8:00 AM

Mai stepped into the bathroom and turned on the water. Just like yesterday, it worked like everything was fine. She washed her face to prepare for a shower soon. She couldn't until she got fresh clothes. That was quite a task considering Anzu wasn't her size, but she'd make do until she could get more. She just needed something so that she could wash off the clothes from yesterday.

It wasn't a fun, simple stroll home yesterday. It was scary, and it was only going to get worse. They needed to find a clothing store. Ryou Bakura should know where one had been. She came out and went downstairs. There was no lock on the security doors no more, but anyone messing with the place would end up in trouble. Not the other way around.

She went toward the outside to see if Shizuka had found her way yet. Jounouchi knew she was okay because she was apparently part of this Game of Gods they had to play. If I were younger, I'd take off. I'd say 'see ya, Jounouchi, there's no way I'm going into this bet!'. If it were a different time I'd run to the airport and fully expect him to figure out where I had gone. I can't do any of that. This world isn't the same. She looked around. The Game Shop looked like an island of residences and then constant sand beyond an easy to see border. It only reached across the street.

The trenches of sand didn't look nearly as deep though. Maybe it was just her imagination last night. From there, she could actually see a grocery store. She couldn't make out the people, but she could see people. Breakfast isn't far. Is it three things a day or per visit? Does that count for the other stores? Ryou Bakura for now was keeping things as simple as possible. She better wait. Jounouchi would be worried, and considering what he was going through, it would be a better idea to be a good girl.

She went inside and found Ryou Bakura already up. He had the ring hanging from his neck. "Yuugi got it back to you, huh.?"

"Yep." About as social as last night. "I should have a team of people visiting soon. Do you have a name for this area?"

A name for the area? "You want me to name it?"

"I've got so much to focus on instead, but it's important," he said. "I need to have a name today. Any ideas?"

She leaned against the counter, looking at the old fake card purchases. "I don't know. Last Chance?" She chuckled. "What do you call a place like this? It's all separated but it has everything. Unlike the other side that only caters to those who can pay. That reminds me, I have money in the bank. I hope it's the one that survived. Cards don't work, do they?"

"Hard money only," Ryou Bakura insisted. "I need to actually get people to get their money out of the banks. Bury it at their homes. Put it in safes. Something, but relying on one area to store everyone's money is much worse. It will take time to get more in, just like the food."

"But it could come?" Interesting. "The big one in charge." Like she was calling him the ****ing pharoah, puh-lease! "He's got a lot more than 20% for himself somewhere, doesn't he?"

"I don't know all of the details," Ryou Bakura insisted. "I know that things won't stay this nice for long. He wants to cut down many more people. All I can do . . ." He got quiet and started to look at papers. "Don't go too far outside. Stay around the front, but do get some fresh air. Staying inside all day in your condition in this heat isn't good. I'll figure out how to get everything hooked electrically soon. I don't know how it happens, I just know that certain places were already ready. Like the store. I think the scarabs are automatic, like a traveling wifi. I don't have it for the ring."

Yeah, it was hot. Humid. "Will we be able to get clothes soon?"

"Since clothes are something renewable and washable, I'm thinking about giving away so many to everyone. I had one mall survive near the grocery center. It's been locked up tight. I would have plenty for everyone."

"Do you know how many survivors there were?" she asked. He didn't seem to want to answer.

"Not. Not yet. I'm delaying the count," Ryou Bakura admitted. "When I do it, something else will have to happen. I'm not ready for that yet."

"Why? What is it?" She asked curiously.

"It's going to cut down . . . a lot of people," he said. "Now, I highly suggest you get to your bank today. Get out all your cash today. In fact? Maybe I should put a time limit. A three day limit, that way everyone will get over there and get everything. If they do that, they'll find a permanent residence, they'll have money, they can be closer to the food areas or nice resident areas to talk to others. No one should feel like it's the end of everything. It might not be. We need to keep everyone civil and happy together." He cleared his throat. "I will keep everyone as safe as I can, while Hanasake handles the entertainment."

