Me: (dodges various objects being thrown at by angry readers) GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN!!! Gomen nasai! I'm sooo sorry this took so long! I got a case of writer's block! See, I had the main plot in my head, but as soon as I sat down in front of my computer, I automatically started typing something else! Wtf?...(sigh) But, oh well. I just decided to go with it, and ended up with this chapter. Once again, sorry for the delay. I'll try not to do it again. (looks down at objects that had been thrown) Hey! I found a Malik plushie! (huggles)

Crystal: Coughpollcough.

Me: Gesundheid

Crystal: (glares) The poll.

Me: Nani?...Oh yeah! Okay, we've had a little problem with the votes for Seth's pairing, so until further notice, I've decided to make him bi. Please note, this far in the story, he has not met Shizuka yet, so if I decide to make him straight, he'll be with her, not Kisara. THE VOTES ARE STILL OPEN! The only change is that the Seth x Kisara choice is gone. (sorry, SxK fans) I'm sorry I forgot to mention that in the last chapter. Bad authoress! Bad! (bangs head on desk)...ow. Okay, so the poll's still open, which means the fate of whether Seth will be straight, or...ano...not straight is in your hands! By the end of the story, he WILL be one of the two.

Crystal: So vote, People!

Me: Also, in light of the Christmas spirit last chapter, I think I forgot the disclaimer, so sorry 'bout that too. Here's the one for this chapter:

Disclaimer: Why do I even need to say it? I mean, it's kinda obvious that I'm not Kazuki Takahashi. I didn't even own any Yu-Gi-Oh cards until one of my friends got me some for my Birthday a while ago. And before that, the only Yu-Gi-Oh things I owned were some manga (graphic novels) and a poster. That's it. Nothing else. And besides, if I owned Yu-Gi-Oh, why the heck would I be writing this stuff on fanfiction? I'd be making the characters actually do this stuff in the real thing. I mean, honestly. I don't see why I'm doing this in the first place...the disclaimer, not the story.

Crystal: (stares at LONG disclaimer)...okay, well, on with the story!

BANG!

Malik came bounding into the main room, causing Yami to jump in surprise.

"Malik, wha-"

"I've found the love of my life!" Malik shouted.

Yami and Bakura both blinked before grinning.

"That's great, Malik," Yami said. "Boy or girl?"

"Boy."

"What's he look like?"

Malik smiled dreamily. "He's got the most beautiful silvery hair, pale, creamy skin, soft brown eyes-"

"You sure you're not talking about Bakura?" Yami interrupted.

Malik shook his head. "He looked similar, but it definitely wasn't Bakura."

Meanwhile, Bakura was staring at Malik through narrowed eyes.

"What's his name, Malik?" He ground out.

"Ryou, why-"

Malik was cut off as Bakura lunged at him with a murderous look in his eyes.

"You-" He called Malik something that made Yami say "Bakura!" reproachfully-"That's my little brother you're talking about!"

Ducking under Bakura's arm while Yami tried to restrain the white-haired thief, Malik shouted, "I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry!"

Bakura chased him around the room, ignoring Yami's protests.

"I swear, I didn't know!" Malik tried again. "I- wait." Malik skidded to a halt, and blinked. "You have a brother?"

"Yes. " Bakura sniffed. "Is there a problem with that?"

"No, of course not!" Malik said hastily. "I was just surprised, that's all. You never told me."

"Or me." Yami added.

Bakura glared for a moment before finally giving up, and plopping back on the couch.

"I don't talk about my little brother for his own safety." He explained as Yami and Malik sat on either side of him. "A few years after Ryou was born, my mother abandoned my father and me, taking Ryou with her. I didn't see him again for another six or seven years."

Bakura smiled bitterly as Yami tried to comfort him.

"I suppose it was for the best. They managed to escape the slaughter of Kul Elna."

Yami and Malik exchanged looks. Both of them had learned what happened at Bakura's village.

"Erm, Bakura," Yami said hesitantly. "About Kul Elna."

"What about it?" Bakura snapped. Kul Elna was a very touchy issue with him.

"There's something you should know. Something I heard when I lived in the palace."

"Well?" Bakura asked impatiently when Yami hesitated again.

"The Pharaoh wasn't the one who ordered the attack on your village," he said quickly. "In fact, he knew nothing about it. It was his brother, Akhenaden. He told the Pharaoh that he'd found a way to create the Millennium Items, but not how."

