I only proofed the first page. This weekend has been very stressful and I just didn't have the energy to do it. I am sorry for any mistakes...Also, towards the end, Atem and Bakura talk about heaven/hell. I mixed several mythologies/religions together so it it's not totally canon in the YGO world. Also, internet cookies to whoever can find the Frozen ref. I have posted a poll on my profile because there's some debate about who Anzu should be with in the end. As of now, Atem is in the lead. It'll be up for a few weeks as I've not decided when exactly I'll take it down, but it probably won't be until the next update next month, so y'all have some time. Please do vote because I do seriously consider what you guys have to say. As usual, I own nothing.

Revenge

Chapter 11

Modern technology was marvelous.

In the past, had he been reading these hieroglyphics, he would have been using a torch. Torches had a tendency to cast nasty shadows that would make reading the crumbling stone difficult.

Now, all he had to do was click on a flashlight and he had perfect reading lighting. Of course, a tiny household flashlight for power outages wouldn't work too well. He had had to buy a bulky mini-spotlight. It took up most of the room in his backpack and sometimes resulted in smashed granola bars and back aches, but compared to what his wife was dealing with and the fate of the world, sticky food and cramps were something he could power through.

Atem thought about Anzu every day. It would be foolish not to think of her as she was the reason he was in some long forgotten crypt miles underground in Egypt.

He let out a curse at finding nothing worthwhile in yet another location. He was running out of leads and time. The baby would be born soon and he was no closer to saving Anzu than he was eight months ago.

"Did you kiss Anzu with that mouth, Pharaoh?" A voice drawled out behind him.

Thick, black brows pulled together in confusion as Atem turned to find Bakura standing in the entryway. The thief smirked and dropped a black duffle; red sand flurried upwards. His quick mind could come up with no good reason for Bakura to be away from Anzu. "You've left Anzu," he stated.

Bakura clapped slowly and sarcastically. "Still as observant as always."

"Is that all you have to say for yourself?" Atem thundered. The king took a dangerous step closer to the thief. The hand holding the flashlight shook and caused pesky shadows to contort Bakura's face sinisterly. "I ordered you to stay with Anzu. The Underground could not possibly have over road my decree unless Anzu ordered you away. I highly doubt she would have done that. What possible reason could you have to leave her?" His voice dropped to a gravely tone as fire shone in his eyes.

"You act so high and mighty, Atem." Bakura hissed. His eyes narrowed slightly but he made no movement towards his accuser. "I can hear the threat beneath your callous words. You want to send me back to Hell for leaving Anzu. But, what about you? You left her several times. She told me how you acted about the pregnancy." He smirked broadly; fanglike teeth reflected the fake light. "Anzu told me she would be okay if you didn't return to her. She's already said goodbye to you. You've been dead to her since the Final Duel."

"Shut up!" Atem roared. "You're twisting her words! Anzu would never say anything like that! You don't know her heart!"

"Oh, really?" Bakura countered. "Do you know what the last thing she said to me was? I bet you couldn't even guess."

"If your behavior now is anything like how you treated Anzu, I would wager she told you to back off!"

"You've lost, King of Games!" Bakura snarled. "The last thing she said to me wasn't words! I made her moan, Pharaoh!"

"You son of a jackal!"

Atem was not skilled in hand to hand combat. His father had given him a few sword fighting lessons, but in his time, the major way to cause damage or defend oneself was by dueling. He had seen movies with Anzu that involved two suitors fighting for a girl. He never understood why they would launch themselves at the other. Why not settle the matter with a duel or some other form of battle? But the words the thief said entered his mind like a poison. They infected him and caused him to imagine Bakura and Anzu together in a way he strongly disapproved of.

The infection blinded his rational senses.

He lunged at Bakura, his flashlight dropping from his hand and tumbling to the ground. The light flickered and dimmed. Even with the diminished light, Atem found Bakura with ease. His hand clutched the thief's stripped shirt and attempted to heave him to the ground.

Bakura, though taken off guard, was used to physical attacks from his days as a robber. He stumbled backwards and crouched low, his muscles curled like a lion preparing to strike its prey.

Atem's fist swung out but was easily parried by Bakura leaning to the side and tossing out his own punch. It collided with Atem's gut and he coughed out in pain; spit flying from the king's mouth as he hunched over.

He dropped to his hands and knees, his stomach burning and churning. He gagged when bile rose into his throat and feared that what little food he had eaten would return. The gods were with him, though, as he kept the granola and water down, save a few more spit balls.

Chuckling, Bakura kneeled down before him. "You talk so big, my king. But, when the push comes to shove, you can do nothing."

Atem glared up at him. "You took advantage of her."

He snorted. "She took advantage of me. I'm not going to lie and say I didn't want it. She's much better than I remembered."

"Remembered," Atem repeated. "I was the first man she ever laid with. How could you have slept with her before me?" He absolutely hated the way his words sounded. They were talking as if Anzu was a prize to be won. He was willing talking about his sex life to Bakura and it sickened him. It angered him that he had been away from her for over half a year and Bakura had not only been with her, he had been with her.

"You don't recall the past, Atem?" Bakura asked, his brows rising in surprise. "You don't remember your charming, dancing princess?"

Atem's eyes darkened. "Of course I remember Téanna."

"And yet, you don't recognize Anzu? Who she once was?" The Brit spread his arms, motioning to the world outside the tomb. "History repeats itself. There was a reason we are alive now. Ryo, Yugi, Jounouchi, Kaiba. All of the pieces are in place. Including in the queen."

"I realize it's possible that Anzu could be her reincarnation, but that has absolutely nothing to do with her womanhood," he pointed out. "Get to the point."

