AN: Guh it's done. And I totally blame Cliscia story Stalker for my inability to get this done sooner (seriously ate my brain and made it hard to focus on my stories). But its done. This chapter pushes the story along a good bit and introduces this crazy new concept I had:

As you noticed, there are two chapters labeled "Guardian of Domino" only one has the word "Yaoi" tacked onto it. In the interest of not running off my non-yaoi readers (raise your hands kids!) I thought I'd try something different and write two versions of certain chapters. This one is pretty mind and only a few things change, but by the end, who knows?

And for the yaoi fans, this chapter contains a bit of Wishshipping! (don't kill me, just read it first :p)

Interesting note: I have a poll on my profile to see how people fee about Rajan and Petri (since I worry and fret that people might be offended since I'm writing them into yet another story). Out of 19 votes so far:

13: Love 'em

3: They're alright

2: Hate 'em

1: No opinion

Those two "hate'em"s hurt, but it's expected (I did ask and do appreciate the feedback). They are OCs after all. But the majority "loves 'em" so they'll survive for now (I love them myself :p). I do have ideas for stories that won't include them, but in stories where I need the three gods to be Ka spirits instead of cards (or that I just have cute ideas for involving them), they'll be there :3

Enough rambling, I now have to separate out the yaoi version into it's own file and get this thing posted so I can work on the next chapter. After that I'll get more Hikari to Yami no Enishi out.

*sets down a box of Kuriboh plushies* Thanks for reading guys!


Bakura looked up at the Game Shop, his hands resting on his hips. The building had taken some damage, the walls cracked in places and a few of the windows boarded. The letters on the roof above the door read "AME", the "G" absent and presumed missing.

Malik walked past him toward the door. "Come on, "kitty"."

"You want me to kill you?" the thief grumbled, following after the blond. They had left Rajan and Rishid back at the school to get more information from the harper (and to prolong telling Rajan the entire story until they had found Marik). As the door opened, Bakura was on high alert. Little did Malik know, Yugi and his friends had seen Bakura's past form during the final shadow duel three years ago.

"Ah, welcome!" Sugoroku smiled from behind the counter. The glass of the cabinet he leaned on had been replace with wood and the register no longer resting atop it. The old man squinted, leaning closer as they approached. "What can I do for you today?"

"We're here to talk to Yugi," Malik began, not noticing the eyes that watched them from a side door. "Is he in?"

"Oh? My grandson? He's out with Anzu right now on a date," he smiled, tilting his head slightly. "They won't be back until late."

"Date?" the blond asked, raising a brow.

"You!" another voice shouted. Two men burst from the side room, lunging for Bakura. The thief leapt back, bringing his hands up and reminding himself that killing them would only complicate things.

"You've got guts showing up here, you bastard," Honda growled, punching one fist into an open palm. His hair was longer that it had been three years ago and was pulled back into a short pony tail, bangs falling to cover the left side of his face. Jounouchi glared at Bakura from beside his friend, his hair still styled the same though a bit messier.

"D'you think we'd forget you after three years?" Jounouchi growled, lunging toward the thief. "Like we could ever forget what you did!" Honda charged behind his friend, Malik calling out to try and stop them.

Bakura easily dodged the first few swings before grabbing Jounouchi's forearm, using the blond's momentum against him and sending him crashing to the ground. He caught Honda's fist in his hand next, glaring at the brunette.

"And here I'm actually trying to-" he began when a cry from the entrace caught his attention. He turned in time to feel a fist connect with his jaw, stumbling back against empty shelves on the wall, using them to brace himself and face the new attacker. He almost didn't recognize the man, his violet eyes darker in color and narrowed in rage. He had also gotten a few inches taller, though he was still the second shortest in the room(1). His hair hung loose around his shoulders, blond bangs framing his face.

His attire hadn't changed much either, though he no longer wore the Domino High School uniform. He donned a black tank top and black jeans, torn at the knees though it didn't seem intentionally so. His black boots were scuffed and showed wear and black, silver studded cuffs on his wrists, but the belt-style chocker he had always worn was absent.

As he bared his teeth at the thief, seeming at a loss for words, Bakura rubbed his jaw, noting that it had actually been a strong hit as he tasted blood.

"I suppose you had a right to do that," Bakura tsked. "Fair enough, but don't expect to get lucky again."

"You...it was your fault..." Yugi muttered, tears forming in his eyes but the anger in his gaze never faltering. "Because of you..."

