Chapter 3: Player 3 Joins the Game
"Oooo I'm gonna grab this one too!"
"No way, it's my turn!"
Two sets of hands reached for the same book on the shelf.
"Natsuki, my dearest friend, give it up. I don't wanna hurt you."
"Ayaka, over my dead, mummified and preserved body."
"That can be arranged."
The shorter of the two was elbowed out of the way.
The taller of the two, a girl with short black hair and brown eyes, darted past her, the book clutched tightly to her chest.
"Sera, back me up, Natsuki is being a brat again!"
Natsuki huffed, her violet eyes narrowing as she stomped after her.
"This is a mutiny, I'm being oppressed…" She muttered.
"No, you're not."
A hand pressed down gently on the top of her head, a woman with tan skin and deep blue eyes smiling at her.
"What's the fuss with you three today?"
"Well, I wanted to read up on the Egyptian gods but Ayaka decided that book was hers…"
"Hey, she has a book on witchcraft, it's not my fault."
Sera, a young girl with long dark hair and deep brown eyes, glanced up from a spread of cards across the table.
"I'm just minding my own business, practicing my cards. Unlike some girls here, I'm paying attention, Mother."
"M-Miss Ishizu..!"
"Natsuki, there is such a thing as grace… also, you three are making a racket."
"I'm being quiet…!"
Ishizu chuckled as her point was made with the volume of Natsuki's voice.
"Yes and a lion's roar is considered quiet."
Natsuki covered her mouth with both hands, giving a sheepish look.
"Sorry." She whispered. "We just got kinda excited."
"Desperate." Ayaka muttered, flipping open her book. "She's been going on about curses again."
Natsuki narrowed her eyes.
"Hey, that was a secret."
"Hm? What appears to be the trouble?" Ishizu asked, giving her a gentle look. "Anything going on at home?"
"Well… It's.. more like preventative measures…? Like, say… I dunno… a curse befalling our family to the same amount of say… I dunno… robbing a tomb?"
"Subtle." Sera murmured. "I think someone's reading too many conspiracy theories online again."
"Or stories from her crazy grandpa." Ayaka raised an eyebrow.
Ishizu frowned at this.
"Is this about the puzzle again?"
Natsuki lowered her head, her hair falling into her face.
"... Maybe a little.."
Ishizu tilted her chin up, so their eyes met.
"It's fine to worry about your brother. However, I'm concerned that you believe so strongly that it's going to bring misfortune."
"I…" Natsuki looked away. "I don't want anything to happen to our family again. I… I don't want Yugi to wind up…"
"Like your dearly departed mother?"
Natsuki's shoulders tensed up before she looked down once more.
"... Yes." She whispered.
Ishizu stroked the top of her head, warmth in her eyes.
"I promise all will be well. I hope that you have faith in the work that I and my family do to ensure yours and your family's safety."
Natsuki smiled faintly, giving a nod.
"I do… I trust you. It's why I wanna learn from you too."
"Then, take my word for it. While you may not understand it, know that when one door closes, a new one opens… and that world of possibilities may surprise you."
"You think so?"
"I have no doubt." She eyed the books on the table. "So, shall we?"
"Yes please!" Natsuki giggled. "What's the lesson today?"
"I believe for now, let's focus on some meditation - goodness knows, I think you need it."
Ayaka and Sera bit their lips, trying not to smile at the stunned look Natsuki had.
"What?"
"Pfft… Well the cards certainly foretold that." Sera smirked, starting to clean up her section of the table. "A brash heart, who knows no bounds."
"Ooo, harsh."
"S-Sera..!"
"What? I don't make the rules."
Natsuki huffed, crossing her arms.
"It's not fair. You can even do readings using those stupid duel monster cards! I'm way behind!"
"Then focus and stop worrying over what someone else is doing."
"HEY!"
oooooo
I'm so glad Anzu brought food… I think I forgot mine at home.
Yugi sighed a bit, stretching as he left the school.
He was always relieved when the last bell for the day rang. He could finally relax and head home… though, he had one last stop to make.
The middle school was a block away by foot though it wasn't long before he saw her standing there.
Her long hair that faded from brown into blond, her eyes, so much like their mother's…
He couldn't miss her anywhere even if he tried.
"Natsuki!" He called, waving to her.
"Yugi!"
Natsuki ran up to him, throwing her arms around him.
"Missed you!"
"Uwah!" He laughed, bringing her in for a tight hug. "You're in a good mood. Something happen?"