Yami waited with baited breath for Bakura's reaction. He hadn't wanted to tell him yet, but figured now was as good a time as any. Not to mention, he wasn't sure he could gather the courage later.

Bakura didn't say anything for a moment, before finally turning to Yami.

"How did you learn this?"

"I heard Akhenaden talking about it with another priest." Yami replied. It wasn't a lie. He had heard his uncle discussing it with an old priest a few years ago. Unfortunately, they had caught him eavesdropping, and made him promise not to tell anyone by threatening his best friend, Mana. Now, however, Akhenaden couldn't possibly know he'd told someone. Hell, he wasn't even sure if his nephew was even alive, let alone revealing his deepest, darkest secret to a murderous Tomb Robber bent on revenge.

Malik turned to Bakura. "Looks like you've been chasing the wrong guy."

"Yeah well, it's still the same family," he replied stubbornly.

As Malik rolled his eyes, Yami flinched guiltily. Even though they weren't aware of it, they were talking about his family. Luckily no one noticed his discomfort.

"Back to the subject at hand," Bakura turned his glare at Malik, who grinned sheepishly. "What's going on between you and my brother?"

"I told you, I didn't know he was your brother! If I had known before I met him, I never would have gotten involved." Malik assured him.

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "But since you have met him?"

"I'm gonna keep meeting him." Malik admitted, expecting Bakura to hit him.

Imagine his surprise when the Thief King actually smiled. Well, it was really more of a slightly sadistic grin that promised excruciating pain for anyone who crossed him, but you get the point.

"Good, 'cause if you left him just because you're afraid of my wrath, you wouldn't be worthy of him, and you definitely wouldn't be in love with him. However," Bakura added when Malik broke out into a relieved smile, "You still have to fear my wrath. Especially if you hurt him."

Yami smiled. "Don't worry, I'm sure the whole world fears your wrath."

"They'd better."

Mahaado sighed. It had been two years since the prince vanished. Now the Pharaoh was ill, and the only one to accept the crown was Akhenaden.

That wasn't a good thing.

Scratch that.

That was a very bad thing.

Recently, Akhenaden had been acting...strangely. As if he was already Pharaoh. And no one wants an overconfident, cocky man on the throne.

Mahaado really wished his friend was here. That's right, his friend. He and the Prince happened to be very close. Not that close mind you. (Get your heads out of the gutter, people!) However, he, Mana, Atemu, and Seth could be considered best friends.

Well, maybe not so much Seth, but he was still close.

Mahaado and Mana were the only ones who knew of Atemu's frequent visits to the city, as Yami.

Mahaado gave his head a little shake. Now was not the time to be reminiscing! He was supposed to be investigating the Trio of Kings. They had just recently made themselves public. The King of Thieves, the King of Games, and the King of Secrecy.

The Thief and Game Kings had already been well known. Even though he had apparently been around for quite a while, the King of Secrecy had just been discovered. That was what got him his nickname, along with the fact that he was the Thief King's Spymaster.

Thief King Bakura, they knew the most about. He'd been around for a few years now.

The Game King, they still didn't know that much about him. They had just recently learned his name.

Yami.

Mahaado gave his head a little shake. No way it could be Atemu. The Prince would never associate with thieves and murderers.

Would he?

No, Mahaado thought, the Thief Yami was said to be Bakura's lover. Atemu definitely wouldn't do that.

Right?

The young priest's questions remained unanswered.

For now.

Yami stared curiously at their new guest.

The other day, Malik had asked Bakura if he could bring Ryou to their hideout for a visit. Bakura had been reluctant at first, but figured his younger brother was trustworthy. After all, Ryou had known that his older brother was the King of Thieves long before Bakura's identity became public, and never even thought about turning him in.

Yami continued studying the white haired youth. 'He's definitely Bakura's little brother as far as looks go,' he mused, 'but on the inside, Ryou's a whole different person.'

It was true. While Bakura was dark, mysterious, violent when necessary, and had absolutely no respect for authority, Ryou was optimistic, open (though a bit shy), and did what he was told, when he was told to do it.

Yami and Malik shared their preferences in looks, but as far as personalities went, they fell in love with completely different people.

'Not,' Yami silently added, smiling, as he watched the two brothers laugh at something Malik said, 'that I would have it any other way.'

Later that night, Yami was sitting on the couch, with his head resting on Bakura's shoulder.

Turning to see what Malik and Ryou were doing, Yami smiled.

Ryou was curled up next to Malik, a smile gracing his pale face.

