, and a small flame of red energy started to burn around her.
Yami Bakura frowned. Through his glare back at her, he let the blue aura of his energy form around him, and both their items glowed. Then, a small grin appeared on his face.
"Your item is powerful, but I can tell you don't seem sure how to use it. Why don't you give it to me and I'll show you a lesson."
She grunted. "Buzz off. You probably don't even realize this isn't one of the seven items, so how in hell would you be able to use it? Use it as a keychain?"
Her voice aggravated him. "I told you, the only way you are going to walk out alive is if you hand it over to me."
Matsu smirked, and she put her hand over the bracelet. "Have you seen what this baby can do? It's already killed someone." Her eyes narrowed and she licked her lips mischievously. "Do you want to be next?"
Yami Bakura backed up a step, his frown darkening. Damn her...there seems to be a presence inside the item that is helping her. He needed to find out who it was.
Matsu was getting irritated at the spirit's presence. "Okay, you freak, get out," the bracelet started to glow, "of that boy's mind!" The spirit held his hand up to guard against the bright light, but her soon let out a cry as he felt himself drawn into it, and soon awoke to the shadows.
The limp body of the boy fell to the ground. "Hey!" Matsu ran over, the bracelet falling off her wrist. She held his shoulders and propped him up on her lap. She gently shook him. "Hey," she whispered softly, "are you okay?"
The boy stirred, his silver head shaking back and forth, his eyes shut tight, as if he was escaping a nightmare. That spirit must be very upset. I must shake him out before he tortures this kid. Matsu frowned, grabbing his shoulders. "Heeeyyyy!" she shook him, his head tossing back and forth, "Wakey wakey, sunshine!"
Suddenly, the boy gave a jolt. He shot up out of her grip quite unexpectedly and looked every which way, before he noticed her. His brown eyes widened.
"Excuse me miss, but who are you? And what happened that," he paused, looking down with the flushed cheeks, "that," he lowered his voice to a mere whisper, "you ended up here?"
Matsu bit her lip. "Okay kid, I don't know if this may come as a surprise to you, but you have an evil spirit living inside you that just tried to kill me." His eyes widened again. Matsu leaned in closer. "You knew about this?"
He nodded, his eyes dropping. He slowly edged off of Matsu's lap. "Yes. And I'm extremely sorry about what happened."
Matsu frowned. She reached for him, and he withdrew immediately, but that didn't stop her. She grasped one of the rungs of the golden item around his neck. She bit her lip and hmmmed. Matsu looked up at him. "I can see this is a Millennium Item. It has to be the ring, right?" She looked down at it again. "Yeah, because even though mine has a ring, it's the bracelet. And this is shaped like it…yep." She stood up and dusted her jeans off, reaching down to lend a hand to him. "Well, I can't say you have the better of the Millennium Items."
He just nodded, a lost look in his eyes. "Um…can I ask your name?" He tugged at his blue overshirt.
Matsu blinked for a moment, but then grinned proudly. "I'm Matsu. I can't say I have a last name. Matsu's all that is and all you need to know."
The boy nodded. "My name's Bakura. Bakura Ryou. Uh, which Millennium Item did you say you had?" he asked of her.
Matsu held up her arm. "It's called the Millennium Bracelet. I know, I know it's not one of the main seven, but it's one of them, believe me. It has a ring and a bracelet, but since there's already a ring, namely yours, it's the Millennium Bracelet."
Bakura nodded. "I see."
"Hey, can we get out of this alley?" she looked out towards the sidewalk, which was bathed in the sunlight she longed to keep her warm. The boy Bakura nodded and followed her out of the dark alleyway. Matsu looked around for a bench, and she motioned for him to sit down with her.
"So, Bakura," she looked at him, trying to get a good glimpse at him and his character. She had to admit he was pretty cute. "How in the world did you get that necklace?"
Bakura lifted his knees to his chin and wrapped his arms around them. He sighed, his eyes looking distant. Matsu frowned disappointedly. "Maybe you don't wanna talk. That's okay." She looked around, and she found something that made her smile show. "Hey, Bakura," she tugged on his sleeve, "wanna get some ice cream?"
His shy eyes showed "yes."
The girl was strange. Maybe just a new kind of person to meet. Whatever she was, words couldn't really be found to describe her. He remembered how his heart started racing when he had woken in her lap, her deep green eyes looking with a nameless expression at him. And of all the things, she had a Millennium Item as well.
Bakura wanted to get to know this Matsu. He really did. But because of her bracelet, he might have to avoid her, just to make she her bright smile wouldn't disappear. When he was spoken to by her, he just couldn't find words to speak with. He wanted to tell her how his father, who was an archaeologist, found the ring at one of his digs in Egypt, but he couldn't form one sentence. His heart had silently lifted when she asked to have ice cream with him. He wanted to spend more time with her.
