Written: 13/07/2020

Author's Note: Ahem. So I'm back! Yes, with another chapter. It took a few months this time but my program started again and I was focused on studying. Now it's summer and I can finally write more! If I'm not exhausted from work. Another big thing is that this chapter is about something different and I wanted to write it carefully. I hope you enjoy the chapter! Stay tuned for more!

~*Sarah contends with an issue that she never thought she would witness. What does she do? How does she react?*~

Disclaimer!: Fanfiction, and I do NOT get any money out of it either. Thanks. ^^

Battle City - New Evil Emerges, Old Friends Reunite - Chapter 47

As Guardian of the Pharaoh, I faced many things: archers with perceptive aim, sharp blades from varying throws, the odd criminal attempting to steal from the palace, and even harsh magic training.

However, never in my life did I encounter what I witnessed near the end of Mai's duel.

For the first time, I saw the Pharaoh in front of an attack, taking a hit for the rest of us.

My heart ached as I recalled his pained expression. He took the full brunt of Ra's attack—and on his back, no less. The Oath's Seal continued to burn even after Mai was taken downstairs to her room, but when I followed the Pharaoh's feet down the hall, they appeared steady. Disbelief continued to stain my perception, my brain asking me if everything did indeed come to pass.

I lagged behind the group until my eyes moved up to see his back on their own. There was no scoring on his blazer and no indication that he was injured. He also never asked for a moment to rest or even for the doctor to take a look under his shirt. The Pharaoh continued on, head high and shoulders square.

While I lagged behind… and wondered.

Why did he do it? Was I not enough?

Blood drained from my face. Did he not trust me? He moved quickly to absorb the attack, so he must have acted on instinct.

Did his instincts tell him that I…?

The doctor's voice broke through my heavy reverie. The wrinkles on his forehead became more prominent with each case he examined on the blimp.

"Your friend's stable. However, there is a lot of brain activity. She's comatose, yet showing reactions. I have never seen anything like this, but I will continue to monitor her. For now, you may stay with your friend as needed."

We already knew the reason behind Mai's medical mystery, but the results of her examination didn't put our minds at any ease.

The air was thick with remorse. Téa grasped her hands to her chest as if in prayer, hoping that Mai would open her eyes at any moment, hoping that her comatose state was only temporary. Duke stood silently by Tristan, who couldn't stand to see the once fearless Mai so spiritless—the exact opposite of her familiar ferocity.

Joey's normally warm, honey-coloured eyes had darkened to a shade that I had never seen before.

Seeing Mai's restless face as she battled against the magic of the Shadow Realm stung the back of my eyes. This outcome was exactly what I feared, but it couldn't be changed. My gaze strayed away from her, the tightening in my chest becoming unbearable.

I couldn't help her or the Pharaoh.

"She wouldn't want us to mope," tried Tristan after several minutes of complete silence. When he received no response, he continued. "We can't just give up."

"No one said anything about giving up." Joey finally spoke, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "I promised Yugi that I would help him defeat Marik, and that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

"I'm going to beat that creep and get Mai back."

"He's dangerous, man."

"He's mine next round," announced the blond, transforming his sadness into newfound determination. "I'll beat him so bad, he'll never know what hit him until it's too late."

"We will need to be careful with the next two duels first," said the Pharaoh, already shifting focus to what was next. I frowned at this and continued staring at the ground. "Dark Marik could attempt anything for his favour."

Why was I left haunted with such pitying emotions all by myself? Did the Pharaoh ever consider giving me an explanation to wave my worries away? Was resolution anywhere on his agenda? Did he really not trust me enough to grant me an explanation for his actions?

My jaw clenched.

"Then how about I stay with Mai while you guys go to the next duel?" offered Serenity.

"Sis, I can't leave you alone down here…" countered Joey, scratching his neck.

"It's alright." Serenity stood tall in front of her brother. "It's my turn to have courage this time, and the best way for me to show that is by being here with Mai. I'll keep her company while everyone watches the rest of the duels."

Joey regarded his sister carefully, but she continued to beam with confidence. He finally sighed after seeing her resolve and nodded. "Alright," he said, giving in. "But I'm going to check up on you later, okay? Take care of Mai."

