So we finally learn about Yami's part past and who Eve was… This is from Yami's point of view and it's written as if he were telling the story to Yugi.

Yugi: So we're both in it?
LYB: It's mostly Yami.
Yugi: Oh.
Yami: Finally, I'll find out who's after my Yugi.
Malik: I'm just happy I'm in it : )
Kaiba: Show off.
Malik: :P
LYB: Now, now boys…
Bakura: Okay on with the story!
Cyris: Hey! It's my job to say that!
Bakura: You just read this disclaimers Mister dark and broody demi-demon.
Cyris: That's it I've had it with you!! *Pulls out his sword and proceeds to chase after a fleeing Bakura*
Bakura: HEEEELLLPP!!!!! I'M TOO LOVED TO DIE!!!!
*Everyone else* O_o U;;
LYB: He has a point, if you kill him Cyris, I'll have some really pissed off fans on my case.
*Cyris continues to chase Yami. B*
LYB: Cyris?! Are you listening?!
Cyris: Sorry, did you just say something?
*Everyone, anime falls*

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The Story Of The Pharaoh…
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"I was only 8 when both my parents died. It was the Old Kingdom Egypt, just before the pyramids were built and people didn't love long in those days. So 8 years old would be about the equivalent to 16 today. Still, I was only a child at heart. Despite ruling a country and for all the glory of being God-Like, I still liked to have a bit of fun.

As I've noted time and time again, the better you could play the shadow games then, the more you could get and keep for yourself. But there were cases where people had more than just skill; they had shadow powers. The shadow realm had nine forces, or powers, that one could wield: The reading and stealing of people's souls, calling illusions into people's minds, seeing the future and past, placing parts of, or entire souls into inanimate objects, using the realm to enter other's soul rooms and change personalities, inflicting the shadow's justice, the power to give and take life, the ability to make shadow spirits appear in reality, and lastly, my power, the ability to call upon the realm to protect me and inflict justice as I see fit. My power also allows me to read emotions, which includes the heart in the cards."

"Is that how you know what strategy is best?"

"Yes."

"Okay, but, two of those powers I've never even heard of. Aren't there only 7 items?"

"I'll explain that later."

"Okay, go on."

"Well, to get one of the 7 powers, you had to earn it. When a shadow player died and entered the shadow world, they have to give their power away before they can move on. Sometimes, the spirit gives the power to someone already living that they feel has earned it, other times, the spirit gives the power to someone about to be born. A person with powers then had to channel the powers through an item. That's what happened to me. I was born with my powers. My father had powers, too, but he had worked for them.

When I took his place as pharaoh, I met Shadi, who taught me about those powers. He himself had been born with the power of entering and changing people's soul rooms and channelled this threw the ankh. He had earned his power of divine justice at the time with he channelled through the scale. He introduced me to the Ishtar family, who continuously had the powers passed down through their family. Neither of the older Ishtars had power, but their children all did. It was at that point I met Malik and his older sister, Isis. Malik was 10, I think two years older than me. I believe Isis was 16. I bet you already know their powers."

"That's easy, Malik uses illusions to screw with people minds and make himself disappear, and Isis can time slide."

"Exactly. Back then Isis used to be a wonderful magician too, her magic was unparalleled. They were destined to be my bodyguards, like their late grandparents had been my father's. Malik and I became friends instantly. I loved his sense of adventure and he loved my knack for getting out of any situation, as well as getting into them." Yami smiled knowingly, "those are stories for another day. In any case, we both were introduced to Kaiba who would be another of my companions. He was a year older then me, making him 9 and was born with shadow powers, so his parents put him in the priesthood."

"Kaiba had powers?"

"Oh yes, great powers. He could make the shadow summons real, make them flesh and blood in reality, outside the realm."

"Sort of like he does now with machines?"

"Exactly. The three of us were inseparable. We did everything together. We somehow always managed to sneak out of the place and down to the oasis for some fun. That was where we'd met, swam , and hung out as you would say. The oasis was part of the palace gardens, but it was my private garden; no one was allowed in unless I say so. Sometimes Isis would join us, but that wasn't often.

