A few explanations are in order:
- I am basing the main cast's appearance on the movie 'The Dark Side of Dimension' just because everyone is sexier there and ya'all know it. So nope, Yugi isn't a midget, he is just relatively short compared to everyone else + Yami and Kaiba are ripped. Also all my egyptian dudes wear make-up, Yami doesn't but Atem does.
- I am replacing the first chapter of Duel Monsters with everything that happens in season 0 up until Yugi's duel with Kaiba (minus anything that has to do with Shadi and Mokuba, because I don't like how their characters are treated... also no Miho), so yeah, there are plenty of shadow games that result in the magical punishment of a lot of bad people, not just the iconic "Mind Crush!". This because I think such events give Yami a lot more depth than just the somewhat morally confused deus ex machina he was until the Orichalcos arc in DM. You may find this confusing at first but hopefully I'll make it work in the next chapters.
-Because of the above Yami's personality is in a sense transitioning from what he was in season 0 to his attitude in DM with a few artistic liberties taken along the way.
-The titles (which I really suck at) from this chapter on should hint at which DM episode the story is referencing. I will not be following them step by step all the way but certain recognizable mentions should let you know where in the timeline we are.
Reviews are always welcome. Enjoy!
Five seconds Tesem was exposed to the elements, just the time it took her to get out of the cab and run to the shop's door. That was more than enough for water to soak through to her scalp and make her clothes start to stick around the shoulder and bosom area.
At the door she took a moment to look at her reflection on the glass. She would have to do something really nice for Rebecca once they saw each other again. The girl had had enough forethought to gift her something which was described as a waterproof version of her usual kohl stick, an item she had just started using after her previously favorite make-up option ran out a couple of days before.
She had been skeptical at first but now if anyone claimed the thing to be magic she would without a doubt believe it. Even as her long mane clumped weirdly around her head and heavy droplets ran down her face the perfect black line framing her eye didn't budge, not even a little bit.
She pushed the door open and a bell chimed merrily making the group of teens gathered at the counter turn in unison to greet her.
Upon taking a better look at the gang she noticed that they had also fared poorly on their trip over. Jonouchi was soaked to the bone and had been handed a towel to at least contain the drippage of the blonde mess that was his hair. Anzu was mostly dry save for her long white socks, which were splashed likely from the muddy puddles outside, Tesem figured the pink umbrella by the entrance was hers. Honda was just as wet as Jonouchi and had removed his school jacket to reveal a white shirt which had become very much see-through. As fit as the boy was her eyes didn't linger around his chest area for long as they became instantly glued to his hair… How in the Gods' name was that goddamn spike still there, sharp as ever and not a single hair out of place?
Yugi... Well he was just there, perfect and dry because of course this was his home. He wore his jacket open with the standard white button-up shirt peeking underneath. His puzzle was there, regarding her with its usual golden glare and accompanying it as an accessory was the boy's leather choker. What a compelling juxtaposition of edgy and sweet he was.
Don't stare at him. Don't stare at Yugi. Don't- Shit. she was staring. "Hey guys."
"Hello Tesem, dear." Sugoroku stepped around from behind the counter and met her halfway in. A mixed look of concern and what she could only describe as a pervy old man's happy face was distracting enough to pull her eyes away from his grandson. "My girl your jacket is drenched, you will catch a cold."
"Don't worry Mr. Muto, I think I fared better than Honda and Jonouchi here." She tilted her head over at the guys. "Was it a competition?"
The boys snickered at the banter. "If so I definitely win." Jonouchi proudly proclaimed, shaking his head very much like a wet dog would, sending tiny droplets flying everywhere. Anzu gave a small disgruntled shriek and everyone jumped back. Tesem couldn't contain her laughter.
"Stop that, young man, or I'll make you mop the entire place."
"Don't be mean gramps, aren't you worried that I may get sick too?"
The old man scoffed at that and turned to escort Tesem forward to join the others. "No. Get yourself an umbrella."
Coming closer the egyptian girl noticed the array of cards her friends had been picking at and promptly rushed the last couple of steps to take a better look.
Her eyes widened at what looked like a very deliberate gathering of all egyptian themed monster, trap and magic cards in existence. An unwelcome rush of color flooded her cheeks and wide-eyed she turned to look at the one who she knew was responsible for the deed. She didn't even need to ask.
"We figured that this was as good a time as any to work on your deck, Tesem-chan."
"We, he says. It wasn't us who took the time to pick these out for you."
"Honda-kun…" Yugi whined weakly, rubbing a hand over his eyes to lessen the embarrassment he felt at his brunette friend's lack of subtlety.
