The next day Tristan drove them across the sea of sand in a jeep foolishly designed with no cover from the scorching sun above. They wore protective clothing to shield their delicate skin from the anger of the sun god but the heat was stifling even in a moving car.
Yugi … or Bakura as it was and Atem were unphased by the heat, much to Tea's and Joey's dismay.
They had packed water, sunscreen, a medical kit and various supplies under the real Yugi's advice and with his account he was able to secure some equipment he would need from the Cairo university. Perks of being a well respected Archaeologist.
The roar of the engine was drowned by the hissing of the wind and the sand blowing past them threatened to scratch and tear at their skin. They spent most of the trip hiding behind their linen masks and protecting one another from the elements as Bakura had insisted they drive quickly. He sat at the front with him, for once opting for silence as he honed in on his body's location. Atem kept a close watch on him, choosing to sit behind him where he could monitor him closer.
They drove for hours over rises and falls as the dunes seemingly danced with them, bopping like actual waves in the ocean. They were far from any city, any ruins, any landmarks when their car began to slow to a halt. The sand died down, all was still save for the hawks overhead, searching for small rodents or snakes to hunt.
"Out of gas already?" Tea complained.
"Thats why we brought extra. Gimme a minute to fill her up." Tristan said as he jumped over his door to retrieve the gasoline tanks hidden beneath layers of cover to keep them cool.
"We're getting close." Bakura said quietly.
"How can you tell?" Joey asked.
Bakura ignored him, choosing to leave the vehicle and stretch his legs. Atem followed him. He walked over the rise of the next dune, far enough from the car that they would need to shout when they were ready but they would not be going far. He could feel it. Another hour perhaps at that pace … he was so close now he could taste it. But even when they find it, Yugi's body was still weak. Yugi could probably live now in control but the ritual would kill him… he needed more time.
'Once we have your body if it still exists, we may be able to transport it somewhere closer to civilisation. If it still exists.' Yugi said to him.
"Bakura." Atem warned as he approached. He stood beside him, shielding his face from the sun leering down at them. Yugi smiled but Bakura was annoyed by his hovering.
"I'm not going far. You might as well wait by the car Pharoah. Let us talk in peace." Bakura hissed.
"If I recall your home town isn't far from here. My soldiers would have abandoned you where you lay unless directed otherwise. Most criminals were given rights to descend with Anubis but if what Yugi says is true then you weren't." Atem said plainly.
"What of it?"
"Your body was recovered wasn't it? Taken back and buried properly by your soldiers, correct?"
"I guess we'll find out, won't we?" Bakura said as he spun on his heel to leave him there.
'Bakura if he's right… you better not be putting my friends in danger just to recover your body. If your body is in a tomb -'
"What are you going to do Yugi? You are the one who wanted your friends here, not me. I was happy to retrieve the materials you needed and leave. You are the one who brought them here." Bakura snapped at him.
An hour and a half they drove for before they reached the ruin town of Kul Elna. They drove to a stop in the middle of the ruins where Bakura lead them further inside.
Atem had been here before but back then this was before it had been destroyed. He was only a child and this was only a short time before the items were created. Bakura was older than he was…. He wondered if he had seen him visit… though he would have only been a child as well.
"Where is this place?" Joey asked.
"It's in the open but it doesn't look like anyone's been here in ages. Yugi, has anyone researched this place?" Tea asked him. She knew he currently Bakura but they all knew Yugi would be floating around.
"This is Kul Elna. My home town 3000 years ago. Do you like what the Pharoah's father has done to the place? I can't say I care much for the silence but the decor is fitting, don't you think?" Bakura asked sarcastically and kept walking.
"Your father? But he didn't -" Tristan trailed of when he saw Atem's downcast eyes and troubled expression.
"My father knew nothing of what would transpire here. He regrets the decision to make the items. Had he known he never would have agreed. But ultimately it was his decision which lead to this." Atem told them.
"Your father should have looked into it himself rather than trusting the words of his advisors. I'd hoped you'd do the opposite but you were just as naive as he."