It was sometime in the first year that the three of us were in the oasis and Malik was watching the garden closely. He sat up in a tall olive tree, cloaked in invisibility so he could see over the wall into the normal garden without any of the palace adults knowing we weren't in our chambers. Kaiba at the time was being a bit of a smartass and had called a Mystical Elf who was dancing for us. (And yes were typical boys, why else?) I looked up to where I figured Malik was and called to him: 'Hey, Malik, who are you looking for?'

"Yeah," Kaiba answered, making the elf vanish, and a Dark Elf appear instead. "You've been up there all day. I have your favourite girl dancing down here."

"Shut up, smartass!" Malik barked and an unripe olive struck Kaiba on the head. Kaiba yelped, and Malik laughed.

"You wouldn't do that if I could see you," Kaiba snapped, rubbing the back of his head. I saw the tree rustle and heard him drop to the ground, then he became visible.

"Okay, hotshot, show me what you've got," Malik said, smiling in only a way he could. His hair was different then. It was never fine or spiky like mine then, it was bone straight, think and ear length, very different from the way he wears it now. Time must have changed that part of him. I think time has taken a toll on his eyes, too. I remember them being bluer then, but maybe that's just my fading memory. That day he stood there, just an 11-year-old boy, in a gold collar, wrist bands, and navy cloak, marking him as an important guard.

Kaiba dismissed the elf and pounced on the oldest of us and I tried to hold back a fit of laughter. They were about the same size in height and built so it was a pretty good wrestling match to watch. It was all in good fun, of course. They tumbled on the ground throwing insults at each other. Eventually they both tumbled into the pool and both broke apart in the water, and I fell into a fit of laughter. "Oh what's so funny?" Kaiba hissed, trying to wring out his linen wrap.

"You two!" I laughed, "You're so childish!"

"That's it," Malik said, throwing down his cloak, "you're going down, pharaoh boy! Get him Kaiba!" They both tackled me and threw me into the pool, jumping in after me and we wrestled until we all were saturated, laughing and shouting. It was a good time. Then suddenly Malik looked up from dunking me under the water toward the high wall. We all stopped.

"What is it, Malik?" Kaiba asked.

"I thought I heard something."

But minutes passed and we heard nothing. "You're out of your mind," Kaiba said, rolling his eyes and getting out. We followed.

"You shouldn't just brush it off like that," I said. "Maybe someone is spying on us."

Kaiba just shrugged. "So? What are they going to do? I'll kick their sorry, spying eyes to the shadow realm. I AM a champion, you know." Even then, Kaiba was Kaiba, but Malik just smiled when he said it.

"Aren't you forgetting that Yamiasis here kicked your ass in the last duels? This boy is the world champion now, and I recall winning a time or two against you."

"Ah, shut up, they were flukes."

"No, I beat you fair and square." I smiled.

"You're still considered one of the best." Malik smiled.

"Yeah, I'm up there." By now, our clothes were completely dry from the Egyptian sun.

"Yup. us three, the best duellers in the world," I said jokingly.

Malik just smiled knowingly and started "you know I…" Just then we turned a rap on the wall and we all turned. It was followed by two or more quick raps . Someone was throwing rocks at the other side of the wall. "Oh, he's here!" Malik smiled and scrambled up the olive tree and peeked out.

"Who's here?" Kaiba asked, perplexed. "How did he get past all the security?"

"Ha!" Malik laughed. "That's a joke! This guy could sneak into China!" He turned back to the gardens beyond and took a few olives and threw them against the small tree on the other side, making a pattern of taps. There was silence for a moment then I heard a soft, almost angelic voice, slightly accented, speak very quietly.

"Is that you, Malik?"

"Up here," Malik said.

"Oh, I see." the other voice chuckled lightly. "Is it safe?"

"Yeah, come on in! I'll open the gate and…" before he could finish, a dark-robed figure appeared beside him on the wall, a hood pulled around the head, and dropped soundlessly into the garden. "How do you do that?" Malik hissed playfully and came down. The figure didn't seem to notice Kaiba or I. "Whatcha got?" Malik asked the cloaked figure.

