8
"Oppression does not know the meaning of provincial boundaries. Aren't our energies better spent fighting the common enemy instead of each other?" - Benazir Bhutto
"A school festival?" Naomi asked Anzu as she was designated coordinator for whatever their class decided on.
"Oh, right they don't have those in America," Anzu stated in thought, giving an apologetic look.
"I mean, the junior high I went to had an international festival," Naomi stated, shrugging a bit, "it was mostly food stalls."
Anzu mentally noted that was the most she had ever spoken to the other teen. Her violet eyes were on the slip of paper that had been given to her so she could keep track of their allowance for their booth. She could almost see the cogs turning in her head as she mentally did the math for the wood they would need. If they were doing food items, the expenses could be more. Naomi wondered if she had been designated because of her work with her brother. It was a distinct possibility. Well, at least her background was working for her.
"We still need to vote on what we want to do," Anzu sighed, scratching her head in thought, "it should be easy to figure something out since we have Yugi in our class."
"He has good ideas," Naomi agreed, moving to take her seat so Anzu could start the voting.
"Okay everyone!" Anzu's statement got everyone's attention, "We need to decide what our class wants to do for the school festival! If anyone has a good idea, raise your hand!"
The majority of the class raised their hands and Naomi felt sweat gathering on her brow. It looked like it was going to be difficult for everyone to vote for something good if they all had different ideas. Her hand was down, she doubted people would want a manga cafe, even if it would be a popular stop. People had to take breaks after all. Yugi gave an excited sound and she sighed. At least one of them was excited. She watched as Anzu began to pick people to say their ideas.
"A haunted house! "Someone suggested and Naomi looked to the side as Anzu shook her head.
How stereotypical of a festival to have a haunted house.
"No good, class C already put in for that," Anzu informed the student, an apologetic smile on her face.
"What about Yaki Soba?" Honda asked and Naomi's brows raised.
That could work, and she would happily partake in some Yaki soba. She enjoyed noodle dishes more than she let on. If she made it obvious she enjoyed them, then her brother would make sure her pantry would be full of the stuff. A balanced diet was needed, and she refused to give that up. Not for the enjoyment of noodles. Her shoulders were pushed on and she shot Jounouchi a glare. What sort of pushover did he take her for? Or, did he believe they were that good of friends that he could put his hands on her person.
"Listen to my idea!" Jounouchi exclaimed, making everyone look at him with a frown, "the school festival is about entertainment, right? So we need to show some actual guts to steal the audience from the other classes!"
Oh, she knew where this was going. Naomi contemplated moving to the side so he would fall on his face. Just because she dressed like a boy it didn't mean she was one. Why the idiot chose to lean on her shoulders, she would like to know.
"That's why I suggest we use sex appeal, we'll call it 'the real high school girl cabaret'!" Jounouchi announced. "The girls will wear costumes to appeal to every guy's fantasy!"
Jounouchi didn't get to finish his announcement when he fell to the ground face first and a foot was placed on his back to keep him down. He slowly turned to see who was doing so and paled. Naomi was looking down at him with such a cold look he was sure that she could freeze him in place with it. Hell, she could probably stop a fire with it.
"Any other ideas?" Anzu asked, pushing the atmosphere away as people backed away from Naomi due to the expression on her face.
Naomi listened to the suggestions. Ranging from wrestling to takoyaki. She blinked when Hanasaki suggested gag manga of all things. That caused her to put her hand up. Anzu was surprised by that, and quickly wrote down Hanasaki's suggestion with a wink towards him. She pointed towards Naomi.
"A manga cafe," she suggested, and the other students thought about it for a few seconds.
Hanasaki blinked in surprise and looked towards his classmate. He hadn't expected the other boy- honesty, Anzu wondered how the rest of the school hadn't figured it out yet that Naomi was a girl- to have similar likes. The idea went up on the board and Anzu looked around once again, noting there wasn't any more hands up in the air.
"Is this everything?" Anzu asked.
