A/N: This "chapter" takes place right after Jounouchi loses to Yami Malik. The latter decides to screw things up even more for poor Shizuka.

Sycophancy: Part III

Hello, pet.

It's a beautiful day, isn't it? But of course it isn't for you. Your poor, beloved Oniichan dared to defy the darkness and suffered the consequences. Poor, stupid fool.

You're sad, aren't you? Was he all that you had? That's too bad. I'm sure that you would have loved to come and watch your only reason for living become devoured by flames. How handsome you would have considered him, screaming and writhing and falling and burning. He was quite a delicious challenge.

Ah, so he's not your only hope and light? Then who else is? I'm sure that you can tell me. It'll just be you, me, and your secret admirer. Three can keep a secret if two are dead.

You won't tell me who she is? You're even more confused than you first appeared to be. Does Oniichan know about this...? No, of course not. How foolish of me.

So, who is it?

Well, whoever it is seems to have taught you the virtue of silence. It's quite a pity that this isn't the time to invoke that ability.

Shall I have to guess?

Perhaps it is the dancer, cheerful and always supportive. But she has eyes only for her beloved Pharaoh-who-will-soon-fall, and those same eyes will soon bleed tears. She will be too stricken with grief to even throw a passing glance at you.

Maybe it's the warrior who dared to step out of her boundaries, the free spirit that never was. She, too, defied the darkness, and the beauty and belligerence that you so adored are wasting away into nothing. She was once your idol, was she not? Then she lost and faded away while you did nothing but stand and watch and revel in woe. Even so, you're somewhat devoted to her, having watched over her corpse all this time. But she won't wake up to see you - she never will.

Or maybe...

Ah, so you adore the prophet! Instead of preferring the ones who go out on impulse and start a revolution, you're partial to the ones who stand behind the curtain and gently prod things in the right direction. I see. You consider her intelligent and wise and strong. You go to her for your comfort and solace. You think that she's a representation of the goddess Isis herself.

Are you even aware of how the goddess came to be?

I didn't think so.

No, there's no need for you to know anything. I wouldn't want to warp your view of your beloved...or maybe I would. No matter.

But I hope you know that she's deceived you, much like her namesake...

So now you're curious. I knew you would be.

Do you want to hear a story?

I'm afraid you don't have a choice.