I made the travel a little more realistic, because if you look at both the manga and the anime, the travel to the Valley of the Kings doesn't even get into detail about the travel, because it's like BOOM we're there. I'm dead serious about that. Now, I was impressed about how they explain the boat trip from Cario to Egypt, because that's a freakin' long time on boat and the explanation on why they couldn't go to the Luxor Airport and the symbolism was very believable and clever. What I didn't get is why we never get to see the travel from the boat to the Valley of the Kings, because that place is in desert area while the rest is like forest green and would take hours to get there. Now granted, the gang is dragging in this story, but it's obvious why. I just never got why the manga just went from the airport right to the boat, I mean how did they get there? I doubt if Marik is able to fit everyone in his motorcycle. At least the anime did give us some explanation, but the travel was still too bit of a boom, because it is a long ways, especially by foot. I would estimate it would be like traveling on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. If you don't know what that is, google it and find out how many miles it is. I still remember my mom driving on that bridge and I was like one of those little annoying brats that keep asking "are we there yet?" because it actually makes you feel like saying that; and don't think there's a gas station on the way for a bathroom break, because there isn't. I just think that there should've been some panels about everyone traveling to the ship and to the Valley of the Kings. I mean why didn't they use the camel joke when they're traveling to the Valley of the Kings and not when they make it to Egypt? I don't know. I'm getting off track. Review please!
Atem woke up, the sun hitting his eyes, before letting out a tiresome yawn and stretching out his arms. He looked to his right and noticed Ryan was still asleep. Atem sighed and decided to get some breakfast for the morning. The breakfast in Egypt was different, since it consisted of some sort of soup and boiled eggs. Atem had some sort of open mind when it came to different foods as long as they weren't bugs or escargot... he still hadn't forgiven Seto for making him eat that. The food was good and Atem enjoyed it, but the Ceremonial Battle was still on his mind.
Yugi's spirit appeared and stared at the breakfast food with curiosity and interest.
"It's amazing how much Egypt has changed," Yugi said.
'You mean besides the no Pharaoh policy?' Atem joked as Yugi chuckled.
"I was talking about the places and food. We never had eggs or soup for breakfast 3000 years ago. Then again, it did take longer to cook a meal. Not to mention everything's advanced now."
'Yep. Things ain't like they used to be, 'ay old timer?'
"Very funny, brother," Yugi said, rolling his eyes as Atem chuckled and ate his soup.
'So, what do you think it's going to be like in the Underworld?'
"I don't know, but I'm hoping it'll be fantastic."
Yugi sighed, then stared out at the palm trees, wishing he could stay with Atem and his friends and not have to leave. He knew it was time to let go, but it was so hard to do and there were so many people he grew to love. Yugi knew, if he wished to stay, Atem would grant that wish, but then neither of them would have a future. Atem and Yugi couldn't have a wife and kids, if they both were living in the same body. Yugi wondered if dating Tea was a mistake on his part or not, seeing that them being together turned into a huge fall.
The whole day became longer as everyone prepared for their leave in the two rented cars and traveled on their way to the Valley of the Kings. Yugi looked out the window and began seeing images of what was once his kingdom and now has changed since 3000 years ago. When they reached the dead end of the road, they rode on camels across the desert land. Yugi still felt depressed about what was about to happen. Suddenly...
"PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPP!" A sound caught Yugi's attention.
"OH F***ING GOD!" Tristan complained.
"Camels have huge gas," an Egyptian guide told everyone, who was at the very front with a white turban and robe.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Tea complained.
"You mean we spent our money just to be fart on!?" Joey raged before...
"PPPPPPPPPPPPPPffffffffffffff fffffffffff!"
"GOD DAMNIT!" Ryan cursed.
"Actually... that be me," the Egyptian Guide admitted as Yugi couldn't help, but make a chuckling reaction.
"PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPP!"
"And that be camel."
"Oh shit!" Joey complained.
"This has got to be a joke," Seto seethed through his teeth in annoyance.
"It is," Atem smirked in reply before everyone heard something crumbling and saw a sanded house, one of its walls tumbling.
"That is very strange," the Egyptian Guide responded before everyone continued.
Everyone continued on their journey until they reached the tomb of Akiiki, or the tomb of the Nameless Pharaoh. Everyone got off their camels and paid for their ride just before one of the camels farted right on Joey from behind. Joey's eyes widened as everyone turned and burst into laughter.
"Oh yeah, very funny!" Joey shouted in annoyance.
"Okay everyone, let's go inside," Uka told everyone, trying hard not to laugh.
Everyone entered Yugi's tomb, which was huge and dark. Marik turned on his flashlight and led everyone inside of the tomb. It was dark and there were dead skeletons at the floor bottom of the maze, which Serenity almost screamed at in response. It was a matter of time before everyone entered the room where Yugi's sarcophagus laid there in the middle, where his real name stood up on the wall. The lid of the sarcophagus showed holes of where to put each millennium item.
Ryan was the first to place the millennium ring on the lid. Then, Atem unzipped the duffel bag and placed the other items on the lid: eye, scale, rod, necklace and key. Atem took off his millennium puzzle and sighed as he looked at Yugi, who gave a nod in response. He placed the puzzle in the middle of the lid with the hole-shape of the upside down pyramid. Suddenly, the sarcophagus glowed with pure light as everyone gasped and backed away.
Everyone stood frozen still when they saw a figure appear from the ground in a laying position. Joey's blood left his face as the sand began pouring from the body in the shape of a person, who began sitting up while the sand left his face. It showed the hair color and face of non other than Ryou, scar included. Ryan immediately ran to Ryou's side and got out a towel from his bag to wrap around Ryou's waist. Marik warned Atem and Ryan that something like this would happen and their partners would appear naked.