Serenity smiled. "I will."

"I think I remember Kaiba saying the last two duels of the round will be finalized in a few minutes," said Duke.

"We should get to the lobby then. Sarah, you comin'?"

While Joey and the others were heading out the door, I remained behind, still struggling to accept what happened. After the Pharaoh regained consciousness, and confirmed he had no injuries, his heroic act wasn't brought to attention anymore. It wasn't enough for me to know that he was just alright.

I wanted answers. I needed them. I needed to know… if he...

"I want to ask the Pharaoh… what he was thinking when he blocked Ra's attack."

The others were stunned silent, turning the spotlight onto the Pharaoh who didn't look so surprised by my request. His gaze remained steady and his voice calm, completely opposite to the irritation scratching away at my throat.

"I was thinking that Marik had caused Mai enough pain during their duel and that she didn't need to suffer the wrath of Ra as well."

A twinge of pain touched my heart. "But you had ordered me to help them," I insisted. "That included shielding them from Ra's attack, didn't it? You didn't need to step in."

"I realized the extent of the mistake that I had made in asking you to climb onto the field, which was why I needed to step in."

"What… mistake…"

"Sarah… you were going to take the fall."

"Yes, I was," I stated firmly. "It's my duty as Guardian to protect you and follow any orders that you give me. Even if the orders have difficult consequences."

"Had I known that you were going to abandon your attempts to free Mai from her shackles and absorb Ra's attack head-on instead, I would have never given you that order."

"Why not?"

"You do not have the strength to absorb Ra's attack."

My face grew hot at the Pharaoh's words. "You don't know that."

"On the contrary, I do." The Pharaoh suddenly became quite stern, like he was scolding a child. "You see, the moment you stepped away from Joey and Mai, I understood. Just from the look on your face—that look of acceptance that you would bear any and all consequences from absorbing Ra's flames—was enough to confirm it for me."

My vision narrowed on its own. "If I perished, at least Joey and Mai would have been alright."

"But you wouldn't have been."

"That's okay, though, isn't it? It's my job as Guardian."

"I could not ask you to sacrifice yourself."

"But why not?"

"I just couldn't, Sarah!"

His warm breath tickled my nose as I realized that my feet had taken me right up to the Pharaoh. I never thought I would argue with the king of Egypt, but my heart continued to race out of control from the burst of emotion. I matched his level gaze with a glare of my own, and before I mustered the courage to take a deep breath and step back, the Pharaoh pulled away first with a small sigh.

"I could not ask that of you," he said again, quietly this time.

I stared in a daze at the man standing before me, unable to grasp his words with the blood rushing through my ears. The Pharaoh wasn't someone who would regret an order. In fact, he would have wanted me to do all that I could to get the job done.

"Why..." I pressed, desperate for answers, feeling my anger melt away into unease at the rate of ice cream oozing on a hot day.

"Do you remember what I said about you acting as a shield?"

I thought back, eventually recalling our meeting in his room just after we boarded the blimp. "You said you don't consider me one," I replied. "But I thought…"

"I meant it. I cannot and will not label you as such."

"But why…"

"Because you're my friend."

I stepped back, my racing heart now skipping a beat instead.

"Perhaps it is time," continued the Pharaoh. "To leave this job of being my Guardian."

Words died in my throat and I felt like the wind was knocked out of me.

What did he say?

"Let us not base our friendship off duties and roles. A friend does not command another for sacrifice. It isn't right. Although your sense of duty is admirable, we cannot stand to see you get hurt any longer."

His last few words rang in my ears, barging through every memory of mine where I had some sort of injury. My chest ached as they coupled with the worried expressions of my friends.

Finally, the Pharaoh placed a warm hand on my shoulder, displacing me from my rampant thoughts.

"I cannot bear it either."

Strange… The Pharaoh's eyes look sad.

I swallowed uneasily, seeing my role as the Pharaoh's Guardian unraveling before my very eyes by just a few words from the man himself. How could I do my job for a Pharaoh who didn't want me to?