Malik, unlike Ryou and Bakura, was awake, and looking quite pleased with himself.

Of course, he had every right to. Just today, he'd managed to win Ryou's heart, and convinced Bakura not to kill him because of it.

Yami smiled again, snuggling closer to Bakura. It had certainly been an eventful day.

Yami's eyes drooped slowly until they were completely closed.

His last thought before sinking into the darkness of his dreams was, 'I wish things could stay like this forever.'

But of course, fate had other plans.

Two years later

Yami waited anxiously for Malik to bring back news of Bakura.

A few days ago, Bakura had gone out on another raid.

And never came back.

Yami leapt to his feet as the door opened.

"Any word?" He asked Malik.

The lavender-eyed boy nodded his head wearily, and confirmed Yami's greatest fear.

"He was ambushed and taken prisoner to the palace. He's locked up in the highest security dungeon there is. There's no way he can get out of there."

Yami wordlessly went up the stairs onto the roof, and sat down to stare at the sunset, remembering the many times he had done so in Bakura's arms. He silently sat there for a long time, lost in his thoughts. They had to get him out of there...but how?

A while later, Yami came to a final conclusion. It was risky, but what other choice did they have? Slowly, he got up and went back down stairs where Malik was waiting, looking a bit lost himself.

"I know how we can get him out of there."

Bakura was angry.

No. Bakura was more than angry. He was thoroughly aggravated.

First he had been ambushed by a priest and a bunch of Guards, then while he was making his escape, he slipped on an old fish some idiot had left laying on the ground, and fell flat on his face.

How humiliating.

Things just went downhill from there. They clad him in irons, and hauled him kicking and screaming, to the palace.

Okay, maybe not the screaming part. It was really more like shouting insults at everything that moved, including innocent pedestrians that had nothing to do with it.

And now here he was, chained to a cold wall, in the deepest darkest cell in the palace dungeons.

Bakura's head snapped up when he heard the door creek open.

"Heh heh. Well, look at the King of Thieves now."

Bakura rolled his eyes. Great. It was High Priest Seth. Ever since Akhenaden took the Crown when his brother died, he'd been acting like he was King of the World, and not just some wannabe prince.

"Tell me, Tomb Robber," the Royal Pain continued. "How's that scar of yours? I must admit it's rather impressive. Perhaps I even did you a favor by giving it to you."

Seth chuckled as Bakura gave a low growl.

"Tell me," sapphire eyes glinted with malice. "Is the King of Games really as beautiful as they say? I'm simply dying to meet him."

He laughed at Bakura's vain attempts to hit him. He turned as the door opened again to allow a cloaked servant girl carrying a basket of food scraps for the prisoner. He smirked.

"Looks like you got lucky this time. I'll be off then. Enjoy your meal."

On his way out, he turned to the servant. "Listen, wench. If he escapes on your watch, I'm holding you solely responsible."

The cloaked girl bowed low as the priest stalked out of the prison cell, then turned to Bakura.

The white haired thief glared.

"What're you looking at?" He sneered.

"You, obviously," she snapped back. Her voiced seemed a bit low for a girl.

"Yeah, well unless you've got something good to say, you'd better stop."

As she rolled her eyes, Bakura caught sight of a small glinting in the faint moonlight. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were earrings. Gold, simple, elegant earrings. Very familiar earrings. It was tradition that a thief always keep their first prize on them at all times. Malik's first was an armband he always wore. Bakura's was a gold bracelet encrusted with jewels. And Yami's...

Yami's was a pair of earrings.

"...Yami?" Bakura asked hesitantly.

"No, it's Ammit, come to devour your soul," came the sarcastic reply.

He smirked. "So sorry, but if you devoured my soul, I'm afraid you'd have a very angry King of Games on your tail."

Yami smirked back. "You've got that right," he replied, before pulling Bakura into a passionate kiss.

"How'd you get down here, anyway?" Bakura asked once they came up for air.

Yami grinned. "When I was little, I used to sneak down here and discovered a lot of secret passageways."

Bakura blinked. How had Yami managed to sneak around in the first place? This made him more determined than ever to find out about Yami's true past.

"Come on," Yami reached in his basket and took about an oddly shaped wire.

Bakura watched with pride as Yami quickly and efficiently picked the locks on the shackles binding the Thief King's wrists.

"Okay," he said, rubbing his wrists to get his blood flowing back. "Let's go."

His tri-color haired companion nodded.

