Disclaimer: Journey Maker doesn't own Yugioh ( I don't know anything about rituals, this is just how I think that it went.)

Chapter Nine

Ishizu then closed her eyes and when she opened them she said "I have to get back, they are bringing the bodies back for burial and Odeon wants me to perform the ritual, then she looked at Yugi, Ryou and Malik and said all of you need to stay here for a few days and let your Yami's get over what they have gone through besides they want to be at the ritual and Solomon would you please come and assist me?" Solomon then bowed to her and then he asked Seto "can the young ones stay here until their Yami's send for them?" Seto smiled and told him "you know that they can and then Joey went to Ishizu and with tears in his eyes he said "I didn't even get to thank them and now their dead."

Ishizu took Joey into her arms and she whispered something to him and he nodded that he understood and then she kissed his cheek and then they left to go to the Ishtar residence where the ritual would be performed. When they got there, they found all of them standing around the two dead warriors and they all had tears flowing down their faces. When they looked up and saw Ishizu and Solomon they didn't know what to say or do, so Solomon said "we have to prepare their bodies by washing them with the water that Ishizu will prepare."

As they began the first of the ritual, Solomon was softly saying the his favorite Bible prayer and they all joined in:

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green Pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake,

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

They had bathed and dressed each of the bodies and now it was time for Ishizu to perform the burial ritual. She came back into the room and she had changed into her Egyptian Priestess Dress and as they bowed before her she stood between the two tables and placed her hands on each of the heads of Jimmy and Benny and she began reciting the burial words:

I Ishizu the High Priestess call upon our God The Great Ra, we besiege you to hear our voices as we present to you these two brave souls who want to come home. Jimmy and Benny went into the shadows knowing the danger to help save someone whom they hardly knew and they went without hesitation and with little fear of the unknown. They fought valiantly and gave their lives for their cause. Each of these men standing here were with them and they witnessed their valiant fight and are blessed for knowing them. We ask that you let them cross over and be at peace for all eternity, until we are all joined together again. We ask this in your great and all understanding name."

Then one by one each man went around and kissed the foreheads of Jimmy an Benny and silently made a vow to join with them when their days on this earth were through. Ishizu stood at the head of the two tables and Solomon stood at the foot and they raised their hands towards the ceiling and as the others joined them they said together "Great and Wonderful Ra, take our brothers into your hands and let them find the peace and love with you till we all come together again." Ishizu the instructed "Odeon, Yami, Bakura and Marik to place one of their most prized possessions in the hand of each man and when they were done she looked to Roland, Charlie and Dennis to do the same thing and when they were all through she asked that they all leave the room except for Solomon."

As they all walked out of the room, they all felt like a little weight had been lifted from their shoulders, but they all knew that they still had one fight left to fight and this would be the one that would either make or break they chances of destroying both Verin and Strickland.

The door opened and Solomon walked out and he said "you all may come back in and help carry each of these brave warriors to the Crypt for burial." Odeon, Yami, Bakura and Marik lifted the body of Jimmy while Roland, Charlie and Dennis lifted the body of Benny and they carried the bodies down into the bowels of the Ishtar home to the Crypt and laid the bodies in two prepared coffins and as the lids were placed on each one and they were eased into the walls of the Crypt it was like they were still with them in spirit and smiling their goofy smiles. Ishizu then silently said "Joey wants me to thank each of you for what you did and to tell you that he sends his love and will see you once again."

As the door of the Crypt was closed and sealed Ishizu placed her hands on the door and said "my Ra keep you forever in his care." Then they all went up the stairs and went to get some earned rest. Tomorrow they would be reunited with their friends and loved ones, but tonight they each wanted to be alone.

Please R&R...

Chapter Ten Coming Up...