"Oh! Look! I took it from the market, first time I've ever seen them, their wonderful!" The hooded boy produced a round orange object from under his hooded cape and handed it to Malik.

"Cool!... um... what is it?" Malik tossed it into the air and caught it again.

"You fool," The thin, framed figure said, 'You don't play with it, you eat it!'

"How can I eat this? It's like leather!"

"You're impossible, Malik," the figure sighed and turned his head slightly, noticing Kaiba and I for the first time. "Uh no, I'm in trouble," he said and made a dash for the gate. "Hold on there, Baka," Malik said, grabbing him by the shoulder. "They may be powerful, but they won't hurt you. These are the ones I told you about." Malik turned to us. "He's edgy around nobles."

"That's 'cause they're all out to get me!" The figure cried.

"'We won't hurt you," I said gently. Surely this boy was no older than me, why should nobles fear him?

"Okay then," the boy nodded.

Malik smiled. "Guys this is my friend Bakura." The boy took down his hood and shook loose his hair. Kaiba and I stared. The boy was my age, but by the gods was he beautiful. He looked like his voice: heavenly. He certainly didn't look Egyptian; his hair was long, wavy and starch white. He was pale as could be and his eyes were deep brown and intelligent. He was a beauty. The kind you want to smother in kisses. Judging by Kaiba's stare, he thought the same thing. But it was obvious Malik had marked him already by the way he wrapped his arms around Bakura waist. "Don't be afraid, Bakura," Malik smiled.

"I'm not afraid." the white-haired boy smiled. "I've been looking forward to testing my skills." He looked right at me. "On your honour, great Pharaoh, I would like to duel you." He bowed in the proper way, down on his knees.

I looked at Kaiba, who returned my astonished gaze. Malik just looked amused. "Rise," I said, "You don't have to be so formal; any friend of Malik's is a friend of mine. Who exactly are you?"

Bakura smiled softly and looked up at Malik; Malik nodded and Bakura nodded back before stepping forward. "As Malik said, my name is Bakura, but you may have already heard of me under the name Osorkoh."

"Osorkoh? You're the 'so-called "white demon" that the nobles are afraid of?" I was amazed that this innocent looking boy was the one they said could destroy you in a shadow game and rob you blind. Bakura nodded sheepishly. "Malik made up the name for me to duel under. I don't want many people to know me."

"Why's that?" Kaiba said, crossing his arms.

"Well, it's not like I blend into a crowd looking like I do. And if the Pharaoh will pardon me, I make my living on thievery and duelling."

"You're a street rat in other words." Kaiba replied.

"With amazing abilities." Malik cut in. "Show them, Bakura."

Bakura nodded, and then a dark mist formed around the cloaked boy and spread all around us, surrounding us in a new dark world: The shadow realm. "You're a secret-bearer!" I cried. Only the secret bearers could bring forth the realm. "Like us!"

Bakura nodded. "Yes, that I am."

"But you're common! Only nobles can learn to play. Only nobles know the realm exists."

"I am a thief, remember? I broke into your palace gardens and I'm here now, aren't I? I learned of the games from tombs and I learned to play. Then I went after the nobles that killed my parents. Forgive me, my Pharaoh, but I duel for them." The boy raised his head and looked at me, right in my eyes, no one had ever dared do that to the pharaoh. "I play for them, and I need money to play, I intend to bring down the lord who had them murdered."

"Murder!" Both Kaiba and I gasped, Malik looked grave and put a hand on Bakura's shoulder.

"Yes murder!" Bakura said threw clenched teeth, his hands in tight fists. "We were from the north, where the land rolls green and water comes out of the ground."

"Water!" I gasped "From the ground?"

"The mystery lands." Kaiba muttered "Across the sea from the Nile Delta."

