Yay to finally completing the in story weekend!

The rest of the day passed with little more than Marik and Yugi talking about how the former's night had gone. Yugi laughed as his roommate told him about Mkhai saying a bunch of stuff to embarrass his sister, and listened intently as he explained everything he learned about the online game the immortal siblings played. Explaining the game took the most time, as Yugi was prompted to look up more info about it online.

While Yugi was busy doing gaming related research, Marik felt it was a good idea to finish his last couple of assignments before they were due the next day. This kept both busy until they were called down for dinner. Solomon was still going about as though Marik vanishing for an entire night then returning with a girl the next day had never happened. Both teens were a bit confused, but felt it was best to leave things be. Neither wanted to endure whatever tiring story the elder might break into.

"So where do you think she is?" Yugi asked his roommate after dinner. Both had returned to their shared room.

Marik was laying on his bed, scrolling through social media on his phone. "The roof. Or the tree outside the window," he answered casually, knowing that by 'her', Yugi was asking about Kat.

Yugi scrambled over to the window, and sure enough, in the crook of the tree there was a very dark feline shadow. If he looked hard enough, he could make out a pair of glimmering sapphires staring back at him. "How did you know?"

"She told me," Marik replied nonchalantly.

"She tells you a lot," Atem stated irritably as he coalesced near his host, who had taken a seat on his own bed.

"Hey Pharaoh," Marik said casually, not looking up from his phone.

"After that display earlier, all I get is 'Hey Pharaoh'? No apology?"

"Was my apology earlier not enough?" Marik questioned, looking off to the side towards the spirit across the room. "It was aimed at the both of you."

Atem shrunk in humiliation. "Oh. I guess I had just assumed it was only for Yugi."

Marik sat up and faced him. "I meant what I had said earlier. I was being a jerk. To be fair though, you kind of brought some of it on yourself. That was a petty thing you did. I saw the look on your face, thinking Kat's endearment towards you would bother me."

"Yes, it was. I should have known she wouldn't openly call me that if it did." He hung his head dejectedly.

The Tomb Keeper stared over at the sulking spirit. "She still loves you. Just not in the way you want her to," he commented after several minutes of uncomfortable silence.

This caught Atem's attention. He looked across, ready to ask a question, but discovered the same discomfort Yugi had encountered earlier.

Marik spotted the familiar expression and answered as best he could. "She told me that no matter what was said or done, it's hard to forget what the two of you had. I don't know what you did to hurt her, but it left a deep scar. Deep enough that the idea of being with me frightened her. Her reaction when she realized how she felt for me was enough to summon Malik, who was ready to send me to the Afterlife. He didn't take too kindly to seeing her cry."

Atem looked away. "That sounds very close to how Bakura spoke yesterday. It sounds as if both he and Malik are extremely protective over Katrina's emotional well-being. I guess just knowing she doesn't entirely hate me is a good thing." He had to admit, she hadn't yelled at him earlier, and appeared to have a good time. The chess match had been very interesting to say the least. "Was I being a jerk during the match?" he questioned, wondering if maybe he deserved the humiliating defeat.

"Judging by the smug expression you wore through most of it, I would say yes. Though it's not much different from when you duel," Marik said with an amused smirk.

"I have to agree with Marik. You do act pretty smug when facing an opponent," Yugi added with a chuckle.

Atem simply shrunk in despondence.

"Hey, it wasn't entirely unwarranted," Marik commented. "Kat kind of goaded you along the way. From my observation on how the match went between the two of you, that it wasn't too far off from how it's always been."

Atem looked up and across to the Tomb Keeper. "Thank you. Even with everything that has happened between us, and is currently happening, I appreciate that you were able to share that little bit of information with me." He asked to take control through the link to his host, who happily obliged. He rose in his host's body, crossing the room and extending their hand. "Especially since I know you didn't have to. Can we start over? Maybe consider each other friends instead of a Pharaoh and a Tomb Keeper?"

Marik looked up at the extended palm questioningly. "Are you doing this because you can't voice your suspicions of me anymore?"

Atem's face fell, having forgotten about that part of the wager. "No. I'm being sincere. Bakura asked me what I thought of you, and I found I couldn't answer. I want to change that," he stated in earnest.

Marik rose, feeling for the first time he was on equal ground with Atem, and took the hand offered. "Then yes! So….no hard feelings about me dating your possible wife?" he asked nervously.

