Sands of Time
By: Neko-Chibi-Faithkitty
Summery: Yami discovers that an evil wizard is destroying the souls of the people of Egypt. Fearing that this vile creature is seeking the power of the Shadow Realms, he follows him back to a land with as much magical history as Egypt. There he discovers that this new threat doesn't want the Pharaoh's ancient power…he wants the Spirit's very life.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Harry Potter.
Author's Notes: Hey everybody! In atonement for taking so long on the last chapter, I went ahead and posted this one way before I intended to. So here it is every one! I hope you like it.
Chapter 10: A Difference Of Opinion
It didn't take long for Seto and Marik to enter the tent, each carrying one of the misplaced wizards. Marik entered first, and carefully set the brunette wizard down on the cot, leaving Seto to set the black haired man on the floor. Seto glared at the blonde, and let the man fall, his head connecting with the earth in a painful thump that would certainly give him a headache when he awoke.
"Seto." Ishizu frowned, checking the man's skull for injuries. "That was not nice."
"Neither was forcing me to rescue him." The brunette growled back. He moved over to where Yugi was still sleeping peacefully. "How much longer till he wakes up?" He asked.
The Healer didn't even look up from where she was now inspecting the second wizard. "He'll be in a deep sleep for about three more days, if I've timed it correctly. A lighter sleep for two more, and he shouldn't get out of bed until the end of the week."
"So I'll expect him to be ready for another challenge it about four days." The blue eyed man smiled deviously.
"Don't you dare." Ishizu snarled. "If I hear that you've come after him again, I'll…I'll freeze Kaiba Corps. bank accounts! And you know I can do it!"
Seto blinked then smiled. Well, in that case I suppose I'll just have to go back to Japan and wait for him there."
"Not until you rest." The three of them turned to look at Marik who had seated himself comfortably on the floor. "That was a Shadow Duel, and we all know how draining they are. What would happen to Mokuba if you fell asleep while flying and the Blue-Eyes Jet crashed somewhere?"
Kaiba glared at him for a moment or two before plopping down beside him. The two of them were asleep in no time. Bill watched them for several minutes, sitting on the cot beside Remus. It wasn't until after the Egyptian woman had changed Yugi's bandages a second time that he spoke. "These Shadow Games, are they really all that bad?" He asked softly.
She regarded him for a moment. "Theirs would have been. It depends on how and where they are played. And against whom. Fighting a normal person in Reality, it's no great challenge. Some players are good, some better, but it is just a game to most of them. If you play with magic, the stakes get a bit higher and it could easily cost the loser their life. If you play with magic in the Shadow Realm, it becomes painful. You've been to the Shadow Realm, you know what it's like. Imagine fighting for your soul in such a place. If you challenge the Shadows themselves, the very act of Summoning a monster to come to your aid is draining. They will not make it easy for you. They'll be better in a bit, but they have been dueling with Shadows for years." She fell quiet after her explanation, and it startled Bill when she spoke again. "My Pharaoh has trusted you. I do not know why, but I will warn you, if you break his trust, nothing in Heaven, Hell or in between could save you."
"From the Pharaoh?" Bill asked.
"From the Shadows that serve him. They are quite devoted to him since he spent five thousand years in an agonizing hell to make them stronger. They will destroy you if you betray him, and I don't know if even he could save you from their anger. He has saved others, but…" She fell quiet, her gazing resting on her brother's still form. "You might do well to tell your beloved Professor as well." She finished.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because." She said, tearing her gaze back to her three patients. "I have seen what happens to those who trespass on the souls of others."
She would not speak again, no matter what Bill said to pry words from her.
The sun was high in the sky by the time Seto and Marik awoke. Not a word had passed between Bill and the woman since; she had been busy, her hands full with Yugi and the two wizards, and he had been unable to phrase the questions he wanted to ask. As the jet disappeared into the horizon, Bill watched the young Egyptian fingering something in his hand. "Marik?" The woman asked, also noticing his preoccupation.
"It shouldn't be such a big deal." He said, not looking at her.
