[[EDIT: Sorry if you got this notification twice. I accently uploaded the preview again ono

So that's how my day has been how yours]]

[[EDITEDIT: AHCKDJHDJS I COMEPLETELY FORGOT. BY THE WAY. Happy New Year to all :3 My head is so far in space that I forgot the whole reason I pushed to upload in early January. To hope all of you lovelies a better year than ever. Super Specail Awsome Super Sexy Tramsformation Sequence in 2019. We're back baby.

Who doesn't love a reference to LK's work? He'll never know it because he's got a sea of fans, gotta love that guy and his partner and his cats.]]

[SEVEN] ["MILLENNIUM MUSEUM MAYHEM pt. 1"]

I hate elephants.

I hate elephants. In fact, I think the hatred for elephants is universal. They're just such inconsiderate creatures who push themselves into the business of us hard working individuals. Into the personal space of these individuals. Then these inconsiderate Elephantidaes proceed to hover over every Tom, Dick, and Harry in the room; being some big, ugly behemoth that no one wants to look at. No one wants to acknowledge. No one wants to talk about. Yet no one can seem to take their eyes off of it.

Elephants honestly, truly, make things so awkward. Quirky [4filter].

More importantly, they inconvenience me, personally, because whenever an elephant is around I have to stop and talk about it.

Our friend the elephant first made his appearance in the 2-B classroom, plopping himself down at Yugi's empty desk. Somehow most of the class didn't notice him, as they carried on their blissfully ignorant conversations. 2-B topics included: snacks, unfinished homework, and various newly released lines of makeup. Topics gossip did not address Millennium Items, Duelist Kingdom, or the soulless husks of treasured family members.

Amongst the idle chatter, Joey, Tristan, Téa, and Amy were pillars of silence. They took turns daring a quick glance at Yugi's empty chair but refused to look at each other. Even Ryo, not aware of the night's events, felt the tension between his usual social group and was polarized a healthy distance away.

Each of our wacky protagonists spent the day shuffling through their own unique brand of garbage. Joey was trying and failing to hold in his frustration. The night's events reflected in his brown eyes, mercilessly replaying the seconds over and over again. The moment Grandpa was there. The next moment he was gone. And of course, what in the hell Joey Wheeler was doing in between.

Tristan chewed over the scene like beef jerky. Grandpa had a heartbeat, he was breathing. But somehow he was gone. There's a big, complicated, four letter word for that. Sure being comatose [4filter] the big one, but they hadn't exactly entered the Twilight Zone. So why was everyone acting so off? Dammit, why did he feel so off?

Tristan had to pause at the thought, tightening his jaw.

Insensitivity was the least of his concerns.

Téa, poor little angel in knee highs, had her mind surprisingly far away from Grandpa. Instead, it was Yugi's screams that rewound itself in her thoughts. The look of pure, sunken terror and confusion that taken over his face and small frame as he nearly shook the television off the stand. Her eyes looked at the chalkboard, but all she saw was Amy pinning her friend down to calm him. Reflected in Amy's panting face was undoubtedly shock but also a sense of control that Téa utterly, pathetically, lacked.

And Amy, well, she was too busy rubbing at her wrist to stare at the elephant. But that saving grace didn't last.

He became tougher to ignore when leaving the school gates. Even harder to ignore down the street. She did her best not to make eye contact with the monster, but couldn't stop herself from being keenly aware of its exploding footsteps. Dear Ol` Ele crept his truck around one shoulder. The closer they got to her destination, the closer he got to poking her face.

Finally, they both stopped at the entrance to Kame. Amy sucked in a breath. It was going to be fine. He could bother the others, but he wasn't getting to her. There was a secret to getting past elephants that none of the others knew about.

And it was, of all things, a simple three-step program.

1. OPEN MOUTH

2. TAKE FOOT

3. INSERT

Fortunately, Amy was an expert at step one. She was wonderful at step one. Could win a gold medal in step one.

The moment she walked into Kame, Amy instantly regretted this life choice. This of many life choices. In fact turning around, walking down to the park, and mulling over her life choices would be a better life choice than being here. Yugi's tired eyes darted upwards.

Propped up on a stool, he snapped into an orderly position. A doll-like poker face flicked forward on reflex. Not that it could erase the smudges over Kame's glass countertop where he and his greasy teenage chin was resting.

"Welcome to -" he started to squeak, only to flatten out with that deadpan smile, "...Oh. Hey Amy."

Everything will be fine. She took a step towards the register.

"Hi."

