Thanks for waiting!

I love you all dear readers!

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CHAPTER 10:

They stood in an awkward silence, Anzu waiting for him to say something and Atem debating from where he should begin the tale. There were so many things to tell that he didn't know where to begin. Thinking about it a little, he didn't know what to tell, and by now, he was regretting...

"Anzu, you know, digging further into this is pointless" he said standing up, suddenly changing his mind. Anzu stood up as well and blocked his way out.

"I think I deserve to know the truth" she said looking into his eyes. He avoided her gaze.

"The matter at hand is the gathering of the millennium items" he said and Anzu remembered when Mana said maybe that would be the next step, but still, she was not going to let him avoid the matter at hand right in this moment.

"What was that I did? It was so bad?, as to make you act like that towards me?" she asked softly.

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I focused my eyes into nothing, that question she made 'It was so bad?' would I be able to answer it without tearing my heart?, I think not. Everytime I remembered that scene, I felt my world losing meaning to me... Specially in that day...

"... I thought I was going to die..." My mouth moved on his own and slowly let out the words I wanted to seal away and forget. She still was looking at me with these loving and caring blue eyes I used to admire and compliment every time I saw her, and in this time, these eyes still have an effect on me, that's why, I avoided her gaze.

"When I saw you, with him doing---" I stopped abruptly closing my eyes and a sad smile crept on my face "Ra and I thought you loved me... what a fool"

Anzu frowned. "Doing what? With who?" she asked and I yelled, because I really wanted to get over this quickly.

"You were with the 'evil one' a.k.a Seto, my traitor cousin! You were... making love with him!! "

Anzu widened her eyes shocked, her mouth gape...

I frowned and closed my eyes, my heart bumping slightly fast. A knot forming on my throath by the anger I suddenly started to feel; remembering that issue, was the trigger that made me act without measuring the consequences and I really couldn't afford to lose my composure in front of her, so I turned my back, and was going to leave her there...

Anzu couldn't believe what her ears had caught. Her heart wanted to explode by the fastness and her vision became blurry with the tears. Suddenly she started to feel sick, a huge stomache took over and a intense feeling of coldness wrapped her, it seemed like if she was losing her senses and something was willed to take over her, something she couldn't name... she felt the need to throw up but at the next second her world turned black...

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"Atem" I heard her say with trouble and felt a hand grabbing my arm in order to stop me from walking further away. I opened my eyes in the precise moment to notice my puzzle shining. I frowned.

"Atem, listen... to me..." I heard her again and felt in her voice that something was not right, and had changed. This presence, I knew too well. "This can't be happening." I thought and still didn't make an effort to move or talk.

Anzu put the other hand on her mouth to restrain the need of throwing and breathed deeply to compose herself, then whispered "What happened that day... I wasn't---" Now I was sure that behind me was the past Anzu, so, Mana was right. After all, she really did the binding-spell and without an item? That meant, the present Anzu... was gone, as well as Yami. More problems...

"Shut up" I hissed making her quiet "I don't want to hear you" I tugged my arm but she tightened her grip.

"I bowed over my life that you will know the truth, in the present or the future or whatever! So listen please!" she yelled, all her senses focused on me. I turned abruptly, and freed my arm in one pull while staring at her with hate.

"You shouldn't be here! Don't you know doing that spell is high dangerous and risky? Are you that stupid?!" I yelled too noticing her skin pale and sweat traveling along her face. She replied with the same intensity not bothering her sick expression.

"You are here too! And I have reasons! I couldn't die in peace with you away from me! Knowing that we were severed by that evil man!!"

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Upstairs, Yugi and the rest were doing the rooms when they heard the yelling.

'Oh, now we were severed! You were the one that took off behind him!' they heard Atem's voice.

'I didn't! I never could do that! I love you! Don't you understand? He made me do--' they heard Anzu's voice getting cut off by Atem's.

'Enough! It's enough... of your lies I'm tired of them'

"Yugi, let's get a peek" Joey said and didn't wait for an answer. They walked outside the room and meet Isis, Mana and Serenity making their way out of the other room as well and join with them.

"We heard yelling" Serenity said and the rest nodded

"It's Atem and Anzu, let's hear" Joey said and all stuck out in the stairs just enough to see them downstairs besides the couch arguing. Just then, Mana felt the presence.

