We're slowly but surely nearing the end of this story. I haven't written it in a while. I'm on chapter thirty-seven. I have a new job now. It's... interesting. I enjoy working from home. Getting new doctors too slowly but surely. I'm slowly getting these stories done. Right now, I'm focusing on Persona stuff. Planning on a P5R/P4G story, but that won't appear until these stories are through. (Though, that doesn't include the sequel to this.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh. Last time I checked, I wasn't Kazuki Takahashi. Yugioh belongs to him and all of its characters. OCs belong to Pippa and me, so no stealing! ASK!

*Warning*: proceed this story with extreme caution! There will be: Violence, gore, death, rape/non-con (whatever you want to call it), incest (this is Ancient Egypt. Get real!) A bit of OCCness due to the situations of characters, prejudice against skin colour and religion, depression, suicide tenancies, hate/love relationships.

Inspiration: This story was inspired by Jollybigsis' 'Enslaved'. I absolutely love that story. Great Casteshipping story! If you haven't checked it out, then do so!

Chapter Twenty-nine: Difficulties

Masa

Bakari, three guards, and I find an oasis. Bakari and I check the water contents and surrounding area for any magical properties.

Not only do we have to search for Pharaoh, but Lord Aknadin as well.

We have been here for an hour, and we have found nothing of use.

Then again, I have to throw the search off balance.

It is not because I want Pharaoh not to be found. It is because…

I shiver. I know I cannot keep this secret forever, but my hands are tied.

Ennos…

My little brother is caught up with Bakura. I should be angry, but truth be told, I am grateful. Grateful that Ennos has somewhere to stay. There were reports a few years ago that Chuma was found dead via a Ka attack. Ka teeth marks were found on his ripped throat. Added to the fact there were rumours around that somehow could detect and pull out Ka, and my little brother had gone missing, well…

Ennos does not know. He barely knows I exist. Mother refused to let me have that bond. Thus the reason Ennos has his powers.

I never wanted him to be cursed. He was the only of the three of us: he, myself, and our sister, Halima, to not have heka. Yet, now because of me..

It is also because of me that my sister is dead too. Can I blame Mother for hating me? Yet, I was barely an adult. Just thirteen years old. I had no control over my power. We were looked at like freaks.

"Come on, Big Brother! Can't you use your magic to catch some fishies for me?" my three year old sister, Halima, exclaims excitedly from the edge of the Nile where our village is.

I unravel the net. I am in charge of gathering food after all. "You know that I am not allowed to."

"Well, then I-" she starts pointing to the water, causing it to ripple slightly.

I grab her hand. "No."

She pouts. "But Big Brother…!"

"Let me take care of it. We do not need magic to survive."

Yet, I wonder why I have this power? Why does Halima? Did we get it from Father? Mother will not tell us about him. She becomes angry and cold when he is brought up.

Well, that and our heka abilities.

If we even try to use it, we are beaten.

No, Mother is not cruel usually. I want to ask, but she is hard to talk to.

Yet, I know she loves my sister and me. And not using my abilities is the least I can do.

"Well, fine. But you'll let me help, yeah?"

"Of course. Finish untangling the net, and I will get the boat," I say, handing it to her.

"'Kay!" Halima says, starting on the knots as I walk to the wooden posts we keep the boats about five feet away.

"Bring it over!"

She runs over as I push the boat into the water, jumping in.

"Think we''ll get some good fishies?" she asks as I paddle the boat with the oars into the water more.

"Perhaps. Go ahead and stick the net in."

"Alright!" my little sister exclaims, putting it in. Nothing happens at first, then the water glows a faint yellow.

"Halima, I told you-""

"It's only a bit! Mother won't know!"

I sigh. It really is unfair we cannot use our powers. "I told you we are not allowed to use our powers, Halima."

"But why?! We can help so much! We could protect our village from the bandits and stuff! We could bring fishies and help sickness! Why can't we-""

"Because Mother said so."

"Well, Mommy is wrong! I will use my powers! Daddy would let me!"

Father…

"Fine, but you need to calm down. You are scaring the fish."

"Oopies! Sorry, fishies!"

But the water does not calm. It only gets worse!

