Author's Notes
Jonouchi stays...
Yuugi decides...
Yuugi's friends meet...
Chapter 29 - Decoy
In one of the corridors near the classroom where Yuugi was meeting his friends, the assistant who had stolen the uniform from one of the students' lockers was walking down the halls, asking the other students if they knew the young man in the photo until one of them identified him and informed him in which room he could be found.
As he walked down the halls with a frown on his face.
"I'm going to lose my job if I can't lure that boy into the back of the gym and punch him in front of the camera that's going to be positioned to film the scene." He thought to himself:
Then, hands in his pockets, he snaps out of his thoughts and mutters sulkily as he walks away, "Crap. Those boring jobs always go to the assistants."
Nearby, Yuugi was walking with Jounouchi while Yukiko, Nuru and Kisara weren't meeting with them because they needed to resolve a question with one of the teachers and decided to use the recess to look for him in the teachers' staffroom. Yukiko had purposely pushed the twins away because she knew her friend needed to find the assistant alone as she suppressed a growl that was building in the back of her throat at knowing what would happen to the one she saw as a dear child.
The tri-colored young man and the blonde were talking a few things until Katsuya proposes to his friend, "So, Yuugi, how about we find this hidden artist ourselves?"
The amethyst orbs widen in surprise.
"What?" The teenager recovers from the surprise. "Maybe the TV car came for another reason. Maybe they're filming an episode of some show."
Jonouchi rolls his eyes.
- I can't believe you're with them about why the van is in front of the school. Katusya speaks with disbelief in her voice.
The assistant looks at both of them who have passed him and flashes a wicked smile.
"It's him!" He exclaims in thought as he listens to their conversation.
The blonde gets upset with his friend and walks away.
"What a bummer. I thought you'd understand. I'm going to look it up myself! Bye!"
Yuugi is surprised and holds out a hand as he mutters, "Jounouchi-kun..."
"I went!" he exclaimed, before disappearing down the hall as the young man looked down.
"Is he upset?" Mutou thinks to himself.
"Yuugi-kun!" The assistant exclaims as he approaches the young man.
He turns, looking at the approaching man, not recognizing him.
"Yo (Hi)!" He exclaims with a smile on his face.
"I know you?" The tricolor-haired teenager asks hesitantly, trying to remember where he knew him so as not to appear impolite.
"Iie (No). My name is Fujita."
"Yoroshiku onegai shimasu (Nice to meet you)" The starfish-headed teenager bows slightly, following the traditional protocol of his culture.
"I know where the high school artist is. Isn't she the one you're looking for?"
"What? Is there really an artist studying with us?" he asks, exclaiming excitedly while blushing as he imagines an imaginary artist.
"Of course!" The fake student exclaims, disguising a smile of derision that Mutou didn't notice.
"It's a lie, idiot!" The assistant exclaims in thought.
"So I think I can get along with you. If you like, I'll introduce you to the star! She's my bosom friend, you know?" He spoke while smiling, being happy to see that he had managed to easily fool the teenager in front of him.
"Who will she be?" The young man with the amethyst orbs thought to himself as his heart beat faster and he blushed even more as he smiled as he imagined he would meet an artist in person, with him taking a note to introduce her later to his friend.
Then, the assistant steps away with one hand from his pocket as he speaks, keeping the fake friendly smile on his face, "On departure time, meet us behind the gym. But come alone!"
"Right!" Yuugi exclaims excitedly.
After the assistant leaves, Yuugi decides to try to look for his friend while he had decided that he would meet the artist, finding out who she was, and then introducing her to Jounouchi because he hoped to convince her to meet him, as well as his friends, imagining how surprised they would be to see that Katsuya's assumption was true.
Inside the Sennen Pazuru, Atemu sat on his throne and sighed deeply because he couldn't find any plausible reason for a stranger to approach his beloved host, promising to make him meet an artist, simply because he had a sudden desire.
Seeing him, there was something wrong and he became overly concerned about Yuugi while not being surprised that the young man had easily trusted a stranger because he knew better than anyone what the young man's heart and soul were like.
Even while he appreciated his crystalline heart, which was one of the things he loved most about him, he was also aware that such a heart could bring many problems and misfortunes caused by evil people who take advantage of that pure heart.
Pharaoh was still massaging the right side of his forehead as he became even more concerned about Fujita's real intentions while doubting that this was his real name.
After all, if you were planning to do something against someone, you would never give your real name to avoid any retaliation. Giving his real name would be a very stupid thing to do, and Atemu strongly doubted that the mystery man was too stupid to give his real name.
The spirit rests the arm that massaged the right side of his forehead on one of the arms of the kind of throne, then rests his elbows, then resting his chin on the hands that were together while fighting the urge to intervene because it would be too easy for him to erase that memory from his host's mind, to make him forget this conversation, by having free access to the soul chamber of the amethyst-orbed teenager.
However, he had promised himself that he would avoid as much as possible intervening in his beloved Yuugi's life, to prevent the memory lapses he would have when he took over his body or when he manipulated his memory by having unrestricted access to Mutou's soul chamber because he was fully aware that memory lapses would make his host frightened and he did not want to feel the fear coming from the one he loved, especially if it was caused by his interference.