"Well, I'm sure that's not going to be cheap," Mai said. "Entertainment?"

"No, but everyone should be happy. Even one day a week having a restaurant meal or playing a dual monsters game, or having fun at the arcade. Going over there though, it might feel dangerous with such extreme cash. There's nothing cheap over there at all. Hmm."

"Hey, maybe you can collect it, write down the names and send it to the other guy?" Mai pointed out. "The names could be the cash. Then you'd also have an idea of how many are here, without doing an official head count."

"No refund policy. Tell me where you plan on going, what you are doing, and the exact amount? That's tricky," Ryou Bakura said. "Yet, if you know what your total is, then I guess it's doable. I'll have to look into that later."

"Either way, nothing's going to be the same. It's dangerous no matter where you go or who you are," Mai pointed out.

"Yes. It's best to stay with the group," Ryou Bakura insisted. "Is anyone outside?- Mokuba!" Suddenly, his interest darted away as Mokuba came downstairs. "Wonderful to see you. I would like to get you to help me. You know, saving lives with your business sense." He got up and rushed over to him with a large pad of paper. "Just put your name right there."

Mokuba looked at the notepad of names. "What are these? Are these the people wearing scarabs?"

"Yes." He was still trying to shove the large notepad at him. "Sign your name."

"I don't know." Mokuba said skeptically. "Is Yuugi up?"

"Yes, Yuugi is up. He's talking with Atem in the kitchen. If you are going to talk to them, then go talk to them right away, come back down and sign this." Mokuba went back up the stairs.

"You're way too stressed with him," Mai warned him. "Relax. I doubt you can get him to sign anything without his brother."

"Then I am wasting my time, I need to get Seto Kaiba and Shizuka. I still have other things to do. I better head toward them early." Ryou Bakura looked at the sheet, then signed something on it. "For his own good," he muttered. "I'll be back. If anyone with a scarab comes, show them the pad of paper I am working on." He gestured to the notepad. "Tell them Bakura is living here, he's just out. I've got to go."

"If it's that big of a deal, let Yuugi handle it," Mai pointed it.

"No!" He softened up. "No. Everyone should stay near the Game Shop. We'll go do things later."

"What about the fancy box?" Mai looked toward the big fancy box in the middle. "I'm not a player. Are you?"

"I need to go," he simply said. "Go find anything edible upstairs for breakfast for now."

Mai shrugged and headed upstairs to the kitchen. "Morning. Does anyone else feel as ick as me? Does Anzu have any extra clothes?"

"No." Yuugi was eating some fancy cereal. Probably something he bought for Anzu. He had it out on a plate with Atem as well as split bread and a couple pieces of fruit.

"Appetizing," Mai said as they looked at their choice of eats. "Did I mention we can actually go to stores?"

"Don't waste or assume anything," Atem told her straight up. "Everything that can be eaten in this house should also be added to it. There is no telling what is happening." He stuffed some bread in his mouth.

"If I had known, I would have had more non perishables. We tended to eat out more. I have more food options, but we need the electricity for the oven," Yuugi said. "Plenty of fruit and bread."

Oof. "Is Anzu and Satiah up?" Mai asked.

"Not yet. If they are, they haven't let us know," Yuugi said.

She watched Atem eat more bread. He must have feared more was going to happen.

"Did Ryou Bakura leave for Seto Kaiba and Shizuka yet, Mai?" Yuugi asked her as he started on his own fruit.

"Yeah." Mmm. "He said if anyone stopped by, we needed to show him this notepad he had been working on. Funny thing? He was really trying to recruit Mokuba this morning into being one of those scarab guys."

"It was weird." Mokuba came in toward them. "He was insistent. Not even a good morning, just shoved it in my face. I didn't like it." He went to the table. "I need to find my brother."

"I need to find some clothes." Mai left for now, going to knock on Anzu and Satiah's room.

"He'll be here before you know it," Yuugi assured him. "Him and Shizuka."

"Yeah. This place is going to get crowded," Mokuba noted. "It's already crowded. Seto hates living in crowded spaces. He won't be fond of staying."