"But…" I grasped my Locket. "How can I just… stop? I was appointed this duty millennia ago…"

"My father may have chosen you to be a shield for me, and perhaps there was a time when even I was comfortable with the idea"—he shook his head, the lines between his eyes creasing considerably—"but as a friend, I cannot watch you continue. It is time to sever the ties that duty has bound us."

"But you can't stop being Pharaoh."

"Perhaps… however, you are not required to remain as my shield. As Pharaoh, I have my say."

"I…"

Suddenly, I was speechless. As much as I had to say before when confronting the Pharaoh about his actions, I was just as startled about this new predicament. What would happen if I wasn't Guardian anymore?

I wouldn't be bound to serve the Pharaoh. I could remain by his side as a friend, like Yugi and the others. There would be no task of risking my life for him anymore either.

I could... be free.

With just a few words, I was unravelled. My displaced anger from before dissipated further into uncertainty. Possibilities that I never thought conceivable suddenly opened up before me like a book. I could see formalities disappear from my tongue, like old paper disintegrating over time. The tether binding us together, that I could even see in my dreams, could be cut. I could be myself around him, like in the beginning of the tournament, before I decided to be more serious as things escalated.

Freedom… it crossed my mind for a flash at the height of my training, when controlling magic had become so difficult that I wanted to give up. But I was reminded every time I saw the Prince that his father was counting on me. I couldn't let the King of Egypt down.

I couldn't let the Pharaoh down either. But now, after he voiced his concerns, I could leave all of it behind.

I didn't… have to be Guardian anymore? The Pharaoh wished for it to be, so couldn't I follow it? What did this mean for the present? For the future? Could something like this even be possible?

Numbness crept into my body as I tried to reason the man before me as being the same assertive Pharaoh from Ancient Egypt. There were many similarities, however, a softness curved his hard edge: he had a caring nature that wasn't there before. He valued his friendships and fought for them.

He even cared about me too.

The Pharaoh… cared about me. Someone who swore to protect him until the end. A nobody adopted off the streets of Egypt.

My neck burned from the warmth I could still feel in his hand.

Was the numbness from relief? Relief that I didn't have to give up my life for someone else anymore? Was I finally given permission—given the freedom—to live for myself?

Could we really… just be friends?

Memories from earlier in the tournament, when the Pharaoh and I traversed through each duel together, clouded my sight. The task of being his Guardian always outcompeted all informalities, but with this task gone, could we really…

Could I stand on equal ground with him?

"What do you say, Sarah?" he asked.

My shoulders had already become lighter with just the idea of the weight of responsibility being thrown off like a sack of potatoes. Something I longed for millennia ago was being offered to me right at this moment. I would be a fool not to take it.

So, why wasn't my mouth saying anything? My heart screamed at me to take the chance, that we could figure out uncertainties later, that all I needed was the Pharaoh's friendship in this regard and nothing else.

But a darkness swarmed my thoughts, edging closer from an unknown source.

Somewhere far away, in the recesses of my mind, a distant voice echoed. At first, I tried to keep thinking about how I would accept the Pharaoh's gesture, but the voice grew louder and louder until it reverberated against my skull with such force, all other memories and thoughts disintegrated beneath it.

"Yet, you cry over his wounded state as though he meant the entire world to you."

I grasped my chest as Dark Marik's words flooded me.

The thought of me never being able to live with seeing the Pharaoh in pain again drowned everything in an instant. As quickly as the load off my shoulders had fallen, it was replaced by a new and heavier burden, and a harsh reality settled—something I sorely needed to accept.

The Pharaoh will always be more important to me than myself. I could never bear to see him hurt, and by being his Guardian, I will always know that I can do something to save him.

Even if it meant giving up my life.

This was why I was chosen as Guardian in the first place.

"I'm sorry," I said finally, my voice low and empty. I couldn't look the Pharaoh in the eyes as I pushed away from him, and at the same time, an opportunity for freedom. My arm touched his chest for a second, and I was reminded again of how hot it burned from Ra's attack.

I couldn't put him in a situation like that ever again.

"That's one order I can't follow."

