Ba-Ku-Ra!

By: RenagadeRexRider & Miss-DNL

Chapter 14: Standing at the Gates

Once the group exited the Paradox brother's dueling room it was only a short walk down a hall and up a few stairs before they were finally on the surface. Much to their surprise the sun and set so it was the moon that greeted their return. A bit perplexed by the length of time they were gone the group stared for a moment wondering what they should do now. Night time was no time for stumbling around the forest to look for Pegasus's castle.

'We were in there that long?' Ryo sighed, no real use in complaining about the time change. Putting that slight inconvenience aside he looked at his duelist glove now adorn with a full set of glittering gold star chips, 'Well...I gathered the chips in one day. So I got them faster than I thought I would...' The white haired teen looked up at the starry night sky, as much as he was proud himself he couldn't fully relax when his Father was in peril. He was all he had left….

The King of Thieves within the Ring focus was the time nor was it on his host's worries. He was instead glaring at his mortal enemy. He found it necessary to get something set straight even though Yami didn't know of his presence whatsoever. 'That was TEMPORARY pharaoh...' He growled heatedly, Akefia couldn't stress the word temporary enough. With that settled he Akefia smirked slyly and turned his attention back to his host, 'Indeed... now that we have the keys required...,' He stalled ever so briefly to be sure he worded the next part correctly, 'you're that much closer to your goal.'

Ryo nodded curtly to himself, the out of nowhere his stomach lets out a loud growl demanding to be feed after several hours of going without. It was loud enough that not only did Ryo hear it but so did everyone else who turned staring at their shy friend not believing how loud his stomach was. This left poor Ryo blushing embarrassedly, he had planned on eating after his first duel but he hadn't plan on getting forced into two duels in a row.

"Was that...you Bakura?" Anzu asked, thankfully breaking the awkward silence that had briefly settled. Like everyone else Anzu seemed surprised by the noise, she had honestly suspected something like that from Jonouchi or Honda but it was obvious the noise had come from Ryo.

Seeing no use in denying it Ryo blushed embarrassedly, which was further helped along when his yami chuckled amused by the moment, "I-uh just realized I haven't eaten since we got here...eheh."

"It sounded like you had a lion penned up in there..." Honda commented to his friend.

"We should probably find a spot to rest it's gonna take a long time to get back to Pegasus's castle anyway." Jonouchi suggested as he rubbed his head while looking around at the darkened forest that surrounded them. The others quickly agreed so they set out to find a place to settle. Soon they arrived at an open field and took it as their camp site.

Ryo sat against a tree taking it as his spot while he rummaged around in his backpack for the snack he had brought along with him. It wasn't much but it'd at least hold him over for the night. Seeing someone heading over to him Ryo looked up from his bag and to his pleasant surprise Anzu was handing him a wrapped sandwich, "Anzu, where did you get that?" Ryo questioned, he didn't remember Anzu brining any food with her.

His friend smiled and explained to him what happened, "Mai, gave us some food after Yugi beat her in a duel, she's not that bad I guess." Anzu commented, she still wasn't too fond of the woman but at least she wasn't cruel. Again Anzu offered Ryo the sandwich she held, "Here we have some more and we already ate."

Briefly Ryo wondered exactly what had happened when he had separated from the group but after a quick kick from his stomach he happily took the sandwich. "Thank you Anzu," His friend smiles at him and he smiles back before she goes to talk to the others, which he saw Yugi had regained control of his body. Ryo hungrily scarfs down the sandwich along with some of his other food before washing it down with some water. Now full Ryo sighed contently, 'Ah, much better...'

"Took on the harpy did they...?" Akefia noted with a slightly dull tone before letting out a blunt huff, "at least she wasn't a sore loser." He said still feeling annoyance over his host's first opponent trapping them in the labyrinth. Seeing his host begin to eat caused the old spirit to recall the taste of food and subsequently how he was no longer able to eat. With a faint twitch of his mouth Akefia bitterly grumbles, "... Not having a body sucks like hell..."

'Yeah, guess she's not that bad...' Ryo responded casually to his yami. He stalled hearing Akefia's later comment, thinking a moment Ryo didn't know what to say to him. He wasn't even sure if there was anything he could say to comfort him considering his condition. Feeling unsure Ryo decided to just let him be and looked off towards the others. That is until he heard the distinct thundering noise of an approaching helicopter. 'A helicopter!?' Ryo got to his feet and looked up to where the sound was coming from and sure enough he easily spotted a small white helicopter coming in for a landing at the end of their clearing.

Shielding his eyes from the strong whipping winds caused by the helicopter Jonouchi manages to yell over the helicopters engines, "What the heck!? Why's that helicopter landing here!?"

Ignoring the sight of a flying chariot Akefia hums intrigued, "A late player in the game..."