"Miss Ishizu gave me something." She grinned mischievously. "I have my own treasure now too!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Mm-hm… You know how Dad said if I wanted my own tarot cards I'd have to "get my own''?"
"Yeah, cause you kept touching his." Yugi muttered, as they started to walk home.
"Well now I have my own! So, ha!"
"Great!" He laughed. "So, you're not gonna ever mess with my Millennium Puzzle ever again. Riiight?"
Natsuki's smile disappeared in an instant as a stunned look came to her face.
Yugi busted up laughing, ruffling her hair.
"You know, this is what we call "karma."
"Your height is karma."
"... Low blow, Sis."
Natsuki smiled, holding her head up higher. She skipped a few paces ahead, turning to him.
"So?"
Yugi shoved his hands in his pockets, raising an eyebrow.
"So, what does that make you? Short, bitter and salty?"
"... I hate this town."
"Mm-hm. C'mon, High Priestess of Salt, let's go home." He grabbed her arm, dragging her along.
"I'm being-"
"Not in the mood."
"... What happened?"
"Later. We got chores waiting for us."
Natsuki scrunched her nose up.
"Any chance we could trade? I mean, I could organize the stock better-"
"You're not getting out of sweeping and running the register. You need to learn to use it."
"It hates me."
"No, it just hates thieves."
"So, what really happened-"
"And you know, there's cobwebs too."
"I'm gonna find out! You can stall all you want!"
"Yes! Now, come on!"
It wasn't long before they arrived at Kame Gameshop.
Home sweet home to the Mutou siblings.
"We're home!" They called, grabbing the attention of their grandfather, Solomon.
"Ah King Yugi and Princess Natsuki return." He chuckled. "And on time too."
"Yeah, no detours today." Yugi grinned. "Just straight home."
"Ah, so Anzu still isn't walking home with you." Solomon sighed. "Shame…"
Yugi's face flushed a bit at this.
"I-It's no big deal. She'll walk with us when she feels like it."
Natsuki blinked, looking at him before a wicked grin came to her face.
"Oh? Is that what happened?"
Yugi grabbed the broom in the doorway, shoving it into her hands.
"Go, fly away now."
She looked at the broom and towards Solomon with an unimpressed look.
"Grandpa, he's avoiding the question. Back me up here, I was just trying to get an answer cause he's acting weird."
Yugi stammered.
"H-Hey! She's been acting like a brat all week-"
Solomon cleared his throat, catching both of their attention.
"Natsuki, you know acting like that isn't very becoming. Yugi, you don't need to turn chore time into "pick on your sister" time. You're family. I swear, you act just like your father and aunt did when they were kids."
"I... " Natsuki huffed. "Sorry…"
"I'm sorry too…" Yugi sighed. "It's been a long day, okay?"
"It's been a long week." Natsuki huffed. "You have no idea what I've had to put up with."
"... Are you okay?"
Natsuki headed upstairs.
"I need chocolate."
Yugi looked to Solomon.
"Leave the jackal pup be?"
"Leave the jackal pup be."
oooooo
"Yes!"
Yugi smiled as another piece of the puzzle came together.
"I'm really on a roll today!"
In his hand, he had what looked like half of a three dimensional triangle.
"At this rate, I might be able to get this finished before Dad comes home next week."
He looked at his phone, checking the time. He was greeted by the lock screen, a picture of him, his father and sister smiling at the camera as they stood in front of the museum he worked at.
Okay it's 8:30… Still plenty of time before I hit the limit.
"YUGI MUTOU YOU GET TO BED RIGHT NOW! YOU HAVE SCHOOL IN THE MORNING!
Never thought Grandpa could get so loud… then again, staying up till 3 in the morning was not the best decision. That led to two pieces getting jammed together.
That took forever to pry apart with one of Natsuki's nail thingies…
"I'm only helping you because I can't believe how stupid this is. What did you do, run over it with the car?"
"I don't even have a permit yet!"
Uuugh…
Forget it all. Deep breaths. Focus.
He looked at the work he had so far.
"Eight years and I'm going to finish this one way or another."
Knock, knock!
He closed his eyes, leaning his head back.
"Why?" He whispered. "Come in!"
The door creaked open as Natsuki poked her head inside.
"Whatcha up to? Done with homework already?"
"Did you finish yours or are you bored?"
"Thanks. I feel SO loved." She huffed. "What are you doing?"
"Sacrificing my soul to the ancient gods. You?" He answered dryly.
She walked over to his desk, leaning over his shoulder. She narrowed her eyes looking over the puzzle.
"Don't." Yugi said before she could speak.
