Hello, guess what? This is where Shadi comes along! YAY! (claps) Alright, now just know that this is gonna turn out different since Shadi will be peeking into Atem's soul room which doesn't contain pure innocents. Review please!
Everyone was gathering around a curtain lunch table to watch two players play an intense battle of Battle Ship. So far, Atem was winning while his opponent was struggling to keep his ships from sinking. Atem was having more fun playing than he's ever been. He saw his ships that were put in place. He had his three ships left on the board.
"I attack D4," Atem said.
"Miss," Seto replied. "B7!"
"Missed," Atem smirked. "A9."
"DAMNIT! You son of a bitch!"
Atem and the kids behind him laughed as he put a red mark on the front board where he called the shot. His arms were crossed with confidence while a corner of his bottom lip was loosely bitten. Seto's head was turning boiling hot.
"And by your reaction and the fact I already destroyed your Destroyer, my guess is that I destroyed your Submarine," Atem grinned. There was a hint of enjoyment on his face. "What's more exciting is that I'm enjoying myself."
"Hey Atem!" Joey called as he ran to his friend. "I read on the Newspaper of an exhibit opening today. It contains Egyptian artifacts."
"I heard," Atem replied. "E6!"
"Missed," Seto replied. "L10."
"Hit!" Atem said before turning his attention to Joey. "Anyways, why'd you bring it up?"
"Well, didn't your gramps say that your puzzle came from Egypt? I know History isn't your biggest subject, but I thought you'd be interested since you're attached to that puzzle around your neck like a magnet," Joey replied. "We can go if you want to."
"I would, but you have a phobia over mummies," Atem smirked. "G4!"
"Ugh! You're so annoying," Seto glared as he placed a red mark on his ship.
"I don't have phobias over..." Joey glared as Atem glanced at his friend with a 'yes you are. I'm not that stupid' look. "Maybe a little."
"L9!" Seto announced.
"Missed," Atem replied. "I don't know. I'll think about it." He placed a smirk on his face. "F6."
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Seto shouted while slamming his fists on the table.
"I win and you owe me a 20," Atem smirked as Seto dug into his pocket and gave his rival a twenty dollar bill. Atem placed the bill in his wallet before leaving to order his food. "Looks like I'll be having a whole week of lunch from now on."
After school, Atem arrived home where his grandfather was waiting to tell his grandson the good news. Atem arrived with Joey, Hanaski, and Tristan as Solomon smiled brightly and walked over to the gang.
"Hello boys. I have great news," Solomon said.
"What?" Atem asked.
"Professor Hawkins is coming here for a visit. He's also coming with the Director of the new exhibit that's opening today."
"NO WAY!" Hanaski responded in excitement.
"That's great, Grandpa. I'm so happy for you," Atem replied.
"I was wondering if you kids would like to come along and meet my friend. He's especially interested in meeting you, Atem," Solomon mentioned.
"Hm," Atem nodded. "Then I'm more than happy to come along. Though, I don't know about bringing Joey."
"Hey! I can handle an exhibition!" Joey glared.
"Except ones that have the undead," Atem teased as Joey's head started boiling and the rest were laughing.
"Hey, didn't you say that your puzzle came from Egypt?" Hanaski asked.
"It did," Solomon said. "Legend says that those who tried to retrieve the puzzle died mysteriously."
Everyone except Atem and Joey, who already heard the story, turned bug-eyed. Hanaski was even more surprised since Yugi was inside the puzzle and was never one to murder people. The death of the criminal in death row didn't really count.
"He must be talking about those guys who tried to kill Grandpa," Yugi said as Atem gasped in his mind. "There were also thieves who tried to steal the gold from my tomb."
"My guess was that they were thieves," Atem said. "Unless I'm cursed."
"You are cursed. Ever since you got that puzzle, you've been having mood swings," Joey teased.
"Oh, so just because I act like a dork means that I'm cursed."
"Pretty much."
"I'll invite Tea," Hanaski said. "I'm sure she'll be more than happy to come along."
