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"Pegasus? Can you hear me? Can you give us some sign that you're alright? I know you can hear me, I can sense your soul is awake!"

Yami was kneeling on the bed beside the relenting pillows and he clutched Pegasus fine boned hand. The room was eerily silent and there seemed to be a heavy feeling in the air like the charge that builds before a storm. There was absolutely no movement now from Pegasus, he could have been made of marble he was so cold and pale.

This was not a good sign Yami thought to himself. He didn't want to scare Yugi or Mai anymore but he was beginning to fear the worst. Usually that much power would have some positive result by now. The eye should have started to heal Pegasus, unless Yami had upset some sort of balance by interfering and trying to command it. What if Pegasus had become insane and was waiting to attack him? Yami reached down and wiped away the thin river of crimson that etched the corner of Pegasus mouth. He was certain the man was alive.

Mai looked up at him silently with tearing eyes, her hands trembling as she withdrew them from their station. The girl was dealing with her own shock now. So much magic and pain. It was a hard lesson for someone raised on fairy tales where fictional spells cost nothing from the heros they save. Yami could see the realization shifting quickly in her expression. She was strong enough to handle it.

""Yami, he's going to be alright... isn't he?""

Yugi asked in a small hesitant voice inside Yamis mind. The Pharaoh had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that something had gone wrong. Something bad was about to happen, something really bad. Yami could sense power building in the room, dark vicious power and he let Pegasus hand fall.

""My Pharaoh! There's a portal coming, look out!""

The fluid velvet voice came thundering into his mind like a sea tossed wave. It surprised Yami enough that he jumped up off the bed and spun around to face the direction the warning swept him towards. He stood at the end of the bed facing the dark walls searching for a target to launch an attack against. He was so startled at having his mental defenses breached he assumed he was being attacked by Pegasus. His hand automatically reached for his dueling deck and the card of the Dark Magician.

It was Yugi who made him pay attention to the meaning of the message.

""Look out Yami! Somebodies coming in here the same way we did!""

Yugi exclaimed just as Yami summoned the Dark Magician into the middle of the room. The familiar sorcerer appeared rising up from a misty rotating grey portal in the floor. At the same moment the shadows began to gather at the far wall. Electricity arched brightly across the space for a moment, glinting brightly along the iris colored overlapping armor of the tall monster warrior. The magicians heavy cloak flew in the wind from the powerful shadow vortex that was forming and he leaned on his staff, emerald eyes glaring his opposition at it.

The Pharaoh was not certain who his enemy was. He looked back over his shoulder at Pegasus who was still immobile. At least he could cross one person off the list. He smiled gratefully to himself and to his friend who was probably still watching his mind.

Mai was starring fixedly at the Dark Magician as if he was something out of a nightmare. She was very familiar with duel monsters, she played against this particular one all the time in the dueling arena. She had even played against very convincing holograms of him, but this, this was not a hologram! She could see the sweat trickling down the monsters brow under his heavy silver edged helmet as he bent his head away from the building portal.

Mai felt trapped and useless surrounded by such strong and threatening powers. She hoped Yami could control his monsters outside of the dueling field as well as he could during a match.

The winds were becoming so forceful they threatened to overturn the furniture, including the bed! Mai yelped as the bed curtains billowed around her and the thick wood began to rock. She threw her head down over Pegasus again.

Yami quickly called on his puzzle to repel the effects of the portal just as a shockingly bright fireball burst through the gateway.

The ghoulish grin of a Hinotama Soul monster exploded into the room. The thing was a blazing round ball of fire five feet across with black smoking slits for eyes and a mouth. For an instant it hovered there in mid air throwing off a stream of foul brimstone that surely blackened the high ceiling. The flames hissed and popped throwing out a wave of heat that threatened to set fire to furniture and wall hangings. Mai could feel the blasting inferno of the creatures wrath and it was leaving spots in her eyes to look at it. The Dark Magician was standing tall between Yami and the Hinotama. Without hesitating Yami gave the order to attack.

"Dark Magician, Dark Magic Attack!"

He yelled. It was just like in the game, he was as confident as ever. The Hinotama charged at the sorcerer as he raised his staff. The fire ball had less power, but it had speed on its side. It rammed into magician and knocked him backwards with a loud hiss of flames. He staggered back, but he did not fall.

Yami stood his ground with conviction and a smile on his face. Dark Magicians armor had been melted at the front yet he continued to meet the monster head on and leveled his staff at the offending fire ball. A great blast of dark violet energy pulsed from his weapon. Hinotama screeched and tried to flee at the last second but the power hit it squarely and it disappeared in a roaring ball of coal dense smoke.

""Pharaoh, the portal!""