"We survive. That's what is important first," Yuugi said. "We'll get everything we can done today, but Kaiba and Shizuka definitely come first. Living arrangements and such, I'm sure it'll get figured out. Don't worry about it."

"Livings a hard word right now," Jounouchi's voice floated from the hallway. His hair was a mess, but he did get dressed in his clothes from the day before. "I hope my place is still there." He yawned. "Is Mai around here?"

Then, there was a scream downstairs.

Everyone in the kitchen took off, including Mokuba and down the stairs. Even Anzu and Satiah had gone downstairs.

Mai wasn't downstairs, just a notepad with Mokuba's name on it. Jounouchi rushed outside first. "Let her go!" He didn't give a damn if they had scarab's that could kill him.

As Jounouchi approached though, Mai was gone, only the scarab wielder remained. "You. Where's Mai."

There was a loud 'mroowwrlll' that sounded at the end like 'foul'. The goddess Bastet actually appeared before him. "Frrroul," She shouted. "She was part of the winnings and losings, you cannot take her."

The scarab wielder bent down and started to bow. "Mighty god, the god Set demanded it be so." She left, but before Jounouchi could reach the kidnapper, a lion came out and attacked the scarab wielder.

Bastet came back and looked at Jounouchi. "She is the winning and losing, so she shouldn't be with you or Set is the claim. I've given her to a third neutral party."

What? "Not no third neutral party. She's having my child. Mine. You're the kitty fertility god, do something! What kind of father would I be if I didn't want to be there for her?"

"That cute concept is not going to impress the gods. She will be returned to you, if you win," she announced.

"That's not right," Yuugi shouted. "No one's collected that box yet anyhow, there's still time for more signatures."

"The last of the signatures are coming," Bastet said. "The deal is almost sealed. However." Her brow furrowed and she let out a low growl. "This reasoning is filled with discontent from me. I need more to bet to save others from third party holding."

"Whatever it takes," Jounouchi insisted, "just give her back."

"Jounouchi! What's going on?"

Yuugi looked back at Ryou Bakura, Seto Kaiba and Shizuka Kawai all darting forward. Thank goodness. He would need Shizuka right now.

"Just arrived and already missing things," Kaiba complained. Yet, he was holding Shizuka's hand. It looked like he'd taken care of her after all since last night. He looked toward Bastet and Sekhmet.

"Big Brother?" Shizuka asked as Ryou Bakura went into the Game Shop. "What's wrong? I heard you."

"Mai." Jounouchi was honest. "They took Mai."

"A third party member wants to hold those involved as winnings," Atem told her. "Unless they get something in return. Worthy collateral."

"My new sister." Shizuka had ran into Ryou Bakura that morning, right before they went for breakfast. As soon as he told them where Mokuba was, Kaiba was ready to go. Jounouchi and everyone else would be there too. Everyone but Honda. He had apparently . . .

Honda. Honda had been with her a good two years. A nice man, and a man that she could trust. She knew he'd always be there and take care of her. He was a little hard-headed like her brother, but loving too. He did nothing ever but care for her, like she was some special prize. Even after she lost her eyesight, he stuck beside her, just like he had in Battle City all those years ago.

That must have been hurting her brother just as bad, but losing Mai. He wanted to marry her. He spent most of his time trying to gain a relationship with her, even though she was so hurt by Marik. My new sister. My unborn niece. "What if I give up my winnings?" She tried to step forward. There was no telling if it was fine ahead. Kaiba wasn't holding her hand and she didn't have a stick. She just approached outward with her winnings card.

Bakura had brought them. Her winning and losing. If she lost, she would be given to the evil person who literally destroyed her world. He could kill her or keep her as a second wife. Apparently, he would already have a first. Considering her new big sister was four months along, she could guess who else.

Her winnings? Her winnings. Apparently, they knew what she really wanted more. It was her eyesight. Maybe they were even the ones who pulled it away to gamble with it. Her eyesight. Jounouchi gave me eyesight back for fighting in Duelist Kingdom. It should be this way. She held out her card. "Return Mai Kujaku to Jounouchi, and they can have my winnings."

