Is Choice Good or Bad? (Part 1)

Bakura bursted into the Game Shop. This revelation just learned? Well, he wanted to have it all worked out precisely as it should be. And? And he also just wanted to talk to apparently the First Tear of Ra. "Hello?"

"Hello." Yugi's grandfather was right there. "Everyone is lying down in bed. They all have bodies, and they are using them, just lying down."

Oh. Well, his presence got them up. He could see Yugi coming down and heading his way. "Hello, Yugi. Um? I heard the strange news."

"Yeah." Yugi spoke softly while Atem was starting to come down.

"Well? I just thought we should have a small discussion," Ryou Bakura pointed out. "Because-"

"There's no way!" Dark Bakura had pushed his way through the door. "Where is Masika? She is not joining with Yugi or Atem like that!"

"There is no real answer to what happens once chosen," Yugi tried to correct him.

"Yes. Well." Bakura fidgeted as Téa and Masika started to come downstairs. "Hello?"

"Not really in the mood," Téa answered.

"I know, but, in these strange cases, I think we'll all do better sharing our feelings and thoughts about the matter," Light Bakura stated. "Would you like to go first, Téa?"

"No," she answered.

"Oh. No, I guess not." Hm. "Well? I just want to say that I don't know either Masika or Téa very well. We were good friends when we were younger. I don't know if that means anything, but I feel like I might not be a good fit-"

"You're the perfect fit," Dark Bakura complained. "You fit me just fine."

"Bakura?" Masika asked. "I think it only makes sense it should be the two of you."

"No, it doesn't make sense!" Yugi suddenly yelled. "For you, but not for Téa. No one decides for her."

"She'd be . . ." Masika looked toward Téa, who suddenly looked worried. "I vote for the Bakuras."

"Well, I vote for . . ." Téa paused. "I don't know. I don't even know if choosing is good or bad." She looked toward Yugi. "Bakura talked at least?"

Right. "I think that I would do whatever my friend needed from me," Yugi said as he looked toward her.

That was sweet. It would make things easier if Atem followed his footsteps.

Dark Bakura scoffed. "What about you, Pharaoh Atem? You've only ever been in Yugi, do you think you'd like to fuse with two more people?"

Oh, the Pharaoh's answer was clearly in his eyes. He really wanted to kick them out. "I'd . . ."

"We should all share how we feel about it. About every aspect," Bakura encouraged. "Like? I think it would be nice to have nicer company in oneself, and to get time off. But I imagine having control for . . ." He counted in his fingers. "Maybe six hours out of 24 hours wouldn't quite be my thing? If that's what it is?"

Atem glanced toward Yugi. He looked toward Téa and toward Masika, though Masika was not looking toward him. "I follow Yugi's decision."

"No," Téa said, almost in a commanding tone. "You speak Atem. You get half say, as much say as Yugi or anyone else."

Atem glanced back at Yugi again. "I don't think anyone here would be fond of the idea right away of sharing one body, if it is that," he tried to correct himself. "I don't need much company."

Bakura watched Yugi looking terrible in the corner.

"But I will do what is necessary and I would rather it be I and Yugi before it was the foulness of Dark Bakura tainting anything that should be a gift to help others," he said.

Ooh, nice save.

"I don't want to do anything with fusion," Téa admitted. "I wanted to stay in New York and live my life. I don't get a choice."

"This is for another version of us, correct?" Bakura asked. "They said there was no time for them to do it on their own. Is time a concept the gods are worried about?"

"Time?"

"Yes," Light Bakura explained. "They messed around in the past. Do we have to decide the answer quick or do we have a long time? Do the gods travel through time to get the payment?"

"Like years?" Téa asked anxiously. "Like maybe years and then Bastet just takes the power back in time? It's already going to a different dimension. Maybe time traveling isn't out of the question with a goddess like her."

Oh. They didn't know. Well? "Bastet took the finger for something that she said Joey was in debt for. It wasn't planned it seems, but it balanced it out." Maybe? "Are there any gods that might be merciful enough to tell us?" He looked around.

"Finger."

"No way, don't come near us!" Yugi exploded toward the voice. He must have had a bad experience with whoever owned that voice.

There came another voice. "Decide in three months but make progress in the decision now. Go on dates, Mortals."

Dates? Why would there be dating involved? "Why do we need to date?" Bakura asked. "Also, can we split apart after you get whatever power you need from us? Also, is being chosen good or bad?"

"Whoever the First Tear of Ra chooses will be the one you choose to live your half-lives with, but if we grow weary of the indecision, obviously we will bear more weight to the one you are the closest to. Now no more questions. Next time it will be a finger to get answers." That was the voice he had heard before he got his body back. Sounded quite tired of them. Didn't answer any of Bakura's other questions.

"Light should go with light," Yugi said, "That was probably part of the puzzle. So Téa, you shouldn't have to worry about dating the Bandit King."

Yes, just him and Yugi. Apparently.

"At least. Three months is a decent amount of time to figure it out, I guess," Téa reasoned.

"Hm." Yugi's grandfather seemed almost cheery. "Well, this is pretty exciting."

"Yes, three months," Téa said real firmly while she looked back at Masika. "Things change in three months. Many things can change, give it a chance?"

Oh yes, it was clear Téa still had some connection to Masika. It didn't look like Masika even wanted the months.

"I don't care, no it's not, and I don't care!" Téa yelled at Masika. "Stop it. You already know Atem didn't kill you, so you need to give anything a chance, don't just keep, Masika!"

Ooh yes, a real fight. ///Light Bakura: It seems Masika doesn't want a choice.///

///Dark Bakura: Of course not. Why would she want to spend her life for the one that made mine hell? She'll never cooperate. Yugi's friend should just give up.///

///Light Bakura: Yugi's friends tend to be very determined themselves.///

///Dark Bakura: I am Masika's hero. Atem is still the one that killed her cat and hurt her friend. She won't just give in to that life after a simple game or two.///

"Fine," Téa said almost in exhaustion. "It doesn't make much difference I guess." She crossed her arms. "Bakura? Would you like to try a date to discuss stuff?"

///Dark Bakura: See? That's my Rider.///

"Oh." ///Light Bakura: That is going to really hurt Yugi. He doesn't even date others, she is his eternal crush./// Yugi looked completely defeated, almost looking away and slumping slightly. ///Light Bakura: I just can't hurt Yugi that easy, he should go first./// "Do we have to start first?"

///Dark Bakura!" Don't mess it up!///

"Why don't you start with Yugi first?" Bakura recommended. "You two did have a small relationship before you left to New York, right?"

"Well." Téa looked toward Yugi who had straightened himself up completely. "We had a connection, I guess."

"Yeah, so, maybe we should try and date first?" Yugi enthusiastically asked.

" . . ." Téa sucked on her bottom lip like she wasn't sure at all.