"Yes, we were from the mystery lands." Bakura nodded. "My parents heard of the mystical lands of sand and set out to find them when I was a babe. We found them here and we lived here ever since. They brought with them the magic of our world and when the lord of our region found out, they were taken away. My mother left me this." He undid his cloak, revealing a ring on a rope around his neck. At that time, it was just a ring, without the pyramid inside of it. But it still had it's five tear drop points. "So far it's magic has lead me on a quest all over Egypt, till I can here and it lead me to Malik. And this is the object I chose to channel my own shadow powers through."

"What is it you want?" I asked softly.

"An answer." Bakura smiled, pulling his cloak around his shoulders again. "Who was the one who took my parents, the Witches of Black Forest?"

"I've heard nothing of this Bakura, I assure you." I said to him. "I've never authorized such a brutal thing, this has been unjustly done without my knowledge." I was furious I'll admit, this boy was no more the 9 and had his parents snatched away, for no more a reason then that they looked different. Maybe they feared the magic the family had would someday challenge they shadow games.

"I believe you, pharaoh." he answered after looking thoughtful a moment, then smiled. "But I came here to see just what shadow powers you have, I know what Malik can do."

I laughed, I liked Bakura, his laugh, his smile. "Okay then, we'll duel, on friendly terms." This would mean instead of one of us dying or fainting, the winner would be decided by whoever folded first. Bakura nodded.

"Since I've already summoned the shadow realm, that means you nor Seto and Malik can escape, so I'll give you first move, that is, if you have a deck of spells and summons in your mind."

"Of course." I responded. "Do you have a set ready to battle with?"

"Always." He answered, then turned to Malik, "Do you want to play, Malik, just to demonstrate my power?"

"For the love Ma'at yes!" Malik cried, stretching out his arm to Bakura. "Hit me up!" Bakura grabbed Malik's hand and there was a flash of light, then Malik was no where to be found.

"What the hell!!??" Kaiba screamed. "Where's Malik!!??"

"Play and find out." Bakura smiled.

I had a gut feeling Malik was in no real danger so I stepped up on to the duelling platform. I summoned my first monster, I forget what it was now, because what Bakura did was what amazed me more. The ring about his neck glowed and he chanted a summoning spell I'd never heard before, then Malik appeared on the field. He was holding a sword and dressed in armour. I think my eyes must have gotten as big as plates and I swear Kaiba's jaw must have dropped to the floor.

Malik looked around, the gave the sword a few practice swishes. "Awesome!!" He cried. "Check this out! I'm a summon!!"

"Malik!?" Kaiba yelled, "How the hell did you do that?"

"I didn't do it, Bakura did it! He can put peoples souls in lifeless objects, including summoning tablets." Malik was thrilled and Bakura just smiled shyly, much the way Ryou does now.

"Yeah, that's my power…"

I lowered my arms "I won't attack my own friend." I said, "You've proved your point."

"Oh come on." Malik pouted to me jokingly "I want to have some fun."

"Malik…" I scolded. "Fine, alright."

"Great!" he looked at Bukura "Don't send me to the graveyard!"

"Relax, just fight, unlike normal monsters you have freewill, so you can dodge most attacks."

"This keeps getting better!"

I prepared myself, and what ensued was probably one of the most memorable battles of my life. Malik's freewill made him almost impossible to hit and I couldn't risk killing him so I had to rely mostly on life point damaging magic. In the end, I smiled and folded, not wanting to continue this match which was clearing getting me killed, because of my inability to touch his main summon. It wasn't like I lost, more like let him get away with winning, anyway.

Bakura closed the realm and realised Malik back into the real world. Malik planted a kiss on Bakura's head. "Thanks for letting me play."

"No problem."

"So," Kaiba said to the white haired boy. "Where are you going now?"

"Dunno, wherever destiny takes me I suppose." he replied.

"You said the ring brought you to Malik, right?" Kaiba asked, a thoughtfulness to his voice.

"Yes, it did." the boy replied. "It's my mothers magic. She put a spell on the ring for it to lead to me to whatever I needed."

"Maybe then, Malik was meant to bring you to us, like he did. Maybe your destiny is here, with the other shadow duellers, your obviously one of the best, like us." I told him, catching on to what Kaiba had been getting at.

