HI It's me.

Kimberjim has disappeared, so I'm on my own now. Hope the story will still be good. I've been fixxing the chapters to make them better, so if you can, please go back and RE-read the previous chapters.

please and thank you.

MMFG

I disclaim yugioh, blah blah blah

Enjoy the Tendershipping Goodness!

Chapter Ten

It took everyone a moment to absorb what had happened.

The Pharaoh, and Yugi, had been kidnapped. Kidnapped by a bandit who now knew Bakura had 'betrayed' his fellow thieves.

Mana and Tea wore twin expressions of shock and appall.

"Pharaoh!"

"Yugi!"

Mana turn to her friend and teacher, "Master Mahaad, we must do something!"

Isis raised her arm, "I'll summon Spiria to follow him!"

"No," Seth said, "First we must free the city from those bandits. Then we will combine our efforts to find the pharaoh." Aknadin nodded in agreement, "You are right. Our Pharaoh would want us to save our people first. He has always put the well fare of the people above his own."

"Like you, old man?" Bakura asked, only loud enough that Aknadin and Ryou could hear. Aknadin turned to him, his one eye flashing, "What do you mean?"

" Oh, I think you know EXACTLY what I mean, your lordship..." Bakura said jingling the Millinium ring around his neck.

Before Aknadin could respond, Isis's millennium necklace glowed, drawing his, and the other priest's attention. Isis closed her eyes "I see..."

Seth turned, "What do you see, Isis?"

The priestess's brow furrowed " I see the pharaoh and his friend..." She opened her eyes, a relieved look replacing the frown "They are not in immediate danger." Mana sank to her knees, letting out a woosh of air "Thanks the gods..."

Mahaad nodded "That's good. Now let us rid our city of its invaders, so we can get to work finding our king!"

"You said it!" Tristan said, pumping a fist, "No one hurts Yugi and Pharaoh on my watch and get's away with it!"

Bakura rolled his eyes crossing his arms "Oh, goody, the pharaoh's fan club to the rescue...I'm sure that will be MOST effective!"

Ryou looked up at Bakura,"Bakura!"

"What?" the thief asked, glancing down and raising an eyebrow at the boy. Ryou sighed, shaking his head. Bakura was impossible...

Shadi gripped Kaiba's hand tightly as the room began to glow bright blue. Their surroundings faded. Even the floor vanished from under their feet. Kaiba, who had become FAR to use to Yugi's misadventures than he would have liked, did not panic. In his experience, he knew he'd be fine.

" I shall place you with your other friends, for that is where you are needed most at the moment."

"What about Yugi and that Pharaoh of his?"

"Their destination is not known to me. You will have to figure that out yourself" Shadi said, keeing eye contact with the brunette.

Kaiba 'hmph'd '

"Figures...Nevermind, I'll be fine, I've been through this before."

"Know this Kaiba. Your knowledge of events from the memory world is mute, for that was not the true past. Things you will see and experience not will not be the same as they were in the Pharaoh's memory world."

"I should have guessed you weren't going to make this easy."

"Few important things are, Kaiba" Shadi stated as a bright light appeared below them, "We are approaching our destination. This is where we part ways. I wish you luck." Kaiba scoffed, "I don't need luck, I have skills." Shadi momentarily tightened his grip on Kaiba's hand, his expression stern " Your arrogance is your weakness, Kaiba...Swallow your pride, or someone you care about will suffer for it."

"Who?"

"Someone to whom you deny your true affections."

Seto frowned, "Do you always talk in riddles, or are you just trying to annoy me?"

Shadi said nothing as he released Kaiba's hand, vanishing. Kaiba felt himself begin to fall, the wind roaring in his ears as he fell out of the sky, plummeting towards the sand below.

Mana worked to keep Joey unconscious and numb as Mahaad and the other priests summoned their strongest creatures to destroy and drive off the thieves. Tea sat nearby with Ryou and Tristan, who was telling the whitenette how Joey had gotten injured in the first place.

"...And that's why Joey is...well...you know..."

Ryou looked over at the still form of the blond, "Poor Joey...I hope he's okay..."