"Do you think Téanna really loved you? She was a poor girl from Kul Elna. She wormed her way into your heart by dancing and flirting." He stepped away from Atem when the king's leg jerked. It wasn't in his character to play dirty, but Bakura knew Atem had quite the nasty temper when provoked. "She worked for me. By day, she was with me…plotting your downfall. By night, she was with you. She never loved you. She hated you."

Atem chuckled. "Do you think I don't know how she felt? Téanna told me. She begged for forgiveness."

Bakura's smirk grew. "I know. It was part of our game. She told you about growing up in Kul Elna. About hating you for killing her family. How she turned over a new leaf."

"Let it go, Bakura! You know I had nothing to do with the fire! I explained it to her. She understood and we went on with our lives!"

"Then why did she tell me the perfect time to sneak into the palace?" He countered. "She was in on the attack the night your father died."

"That's impossible, Bakura. She died that night. One of your men killed her. How could she have been on your side and yet died by your hand?" He paused for moment; the gears in his quick mind working to solve the riddle. "Unless…" He murmured. "Unless someone realized she had converted. Then it would be logical to kill her because she knew vital information." When Bakura remained silent, Atem nodded in understanding. He lurched to his feet and jabbed a finger at the pale man. "And since Téanna was a caring person, she would have wanted you to realize how silly your vendetta was. She would have wanted you to stop the revolt. And, yet, judging by your silence, you know that killing her was the only way to silence her. She would have turned to you first and since she was with my father, you would have sought them out in order to kill him. When you realized she wasn't on your side anymore, you killed her. You were the one that killed my wife and child."

"Child," Bakura repeated. "She was pregnant?"

Atem jerked his head down in a nod. "Yes. It was mine."

The thief staggered backwards. "You know for certain?" His palms were suddenly slick with sweat and he hand to wipe them on his jeans. "Are you absolutely certain it was yours?" His voice gave an unwonted crack of nervousness.

"Of course I am. Why are you-" His eyes widened as he recalled their original topic. "You mean you…"

"I had sex with Téanna."

"What?" Atem's mind reeled. "When did you…You slept with my wife…" He had loved Téanna completely. And yet she…

The Brit rubbed his eyes tiredly. He was certain that if his hair wasn't white, it would be going grey from the shock of what he had done 3,000 years ago. That he could have killed his child. Is that why she had been so forgiving? Had she wanted to die? To keep their affair a secret? "It was after your marriage was consummated. She wanted to save her virginity for you. It would make the lie seem more real. The next morning, when you went off to do your princely duties, she came to me…"

"Then, there's no way to know who the father was…" Atem concluded. "Unless one of us went to the Underworld or After Life. If it was my child, it would be in the After Life."

Bakura sneered. "You're saying my child would have gone to Hell? It was conceived out of love, not sin! Your child would be the one rotting in Hell."

"Enough. This fighting is getting us nowhere and wasting our time. We have to find Anubis." Atem narrowed his eyes in concentration. "Shall we call it a truce until he is found?"

Bakura nodded tersely. "Agreed. Just one thing I want to say in regards to Anubis."

Atem wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the thief out, but seeing as Bakura had trekked all the way out here to find him, Atem might as well listen. "What is it?"

"Think of the time it took me to find you. I knew exactly where you were and yet it took a month to make a journey that takes a few days. You like to solve puzzles, where was I for four weeks?" He grinned as if he had just told some hilarious joke.

Atem grinned as well. "You've found a clue."

"One better." He paused for dramatic effect. "I know where he is and how to stop him."

Crimson eyes wide, Atem stepped closer to Bakura. "You do! I must give you credit, thief. You are quite worth your keep. Now, then…" It was time to end their bickering and banter…It was game time. "Where is he?"

"The one place you haven't thought to look, Pharaoh. He's not in the mortal realm." More clues. Bakura wasn't the type to give away his information so easily. He had seen the Pharaoh squirm, now he needed to see if the Pharaoh deserved to know the whereabouts of his enemy.

"You mean, he's in the After Life?"

"Where else do you expect a god to be, Atem? He's much too strong to fight in his realm. We're going to bring him here." Bakura turned and sauntered towards his duffle. Kneeling down, he searched in the bag for a moment.

Out of curiosity, Atem moved closer and looked over the other man's shoulder. He watched as Bakura produced a scroll and folded piece of paper.

Bakura waved his hand holding the scroll. "I've found the way to summon him to this world. It will make him mortal. We can battle him and kill him. The only catch is that we have to give up our immortality."

"Ishizu said there was no way…How did you find this information?" his mind reeled with the possibilities. Once this was over, he and Anzu could be together…He wouldn't over live her now. They would age together.

His fears of watching everyone he loved die immediately were alleviated. That was why he had been so reluctant to be a father. He didn't want to burry Anzu and then their child. Like he had in the past.

"It doesn't matter," Bakura snapped. He shoved the scroll back into his duffle and tossed the folded note at Atem. "Let's head out to the tomb of Anubis. We'll summon him there and end it."

Atem nodded as he examined the note. It was faded and wrinkled. He unfolded it and noticed how delicate the paper was. The words were smeared as if someone's fingers had trailed over the ink. The creases of the folds were in danger of tearing. "Why is this note destroyed?"

Bakura shrugged. "I don't know. Guess it's been in my bag for too long. Anzu wrote it for you a few months ago. She wanted to send it out, but she was afraid it would be intercepted before it reached you. I told her I would deliver it to you personally. Oh, she also said that you two needed to talk. Whatever that means." He stood and shouldered his bag. "Of course, she said that right before she kissed me."

Atem practically growled at the thief.