"That was very thoughtful." She bumped the boy's side playfully, distracting him from his silent suffering. If I am not embarrassed then you shouldn't be. Her eyes seemed to say before she glanced back down at the Duel Monster cards. She knew that acting coy and flustered would only provide them with fuel to want to tease them more, they would have their chance to be coy and flustered alone at some point.
Now, it may have been a bit of a cliche to turn to such a theme for her deck but every neat little piece of Ancient Egyptian mythos she found buried in the descriptions of those cards had her heart beating a little faster and her smile growing a little wider. A piece of home, somewhat adulterated by an American man's interpretation, but familiar nonetheless.
"These are really nice but I don't have the money to pay for them." She knew that Arthur would be happy to lend her the cash, much like he had for basically every single one of her belongings, but she despised the feeling of not being self-sufficient and she already owed the man so much.
"Not a problem dear, they are on the house." The old man said, rubbing beneath his nose and leaning back with his eyes closed. His expression was smug as sin. If Tesem was the kind of girl who liked to take advantage of her allure and the effect it had on people she may have agreed, but she wasn't, not when it came to an elderly man's livelihood, and although flattering she found the notion too detrimental to her pride.
"Oh no Mr. Muto, I wouldn't be able to sleep well if you did that, I know these aren't cheap…" She took a look around and suddenly remembered what had been said over dinner the day they all met. When Sugoroku claimed that his back was starting to suffer from having to haul heavy boxes all day. "I'd much rather earn them. Say... how about I help you with the shop on busy days?"
Such a plan had the advantage of having an excuse to visit the Muto household more often, but that part needn't be voiced out loud.
"That is a wonderful idea. I am sure having a pretty girl such as you at the shop will attract many many clients."
It was at that moment that the door opened brusquely, the sound of the bell startling as the 'Closed' sign was clearly visible from the outside.
Her frame tensed and her eyes shot to the entrance with a wild glint to them. Her stance widened and her hands, which were closed into tight fists, were raised in preparation...
but preparation for what exactly?
A boy that couldn't be older than 12 rushed in, the air of urgency he portrayed giving her pause before Yugi confirmed his familiarity with a confused "Mokuba?"
Suddenly mindful of her misplaced reaction she shifted her posture, abandoning the involuntary combat stance in a second to step aside and let the others rush to the one who was a stranger to her but not to them.
Only Jonouchi cast a curious glance her way as he passed, a brief action she nearly missed and didn't think much of at the time. As silly and carefree as they usually acted, Katsuya and Hiroto both shared a background on the streets, their rough upbringing still clinging to their bones in spite of their fortunes having turned for the better during recent years.
The blonde teen made no comment about it but he had been in enough scuffles to identify an 'I am about to beat your ass' pose anywhere and he knew that instinctive responses like that just couldn't be faked or achieved without constant training and experience. He silently wondered where their foreign friend had learned how to fight or why, not to be sexist or anything but girls in Japan especially in their age-group rarely had the need to cultivate such skills. Perhaps he would ask her later, when they didn't have one of the Kaiba brother's problems to attend to.
They moved into the household and provided the shivering black-haired youngster with a towel and a hot drink to give him some comfort before he finally said his piece.
"Trapped in a VR game? But How?"
The young black-haired boy who she now knew was named Mokuba Kaiba detailed the misfortune that befell his family with hurried words and growing sorrow. Many of the technicalities escaped her comprehension as they involved complex levels of technology and corporate power relationships, but what she did understand was the theme of betrayal and backstabbing, the underhanded wrong that threatened to destroy the lives of both brothers. Such a situation resonated with her at an incomprehensible level and as the boy made his plea she inched closer, resolute to lend a hand wherever possible.
"We will help you." Spoken without hesitation. For a second she was certain that Yugi's voice could command the hearts of many, friends or followers. His selfless devotion to all his connections was truly touching and she couldn't help the subtle bloom of color in her skin as she eyed him tenderly.
They collectively moved toward the door and she couldn't help the urge to let her hand steal an appreciative brush against his shoulder in passing. The small show of affection was undemanding and she quickly moved on to grab one of the umbrellas Yugi's grandfather had fetched to prevent them from becoming human soup yet again.
They faced the relentless shower with intent and together the group of youngsters broke into a sprint, racing to the aid of a man who would likely never show gratitude for their help, not that it mattered anyways.
The not yet operational amusement park, Kaiba Land, looked very much like a haunted place with its lights shut off and a heavy mist teased up by the relentless downpour.
"Lovely" She grinned, feeling thrilled instead of spooked by the ominous vibes of the place. Her sarcasm produced smiles from the others, even if some of them did feel apprehensive, not only because of the appearance of the place they were about to break into but also by the danger implicit in the whole endeavor.
