As always I'd like to thank the great god mother of this story - littlemichiru, for her help and editing this chapter into its readable version :) Only old gods know how grateful I am! :)
Enjoy! :)
4. Admit you're getting insane
Yugi barely remembered his stay at home after returning from school. The house once again looked like a battlefield soon after being bombarded by the English Royal Air Forces, but Yugi didn't even get a chance to feel bad that all his work the previous day was for nothing.
Sugoroku Mutou was ready to go; he probably had been ready since the time Yugi left for school. The boy barely had a moment to think that his grandfather looked as if he had been born ready for such an adventure. With a hat on his head and a huge rucksack already on his back, Sugoroku kept urging every couple of minutes his grandson to hurry. . Yugi was sure that his grandfather's rush was responsible for the fact he forgot to pack some essential things such as his toothbrush or his favorite pajamas. As they got in a car, he wondered if he would have a chance to buy these things somewhere in between running to the railway station, catching a train to Tokyo Narita, and dashing through countless check-ins, security controls, passports' check-points, and gates to the small airplane that waited for them. These procedures seemed to be endless, and it felt like an eternity when they finally got from one obligatory point to another, as if the whole Japan had decided to do everything in its power in order to keep them in the country.
Yugi couldn't blame the airport's staff for being so wary of them. He could understand that their group looked suspicious — a cheerful old man with a band of five teenagers to take care of was ready to take a long and expensive flight to a distant, exotic land, all packed as if they were about to go on a quest rather than vacations. Seeing the calculating look they received, Yugi started feeling nervous, but all the papers Bakura had given him the previous night were legit. It made him wonder once again how Bakura got them so quickly, but he knew that the thief wouldn't tell him so he decided not to push the matter.
The airplane was much smaller than what Yugi had imagined — never having been in a plane before. The young boy was afraid wondering if the small vehicle could really manage such a long-distant flight. A couple of smiling stewardesses led them into a luxurious cabin in the plane's first part, just behind the pilots' cabin, but their stares told Yugi that they too were wondering who the hell he and his group were. For sure they didn't look like the people the stewardesses were used to serve – they didn't even look like people rich enough to be able to buy such expensive tickets, but the women kept being professionally nice and helpful to all of them during the whole flight.
Yugi wrapped himself deep in a blanket with the airline's logo imprinted on its center. It wasn't cold in their cabin, but he wished for a place to hide until the journey's end. He had to fight with himself in order to not also cover his head with the blanket like a frightened little child would do. Actually he was utterly terrified knowing there were only some pieces of metal sheets that separated him from the hard ground; barely any comfort in case the plane decided to have a sudden meeting with said ground thousands of feet beneath them. After getting a cup of hot tea from a stewardess, he took a look around and tried to focus on something else rather than thinking of how high they were.
Yugi soon noticed that the plane was divided in three parts, each there to accommodate a specific group. There was the pilots' cabin, the part they were and which Yugi highly doubted was business class, and another cabin used by the stewardesses to prepare their meals and drinks as well as rest when they weren't needed by the group. Yugi had thought it was odd that their plane was so small and that no one else had boarded but now he started suspecting the expensive charter had been leased for them only. Again he tried not to think of Bakura's questionable methods of getting those tickets so he focused on his grandfather's words. Sugoroku was sitting two seats ahead with Anzu by his side. Yugi thought his grandpa had slyly trapped his best female friend into listening to him while he was reading another Egyptological book he had brought with him.
"You see, Anzu" Sugoroku was talking with great excitement, pointing to some drawings in the book, "the Egyptian underworld was a dangerous place. A dead Egyptian could easily meet there their second death which would mean their absolute vanishing from all existing worlds. That's why they had to bring the Book of the Dead with them – they called it the Book of Coming Forth by Day back in the ancient times and people made sure that they would have one placed close to their body in the coffin. It was a scroll with a pack of useful spells, containing knowledge of how to pass through the Shadow Realm safe and sound. The Duat, as they often named Osiris's kingdom, was full of monsters, demons, guards, and traps. You had to know how to deal with them all if you wanted to pass through unharmed."
