An interesting development...

[adarkjudge]

[To say that the other Yugi had been watching like a hawk after the puzzle was stolen would be an understatement. Usually, he was more than happy to lazily watch from the back of their mind, or just rifle through their memories when he "woke up" after resting for a while. But lately, he'd been staying "awake," keeping an eye out for threats and carefully steering Yugi around if he sensed one.

But it had given him an odd view he hadn't before. Normally, he'd been happy enough to just watch and let his other personality enjoy himself, but now... he felt a desire to do a few things himself. And so, he'd done something he never did before. Two things, in fact.

The first was that, when he took over, he let Yugi stay awake -- and why not? There was nothing he needed to protect Yugi from now. The second...

Was that he had asked permission, first. Yugi had been shocked -- cute little other half he was -- but agreed, and now he seemed fascinated by the feeling, or lack thereof.

Right now, the other Yugi can be found wandering most anywhere around the Campus, occasionally pausing on the roof for a breath of air or the lounge to munch on a snack.]

Comments

[adarkjudge]

Heheh... I'll have to look into that! Why don't we start now, if you're just reading things in general?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Un! Have a seat, then.

[Gathering the cards up, he shuffles them carefully, then fans them out in his hand, face down.]

Do you have a question in mind? It'll be easier to demonstrate if you do.

[adarkjudge]

[He moves to a position a little more comfortable, Yugi sitting next to him to watch even in his ghostly form.]

Hm...

[A question, huh?]

...Will the rest of our friends appear here?

[fluffydeathdealer]

A direct question like that... it'll work best with the ellipse spread. Focus on that question, and draw seven of the cards from my hand, laying them out in a v-shape.

[adarkjudge]

[Both of them focus on it, Yami taking cues from Yugi to pick three of the cards, then taking four of them himself without paying attention to that other said.

That done, he carefully places them in that V-spread, letting the open end face Ryou. He's not entirely sure if this the right orientation, but it should be fine enough.]

There.

[fluffydeathdealer]

That's right! [He grins.] From your side, they're 1 to 7, left-to-right. Card number seven is supposed to be the final outcome, so it's possible to skip straight to that if you're in a hurry. The other cards represent influences and hopes.

[adarkjudge]

This place doesn't exactly give us a lot to be in a hurry about... so start from the beginning.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Card one represents things in the past that have an influence on you and your question.

[Reaching out, he overturns card number one.]

These 'cups' are the cards of the heart. They always have something to do with feelings. This is the third of cups, and it's upright, meaning a positive result. In the past, those people close to you came together out of necessity, but from that necessary interaction grew a strong connection.

[adarkjudge]

[Interesting... that sounds a little like Jounouchi and Honda, and even Anzu, but he's got a weird feeling about it.]

Hm... I see.

[fluffydeathdealer]

If it was reversed, it would mean a feeling of being left out, or pushed aside.

[He taps the second card.]

This card refers to present influences.

[Turning it over...]

The swords are cards of power. Unlike most other cards, this is one whose upright status is negative in meaning.

The eight of swords represents a feeling of powerlessness. Usually the 'imprisonment' meaning is more of a spiritual one, meaning you feel trapped, but it's probably physical, in this case.

But it also means that there's a painful decision to be made, to break free of that imprisonment.

[adarkjudge]

[Hm... a painful decision to break free of imprisonment. Taking into account the spread that Ryou had out before...]

It seems like getting out of here is going to take something more than just breaking the barrier, then, doesn't it? Disaster along with a "painful decision" to get out of imprisonment?

I wonder what we'll have to sacrifice to escape.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Most likely... I can't claim to be an expert on places like this, but it seems only logical that it isn't going to be easy to leave even if the barriers go down.

One of my friends made contact with the barrier once, and the effects were pretty bad. But it wasn't fatal, or lasting. Considering the type of people that come here... The barrier's probably there for our benefit, rather than our hindrance.

[adarkjudge]

I don't see how keeping us all locked in is "benefiting." Though I suppose I've less to worry about, considering what I can do.

[Which is to make people nearly go insane. But hey.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Yugi-san... what if there really isn't anything beyond the barrier? No air, no space, no anything.

In that situation, the barrier being gone means the air disappears too.

[adarkjudge]

Hm... that's a good point. So you think it's possible that what we're seeing outside the barrier is an illusion of sorts?

[fluffydeathdealer]

It wouldn't be the most absurd thing I've experienced. It's possible that the barrier just projects an image of the 'outside world'. Even more so since apparently there was an illusion of a city outside of the school for a while before it opened up to the island.

[adarkjudge]

If you combine that with Mahad's theory... then it seems suddenly a lot more likely.

[Yami drums his fingers on his leg thoughtfully.]

If this place is an existence of its own, a unique dimension that's only connected to space and time of others in very specific points, then it could stand to reason this might be the only spot in this dimension that actually exists. It could be a void outside, it could be space... or it could be a literal nothingness at all.

If that's the case... then breaking the barrier would be dangerous, not just for those who want out, but for everyone here as well.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I-is that so?

[A unique dimension... This is even worse than he thought.]

Yugi-san, I'm scared... what if my friend manages to break it? He's not the type that'll listen to reason...

[adarkjudge]

[Yugi looks at Ryou worriedly again, glancing to his other self. Yami blows out a little bit of air, thinking.]

I sincerely doubt Yokai-kun will be willing to come tell me when it happens... and I or Mahad may not be able to sense it in time. I would say the only way we could help is if we knew something about when it would happen, or where. But I will at least warn Mahad of this, in case he can end up stopping it. Or at least controlling the damage, if it happens.

But you said this place has existed for a while now, even well before I came? Either the barrier's weakened from the constant barrages... or it's too strong for any small group to break through.

Tell your friend it would be safer to try to reopen those doors than break the barrier... and if he won't listen, then find a way to let me know anything you can.

[He reaches over, gently putting a hand on Ryou's shoulder.]

You're my friend, and so are other people here. If there's some way to protect you, then I'll do what I can.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Yes. According to Kaiba-kun, it was closed off until a day or two after I arrived, but it had existed before that.

[Yami's firm hand and kind words make him relax, bit by bit. That's right... the barriers were surely too old and strong for Malik and Harriet alone to break through. And on top of that, the other Yugi and the others were strong. They might be able to stop it. He takes a deep breath, calming down, before he continues.]

I'll keep you informed. I promise.

[adarkjudge]

Then, for now, try not to worry about it. Things won't end in the next few hours, after all.

[Yugi gives Ryou a beaming smile from his position, nodding in agreement.]

1/2

[fluffydeathdealer]

Un! You're right!

[He smiles back, brightly, and moves on to the next card.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

This card represents the future. It's a sword card, like the one before it; this one is the five of swords. It refers to a conflict that has to be won at all costs.

[adarkjudge]

[Yugi frowns a little at that worriedly, looking at the card. Yami, on the other hand, doesn't look ruffled at all.]

Heh... that one's a little late, but I suppose history does repeat itself.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I'd be careful regardless... because it can also mean that someone will try to sabotage you to steal the victory.

[He lets his hand move to number four.]

This card is supposed to be a hint, to show you what to do. Want to see?