The youngest Kaiba brother climbed the metallic gate and granted them passage from within.
Inside a building with a large 'Adventure Game' sign they found a set of three machines meant to insert them into the simulation. Curiosity led her to approach the devices, carefully inspecting them as the boys talked about strategy. She knew she wouldn't join them in the digital world, her gaming skills weren't on par and she much rather not mess with something which in paper sounded terribly similar to a long forgotten concept of magic that although beyond the reach of her remembrance still caused a healthy dose of fear in her.
She shied away from the blasted things and joined Jonouchi and Yugi, her caramel palms coming to rest upon a shoulder each. "Be careful."
Tesem squeezed and let go, glad to see both of them trying to hide their blushing cheeks instead of fidgeting in anxiety for the trials to come. Distracted from pesky what if's and full of confidence was how she fashioned them to achieve certain victory.
"It is time." Urged Mokuba to which the three of them nodded and she stepped away, joining Anzu and Honda by the console.
"We will hold the Fort. You three just be sure to kick ass."
.oOoOoOo.
"They have taken too long."
"Relax Anzu. Yugi may be a gaming prodigy but even he can't pull this one off instantaneously."
Tesem smiled at that, lifting her gaze from her nails which she had been picking at again. She understood the pretty girl's concerns, the wait was excruciating and the powerlessness to aid their friends in any way could have driven each one of them mad had they not counted with each other's presence as a distraction.
Thunders still rumbled beyond the building's protective walls, the high windows trembling at the nearness of some of them. Silence couldn't be achieved in such conditions but even in spite of all the background noise she heard it, a metallic thud, far-away but distinctive enough to raise alarm. She jumped to her feet from where she had settled languidly on the floor and made for the door to listen.
"Tesem what is-" The boy's question was interrupted by a repetition of the sound, now closer and clearer. A metallic door being forced open.
"Shit." She hissed under her breath. "The Big Five lackeys must have come to stop them."
"What do we do now?" Anzu's frightful tone sent a fresh rush of adrenaline through her veins and upon locking her gaze with Honda's, a plan —rushed as it may be— formed in her mind.
"Make a barricade. I'll buy you as much time as I can." As she said this her fingers worked the bow around her neck and the buttons of her jacket undone, discarding the constrictive garments before she reached for the door.
Understandment reached her two friend's and worry quickly overtook their expressions. "Wait, you can't possibly think I'll let you do something so dangerous." Honda made a move to stop her but she halted him by gently placing her palm on his chest.
"I won't fight them. I know I am faster so I'll distract them, but you must be quick too, they won't chase me for long." Another slamming sound, this time accompanied by the voices of several men reflected the urgency of her speech. Out of time and out of options the tall brunette stepped back and quickly instructed his other female friend to aid him in hauling as many heavy objects as they could find.
Tesem slipped out the door, took a deep breath and broke into a sprint straight toward the noise and the lurking danger.
Several profanities fell from her lips as she reached the door just as it was being pried open by the corporate dogs. She barreled into it effectively slamming whoever was behind in the face with the thing. Curses, threats and orders were shouted and several footsteps came splashing behind her.
Water blurred her vision but that was fine. She had no route in mind anyways, a prolonged chase was all that mattered. Grabbing hands tried to latch onto her whipping mane but she was too agile, too slippery. Her harsh but controlled breathing contrasted encouragingly with their strained pants and grunts and soon she noticed their pursuit lose momentum. It was then that she got bold and began to laugh. "Who wears suits to carry out this kind of work? I mean seriously?" That had done the trick nicely and with injured prides they renewed the fervor of their efforts, falling for the trap of her wild goose chase.
Perhaps it was the adrenaline pumping through her system but she felt no fear, no mindedness of the dire consequences that would surely follow if she was caught.
We are prey they do not wish to catch. Cryptic as ever the voice slipped past her mental defenses to invade her mindspace, the wall that had kept it back failing with her focus concentrated somewhere else.
Maybe. Tesem answered just in thought, feeling too elated and powerful to disagree or care about the intrusive thoughts.
"You better keep running you bitch!" They tried to attack her conviction with threats, hoping to bring hesitation to her steps. It didn't work.
It was a game, just a silly wager of stamina and skill. She would come out on top. We always used to.
.oOoOoOo.
A good fifteen minutes she had managed to keep the power-hungry bastards occupied, running like headless chickens after her as she guided them to obstacles that progressively grew more daunting and hazardous. Eventually their frustration, humiliation and minor injuries made their resolve reach its tipping point. They abandoned their pursuit and returned to the building where her friends now had a good chance of being properly locked in and safe for the time being.
