Welcome back! I told you that this chapter would be out soon. Consider it my Christmas present to all of you. Also as promised, this chapter is much longer, it might be the longest I've written, though I'm not entirely sure about that. I had to force myself to end it as it just wanted to keep going and going (like the Energizer Bunny).

Enjoy!


"This is where they've been staying?" Mahaddo looked up at the house, "It looks like it's ready to join the desert sands!"

"It was best to stay unassuming," Bakura growled from beneath his hood, "Strategically it's not bad either. Close enough to the palace that either the Ph – Prince could come to us, or we could get to him quickly, and it provides an escape into the desert should it ever be necessary."

"Why would anyone escape into the desert?" Mahaddo shook his head, either ignoring or not catching Bakura's near slip, "You'd die in just a couple of days."

"Only if you don't know where to go or how to survive."

"Let's move this inside, shall we?" Yami interrupted. The rest of his Court, except Yugi who had refused to move from his side since they left the palace, were already in the protection of the house.

Once inside, Mahaddo stopped short, staring at the bare surroundings. He wasn't so much appalled at the quality of the items in the house, but rather the lack of them. Without waiting for permission, he scaled the ladder to the second floor carefully. He didn't actually go all the way up, just far enough to where he could look around.

"*****, this might be the strangest house in the city," Mahaddo frowned, "No food or water stored, only five bare mattresses upstairs, a short table but no chairs, no other furniture that I can see, no jars or baskets... it looks like everything here was scavenged off the street!"

Yami had to admit, it was rather odd the mismatch of furniture his Court had put together. Most people would sit to reed mats and the like for most of their household items, and the mattresses along with having any sort of table was almost a status symbol. However, they were clearly worn out and indicated that they were not as wealthy as other people might think they were trying to make themselves out to be.

Not to mention, the style of furniture, or at least how it was set up, was distinctly Japanese. The low table, the cushions, the mattresses on the floor like futons. Clearly his Court had fallen back on some familiar instincts, maybe without even realizing it. He didn't even realize it until Mahaddo started pointing it out.

"What's wrong with it?" Malik challenged, "We did the best we could without drawing too much attention to ourselves. If we had brought new things, instead of things we found, it would have stood out."

"What stands out is that you have things typically considered luxury items but don't even have basic necessities," Mahaddo countered, "Not to mention the nice things you do have look like they'd been tossed out on the street."

"Not everyone can live like you do in the palace," Seto muttered defensively.

"Since we can fix it later, let's put the oddities of furniture and housewares aside," Yami turned to Mahaddo, "Do you think you could cast a couple of spells around the house to help keep it hidden? If people in the neighborhood start seeing people move in and out of this house they will get curious and I don't need people poking around."

Mahaddo frowned thoughtfully. "What kind of spells? They'll have to be ones that don't need a whole lot, if any, maintenance."

"Bakura?" Yami turned to the thief, "Take Mahaddo and explain what you need. And be nice," he tacked on to make sure Bakura would continue to be on his best behavior.

"So long as the magician is competent at his job," Bakura assured, Yami could hear the malicious grin in his voice. He led a now nervous Mahaddo, who didn't understand what was being said, but certainly understood the tone, out the door, "We'll start here…"

Once the door closed, Yugi turned to Yami. "Yami, why does Mahaddo seem so familiar? I'm positive we've never met anybody that could possibly be his reincarnation, but it feels like I've known him my whole life."

"I don't quite have that feeling, but he is definitely familiar," Ishizu put in, "It's hard to describe."

"It's intimidating almost," Ryou said, "I know I've stared into that face before and felt fear, but I'm not sure where."

Yami sighed, "I wish I could tell you why, but I can't. Mana is the same way. She's very familiar, but I can't place where I know her from. At this point it's because I've known them for so long, but even then, there's always something nagging in the back of my mind."

"Do you think Bakura knows?" Seto asked, shooting a glance at the door.

"Probably," Yugi growled.

Yami sighed. He thought he'd made his point about why he didn't mind that Bakura didn't tell him everything, but he understood where Yugi was coming from. If the situations were reversed, Yami would be acting the same way.

"I wouldn't doubt it, but if he does know, then he's keeping quiet for good reason," Yami said with a pointed look at his hikari, "I assume he'll tell us if it's important, otherwise, we'll have to figure it out ourselves. We'll know for sure when I get my memories back."

The Mages nodded their acceptance at his statement, though none looked particularly happy about it. They would have to come to terms with the fact that while Bakura might know more about what was going to happen, Yami knew more about what was happening now. Using Bakura's knowledge without taking into account how things had changed could be disastrous.

