Disclaimer: I own Sailor Set/Konrankami Sabaku, and some others later on, as well as the story line. Aside from that, none of it is mine and belongs to someone else entirely. I own little and some of it already disappeared, so please don't take anymore.

Note: This is the sequel to Shards of the Ginzuishou, and takes place in two parts (much like Sailor Moon R and Sailor Moon Stars in the anime, as well as the Battle City arc…okay, that one has three parts: Battle City, Noa, and the Finals). This part deals with the group heading into the Shadow Realm and dealing with fears, insecurities, and gaining their new powers. Some parts will be longer then others (some people have more to work with…cough Kaiba cough).

The Guardians of the Pharaoh: Shadow Arc

The Shadow over Domino

(Author's Note: I offer no apologies to H. P. Lovecraft, he threw one over Innsmouth and it wasn't as bad as mine is…and if you don't understand that then don't worry about it…)

In the week after the attack against Crystal Tokyo and the defeat of Apopis, life had slowly returned to some sense of normalcy. Kaiba had been quick in getting Atemu and Bakura a few fake items needed to survive in the modern world, such as a birth certificate and such, and the two added in last names that suited them, with Atemu becoming Ouji Atemu and Bakura becoming Doraboru Bakura. Sometime after that, Shizuka's mother insisted on collecting her daughter and bringing her home. She and Mokuba, secretly, exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses so as to stay in touch, and Mokuba, upon learning of a school trip to the town where Shizuka lived to see a play at her school, quickly set up a time for them to meet.

All secretly, their brothers were under enough pressure.

Ami and Ryou had moved in together while Sabaku had allowed Bakura to move into the home she had gotten when she arrived on Earth. Rei gladly added in her own belongings to the Kaiba mansion, making her own space apart from most of the technology that seemed to clutter the house. Mako was more then happy to move in with Jounouchi and his father, and Minako had already gotten herself a place with Ryuugi. The Outers had gotten themselves a room nearby and shared it with Shadi, Isis, Marik and Rishid until such time as the family would return to Egypt, though it might not be anytime soon, as Shadi felt that staying with the Pharaoh was more important and Isis had been offered a job at Domino Museum. Rishid and Marik still had to tie up the ends with the Rare Hunters, and seemed to be doing a speedy job of it.

Atemu, of course, there was no question. He was staying with Yugi, and thus moved in there. Mutou Sugoroku was more then happy for the addition to the family, especially one who loved his son so much and whom, it appeared, had saved him when he had first gotten the Millennium Puzzle.

"I knew I recognized you from somewhere," Sugoroku told Atemu as the Pharaoh helped him cutting the vegetables for dinner, "You called me Siamun."

"Yes," Atemu said, also remembering, "you're the reincarnation of my advisor, of the one who also held that position during the time of my father."

"I see. And Yugi?"

"He is…like me, but different. Much like Bakura and Ryou, only Ryou is what might have happened had Bakura's family not been killed. Kaiba and Jounouchi are reincarnations of those who helped protect me in the past as well, as are Anzu and Ryuugi, and even Honda. Mokuba and Shizuka share a soul from the past, but Yugi…he is my aibou."

Sugoroku nodded, adding in the vegetables and tasting it before he nodded. "This should do. Go help Yugi set the table, if you'd please, Atemu."

With a nod, Atemu walked in and saw Yugi working on some of his homework. The ikizuishou-pyramid was around his neck and he looked up when Atemu walked in, smiling happily when he saw him.

"Your grandfather says it's time to set the table."

Yugi nodded and got up, going into the kitchen and helping Atemu with the table setting before the trio sat down to eat.

After dinner Atemu helped to clean up while Yugi went upstairs to get ready for bed. The small shop only had so many rooms so Atemu was sharing one with Yugi. As they finished cleaning, Sugoroku said, "I understand that you two are young, and in love. All I ask is that you two are quiet."

Had Atemu been drinking anything he would have choked. As it is, he went pale and blinked. "Nani?"

"I was in love as well, you know. I know all about what goes on."

"W-wait, I mean…I don't…"
"You've been with my grandson for nearly a year or two. Thus far he hasn't been hurt and not a good deal of evil has been done to him because of you. I understand it was because of Kaiba's anger at you for beating him, as well as Pegasus' own greed, that caused me to be put into danger, but I am fine with that. It didn't kill me or hurt Yugi too much, and if he was put into danger you saw to it that he came out of it unharmed. You mean a lot to him, and I'm not about to disapprove of your relationship. All I ask is that you two are quiet for my sake."