Jonouchi and Honda were sitting side by side across Sugoroku and Anzu with a small table between the two pairs. Jonouchi was already asleep with his usual sheepish smile on his face. Judging by that smile, Yugi could bet his friend was dreaming about something pleasant, while Honda was playing with his game-boy, dividing his attention between the game and Sugoroku's tales.
"But even when you got ahead and didn't get kill during your way through the realm, there was one last obstruction no spell could help you pass. You were brought to the Hall of Two Maat where Osiris, the king, would judge if your heart was worthy to be given a peaceful life in the great Field of Reeds. It is the famous scene of spell no. 125 that I am talking about. Its vignette shows Anubis leading the dead to Osiris's throne, then Anubis weighing the soul's heart on the scale with monstrous Ammut ready to devour it if the scale shows that the person didn't live their life according to Maat's law. The soul was consequently punished by receiving a second, absolute death. But if you were a good human, you had nothing to be afraid of! After the weighing Osiris would welcome you in his kingdom and then you could live happily in the upside down version of Egypt above."
Yugi tuned out his grandfather's voice and turned his head back to see Bakura who had chosen a seat at the other side of the cabin as if he didn't want people to think he was part of the group. His eyes were shut and his temple pressed to the small window, giving the impression he was asleep, but somehow Yugi knew he was awake and alert since the beginning of their trip. Since they met at the airport, Bakura was trying to keep as great distance as it was possible. Fortunately for all of them, Anzu was too frightened after his last attack to even stand anywhere close him.
Yugi sighed. He couldn't help worrying about Bakura. The white haired boy had never been a friendly spirit, but without Ryou he was even more emotionally unstable. And way more dangerous too since he had decided to turn all his sadness and grief into wrath. Even after seeing how violent and brutal Bakura became in such a short time, Yugi felt sorry for him. The thief must have been truly heart-broken and tired of fighting his own despair. He didn't trust them and hated the thought of cooperating with someone else because his powers weren't enough to get Ryou back without any help. Yugi could only imagine how painful it must have been for such a proud, independent creature like Bakura who was used to doing everything by himself to ask for their help.
If it was any other of his friends, Yugi would go, sit by him, and comfort him using all his charming kindness, smiling softly at him and giving him hope that everything would be alright. But it was Bakura. For sure he wouldn't want any consolations, any soft words, or comforting hugs. It was for the best to leave him alone, so that's what Yugi did, feeling completely helpless against the thief's sorrow.
"That happened to everyone but the pharaoh, Anzu!" Sugoroku kept educating Anzu while Yugi was lost in his thoughts. "Oh, the pharaoh had a much nobler role to play after his death! The Book of the Dead was dedicated to the common folk rich enough to afford such an expensive, luxurious object. For the king there were compositions known now as the royal Books of the Afterlife painted on the tombs' walls. They were strictly forbidden for anyone but the pharaohs, because only these mighty kings who were thought of as gods would share the great fate of Ra. The spells and depictions of the solar barge, the ritual vessel that would carry the pharaoh, contained great magic that allowed the king to join the divine crew and make a nighttime journey through the whole Duat with the Sun. It is clearly drawn and told in here that the special attribute of the Shadow Realm is that time runs backward. That's why in the upper world at sunset the old Sun went down and rose above Osiris's kingdom not only to bring the light but also to die and be reborn as a young one. You see, my dear child, the Egyptian gods weren't immortal; they could actually die. But they were eternal, because they were reborn."
Soon Sugoroku's voice became a background noise and Yugi fell asleep. When he woke up some time later, he realized everyone, except a watchful Bakura, was asleep. The lights in the cabin were turned down to allow everybody a peaceful night rest. Yugi yawned and smiled when he saw the faint, half-transparent shadow of Yami sitting beside him and watching the dark, starry sky through the window. The clouds were far beneath them and everything was a shining pale blue because of the moonbeam outside.
