13
"The night folded around them with a sweetness and poignancy heightened by the new pale stars that prickled silver fire in the water of the lily ponds, by the scented winds, and by the nearness of each other." ― Pauline Gedge, Child of the Morning
Naomi hid her face in her hands when Mana sent her a look. Why was she dictating how she did her hair? She enjoyed having it down. She brought her hands down and sighed. Fine, Mana gained a grin and motioned with her hands on how to tie her hair up. Mahad sighed when Naomi slowly followed the instructions and her hair ended up in a loose ponytail. It looked nice.
"Ready?" Naomi asked as she held up the two cards.
"I'm excited," Mana admitted as she quickly moved to her card.
"Don't get too overwhelmed," Mahad warned.
"Pet the cat, for me," Mana requested as they passed by the bed that Bast was sleeping on.
Naomi gladly did so and Mana happily hummed. She'd been wanting to pet that cat for a while. She grabbed onto her school bag and hurried out of her room. She grabbed the lunch she made the day before and pulled her shoes on at the front door. Fred was in the living room and sent her amused grin.
"Don't forget about the booster packs!" He called and she sighed.
"Fuck off with that," she grumbled, "I'm heading out, Jounouchi-San wanted to walk together."
Fred was surprised by that, but simply waved her off. Naomi stepped outside her front door and took in a deep breath before closing it behind her. Mana was looking at the modern age with wide eyes as Mahad kept an eye out for trouble. It was easy to forget that he had to watch out for two trouble makers now. Naomi began to walk and the sea of people appeared. She wondered if it only happened when she walked through the city. Would it happen during duelist kingdom? During Death-T? She didn't know.
She had no way of knowing.
"Woah, hairs different," Jounouchi commented as she joined him that morning.
At least he didn't-
"Did you bring your booster packs?" He asked.
Naomi was quiet for a few seconds before she decked him in the arm, hard. Jounouchi rubbed his arm while chuckling. He had that coming, but damn it was still funny. What a cringy thing to say on national TV. Granted, it had worked since he knew of several guys that had gone and bought some duel monsters packs. All because a popular model had advertised it.
"No, I will pray to whatever god will listen that those questions stop soon," Naomi softy sighed, "still, it helped boost sales I suppose."
"Your brother had you do that?" Jounouchi was a little surprised as they walked together.
"While I'm heir to the company, I do have to work," Naomi stated, looking at a little girl as they walked past her, "besides, if I didn't you wouldn't be getting notes for the days that you missed because of the Rintama gang ."
"Have I told you that you're a lifesaver sometimes?" Jounouchi asked as she pulled out said notes from her bag and handed them over.
He read through them and gained a relieved face. He was going to ace the tests coming up with her notes. He would finally make his sister proud. He wrapped an arm around Naomi's shoulders and she rolled her eyes at him. She didn't know where he got the energy so early in the morning. Mana giggled a little at how energetic he was and Naomi relaxed a bit. It was nice to hear a positive sound for once. Jounouchi looked down at his watch and panicked a bit, grabbing onto her wrist and dragging her behind him. They were going to be late if they didn't hurry up! It took them ten minutes to get to school and Naomi was a little winded as they entered the classroom.
"Good morning," Jounouchi greeted with a grin.
"Good morning, did you guys run here?" Anzu asked as Naomi plopped down in her chair.
"Jounouchi-san is a terrible clock," Naomi stated, resting her head against her desk.
"It's because she's missing the booster packs," Honda stated.
Naomi sat up straight in her seat and contemplated her next move. Right, if they wouldn't stop with her getting aggressive about it then they left her no choice. Honda panicked when she turned to look at him with glassy eyes. Anzu blinked in surprise before realizing why she was crying. It was a last ditch effort to get them to stop talking about the booster packs. It had been two months already, she didn't doubt the other girl was tired of hearing about it.
"You made her cry, Honda-kun," Yugi commented, a strange frown appearing on his face.
Naomi noted the red hue to his eyes and felt the shadows constrict. So, the pharaoh didn't like it when she cried. She would have to make sure she didn't do that while Yugi was unaware of his presence. It was a courtesy towards her friend. She brought a hand up and gently rubbed at her eyes.
"We'll stop bringing it up as long as you don't cry," Honda stated as he looked towards Jounouchi.
"Y-yeah," Jounouchi stuttered.
Naomi gave a little nod at that and wiped at her eyes again. There, that should stop them for a while. Mama looked up at her fellow magician and noted the expression on her face. She was looking towards Yugi with slight concern. The teen had eyes just like the light mage, didn't he? Violet. Not crimson like their pharaoh.
"Oh, Ji-Chan wanted to let you guys know we got invited to an Egyptian exhibit at the museum," Yugi informed them, moving the conversation along, "you're all invited."
"I remember reading something about an exhibit in the paper," Naomi thoughtfully said.
"Yeah, I think they found a mummy!" Anzu added.
"A-A mummy?" Jounouchi stuttered.
"Are you frightened of a dead body?" Naomi asked in surprise. "That's all a mummy is."
"I'm more afraid of the curses on those mummy's," Jounouchi defended, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Egypt is such a mystical place," Anzu happily said as Honda snickered at a fretting Jounouchi, "your puzzle came from Egypt, right?"
"Yup, my good ol' millennium puzzle," Yugi said before sending it a distracted look.
"Oh, that's right, didn't Ji-chan say that the archaeologists who found it all died mysterious deaths?" Anzu questioned as her expression fell.
"Are you all right, Yugi!?" Jounouchi asked, quickly grabbing onto his other friend, "You didn't get cursed did you?"
"I'm not cursed," Yugi reassured him with a light chuckle.
"Tomorrow's Sunday, why don't we all go tomorrow?" Naomi suggested, sitting back in her chair. "If you need a ride just raise your hand, Fred and I will get you."
Jounouchi and Honda raised their hands while Anzu shook her head. She'd be fine without a ride. Yugi smiled to himself as they had to get to their seats. He loved stuff like this. He spared a glance towards Naomi and found her looking out the window in thought. She glanced his way and he got a small smile out of her before she returned to looking out the window. The longer they were friends the more emotions he saw from her. His world turned dark as he fell asleep in class.
"Why'd you switch?" Naomi asked as they talked up on the roof. "No one was in danger."
Mana looked at her oldest friend and felt sad for him. The tips of his ears were red and he had his arms crossed across his chest. It was obvious that something about Naomi had upset him. That he cared for her more than he should. Mana hurt for them both. There was something between them.
"I don't like it when you cry," the pharaoh informed Naomi and she looked at him in disbelief.