"On a similar topic," Yami's expression turned warily eager, "Did any of you happen to catch my name? I'm fairly certain Mahaddo said it at least once."

The Mages looked at each other uncomfortably, confirming Yami's suspicions and putting out the ember of hope that had bloomed in his heart.

"When did he say your name?" Seto asked carefully, "I don't recall hearing an unfamiliar name."

"Me either," Malik frowned, "Was it back at the palace?"

Yami shook his head. He should have known better than to get his hopes up. "No, it was here. Did you hear any static, or buzzing, or..anything?"

Everyone shook their heads regretfully.

"We still might be able to read it," Ishizu said optimistically, "Since we're in the world of your memories, it kind of makes sense that we won't be able to hear something you don't know."

"I think you're onto something," Ryou nodded, "Tonight, we should set up a rotation of who will be staying in the palace to search the archives while everyone else searches everywhere else. Since this is a Yami no Game, your name could be hidden literally anywhere."

That was something Yami hadn't thought of before. He'd looked in all the conventional places for his name, but what if it was somewhere unconventional? Granted, he hadn't been sure this was a Yami no Game before, but he felt a little silly that he didn't think of it before.

Gods, he hoped whoever created this Game didn't carve it out at the bottom of the Nile or something equally ridiculous.

Well, technically he created this Game five thousand years ago and was probably the one who hid it where no one would find it. But surely he would put it in a place where he at least could find it so he could recover his memories.

"Since we're talking about names, we all need to be careful of how we address Seto," Yami changed the subject and turned his attention to the Mage in question, "You and your counterpart here share the same name. It wouldn't do us any favors if somebody were to over hear that."

"I always wondered about that ever since you showed me that damned tablet," Seto looked over at Ishizu, "I'll buy into the whole reincarnation thing, but actually sharing a name with my past self is a little on-the-nose."

"I wasn't complaining too much. At least I didn't have to worry about accidentally calling your past self by the wrong name. But now that you're here, it presents a problem."

"Not really," Seto scoffed, "Just dig deep down to grasp our bitter rivalry and go back to calling me by my last name."

"After 50 years of calling you 'Seto', you think it'll be that easy?"

"You want me to make you mad at me?" Seto asked, amused, "I could kidnap Yugi if you want. That should do it."

"Eh, I'll just stick to calling you Rich Boy or Money Bags," Malik threw an arm around the taller man. Seto quickly removed the arm and gave Malik a look warning him not to do that again, knowing it was a fruitless effort.

"It didn't take you long to adjust to calling him his first name," Bakura reentered the house with Mahaddo trailing behind him. "It shouldn't take you much effort to switch back to 'Kaiba' for a little while."

"I didn't say I wouldn't do it," Yami rolled his eyes, "Just that it was going to be difficult to break a fifty year habit."


Mahaddo looked lost as the prince easily carried on what appeared to be a very casual conversation in a foreign language. His body language and tone seemed to indicate that he'd known these people for a very long time. That just wasn't possible! The prince had spent all of his early years within the palace walls and even as he grew older, there was very little time unaccounted for.

His eyes drifted to the hooded figure that stood just to the right of the prince. It wasn't that Mahaddo was annoyed or suspicious that the figure was standing there now, it was that the person had taken up a position there ever since they left the throne room and hadn't moved.

The prince, nor any of the others, seemed to find this behavior strange. Who was he that he could claim a place at the prince's right hand so boldly?

Clearing his throat, he drew their attention. Ignoring the stares of the others, he addressed the prince. "I have set some basic spells around the house. A minor illusion to disguise the fact there are now people living here, a spell to repel unwanted visitors, and a small spell around the door and windows to help keep sand and dirt out."

"Thank you, Mahaddo," he answered with a warm smile, "At least this place will be safer for them. I can't very well have my secret court living on the precipice of being accidentally discovered."

"R-right," Mahaddo agreed hesitantly. There was definitely a strange dynamic going on and he wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to dig deeper to discover what it was. It wasn't that he didn't want to know, it was just that there was something, mostly likely the Shadows, telling him it wasn't a good idea.

The Shadows were frustrating like that: never really clear in their messages. Just vague feelings that he and the other Item Bearers had to hope they interpreted correctly.

"Will you be staying for dinner?"

The voice threw Mahaddo for a loop. He hadn't expected a woman's voice, nor a voice so similar to Isis'! Those cloaks really did a good job of hiding their identities. The prince, however, was unfazed. Then again, he knew who was underneath the hood.

"I think so long as Mahaddo stays with me, my three hour time limit doesn't go into effect," he smiled.