"Hello." Yugi whispered quietly, stretching a bit under his blanket. "Aren't you nervous?" he asked softly taking in the figure of the spirit. "You will see your homeland for the first time in ages."
"I'm afraid I don't remember anything about my past life." answered Yami, but there was no sadness in his voice as if he only stated facts. "I think modern Egypt is far different from the one I knew, but I'm looking forward to checking it to see if I'll like it anyway. Also I want to help you get Ryou back. I truly hope the Ishtar's elder will be able to read the papyrus and tell us what we should do." It was clear the Pharaoh wanted to help his light get his friend back and would do everything to make sure all of them would make it out of there safely. For him it was a plus the trip would take them back to his land.
"Me too." admitted Yugi with a sigh. "It's sad to see Bakura so lost, and I truly wish we will find a way to bring Ryou back soon. I…don't want to even imagine where Ryou is, so I try to keep my thoughts on Bakura for now. He needs us." Yugi stole a glance towards the thief to see if his attention was on them, but the white haired boy seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
"Another burst of his fury and the whole Egypt will burn to the ground..." murmured Yami, but then he smiled. "If I may give you an advice, better get some more sleep. We will soon land in Cairo and then there's a three hours layover to Luxor. We will both need your dependable strength, wisdom, and smartness, my partner." Yami said with that familiar warmth glowing in his eyes, those eyes that were set on Yugi in that special way which made the younger boy blush while feeling as if he was someone quite special to the spirit.
To Yugi's relief Yami disappeared a moment later. Yugi buried his red face in the blanket, not wanting anyone to see him so visibly embarrassed. His heart was beating too fast, but he couldn't help it. He wondered if Yami ever noticed the smaller boy's reactions to all his words, glances, and smiles, or if the pharaoh was completely unaware of how great an effect he had on him at all.
Yugi couldn't be sure. Yami's behavior could be interpreted in more than one way, his words could always have more than one meaning. Even when Yugi was searching for the answer in his eyes, the soft, crimson stares could be caused by some other reasons than love. The boy wanted to know the truth, yet he was too scared of being rejected to even fully bring this topic out in the open. Each time he gathered enough courage to start talking about it, he would give up quickly changing the subject and earning a questionable look from the confused spirit who was clueless to why the first topic was dropped without an explanation. Yugi was sure of how he felt for Yami, but he kept assuring himself that there will be a better day, better time, and better situation to confess to him. Especially now wasn't the right time to focus on his feelings when he should be focusing on his friend in need.
Yugi unwittingly let his mind wander from his other self to Ryou, and fell asleep once again.
…
Luxor at night was incredibly crowded and full of lights as if its dwellers didn't feel the need to rest. The streets and alleys were full of cars, horse carriages, and noisy people hurrying toward all possible as well as some impossible directions. Yugi was stunned and overwhelmed in the same time. It made a great impression to him seeing Luxor's ancient temple lighted up by countless colorful reflectors so close to the medieval mosque, the simple buildings made of mud-bricks, and the high glass skyscrapers. It made him feel as if he could touch the remains of many passed ages in one place.
Marik met them at the airport, led them to the parking area, and got them two taxis to get to the center of the city. Yugi who was in the first taxi with him looked at the young Egyptian noticing Marik looked much better than the last time he had seen him. Handsome as ever, with his caramel skin and oddly silver blonde hair, he for sure could without any great effort conquer any woman's heart, and some men's hearts as well. Marik laughed merrily when Anzu told him so and his light violet eyes shone with pride and happiness. No doubt he was glad to be back home and even have a chance to present it to his guests.
Finding traffic too bad to get through by car, Marik paid the driver of their taxi after a great, loud argument (very common in Egypt, as he said with a crooked smile, adding that no deal could be done without at least a little spat over prices), then proceeded doing the same with the other taxi driver, having decided for them to go the rest of the way by feet. Yugi felt dizzy, and it was hard for him to keep pace with the rest of the group so he thought himself lucky he didn't get lost during the walk.
