Disclaimer: Yu-gi-Oh! Belongs to Kazuki Takahashi. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Don’t steal and don’t sue. Thank you, *Phantomness bows*

Chapter 2

Of course, the little difficulty that Mahaado was with them was not quite a problem until they returned to Japan. The former Priest sighed, and produced fake papers almost instantly, as Yami hid a smile.

He had remembered correctly…

Illusions… yes, he remembered enough to know that Mahaado’s power mainly lay in his illusions, and secondly in his traps. Traps to hide, to heal, and to guard…

Spell Binding Circle. Magic Cylinder. Mirror Force…

The guard glanced at them for a second, and then let them pass, paying no notice to their strange new clothing. Yami supposed that it was more of Mahaado’s illusion magic at work.

It made perfect sense, after all, and his robes were quite comfortable, though a bit cold. Japan was a bit colder than India had been, after all.

Yami still wasn’t sure how Yuugi was dealing with all of this, partially because he didn’t want to let his partner out yet and that he and Mahaado had some catching up to do. Most unfortunately, his memories had not returned – Shadi had glared at Mahaado and mentioned something about stepping out of turn, but Mahaado had mentioned that he technically hadn’t broken any rules and it wasn’t his fault if the Pharaoh had decided to bring him back to life in a rather unorthodox manner, was it? And he couldn’t help it if he preferred seeing his Pharaoh in royal garb instead of a school uniform…

Shadi had sighed again and told Mahaado not to cause any trouble.

Mahaado had mentioned that he wasn’t causing trouble, and Shadi had snapped that his very presence was upsetting the balance of things!

Then Mahaado had asked him if he should just return to his card, and Yami had told him of course not!

… Never mind that he felt slightly guilty…

No wonder Dark Magician had always been important. Now he knew a little better, remembered hints of friendship and maybe more…

And then Shadi had asked him how he had remembered that spell, and he said he just had, and what was wrong with saving the life of one of his friends? Wasn’t that what a King was supposed to do?

Shadi had not answered, only shaken his head and told Yami not to ask about the scars.

And Yami promised not to.

He did wonder though, seeing the twin scars that ran across Mahaado’s torso and chest, quite thick, and all the way around, but he tried to ignore them, and Mahaado had murmured another illusion spell and hidden the sight of them.

He should not pry.

Still, imposing on Yuugi’s grandfather would be unfair, considering all that he had done for them, both in life and also in the Game they had just finished, so they had to make other arrangements. They were done rather under the table, and Yami would have felt guilt, had he not reasoned to himself that how else would they have gotten the money? After all, one could not simply walk into a jeweler’s with Ancient Egyptian artifacts and demand money…

So it had taken a few weeks of preparation, but after all was said and done, Mahaado had his own apartment situated not more than two or three blocks from the Turtle Game shop, where he could be close enough to protect his Pharaoh but not so much that it would be imposing. Of course, there were several incidents with modern appliances that did not go over too well, but on the whole, the transition was a relatively smooth one.

Yuugi was not sure how to feel about this new development, so he didn’t try to think about it.

Then, two weeks later, another Tournament had started up. Despite the fact that they had just returned from India and that Capsule Monsters game, they had to go.

This time, one thing was different though.

Mahaado went with them.

In retrospect, Anzu decided, it was partially her fault. She was such a silly girl at times; it was obvious that she had been smitten. Never mind that the one she had fallen for was a duelist of some skill who used a Magician deck, and that Yuugi really didn’t mind her making other friends…

Never mind that her mind had screamed for her not to do it.

Never mind that it was cheating, and that she was betraying her friendship for a crush. Never mind that she had loved Yami once.

Never mind to all of that.

She had done what she had done, and nothing would change that fact.

She had rigged Yami’s deck.

He hadn’t guessed of course, what she meant when she asked to look at his cards. He handed them over without question, not even guessing she would do such a thing, and for such a foolish cause, too! He didn’t know that she had removed several very important cards from his deck, replaced them with weak faeries…

Of course, by the time he figured it out, the duel was already underway, and asking to stop now would be suicidal.

Mahaado had stared at Yami then, something like panic in his stance. Even from several feet away, she could feel cold rage pulsing in the Magician’s eyes.

Did he know?

Did he guess? She hadn’t been very subtle about her feelings for Matsuba…

But what could he do? He was human now, wasn’t he?

Yami had felt panic for a second, as he stared at the cards in his hand. Happy Lover, Forgiving Maiden, Dunames Dark Witch, and Magician of Faith?

What was going on?

Had someone tampered with his deck? But who would do such a thing, and when had it happened? He was quite sure he had kept his belt and deck with him at all times…

These cards were monsters, but they were not his monsters – what? What was happening?

The images on the cards were suddenly changing? Was the Duel Disk malfunctioning? No, it couldn’t be, could it? They were in his hand…

“Come back home…answer our call, friends… our Pharaoh needs you…” Mahaado chanted, softly, though if one were paying very close attention, they could see that his eyes were glinting green.

He might be human, but he knew what he was. He was a Monster, and he belonged to his Pharaoh, and so did all the other monsters.

As Yami stared, the cards resolved into much more familiar shapes. Silver Fang, Beaver Warrior, Giant Soldier of Stone… and Dark Magician.

Of course…

After that, the Duel went off without a hitch. After the Duel however, Mahaado simply happened to overhear Anzu and Matsuba bickering, and of course, could not dream of keeping such a thing from his Master.

“What? You, Anzu? You rigged my deck? But why?”

The tears ran down her cheeks, but she could not speak an answer. Even Yuugi was shocked that one of his friends would do such a thing…

End Chapter

Completed 8/26/06

Mahaado’s evil, isn’t he? ^^

… Yeah, and about the money matters… ah… I hope Mahaado was only selling stuff from his own tomb… ^_^()… but then again, as Guardian of the Valley of Kings, he probably knew where everything was and how to get through all the traps, so some other unfortunate people might have suffered *cough*