"Nothing up there is exciting," Jounouchi stated, he paused as the foot on his back dug in a little, "I get it, I'm shutting up."
"Who hasn't given an opinion yet?" Anzu questioned, her gaze falling on Yugi, "Yugi, what about you?"
"Well…what about a carnival game?" Yugi suggested, his cheeks turning a deep red. "Y'know, like the ones at an amusement park…"
The class murmured for a few seconds and Yugi wanted to sink into the floor before the sounds became positive. Jounouchi shot Naomi a look and she finally lifted her foot so he could cheer for Yugi's idea. Other's joined in with him. Naomi sighed, they were going to get a noise complaint from the other classes at this point. Still, a small smile appeared on her face. Carnival games did sound like fun. Yugi beamed at the fact that his idea was chosen.
"Next is the different kinds of games we could do," Anzu stated, and she watched as Naomi's hand went up.
"A shooting gallery," Naomi suggested with a slight shrug.
She had an air rifle they could borrow, and Honda spared her a glance. Ah, so did he. They gave one another an awkward nod of agreement to bring them in as other ideas came out. Bottle toss and bluebeards attack. So, pop up pirate made another appearance. Anzu watched as Naomi got up to take her spot as organizer.
"All right, so we're going to talk about the way we'll build our stand," Naomi stated, and a few of the girls sent her dreamy looks as they listened, "our biggest expense is going to be the stand itself which will set us at twenty-five thousand yen, does anyone know where we can find the prizes for the shooting gallery?"
"There's a nearby hundred yen shop that sells small stuffed toys," a girl suggested, "and a figurine shop as well."
"We'll send two parties out with a specific amount of yen so that we will have enough prizes to give out for the games," Naomi stated with a thoughtful frown, "I know of a winery that'll be happy to lend us a barrel for bluebeards attack."
"I can ask my neighbors for their milk bottles," Hanasaki quietly offered, "they won't mind it if I tell them it's for our school festival."
"Thank you, Hanasaki-san," Naomi thanked before looking at Anzu, "the rest of our expenses and procedures can be done when you do the drawing for the placement lottery, good luck."
"I'll get us the best one," Anzu stated, grinning at the rest of their class.
Naomi went back to her seat as Anzu headed out to grab their placement. It wouldn't take too long, after all they had three days to get everything ready while still having classes. She ran a hand through her hair as Jounouchi took up a spot next to Naomi's desk. She focused on the paper in front of her as she worked the expenses out in her head.
"I know I'm nice looking, but it's starting to creep me out, Jounouchi-san," Naomi informed him after five minutes of him staring at her.
"Why'd you step on me?" He asked and she leveled him with a look that informed him of what she thought of him.
"You're a pervert," she dryly informed him before turning back to the festival finances.
Anzu came back in and gave everyone a peace sign. She had won the spot right next to the school entrance. The class cheered and Naomi felt the smile on her face. Maybe there was something to the dynamic spread of happiness she'd been reading about. She made a face as Jounouchi dragged her out of the classroom. Why were they the ones that had to go get the building materials for the stand itself?!
"I can walk you know," Naomi coldly informed him, freeing herself and giving her school jacket, "what is with you and dragging me places?"
"Sorry, you're just really light," Jounouchi apologized and her shoulders slumped in disbelief, "and I don't want to get stopped by your fan club."
"Neither do I," she reluctantly agreed, "even when I'm in costume during a shoot my fans don't gang up on me like they do."
"It's hard to imagine that you model," Jounouchi commented and she shot him a look, "you don't seem the type."
Naomi conceded and dropped the look. Jounouchi had a point. She looked to the side in thought. Why had she started modeling? She couldn't remember. Her guess was boredom. Naomi needed to do something with what little free time she had, and so she did. Granted, now she was doing it because she felt obligated to. Mia didn't have a lot of models at her agency yet. When she had enough, Naomi was going to retire or do male clothing. She was growing tired of the Lolita fashion she was forced into during working hours. She dashed those thoughts as they came across the lumber shop, an old man greeting them from behind the counter.