The winds of awkwardness slammed the door behind her.

Take foot

Insert

Take foot

Insert

Take foot

Inser-

"Looks like you missed school today."

'Wrong words wrong words change the subject. Oh gwads drop it drop it.' Regret and discomfort in Yugi's face indicated that he, in fact, would not be dropping the subject. Instead, he continued with a hard swallow and chuckled the worst fake laugh to ever grace Amy's ears. "Yeah."

Cringe. So much cringe. If this were a game show with a "Cringe Meter", she'd win a [4filter] prize. This rabbit hole had to come with an escape ladder.

TAKE FOOT

INSERT

TAKE FOOT

INSERT

Amy should have, at this point, considered finding said escape ladder.

"Running the shop?"

"Yeah."

INSERT FOOT INSERT FOOT INSERTFOOTINCERTFOOT

In fact, now would be an excellent time to start climbing the aforementioned ladder.

"Your mom didn't take over?"

"Nh-mm. She's been at the hospital."

Just kidding.

There is no escape ladder.

"That [4filter]."

"Ha… yeah…"

Contingency plan sold separately.

Another wholesomely, insidious blast of awkwardness that had Amy all but pulling her hair out. 'Way to [4filter] go! Literally, all you had to do was shut the [4filter] up.' she cursed to herself, knowing the karma gods were out there somewhere laughing their [4filter] off. 'Why is that so [4filter] hard? It's not [4filter] hard. [4filter] [4filter] [4filter].'

This inward screaming was, despite Amy's better efforts, displayed very much outward in the form of twitches. Inside the Duel Monsters display was a handful of 'Mystic Tomato' monster cards. Between you and me, seeing someone as red (if not more) made every single one of their days.

Yugi barely flickered as he waited for Amy to answer. Staring at her. Menacingly. She tried to break contact, but they held in her place. She could even move enough to fan out her dress shirt that was now, seeing as Kame had just gone up about 1000°, sweating through.

'Well what the [4filter] do you say now genius.'

'How about you remind him AGAIN about his[4filter] UNRESPONSIVEGRANDFATHER.'

'Or about how arichforeignermagicallySCREWEDHIMOVER'

'THAT'LLCHEERHIMUP'

'BRILLIANT'

'OFCOURSE'

All the cogs in her little brain short-circuiting sent created smoke to cloud every rational way out of this situation. Coherent thoughts degraded completely to a pleasant line of '[4filter]s.' Brain be damned, her body took desperate charge and reached blindly into her breast pocket. She didn't know what was happening. Yugi didn't know what was happening. I didn't know what was happening. You certainly could not use your thinky-brain to figure out what was happening.

A folded piece of paper was happening. One that, despite multiple attempts to smooth it, was crinkled, cracked, and near illegible. Opening the page revealed a poorly rendered image of a stone tablet and some familiar bold print strokes. "GWADS! If it [4filters] so much then do something to make it [4filter] less! Fat lotta good sitting there like a sad lump will do you. Be a lazy [4filter] wallowing in your problems or actually, I don't know, TRY."

Filters. [4filter] filters. That's absolutely how you talk to another human person. Good job. 10/10. "I mean… I meant... That isn't what I was trying to… grieving is healthy and it's only been a day, but you… " [4filter].

She threw her hands over her face, exasperated. "I'm sorry man! Look, I know things terrible right now. Like, none of us can understand just how terrible, terrible. And if you want your space, I totally get it, and it's fine. But I thought, well, I thought maybe it would help to get out. Maybe give you peace of mind? So I wanted to invite you to that exhibit preview coming up. Yeah! So. That."

The reward was Yugi's same nonsense smile. Which it was hard to focus on with the crease between his eyebrow blaring. "Wow. Um, I really appreciate you thinking of me. Thank you...

"But…" came the words anyone who's ever interacted with another human being has heard, "I really don't think it's a good time right now. Mom's got to run the shop and take care of the house now, and I should really focus on helping her out. So thank you, really, but no thank you."

But the outburst wasn't for nothing. If it's any semblance of progress, Yugi finally got off the stool. "I'm really sorry. You came all this way to invite me. Wait just a sec, okay? I'll be right back." Then, Yugi disappeared into the back of the shop. The slow thumping of the staircase echoed through Kame's otherwise lifeless walls, and Amy finally decided it was her turn to let her greasy teenage face stain the glass.