Atem stared at him with a hollow expression, slowly releasing from the handshake. "Still not thrilled about that part. But unfortunately there's not much I can do about it. Just….maybe….keep the overly affectionate stuff for when I'm not around. It would be greatly appreciated."

Marik laughed. "I can't make any promises, but I'll see what I can do."

Both Marik and Yugi had searched the tree near the shop the following morning for any sign of the latter's guardian, but after several minutes of being unable to locate her and not wanting to be late for school, they left. As was expected, they were greeted at the gate by Bakura, who offered no insight into the other elemental's whereabouts. They met with the others in Yugi's friend group, explaining a good portion of the events that had transpired over the weekend before the bell rang, promising to share more during lunch.

Bakura stretched as the bell for lunch rang, glad to be able to get up and move around. He was nearing the top of the stairs to the roof when he heard Téa squeal excitedly.

"Oh my gosh! Look at the cute kitty!"

Bakura rushed up the last few steps just in time to see Téa kneeling down and getting ready to pet a very familiar black feline decorated in gold Egyptian jewelry. The cat was sitting with its sapphire eyes narrowed, the tip of its tail flicking back and forth bitterly. Panic crossed Bakura's face as he rushed over to snatch the feline up and hold it with both hands out of Téa's reach.

"Uh, I wouldn't pet this kitty if I were you..." he said nervously. "It...ow!" he dropped the cat as it bit his hand. "….it bites," he growled bitterly, staring at the feline. It arched its back and hissed.

Marik appeared on the rooftop seconds later and the feline rushed up to him, climbing his side and perching on his shoulder. It swatted at one of his earrings for a second, before nuzzling it's head under his chin while purring loudly.

"Hey, that tickles!" he laughed, while removing the cat from his shoulder. "Where were you this morning? I was looking everywhere," he questioned the feline while cradling it close to his chest. The cat simply replied with a 'mau'. Marik looked down in confusion and concern at the cat. "Everything okay?"

Bakura was just as confused as the Tomb Keeper. He walked up and closely examined the cat. "Okay, what's going on? Why haven't you transfigured back?"

The cat glared at him for a second with its ears flattened, then lowered its head and ears as if ashamed. It let out a very quiet 'mau', then looked away.

Bakura looked at it with a puzzled stare for a moment before sporting an amused grin. "You got stuck again, didn't you?" he laughed.

The feline replied by flatting its ears again and growling at the elemental.

"What do you mean she's 'stuck'?" Marik asked, looking confused.

"It means your girlfriend is having some 'technical difficulties' switching back into a human," Bakura replied, continuing to express his amusement at the situation.

The feline lunged itself towards Bakura's face, but he caught her before she could sink her claws in. She bit his hand again, forcing him to drop her yet again.

"Dammit! You bite me one more time and I'll throw you into the Shadows!" Bakura shouted at the tiny beast. This prompted the cat to lunge at him once more, though this time he was ready. He quickly summoned forth a small circle of Shadow in front of him, causing the cat to pass through into the darkness. He quickly shut the portal after the tiny beast vanished. "Serves you right," he stated bitterly.

"Bakura! Did you seriously just throw my girlfriend into the Shadow Realm!?" Marik shouted, grabbing the elemental by the collar of his shirt.

"Relax. I'll bring her back once she's had time to cool off," Bakura stated as though it were no big deal.

The shadows beneath Marik and Bakura's feet shifted, combining and enlarging to become one beneath them. Marik let go and stepped back, unsure of what was happening.

Bakura's face fell, realizing he had made a mistake. "Oh shit….I forgot about that…..."

The feline leapt out of the darkness below, shifting mid-air into the tiny gold and midnight elemental. She had one fist retracted back, ready to make contact with the other elemental's face.

Bakura emitted a small whimper as the girl landed on him, bringing her fist down next to his head. The shadows on the ground returned to normal.

"It's not funny," she stated bitterly, her face not far from his.

Bakura looked up above her, then smirked. "No, but those are." He motioned, pointing at the top of her head.

Kat sat up straight and grabbed the top of her head, realizing she was partially shifted and sporting a set of cat ears. Her face and ears fell in annoyance. "Let me guess….my tail is showing too…."

"Awe, it's so cute though!" Bakura teased. He then looked at her slyly. "You know, if you wanted to sit on my lap, all you had to do was ask…" he commented, referring to how she was still straddling him.

She stood up quickly, ears back and nose up in the air as she walked over towards Marik. "You wish."