"Wait Yugi," Malik called, moving to the other's side as he saw he was about to lunge at the thief again.

"Why are you trying to protect him Malik?" Jounouchi snapped, glaring at the Egyptian.

"I thought you were on our side!" Honda accused threateningly, taking a step toward the blond.

"I am!" Malik shot back, grabbing Yugi by the arm and jerking a thumb at Bakura. "And he is too now...apparently..."

"Your confidence in me is astounding, Malik," the thief muttered sarcastically.

"Bullshit!" Yugi snapped, Malik's grip in his arm the only thing preventing him from trying to attack Bakura again. "Why should we believe you! It's your fault Zorc won! It's your fault that the Pharaoh is dead!" His voice faltered slightly as he said the word. He opened his mouth again to continue yelling when Bakura took a step closer, meeting Yugi's glare with one of his own and feeling some satisfaction when the shorter man flinched slightly.

"First off, I'm not back here because I want to be. I was sent back by Bast and told to "fix what I did"." Again he emphasized the words by making quotation marks in the air.

"Bast?" Anzu questioned, Bakura suddenly aware of the girl's presence. Her hair was a bit longer and she wore a pair of jeans and a dirty pink shirt bearing worn image of Hello Kitty. He felt a slight twitch at the thought of "kitty" but let it go. "The Egyptian goddess?"

"No, Bast the Greek goddess," Bakura spat sarcastically, turning his attention back to Yugi and seeing that he wasn't impressed by the thief's sarcasm. "Yes, that Bast. She sent me back and I'm not allowed to move on until I do what she said. I honestly have no desire to be back here. Secondly, the Pharaoh isn't dead. His soul is still sealed within the Millennium Puzzle. Which brings me to number three." He reached into his pocket and held out his hand so Yugi could see what he held. Resting in his palm was the piece of the Millennium Puzzle that he and Malik had found in Egypt.

Yugi's eyes widened. "That's..."

"Just take it," the thief tsked, thrusting he hand closer. Yugi reverently took possession of the small piece of gold, careful to to touch the thief's palm and cradling it in his hands. The anger from before was momentarily forgotten as he inspected it.

"Wait a minute...that was in my bag!" Malik snapped, shooting the thief a dirty look.

"And if I hadn't stolen it from you out of sheer boredom it would be lost somewhere in China right now," Bakura smirked.

"That's tr-wait, no! Don't try to justify it! You stole something from me!" the Egyptian growled.

"...Talk." Yugi's voice was quiet but held an angry, dark tone. "Tell me everything. Details. I want them."


After Bakura had told them everything, exasperated by Yugi's questions when he felt the thief was being vague, the former King of Games had left silently for his room, Jounouchi following in his wake. They sat on the edge of his bed for a time, not talking and letting the shorter man have his time to let everything they had been told sink in. They vaguely heard the bell on the shop door jingle and heard voices downstairs, but it was nothing more than muted background noise.

Finally, Yugi looked at his hand; at the small golden block that he had been holding so tight it's sharp outline was cut into his palm.

Alive.

The Pharaoh. Mou hitori no boku.

Alive.

He closed his hand around the piece before bringing both up to his face, drawing his feet onto the bed in nearly the same movement. Everything seemed so surreal to him. He had hoped, of course, that the Pharaoh's soul hadn't been destroyed. That all he needed to do was find the pieces of the Millennium Puzzle and that he would come back and somehow that things could be as they were before.

They had searched. Asked people if they had seen the pieces. Their efforts had earned them three pieces. Yugi horded them like a dragon, keeping them safe in the golden box they had once been stored in and letting no one into his room save two people: Jounouchi and Gamer.

Gamer was someone Yugi trusted and who trusted Yugi. He had been in the Game Shop when the group had returned from Egypt, a scared teen from America who had no where to go. Back then he had looked different, but smiled just as often, perhaps more. He was practically adopted by Sugoroku as well as Yugi's friends and had helped to pull him back from the brink when the depression had gotten too great.

Jounouchi was Yugi's dearest friend. The blond had been there from him from the very start. He had a bond with the Pharaoh and himself that transcended everything else. After the shadow game in Egypt, Jounouchi had been Yugi's security blanket. Had held him as he screamed and cried and pleaded to die. Who had reassured Yugi that he did have a reason to live and that it hadn't been his fault. It had taken so much time for him to recover from the loss of the Pharaoh enough to begin taking the steps needed to go on, and Jounouchi had been his life line.