Yugi watches curiously as the helicopter lands, the engine shutting off allowing the winds to calm back to a gentle night breeze. Like the rest of the group, aside for Jonouchi's annoyance, he wondered just why a helicopter was arriving. It couldn't possibly be a new player could it? His eyes widened in shock when he saw it was his dueling rival stepping out of the helicopter, "Its Kaiba!" He exclaimed to the others.

Mirroring his best friend's surprise with added confusion he furrows his brow and question's his appearance, "He's out of his coma!?"

Rubbing his head Honda also seemed a bit confused by Kaiba's appearance on the island, yeah he's a well-known duelist but having been a coma it was unlikely he knew about the tournament or Yugi being in it, "But how did he know to come here?"

Ryo tilted his head looking the taller teen over, 'So that's Seto Kaiba...why is he here? And why did he come in the middle of the night?' He wondered with a slight hum as he hoped for an answer to come as the scene played out.

Getting a look at the newcomer's face Akefia blinked in surprise but stayed silent to his host, 'Ah! The sorcerer?... Can't be... But the resemblance is uncanny...' Speaking to the boy Akefia decided to voice his answer, "Likely he was invited as well... considering he came in flying. I don't doubt he's of the richer breed. He comes as he feels..."Akefia's tone turned stiffer as he quietly glared at the subject of the conversation, "I already dislike him. "

'He's rich alright,' Ryo said, you'd have to live under a rock not to hear about the massive Kaiba Corporation especially since the headquarters were in Domino City, 'he owns the biggest technological cooperation he invented the Battle Boxes. He might be invited, Kaiba Cooperation and I2 probably do business...' Looking at Jonouchi he could tell was beginning to seethe causing Ryo to sight faintly, 'you're not the only one, Jonouchi despises him Honda isn't a fan either...' He perked back to focusing on the conversation when he heard Yugi call to Kaiba.

'Yes but I have far deeper reasons than simple petty rivalry and status...' Akefia thought to himself with a dry burning bitterness in his tone.

"Yugi," Kaiba acknowledged as the much shorter teen came over to him, "We meet again..." He said stoically as he recalled the last duel they had which ended in him falling into a coma he had just come out of hours ago.

Yugi nodded to his rival, "Yup", then from his pocket he pulls out Kaiba's deck and offers them back to him, "This guy had your cards, I got them back for you."

Taking his cards and putting them away in his coat pocket Kaiba says with a stern tone, "I'll say thanks for now...but don't be mistaken, I'm not a man that'll lose a fight and walk away with my tail between my legs." A cold burning look flared in his eyes as he looked down at Yugi, "I'll defeat you sooner or later."

Realizing something Ryo blinked out of confusion, 'Wait, why did a duelist have his cards.' He looked over to Anzu for answers, "Anzu, why did someone have Kaiba's cards? He was the former champion I doubt he'd let anyone borrow them..." He said as he looked at the stern and serious Kaiba, he looked like someone who wouldn't even let someone borrow a pencil if he could help it.

Recalling the past events Anzu answered her friend, though it didn't seem too pleasant for her to think back on them, "Well, while we were looking for people to duel Yugi. We ran into Mokuba, Kaiba's little brother. Apparently while Kaiba was in a coma he was kidnapped and taken here. Pegasus is trying to take control of Kaiba Corp but to do that he needs the key to a safe which Mokuba...swallowed." The mention of the Mokuba's drastic action caused both Anzu and Ryo to sweat drop before the brunet continued, "This guy sent by Pegasus had his deck and was trying to psych him out with a creepy puppet that looked like Kaiba..."

Taking the information in Ryo gives his friend a curt nod telling her he understood, "I see...that explains why he's here." Turning his attention back to Kaiba Ryo thinks, 'So he's not here for a visit...he trying to save his brother and company. Pegasus wants a billion dollar company and ancient items with dark magic...that can't be good.'

"The dark power in the items is beyond anyone of today's control alone... and this "Kaiba" forged the duel boxes... Combining dark energy with that of illusions... What is the gain in that?" Akefia questioned sounding slightly baffled by Pegasus's intentions, he couldn't understand what modern technology and ancient dark magic could pull off together. If anything it sounded that disaster would be the only result of mixing the two polar opposite powers.

The Thief's hosts agreed with him on this, there didn't seem to be anything gain from it that Ryo could think of. Then again he didn't really know what Pegasus's true goal was. 'I don't know, it hardly seems like a good idea to begin with.'

Now with his deck returned to him Kaiba but suddenly paused to speak to his rival, "Oh, and one more thing," He looked over his shoulder to Yugi, a fire of burning determination in his cold blue eyes, "I'll be the one to defeat Pegasus. I'll protect Kaiba Cooperation with my own hands!" Yugi took his gaze in stride, understanding his determination. It was the very same drive that was pushing both him and Ryo to succeed in saving their own relatives.