"I'll try not to do so," she dryly stated.
He gave her a look at that and she couldn't help but frown in response. Why tell her such a thing? Mana slapped her forehead at them, they were so oblivious. Mahad looked to the side in slight amusement. It was a little ironic that such observant people could miss such an important detail.
"Will you be aware tomorrow?" Naomi asked, wanting to push the conversation away from the awkward topic.
"I'm curious," he admitted and she gave a sigh, "why?"
"Because if not, I can save you a brochure," she stated with a shrug.
It wasn't because a part of her wanted to walk around the exhibit with him. She knew that was an impossibility. He was looking at her with disbelief and she looked to the side. So, it was her turn to be awkward. Great. His hand grasped her's after a few minutes of that silence.
"Did you want to walk around together?" He asked, picking up on what she wanted.
Her cheeks began to burn and she had trouble looking towards him. Why was it she could tell people what she wanted from them, but couldn't with him? Was it because she knew it wouldn't end well and didn't want to chance it? Or was it due to him not remembering anything? That last thought left her feeling a little sick to her stomach. Right, he didn't know who he was. Why would she allow herself to get attached? She gave a small nod and his chuckle was his response.
"I can't make that promise," he started, and she gave a nod of understanding, "but I will try."
Her wide eyed look made him smile a bit more. It was nice seeing such emotions from her. To see the gentle side of her that she hid. It was cute. He sent her back to class first and she sent him a look at that. It wasn't like they spent that much time together. Even though she wished they could.
She wouldn't be able to hang out with the others, she had to work that day. Mana was welcomed to the world of fashion and the life of a model. Naomi's stomach would growl every so often, but she wasn't given a break to eat. She had to hold up a can of soda and smile with it to promote the product. She hated the fact that she had won the sponsorship. It had to be because of the commercial her brother made her do. She was stuck working, all through the night. The constant lights created spots in her visions, the pulling on her hair caused a headache to form, and the different clothes made her arms itch.
"I'm sorry about this, Naomi-chan," Mia stated as the teenager pulled her hair into a ponytail, "have a good rest of your day."
"I'll be hanging out with my friends today," Naomi stated as she pulled on the black denim jacket, over the purple long sleeved shirt she had been given by Mia, "so, please don't call me in for a while."
"No problem," Mia chuckled as the two cards went around the teen's neck, "you've earned a good week off for today's shoot."
Naomi gave a tired nod before looking towards Fred. They needed to go get Honda and Jounouchi. Her stomach growled again and she felt how empty it was. She would need to eat soon. It wasn't like it was the first time she'd been denied food while at a shoot, and it most likely wouldn't be the last. Fred handed her an apple to tie her over for a while, and she gained a thankful smile. She was allowed to pick the music, and so she chose Slipknot as her soundtrack for the day. She smiled a bit more when they came up to Jounouchi's apartment. The blonde seemed surprised that she kept to her word on picking him up.
"Man, what kind of music do you listen to?" Jounouchi asked as he opened the door to the car.
"Mostly metal," she admitted with a shake of her head, "I can change the station."
"I don't mind it," Jounouchi shrugged, "you might want to have Yugi listen to it, he'd enjoy it."
"Makes sense," Naomi muttered as Fred hurried towards Honda's.
"Did you get any sleep?" Jounouchi asked when she yawned.
"I had to work last night," Naomi admitted, leaning her head against the headrest, "I'll get some good sleep tonight, I know that much."
Jounouchi looked at Fred with a frown. Wasn't it his job to make sure she was all right? He let out a soft sigh of disbelief. No wonder she seemed out of sorts. He waved at Honda when they picked him up, and noted that his friend was confused by the music choice. Still, they appreciated the ride. They even beat Anzu there.
"Morning, Mutou-ji-san," Naomi greeted the old man before looking towards Yugi, "Yugi-kun."
"What's with the school uniform on a weekend?" Jounouchi asked as Fred left the area.
"It's comfortable," Yugi shrugged.
"Fair enough," Jounouchi muttered as Anzu finally joined them with a small smile.
"That's everyone," Sugoroku stated before looking around, "actually, my friend was supposed to meet us here, why don't we wait a little longer."
"Mutou!" Was shouted out and Naomi studied the newcomer.
Yoshimori, she knew of him. He was popular in archeology. She looked to the side in thought. Well, with the new exhibition he would grow even more. Her hands went into the pockets of her pants and eyed the short man behind him. Kanakura owned the museum, and he bothered her greatly.
"Everyone, this is Yoshimori-sensei," Sugoroku introduced with a grin.
"Pleased to meet you," Yoshimori stated with a nod of his head, and a kind smile.
"Who's this?" Sugoroku asked when he noticed Kanekura.
"This is the owner of the museum, he provided the grant for the excavation and is sponsoring this exhibit," Yoshimori explained.
"Welcome to my museum," Kanekura stated and he quickly motioned towards Yoshimori to whisper something in his ear.
Naomi got John Hammond vibes from Kanekura and frowned a little. His story ended swiftly, and soon. Killed by Shadi for taking artifacts from Egypt. She understood why, but would've liked for Shadi to have done something else. He was mindlessly killing, yet allowed her brother to live. Perhaps it was because he survived the Millennium eye. That sounded right.
"Mutou, you told me that your grandson solved the millennium puzzle," Yoshimori stated.
"I did tell you that, didn't I…" Sugoroku trailed off in slight embarrassment.
"So, you're Yugi," Yoshimori said with a bright smile, his respect for the boy obvious.
"That's it! The legendary Millennium puzzle?" Kanekura exclaimed. "You must show it to me!"
"Calm down," Mana gently said from her card when she felt the light magic flare from her new friend.
Mahad couldn't help but agree with Naomi's emotions. He was holding onto a precious item that held their pharaoh within, that held someone incredibly precious to them. Kanekura flinched a little when he noted the glacier glare sent his way by the shortest girl in the group of teens. He tilted his head for a few seconds before his eyes widened in surprise.
"Ah, Crawford-Sama," He greeted, his sleazy nature making her skin crawl, "are you here on your brother's behalf?"
"I'm here to see the exhibit with my friends," she answered.
"Kanekura makes his living in the art business, he has quite the eye for antiquities," Yoshimori explained to Yugi as Kanekura watched the heiress with beady eyes.
"Yugi, I beg you," Kanekura's exclamation startled the group of teens, "people have got to see this! Let me display it at the show!"
"How about just for today?" Yugi offered and Kanekura beamed at him.
"Sure, one day is plenty!" Kanekura stated.