He felt a hand petting his hair and wondered when he had started to sob uncontrollably, but it didn't matter. Jounouchi let him cry, his head resting in the blond's lap as he cried in a mix of anger and relief.

The Pharaoh wasn't gone forever, but the news had come from the one responsible. He had been told that Bakura needed him and the thought made him feel angry but also sick.

"I won't..."

"Yugi," Jounouchi sighed softly, playing with the short man's blond bangs.

"I don't want to be...near him..." Violet eyes looked up at honey brown, tears still falling. Jounouchi was silent for a time, meeting the other's gaze softly as he continued to pet his hair. "You-you remember...the nightmares...I can't..."

"I can't tell you want to do, Yugi," Jounouchi began softly. "But remember, he also said he needs the Pharaoh. If you go with him-"

"I know," Yugi cut him off sharply, curling onto his side and hiding his face. "I know I know but..." he trailed off, swallowing hard. "I...I can't leave grandpa...not now...he's getting so...senile..." It was an excuse and he knew it.

"I'll watch him for you Yugi. Me and Honda and Anzu. We'll take care of him and keep him safe," the blond promised softly. "I think you should go, Yugi. I hate him too, but it might be the only way you'll get to see the Pharaoh again."

Yugi's heart clenched and he sat up, looking into Jounouchi's eyes. "You say that like I-" he was cut of as the blond cupped his cheek and leaned closer, pressing their lips together.

"I know you do, Yugi," he whispered, drawing the other against him. "I know. And I love you too. But you loved him first and...you need him. No matter what happens, I'll still be here for you, Yugi. Even if it's only as a friend."

Yugi sighed, closing his eyes and sinking into the embrace. He knew he would end up going. He didn't want to, but he knew he had too. He had to find the Pharaoh and Bakura was the only one who could help him. "Katsuya..." He leaned back and kissed the blond again deeply. Whatever was going to happen, he didn't want to forget the other's warmth and love. Especially if he would be forced to travel with the source of his nightmares. When they parted to breath, Jounouchi pressed their foreheads together, giving him a cocky smirk.

"Let's keep them waiting for a little longer."

Yugi smiled, nodding and closing his eyes. He welcomed the distraction as well as Jounouchi's presence. He needed to be calm. He needed to be strong. If he had to endure Bakura's company, he wouldn't show any weakness.


"He'll come," Bast's voice rang in Bakura's mind. The thief slumped back on the couch looking bored, violet eyes half closed and trying to look like a target. In actuality he was carefully observing the others, fully anticipating that Honda might snap and try to attack him.

Not that the brunette gave any indication at the moment, his attention focused on Sugoroku as the old man rambled on nonsensically about something vaguely centered around Duel Monsters and pie.

"I was able to influence his decision while you were speaking," the goddess' voice continued a little wistfully. "Otherwise he may have taken much longer to agree. We cannot afford to waste time."

'Then just convince everyone to come to Japan so we can get this over with,' the thief thought back bitterly.

"My reach isn't so great," Bast sighed a little and Bakura almost swore he saw her perch on the arm of the couch beside him out of the corner of his eye. "The shadows make it so hard for any outside influence. As it stands now, my reach is limited to your presence."

'The collar...' the thief guessed, humming a small note of annoyance. 'Figures.'

"...I will leave you alone for now," Bast said quietly. "I am not just using you, Bakura," she added and he thought he saw her stand, once again only at the edge of his vision. After a moment of silence, Bakura closed his eyes.

"I thought the name "Yugi" was familiar," Rajan commented. "So he really is the legendary duelist?"

"Yes, he was virtually undefeated," Anzu replied. "It was...his last duel that..." he trailed off, seeming to reconsider telling the tale. Bakura could feel her eyes on him for a moment. "He blames himself for entirely too much of what has happened since..."

"What do you mean?" Rajan asked, raising a brow. "It was just a trading card game."

As if on cue, Yugi and Jounouchi returned, the shorter man's hair no longer hanging limp but styled in the familiar star-shape that he had worn it in years ago. His old school backpack was slung over one shoulder and he nodded to Malik.

"Your other self(2) is at the Kaiba Corp's stadium, right?"

Malik nodded, getting to his feet.

"It's a bit of a hike but while we're gone, Jounouchi and the others can get supplies ready for for the trip ahead." Violet eyes glanced to Honda and Anzu, who nodded in silent agreement. "We should get moving."

"Funny," Bakura began as he got up. "You don't seem at all concerned about seeing Marik again."

