Masika's Past (Part 1)

DIMENSION: ANIME

Like Atem thought, she didn't know how to respond to his request for a game. "We are in a Game Shop. We could take a break and play a game after the stress of today," Atem added.

"Yes, The Greatest Pharaoh."

"Atem is really what I would prefer," he said. "Do you prefer Masika?" She was quieter again.

"Yes, The Greatest Pharaoh Atem."

Oh. This wouldn't be easy. He went around to find a game that wouldn't be too competitive. Something simple. Ah. Strange game to be hanging around. He bent down to grab it, noticing Ebonnee was on top of it. Yes, very correct game.

"Ebonnee?" Masika noticed her too as her cat jumped off the game and went over toward her. She rubbed up against her leg.

"Here is an interesting game." Atem held it up. "Connect Four." He went over and set it up, explaining the simple concept. While Grandpa was away, as well as Yugi and Téa, he could try and get to know Masika.

They didn't talk much while they played, but Atem could tell Masika was enjoying the game. She was watching the sides very intently. While she was watching the game, Atem noticed her cat kept rubbing up on her stomach and chest while they played. That cat truly loved her, or loved attention.

Yes. Him killing it was definitely a hindrance, but he had to get her past that.

Masika gently petted it a certain way, from the head to halfway down the body as she held her game piece.

Atem watched as the front door opened. It was no customer, it was Mokuba.

"Mokuba," Masika called to him. "Hello."

"You're playing a game with the Pharaoh?" Mokuba asked as he came over. "Connect Four?" He just kind of looked strangely at Atem.

"A simple game to break the ice between us," Atem said. "We might be here for some time before we figure out a way from this punishment. It's better if we know each other."

"Oh." Mokuba seemed to understand that. "Um? So." Mokuba shifted around. "Can I steal her for a little bit?"

What? "What do you need with Masika?"

"It's personal," Mokuba said.

"I don't think that's a good idea yet," Atem informed him. "We still don't know how long it will be before we switch back."

"Oh. Do you hear Yugi right now?"

"I did before." It had been some time since Yugi chimed in again. It would be harder to catch him in the soul room. He turned down every single filter so he could hear him. Yugi. Still nothing? He should be getting blasted with Yugi's thoughts. "Masika, can you reach Téa?"

Masika concentrated, her eyes darted around. "She isn't speaking to me."

Hm. "Did she stay in the soul room, or had she been talking to you?"

"Oh. We spoke . . ." She looked at the watch she was wearing. "She scolded me a few minutes ago."

Scolded? "About what?"

"Pharaoh. She does not wish for me to call you The Greatest Pharaoh."

Perfect. "That's fine. I really do prefer to be on first name terms only. Simply the name Atem works better." Yet, she still didn't look very comfortable with that. "I know that my role in Ancient Egypt was much different than yours, Masika. However, that role doesn't define me today. I am simply a person trying to be a friend."

"Being friends is good," Mokuba agreed. "So, as a friend, could you come with me now?"

Not again. "We just lost contact with Yugi and Téa now, Mokuba," Atem reminded him. "It would be better to wait and see when they return."

"Fine," Mokuba groaned. "I'll wait. Masika, can you call me next time you're here though?" He gave her a phone. "That's your new Kaiba phone. The number in there is just to me. You can add more numbers as you get friends. Call me when the Pharaoh has freed you."

He didn't have to frame it with those words.

"Thank you." She bowed gently and took it as he left.

They went back to playing the game. He finally got her to call him Pharaoh Atem. Not Atem, but at least it was progress. However, there was another interruption.

One that if Yugi could connect, he would be connecting right now.

Ryou Bakura strutted in. "Sorry for interrupting, Yugi. Or, are you still . . ." He seemed to struggle with his name too. "Pharaoh? Pharaoh should work, right? Sorry."

"I am still Atem," Atem answered him.