Atemu blinked again then finally nodded. The old man smiled. "Good, now, I'm going to bed. Have a good night."

As he walked up the stairs to Yugi's room, Atemu wondered how he got such a nice yet odd grandfather. Siamun was odd, yes, but not like this…maybe it was just because Atemu never had someone he loved in the past. As far as he could tell, he acted that way only towards Mahaado and Mana…

Atemu paused at the doorway, remembering their presence at the final duel against Apopis. Despite the fact that the Ring belonged to Mahaado, his soul had been instead imprisoned in the card of the Black Magician, his ka. This saddened Atemu in a sense, as none of the others were trapped as such. Set was reborn as Kaiba, Akunadin…well, maybe it was better he wasn't reborn, Isis might be Isis Ishtar, the two looked a good deal alike and both wore the same Millennium Item, Shada and Shadi were close but not completely, and Karim…who knows, but he did have some of Shadi's features as well.

He pushed that out of his mind and walked into the room, seeing Yugi sitting on the bed, the ikizuishou having disappeared, probably into his body for the night. At first this had worried Atemu but now he was getting used to it.

"What did Ojii-chan want?" Yugi asked.

"He simply wanted to tell me that he's happy I mean so much to you, and that I appreciate you."

Yugi blinked and smiled before moving over for Atemu to get in. Some of Yugi's night clothing fit, but slightly small. Atemu had to get a few new things, but not really. The two were content with dressing almost identically, but night clothes was another issue, as was…

Well, what Sugoroku had suggested they were going to do. While both had proclaimed their love, the truth was that Atemu didn't want to hurt Yugi, and thus hadn't exactly…consummated…their relationship.

As to if anyone else had…well, no one was telling or asking.

Atemu got into bed and Yugi smiled him before Atemu gave him a kiss and the two lay in bed. It seemed that Yugi didn't really mind the fact they hadn't…and was content with snuggling or spooning for the moment. Atemu was content with this as well, as it made Yugi happy and making Yugi happy was part of his daily life now. He had lost his aibou once, and while he had come back he wasn't so sure about the next time or anything after that. The visions Isis and Rei had seen before the battle had only stopped at Yugi's death, and neither had had visions recently it seemed, so while it gave Atemu some reason to worry, it wasn't much.

In a moment after he had put his arm around Yugi, Atemu fell asleep.

The mansion was silent. Most of the staff had left, or had gone to bed.

Rei was asleep nearby, and Kaiba knew he should be as well, but the glitches in KaibaCorp's computer system had to be looked at. The problem seemed internal but from his own searches as well as those conducted by some of the few people in the company he trusted, it wasn't from anyone's computer terminal. Some of the codes, as well, seemed to be those of the Big Five, but that was impossible. The Five had tried to imprison him in his virtual world shortly before the whole incidents with the Senshi, but he had been saved by Atemu/Yugi, Jounouchi, Mai and Mokuba. The Five, as punishment, were left in the virtual world.

Thus, it had to be impossible.

Kaiba sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. This was taking up a good deal of his sleep time, and while he was used to maybe going a few nights on low or only fueled by caffeine, since his return from Crystal Tokyo, he had found less reasons to stay up late. Work was work, but could be delegated, and Rei knew who to trust, as did he.

Trust was a new word to him now. Rei trusted in Tsukino Usagi to be the person she was, to be there for them, and also had an obligation to protecting her. Now, though, that obligation had been put aside, by Usagi herself, to allow Rei to have a normal life, and to live with Kaiba. Thus, Kaiba trusted in Rei, and through her trusted in Usagi.

Strangely enough he trusted in Atemu as well. He blamed it partly on his past life finally getting some foothold, but Rei pointed out that sometimes that wasn't always the case. Atemu commanded, like Usagi, for respect but it was a different type. As well, both Kaiba and Atemu fought the same game for different reasons but always enjoyed fighting the other. Kaiba had to admit that was true. The first game against Atemu had brought him a new kind of excitement that he hadn't experienced before, and after his short break from reality he had moved quickly not just for revenge but to make the Solid Vision technology a reality so he could fight without the 'Shadow Games'. The 'Experience of Death' had been his way of a 'Penalty Game', and after he returned from Duelist Kingdom he had deleted that program.