Yugi stiffened slightly, shooting a glare at the thief. "I haven't forgotten what he did. I just don't hate him as much as I hate you. At least he's been protecting Domino City for the last 3 years." He turned away, moving for the door.

"Wait my boy!" Sugoroku called, hurrying after his grandson. He entered the shop and dug behind the counter for a moment before returning with an old Duel Disk, presenting it to Yugi with a smile. "You can't forget this, Yugi! You'll need it!"

With an exasperated sigh, Yugi took the device and slid it onto his arm and forced a smile for his grandfather, his voice almost sounding strained as he tried to hard to sound cheerful. "Thanks grandpa. We're going out for a while."

"Ok my boy. Have fun and remember: don't talk to strangers," Sugoroku warned, smiling obliviously and waving to them as they left.


The group walked in relative silence, Yugi leading the way and taking what he knew to be the fastest route. It involved ducking through a few alleys and jumping a few fences but no one complained much (though Malik made a comment at one point about how amusing it would be if Bakura's collar got caught on a fence which earned him a nasty remark from the thief and a "heh" coupled with a small smirk from Yugi). As the stadium drew closer, Malik finally broke the silence to ask:

"So...you and Anzu are dating?"

The shorter man stumbled a bit at the abrupt question and was silent for a moment. "Grandpa things that...He...he's not all there...as you saw..." He fingered the Duel Disk, fairly certain the device wouldn't even activate anymore. He had wanted to refuse it but felt compelled to accept not only to spare his grandfather's feelings but because it was familiar. It was something else that connected him to the Pharaoh. "But no, Anzu and I aren't together. If anything, she still loves the Pharaoh." He opted to leave out his relationship with Jounouchi, uncertain how the others would feel.

"Ah, I was just wondering..." Malik trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck a bit.

"If I might ask, this "Marik" we're going to see now. I take it there is some bad history with him?" Rajan asked, eying the stadium as if the person in question might suddenly appear.

"Hmn," Yugi nodded. "Do you remember the Battle City Finals?"

"I heard talk, but I didn't really follow it," Rajan admitted. "I heard that there was technical difficulties at times and that several people were injured."

"Marik was responsible for most of those injuries," Yugi explained. "But he was...how to put this..."

"He disappeared after the final match," Malik supplied. "According to Gamer though, it seems he reappeared here three years ago."

"People have been here looking for the "dragon or phoenix" that's been sighted," Yugi said, his voice dropping a bit. "We looked too but we never saw anything. We did feel like we were being watched...and that we needed to leave. Now that I know Marik's here...that he's "real" so to speak-" he glanced at Malik quickly before continuing-"I'm surprised he didn't attack us outright."

"And he has been protecting Domino City which just seems...out of character..." Malik sighed. He looked up as they walked through the large entryway of the stadium.

"Che, so long as we find him and get him to come along, I don't really care," Bakura tsked.

"So Marik is connected to the being that's protecting Domino? How?" Rajan pressed curiously. "You say he was a duelist during Battle City."

"It'll make more sense after we find him," Bakura muttered, hoping that would be true. He was getting tired of constantly having to explain things to everyone.

The field of the stadium was dark, the turf charged in some places and dead of barren in others. The seats loomed ominously around them and the air felt unusually warm and smelled of something burning, though they couldn't be certain of the source.

Yugi shivered and rubbed his arms nervously as they approached the center of the field. 'There's that feeling again...like someone's watching us...like we're unwanted...'

Bakura looked around slowly. "We probably should stay together. No telling where that psycho is of what he might do..."

"Perhaps we should begin by searching-" Rishid began, his hand raising to point toward the bleachers when he froze. The stadium was suddenly lit as though the sun thought it might make an appearance after years of hiding, the group forces to shield their eyes. A familiar voice laughed at them, echoing around them and making it hard to find the source.

Bakura narrowed his eyes, peering up at a large, golden orb that floated in the sky above the announcer's box(3), a familiar figure silhouetted before it. "Up there!"

"Pharaoh!" Marik's voice boomed as he held his arms out to either side, hands open. They could almost make out the wide grin that spread over his features. "I let you leave last time, I did! And here you are again." He laughed, the orb behind him unfolding.

"That voice..." Rajan breathed, squinting and trying to make out Marik's features better.

"This is my place, Pharaoh!" the wild-haired blond continued. "I don't care if you live in my city, but I won't have you in my home. But if you want to be here so badly-" he laughed again, cutting off his own words as Raa fully revealed himself behind him. "Then I'll make sure you and your friends never leave."

