Disclaimer: I do not own this story, anime, manga, etc. Created for entertainment purposes only.

Millennium Items Arc

Chapter 1

Yugi flung the door wide open upon seeing who it was. At that, the second, taller figure also lowered his hood, showing it to be Marik's elder half-brother, Odeon. "Marik!" Yugi cried happily. "What are you doing here? Come in, come in!"

"Thank you," Marik acknowledged, giving him a slight bow as he crossed the threshold. "I'm sorry for calling on you so late, and surprising you like this, but we've been kind of in a hurry tonight. I looked up your address but I probably should have called, first."

"It's okay," Yugi assured him, closing the door behind his two guests. Now that they were safe inside from the wind and chill, they undid their cloaks and revealed perfectly normal, everyday clothing. Marik wore a dark gray hooded sweatshirt and cargo pants, Odeon a black shirt and jeans, but both still wore the gold earrings and wristbands that passed for normal in their part of the Middle East. Yugi took their cloaks and hung them on a peg next to his own jacket. "Come on in. This is a surprise…what are you doing here?"

"We're here to see you," Marik answered with a hint of a smile. "Though, it's not a friendly visit, I'm afraid. If you don't mind, we really need to sit down and talk."

"Yeah…sure." Yugi led the way upstairs into the house, turning on a couple more lights in the living room. "Can I get you guys anything?"

"No, thank you." Marik sat down on the couch, Odeon in an adjacent chair. "How are you doing, Yugi?"

"I'm okay, I guess," Yugi replied, coming in and sitting down on the other end of the couch from Marik. "Can't really complain. Is everything all right? You said this isn't a friendly visit…"

"Well, in a manner of speaking." Marik leaned his elbows on his knees, trying to be casual. "Odeon and I came to Domino on urgent business. Someone might be after the pharaoh, so we came to protect him, and you."

Yugi sat up straight, an uncomfortable feeling prickling down his spine. "What? Me? Us? I…I don't get it," he said in a hush. "What's happening?"

"The best way to explain is to start from the beginning," Odeon suggested to his brother.

"I suppose," Marik sighed, clasping his hands together. "I just wanted to know, first of all, that you're all right, Yugi. That nothing has happened to you."

"No, I'm fine," Yugi assured him. "Yami and I are both doing well. No one's come after us that we can tell."

"That's good." Giving another sigh, Marik straightened up and looked at him directly. "This may take a while to explain. Is that all right?"

"Yeah, sure. I don't have to get up early in the morning." Yugi thumbed over his shoulder. "But my grandpa is asleep down the hall, so we just have to keep it quiet."

"All right." Marik kept his folded hands in his lap as he began to tell his story. "Not too long ago, we had a strange visitor in Egypt. We get them every once in a while, archaeologists and professors mostly, who know of my sister and her expertise on Egyptian artifacts. While we're not exactly tombkeepers anymore, we do still live near to the pharaoh's tomb and sanctuary and keep watch over it, until everything has been fulfilled. So, we get scholars sniffing around sometimes, wanting to see artifacts or talk to Ishizu about the tombs. At first, this guy seemed like the rest," he said warily, "some American archeologist full of questions, but the more he asked, the more Ishizu thought he seemed suspicious. Unlike any of the others, he knew about the Millennium Items. That was what he wanted to know about the most, where they were now, whether the tomb had been plundered, that sort of thing."

Yugi stared at him. "What did she tell him?"

Marik smiled wryly. "You know Ishizu. She may not have the Necklace anymore but she still knows how to read people. As soon as he started asking too many questions, she just put him off with some cryptic answers and told him to come around again if he didn't find what he was looking for. She didn't dare tell him where the sanctuary is or anything like that."

"Well, that's good, I guess." Yugi gave him a worried look. "Who was this guy?"

"We don't know," Marik said with a shake of his blond head.

"He made a pest of himself for a day or two," Odeon added. "I was there when he came by the second time. He seemed to think Ishizu was simple and I might be a better source of information since I was male…but I know almost nothing compared to my sister."

"I didn't meet him myself," Marik continued, "but from what I hear, he was a fairly typical American jerk, who thought he knew everything and got annoyed when we were able to deceive him and send him away with nothing."

Odeon nodded solemnly. "He was indeed."

"What did he want, exactly?" Yugi asked them both.

"He didn't say directly," Odeon answered. "But Ishizu gathered from his line of questions that he's seeking the Millennium Items. He wouldn't tell us, and got hostile when we questioned his credentials as an archeologist. He is neither that, nor a tourist – he wanted useful information, not historical anecdotes."

"Oh man…" Yugi's heart went cold within him, though he sensed the pharaoh listening eagerly and was glad for his presence. "What did you do?"

"As soon as she could, Ishizu sent for Shadi," Marik said solemnly. "We weren't sure what could be done, but we thought he might have some insight. After all, he's usually aware if there's a disturbance surrounding the Millennium Items that shouldn't be there."

"True," Yugi noted with a hint of a smile. "And he usually shows up conveniently just when he's needed."

Marik chuckled. "True enough. But Shadi's news to us was that he didn't sense anything, the mystical energies of the Items were all at rest. Even so, he was disturbed by the information from Ishizu and asked us to take certain precautions. We set watch on the sanctuary of the pharaoh and waited, and sure enough, the bastard tried to break into the tomb. We don't know how he found out where it was, but my brother – " He nodded toward Odeon. " – had a group of men stop him before he got anywhere near entering. We told him, then, that the Millennium Items weren't in the tomb, but that was all. We thought he left after that confrontation, but we got word a few days later that he'd been asking all around the museums and cultural ministries, trying to get information on us and our family, the things we've done and places we've gone as part of historical or cultural visits. After that, we acted quickly." Marik sobered even further, his pale blue eyes glinting with anger. "Ishizu said the only way to stop him from finding out who has the Millennium Items is to secure every possible source of information. Odeon and I came here to Domino, our ship landed this evening and we went straight to the museum to regain possession of the pharaoh's tablets. Now that they're safe, we had to come here to see you."

