Metal Bird of Death (Part 4)

DIMENSION: ANIME (The One That Pays to Save the Day)

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."

"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."

"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 Yugi 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 Yugi can drive, I get his car."

Atem expected to hear a line from Yugi. He must still be in his room.

"Okay then, since spirit's 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.