"Malik's waiting in the Temple of Amun Ra," he reached into his basket again. "Here, I brought you this cloak so that you won't be recognized on the way. Just remember to keep your hood up."

Malik waited impatiently. Yami and Bakura should have been here by now. Then he was struck by a terrible thought.

What if they were captured? What if they were both locked up? What if-

No. He wouldn't think that. He had to stay positive. For their sakes.

Idly, Malik looked around the Temple. It hadn't changed much. Some of the statues had been removed, or replaced with newer ones, but that was pretty much it.

Upon hearing footsteps coming into the temple, Malik froze.

Making sure the hood of his cloak was secure and didn't reveal anything but his eyes, Malik slowly turned to face the newcomers. His jaw dropped. In front of his were all five High Priests and Pharaoh Akhenaden himself complete with both his Millennium Items.

"I'm just saying, I don't like it," Mahaado was informing them. "It's tradition to have six High Priests and a Pharaoh, each with their own individual Item. Not five Priests, and a Pharaoh who has two Items."

Seth sneered at his fellow Priest. "Is there a point to this conversation?"

Mahaado glared back. "My point is we need to find a new Holder for either the Eye, or the Puzzle."

Isis frowned. "Don't forget, we already tried that once. The Eye simply refused to accept a new person. And the Puzzle cannot belong to anyone except the current Pharaoh."

The Magician sighed. "It's nearly been seven years since they last chose. Perhaps the Eye will choose a new Holder."

Isis smiled and nodded. "That seems to be the only solution."

"Oh there's another solution all right."

Malik simply couldn't resist, though he sincerely wished he'd been able to when the six bearers of the Millennium Items turned to stare at him.

Finally Akhenaden spoke. "And what exactly would that be?"

Malik smirked, relieved that they didn't seem to recognize him.

"Well," he might as well say it, now that they'd asked. "Give the Puzzle to the Prince."

Seth scowled. "Are you blind, or just plain stupid?" He asked, waving the Millennium Rod under Malik's nose.

It was all Malik could do not to snatch it away and keep it.

Once he regained his senses, Malik glared back at Seth. "I meant the real Prince. The Crown Prince. The-"

"The one that when missing?" Isis interrupted. "We would gladly give him the Puzzle, and the crown. But he's not here, is he? So unless you know where he is, don't speak about him."

Malik tried not to cower under his sister's cold stare. "Sorry," he replied. "I've no idea where he could be."

"Then step back."

Malik opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, the temple doors opened to reveal two cloaked figures.

Yami and Bakura had arrived.

The hadn't come across any trouble escaping the dungeons, and getting to the temple. Luckily Yami remembered a bunch of shortcuts from his childhood. Things were going smoothly.

Then they got to the temple.

As soon as they opened the doors, Yami and Bakura froze.

What were they doing here? Yami's eyes immediately went to the golden Puzzle hanging around his 'Uncle's' neck.

His Puzzle.

His.

If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't blow their cover, he'd have launched himself at Akhenaden and taken it back.

Another robed 'priest', Yami recognized as Malik. He seemed to have been talking to the others, but seemed to be done now.

His suspicions were confirmed when Malik bowed to the Priests, biding them farewell, and came over to join them.

They were just about to leave when Seth suddenly spoke.

"Halt, you."

They froze, as the sapphire-eyed young man came up to Malik.

"Tell me, what's you name?" He asked suspiciously.

"...Maaliki." Malik inwardly grinned at his choice. It was close enough that he'd respond if someone called to him, but far enough from the truth that not many would suspect.

Seth's eyes narrowed. "Well, I'll be keeping my eye on you, Maliku."

Okay, maybe not.

"It's Maaliki, not Maliku." Unfortunately, Seth then grabbed his hood, and pulled down, revealing his face.

Seth grinned triumphantly.

"Hello, Maliku."

Malik coolly returned his gaze.

"Seth."

"...Maliku?" Isis stared at her brother with big, watery eyes.

"I knew it," Seth smirked. "I knew I recognized your voice, and disrespectful attitude from somewhere." He turned to Yami and Bakura. "Who're your friends?"

Me: (cackles insanely) Ha ha! A cliffie! Mwa ha ha ha ha! (dodges more plushies being thrown) Hey! I know you're mad at me, but don't take it out on the poor plushies! (looks down at plushies) Aww! Yami and Bakura plushies! Kawaii! Don't you think, Crystal?... Crystal?

Crystal: Shut up. I'm still reading your disclaimer.

Me: -.-U Well, review kudasai.