Yugi nodded silently but sat for a while letting the entire tale sink in. He was conscious of Yami lingering beside him, feeling many of the same things as he but also remaining silent for the time being. Yugi stroked his fingertips over the front face of the Puzzle, gazing down at it while so many things passed through his mind all at once. "Do you think I'm in any danger?" he murmured at last.

"Honestly…we don't really know." Marik shifted to face him more directly on the couch. "As long as we can stay one step ahead of this stranger, he won't find out that you have the Puzzle and three other Items…"

"Two," Yugi interrupted him. "I…don't have the Ring anymore."

"What?" Marik sat up sharply. "What happened to it?"

"I don't know." Yugi shook his head tiredly. "I check on them every once in a while, and one day, more than a year ago – almost two – I found that it was missing." His voice dropped with a slight growl. "I know where it is, though. Bakura has it."

Marik sat back heavily into the couch cushions, digesting this unpleasant surprise. "But…I gave it to you after I took it from him. It should have been safe. How did he get it back?"

"I wish I knew. It doesn't matter." Yugi lifted his head, trying to look calm. "As long as I know he has it, and it isn't out there floating somewhere. But I still have the Rod and the Necklace, they're safe. I just checked on them a few days ago, actually." He made a thoughtful face. "Shadi has the Key, at least he always does when I see him. What's the seventh Item? Have I ever come into contact with it?"

"I don't think so," Marik said with a shake of his head. "It's the Scales. Shadi has those also. The only Millennium Item that is currently missing is the Millennium Eye."

"I know. Pegasus is no help, he can't remember who took it." Yugi pondered this. "So, for the most part, the Millennium Items are either safe with Shadi, or here in Domino."

"And that's why we're here." Marik glanced briefly at his half-brother. "Part of it was securing the tablets, but the other part of it is you. Because you're here, and all these Items are here, you need to be protected. At least until such a time as we can be sure that this person isn't a threat to you. We may not have gotten a direct threat, but our suspicions are strong enough that we can't ignore them."

"Either way," Odeon offered, "any stranger asking after the Millennium Items cannot be trusted. Those whose destiny is caught up with them already know about them, and where they're located. Anyone else is an outsider who likely has a more dubious purpose for seeking them."

Yugi looked back and forth between them. "I remember Bakura – or, well, the spirit of the Ring – telling me something once about getting all seven Items together," he said in a soft, timid tone. "Do you suppose that's what the guy is after? Whatever power comes from having all seven?"

"I'm not sure," Marik had to admit.

"It sounded to me like he was not aware of such a rumor," Odeon said. "When he spoke to me and to Ishizu, it didn't seem like he was after their shadow powers. That's right," he suddenly remembered. "Ishizu warned him of the shadow games, and he scoffed at her, saying he didn't believe in curses on ancient Egyptian artifacts."

Yugi frowned. "Then what could he want with them? This is all too weird."

"For the time being, we think it would be best if someone were here to watch over you," Marik said. "We have the tablets in our custody, but we have to find some way of returning them safely to Egypt. It was such short notice that the museum wasn't ready, and we don't have proper transport arranged. We're keeping them on our ship overnight, but after that…well, we'll think of something. Meanwhile, you're more important than the tablets. Even though no one can take your Puzzle without winning it from you in a duel, you have other Millennium Items. We have to worry about outright theft."

"But, if you say you're not sure that this guy even knows I exist…"

"We'd like to keep it that way." Marik gave him a soft smile. "I may have surrendered the Rod and fulfilled my duties as a tombkeeper, but I feel like I'm not through yet…like I have to atone for all the years I turned my back on the pharaoh. I'm at his service, and yours. I want to protect you."

Yugi found himself inexplicably blushing. "You don't have to do that, Marik. Yami understands, you're forgiven."

"Even so. It's the least I can do." He glanced aside. "Odeon and I are prepared to stay here in Domino for a while, if we have to, in order to keep an eye on you. Not like real bodyguards or anything, always following you around and getting in your way, but…just to be sure. We know what this American looks like, and the way he operates. If he does somehow get wind of your location, we'll be prepared to do something to keep him from getting any of the Millennium Items."

"Well…I guess I can't stop you, if that's what you want to do." Yugi picked up the Puzzle, cradling it in his hands and gazing at the Eye as he often did while thinking about Yami and his destiny. "Really, though…we're fine. We've been doing all right on our own."

"Yugi…" Marik sat forward a little. "Shadi passed on a message to me, telling me that if I did come to Domino myself, I should be prepared to find out something unusual about the pharaoh. What is it? What was he talking about?"

Yugi looked boggled for a moment, but then gave a light laugh. "Oh, maybe he means the ritual."

"Ritual? What ritual?"

"Well…" Despite it being a long story, Yugi told Marik everything, about the accident with the Puzzle and Shadi's discovery of a Millennium spell to give the pharaoh's spirit a body, about his relationship, the ring on his finger, all of it. Marik and Odeon listened in stunned silence, their eyes large and mouths struggling to keep from falling open in awe. "You just missed him, actually," Yugi said at the conclusion of his tale. "The last ritual was a couple of days ago. We didn't really do much, just hung around and ran some errands. But, even that little bit, we're trying not to take for granted. It's an incredible gift."