An unsurprisingly long twenty minutes later, both teens were sitting on stools behind the counter. Each with a can of soda so cold the two had to pull down their sleeves to hold them. Because she's a gigantic manchild, Amy's drink had a long bendy straw sticking out. Which she had thrown a tantrum at a nearby convenience store to get. Now scarfing a dango in one hand and sucking up soda in the other, she had evolved into her true gluttonous form. Yugi on the other hand, like a reasonably health conscious individual, drank diet soda and modestly picked at his Pretz.

Balance eventually recentered in the room. They welcomed on more mutual topics. Like four days ago when Joey farted at lunch and Téa banished him to the corner of the classroom. Or Ryo's hour-long battle insisting that his accent was not inappropriately British. Anything to block out the earlier awkward teen drama both wanted to forget.

Then, eventually plenty of Duel Monsters talk. Although he seemed hesitant at first, after a few bad puns and a lengthy rant about 'Blue Eyes White Dragon's name Yugi once again began to acknowledge the display case full of cards. Maybe, just maybe, his amethyst eyes sparked us a little brighter shade.

"Ya know Sport, I didn't come here to chat." she started in between slurps, "I can't believe you think I'd go out of my way to come see you. Karmic destiny called, it wants it's ego back."

He let out a chuckle that may or may not have been sprinkled with discomfort, "Oh, sorry about that. I guess I just assumed -"

"Egoist." She pushed her pointer right between his eyebrows and pushed his head back slightly.

"What did you need?"

"This is a shop, dude. What do you think I need." She shuffled over to the front of the case and knelt. There lay one elegant blue elf whos serene beauty put the rest of the cards on display to shame. Amy leaned into the glass. "Man, you two are more alike than you seem at first glance."

"You mean Grandpa and I?"

"Duh! I never would have guessed it by first impressions alone, but boy are you both have terrible customer service! Except he comes packaged with more gibber gabber! Dude has enough speeches to put Oprah-frigging-Winfrey to shame. The Solomon Muto show - teaching Duel Monsters etiquette. And I really, really hate to admit it," she pressed her palm to the spot displaying 'Mystical Elf,' "but damn does he sure know how to get inside your head."

Unsure of where she was going with this, Yugi slid the case open and pointed to the elf questionably. Reassured by a nod, he slid the card between them. "He said something the other day that was really annoying. Something about 'Mystical Elf' and I being connected or whatever. I don't know, it was really, really stupid. Which is why it's so irritating that I keep thinking about it. So maybe if I buy the damn card the ghost of sales pitches past will finally leave me in peace," she grumbled, clicking her tongue at her own tangent.

" 'This 'Blue Eyes White Dragon' and I are bonded, Amy. Wherever it is, I am. Bond with this piece of cardboard, Amy. Don't you want to be one in the same with a trading card, Amy?' " she mimicked. "No, actually, I don't! But if you're going to keep insisting, I guess I have to!"

Dismay shadowed over Yugi, causing Amy to bite that clicking tongue.

"Grandpa's super special card…" Yugi breathed. He was near inaudible as he honed in on the register, "He told you about it?"

"Dude, he practically made out with it in front of me. It was gross. But, he said it was a part of him. So I guess he was almost making out with an extension of himself?" With a plop of her backpack on the counter, Amy shuffled through the pockets hunting for her coin purse. "Yeah, nope, that rabbit hole just keeps getting weirder. How much do I have to pay you to get GrandpaxBlue Eyes out of my dreams."

Silence replied. She stopped digging through her coin purse long enough to raise an eyebrow. "Earth to Yugi? Please don't get distracted by the R rated censored dragon wife. It is not an okay image, and I would like to destroy it for both our sakes as soon as possible."

It wasn't until Amy snapped her fingers in front of his face did Yugi snap out of his gaze. With a cough and quick flush, may I add. "Oh, um, sorry," he mumbled, "so what was it exactly you wanted?"

A painfully clunky transaction later, the girl finally slipped her backpack over her shoulder. After shuffling the new card into her deck and, as a kindness, promising not to publicly demonize Kame's quality of service, the two prepared to depart. As Yugi flipped the sign on the door from OPEN to CLOSED he watched his friend stroll down the street and turn to give one more half wave. A gesture that he met with nothing but a smile and faraway glances.

Inside, the boy pulled out the till and placed it on the counter. Something softly hit the ground on the other side. Yugi perked out of his thoughts for long enough to bend over and pick up the wrinkled piece of paper that barely read 'EGYPT… AND THE ORIGINS OF DUEL MONSTERS.' His vision focused on the stone tablet first, then on the tiny silver-haired man in the corner of the page.