She finally collapsed against the glass wall of the not-yet-inaugurated arena, her lungs burning and her limbs trembling from exertion.
Mighty Gods above that had been a blast. No wonder she had ended up tied and abandoned in a sealed hole, she was a filthy thrill seeker. Past daredevil ventures may have landed her there after poking fun at a person more dangerous than those ridiculously well dressed bodyguards.
Such a dark scenario should have dampened her mood but somehow she still couldn't stop laughing, not even as her body craved to give in to the sweet embrace of sleep.
"Tesem!" Right, it wasn't the time nor the place to doze off.
Now she was really in danger of catching a cold. The heat irradiated by her overworked muscles was leeched away by the environment, producing a subtle rise of vapor where the cold water hit her naked skin. She didn't feel cold per se but the numbing effect of such a temperature shift was indeed worrying.
She forced her eyes to focus in spite of her exhaustion and her smile managed to be warm and inviting, reflecting her still fading euphoria as she spotted the trio who had braved the virtual challenge, walking rushedly in her direction and with their consciousness still intact after the ordeal.
"Oh gosh. Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" Anzu rushed forward, the questions spoken so quickly the words nearly melted together. She patted at her soaked form and Tesem let a giggle escape, tickled by the prodding hands. That was reassurance enough and with a motherly huff the brunette helped the egyptian girl up. "That was really reckless."
"Yeah." She mused, clutching her jacket as it was placed around her shoulders, suddenly mindful of the awkwardly averted gazes of the four boys in the group. Oh yeah, the rain must have surely turned her white button-up into a transparent garment, the light blue bra underneath now on full display. "Remind me never to do that again." Because otherwise she would surely do so.
"Damn girl, Anzu-chan and Honda-kun told us about the stunt you pulled. You are ballsy." The unfamiliar voice attracted her eyes to the visage of a gorgeous woman, tall, strikingly blonde and wearing a scandalously small amount of fabric which was totally unfit for the weather they were having. She decided that she liked this new acquaintance right away. "The name is Mai by the way, Kujaku Mai."
"Tesem...''
Their introductions were cut short by the worry of a young brother who was eager to check on his older sibling, accompanied or alone. The older female duellist parted ways with them with promises of a future encounter before their crew moved on to the main building of Kaiba Corp. intent on making sure that the deal with the Big 5 was properly settled before they could let their guards down.
On the way over Jonouchi made sure to relay every detail of their adventure with minor interjections from Yugi and Mokuba, the former being rather preoccupied by the health of his friends and the later having only room on his mind to think about his brother.
"Are you really sure that you don't want to return home? You will seriously get sick like this." Yugi whispered, leaning close as to not interrupt his best friend's endless rant.
"And miss the opportunity to meet your super rich and eccentric rival who I have heard so much about? I think not."
He chuckled quietly. From his earlier exchange with the CEO still within the game world Yugi knew that he would likely be in a funky mood. Knowing Tesem she would either find the man hilarious or infuriating, perhaps both. "He actually attends our school, you would meet him eventually."
At their age he was already influential enough to miss class whenever it suited him? Well, Tesem was properly jealous now. "Yeah but that wouldn't be right now, with you guys, after making fools out of 5 grown ass men." She tentatively closed the gap between them, pressing their shoulders together as they walked. He took the hint and leaned into the touch willingly, his hand lifting to secure their connection by pulling her into a loose half-hug. Her frame shivered at the contrast of his higher temperature against her side and the spot where his hand made contact with her shoulder, a content sigh following. No, the experience wouldn't be the same, not at all.
She slipped her arm around his waist casually. "Anyways, if I catch a cold then I'll be excused from school for a few days. It really is a win win scenario."
"Pfff. You are terrible."
Between their failed attempts at flirting subtly and their friends' similarly unsuccessful efforts to look like they didn't notice they arrived at the Kaiba Corp building.
As they moved up the stairs she strayed to get a better look at one of the several grand dragon statues adorning the entrance. She immediately missed the warmth of the body next to her but giving in to the urge of that marvellously compelling heat didn't feel right just yet. They liked each other, of that much she was certain, but that was about the extent of the clarity in their relationship. Bridges ought to be built slowly and with care, rushing would only make theirs collapse.
"That is Blue-eyes white dragon. Nasty lil bugger." Said Jonouchi, diverting his path to join her before herding her toward the door. "Kaiba has this weird obsession with them..." Her cool gaze lingered on the incredibly intricate and definitively extravagant piece of work, a curious feeling settling in her gut as she finally turned away to move on to the inside of the businessmen's lair.
They found the eldest Kaiba casually seated at his office, working on something in his computer as if his life and his gaming technology empire hadn't just been in serious peril less than an hour ago.