"Here we are" announced Marik. "Sofitel Winter Palace is known as one of the most expensive hotels. I don't want to know where you found the money to check-in here, especially if Bakura is involved. Have a pleasant night rest. I'll be back to pick you up tomorrow morning." he said and waved at them, already on his way.
Trying not to think of Bakura's secrets once again, Yugi walked in the hotel. All he could do for several moments was to stare at the sight in front of him. Winter Palace was simply beautiful. Designed by someone with great esthetic sense and probably not having changed a lot since it was built by the British in the nineteenth century, the place was a true architectural gem. The porter that helped them with their luggage showed them to the suite he and his grandfather would share.. Yugi had never seen such a luxurious and abnormally huge hotel room and the young boy felt almost like a plebeian intruder walking in such wonderful rooms, dedicated rather to kings and presidents than common folk. All decorations and furniture seemed old and valuable enough for him to be scared to even touch them, afraid of destroying them. He checked with the rest of his friends who, with the exception of Bakura, were as stunned as he was. Jou and Honda shared a room, while Bakura and Anzu had their own rooms, but all of them were equally majestic. Overwhelmed and dazzled, Yugi returned to his room and carefully opened the balcony door stepping outside just to feel even more breathless.
The tri-color haired boy saw the dark waters of the Nile spreading in front of him and the black shapes of the famous Theban Mountains far behind the riverbank. In comparison to Luxor's crowds, brightness, and noise, the western bank seemed deadly dark and silent. The sky above the boy's head was deep blue, covered by stars looking like huge white flames. Yugi found this sky the most beautiful view he had ever seen in his entire life. He was so captivated by the view that he noticed his grandfather's presence only when Sugoroku gently touched his arm.
"It's wonderful, grandpa" Yugi whispered, still amazed and charmed. "I can fully understand why you love this place so much. It's so beautiful and magical here…"
"I am so happy to be here with you, my dear child" answered Sugoroku, and it was then that Yugi realized that his grandfather was crying tears of happiness. "I am just so damn happy that I can't stop crying!" Sugoroku laughed with more tears rolling down his cheeks. "I know it was something important that brought you here. I knew it from the very beginning, but when you gave me that strange papyrus to check out, I sensed another great adventure and couldn't help but give in. I am so sorry I didn't help you more, but since you decided not to tell me anything else I just thought you'll manage on your own. I believe you will, no matter what this is about. After all, it is you, Yugi, my great grandson, and the pharaoh's spirit beside you. There is no problem you two wouldn't solve together."
Without saying anything Yugi hugged his grandpa tightly, and they stayed still, watching the amazing sight of Egypt spreading in front of their eyes.
…
A bit after sunrise Marik dragged them out of their beds and kept urging them to hurry up until all of them were ready to go. He seemed to be in an excellent mood, but he didn't let them eat a proper breakfast, asking someone at the hotel to pack their breakfast for them before leading them outside.
"There are too many places I'd like you to see to waste our time on eating!" he said, completely ignoring Jounouchi's begs for mercy. The blonde thought Marik was there to torture them by starving them. "We better go now! The Karnak temple is huge and, believe me, you want to visit it before midday's sun turns you into a raisin!"
"Hey! Weren't we suppose to have a little chat with your noble ancestor or something like that?" asked Jounouchi, already half-dead after sightseeing both the Karnak and Luxor temples, the Egyptian museum at Kornish, and Suk – a trade market where they were surrounded by loud sellers trying to sell them as many souvenirs as it was possible in prices so high no doubt only senseless tourists would pay. Marik seemed even more self-satisfied and showed them some mercy letting them rest for a while in a small café.