Hardly aware, I retreated from the Pharaoh and squeezed by the others to leave Mai's room. The grey hallway led me to the elevator where the buttons blurred beneath my fingertips. My eyes remained at the ground, even after the doors closed and the platform began to rise. The thought of seeing what kind of expressions everyone wore tormented me.

It wasn't until a cool wind caressed my cheek that I realized my feet had taken me to the top of the blimp. A deep breath did little to calm my nerves, but I still found the outside more inviting than the thought of returning to the others. I didn't know if I could after arguing with the King of Egypt and refusing to follow his request.

I shook my head and sighed heavily.

"It's not that I won't..." I said to myself, wishing that I could say it to the Pharaoh as well. "I just… can't."

My head swam in his words so much that they weighed heavily on my heart. The city lights swirled below the blimp as I leaned over the railing and anxiously twirled the Millennium Locket between my fingers.

I was a fool to think for a moment that I could be free from such responsibility.

The moment my eyes started to sting, I hobbled away from the railing and slumped back against the lowered dueling platform.

I was a fool…

"Is it really too late?"

My skin crawled at the sound of the familiar voice. I jumped at the sight of dark eyes, deprived of any sleep, staring back at me over a twisted smirk. The squatted figure shifted under the moonlight like a translucent ghost, but at least the man had the arrogance to show his own face this time.

"Zafar…"

"You can still go back down there and take what he offered."

He didn't appear as Eric this time to trick me—or anyone else for that matter—nor did he start barraging me with questions about my Locket. He just stared expectantly, waiting for me to answer his new set of questions. His azure hair that reminded me so much of my brother's, darkened considerably from when I last saw it, touched his shoulders as he tilted his head. My throat tightened from the thought of his hands on it just over an hour ago.

Without a shred of hesitation, I summoned my dagger and swiped at his chest, hoping to catch him by surprise before he could put me through another nightmare like before. The blade just brushed through his body like a paintbrush in paint, never making a swift impact into flesh. I stared, wide-eyed at the lack of injury and dreaded the consequences this attack would bear.

Zafar merely smirked without attacking back and stood up.

"Still shocked, I see. I also don't know why this happened, but it's fascinating."

"It's disturbing." I grasped the dagger tight, wishing that it could have acted as some form of defence. "Twice now you've shown up. H-How come my attacks didn't go through, but you… you almost..."

"I blame this shadow magic's instability. Seems like I'm stuck here between two dimensions. A little while ago, I was able to move things around in this dimension. Now I'm floating around like a ghost."

"Stuck?" I never heard of something like this before. "How can a spirit be stuck?"

"I was on my way to the Shadow Realm," started Zafar, and the whole time he spoke, I was on edge. I sat there, propped up against the platform with my dagger in hand, breathing steadily as I listened, but as tense as a stray cat in the dark. "I don't know why, but something happened and I was back on the dueling platform. At first, no one could see me, but I could see everyone.

"I watched as your friends brought you down to your room." Blood rushed from my face at the thought of Zafar watching my every movement, even after that nightmare where he almost stopped my breathing. "I thought that whatever this was, it was enough to get what I wanted from you."

His hazel eyes darkened in the moonlight as they stared at his hands. He clenched and opened his trembling fingers, but they continued to shake. Was he afraid of something? When he saw me watching, he brought his hands down.

"But you woke up, and whatever influence I had on this dimension disappeared. Now I'm just floating around without any purpose."

"... What about your body?"

"I can't get back in." Here, his voice wavered, but he quickly looked away. "It won't let me."

I shifted off the platform while keeping a careful eye on Zafar. "... How do I even know you're telling me the truth?"

"I suppose I hoped that you would see me like this and feel sorry for me."

"Maybe you deserve to be stuck between dimensions."

"Please don't say that."

His pleading voice was strange. Since I met him, he never spoke without harshness to his words. Did the thought of wandering the world in between dimensions for the rest of eternity break him? He cradled his forehead in his hand, like he was at the end of his rope.

"Not being able to do anything isn't right. Not like this."

My heart reached out for him, uncertainty clouding my judgement. Did spending time in between dimensions change him? Was this experience necessary for him to leave the darkness in his heart behind? He didn't look anything like the man who threatened us before.

I swallowed nervously, at the same time wondering if this was all just a ploy to trick me again.

