10
"Price is what you pay. Value is what you get." ― Warren Buffett
"It's shady," Naomi informed Jounouchi as they walked through a back alley in downtown Domino, "and I'm wearing a skirt, it's the two of the worst things I could be doing."
"Yeah, but it's unlikely anyone would steal you," Jounouchi informed her, shooting her a look, "you're still too boyish."
She glared at him for that and he had to quickly look ahead. Honda sighed. Jounouchi was horrible at talking to Naomi when she wore the female uniform. It was weird even for him. All of a sudden this boy looked just like a girl. He kept his eyes on her's every time he looked over. He had enough practice with Anzu. Yugi was the only one that wasn't bothered by it. When they had been shown the magazines, it suddenly made sense why he wasn't.
"Jounouchi, where are you taking us?" Honda asked, moving the conversation before it became an argument between the two.
"Don't worry about it," Jounouchi waved off his question, "do you have something better to do?"
"Fair enough," Honda muttered.
Naomi tugged a little on the card she was wearing around her neck. Mahad was being a quiet observer and his expression of disbelief at the group of boys could only be seen by her. The least they could do was make sure she wouldn't be in harm's way if something were to happen. He always did so for Mana and Isis. He looked up at his student and noted she was looking at a man that was sitting against a wall and she quickly sped up to stand next to Yugi. If it was obvious to him that she was uncomfortable, then it should've been to them. He watched as the millennium pendant, which was now known as a puzzle, glinted. His pharaoh even noticed it for Ra's sake.
"Is this place safe?" Yugi asked, the gnawing feeling of unease had started to take place in his stomach.
"The joint is famous with the fans, the owner's crazy about this stuff as well," Jounouchi answered before grinning at the store in front of them, "we're here, the junky scorpion."
"This is weird," Honda informed his best friend.
"What? They have what I'm looking for!" Jounouchi defended himself.
Naomi's unease grew as they entered the shop. Mahad wished he could comfort his student or at least let her know that someone had her back, but he couldn't. He mentally cursed as she crossed her arms across her chest, keeping his card out so he could see. Even when in discomfort she made an effort to include him. He was treated with her true self, the one she expertly hid from the world.
"Are you all right?" Yugi asked her and she gave a curt nod.
"I'm just a little uncomfortable," she quietly admitted to him, "I'm not used to walking around in public with a skirt, even at events I change into pants as soon as possible."
Yugi nodded his understanding. People had been looking at her with surprise the entire day. People were recognizing her when she dressed like a girl. Sometimes clothes made a person, and he finally saw some truth to that statement. Jounouchi let out a happy sound and they all looked at him. He was practically drooling over a pair of shoes.
"Air muscles!" He exclaimed. "It's the real thing!"
"You brought us here for a pair of shoes?" Honda and Naomi asked in surprise, glares on their faces.
"Well, high tech shoes are popular right now," Yugi stated, sending Jounouchi a look himself.
"As long as it covers your feet, who cares?" Honda muttered.
"I got mine at a discount store," Naomi stated, "they hold up just as well as an expensive pair."
"Hey don't touch those!" Was shouted right behind Naomi and she glared at the man as she rubbed at her ringing ear. "They aren't for sale, and are incredibly rare."
"Why have shoes on display if they aren't for sale?" Naomi groused at him.
"That's my business," the man snapped at her and she could see Mahad's unamused look at the man.
"You gotta sell these to me!" Jounouchi pleaded, and Naomi rubbed the back of her head in thought. "I came a long way to find this shop."
Naomi had to agree. Fred wouldn't drive them because it would make them a bigger target for mugging. She looked to the side, he did agree to drive them somewhere next time. That was the best they would get out of him. The owner of the shop laughing made her focus on him. Mahad had her sharpen her senses a bit, and all she could sense from him was deceit.
"There are people who want those sneakers more than they want the stars in the sky," the owner stated and Naomi crossed her arms across her chest in thought, "but I'm not gonna sell them to just anyone, you've gotta show you've got gots to wear 'em. Some people will do just about anything, why I heard in America someone got murdered over them."
"Thanks for your opinion," Jounouchi stated while Naomi gave the owner a calculating look, "just sell them to me."
