/Masika: I do not want to do this. I am going on a huge bird object that will be flying so far off the ground, one step off is instant death./
/Téa: Relax. I fly all the time, Masika. You always did just fine. Divinity should be having more of a problem than you./
/Masika: Téa, I buried myself completely inside of you during this, not even looking outward. This. Plane. I hate it. I hate this overwhelming fear inside of me. I wanted to pass into the afterlife safely, but no, it will be with pain, plunging to the Earth!/ Masika stared at the stairs while holding Téa's cat. Mokuba was trying to pull her up into the jet with her other free hand.
"Hey there, relax, come on," Mokuba said kindly to her. "It's not going to hurt you. Didn't you go through this before? What's wrong?"
"She was buried too deep." The Greatest Pharaoh stood beside her. "You barely broke the surface within Téa, even I could not sense you, Masika. Now, you are in complete control. I know what you are feeling. Being alive. It's not easy to get used to it. Feeling fears, anxieties, even speaking and walking is hard. The fears we felt in life are even more amplified. But, I know you can do this. Take Mokuba's hand and be brave."
Masika watched as Joey just patted The Greatest Pharoah's shoulder, hard.
"Yep, that's Yami confirmed," Joey said out loud. "Nobody else gives speeches like that."
/Masika: The amount of disrespect for the King of Egypt!/
/Téa: Yeah, that's Joey. He treats everyone equal, Masika. As much as it feels wrong, Joey is right. Treat Atem like you would treat me or Mokuba or anyone else./
/Masika: I am not prostrating in front of the King of Egypt, The Greatest Pharaoh, and I have exchanged words. Isn't that enough? Where's Bakura?/
/Téa: Don't worry about Bakura, you can see your friend later, but you aren't staying with him. You are going to be running a shop with Yugi and Atem and me. Get over it. Treat Atem like a regular guy and he's easy to get along with. I know you can. When you were in the game, you weren't speaking Egyptian. When you introduced yourself to me, you weren't speaking Egyptian. Maybe you tried to stay deeper, but you can't tell me that things didn't change./
/Masika: Fine. Yes. I have modernized myself a little. I still don't feel, as you would say, I should 'rub shoulders' with the frickin' Pharaoh./
/Téa: Life goes on. You said it yourself. Life changed a bunch in the few years I ran it./
/Masika: Téa. You don't understand what it's like being near him. Take the highest celebrity you have ever known and take that excitement and add absolute fear to it./
/Téa: I know you don't think of Atem as a friend, but we are sharing bodies, and I do./
/Masika: Well, I am not very adamant about being near The Greatest Pharaoh! One wrong word to a Pharaoh sent people to death in my time. If they were having a bad day, many people could die for no reason! We should go with Bakura, he protects us!/
/Téa: I'm sure Atem didn't do that. Maybe the people around the Pharaoh. You know, like businesses today. So? Don't think of Atem like this evil person. He even saved me, knowing there would be a bad punishment, Masika. He's a friend./
Hmph.
/Téa: I know he hurt your cat./
/Masika: He stampeded over it with a horse. Is that what you call hurt?/
/Téa: I know. I am sorry. That shouldn't set a precedent of how you get along with him though, it was an accident. Even your cat seemed to forgive him. I promise, he won't hurt you. You could be good friends./
/Masika: I am friends with Bakura, and I know from your words, what transpired between them. I highly doubt I can be in the elite that stayed by the Pharaoh./
/Téa: Well, you are going to be running a business together, so get over your fear! Just take it as a nice honor if you have to, but don't cower./
/Masika: I don't cower. Bakura would never forgive me if I did such a thing to Pharoah Atem! I respect, I do not cower./
/Téa: There, you see? You said his name./
/Masika: His name is The Greatest Pharoah Atem. I was speaking formally with you though, not him./
/Anzu: His name is different in different company?/
/Masika: Ooooh, my goodness, yes./
/Téa: Yeah. I'm guessing Bakura never called him that./
/Masika: That fucker would never call him anything honorable./
/Téa: Masika?!/
/Masika: What?/
/Téa: You. Cursed./
/Masika: So?/
/Téa: I didn't picture you as a curser, that's all. But? I guess, Bakura was your friend. Is your friend. Anyhow? I can imagine how much it's changed in your time but I have a request./
Hm?