"I don't trust him," Naomi grumbled as Yugi watched his puzzle be taken inside.
"Sometimes I start to worry when you say things like that," Yugi admitted and her eyes widened before she gained a guilty look, "still, it's impressive that your instincts are that good."
It wasn't just that. It was a mixture of knowing the future, and using her senses to get a feel for people. The group entered the museum as well and Naomi looked at the different artifacts on display. Mana let out a quiet sound of sadness and Mahad stared ahead. Naomi stood away from her friends so they wouldn't hear her talking to them.
"Is it that bad that we wish to learn from the past by digging it up?" Naomi asked, looking at a jackal statue in thought and bringing her camera out to take a picture of it. "Most likely, your people believed that the body was a home for the soul or spirit, right? Then what happened to…"
"You know his name?!" Mana asked in surprise, and Naomi looked down to see that even Mahad was shocked.
"I just can't say it," Naomi stated, moving to look at a piece of jewelry that felt familiar to her, yet she couldn't place it. "Fred's made it so I can't…"
"It would make his journey pointless if you did say his name," Mahad reluctantly agreed before looking towards Mana.
"We prepared his body like we would any pharaoh," Mana softly explained, "his soul is trapped within the pendant so it took quite a bit of damage."
Naomi supposed that made sense. Mana made a sound of surprise and she slowly walked to the display case that the magician was looking at. It was a sword that caused Naomi's eyes to widen. That had belonged to her! Why was it in the museum? How did she not know that her sword had been sent to the past!?
"Your magic is radiating off it," Mana stated, "that's what got my attention."
"It's mine, but how did it get here?" Naomi questioned before frowning a little, "How'd it get in Egypt of all places?"
"Time will tell," Mahad answered and she tilted her head in thought before looking toward her friends as Yoshimori informed them of his passion, "probably sooner than later."
"When is the next time that you'd have a break?" Mahad asked.
"Between my brother's tournament and Seto's," she muttered, frowning a little, "you think I mess with time?"
"I think so," Mana admitted as she sat down in her card, "it makes sense, you wouldn't have been able to find your sword until today."
"It would've been sealed away by one of us," Mahad confirmed and he watched as she gained a thoughtful look, "our lack of memories might be from…Fred."
The three of them agreed, Fred was a ridiculous name for a god. Naomi moved around the exhibit and stopped to look at the judgment of the dead. That was a little on the nose as to what was going to happen. Her attention was pulled away from that and towards the mummy. Her heart began to hurt and she brought a hand to her chest with a slight frown. Why was she hurting? Mana gave a gentle sound before sending a prayer towards the body of the pharaoh she didn't even know.
"It's part of your nature," Mahad explained, noticing the expression on Naomi's face, "a light mage is for the living, they typically feel for the dead."
"Why…" Naomi couldn't fathom it.
"You're the seal of life," Mana said, having been brought to speed by Mahad during the first day she had been back, "it would make sense, wouldn't it?"
Naomi was going to just give them that. She felt something grasp onto her sleeve and looked over to see Yugi giving her a concerned expression. She was confused for a few seconds before she reached up and wiped at her face. Damn, she hated being like this. She couldn't even control it.
"You've never been around a dead body before, have you?" Mahad's question made her think about it as Yugi held out a handkerchief to her with a kind smile.
No, she'd never been around a body that hadn't belonged to someone she already cared about. It made sense as to why she had no idea that she did this, that she would feel this way about something that was a natural part of life.
"Why are you crying?" Yugi asked and she shrugged.
"Dunno," she admitted before motioning towards Shadi, "he's crying too, why am I being singled out?"
Wait. Shadi? Naomi had to do a double take and looked at the Egyptian man, wondering when the hell he showed up. Mana squeaked in surprise and the man looked down at the cards. His eyes widened and Mahad narrowed his. So, Shadi could see and hear them.
"These tears come from the shriveled form of this great pharaoh," Shadi explained to Yugi, "even his eternal sleep has been denied."
"Oh," Yugi softly said, not really understanding as Naomi dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief.
"You're a nice little boy," Shadi said, his fond tone reserved only for children.
He ruffled Yugi's hair and Yugi frowned at him as soon as his back was turned. Naomi couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped her. She quickly brought a hand up to her mouth and sent Yugi an apologetic glance. She had forgotten that Shadi called him a 'little boy'.
"Oi," Yugi said, sending a pout.
"Sorry, Yugi-kun," she apologized, "I hadn't been expecting it."
"Hey, look the puzzles on display!" Jounouchi's call got everyone's attention and they slowly moved towards it.
Kanekura didn't miss the look sent his way by the heiress. He began to nervously sweat. The Crawford family was well known for being shrewd, they were excellent judges of character. It was why their business had survived the change from art to games. Anzu pulled Naomi towards the puzzle and she made a face.
"We'll take a picture to commemorate today," Anzu explained.
"It's amazing what your hard work accomplished," Sugoroku informed Yugi with a smile.
Yugi nodded as Jounouchi was able to drag Naomi down to have their picture taken. She sent him a look before smiling slightly at the camera. The shadows brushed against her cheek and she gathered the pharaoh wanted to be in the picture. She couldn't blame him. She took a final glance at the puzzle before following Yugi around the museum. He was the reason why she was there in the first place.
"Will you wait with me?" Yugi asked, when they came to the room displaying the puzzle.
"Sure, I can ask Fred to make sure that Mutou-ji-San gets home safely," Naomi stated with a small smile.
Yugi smiled back. She cared about his grandfather in a way that only she could. He watched as she took out her phone and sent Fred a quick message. One that explained who was there. He agreed to pick up her friends and Sugoroku, and wished her luck. Naomi wondered if she might make sure that Anzu's mind wasn't messed with. Her friend had a bright future, and she wanted it to come to fruition. Anzu was going to make a wonderful dancer. They walked around a little longer before the sun started to go down.
"Thank you for making sure we get home," Jounouchi said as he looked at the car waiting for them.
"It's no problem, we picked you up, we can easily drop you off," Naomi said, waving off his thanks, "I'll wait with Yugi-kun, in case Kanekura tries something."
Jounouchi nodded his understanding and wrapped an arm around Honda's shoulders before dragging him off. Jounouchi really liked to drag people. Naomi watched him in amusement as Honda slapped at his arm. Yoshimori waved at them before he returned to the university. Naomi sat on one of the stairs as Yugi gave his grandpa a hug. Naomi wished she had something like that. Pegasus was a few hours away and she couldn't get that over the phone. Hopefully, her being there would change his fate. She wanted Pegasus to live longer. Her eyes moved to the side before she gave a light wave in return to Sugoroku's. He got into the car and Fred drove off.