"Why don't we play a little game then?" The owner suggested, and her eyes narrowed a bit as he pulled out a scorpion. "This scorpion is more than a mascot, she's a real one with some potent poison. I'll put her in the sneaker, and you'll put your foot inside. You do that, and I'll sell 'em to you."
"Do we look like the Tokyo shock boys?" Jounouchi asked in disbelief.
"Tokyo what?" Naomi asked and Yugi blinked before remembering that she was American.
"They used to do stunts, like swallowing strange objects," Yugi explained and she nodded her understanding, "still, it's too dangerous, Jounouchi-kun."
"But, I've wanted these for ages," Jounouchi quietly said, glancing at the shoes in thought. "I'll show you who's got guts!"
Naomi blinked when he slammed his foot into the shoe. There wasn't a scorpion in there. Otherwise he would've been stung immediately. She looked towards the owners hands and noted that he was still grasping onto a small string. Ah, so he faked out her friend. What was his game? His end goal? She couldn't figure it out. She couldn't even remember it. He had been such a small part of a larger story that he got lost within the cracks. It was odd that the school festival stuck with her more.
"I was just testing you," the owner informed Jounouchi, "putting the scorpion in there would've ruined the shoes. They're yours, and I'll even half their hundred thousand yen price for ya."
"All right!" Jounouchi cheered, wrapping his arms around his friends shoulders.
"Damn it, stop dragging me!" Naomi huffed, smacking at his arm.
Jounouchi simply grinned at her. For all she was annoyed, there was still a small fondness in her eyes. It was nice to see him smiling like that. Jounouchi was like her sometimes, putting on a smile to not worry others. HIs just worked better. He released her and she straightened up a bit.
"Just be wary of the gang that's calling themselves muscle hunters," the owner informed them, "it's getting dangerous to wear those kinds of shoes…anyway, just don't get stripped to your bare feet."
"I don't trust him," Naomi stated as they left the shop.
"He's half crazy," Honda agreed and Naomi shook her head.
How could she tell them that she could sense his true nature? She couldn't, because she herself would look crazy. She learned her lesson the first time she had admitted to such a thing to people. Her hands went into the pockets of her skirt and she studied the endless sea of people. They didn't exist, and she had learned that when Mahad had asked why she was moving to the side while walking. Fred hadn't told her that the people weren't actually there. She was brought out of her observations by Jounouchi's constant giggling.
"Stop giggling already," Naomi sighed.
"But the air muscle shoes are mine," Jounouchi stated, skipping a bit, "I even pitched my old shoes with all the holes."
"No one will forget the guy who risked his life for a pair of shoes," Honda grumbled and Yugi gave a light laugh.
"I'm happy for Jounouchi-kun," Yugi admitted.
"The light cushioned mid-sole is top of the line for foot gear," Jounouchi started to ramble to Naomi.
"You're not a little kid y'know," Honda informed him as Naomi slowly tuned the blonde out.
"Why don't we go get some burgers?" She suggested while Jounouchi was informing her about the rubber used to craft the shoes.
"Oi," Jounouchi griped, watching as the other guys nodded their agreement.
Naomi was surprised when he grabbed her bag and began to carry it. She didn't say anything, letting him have his moment. Whatever that moment was. A soft breeze went through the area and her head tilted up. She knew that wind. Mahad looked up at his student from the card and watched as a frown appeared on her face.
"What is it?" Mahad asked and she looked to the side.
"The seals just weakened," she murmured as an answer.
"Hm?" Honda asked and she mentally cursed.
He had sharp ears. She tilted her head to the side before glancing at Jounouchi. She couldn't help the worry that appeared on her face. It was genuine. She wanted to remember what it was about the owner that was bothering her. She just couldn't.
"I can't help but think the shop owner is up to something," Naomi admitted, "he seemed off."
"What kind of second sense is that?" Honda asked and she shrugged.
"The business kind," she dryly commented.
Why else would Pegasus willingly do business with Kaiba Corporation? She had put in a good word about Seto, even if she disliked him. She still agreed with his dreams to bring joy to children. Children were innocent, and they deserved to keep that innocence for as long as they could. That mentality would surprise so many people if they knew of it. Her head jolted again as she heard something rushing towards them.