"You barely gave me the option Bakura, I was Pharoah about a week thanks to you." Atem snapped.
"True… by that stage I had no faith in our leadership or our country. I cared not for our people… much like your father." Bakura taunted. Atem grabbed his wrist in anger, turning him to face him. He wanted to smack him, to silence him and release his frustration but as Yugi's face smirked arrogantly he took to keeping his fists balled at his sides.
"My father cared a great deal about our people Bakura. Every decision he made was for our people's protection-"
"From what? Face it Pharoah your father was a fool led by egotistical fanatics that demanded abuse of their power, that screamed for acknowledgement of the lowly so they might be seen in good light to the gods. Ra forbid if a few sacrifices be made of a small village tucked away. No one would miss the rabel of Kul Elna and if it went noticed, it was an unfortunate loss caused by our 'enemies'. Little did the rest of the populace know that the ones they needed protecting from was the Royalty themselves." Bakura snapped at him loudly before he gasped, wincing away sharply again and taking a step back.
"My father and I did the best we could to protect our people from the neighboring factions rising up around us. Our people were prosperous and safe and with the rising antagonising of the countries surrounding us we needed to do what we could to protect our borders. Sacrificing our people was not an option easily made, nor was it known to my father that that is what would transpire. What happened to your people cannot be undone Bakura but had you been in the same situation you would have made the same call. You were not privy to the information of the royal court. You have no right to decide what our people needed protecting from."
"And when it was learned what it took to create the items what did your father do? Nothing! He divied them out to his court, used them to inspire and instill fear to his people with no regards to what happened here. He didn't even visit or give these people rights and when you ascended the throne, nor did you. You and your father were nothing but pompous, egotistical, naiive-" He winced again, grabbing his head painfully but that didn't stop Atem from grabbing his shirt in anger.
"Atem!" Tea shrieked instantly as Joey and Tristan both moved to separate them. Atem didn't let him go, his eyes ablaze with such fire and intensity it could match the heat of the sun. Bakura's eyes cracked open to look at him but for a moment he was caught off by the soft lavender within them. He hated that Bakura was using his image to shield him and wanted even more to beat him down for it. Joey held his arm and if it wasn't Yugi's body he would have.
"It's me." Yugi breathed.
For a moment Atem held him, searching his eyes for truth when it clicked and he let him go. His anger washed away with fear and concern as Yugi straightened his shirt and rubbed his temples.
"Yugi I'm so sorry." Atem said quickly, helping to straighten him up.
"It's okay. I'm sorry he got so far. I'm giving him some time out to cool down. He's clawing at my mind to get out… he'd love nothing more than to brawl with you right now but I don't want him hurting you." Yugi said softly.
"Yugi…" Atem whispered. He felt awful for holding him like that and looking at him with such anger but he had to remind himself it wasn't Yugi he was mad with and Yugi knew that.
"Welcome back bud, how ya feeling?" Tristan asked him.
"A bit better than before but I wont deny it feels better being a ghost. My body feels a little heavy… he didn't get a lot of sleep last night did he?" Yugi asked.
Atem shook his head no. "No I believe only a couple of hours."
Yugi nodded. "It feels it. So this is Kul Elna."
"Do you know much about it Yug?"
"A bit. A team of Egyptologists excavated this site 3 years ago but they found nothing of import. It's been abandoned since. Any significant history about this village was lost… appropriately so. I know your father meant well Atem, I do believe me. But nowadays to those who don't know any better all we can do is look at the facts; facts are this town was destroyed by decree of the king… a fact only we know. According to the world today no one knows what transpired here. I think thats the point Bakura wanted to make. This town had their lives taken to protect that of their country and no one knew anything about their sacrifice even 3000 years later." Yugi explained.
"I can't change the past Yugi." Atem said sadly. Yugi turned to him, touching his cheek lovingly and getting in front of his gaze.
"I know and I know that you would if you could. You're kind like that." Yugi said to him sweetly. He smiled, his heart dancing from his touch.
Yugi looked back to the town and sighed.
"Bakura's insisting we keep moving. His body should be further in the town."