Though her face was completely shadowed by her hood, Mahaddo got the impression that his words had her beaming with delight. The woman turned and rattled something off in their language and both Malik and Bakura, the only two he actually knew the names of, turned and left the house.

Mahaddo wasn't sure if the prince intended for Mahaddo to learn anybody's name except Malik's, but he certainly wasn't careful when he used it earlier. Maybe it was a code name instead rather than his given name.

The prince quickly settled himself at their low table, his shadow following suit, again, at his right side. Neither of them held any regard for the dirt and dust they would now be covered in.

It was so strange to see his friend act so casual. Even when they hung out in the palace during their younger years, there was always an underlying sense of formality, but here...it would be easy to mistake the prince for a common person, even if he was still covered in jewelry.

"So how did you come to know the prince?" Mahaddo asked the tall person next to him in an effort to make conversation. Maybe he could learn something about these mysterious people.

"Would you believe me if I said that I tried to steal something from him and then tried to kill him at one point?" he responded rhetorically, "I thought he was a delusional liar when I first met him, and for quite some time after that if I'm honest."

Mahaddo frowned. "And he didn't have you arrested right away?"

For whatever reason, the man found that to be funny. "No," he laughed, "He was actually the one who extended the hand of friendship first, and kept it extended until I accepted."

"That sounds like him," Mahaddo reluctantly agreed, looking back over at the prince who was now in a deep conversation with the person sitting next to him. He tried to listen, but it was in that damn foreign language again. From the white knuckles on the stranger, he could at least tell that whatever the prince was telling him was not being received well.


"You're father did what?" Yugi demanded in a low voice. It was as if their roles were reversed and he was the yami hellbent on protecting his hikari.

"It was seven years ago," Yami reminded him patiently, idly wondering if this was what Yugi felt like whenever Yami offered to take care of his bullies. Well, if Yami wasn't allowed to take care of those bullies during the actual time Yugi was being bullied, Yugi sure as hell wasn't allowed to go on a rampage about something that happened so long ago. "Honestly, with the superstition of the day and the magic they are capable of, I do not blame my father or Mahaddo for their actions… well, not anymore. I admit I was pretty mad at my father when I woke up."

"Woke up? You mean you passed out?"

"To be fair, I was trying to fight off the power of at least two Millennium Items on my own and I was twelve," Yami defended himself, "My father told me that I was able to control the Shadows for the short time between when my bindings broke and when I collapsed."

"That's…" Yugi trailed off, anger at Aknamkanon temporarily put aside at learning that fact.

"Insane, I know," Yami agreed, "I've considered trying to repeat the feat, but considering the circumstances that led to me being able to do it the first time, I don't think it's worth it. Though, I may have pulled at them again when I was fourteen, but nobody can really tell me for sure."

"What happened then?"

"Remember that thing I said about thwarting assassination, leading an army to war, and making the opposing general wet himself in fright?"

Yugi nodded cautiously. The other Mages were doing a poor job of pretending not to listen in on the conversation. To be fair, the room offered very little in the terms of having a private conversation.

"It's an extension of that story. Long story short: I got so mad at him I might have pulled at the Shadows a bit out of habit, but it certainly wasn't anything noticeable by the two Priests who were with me at the time."

"Okay, but how strong are they really?" Se-Kaiba scoffed, "No offense to the originals, but if they can't sense whether or not you actually pulled at the Shadows, then they need some practice."

"It took the combined effort of Akhenaden and Seto to break my shields when I was a child," Yami explained, "But I've seen them summon monsters and use the Items in ways that we don't. I don't think they're weak, they just use their powers differently. I haven't had much of an opportunity to really ask detailed questions without having to explain why I know things."

"Maybe we should talk about this later and change the conversation to something that might include our guest," Ishizu suggested, nodding over to Mahaddo who was standing uncomfortably on the other side of the room. "You can finish this story later when we can all react appropriately."

Yami had nearly forgotten about his friend in the excitement of actually being able to sit down with his Court again. There were things he still needed to share with them, but Ishizu was right.

"I apologize for my rudeness, Mahaddo," he addressed the magician, who jumped at the sudden switch in language. "Come join us."

"Are you sure?" Mahaddo asked hesitantly, but took a step forward, "It looked like you were in a rather serious conversation."

"It can wait," Yami assured, "Malik and Bakura should be back soon with food so we can eat."

"And just where are they going to find it?"

"I've learned it's better not to ask questions like that. I'm sure it's legitimate," Yami said quickly. Actually, he was sure it was the opposite, but he wasn't about to tell that to Mahaddo. "They just seem to find the most complicated means of getting what they set out to find."

Mahaddo frowned, finally sitting down at the table on the other side of Yugi, "That doesn't seem very efficient."