"Umm...somebody wanna explain what da heck is going on?" Joey asked in extreme confusion.

"I'm with Joey on that," Tristan added.

"Oh yeah! We didn't get to tell you much about Kat this morning. She's an elemental like Bakura," Yugi explained. "Also, her and Marik just started dating," he added unenthusiastically.

Joey rushed over and grabbed Marik around the neck while digging a fist into the top of Egyptian's head in a noogie. "Hehe! Way ta go Marik! Not even here for a few weeks and he's got himself a real-life cat-girl!"

Marik wriggled out of the hold, straightening the hair that Joey had messed up. "Was that really necessary?" he asked irritably.

"Awe c'mon, it was just in good fun. Ask Yug, I do it ta Tristan all da time!"

"Yeah, and I hate it! Do you know how long it takes to look this handsome?" Tristan said proudly while pointing a thumb at himself.

"Must not take very long, because ya look like something dat fell outta da trash truck," Joey taunted.

"What was that!?"

"You heard me!"

Joey and Tristan began their usual head-locked wrestling match, while the others just sighed in exasperation over the duo's usual antics.

Téa turned towards Marik and Kat. "Ignore those two idiots. Congrats by the way!" she said happily.

Kat glared at the brunette with ears flattened against her skull, then marched over and put a finger in Téa's face. "Keep your grubby mitts off this one. I'll claw your eyes out if you so much as bat an eyelash in his direction," she warned bitterly, her tail flicking back and forth in irritation.

"Um...what?" Téa was confused by the unwarranted hostility.

Bakura rushed over, grabbed the tiny elemental by the shoulders, and directed her back towards the Tomb Keeper. "Ignore her. She's still bitter about something one of your former incarnations did," he said nervously.

Marik picked up on the hints and placed his arms around Kat's small frame. "Habibty, are you jealous over the reincarnation of a girl that I'm going to guess tried to steal a certain someone from you?"

The elemental shrunk down, ears falling in embarrassment. "….no…...maybe…." she pouted.

"You have nothing to worry about. She's not my type," he tried to reassure his girlfriend.

Kat continued to pout. "….you sure put a lot of focus on her during the tournament…."

Both Marik and Téa paled at the comment. "Oh….that…" he said uncomfortably.

Kat took note of Marik's sudden discomfort, looking up at him in apology. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up." She then looked towards Téa. "I should apologize to you as well. You're not Téana, and I shouldn't treat you as such."

"It's okay...I think?" Téa still wasn't sure what was going on.

Bakura looked in confusion towards the other elemental. "Who the hell are you and what have you done with Kat? The crazy bitch I know doesn't apologize that easily."

Kat looked over at him, her ears and tail expressing her annoyance. "Don't make me bite you again."

"Ah, there she is," Bakura said in amusement. "So, want to explain what's up with the partial shift?"

"No."

Bakura shrugged. "Fine. Not my problem after all. Now if you're done trying to threaten reincarnations, I'm going to eat before I have to return to class." He then went and sat against one of the nearby railings.

Joey and Tristan had ended their wrestling match and joined Bakura in devouring their meals.

"I'm not certain what the hostility was about, but you apologized so that's good enough for me," Téa stated. "Maybe we can all hang out one of these days and get to know one another better."

Kat looked at the other girl in puzzlement. "I threatened you and you want to hang out?"

"Well, yeah. It would be a great way to show you I'm not whoever you thought I was," Téa said smiling.

"I swear, Jono got dumber with each reincarnation, but you somehow became more confusing," Kat stated flatly.

"I'm going to pretend I actually understood what that meant and walk away now," Téa said warily, then joined the others to eat before the end of the period.

"Care to join us? Or are you going to rush off?" Marik questioned.

Kat looked around, confused. "Where's Yugi and Atem?"

"Huh? I thought they were-" Marik looked around, realizing he hadn't seen the Pharaoh or his host since leaving the classroom.

Kat freed herself from Marik's grasp, transfiguring back into a cat and running into the building. Bakura noticed the sudden departure and looked to the Tomb Keeper for answers.

"Yugi isn't up here."

Bakura panicked. "What do you mean? He was right behind me on the sta-" He suddenly realized that Yugi hadn't come through the door to the roof behind him, Marik had. "Fuck!" He rushed back into the building, trailing after the other elemental. The others on the roof quickly followed.