"Everyone, duck," She stated, and Jounouchi blinked in surprise before doing what she said.
"Shit, we missed," two older teens cursed as they flew past them, a tire in their hands.
"What the hell?!" Jounouchi exclaimed in confusion.
Naomi activated her shield and made it small enough to deflect a hit to the back of her head by a wrench. Mahad narrowed his eyes in the card as she dodged to the side from a fist. Yugi was faring far worse and he fell to the side as a fist embedded itself in his cheek. A fist went into the older teens throat. He went down wheezing and Naomi coldly stared down at him.
"Knock it the fuck off, I don't care to deal with all of you," she coldly stated as she put her foot on the teens back.
"Shit, what's with this chick?" One of the teens asked, staring at those cold eyes as she stood on their friend.
"I don't know, but she looks weak," another said.
Honda and Yugi looked up at Naomi from their spots on the ground. Out of all of them, they hadn't expected Naomi to be the first to down one of the teenagers that decided to attack them. Mahad took his chance to study the boys as his student engaged in an outright brawl of all things. Perhaps that god seemed to think she couldn't fight, instead of her not wanting to fight. The boy that looked like his pharaoh was watching her in worry as she easily moved to the side and weaved through the attacks sent her way. He was a kind boy, but a little unsure of himself. The other was a blonde boy that was fighting his own fight, and winning against the boys carrying the tire. He was kind, but hid it behind overconfidence and rash behavior. The last boy was just like the former. But, he had a more intelligent personality that was similar to his students, if not a little lacking.
"Why the hell are you guys attacking us?" Jounouchi asked as his elbow slammed into one of the tire boy's nose.
"Your shoes," the one that had been throat punched answered, not wanting to be a part of it anymore, "we were hired by the owner of junky scorpion to steal them back!"
Naomi paused just for a second and grasped onto the wrist of the boy that was about to hit her face. Her grip tightened as her eyes widened and he went down with a cry of pain. The others backed up at the sight. She was just this slip of a girl and yet she was taking them down with ease. They watched as she slowly stood up straight, the wrist in her grip following the action and making the arm lift as well. An odd creaking sound began to echo in the area and they froze in fear. That was their friend's arm making that noise!
"Damn," Jounouchi whistled as he clapped his hands together, "I'd gather up my friends before she does that to you."
They nodded in fear and Naomi dropped the boy's arm and leaped off his back as his friends scrambled to grab him. She looked towards Yugi and he was staring up at her in awe, and fear. Ah, right. She wasn't in that world anymore. She wasn't an active seal, she didn't need to know how to fight like that. She glanced at Honda and noted he was watching her. As though she was going to lash out against them. Jounouchi was the only one that gave her a look of understanding. He wasn't judging her, but she couldn't take it. She closed her eyes before spinning on her heel and walking away.
Naomi used her magic to vanish when she turned the corner. Mahad's eyes widened at the tears falling onto his card. So, he was the only person she would cry in front of. He looked at where she had gone, and saw the city below them. Domino Tower was a proud structure, but was a little smaller than the one in Tokyo. She was briskly brushing at the tears on her face and trying to regain her composure. If it was for herself, or the public she had to present to, he couldn't tell.
"What kind of life have you lived?" Mahad quietly asked and she tilted her head back a bit and looked at the blue sky.
"The cycle of rebirth wasn't so bad, when I couldn't remember it until the day before my death," she admitted in a nasally voice, "it only got worse when I was remembering earlier and earlier until I was born with the memories…I've fought time and time again, just for the planet to survive only to die. It's pointless in the end."
A pair of arms wrapped around her and she froze. She turned wide eyes towards a familiar head of spiky hair. When did…ah, so she was caught in her own thoughts to the point where she ignored the shadows wrapping around her. She brought a hand up and gave one of the arms a gentle pat. The pharaoh shouldn't bother with her, shouldn't be this aware of her own despair.
"It's not pointless," he informed her, and she gave a lethargic blink, relaxing a bit, "you protect others even when they can't protect you."
"You…" she trailed off a bit and Mahad looked to the side.