"If you want to meet the elder, first you need to see my land and understand its duality." Marik explained as they settled in some comfortable armchairs enjoying the pleasant shadow of the café. "I've already shown you the eastern bank, the living one. Next step is to go to the western bank, the one dedicated to the dead. The famous Gurna village lies up there, and I wish you to see some mortuary temples and royal tombs before we go to the elder." The Egyptian seemed to glow naming the monuments of his country. "Cold karkade for me and my friends, please!" he called to the waiter before turning to Yugi, lowering his tone. "Would you mind speaking to me for a while? Alone, if it's possible."
Surprised, Yugi just nodded, and let Marik lead him to the furthest corner of the café. The other Egyptian customers were loud enough anyway so they would not be overheard by the group. Yugi noticed that his friends were too exhausted and were cheerfully enjoying their traditional hibiscus drink at the moment, probably worried they wouldn't get to rest again for a while.
"Ishizu couldn't join us because of her duties back in Cairo's Department of Antiquity, but she called me as soon as she got a message from your grandfather" said Marik with such seriousness in his voice that Yugi felt a cold shiver running down his spine despite of the Egyptian heat. "She can still see a bit of the future sometimes so she told me we should keep our eyes open. You know her visions were always cryptic but she said she sensed death close, a great loss, and great despair. This whole trip has something to do with Ryou, doesn't it? I can see Bakura being alone out there. It's hard for others to notice, but since I had my own yami, I can distinguish one from the other, and I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with him."
"Yes. You're right" answered Yugi, and briefly explained to Marik what had happened before and what made them all inclined to speak to his ancestor. "I believe we will find a way to bring Ryou back when the elder tell us what that strange message is about. I have a feeling the message is the key."
"We need to meet this ancestor of yours soon." interfered Yami, suddenly appearing behind Yugi's back. "Bakura's state is getting worse I'm afraid. He's suffering and avoiding this pain with an almost murderous desperation which makes him as safe as a ticking bomb ready to explode. . I am not sure how much he remembers from his previous life but watching all these ancient remains seems to be doing nothing good to him."
"Okay. Just finish your drinks and I'll guide you on." agreed Marik with a worried look and left Yugi alone with his other self.
"How about you?" Yugi asked gently. With all the see sighting Marik had made them do through the day, he hadn't had a chance to talk to his darkness.
"I don't really know… It's a bit surrealistic for me. You know, somewhere there, in the Valley of the Kings, lies my tomb with my dead body inside. Thinking of my mummy's existence, being so close, is just… Well, as if I cannot pretend any longer that I'm alive in any wicked way, because the truth is…" Yami seemed to struggle with words, and Yugi didn't like that. He didn't like the implication he wasn't alive, because even though he had no physical form, he could feel. He existed.
"The truth is you're here. Now. Beside me." Yugi placed his hand where the pharaoh's arm should be. "Nothing is more important than that." If only Yami knew the truth behind those words.
"You know… Being here feels to me like seeing two views at once. My memories are mixed with reality creating together one blurry image. I don't remember anything personal but it is as if I get glimpses of the reality that used to be mine. I can see simple boats made of reeds as well as modern felukas and motorboats crossing the Nile. I can see the temples as they are now as well as their ancient versions full of colors and crowded by cheering people in linen dresses. I can see the irrigated fields as they are nowadays as well as the seasonal river flood of Ancient Egypt. If Bakura also experiences things like I do, I don't know for how long he will be able to handle it."
"We should better go." said Yugi with his heart heavy with worry, already hurrying back toward Marik who was urging his guests to get ready to leave.
The group rented a motorboat and crossed the river. Their boatman was smiling and openly flirting with Anzu until he and Marik started another argue over his payment. They spoke Arabic really fast so even Yugi's grandfather had trouble keeping up but there was no doubt there were plenty of amounts mentioned throughout the exchange until they both agreed that eight Egyptian pounds was a good price for their boat's course. The village ahead was much smaller than what everyone expected, and seemed about two centuries older than Luxor was. Almost all its houses were made of mud-bricks. Surrounding the area, there were wide fields and banana groves, with cows, goats, donkeys and horses often in sight. From there the Theban Mountains looked even more majestic, acquiring a yellow shade against the Egyptian bright blue sky.