/Téa: I want you to call him Atem instead of Greatest Pharaoh. In fact? I want you to tell Yugi to make that request of everybody. You can't run a shop with someone saying 'Hey, Pharaoh, how much is this card'./
/Masika: I cannot connect with the Greatest Pharaoh's vessel./
/Téa: No, you have to tell Atem to tell Yugi my request./
/Masika: Have you been drinking out of the wrong side of the Nile River?!/ Masika picked up one foot and reached for Mokuba's hand. /Masika: Ending my life on a gigantic metal bird of death./ Although she couldn't just disobey Téa either. What could she do?
Masika held onto Mokuba's hand as she arrived onboard. She sat down. The longer she was inside that body, in control, the worse she felt. Feeling. She gave Divinity to Mokuba and stared straight. /Masika: Just don't think about where we are. If only Bakura had come too, but he didn't want to travel with the Pharaoh when Téa made it clear she wanted to stay with Yugi in his Game Shop./
"Loosen up, Hon, you're going to be okay," Mai said to her. "I'm not leaving Skeezy. He won't go after friends again."
"After friends," Joey muttered. "Ignore me all these years, but you stayed actual friends with Téa. Slumber parties too."
"It's called staying in New York for the weekends," Mai told him. "I told you why, Joey, don't start this."
Joey muttered but stopped talking.
/Masika: Am I not supposed to be okay? Why is she telling me that I am going to be okay?/
/Téa: Because you will be okay. Mai is a good person, don't worry. Remember? She comes down sometimes. Usually tears up something in my life for a day, but the day before that's always fantastic. Never would have changed a thing. Barely made work though when she came./
"The edges." The Greatest Pharaoh's voice again. "Your hands are unconsciously gripping the edges of your chair."
Okay. Masika should let go of the edges. It sounded like something The Greatest Pharaoh wanted, but her hands wouldn't stop clenching.
"Okay, so," Joey started once everyone was on and strapped in. "This whole switch off thing. How long and why? And the more I'm looking at you, Pharaoh, the more I'm starting to notice something strange about that puzzle."
"Yes. I will try to explain from the beginning," The Greatest Pharaoh said. "I was in the afterlife, but I don't remember it. However, through the power of the millennium necklace, I saw what happened. Téa was in trouble, and Masika had no more power to help, without me there. However, to regain the power of the monsters that Egypt possessed, many innocent sacrifices had to be made. She prayed to the gods for assistance, and they let me hear her voice. I could not allow the sacrifices, but I could not allow Téa to suffer either."
Masika listened to be aware of the Greatest Pharaoh's words while she tried to unclench her fingers on the seat.
"I made a deal. A spiritual deal," The Greatest Pharaoh continued. "The millennium necklace on Masika grew from her, it is attached by the gods. As is, the millennium puzzle. Yugi uses the rope so no one notices it attached to him."
"Whaaa- the puzzle is growing from his stomach?!" Joey almost flipped backward in his seat. "Say it ain't so!"
"It is so, Joey," The Greatest Pharaoh said. "Unless we find a way to appease the gods with a different price, or a way to lessen the severity, then we are doomed to live half-lives, with them."
/Téa: Okay, maybe try just one finger at a time, Masika?/
/Masika: It still won't unclasp. Hands are not a hard object-Nyah, heh, we're moving?! I still cannot let go./
/Téa: Masika. Is there anything I can do?/
/Masika: This is not taking care of your body, Téa, I am the one at fault, I just don't know-/
"She is really out of it, I don't even think she's recognized I'm right here."
Masika looked beside her. The woman Mai put her hand on top of hers.
"Hey." She rubbed her hand. "Relax, okay? I gotta imagine being from some ancient Egypt, being thrust into a body, and forced to get on something impossible in your time as a plane is a lot to handle."
Atem watched Joey for a reaction. So far, he hadn't mentioned anything else beyond a shout about the puzzle.