"Maybe at first glance," Ryou said softly. It was the first time Mahaddo heard him speak and it seemed to catch him off guard. Ryou continued as if he hadn't noticed, "They are very good at what they do and can usually find the best prices for the best stuff."

Yami was becoming impressed with his Court's ability to improvise. Tell enough truth and the lie becomes naturally believable. It certainly helped that all of their experiences came from another time and couldn't be refuted.

Mahaddo was saved from having to answer Ryou when Malk and Bakura walked back in. Bakura's arms were full of bread and meat while Malik had a large jar of...something. Ryou quickly went over to help his yami while Malik answered Yami's questioning look.

"Now that we know where to find you and that we'll be sticking around for a while, we figured we should actually stock up on some food. The meats have been cured and dried and the bread should last a couple of days considering how many of us there are."

"Smart," Yami answered, "I'll see what I can do about getting you guys some variety when I get back to the palace. Now what do you have?"

"Beer," Malik grinned, "Water's not too clean around here you know?"

Yami knew alright. He also knew that boiling water wasn't uncommon and that they had just wanted an excuse to get a large jar full of beer.

"You are not allowed to get drunk," he warned, "Not while you have a job to do."

"So I can challenge Bakura to a drink contest on our off days?" Malik smirked, setting down the container.

Yami rolled his eyes, "You're also not allowed to give yourself alcohol poisoning. Besides, I think you'll find the beer here is typically weaker than the stuff you drink at home."

"That just means we can drink more," Bakura quipped nostalgically, "The taste isn't actually that bad. They certainly don't make beer like they used to."

"All I'm saying is don't show up for your duties hungover."

"That's all?"

"If you have duties to attend and you are either hungover or drunk, I will put you on a dry spell for an entire year when we get home," Yami threatened.

"You would punish all of us by keeping Bakura sober for a year?" Yugi asked, appalled by the thought.

"I'll be good," Bakura swore. Malik nodded earnestly behind him. Neither of them wanted to face that punishment.

Yami let out a chuckle at that and stood up to take a stack of small plates from Ishizu. Mahaddo looked shocked as Yami helped pass out plates and food, easily falling back into an old routine. Not that Mahaddo could be blamed for his reaction. Half the people would pass out from shock if they saw their prince doing such a chore while the other half would hurry to relieve him of the task.

Eventually, Mahaddo relaxed enough to join in the conversation which turned to revolve around Yami's childhood. There were some stories Mahaddo told that Yami listened to with rapt interest because they took place before his first memories here and others where Yami quickly jumped in to add his own commentary.


It was well after the sun had set that Yami decided they should take their leave. With a vague promise from his Court that he would be seeing at least a couple of them tomorrow, Yami and Mahaddo ducked out the door, trying to make it seem as if the prince had just decided to take an evening stroll with Mahaddo as his guard.

They walked in silence back to the palace. Yami knew Mahaddo had questions, but he also knew he wouldn't be able to answer those questions as honestly as he would have liked.

Honestly, he'd never intended for Mahaddo to stay so long or interact with his Mages so much. He was now a wild card that Yami had never even considered. It was bad enough that Malik had given his name and shown his face to all of the Priests, but now Mahaddo had one extra name, possibly the most dangerous name of the bunch, to go along with the extra information he had been privy to this evening. Yami would have to ask Bakura if he shared a name with his ancient counterpart or not, just to be sure.

Of course, Yami didn't consider Mahaddo a threat, never that, but the magician would certainly become an unintentional hindrance if he continued to probe for information. He couldn't blame the man for being as curious as he was. Mahaddo was in charge of security at the palace, specifically around Yami and his father, it was only natural for the man to want to fully investigate any unknowns around the royal family.

The entire way back, he contemplated how to address the variable that was now Mahaddo. Mahaddo must have read something on his face because when they finally reached Yami's chambers, he quickly followed him inside and dismissed the waiting servants.

"I won't tell the Pharaoh, or the other Priests, what I've learned tonight," Mahaddo promised once the last of the servants was out of earshot, "I took a vow earlier today to protect this secret with my life until you release me from my bond."

Yami was taken aback by the sudden vehemence, but quickly recovered, nodding his acceptance to Mahaddo's statement, "I appreciate your honesty. I don't think I would have blamed you if you had reported to my father tonight, but all the same, I'm glad you are not."

Mahaddo seemed to relax at those words. "I thought about it," he admitted, "But your father put his full trust in you, and so do I. Though, I suppose I'm allowed to talk to you about such things?"

"Please do," Yami smiled, walking across his room to remove his jewelry, "Feel free to be as candid as you like."

