Thank you to everyone who has followed, favoured, reviewed etc... Your support is very much appreciated. Here is the next chapter.

I don't own Yugioh. But all errors are my own.

Beyond Egypt 2

Chapter 14 Threatened.

The remainder of the week was spent preparing for what Hirutani might do upon his release from prison.

Yugi had spent the weekend updating the security in the shop. His grandfather had an aged security camera, which he had seldom used. When Yugi went to see if it was still working, he found the wiring to be completely corroded, rendering it useless.

"I will give Mokuba a call, see if he can fit one of Kaiba corps state of the art security systems," Yugi suggested.

"Yugi! How much will all this cost? I have never needed security before!" Sugoroku suspected that he was hiding something, he seemed on edge.

Yugi had already decided on the excuse he would give. "There's a gang that have been going round intimidating and blackmailing shopkeepers. I think we should be prepared." He did not want his grandfather to know there was a dangerous gang out for revenge against him and Jonouchi. "If you are worried about the cost, I will pay for it. Anyway, I'm sure Mokuba will give us a discount."

"He dialled Mokuba's number." Seto Kaiba had gradually been giving him more responsibility within the business. Mokuba had excellent technical knowledge of computers and security systems. If a system could be hacked he would find a way.

"Hey, Yugi," Mokuba picked up immediately, sounding excited that Yugi was calling him.

"Hi Mokuba. I have a favour to ask?"

"Yeah, fire away Yugi."

Yugi explained that they needed a decent security system installed in the shop. He didn't say why.

"Sure thing Yugi. I will be round in about thirty minutes." He threw the controller of the game he was playing down, and leaped up, glad for an excuse to escape the mansion.

Yugi was surprised that Mokuba didn't have anything better to do on a Saturday. "Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Yeah no probs. Big brother is busy. I am all on my own for the weekend, with just a small staff. I'm a bit bored." Yugi felt sorry for him. He knew what it was like to be fourteen and stuck on your own, with no friends.

True to his word, Mokuba arrived exactly thirty minutes later in the chauffeur driven limo. He leaped out of the car before Rowland had chance to get out and open the door for him and ran into the game store. Rowland followed him in with another man, who Yugi suspected was the installation engineer.

Mokuba was concerned that the windows in the back of the store room opened out onto an unlit corner of the back yard, which could be easily accessed by climbing over the wall from a quiet pathway that ran alongside the back of the building. He was surprised that no one had broken in before now!

It was decided that an alarm system would be the best option, with a camera that would be positioned so that it covered the serving counter, the door and most of the shops display cabinets. A panic button would be positioned under the counter and the whole system would be linked up to Mokuba's own company, Kaiba Security Systems (KSS)

While the system was being installed, Yugi took Mokuba upstairs to get some refreshments.

"So Yugi, are you going to tell me why you really need all this security?" Mokuba had not heard of any local gangs using extortion in this area.

Yugi chuckled. "There's no fooling you is there Mokuba."

"I'm a Kaiba! No one can fool a Kaiba," he smirked.

"Nope, I guess not. Okay, but don't tell my grandfather. I don't want him getting worried, it might upset his pacemaker."

After Yugi had explained his and Jonouchi's history with Hirutani, Mokuba's jaw dropped. My god Yugi! Do you think this Hirutani will try something?"

"Jonouchi thinks he will, and I wouldn't put it past him. We did put him and his gang in hospital."

"But they tried to kill you! They deserved it they had it coming. I mean my big brother dropped his vendetta against you after you punished him..." Mokuba bit on his bottom lip. "I still feel really bad about all that Yugi, things were so screwed up back then."

"Yep, they sure were. But you shouldn't feel bad about it Mokuba, what's done is done. We've all moved on." Yugi shrugged flippantly.

"Yeah... I'm glad we're friends now Yugi. Hey, where's Anzu today? You two still getting on?"

"Dance rehearsal. She has a part in a show," he beamed proudly. "She was disappointed that she didn't get the part she wanted, but she still did well to land a supporting role."

"Man that's cool, let me know when the show is and I will get tickets to come and see it. Talking of tickets. Seto plans to open the new Kaibaland at the start of the summer holidays. You will be receiving a special invite to the grand opening ceremony. That's if you don't mind! You will be paid of course." Mokuba giggled. "He won't admit it, but having the King of Games there is going to be really good for business."

"No, O course I don't mind Mokuba. Being paid to go to a theme park! That's awesome." They both laughed.

"Come on let's go and see how Grandpa likes the new security system." Yugi got up to lead Mokuba back downstairs to the store.

"Yugi, before we go. I just wanted to say, the alarm system is on me."