Duelist Kingdom…there, he had fought Atemu again, and once more they had felt a kind of kindred…something. Atemu had at first looked at the game as regular, but once he realized how to play he had smiled and said it was games like this which showed him a challenge. Having heard and known about the line of people who had crossed Atemu, Kaiba was sure it was. What had gone on against Pegasus, Kaiba only knew bits and pieces. To counteract the mind reading that cheater had used against them at first and also against Kaiba to win and take away his only chance of saving Mokuba, Yugi had suggested to Atemu they switch places within their turn and not communicate about the cards on the board or what they played. This had worked up until Pegasus had used the power of the Shadow Realm to drain Yugi's energy, leaving Atemu alone.

Kaiba wondered only briefly what had happened to that has-been and realized he didn't really care. As long as he didn't resurface and as long as those he cared about and now called friends (well, only to Rei and that was with her swearing she wouldn't say anything) weren't in danger from Pegasus, the man could rot on that Fantasy Island of his with his idiotic cartoons.

Kaiba finally shut the computer and went to the bed. As he got in Rei shifted and he found himself being hugged.

"Finally," she muttered.

"You should've just gone to sleep."
Rei's violet eyes opened slightly and she gave him a sleepy smile. "Ie, I like knowing you're here. I can hold you and make sure you don't get back up again."

Kaiba gave her a smile. While they hadn't discussed furthering their relationship, Kaiba also hadn't thought a good deal on it. He had…issues…with letting people in, and that part of their relationship, when it got physical, might have to wait a little while longer.

Still, Rei had not asked about it and thus it wasn't brought up. Rei moved closer, causing Kaiba a mixture of comfort and insecurity before both closed their eyes and fell asleep.

He wasn't alone at least.

Ryou realized how he had gotten used to being alone in the house, mostly from living away from his family during the time he wasn't sure about the black out times. After finding out about the Millennium Ring and the spirit within, and especially after Duelist Kingdom, Ryou had tried to avoid his friends for fear that Yami Bakura would hurt them.

Now wasn't the case and he looked over as Ami finished the last of her work then got up. The two had lived together for a short amount of time and both were too proper and too worried about school to really do much beside live together and sleep together but not in any sense besides sharing a bed.

Ryou wondered if any of them had gone further in the relationship, but he wasn't sure and found that he only slightly cared, but not completely. His relationship with Ami was his own and he had been a private person anyway.

"Tired," Ryou asked when he saw Ami hid another yawn. It wasn't really a question. They didn't often use questions, and when they did it often was something important.

"Hai," Ami admitted before looking at the clock. "It's late, we should go to bed."

The two went to bed without much thought to the others, really. Ryou knew the others might have problems, but before he did go to bed he once more checked the Millennium Eye. Bakura had obtained it from Pegasus after the creator of Duel Monsters had fought Atemu and lost, now Ryou possessed it. While it didn't need to be placed within his eye to allow him to read other's minds, he held it and used it sparsely, fearing what might happen. According to Bakura and Atemu, it had belonged to a priest who had not only created the Millennium Items through the massacre of the village of Kuru Eruna, but also had tried to gain power through his son, Priest Set, and kill Atemu but failed in the sense that Atemu lived long enough to pass on the dynasty to Set but ended up losing his body and soul into the Millennium Puzzle.

Ryou closed the drawer and got into bed, where Ami was already lying down. She opened her eyes briefly and smiled at him. "You worry too much, Ryou-kun."

He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "I have a dangerous power in my hands, Ami-chan. I don't want anyone hurt by it, not like before…"

Ami gave him a reassuring look and a kiss. When she pulled away she said, "Ryou, no one will be hurt by this power unless you want them to be. You control it, not the other way around. Do not worry about it."

He smiled at her and both finally curled up together before falling asleep.

Everyone was asleep, or with their loved ones. Bakura was sure they weren't screwing each other either, which if they were would at least make the night a little more enjoyable for a few of them.

Both he and Sabaku were awake, though. Both of them felt it.

The energy, the darkness that was coming from the now-useless piece of rock which spoke of the Pharaoh's fight against Priest Set and his final destruction.

The Shadows were gathering for one reason or another, and the way his Ring was reacting it had to be someone from the past.

Specifically, Akunadin.

Sabaku walked up from nearby and glanced out. "Should we tell them?"

"They feel it too. They all feel restless and I know why. He is back, and planning something."

Sabaku paused then smiled. "He may want to worry. His presence is not appreciated, most especially by yourself or Atemu I would guess, and even less so by Kaiba-baka and the others. I'm most certainly not going to let him get away with hurting them all."

Bakura now gave her his own smile. "By Ra, I wish I had run into you earlier, or in my last life. What a team we would make."