"I'll say," Marik retorted, sitting back and running a hand through his hair. "Wow, Yugi. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that was what Shadi meant. Does he…?" He sat forward and lowered his voice shyly. "Does he know of your relationship?"

Yugi nodded. "Yeah, that was why he brought us the ritual in the first place. Because he figured it might keep us from going inside the Puzzle to see each other all the time. We still do, once in a while, but nowhere near as often."

"I see." Marik blinked at him for a moment, not sure how to follow that. "Then, it's all the more important that we stay here to watch over you. If this person is out to steal the Millennium Items from their rightful owners, we can't let him get between you and the Puzzle. The pharaoh is vulnerable when he's outside it, it would be very bad if the bad guy showed up on the next full moon."

"Maybe you're right," Yugi relented. "But how? Where would you stay?"

"We wouldn't impose on you," Odeon said immediately. "If you agree to take our help, we'll find a place here in town for the time. There is no urgent reason for us to be going back to Egypt. Ishizu is watching over things from there, she can more than take care of herself."

"There's only one thing we need to take care of," Marik said to Odeon. "We have to do something about the tablets. They're safe for tonight on the ship, but they're too big and heavy to be safely transported all the way home that way." He sighed. "If only there were some way of storing them here, or at a halfway point, something our nosy little spy won't think of."

"Too bad Kaiba refuses to acknowledge his connection to the Millennium Items," Yugi pouted. "I bet they'd be perfectly safe at KaibaCorp, and no one would ever think that he'd have anything to do with Egypt."

Marik looked at him in interest. "Do you think we could at least try asking him?"

"No way!" Yugi shook his head wearily. "There's been a lot of animosity between me and Kaiba for the better part of a year. I'll explain it later, but…I just saw him last weekend at the Tokyo Game Expo, and trust me, he won't even give us a chance. The minute he hears it's me asking, he'll slam the door in our faces."

"Oh." Marik wore a vaguely sympathetic look that threatened to break into a smirk at any second. "So, basically, he's the same old Kaiba."

"Well…yeah," Yugi chuckled.

"Yugi," the pharaoh's spirit suddenly interrupted his thoughts. "What about Pegasus?"

"Oh yeah!" Yugi sat up sharply. "We can ask Pegasus!"

"Pegasus?" Marik had to think for a moment. "Wait, him? The guy who couldn't hang on to the Millennium Eye, Pegasus? Why him?"

"His company vaults are just as secure as KaibaCorp's," Yugi reasoned, feeding off his companion spirit's similar thoughts, "and he's got the money to spring for transporting the tablets. Not to mention, he does acknowledge the Millennium Items, and I think he's gotten a visit from Shadi since losing the Eye. He knows a lot more than he lets on. I have to call him tomorrow anyway," he added. "I have to discuss business with him. Maybe I can ask him to take the tablets and store them with him, at Duelist Kingdom or even at his company headquarters in the States. He might be more willing to listen than Kaiba."

Marik eyed him doubtfully, but in the end, he nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right," he conceded. "I've never met the guy, I don't know anything about him except for what Ishizu's told me. I know he claims to have invented Duel Monsters after a visit to the pharaoh's tomb, and he's the one who created the god cards. But I've never had the occasion to deal with him myself."

"Well, I've got his card," Yugi offered. "I have to call him in the morning, so when I do, I'll ask if he'll meet with both of us. He's in town right now, or at least he should still be."

"If you think it'll work," Marik shrugged. "We can at least try."

They sat up rather late talking, as there was so much Yugi wanted to tell Marik about how things were going and what part the pharaoh was playing in his life now, and he wanted to hear all about how the three siblings had settled down in Egypt to live a more normal life. By the time Marik considered that he was keeping Yugi up too late, the night was rather old. "Do you have a place to stay tonight, at least?" Yugi asked them both.

"I think we were just going to go back to the ship," Marik said. "We've brought along about a dozen men, friends and villagers who have the same kind of heritage as my family who are also waiting for the pharaoh. They're standing guard over the tablets."

"It's really late," Yugi worried. "If you don't want to drive all the way back to the harbor, you can stay here for tonight. In case Pegasus agrees to see us right away in the morning."

"That would be nice, thank you," Marik said with a smile. "We shouldn't impose, though."

"It's no problem. I'll drag a futon out, it'll be fine." Yugi gave a cute little laugh. "I'll just have to get up earlier than I expected, so I can explain everything to Grandpa when he wakes up and finds you here."

Bright and early the next morning, against his body's every desire to stay in bed and sleep in, Yugi got up to take responsibility for the many things which had been unexpectedly laid upon his shoulders. Grandpa was naturally surprised by the strange visitors, but welcoming, and made them all breakfast while Yugi went into the other room to call Pegasus. It may have been too early for him, but not for a big-shot CEO, and he got through immediately to the regional office in Domino where it seemed Pegasus was overseeing its first full week of operation. By the oily tone of his voice, Yugi could tell he was very pleased to be receiving this particular phone call, but he listened as Yugi said he wanted to bring someone by with him, someone connected to Egypt. He would deliver his own news about the business offers in person, but it was conditional upon Pegasus giving audience to this friend. Pegasus agreed to do so, and gave him directions to the Industrial Illusions offices downtown. Now that the meeting was set, Marik and Odeon split up – Marik would come with Yugi, while his half-brother made his way down to the harbor to check in on their people guarding the pharaoh's tablets. Yugi got dressed and came down just as Marik was wrapping his cloak around his shoulders. "So, should we walk, or take a taxi?" Yugi asked.

"Neither," Marik replied with a smirk that made his pale blue eyes sparkle. "I brought my bike."