Everyone nodded. They all agreed to go to the Egyptian Exhibition. Tea agreed to join along for the ride, especially since Yugi originated from Egypt. She was interested in knowing more about him and where he came from. Yugi had mentioned to Tea that he knew nothing about his past. All he knew was that he was from Egypt and was over 3000 years old.
When everyone made it to the musium, they noticed two older men. One of them had slight long hair and a beard with a mustache. The other one was chunky with a mustache and a hat. Solomon walked up to the man with the beard and mustache before giving him a warm hug.
"Solomon, good to see you, old friend," the man with the beard greeted.
"Kids, this is Professor Hawkins," Solomon introduced.
"Nice to meet ya," Joey grinned while holding a hand to shake the professor's hand.
"Same here," Atem said, also shaking the professor's hand. "Grandpa tells me a lot about you."
"Does he?" Professor Hawkins asked while giving his friend a smirk.
The director cleared his throat and whispered in the professor's ear, "um, how about you ask about the 'you know what'?"
"Oh right!" Professor Hawkins nodded. "Solomon, didn't you say your grandson solved the puzzle?"
Atem rolled his eyes and asked sarcastically, "what do you think is around my neck, ground meat?"
"AH! THE PUZZLE!" The director gasped as he grabbed the puzzle in his hands and the rope it was connected to yanked on the boy's neck. Out of reflects, Atem snatched the puzzle from the director's hands.
"Ya!" Atem reacted. "You almost choked me!"
"So sorry," the director apologized. "I guess I got too excited. Many have tried to solve the puzzle and not succeeding. It's amazing that someone from this part of town actually solved the puzzle."
"Mr. Kanekura is an art dealer and has a good eye for good valuable treasure," Professor Hawkins said.
"Well, I can't argue with him on that logic. This is a very valuable treasure," Atem agreed while holding onto the puzzle. "I wouldn't trade it for a million bucks."
"I can tell," Professor Hawkins said.
"Hey Atem," Director Kanekura said. "Mind if I put this puzzle on display? It would be an honor!"
Atem held the puzzle with one hand and replied, "I'm sorry. I can't allow you to do that. Not that I don't trust you or anything, but this puzzle is too valuable for me. I feel attached to it." 'Not to mention that Yugi's soul can only be trusted to Hanaski. If anything happened to him, I wouldn't forgive myself.' "I hope you understand."
"I do," the director replied with a hint of frustration.
"That was so sweet brother," Yugi said as he wrapped his arms around his brother's neck from behind. "I love you."
Atem gave a half smile. The professor showed everyone the exhibit and what curtain things were. Atem looked around the exhibit and would end up being dragged to curtain places Yugi liked. He was checking out things on the walls and items. There were things that were familiar to Yugi. That didn't surprise Atem.
Everyone came to a place where the mummy of Anubis was located. Joey was freaking out and walked quickly to the next exhibit. Atem just rolled his eyes as Yugi stared at the mummy with a hint of sadness.
'Common Yugi,' Atem said, then hinting the sadness. 'You okay?'
"This poor soul isn't resting," Yugi said quietly with tears leaking from his eyes. "The poor thing. I can't believe they took him from his resting place. I know what it's like to be stuck in a cold, dark, lonely place."
Atem nodded and gave his brother a warm hug saying, 'you wanna stay in my soul room?'
"It's okay," Yugi assured as Atem continued to look around the exhibit and came across a stone, which showed a picture of hieroglyphs and pictures of men with heads that looked like animals. Yugi eyed it. "Hey, that tells the Judgment of the Dead. See, the scale weighs your sins with the feather of Ma'at."
'Then I guess I wouldn't pass,' Atem smirked.
"I think you would. Your soul room maybe dark, but even darkness can be used for good. You're a good person, Atem."
Atem smiled as Professor Hawkins explained what the boy was already told by Yugi. Yugi stood in front of the stone and smiled with interest. He was reading the hieroglyphs, which brought Atem some interest. He knew that Yugi could not only speak Egyptian, but read it too. Ancient Egyptian that was. Atem rolled his eyes everytime he heard Yugi speaking in an ancient language the boy was unfamiliar with.