Tea sighed, "Why does he always have to be a hero?" she turned to the magician in training Hey Mana, how's Jou doing?"

Mana looked up "Well, I'm trying to keep his burns as numb as possible. His blisters are swelling up, if any of them rupture, it's not gonna be pretty..."

None of them doubted her.

000000ooooo000000

In the distance, the sounds of battle were heard as Shadow Creatures roared and men screamed as the guardians called out attacks for their beast's to use. Bakura stood off to the side, staring off into the desert, eyes narrowed as he half-listened to the noise.

'Traitor!'

The words rang through his mind. He owed no allegiance to the other thieves and bandits, they weren't even in the same class as he. He had always been a lone wolf, unless he needed someone to do gruntwork. Nevertheless, the fact that he'd been caught helping the Pharaoh would effectivly marginalize the amount of respect he was given by those lesser fools. Not to mention both Yugi, and Atems lives were now in the hands of a brutish half-wit who would probably take him to others. After that, who was to say what would happen to them?

He glanced over at Ryou, who was sitting with his friends as Mahaad's apprentice used her magics to help Joey, who apparently had become very badly burned while saving Seth. A noble act, on his part, but a foolish one...Then again, that was nothing new when it came to the blond. Back to the matters at hand.

Bakura turned back to the desert, his back to the others. As much as he disliked-no-HATED the Pharaoh, his disappearance did not bode well. Time was a fragile thing, and even the smallest things could change it in drastic, horrific ways.

"Bakura?"

He turned to the voice, he was surprised to see not Ryou, but Mana. "What do you want?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Do you know where that man took the Pharaoh and Yugi?"

"No" he answered simply, turning away.

"Master Aknadin thinks you do..."

Bakura scoffed "I couldn't give half a damn what that fool Aknadin thinks of me," Bakura spat, frowning at the girl. "Do you...know Master Aknadin?" she asked, deflating a little, but standing her ground.

"The real question here is: Do YOU know Aknadin?" Bakura said as his eyes skimmed the desert.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her brow furrowed with confusion. Bakura shook his head "You'll find out eventually..." he said. He grimaced as the wound in his arm throbbed painfully. Mana's eyes darted to the wound, flinching "How did that happen?"

"Helping your precious Pharaoh, of course. How else?"

Mana sighed.

"Mana!"

Mana turned as her freind and mentor called for her."Coming, Master Mahaad!" she yelled, scurrying away and leaving the Thief to himself.

000000ooooo000000

As she ran off at her masters bidding, Bakura turned back to the group, "How's Joey?" he asked striding over to Ryou, plopping himself down beside him and draping an arm over his shoulders in a casual manner.

"Asleep..." Ryou said, leaning into his side "That girl, Mana, said he'd stay that way for a few hours, so I guess he's-" he stopped. His eyes widened as he suddenly pointed up at the sky, "What on earth is THAT?"

Bakura, Tea, and Tristan all turned as Ryou pointed to a shape falling from the sky. Tea gasped as the object grew closer and they were able to make it out.

"No way! That can't be!"

"Is that..." Tristan started as the thing slowed, landing with a thud on a sand dune. It rose, coughing and dusting itself off "Cough!...That damn ghost could've-Cough! set me down a lot better Cough! I bet this is revenge for calling him annoying..."

Ryou's eyes widened as the figure slid down the dune and into the light of the fires they had lighting the area.

"Kaiba?"

000000ooooo000000

Seto Kaiba shook the sand from his hair, crossing his arms "Who were you dweebs expecting? Santa Claus?"

Tristan rushed over, "Kaiba! what are you doing here?"

"Some guy in a bathrobe told me you idiots needed my help because you lost Yugi and that Pharaoh of yours" He said uncaringly, in his customary manner. Tristan nodded, looking at the ground with narrowed eyes. "Yeah, they got kidnapped by a bandit..."

" Was it Bakura again?" Kaiba asked, glancing at the thief who, unlike the others, did not look shocked to see him. The Thief King smiled innocently, using his most charming voice as he stated ever-so-calmly " No...Unfortunately, I had nothing to do with it THIS time Kaiba. In fact, I was even HELPING the good king."