"What? No way Mokuba, it must cost a fortune. I can't let you pay for it."

"Why not? Its not like I can't afford it. And you have done so much to help me and Seto. It's the least I can do to help. In fact, if the gang threaten you in any way, I am sure I can persuade Seto to get our security team to stop them. It saves getting the police involved."

Involving trained security unnerved Yugi a little. Kaiba's security guards made Hirutani's gang look like a bunch of weaklings. "Well, I will keep that in mind Mokuba, but hopefully we won't need to go to those extremes. C'mon, let's go, you can show us how the alarm works."

Mokuba explained the system and how it linked in to KSS computers. If the panic button was pressed, the system would immediately notify KSS who would ensure that the police attended within five minutes of the alarm being raised. Such was the powerful influence Kaiba Corp held in the city.

Sugoroku was impressed. "I don't know why I never thought of this before. I guess it never occurred to me that we might be robbed." He scratched his head.

After Mokuba had left, he turned to Yugi "Perhaps you would like to tell me the real reason you wanted it installed is it Yugi?"

Yugi stared at him blankly. "Whaa.. I don't know what you mean Grandpa. I can't talk now, gotta go and get Anzu from practice."

Sugoroku stepped in front of him. "There are no extortion rackets around here. You are not going anywhere until you tell me the truth my boy." He sounded angry.

Yugi gulped. "But Grandpa, it's like I said."

Sugoroku shook his head. "You can tell me the truth Yugi, it won't hurt me. I'm more likely to make myself ill by worrying about what it is you are not telling me!"

Sighing, Yugi told his grandfather about Hirutani being released from prison. He didn't go into all the details about why he had a vendetta against him and Jonouchi, just that he had become involved in Jonouchi's past and it was catching up with them.

His grandfather was surprisingly calm about it. He gave Yugi's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "Now that I know, I can be on my guard. And don't ever think that you have to keep things hidden from me, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Grandpa." In some way it was a weight off Yugi's shoulders, although he was still worried that his grandfather might try to get involved in any confrontations that may arise. "I just didn't want you involved in all this mess. I am hoping that Jonouchi's friend is exaggerating or that Jonouchi is over reacting. But in any case, a good security system is a must these days. You have thousands of Yen worth of stock and violent crime and burglary is on the increase."

Sugoroku sighed. "I guess so. If you think it will keep me safe... But make sure you stay safe okay Yugi?"

"I will," Yugi smiled and nodded. "Thanks Grandpa."

::::::::::::

His life had been getting back on track since the Pharaoh and Yugi had defeated his evil spirit of the ring and sent him to the afterlife, or wherever it was he had gone- Ryou didn't really care where, just as long as he could never come back.

The one thing Ryou did regret however, was having to part with the ring itself. It had been a rather beautiful piece of jewellery, and he had grown oddly attached to it. Ryou ran his fingers over the small raised scars on his chest where the ring had dug its points into his flesh to prevent him from taking it off. Quite literally attached on occasions.

Why couldn't his spirit have been nice, like Yugi's?

Sadly, unlike Yugi's spirit, his had caused him nothing but pain and heartbreak. Whole days of his life were missing. They were days he would never get back, even though he had been left with the burden caused by the aftermath of those days. He had woken up lost and afraid in dark alleyways, with blood on his hands surrounded by dead bodies. Suffered a painful puncture wound to his hand and woken up in hospital with stab wounds on his arm. The list could go on.

He shuddered when he recalled the grizzly memory of coming round feeling disorientated, with Pegasus' golden, blood covered eye in his hand. He didn't care for the man, but Ra only knows how much pain his alter ego had inflicted, as he dug his fingers into Pegasus' eye socket to gouge it out.

To be afflicted by such a vengeful, nasty spirit had been cruel. "Why me?" He muttered at his reflection in the shiny chrome of the kettle as it reached a rolling boil. "I am a good, kind, gentle person who would never harm a soul. I want to help people, not hurt them."

When he thought back, over all the things that his sadistic, insane spirit had made him do it made him want to vomit, as anger bubbled up inside him at the frustration he felt at being too weak and powerless to stop him.

The kettle finished boiling and the auto cut off switch clicked, snapping him out of his anguish. Ryou lifted the kettle and poured some of the boiling water into the teapot, swilling it round to warm the pot. He tipped the water away and added English Breakfast tea to the pot and then filled it with the boiling water.

He looked at the toaster. Three, two, one. He pointed his trigger finger at it and the toast popped up. So used was he to this routine, that he knew precisely when the toast would be ready. He set about spreading a thick layer of butter followed by a scraping of marmite. He had been over the moon when he had managed to find this savoury spread, which was popular in England, in a Japanese supermarket.