An Egyptian man with white robes walked foreward toward the mummy. Atem turned his head and noticed the tears drawing from the man's eyes.
"Man, is everyone crying over that thing?" Atem asked with cocked eyebrows.
"I don't blame him," Yugi said before grabbing his brother's arm and both the boys left the area.
As the kids were about to leave the exhibit, Director Kanekura stopped Atem with a smirk up his lips. This smirk was suspicious to Atem.
"Yes?" Atem asked.
"Listen... I know you said I couldn't put the puzzle on display, but can I at least take one last look at it," the director asked in plead.
"As long as you don't choke me," Atem smirked in a teasing manner. He handed the puzzle and the director clutched onto the puzzle with his bare hands.
"Wow, this... this is so incredible. You have to tell me how your grandfather got a hold of this," the director grinned. "Would you like to come up to my office?"
"Sure," Atem shrugged. Though, something in the pit of his stomach rejected this decision. Even Yugi was feeling unsure about this.
The two went up the stairs into the director's office. Atem closed the door behind him before feeling something covering his mouth. It looked like a tissue or something, but there was something in it that made him sleepy. It didn't take much to realize Atem was being drugged. The director caught the unconscious boy in his arms.
"Hehehe, didn't see that coming, did ya, Mr. Moto?" The director smirked as he was about to take the puzzle from the boy's neck, but by the time he touched it, brilliant light burst from it. Yugi took over his brother's body with anger in his eyes.
"How dare you hurt my brother!" Yugi glared as the room turned dark. The director trampled into his desk chair forcefully and couldn't move.
"Who... what are you?" Director Kanekura asked in fear.
"I'm gonna ask you a few questions and if you lie, your sins will be weighed. Since I don't have the Scale of Truth, I will use my puzzle," Yugi said while holding the puzzle with one hand. "A girl falls into a well, you are the only person who can save her, but next to her is a pile of gold. Will you save the girl or the gold?"
"The girl... I'd save the girl!" Director Kanekura replied frightened. The puzzle turned crimson red.
"You're lying. As you lie, the puzzle will change to a darker red until it is pure black," Yugi explained. "Next question, a man is drowning and has a wallet floating on the water. What will you do?"
"I'd save the man!" The director lied desperately as the puzzle changed to a darker crimson. 'Why do I keep lying?'
"A person walks by with a gold ring inside his stomach that costs a million dollars. Will you kill the man or spare him?"
"I'd spare him! I'D SPARE HIM!" The director cried in agony as the puzzle was now a darker red that was close to black. His chair morphed into an crocodile-like creature. "AHHHH! IT'S... IT'S... IT'S AMMIT!"
"One more question," Yugi glared, still holding the puzzle. "Did you or did you not trespass into the Valley of the Kings for your own pleasure?"
"PLEASE! YOU CAN HAVE ANYTHING! YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PUZZLE!" The director screamed before Ammit swallowed the man whole and the only thing left of the director was a bleeding corps.
Yugi smirked before his puzzle changed back to gold and said, "there is no truth in you, only greed. It's no wonder Ammit decided to make himself at home in your soul room." He walked on his way out the door and said, "next time, leave my brother alone."
When Yugi opened the door, he found a corps lying in front of his feet who looked like a buyer with a beard under his chin. The child gasped before looking up at the Egyptian man him and Atem saw earlier. The man gasped when he saw the puzzle around the boy's neck. There seem to be a glint in his eye and fear swarmed Yugi. He took a step back before blacking out.
Atem woke up with a slight moan. His head was feeling dizzy from the drug the director gave him. He sat up and found himself in the familiar room with black walls, board games, and video games. There was also a hint of warmth to it that he never found last time. He decided to worry about that later. Right now, he needed to find out if Yugi was alright.
Atem got up on his feet, using the walls for support, and about to walk out of his room when he spotted the Egyptian man him and Yugi saw earlier. The man looked into the soul room with furrowed eyebrows. Atem stood his ground, wondering how in the world this man got into his soul room. Nobody ever came. It was the only place he ever was by himself, aside from Yugi.