"Anzu, the sorcerer" she thought "So, she was telling me the truth back there---"

Any thoughts that they could have in their mind were interrupted by the blow Anzu's body made when hitting the floor, face down on it. All gasped and rushed downstairs to help her.

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I saw when Anzu suddenly became weak in front of me and let herself fall on the floor grimacing. My first impulse was in helping her but my mind restrained me, and I just watched her unmoved.

I saw when Yugi's friends arrived and helped her up, asking what was wrong. I simply shrugged.

"That's what she gets for being so stupid" I say with the coldest voice I could put.

The others looked at me confused and strangely, and I decided to explain them a little.

"She is not Anzu. Your Anzu is gone as well, because of this sorcerer" I said and all looked at Anzu questioningly.

She was grimacing, holding her chest and stomach, and was suffering so much that couldn't reply or say something at the moment. I gulped, trying to maintain my stern expression, because after all, I shouldn't care about her anymore.

"Atem, can you help her?" Yugi asked while holding Anzu with Joey to maintain her in a kneel position on the floor.

"No, she alone got into this. So, she is able to get out" I replied crossing my arms around my chest.

Mana looked at me with eyes that clearly said 'Don't be like that', and then she knelt besides Anzu aiming her wand.

"What are you doing?" Joey asked and she replied "Trying to ease her pain" but after several seconds, she sighed. Anzu coughed a little and spat some blood. I uncrossed my arms and really frowned at that.

"I can't, I still don't have all my energy back" Mana stated letting her wand down and turning to look at me

I didn't notice her stare; I was looking at Anzu when Yugi took the word

"Please, help her. I don't know what your problems are but she's a person, despite of her actions, and one should always help others if it is in one's power" I looked at Yugi and then again at her. Yugi continued "If you can, help her" he requested.

"How Yugi can be so nice and innocent? Even in this time?" I sighed. There was no turning back on this.

"Fine! Fine…" I said in an obliged tone and knelt in front of her.

I was wondering why she seemed more affected than me… she was spitting blood for god's sake! It seemed like if… she had done not the binding-spell but the transmute-spell. The last was a really strong spell that directly let the soul with all its memories take over the person by the shadow realm, it was a contract sign with blood… but after that, when the reincarnation's body died, the soul would eternally wander in that realm.

I grabbed my puzzle with one hand, and the other I put it on her head. Then, chanted the spell that Mana had used on me a moment ago and let my energy flow inside her body.

I stayed like that for some moment until Anzu stopped grabbing her chest and grimacing. She raised her head to look at me with a grateful expression on her face, in that moment I retrieved my hand and stopped the spell; my puzzle faded its shining.

"Are you feeling okay Anzu?" Serenity asked concerned. Anzu just nodded, she didn't know who they were but she would find out soon. In this moment, the only thing she was concerned about was that Atem listened to her.

I still was knelt in front of her "Don't tell me you were stupid enough to do the transmute-spell" I said and waited for an affirmative answer.

"No, I didn't do that, I did the binding-spell, but just a little different. Without an item, I directly created my reincarnation's door in the shadow realm and bound my soul in it. I just have an eternity to search for the door in the shadow realm, and was good timing I found it in the precise moment you were standing before me" she explained, and I couldn't believe she took that risky chance. I moved my head in a negative way.

"Care to explain to me what would have happened if you never found the door? What were you going to do?" I asked and she smiled.

"It doesn't matter, I'm here, I found it, and I found you, is the only thing that matters"

"You are crazy" I said and still couldn't believe what she had done. She shrugged.

"I'm crazy in love with you" she said and I stood up quickly "Don't start again"

She rose as well, gently releasing from Yugi and Joey's grip on her.

"Atem, give me a chance to explain all, please. I know you will understand" she begged. I looked at the others, and all had that stare Mana gave me when I said I wasn't going to help Anzu. I decided.

"Ok, Anzu. Start" I said crossing my arms again and paying at her full attention.

She sighed happily and started the tale.

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"Mr Pegasus, your gift was really unique and powerful!" a man was heard through the speaker Pegasus was holding on his ear

"I'm glad, then you should start the conquest" He replied playing with his white hair

"JaJaJa, I will! See you, partner" then hung up. Pegasus just smirked.