He felt like he was intruding on something. He brought his helmet down and froze the card. She'd unfreeze it when they were done. He also wanted the rest as well. It was exhausting keeping a spell going like that.
"Idiot," the pharaoh informed her and she let out a quiet sigh.
"You youngsters, always so rude to the elderly," she muttered before sitting back and freeing herself from his arms, "I didn't even do anything wrong."
That was true in more ways than one. She was punished because she saw more potential in someone other than her. She looked to the side. It had been so long that she couldn't remember who it had been. That…that made her feel like it had been for nothing. The pharaoh watched as she turned her gaze onto Domino City.
"I've seen the same destinies, same stories played out a timeless amount," she admitted, "but…I've only ever joined in, thrice."
"Those times were the planet dying, weren't they?" He asked and she gave a slow nod.
"I'm the seal of life, which is ironic," she wryly stated, a smile slowly growing on her face to match her tone, "I've become a monster a couple of times…each time that happened, it got harder to look on the bright side of what was happening."
The story of Madoka Magica had taken quite a bit out of her. She had lived that the same amount of times that the one character had. Her wish…it was to live. She had been about to die from a beam to the side and she refused to go down like that. Not again. Becoming a magical girl, having her soul ripped from her body, and then eventually falling to despair when it automatically gave her those memories had been too much. She looked towards the sea in thought. How many times had she had her soul ripped out, in that timeline alone? Too many in her opinion.
"Then why is it that you still try?"
His question had her perk up a bit and she glanced his way. He had a point. She ran a hand through her hair and blinked when he grasped onto a few strands. He seemed to enjoy the colour of it. She felt her cheeks heat up as she looked back over the city.
"I guess…it was never really beaten out of me to not give my best," Naomi admitted, she then frowned a little, "the guys let you go off on your own?"
"We may have split up to find you," the pharaoh admitted, scratching at his cheek in thought, "disappearing like that scared Jounouchi."
"Only Jounouchi-san?" Naomi asked, her teasing tone not lost on the spirit.
"No."
He didn't elaborate, and she didn't expect him to. She knew who he meant. She slowly relaxed and listened to the city sounds. Domino felt peaceful. For once. A hand gently rested on the top of her own and she closed her eyes. She would sleep well later.
"I'll walk you home," the pharaoh stated after a few minutes of sitting in silence.
"Thank you," she quietly said.
She went to get up when a hand entered her line of sight. She looked up to see the pharaoh waiting for her to take it. Her surprised expression made him smile a bit, a true one. She gathered he was starting to rise from the insanity that had plagued him when he first woke up. She was glad. She didn't wish that insanity on anyone, even her enemies hadn't done anything to deserve such a fate.
"I promised not to drag you into this," he reminded her, "it was your doing."
"I hadn't expected you to remember that," she muttered as she was pulled to her feet, "I'll help you with your destiny, no strings attached."
"Then trust me," he said and he watched her eyes widen, "even if the end result is painful."
"I'll remind you of those words at the end," she informed him before nodding, "then you've got my word and power behind you."
"The way you speak makes it sound like I'm a king with a board full of pieces," he dryly commented and she smiled a little at the analogy, "that would make you a queen on the board."
Her face turned a light pink and she scratched her cheek. There he went, seducing her again. She doubted that he even knew that was what he was doing. The pharaoh was so oblivious it was almost painful. He looked towards the ground and frowned in thought.
"You followed through magic," she pointed out, giving him a tiny smile, "you only seem to be able to do that when worried or feeling strong emotion…I'll get us down."
"Can you?" He asked, not even phased by the fact that she had magic.
"Do you trust me?" She questioned.
His hand reached for hers and she gave him a gentle smile when he grasped it. That was an answer in its own right. The pharaoh frowned a little when his feet left the ground before his crimson eyes widened in surprise. She gently floated them down. The draft brushing through their clothes and hair had him blinking rapidly. They gently landed and she stumbled a bit. It had been a long time since she'd had to cover someone else with her magic. He gave a slight shiver. Right, the light magic would feel strange to him.
"You all right?" She asked, her expression back to normal.