Once Kaiba started to walk away Jonouchi growled angrily and charged at him before the others could stop him, "Hold it right there Kaiba!" He yelled grabbing the CEO by his trench coat's collar, "There's no way I'm just letting you go after what you did to us at Death T!" Despite Jonouchi's clear rage Kaiba wasn't even phased by what he saw as a mere mutt barking at him and huffed dully.

Seeing Ryo looking at her again Anzu assumed he wanted an answer again seeing as he hadn't been around for the Death-T, "Remember that the other Yugi put him in a coma?" Ryo nodded hearing something about if before, "That's why. Kaiba tied in a duel with the other Yugi and he built a tower with each level had a death game in it..."

"There was even a level with a serial killer with a chainsaw..." Honda growled as he shot a hard glare at Kaiba from where he stood.

Hearing the shocking information Ryo deadpanned at the news, he knew Kaiba was a bit of a sore loser but that was ridiculous! Trying to kill people just because he lost a game!? "He tried to kill you guys!?" Ryo looked back to Jonouchi with a better feeling of understanding, "Now I get why he hates him so much..."

For a moment Akefia was surprised by what he heard, but only for a moment, he chuckled sardonically, "Perhaps my initial reaction to him wasn't far off... feh." The thief huffed, he'd just be another obstacle in the way of their goals, "We'll need to trample him as well it seems."

The thief's host wasn't so sure, 'He's not wearing a duel glove so maybe not, but he'll be someone to look out for if he is in the tournament...' Kaiba wasn't exactly someone Ryo wished to face in the tournament. If anyone knew anything about the competitive dueling scene they'd know how tough a duelist Kaiba was. He had been the dueling champion until the Spirit of the Puzzle beat him, but if he had to Ryo would face Kaiba to save his father…

"Humph, I don't have time to deal with you." Kaiba huffed as he easily got Jonouchi to let go of him and just as easily ignored his heated glare.

Yugi frowned seeing Kaiba's typical stern, cold nature hadn't changed since they last dueled in Death-T, "You haven't changed at all have you?"

In response to Yugi's question Kaiba looked at him with a cold gaze appearing insulted, "You expect me to forget the past, grin like an idiot and join forces with you?" He chuckled mockingly before gradually sounding more insulted than amused, "Heh-heh, don't make me laugh. I don't need you or your 'friends' help, the mere though disgusts me. We're rivals and we will always be rivals." With that he left the group without another word, leaving Jonouchi frustrated with his clear arrogance and Yugi disappointed they still hadn't gotten through to the stoic duelist.

Kaiba's little speech was hardly impressive to the Thief King who huffed, "He sure acts like that bastard of a priest that's for sure... Arrogant as hell. But he's not your fight for the moment..." Pushing this thoughts to something less aggravating Akefia hummed and looked up at the starry night sky. He paused for a moment before speaking to his host, "You should get some sleep... can't stay up all night you know."

Soon as his yami mentioned it Ryo began to feel his body's desire to sleep catching up to him, yawning he sleepily rubbed an eye, 'Yeah, I can feel it catching up to me.' Heading back to the tree he had been sitting at, he waves his good night to his friends, "I'm going to sleep, good night guys." His friends said their good nights back to him and each other as Ryo rested against the tree using his backpack as a pillow. 'Good night Akefia.' Ryo thought to his yami as he shifted in place before closing his eyes.

Akefia blinked slightly remaining silent for a moment before deciding to reply, "...night." Not needing to sleep the Thief King watched the night go by from his position in the Millennium Ring.

Ryo at first sleeps soundly into the night only getting increasingly restless just before dawn. He began to mutter to himself in his sleep, as it became less and less peaceful and more and more frantic. Before a nightmare could completely settle in his mind Ryo suddenly snapped out of his sleep as he sat upright. Rubbing the uneasy sleep from his eyes he looked around, still in a sleepy daze he didn't seem to recognize his surroundings.

"Up already?" Akefia questioned just before noticing his confusion, "Middle of a forest on some island in the middle of nowhere." He explained casually.

"Island?" Ryo repeated tiredly to himself, recalling what was going on he rubbed his face. Of all the times to have an unrestful sleep now was not one of them. 'How early is it?'

"Ra has yet to rise..." Looking out at the horizon Akefia easily gauged the time it would take the sun god to rise, "But give him a few."

Relieved Ryo sighs and rests his head against the tree trunk, 'Oh, not too early then, that's good.'

The spirit of the thief chuckled amusedly, "Sleep well?"

The question caused Ryo recall his unwelcome dream making him tense briefly but he brushed it off, he'd gotten rather good at that over the years, 'Better than expected for sleeping on the ground I guess...' It wasn't a complete lie, it had been more comfortable than Ryo had anticipated.