Satisfied that his tea had brewed, he added milk to a mug and poured himself a nice mug of hot tea. Taking a satisfied sip, he sat down at the small table in the corner of his kitchen and picked up the letter that he had been waiting anxiously for.

If this letter contained the good news he hoped it did, he could make amends for everything that the spirit of the ring had done, by helping heal sick and injured people.

Taking another sip of his tea, followed by a bite of toast, he paused, steadying himself, before picking up the unopened letter from the table.

Using his thumbnail he lifted the corner of the envelope to loosen the seal a bit, he then slipped his finger in the gap and tore the top of the envelope open. Nervously he folded out the letter and scanned it over quickly. Had he been accepted?

A big smile graced his features and his eyes lit up. The answer was yes. His science grades were good enough and he had been accepted into The University College London (UCL) to study medicine. He would be starting in September.

"Yes, yes.." He pumped the air with his fist.

A moment later, he was hit with a small hint of sadness at the thought of telling his friends that he would not be finishing school in Japan with them, and would be the next to leave. They had been the only real, true friends he had ever really had. Even when he had mistreated them, they still forgave him and accepted them into their group.

He wiped away a small tear and finished his breakfast.

:::::::::::::

The air was filled with tension as Yugi and Anzu pulled their chairs up to Jonouchi's desk. Today was the day that Hirutani would be freed from prison.

"Do you know what time he will get out?" Yugi wanted to know.

"Late morning according to my old friend. I got him giving me regular updates on the gangs movements."

"How exactly, does your old friend know all this Jonouchi?" Anzu quizzed.

Jonouchi scratched his head. He had hoped they wouldn't ask him. "He erm.. we was both in Hirutani's gang as kids. Me and him were real tight- a bit like me and Yugi are now. Anyway, unlike me, he didn't get out after we got into trouble, and got himself banged up. He's been in and out of prison ever since. It was a coincidence, that he ended up sharing a cell with Hirutani."

"What exactly, did the two of you do?" She pressed.

"And how is he getting all this information to you if he is locked up?" Yugi wanted to know.

"What's with all da questions?" His face became a little pink with embarrassment. "If ya must know, we stole a couple a cars when we was twelve okay! And in answer to your question Yuge, he got out a couple of weeks ago and warned me that Hirutani was planning to get revenge on you and me. My old pal is keeping in contact with Hirutani for business purposes."

"I wish I hadn't asked." Anzu banged her forehead against Yugi's shoulder.

"You used to hang about with some really dodgy people Jonouchi." Yugi shook his head with mild amusement. He didn't know half the things Jonouchi used to get up to and it was probably best if it stayed that way.

"Yeah, I sure did. Just glad I met you guys to put me on the straight and narrow," he grinned.

"Good morning everyone. Did I miss something amusing?" Ryou asked, joining them.

"Only Jonouchi's misspent youth," Anzu replied.

"Is Honda around? I have something I wish to tell you all." He tried to keep his voice light and cheerful.

"He has a dentist appointment so he will be in a bit late this morning," Jonouchi explained.

"Oh okay, well I guess he will have to find out later." He pulled the letter out to show them. "I have been accepted into medical school... in England." He handed the letter to Yugi.

The three friends were silent as they read the letter that Yugi was holding. Anzu cuddled up to his arm to read it, while Jonouchi leant in over his shoulder.

"Good on ya buddy! It's certainly nice to get some good news. We ain't had much of that in the last week," Jonouchi exclaimed.

"I am really pleased for you Ryou. You deserve to have some good fortune. It will be sad to see you leave though." Anzu smiled at him.

"Yeah, I'm sure you will do really well Bakura. We will have to celebrate. It will cheer us all up and help take our minds off Hirutani." Yugi added.

"Oh Yes! Of course, with all my excitement about going to England. I had forgotten about that. Have you heard anything more Jonouchi?"

Before Jonouchi could answer, the teacher, Mr. Ito walked in. The conversation was ended as everyone scurried to their desks to sit down.

Jonouchi was finding it very hard to concentrate on this morning's lesson. His brain was running wild with scenarios of when and how Hirutani might make a move.

Jonouchi was almost certain he would would keep a low profile and avoid doing anything that would get him sent back to prison. He would be forced to wear a tag while under supervision, so his freedom would be limited.

But this didn't mean they were safe. He would use his gang as the messengers. Get them to follow someone and deliver the threats for him. Work out who might be the most vulnerable.

Jonouchi would have his work cut out keeping everyone safe.

He looked at his doodled notes: 99% chance that they would know about Yugi being the King of Games and target the shop. At least Yugi had installed an alarm system and camera, ensuring that the shops security was tight.

