Chapter 17: Dark Mirror
We need to figure out a better plan than this…
Amane bit the eraser of her pencil, staring down at her worksheet. Her mind wasn't on the problem she was tasked with. Her mind was racing as she tried to think. She had one of her notebooks out, taking notes, but her mind wasn't on what her teacher was saying.
Her eyes glanced up as she focused on one student in particular.
"Natsuki Mutou - Pharaoh's pet?"
"Who is Yamir really?"
"What can I do to save us?"
She crossed off one section.
Throwing away the ring doesn't work.
Yamir had been a thorn in their side for years now. She could barely remember life without the spirit looming over the Bakura siblings.
She sighed, looking up again.
Natsuki was reading one of her occult books in class again. It was hard to miss the massive pentagram on the cover.
I remember when we could look at that stuff…
"Ryo! That was my book! Mommy got it for me!"
The boy turned to her, her book opened in his lap… the altar wasn't anything impressive at that time. A single black candle and his mirror he had painted black.
The ring glimmered in the candlelight as a sneer formed on his face.
"Power like this isn't suitable for children."
Amane narrowed her eyes, stomping her foot.
"I said… GIVE IT BACK! I'm telling Dad-!"
"The deadbeat isn't coming back." He leaned over, lighting a second candle, putting it beside the first one. He looked up at her face with a knowing smile. "He's just like mine was. A coward to the end."
"You're lying… Ryo, what's-"
He raised an eyebrow.
Amane shivered as the room cooled rapidly around them. The candle flames dancing and sputtering, the wicks sparking.
His hair floated around him as he pointed to the door.
"Out."
The door slammed in her face as she hurried away from it.
That was the end of anything "normal"... and she hated that he was right.
Daddy never came home…
Amane didn't think Yamir had murdered their father. That was a theory she refused to accept because he made it very clear he thought that any added responsibilities like going to work or taking care of house chores was beneath him. If he could've avoided it he would've. Happily.
It's too much effort…
Not like his games…
She circled another section in her notebook.
She was so engrossed in it, that she hadn't even heard the bell ring.
Or noticed everyone else leaving to go to lunch… Except for a small handful of kids.
Be careful and weary if he suggests DnD. When Ryo's in control it's normal and safe… if Yamir's in charge, it's dangerous…
Avoid the altar at all cost…
What else…?
"Hey."
She jumped, looking up, her eyes going wide.
She scrambled to close her notebook.
Just my luck…
Natsuki raised an eyebrow, folding her arms behind her back.
"You're… Amane-san right?"
"Yeah... " She murmured, looking away. "And you're Natsuki Mutou."
Natsuki tilted her head, looking at the setup on Amane's desk. Her notebook, her class work completely ignored, the shreds of eraser on her desk.
"You okay?"
"I…" She fumbled with her pencil. "I've just got a lot on my mind."
What is so special about her that he wants her dead anyways?
This is my chance to help though.
She couldn't bring herself to say it.
How do you even start a conversation of that nature?
"Oh by the way, thanks for being nice to me but my big brother's evil counterpart wants you dead, like true crime podcast levels of dead."
Right… That'd go over SO well…
Then we can get sent to some shadow dimension or something.
Just our luck.
"Well… Maybe we could help with that." Natsuki smiled, breaking her train of thought. "Do you wanna sit with my friends and I and get lunch?"
"Um… Sure, I guess…"
Amane quickly shoved everything into her bag, rifling through it for her lunch… Eyes widening as she realized, a very crucial error.
…. That jerk took my lunch.
… No, I forgot it but it makes me feel better to blame Yamir. If he hadn't been all freaky this morning with his stupid altar, I wouldn't have forgotten!
"I forgot my lunch."
Natsuki winced, grimacing.
"Oh… that's rough." She looked over to where her friends were - Sera and Ayaka were already taking out their food. "Hey, Aya! You got extra?"
"Yeah, I got some extra onigiri. Mokuba?"
Mokuba rubbed the back of his neck.
"My mom got way too into the "packing" part of it, so I got sent with enough lunch for two. You can help yourself."