Sabaku gave him a sideways look and smirked. "Hmmm, I'm sure we will make a good one, in the very least. But that which survived and wants to destroy the Pharaoh's happiness comes first. You were a catalyst towards him finishing what he originally wished, and thus in a way you helped to both save and harm the kingdom."

"Should I be thankful?"

"Be grateful that Atemu let you live this time around."

Bakura snorted. "Fine. But in the meantime, what shall we do?"

Sabaku moved and put her arms around Bakura, leaning in to kiss his neck then look out to where the Shadows were gathering. "We wait, then we strike when our dear and old enemy thinks he can attack us. We strike hard and send him into the mouth of Ammut forever."

The next day the group met at the Domino Museum. Isis and Marik had said something earlier about odd energies going on from the tablet which would have given Atemu the way to his memories by using the three Egyptian God cards. Jounouchi and Mako were the first two to arrive after Atemu and Yugi, followed almost immediately after by Kaiba and Rei. Anzu walked up, Isis, Marik and Rishid nearby. Honda followed, then Ryou and Ami, followed by Bakura and Sabaku. There was a short pause before Setsuna, Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru appeared as well, Shadii with them.

Haruka and Michiru glared briefly at Atemu and Yugi, but Hotaru smiled happily at them. "Konnochiwa, Atemu-sama, Yugi-san."

"Konnochiwa, Hotaru-chan," Yugi said while Atemu returned Haruka and Michiru's glares. Both of the Outer Senshi were there mainly because Usagi had asked them, and because it seemed that the new power that they would need to protect her would come from this area. However, they disliked Atemu for the simple fact that his power could be dark and they were slightly distrustful of it. Atemu found this annoying because he knew that Hotaru's own power was dark and extremely dangerous if used for a specific purpose. Setsuna gave both of them a look that said for them to be nice while Shadii bowed slightly to Atemu and Yugi. Shadii saw Atemu as the Pharaoh and as such showed him a lot of respect, maybe more so then Atemu would feel happy about at times. Marik and Isis had been told to treat him at least normally, but Atemu had finally settled on them treating Yugi normally, not like someone who was 'chosen' or 'a Pharaoh'.

"So what's so important that we all had to be here?" Kaiba asked, casting his own glare at Haruka and Michiru. Between Atemu and Kaiba, they could have a stand-off between the two Outers and the two Duelists for a glaring contest.

Isis was the one who answered, "There is a power, much like that of the Shadow Realm, coming from the tablet of the Pharaoh's memory."

"I know who it is," Bakura said, "It's Akunadin. He found a way to survive, the old pedophile."

Atemu turned quickly at the name and frowned. Akunadin had been his father's brother, and had betrayed him, turning Priest Set against him. Kaiba looked down and then away. What memories he had of the past were jumbled and all he knew was that Akunadin had gotten him to fight the Pharaoh and he had also killed off the girl Kisara to get the Blue Eyes White Dragon. This had not set well with Set and he had been angered by it afterwards, helping the Pharaoh to defeat Akunadin.

"Who is Akunadin?" Ami asked Ryou.

"He was a priest," Kaiba answered, "and held the Millennium Eye. He betrayed the Pharaoh."

"And he survived?" Rei asked.

"Apparently so," Atemu said, "but we can't speak here too long. We must banish him once and for all to ensure he doesn't hurt anyone."

Haruka glared at him before asking, "How do you plan on doing that? The power of your Shadows obviously wasn't enough last time."

Atemu pulled out the Egyptian God cards and said, "It wasn't the Shadows last time. It was the combined power of the Egyptian Gods, creating Horkathi, the god of Light. This time, though, perhaps we will find a power to defeat him for good."

"He should've been defeated last time," Michiru pointed out.

"Do you bring up this point to Usagi-chan whenever we speak of Metallia?" Minako asked, "Atemu gave his life to defeat Akunadin and was trapped in the Millennium Puzzle for that. Be a little nicer."

The two glared at Atemu but said no more as the group walked into the museum and to the restricted area, where the tablet was. The darkness seemed to spread as the reached the level and the Wedjet Eye appeared on both Atemu and Bakura's forehead as they headed down. Yugi moved slightly closer to Atemu, the ikizuishou pyramid flashing briefly before the light faded.

The power was obvious here and seemed to taint the very air, causing Atemu to draw Yugi a little closer to him. They stopped in front of the tablet and Atemu raised up the three God cards. The light was almost blinding for a moment and then they saw the dark version of Akunadin there.