"Oo!" Yugi quickly stifled his excitement lest his grandfather overhear. If there was one thing Grandpa Muto disapproved of, it was Yugi riding motorcycles. "Do you have a second helmet, for me?" he asked secretively.

"Of course, you can use Odeon's," Marik smiled. "Though how you're going to cram all that hair into it is beyond me."

Giggling, Yugi followed him out and around the corner to where his motorcycle was parked beneath the trees. Brushing fallen leaves off the seat, Marik straddled it comfortably and extended a hand to help Yugi on behind him. "Just hold on tight," he warned as he started up the bike.

Yugi flung his arms around Marik's waist and clasped his hands to keep them securely together, grinning like a maniac inside the helmet as Marik pulled away. His motorcycle was much bigger and more low-slung than Tristan's, but it was just as much fun to ride. Thanks to the wind and the noise and their helmets they couldn't talk during the drive, but Yugi pointed and gestured to steer Marik the right way downtown to find the office block where Industrial Illusions now resided. Once they came to a stop in the perfect parking space, Yugi yanked off the helmet (his hair naturally bounced right back) and let out a hoot of excitement. "I wish I could have a motorcycle," he enthused. "That was fun!"

"Let me guess…" Marik took the helmet from him and stashed them both away. "Your grandpa won't let you have one."

"He doesn't even like to know I've ridden on one," Yugi pouted.

"I won't tell him if you won't." Marik turned and gazed upward at the tall façade of the office complex. "So, this is it?"

"This is what he said." Yugi pulled the business card out of his back pocket to verify. "Yup, this is it. Upstairs to the fifth floor."

The two slender young men looked rather out of place in the quiet, sterile office building, but no one stopped them to make sure they knew where they were going. Industrial Illusions was sharing the space with a couple other businesses, so Yugi made sure to seek out the proper one and led the way inside to find Pegasus' secretary. Since they were expected, it took almost no time before they were ushered into a rather large corner office where Maximillian Pegasus sat behind a well-kept desk. He had several papers near at hand, but nothing immediately in front of him as he set his hands demurely on the desktop and smiled coolly. "Yugi," he said politely, drawling out the name suggestively. "Nothing like waiting until the last minute, is there?"

"I'm sorry," Yugi said awkwardly, stepping ahead of Marik, who lingered behind him. "It's been really busy this week after I got back."

"Not to worry," Pegasus said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I've been rather swamped with work myself. I need to make sure everything here is in place before I can even think of returning home. Fortunately, that will finally happen tonight…" He narrowed his visible eye in a scolding sort of look. "…so you're just in time to give me your answer."

"And I will," Yugi said, "but first, I need to ask you something important. It's about the Millennium Items."

Pegasus' eye flicked to Marik briefly. "Yes, so you said on the phone," he murmured more seriously. "I'm not sure why you would need my help on the matter…considering I no longer possess one."

"That doesn't change your connection to them," Marik said softly, almost darkly. "It's said you were chosen to bear the Eye, so it still belongs to you…and you to the Items' past and future."

Pegasus arched an eyebrow at him. "Sorry," Yugi broke in, "Pegasus…this is Marik Ishtar. Ishizu's younger brother."

The mention of Ishizu caused Pegasus to sit up straight in surprise, and then rise from his chair. "You don't say," he gasped dramatically. "You're Ishizu's brother? The one she hid the god cards from? Oh yes…" He smiled again as he relaxed and lowered himself back into his chair. "Now that you mention it, I thought you looked familiar. Though, there's something different about you compared to the photos I saw from the Battle City tournament…"

Marik's face twitched uncomfortably. "I'm sure there is," he said flatly.

Pegasus rested his elbows on the desk and laced his fingers together. "My, my," he said silkily. "The younger Ishtar. I had no idea your guest was so intriguing, Yugi-boy."

Yugi fought to restrain himself from rolling his eyes at Pegasus' favorite epithet. "We're here to ask for your help, because we don't know where else to turn. No one else has the resources to do what we're asking."

Pegasus sobered and focused his eye on Yugi instead. "I'm listening."

Yugi faced him with his back straight and arms at his sides, looking rather courageous. He decided Pegasus didn't need to know the backstory, at least not yet. "The Ishtar family donated a lot of artifacts to the Domino Museum a couple years ago, including a set of tablets from the pharaoh's tomb," he explained. "But now, there's some kind of threat being raised against the Millennium Items, so they need to take the tablets back to Egypt. The problem is, they don't have a way to do it quickly and safely."

"The tablets need to be returned the pharaoh's sanctuary anyway," Marik added. "Now seemed like as good a time as ever to take care of it."

"The tablets with the Egyptian gods," Pegasus said knowingly, having gone completely serious. "Yes, I paid a visit to them earlier this week, when I arrived in the city. I hadn't seen them since they were in the tomb itself."

"We've taken them into our possession," Marik went on, "but because time was of the essence, we did so without preparing a way to transport them safely back to Egypt. They're under guard at the moment, but we need to act quickly to at least remove them from Domino and place them somewhere safe until such a time as we can arrange transport to Egypt."

A smug light crept slowly back into Pegasus' hazel eye. "And this is where I come in, is it? You'd like my assistance in transporting the tablets?"

Marik faced him with a grim look. "The tablets' security is my main concern. They contain too much information that could fall into the wrong hands, now that the pharaoh holds the god cards and several Millennium Items as well."

"Ahh…" Pegasus flicked a knowing look back and forth between the two young men. "It's a matter of protecting the pharaoh, is it?"