"Did you really get sad?" Yugi asked as he plopped down next to her.
"I might just be tired," Naomi quietly admitted, leaning against him a little, "don't worry too much."
"Hm, then don't do that with Kanekura-San," Yugi requested, and she nodded her understanding.
They sat in companionable silence before it was a couple minutes before closing. He got up and she quickly joined. Naomi found that the building was a little unnerving without anyone inside it. The shadows filled the building and her heart skipped a beat. It was over as quickly as it started. Shadi's games were fast. A trait of using magic longer than anyone else.
"That's the Egyptian man from earlier," Yugi quietly said to Naomi.
"Isn't that the puzzle?" Naomi asked, pointing towards Shadi's hands.
"Yeah," Yugi confirmed before walking towards Shadi, "hey, you found my puzzle."
Shadi froze in surprise and studied Yugi a little. Naomi took the time to do the same. The scales and key made her skin crawl, and she gathered she wouldn't be in charge of any millennium item. A relief if she was being honest. No, her sword would be the only item she reclaimed from the museum. She could call it to her through her magic. Her eyes widened when Shadi placed the key against Yugi's forehead. Both their eyes blanked and Naomi just awkwardly stood there.
"So, nothing happens on the outside?" Naomi asked Mahad.
"Not all shadow magic needs flare," he offered and she gave a reluctant nod at that as she brought a hand up and caught her sword, "why a sword?"
"Better reach, and better sealing capabilities," she answered as she shrunk it enough to put in her pocket.
Naomi wondered how long they would have to wait and crossed her arms across her chest. Mana began to hum as they waited and Mahad gazed around the museum in thought. He noted that the items between the different periods of Egypt were quite similar. He saw the shadows shifting and knew that a game was taking place, yet it wasn't affecting his student for once. She was calmly waiting for her friend to get out of the shadow game. She trusted the pharaoh that much? Shadi's gasp of pain got everyone's attention and Yugi slowly reached towards him.
"Are you all right?" Yugi asked, and Naomi wanted to shake him. "You stopped moving for a few seconds."
So, he was aware that had happened yet hadn't heard her say anything? Naomi found that interesting. Shadi looked up towards the two and gave a slight smile. The boy had a very loyal friend to stay with him. Her violet eyes were watching him in thought. Ah, so he was friends with a light mage. That made sense. It was the fact that he knew the girl that bothered him. Her brother held one of the items he had given to the man. How worrisome.
"You are a strange boy," Shadi informed Yugi as he held out the puzzle, "this is yours, yes?"
"My puzzle, thank you!" Yugi thanked with a smile as he accepted his puzzle back and put it around his neck.
"No thanks are needed, I am already in your debt," Shadi stated and he watched as the girl behind the boy shook her head.
"Did I loan you something?" Yugi asked, confused.
"The other you," Shadi clarified and the girl shook her head again and narrowed her eyes.
"Other me?" Yugi asked in confusion before giving a light laugh.
Naomi's shoulders slumped in relief. It was a good thing that Yugi took Shadi's words as a joke. She didn't know how to explain to Yugi what was going on, or how to get the pharaoh to allow his memories to remain intact. She doubted he'd want that, not until he was more aware of himself.
"What is your name, boy?" Shadi asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
"I'm Mutou Yugi, not boy," Yugi answered, his good nature showing through a smile.
"Yugi, there is something you must do, you must discover your other self," Shadi stated and Naomi's eyes widened, "and you must solve the riddle of the true power of the millennium puzzle. The puzzle that was hidden for three thousand years, that is the destiny and duty of the one that solves it."
"Who are you?" Naomi's question had Shadi looking back towards them.
"I go by Shadi," he answered, a humorless laugh escaping him, "this is the first time I've told it to another person."
"What a weird guy," Yugi stated.
"Yeah," Naomi agreed before looking towards him, "let's get going, this place gives me the creeps."
Yugi snorted at that and she gently elbowed him. It was fun to mess with one another. She blinked a little when he began to drag her behind him. Seriously, what was with her friends and dragging her places? Yugi just wanted to get her home. It was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind, one that wouldn't disappear. He couldn't figure out when it had started either. Their quick steps found him getting her home in less than thirty minutes.
"Wow, we made good time," Naomi commented as he dropped her wrist as that feeling began to fade, "thank you for walking me home, Yugi-Kun."
"No problem," Yugi sheepishly said, "see you tomorrow, Naomi-Chan!"
She chuckled as he ran off and put her hands into the pockets of her pants. She spun on her heel and slowly began to walk into her house. Something hit the back of her head and her eyes widened. Ah, that's why Fred wished her luck. She was going to be Shadi's puppet. At least she was keeping Anzu safe. Her world went black, and she knew nothing.
"This mind is a mess," Shadi stated as he looked at the cracked and shattered mind of Naomi Crawford.
He stepped on a piece of glass and watched as it dissolved into sand. His eyes widened a little and he looked around in disbelief. The sand, moving up in a manner that was too familiar. This girl was the one that could control that power? It was impossible. He pushed an item out of the way and heard it crack.
"So much destruction," he muttered in thought, "that speaks of heavy trauma, this girl is from a wealthy family…how odd."
He moved deeper into the teens mind and saw faces appearing within the sand. The shifting sands made him think of time passing. That's exactly what it was. He reached out and let it fall into his palm. The sand was ice cold, a characteristic of death. This was someone who was very familiar with death, yet he only knew of two people that had died in her life. He came across a lead door that had gold chains wrapped around it. He could easily walk around the door, it didn't seem to be attached to anything.
"Someone without roots," Shadi commented as he reached forward and tugged on the chains, the door simply opening, "yet, able to be honest."
This girl was perplexing until he walked through the doorway. He was knee deep in the sand and could feel the passage of time, the countless deaths. Not just of people the girl knew, but her own. His understanding of the broken form of her mind became clearer. She was like this because she remembered. She was cursed to know all her lives. One of which had something to do with fire, if he was able to judge the hot breeze correctly.
"You haven't learned your lesson on trespassing in people's minds, have you?"
He spun around as quickly as he could to see the teen in question standing on top of the sand. She didn't look exactly like her current self, the pale-blue hair mixed with dark strands. Her violet eyes remained the same, if not a little lighter. Her expression was one of boredom. Her head tilted to the side and she crouched before him.
"You came in here for what?" She asked and he found himself struggling to answer. "You're attacking my pharaoh when you attack me, so answer quickly and I might spare you."