He nodded and she gently tugged on her hand to free it. The pharaoh watched as she began to walk home, her hands in her skirt pockets. So, she was back to hiding again. And he thought they had made progress. He wanted to shake her, but thought against it. She would show herself to everyone, even if it took time to do so. It was inevitable.
Naomi wondered if Jounouchi had the nose of a dog as she was tackled into a hug. She looked up at the sky as the Pharaoh swiftly returned to the puzzle, leaving a confused Yugi behind. She gave his back a few hearty slaps and he stepped back after a minute.
"That was a neat trick, don't do it again," Jounouchi warned.
For a second there, he sounded like her brother the first time she'd done that to him. She gave a small nod before she realized that was how Jounouchi saw her. No wonder he had become so awkward around her. It had to have been easier when she presented as a boy. She almost felt bad for him. Almost. Another part of her found it oddly hilarious. She wondered what Seto would do if he found out.
No, she didn't want to know.
"Let's go get that burger," Jounouchi stated as he began to drag her towards the calorie burger that was near Yugi's home.
"Again with the dragging?" Naomi huffed and Honda smiled slightly.
Nah, she wouldn't have attacked them. If she truly saw them as a threat she would've done so months ago. Besides, it was hard to see a pint sized girl as a threat as she was being bodily dragged by a hyperactive blonde. He chuckled in unison with Yugi.
It took two hours before Naomi could get home and lay down. She flopped onto her bed, disturbing Bast, and checked the time. Who knew that Jounouchi was one of those guys that liked to talk about shoes? She gave a sigh before grumbling when Bast walked on her to go outside the room. It was silent for a few seconds before Fred let out a yell. Naomi chuckled. Out of all the things to harm a god, a small house cat hadn't been her first guess.
"You could get some sleep," Mahad's voice made her flinch before she turned to face him.
"I could also study," she stated, shifting a bit, "we don't have a lot of time, Seto is already causing issues."
"Seto?" Mahad asked. "Does he happen to be tall, with blue eyes?"
"It's his reincarnation," Naomi confirmed, "he's…well…you'll see. If you thought my despair was bad, his is probably worse."
"What a particular word to use," Mahad commented and she blinked before holding a hand out.
"This is why," she stated, a small gem appeared in the air, "my soul was trapped in this for a few thousand years, it turns black when one falls into dark emotion…despair."
"You become a monster," he muttered in thought, knowing what came next.
Dark magic like that would result in the destruction of the body and twist the soul. No wonder she was plagued with such dark thoughts. Light mages typically looked on the brighter side of life, not the darkness. He hadn't touched the surface of that horrifying thought. Even their use of shadows didn't do such a thing to them.
"Yes," she confirmed, leaning forward before letting out a quiet sigh, "I can still summon that form if I need to, it's just hard to control."
"Only for emergencies," he instructed and she let out a soft laugh.
She couldn't help but agree with that. She returned to sitting up straight when the papers on her desk ruffled themselves. Naomi needed to do her written studies in magic. If she didn't then she would have to keep a mage light going for three days as punishment. That equated to two days of sleep and she couldn't do that again.
She refused to worry her brother again.
Her cellphone rang. Speak of the devil, she supposed. Mahad crossed his arms across his chest before nodding his allowance of her answering said phone. She picked it up, the gem charms smacking her hand a bit. Every time she saw them she got a little annoyed at Seto. Whatever his plans were, she didn't want any part of them. She wouldn't betray her friends.
"Hello, Naomi Crawford speaking," she answered, picking it up like a normal person for once.
"Naomi-chan, you're needed immediately for a shoot," Mia informed her, her tense tone made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, "there's men here that want you for their company, the face of a drink brand!"
"I'll be there soon," Naomi sighed before sending Mahad an apologetic glance, "what's the theme?"
Naomi blinked when she was told. Mahad quickly moved to his card as she grabbed her bag and jacket. Fred was already waiting for her and ushered her to the car. Naomi didn't even want the brand deal. She was fine with promoting the clothes themselves. She ran her fingers through her hair in thought. Which company was it?
She got her answer at the shoot itself. She looked at the owner of a tea company as her hair was done. She wasn't the only girl that was being considered. She wished them luck when the first brush touched her face. She closed her eyes and decided to try her best, if only for Mia.
Mia deserved the success more than she did.