Yugi and Marik also looked at each other, and Marik decided to explain further. "We suspect someone is hunting for the Millennium Items, though we don't know why. He came to Egypt and tried to get information out of Ishizu. If he were to come here and find the tablets just sitting in a museum for anyone to see, it could end badly."

Pegasus sighed and closed his eye for a moment. All the lilt and bravado seemed to fade out of him, leaving him tired and solemn. "I guess I can't dismiss my destiny with the Items, no matter how long it's been since my Eye was taken," he murmured. "I'm too caught up in it. Duel Monsters and god cards, and all of that." His gaze returned to Yugi. "No matter what you might think of me, I do still have a sense of loyalty to Shadi that can't be broken. By inference, that means I owe a little something to the pharaoh as well. Despite losing the Millennium Eye, I'm a part of this, whether I'd like to be or not. Very well." He straightened up and pushed back from the desk. "I'll take the pharaoh's tablets from Marik and store them. I have high-security vaults at my company headquarters in San Francisco, they'll be safe there until such a time as we can have them shipped safely and securely back to Egypt where they belong."

Marik frowned at him. "And you can get them overseas to the States?"

"Of course." The haughty look began to return to Pegasus' face. "As I mentioned, I'm leaving for home tonight. They can come with me on my jet, I'll see to all the necessary security and clearing customs."

Marik breathed a sigh of gratitude and bowed his head slightly. "Thank you. I'll make sure to contact Ishizu with all the information, so she can arrange with you to have them sent to Egypt when everything settles down."

"Of course. Anything for your lovely sister," Pegasus said with an odd sort of smile. "This situation that has you acting so quickly…it isn't likely to pose me any danger, is it?"

"We don't really know," Marik had to admit. "The pharaoh is our primary concern."

"Yes, understandably so. Yet…" He eyed Marik coolly. "…should I have reason to be on the lookout for trouble, as a former bearer of a Millennium Item, you will see to it that I'm informed, won't you?"

Marik sighed and nodded. "I'll be here in Domino for a while, but my sister can pass word to you if there's trouble."

"Good." With that, Pegasus folded his hands on his desktop and turned a slick smile to Yugi. "Now, then. I believe you have a decision to deliver, Yugi-boy."

Yugi nodded. "I've talked it over with a few people, especially Yami. I'm not going back on the endorsement deal I agreed to last week, that's still a yes."

"Hm, yes, and I have the contracts here for you to sign," Pegasus noted.

"But apart from that…I'm going to have to wait until after the tournament to decide whether to take a permanent job as a game tester," Yugi finished. "It wouldn't look right if I was game testing for you and planning to compete at the same time. People might think I was getting special treatment or worse, cheating."

"Ah, yes." Pegasus nodded wisely. "You certainly have thought this over, Yugi-boy. Very well, I'll wait until the tournament is over to hear your answer. But in the meantime, I'd be delighted to have you sign those contracts and maybe even take a couple of quick photos to get started. What do you say?"

Yugi did roll his eyes this time. "Fine, whatever. What do I need to do?"

Pegasus already had the contract sitting there on his desk within reach, as Yugi's agreement had not been in doubt, and pointed out where he needed to sign. Yugi read it over quickly to make sure that there were no loopholes that might allow Pegasus to manipulate or exploit him in some unexpected fashion, and willfully signed his name to the bottom. "Remember, Yugi-boy," Pegasus thought to point out, "you're not to lose any duel that can be tracked using the KaibaCorp system. If you feel like losing duels, you had better do it on the table-top." After that, he put in a call to another department in the office to summon a photographer while he took Marik aside and squared away all the details necessary to take care of the pharaoh's tablets. They were still working it out when the photographer arrived and took Yugi aside in front of a blank wall to pose for a couple of head shots that would be added into the first round of posters and flyers to be produced. Pegasus was finished with Marik by the time Yugi was free, at which point the CEO gave him a gloating smile. "Now then, Yugi-boy…I may not be here to oversee all the fun, but my staff here at the regional office will be glad to take care of you. One of my publicity managers will call you to set up a photo shoot sometime soon, and anything else we might need out of you. Just your name and image, of course – the contract doesn't let me do anything else with you."

"Sure," Yugi said uncomfortably. "And, um…well, thanks, I guess, for helping out with the tablets."

"Of course." Pegasus smiled smugly down at him. "Far be it from me to turn a blind eye to some old friends in need. No pun intended."

Marik also thanked him stiffly as he and Yugi left. They were well on their way out of the building before either of them spoke a word to each other. "So that's Pegasus." Marik glanced aside at Yugi. "He's kind of weird."

Yugi burst out laughing. "Yeah, he is. He hasn't gotten any less weirder now that he's not trying to take the Puzzle from me." He glanced back. "So, is everything all set?"

"Yeah. We need to go down to the harbor right away, I need to escort the tablets to the airport. Unless you need to get home?" he asked concernedly.

"No, we've got time," Yugi assured. "I just have to be back to take over the afternoon shift at the game shop."

"All right. As long as you're up for the ride."

Yugi grinned insolently. "Oh yeah!"

Tucking the paper with the information from Pegasus into a pocket of his sweatshirt, Marik plopped onto his bike and handed Yugi the second helmet. Just before putting his on, he glanced over his shoulder and smirked knowingly. "World tournament in January, huh?"

"I'll tell you all about it when we get done," Yugi promised, wedging the helmet onto his head.

