Obscureshipping (Shadi x Ishizu)


The soft crack of fabric rippling in the wind was the only sign that anyone approached. And yet, Ishizu knew exactly who it was without even turning around.

"Didn't I tell you what would happen if you let me see your face again?" she said.

He didn't answer. Her hands clenched the folds of her dress. For a moment, she stood stubbornly facing the wall, examining the African vases in the case before her. But when he still said nothing, she had no choice but to turn and face him.

He hadn't changed a bit, even since the day she had first seen him nearly six years ago. He still appeared young, his bronzed skin unblemished, his pale, pupiless green eyes as flat and emotionless as ever. Even his long, white robes and the turban wrapped around his head had not changed in the slightest.

"Ishizu," he said, inclining his head slightly.

"Shadi."

Looking into his flat eyes made the anger in the pit of her stomach flare up. She shifted her eyes to the side of his face instead, looking past him into the museum exhibit instead. She tried to convince herself that she was fascinated with a faraway display of Nigerian sculpture. It was difficult when she could see his face out of the corner of her eye.

"What do you want?" she said.

"I came to speak with you on the topic of the pharaoh's imminent arrival."

"He will have nothing to do with you. Let the Tomb Keepers finish the job they were given – without interference."

Shadi studied her.

"I am a Tomb Keeper myself, you know."

"You no longer belong to this world. Leave the living to the living."

Shadi's lips flattened slightly.

"If I didn't know any better, Ishizu, I'd think you didn't want to see me."

Ishizu's shoulder started to tremble. Her lips tightened to prevent herself from snarling. She forced her eyes to move over the surface of a broken sculpture missing a head, over, and over, and over.

"Oh? What gave you that impression?"

Shadi merely looked at her. Expressionless, and almost lifeless. Those unfeeling eyes, that looked straight at her as lies dripped from his mouth –

"You turned my brother into a monster."

The words ripped from her almost involuntarily. Shadi didn't even flinch, despite the hiss in the back of Ishizu's voice.

"Ah. So that is what this is about."

Ishizu threw her arms up, partly from anger, and partly to refrain from resorting to violence.

"Don't say that in such an uninterested tone!" she said. "You destroyed my family!"

"And you brought it back together again. I do not see the problem."

Ishizu could not stop herself from shaking.

"He was only ten," she said.

She folded her arms tightly, trying not to imagine the satisfaction of throwing one of those vases at his head and watching it shatter.

"He was only ten, and you turned him into a cold-blooded killer."

"I merely told him it was the will of the pharaoh that his father was killed. I take no responsibility for what he decided to do with the information."

"Except you knew, didn't you? You knew that he would fight the pharaoh in the end! That's the only reason you did any of it in the first place!"

Shadi stared at her like a cat might stare at a mouse – almost pitying, but not quite capable of the emotion.

"The pharaoh needed an enemy," he said. "He needed a challenge to take the God Cards. No such challenge was forthcoming."

"And so you thought it appropriate to ruin an already ruined life?" Ishizu said.

"The pharaoh's return and final vanquishing of the dark one are my only priorities."

Ishizu raised her hand. Then she clenched it and shoved it down towards her waist, trembling even harder. Shadi closed his eyes for a moment. Not a thing changed in his expression when he opened them again.

"He could have died in the end," Ishizu said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The pharaoh might have killed him without even knowing the truth."

"And?" Shadi said.

"And? AND? You nearly sent my brother to his death! You ripped my family apart, destroyed my entire clan, and forced my brother into the role of a villain!"

A couple who had entered the gallery looked up. The girl clutched at her boyfriend's hand and murmured something in Arabic. They sidled away, sending nervous looks at Ishizu. Shadi glanced at them for a brief second, then returned his gaze to Ishizu. A pause passed between them.

"Your brother..." Shadi said, slowly. "...was dispensable."

CRACK!

Shadi stumbled back. For a moment, Ishizu could have sworn she saw a flicker of shock in his eyes. It was immensely satisfying.

The spirit touched his cheek gingerly. There was already a red mark in the shape of Ishizu's hand starting to form. His eyes slid back up to meet Ishizu's.

"So this is where we part?"

"I'll only say this one more time," she said, voice almost hoarse. "Don't let me see your face ever again."

Shadi considered her for a last moment. Then he turned on his heel, and disappeared. Ishizu was staring at the empty gallery once again. Her hands were still trembling at her sides.

"I hate you," she said to the air.


A/N: Yeah, go Ishizu! I've been wanting to slap Shadi for ages! Anyway, there's my theory about Shadi plotting to turn Marik into a villain because the pharaoh needed someone to be his opposite in a battle for the God Cards. Probably my top reason why I hate Shadi. He's so manipulative. And evil. I stand by that. Next is Nurseshipping (Mai x Shizuka).