Kessie turned the key in the lock of her apartment and told everyone to stand back. She turned the knob and slammed into the door with her whole body, smashing into it three times before it finally opened.
"It's nothing fancy, but it's home," she told them as she flipped a light switch, revealing a small, cold apartment. They stepped inside quietly, and Tristan sat Yugi down on the ancient-looking brown leather couch..
"We have a couple of hours until my mom gets home from work," Kessie explained. "Would anyone like a drink?" "I would," said Kisara. "Yeah, me too," said Joey. She sure is being polite now, Téa thought. It's probably because of the money. Kessie walked into the kitchen, which was separated from the living room only by decaying linoleum floor tiles. As she began to fill a glass with tap water, she noticed Zan had plopped himself down on the loveseat and was now resting his muddy feet on the coffee table.
"Zan, get your dirty shoes off the table!" she scolded. He frowned and moved his feet to the floor.
She came back into the living room and handed Joey his glass, which he quickly finished. "Sorry, but my mom doesn't get paid until tomorrow, so water will have to do," she explained. It was when she was handing Kisara hers that something caught Téa's eye.
"Wow," she said. "You guys look really similar."
"Really?" they asked in unision, looking at Téa with surprise.
"Well I'll be damned," Zan whispered. "They sorta do." Silently, Kessie went back to the kitchen, and returned a few moments later with a zip-lock bag full of ice. She handed it to Yugi, who thanked her.
"You gonna be okay?" Joey asked.
"Yeah, it's just a little bruised," Yugi said, pulling up his pant leg to reveal a dark blue knee. "I just wish I could've fallen on my bad leg instead. This cast is as hard as a rock," he joked, tapping his bandaged leg.
Over the next hour, the gang retold the events of the last week. The whole time, Zan's expression remained skeptical. Kessie, on the other hand, appeared surprised, but not necessarily unbelieving.
"Ah, come on," Zan said, resting his head against the back of the couch. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that crap? What are you guys on, anyway?"
An angry Joey was about to protest, when suddenly a familiar spirit appeared once again.
"Oh shit!" a startled Zan yelled, pushing himself back against the couch. Joey groaned loudly in annoyance.
"Whaddaya want you walking dues ex machina?! Are you here to actually help us, or do you just want to play games with us?"
Téa laughed. Wow Joey, I'm impressed."
"Yeah. It looks like somebody was actually paying attention in theatre class," Tristan mocked.
Kessie threw herself into Zan's arms. "Is that a ghost?"
"Young ones, you are in grave danger," Shadi said, ignoring the commotion.
"Tell us somthin' we don't know!" shouted Joey.
"Heru is getting angry. He will pursue you to no end to get that which he desires. You must unite at once; before it's too late!"
"But how?" asked Yugi.
"The pharaoh holds the key," Shadi said. And with that, he was gone.
"The pharaoh?" Yugi's eyes were wide. "He couldn't mean…"
"Atem!" Téa and Yugi said together.
Across town, Yami Bakura and Heru were gathered in an empty loft.
"New York City. A giant scumhole if you ask me," Yami Bakura mused, looking out the window.
"Never mind that, we have business to take care of," said Heru. A banging sound was heard from within the closet in the hallway.
"You plan on using his father to get the spike back. That's clever. But what if he refuses? He's not exactly close to the old man."
"He won't refuse," Heru grinned, pulling a gun from the pocket of his jeans.
The arrangements were in order: Marik Ishtar would be arriving the next night at Domino International Airport. That night Bakura found that yet again he couldn't sleep. His mind was refusing to let go of everything that had happened, and everything that might happen. He found himself regretting that he even kept the millennium ring, He remembered back to that day six months ago:
Atem was set to leave. The items had been set in the Millennium Tablet, and the doorway to the afterlife was open.
"I don't want you to go," Yugi sobbed. Atem placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry Yugi, but I must. Our work here is done, and I must return home." He walked over to the tablet, and removed the Millennium Puzzle from its slot.
"What are you doing?" Yugi asked, his tears momentarily halted by his surprise as Atem handed him the treasured item.
"The door has opened; the placement of the Puzzle is no longer necessary. Keep this to remember me by." As the others watched Atem's departure, Bakura was gripped with an intense longing. His gaze was fixed on the Millennium Ring.
"What are you waiting for? Pick it up!" A familiar, hostile voice commanded. No, he thought. I can't. I've suffered too much already because of you. But, as he had learned so many times before, the will of the evil Thief King strong. He couldn't resist any longer, so he quickly snatched up the ring and put it on, hiding it under his sweater.
Bakura sighed, looking up at the ceiling. I wish I could have left it there in the ruins with the rest of the items. Maybe things would have gone differently. I guess not, though; it sure didn't stop Heru! I just hope father's okay. Bakura was unaware as the door to his hotel room crept open, and three figures entered the room.
"Hello Bakura." The Thief King startled him out of his thoughts, piercing him with his evil glare. His yami's hand was covering his father's mouth. His father looked tired and resigned.
"Let him go!" Bakura shouted. Heru chuckled.
"We planned to do exactly that, my boy. But we need something from you first." Yami Bakura handed the hostage over to Heru, and approached Bakura, placing a hand gently on Bakura's shoulder, which he promptly shook off in disgust.
"Look, Bakura," Yami said. "You have been a gracious host over the past few years. I don't wish to harm you; all I want is that piece of the ring. Give it to me, and I will bother you no longer. You, your father, and your friends will be free." Bakura stood there in stunned silence as Heru slammed his father against the wall and pinned his hands behind his back. With his free hand, Heru removed a gun from his pocket, pressing it against the old man's temple.
"If you say no, I'll just have to kill him," Heru said coldly. Bakura's heart raced. What should I do? I can't let him kill father, but if I give him the ring, the rest of the world will be in danger!
"Don't do it, Bakura!" his father pleaded. "My life is not worth the chaos it would cause. You must take the piece and run!"
"Make up your mind, boy, before we make it up for you!" Heru threatened.
"Please son, for the sake of humanity, let me go," his father pleaded. Warm tears began to spill over Bakura's cheeks. What he was about to do wouldn't be easy, but the decision was made.