This girl would do it too. He could tell by the serious look in her eyes. He knew the light emanating from her didn't matter. Her own nature buried under a persona that had to be crafted to survive. He swallowed thickly when her eyes narrowed dangerously. They then closed in annoyance.
"Be glad that they reminded me that you're a needed part of his destiny," she stated, standing up and putting her hands into the pockets of the denim jacket she wore, "just know, if you hurt him I won't be as gracious."
She was a completely different person. He gave a curt nod and she leaned back until she was sitting on air. She let out a sigh and turned her attention towards the north. She would have to allow him to continue his destruction of her mind. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the fact that he was so judgemental about it.
"Continue," she shrugged, "I need the rest anyway."
Crawford Naomi then vanished on him, leaving the scent of sunshine behind. He trudged through the sands of time and eventually found stairs. The gold material of the stairway made him pause. She had hopes for something, but the slight cracks within said staircase informed him that she didn't have complete faith in it. He moved up those stairs, their creaking nature showing how weak that hope truly was.
It went to the room that held her true personality. The games that littered the floor, the pictures of friends and family that waved at him as he entered, the color purple attached to everything, and hieroglyphs of spells. A light mage that held so many people precious to her, yet was unable to keep a hold on them. Pegasus was in one of the pictures, his millennium eye catching the light. So, she was aware of his item. Interesting.
It was the pictures of the pharaoh she spoke of, and two other Egyptians that caught his eye. He watched as the two brunettes said something to the tri-haired teen. The female laughed at his reaction to their words while the man gave a fond sigh. She cared a lot about those three, their frame gold and decorated. He glanced towards Pegasus again, so was his.
"Leave," a voice commanded and he wondered who it was, and who it was coming from.
"Hey," a female sighed, "as much as I don't like it, it needs to happen."
"I don't think her mind can survive the forced reconstruction," a man admitted.
It was coming from the picture of the three. The teen had a glare on his face, a protective feeling came from him. The man was giving Shadi a look that spoke of distrust. The girl, a frown. Those two were actually there, the teen wasn't. So how? How was the pharaoh able to speak as though he was there?
"It's none of your business," the girl stated, not wanting him to question their friends mind even further, "he wants you out."
Why was the question.
It dawned on Shadi and his eyes narrowed in thought. This girl had been the right target, she would bring him out with ease. After all, he seemed to care a great deal for her if his own image from the memories of three people tried to protect her. The pharaoh's crimson eyes narrowed dangerously at him, and it made him wonder if that was a true theory. It didn't matter, a memory or idea couldn't fully hurt him without a larger form. He looked around one last time before he knew he'd be taking over her mind. A couple in the largest portrait watched him with unease. A Korean woman with long dark hair and purple eyes was staring at him before narrowing her eyes. The man, European with Sandy hair and bright blue eyes, gave the woman a gentle pat on the shoulder. Ah, so they were the girls' true parents. It didn't matter.
The girl was his doll.
"Why are you late?" Jounouchi asked Naomi as she joined their group to wish the professor well after what happened with Kanekura.
"Sleeping," was the one word answer that came with a shrug.
Yugi found that odd. Her whole demeanor was off and he couldn't place it. Her eyes were blank, missing the spark in them that let him figure out how she was feeling. He didn't like it. She was too calm, not like she usually was. He reached forward and tugged her sleeve, getting her attention the best way he knew how. She blankly looked towards him.
"Are you okay?" Yugi asked.
"I'm fine," Naomi answered, the monotone did nothing to convince him.
Mahad and Mana were resting around her neck in worry. There wasn't anything they could do to help her. She would have to face it alone. Just like the pharaoh had to with his final battle. Mana let out a soft sigh and tugged on the ends of her hair in thought.
"We can't even place a shield around her," Mana grumbled, crossing her arms.
"She'll be fine," Mahad stated, even if he didn't fully believe it himself.
"It's so creepy here," Jounouchi complained as he looked at the displays within the university.
"It's a school at night," Anzu stated, shooting him a look, "you've got no courage."
"Oi," Jounouchi huffed before seeing a skull in a display case, "still, it's spooky."
"You're going to make Yoshimori-Sensei even more depressed if you look like that," Anzu yelled at him.
"He must be worried about what happened to Kanekura-San," Yugi stated and Naomi gave a slow nod.
"I got it!" Jounouchi exclaimed. "We'll all put on a big smile."
"That should cheer him up," Sugoroku said.
"No mentioning the museum," Anzu stated, laying down a base rule.
"Hey, Yoshimori-sensei!" The group, sans Naomi, exclaimed as they opened the door to Yoshimori's office. "We've come to visit!"
"Thank you for coming," Yoshimori stated, and Yugi got that strange feeling again, "come in."
"I hope we're not interrupting anything," Jounouchi awkwardly stated.
"I've been waiting for you," Yoshimori informed them with a few odd chuckles.
Naomi's hand twitched and Mana's brows raised. Her friend was fighting Shadi's control. She knew that Shadi was an important figure in the pharaoh's destiny, it didn't mean she had to like it. She didn't want her friends to get hurt, even if it was a part of everything.
"He looks pretty happy," Jounouchi commented.
"Yeah," Yugi reluctantly agreed.
"Sensei, we brought you something!" Jounouchi cheerfully informed him, holding up a bag. "From when you showed us around the museum."
"You idiot!" Anzu hissed at him and Jounouchi quickly covered his mouth.
"Oh, right, the museum," Yoshimori said, "somebody killed him, somebody killed Kanekura-san."
"Something weird's going on here," Jounouchi stated, Yoshimori giving odd laughs as he lumbered around the room.
"Yoshimori-sensei, what's wrong?" Sugoroku asked.
"Nothing is wrong, I was just waiting," Yoshimori answered, "waiting for Yugi."
Yoshimori lunged forward and Naomi twitched again. A frown appeared on her face as hands wrapped around Jounouchi's neck. Shadi was attacking Yugi's friends, trying to draw out the Pharaoh. She couldn't break free from what Shadi had done to her mind. She was forced to watch him attack her friends. A puppet that could only watch, or rather a doll. That was how Shadi's magic described her as. She hated it.
"Please excuse my puppet's rudeness," Shadi drawled, showing up behind Naomi.
"Shadi, what did you do to the Sensei?" Yugi asked, trying to get Yoshimori to release Jounouchi.
"If my theory is correct, this will bring him out," Shadi stated, ignoring Yugi, "this will bring out the other Yugi."