"Oho, what can I do for you kids?" He asked.
"We need some plywood to create a stand for our school festival," Naomi explained, bringing out her paper and writing the dimension on the back in pencil, "do you have enough in stock for a stand this big?"
"I sure do," the old man confirmed.
Jounouchi blanched at the amount being spent by their class just for the building materials they needed. He ran his hand through his hair as Naomi signed off for the delivery of the materials. The old man thanked them for their business and they headed out. Her hands were in the pockets of her slacks as she stared ahead. The sea of people slowly bothering her a bit.
"Hey, how'd you know about the winery?" Jounouchi questioned.
"My brother drinks wine," she shrugged, "what does he drink?"
Jounouchi flattered for a few seconds as she continued to walk, her gaze straight ahead. How did she? He looked to the side. He forgot that Naomi had been an observer since the second she set foot in Domino High. She would pick up on it.
"Beer," Jounouchi reluctantly answered.
"Makes sense," she quietly said.
Sometimes Jounouchi would come to class with the smell lingering on him. He shoved his hands into his pockets, uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. She looked to the side and contemplated something. She was going to tell him something that she'd never told Pegasus.
"My father said that having steel beams fall on me was my fault and that I deserved it."
Jounouchi's eyes widened in alarm and she looked around before giving him an understanding smile. He wasn't even the worst father she'd ever have either. One of them had been the cause of her death, and she'd never gotten over it. Having your stomach ripped out tends to do that to someone. She let out a soft sigh and looked up towards the sky.
"At least the fall uniform'll keep people from finding out you're a girl," Jounouchi stated and she huffed at him, "I couldn't even imagine you in the girls uniform."
"Yeah, I don't like the color pink," she stated without missing a beat, "it's just not for me, it clashes with my hair."
"That is the most unusual thing you've ever said in front of me," Jounouchi bluntly informed her and she laughed at the look on his face.
It was genuine, and his eyes widened at the sound of it. No wonder she was a popular model if that's what she looked like when she smiled. He felt the tips of his ears burn a little and rubbed the back of his head. Her expression returned to normal and they went to their next stop, the winery.
It took them an hour to get the barrel back to the school. Yugi greeted them with some paper on his cheek. Naomi reached forward and gently removed it as Jounouchi set to work rigging the barrel to work as they needed it to.
"Making the head?" Naomi asked, and Yugi nodded.
She nodded as well and went to talk to everyone to ask how much had been spent. Naomi wrote down the numbers and slowly frowned. They were a little over the budget. Hopefully the games would be popular enough to bring in enough money to fix the oversight. She ran a hand through her hair and slowly moved around the sea of faceless people to find Anzu. She had to pause and reorient herself. A few of the faces returned and she sighed in relief. She just needed to look out for the bob that belonged to her…
Ah, they were friends, weren't they?
"Oh, how'd we do for the budget?" Anzu asked as the pale haired teen seemingly appeared beside her.
"We're a little over the budget, but it should be fine," Naomi answered, turning in the piece of paper, "when I left everyone was building the stand, they were moving pretty fast too."
"I think everyone is having fun building everything," Anzu admitted, "let's go see how much they've got done."
Naomi gave a slow nod and walked next to Anzu. She had respect for Anzu, the other girl was easily able to ignore the Fanclubs glares at the perceived threat to their ability to date her. Naomi knew it was going to get worse when Bakura finally started classes. Right, she would also have to plan around the Yami. The more she thought about what would happen in the future, the more her head started to hurt and those dark feelings grew. They entered their stand, Naomi surprised by the fact that it was past the barebones stage.
"Wow, you did a good job," Naomi complimented Yugi when she saw the papier-mâché mask he had made.
"Thank you," Yugi blushed before he looked towards the barrel that Jounouchi had been working on, "that's amazing, Jounouchi-kun! I'm impressed!"
"Everyone has at least one skill," Anzu commented and Naomi nodded in agreement.