Not noticing the boy tense for a moment Akefia chuckled, "You'd be surprised." The thief glanced off towards the castle, towards their goals, "So I take today is the day is it?"

Getting up from the ground Ryo stretched his limbs and neck out before turning his head to the castle that sat on its' pedestal above the tree tops. With star chips in hand Ryo was time to head to the castle and face Pegasus. 'Yeah...I wonder if Kaiba made it.' He frowned recalling who had caused them to get trapped in the underground labyrinth, 'And that guy that forced me to duel...then there's Mai.' He blinked his light green eyes, come to think of it he didn't even know what kind of deck she used, 'I don't know what kind of duelist she is...'

Akefia hummed evenly before giving his opinions, "Likely... That bastard will be an issue. Not like you didn't notice, but he's more than willing to take drastic steps. As for the woman" He paused a moment before huffing, "... Feh. We'll likely see in time." Far as the Thief King knew she wasn't a threat to them. No need to over think it for the moment.

Ryo nodded tensely, whoever he was the man with the bandana wasn't even hesitant about playing dirty, 'Yeah...I noticed alright...' Putting his thoughts aside Ryo sat back down and opened his backpack, 'I'd better eat before we go this time...' No way did he want to end up dueling in the finals on an empty stomach.

Eventually the others woke up from their sleep and after a quick breakfast the group was on their way to the castle, which looked no less grand than when they first saw it. As they climbed up the stairs Ryo notice someone was standing at the top. At first he thought it was a guard but as they climbed higher it turned out to be Kaiba. Judging by the expression he wore Ryo knew he wasn't there to greet them, 'I don't like this...'

For a moment Akefia stared before he realized something, Kaiba couldn't possibly have any or enough star chips to enter the castle, "...Kehehe... So the big game rich boy lacks the key to this castle... and he plans to take on anyone who wanders to him..." The thief king laughed, this incarnation of his foe was hardly any different from the original! "Kehehe. Predictable fool..."

Seeing Kaiba blocking their way Jonouchi growled, he'd about had it with the rich CEO, "What's that bastard Kaiba doing? Blocking us from entering? If he doesn't move I'm gonna knock him down these stairs!" He yelled, emphasizing his threat with a shake of his fist.

As usual Honda remained more levelheaded than his friend and arched a brow questioning the situation, "Think he switched sides and is working for Pegasus now?"

Not very doubtful Jonouchi snorted bluntly, "I wouldn't put it past him..."

In a flash the Spirit of the Puzzle took Yugi's place, "Let's go up anyway. Not like there's another way..." He said as he looked up at Kaiba who was looking directly back at him, "Kaiba, what are you doing here?" He asked even though Yami Yugi had a very good idea what was about to happen, but there was no way of avoiding it.

Arms crossed Kaiba huffed before getting a smirk on his lips, "I told you I'm not one to just take a loss." He then gave his rival a serious look, "As long as one of us is on this island we'll just be a thorn in the other's side. I've searched for the reason I lost to you in Death-T and I think I've found an answer." For a brief moment Kaiba thought of his brother before finishing what he had to say, "Yugi! If you want to enter this castle you'll have to get past me first! This is a duel of fate!"

Alarmed by the challenge Anzu looked at Yami Yugi, if he lost then he'd lose his Grandfather! He couldn't risk that because of some rivalry! "Yugi, you already won your star chips this is pointless!"

Standing in front of the door to the castle, one of Pegasus's guards sneered with a big mocking grin on his face, "Actually you can't avoid this. Either Kaiba," He turned his head to who he thought was Yugi Muto, "or you can enter not the both of you!"

"Kaiba you creep! Are you working for Pegasus!?" Jonouchi yelled furiously to Kaiba, as much as he wanted to he held himself back from running up and slugging the prick. He got the feeling that if he did the guard would toss him off the island.

Immediately Kaiba's anger flared when he heard Jonouchi's accusation and he snapped his attention over to him, "Don't you dare insult me!"

Thinking carefully Ryo came to a conclusion, 'Kaiba isn't someone to just submit, Pegasus must have threatened him...'

'So it would seem...' Akefia responded, though he honestly didn't really care, he smirked looking at the two other duelists. He was about to see his two mortal enemies duke it out, that'd be something he'd very much like to see. "Now this is interesting."

Not having much of a choice the Spirit of the Puzzle accepted his rival's challenge with the same determination he always had, "Alright, I accept this challenge Kaiba. And I will defeat you!"

Having his answer Kaiba turned and began to lead the group somewhere, "Follow me to the stage for our battle!"

The King of Thieves hummed curiously, "A stage eh?" He chuckled amusedly, "Hehehe... ah theatrics."

This chapter was written by me and edited by Renagade

Renagade: Thief Bakura

Miss-DNL: Ryo, Yami Yugi, Yugi, Honda, Anzu, Jonouchi & Kaiba

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