Disclaimer: Yuugiou (Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters) is the property of Takahashi Kazuki and respective publishers, including Shueisha, Studio Gallop, Nihon Ad Systems, Toei Animation, 4Kids, and others. I would never claim to own it or attempt to make money off of it- just think of this as a written, free doujinshi and hopefully we'll get along fine ;)

Masks

When he first meets Aishisu, he thinks that she wears a mask.

It isn't the kohl over her eyes or the headdress shielding her, but her face itself- firm and gentle, but occasionally showing cracks at the edges, sadness peaking through. It is an imprecisely made mask, barely ever removed, but that does not change what it is.

He watches her divining in the hopes of learning more of these magical techniques which shroud themselves in mystery, but instead he learns of another sort of mystery. Even when her Heka has lowered, her visions clearly faded, Aishisu will continue to stare into the flames or up at the moon's face. At these times she is looking not at the future but at the past- he recognizes this expression, one he has seen in himself and so many others.

He doesn't ask for explanations and Aishisu does not offer them. Now is not the time (though if it ever actually will be he does not know), and he recognizes that what Aishisu needs most at the moment is to continue living in the present. She has Karimu and Shada, the men like family who she arrived here with, Mahaado, a friend and colleague who lives both now and in the future with her, and himself…

Atemu is never quite certain of what good he can do for Aishisu, though he hopes to become a source of support for her. And, when tragedy strikes a year later, both of their masks fall aside for a single moment, and he realizes…

The freedom to hide can be a gift in and of itself.