"Oh really?"

"For my own personal reasons of course..." Bakura said with a grin, "I never do anything unless there's something to gain."

"Niether do I" Kaiba said "So where's the mutt?"

As if on cue, Joey's sleeping form let out a groan, twitching under the cloak he'd had thrown over his nude form to shield him from the elements, since the guardians temples were all in use and thus would not make good shelters at the moment. The millionaires eyes darted over to the seemingly sleeping blond. Something was off.

"What's wrong with Wheeler?"

"He-" Tea started, but was cut off as an impatient Kaiba strode over, crouched, and lifted the cloak. His eyes widened slightly as he drew back.

"What the hell?"

Tea kneeled beside him, re-covering her friend "I was trying to tell you! There was this fire, and Joey pushed Seth out of the way when part of the roof collapsed on the stables we had to run through. He got pinned under it and..." She trailed off uneasily.

Kaiba clenched his fists, unseen, his face going back into it's usual stoic expression "So...Wheeler was playing hero again? I'm not surprised...Dumb mutt never knows when to quit..." he said standing.

"Yeah," Tristan said, "But that's one of his better qualities."

Seth panted from exertion as his monster smote the viscious shadow creature of one of the bandits, which had been stronger than he'd thought. Kalim placed his hand on his shoulder "Seth, you should rest and recover your strength. You've been at it for four hours."

Seth glanced at his energy counter on his DiaDhank. It was almost he kept fighting... He nodded reluctantly "You're right, Kalim...Will you be able to handle things without me? Aknadin already left to help guide the guards and villagers back here until the city is clear."

"We'll be fine Seth" Isis assured him with a pat on the shoulder, "We can handle ourselves. Right Mahaad?"

"Yes. Especially with Mana here to loan me her strength."He said glancing at his pupil out of the corner of his eye. She was trying to look serious but was having a hard time suppressing the smile that threatened to break free at the praise.

"Why don't you go check up on Jou and the others?" Mahaad suggested.

Now that was a good idea. Seth called back his monsters and walked away from the others, trudging wearily through the sand to the flames of the fires where Bakura and the others waited.

Kaiba looked at the clothes they were wearing with amused distaste. "You geeks look ridiculous."

"Think we don't already know that?" Tea asked "I feel like a cosplayer."

"Yeah, well, look at me, I'm wearing a skirt," Tristan said, pouting.

"Think of it as a kilt," Ryou said, "I'd love to wear it. All I'm wearing is essentially a long shirt..."

"Yes, well, we'll remedy THAT once the city is cleared," Bakura said, pausing at an explosion of power in the distance as two monsters attacked each other. "If there's anything LEFT of the city that is..."

"The guardians are doing what they can," Tea said, checking on Joey's burns again to make sure no sand had gotten into them. Joey fliched at the contact. Tea sighed "Poor Joey..."

Kaiba cracked his knuckles, "If you ask me, he-"

"Who goes there?"

000000ooooo000000

Everyone turned at the sound of the priests voice. It was virtually identical to Kaiba's. Only an octave or so lower. Seth strode into the circle of light formed by the fire, the millennium rod clutched tight in his grip as he caught sight of Kaiba, halting in his tracks. His expression was one of bewilderment as he looked over at this...this...doppelganger of himself wearing such strange clothes.

"Who are you?" he demanded, approaching.

Kaiba recognized the tone. He took orders from no one.

"Ask me nicely and maybe I'll tell you" Kaiba said with a trace of a smirk on his lips. Ryou cleared his throat, getting Seth's attention, "This is Kaiba. Seto Kaiba. He's a friend of ours and-"

" 'Kaiba?' " Seth quoted, "Hmm...Jou has mentioned that name several times."

" 'Jou?' " Kaiba asked, "His name is Joey genious..."

Tristan made a shushing gesture, whispering harshly "Ix-nay on the oey-Jay, Kaiba, we're undercover!" Kaiba scoffed " I'm here to help you find Yugi and that Pharaoh and that's it. I don't have time for this code-name nonsense."