/Yugi: Atteeem!/
/Atem: Yugi?/
/Yugi: Go help Masika so Mai gets away from her now!/
Yugi was paying attention, wasn't he? /Atem: I just told Joey that a puzzle grew out of your body and you've been cursed to live a half-life. Aren't you interested in his reaction more? Advice? Suggestions? He can sometimes be very smart./
/Yugi: If she and Téa feel more comfortable with Mai, then she'll want to go with Mai or Joey. You don't get it. Joey said Mai even stayed for weekends with Téa, she's comfortable with Mai, and she's the only thing missing in my life, this could be my last chance!/
Atem understood. Yugi's friendship with Téa was extremely delicate. He got up and over to the other side. The jet had decent seating, although not many. Joey would say something in his own time about the situation. Atem watched Masika, but she only seemed to clam up more, sensing his presence now. She presented herself straight and kept everything under control, except her hands. "Mai. May I sit there so I can talk to her and calm her down?"
"Be my guest if you want to try." Mai stood up and went to another seat.
Atem tried to think of what to say. The rest of her body was trying to be good, but the hands would not let go. His presence near her was never relaxing. /Atem: I don't know what to try, Yugi. I believe I make her worse, not better. She sees me almost like a god, I stress her out./
/Yugi: I don't know. Take her hand. Say 'there, there'. Something, Atem. Even if it doesn't work, if they see we are affectionate, maybe they'll feel better with us./
"Hey, Masika?" Mokuba came around the corner. "I heard you weren't doing so well."
"I am fine, Mokuba," Masika said. "Only a small problem."
"It's a long way back home, so that small problem is a big problem." Mokuba examined her hands. He rubbed them. "There, there, Masika."
/Atem: She hasn't loosened up a single bit./ Masika was no ordinary human being, she was a spirit, and she had kept herself hidden deeply inside Téa. Too deep. /Téa is not the only one who will be getting a crash course in a double spirit bond, Yugi. Be patient./ He watched as Joey came round the corner.
"So, like for Yugi's whole life? He doesn't own his body any more than you do?" Joey was coming to terms with what he said. "Same with Téa's ghostfriend. Unless we figure out something? Then, we gotta figure out something 'cause that ain't no way to live." He looked at Masika and Mokuba. "Whattup with the Masika hands?"
/Yugi: Pharoah, please, try something!/
"I am handling her." Atem had already told him that.
"You're handling her?" Joey looked disgusted and mocked him. "Nice job, Great Pharoah, on the handling 'cause you suck at it." Joey touched her other hand. "Hey, loosen up or your gonna lose your own fingers there."
/Yugi: Joey is touching her hand!/
The stimulus from Yugi was incredibly high, it felt like he was yelling right into his ear! Atem moved Joey's hand away. "That will not do, Joey, I said I am handling it!"
"Oh, you guys." Mokuba sighed and undid Masika's seatbelt. He took her hand. "Stand up and move around from here to there. Then, when you sit down, maybe you'll feel better?"
Atem watched as Mokuba managed to get her to stand up and walk. /Atem: It was a joint try?/ Yugi was far from happy. /Atem: I'm sorry to disappoint you. I will try to get her to get along with me, but this won't happen overnight./
/Yugi: I know, but please, never stop trying. The closer you are to Masika, the better things can be between me and Téa. Masika is much closer to Bakura, and you accidentally killed her precious cat./
Right. Yugi needed this. /Atem: I will find a way to make friends with her, Yugi. I promise./
—
Domino City
Game Shop
Rooms weren't that hard for them. Even though there were four of them, there were only two bodies. Grandpa of course welcomed them.
"Did Yugi want his old room?" Grandpa asked him. "Or did he want a bigger one now?"
/Yugi: Tell Grandpa my old room is fine, Atem./
"Yugi will take his old room," Atem spoke for him.
"Okay then." Grandpa moved over slightly. "I guess Téa would be fine with the room next to yours?"
/Yugi: Yes!/
"That's fine too," Atem said for him again.
"Good." Grandpa nodded. "Then?" He scratched his cheek. "There's a lot of old storage in there you need to clean out. Have fun."
/Yugi: Yeah, that's Grandpa. Ask him where he wants-/
"Yugi's got a huge house he's not using right now, so I'm sure he can find room for it." He walked off.
