Dice Rolls (Part 1)

Ryou Bakura went back to his game. "The spirit landed right on top of it? Sad." He was going to have to repair all new sections. "Hm? Dice." Dice had fallen beneath. "A critical 00. A foul 99. A six. A 12. Another critical. Why are so many dice out here?" He was about to pick them up, when the Bandit King took control.

"You never leave the dice out like that, and neither would I." The Bandit King grabbed the dice and rolled them. "Two criticals, a 99, a six and a 12." He picked them up and rolled them again. "Same numbers. You try it."

Ryou Bakura took back over and rolled it. "The exact same. Why won't they roll into something else?"

The Bandit King took back control. "She fell on top of here. These dice. They have meaning." He picked up the dice and threw them up and down in his hand. "Everything that is happening." He held the dice tight in his hand. "Would you like to know a secret about Egyptian Gods?"

///Bakura: What secret?///

"They like games ." He let the dice fall. The same numbers appeared. "Good or bad. Everything is fun with a game."

Ryou Bakura took back control. "I'm going to call Yuugi. Maybe they will be helpful for him?"

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Jounouchi's Place

///Mai: A thousand more nightmares on my mind./// Mai continued to act like she was fine as they went back to Jounouchi's. He had been torn between talking to Atem or comforting her. Jounouchi had told her several things about the Other Yuugi, including his real name. So, it was a little bit of a surprise he chose her over him. He was that worried about her. She tried to pull her focus away by getting some food started. Call it a late lunch, she just needed something to take her mind off of everything.

Jounouchi came over by the kitchen to see her. "It's okay, Mai. I know that stirred some feelings. I'll be here until you feel better. You want me to get you something?"

"No." Still. "Human traffickers and everyone freaks out, turns out it's Egyptian guys and it feels like everyone just relaxed."

"Oh. Yeah, there's a reason for that," Jounouchi said. "For one. A freaking Pharaoh returned. For two. A massive dragon. Also, the enemy you kind of know is easier to deal with. Still as dangerous though."

"We couldn't talk to Yuugi or Anzu," Mai said, not even fixing food anymore. "They're cut off."

"Mystical magical mumbo jumbo," Jounouchi said as he came toward her. He brought her into his arms. "Don't worry, it's always worked itself out with Atem. It's probably just 'cause the connection's new. Even Atem isn't freaking out yet, and boy. Trust me, when he does, it's not pretty."

Mai didn't say anything as he held her. "Is Mana alright with you?" She looked back up at him. "I didn't mean to run over on you, it just felt right."

"Yeah, hey, if it's what you called her when you thought it was the end. Then. I guess that's her name. Nothing wrong with it at all. Except? It probably should be-"

"It's Kujaku. We'll figure out terms, but I'm not the kind of girl to jump for a wedding ring." She felt him squeeze her tighter. "Jounouchi. You're so bad for me."

"Heh, Honda says the same thing about you for me." Jounouchi let her go and looked at her hands. "You're a strong woman, Mai. Getting more beautiful and stronger each turn." He smirked at her, reciting her words for her harpies. "So who goes first?"

------

Mai left his bed. They had been sleeping in different beds while they figured things out, but she couldn't deny him today. Like it or not, Jounouchi always made her feel strong. They started for so long as friends.

She managed to hold him at friend until Jounouchi, being the man that eventually found his way to win, had worn her down to his side. A back and forth took place, and now that struggle was there again. The subject such a big one, that just leaving to get away couldn't be an option. She couldn't just rip Jounouchi from his daughter because of her stupid self.

He came up behind her, giving her a hug and a squeeze. "You want to still fix something to eat? I bet I wore you down."

"Don't flatter yourself." Of course he did wear her down. Every time they hit those covers their bodies seemed to make up for the lack of time they forced themselves apart. "I better make a couple of sandwiches now."

"Great, I'll get dressed. We can eat and we'll check out how Atem and Yuugi are doing. Hopefully they're okay by now." Jounouchi went to his room.

Mai fixed a couple of sandwiches. Protein was a must after Jounouchi. The temperature of the house was perfect on her skin as she enjoyed just being in her robe . "Did you want something too?" she asked. Jounouchi didn't answer. Probably still getting dressed.

She heard him come out from behind, walk by without a word, and went to the door. ///Mai: He went out. That's strange./// She glanced at the door. It was left wide open. "Jounouchi?" That was very strange, he wouldn't just leave the front door open like that.

