This is one of a few chapters I had been planning since the beginning of this story, it was just a matter of getting to this point to write it. I am very happy with how this turned out.
Question of the chapter, because I'm curious to hear from you: What moment from Yu-Gi-Oh! has stuck with you? It can be anime or manga, dubbed or subbed. It doesn't even have to be significant to the story. It can be a quote, five seconds of an episode, a panel in the manga, anything. I'll leave my moment at the end of this chapter. Enjoy this chapter while you ponder your answer.
Sugoroku walked up the stairs to Mahou's room. He knocked on the ajar door. "Mahou, we need to leave soon or we will be late."
Mahou opened the door the rest of the way. She had on a blue skirt and black top with a blue blazer over top. Around her throat was a black velvet choker. Her hair was down and framing her current worried expression.
"Is this okay?" she asked, tugging at the knee-length skirt.
"It looks fine," Sugoroku said with a little confusion.
"Are you sure?" she asked, turning her feet to show her socks. "I look acceptable?"
"Yes, Mahou. What . . . ?"
"W-we're meeting your friend," Mahou began to babble. "He's important in the archeological circles and there's a good chance there are future investors and . . . and . . . I don't want to embarrass you, Grandpa."
"Oh, Mahou, no. No, you won't embarrass me," said Sugoroku. "You look perfectly acceptable. Yuugi's going as he normally would go anywhere. You two actually are matching."
"Oh," Mahou responded quietly. "What about . . . I mean . . . I'm not really . . ."
Sugoroku was able to piece together what she was trying to say. "Yuugi hasn't met him either. As far as he is going to be concerned I have two grandchildren living with me."
"Will he believe that?" Mahou whispered.
"He will. He may ask a few questions, but we have believable answers," said Sugoroku. "Now, Yuugi's probably wondering what happened to us."
Yuugi and the others stood on the steps of the Domino museum. They were dressed in casual wear: Jounouchi in jeans and a black and yellow letter jacket, Honda in slacks, a green collared shirt and a white sweater over top, Miho in a pink sweater and shorts, and Anzu in a pink shirt, blue vest, and a short skirt.
Jounouchi looked at Yuugi. "Yuugi, school clothes on a Sunday?"
"Huh? Is that weird?" Yuugi asked.
"Mutou-san."
Sugoroku smiled at a man coming up the stairs.
"I'm sorry I haven't kept in contact."
"No, it's the same with me," said Sugoroku. "I'm grateful to you for showing us the exhibit. Oh, let me introduce everyone. This is Professor Yoshimori."
"Pleased to meet you." He was on the tall side and didn't look as old as Sugoroku.
"You found the king's grave. What a talented person!" said Honda.
"Cool!" squealed Miho.
Sugoroku looked behind Yoshimori. "If I'm not mistaken, that person is . . ."
"Yes, the sponsor for today's display," said Yoshimori.
A squat man with a gray mustache sitting under his large nose walked up the stairs. He was wearing a yellow suit, red bowtie, and small brimmed hat. "I'm Kanekura. Welcome to my museum."
Something about Kanekura put Mahou on edge. She drew back a little. At the same time she noticed Yuugi looking across the courtyard. She looked around, but saw nothing.
Kanekura turned to Yoshimori and said something quietly.
"Oh, right," said Yoshimori. "Mutou-san, you talked about a grandson who solved the Millennium Puzzle?"
"Oh, you mentioned him?" asked Sugoroku.
Hearing being mentioned, Yuugi turned.
"Oh. So you're Yuugi-kun?" Yoshimori asked.
Kanekura whipped around a looked at the Puzzle around Yuugi's neck. "So that's the rumored Millennium Puzzle?" He grabbed it and held it up, pulling Yuugi up with it. "This is amazing! Truly a cultural relic of Egypt."
"Kanekura-san is a special art dealer, you can trust his eyes," said Yoshimori.
Yuugi took the Millennium Puzzle back with a smile.
"Ummm . . . more importantly, let's hurry and see the mummies," said Honda.
"Let's go, let's go!" cried Miho.
Jounouchi rolled his eyes.
"Yuugi-kun, please! Let us display this Millennium Puzzle at this exhibit!" begged Kanekura. "Please!"
Yuugi's expression fell. Oh no . . . I want to always keep it on me though . . . "Okay, it's only for one day after all."
"O-okay. Thank you, Yuugi-kun." Kanekura carefully took it from Yuugi's neck. "The Egyptian display is grateful as well."
They went into the museum and began the tour.
"Amazing!" cried Miho. "Hey, Anzu, look at this necklace! The ruby is even bigger than the chickens!"