"See," Malik smiled at Bakura, "I told you they'd like you." Bakura flushed slightly.

"We can help each other." I smiled at him, "Your looking for truth and I need a spy and good thief to keep track of some nobles who may be plotting something. I know your good at that because you got into my private guardians, and you can maybe find out about your parents while your at it."

"Your offering me a job?" Bakura said, stunned. "Doing what I do best?" I nodded. "In your personal guard?" I nodded again. He was quiet a minute, processing the invitation before nodding yes. "Okay then."

I smiled at him before hugging him, a gesture of friendship. "It's good to have you Bakura," I smiled "My name is Yamiasis."

"You told him your name." Kaiba smiled. Only the most highly trusted of the pharaoh and his family were aloud to know and call him given name instead of his family name. The only ones who knew mine were my late parents, Shadi, Isis, Malik, Kaiba and now Bakura.

Bakura hugged me back, Malik smiled his approval and Kaiba put a hand on the white haired boy's shoulder. "Welcome to the club Bakura, I suppose this means we need another chair down here at the oasis." The four of us laughed.



So that's how I came to know Malik, Bakura and Kaiba, so the first part of my story is over, so to speak. The one that concerns us now started when I was 12.

Of course the 4 of us were never apart for very long. On the days we were, it was because I had given a task to Bakura or Malik, or if Kaiba had some ceremony to attend. On this day in particular Kaiba and I had to attend to some business in the throne room. Basically I just sat in a chair and tried to look interested while a guard drowned on and on about how the pharaoh needed a wife and heirs to the throne, at that time falling in love was the furthest thing from my mind so it was nothing important. Kaiba was standing by my side, his face totally blank, I think he was trying hard not to fall asleep. None of the nobles noticed what I noticed, they were to engrossed on the lecture, but I caught sight of two cloaked figures running through the crowd outside the window, the taller of the two leading the way. A ways behind them were some angry market sellers, screaming and shouting obscenities at them. I poked Kaiba and pointed at the pair, he smiled slightly and shook his head.

The pair ran by the window, their faces wide with broad grins and the shorter with his arms full of something beneath his cloak. "Hey! Malik! Bakura!" I called out the window quietly so as not to distract the nobles. The taller backed up and looked in the eye level window.

"Oh Hi guys! How's the meeting going?" Malik smirked.

"It's boring as hell." Kaiba hissed, steeling glances at the boy to make it look like he was paying attention. "What are you two fools doing?"

"Getting into trouble. What else?" Malik answered, pealing a bit of rind off a round orange coloured fruit and starting to eat the flesh inside. "You, know, Bakura was right two years ago, you can eat these! There good to and… hey!" Bakura had come back and grabbed Malik's arm.

"Sorry guys, but we have to run!" Bakura smiled and waved, dragging Malik away, dropping a few of the orange fruit from under his robe in the process.

"Over there!! Get them!" came a cry.

"Oh shit." Malik muttered.

"Well that's what you get for stalling!" Bakura said in a fearful tone.

"Quick!" I said, and leaned over the edge of my throne, holding out my arms "Grab on!" They reached out and took my arms and Kaiba helped by grabbing them by the back of the cloaks. They was a bit of a clatter as they tumbled inside.

"Your highness, are you listening?" The speaker asked as he and the other nobles (who had all been facing away) turned around. All they saw was a very angry looking pharaoh sitting on his high backed throne and an equally as enraged priest standing solemn by his side. A group of markets then ran by the window, screaming "where did they go? They were here a minute ago. That way." but they were ignored by the nobles.

I tapped my fingers impatiently "Oh course I'm listening you fool! I wouldn't be here if I wasn't! " I said in my best don't-question-my-authority voice "Now get on with it before I really lose my temper!" The speaker eep-ed and turned around. The other nobles nodded and smiled their approval that their pharaoh was good at being in control, then turned themselves.

From behind my throne I heard a snicker. "You almost got us all it trouble!" Kaiba hissed, looking straight forward, pretending to be interested.