Even after Kame's door chimed one more time and Yugi's feet disappeared down the street, the till remained on the countertop. Stagnant, alone, and consumed by the darkness of the shop.

That, ladies and gents, is how Yugi Muto ended up standing in front of the crowded museum entrance. Alone. Pushing his puzzle back and forth between his palms. He leaned on a pillar uncomfortably, trying not to look too eager at everyone that passed by.

Patrons of all flavors entered and exited the building. Some were typical Dominos residences, like himself, sporting their Sunday Casuals. Others were likely representatives of the Egyptian Archaeological Society, which Yugi only guessed due to their dark complexions and foreign robes. Bidders interested in circling Domino's newest treasures buzzed around each other exchanged pleasantries.

He breathed in the air, musty only with the expectations of what he hoped to find inside. Or, moreover, what he hoped to learn. Was this the day that would clear up his questions? No one knew of what happened with Pegasus. He hadn't told Téa. Not Joey. Yugi, to an extent, felt like this was a secret he was even somehow keeping to himself. The events were so hazy and surreal that he didn't feel like it happened to him. As if, instead of standing across from Pegasus, he had towered over the millionaire from above.

Yet, it felt like the museum knew. Looming over him with its white walls, it knew what questions were in Yugi's mind, and the doubts that came with them. He was at the museum's mercy. If he touched the pillar with his hand, he could feel the pulse of the museum, the answers running through it like sweet blood. Someone in the crowd would have them, someone who he watched enter the building. Or one of the artifacts would finally give him some closure, maybe even a display he could see from the entrance. Maybe. If he could just take a peek inside.

Although Yugi Muto's neck strained to catch a glimpse of the world beyond the doorway, his back didn't dare move. It remained glued to the pillar, knowing what his brain refused to admit. Domino Museum was a beast that wished to swallow him. It wasn't something a tiny boy like Yugi could fight. At least, not alone.

Then for a brief moment, Yugi felt the eyes of the museum. A sharp pair of eyes was watching his way. Not simply looking, but an intense, relentless stare.

"Welcome! Welcome the Domino Museum!"

The voice came so suddenly that it caused Yugi to shoot straight up. His eyes dilated on alert and snapped around. A stout man in a striped hat boomed as he greeted incoming visitors. "Be sure to visit the Info Center for a brochure of our legendary exhibits." and "Be sure to stick around until we reveal our new preview on Ancient Egypt, available today only!" were shouted somehow simultaneously by one boisterous tongue.

Unfortunately for the greeter, his voice wasn't nearly Hugh Jackman enough prevent his showmanship from feeling artificial. Yugi moved around the pillar in hopes of avoiding his gaze, which was surprisingly somewhat of a dullard compared to the leaking enthusaim. Which only seemed to catch the man's attention.

Or, at least it only made Yugi's small form noticeable out of the corner of the man's eye. There was something else that attracted him, something Yugi was straddling in the palms of his hand.

"Young man! Welcome to the Domino Museum. We're the pride of Domino!" His stout figure came charging at Yugi, bursting through the other patrons. Before the teen could hope to issue a retreat, there were a mere few feet between them. "My name is Mr. Kanekura! I'm the curator for this fine museum."

"H-Hello," Yugi tried to lean back, feeling the man's breath on his face. It smelt like cigars and toothpaste. The pillar that was once his ally now dug into the young Muto's shoulder blades, laughing at the notion that he was now trapped. "I'm Yugi. Yugi… Muto?" Regret for giving his full name swelled instantly.

The man's eyes darted down to the puzzle. They seemed to trace over its shape, ogling at the sharp corners. Yugi should have snapped his fingers and reminded Kanekura that his eyes were in fact on his face and not his torso, but alas didn't have the heart. "Muto, you say? What a name! Familiar even! You wouldn't happen to be related to one Solomon Muto, young man?"

"Um... yes. Are you, um a friend of my grandpas?"

He let out a hearty laugh, "I've never the pleasure! But he's quite famous among the archaeologists I sponsor. Some say he personally unsheathed the mysteries of the Tomb of the Nameless Pharaoh into the twentieth century."

Yugi pulled the puzzle so close it stabbed into his ribcage. "Yep, that's him. He did do that."

"Tell me, Young Yugi. May I call you Young Yugi? Of course! And please, call me Kanekura. Now tell me, that can not possibly be the Millennium Puzzle in the flesh, could it? My eyes must be deceiving me."

"Well…"

"Marvelous! May I see it, Young Yugi?"