Seth frowed "What are you-"

"Aghnnn...!"

000000ooooo000000

Seth turned to Joey. The fluid staining the dark fabric told him what happened. He had shifted in his sleep, and the cloak that had been thrown over him had bunched up and ruptured one of the smaller blisters on his right shoulder.

"Damn" he swore crouching. He pulled the cloth back unflinchingly, taking a flask of water from his robes and poured the cool liquid on the now bleeding orifice. Joey's breath hitched at the sudden chill of the water, his muscles tensing. Seth ran hand through his hair "Easy, Jou..."

Joeys face relaxed at the touch. Seth continued petting his scalp as cleaned and numbed the wound, "Once the city is cleared, we'll take him back to palace so he can treated properly" he said to no one in particular. Kaiba's brow furrowed at Seth's petting. " You seem awfully concerned for the mutts well-being" he commented.

"I owe him my life. He is in this condition on my behalf and I intend to repay the favor. Besides, I'm rather fond of the puppy."

Kaiba stiffened almost indigatly.

" 'Puppy' ?"

Bakura grinned too himself "Things just got a LOT more interesting around here, Ryou..."

Bouncing.

Jostling.

Atems head throbbed with pain. He heard voices, muffled.

" I...Bakura...Pharaoh..."

"...Mistake...Prisoner..."

"What...Pharaoh...little one..?"

"Cage...Anubis's peak...Ransom.."

"...Ass...cart."

He couldn't make out any more as rough hands lifted him up and dumped him onto something wooden and hard. Something small, limp and warm was dropped onto him. He groaned as he drifted in that vague place between the subconscious and waking worlds. His eyes opened a crack, he caught sight of a red, black, and gold blur laying against him.

"Nnng..." the unconcious form moved against his weakly. "Pharaoh..."

Aibou..." The pharaoh muttered before slipping back into the blackness as the cart began moving.

Joey's back throbbed as he opened his eyes. His cheek was pressed against a pillow as he lay on his stomach. He lifted his head an inch, blinking back the fog that hazed his brain

"Ugh...where am I?"

A gasp. "Tristan, Tea, he's waking up!" came Ryou's voice from nearby.

"Joey!" Tea said rushing over. Tristan appeared behind her "How ya feelin' buddy?"

"Like crap..." he said trying to push himself up from his face down position. "Easy there, buddy, you'll mess up your bandages" Tristan said stopping him. "What bandages?" Joey asked as he became more aware. He shifted. Sure enough, almost his entire torso was covered in linen bandages. As well as his upper arms.

and the back of his legs.

He blinked "Damn. What happened to me? And how come you guys aren't using our code names?"

Tea took Joey's hand "To answer your first question, when that rubble fell on you at the stables, you got pretty badly burned."

"As for the names," Tristan said "Well...we don't really need to worry about Seth finding out who we really are."

"How come?"

"Kaiba told him."

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Joey's eyes widened "Kaiba? HE'S here? And he did WHAT?"

Ryou grabbed his other hand as he began squirming "Calm down Joey!"

Tea tightened her grip and squeezed his hand "Stop moving around!"

"Yeah, Shadi sent him to help us find Yugi and Atem, man" Tristan added. Joey finally stopped struggling with a grunt, laying against the pillows looking irritated "Where is he? Where'd he go?"

"He's with Seth" Ryou said releasing his arm "Don't worry, he promised not to tell the other guardians who we are."

"And, uh...where are WE?"

"In the palace."

"So I guess they got rid of those bandits, huh?" Joey asked crossing his arms under his chin so he could look up at his friends better.

"Most of them" Ryou said nodding "Some ran off. The ones that didn't get killed by the guardian's monsters are in the dungeon waiting to be judged. They've got the palace guards working shifts down there because the other guards are trying to help the villagers that aren't getting treated for injuries put out the fires so they can start to rebuild."

"Just how long have I been out?" Joey inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Counting the other night, a little over 48 hours" Tristan said, doing some mental calculations.