"Miho. You're drooling," said Anzu.
Mahou balanced her sketchbook on her arm and was lightly sketching. She looked at the necklace in the display case. "Those are falcons, Miho."
"All these treasures belong to the people who dig them up?" Jounouchi asked Yoshimori.
"No. By 1921, about half the treasure became personal possessions. But now all of it belongs to Egypt."
"Yeah. That's why in 1922 when Carter found Tutankhamen's tomb, he didn't get a single one of the famous treasures," said Sugoroku.
"I see," said Yuugi, looking at a statuette of a jackal. "I thought archaeologists were shallow people just after treasure."
"Of course not!" said Yoshimori. "There's not much profit in this. However, the moment you open the door to history you get a sense of joy that can't be put into words. As long as there's that, I won't stop."
"You truly are after romance before money," said Sugoroku.
"That's right," said Yoshimori.
"Ah! Look! This is beautiful!" Anzu turned their attention to a slab with a scene painted on it.
"This is the judgement of the dead, isn't it?" asked Sugoroku.
"Before the king of the underworld, the dead's crimes from when they were alive would be measured using a scale," Yoshimori explained. "If the weight of the sin caused the scale to tilt to one side, monsters would eat them."
"Scary!" Miho said.
"Okay! Next is the mummy corner," Yoshimori told them.
Jounouchi paled. "Mummy! So we are seeing them?"
Honda's face lit up. Mummy! It comes! Finally! Finally!
They went over to the mummy corner.
Miho screamed at the sight of the uncovered mummy.
"Finally." Honda opened his arms. "Okay, Miho-chan! Go ahead and jump into my chest!" Something hit him in the chest.
"Cute!" squealed Miho happily.
Honda was confused.
"Y-you . . ." stammered Anzu to Miho. "Just what kind of sensation are you having?"
"Because the head is shaved, it looks like a baby," Miho replied.
Honda looked down at who he was holding. It was Jounouchi.
"I suddenly felt bad. It's the curse . . . the mummy's curse!"
"How long are you going to do that?' Honda gave Jounouchi a hard shove.
Jounouchi nearly collided with the display case. He screamed coming face to face with the mummy. He turned to Anzu and Miho. "Let's go to the next one before we get cursed!" He steered them away.
"What is it so suddenly?" protested Anzu.
"Just do it! Come on!" Jounouchi continued to push them away.
Yuugi and Mahou stayed behind, the latter looking at the mummy while her hand drew in the sketchbook. The page was sectioned and she was in the process of drawing a human face. She finished marking off where all the features would be and began shading when she felt someone walk up next to them.
"An Egyptian?" Yuugi said quietly.
Mahou looked up from her sketchbook. Next to them was a man in white robes and a turban with a white feather tucked into the folds. He was holding a set of golden scales and around his neck was a golden ankh-like key.
"Why are you crying?" Yuugi asked him.
Mahou noticed the tears running down the man's face.
"These are not my tears," he said. "This rotted figure . . . it's almost like a puppet of dirt. Despite that, the soul of a great pharaoh still lives within it. Prevented from its eternal slumber . . . The lamentation of its soul becomes tears within me."
A square of white appeared in the man's line of vision. Mahou was offering him a tissue. He took it. He noticed the partial drawing Mahou was working on.
"Oh, um, it's not done yet," Mahou said quietly, turning it away. "I'm trying my hand at facial reconstruction drawings. Seeing what he may have looked like when he was alive."
"That is very noble of you," said the man.
Yuugi blinked. He has a scale. What a strange person.
A dark hand ruffled Yuugi's hair. "What a cute boy. You have a kind sister." He walked away.
"Boy? I'm a high school student!" Yuugi yelled, outraged. "Weird Egyptian."
"Sister?" Mahou whispered. I guess to strangers we do look like siblings.
Their attention was taken by Jounouchi calling out. "Look! Yuugi's puzzle is on display over there!"
"That's great!" said Miho, hurrying over.
Yuugi saw the Puzzle in the case. "It's true!"
They all gathered around to look at the Millennium Puzzle hanging in the case.
"Yuugi's treasure is famous!" Jounouchi said.
Yuugi laughed. "I guess."
"We should take a memorial photo," said Anzu.
Yoshimori came up to them. "Yuugi-kun, you didn't actually want to let the Millennium Puzzle go, right?"
Yuugi gave a shy laugh. "No."
"This excavation wouldn't have been possible without Kanekura-san. I couldn't say anything in my situation," said Yoshimori.
Kanekura was standing off to the side.