"It was a thrill and you know it." Malik replied.

"What do you have anyway?" I asked quietly, pretending, like Kaiba, to be watching the meeting.

"Fruit!" Bakura answered, "Put your hands back." We obliged and I felt a small piece of something damp placed in my hand. "There good! The best! But this is only the second time I've ever seen them in the market." It was true, the fruit was delicious, like eating liquid sunshine. I held back my hand and motioned for another piece.

"hey now you little pig!" Malik growled, "We earned these!"

"You know you could have just bought them." Kaiba said rolling his eyes, "Ra knows your both rich enough."

"But that's no fun." the two replied at the same time, then they chuckled softly.

"Besides," Bakura said, I could here him pop another piece of the fruit into his mouth. "We'll go back later in our palace clothes and compensate for the loss."

"You guys better get going," I said, "We'll be out of here in a few minute and meet you down at the oasis."

"Okay." Bakura said, I heard him poke Malik then a faint rustle of clothes as they crept toward the window and slipped out. They could be like ghosts when they wanted too. In fact, all four of us could.

The assembling seemed to last forever until finally everyone seemed satisfied and we all left. Kaiba and I clamed to be going to my chamber with Malik, the head of the guards and Bakura, my lord of secret service, to discuss certain matters and we should not be disturbed. In reality once we got there we slipped out threw a passage way and down into the oasis.

Malik and Bakura were lounging in the sun, surrounded by orange fruit rinds and licking their fingers. "You ate them all!?" Kaiba gasped.

"We'll get some more later." Malik smiled. "But I have something to do first."

"Like what?" I asked.

"It's a surprise." He smirked. Bakura laughed. "Take off your jewellery you two, and put these on." he handed us two peasant cloaks.

"Hey! Finally, we haven't gone out in a long time." I smiled, taking off all my golden trinkets.

"It's about time." Kaiba agreed and looked at Bakura and Malik, "You guys get to have all the fun." The both of us rubbed dirt on our skin and hair, to make us look like just part of the crowd. When we were threw, who would ever guess the pharaoh and the high priest were strolling threw the market. Satisfied that the four of us looked descent and Bakura had his hair hidden safely under his hood, we slipped out of the garden and into the cities streets.

"Where are we going?" Kaiba asked, crossing his arms as he walked. Malik point at a large building further down the road we were on. "There?" Kaiba raised a brow, "But isn't that the hippodrome? I never knew you liked chariot racing."

"I don't," Malik sighed, slight annoyance on his voice "But _other_ members of my family do." Bakura just rolled his eyes and smiled.

"Isis can't stand sports." I said, slightly confused. Bakura motioned for me to just forget it and we kept walking.

The building was over run with people when we got there and we slipped through the crowd, easily unnoticed in all the commotion. "The race is about to begin!!" a loud voice boomed.

"Hurry up," Malik said, and we turned away from the pushing crowd down an empty, dusty corridor. When we came out we were in what seemed to be a private stable, with a door that opened right onto the race track. Malik stood at the stable door and looked out on to the field where the two racers were lining up at the start mark. Malik motioned us forward and we gathered at the door. It was the closest I had ever been to the track, I usual wasn't allowed to go at all; and when I was there had to be a huge deal over it, I like this view from the stable much better and we had it all to ourselves.

"Our racers have line up." The voice yelled again and the crowd fell silent. "On the left we have our challenger;" The chariot on the left was red with silver trim, at it's head, impatient palomino horses stamped their feet. The driver looked just as ambitious, dark and tall. "Genubath!" The were a few cheers but mostly insults, this challenger wasn't liked. "And on the right, our champion!" The right chariot was white and gold, it's horses were standing ready and pure black. The chariot driver made my brows go up in surprise, the driver was a youth, maybe my age. I couldn't guess a hair colour, it was hidden under a gold helmet which shaded most of the youths face as well. He also wore a white cloak and breast plate that hid most of his body from view. His limbs were small and rounded in a delicate way, it amazed me that someone looking to fragile could be a chariot racer. "Nefermenu Rathsi!" The crowd roared in delight.