"48 hours?" Joey asked, stupefied "That's like two whole days!"

"They've been keeping you unconscious so you wouldn't be in as much pain. And believe you me, Joey, you WANTED to be unconscious when they lynched your blisters so they could bandage you up."

"It was so gross!" Tea said with an expression of disgust, "I don't know how Seth did it without vomiting!"

"Seth?" Joey asked

"Yeah. He's been the one taking care of you. He's been changing your bandages and applying the medicinal herbs. I guess he feels bad that you got hurt on his account.." Ryou said. "Besides all the other healers are all busy."

Joey had no idea how to respond.

"Heh...maybe the guy isn't as big a jerk as Kaiba after all...And speaking of jerks, where's Bakura? Did he split? or somethin'?"

Ryou frowned a little at that but kept his composure "He's...running an errand...He's getting something important"

"What is it?"

Ryou shook his head " I can't tell you. But it might help us find the Pharaoh."

"Come on, Ryou, tell us. we're you're pals. We won't rat on your boyfriend."

"He's not my-" Ryou started, then stopped, catching himself. That was his typical response back home when someone accused him and Bakura being a couple. However, given the recent... developments in their relationship, he really couldn't say that anymore.

"I know you wouldn't do something like that" Ryou conceded.

"Heh!"

"But I'm still not telling you" Ryou said with a mischevious grin not unlike Bakura's.

Tristan laughed, "Wow, you spend WAY too much time with Bakura."

"You got that right," Joey said, pouting.

"You're just jealous because I have a boyfreind" Ryou said, sticking his tongue out at the two.

Tea giggled, "You tell 'em Ryou."

Bakura opened the entrance to the secret room holding the Kul Elna Tome.

The spell book was exactly where he'd left it. Good. Though he shouldn't have been surprised. the room only opened for him. The same could not be said for his hoard of treasure. The priests had had it carted away to the palace when he'd been on his 'mission' to spy on the bandits. He lifted the book from it's stand, removing the silky cloth wrapped around it.

"Hm..."

He flipped through the pages, his eyes skimming over the images and symbols representing text the specialized heirogylphics his father had taught him as a child. "Barriers...Exorcisms...Monster repulsion...I'll have to take it back to the palace and have that Mahaad help me out." He said, "I'm starting to get rusty... Ugh, 5025 years old... I'm such an old man..."

Unbidden, the image of Ryou moaning and writhing beneath him appeared in his minds eye.

Bakura smirked to himself "Well...maybe not so old..."

He tucked the sacred book into his robe and stood in the chamber his father had carved with his own hands. He closed his eyes, letting the power and presence of his fathers spells and labors was around him. His father...That tan skin, and the long pony tail of thick white hair, so carefully braided by his mother...his kind eyes...His work-hardened, but gentle hands...

Bakura opened his eyes and quickly exited the chamber. The last thing his needed to do was start bawling like a woman. Crying was unproductive, and it always made him tired afterwards. Never mind the headaches he usually got. "Alright, I've got the Tome...I just have to keep it away from Aknadin. And while Mahaad searches for a spell to help locate the Pharaoh, I can locate a spell that will return us to the future. That should tie everything together in a nice tidy bow..."

000000ooooo000000

The thief stepped out of the tunnels and into the sunlight, stretching himself out in the warmth after the cool of the tunnels. His horse, his only one now, since the priest's took it upon themselves to secure his property, stood a few yards away, nibbling on the bushes growing on either side of the caves entrance. Bakura clicked his tongue, "Nightshade, here."

The horse perked it's head up at it's master and tromped over, stopping before him as he'd been trained. Bakura mounted the stallion "Good boy" he said patting the side of his neck."We have no time to waste, you must fly like the wind." He dug his heels into his side "Yah!"

The stallion reared back his head, snorting wildly as he lurched into a gallop, sending clouds of sand on either side as master and beast began their long ride back to the royal city.

