CHAPTER III: Even with this borrowed body

Blasts from the past had come back to her.

It was images of the great Pharaoh Atem standing from the balcony of the palace in front of thousands of citizens of Egypt in all his glory.

Everybody loves the ruler of their country. The king's face was as radiant as the bright sun shining down on Egypt. Everybody was loudly praising their king, giving adoration and thanks to him.

When he raised his hand, all the people had bowed down before him.

In his country, he was both feared and loved.

And she stood right beside him.

Now, Aya is standing with Yugi, the Pharaoh's vessel.

She and Yugi's friends were riding an elevator to her condominium unit. Classes in the Domino High School were suspended because of the scattered broken glass around the campus.

Joey made sure to send Serenity to the Kaiba Corp bunkers with Mokuba. Kaiba, was with her to find out more of these Duel Monsters appearances that had happened again. Duke also set out to look for news or clues.

"So you are Tristan, Joey, and Tea. Nice to meet you," Aya nicely said and then slid the key card to her unit. The door to her room then automatically slid open. Joey, Tristan, and Tea were in awe of the princess-inspired modern room that was dominantly pink all over. They wondered however why the room was so bubbly, yet Aya's personality was quite stiff. It was an ironic match.

As the three of them rushed inside and roamed around, Aya said to Yugi, "So your name is Yugi. Pleased to be of your acquaintance."

"Yes, I am," Yugi replied with a smile. Aya, despite her piercing eyes, couldn't help but smile back at Yugi as well.

Aya prepared them snacks at the living room and as they all started to settle down, she stared at Yugi silently again. No wonder he chose him as his vessel. This boy has a pure heart, Aya told herself. Yugi's kind and sincere eyes stared back at her.

Yugi's Millennium Puzzle then glowed and the Pharaoh's consciousness resurfaced. It was now the Pharaoh's strong eyes that were staring back at Aya's. She gasped for a bit of air.

"My Pharaoh…" Aya said while expressing her respect for her king by putting her right fist to her chest. With her gesture, the Egyptian Armlet shined from her wrist. "I truly am overjoyed that you are safe and sound."

Aya has then been told of what had happened back in the Temple of the Underworld and the inability of the Pharaoh to cross over. They also told her of the message that rose from the temple and the suspected incomplete memories of the Pharaoh.

"So Zorc is not the source of all evil after all," Aya concluded.

"I can't believe we put up much of a fight to defeat him. But taking him down isn't the solution to all out problems after all!" Joey exclaimed.

"Aya, I believe you are one of my important comrades in the past," said Atem. "I also believe that you are an important piece of this puzzle. Please tell me more about yourself."

"Very well, Pharaoh. I truly am… one of your servants." Aya sounded somehow hesitant to say who she was. Still, she continued. "In the past, I used to serve at your courts. I have awakened from my deep slumber in this armlet. It had just been seven days since my awakening."

"Seven days?!" Yugi's friends exclaimed. That was the time when the ceremonial duel was performed and the stone slab rose.

"I see. So my awakening has something to do with that slab I suppose," said Aya. "The original owner of this body had recently died as well. Before her life slipped away, she entrusted me with this body."

It was then that the people inside the room had realized the photos of a bubbly girl around their age with her father which were mounted on the walls of the condominium.

"Aya was a pure-hearted girl. But her world was too small because her weak body cannot cope. Nonetheless, the memories she left behind had helped me move about in this city and this era," Aya shared. "These cookies were her mother's special recipe."

They then felt bad about the girl who recently passed away.

Atem continues to stare at Aya. He realized that they were on the same boat – they were both borrowing a body.

"Pharaoh, I too have only recovered half of my memories. I believe this bracelet was designed as to conceal certain important memories that I used to possess."

"Aya, that armlet. Is that also a Millennium Item?" the Pharaoh inquired. "On top of that, why was not a slightest traces of you found in my memories or in the world of the memory tablet?

"Yeah, we thought there were only seven Millennium Items?" Tea said.

"It must be hard to be forgotten, huh?" Tristan said.

"Forgotten?" Aya turned away for a while. "It doesn't just hurt. It deeply pains my heart," Aya's tongue slipped. The Pharaoh felt anguished over her words.

Seeing the effect of what she mistakenly said, "Please forget what I have just said, my king. It was not important."

"Even if this is a borrowed body, my Pharaoh, and even if my memories are incomplete, I will do my best to be of service to you, as I have sworn thousands of years ago," Aya said, her conviction manifesting in her eyes.

"I believe this armlet is not really a Millennium Artifact, my king. Mysteriously, I also do not know the reason why I lay rest in here," Aya continued. "For all I know, I am here to protect you."

"I also remember in my memories most of the things you have told me about what you saw in the world of the Pharaoh's memories, even if some of them had changed. Nonetheless, we have to find out what this 'seed of evil' is."

"Aya, how much do you know about me? How was I able to seal Zorc in the Millenium Puzzle? And where did the power of the Millennium Items come from?" said Atem.

Aya pondered.

"King Atem, I truly am resolved that you are the great and mighty Pharaoh who protected Egypt from Zorc. However, I believe the answers to the rest of your questions is being intentionally hidden by the Millennium Armlet," Aya answered.

"I can also feel the strong resonance of my armlet to your puzzle, Pharaoh. It seems that a part of my memory wishes to be forgotten for good.

"Resonance?" the keyword gave Tea an idea. "Atem, let's try to put the Millennium Puzzle and the Millennium Armlet close to each other. Maybe we can get something out of that."

"I'm not so sure about that Tea, but let's give it a go, Pharaoh," Tristan said.

Aya was astonished at the idea. However, part of her memories that refuse to resurface were holding her back. Nonetheless, her desire to serve her king weighed heavier to her.

In the living room, Aya moved seats to draw closer to Atem. They were now face to face. She was now only some inches away from him. For a moment, they looked at each other first.. A bit of uncertainty can be found in Aya's face. Still, she complied.

Atem lifted the Puzzle with both of his hands towards Aya. Aya then slowly placed her two hands on top of her king's Millennium Puzzle. She could feel the warmth of parts of the Pharaoh's hands that were touching hers.

They both felt each other's warmth and presence. It tingled familiarly in their senses.

"These warm hands are the very hands that has fought to protect his kingdom," Aya said, letting out a faint smile.

Atem was dazed at her words.

"I am not worthy to hold such hands, my king. But if it will be of service to you, I'd even gladly offer both of my hands to you," she said.

As Aya was about to close her eyes and concentrate in connecting her armlet with the puzzle, there suddenly was a strong earthquake. The cups on the tables overturned and some of the mountings on the wall fell off. Everyone in the room was alarmed.

From the window, a shriek of a dragon was heard.

The five of them immediately ran to the stairwell and outside the streets. Various fiend-type monsters were being warped from a wormhole, making their way to Aya's residences. From the ground, a giant wormhole opened and from it, a colossal monster was rising.

[to be continued]