Did he really have to avoid her? She had found a way to release him from the control of the dark spirit of the Millennium Ring, so maybe he could be her friend. But visions popped into his head of something different, something new. Something more…
Matsu grabbed his arm, snapping him out of his daze, and she darted with him across the street. He ran with her. It was just…another nameless description of how her eyes showed so much energy and brilliance. She just seemed like a beautiful person.
She is beautiful, he found himself thinking, but he shook his head violently, trying to make the red leave his face. If he daydreamed about her on the street, he would surely get hit by a car. (Basic logic, right?)
The stand was in a park across the street. Matsu seemed to have remembered it from a time before. Before the pair approached the stand, she stopped and dug her hand around in her jeans pocket. "Damnit," she muttered, "it's gotta be in here somewhere. Money, where are you?"
"Here, I'll pay." Matsu's head shot up, and she looked at the money as if it was a foreign object, and even more as if no one had ever paid for anything for her before. Her green eyes became big and transformed into puppy eyes.
"Th-Thank you…"
Bakura smiled nervously, and wriggled his arm out of her hands. "Really, Matsu, it's all right."
She nodded. "Sorry, it's just that I've been living off a family friend for a while, that I usually force her to pay for stuff or I have to rake up the cash myself. And the worst part is, I keep on getting fired from my jobs."
They reached the stand and got two chocolate cones. Bakura took a lick and looked at her. "Why?"
Matsu shrugged. "They just don't let me hate my fellow employees." Bakura looked at her strangely, raising an eyebrow, but Matsu didn't seem to notice it. They walked for a little longer until they were in the middle of the park. Right before they were about to sit down of a nearby bench, two taller guys about two years older than them approached Matsu and Bakura. They seemed so familiar…
There was a tall one with spiked hair, dyed a dark blue. The other one was a bit shorter with short cherry red hair. They were dressed straight from Hot Topic, clad in black, and neither of them seemed in a pleasant mood.
Bakura flinched, but Matsu grimaced and stepped forward. "Can we help you gentlemen?" Her always steady approach.
"Yeah," the redhead balled his hand into a fist, "just stand still and it'll all be over."
Bakura edged away, but Matsu didn't back down. "Look, we don't want any trouble."
"Too bad," the taller one sneered, "you already have it coming."
Matsu folded her arms and grumbled. But something hit her, a strange thought. Her eyes stood blank for a moment, but then they glowed again. They were glazed over with an icy malice, and a malicious grin tugged at her lips. "All right. But mind if I get your names?"
The shorter punk was getting irritated. "Oh, you know us babe. Remember you made it like you were gonna pummel us in front of Kaiba Corporation? Then you did some shit to our minds that made us scared of Kaiba and we were embarrassed in front of him and thrown out!"
That's right! she remembered. They were the two thugs that she saw in the alley when she was trying make Seto duel her. But some shit? What could they be talking about.
Then she looked down into her yellow overshirt's pocket. Of course: Krita-san. She probably made them tell Kaiba about me wanting to duel him for me. She still kept her smirk over, and behind her back, she caught a piece of Bakura's shirt. "Stay here," she whispered to him. Nervously, he nodded. Then she looked back that the two before them. "I still didn't get your names. You already know mine's Matsu."
The tall one grunted. "I'm Karo, and this is Lens. But you won't really need our names now. You'll be dead before you can say them again!" Right then he positioned himself to lunge at her, but Lens held him back.
"Waitaminute," he looked closely at the pair, "that guy…I remember you, you silver haired punk!" he shouted at Bakura, making him flinch. Matsu backed in front of him.
"What did he ever do? Leave him alone!"
"He," Lens pointed, "left us beat up in an alley the other day! Now we hafta pummel both of you!"
That dark spirit must have been in control when he smashed these two. Matsu looked back at Bakura. And I hate to say it, but I wish he was in control now. She shoved Bakura back lightly. He looked at her in confusion, but she flashed him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'll take care of this."
Shoving him back forcefully now, she leapt forward to the two charging minions. Karo lurched forward, throwing his arm down. Matsu spun away, but Lens was already at that side. He lifted his leg to kick her, but she parried it with her hand and used her other hand to grab hold of it. She came in close and used her now free hand to grab his collar. Using her other leg, she swept him and he fell to the ground. While he was down, she turned to face Karo. Both his arms grabbed around her neck, holding it tightly.
His large hands were laced tightly around her slim neck, and he lifted her into the air, leaving her legs hovering inches above the sidewalk. Let's see…how to get out of this one… Matsu moved her legs, but to no avail did they even brush the concrete. Her determined eyes glared at the taller punk, who seemed to be contemplating her defeat. Come on, you've gotten out of a lot worse before. And without the Millennium Bracelet. She stopped to think for a minute. If his arms are strong enough to hold me up, than maybe…
She looked back up at him. Gotta do this quick. Matsu started to swing her body side to side until she gained enough air to swing herself onto his arms, facing opposite him. Startled by the sudden amount of weight, Karo lost his strong grip and fell forward, sending Matsu to the ground with him. She groaned as she hit the ground, the sidewalk smacking her cheek as she skidded across it. Bakura ran over to her, helping her up. He looked her up and down; she had some scrapes on the are she fell on, and her lip was a bit bloody, but that seemed like the only damage done.