Next he wrote: Bakura going to England. When?

He hoped that Bakura would be safely in England by the time Hirutani did anything. One less person to protect. He needed to find out when Bakura was leaving.

The moment the teacher had his back turned and started writing on the board, Jonouchi took his opportunity to find out.

"Psst.. Kura." Ryou didn't hear him, but Yugi did. Yugi turned slightly to regard his friend.

Anzu's desk was the closest to Bakura's. "Tell Anzu to ask," he mouthed at Yugi.

Not quite catching what he was asking, Yugi shook his head slightly, frowning.

Jonouchi clenched his jaw in frustration and mouthed again, but a little louder. "Tell Anzu, to ask Kura when he is going to England?"

"Why now? Can't it wait until lunch?"

"No, it's important. I'm trying to plan how to protect everyone," he mouthed.

"What?" Yugi mouthed back.

Jonouchi rolled his eyes. "I said, No, I'm trying.." Jonouchi paused. It came out loud enough for half the class, including the teacher to hear.

The teacher turned around to see the back of Yugi's head as he was leaning towards Jonouchi's desk, talking to him.

"Jonouchi! Mutou! Would you both like to enlighten the class, as to what is more interesting than my lesson?"

"Erm, no Sir," they both replied together.

"Good. Then perhaps one of you would like to tell me what I was just talking about. Mr. Mutou?" He raised his eyebrows and looked at Yugi expectantly.

"Erm," Yugi mumbled, "some..thing about.." They had been studying earthquakes and volcanic activity.

"Stand, and speak up boy. We can't hear you if you mumble." The students sniggered and Yugi felt his face flush. He glanced at Anzu for support. She made a sympathetic face.

He noticed the diagram of a volcano on the board, which Mr Ito had drawn while he and Jonouchi were talking. It seemed to depict the internal workings of a volcano and had lava erupting from it.

"You were talking about volcanic rocks," he said confidently.

"Be more specific," Mr. Ito said abruptly.

"Er... Hot ones?" The whole class erupted in laughter. Was his answer that funny?

"Sit down Mr. Mutou, you clearly have not been listening." Yugi sat down quickly and slumped in his chair. Anzu looked at him and grimaced. He bit his bottom lip and shrugged his eyebrows in return causing Anzu to almost laugh out loudly. She put her hand over her mouth to stifle it, and it came out as a snort.

"Miss Mazaki!" Mr. Ito barked, he was clearly losing patience with them. "If you find Mr. Mutou's ignorance so funny, then I suggest that you join him for cleaning duty after school."

Jonouchi was just thinking that for once he had been let off the hook, when the teacher added. "I have not forgotten about you Mr. Jonouchi, you will be joining them also."

Jonouchi sighed and dropped his forehead onto his arms. "Oh man! Not again," he mumbled in a self pitying tone.

The rest of the morning dragged as they kept their heads down and got on with their work.

::::::::::::

After school had finished for the day, Honda took Bakura home on the back of his motorbike so that he wouldn't have to risk walking on his own.

Yugi, Anzu and Jonouchi reported to Mr. Ito for cleaning duty.

Yugi and Jonouchi were issued with small plastic scrapers and ordered to go round all the classrooms chipping the chewing gum off the furniture. They were given a small bag to put all the pieces of gum in and ordered to report back in one hour with proof they had carried out their punishment. Anzu was assigned to tidy the teachers office and put all the books back on the shelf in alphabetical order.

"No fair! How come we get the crappy job and Anzu gets the cushy one?" Jonouchi argued, as they were given their tasks.

Anzu had to admit, her job was much nicer. "Because women are better at tidying up than men," she stated.

"That's sexist. I can tidy up as good as any woman can!" He protested.

"Yes, but a pink feather duster doesn't suit you as much." Anzu shoved the duster in his face and tickled him with it.

"Ugh! Get that horrid thing off me!" He shrieked, jumping back and sneezing at the smell of dust and furniture polish.

Yugi laughed and made to pull his friend out of the teachers office. "Come on Jou. You should know we can't argue with a woman." He ducked out of the way when Anzu swung the duster at him playfully. "Let's just get it over with," he gasped, having avoided the flying duster.

When Yugi and Jonouchi returned to the office carrying their bag of dried up gum, Anzu was sitting drinking tea in the teachers office. Mr. Ito was sat behind his now neat, tidy desk, marking online assignments on his laptop.

"Ah.. Mr Mutou, Mr. Jonouchi. I trust you had fun! Let me see the fruits of your endeavour?"

The boys held out their clear plastic bags. Each had collected around twenty pieces of dried gum.