Yugi wanted to snap at him in disbelief as he tugged on the professor's arms. There was no other him! Sweat began to trail down his face as everyone grasped into Yoshimori's arms. Everyone but Naomi. Her blank expression was making Yugi worried that Shadi had done something to her as well.
"I can't budge his arms!" Sugoroku exclaimed, worry for Jounouchi and Yoshimori evident on his face.
Yugi looked around the room in worry. He didn't know what he could do to help Jounouchi. Said teen was starting to gain a blue hue to his lips and his eyes were fluttering close. Shadi was waiting for the other Yugi to show himself. Surprise appeared on his face when Anzu grabbed a globe and bashed it against Yoshimori's head. The professor went down and Jounouchi took a few deep breaths and held his neck. That had been too close for his liking. Shadi looked at the group of friends as they gathered around Jounouchi.
"Gah! He's still moving!" Jounouchi exclaimed as Yoshimori got back onto his feet and attacked them.
Sugoroku went down from a punch to the face and Jounouchi looked towards the door. He shared a look with Anzu and she gave the professor a shove before ducking under his arms and sprinting towards the door. She would lead the professor away from Yugi with Jounouchi's help. Shadi watched the professor lumber away and placed a hand on Naomi's shoulder. What little control she had regained, she lost in that instant.
"You have good friends, Yugi," Shadi informed him, "and she is one as well."
"Naomi-Chan?! What did you do to her?!" Yugi exclaimed, a bubbling anger began to form in his stomach and he tried to ignore it.
It wouldn't help her.
"I reconstructed her soul," Shadi explained, "this girl is now a doll that can't speak or think. A puppet that cannot move without my will. Let your anger grow, and call forth the other Yugi!"
"There isn't another me," Yugi stated, watching as Shadi placed his other hand on Naomi's remaining shoulder.
"Then listen well because these words will be the final trigger," Shadi stated, "if I order this girl to die, she will die."
"Shadi!" The pharaoh practically growled as he quickly took control.
"So, we finally meet in this world," Shadi stated, "Yugi within Yugi…now, the second stage of our game can commence! Our shadow game."
The pharaoh narrowed his eyes at Shadi before glancing at Naomi. He wanted to see any sign that she was still awake in there. There wasn't anything, no smiles or happy glints in her eyes that were usually there when she looked at him. No funny comments. Nothing.
"The last time I searched your soul while trying to determine your power, you forced me out," Shadi said, pulling his hands away from Naomi's shoulders, "this time I will test you out here."
"Now that the shoe is on the other foot I have no choice but to accept," the pharaoh stated.
"If not this girl will remain a doll forever," Shadi informed him, "the game will begin in ten minutes on the roof, I will make the preparations. Come when the clock strikes eight."
"Naomi," the pharaoh quietly said as the teen trailed behind Shadi.
She didn't even pause. He watched her hair disappear into the dark and he looked down at the ground. A glare appeared on his face. Shadi was going to pay for this. He had messed with Naomi's mind, and he knew that was a dangerous thing to do. She already had dark thoughts. He shook those thoughts and began to think about Shadi in general. He didn't know why the man wanted to test his power, he just knew that he was his enemy. He looked towards the clock.
It was time.
"Naomi!" He called when he reached the roof to see her standing on the edge of a plank.
"Our game begins, the trial of the mind," Shadi announced.
"Naomi!" The pharaoh called again, grasping onto the chain link fence that stopped him from helping her. "Shadi! How dare you put her in danger! You're not going to use her in our game!"
"I am," Shadi informed him, "if you lose this game, it means this girls death. Before I explain the rules, I want to say one thing about the puzzle. I don't know how you got the puzzle or why you were the one to complete it, but after three thousand years it can't be a coincidence. My bloodline was also chosen to wield the power of the millennium items."
"Don't you dare try to say we are allies," the pharaoh snapped at him and Mahad winced in his card, "shut up and start the game, tell me the rules!"
"He really cares for her," Mana quietly said, "he's only been like this once."
"She understands the importance of his destiny and won't stop him from accomplishing it," Mahad admitted before looking towards Shadi, "the same can't be said for some people."
"Don't be afraid," Shadi warned the pharaoh, ignoring the two spirits.
"Me? Afraid?" The pharaoh scoffed.
"Somewhere in your heart, you are terrified of the unknown power of the puzzle," Shadi continued as though he hadn't been interrupted, "the weakness of your heart physically lies before you."
The pharaoh looked towards the statues tied to the fence as one cracked before shattering. The physical manifestation of his fear caused the plank to lower a bit. He held his breath as Naomi stayed on it. Her hair caught in a breeze.
"Didn't you realize the game had already begun?" Shadi asked with a frown. "The girl is standing on the bridge of life, supported by four ropes attached to ushabti, those who answer. These ushabti are the reflection of your heart. When you show weakness it is answered by the ushabti breaking!"
"Damn," the pharaoh cursed.
"Only three remain," Shadi informed him, "let me inform you of how you can win, the four ropes supporting the bridge of life are strung through the millennium key, it is supported by an ushabti that reflects my heart. If you break it the key will be released and free the girl.
"The one whose heart shows weakness loses the game!"
The pharaoh knew what this game entailed. It was the weighing of the heart, but it put Naomi's life in danger. He clenched the fence in anger. He moved away from it, not wanting to put her in further danger. He didn't know how Shadi was going to test his heart. How was he going to be tricked? The game started and he instantly felt fear rise in him.
Hand burst from the ground and grabbed onto his ankles, slowly traveling up his legs. Corpses were rising from the roof, using him to pull themselves up. They were trampling him to free themselves. He closed one of his eyes as nails scratched his legs.
"Answer my riddle, what creeps on the ground and clings to the pillars?" Shadi asked. "Then you will know what surrounds you."
Mahad and Mana found that riddle incredibly easy, but they weren't the ones completely covered in shadow magic. The illusion would feel real, far too real. Shadi closed his eyes as the pharaoh felt the hands on his face. He thought about the riddle as he finally recognized the illusion for what it was.
"The illusions true nature is my shadow," he stated, the illusion falling to pieces and disappearing.
"Somehow you managed to clear the first stage," Shadi stated, "the next stage is even harder, can you keep your heart strong?"
The floor crumbled below the pharaoh and something appeared below him, the glowing eyes peering at him from the depths. He felt his heart hammering and tried to calm down. He couldn't lose his head, not when something so serious was on the line.
"Somethings down there," he muttered to himself.
He let out a sound of surprise when something grabbed his arms and he was kept in place. He tried to look behind him, and all he saw was the edge of a snout. What was Shadi planning?