Anzu found a camera. "Okay, everyone. I'm going to take the photo."
The others stood around the case, Honda and Miho on one side and Jounouchi, Mahou, and Yuugi on the other.
"Okay. Pose!" Anzu told them. She took the picture.
Later they all walked out.
"Ah, that was fun," said Anzu.
"Yeah! Miho is so touched! Right, Honda-kun?"
Honda turned to her. "R-right!" He tried to hide his disappointment that the day hadn't gone as he expected.
"Professor Yoshimori, thank you for today," said Sugoroku.
"No, no," Yoshimori dismissed. "So I must return to the college."
"Goodbye!" they said. "Thank you very much!"
"Hey everyone, what should we do now?" asked Anzu.
"I'm waiting till closing time," said Yuugi. "I want to get the Puzzle back."
"Then let's split up here," said Anzu.
"See you again tomorrow!" Yuugi said to her as she left.
"Later," said Honda and Jounouchi.
"Bye," waved Miho.
Yuugi looked at his watch. "Four thirty? Just thirty more minutes."
"Yuugi," said Mahou, "I'm going to go back inside. I want to finish a few sketches. I'll meet you back out here after closing."
"Okay."
Mahou went back inside and back to where the mummy was. I'm sure I can finish this before I have to leave, she thought.
The museum was practically empty. Mahou heard her footsteps loudly on the floor. She also heard other footsteps. She looked back and saw no one there, but she could still hear them.
They must be over a few aisles of artifacts, she thought. She turned back to the mummy.
A yell of terror made her jump. She dropped the sketchbook on the floor.
"What was that?" Mahou picked up the sketchbook and put it in her bag. "It sounded like it was in another part of the museum."
She took a few cautious steps before walking quickly in the direction she heard the yell.
"This place is a maze," she whispered, taking another turn.
She found an open door. She stopped and stared at the pair of feet sticking out.
"Hello?" she called.
There was a man sprawled out on the floor.
"Sir?"
No response.
She stepped around him and gasped. His glasses were askew and he stared lifelessly at the wall. She gasped again. She looked in the room and saw Kanekura slumped over his desk.
"Kanekura-san?" she called, picking her way around the man on the floor. Are they both dead? What happened here?
It then occurred to Mahou that she may not be alone. She looked around the office to see if there was anyone else there. Her gaze came to rest on one of the paintings hanging over the office's sitting area. It was a vase full of flowers. One Mahou was familiar with.
"Edouard Manet," she murmured. She looked at the lower right corner where it was signed. The M in Manet had an odd brushstroke in it that only an expert eye would notice. It was almost as if another M had been painted under it. Mahou's M.
"Kanekura-san is a special art dealer. You can trust his eyes."
The color drained from her face. She turned to Kanekura. There was something on the desk next to his hand. A small white feather.
"That is very noble of you."
Mahou took a step back to the door and then another.
Kanekura moaned from his desk. He lifted his head and shouted to an empty room.
Mahou ran through the museum in an almost blind panic. I have to find Yuugi! We have to get out of here!
She slid to a stop when she heard Yuugi's voice close by.
"Yeah! It was really difficult!" he was saying. "But why do you have the Puzzle?"
Mahou came running around a corner and saw the back of the Egyptian standing in front of Yuugi.
"A key?" Yuugi said quietly, puzzled.
The Egyptian reached for Yuugi.
"Yuugi!" Mahou screamed, dashing forward. She reached around and blindly grabbed the Egyptian's hand, not caring that he could be holding something that could hurt her, or that she tripped in the process and was falling.
Mahou was sprawled out on the floor. She let out a little moan and pushed herself up on the stone floor.
Stone? The museum floor isn't stone.
Mahou was in a dark, narrow stone hallway, an open door on either side, one side letting light out while the other side seemed to be swallowing the light.
This is not the museum.
She got to her feet and winced. Her legs hurt, especially her ankle, her hands ached, and her eyes felt irritated.
"I don't know what power you used to visit my room . . ."
Her eyes widened. The other Yuugi!
". . . but you will tell me why you came here."
Mahou staggered forward, pain shooting up her leg from her injured ankle.
"I am a visiting guest," she heard the Egyptian say.
She went to the darkened doorway where she heard the voices coming from.
"It is only good manners that I answer your questions."
Mahou grabbed the doorway to keep from falling. The Egyptian had his back to her and standing in the dark was the other Yuugi.
Yuugi saw her in the doorway, his unamused expression changing to astonishment.
The Egyptian turned around, surprised to see Mahou.
Mahou drew back.