"I've been making plastic models and garage kits for a long time," Jounouchi admitted.
"Ah, so you're one of us," Naomi stated, and he froze.
She didn't mean. He watched as a sly smirk appeared on her face. She did mean it. She called him a nerd without even saying it. She flicked her hair behind her shoulder and put her hands into her pockets.
"H-have a look," Jounouchi stated, testing the barrel out by getting in, "What do you think! It's perfect!"
"That's really cool!" Yugi stated.
"I wonder who'll-" Jounouchi had been swiftly cut off.
"You." Naomi's blunt answer had been instant.
"He is the perfect size," Anzu agreed.
"I made this to fit your head," Yugi told him with a smile.
Jounouchi had been played! He looked at the three and Naomi stopped her sly smirk from becoming something genuine. Sure, she was bound to lose them as friends in the future, but she wanted to enjoy their friendship in the present. Someone came to stand behind her, and she let her smirk drop before tilting her head back to look at them. It was the third year, Inogashira Goro, he didn't seem pleased to see their setup.
"Someone seems to be in our space," Inogashira stated.
"No, we're in our place, Inogashira," Naomi coldly informed him, "we won it in the lottery."
Yugi watched his newest friend as she ignored the way the older student was trying to stare her down. She crossed her arms across her chest and narrowed her own eyes in response. Anzu joined her in glaring at the older teen. It was quite the team up.
"This is where we traditionally make Okonomiyaki each year!" Inogashira snapped at them. "Get rid of these stupid carnival games and beat it!"
"No." Naomi refused and his head twitched a bit.
"You're the ones that are gonna beat it!" Jounouchi growled at Inogashira, freeing himself from the barrel. "There always is some moron that wants to start a fight during these things, and I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"Tough talk for a couple of weaklings," Inogashira informed them, throwing a punch at Jounouchi and then turning towards his classmates, "break down the booth and set up our grill!"
"You call us weaklings, but all I see is a coward," Naomi informed him, her hands balling into fists by her side, "if your food was that good then people would still come to your booth no matter what, you simply outed yourself as shit cooks."
Anzu's brows raised at those words and Jounouchi watched her through his good eye. Inogashira went to hit her and she simply dodged it and watched him with narrowed eyes. The breaking of their booth caused her to look away and a hit to the back took her down. It was the shoulder that had those beams go through it! She mentally cursed as pain erupted from the spot. She looked up when Anzu called out for Yugi. He was down for the count with a bruise forming on his face. Jounouchi slowly got out of the barrel and knelt next to Naomi as she glared at Inogashira.
"You all right?" He asked.
"I'm all right," she assured him through gritted teeth, "that bastard."
"Heh, for once we're on the same page," Jounouchi stated.
Naomi got to her feet and started to walk away, Jounouchi didn't follow. Her eyes were narrowed, as though she had a plan. Naomi ignored the sea once more and slammed her front door open. Fred jumped in surprise and turned to look at her with wide eyes. Just what happened.
"The dice, can it craft shadow games?" She asked, her tone clipped.
"Yeah, but are you sure you want to take that risk?" Fred questioned.
"Yes."
Fred nodded his understanding and walked her through the act of crafting a shadow came. She listened intently, and when they finished she left. She was pulling out her phone and crafted a plan. The school was relatively empty as she went into the administrative office and looked through the phone numbers for the students. She did something that was going to cement her as a player in the game of destiny.
She called Inogashira back to the school.
He was a little surprised that the shorter male had called him back to challenge him to a game of all things. She had something in her hands, and was rolling it around her fingers. It was a poor substitute for her rubrics cube, but it would have to do. Her nature was screaming at her, the shadows would devour her if she lost. That was the thing, she wouldn't. She refused to lose.
"Of all the people to call me back here it would be you," Inogashira stated, "what couldn't your mommy play a game with you?"
"It would be difficult seeing as she's dead," Naomi said and he went silent at that, "you have no guts, you won't even play this shadow game with me."