"Marik!" Malik tried calling out be he was drowned out by Raa as he roared at them in challenge.

"GOD PHOENIX!" Marik cried, Raa's body spiting apart and becoming engulfed in flames. It's cry changed from a roar to a keening cry as the phoenix swooped down on them.

"Scatter!" Bakura barked, running for shelter. The others didn't need to be told twice, rushing toward separate exits. Yugi cried out as he dove to the ground, narrowly avoiding a flaming claw before scrambling to his feet again.

"It's no use Pha-raoh," Marik laughed. "Run, run as fast as you can, you can't escape me you foolish little man!" He laughed at his rhyme, grinning down at them as he tried to decide on a target.

Malik found his way to Bakura's side, both pressing tightly against the wall of a hallway. "Any bright ideas?"

Bakura growled, flicking the bell at his neck. "Try not to die," he growled, annoyed when Bast didn't say anything. "What's the point in having this stupid thing if she isn't going to f***ing help when we need it?" Light filled their hiding place and both looked toward the field.

"I see you in there!" Marik called out gleefully. Bakura reacted first, grabbing Malik's arm and dragging him down the hall as flames chased after them, shoving him into a locker room at the last instant.

"How the f*** are we supposed to reason with that?" Malik demanded, stumbling back to sit on a bench.

"Damn it," Bakura growled, punching a fist into the other hand. "We'll need something to get his attention. If I had Diabound..." His eyes gleamed as he looked at the door thoughtfully. "But we have something better..."

"Osiris?" Malik guessed, looking up at the thief. "But Rajan doesn't know about Osiris."

"He doesn't yet, but maybe he could remember. We just need to get Marik closer to him somehow. Maybe that would trigger something..." He grinned, motioning for Malik to follow him. "Come on, I have an idea but we'll want to get up higher."

Malik obeyed, following closely behind the thief. They could hear Marik yelling taunts and thinly veiled threats to the others, still addressing Yugi as "Pharaoh". Bakura took a few wrong turns in his search but finally found the way to the announcer's box, motioning for the blond to be silent as he padded toward on of the broken windows. Malik tried to match Bakura's movements, his heart racing as they climbed out of the box and made their way onto the roof.

Bakura grabbed Malik's shoulder and whispered what he expected to blond to do. Malik drew the Millennium Rod from it's hiding place, casting a wary glance to the thief before straightening and holding the item before him.

"Marik!" he called sharply.

Marik froze for a moment, his laugh dying abruptly in his throat as he turned to look at Malik, a bored expression on his face for a split second before he saw who stood behind him and what they held.

"Hi-ka-ri," he chuckled, reaching a hand toward Malik. On closer inspection they could see that Marik wore the same outfit he had during the Battle City finals though the shirt and pants were worn and had holes and tears in them, his cloak tattered around the bottom edge. His hair hadn't changed in appearance except for being badly in need of a wash. The gold jewelry he wore was tarnished beyond what seemed repairable and the golden eye mark glowed brightly behind his bangs.

"Marik, call back Raa so we can talk," Malik tried to reason with him.

Marik chuckled, taking a step toward Malik. "Hikari. My hika-ri," he mused, lavender eyes glinting as he took another step. "How I've wanted to see you all these years. I have to repay you." His eyes widened a bit with malicious intent. "And you brought me my Rod. How...thoughtful."

Malik took a side-step, following the edge of the roof, keeping his gaze focused on Marik. The Millennium Rod glowed faintly and the yami threw his head back, laughing aloud.

"It won't work on me, hikari! Give it to me!"

"I know it won't," Malik smirked, masking the fear he felt. "I wouldn't try to use it on you."

Bakura lunged suddenly from his hiding place, tackling Marik and both shocked that he was unable to knock him back more than a stumble and irritated at the sound the bell on his neck made. Strong hands grabbed the thief's arms, thumbs pressing painfully into pressure points at his elbows and drawing a startled, choked cry from him as he was pushed back, dropping to a crouch to catch himself and rubbing his arms.

"Eh? Who's this now?" Marik chuckled, distracted by Bakura. He caught a glint of gold as the light from Raa reflected on the Rod, turning in time to see Malik throw the item toward the field as hard as he could. "Mine!" He snarled possessively, charging toward the side and taking a wild leap after the item like a football player trying to claim possession of a dropped ball.

"He's insane!" Malik sputtered, watching after him.

"He has a Ka that can fly," Bakura pointed out, coming to watch. As he predicted, Raa flew under his master to carry him after the item, the flames not seeming to bother the yami.