Marik guided them toward a regular Egyptian bus, which was crowded even before all of them walked in. The driver just waved his hand and drove away with the entrance door wide open. Inside it was far from comfortable, but soon Marik gave the driver a sign to stop. Yugi had barely gotten off the bus when the sight in front of him forced him to catch his breath.
Yami's transparent shadow was close behind Yugi's back. His face showed that he was even more amazed than Yugi. The deserted hills and mountains were huge, carved and shaped into wadis – narrow valleys adapted to house the royal mortuary temples and tombs for both the kings and ancient Egyptian aristocrats. It was a breathtaking view which made everyone feel like they were about to touch the sacred remains of a long gone era.
"Shall we?" asked Marik with a grin, extremely satisfied by the astonished expressions on his friends' faces. "We don't have much time, but I'd like you to see at least the Medinet Habu, the Deir el-Medina village remains, the Deir el-Bahari temple, and the Valley of the Kings. My ancestor lives behind those hills. I believe we will reach him before sunset."
At first sight Marik acted the same way he did before his talk with Yugi and Yami, but Yugi could clearly notice the way his shoulders were tense and the way his eyes looked around always on alert. He also noticed that Marik was always close to Bakura. He would leave the white haired boy's side only when he needed to speak with the monuments' guardians to let them visit another amazing place. Yugi was both stunned by the great sights and worried at the same time. He couldn't fully relax feeling his other self being so nervous and unsteady in addition to knowing that Bakura was far from normal as well. The young tri-color haired boy couldn't imagine what was going on inside the thief's mind or what his eyes were seeing, but from his haunted look he could gather that it must have been horrible.
It was just after arriving to the Valley of the Kings when Jounouchi asked, "Where's Bakura?". It was a simple question, but Yugi felt that all of the sudden his heart had stopped beating. They had been so careful! How could this have happened? He looked around him, but Bakura was indeed nowhere to be seen. If they had lost him, it would be a complete disaster. The thief was far out of his senses, his mind blurred and distorted.
"We better go and find him!" said Anzu. She didn't know what had caused the look of distress on Yugi's face, but she knew an unrestrained Bakura wasn't a good thing.
"Stop! All of you!" commanded Marik, his voice full of authority. His iris eyes flashed with concern and anger.
He took out of his pocket a small machine similar to a short-wave transmitter and started speaking to someone really quickly in Arabic. Voices answered his questions, and Yugi assumed by the way Marik kept pacing around the group and speaking in a rougher voice this time that the news was nothing but good. The Egyptian teen used his surname a couple of times as if the sound of the Ishtar name itself would be helpful in this case. It was after another reply when a horrified Sugoroku exclaimed with eyes wide open:
"He can't know what he's doing or where he's going! Poor Ryou! They cannot shoot him!" he almost screamed the last part. He would be damned if one of the kids was killed on his watch.
"What?!" gasped Anzu, pure terror in her eyes. Shoot him? Why would anyone shoot Bakura? What had he done?
"There are gafirs, guardians, at the tops of the mountains and hills everywhere around here." explained Yugi's grandfather, pointing at the shadowy shapes high above their heads. Yugi felt a cold shiver rocking his body when he saw the gafirs watching the landscape making their appearance apparent. Yugi had to carefully look at where his grandfather was pointing but soon he could see them standing in position with the sun shining on their rifles as they seemed ready to shoot. "They guard the area and can freely take down anybody who looks suspicious, or wanders in the strictly forbidden areas. The Valley of the Kings is the most guarded part, and, according to the Egyptian Department of Antiquity, it must be protected no matter what. If we won't find him soon and prevent him from doing something stupid, I am afraid spending the rest of his life in an Egyptian jail will be the least of his problems."