The two young men rode together on Marik's bike to the port to accompany the truck carrying the stone tablets to the airport, where they were supposed to meet someone from Pegasus' staff who would handle the security. Getting to ride on the motorcycle so much was Yugi's thrill for the day, and he clung tightly to Marik with his arms around his waist, resting comfortably against his back while the wind tugged at his coat. Unbeknownst to him, Marik rode with a little smile on his lips, thinking silently to himself that he didn't mind having Yugi holding on to him that way. They roared up to the docks at the harbor and into a hangar where a fair-sized yacht sat at anchor. An assortment of dark-skinned, robed figures milled around the hangar, though all of them looked up at the motorcycle's noisy entrance. A cargo truck was also parked inside, presumably carrying the tablets from the museum. Yugi sat waiting with the helmet in his lap while Marik went to find Odeon, and together the two of them stood head-to-head hurriedly discussing the plan. Once Odeon had heard everything, he called out to some of the men in their native language and directed them to see to the truck. Marik came back to the bike and picked up his helmet. "It's all set," he informed Yugi. "You and I will escort the truck to the airport, and then I'll take you home."

Yugi nodded, though his eyes were on the boat behind them. "Is that really yours?" he asked in awe.

Marik glanced to see what he was staring at and smiled. "It was," he admitted. "I rode this very same boat into town for the Battle City tournament. But it's almost the last of it." He grew serious, almost sad, and looked down at the helmet in his hands. "I've sold almost everything I gained as leader of the Rare Hunters. I don't need it anymore, not if I intend to live a quiet life. The boat and my bike are just about all I have left to my name…and I'm selling them, too."

Yugi gazed sympathetically at him. "Aw, how come?" he wondered. "You really like this bike, don't you?"

"It's one of my favorite things." Marik shook his head. "No, it's part of my past. The past that I need to bury and leave behind me. I'd rather sell it and save the money for my family, for the future. It's a good thing I hadn't sold off the yacht yet – trying to fly all these people to Domino would have been expensive."

"I bet." Yugi ran a hand lovingly across the seat in front of him. "It's so nice, it's a shame to get rid of it."

"Yeah, it's going to be hard parting with it. But…I don't really need it where I live. I can't ride it in the sand." Mustering a smile for his friend, Marik put on his helmet and took his seat. "Hold on!"

The cargo truck kept pace easily behind the motorcycle as they crossed the city together to the airport. Yugi just tagged along for the fun of it, as Marik had all the information and certainly carried himself like a professional as he sought out the cargo dock, met with the Industrial Illusions security, and saw to it that the tablets were stored in the same hangar with the giant private jet that Pegasus would be taking back to America. It was large enough to handle its precious cargo, something Marik needed to see for himself before he would sign over the truck to Industrial Illusions and leave it. The truck driver was left to find his own way back to the harbor, while Marik took Yugi home at last. "You want to stay for lunch?" Yugi offered after he had been dropped off. "I'll tell you all about the world tournament. It's going to be awesome."

"That's all right, thanks," Marik demurred. "There'll be plenty of time for that later, I don't want to hold you up if you have to work. This isn't the last you'll see of me, by far."

"Going back to the boat?"

"For tonight. Odeon and I will find a place for ourselves tomorrow, after we see our companions off. I'll call you as soon as we're settled."

"Sure. We'll hang out." Yugi grinned brightly. "Thanks for the ride."

"No problem." Marik smiled back. "Say hi to the pharaoh for me."

Yugi had finished his day shift downstairs when he got the call he had been anticipating, and withdrew upstairs to sit down and chat with Marik about their arrangements. It had taken the better part of the day, but the brothers from Egypt had located a small temporary-living flat above some shops not far from Yugi's neighborhood, cheap on account of them still having a little cosmetic damage from the typhoon that had not been repaired. Rather than catch up on the day's events over the phone, Marik invited Yugi to come by and see it for himself, and confirm as Yugi speculated that it was only about a ten minute walk from his home. Wrapped up snugly in a thick coat, Yugi made the walk and dropped in around dinnertime to find Marik eager and welcoming. "It's a small place," he cautioned as he closed the door behind his visitor. "Not really much to look at, since we didn't bring much with us. But it came furnished."

"It's not bad," Yugi said politely. The flat was nothing more than two rooms, living quarters in front with the bedroom and bath in back, sparse but not ugly. "How are you guys going to be able to afford to just…live here for a month or two?"

"I told you, I sold just about everything I once owned," Marik assured. "I have quite a bit saved for the odd emergency, like this. It'll be fine. I really hope it's not any longer than a couple of months, though." He smiled sheepishly. "I'm not ready for cold weather."

Yugi laughed. "Oh yeah, you picked a really bad time to decide to live in Japan. November, December…well, usually it's not this chilly in November," he added. "We're having a rare cold snap."

"Yes, but remember, I'm used to the desert," Marik said wryly. "Anything below…room temperature, really, is cold to me. We'll have to stock up on some warmer clothing."

"Well, if there's anything you need – anything at all – just ask," Yugi offered. "You guys are my friends, and I don't want to see you roughing it for my sake." He glanced around the flat quickly. "Where's Odeon?"

"Running an errand," Marik replied. "He won't be long."

Yugi nodded and took a short walk around the flat, inspecting it to be sure that his friends weren't being suckered into a bad living situation. "So, did everything go off without a hitch?"

"Mhm." Marik slid onto a stool that was currently the only furnishing in the kitchenette. "Our drivers decided to wait with the tablets just to be sure, and watched them being loaded onto the plane. They're in Pegasus' hands now. I called my sister late last night, to let her know everything that happened. She asked me to pass a message along to you." He gazed at Yugi with a serious light in his pale blue eyes. "She wanted me to remind you not to take this matter lightly. I know it seems strange and a little…overzealous, maybe, to have Odeon and I drop in on you like this and decide to shadow you for a couple of months, but if even the smallest of our suspicions proves true, you're a target. You'd be better off with us bothering you than to have no warning at all."