"You've gone nuts," Inogashira informed her and she simply shrugged, "but I'll never back down from a challenge, what kinda game you talking about?"
"We'll play one using the grill that you brought here," she explained, motioning towards the hot grill, "it's surface is hotter than a hundred degrees Celsius. We'll be playing air hockey with this block of ice that has explosives in the middle, the rackets are these spatulas, understand?"
"Hah, this should be easy," Inogashira commented, looking at the smaller teens arms as they removed their school jacket.
"The loser gives up the right to this space at the school festival, any problems with that?" She asked, losing that masculine tone to her voice as she harshly spoke.
"I'll meet that challenge!" Inogashira snapped back.
"Then, let the game start," Naomi stated, letting the dice fall from her hand and placing the ice puck on the grill.
It let out a plume of steam as she hit it towards Inogashira. He was surprised by the strength behind the hit, but easily smacked it back. The ice made cracking sounds each time it was hit by one of the spatulas. That was what the pharaoh walked into. He felt the shadows around him greet him as he gazed upon the game in motion. Sweat was traveling down the two players' faces as they hit the ice back and forth with precision.
"Tch," Naomi clicked her tongue as she noted the pain growing in her shoulder.
She wouldn't be able to keep up the pace she had. Plus the ice was mostly gone, all it needed was one good smack. But how to get it without cheating? That was her worry. She hit it back before she blinked.
She was an idiot.
Naomi turned her spatula so that it would bounce off the edge of it and Inogashira cackled at his opponent's perceived weakness. He brought his arm back so far and slammed the metal spatula into the ice. It let out a loud crack and split in two. The explosion was immediate as soon as the vial hit the heat. Naomi took a few deep breaths as the shadows slowly vanished. She let out a sound of relief before dropping to her knees. That kind of magic had taken quite a bit out of her. She couldn't do that too often. Hands landed on her shoulder and she looked towards the owner of them.
"You did well," the pharaoh informed her and she let out a sound through her nose.
"I'll believe that when I don't feel like I've been stabbed in the shoulder," she informed him, barely able to even lift the one arm anymore.
"I'll walk you home," he stated, before throwing a look towards Inogashira, "we'll be taking our spot back, remember not to trespass onto someone else's domain again, you'll end up burned."
The pharaoh helped her to her feet and watched as she stumbled to pick up her jacket, and a small dice. It was an icosahedron, one that had the shadows inside it. He could sense it from where he stood. Only one with light magic could pick it up like that. No wonder he still felt the warmth from when she pulled a piece of the puzzle from the water. She stumbled again and had to stop walking to catch her balance.
"You aren't suited for the shadows," he informed her and she shook her head.
"How do you know that?" She asked him, sending him a serious look.
The pharaoh couldn't tell her it was because light radiated from her person. It surrounded her, and the items she touched. He reached forward and simply put one of her arms around his shoulder. The walk to her home was quiet, save for the scuffling of her shoes when she dragged her feet due to physical and spiritual exhaustion.
"I don't think I'll make it to the festival," Naomi said, a wry smile appearing on her face, "it would've been my first one too. Oh well."
"You'll have the one next year," the pharaoh stated, it was something his host knew so he knew it.
"Do I? Life is an uncertainty," she said, looking at the empty street, "I saw that with my parents, and then with one of the few people that I cared about."
"Then believe in me," he awkwardly said looking dead ahead, "I'll be there to take you to it."
Liar.
He saw the look in her eyes before it quickly vanished. She didn't believe in him at all. He reached up with his hand and gave a few strands of her hair a light tug. She frowned a little at the action. It was better than the look of disbelief in her eyes. He tucked those strands behind her ear and watched her eyes widen.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" She asked, her voice serious.
Seduce? The Pharaoh felt the tips of his ears burn at the question. They reached her home and she let out a soft laugh. Her light expression showed that she had been messing with him. Naomi would never let him know that it was working. She gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder before stumbling into her home. He watched her struggle with the door for a few minutes before chuckling when she basically tripped inside and shut the door with her foot. That girl…was something else.