Down below the Rod fell swiftly toward it's intended target, tumbling dangerously end over end. Rishid opted to let the item fall to the ground rather than attempt to catch it in his bare hand, quickly claiming it and running down the field as his life did depend on it.

"Yugi!" He called, throwing the item as hard as he could toward the shorter man, who waited nervously to receive it. Marik roared, Raa halting in mid-field and hovering above the ground.

"Drop the item, Pharaoh, and I may let you leave alive," the blond growled threateningly.

Rajan peered out from his hiding place, having been left out of the loop once more. As he finally got a good look at their attacker, his eyes widened.

'I know him...I know him...he's...'


flashback

"Come on, Rajan, it'll be fun!"

Rajan sighed, looking up at his older brother. They were both young and in a house that seemed both familiar and alien in Rajan's memories.

"Last time you said that I got in trouble."

"But it was fun, wasn't it?" the older boy grinned, amber eyes glinting mischievously.


Another memory. Rajan was older but still a child. He sat with his back against a wall panting heavily and gingerly rubbing his cheek when he knew a bruise would be forming.

"I went a little crazy there huh," the older boy asked solemnly. "But he shouldn't have hit you...are you ok?"

"Yeah..." Rajan sighed, sitting up and picking up the pieces of a scroll he had been carrying. "I...I should..."

"Don't let them scare you." Rajan looked up as the other spoke. "You want to be a scribe so be a scribe. You're better than them anyway."

"If I keep going, they'll just attack me again...and I don't want you to have to keep coming to save me..." He looked away, his attention returning to his brother as he knelt before him and gripped his shoulders.

"I can teach you to be strong and how to fight."

Rajan hesitated and shook his head. "But I-"

"You can be strong and smart, Rajan! You can! Let me teach you! Please!"

Slowly Rajan nodded, looking at the fragments of papyrus in his hands. "I...alright..."


"We need to talk about this!" Rajan was shouting. Again they were older, now in their mid teens. He grasped his brother's arm tightly to keep him from escaping. "You almost killed him!"

"I know," the other teen admitted, sounding terrified as he looked at his hands.

"You're lucky he was a thief and a killer himself or-"

"I know!" he shouted again, turning to face Rajan. "I...I couldn't stop I was just so..." He gripped Rajan's shoulders tightly, tears forming in his eyes. "So mad and it...it felt good to just keep...hitting and...oh Ra Rajan, I'm scared! I don't want to be a murderer!" He screwed his eyes shut and bowed his head, fighting to keep from crying.

"This happens a lot," Rajan said softly, putting his arms around the other's shoulders. "You have to find a way to control your anger."

"I don't know how," the older teen whined, pressing his face into Rajan's shoulder. "I don't know how and I don't know what to do..."

Rajan sighed, petting his brother's unruly hair thoughtfully. It felt strange to him to have to comfort his older sibling and was near sickening to seeing him in tears when he was always so confident and strong.

"Whenever you start to get angry...before you even start fighting...think of this moment," Rajan said softly. "Think of Petri and Zahira and Aasera. Father and mother. Think of me." He tightened his arms reassuringly. "Keep us close to your heart and always in mind and let us be what helps to clear your mind and quell your anger."

The older teen drew in a shaky breath, nodding softly and clinging to Rajan for a moment longer before pushing away and rubbing angrily at the tears he'd cried.

"And don't worry, I won't tell anyone you cried like a woman," Rajan teased, trying to help bring back the more familiar, playful expression his brother always wore.


"I think you're being over ambitious again my brother," Rajan chuckled, lifting a cup to his lips. "They likely just want to test our Ka spirits."

"All the same, it's inevitable! With the powers you and Petri wield, you each could easily succeed one of the priests!" Laughing still, the older sibling lifted his cup high into the air. "I know which one I'd choose. It would defiantly be that Millennium Rod."

"The item chooses the master, idiot," Rajan teased, tossing a grape at his elder brother, who moved quickly to catch the small orb in his mouth.

"Well, it should choose me because I want it," the elder teen chuckled, licking his lips. "But as you say, I am ambitious."

"We would see the next youngest," a guard announced from the doorway. Rajan got to his feet and held a hand out to his brother, who clutched it enthusiastically.

"Don't take too long, Rajan. You know I don't handle suspense very well."

"Just try not to set fire to anything," his brother laughed, turning away.