"I don't really mind," Yugi said gently, leaning on the counter nearest Marik. "I'm just concerned about you. I kind of admire you for having the dedication to just uproot your life like this, all for my sake. Even if there isn't anything remotely resembling trouble around me right now doesn't mean there can't be later on."

"That was our thinking," Marik nodded. "All the same…perhaps it would be best if we kept a low profile. Don't let too many people know that we're in town. If this stranger does show up, I'd rather have an element of surprise."

"All right, if you say so." Yugi sighed; he had been itching to give Joey a call and tell him about Marik. Then again, perhaps it wasn't such a good idea, if he couldn't be certain what sort of reaction Joey might have. "I was really hoping to give you a chance to see the others again, though. I don't think you can be my shadow-bodyguards without eventually running into them, anyway. I hang out with Joey a lot."

Marik smiled. "How is he, anyway?"

"Oh, he's doing great. He's in university – second year. He wants to be a teacher. And he and Mai are dating, finally," Yugi said cheerily. "She's moved to Domino too, she lives with him."

At that, Marik's sunny look faded. "Mai Valentine? Really?" He lowered his head, staring at the floor. "I feel so horrible for what I did to her. I know Joey was kind to me after Battle City was over, but I don't know if she could forgive me the same way the rest of you have."

"It wasn't your fault," Yugi tried to reason. "It was your other side, your dark half. That part of you is dead, it's gone. You're not the same guy. I'm sure Mai knows that, and wouldn't be angry if she saw you again."

Marik shook his head slowly. "All the same…perhaps we shouldn't spring that on them right away. If I do have to show myself to them, in order to keep my word to you, then…I guess I'll have to deal with it then."

"All right," Yugi relented. "You're here of your own will, not any order from me, so I'll leave it up to you." He unconsciously fiddled with his ring; inside his mind, he could sense that Yami's opinion of the matter leaned more toward Marik's point of view than his own. The pharaoh prodded him with a memory of something Mai had said a long time ago, when she was working for the wrong side, that he considered evidence that perhaps Marik had a point. But they kept this to themselves. Outwardly, Yugi cocked his head curiously as he changed the subject. "Just what are you going to do with yourselves while you're here? Are you going to stake out the game shop, or what?"

Marik straightened up and gave a small, half-hearted laugh. "No, nothing like that. We'll be doing our own investigating, and keeping in touch with Ishizu in case anything else happens in Egypt. One of us will be watching out for you at a distance most days, though, so if you feel like going out, at least let us know. We probably won't follow you or ask to be taken along, as long as you're going to be with your friends. I'm more concerned about this guy showing up when you're alone somewhere and unable to look to someone for help."

"Oh. Okay. Well, I guess that's not too bad, then." Yugi smiled softly. "So, is this what it's like to be a pharaoh? And have guards watching out for you all the time?"

Marik gave him a similar smile back. "I don't know. Maybe." He looked away for a moment, and then returned with a wide-eyed look at Yugi. "Can I…talk to him? The pharaoh?"

"Oh…yeah, sure." Yugi stood up straight and held his hands around the Puzzle – not that he needed to, it just looked official – as the Eye on its face brightened and flashed. Marik seemed to sense the change in him, the subtle shift in countenance as the pharaoh's mind took primary control, for he suddenly sat up straight and proud and stopped twiddling his thumbs in his lap. Yugi lifted his head, and Marik could see that it was indeed the pharaoh, cooler and darker and more elegant in appearance. Then, he smiled. "I had a feeling you would want to speak to me at some point," Yami said kindly.

Marik hopped off the stool and took a step towards him. "I'm sorry, pharaoh," he said softly. "I know we've been going on and on about you for the past couple of days like you weren't there. I thought to speak to you directly right away, but…I guess Yugi and I just got caught up talking about everything."

"It's all right." Yami thrust out a hand amiably. "Anything you do for Yugi's protection is for mine also, as he never goes anywhere without me. Thank you."

After a moment's hesitation, Marik clasped the offered hand. "It's a pleasure to be able to say that I'm in your service," he murmured with eyes lowered.

"Please," Yami smiled. "There's no need for formalities between us. I consider your presence here to be an act of friendship, not duty. Considering the past estrangement."

"Well, yes, there is that…" Marik let go of his hand and tried to look him in the eye. "You were so quick to forgive me, even while my dark side was torturing Yugi…" A light suddenly came into his eyes, and he gave a small gasp. "You…and he…even then, you loved him…"

Yami stared in wonder that he should know this, but then smiled again. "Our friends didn't see everything that was happening in the shadow game," he explained. "But you did. You saw that my concern for Yugi was not merely that of a pharaoh to his vessel."

"You wouldn't have cared so much for him if that were all it was." Marik glanced at his companion's left hand hanging at his side; Yami noticed, and lifted it to show the ring he bore, admiring it anew from this unique perspective. "I'm glad," Marik continued. "I couldn't imagine being in your place, lost so far from your home and your life, if you didn't have someone to care about." He sighed softly. "I know how that feels."

Yami nodded his understanding, leaving him a short silence in which to absorb his thoughts before asking him something that had been burning in his mind. "Marik…you said the other night that if we had noticed anything out of the ordinary, we should tell you. I didn't think we had, then, but I've been thinking. Perhaps there is something. It's small, I thought it insignificant, but now that you're here with these tales of suspicious men faking archeology credits to get close to the Millennium Items…"

Marik stared eagerly at him. "What is it?"

"A week ago, at the Tokyo Game Expo…we were preparing to leave when I sensed something strange in the hall. Yugi was just walking around, we had gone past Industrial Illusions when I felt a sense of darkness nearby."