"Yes, soon all people would be under the command of the Millennium items holders!" he exclaimed but then stopped laughing when he remembered something

"The puzzle… Bakura said the puzzle was more powerful than the others… that almost commanded the rest. That item, should be mine." He said sipping a little his red wine "Yami Muto, I have to find him, claim my item and then all the others will be under my command! JaJaJa" he was so happy that couldn't notice a shadow figure behind his door, hearing all he had said…

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All ended seated on the couch, hearing Anzu's tale. Atem was with a hand holding his forehead in a thoughtful position, compiling all she was saying. The rest were silent, slowly understanding all the matter.

"And that was what happened Atem, I never could hurt you, all the fault is of him! He used me! And I couldn't do anything about it!" she was at border of tears now.

"So, basically" Joey said concluding for all "You were manipulated in order to take out info about Atem's weakness in his rule so he could made an attack and take the powerful items, and kill him so he could rule and stay with you as a prize?" he asked, and Anzu slowly nodded.

"How can a person be so evil?" Yugi whispered sadly and Mana put a hand on his shoulders. Isis talked. "This is how the world is. Some are good and some are bad. This has to be always like that"

Atem was thinking "My cousin had so much jealousy of me… that was his only motive in doing all this. And by these bad emotions, he has become a threat"

"Anzu" Atem spoke and all jerked their attention at him "How could he manipulate you? If you are a powerful sorcerer, that shouldn't have been too easy for him"

Anzu nodded "It wasn't. He capture me after that party, and hold me captive an entire day, without food or water, I simply got weak and he took advantage of it. Though I resisted all I could, in the end he won, and turned me into his mindless doll…with his rod" she remembered that day, in that dark chamber, how she wanted to die instead of being controlled.

"I remember the party" Atem said "Also, I remember when you were missing, I searched through the entire kingdom, I was so worried." He smiled sadly "When the guards told me about Seto's whereabouts, I suddenly thought that maybe you missing had something to do with him and didn't think twice in chase him" he paused a little "I rescue you in that day from him… or so I thought" he said remembering when he saved her, she seemed different, but assumed that the shock of being captive was the motive…

"Atem, he let me conscious all the time. I saw all he made me makes… All…" a tear traveled down her cheek while remembering the worse experience of her live… Seto and her doing… "I wanted to die when…"

Atem knew what she was talking about when she said 'all'. Yugi was present, so he would stop this here.

"Anzu, I believe you" he softened his tone when addressing her. He truly believed her, and his hate towards Seto increased…

Anzu didn't answer but smiled happily. She was so glad that finally all was solved, between them… a heavy weight lifted from her shoulders…

"Now" Atem continued "We are short of time, our next step is the gathering of the millennium items. Isis, I need your help in this" he addressed her and she nodded.

"Yes, my king I know who has them" suddenly she was interrupted by her cell-phone ringing. She apologized and answered.

"Marik what is it?"

"Sister, we have a problem" he said shortly

"What?" she said and the rest looked at her worriedly

"Pegasus, had already delivered the items… and I don't have any name" he said really worried

"What!" she exclaimed. That made Atem rise from where he was seat, Anzu imitated him. The rest just stared at Isis worried expression.

"Has you heard sister. What are we going to do?"

"Let me inform of this, wait a sec" she said through the phone and turned her attention towards Atem.

"Atem, the items were delivered, we don't know to who" A troubled expression covered his features; all looked really worried by now.

"You know who had them first right?" he asked and she nodded "Pegasus is the name of the man who had them, but now he has delivered them to other men"

Atem smirked. "Well, in that case, I have to visit him and get some info out of him" he said and Anzu added "You mean We. I'm going to help!" Yugi, Joey, Mana, and Serenity nodded too standing up.

"Ok, I'm not going to argue" he said and looked at Isis "Tomorrow we will visit that Pegasus man, time is running. You will guide us Isis"

Isis nodded and turned to talk on the phone. "Brother, make Pegasus be in the office around tomorrow morning. We are going to visit him."

"We who?" he asked curious

"You will know when we get there, now, make sure he will be there tomorrow"

"Ok, sister, I will do my best"

"Bye" and she hung up

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Marik hung up and sighed. Now what the hell was he going to invent to make Pegasus be there early tomorrow?... It has to be a good excuse…

While walking towards his office, Marik was thinking about what he was going to pull out on him. An idea hit him, and he smirked. Pegasus will fall for this…

He arrived at his office and politely knocked on the door. He heard a muffled 'come in' from the inside and he firmly and securely walked in.