"One time!" he heard shouted in reply. He swallowed hard, trying to ignore the butterflies that danced in his gut as he followed the the guard. He was led to a lower chamber lit by only a single torch in the center of the room.

"Step forward, Rajan," a man beckoned and he could faintly make out two figures standing just out of the light's reach. Rajan obeyed, coming to stand by the torch and bowing respectfully. "You have a powerful Ka, young man. One that I have seen a vision of."

"You have High Priest?" Rajan asked, trying to discreetly make out the man's features.

"Yes." The Millennium Necklace glinted on the man's forehead. "Three young men who harbored three great beasts who would serve a chosen Pharaoh in Egypt's darkest hour. Only that Pharaoh would know the names of these Ka spirits and be able to harness their power."

The Millennium Rod began to glow in the other priest's hand, illuminating his features ominously. "Regretfully, we have learned that sealing creatures of such power is...fatal for the carrier." He paused, Rajan's eyes widening as the words sank in. "However, it must be done."

Fear coursed thought the teen like ice water in his veins and he staggered back a step before trying to run. He cried out as a golden glow surrounded him and dropped to his knees, hugging himself.

"No...no, please don't..." he pleaded, eyes looking around for something, anything that might save him only to spot the still form of his younger brother lying in the shadows. "No, please!" he yelled, looking toward the priests. "I...I'm a scribe(6)! You-you can't!" Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was disgusted at himself for trying to save his own life, but the fear was over whelming.

For one, shining instant it seemed that the priests might reconsider their actions. That he might yet be spared. But then the Millennium Rod glowed more brightly and Rajan felt his Ka being forced to appear for a second time.

"A...terrible...horrible loss...but this is as it must be," one of the priests whispered.

Rajan slumped to the floor, finding it harder to breath as his Ka was sealed. As his vision darkened, a last thought came to him and he closed his eyes. 'He'll be here next...and when he sees what happened...Ra have mercy...on those in his way...(4)'

end flashback


Rajan clutched his head, closing his eyes tightly and leaning back against the wall he hid again. "I...remember now...Oh...gods...I remember everything..." Crimson eyes opened again in time to see Raa taking to the sky.

"Pharaoh, you leave me no choice! I will take what's mine from your ashes!"

'Pharaoh...does he think Yugi is the...He does look a bit like King Akunumkanon's son with his hair like that...I see...' He pushed away from the wall and strode out onto the field, looking up at the phoenix overheard. 'So it was his son who would be the "chosen Pharaoh". Is that why you're trying to kill Yugi? So many questions...' Rajan thought with a note of annoyance. 'I have to get his attention.'

"Burn Pharaoh!" Marik laughed, throwing his head back as Raa prepared an a massive attack.

Rajan closed his eyes, a hand resting over his heart for a moment, a crimson glow surrounding him. "Osiris...no Tenku Ryuu!" He grit his teeth, stifling a pained cry as his Ka appeared overhead, it's body encircling Raa so that it's head was level with Marik, roaring at him with enough force that the yami nearly fell off the Phoenix's back.

Lavender eyes went wide, trying to comprehend what was clearly before him. Marik blinked, shaking his head and looking around on the ground.

"Rameses(5)!"

Marik jerked back as if he had been slapped, his eyes finally falling on Rajan below and staring at him unflinching.

"Rameses! Get down here!" Rajan shouted up again, trembling from the effort it was taking him to keep Osiris summoned.

After a pregnant pause, Raa's form reverted to that of a golden dragon, it's wings flapping to as to lower itself to the ground slowly.

"Ra...jan?" Marik questioned, his voice sounding a little hoarse as if unused to normal speaking.

Osiris let out a final cry before disappearing, Rajan staggering a little but not breaking the eye contact he had finally gotten from his brother. Dazed, Marik dropped to the ground, his Ka remaining on the field to act as a light source.

"You...you were dead..."

Rajan sighed, taking a few steps closer. "It seems that I was reincarnated," he half-shrugged. "I remember though. After I saw you, it all came b-ACK!"

"You were dead!" Marik wailed, wrapping his arms tightly around the other, pinning his arms painfully to his sides. "You were dead you were dead and..and so was...! Petri! Petri! Is he with you!"

Yugi choked a bit, edging a bit closer.

"No he's not," Rajan admitted, staining to talk. Rameses, let go...I can't breathe..."

"Don't...don't call me that," Marik shuddered, but let his brother go, placing his hands on the other's shoulders. "Don't...I...that's not me...no, not anymore...Just Marik...Call me Marik...I don't deserve to be Rameses..."