Atem wasn't sure what had happened. One second he was with Yugi behind Bakura on the stairs to the roof, the next he was in control of their body and standing in what appeared to be the Shadow Realm.

"Yugi?" He looked around, but couldn't see or sense his host.

"Sorry, I had to lock him in the Puzzle for a bit. He's safe though," stated a very Yugi like voice. The voice was a bit more laid back than Yugi's, with a slightly lower pitch.

"Who are you? Why have you brought me here?" Atem asked suspiciously.

"Just someone that wants to ask your opinion."

Atem looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. Each time it spoke, it came from a different direction, as if it were one with the Shadows. "Are you the one that is referred to as the Shadow Walker?" he questioned.

"How very perceptive. Yes, I am," the Shadow Walker stated, sounding mildly surprised.

"You said you wanted my opinion. Of what?"

"More of a 'who'."

"You wish to ask my opinion of a person?"

The Shadow Walker laughed in amusement. "If you can truly call her a 'person'. I wish to know your opinion of the Daughter of Anubis."

"Katrina? What does my opinion of her matter to you?" Atem puzzled.

"I'm just curious." The voice sounded bored.

"I'm not really certain what I can say that will help you determine anything. I know little about her, other than she and I were once very close….possibly even married."

"You were….and technically since you never crossed into Duat….still are."

"I think she sees it differently."

"She tries….but she knows the truth."

Atem felt uneasy. "What is it you are trying to determine exactly?"

"If I should step in on your part."

"Step in? What do you mean by that?"

"Doesn't it bother you that she's 'seeing' the Tomb Keeper?" the voice puzzled.

"So what if it does? Katrina has made it clear that she is not interested in whatever relationship we might have once had."

"She called you 'Ibib'. Surely that means she still holds some affection towards you? That means there's still a chance between the two of you, right?"

"Even if that were the case, it's not for me to decide how she feels. I may not remember my time with her, but it still hurts to see her with someone else. That being said, if she truly wants to be with someone else, who am I to stop her?"

"You sound as if you don't even want to fight for her."

"What would be the point? It would only anger her and drive her farther away."

Silence.

The voice sighed. "I suppose you're right. BUT….if you change your mind….feel free to call for me."

The Shadows vanished, and Atem found himself standing in the middle of one of the school's hallways.

"Atem! What just happened!? I was trapped in the Puzzle!" Yugi's apparition beside him was in a state of full panic.

Atem retreated, allowing his host to regain control. As Yugi opened his eyes, he spotted the familiar face of Kat running directly towards him. She rushed up and embraced him, then pulled him back at arms length to inspect him, worry written across her face. He noticed she was sporting a set of cat ears with a matching tail.

"You're not hurt or anything? Everything is okay?" she asked in extreme concern.

"I...think….everything is okay…." Yugi was very confused.

Kat let out a sigh of relief. Then looked at him, still holding him by the shoulders. "What happened? Where were you?"

Yugi was still trying to figure out the elemental's sudden strange behavior towards him. There weren't many direct interactions between them, so for her to show the same level of concern his grandfather and friends would was a bit odd. "I'm….not sure? I was heading up to join the other's for lunch, then I was locked away in the Puzzle."

Kat released him, concern and puzzlement crossing her features. She perked an ear behind her as a group of students began to approach from around a corner. She grabbed the teen in front of her and drug him to a nearby empty classroom.

"Atem, what the hell happened?" she asked the spirit that had coalesced beside his host.

"It was the Shadow Walker. He took us to the Shadow Realm. He wanted to ask for my opinion."

Atem was surprised to see Kat go from concern to panic.

"Did he show himself to you?" she asked worriedly.

Atem shook his head. "No. It was as if he was one with the Shadows. All I heard was his voice, though I'm going to assume it wasn't real, just like the likeness of you in the Puzzle."

Kat appeared to be relieved. "You said he wanted your opinion. Of what?" she questioned, again concerned.

"He appeared to be very concerned about your relationship with Marik, and whether he should step in on my behalf. He confirmed that you and I were, and technically still are, married."

Kat scowled at him. "So what now? Are you going to try and tell me who I can and can't date?" she asked bitterly.

Atem shook his head. "On the contrary. It's not my place to say. It's obvious that you have moved on from whatever we might have been," he stated in earnest.

Kat eyed him suspiciously. "Are you being mind controlled or something? That does not sound anything like the Atem I know."

This caused the spirit to chuckle. "I'm not certain who the Atem you know is. I've no recollection of him."