"Sounds like you're lost," I said trying to sound indifferent, but feeling sorry. I couldn't imagine being in that situation. I'd probably reevaluate my entire life too.

I'd probably regret everything I had done… and cry about the time I spent for someone else instead of myself.

I shook my head, nauseous that I would even consider the idea.

Zafar held his hip. "Doesn't seem like I'm the only one lost," he said. "And you're not even trapped between dimensions."

"You've said your piece, but I'm not entirely sorry for how things turned out."

"I know." He smiled sadly, which was bizarre to see on his face. "I suppose I deserve this."

Not banished to the Shadow Realm or able to return to his body… There was sadness in that lack of direction. While in one dimension or the other, spirits had either punishment or freedom. But what does a spirit between dimensions do? Was wandering for the rest of eternity all they could do?

My chest grew heavy at the thought. I imagined not being able to hold a pencil or give a hug anymore, to not have the choice of living life in either dimension.

"What do you want?"

"Why'd you give up on being friends with the Pharaoh?"

I scoffed. "Not that it's any of your business, but I haven't."

"You can't be his Guardian and his friend—not in the way he wants you to be."

"Why are you so interested?"

"Because I don't understand."

I held my breath, not expecting that answer—nor the questioning gaze that I received.

"I don't understand how you can still fight for him."

"You'll never understand."

His shifting hand grasped my arm.

"Help me to," he pleaded. His icy ghost fingers and entirely different demeanor sent chills down my spine. The sudden desperation in his eyes distracted me from the urge to pull away from him. How could he grab my arm in the first place if he said he couldn't interact with anything anymore? Did his situation shift between forms? "Why do you insist on suffering for a man who's never before put you ahead of himself?"

Zafar had attempted to trap me in the Shadow Realm during our duel, and while I was regaining my strength, he tried to finish me off in my sleep. What was this sudden urge to find the truth? The crazed look in his eyes from before had disappeared without a trace, being replaced by this desire to understand something that I've been fighting for this entire time.

"I…" Again, words died in my throat as I recalled the instance from downstairs. My lips quivered shut, realizing that I may have given up my only chance of freedom.

Zafar searched my gaze for an answer, but when he didn't get one, he let go of my elbow. It stung from where his fingers had grasped it, and I only noticed the redness for a fleeting moment before his alarming dark eyes ensnared my attention.

"I see it now," he whispered. "You don't want him getting hurt."

I stared into the swirling mass of uncertainty in his gaze, a numbness growing in my arm from the heat of his smoky hand.

"But he did." Zafar tilted his head slightly. "And that scares you."

The pace of my heart quickened.

There was a moment during this entire meeting when I thought that perhaps Zafar had changed. Now out of his body and away from Marik's influence, he began to realize his mistakes at the realization that he may be stuck between dimensions forever. In these few minutes, he didn't seem as callous or hungry for a kill. He appeared human, and perhaps for a split second, I pitied him for being lost between worlds.

But the smirk that suddenly curved upwards on his face reduced the towering misconceptions into rubble. My back went rigid at the sight of darkness pooling under him, as though ink spilled at his feet.

"How ironic! How utterly fascinating and ironic!"

Zafar's sudden burst of laughter shook my hands enough to even make the dagger shiver in my fingers. My face grew hot from his mockery.

"I don't have to take this from you of all people!" I shouted vindictively. The little pity that I had mustered for him vanished instantly. "Rot between dimensions!"

"Oh, but I won't be here for long."

A cry of surprise escaped my lips when something pinched my arm. I looked down, expecting an insect bite, but dark lines traced up my veins instead.

No… not again! Was it when he grabbed my arm?!

Tendrils of shadows emerged from Zafar's feet and loomed over my head like anchors ready to sink. I slashed the dagger at Zafar again, but another tendril from behind his arm caught my wrist. It squeezed so hard that the blade slipped through my numbed fingers and skittered away.

"You could have spent what little time you had left severing your arm to save yourself, but instead you aimed for my head." Zafar's steely dark eyes narrowed. "You'll pay dearly for that."