Pegasus warned Yami again, but this time the warning came a split second too late. While Yami watched his Dark Magician finishing off the pyro beast the shadow portal had shifted its position to the left wall. A huge ominous black shape sprung from the darkness and pounced on Yami from the side. His deck of cards went flying all over the room. A sharp slicing crunch made Mai scream in abject terror.

It was a Man eater bug. A metallic green and black beetle the size of a small horse and it was gripping Yami around his waist with its huge jagged mandibles. It was nothing like the benign insect usually featured on duel monster cards. It reared up on its hind legs and swung its head like a rhinoceros as Yami pounded on the monsters tiny armored head with his fists.

He couldn't make it loosen its grip! He tried to blast it with the energy directly from his puzzle but there was not enough left. All his attack did was enrage the monster further and it crushed into him even more.

The Dark Magician spun around and raised his staff to strike. The strangled cries of his master made him pause.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

A venomous voice oozed from the portal to scold the sorcerer. Yami Bakura slowly stepped into the room. He glanced quickly over at Mai and Pegasus out of the corner of his eye as if daring them to attack him. He couldn't sense any power coming from Pegasus, the Pharaoh must have failed.

Bakuras long white hair and black clothes made him seem like a teenage version of the reaper. He smiled sweetly up at Yami and clapped his hands applauding the show.

"Good work my insect, good work. I have to thank Yami too for his arrogance. I would never have captured two millennium items at once if it weren't for that!"

Bakuras insane laughter swirled around the room. He had planned his entrance perfectly. Yami was too drained from trying to save Pegasus to put up any kind of fight, and Pegasus, well if he was not as dead as he looked right now he soon would be. It was a genius plan, one that had sprung from a careless mistake, but a genius plan none the less!

"Bakura! What are you doing?! You let him go!"

Mai yelled at Bakura. She could not understand what was going on. The Bakura she knew who hung out with Yugi and his group was usually so sweet and shy!

"Oh shut up you slut! I saw you in the park with Tea! Be a good little whore and I might let you keep your tongue for other things!"

The ring glowed menacingly at her. This was definitely not the Bakura she knew! Mai was completely disgusted, but things were starting to fit together in her mind. Bakura must have an evil spirit living in that ring the way Yugi had a good spirit living in his puzzle. Poor Bakura, how could she get that thing away from him? She could see a small red pool beginning to form on the oak floor under Yami. All the color had drained from his features and he looked like he was about to faint. Someone had to do something fast!

The room instantly vanished for Mai and all she could see was one thing. The calm, collected and impeccably neat features of Maximilian Pegasus starred into her. The scent of him filled her. She had always had a thing for perfumes and she recognized his scent at once, it was there in her mind as strongly as his presence; warm bergamot and deep cinnamon spice.

""Please forgive my intrusion Miss Valentine.""

His voice, that hypnotic soothing voice commanded all her awareness and blocked out everything else.

"" I need you to do something important. The writing desk by the window, in the right hand drawer, there are soul cards. I will hide your movements. Please bring me one.""

The Dark Magician moved closer to Bakura, his glass green eyes slyly gauging his opponent and weighing the situation. There was nothing he could do at the moment except draw attention and that was exactly what he was going to do. He tossed his billowing cape around one shoulder and aimed his staff at Bakura.

"Don't even try it! One wrong move and I'll have him cut in half! One half for Yugi, one half for Yami, both of them dead!"

Bakura shouted at the sorcerer then he giggled to himself.

"Now back off!"

Bakura held up his ring and the monster recoiled a little but still stood ready with his staff held in both hands in front of his chest.

"You'll never, get my puzzle! You'll have to kill me first!"

Yami gasped. He could barely grip the jaws that were closing on him with his weakening hands. He had already lost the feeling in his legs. He knew he had to get out of this, he had to get Yugi out of this!

"Actually, that was the idea. But first I want to watch you squirm a little. Maybe I'll rip out old Peggies eye again so you can see him die!"

Bakura took a few purposefully heavy steps towards the bed, a slow evil smile spreading across his face.

'This was better than before, Pegasus will remember it this time, he will remember that I'm the one who beat him, the one who truly deserves his power!'

Bakura paused and looked up at the Pharaoh again.

" How many times have you seen him die over the ages trying to save your sorry ass? At least this time it was a bit of a change. He actually bought himself a back bone and challenged you!"

"Don't touch him! Don't... let him go in peace! You don't... have to do... any of this! We can share the power...listen to me!"

Yami tried to stall, he tried to give Pegasus more time. Bakura spat in his face and turned his back. The master of illusions was surely watching everything, planning from the depths of stillness. Yami had to give Pegasus enough time to heal, to get his magic under control so he could defend himself. If Pegasus survived he would make sure this evil one never got his hands on the puzzle, he would protect Mai, he would do all he could for Yugi...

