This is what I call a 'glue chapter'. It kinda helps hold the chapters around it together.
"So what are we doing now that we've all finished eating?" Yugi asked no one in particular.
"I was thinking we could just wander around and check out whatever catches our eye," Atem replied.
"That sounds like a great idea, but first," Téa looked over at the only other female in the group, "Kat, would you mind visiting Victoria's Secret with me?"
Kat stared blankly for a moment. "Me?"
"Yeah! In case it isn't obvious, most of my friends are of the male variety. They aren't exactly comfortable visiting a women's lingerie store, so I usually have to go on my own. Besides, I thought it would give us a chance to get to know one another better."
Kat glanced uncertainly towards Marik, who gave a subtle nod indicating she should go.
"Sure…why not?" she replied, sounding nearly as uncertain as she felt. She glanced this time at both her friends, hoping one of them might come to her rescue. The look they both gave her indicated that they were finding her current situation amusing, and she furled a small scowl to express how she felt about that amusement.
Kat groaned quietly as she began to follow the other female.
"Habibty, wait!"
Relief washed over Kat. Marik must have picked up on her discomfort.
Marik leaned in close to whisper something in her ear while attempting to subtly slide a small object into her hand. He then gave her a quick peck before rushing back to the others.
"What was that about?" Téa asked.
Kat looked at the pink card that had been placed in her hand, wondering which god was punishing her by forcing her into this 'female bonding' bullshit.
She unenthusiastically flashed the card between two fingers. "He wants the reward points."
Téa chuckled. "Guess we should be going then."
"Hey, you said you wanted to look at a new computer, right?" Imhotep asked his twin.
"Oh, yeah! Didn't you say you could help me pick out the best one for both games and programming?"
"Easily! I'm not as super techy as Mkhai, but I did help with building my current setup."
Yugi looked at the rest of the group. "Anyone else want to join us?"
"I'll go," Bakura said casually. "I need to get a new phone. I obviously can't rely on the Tomb Keeper to wake me up."
"Will you let that go?" Marik asked in annoyance.
"I'll answer that in about seven-to-ten business days."
Marik shook his head in exasperation. He then turned his focus towards Atem.
"This whole thing was your idea. Is there someplace you wanted to check out?"
Atem stared blankly for a moment before answering. "Not really. It was just a random thought. I had no intention of taking the lead on anything."
"Shocking," Bakura scoffed.
Atem ignored the unwelcome comment.
"Well, if you want, I don't mind walking around and just checking out whatever happens to catch our attention," Marik suggested. "Unless you want to join the others in shopping for tech."
Atem glanced in uncertainty towards Yugi and Imhotep.
"Go ahead. We'll meet up and do something as a group later," Yugi said with a reassuring smile.
Atem gave a slight smile and nodded, watching as the other three headed off in the direction of the mall's tech store.
"You can still join them if you want," Marik stated as he took note of the conflicted expression that had formed on Atem's face.
Atem shook his head. "No. Not with Bakura around. It would just be one argument after another."
He fell into stride beside Marik, who had started walking in the same direction the girls had gone.
"So what's going on with you? You seem really indecisive," Marik questioned.
Atem glanced over his shoulder, taking note of Malik falling into his old routine of trailing behind while simultaneously observing their surroundings.
"Would you be surprised to learn that being Pharaoh never really involved making a lot of personal decisions?" Atem replied to Marik's question. "The decisions I made daily were always for the people of my kingdom. I chose little for myself. I am now having to adjust to things being the other way around, and I am uncertain as to what it is that I want for myself."
"Besides moving out?"
Atem chuckled lightly. "That is more of something that I feel is necessary given the current nature of things between Katrina and I."
"Didn't you do anything for fun in ancient times?"
Atem looked wistfully ahead. "Walking the gardens, playing senet, occasionally joining in on hunts, horseback riding along the Nile," he sighed heavily. "And I was never alone."
Marik stopped and hung his head. "And you probably wouldn't be now if I hadn't insisted on following Yugi and Bakura to the park that day."
"Perhaps not," Atem stated. "Most likely I would still be trapped in the Puzzle, Imhotep would probably still be showing me things, and Katrina would have continued to keep her distance from everyone except Bakura." He placed a reassuring hand on Marik's shoulder. "I do not blame you for the events that transpired after that day, nor do I blame you for the fact that I am without my wife by my side. If anything, I wish to thank you for restoring her smile. It vanished millennia ago, and I have been unable to bring it back."
"I still feel as though I've made a mess of things for you again."
Atem lowered his hand while shaking his head. "No, you have not. If it weren't for you, Katrina would have stayed with me simply because it felt familiar and safe. We would still be bitter and miserable. I do not want that for her, any more than she wants it for me."
Marik lifted his head. "Thanks. It's something that's kinda been in the back of my mind this whole time. It didn't really bother me that you were mad at first, it was more that I had screwed up again."
"Honestly, I was more upset about the situation in general than at anyone in particular. I had just been revived, not to mention I'd just had all my memories crammed back into my head, only to discover that the one thing I had looked forward to upon my revival was still out of reach."
"Let me guess? Sex with your now-ex wife?" Marik said unenthusiastically.
"Do you have any idea how aggravating it was having to share a body with another, being able to still feel those 'urges', and not having any way to relieve it?" Atem asked in annoyance.
"I imagine it was torture."
"That is an understatement."
"I guess that explains drunk sex with Bakura."
Atem's face fell. "At least I was fortunate enough to be black-out drunk. If I'd been sober, I would be questioning my mental state."
Marik attempted to stifle a chuckle. "I think we all would."
"Can we discuss something else?" Atem groaned.
"Like how you obviously need some sort of hobby to fill all of your free time?"
"Sure, we'll go with that."
Marik looked around, before spotting the store he was looking for. "How about we start there?"
Atem looked towards the hobby and craft store that Marik had indicated.
"I guess it couldn't hurt. If anything, maybe I'll get a few ideas."
Things are getting there, I promise! We are approaching a pinnacle point in the story. Things will start to progress at a much faster rate (far less multi-chapter 'days').