"I can take you." As soon as the dagger disappeared, I summoned a khopesh into my free hand and swiped upwards through the tendril, freeing my arm. The shadow dissipated and I could finally stand straight again.

Sudden pain ripped through my arm, hindering my hold on the blade. Coils and ringlets of shadows erupted from my veins and wrung around my arm tight enough to loosen my shaking fingers, releasing the khopesh. It missed my frozen feet by inches.

Fear rose to my throat as my fingers rushed to tear the shadows from my arm in a panic. However, as I struggled, more shadows formed. They curled and tightened, like a large snake wrapping itself around its prey. My arm was covered in dark magic before I could blink.

From overhead, dark tendrils lunged towards me, easily wrapping themselves around my waist and feet. Even my other arm was held back by Zafar.

He smiled eerily.

"Not this time."

"Hey Eric! So you're dueling next, eh?"

The young boy ran anxious fingers through his tousled mop of orange hair as he followed Joey and the others out of the lobby. "I suppose so, though I think Salex might be more excited about it. She practically soared towards the elevator."

"Aren't you looking forward to it too?" asked Téa.

"I would be excited, under normal circumstances…"

"We should take these duels one at a time," offered Tristan. "There's no point in worrying about the boss fight if there are lots of levels along the way. We need to pass them anyway to get to the top."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Eric, good luck."

The boy turned towards Yami who, despite seeming preoccupied, didn't fail to give his best. "Thanks, man." He stopped at the elevator, halting the others as well. "Still thinkin' about Sarah?"

"I didn't think she would decline," admitted Yami. "At first, she seemed to agree, but soon after, her expression fell."

"Something must have stopped her," said Téa. "She needs to know that this is reasonable."

"Is it reasonable for her, though?"

All eyes turned to Duke who was idly twisting his hair.

"What d'you mean?" Joey huffed. "The Pharaoh just wants her to be safe—we all do."

"She's been a Guardian for a good chunk of her life, hasn't she?" Duke turned to Yami. "What if she just can't see herself as someone other than a Guardian?"

"It's a possibility," he concurred. "She may be too close to the position."

"Doesn't that Seal-of-something on her neck bind you two together too?" asked Tristan, clicking the elevator button to go up. The platform began to descend. "What if she can't ever physically separate herself from you?"

Yami touched his slender fingers against the base of his neck, as if he could feel the Oath's Seal on his own skin. "That didn't occur to me," he admitted.

"Let's go look for her while Eric's getting ready for his duel. We can talk to her again."

"She's at the top of the blimp," said Joey suddenly, earning him questioning gazes. "When she left, I watched her get onto the elevator."

"You watched her…?" Tristan raised a brow suspiciously at the blond.

"I was worried!"

The ding of the elevator cut through the conversation. Once inside, no one spoke again, dreading what could have been waiting for them at the top floor.

'Fights happen all the time between friends,' Yugi said to his other half, appearing as a spirit next to him. 'We've just never had one with Sarah.'

"This may be my first time altogether." Yami glanced towards the button panel, waiting for 'Dueling Platform' to light up. "Ironic that it was with Sarah."

'You two will be back to normal in no time.'

Crimson eyes narrowed in thought. "What is our normal, Yugi?" Amethyst eyes blinked silently in response. "After what happened, I'm not sure I quite understand our positions anymore."

The young duelist smiled sadly. 'It's a little complicated right now, but I'm sure you two will find your niches soon.'

"'Niche'?" asked Yami.

'It means a place you're both comfortable.'

Comfort didn't come to Yami's mind when he thought about the harsh job of being a Guardian. It meant sacrifice and putting someone else before their own needs. Although Sarah has shown multiple times that she aims to be more friendly, somehow formality overtakes her.

She couldn't be herself completely without her official duties taking control of her.

"A place of friendship that we're both comfortable with would be nice."

The elevator doors finally opened to reveal the top of the blimp. Darkness from the night sky was illuminated by the glowing lights built into the dueling platform. Not only did they reveal the empty arena but also the young Guardian sitting on the floor of the observation deck, holding her head. Salex frantically hovered over her, her previous excitement replaced by concern.

"Are you sure you don't need help getting up? How'd you get dizzy? I'll get you some more sweets!"