After all, the strange man could end up looking for the young man if he did not appear behind the gym and this would make the teenager realize that he had a memory lapse, thus causing him to be scared and this was something Pharaoh did not want while he was aware of the irrevocable fact that the tricolor-haired teenager would have memory lapses as he intervened in his life. But even if this were inevitable, the spirit could reduce the episodes of these lapses to allow a more comfortable life for the young man who loved with all the strength of his being.
After reflecting for some time, Atemu decided that he would not intervene unless it was extremely necessary because he knew that there would be times when he would be forced to take control of his host's body, firmly believing that it would not be few times to do so in virtue of the crystalline and innocent heart that the teenager possessed.
Therefore, in his view, if he could avoid intervening in situations other than controlling the body of his beloved host, such as the manipulation of Yuugi's memories, he would avoid them as much as possible, just by having altered the memories involving Ushio, aiming to give the young man the peace of mind he needed because Tetsuo's threat was effectively neutralized.
Pharaoh comes out of his thoughts, leaning his back against the throne, then sighs deeply as he concentrated, managing to access the teenager's vision, without the teenager noticing the intrusion, so that he could see everything he saw because it would be easier react in time, if he could be aware of what was happening outside, without leaving the Sennen Pazuru, so as not to alarm his host.
After all, even if he could leave Sennen Aitemu, staying behind Yuugi so he wouldn't see him, the young man could end up looking back in a moment when the spirit got distracted, ending up seeing him and if that happened, the teenager from tricolored hair could be terrified, ending up causing trouble because it could only be seen by the item's wearer and Atemu ardently wanted to prevent this from happening, preferring to take other actions to know what was happening in the outside world without having to leave the object.
Mutou had returned to the classroom upset because he had not been able to find his friend and while sighing, Katsuya entered right behind the young man with amethyst orbs.
When the starfish-headed teenager turns his head back, he sees Jonouchi and is relieved to see that he doesn't seem to be upset with him as their friends enter the classroom a few minutes before the start of school bell sounded.
As the teacher explained the exercises he had gone through on the blackboard, the tricolor-haired teenager felt guilty about keeping it a secret from his friend because he was fully aware that the blonde ardently wanted to meet the artist who attended their high school.
However, he had promised to show up alone because his grandfather had taught him the value of a promise.
Therefore, Yuugi eagerly hoped that the artist would allow Katusya to meet her, vowing to himself that he would do anything to convince her because he wanted to see her friend happy.
As the hours passed, Yuugi's friends noticed that he seemed to be nervous, although he tried to hide it. The twins subtly tried to figure out the reason for her nervousness, with the young man forcing a fake smile, saying it was their impression, making the group look at each other, with the albino pretending she didn't know why while Jounouchi showed concern on her face, with the group realizing that their friend always looked at the time as if he was waiting for something.
A few hours later, the end of school bell rings and at the exit gate, Mutou, who was walking with the group of friends, ceases his steps, making them arch their brows as he says, "I need to pass somewhere before I go home."
"Want company?" The tanned-skinned young man asks.
"Iie (no). Domo (thanks), Nuru-chan. It's something I need to do myself."
The four look at each other, and then the half dragon approaches, pretending not to know the reason for the request of the one she saw as a dear son.
"Are you sure, Yuugi-kun?"
"Hai (yes), Yukiko-chan."
"It's just that you've been weird all morning after hanging out with Jonouchi-kun. Is everything really okay?" The silver one asks with concern evident on her face.
"Hai (yes), Kisara-chan."
"Are you sure you want to go alone?" Katsuya asks, worry showing on his face as he mentally curses himself for leaving him alone.
"Hai (yes), Jounouchi-kun." The teenager with the amethyst orbs responds with the same smile.
The four of them look at each other again, and then sigh, realizing that he was irreducible from the idea of going alone and that he wasn't going to say what it was.
"Well… if you want to go alone, we can't do anything." The Dragon Princess speaks, effectively suppressing the sadness she felt at the knowledge that she could not prevent what would happen as she felt her fury at her attacker increase considerably.
"Domo, Yukiko-chan!" The young man exclaims with a face that was a mixture of relief and happiness.
In this, they allow the young man to walk away, saying goodbye to him, and then move away from the school, at least to the next block, with Mutou taking advantage of the fact that they distanced themselves far enough from the building after hiding behind a pillar to confirm that got far enough away.
After he's made sure his friends disappear around the corner, the teenager sneaks around the gate, turning left, toward a store on the next block, suppressing the sadness and guilt that plagued him for having to keep a secret, deciding that he would do anything for the artist to let his friends know her, and if he had to beg on his knees, he would do it while he yearned for the group to forgive him for keeping it a secret.
Meanwhile, the quartet that hadn't appreciated the idea of walking away from their friend, halts their steps after three blocks away, with Katsuya commenting, looking towards the school as he has his hands in his pockets, carrying his briefcase underneath. on one arm, "I'm worried. Yuugi is an easy target. Besides, he was weird."
"I agree with Jounouchi-kun. I'm worried about Yuugi-kun." Nuru comments looking towards the school.
"I'm worried too. I won't be able to go home without knowing he's fine." Kiasara comments with one hand against her chest, showing concern on her face.
The dragon sock discreetly glanced at her watch after doing a quick mental count, discovering that she had given Yuugi enough time to meet with the assistant, eventually falling into the trap of the director of the "Morning Survival" program.
"Me too. I think we should look for him." The princess of dragons speaks.
In this, they look at each other and consent, returning to the school at the same time that Mutou walked to the place where the assistant had arranged the fake meeting with the artist.