The stare darkened. "Go on…"

Yami shook his head. "That's all it was. I thought it odd, since there were no other Millennium Items near us at all. It wasn't a familiar sense, but at the same time, I could identify it as dark and dubious." He narrowed his eyes as he gazed across at Marik. "Do you think it might have been connected at all to this person searching for the Millennium Items?"

"At the Tokyo Game Expo?" Marik made a face as he thought. "Honestly, I don't know, pharaoh. That's kind of an odd place to be sensing a dark presence. But it was near Industrial Illusions?"

"It wasn't Pegasus," Yami assured. "I've been near to him enough times to know."

"Hmm…" Marik folded his arms and frowned. "I don't know if it has anything to do with the matter at hand, but I'll consider it. If you sense that same presence again, anytime, anywhere, let me know. I'll see if Ishizu has any thoughts on it, when I talk to her again."

"Thank you." Yami seemed to relax now that he had shared his observation. "Admittedly, it's not every day I sense things that are out of place, so it must be significant in some way. But whether or not it has anything to do with the Millennium Items, I can't say." He faced Marik squarely, and reached to place a hand on his shoulder. "Again, thank you for coming so quickly to take care of us. I feel better knowing that we're not alone, should someone be after the Puzzle."

Marik smiled shyly. "It's my pleasure, pharaoh."

At that, Yami decided he wasn't needed anymore, and let go of the connection. Yugi withdrew his hand and smiled, and at that moment the door opened to admit Odeon carrying a couple of shopping bags. "Ah, Yugi," he said upon seeing that they had a visitor.

"Hi, Odeon," Yugi said brightly.

"How'd it go?" Marik asked his brother.

"Fine." Odeon set the bags on the kitchen counter near where Yugi stood. "But if you're expecting any of the usual home-cooked meals we're used to, you're going to have to change your perspective. Japan is…very odd."

Yugi laughed. "You're a long way from home, all right! It's sushi and soba here, not…whatever it is you eat in Egypt."

Marik laughed back. "Hey, Odeon and I spent a lot of time traveling the world. We're used to a variety of exotic cuisine. Though, I suppose before long we will miss Ishizu's stews and flatbread," he sighed reluctantly.

"Say…" Yugi looked back and forth between them, tucking his hands shyly into the pockets of his coat. "You want to go out? I'll show you one of the good noodle places around here."

The brothers glanced at each other. "Sure," Marik decided. "Why not? It's been a while since I've gone 'out' and had a good time."

At that point in the evening, most places, including cheap noodle shops, were in the middle of the late dinner rush, but they still managed to get a seat and some good, hot food to chase away the autumn chill. Odeon was his usual quiet, stoic self, with eyes alert to everything around him, but Marik and Yugi chatted away like old friends, laughing and teasing and reminiscing on the better times amongst the conflict that had introduced them to each other. Finally, Yugi told Marik all about the world tournament down to the tiniest detail he had gleaned from Pegasus, and then exhorted him to enter. "It does sound like fun," Marik admitted, "but…how can I enter? I don't think they have qualifying tournaments and national finals in Egypt. In all my time there, I've never heard anyone openly talk about gaming or dueling. I have to buy new cards and stuff online."

"Online, huh?" Yugi grinned. "Well, I happen to also know that KaibaCorp is putting out a new version of the duel disk, that will make it possible to duel online. As long as you've got an internet connection, you'd be able to find people to duel. Who knows? Maybe you can enter another country's tournament long-distance."

"Hmm, that could be interesting." Marik stroked his chin thoughtfully. "An online dueling system, huh? How do you know all this?"

"I told you," Yugi chuckled, "Tokyo Game Expo! I got to try out the new duel disk personally. It's so cool. You've got to see it. Maybe," he added suggestively, "if you're still here playing bodyguard in December, you might just find yourself with a special Christmas present."

"Don't you dare," Marik said. "You told me yesterday your shop has fallen on hard times. You should be saving your money for that, not buying me a wireless duel disk. I don't even celebrate Christmas – or at least I never have. Isn't that a Western tradition?"

"Yeah, but we have it here, too," Yugi shrugged.

"What about your birthday?" Odeon broke in, casting his brother a sideways glance.

Yugi perked up. "When's your birthday?"

Marik faintly blushed. "Uh…a couple days before Christmas."

"Ha!" Yugi waggled a finger at him. "That settles it! Two good reasons to get you a super-cool present!"

Marik set his chin on his fist and gave his friend an exasperated look. "I'm not going to talk you out of this, am I?"

"Nope." Yugi grinned across the table. "Thanks, Odeon. That's a valuable piece of information."

Odeon smiled coolly back. "Of course. What my brother won't tell you," he added with a stern note, "is that it's been a very long time since anyone got him a present. He may simply be a little embarrassed to have a friend who cares."

"Odeon," Marik groaned, hiding his eyes behind his hand.

"Don't worry, Marik," Yugi giggled. "I won't make a big fuss. It's just what I want to do, you know? I like to do things for my friends. That means you, too." He sat back with a little sigh. "I just hope you're still here. Not that I want this threat to hang over my head that long, or to drag it all out till Christmas, but…it would be fun to have you around for the holidays. At least, I hope you're around long enough to be able to see Yami face to face." He smiled knowingly. "I know he wants that, too."

Marik sat up in interest. "Yes," he breathed. "I hope to be here until the next full moon. I want more than anything to meet the pharaoh, now that you've told me about the ritual. Well…" He picked up his glass as if to make a toast. "Here's hoping that all the stupid trouble blows over before that, and we can just hang out until the ritual for fun."

Yugi toasted him back. "I agree!"