He didn't know how long he spent in that deck. He sat there for what seemed like an eternity until finally his captor decided to give him a window. Whenever the yami decided to duel he would get a brief view into the outside world. Every time that he came out there was an enemy on the field. He didn't want to help out this evil being that was his captor, but what other choice did he have? So on he went doing what the Change of Heart card did to the opponent.

After every winning duel yami Bakura would take out the imprisoned Bakura just to toy with him. After each victory Bakura's malice for the yami grew and grew. Whenever he came out he was whipped, cracked, and pushed down to the ground until he was bruised and cut all over. The torture that he went through was unspeakable. He was a slave in every aspect, he was rationed food, and the only refuge that he got was being crammed inside that deck where the air was stuffy and movement next to none.

He was beginning to think that all hope was lost, and he made up the decision that he wouldn't take any more when he was summoned onto the field but who should he see was Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Tea. He was suppose to change their hearts against one another, but NO he would not do that to one of his friends. He possessed one of the yami's cards instead. Yugi wouldn't destroy him but he didn't care, anything was better than being put through the torture that he had just gone through.

Then a flash of light blinded him and he was sitting on the stool where the yami had been sitting just seconds ago. Blinking and looking around him he stared at the shadow realm where Yugi and everyone had been taken to play this sinister game for the puzzle. And so with the return of Bakura back to his original body the duel was over.

With the duel ending the shadow realm dissolved and Yugi and his friends were turned back into their normal selves instead of being cards just like Bakura had been. They didn't know what had gone on in that duel, they thought it was all a dream. But Bakura knew that it was not a dream, it was all a reality, one horrible reality that would never be shared with anyone else. He wouldn't tell the story of his imprisonment to anyone on this earth for it was far too wretched for him to even recall for himself.

* * * * * * * * * *

Following Yugi's defeat of Pegasus Bakura went on his own way into the world. Of course where else would you expect him to go but Egypt. He was fascinated with the place after learning all about the millennium items and so he went to study the gods. When he was traveling down the Nile River on his way to an ancient city that was being uncovered he heard a voice inside his head. But it was not the voice of that yami that had once been inside him but an almost angelic voice that was blowing in with the wind.

~ Come to me Bakura, come to me... ~

/Where are you? /

~ I'm inside, but I'm trapped and I can't get out... ~

/But where, where? /

~ Help me... ~

And then the voice disappeared. Bakura was absent minded for the rest of the boat ride and when they finally got to the digging sight he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the voice and any message that may have come with it...



There was a hallway. A young maiden was walking down it carrying in her hands what looked to be duel monsters. She had one card in particular that she had clenched between her teeth since her hands were full. This card was the time wizard. Putting the other cards down on a table and spreading them out she took the time wizard out of her mouth and then picked up the change of heart. She closed her eyes and the black hair that lay down to her waist started to float around her as she held the cards on either side of her and chanted.

While she was chanting a great sandstorm had begun, but she was too connected with her cards to realize that she was in any danger. When one of the pots fell off the shelf crashing into pieces she finally turned to see that the door had been covered almost to the top with sand that was packing itself down hard very rapidly. In the last couple of seconds that there was still an opening she stuck out the time wizard through the last remaining hole, as she looked at where her hand was with the most beautiful sapphire eyes that you had ever seen. Kissing the change of heart card she formed a cross with it and then clutched it to her chest as the shrilling winds buried and packed her into the room for the rest of eternity.



The last vision that came into Bakura's mind was the picture of a skeleton with a few long tufts of hair hanging down the back with that one hand sticking out of the secluded chamber.

Letting his thoughts guide him Bakura walked through the digging sight with his eyes closed and hands searching. Something was drawing him, he needed to go somewhere. Wandering on through all the masses of people he eventually came to the very corner of the digging sight and then started digging into the wall at around waist height. He just used his hands, clawing at the hardened soil until a thin corner of a square was seen. Still tearing apart the earth he found more of that square until finally he could pull out that thin piece from the time hardened soil. What he held in his hands was what he had dreamed. There he held the time wizard.

Bakura remembered the girl who must still be clutching that change of heart card to her chest. A tear started dripping down his face, for he somehow felt connected, attached, somehow he felt he had to save her but the long webs of time had done their work so there was no way he could possibly save her now. Putting the time wizard upon his chest he started to hum that same chant the girl had been singing when the dust storm had began. He fell into that same trance, humming and swaying as the melody of the hymn eclipsed his mind.

Thump! Thump!

He jumped with a start at the sound that came from behind the wall he had just been digging at.

Thump! Thump!

Little bits of dust fell away with each pound. Bakura suddenly felt a sense of panic strike over him. Not the sort of panic that you run away from, the panic of knowing that someone you care for is in trouble. Bakura went for the wall with a will as he slammed himself into it, and he scrambled with all his might at the hardened earth until his fingers were raw. But his efforts had not been futile for he had produced the smallest of holes.

Out of this tiny hole an eye could be seen. Bakura saw the sapphire eye, but he couldn't believe it was the same girl from his vision. Again he began to tear at the walls until her had a hole just big enough to put your hand through. And so he did. He could feel that the air was dry and warm, but what he felt that was most interesting was the slender hand that was placed inside his. Upon grasping hands his millennium ring began to glow and he closed his eyes with a smile. The chunks of hammered sand began to fall away until there was an opening quite big enough for a person to be able to squeeze through.

Bakura stuck the front half of his body down into the chamber to see there the slender young girl that had been in his vision. He grabbed her hands as she reached up towards him and he pulled her up until he was able to drag her out of the old room and back onto the ground that had seen daylight in the past thousand years.

She hugged him. Bakura didn't know what to do. But she looked up at him with the most trusting eyes and spoke in her soft sweet angelic voice,

"You came for me..."

With a slight nod he tucked one glossy strand behind her ear and looked into her eyes. Oh how he wanted to look into her eyes forever as they both sat there on the ground in the little hollow pit being all covered in dust. But he did get up and he pulled up the maiden with him. Coughing nervously he smiled,

"You must be hungry..."

And this time it was her turn to nod.

Bakura climbed up out of the hollow pulling the girl up behind him and they went back to the boat. The captain was slightly confused as to where this girl had come from but so as not to be nosy he kept to his own business and took them back up the Nile into the city. They walked back to the apartment where Bakura was staying and he pulled out a loaf of bread some water and some cheese and placed it in front of the girl as she sat at the table.

Bakura went and sat in the chair across from her just staring at her face. When she had finished eating, which was quite quickly, she looked at him looking at her and their eyes stayed locked until a knock on the door came.

Holding a finger to his lips Bakura went over to the door and opened it slightly to see the leader of the digging project standing before him.

"Hello, not meaning to intrude but I was curious as to why you paid such a short visit to the site today. I was planning on showing you all the history we have found out so far..."

Holding his hand to his forehead in an apologetic fashion he replied, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Yemen, I'd completely forgotten we were suppose to go over those papers to see which ones should come back to the museum. If you will forgive me then I'll try to come by again as soon as possible, don't worry, I'll send a message before I arrive so you will be informed. I'll probably be there in the next couple of days. It just completely slipped my mind..."

Saying it was all right and that he looked forward to his visit Mr. Yemen left from the doorway as Bakura closed it. Looking back over to his new guest Bakura smiled and went back to sit in the chair. He opened his mouth as if to talk but then just it again. With a sigh he tried to think of something to say but all that came out was... "Well, so..."