YuGiOh: Souls of Shadow

Chapter 6.2

                The next day, the remaining duelists on the island were very small in number. I assumed that most of them had made their way into the castle for the finals. That didn't mean anything changed for me. My list was still filled with chores, and I worked from dawn to dusk to mindlessly complete them.

That evening, I was clearing brush from a trial that lead to the ocean when I saw a figure standing on the cliff. As I got closer, I began to see a canvas laid out before him. He leaned in close to the painting, carefully detailing the painted ocean. I watched, almost memorized as he stroked the brush across the surface carefully. He rubbed his hands on his stained overalls when he got some paint on them, flipping his ponytail back over his shoulder as it blew around in the sea breeze.

I attempted to get closer to him to observe, betting that he was so focused on his work that he wouldn't notice if I snuck up closer from behind him. It was about time for a break, anyway.

I stood there for a little while in a trance, hardly paying attention to the passing of time as the sun sank lower and the colors became brighter in the sky and in the painting. I was amazed how he had captured a changing scene so perfectly.

"There's no need to hide," a hardly recognizable voice called.

I gasped a little as he turned to face me. I cringed, waiting for the electrocution to surge through my body. Instead, he just smiled and turned back around.

"You're not in trouble. I didn't mean to shock you," he laughed softly.

"I... I didn't know it was you..." I told him, struggling to find my own voice.

"The final round is tomorrow," he explained in a steady, focused voice, resuming his work. "I do this to calm my nerves." There was something I liked about his voice while he was so absorbed in his painting. Without that rich-guy tone, he sounded like he might be a person that actually has some humility.

I knew that I shouldn't want stay, but I didn't want to go either. To take up time, I decided to speak to him. "I just never pictured you as the sensitive artist type. And with those clothes..."

He laughed softly again as he cleaned his brush. "I've always enjoyed painting. Most of the time, I put my talent into designing cards."

My eyes widened. "You're the ones that designs the cards?"

"Some of them," he answered as he stroked the blood red color across the sky, adding to the glowing vibrance of the colors. With a final inspection, he set his brush in the clouded glass of water and turned around to face me. "Well, I suppose we should both be heading back now. It's going to get dark soon."

I couldn't help but stare at him for a moment. He really looked nothing like himself for some reason. He didn't even seem like himself. No matter how hard I worked to bring forth my hatred for him, it wouldn't come, and I couldn't break my gaze.

"What?" he asked. "Is there something on my face?"

"Yeah," I answered. "Paint..."

"Oh, that figures," he shrugged. "Help me take these supplies back, would you?"

I did as he said, grabbing the stand and the bag of art materials while he took the canvas. My heart began pounding as I walked beside him on the way back to the castle. There was something so off about the entire scene. In that moment in time, I felt as if we weren't exactly different people, but ourselves as if we had met in another life. And I decided I liked the scenario. I began to feel light-headed, as if I were going to pass out. I quickly shook the feeling away, telling myself I was simply overworked and tired.

"You can have the day off tomorrow, if you'd like to watch the final duel," Pegasus told me.

"I'd rather work," I told him, finally finding that edge of loathing again.

"I'm going up against your favorite duelist," he replied with a smirk. "Yugi Motto, isn't it?"

My eyes widened as I recognized the name. Inside, my excitement had been rejuvenated by the mention of Motto.

"It will surely be an interesting match. I'd hate for you to miss it."

"If you insist," I replied without a hint of gratitude. I knew he wasn't really being nice to me, and unlike him, I didn't care for putting up fronts. In reality, there was something about this duel that was going to be gravely significant, something much greater than a title or a prize. It had to tie in with the scandal. Whatever was really going on, I knew I had to wait for tomorrow to find out.

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