"Thanks, Bakura," she grinned at him, keeping the eye that hit the ground shut. She wobbled out of his arms and faced the two on the ground, barely able to stand up. Matsu could barely stand herself. She wanted to badly to finish them off, but…I can't cause a scene for myself here. No way. I can't get people talking about me again.
She turned to look at Bakura. "They're gonna be getting up again soon. Let's just blow this joint and go somewhere else, 'kay?"
He nodded. Then with a tone of concern, he added, "Do you need help walking? You can lean on me if you want."
She shook her head. "Nah, it's okay. Just a scrape and a bruise. That's all." Matsu tried to make herself stand up straight. "So," she put on a smile again, "where do ya wanna go?"
Bakura shrugged. "Anywhere really." Just as long as it's with you. As they started walking, Bakura looked intently at her. "Um, Matsu? Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
Matsu looked over at him and cocked an eyebrow. "Uh…just where I used to come from. I know it looks like I know martial arts and stuff, but really, I made a lot of those moves up by strategically thinking. Like this," she held her hands out in front of her, "when the guy kicked me, I could use my free arm to block the attack, because there is a strong bone of this side of your arm, and then use the same hand to take hold of the leg. I move in close, with my other arm up just in case he punches me, but make sure he can't because I then use it to grab his jacket, turning him off balance, and using my free leg to sweep the leg that's still letting him stand. Since he's so off balance, his leg would be weak. See? It's kind of simple when you think about it step by step." Bakura nodded and remained silent. Matsu noticed the silence and spoke up. "Hey, Bakura? Why were you so afraid of those assholes? I mean, I'm a freak, so I'm not scared by anything, but you looked like you thought they were going to kill you!"
He cringed. "I…"
Matsu stopped and took his hand and held it. "You can tell me."
Once again, he felt the heat coming to his face. "When I was younger, I was always the target for bullying. Even until a year ago it still went on. But then I moved her to Domino and went to the high school here. I got a really good pack of new friends. But still, even when I see a punk or a thug, it reminds me of my past."
"Oh." Matsu let go of his hand and folded her arms, biting her lip. Damnit, I didn't need that. She chewed on her bottom lip until any random thought flowed through her mind. "Bakura, do you know Yugi Motou?"
Bakura blinked. "Of course. He's my best friend."
"Oh really? Are the other people in your group of friends named Tristan, Tea, and Joey?"
Again he was dumbfounded. "You met them?"
Matsu closed her eyes and gave out a shaky laugh, putting her arm behind her head. "Eheheheh…ya, you can say that…"
"Hey, Matsu, look. They're over there!" Matsu looked at them numbly, her eyes all of a sudden growing low in luster and color. "Let's go see them." Bakura rushed off to greet them, but his voice, the sound of his footsteps, it was all becoming farther and farther away. Soon, all color was gone from her eyes, and she couldn't move…
Meanwhile, with the others, Joey's eyes widened.
Matsu!
Yami's spirit stirred within Yugi. Something here is wrong. Yugi!
Yugi looked into his soul. Yami…?
Quick! I sense danger!
In the basement of the Domino Museum, Ishizu lost all breath as her Millennium Necklace glowed with a premonition. When she received it, she let out a cry and covered her mouth. No, no! She fell to her knees. Matsu…and her eyes grew diluted with anguish.
A few blocks away, a black limo was driving down the streets. In the back seat, the CEO had his arms crossed over his chest, his head down and his blue eyes closed in deep thought. He would get to KaibaCorp, start this tournament, and then…find that damned girl.
Unpredictably, the car screeched to a halt, nearly throwing Seto forward. He didn't have a seatbelt on. When the car finally stopped, his head hit the window to the driver's seat, throwing him back into his seat. Seto moaned, holding his injured head. The world was spiraling in his vision, even with his eyes closed. His head and neck hurt so badly.
He jammed the button in front of him, the window to the driver falling. "What in hell was that for?!"
"I-I'm sorry sir!" the driver cried in apology, "But a strangle man in a purple cloak just darted across the street!"
"Then you should have just ran him over! Stupid old fool!" He sat back in his seat, trying to make his head stop pounding. But the driver's words forced his eyes wide open.
Man in a purple cloak?!
The wind was blowing hard, but her still, vacant body didn't move as only her hair and the bits of her clothes swayed in the wind. Her green eyes were dead still, but her mouth slowly opened.
The name droned out in a hypnotized tone as the danger came nearer. "Mekhi…"