"It is a big deal." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We've been hurt by them before, and even if we hadn't, it is still much to ask."
He nodded slightly. "I can't do it alone." He said finally, pocketing whatever it was he held. "Let me know when Yugi wakes and I'll get him to help me."
She nodded silently, letting him go as he walked away to disappear in the desert. "Where's he going?" Bill asked after a moment.
Ishizu looked at him. "I cannot tell you that. Yugi said he would be staying with the wizards for a while." She said, changing the subject quickly. "Is this true?"
"Yeah." He answered the change in conversation taking him by surprise. "Dumbledore wanted him to stay at Hogwarts."
She raised an eyebrow at the name, but did not comment on it. "I see. And do they have a place for the injured at Hogwarts?"
"Yes." Bill said, catching on to what she was suggesting, and forgetting about Marik for the moment. "Madame Pomphrey is their Medi-witch. She's one of the best, and very loyal to Dumbledore. I don't know of anything she can't fix."
"I do." The woman said, her voice unreadable. "But that's neither here nor there. They do have a place where I can comfortably attend to Yugi and the other two?"
"Yes." Bill said confused. "Hogwarts is a school, but you wouldn't need to look after them, I'm sure Madame Pom-"
"Yes, you've said she's quite good, but I am the Pharaoh's Healer, and I alone shall take care of Yugi. All three of them would do much better in a warm and comfortable bed instead of three make shift beds in a tent in the desert. Besides, Yugi said he was returning to England with you."
"So you're taking Yugi and the others back to Hogwarts?" He asked, starting to feel relief.
"No. I am taking my Lord to a place where he will be more comfortable until he awakens. Do you have any way to contact your comrades in England?"
Bill looked at her for a moment, confusion filling his bright viridian eyes. Then he began fumbling in his pockets. After a moment or two he came up with a small velvet bag with a small golden drawstring. "Floo powder." He said calmly at the Priestess' concerned look. "Now we just need a fire." His gaze rested for a moment on the three sleeping men. "Perhaps I should do this outside."
"Perhaps you're right." Ishizu said, holding the tent open for him and following him out.
Once she was sure he could in no way hurt her charges, Ishizu bid him do whatever magic it was he had planned. He looked around for a moment until he found a likely bit of rubble before pulling his wand from where it was hidden in his shirtsleeve. "Incarnum Inflamarae." He said calmly. Three small flames shot from its tip to the bits of rubbage, creating a warm blaze. After making sure the fire wouldn't go out, Bill reached into the small purple drawstring bag and pulled out a reasonable helping of the dirt-like powder. Carefully he closed the bag again and flung the small fistful of floo powder onto his fire. There was a loud whooshing of flame, and then the fire burned green.
"Interesting." Ishizu commented dryly behind him. "How long does it last?"
The wizard shrugged. "Until I go through it."
She raised an eyebrow. "What an extraordinary thing."
He looked at her in confusion, but her face revealed little of what she was actually thinking. Shrugging it off, he stuck his head in the fire and said as clearly as he could, "Professor Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts Castle!"
Ishizu watched, her face calm but her eyes intent as the young European spoke to someone she could not see. "Professor." He called out.
"I'm here Bill." His voice sounded old and tired. "You have good news I hope?"
"Good and bad, sir. We ran into some unexpected complications. Yugi's been hurt."
"Not badly I hope?" He asked, his voice going strained.
"The priestess says he'll be okay in a week or so, but Snuffles and Remus got hurt too. I'm going to have to portkey back to England. If there's a way for us to arrive at Hogwarts I'd be glad to hear it."
Dumbledore's voice was quiet for a moment. It was hushed when he spoke again. "The Shrieking Shack. Remus and Sirius both know what the inside looks like."
"But Professor, it's haunted by-"
"I know Bill, but you needn't fear the ghosts. If you can get there, I can have Severus come to get you into the castle."
"Yes, Professor." Bill said, his voice filled with confusion.
"And Mr. Weasley, don't get caught."