No, no you may not. Is what Yugi should have said. Is what he wanted to say. But the man's physique and magnetic aura held his tongue in place. 'It's fine.' He thought, 'he just wants to see. There's no harm.' Despite that, Yugi still couldn't bring himself to lift the string over his head.

So Yugi merely handed Kanekura the puzzle and leaned in when it was pulled forward. "Just for a minute, okay?"

Kanekura lit up, snatching it for Yugi could finish speaking. "Thank you, Young Yugi!" He turned the puzzle every direction, even daring to run his fingernails through the crevices. "Is it true that when Solomon found the puzzle, it was in pieces?" Yugi opened his mouth to answer, but was too soon jerked up and down with the puzzle, "Ah! It has such weight to it. You must have a strong neck, Young Yugi. Lucky it didn't come any larger else it might snap your neck." Finally, Kanekura caressed the smooth edges with his fat gloved fingers.

It took every ounce of self-control Yugi had not to rip away at the puzzle's extensively long embrace. Unnecessarily, extensively long. "Incredible." the curator breathed, "I couldn't believe it was the real thing, but now that I hold it in my hand it doesn't feel as if there was ever any doubt. Young Yugi, this artifact is priceless." Kanekura pulled it farther away, straining Yugi's neck. "Would you allow me to show off his puzzle as a part of my exhibition?"

"What?!"

"Please!" he added with a bow, pulling Yugi down with him. "It would be a blessing to me and everyone here who has ever loved history. You hold around your neck a wish I never thought would ever be granted. I'm sorry to beg, Young Yugi, but how about you consider it for just today!"

The boy gritted his teeth. He could feel his breathing slow. Parting with the puzzle was unthinkable, even for a short time. It was his treasure. One that he hadn't parted with since the day it granted his wish. But now, Kanekura had a wish, and the puzzle was made to grant wishes-

"How about you leave him alone."

Amy Merced forced herself between them, pulling the puzzle from Kanekura hands. She put one angry hand on her waist, the other hand tangled into her overalls. "He doesn't want to lend it to you for a day, he doesn't want to lend it to you for an hour, he doesn't want to part with his artifact. And give it that extra sprinkle of spice, I don't trust you. So I wouldn't let him even if he wanted to." Kanekura tried not to sneer, but by the twitch of his upper lip, he had to try really hard.

"And who exactly are you, young miss?"

"I'm 'Young Yugi's classmate, Mr. Kanekura. One who, when she sees something uncomfortable happening between her classmate and an adult, will say something."

"Well, there no harm intended, I assure you Ms. Classmate. Just a passion for treasure between two collectors. No matter, the preview is still stunning without the puzzle. But I'm sure you students will see for yourself soon." the curator said, before tipping his hat not at all passive aggressively. With a tight smile on his plump lips, he ducked out with a bow. "Do remember that students under twelve must be accompanied by an adult. You never know what can happen when you leave children alone."

Yugi could finally swallow. It was awkward for a moment. Amy aggressively shoved both hands into her overall pockets. She raised an eyebrow. He squinted. The crowd continued to noisily shuffle around them in colorful blurs. "You okay there, Sport? What a snake. What an ugly [4filter] snake"

Amy's normally flowing blazer was replaced with baggy-jeaned overalls overlaying a purple crew neck sweater. Everything was buttoned. Nothing was hanging carelessly low. It was almost like she was a real person and not a delinquent stereotype.

This lead to a frown that could barely be seen behind the wad of hair over her shoulder. "Sorry, I'm late. I knew I should have met you in front of Kame. This place is probably crawling with all styles of vultures. I hope not every who works here is like that." she huffed, trying to blow the scrunchie bound frizz fest away from her mouth. "Are you still okay with this or do you want to bail? I know I'd want to bail knowing someone was eyeballing me like that all day."

He steadied himself, "No, I want to stay. I'm fine, really. This will be fun."

It was not fun.

Museums apparently were not Amy's flair; something she figured out far too early in the day. Kids and adults alike swarmed the exhibits. People were so excited you'd think someone was passing out free candy or cigarettes. Or free candy flavored cigarettes. In the dinosaur exhibit, children were happily gorging through the sand in search of fossils. This was not fun for Amy when the employee on duty told her parents must be in the area to play. An exhibit on China had girls posing next to mannequins dressed in Chinese fashion. Both she and Yugi only came up to its plastic boobs, which earned Yugi some passing glances. And the only exciting thing the Wall of Ancient Fishermen could offer was an awkward young couple trying to stumble through their first date. Even that ceased being amusing after the second time.