She nudged his shoulder, earning a glare as he dropped the piece he was holding.
"This thing, after eight years, is still evil."
"And after eight years, I'm still keeping to my promise to Dad that I would finish it." He picked up the piece he dropped. "And I feel like I'm finally going to do it."
"Ah yes, eight years of being proven that the men in my family all follow the definition of insanity." Natsuki smirked. "Doing the same thing, over and over again and expecting a different result."
"Your inability to wake up in the morning without a fight is the definition of insanity." Yugi replied, clicking another piece together, with a grin. "Also, I didn't invite you in to "help."
"I'm making your life more interesting. You know, making sure you're not bored."
"I was actually quite busy before you decided to bug me."
"A likely story."
He pointed to the door, over her head.
"Jackal pups, go outside."
Natsuki leaned against the desk, watching him work for a few moments in silence.
"So. You're being bullied."
It wasn't a question.
Yugi looked at her with a glare.
"Leave. Now."
She frowned.
"... I'm sorry I was being a brat before too... "
Yugi's glare softened, a sigh escaping him.
"... That tone wasn't called for… I just… don't like talking about it. I deal with it and just want to forget about it when I'm at home."
She looked down at the table, picking up one of the puzzle pieces, holding it up to the light.
"I'm sorry I kept pestering you… and… sorry for heckling you too. That wasn't cool."
"I love you but you have been more high strung than normal."
She looked at the pieces, her stomach tightening into knots.
She dropped the piece in her hand as if it had burned her.
"I know, it's probably stupid… but I keep fixating on it. Like what happened to Howard Carter's team after they uncovered King Tut's tomb. They all died one by one… I'm…" She looked away. "I'm worried messing with this stuff might hurt us too."
"Natsuki…"
"Dad's been digging up tombs and stuff all of our lives. I've been proud of him but… I'm worried too."
He reached for her, touching her shoulder.
"It wasn't any black magic or curses… Mom had an accident. Someone driving like an idiot, not magic or any of that." He frowned. "And same with what happened to those other people. The curse is nothing more than what happens when people don't take safety measures in an old tomb."
"Yugi…"
"I promise, I'm being safe. I wouldn't do anything if it meant I'd hurt my family."
"You mean that?"
"I do." Yugi smiled. "And… well, remember what Dad told us when he gave us this?"
"I gift this challenge to both of you because I know destiny, and destiny has decreed that I believe my brave son, the game king and my daughter, his partner in crime, are the only ones who can solve this, puzzle"
Natsuki smiled, giving a nod.
"How could I forget? When he'd tell his stories, it was like we were seeing the legends in real time."
"And… this is pretty fun but I have a hard time with some of the smaller pieces. They get stuck and well… my nails aren't long like yours." Yugi winked. "I could use some help… if my amazing sister loves me enough."
"Emotional blackmail…" She brought an arm around his shoulders in a side hug. "I knew I loved you."
"Heh, it works." He divided up the remaining pieces. "You with me?"
"... Yeah." She smiled, getting to work. "But if we get cursed…"
"We'll blame Dad."
"Oh no, you aren't getting outta this one, King Yugi!"
They laughed before getting back to work.
Both siblings fell quiet as they worked on their respective pieces… little by little, more and more began to click together.
It was unclear how long it had been, but both were beaming as they held up two halves of a three dimensional triangle in their hands.
"Amazing…" Natsuki whispered.
"Yeah…" Yugi looked at her. "Shall we?"
She nodded, bringing her half to his, the two clicking into place, forming a perfect upside down pyramid.
"... Okay, this is pretty cool. The fact it actually has a shape now…"
"Makes all the trouble we went through worth it."
Yugi eyed the last piece in the box, pulling it out.
It had the Eye of Horus etched into it, its iris glinting in the light.
He brought the piece to where it needed to be, right in the middle of the upside down pyramid. He hovered the piece over the hole, taking a deep breath.
To any of the gods or goddesses who are looking down on us… I ask for my two wishes to be granted as this puzzle is completed.
I wish… to have more friends… and to be able to be brave and strong. Just like Dad.
Natuski brought her hand over his.
To any of the Gods or Goddesses, listening…
Protect Yugi, no matter what happens. I don't want him to get hurt… Please…
The piece slid into place with a click, the puzzle now complete.
They moved their hands away, smiling at their work…
… Just as the lights went out and the puzzle began to emit a glow.
Natsuki looked around in a panic before looking back at the puzzle.
Oh no. No no no no!
The puzzle's glow intensified, causing both siblings to drop it, stumbling away from the desk in a panic.