Mr. Ito grimaced at their collections and scrunched his nose up as he took the bags and inspected them before dropping the bags in the rubbish bin. "Euw. It never fails to amaze me just how many revolting habits you kids have."

"Hey, don't tar us all with the same brush. We don't stick our gum under the desks!" Jonouchi argued.

Mr. Ito looked at him sceptically. "Well, no matter. You three are all dismissed. And thank you Miss Mazaki. You did an excellent job with tidying my office."

Yugi threw the teacher a possessive look as he took Anzu's hand and led her outside.

"That's no fair. How come you get a thank you and we get shit all," Jonouchi grumbled.

"Why do you think?" Yugi growled.

"Oh, I get it! Creep was pervin on Anzu while she was working. Why I ought a..." Jonouchi trailed off when he noticed Yugi's angry expression.

Anzu felt quite comforted that Yugi was being so possessive of her. She snuggled up to him as the three of them left the school building.

"It wasn't like that guys. He wasn't there for most of the time. He only came back ten minutes before you did." She assured. " And don't worry, there is no way he would have got away with it."

Yugi's expression softened. "Well that's a relief, but I still don't like the way he looked at you."

"I like you when you're all jealous," she purred teasingly into his neck.

"Hey you two love birds, I ain't letting you walk home alone in case any of Hirutani's goons are lurking about."

"Are you sure Jonouchi? I'm sure it won't be necessary, there are still a lot of people about," Anzu said.

"Yeah, we will be fine Jonouchi," Yugi added.

"I'm going back to Anzu's to meet Mai, so I'm going right by your place anyway Yuge. And this whole load of shit we're in is all my fault, so I feel responsible for everyone."

"Don't be silly Jou, I'm just as responsible for what happened at that warehouse." Yugi couldn't allow him to shoulder all the blame.

"And don't you dare put yourself in danger to protect the rest of us, either," Anzu warned.

The door to the shop was locked and the closed sign was showing when the three arrived back at Yugi's house.

"That's odd! Grandpa doesn't usually close up until seven on Thursday. I'm meant to be minding the shop." Yugi went round to the side entrance to let them in. "Grandpa? I'm home," he called out, bounding up the stairs.

He found his mother was busy in the kitchen making dinner. "Where's Granpda?" Yugi's heart was beating hard as he worried that his Grandpa may have been kidnapped.

His mother looked rather alarmed at his abrupt tone. "Is something wrong Yugi?"

"N. no.. maybe, I.. Did Grandpa go out?" He was having trouble containing his worry.

"Your Grandfather is in his room. He said he had a headache so he is having a lie down. I had to close the shop to make dinner because you weren't home on time."

"Oh! Yeah... sorry about that. We had to stay late at school," he apologised.

Yugi and his friends were just heaving a huge sigh of relief when his mother added. "A friend of yours popped in but because you weren't home he left you this." She handed him a plain manilla envelope with his name scrawled across it. Yugi didn't recognise the writing. All colour drained from his face.

"This friend Mrs Mutou. What did he look like?" Jonouchi asked.

"Well, I thought he was a strange choice of friend, but then Yugi has met all sorts of people through dueling. I guessed he was probably a fan trying to meet you Yugi. He was wearing scruffy clothing, and had tons of ear piercings and one of those metal bars in his eyebrow. He had a nasty scar on his cheek, short cropped black hair with far too much gel in. He was around twenty I would guess."

"Koda.." Jonouchi hissed. He recognised who it was from the description.

"Mum, that was not a friend. If anyone else suspicious comes in and you are worried or they threaten you, push the panic button. Don't let anyone into the house that you don't know okay."

His mother looked at him strangely. "Is there something you are not telling me Yugi? Are you in danger?"

"It's just that there are some obsessed, deranged fans out there. Do you remember that actress who was murdered by a stalker the other week?"

His mother nodded. "You don't have stalkers. Do you?! Is that why you installed all that security?" Now she was worried.

"I do my best to keep all the female ones away," Anzu tried to lighten the conversation.

"Are you going to read the letter Yuge, or bin it?" Jonouchi wondered.

"I'm curious. We should read it." Yugi lead them into the sitting room and taking a deep breath, opened the letter.

What a shame I missed you! Never mind, there is always another time.

Watch yourself, because we are watching you.

Tell Jonouchi that H is looking forward to catching up.

P.S.. That little chic you walked to school with is hot. I'd keep an eye on her if I was you.

Yugi scrunched the letter in his fist angrily. "Bastard," he hissed.

"They must have been tailing us already. Now they're trying to mess with our heads." Jonouchi growled. The game had already started.

Things are going to get a bit dangerous soon.

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