"Sorry. Um? No Yugi yet. Then, you must still be Masika?" He looked toward her. "So? Bakura has told me a great deal about you. Um? Pardon, but do you think you are going to become a good little fuckbuddy to the Pharoah?" He grinned mischeivously.

Ugh. "Bakura." Not the friendly Bakura. "Leave."

"No." His voice changed, done with his trick of mimicking Bakura's personality. He opened his chest and showed the millennium ring, digging into his skin. "I have no powers, same as you. Unless you want to put up a physical fight you weak prick, then you'll let me have her."

"Téa wants me to stay, Bakura," Masika told him. "I am bound to her, so I have to listen."

"Your half and halfing." Bakura leaned in the doorway. "You have half control."

"That isn't an appropriate way to think about it." Atem tried to keep his voice steady. ///Atem: This. Fiend! I can't believe he's just walking around freely again!/// He didn't mind sharing space with a random Egyptian woman that never did anything wrong. Bakura?

Yes, if Yugi was there he'd be telling him to calm down so he didn't upset Masika about her 'friend', which would be bad for Téa, because she was sharing with Téa. But? It was a real.

Real.

Hard.

Thing.

"Come, Bitch, we're leaving," Bakura answered. "I've been with Ryou Bakura for years, I know his whole job, I can take care of you."

"No, fucker," she said right back to him. "I need to listen to my vessel, not a right bastard like you right now."

Atem wouldn't mind her words, if she hadn't been smiling the whole time. They were literal friends, cursing each other, because that's how they had acted before.

"Weak bitch, Rider," Bakura chuckled.

"Téa is in charge." She made a move in Connect Four. "I need to ask her permission about what she wants."

Bakura groaned. "Fine." He glared at Atem.

Atem glared right back.

"Even if her vessel says so, she'll never call you by your name, Pharaoh."

"I know that I was responsible for the death of her cat." Atem wasn't going to play with him.

"You wore a puzzle made of the flesh and bone of my entire village. I saved her so many times, I am her hero. You have no idea the things I did for her," he muttered. "No matter what you do, or what you force her to call you, she'll never be your friend."

///Atem: Keep it together. Breathe. Keep it together.///

"How many times did I save you, Masika? Tell . . . Atem," he said snidely.

Masika didn't answer right away. " . . . it depends upon your definition of 'save'. If you mean how many times you physically saved my life, I would say three, however if you are also counting the times you helped free me from terrible husbands which may have ended my life or made death more appealing, then it would be . . . a lot."

Hm. That's the most he'd heard her talk so far.

"Perhaps we can play a game around here, where you can be surveyed from being a right ass?" Masika asked him. "Téa should be fine with that. It'd be a good starting point."

"What about you, Pharaoh?" Bakura asked him. "Do you mind if the fucker who skipped rope with your father's corpse plays in your game shop nicely like a good boy?"

///Atem: Yugi, I cannot handle this!/// Atem stood up. "Leave this place until you learn some manners!"

"Fucking make me," Bakura threatened him. "Yugi's still a weak ass, Ryou Bakura's body can take him any day."

"My Bandit King," Masika called to him. "Stop annoying the Pharaoh and go. We'll talk later when you're more interested in playing instead of annoying The Pharaoh."

"That'll be awhile," Bakura said as he finally turned to leave. "Fine! Maybe I'll just go and get Bakura in trouble instead!"

Bastard. Atem looked at Masika. She didn't seem concerned with the matter. He probably wouldn't hurt his host body then. "How?"

"This way." She gestured diagonally.

Huh? ///Atem: She won? She did./// Bakura distracted him so much he wasn't watching hard enough. "Congratulations. I'll set up the next game." This time he wouldn't get distracted. "How did you know Bakura, and why did he save you multiple times?"

Masika paused thoughtfully. "Your subject's past life isn't that important."

"I think it is." He wanted to know.

"Similar upbringing circumstances. He helped because he was my friend." She absolutely dodged the question and details. "Who goes first?"