"How hard can it be to get to the second floor balcony! Geezus Crust, you could see the balcony from the entrance. Why couldn't they put the stairs in the front!" Amy fumed, holding the brochure up to her nose. "This place has stairs up the [4filter] but with no labels to where they go!"

"Maybe we should head back to the Viking display? And head up the stairs in Ireland instead of Russia? If Russia brought up to the planetarium, maybe Ireland will head back towards the center?"

Her eyes glinted dangerously. "Last time I took directions from you, we ended up locked in an Authorized Personnel Only area. No thank you." She spotted an empty bench to their side and claimed her territory. Map sprawled out on her knee, Amy traced where they'd been. "Awkward Tom and Shy Sammie were here, then we saw them over here. There's a staircase that's supposed to lead to the Event Balcony which seems like it would be this one because it's right underneath!"

"But those went downstairs."

She glared, "And were also for Authorized Persons only."

Amy sprawled out on the bench with a groan, tossing the brochure carelessly into the air. "How do they expect investors to get to this fancy new exhibit when there's a giant labyrinth in the way. I hate this place and the people inside."

Yugi sat down on the edge of the seat after scooping and folding the brochure. Amy shifted her feet to give him room, and the two looked up at the high ceiling. "I should have known going out today would be a mistake," she muttered. "All the stars were aligned, and I still ignored them. It's fine, I said. You can't read the stars, I said. You're just going out to a borning [4filter] museum, what could POSSIBLY [4filter] happen, I said. When am I going to learn everything won't be [4filter] fine!"

Which only earned her a sideways glance, "Um, actually, I'm not ready to give up yet. If that's okay with you, Amy."

'Dammit,' she thought, 'Stop trying so hard. Because when you try hard, I have to.' So Amy grumbled, sat up, and elbowed him appropriately. "I didn't say I was giving up. It's just time to dig in our heels and partake in the ultimate sin. Asking for help. Don't. Move." She issued the stern demand and snatched up the brochure. Then disappeared into the crowd.

"Amy, wait for - !" She was gone faster than Yugi could get to his feet. He was left standing there, blurs of people passing by. "Me."

Maybe it was that he sprung up too fast, or maybe it was recent events, but something caused a change in the air. The familiar feeling of a sharp, fierce stare crossed Yugi's back. Seconds felt as if they turned into minutes. An eerie distortion twisted the air. No one else walking by seemed to waiver, or even notice Yugi wavering.

He split his feet, hoping to keep his balance. The crowd around him turned to people from detailed faces to colorful figures. They seemed to move in slow motion. The sensation caused Yugi's already bundled stomach to curdle. Then, a character in full detail stepped out of the crowd and approached him. This was the museum, trying to swallow him.

The man was dressed in cream robes that covered all but his main face. His face was slender and pointed but lost to the most exciting part of his shape. That being a scale he held in one hand, made of shimmering gold with intricate carvings that seemed hauntingly familiar. And around his neck lived a second pure gold accessory, what looked like an oversized, yet simply detailed key.

"Boy," he said with a foreign authority. Not foreign for the color of his tanned skin, but for the presence that his words heald. Words that didn't sound as if they were spoken by natural human lips, but a more powerful being.

Days ago, Yugi had just been a boy with no all-powerful entities approaching him. His knees clasped back to the bench. Where did those days go?

He could pretend like his stranger wasn't looking at him. He could become one of the blurry crowd. But Yugi's mind drifted, just for a moment, back to his grandfather. So, instead, he squeezed the puzzle and looked the stranger in the eye, saying the only thing that came to mind. "I'm not imagining you, am I?"

"You are not."

"Then who are you?" Yugi clenched his fist, although it trembled, "That scale you're holding looks like Pegasus's eye. You're after the puzzle, aren't you!" He couldn't help it, Yugi shouted at the top of his lungs.

The man walked closer, his robes flowing with each step. In one fluid movement, the stranger removed the key from his chest and held it to Yugi's forehead. Yugi' face sunk, fixated on the item and how cold it's touch was to his skin.

"W-what are you doing? Hey!"

The man slowly began to turn the key. Yugi could feel it twist on his skin, and finally, seemed to click into place.

Mixed feelings about this chapter tbh. But its shorter because this event takes place in several parts. Also Shaaaadddi ugnjkdfnkjsdbgkdbgfdknkjndfsj

I just want to get to Duelist Kingdom TTmTT What is pacing?