"Knew it!" Malik cried on hearing the name.

"Don't get so mad, Malik." Bakura said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not mad," Malik sighed laying his forehead on his forearm "I'm thinking about what Isis will do when she finds out!" he moaned and sat down at the back of the empty stable. "She'll magic transport me to the mystery lands!" Bakura laughed. Kaiba and I just stared at them, confused.

"Three laps around the field!" the voice cried, and everything fell slight again. "Racers ready!" For a moment you could hear a pin drop, as a judge held out a white cloth, the riders gripped the rains and the cloth was dropped.

"Dar!!" Both riders cried and the horses took off like a shot, racing passed us into the first turn and across the first lap, the challenger tried a few times to pull ahead, but the youth was always one step in front.

"Go Nefer!!" Bakura screamed as the racers approached us for the second time. "Show that snake what your made of!!" The youth heard and looked up at us, questioningly. What Bakura did next surprised me, as the racers approached, the youth still staring at us, Bakura took down his hood and shook out his white, very noticeable hair, something he never did unless in the palace, alone with us or duelling under his alias. The youth grinned.

"Bakura!!" The youth cried happily in a light musical voice, astounding me further.

"How are you!!??" Bakura screamed over the approaching racket of horse hooves to the racer.

"Can't talk now! Racing!" Came the reply as once more the horses stormed by.

They hit the turn again and the challenger swerved his cart, knocking it against the other racers wheel. "Hey!!" The youth screamed "Watch it!!" The other racer just grinned and rammed into the champion again. The crowd was riveted, screaming at shouting as the two finished the second lap, neck in neck. Once more the challenger steered dangerously close to the youth, the wheels collided and rumbled together, chips of wood flying. He was trying to take of the youths wheel and crash him. If they hit the turn like that, it would be over for the white chariot racer.

"Not good not good not good" Bakura muttered, standing on his tip toes and leaning over the gate as best he could. Kaiba and I were also on edge, this could be disastrous. The racers came past us again, only a few seconds to the turn. The youth held a good grip on a whip that he had not used until now.

"Dar!" The champion cried and cracked the whip in the air over the other racers horses at the same time, pulling back on his own rains, stopping his horses. The palominos leapt forward, their driver screamed for them to stop but it was far to late, the skidding halt of his opponent and his new sudden speed caused his wheel to latch in the other chariot and be ripped of. The challengers chariot careened into the wall and the youth took off again, crossing the finish line to victory while the other pulled himself from the wreckage cursing and swearing.

Cheers filled the whole hippodrome as the winner waved to them all and slowly drove the horses toward the stable we were in. Bakura obligingly opened the gate and the youth brought the horses in chariot and all, then Bakura shut the gate.

"Did you see that Bakura!!" The youth cried in the same beautiful voice "I totally crashed that guy!"

"Yes you did," Bakura smiled. "Who would have thought?"

"I was on such a rush, And I…" the youth started with a smile broad across what I could see of his face but was cut short by an "Ahem…" from the corner. The rider looked up at Malik who glared back at the youth, tapping his fingers on his rod in an annoyed way. "And I think I'm in trouble." the rider said, smile still on the youths face but now with teeth clenched. "Hello big brother."

"Evtemkhob Neferti Ishtar," Malik growled, "Get down off that chariot!"

"Evtemkhob?" Kaiba an I gasped, that was a girls name. The youth sighed and took off the helmet, blood black hair cascaded over the neck and back and I could see a face, big blue eyes like Isis' and a tanned feminine face. It was a girl, and she was beautiful.

"Sorry Eve." Bakura shrugged, "You can't get all the breaks."

"Eve? That's Eve?" I gasped, staring at her, "As in Malik's little sister who used to annoy the hell out of us Eve?"

The girl, Eve raise a brow at the comment, but Malik laughed, then I realised she wouldn't recognize me with about 4 years of change and peasant clothing. She sighed. "How'd you find out Malik?" she asked, jumping down.