"Shizuka." She heard the warning in her brother's voice, but it was more fragile than he wanted it to be.

"You can't bet that." Kaiba had agreed with her brother. "You're insane, Shizuka Kawai. You've wanted nothing but that."

"It's for my brother's future family, it's worth everything." She kept holding out the card. "If we save the world, it's a big enough win for me. Take my card."

"I need more than one of those," Bastet said, "but you are on the right track. It's going to take a lot. Things you don't have."

"She's part of my winnings card," Jounouchi said with an ache. "I'd do it if I could. Anybody?" He looked behind him. "Anzu? Satiah? You got something. Can you win, without winning?"

Anzu bit her lip while Satiah stood still.

"Yuugi? Atem?" Jounouchi tried for them. "Tell me your guy's cards are just bonuses?"

"Our cards hold our fate, and the world's," Yuugi confessed. "If we lose them, we lose already."

"Here!" Bakura came out of the shop and strolled up to Bastet. "You can't take Mokuba. He's working underneath me. See? His name was on the notepad beforehand."

Bastet glanced down. "No one wanted him." She smirked. "You're a smart man. Consider it on record. Now. Two winnings isn't enough. I can bargain with three."

"Oh, alright!" Kaiba held up his winning ticket. "Just like before isn't it, Jounouchi? I hold your key while you are drowning. Just, waiting." He wiggled the winnings ticket. "I'll give it up for the same deal. Since Honda's obviously not here, the previous deal won't work anymore."

Jounouchi didn't take long. He knew what Kaiba wanted for the deal. "Shizuka?"

"I'll be fine." She was staying strong. "I need to stay with him. We all know that. I'm still alive because of him, Jounouchi."

"Just until this whole thing is over," Jounouchi agreed.

Kaiba went over and handed over his winnings card. "I don't care, who needs it, as long as nothing happens to Mokuba."

Bastet took his card.

"Two cards. One more." Jounouchi looked back toward Anzu and Satiah. "Look. I know the winnings look good, real good. But? This is Mai. Yuugi and Atem gotta have theirs. Please?"

Anzu covered her mouth, her resolve crushing. "I . . . Jounouchi. I'm sure . . . she-she'll be okay. Right?"

"Part of the winnings," Satiah said to Bastet. She began to bow. "I cannot afford the whole, but I will sacrifice all else that I can that won't hurt it."

"No." Anzu bent down next to her. "You can't do that. It can't be like that. Mai will be fine."

"We are dealing with gods and the end of the world, nothing is certain," Satiah warned her.

She must be sacrificing her life, whether she wins or loses.

Yes. I don't doubt that. It's very like her. She did it for Bakura and she tried to do it for Anzu.

Bastet's tail wriggled. "Mortals. You see? This is why the legendary gods just transform into mighty beasts. It means they don't have to talk to you! Unless they want to. I'll try two winnings."

"I hope two will work." Jounouchi looked toward Satiah. "Thanks for trying." He looked toward Kaiba. "Thanks."

"Don't. Even." Kaiba's voice sounded deadly. "Thank your sister. Thank the fact she cares for you like no other on Earth."

Whoah. Did Kaiba just say something nice about Shizuka, Atem?

Whatever she gave away, it was something big. All of these winnings are tremendous in size.

Yeah. Satiah couldn't even give away part of her card. No spoilers though from Bastet. What do they gain? It can't just be separation if they win, that's not a win. That's neutral. Right? Unlike Mai, they are written as players. They have to have something more. Is it really the same as Bastet and Sekhmet?

Guaranteed to join together should be a loss. Not joining together would be neutral, they are already in that state. Then again, this is whole new kind of game, Yuugi. Maybe the neutral is the same as winning. I was hoping over the night they would come to terms with it and speak of it to us.

You can't miss the hieroglyphics on their heads either. It's similar to the one on Jounouchi's neck.

Bastet is a protection goddess. Not just a warrior. She is offering them extra protection.