"Brother!"
For a second there the heartwarming nature of the scene had them all feeling like intruders, awkwardly watching as a little brother reunited with his older sibling. Such a feeling passed quickly though as the older Kaiba didn't allow his composure to break, hiding his relief under a mask of cold aloofness as he greeted his brother before his expression turned into one of pure distaste when his eyes settled on the group.
She would have made her dislike for such an attitude known, very much like the blonde teen started doing both physically and verbally, but she became utterly distracted by the startling sense of deja vu that invaded her. A tall and healthy complexion, muscles barely concealed under the man's tightly fit attire, angular features and striking oceanic eyes. The skin tone is wrong though… she thought before realizing how strange such an unvoiced affirmation was.
Very much like the night she met that mysterious second persona sharing Yugi's body, the familiarity she felt upon taking in Seto Kaiba's features brought forth the dreadful sensation of having forgotten something important, the memory dangling just beyond her reach.
It took all of her focus just to avoid the assaulting surge of frustration from showing in her exotic features.
"And who are you?"
She would have tuned out the question like all else that had been said if those deep blue eyes hadn't pointedly fallen upon her. She straightened and crossed her arms in a dignified and slightly confrontational pose that mimicked his disposition. "Tesem, their friend."
"She kept the Big Five henchmen off our hides while we were in the virtual world, it was pretty amazing." Ah damn the younger Kaiba for being so adorable, her standoffish facade broke as she graced the boy with a humble smile, troubling thoughts momentarily pushed to the back of her mind.
"I just played a game of catch with them, not a big deal with those clowns wearing full-on suits on a rainy day."
"Is that so?" His voice didn't hold the disbelief she had expected but it remained critical as he continued to study her like she was a piece of faulty equipment and not a person. His thoughts were expertly concealed behind his almost bored expression but she had a feeling that he was mocking her and unwilling to be made to feel inferior she set her chin high and held his gaze without hesitation.
"I certainly didn't go for a jog during a storm out of personal enjoyment." He actually grinned at that and she didn't know if it was the very tantalizing curl of his lips or the blasted air conditioner that appeared to be turned to a freezer setting what made her shiver.
Displeased by her own lack of control over her bodily reactions she turned to look at her friends, taking their little adventure as concluded at last.
"Thank you for keeping my brother safe."
That surprised them all for more than 1 reason but if the businessman and duelling prodigy took notice of their startled and gawking faces he didn't show it. Just as he said those last words his eyes lowered back to his screen and he continued typing away as if there had been no interruption to begin with. A pretty mannerless way to cue them to leave.
"Back to my place?" Offered Yugi to break the silence that had settled over them on their way to the elevator.
"Yeah, I still want to try out my new deck if you are all still in the mood for another duel."
"I am always ready for more." Jonouchi's enthusiasm was commendable, not even the scathing remarks of the man who appeared to be hellbent on undermining his value as a human being every time they met could bring his energy down for long.
"And let's please get some hot beverages going." Honda added to which Tesem and Anzu answered with desperate sounding approvals. Honestly the egyptian girl was certain that had she not been quite hardy to begin with she would have already started to show signs of hypothermia. A hot mug of cocoa sounded just heavenly as a remedy for the cold.
Their umbrellas were where they had left them next to the door on the ground floor, the water that dripped off of them having formed a small puddle underneath.
She looked in dismay at how the downpour seemed to pick up as if sensing their intent of braving the storm once more. So much for her enjoyment of rain, she just wanted some warmth now, preferably packed in a compact and cute shape she could snuggle. Her eyes drifted to the Muto boy and she shook her head, smiling to herself. Perhaps not, knowing herself that would be too much temptation and she would be loath to make the pretty-eyed boy feel like he was being toyed with.
"Guys wait!"
Mokuba's voice made everyone halt and turn to watch the youth rushing forward from the second elevator. They gave him a few seconds to recover from his race, the urgency of his motions making them wonder if in fact their epic enterprise wasn't quite over yet but as he looked up with a cheeky smile on his lips it became apparent that such wasn't the case.
"My brother arranged for a car to take you wherever you all are headed. No need to get soaked again."
"Well that is... thoughtful." Tesem mumbled, turning to the others to confirm that such a thing was indeed a strange occurrence. From Jonouchi's comically quirked brow and unconcealed disbelief she assumed it must be so.
"Why on earth is Kaiba being nice to us?"
The black haired boy scoffed at Katsuya's tone and replied matter-of-factly. "My bro isn't an unfair man, he isn't against rewarding what deserves to be rewarded. Besides, he was quite impressed by someone." A quick, almost imperceptible glance was given in Tesem's direction making her freeze like a deer in headlights. What was that supposed to mean? "Come on, the driver is waiting."