"Mahou-san?" Yuugi turned to Egyptian, enraged. "What did you do to her?"
"The girl grabbed my hand as I entered the boy's mind," said the Egyptian. "I was unaware I pulled her in with me. I did not know it was possible without being conscious of it."
"That's all?" snapped Yuugi.
The Egyptian looked Mahou up and down. "Traumatic events can leave scars on the soul as they would the body. Perhaps . . . you should ask her what happened."
Her eyes were red and bloodshot, her legs covered in ugly bruises, and one sock had spots of blood all around at the ankle. "What?" she asked in a small voice. She looked down at herself, going pale at the sight of her legs. She held herself tightly.
"Mahou-san, come here," Yuugi said.
She didn't respond.
"Mahou-san!"
She jumped and moved, not wanting to make Yuugi angrier than he already was.
The Egyptian stepped aside for her to pass. She shied away from him as she walked passed.
Yuugi gently pushed Mahou behind him. He turned back to the Egyptian. "Now you will tell me why you are here," he said, his voice still tight with fury.
"I have come to learn the secret of your Millennium Puzzle's power," the Egyptian replied.
"So you know the Millennium Puzzle's existence," said Yuugi.
"The Millennium Puzzle is a Dark Millennium Item," replied the Egyptian. "The story of the Millennium Items has been passed down from Ancient Egypt . . . three thousand years ago in the Valley of the Kings. They were made 'to punish thieves who would defile the tombs of the pharaohs and steal their treasures; by the magicians who served the ancient pharaohs. So it is written in the Pert Em Hru."
"So you came here using the power of one those Millennium Items?" asked Yuugi.
"The power of the Dark Millennium Cross," replied the Egyptian, the key around his neck glinting. "This is the key to people's room of minds. By looking at the room, I can learn all about the person. Disposition, potential ability, complex. And I also possess the Dark Millennium Scales. It is an item that measures the weight of sin for those being judged. However I do not know the power of the Millennium Puzzle. How much power does its completed form have?"
"So you entered my mind to find that answer?" Yuugi asked.
"Seeing this room I can tell there is great power within it," said the Egyptian. "I want to ascertain that fact. And if we need the power, my family will be taking it."
"Your family?"
The Egyptian nodded.
"The Puzzle's power is indeed in my room," said Yuugi. "But I can't tell you that easily. You get it? It's game time."
Mahou gave a little gasp.
"All right."
"If you win, I will tell you the secret of the Millennium Puzzle," said Yuugi. "The rules are easy. Somewhere in this mind is my true room. Can you find it?"
The Egyptian chuckled. "I forgot to mention I had special abilities. Once I enter someone's room of the mind, I can freely manipulate it. Of course I can destroy someone's personality too."
Mahou made a choked sound.
"I accept this game," said the Egyptian. "And I will find your true room!"
"Well will it really be that easy?" asked Yuugi smugly. "But this is a much more dangerous game than you think."
The room lit up to reveal staircases and freestanding doors weaving throughout the giant room.
The Egyptian stared up in shock.
"What's wrong?" asked Yuugi with a smirk. "It won't begin unless you move."
The Egyptian began his search, starting up one of the staircases.
Yuugi turned his attention to Mahou. "Come with me."
He took her aching hand and led her to a door. He opened it to a dark room and went inside, closing the door and plunging them both into pitch black. Mahou closed her eyes tightly and let Yuugi pull her along.
"Mahou-san? You can open your eyes," said Yuugi.
Mahou opened her eyes. They were in a small dimly lit room with stone throne in the middle.
"I'll be right back." Yuugi vanished.
Mahou let out a little scream. What's going on? The bruises . . . this maze . . . what is happening?
She looked around the room. There wasn't much to it other than the throne. There were hieroglyphs on the edges of the throne.
Because the Puzzle is from Egypt perhaps?
She jumped when he reappeared.
"That should keep our guest busy for some time," said Yuugi, sitting on the throne. "Now he said that scars can be left on the soul as they would the body. Which leads me to ask . . . Who did this to you, Mahou-san?"
Mahou curled up on herself. I can't . . . If I tell him, he'll know . . . He'll know that I'm not a Mutou!
Peering through her hair, she saw him staring at her, waiting for an explanation.
He'll know I lied to him . . . And what will he do to me then?
"Mahou-san. Who did this to you?" Yuugi asked again.
"No . . ." she whimpered. She cringed at the slip.
"No . . . ?" Yuugi repeated.
She shook her head.
"I need to know," Yuugi pushed. "I need to know who trespassed on your soul! Judgement needs to be passed on those who did!"