Seth sat beside Kaiba, who had his fingers in a steepled position as the meeting on what to do with the search for the Pharaoh progressed. How should it be conducted? What forces were necessary? There were a number of things to be taken into consideration. The city needed guidance on it's reconstruction. Three of the temples of the gods had been damaged by what was being called the invasion of the (now defeated) Bandit Army.

"...The question we must ask ourselves," Shada said in a calm, monotone voice "Is whether or not we can afford to call upon the soldiers and the guards when they are so tirelessly working to help rebuild the city and reunite separated family members, including their own on both matters. And eve more importantly, who will oversee the city while we search for our king?"

Mahaad cleared his throat for attention.

"Yes, Mahaad?" Kalim asked.

"It's true, the soldiers have their own matters to attend to. However, nothing is more important right now than finding our king."

"I agree with Mahaad," Seth said, " The Pharaoh is our most important matter. Without the Pharaoh, Egypt will surely fall prey to doubt and fear. He's a symbol of strength and unity, as well as a loyal, wise companion to all of us. The search should begin immediately, now that reconstruction is in progress. Isis, does your necklace provide any clues to the Pharaohs whereabouts?"

Isis closed her eyes, concentrating "I see a dark, wet place lit by torches...and The Pharaoh laying on the ground in a cell..."

"What about Yugi?" Kaiba asked in an off-handed manner.

Isis frowned, "I don't see him... He may be- Wait! Yes. He's there as well! He's awake. The pharaohs head is in his lap...He looks concerned." Isis gasped, opening her eyes "The Pharaoh is ill with fever!"

Mana gasped, covering her mouth. "Oh, no!"

Mahaad turned to her, "Calm down, Mana...Isis, will the Pharaoh be okay until we can find him?"

Isis closed her eyes again, concentrating hard. "I believe so...But we must begin our search soon. I feel dread in my heart at what will happen if we do not."

Kalim nodded once "Then let us make the preparations when the Theif King returns. Bakura said he had something that might be able to help us."

Shada scoffed "I don't trust him."

"None of us do" Mahaad reminded him, "But he knows the ways of thieves better than any of us here ever could. We have no choice in the matter."

"Hmph. If I know that Bakura, and unfortunately I do..." Kaiba said crossing one leg over his knee "We can trust him well enough for now... He feels defeating the pharaoh is HIS right, and no one else's. To him, this is a matter a protecting his interests. Not to mention certain OTHER things I shall keep to myself..." he added, glancing at Seth, the only member of the council who understood the big picture surrounding this incident.

And the repercussions that would come if things wet wrong.

Seth frowned, nodding once "Yes...many other things...We shall meet again once Bakura has returned. Until then, let us return to our duties."

"Agreed" Isis said, standing and heading for the door. Kalim turned "Isis, where are you going?" Isis paused "To get my Nephew, Namu, and the other students. I'm going to take over as their teacher, since he's been lost in the invasion." Mahaad rose, "Mana and I shall join you." The bubbly apprentice hopped up from her seat beside him, "Right!"

Isis smiled as Mahaad opened the door for her, "I appreciate the help, Mahaad."

"It is no problem, my freind," Mahaad said following her out.

Mana giggled "Mahaad and Isis sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Mahaad scowled at her, blushing furiously "Be quiet, Mana! Now is not the time for your nonsense."

"It's not nonsense..."Mana pouted, looking slightly more subdued as she followed behind the two priests. The door clicked shut behind her.

000000ooooo000000

Shada shook his head "That girl..."

Kalim smiled, "She's young, my freind. Give her time. Besides, she provides a much needed air of lightheartedness in these dark hours. She means well..."

'She reminds me a little of Mokuba,' Kaiba thought to himself as he stood. "Well, better go check on the mutt and see if he's still alive."

Seth stood almost the same time as he, "It's nearly time for me to change his bandages anyway. He should be awake and talking by now."

"Oh goody goody gumdrops..." Kaiba said as they exited the room, "Whatever would we do without hearing him whine like a puppy?"

Seth smirked, "I think he's cute when he whines..."

Kaiba glanced at Seth sharply at this, his lips pulling down into a small frown

"Whatever...dumb mutt..."

End of Chapter Ten