"Salex. Really, I'm fine." Sarah used the railing to pull herself up, smiling reassuringly at the other. "See? I'm already doing better."

"Sarah, I'm gonna start scolding you like my parents used to scold me when I was a kid," said Eric suddenly, his maroon eyes glaring at his friend who jumped at the sight of him. "Eat something."

"Yes, mom."

"Why, you-"

"Alright, enough!" Tristan quickly stepped in between the two, holding an apple out for Sarah to take. "Just eat this."

Sarah stared at the apple as some foreign object. "No more sweets?" she asked innocently.

"No more sweets. You just crash afterwards. Now you need brain food."

With a defeated sigh, she grabbed the apple. "Yes, dad," she mumbled before biting into the crunchy fruit. Tristan's right eye twitched.

"For a Guardian supposed to be guarding the Pharaoh, you're not taking very good care of yourself," retorted Eric.

Sarah stopped before taking another bite, her scarlet red eyes staring cautiously at Eric.

"I have a lot on my mind," she said. Then she glanced towards Yami who was quiet, unsure of how to approach Sarah after she left the way she did.

"Zafar was here."

"Zafar? How's that even possible?" cried Joey in disbelief. "He's downstairs in a coma!"

Sarah told them about how Zafar presented himself and what he said. All the while, a look of doubt plastered her face as if she couldn't believe it either. Not only had the man surpassed his physical form, he could also interact with others without having the need for his body.

"And this is why magic isn't taught in schools," said Duke, placing a hand on his hip. "People can get trapped between dimensions."

"Is he still here?" Téa asked, worried that Zafar might show himself selectively.

"No, he's gone." Sarah looked around to make sure. "I don't see him anymore."

"Did he try to do anything, Sarah?" Yami finally asked. His mind had tracked back to the warehouse, when Sarah was taken by Zafar before the finals.

There was a moment when his Guardian didn't say anything. She shifted skeptically on her feet and swiftly swung her arm behind her before answering.

"No," she said, looking him in the eyes. "He didn't."

The Pharaoh wasn't convinced. Sarah didn't wish to appear weak, so as always, she attempted to hide her injuries. Even the bruise from her first encounter with Zafar was still hidden beneath makeup. However, he faltered against pushing her for the truth. Her cold stare hindered the questions in his throat.

Why did telling Sarah to leave her Guardianship behind… upset her?

An emotional crevice cracked into existence between them.

"That's too bad." Dark Marik approached the observation deck, his violet robes billowing in the wind behind him. "I thought perhaps you would consider my proposal."

Sarah's fists clenched and her blazing scarlet eyes narrowed at the villain. "And I told you that I would never consider such a thing."

"We'll see about that."

As the man claimed a corner of the deck for himself, Yami watched Sarah's reaction, noticing her eyes linger on his form for a moment longer than he anticipated.

What did he "propose"?

The Pharaoh was just about to ask when Sarah turned away towards Eric. A deep pain from being ignored reverberated against his chest, but he attempted to brush it off as a simple misunderstanding.

"Are you dueling?" she asked the boy. Eric gave her a confident nod. "Well—good luck. Salex has some good cards."

"Sure, but she hasn't seen me duel."

"I studied your duel against Sarah from Duelist Kingdom," said Salex, a glint of excitement in her child-like eyes.

"This is a brand new tournament! I've got some new tricks up my sleeve." Eric smirked, giving in to his duelist's spirit. "Even ones that Sarah hasn't seen."

"Salex, you got this."

Eric's mouth fell. "I thought you'd be rooting for me!"

"I'm torn about who to root for." Sarah replied sheepishly.

"Well, make sure to make up your mind during the duel!" Salex joked. Roland called the both of them onto the dueling deck after raising it, and by that time, even Kaiba and Mokuba arrived. The two duelists joined the referee and started with shuffling each other's decks.

"I'm kind of excited to see a normal duel for once," admitted Tristan.

"Yeah, without all the shadow magic, putting people we care about in danger." Joey's dark honey eyes narrowed.

"Hey, Sarah!" Eric called from over the railing, a huge grin plastered on his face. "Can I have a kiss for good luck?"