"Well," Mahaddo joined the prince, picking up his old habits to assist him getting ready for bed, "I was a little surprised at how...relaxed everything was. Even if I couldn't understand what you guys were saying half the time, your body language gave it away. There was no protocol at all. I mean, they showed some deference to you, but they didn't seem to hold back when it came to back talking or arguing with you. Do they do that often?"

"Only when it's not serious," Yami admitted, "I enjoy their banter. It makes for a nice break from the stiff formalities of the palace."

"Is it true that one of them tried to kill you when you first met them?"

Only one? Yami thought dryly but instead asked, "Which one said that?"

"The tall one. I asked how he met you and he said that he stole something from you, tried to kill you, and thought you were a liar when you told him who you were."

Ah, Se-Kaiba. He had forgotten that there had been a short period of time when Kaiba actually tried to kill him. More of his time had been spent avoiding attempts on his life from Bakura.

"Yes, I suppose that's true," he admitted, "But to be fair, he stopped trying to kill me long before he believed me about who I am."

"He should have been arrested," Mahaddo muttered.

"Maybe," Yami shrugged calmly, now completely ready for bed, "But there's a reason that didn't happen. He is an essential part of my secret court and once he accepted that role, they flourished. Remember, my court isn't built from high standing people, but rather commoners who I have found to be trustworthy in and of themselves. They are bound to have some rocky histories."

Mahaddo nodded thoughtfully. "There is one last thing I am curious about. Well, there are several things I am curious about, but I'll stick to just one."

"I've given you permission to be candid here," Yami reminded him, "Ask away."

"I am curious about the man who never left your side from the moment we left the palace," Mahaddo admitted. Yami forced himself to stay relaxed and repressed the instincts that told him to protect his hikari. Mahaddo certainly wouldn't hurt Yugi, nor would he have any inkling to who Yugi really was.

"In that court, he has stood by my side the longest and is considered to be my most trusted," Yami said carefully, "The others have not challenged this and have instead taken up other roles within the court that they see need to be filled. Malik himself gave his self-proclaimed titles today, not that I'll argue with them. They actually very neatly summed up his main roles."

"Since he has already claimed your right hand, will he join us when you become Pharaoh?"

Yami stared at Mahaddo. Was Mahaddo really worried about something like that? Didn't he have any faith in their years of friendship to know where he would be when he sat on the throne? Then again, after what Mahaddo saw tonight, Yami found he couldn't blame him for having some doubts.

"That man sits at my right hand in the context of my secret court," Yami looked Mahaddo in the eye to make sure his friend understood what he was saying, "However, When I sit on the throne as Pharaoh, you will stand at my right hand for the world to see. Nobody is being replaced."

Mahaddo broke out into a relieved grin, "I am glad to hear you say that. There is one more matter that I need to discuss with you, but it is business related and has nothing to do with settling my curiosity."

"Oh?" Yami asked curiously.

"When you send these people out into the towns and villages around Egypt, I'd like to know where they'll be going and when. I want to be able to coordinate the rotations of guards in the cities with their arrivals. People talk more freely if they aren't afraid of being overheard by a soldier and it will help give your people an advantage."

That would certainly help the Mages, but they'd have to be sure it didn't happen every time. Rumors would spread if every time the guards and soldiers thinned out, a couple of strangers happened to show up. Mahaddo's strategic mind surely knew that.

"I think that is a good idea," Yami said, "Once we have some rotations and plans, I'll sit down with you and we can go over some of the details."

"I look forward to it," Mahaddo bowed slightly. Yami took that to be a sign that the conversation was over and that he should actually go to sleep.

"Good night, Mahaddo. If you happen to see my father, let him know that I'll see him for breakfast in the morning."

"If I see him, I'll pass along the message," Mahaddo assured, "Thank you for including me in your gathering tonight and answering my questions. They seem like good people."

"You're welcome, Mahaddo."

Yami didn't bother to correct Mahaddo's last statement. The Mages weren't good people, they were the best people. They entered this world, knowing it was a dangerous Yami no Game, something Yami had only suspected, without hesitation just to help him win.

As he leaned back against his pillows, he couldn't help but think about how lucky he was to have such loyal friends, both in the modern world, and here in Ancient Egypt. His last thoughts before sleep overtook him, was wondering who exactly would be visiting the palace tomorrow and who would be the first to stay.


Alright guys, we're going to do a couple of small time jumps coming up soon. The Mages will be very busy during all their time "off screen" as it were. Yami's time to take the throne is drawing nearer! I would like to give you guys a New Years present too, but honestly, that one's just not in the cards.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! If you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful day too!

Please review :)