Trespassed on my soul . . . ? What does that even mean . . . ?
"Mahou!"
"There's nothing!" she screamed.
They both were shocked at the outburst.
Mahou panted. "There's nothing you can do now . . ."
Yuugi opened his mouth to argue.
"He's dead," Mahou said flatly. "He's dead . . . There's nothing to do . . ."
Yuugi mulled over the information. His attention was then drawn to something else. "You're bleeding."
"What?" Mahou looked down and saw her sock was more stained than earlier. She knelt down and pulled it back so she could see. There was a ring of raw flesh oozing blood. She put the sock back over it. "It's fine."
There was a sound outside of the room. Yuugi waved his hand at Mahou to get her to move to the side. He crossed his arms and legs and leaned back on the throne. The door opened.
"Yo," Yuugi greeted the Egyptian.
"So this is it?" the Egyptian asked. "So I've finally reached the real room?" He walked forward.
Yuugi gave a smug huff.
The floor gave out under the Egyptian. "No! It was also a trap!"
Mahou let out a scream and covered her mouth.
The Egyptian grabbed the edge and hung on, dangling into an endless dark pit. "If I fall into this deep darkness . . . I'll never leave this boy's mind!"
Yuugi stood up and walked over to the pit. He looked down at the Egyptian. "This is the end," he chuckled.
To Mahou's surprise, Yuugi offered the man his hand.
"It's okay. This hand is not a trap."
The Egyptian took it and Yuugi pulled him up.
The Egyptian knelt for a moment to get his breath. "I can't believe that in this mind, the other boy saved me. I am indebted to you."
"Peeping into the mind rooms of people is a poor hobby," said Yuugi.
"This game . . . I suppose I have lost?" asked the Egyptian.
"No," Yuugi replied. "Perhaps this is the beginning."
The Egyptian rose to this feet and turned to Mahou. "It is time to leave."
Mahou looked at Yuugi, who nodded. She followed the Egyptian to the door.
The Egyptian paused in the doorway. "Farewell," he said without turning.
They walked out of the room.
"Mahou! Mahou!"
Mahou felt someone shaking her. She opened her eyes. "Yuugi?"
Innocent purple eyes stared down in concern. He let out a sigh of relief. "I was so worried! You tripped and hit your head!"
"I'm okay." She sat up.
The Egyptian was kneeling in front of them.
Yuugi turned his attention back to him. "Hey!"
The Egyptian didn't move.
"Are you okay? You look really pale," said Yuugi. "You haven't moved this whole time."
The Egyptian raised his head. "Oh. I am okay. Let me return this." He held out the Millennium Puzzle.
Yuugi took it from him. "Thank you!"
"No need to thank me. I am indebted to you after all."
"Debt? Did I lend you something?" asked Yuugi.
"I meant to the other you."
"The other me? What are you talking about?" asked Yuugi.
Mahou looked at the Egyptian and shook her head.
"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Yuugi.
"Boy . . . what is your name?" the Egyptian asked.
"It's Yuugi! Not boy! It's Yuugi!" he cried indignantly.
The Egyptian stood. "Yuugi. There are still things I must do in this country. But when all the judgements are over, I will meet you again, I think."
"Huh?"
He looked over his shoulder. "My name is Shaadi. This is the first time I've told my name to a stranger." He chuckled and walked away.
"Weird guy," said Yuugi.
Mahou got up and brushed off her skirt. The bruises on her legs and the blood on her sock were gone. Her hands also didn't ache.
"Yuugi, we should leave. The museum is closing and Grandpa is waiting for us." Not to mention there are dead bodies in the office and I don't want us here when they're found!
"Yeah!" Yuugi agreed.
Question of the chapter: What moment from Yu-Gi-Oh! has stuck with you? I have two to share, one anime and one manga.
Anime: The brief scene in the beginning of Dawn of the Duel where Bakura is arguing with Yami Bakura in the church and the stain glass windows shatter.
Manga: Chapter 22/23, American Hero. There's a story behind this one and is also why Hanasaki has a special place in my childhood. I have a September '03 Shonen Jump monthly that a friend gave to me. I had never read manga until that point. The only reason I picked it up was because I saw Yami Yugi on the cover and she was going to get rid of it and said I could have it. It has three chapters of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! in it, starting with Digital Pet Duels. It was refreshing to see something that didn't revolve around Duel Monsters in the chapter. And then I got to American Hero, especially towards the end. This was the first time I saw Yami Yugi outside of Saturday morning cartoons. I was not expecting the level of violence that took place. If you don't know, you will because I will be putting my version of those chapters in this story.