They were ushered out by a group of suited bodyguards that were very much identical to the ones they had gone up against earlier. They escorted them with large black umbrellas that did a decent job at keeping them untouched by the rain on the way to the limo. Once inside the driver asked them for a destination and the engine stirred to life. As they turned away from the building her eyes sought one of the lit windows, the one that appeared closest to the floor where they had met the owner of the whole thing.
Such a queer individual the famous duellist was, fascinating, annoying and bafflingly familiar.
.oOoOoOo.
Back in the Muto household the day progressed between a series of friendly duels that transformed into a mini-tournament accompanied by an exchange of strategies, jokes, gossip and whatnot. Jonouchi and Tesem saw fit to delight their friends with what could have been the silliest game of the century, both of them goofing around with their cards and throwing in the occasional innuendo made possible by either the card's name, description or design.
"You have to admit that stripped of context some of these are just absurd."
"What, you don't think a wolf and an ancient golem could come across each other in real life and duke it out just for the fun of it? How dull could Egypt be?"
"Oh shush."
In the end she was happy to concede the win to the more experienced duellist, somewhat glad that she didn't need to go against the Muto boy next round and risk having the fun and lighthearted atmosphere be broken by another encounter with his infuriating second persona.
Eventually hunger had them moving from the livingroom to the kitchen where Tesem surprised Yugi's mom by taking charge of the cooking, unwilling to let the chance to treat them pass. Cooking had been one of her few sources of entertainment during months of relative isolation both in Egypt and America thus she had become quite proficient at it. While Mrs. Mutou, Sugoroku, Yugi and Jonouchi sat at the table to converse, Tesem employed Honda and Anzu's help to prepare a small banquet for them all with whatever she could find in the fridge.
They stuffed their faces with food that tasted a little bit of cumin and a little bit of home, and once they lifted the table they moved back to the living room to continue enjoying each other's company as the afternoon came and went, the passing of time easily forgotten due to their enjoyment and the prevailing overcast of black clouds and rumbling thunder which hid the sun from view.
"It may be best if you stayed here, children. The rain doesn't seem like it will let up today. It is Friday anyways." Yugi's grandpa suggested as he brought in a new batch of steaming mugs.
"you don't mind Mrs. Muto?"
"Not at all. Just don't stay up too late and behave as if I remained with you at all times."
"Mom…"
The foreign girl was properly gleeful now. Her first sleepover ought to become one of the most precious memories of her new life.
.oOoOoOo.
Tesem padded her way out of the guest's room from which Anzu's soft breathing came in even, nearly inaudible huffs.
Barefooted her steps were perfectly silent, her path carefully picked through the nearly inescrutable gloom. Perhaps because of a fault of design a good part of Yugi's home didn't receive any natural light due to the lack of windows and was thus dependent on the electrical lamps that ought to remain turned off at the moment if she was to avoid waking anyone up. So when she moved away from the bedrooms and the many slumbering teens she did so basically blind.
She had been provided a makeshift pijama in the form of an old pair of silk shorts and a loose old t-shirt from Yugi's mom. She had tied the excess fabric of the shirt to fashion herself a top, for comfort and a better fit, while the lower piece was left to hang dangerously loose around her hips, clearly intended for someone of larger complexion.
The truth was that after resisting the urge to shift around in the bed seeking comfort for half an hour and still finding herself unable to quiet down her thoughts and get some well deserved rest she came to realize that it was just one of those nights when sleep would continue to evade her until a properly ungodly hour. In order to allow the brunette an uninterrupted night of sleep she sought a more private spot to let her mind wander as much as it wanted without causing bother.
Halting by the kitchen she considered accompanying her lonely musings with a hot mug of the leftover cocoa, an idea that quickly became her next course of action upon finding the saucepan with the remaining chocolatey delight still on the stove, just needing to be heated back up before serving. It was a task easy enough to be done practically without looking and almost without thinking.
In the prevailing stillness of the Muto home the recommendations of Dr. Hegazy pestered her mind like an angry swarm, the words from the woman who helped her give some semblance of order to her life during those crucial first months contradicting everything her heart and her gut were telling her to do now.
'Don't go chasing loose ends darling, they will only lead you down a rabbit hole from which you won't come out unscathed.' The warning was indeed reasonable, the frustration of a futile search or even the false truths that may surface in her desperation could clearly challenge her natural resilience. There was also the possibility that the truth would bring her despair instead of closure, the bleak musing of the police painting her as either a victim or a victimizer. No matter what ended up being the case the search could become detrimental to this new life she had already started to build for herself. 'Looking always back is unhealthy, the future lies ahead.'