"Do I get off the hook by pointing out that a dead pharaoh is trying to seduce me?" Naomi dryly asked, her voice muffled by the area rug.
"He's seducing you?" Fred was slightly surprised by that. "I'll start making wedding plans."
"Don't," Naomi sharply stated and he flinched, "don't you even dare give me that kind of hope when you know what happens at the end of his destiny."
Her violet eyes were hard. She couldn't take any more heartache, even if there was a chance of the pharaoh returning completely. Naomi wouldn't stop him from passing on. From his friends and family. He deserved his rest, just as she did. Her eyes began to burn and her throat constricted.
Fred's eyes slowly dimmed a bit at the teen that was crying in front of him. He broke her, and he felt guilty. He slowly knelt next to her and placed a hand on her shaking shoulder. It went to her head and he gently ran his hands through her hair. He was a god that had gotten attached to his victim, what an idiot he was.
"He deserves a life," Fred stated and she flinched, "just as you do…remember that."
She wanted her Umma, and he could tell. He focused for a few seconds and watched as she slowly relaxed. Her exhausted state allowed him to put her to sleep. He was giving her an apology. He lifted the teen onto his back and slowly brought her to her room. Bast was on her bed, and opened an eye before hissing at him.
"Relax," Fred sighed, bringing a hand out and with a click of his fingers she was in her nightgown and he put her in her bed, "I know you're there, Priest."
"Who are you?" The Black Magician asked, removing his helmet.
"I am a god of death and chaos," Fred answered, "I have a request, you are free to deny it, I need her trained in magic because she's going to need it."
"It's the light magic," the black magician agreed, "I can train her on how to use it defensively, but I don't doubt that one like her hasn't had any training."
"She watched the world end five times," Fred stated, "each time she had to learn how to use it to fight, so she's well trained in that regard but in practicality and defense…she has no skills or talent for it."
The Black Magician glanced at the slumbering teenager and questioned that last part. The girl had quite a bit of talent when it came to using her magic. It was what allowed his portrait to move. He ran a hand through his purple hair and gave a curt nod towards the god. The god behind the girl's constant rebirth, and eventual descent into despair. The god gave a nod of his own before walking out of the room.
"This will be a difficult task," the black magician stated, sighing a little.
Perhaps she could find a way to bring him with her places so she could ask questions if she needed to. He would discuss it with her when she woke up. As it was, he too needed rest.
Three days.
She slept for three days straight. The day she woke up was incredibly entertaining. She stumbled around in a bleary manner and tripped over the skirt of her nightgown. She mumbled something in a language he could barely understand before stumbling out of her room. They could talk later, for now she needed to get her bearings.
"We brought her homework," Yugi informed Fred as the god let the odd group of friends in.
"Who the hell can sleep for three days?" Jounouchi asked.
"Someone that doesn't sleep much to begin with," Fred shrugged.
Jounouchi went to say something when a thumping sound came from upstairs. Naomi slowly took her time down the stairs, a hand holding onto the long skirt of the nightgown. She was leaning against the wall with a hand. She ran her free one through the tangled strands. Anzu's brows raised before a fond smile appeared on her face. It was nice to see the other teen out of sorts, it humanized her.
"What year is it?" Naomi blearily asked.
"Nineteen Ninety-six," Fred answered.
"Imagine that," Naomi muttered before shuffling towards the kitchen.
"Is she going to be okay?" Anzu asked.
"Yeah, she just needs to eat and drink something," Fred waved off the concern, "it's just amusing to see her like this, her composure is shot when she first wakes up."
Yugi tilted his head in thought. He wondered what had happened that made her sleep for so long. Inogashira had been found one morning with burns on his hands and a defeated demeanor. He had moved the grill to the spot his class had gotten during their drawing. He wanted to know, but Fred wasn't letting them inside. Not until she was more aware of the world around her.
Even if it was funny to listen to her hum a song that hadn't come out yet.