Disclaimer. Yu-Gi-Oh! does not belong to me. It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi and crew. Some characters will be made up by me. Please ask if you want to use them.

Atem dashed down the halls, multiple priests and palace guards following him. "Seto?" He yelled. "Where are you?!" Isis's voice called out to him. "Pharoah Atem! Over here!" Atem rounded a corner, freezing in shock at what he saw. Seto laid before him, skin shredded, eyes closed with blood caked over, and even more blood bubbling out of his mouth. A faint wet wheeze from the priest signaled that he was still alive, but barely.

Atem knelt by the dying priest, putting one arm behind his back and the other under his legs. Then, standing up, he headed towards the healing chamber.

Isis followed him. "Pharoah...it might be too late."

Atem turned, staring her down with determined crimson eyes. "As long as he still breathes, there's a chance. I will not give up on him. Not like his father did."

Blood dripped from Seto, staining Atem's robes. But he didn't care. Slowly, he made his way towards the place that could possibly save Seto's life. Reaching the chamber, the healer was waiting for them. He looked panicked, glancing at Seto before looking at the empty bed. Atem glanced at him. The healer whispered something.

"Kisara. She's missing."

Atem blinked.

"Who?"

The healer took Seto from Atem, setting him down and beginning his work. He mumbled something about telling him later. Then he shooed everyone from the room.

Shada came to stand next to the Pharoah. "He'll pull through."

Isis stiffened, her Millennium Tauk flashing.

Nobody noticed as she quietly slipped away, a tear falling down her face.

Evil Bakura stopped at the entrance to a large building located near the bottom of a cliff. The stairs led downwards, into the underground. Glancing back, he saw that Aknadin was still following him. Turning around again, he went down the stairs. The farther he went, the more the air grew darker. Ominous screams and shouts echoed throughout the cold stone halls.

Kisara twitched.

Evil Bakura glanced at her. Her eyes were half open, but she didn't seem conscious yet. Shifting her around on his shoulder, Evil Bakura reached the bottom of the stairs, multiple prison cells and angry prisoners laid out before him. Turning to an empty cell, he opened the door, tossing Kisara roughly into the prison, before closing the door.

He stared at her, noting the way her hair splayed around her in a way that looked like two wings. He hummed, intrigued.

Then, he faced Aknadin, who had been standing there silently.

"Now what to do with you...hmm. Follow me."

He stalked down the hall, hearing the shuffling of feet behind him. After a few moments, the narrow hall opened into a large pit, with a ledge jutting out. In the pit were two planks of wood, held up by heavy chains.

Evil Bakura walked along the ledge, sitting down in a chair perched near the back. He looked at Aknadin. "Bring two prisoners here. We're going to have some fun seeing them fight."

Aknadin turned without a word and shuffled back down the hallway.

Mahado sighed for like the fiftieth time that day. Mana was looking up at him with pleading eyes, holding his arm captive so he couldn't walk away without dragging her along.

"No Mana. I need to do this myself. It'll be my last act of loyalty towards our Pharoah.

You must carry on without me when I'm gone."

Mana cried, clutching his arm tightly.

"No! You can't! You still have lots to teach me!

Don't leave meeeee!"

Mahado shook his head. "I'm going. And you can't stop me!"

A regal voice sounded behind him. "Stop you from going where?"

The magician turned around, slightly hindered by Mana still holding his arm. He saw Atem in the doorway, tired but stern. "Is there something you're not telling me? What were you planning to do?"

Mahado finally tore Mana off him, not unkindly though.

"It's nothing. Forgive me." He left the room.

Atem turned to watch him go, before glancing at Mana. "What was he going to do?" Mana covered her mouth, signalling she wasn't going to reveal anything about the magician's plan. Atem shook his head and left, following the direction Mahado went.

Mana watched him go, tears still streaming down her face. "I can't tell you...that...your best magician and friend...might die. He is going to make a decision to try and stop Bakura. But he's going about it the wrong way..."

She dropped to her knees, sobbing.

"You can't Mahado! You just can't...think about what you're doing..."

End Of Chapter Nine