Amane made her way over, sitting with them, bowing her head.
"Thank you… I'm Amane Bakura…" She whispered. "It's um… a pleasure to meet you properly."
"Likewise." Natsuki pulled up a seat beside her. "So, Mokuba, what'd you get today?"
"You can't get mad."
The girls exchanged a puzzled look when he set down one portion in the middle so Amane could help herself…
Layers of egg wrapped around thin pieces of fish.
"Eel…"
"YOU JERK! WHO HAS LEFTOVER EEL FOR THAT STUFF!?"
"YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T GET MAD!"
Amane, despite how she felt… couldn't help but start laughing.
She covered her mouth quickly, trying to stifle it.
"Pffftahaha!"
Natsuki and Mokuba stopped short, looking at her.
"S-Sorry… Just that's totally something my brother and I would argue about."
"WHEN DID WE HAVE MONEY FOR EEL!? WHAT IS THIS!?"
"I don't remember buying it, he did!"
"Great… I guess we're having egg and eel for lunch."
"... At least it's eel?"
The only thing that ghost ever did right…
"So, Amane, tell us a little about yourself."
"H-Huh?"
Natsuki opened up her bento box.
"What do you like to do? I don't think we've gotten a chance to talk before…"
"Well…" She hummed in thought. "Um… I guess I like cooking. Going to the library's fun. The big one near the museum?"
"Ooo!" Sera's eyes lit up. "I love that place!"
"Me too." Ayaka nodded. "The occult section is the best!"
"It is." She nodded. "Besides that… I have a hard time finding hobbies I like. Just moved too often to pick up stuff I guess… I tried knitting but wasn't really into it."
Not to mention, all my cards, my runes, everything got swiped…
"You might cleanse me from this place and I can't risk that."
"Could I really?"
He chuckled.
"No… but I can't afford the risk either."
"I have two brothers." She said before regretting it instantly.
"Once again, only child in a sea of siblings!" Ayaka laughed.
"I got two big brothers too." Mokuba grinned.
"What are they like?" Natsuki asked.
Why did I say two? WHY?!
"Well… " Amane took a deep breath. "Ryo's pretty quiet, he likes playing Dungeons and Dragons, he likes reading a lot too… and… as for my other brother."
Natsuki raised an eyebrow… Amane's face shifted from a timid look to one of utter fury. Her brown eyes burned with it. If she didn't know any better she'd say they glowed.
"He is a mooch! He never does anything without whining, he spends money we don't have on stupid things, he's a jerk, he stole my tarot cards and oh don't even get me started on how he claims he does EVERYTHING when let's be real he doesn't-"
… Oh, we struck a nerve.
Natsuki frowned, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Amane sighed shakily, running a hand through her hair.
"He's a waste of space in every way and our lives would be better if he just… disappeared."
…. I actually said that.
Oh gosh I said that…
"I am… so sorry."
"Man, that sucks. Can't your folks send him somewhere?" Ayaka asked.
"Mom's gone and Dad's a deadbeat."
"Oof... " Natsuki frowned. "Well, you don't have to put up with that by yourself anymore."
"Huh?"
"You heard me…. You've been through a lot haven't ya? You went off like that without even hesitating."
"I…" She looked down, guilt bubbling up. What was she thinking?
Dumping that on everyone…
"Hey, no shame. I'm just letting ya know, none of us will judge you here for it. What can we do?"
"Um... I guess just this for now?"
Natsuki nodded, squeezing her shoulder again.
"It's okay… And if you want, you can stop by my place sometime."
"Mine too." Mokuba nodded.
"Or mine!" Ayaka grinned.
Sera rubbed the back of her neck.
"Our house is full of artifacts… But the school library's basically my second home?"
Amane smiled, sighing in relief.
Maybe it wasn't too late to try to make a change.
I have to be careful…
He could be watching… Any of them could.
She looked around, before starting to eat.
Just watch your back Amane…
Don't trust him.
Fight back.
That's how I've lived and that's how I'll keep going...