"You're my little sister, Eve, I know you." Malik smiled gently, a smile which she returned and he kissed her forehead. "Besides I heard Rathsi was racing today."

"Yay, just don't tell Isis. You know she hates it." Eve laughed. "Who are these two, Malik, I haven't seen them before."

"Oh you've seen them," Malik laughed, "They were just a lot younger and dressed a tad different."

Kaiba and I looked at each other and shrugged, then took of our cloaks. "Oh Ra!" Eve breathed, looking at us, "The pharaoh and the high priest." She didn't bother with the formality of bowing and uttering prayers, I silently thanked Ra. It made me feel normal, at peace, she was different from anyone else I'd ever met. A girl who raced chariots and treated everyone equally.

"Hello," I said shyly, smiling at her a bit. I could fell my knees getting weaker as she looked at me and smiled. I think if the three other boys hadn't have been there I would have melted into a puddle of goo, that was about how I felt. I don't think I had ever been so nervous in my life. She was the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen.

"You've grown up a lot." Kaiba said, a slight smile on his lips, something odd for him. She looked him over and smiled herself, Kaiba smirked again. "By Hathor you've changed. Last time I saw you, you were whining at Malik to give you a piggyback ride. Your quiet a woman now." She laughed.

"A whole 12." In our day she would have been a woman in her prime, most girls were married off by age 10, but she was clearly still free as the wind. "And you?"

"13 now." Kaiba answered. If I hadn't been an idiot, I would have seen it then, but as they say I suppose, love is blind. Kaiba could never marry as he was a priest, I should never have been so stupid as to let that fact influence me.

"And you?" she smiled at me.

"12, the same as you." I answered. "How come your never around the palace?" I asked.

She shrugged, "I do other things." she answered.

"Like what?" I asked feeling myself flush a bit, "Just curious."

"Go to palace battle grounds in one hour." she smiled deviously "And watch."
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One hour later, Kaiba, Bakura and I entered the battle grounds. It was sort of odd to be there when we had no intentions of duelling but infatuation had drawn me. Malik and Eve were standing there waiting for us, my eyes fell on her and at that moment, I signed my own death wish. She was wearing a blue desert dress of light linen that fell to her calves and the light fabric flowed around her, giving her perfect freedom of movement and flexibility (unlike most noble dress that was very confining to women). I remember thinking the dress was perfect for her, it made her eyes and hair stand out to beautifully and it complemented her girlish figure, but more then that it was light and free, like her spirit. I soon found out that she wore it almost everyday, sort of like her trademark. Even now when I think of her, I see that dress, but I'm getting off track again.

After they greeted us and we talked a minute, Eve went to the weapons wall and picked up a sword, she staggered under it's weight, holding it with both hands and with a bit of labour, handed it to her brother. Malik was strong enough to lift it easily in one hand and swung in a few times to get the feel for it. She next picked up another sword, it was a thin blade, but she could swing it easily. "A sparing match?" Kaiba muttered.

Bakura nodded vaguely "Yes, brother vs. sister"

"But that's not right," Kaiba said, in his normal businesslike tone, looking over at the two who had taken their places at opposite ends of the field. "Malik is one of the best battle guards around, THE best if you count in his shadow powers."

"I wouldn't put anything by an Ishtar." I said, sensing an odd and powerful energy level rising in the room, one energy set I recognized as Malik's, the other I hadn't felt before. "You wouldn't think Malik was a swordsman if you didn't see it with your own eyes and who would ever know Isis is the most powerful sorceress in Egypt if they just saw her face. I can sense a great power here now, I have a feeling this Ishtar is an unique as her siblings."

"Ready Eve?" Malik called.

"As I'll ever be." She answered, readying her sword. "Now stop dallying so I can kick your ass."

"You wish!" Malik smiled and raised his sword. The battle had begun. A battle that wound change our lives.

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Ooooooo….. Cliffhanger!!

Yami: Hey that's not fair!
LYB: Whaaa??? It was getting really long! And my hands are cramping from all this typing!
Yami: *sighs*

LYB: Anyway, Read and Review tell me what you think ^_^