""Yugi, I need you to leave your soul room and go into mine in the puzzle. I need you to wait for me there.""

""Yami, what's going on? Why won't you let me see?""

""Trust me, my light.""

He tried to be gentle and reassuring as he herded the young one into the only safety he could offer. Yami shuddered with pain and braced his arms on the impaling serrated spikes. He glared out at the evil one through foggy sweat stung vision.

Bakura had climbed up on the bed now and was toying with Pegasus hair. He had a knife in his hand and he turned it slowly so it flashed in the cold moonlight. He chuckled lowly and dragged the side of the blade along Pegasus cheek. A faint line of scarlet followed his motion. He was only getting started.

"Is there something I can help you with?"

Pegasus asked with a lions smile on his lips. Bakura jerked back. The amber brown eye was open and questioning him, drilling into his mind and soul so intensely he could barely think, let alone react. Claws of light raked through his mental defenses shattering his thoughts before they could form. The eye was coming for his soul! He felt a great force of power welling up all around. There was nothing he could do to stand against this, it was like a force of nature. The shadows of the room grew tighter and blocked out the moon.

In the dim half light from the glowing of his ring Bakura saw Mai standing beside the bed. Her pale blond hair haloed her angry features like an angel of wrath. She held out a white card between two slender fingers and passed it down to Pegasus hand.

'Oh, shit!'

Bakura thought. It was a trap!

"I'll kill you!"

Bakura snarled and tried to lunge down at Pegasus wielding the knife. His attack was cut off by a great blast of golden light. His body flew through the air and crunched against the far wall of the room. He tried to rise to his feet full of rage but only managed to crawl onto his knees.

"No! I won't let you..."

Another blinding flash of golden light. Bakura reached for his deck at the last second, a thin tearing sound was heard.

When the darkness of the room receded Bakura was lying unconscious on the floor, two halves of a torn duel monster card in his hand.

"Pegasus? Is he dead, did you..."

Mai asked at once. She didn't want to brace herself for another attack, she wanted it to be over.

"No, I have him right here."

Pegasus said. He handed her the soul card that now featured the picture of the treacherous spirit of the tomb robber on it. Mai helped Pegasus sit up against the pillows. His gaze was fixed on Yami and the Man Eater Bug. The Dark Magician stood guard before his master but there was nothing he could do. Attacking the monster that held Yami would only make its jaws close tighter.

"Yami! Oh my god, how, what are we going to do?"

She was crying now at the sight of him. The terrible insect shifted it weight from one leg to another and rustled its leathery wings under its carapace. It smelled of rotten cabbages and dead seaweed on the beach.

"Just find, a way, to get me down!"

Yami ordered them through clenched teeth before he finally passed out. The Man Eater Bug remained motionless as he slumped over its head.

Pegasus didn't hesitate at all. He knew the evil Bakura had managed to tear up the monster card for Man Eater Bug, it could not be recalled into its card or given further commands. He also knew he could not destroy the creature with a trap or magic card without taking Yami with it. A direct attack with another monster was also out of the question because Yami would be hurt worse or killed. There was only one way he could see to get Yami and the insect apart.

Pegasus reached out his hand and his golden eye began to glow hotly. The cards from his deck spiraled out of their box on the bed side table filling the air.

"Dark Illusion Ritual! I summon Relinquished!"

Pegasus felt the familiar pull of power leaving him to enter his monster. He also felt the pull of the horrible pain in Yami. He could never deny anyone who was suffering. He sent what energy he could to his friend at the same time, it wasn't much, but it would hold him through this next step.

Mai gasped at the size of Relinquished. She had never seen it before, never dueled against it, but she had heard accounts and none of them prepared her for this! It loomed up out of a portal in the floor, The top of it nearly scraped the ceiling. A solid menacing creature with blue armor veined in phosphorescent white. It had long clawed hands and a single lime eye that swiveled on a telescoping stock. It fanned a pair of fin like panels on its back as it floated legless in space. The monster made no noise, had no scent. But it was watching, taking account of its surroundings in its own strange way. It bobbed its eye and flexed its claws at Pegasus in a sort of oddly characterized bow.

"Now, attack!"

Pegasus commanded. Mai grabbed his shoulder.

"Wait! You can't!"

She looked into his face searching for intent. Was he as evil as Bakura? Was he insane? There was something else there, something she didn't expect to find. Compassion.

The Dark Magician moved in front of Relinquished and raised his staff. He tried to attack the huge creature but it sucked him inside of it with a sparkling whirlwind force.