"Hi Mr Pegasus" he saluted and walked to stand in front of his desk. Pegasus was still sipping his wine and just eyed him. Marik decided to continue.

"I'm here because I received a call from Cinthia (sp?)" Marik said and noted how Pegasus's expression illuminated to hear her name. He smirked.

"Yes? Oh, and what did she said?" Pegasus asked now interested.

"Oh well, she called me and said that if she could come tomorrow in the morning to meet you." He said and Pegasus smiled widely

"Of course she can! And, did she tell you about what she wanted to talk with me?" he asked and Marik shrugged

"I fear not. She just told me that. Well, I will call her and said your answer." Marik said and walked away when he was stopped in front of the door by Pegasus's voice.

"Hey, Marik, can you give me her number?" Pegasus requested. Marik bit his lip and turned to face him once more. Forcing a smile he answered "I don't dare to do it. She is complicated, and don't like when her friends gave her number to others without her permission, sorry Mr Pegasus"

"But, I will not tell her it was you who gave it to me" Pegasus said but Marik negated his head

"I'm sorry but of her friends, she knows I'm the only one that knows you"

"Ok, I will not force you", Marik nodded and walked out of the room.

Pegasus sighed daydreaming about Cinthia.

When Marik closed the door behind him, he let out a big sigh.

"Well, it's done. The rest if for you sister" he whispered and walked off.

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Seto was at his house, laying on his bed, staring at nothing in particular. He was deep in thought. Thinking about Anzu, about the millennium item on his desk, about Yami Muto and the puzzle…

He unconsciously lifted one hand and stared at its bandage wrapped to cover the burn marks left by that thing. He growled.

"Damn you" he whispered and turned his body at his side. He spotted the rod on his desk shining.

Seto frowned and stood up from the bed without tearing his gaze away from it. He approached it and the rod still was shining.

"This is so interesting" he mumbled and reached to grab it, when a blinding light left him without vision.

"What the---" he couldn't finish his curse when he knew nothing more.

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At the game shop

Atem had drift into sleep, along with Yugi and Joey in the room a long time ago. The girls were in the other room next to them. Suddenly, Atem snapped open his eyes feeling a dark sense. It was so great that made him awake in an instant from a deep sleep… He didn't move immediately, because of the other two, they could wake up and he didn't want that.

He eyed the puzzle besides the bed, shining and then become inactive.

"Could be too late?" he asked himself and quietly stood up from the bed and silently walked outside the room.

When he was on the hall and had closed the door silently behind him, he accidentally bumped into someone. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the hall, he knew who he had bumped.

"Did you feel it Atem?" she asked not making an effort to give him space. She was really close to him. He didn't move either and just nodded.

"Yes. I felt it"

"Do you think that maybe it's too late?" she asked in a whisper

"I don't know, but if it is too late, and he had awoke, we can still do something, but it would be more difficult" he said in a whisper too

They stood in silence a few seconds there in the darkness. Anzu made a move to hug him and he stopped her

"Not now, this is not the moment" he said grabbing her hands

"Atem, I love you… you still can't forgive me? But I already told you"

"It's not that Anzu, you don't need my forgiveness because now I know you hadn't done anything… All this is Seto's fault…" he whispered back

Anzu smiled happily by hearing this, she was so happy.

"Then, why we don't restart our relationship?" she suggested and make another move to hug him. She kissed him softly on his lips, then again, and at the third time, he reciprocated slowly. She deepened the kiss and they passed to passionately caress.

He was letting himself go by the moment, his body wanted but his mind yelled at him to stop! Indeed, he stopped, breaking the kiss abruptly.

"It's not the time" he said and gently pushed her away and walked downstairs, seeking some place where he could think clearly.

Anzu let him go, and stood there some moment. She touched her lips, still savoring his sweet lips on hers. She sighed daydreaming.

"I'm so happy… " she mumbled

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I have a hell of a week, so sorry for not being able to update the others stories. They will soon come up, don't worry!!

Leave a revieww!!!!

Shine Angel