"Oh, really? Stands about your height, crazy hair, is a real sore loser. You sure you don't remember him?" Kat said sarcastically.

"Nope."

The two laughed over the joke, making Yugi smile. He was glad to see them getting along. His stomach grumbled loudly, drawing the attention of the two ancient beings.

"Um...sorry. Not to break up the two of you getting along, but I should probably try to eat what I can before classes resume," he said as he fidgeted nervously.

"Go ahead. I'll take care of the teacher if you're late to class."

"I probably don't want to know, do I?"

Kat looked at him in confusion. "Huh? Do you think I'm going to use magic on them or something?"

"You're not?"

"No. Everyone knows that money and a well placed handshake can go a long way," she chuckled.

Yugi's face fell. "Bribery? That's better than magic I guess." He took a nearby seat and began to eat.

"And how much money and well placed handshakes make people ignore those?" Atem questioned in amusement, pointing towards her ears and tail.

Kat glanced upwards for a second, then down at her arm. She brought it in front of her and sank her fangs in, holding them there until the ears and tail vanished, lapping at the blood that remained after the wound had healed. She then looked casually towards the spirit. "I haven't the slightest clue as to what you are talking about."

Atem and Yugi were both slightly shocked at her actions. "Doesn't that hurt?" Atem asked.

"Every time," she sighed. She then began to look around the room, as if studying its layout. "Take all the time you need. This room won't get used during the next class period," she stated, changing the topic.

"How do you know that?" Yugi questioned.

Kat didn't even look at him as she answered. "I've watched over you your entire life. Knowing the layout of every building you enter, and who is where and when is kind of important stuff to know."

Yugi paused from eating. "Is that why you were so concerned when I disappeared?"

"Of course."

He hung his head, putting the bite he was holding down. "Because without me you can't bring back Atem…."

"Huh?" Kat turned to see the melancholy that had taken over the teen. "That has nothing to do with it. Believe it or not, I do hold emotional attachment towards you. You're….."

Yugi looked up, a bit surprised to see the elemental physically expressing a deep amount of sorrow. Her posture told him that she didn't see him as just Atem's host. That her concern for him earlier had been genuine.

"I'm sorry. I guess I just assumed that I was just a means to an end," he stated quietly.

"No. You're more than that. I've kept you at a distance. Tried to keep you safe. Right now, when I look at you….I see a light in the darkness. You are the one that drives me. Reminds me of why I'm still fighting."

Yugi wanted to ask what she meant by that, but the sound of several pairs of feet stopping outside the door prevented him. The door burst open with his friends standing on the other side. They all rushed in, grateful to see that Yugi was okay. Bakura was the last to enter, closing the door behind him.

"Yugi! We're glad you're alright! We were so worried! Where did you go?" Téa questioned, fussing over her friend.

"It's a bit much to explain right now Téa, but everything is alright," Yugi answered, smiling in reassurance.

The others were getting ready to barrage Yugi with more questions when they were interrupted by shouting.

"Kura, I am this close to royally kicking your ass!" Kat was holding her index finger and thumb extremely close together near Bakura's face.

"Hey! It's not my fault! The kid was fucking right behind me!"

"How could you not sense he was missing!?"

"You didn't sense it either!"

Kat backed down for a minute, then stared bitterly towards Bakura. "There's something I have to take care of. Think you can manage to go the rest of the day without losing him?"

"Yeah, yeah. Get out of here." Bakura waved her off, and she vanished into her usual vortex of fire. He then looked towards the group. "The rest of you should hurry off. The bell will be ringing soon. Yugi and I will join you shortly."

The others looked towards each other, then left reluctantly, reiterating the same warning Kat had given.

"I'm sorry you got in trouble," Yugi said apologetically.

"Not your fault kid. I just apparently need to relearn how to sense when unfamiliar magic is being used near me."

"At least one good thing came out of it."

"Oh?"

"Kat and Atem were actually getting along for a few minutes," Yugi said, smiling.

Bakura stared in shock. "For real?"

"Yes. It was a bit of a surprise to me too. And a relief," Atem added.

Bakura chuckled in amusement. "I wouldn't get too comfortable just yet. I'm certain you'll still find a way to unintentionally piss her off."

So happy :) People are starting to get along :) Now lets see if I can keep it that way!

Also, if you're still here, a friendly reminder that comments/reviews make my little brain cells do happy dances :)