"Huh, so the psycho has a name," Bakura mused as he came closer. Marik glared at him, hissing in warning but Rajan grabbed his arm.

"Calm down, he's a friend. They all are, including the one you mistook for the Pharaoh."

Marik shot Rajan a questioning glance before staring at Yugi silently. "He's not...no, it's the Pharaoh's hikari. Where is he?"

"If you'd shut up for a few minutes, I can tell you," Bakura said, keeping an authoritative tone in his voice.

Marik was surprisingly quiet and attentive as Bakura filled him in on the matter at hand, nodding occasionally. Rajan noted that he hadn't been told the whole story to begin with but understood that before now it would have sounded insane. Even know it seemed a bit unbelievable.

"So we just need to find the Pharaoh, Bakura's hikari, and Petri," Marik noted, seeming far more rational at the moment.

"It's strange...you'd think one of us would remember the Pharaoh's name," Rajan hummed a bit, gesturing to Bakura, Marik, and himself. "We were alive back then."

"We'll worry about it after we get the Puzzle put back together. Speaking of which, how many pieces are their?" Bakura asked, looking at Yugi.

"Hmn?" The short male blinked. "What?"

"What's wrong, Yugi?" Malik asked, noting how tense the other seemed.

"I...well, it...might be a coincidence but...um..." he trembled a bit, closing his eyes for a brief moment. When they opened again the nervousness that had been there was gone. "I may be a coincidence," he began again, his voice once more firm, "but you mentioned that your brother's name was Petri, right?"

"Yes. Petri," Marik replied, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Tan skin, blond hair, and incredibly deep blue eyes?"

The calm, rational Marik vanished in an instant and lunged at Yugi, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt before Rajan could react and jerking him closer so their faces were mere inches apart, the shorter man's toes barely touching the ground.

"Where. Is. He."

Yugi couldn't help the small whimper that escaped him which only earned him a rough shake. "You know! You know and you-"

"Marik!" Rajan snapped, he and Rishid moving to try and pry the irate yami off off Yugi.

"I...he's headed for America! He...he's been gone for an hour by now!" Marik released him and he stumbled a bit, managing to catch himself and trying to smooth out his shirt. "You...you guys met him back at the high school," he breathed, trying to recompose himself.

Rajan clapped his hands over his mouth, letting go of Marik's arm. "Oh...shit...Gamer! That's why he was so familiar!"

"How could you not recognize our brother!" Marik demanded in a snarl.

"Because he had tie-dyed hair and half his face was band...aged" Rajan snapped back, trailing off as he realized that that wasn't the best information to relay to Marik in his current state of mind.


AN: Dun dun DUN!

Marik, for the record, is sort of bipolar. I think more research is needed but perhaps one of you might know the proper term. It's not just happy-to-sad, it's any-emotion-in-it's-extreme to any-other-emotion-in it's extreme. And occasionally neutral. This should be fun to write...Comments? :D

This chapter had lots of Rajan in there at the end, but I think it was necessary.

(1) Grandpa's the shortest!

(2) Yugi doesn't know how to refer to Marik at this time so "other self" works since he called the Pharaoh that, more or less.

(3) Is that what it's called? Correct me if I'm wrong D:

(4) Translation: Oh shit, my brother's going to see us dead and go nucking futs.

(5)"RAMESES
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Ancient Egyptian
Pronounced: RAM-?-seez (English) [key]

Means "son of Ra", composed of the name of the supreme Egyptian god RA combined with the Egyptian root mes "son" or mesu "be born". Rameses was the name of eleven Egyptian kings of the New Kingdom. The most important of these were Rameses II who campaigned against the Hittites and also built several great monuments, and Rameses III who defended Egypt from the Libyans and Sea Peoples."

Aside from it being the name of Pharaoh's, it seemed like a fit since Marik's Ka spirit is Raa no Yoku Shin Ryuu and all. Har-de-har. (Also it didn't help that I came across a picture on Deviant Art that referred to him as Rameses: "Celestial Confinement" by IamTerra. It's jsut such a good name for him I guess XD

(6) FEAR MY COUNTING SKILLS! Ahem, anyway, as I've mentioned before in other stories, scribes were a big deal in Egypt. Rajan was trying to use that to get them to spare his life. Pity it didn't work...

Anyway, my dears, what do you think of this crazy chapter idea? The yaoi and non-yaoi versions? It's extra writing for me but I think it's pretty fun to write a few variations on some scenes and it can appeal to a wider audience. Opinions are helpful :D