Stay or Go (Part 2)

Stay or go, now? It should be go, he was able to go. He didn't see Yugi anywhere though, he would want to see Yugi before making that decision. These were the goddesses that had tricked them for so long, just deciding something quickly without help wouldn't be smart. He also didn't know what Bandit King would choose, or Masika's fate. "I want to know Masika's fate, why isn't she here yet?"

"Joining as the full Masika left her in a tough state," Sekhmet said. "She will be . . . coming soon."

Sekhmet moved closer to Atem and looked toward Silhouette. "I love you, you be good, and I will see you when you naturally perish!" She rubbed up on her like a pet with her head. "If anyone hurts you, I will kill them if your parents do not."

She disappeared.

No one had come back, he was left with Bandit King, just holding Silhouette. Was everything really okay?

"Téa?"

Téa opened her eyes and saw Yugi and Bakura over her. She was resting after that whole unexpected event. She saw Yugi holding Hikaru. "Oh, that's where I put him. Good place." She propped herself up some.

"Téa? Do you want to go back to New York with us?" Yugi asked her.

New York? "Yes!" Absolutely. "I really do, and especially with you two."

"We were thinking of splitting up payments to either one huge house, or two houses close to each other," Bakura said.

Téa couldn't stop nodding her head. "How's Masika?"

"She did fine. We all kind of did fine," Yugi said oddly. "Everything's okay. You were taken away, we did our part, and now you are here."

"Oh. So, we're safe?" Téa asked. "With Hikaru, and us? All of us?"

"I just need to talk to Grandpa. He might go for New York," Yugi said. "He might not either, I don't know. Atem isn't thrilled about being near Bandit King, but he wants to stay near me."

"I want Masika near me too," Téa admitted. "They might need some direction on finding what they want in their life. They are all still kind of new to all these concepts. Like? I know Masika can take care of Silhouette, but she's going to . . ."

"She will need some modern day guidance," Bakura insisted as he smiled and played with Hikaru's little hand. "A little big like Silhouette."

"Maybe, but his hair is even cooler." It puffed up like Bakura's but it still had that same mixture of color like Yugi's.

Téa started to rise from bed. "It takes a long time to make all of that though, doesn't it?"

"I think we're safe," Yugi assured her. "We've got the uh . . ." He scratched his head. "Raw ingredients? I think the goddesses have it from there."

Safe. New York. "Are you okay with New York, is everyone okay with it?" she asked. "What about the Game Shop?"

"Might move locations to New York if Grandpa wants to run it," Yugi answered.

Oh yeah. She was so used to Yugi being so regular that she forgot. He made an exclusive game that made a lot of money. He made way more money than her. Bakura himself wasn't shy in the money department either, he had traveled around a lot to show off his beta games. "I don't have many words, you guys. I was happy if we could all just share Hikaru, I can't really believe you are considering New York."

"As long as we can build our games, I think Yugi and I will be fine anywhere," Bakura smiled at her. "You though, need someone special."

"Your home is New York, and with me. Us, I guess," he corrected himself. "Since Masika is sort of like you, and Atem admitted once that she really isn't good at accounting at all, maybe there will be more opportunity out there for her too?"

Yeah. Masika could find what made her happy. She looked at Hikaru patting Yugi's shirt. He was wearing his blue shirt that she had seen so long ago when she came down the stairs with the necklace on her. Round and round again. "It gets colder. You'll be right at home with your sweaters, Bakura."

"Well? Then I am especially sold," he agreed. "For now, until we find a place and make this big move, I'm probably going to come back and forth from the Game Shop with Bandit King. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, I think so," Yugi agreed. "I think Atem will still want to be there. The way Bandit King treats her like she's the same person all those years ago really irritates him."

"Bandit King is just scared." Téa didn't even need to ask for details. "The lady he's always been obsessed with, now shares a baby with the Pharaoh and him. It's gonna take a little while for it to click that he doesn't have to be scared of Atem taking them away." It was another reason she wanted them all in one house. Atem wasn't seeing the right side of Bandit King, and if he started limiting time against him, things could get bad.

"Yes, I agree," Bakura told Yugi. "Bandit King is nicer than he portrays himself."

God's Brew Factory

Téa looked around and noticed they had been thrown out of the nice hotel into a factory with an absolutely terrible smell. She felt Yugi cover up her eyes.

"Oh, and not a nice sight for you either," Bakura said probably to Hikaru.

"I'm a big girl, Yugi." He had no idea the things she remembered. She removed his hand. Most of the bodies were gone, there was mainly a lot of blood all over the floor. She saw Bakura holding Hikaru in a way he was looking over his shoulder. A good idea, he probably shouldn't see this mess.

///Masika: Téa!///

Téa heard Masika but didn't see her. "Masika?" Oh, there. Téa saw her start to appear. She stepped slowly toward her so she didn't slip on the blood probably.

Oh. But, not slow enough. Atem had seemed to be worried though so he was right beside her to catch her. Silhouette was in Bandit King's arms too? Ooh, maybe Atem was building some trust with him. At least he was letting him hold her. "Masika."

Atem helped pull her up better. "Are you okay?"

Hm. That didn't sound good, what was he concerned about? "Are you okay, Masika?"

Masika didn't answer as she looked toward Silhouette as Bandit King came closer to her. "I am not who I think I am, and that is not what you think that is."

Oh, Masika would never change, she still spoke nonsense. "It's a baby."

Masika looked toward Bakura. She went over to the other side, looking at Hikaru. "He has your hair."

"He has my colors though," Yugi pointed out. "He's a little bit of everyone."

"It's more than you think." Masika looked glum. "It's so much more than you think, and it's nothing that you think."

"You are the reason for this," Bandit King glared at Atem. "She used to be a lot more quiet, bowing, serving, and obedient unless she had to speak up. Back then, she made sense! You've unleashed the freedom of a real Egyptian woman in this time, and she's gone bonkers."

"Making sure she feels free had nothing to do with her actions now," Atem said. "Masika was formed into the whole again. There are ramifications of it."

Still too little trust. Masika seemed odd too. "Is anything wrong?"

"Masika has just returned," Atem told her. "She was joined with the other Téa for a minute. Bastet said it may affect her later on." Atem looked concerned himself at her. "Bandit King and I have been given permission to leave again."

"You can return back to the afterlife?" Yugi asked. "Well. It would be fair, they created this whole mess just to make us pay. We also have to deal with Zorc in the future too. Masika's pupils keep dilating back and forth."

"I might stay," Bandit King admitted. "I don't like what's happening to her."

Téa moved toward Masika and gave her a hug. "I am sure it'll be okay." She felt Masika wrap her arms around her. "You are going to stay, aren't you?" She didn't hear an answer right away. "Masika?"