Sarah's face flushed red, but before she could retort, Tristan yelled at him in her place.

"How about a knuckle sandwich instead!"

"Nah, those hurt." Eric laughed. "Ease up! It'll be okay! We're gonna get through this."

With a heavy sigh, while trying to brush off his comment, Sarah nodded. "Yeah, one duel at a time," she agreed. "But you're making me teeter more towards Salex right now."

As Yami watched the carefree exchange, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about Sarah. Perhaps it was the addition of a new element that she did not tell him that made him so uneasy, because he expected Sarah to tell him everything. Combined with their harsh exchange, he wondered if their relationship had shifted.

He thought they were becoming a lot closer, but his wish to save Sarah from Ra's wrath stirred the stability he was gaining. In hindsight, his act must have insulted her abilities and strength, but he would have done it again if the situation ever arose.

"Hm… a Guardian being protected by a Pharaoh…" Yami thought the notion absurd indeed, but wondered if their positions defined their entire existence. Couldn't they have a part of their life where they were just friends?

As Yami continued to observe Sarah, he noticed the slight scrunch in her nose when she was thinking about something that confused her. Unable to continue bearing the idea that she might turn away again, he approached her, hoping that it wouldn't happen again—hoping that she will speak to him again.

"You seem to be getting along well with Salex."

Sarah's cold stare from before melted into a softer expression, immediately providing the Pharaoh with hope. "She's cool," she said. "We had a lot more in common than I first thought."

Although Sarah displayed calm, the Pharaoh still felt tension between them. He hesitated with his next thought.

"You seem to be thinking about something."

A troubled sigh escaped his Guardian's lips. "It's about what Salex said."

Mildly surprised that Sarah shared with him concerns about what Salex told her but not Marik, the Pharaoh continued the discussion, thankful that at least they could still talk. However, in the recesses of his mind, it felt as though their argument was being brushed under the rug.

Shouldn't it be resolved before it disappears completely?

"About her studying your duels?"

"Yeah, it sounded like something I've heard before…"

Yami watched Sarah trying to remember. Her eyes searched a spot on the floor as her mind raced through her memories. How he wished he could have an expanse to search through as well. All he could recall of his earliest memories was when he believed himself to be Yugi, after he completed the Puzzle.

"Someone else also said this to me, but I can't remember who…" Sarah held her head and sighed again, this time, more agitated. "My head hurts."

"I can get you some water, Sarah," offered Téa.

"Thanks, but it's alright. I think it'll pass."

"Sarah, Téa's idea might help-"

"I'm fine."

There it was again—the cold shoulder, thrust upon the Pharaoh from out of nowhere. The crevice between them broke apart even more. He could feel himself being pushed even further away.

"Perhaps I have crossed a line that I wasn't supposed to…"

Yugi stirred in his heart, not wanting to increase the tension with his presence. 'You wanted to keep her safe,' said Yugi kindly. 'There's nothing wrong with protecting your friends, even if it's from themselves.'

"I am not even sure about our friendship anymore. Whatever distance we covered, I'm afraid I may have increased it ten-fold."

'You're being too hard on yourself. She just needs more time to understand, like Téa said.'

"I hope you're right, Yugi. We need to stand together now more than ever to even have a chance at beating Marik."

The Pharaoh crossed his arms, replaying the last duel and the aftermath in his mind. Was there anything he could have done differently? If it meant not speaking to her as they used to, would he really save her again?

Could he stand losing her to her duties as his Guardian?

Author's Note: I wished with all my heart to have this chapter done much sooner—I even tried to finish it a couple of weeks after the last one! But it was so hard to write. I legit have nine versions of this same chapter—nine! There were so many elements that I wanted to incorporate and so many plot points that I couldn't decide on the emotions. In the end, this chapter is what my heart felt was right. I hope that you enjoyed reading it! It's the first time I wrote about a conflict between our two main characters, but I think this conflict is important to explore. Let's see what they do with it!

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? Drop a review! Any feedback is greatly appreciated. I know this chapter was shorter than the last, but I still hope you enjoyed reading it!

All the best to everyone. Stay safe.

~xyugiohluvrx