"Who are you?" Atem asked in demand.
"Your soul room contains impurities," the man said. "Darkness lies deep in your heart. Darkness also contains evil and despair. You seem to be filled with it. I've never seen a soul room in pure darkness in my life. You are filled with anger, sorrow, and hatred. What surprises me is that people with even one of these things will end up having lust also, but there seems to be non in here."
"You didn't answer my question!"
"I am the Disciple of Anubis. I'm also the Keeper of the seven Millennium items."
"There are more?" Atem asked in a gasp. "I'm guessing that Key around your neck is one of them. I sense a strong power in it."
"You are correct and through many generations people who used these items have brought chaos upon this world. They use these items for money and power. I'm surprised you didn't die like the rest of men who tried to get a hold of your item. It once belonged to a great pharaoh who was the King of Light."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Your room is filled with darkness and evil. I cannot allow you to use the puzzle's power for evil," the man said demandingly.
"Over my own dead body!" Atem shouted. "That puzzle is precious to me! I don't care about its stupid power! If you want the puzzle, you'll have to take it from my cold dead hands!"
"Then looks like I'm going to have to force it out," the man said plainly. "I can also destroy a mind room. If that is what I have to do, I'll do it." The man held the key over the mind room as a gust of wind started spinning around. Atem felt a huge amount of pain.
"AHHHHHHH!" Atem cried in agony. Tears leaked from his eyes as pain was swarming all over his body. The pain soon ended as he felt his body being caught by warm arms and a soft hand placed on his cheek to turn his head. Atem opened his eyes and faced glittering violet eyes. "Yugi."
"Don't worry, brother. I'm here," Yugi said.
If Atem had seen the event, he would've seen the man being pushed back by an invisible force as soon as Yugi rushed over to his brother's side. Yugi would not let that man hurt his brother like this. He loved him like his own soul.
The man stood up on his feet. He knew he would be facing a good fight against a person holding a millennium item, but what he didn't expect was a shield that kept him from Atem's soul room. The man gasped as soon as he touched the shield. What also surprised the man was what he saw before him: an innocent version of Atem holding the boy in his arms. Yugi gave the Egyptian man a threatening look.
"HOW DARE YOU HURT MY BROTHER!" Yugi shouted in anger. He helped Atem up.
"Careful Yugi, this one is powerful. He has a millennium item, which is how he got into my soul room in the first place," Atem explained.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you," Yugi assured as he held his brother's hand.
"Who are you? I noticed two soul rooms, but I never expected another person," the man said.
"I'm Yugi," Yugi replied. The man's eyes widened in amazement.
"Yugi... you must be the spirit of the puzzle," the man realized. "Why are you risking your life to protect this boy. His room is filled with darkness, anger, and despair. There is no innocents in this one."
"No, but there is good in him," Yugi argued. He walked to a part of the soul room that Atem never bothered looking. There was a stack of pillows, fluffy pillows of different colors. One was blue with decorations that were rowdy. "He has love. Pillows represent love. I've noticed this when I first came here."
"Interesting. He seems to have a close companionship with some of the kids I've seen while looking around the museum. That pillow you hold must be the weird blond man," the Egyptian man replied in amazement. "Yet he contains pure darkness that would surpass anyone, even thieves."
"He also doesn't treasure my puzzle the same as the others do. The man I just played a game with only loved the puzzle for money. It was only lust that filled his heart. Atem has true love toward the puzzle," Yugi declared as he picked up a huge white pillow that was the size of a ten-year-old. He passed it to Atem who looked at it, then at Yugi with a soft smile. This pillow was Yugi's. "He treasures the puzzle because he values my life more than money and power."
"Understandable, but I'm still curious about the power the puzzle possesses. If your brother uses the puzzle, it could bring mass destruction," the man declared.
"Then I guess the only way to settle this matter is through a Shadow Game," Yugi said before him and Atem walked out of the room and opened the door to the second soul room. "Wanna play?"