She understood the logic in the therapist's concern but still, how was a person expected to disregard their whole life story just like that? She was trying really hard to focus on anything but that single question, her friends and the new thrills life as a student in Japan brought doing wonders in that regard, but little clues brought up by chance encounters like the one earlier that day or before then during that one senet match kept fanning the flames of doubt.
Perhaps it had been fate what had led her all the way from Egypt to Japan and Domino City. Such a notion was ridiculous for anyone hard-wired to believe in evidence and proven facts like forensic psychologist Yazmine… but in Tesem's mind the cryptic clues thrown at her from within that obscure and scary corner of her brain which didn't seem to belong to her entirely could indeed be pointing the way to a true revelation. There had to be a reason why Seto Kaiba and that other personality inside Yugi brought incomprehensible feelings of nostalgia, hostility and even longing without really knowing them at all.
Must she ignore these bizarre emotions or pursue them in hopes of having them lead her to the truth?
"A bit late for a kitchen raid isn't it?"
If the sudden disturbance of the silence hadn't been enough to startle her the deep baritone voice that voiced the disguised accusation was indeed enough to make her jump off her skin. She had been in the process of serving her hot drink but the interruption had her accidentally spilling some over the edge and onto her fingers. With a hiss and a silent cuss she hurriedly settled everything on the counter and brought the offended digits to her mouth.
A few flicks of her tongue took off the instant sting but for good measure she put her burnt fingers under the faucet to relieve them under a cold stream of water. Only when that was taken care of did she deign to look at him.
Not even the darkness could disguise the dangerously alluring edges that defined the other Yugi's appearance. Baggy pajama pants and a worn long-sleeved shirt were hardly the most voguish clothes and still with the casual way he leaned against the doorframe, the self-assurance that nearly oozed out of his pores and his signature golden pyramid hanging from his neck the man looked proper regal. Blast him for being so good looking, her mind should have been focusing on a clever retort not the way the sharply cut line of his collarbone invited her imagination to wonder how it would feel like to run her tongue across that bit of exposed skin.
"There is enough cocoa for two servings. Want one?" Taking her drink as a perfect distraction she grabbed the mug with both hands and blew at the scalding liquid before taking a sip that burned on its way down. She copied his nonchalant disposition by leaning back against the drawers, her eyes locked on his as she continued to sample the fudgy liquid, giving no sign of intending to serve him if he actually answered with a yes.
He snorted, somehow finding the guarded undertone of her actions humorous, and simply proceeded to walk into the kitchen to pour himself a cup with precise motions, seemingly as used to the gloom as she was and certainly more familiar with the layout.
He settled opposite to her, closer to the only entrance with his drink in one hand and his free palm resting on the counter for support. For a long moment they just drank and stared, letting the sugary beverage mellow the atmosphere the tiniest bit.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"Nope, and apparently neither could you."
He shook his head, his golden bangs lazily following the motion. "Yugi reached for the puzzle in his sleep. It happens sometimes."
The admission took her by surprise. She had no doubt that he existed somehow linked to or contained by the puzzle, separate from the sweet boy that had become the object of her growing affection, but to actually hear him acknowledge it brought new weight to the notion. It wounded her already fickle skepticism.
"And Yugi?" Her concern was un-concealed, her priorities both surprising and provoking in his ears. The unspoken presumption that he could somehow cause his light any harm was near insulting, but he humored her nonetheless.
"He is still dreaming, so he can't really hear us."
She hummed thoughtfully and nodded, taking another sip.
Her icy gaze fleeted to the door and back. She hadn't intended to remain in the kitchen, the accumulated warmth of so many bodies in the house plus the lack of windows had her craving for a breeze to cool her flushed skin.
"If you don't intend to return to bed soon then you may as well join me." She brushed past him on the way out of the kitchen and went to the quiet dining room where a decently sized window remained obscured by thick curtains. Leaving her drink on the table she slid them apart and let the muted wash of light from a street lamp illuminate the place. Beyond the glass the sky still rumbled with distant thunder but the rain had tamed down to a gentler sprinkle.
Her brows furrowed as she studied the lock, unfamiliarity aided by the lack of proper lightning making the simple task of opening a window that much harder. Sturdy hands reached forward and gently replaced hers to effortlessly pry apart the wood and glass panels with extra care taken to prevent the hinges from creaking too loudly.
Tesem watched mesmerised for a second before regaining her composure and nearly cowering away from his warm proximity which she found too distracting. "Thanks." Swiftly she settled at the table, the closest to the now open window as she could be, a content sigh escaping her as a gentle cold breeze caressed her exposed skin.
"So... Would you like to play a game? To pass the time."