" So…the Pharaoh comes, and with the Senshi of the White Moon. I am somehow not surprised, though wondering what you believe that will accomplish."

The darkness had surrounded them, the only light being from the Egyptian God cards. Ryuugi glared over at Akunadin. "I hope you don't think we'll let you win."

" What you can do is what is up for debate, I believe. Can you even find the power to defeat me? I have lived on when the Pharaoh and my own son destroyed me, and now I have a way to destroy all of you."

The darkness invaded their group and headed for some of the people. Haruka and Michiru easily dodged the tentacles coming at them, and Honda hit back a few but all three paused when Hotaru let out a yell at having been caught. "Hotaru-chan!" Haruka yelled, seeing her adoptive daughter pulled into the darkness. Honda growled and started at the remaining tentacles with a renewed vigor, as did Haruka and Michiru.

Shadii and Setsuna both dodged, but it appeared Shadii wasn't fast enough. Setsuna grabbed him and tried to free him but both were pulled into the darkness.

"AH!" Anzu screamed and Marik, having pulled out the Millennium Rod's dagger, cut his way towards her but was too late. Isis faced much the same fate, Rishid trying to reach her but unable to. "Isis-san…"
Ryuugi was caught and Minako turned only quick enough to see him disappear into darkness. Ami and Ryou held off the tentacles for maybe a few moments before both were grabbed and pulled into the darkness as well.

Rei had thrown in multiple ofuda, stopping or destroying the tentacles nearby, and Kaiba dodged well enough until one caught his leg and roughly pulled him in. Rei threw ofuda at it but all were blocked by other tentacles. "Kuso…"
Mako and Jounouchi fought with Honda and the last two Outers right before Mako was grabbed. Jounouchi raced over and was able to free her, but was pushed in by the offending tentacle. "Jou-kun!"

Yugi turned at this and the ikizuishou glowed brightly, causing Akunadin to shield the one eye that could blink. "The light of the ginzuishou and the light of the Shadows…I see now. You think to defeat me, boy? Even the Pharaoh couldn't! I will destroy you!"

Yugi's body seemed to glow and the faint outline of a sword appeared just as Akunadin reached and grabbed him around the chest, hiding the light. Yugi let out a gasp then a scream as dark energy hit him and caused him to collapse. Atemu gasped. "Aibou, no!"

Akunadin and the darkness, along with those who had fallen in, disappeared. Bakura and Sabaku, who had been fighting, cast a glare around as Haruka hit a wall angrily. "He took Hotaru!"

Sabaku looked at her for a moment then said, "Well, we'd best do something about that, wouldn't you say?"

"What?" Michiru asked. "We do not have the powers we once had."

Bakura looked at Sabaku then at the Outers, "Of course, you have your own inner power. Do you really fear the shadows so? Face your fear and get her back. Better yet, let's all go in and get our beloved and friends back."

"You didn't lose anyone, thief," Marik pointed out.

"Of course I did. I was part of Ryou, and both he and Ami were pulled into the darkness. I care for my hikari, though not like Atemu does, and either way, you saw how Akunadin acted. Whatever power Yugi tried to unleash, it was the right one to defeat him. His only problem is that we weren't there to help him. And really, do you want him to lose another life?"

Marik glared at him then shook his head. The group turned to the tablet and Rei finally asked, "How do we get in?"

Atemu answered, "We must go into the Shadow Realm and find our way out. That is what Akunadin wants."

Makoto blinked then asked, "So how do we do that?"

Atemu took hold of his Millennium Item, "Through the Millennium Puzzle. I can feel the darkness that is hidden within there. However even I have not uncovered all the secrets, and sometimes can get lost within it. I know they are all in there, living through a Penalty Game of some sort that they are not supposed to be living through. We must enter and find them."

"Wasn't the only way to do that with the Millennium Key?" Bakura asked, "Shadii was taken."

"I can open it up with the Egyptian God cards. You all need to be ready for the worse, though, and think on your loved ones. Maybe you'll be able to get near them, or within their nightmare that you can free them. Just be warned of this: the Penalty Game could also cause them too much joy that it may be hard to free them, harder even then their nightmares."

The Outers seemed to know what he was talking about, as did the other Senshi, who all nodded before the group joined hands. Atemu stood in the middle and held up the Egyptian God cards, and thinking a quick prayer, opened up the way into the Millennium Puzzle. Everyone was pulled in, including himself, and suddenly the light was intercepted by darkness and then--