She tightened her robe and went to the door. She locked it back up. "Okay. That was weird." Where did he go?

-------

Game Shop

Atem waited in the Game Shop. For any change. He had listened to Bakura's call about the dice that didn't change numbers. Two criticals, a 99, a six and a 12.

It was now rounding four O' clock, and still Yuugi was unable to communicate. Atem hadn't told Satiah who he'd been, just told her to go lie down for Anzu. Since she thought he was Yuugi, she easily did so.

Then he watched as Jounouchi entered the shop. "Jounouchi. I have not been able to contact Yuugi." Then, he watched Jounouchi bend down. He bent down like his High Priests once did. That. "Jounouchi?"

"I plead complete loyalty to Pharaoh," Jounouchi said. "Even though I don't know the voice screaming in my head, my objective always lays with Pharaoh."

Mahado. Mahado came back? His loyal priest who turned his entire self into the Dark Magician was now joined with Jounouchi. Then? "Where is Mai Kujaku?"

"That's the name the voice keeps screaming."

"Yes, it is because she is very important." Jounouchi. ///Atem: That thief is here. I am here. Satiah is here. Mahado is here. Mana is being reincarnated. Shizuka is attached to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Dices do not roll any other way. Are we done with the surprises yet?/// "The voice you hear is Katsuya Jounouchi. When you are not in my presence, you are to listen to that voice. If it asks for its body back, you will give it freely if you can. Can you give it back to Jounouchi?"

"Yes, Pharaoh." Jounouchi suddenly stood up so fast, he almost stumbled backward. "What the hell was that?!" Jounouchi touched himself all over. "No, no, no!"

"You are attached to the spirit of Mahado, once a High Priest that sacrificed himself to be The Dark Magician," Atem informed him.

"I can't be attached," Jounouchi yelled at him. "Are you kidding me? He took over my body, left Mai alone, ignored me and came straight down here!" He grabbed his head. "I need like an exorcism."

"I told him to listen to you. He is brand new to being a spirit just as you are his vessel." Atem wished he could explain it better. "You will learn to cooperate with each other. He won't do that again unless necessary."

"Atem. Yo." Jounouchi struggled. "What the hell?"

"I don't know, Jounouchi. Remember, the facts aren't clear. I still cannot connect with Yuugi. Satiah has lost contact with Anzu. Have you heard from Shizuka?"

"Yeah, she swears Kaiba took care of her." Still, there was panic in Jounouchi's voice. "Someone can totally take over me again. Just like Marik did. Now I really know how Bakura felt. I feel like decking myself just to make him feel pain."

"He won't feel pain. Only when he's in control." Still, Atem knew that did little to comfort Jounouchi. Mahado moved way too fast on him.

"He just keeps saying that he needs to protect Pharaoh. Bull." Jounouchi looked like he wanted to punch something. Hard, but there was nothing to punch. "How the hell is Mai going to stay with me when I got some other spirit ready to take over?"

Oh, Mahado. ///Atem: If the introduction had been a greeting. A conversation or discussion this would not be as bad. He took over Jounouchi's body and took control, not understanding his place./// Their place was second to a vessel. They didn't overtake their hosts lives unless they needed to, or the vessels wanted them to. To overstep that line wasn't right. ///Atem: It should feel wrong. This joining, it's not the same as Yuugi to me./// "I promise, Jounouchi. I will have a talk with him." Atem reached for Yuugi's phone he had found while there. "Here. Call Mai on this so she doesn't worry."

"With what line? Oh gee Mai, sorry I just left. My body got taken over by basically The Dark Magician. Did you make a sandwich for me too?" Jounouchi was still huffy. "Sorry, Man, I know you are a spirit. But you didn't just take over Yuugi without permission!"

Well? "At first, I did." Things were always tricky at first. "There was a lot of pent-up anger. I did steal Yuugi's body at first." Atem had no real idea if they all knew how horrible he had been. After the rage and indecency he had suffered in his death, when given a chance to live with a body again, even without those memories . . . he was far from a good man.

He played a lot of Shadow Games he didn't have to play, with stakes a lot more intense than he should have. After Yuugi told his friends the truth of his 'other personality', his feeling of belonging intensified with his friends, and his degree of punishment softened.

Mahado was feeling the same kind of weight. He would need to start working things out with Jounouchi. "Tell her that something came up. Tell her she should not be worried, and you will come home afterwards."