'Well that was a waste of effort.' Pegasus sighed to himself. He was beginning to feel tired, if there were such a thing as being more worn out than he already was. The eye had plenty of power left, but it couldn't heal him faster than he was using up his strength.

"Relinquished, absorb Man Eater Bug!"

Pegasus rallied his strength again and directed his monster so that it would not use the power of the Dark Magician it had just absorbed to destroy the insect. Relinquished obediently did as it was asked. Mai did not protest again, even though it was frightening to see Yami disappear inside a monster.

"Excellent work Relinquished! Very well done!"

Pegasus smiled at his creature and it turned to him and blinked its little eye.

"Now, please release my friend Yami to me. Gently now, you're very good."

Relinquished bowed over the bed and the purple orb on its chest sent out a flickering ray of light. Yami materialized from it sprawled out across Pegasus lap.

"Thank-you Relinquished. Now, return."

He said with a voice that was half a sigh of relief. The monster disappeared and all of Pegasus floating cards returned themselves to their box. A flash of light showed that the Dark Magician also returned to his card somewhere on the floor.

"Uhn, Pegasus?"

Yami groaned but he didn't open his eyes. There were huge gashes all along his chest and deep puncture wounds at the sides of his waist. His blue coat was soaked with a deeper color. The smell of blood made Mai want to be sick.

"Please, We have to get him to a hospital!"

Mai insisted. She had a sinking feeling in her chest. He didn't look like he would make it that far. She watched as Pegasus ran his hands delicately over the sticky wounds. He had such a sad distant expression on his face, as if he had lived through this before.

He gingerly moved the sweat soaked blond hair off of Yamis pain creased forehead and pressed his palm against the hot cheek. He raised the young mans shoulders into his arms and held him, watching the ragged breathing and matching its pace with his own. Slowly, and ever so tenderly Pegasus cradled Yamis head and bent down over him. Their lips met softly as he breathed his energy into the injured body beneath him. A light golden glow surrounded their items. He gave all he could, every scrap he could stand to channel from the eyes well of power. He gave until he thought he would loose himself in the flow of power and the euphoria of emptiness washed upon him like warm sea foam.

""My strength is your strength, my Lord Pharaoh.""

Pegasus thought into Yamis mind in his heavily accented Egyptian.

It was the northern accent, Yami recognized it. He saw a vision of Pegasus as he had been in the beginning, the long white cotton robes of a diplomat flowing behind him with his waist length silver hair and the amber jeweled collar of a foreign Prince. His exotic pale features and his passionate spice brown eyes. They had been friends and allies once. Teachers and students alike in the things they exchanged. That was before they had been forced to fight side by side like brothers on the battle field, before Pegasus was wounded taking a blow meant for him and lost his eye, before he was restored by the magic of the high priest Seth and battled with all the power of the shadow realm in service of the Pharaohs throne. Yami knew him now, he remembered, and he welcomed his friend with all his heart.

Pegasus released Yami back onto the folds of the bed. He fell back weakly onto the pillows as Yamis aura glowed red and his outline disappeared with a flash of light into the millennium puzzle. Yugi was left lying on the bed looking up at the ceiling. Not a hair on his head was out of place and he was completely unharmed.

"Yugi! You're ok! How's Yami? "

Mai shook him by the shoulder and he blinked several times. Then he sat up and looked at her with his wide amethyst eyes.

"I think he's fine, he says he needs to rest."

Yugi smiled innocently. There was always something contagious about the way Yugi smiled. Mai was dead tired and wondering how she had survived this night at all, but she smiled right back at him and reached over the bed to give the little guy a hug.

"Master Pegasus?"

Yugi asked with sudden anxiety in his voice. The man had a blank expression on his face and he was staring off into the distance as if the world no longer existed. He was breathing in wispy gasps and Yugi grabbed up his hand and squeezed it. At first there was no response at all and Mai frowned to herself but Yugi was persistent.

" Pegasus? It's me Yugi, I'm here now, and Yami's fine! He says you saved him and Bakura too!"

Yugi smiled at the man thinking he could get a response. Nothing came and Yugis eyes began to fill with tears. Something was wrong, and he didn't know what.

" Can you see her?"

Pegasus whispered. Yugi looked at Mai and she shrugged.

"Sure, Mais here too. We're all ok, right?"

Yugi asked again. Pegasus didn't even look at him.

"Can you see her? My Cecilia...she's beautiful..."

Yugis heart leapt to his throat. Cecilia, that name was like a death toll to him. Every time Pegasus talked about Cecilia there was such pain in his voice. Had Yami been right? Was there only one thing that would take that pain away?

"Pegasus, don't do this, don't leave me like this..."

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