"You cannot escape," Shadi stated, dropping Yugi's name from the sentence, "this is the second stage of our game, concentration or death."
"Original," Mana scoffed and Shadi shot the teenager an annoyed look.
"There is only one way to escape the clutches of Ammit," Shadi stated, "and that is to win."
The pharaoh knew that it was another illusion, and he still couldn't break it with that knowledge. He looked at the claws wrapped around his arms and gritted his teeth. The only way he could get free was to win the game, but he didn't know the rules or what kind of game it was.
"This illusions last meal was the sound of the museum owner not too long ago," Shadi informed him and his body tensed, "she must still be ravenous, the only way you can survive is to dispel the illusion. Allow me to explain the rules."
Tiles appeared before the pharaoh and he was confused at first. Concentration? There was an odd number of tiles! It was an impossible game with no foreseeable conclusion.
"The game concentration," Shadi stated.
"Hold on, there are nine plates!" The pharaoh pointed out. "You need an even number to have pairs!"
"That's right, there is one extra plate in the middle," Shadi agreed, "in this version of the game you must name the picture etched on that middle plate, you don't have to match the other pairs…you are not allowed to turn over even one of the nine stone plates!"
"What?" The pharaoh questioned.
"You have five minutes to answer, when that time is up Ammit will close its jaws on your head," Shadi said, "I'll give you the key to this puzzle, these plates are a mirror of Ammit! Now shake off your fear and solve this puzzle, what is the picture on the center plate! Game start!"
The pharaoh looked at the plates and started to panic. There were too few clues to solve the puzzle and he couldn't think straight. Too much was happening! He heard a crack and he spared a glance towards his ushabti as it gained hairline fractures. He needed to calm down. He had to get Naomi out of that situation if it was the last thing he did. A window broke in the distance and he gave it a brief thought. He couldn't think too much about it. He needed to finish the game. Time began to fly and he was down to a couple of seconds.
"There are two ears, eyes, nostrils, hands, and there is only one mouth!" He exclaimed, as the final second hit.
Ammit disappeared and the tiles turned. He was right. He rolled his shoulders and stared Shadi down. They needed to finish the game. Mana gave a worried sound when the breeze moved Naomi a bit. She didn't weigh that much, her modeling job keeping her weight lower than it should be. Mahad found himself crafting a sticking spell. It would stop the second Naomi needed to move, but it would make sure she wouldn't fall.
"Well done," Shadi complimented, "this is the final stage. This challenge will be far more difficult than the ones before."
"Damn it."
Jounouchi's voice made Mana look down to see the blonde scaling the building to put a hand against the plank. He was moving to make sure her friend wouldn't fall. Her shoulders slumped in relief before she looked back towards their pharaoh. He was panicked, and it was obvious.
"You still have three Ushabti holding the girl up," Shadi observed, "but now your ushabti will shatter. You can search my heart for weakness, but you do so in vain. My ushabti is like an unbreakable diamonds, yours are like alabaster…let me introduce your opponent for this final game!"
"Jounouchi?!" The pharaoh questioned as his blonde friend appeared in a plume of smoke.
"What'd I do?" Jounouchi muttered as he carefully hoisted himself up.
He wouldn't get an answer until much later. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and attempted to touch the plank. He wasn't close enough. He huffed a little and climbed a little more. He would reach his friend, one that was acting strange like the professor. He narrowed his eyes. Just what was going on?
"That image of your friend is created from a memory in the other Yugi's heart," Shadi informed him, "the friend who bullied you in the past has been reborn before your eyes. I caught a glimpse of those memories when I visited your soul, even if you have forgotten those painful memories will always remain in your heart, no matter how much time passes.
"In the final stage you will play the game of death against your friend!"
"Game of death?" The pharaoh questioned.
The floor around him and the false Jounouchi fell and left a small play area. The puzzle was pulled from his neck by the illusion of his friend and he winced a little from the slight rope burn from its string.
"You will each take turns throwing the puzzle like a die," Shadi explained the game, "for each throw your opponent must move two squares in the direction the tip of the puzzle points. The first one to force his opponent into the pit wins! Now, let me see you defeat that painful memory!"
"Jounouchi, we don't have to play this," the pharaoh tried to reason with the illusion of his friend.
"This is your greatest treasure, Yugi?" The illusion nastily asked. "What Bing you makes me sick. Only a girl would care about a box."
Two of his Ushabti broke in unison as his host felt the sting from those words. The plank wobbled dangerously and let out a loud creak. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw that Naomi was still on it. She was doing something odd though. She was trembling. There, a sign that she was still inside.
"If you want this puzzle, then you have to beat me at this game," illusion Jounouchi informed him, holding out the puzzle only for the pharaoh to refuse his turn, "fine, I'll go first."
He tossed the puzzle and it clinked against the tiled floor. He simply moved the two spaces towards the edge. He refused to play the game against his friend, just in case it turned out to be the real one. One of them was already in danger because of him.
"It's your turn, Yugi," illusion Jounouchi informed him.
"I won't play," the pharaoh informed him, "I don't want to play this game with you, Jounouchi."
So, that was the extent of his strength? Shadi found himself a little confused as the spirit moved close to the edge. What he originally thought of as another Yugi turned out to be the one person he had been waiting for. Yet, he wasn't what he had been taught to expect. His eyes narrowed at the spirit before looking at the illusion and the girl. How did they create a bond with him?
"Are you throwing the game?" Shadi asked as the pharaoh refused his turn again. "Do you admit your defeat?"
"Defeat?" The pharaoh asked, slowly turning to face him. "You're wrong. It's trust, I trust my friend."
"It seems you are unable to defeat your past," Shadi informed him, "this test was the weakness of your heart in trusting too much. Trust is more easily broken than an ushabti, in the end friendship is nothing but weak hearts clinging together for solace, true strength of the heart is the ability to believe in yourself and needing no one."
Naomi had come back to awareness during those words, Shadi had lacked concentration. She thought back to each one of her deaths that had been caused by her protecting a friend, by those that betrayed her. Those betrayals were rare, and he should've known that seeing as he was inside her head. She had been betrayed by her own parents more than her friends. The rope that was supporting her began to snap and her heart started to race.
She…she didn't want to die.
"Naomi!"
He was one of the reasons why.
"I've got ya Naomi, everything is going to be all right!"
Jounouchi was another.
Tears began to gather in her eyes and started to slowly fall. Shadi was taken aback by the sight. The one person that knew betrayal, still had faith in her friends. The pharaoh smiled a little before turning towards Shadi as his ushabti started to crack from the strange occurrence. His eyes narrowed at the Egyptian man.