Atem walked into the room. Tried to walk into the room. Yep. /Atem: Do you think you'll be changing back soon?/
/Yugi: Oh, I hope not. Have Joey help you drive back and forth. The keys to my house are in the pocket. I'm going to go rest in my soul room for a little while./
At least Yugi found some silver lining. He looked toward Masika who was getting shown around her room with Grandpa.
"There's a nice window. A nice bed," Grandpa said. "You can decorate it however you want. Or? Well I suppose you should ask Téa first."
"Téa said she doesn't mind the room. We'll focus on decorations later." Her mouth squirmed around.
"Ooh, what's that?" Grandpa asked. "What's Téa telling you? Ooh, is it a nice juicy secret?"
Masika took a moment to answer. "I need to find Joey to do all the work for me. I mean? He should help. I shouldn't phrase it so impolitely."
Grandpa just chuckled. "Oh, you definitely have Téa in you."
Masika bowed and started to head downstairs.
Atem followed behind her, not too close. They would both need help moving things. Joey was just outside, trying to work out something with Mai.
"Joey." Masika bowed toward him. "Hello. Téa said to ask for your help. If you are too busy, then I will get Bakura. He always has strong hands."
"Eesh, Yug won't like that." Joey went toward her. "What do you need?"
"The rooms have been storage areas," Atem said coming closer. "We need to move things out of there, put them in a car, and put them into Yugi's home."
"Oh, man." Joey of course wasn't thrilled. "Fine, let's get this moving. Mai? You want to help?"
"Not really." Mai came with them anyhow. She started to help Masika, while Joey helped with Atem.
"So?" Joey said to Atem as Masika went downstairs away from them with Mai. "Yugi okay with this?"
"He's taking it well," Atem said.
"He couldn't stop thinking about Téa. Seriously, guy just never got over her, after all these years. He must be going nuts right now having her here for so long and so close again. You really need to get along with Masika, whenever all the learning to live in their daily lives is done, he's going to want to have Téa stay with him."
"Yes, I know," Atem agreed. "However, Masika can't see me as a friend."
"Well, peasants probably didn't make friends with Pharaohs. Ever," Joey said. "Maybe she'll get over it as she hangs around modern times more. You really need to make sure you get along though."
"Yes, I know Joey."
"Can't be easy with her liking Bakura. She wanted to get him to help if I didn't. They are way too close."
"It isn't the greatest thing. I'm sure it won't be pleasant." Even if it wasn't Zorc, it was still Bakura. The Bandit Thief. He was never an innocent person.
"It'd probably be a good idea if our friendly Bakura picks her up to hang out so she doesn't run away with Téa's body," Joey recommended. "Then again? Maybe not. We don't need another cool guy comin' on over here to steal another friend away."
Atem knew he was talking about Mai. "Yugi will still help however he can. We'll eventually figure out something. We won't leave Mai in that predicament, Joey."
"You probably have a lot in common, it shouldn't be too hard to get to be friends." Joey didn't stick around the subject line of Mai. "You died in Ancient Egypt. She died in Ancient Egypt. You like games. She probably likes at least one game."
Good point. "Playing a game could break the ice." It could also strengthen the ice. "It depends on the game we played."
"Yeah. Just try something. Whether he goes to New York or she stays in Domino City, they gotta get a real strong connection to decide that kind of thing." He drifted off as they moved closer to Mai and Masika. "Be sure to tell me when Yug gets back. You sure those are the keys in the front pocket?"
"Yugi said so." Atem gave him the keys.
Joey grinned and took them. "Guess until Yug can drive, I get his car."
Atem expected to hear a line from Yugi. He must still be in his room.
"Okay then, since spirits don't have licenses, everybody get in." Joey spun the keys around his finger.
"Yeah, we'll get this done and everybody safe," Mai said. "Then I need to get back home."
"If that's what you want to call it," Joey muttered.
Mai didn't reply to him as she got into the rental with Masika.
Joey took the majority of stuff with Atem.
They just stuck everything in the main room of Yugi's home for now. Seemed fair, Yugi could figure it out later when he got back to living at his own home.
Joey and Mai gave Atem and Masika a ride back to the Game Shop and said goodbye.
Now?
"Do you like to play any games?" Atem asked Masika.