The area around them shifted in appearance, Yugi's room disappearing, being replaced with what looked like the inside of an Egyptian tomb.
This isn't happening… This CAN'T be happening.
Yugi brought his arms around his sister, keeping a protective hold around her. He looked to where the puzzle was, seeing it was now sitting on a pedestal instead of his desk.
The object shook as shadows came out of it, casting onto the walls around them. The shadows morphed and shifted until they took on the forms of various monsters, their yellow eyes glaring down at them.
"We're gonna die…" Natuski whispered. "We're gonna die…"
"No… No we're not." Yugi held his sister tighter, glaring up at the monsters, trying to hide the fear in his violet eyes. "It's gonna be okay."
If they want someone… They can have me.
Yugi stood tall, growling at the monsters above.
"None of you scare me! Do as you will but you will not harm my sister!"
The monsters all snarled before circling around, charging right at the two.
"YUGI!" Natsuki shrieked.
Just as the monsters drew close, a beam of light shot from the eye of the puzzle, making contact with Yugi's forehead. A golden eye etched into his forehead as his purple irises faded into red.
"You stand for protecting the weak… even at the cost of your own life… Your wishes have been heard, Yugi Mutou. Allow me to lend you my strength."
That was the last he heard as his head slumped forward… before he lifted his head again, a growl escaping him.
The monsters snarled, coming in close around him.
Yugi closed his eyes as an aura of gold light surrounded him, glowing brightly.
"Shadow creatures, this realm is not yours. I am not your foe…" He opened them. "I am your commander. Stand down and return to the afterlife. These souls do not belong to you. They are under my protection."
For Natsuki… She couldn't even understand what he was saying. He was speaking a language she couldn't grasp, the voice echoing around them.
Is that… is that Arabic…?
The monsters let out a yowl of pain as they tried to attack him, only for a wave of energy to hit them.
"I warned you." He growled.
Within a moment, they dissipated into smoke as the tomb grew quiet. He turned to Natsuki, giving her a gentle smile.
"All is well now."
Natsuki shook her head, covering it.
"I don't understand…"
He frowned, setting Natuski down before going to the pedestal, taking the puzzle into his hands. He closed his eyes as the power from it surrounded him.
I know this power… It is only mine to wield…
He turned back towards Natsuki.
"Natsuki."
"H-Huh?"
"I promise, all will be well." His red eyes took on a gentle look. "I know you're scared and confused but it will all make sense in due time. Yugi and I both need you at your best."
"I…" A wave of exhaustion came over Natuski. "Yugi…" Her eyes slid shut as she fell to the floor.
"When it's time… you'll know what to do… Mana."
"... Nat… suki… Natsuki!"
Natsuki's eyes snapped open. She was on the floor of Yugi's room, the tomb nowhere in sight… and her brother was kneeling before her, concern in his eyes, which were violet once more.
He sighed in relief at seeing her eyes open, a small smile coming to his face.
"You're okay… Thank heavens."
He helped her sit up.
Natsuki rubbed the back of her head.
"What… happened…?" She looked around bewildered.
I was just in a tomb and… and Yugi was…
Where is that thing?
She looked at him, noting the puzzle now was hanging around his neck.
"I'm… not sure." Yugi rubbed the back of his neck. "One moment I remember being in a tomb with monsters coming for us… and the next I found myself passed out my desk and you passed out on the floor."
"I had the same dream." Natsuki looked at the puzzle. "You were trying to protect me."
"Maybe all that talk of curses gave us both nightmares?" He suggested.
It felt too real to be one though…
And that voice…
Natsuki yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"Whatever it was, it can be investigated tomorrow… I'm too tired…"
"Yeah…" Yugi grabbed his phone, checking the time, eyes widening. "Crap… it's 3 AM… I'm surprised Grandpa isn't here to scold us."
"Then let's not wait any longer for that to happen…"
Yugi nodded… bringing his sister into a hug again.
"Sorry… just…"
Natsuki hugged him tightly.
"I-it's okay… I was scared too." She sighed shakily.
Yugi stroked her hair, humming softly.
"You wanna stay here tonight?"
"Pillow nest?"
"Sure thing. I don't think I'm okay right now either."
Yugi lifted her into his arms, bringing her to the bed in his room before setting her down.
"I'll be right back. Do you want your cat pillow?"
She nodded, smiling.
"Yes please and my blanket?"
"Sure thing, Princess."
Yugi hurried out without another word. As he quietly made his way through the house, he looked down at the puzzle around his neck, bringing a hand to it.
I just… imagined all that… Right?