The fire died as Bill stood. "I don't suppose there's a way to wake one of them up?" He asked as he turned to the Egyptian woman.
"There is a way." She replied, "But they may not remember what you wish to know."
"What?"
Her amber eyes seemed to glow with pity and regret. "When the Shadows gain purchase on a soul, they will feast on memories as an appetizer to the flesh." She said gravely. "Your friends should be fine, but you must be prepared for the possible consequences."
Anger flared across Bill's face. "And when were you planning on telling me this?"
"When we had reached some place safe."
Bill fumed for a moment more. "Is there some way you can get the information from them?"
"With the Puzzle of Unity, perhaps. With the Eye of Truth or the Rod of Justice, yes. Even with the Key of Souls. I might even manage it with the Ring. But it would be folly to use and Item that was not mine. Even if I survived, the Shadows would not be forgiving of the transgression. Let me send for the others and we shall have the knowledge we seek."
"Isn't there anything you can do?"
"What would you have me do?" She finally snapped angrily. "Read their minds? Wave a wand at them as you do? Or would you rather I wake them and force upon them the knowledge that they may have lost their memories with no hope of getting them back? I thought you were better than that. Yes, I could rape their minds for the answers you seek, but then what?" She watched him as he glared mutely at her. "Don't ask for a horse when you really need a camel."
"So what are we supposed to do? Sit around and wait for the end of the world?"
Her amber eyes regarded him coldly. "I've seen the end of the world. It's not all that wondrous." She closed her eyes and raised her arms, her hands poised before the necklace around her throat. "Kalim…Tua tchab ten. Kalim…I need you."
Bill's eyes widened at the ancient tongue spoken so easily. "What did you-" His words died as a golden eye began to shine on her forehead.
The bright sunlight seemed to dim slightly, and a misty darkness seemed to flow from the air around her. It hovered, then solidified into tall, powerfully built man with shoulder-length blonde hair and green armor, and Celtic broadsword strapped across his back. "Ausu ar ten tchab, sen-t? What do you need, sister?"
Bill watched as the two spoke, no hint of their conversation showing in their body language. He was beginning to become frustrated when the man suddenly disappeared. Ishizu turned back to him. "Well?" He asked her.
"Everything will be taken care of." She replied vaguely. "Kalim will arrange for our transportation, and a guide as well."
"And how is that supposed to happen?" Bill asked, exasperated. "I refuse to be led around by the nose when you don't even know where we're going! Hell, I don't even know where we're going! So tell me, Ishizu, how the hell do you propose to get us to a place when you have no idea where it is, or how to get there?"
She began to walk away. "Suit yourself. The Medji will remove you when you become delirious."
"Wait! Where the hell are you going?" He demanded.
"Where do you think?" She answered cryptically.
Bill ground his teeth in aggravation. The woman was infuriating!
Tua tchab ten. – I need you.
Ausu ar ten tchab, sen-t? – What do you need, sister?
Crazy Hyper Lady – I'm glad you liked it.
Isis The Sphinx – I didn't really stop to think about the water thing with Marik. I think my friend told me she was going for a lost civilization thing and the dragons she used reminded her of a leviathan. I didn't argue because it looked pretty. (Alas, the follies of the mid of a chick.) But I'm glad you were okay with the rest of the duel. It was not the easiest thing I've ever had to right.
seithrkairy – I'm sorry the last chapter was so late, but to make it up to you, this one's early! I hope you enjoy it. And I do like the dueling, but there are other parts of the stories I like better. I really love when a story goes into a character's background because it lets me know why they think and act the way they do. Well, anyway, I'm glad you liked the duel.
gecko-grl-2 – And here's another update for you! I hope you like this one as much as the last one!
Yume no anime – lol! Poor Seto. Are you picking on him? I didn't even think about that, but you're right. It is ironic, but it seems right in a twisted funny kind of way!
vanumi-victoria – I'm still loved! Yay! I hope this update was fast enough for you. I felt so bad about taking so long on the last chapter that I hurried up with this one. I hope you like it!