The glow fainted as the lid to the sarcophagus slid open and a figure appeared in white linen wrappings sitting up, which lost the rest of Joey's dignity as he screamed bloody murder.
"Joey, it's me!" Yugi assured, unwrapping the linen wrappings on his head and face off. "Good thing when Seth wrapped me, he didn't use oil on my body."
"Well, aren't you lucky?" Ryan responded sarcastically.
"This magic will only last for a whole day, so you two have until then to complete the Ceremonial Battle. If not, then Pharaoh Akiiki's soul will return to the millennium puzzle, Ryou's soul to the ring, and they will be trapped in the puzzle for all eternaty," Ishizu explained.
"It's now or never, I guess. Let's get this over with. Besides, I doubt if anyone will want to see you running around in that anyways," Atem slightly teased, getting out his gun and loading it with one bullet.
"Wait, what battle are you going to do exactly?" Uka asked with widened eyes.
"Yugi decided for their Ceremonial Battle to be a Shadow Game of Atem's favorite game, Russian Roulette," Seto replied plainly.
"ATEM MOTO!" Uka rebuked with folded arms.
"Mom, I'm not going to point the gun to my head. You know when Joey and I play it, we always shoot at the sky or something," Atem replied, rolling his eyes.
"This actually is a fitting battle for them to play," Marik responded as Uka looked at him as if he was insane. "Think about it. For the Pharaoh to return to the Underworld, he must pass the ultimate test of learning to move on. To do that, he must find the will to leave his old body he's in right now."
"You mean like..." Tea asked, hoping that what Marik said wasn't true.
"Yep."
"How this will work is that there are 10 rounds to the game for each time brother and I take our turn. The one with more successful shots in ten rounds loses the game," Yugi explained, then darkness engulfed the field. "If the player wants to, he can aim it to his head or have a volunteer to aim it at, but if the trigger shoots himself or someone else, their body will turn to dust."
"WHAT!?" Uka almost screamed, freaking out.
"Sounds fine to me. We'll take turns using my gun. You want to go first?" Atem offered.
"N-No, you go," Yugi said, then Atem nodded, and turned the safety off.
Atem backed off a far distance at the same time everyone else did. He spun the barrel, then waited until it stopped before shooting it at the wall ahead. Everyone covered their ears, but no sound was heard. Atem smirked, then let a chuckle exit his nose before passing it off to Yugi. He spun the barrel, then waited until it stopped before pulling the trigger. No sound was heard.
"That was round one," Atem said as Marik drew a chart to keep Atem's and Yugi's scores. He placed an X in the boxes for Atem and Yugi of round one.
"Wait, so you're allowed to ask a volunteer or point it to-" Uka asked.
"I think there's a deeper meaning to this. We have two people that need to crossover to the Underworld. To do that, that person must be willing to give up their old bodies," Marik explained as Uka, then realized the meaning behind the rules. This Shadow Game was to test Yugi and Ryou, if they decided to move onto the afterlife or not... if they were willing to give up their lives.
Atem took the gun back and spun the barrel once more. He pointed the gun ahead and pulled the trigger. Nothing came out. He passed it onto Yugi, who spun the barrel and pointed it ahead. A loud bang was heard, the kickback made Yugi step back with a shocking expression. Everyone else flinched from the loud bang.
"That was loud!" Yugi responded.
"That's a mark for Yugi," Marik said, placing a check in Yugi's box for round 2.
"Okay, my turn," Atem said, getting his gun and replacing the bullet with a new one. "Ryou, will you volunteer?"
Ryan bit his tongue from the inside of his mouth as Ryou nodded his head, feeling his eyes turn teary. He held Ryan tightly before running right in front of Atem. He knew, in this Shadow Game, once the bullet hits Ryou there's no going back and his body would turn to dust. Atem couldn't decide if this would technically be considered murder, since he was shooting someone who was already dead and would be in 24 hours anyways, or not. The barrel was spun and the nozzle was pointed to Ryou's head.
Atem shut his eyes tightly and pulled the trigger. Nothing came out. A sigh left him and Ryou walked back to Ryan's side. Ryou then, clasped his arms around Ryan and letting the tears hit his shirt. They knew their moment together would only be temporarily and it was time for right now to say goodbye.
Yugi spun the barrel, then pulled the trigger. Nothing came out. There was no bang in round 3. Joey slightly found this very weird. Usually, the chances of hitting the bullet was huge, because the gravity pull would bring the bullet down to the hole. It dawned on Joey that this Shadow Game was making the chances of the bullet being shot even. Atem and Yugi had a 1/6th percent chance of hitting the bullet.
Atem spun the barrel and made his shot. Nothing was heard. He handed his gun to Yugi, who pointed it straight ahead, spinning the barrel. It kept spinning and spinning until it stopped and Yugi pulled the trigger. Nothing came out. Marik put X's on Yugi's and Atem's boxes for round 4. Atem volunteered Ryou once more and he stood in front. The nozzle was pointed to Ryou's head.
Ryou took a deep breath as he heard the barrel spinning and spinning. He knew it was time for him to leave. He looked at Ryan, who gave a smile as Ryou gave one back. He knew at this point, he was ready. The shot was heard and Ryou turned to dust. Everyone gasped as the room turned cold and everything stood still. No sound was made.
The millennium ring on the sarcophagus lid began to glow as Ryou appeared as a transcended spirit. He smiled, looking right at Yugi, who became hesitated. He stared at the ground with a slightly gaped mouth. He spun the barrel and his arm trembled as he slowly pointed the gun nozzle to his head. There was no going back now.