"Shadi, you probably won't understand this," the pharaoh informed him and he flinched a little, "but, the true strength of the heart, can't be gained alone! The power to trust your friends, that is the true strength of the heart!"
The pharaoh felt a warmth surrounding him and his glare softened. Even when she was trapped in her mind she was still able to show him support. Shadi's Ushabti shattered the the key quickly moved down the rope, it hit Naomi's hand nod she pitched forward a little as she regained control. Her mind shattered the second Shadi's handiwork was undone. It became a jumbled mess, different versions of herself shouting at her and she suddenly found it too loud. She looked down and saw that she was standing multiple stories in the air. She let out a strangled sound and almost fell to her knees.
"Hey, Naomi," a voice called to her and she looked down in confusion, "my arms are starting to get tired, move to the roof!"
"Who…" Naomi went to ask before simply doing what he requested, he was struggling to keep her from falling it was the least she could do.
"Master," Mana softly said.
"Her mind is jumbled, thousands of voices and memories suddenly came flooding back," he stated, looking up towards their confused friend, "this is who she is, her true self."
"Naomi," the pharaoh got her attention and she looked up at him, trying to place him.
He reached out with a hand and she took it with a shaking one of hers. He was able to get her to the fence and had her grasp it, a hand gently resting in her hair. She looked at him in confusion before her face grew warm at his relieved smile in her direction. She didn't know who he was, but he made her happy and that was enough for her.
"Jounouchi, make the professor touch that ankh-snapped key!" The pharaoh called down to the blonde.
Jounouchi was surprised by the tone in which Yugi was talking but did what he was told to. He grabbed the professor's wrist and dragged it up to touch the key. Yoshimori returned to normal and he grasped onto him to make sure he wouldn't fall. The pharaoh gave a light sigh before helping Naomi over the top of the fence and watching as she couldn't keep her balance.
"Are you all right?" He softly asked.
"Yeah, thank you," she said, nodding her thanks as well.
"You…" he noted the confusion she was experiencing and his heart sank before he pulled her into a slight hug. "Shadi, what have you done?"
"Her mind is fractured due to the many lives she has lived," Shadi informed the pharaoh, knowing his trials were over for now, "she will return to her true self as the night goes on. I wouldn't shatter the mind of a light mage, there are too few of them and the punishment would be severe. Though, your victory over my tests is my complete defeat, a punishment just as severe.
"I used these items to show you illusions summoned from shadows, and yet the image of you and your friends trusting and helping each other seems like an illusion, and somehow that seems sad."
"That is sad," Naomi stated and Shadi looked towards the girl and noted she was watching him with slight understanding, "you've known nothing if that's how you think of people. People can do both the greatest and worst things, and yet they can be incredibly loyal to a fault."
"Your true self should be shown more often," Shadi quietly informed her and the pharaoh narrowed his eyes at him.
"I've realized something about the power of the millennium puzzle," he said and Naomi felt a piece connect in her mind, but remained quiet about it, "no matter how far apart we are, friends always come together as one. We are small pieces that bind together to become an undefeatable power, just like a puzzle. The power of unity is the power of the millennium puzzle!"
"Hey you in the dress, I don't know how you did all this but this is our place!" Jounouchi informed Shadi as he was suddenly visible to everyone. "You better not show your face here again!"
"That is true," Shadi agreed as Anzu moved to check on Naomi, "you have passed my tests. My bloodline has been searching so long for someone like you. Perhaps you will be the one to open that door."
"What is that jerk talking about?" Jounouchi growled as Sugoroku helped Anzu get Naomi to her feet.
She seemed unsure of what was going on and he felt bad for the girl, giving her a gentle pat on the arm. Her eyes, usually cold and calculating, were warm and wide. He smiled and she gave a small one in return. Ah, so she had been targeted like the professor had. Hopefully they would both make a full recovery. Yoshimori was apologizing to them and he heard Anzu and Jounouchi arguing.
"Hey, it'll be okay," Naomi quietly informed them.
"Right, we'll go get something to eat," Sugoroku agreed, "my treat."
"I want burgers!" Yugi cheered, and Naomi blinked at the change in personality.
"You really like burgers," she commented and he gave her a small chuckle.
Her eyes softened further and Jounouchi started to drag her behind him. He wasn't letting her out of his sight for a while. Naomi didn't really know who he was, she was being stuck in memories of a school that held a host club of all things, but she got the feeling that they were good friends.
"Are you going to be okay?" Jounouchi quietly asked her and she tilted her head in thought. "Gah, don't do things like that, it makes you look adorable."
"How so?" She asked, not knowing why her showing emotions made her 'adorable'.
"You're usually super serious," he reminded her, frowning a little.
Was she? Naomi looked to the side in thought and felt a sharp pain go through her head. She was dead? She could still feel the wound on the back of her skull from where she had been hit with a brick. Multiple times. Her stomach churned and she found herself wanting to be away from everyone, to have some time alone.
"Hey, mind if I take this one home?" A voice startled her and she looked back to see a man she couldn't recognize.
"I think she needs the rest," Anzu quietly admitted, "see you tomorrow, Naomi-chan."
"R-Right," Naomi agreed, being led away by the unknown man.
She waved back to the group, gathering they were her friends. The man took her to a nice house and she was led to a room that felt familiar. She sat down on a bed and a hand ruffled her hair.
"You need to put your mind back together," the man informed her, letting his hand rest on her head, "rest."
Her eyes rolled back and she passed out. Fred watched his charge sleep for a few seconds before giving a soft sigh. He felt bad for the kid. Shadi had figured out that the pharaoh had grown fond of her, and had taken a great hostage. He pulled the covers to her chin and removed the two cards from around her neck. Mana and Mahad returned to their portraits as Bast moved to rest with her owner.
"In the morning she should be somewhat back to normal," Fred informed them, "the minds a simple thing to a god."
"Why not fix it right now?" Mana asked and he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Because, then she wouldn't show her true self," he stated, "for that group to continue to trust her when her brother makes a move, she needs to be open and honest with them."
"Her brother?" Mana asked, turning towards Mahad.
"He had the eye," Mahad answered, "he will hunt down the other items, and it's guaranteed he's going to do something to her friends."
Mana gathered she couldn't stop it, that's why she seemed stuck. Why she was so cold even to those she genuinely cared for. Mana looked towards her friend and gave her a sad look. She had always felt horrible for those cursed with foresight, Isis had times where she would go silent and simply think.
It was during those times that she saw foresight harming the one that had it.