Bastet came back, holding something that wasn't a sistrum or a weapon. A mirror. "Simple concept." She gave Jounouchi the mirror. "When she falls into labor, you may have her back, so that you can get to know your daughter. Horakhty is a softie sometimes. Before then, you may interact with her through this mirror."

" . . . that's it? Two full winnings and I have to wait months before I can get her back?" Jounouchi complained.

"Jounouchi. Accept the god's grace," Atem warned him. "There didn't have to be grace."

"Ah." Jounouchi looked toward Atem. He nodded. It was best to get what he could, or he could lose even that. Jounouchi held the mirror up. "Okay? You okay, Mai?" He called to her, holding up his thumb.

"I'm fine, Jounouchi." She smiled, trying to be brave. "We're good."

"It's the best I can do, but if you make anyone else mad that is a god, you could find your good fortune terminated. I suggest not cursing them out." She disappeared.

"Mai." His lips quirked in a weird direction as he came back toward them. "She's here."

Yuugi looked over into the mirror with the others. She waved. "She looks okay."

"I knew she was gonna be okay. She dreamed it." Jounouchi was starting to break. "Just about four months to wait. I can see her though and talk to her. That's good. Great for . . . the gods." He wouldn't risk it anymore.

"She looks like she's inside a warm place," Yuugi said as he smiled into the mirror. "They know they can't risk her health. I'm sure she'll eat well and be great. Bastet is watching her. She's the fertility goddess too, they won't mess with her."

"Yeah. I guess. But you two." Jounouchi pointed at Anzu and Satiah. "This whole secrecy thing, it's gonna end. You didn't get just measly winnings or you'd say what it was! Why didn't you help?"

"They would have given it, if they could." Mokuba spoke up. "I'm sure they really wanted to, Jounouchi."

Mokuba? They told Mokuba already? And not us?

Yes, that is strange. Masika is fond of Mokuba. Maybe it involved him.

"I don't care what they think or thought, the deal still stands. The dragon is mine. You had better have something decent in there to eat besides some god game box," Kaiba complained. "I was in the middle of the line to get it. Your lucky Mokuba was here, or there's no way I'd have come."

"We have fruit and some bread," Yuugi explained. "We'll be going to the store soon."

"I'll be splitting in a different direction. I have to get around to check on others," Bakura Ryou insisted.

"I'll come." Satiah went toward him.

Anzu grabbed her wrist. "You aren't going with him." They were both looking angrily at each other.

"I want to talk to him," Satiah said firmly. "Let go."

"How do I know that's all?" Anzu questioned her.

"For one, I don't see Horakhty." Satiah glared at her.

Yuugi came over by Anzu with Atem and Jounouchi. "Now isn't the time to squabble."

"This isn't a squabble." Anzu looked toward Satiah. "You can't do anything. I need to talk to Yuugi."

"Ladies?" Bakura gestured outward. "I have to go. This isn't the time for arguments."

"Oh, it's a little up there in importance, Bakura," Satiah answered as she tried to shuffle toward him.

"I recognize that nervous strut." Bakura came back toward her. "Whisper your deadly secret to my ear, Rider." Satiah whispered into his ear. "Ha!" He just laughed. "Oh by all means, yes."

"No!" Anzu shouted almost to the top of her lungs. "I'm not her anymore." She covered her head. "I'm not Masika."

"This has gone on far enough." Atem moved toward them. "Whatever this secret is, it is big, and I am betting bigger than you two want to let on." He looked toward Anzu. "The world is in peril, humanity is at the verge of possible extinction, secrets can't be condoned."

Anzu's eyes glistened, on the verge of tears. "I know. But."

"The whole of the human tear has a treasure within," Bakura said. "If you don't state it, Anzu Mazaki, then I will gladly tell him."

"Yuugi, take Anzu inside." It was clear that whatever Anzu had to say, it was private with Yuugi. "Jounouchi, Masika and I will get provisions first." They could get groceries. At the very least if Yuugi and Anzu didn't get any groceries themselves, they could have extra. At the same time, having Masika come would make Anzu feel better, instead of her going with Bakura. "Come everyone, let's go."

Yuugi took Anzu's hand and led her back inside.