She gave him an incredulous look, a humorless laughter following as she quickly turned down the offer with a gesture of her hand. "And risk losing my mind to your trickery now that there are no witnesses around? No thank you."
His crimson gaze hardened just the slightest bit, the hue becoming brighter as his pupils constricted. He took the seat across from hers, still poised enough to appear completely at ease above the building tension. "What do you mean by that?"
The chance to finally tackle certain mysteries was too tempting to ignore. After taking a deep inhale Tesem made her move. "Anzu has told me of certain strange occurrences that took place before I came here. She was convinced that someone, a hero of sorts, was looking after them. Challenging bad guys to high-stake games from which they received just punishment if they lost."
She leaned forth, settling her elbows in the tabletop, her cooling chocolate now forgotten to the side. Her gaze scrutinized his features for any sign of emotion but figures that someone with such a predilection for competitive games possessed a perfectly inescrutable poker face.
"The authorities were never involved in time and these so-called rascals ended up locked up for good after having all gone mad. Anzu does insist that even if questionable in regards to methods this was a good thing as the neighborhood has become much safer now. I have to admit that I concur, I know for a fact how unreliable the police can be." She allowed herself a grimace at the remembrance of the endless questions and the constant tendency to turn the blame of the situation on her in an attempt to shake off the consequences of their failure. "Now, a particular event had her believing the nameless hero to be Yugi, but of course he has no memory of it and honestly such a crude act of trial and execution doesn't sound very much like him."
The tenderness with which she caressed that name had the other Yugi taking a sharp inhale through his teeth, skeptical or perhaps bothered by her blatantly displayed predilection for the boy. He released her of the full weight of his glare to let his own emotions settle.
"And you think I had something to do with it." It wasn't a question.
"I'd guess if anyone did it, it must be the shady individual living in an item that reeks of strange magic and which was assembled just before the incidents started happening." Luckily for her Anzu had the memory of an elephant and a habit for sharing a great deal of details in her gossip.
The remark wasn't without humour and he rewarded her with a low chuckle that was as thick and rich as the cocoa still coating her tongue. "Do you believe I was in the wrong for challenging those criminals?" Another easily conceded disclosure, his honesty surprising but not unwelcome.
"Not at all. As I said, I also do not trust the police to do their job properly. I guess it is only natural that someone does it for them." A shrug. "I have spent time in three different countries and what they all have in common is the corruption of their law system." An unfortunate thing but such was the way of the world. Individuals who held great power and willingly decided to use it for the communal welfare rather than their own gain were extremely rare. "You may actually be doing good here."
His brows quirked up and he leaned back against his chair, giving room for the tension between them to dissipate. Sensing the shift in atmosphere she sighed and reached for her mug again, downing the last of its contents and merrily licking the residue off her lips.
"Still you don't trust me."
"Well of course not. You don't trust me either and that ought to be reciprocal, plus I am sure that in regards to Yugi's safety you are already convinced that I am a threat, which makes you biased." She shook her head. There were other reasons, more important ones, but those remained attached to the list of truths she had yet to muster up the courage to reveal. "Busted as it may be I like my brain just the way it is."
"He is very important to me. I can't be faulted for becoming a little overprotective when a shady individual with a shrouded past who also reeks of trouble comes waltzing into our lives."
Oh you clever- Having her words returned like that made her feel like he had somehow managed to turn a mere conversation into a game, and he was winning. Of course he was.
Call it a tactical retreat or plain surrender but she didn't feel like she possessed the mental strength to partake in an all out argument at something-past-twelve am. It was still unlike her to concede the last word to someone else so as she stood and grabbed her empty cup to take back to the kitchen she spoke words that were stripped from the little affability that had built between them during their exchange.
"I do not believe Yugi needs a babysitter, he is old enough to make his own decisions. Withholding the truth from the start was indeed my mistake but what I have to confess about myself is for his ears only." A warning and a promise all at once. It was curious how his teasing proved enough to force her into making up her mind about being truthful to the boy she fancied.
With that she left him sitting there, the violent shade of his eyes easily drifting from where she had disappeared in the hallway to the open window.
That hadn't gone exactly as planned but damn if the girl wasn't exasperating with her tendency of becoming all defensive around him. It was just too tempting to answer in kind even if yesterday's happenings had somewhat convinced him that she could be an honest ally, willing to protect Yugi and his friends rather than cause trouble as he had first assumed.
However… Why did the speed at which his body-mate and the egyptian girl formed a bond bother him to such an extent?
He still didn't know who he was or where he had come from but everything was leading him to believe that he was in fact a possessive person. That could be considered progress, for all it was worth ¿Right?
Self-discovery was a frightening thing, they both could agree on that.