"Big Brother?" Halima whispers terrified as a giant crocodile swims towards us.

I grab my harpoon from my belt, infusing it with heka and throw it at the creature. Not to hurt it, of course, but to scare it. It hits its snout, swimming away.

Halima and I pull our catch in. The bag full of fish.

"Yay! I caught fishies!" she beams. "Here you go, Mr. Croco!" she throws a few fish back in the water. The creature catches them with ease, rolling in the water.

It is always so magnificent to see.

"Alright, I believe that should be good enough. Let us return to shore. Mother should be back soon."

"Okay! I can get us there in no time flat and have dinner cooked!"

"Halima-"

She wraps her untrained magic around the boat, causing it to speed across the water. The water crashes from the force of the heka against the boat.

"Halima, stop!"

She laughs merrily, skidding her small fingers against the torrent waters. A large wave appears. If that hits us…!

I try to block the wave, but it is too strong for my heka as well.

"Masa!" my little sister screams as the wave crashes down on us, knocking us and our catch out of the boat. The net breaks and the fish swim away. "Our fishies!"

"Do not worry about that right now! Just get to shore!"

"But…!""

I try to reach her, but the water knocks us both away from each other. Our heka clashes. I know she is trying to help, but…

"Masa! Halima!"

I barely see Mother at the shore due to the crashing waves. I need to calm the water, but my heka is not working for me!

Dammit!

Alright, if I cannot save myself, I at least can save Halima!

I slowly open my eyes. Everything hurts.

"So you are finally awake," an unfamiliar voice says to my right.

I try to sit up, but am pushed back down. "Relax. You have been through a lot. You would have died had I not been in the area."

"Who are you?" I ask, looking at the man.

He is dressed nothing like I have ever seen. White robes. Is he from the palace?

"My name is Mahaado. I am a magician in training under Lady Teanna."

"Magician…?"

"That is correct. I was out searching for possible magicians to train with me when I sensed the Nile was angry."

"I… what happened? Where am I?"

"You are in the palace in Lady Teanna's healing quarters."

"Halima!" I exclaim, bolting up. "Where is my little sister? What about Mother?"

Master Mahaado closes his eyes, shaking his head. "Your mother is still alive, but a great deal of your villagers were killed from the waves including your sister."

"No!" I exclaim, trying to get up.

Master Mahaado pushes me down.

I struggle. "Let me go!"

"What will acting like this solve? I and Lady Teanna stopped the raging waters to protect the rest of the villagers. I only wished I had gotten there sooner…"

"How did I end up here?"

"I brought you here. Your mother seemed more than happy to get rid of you."

"I see…"

"We will be training under Lady Teanna."

"Why are you helping me?" I ask.

"I know how it feels to not be in control of my powers too."

"Oh."

"You never told me your name."

"It is Masa."

I trained under Lady Teanna with Master Mahaado for a year and a half before I truly could use my powers. I never stopped thinking about how I killed my sister. It ate, no it still eats me up inside.

And that's why I can never let Master Mahaado know…

I head back from training in the Magicians training ground. Sometimes I come out here by myself. I want to master my powers and protect people!

It has been nearly two years since I have lived here. With Lady Teanna's tutelage, I have gotten much better at controlling my powers. I even have my own wand!

"Good evening, Masa."

I look up to see Lord Aknadin, Pharaoh's twin brother, standing several feet from the palace.

I bow. "Lord Aknadin."

"You don't need to bow, Masa."I stand up. "I need your assistance."

I blink. "With what, Lord Aknadin."

"I need a magician. If you would come with me," he says, turning and heading to where the stables are.

"Then should you not ask Master Mahaado?"

Lord Aknadin stops, turning around. "Mahaado has little control over his powers. He could ruin this. And there is no need to call him master."

Yeah, but…

The elder man walks off. I follow. What could he want or need from me? Perhaps something is up with the horses? I have realized I'm better at barriers than anything else.

We enter. Several horses are saddled and five other magicians are on them. None of them in training.

"What is going on?"

"Get on a horse, Masa. You will find out soon enough."

I nod, doing so. Something does not feel right. And it only gets stronger as we ride into the night.

If only I had listened to that feeling. Because what happened next changed my life forever.

Lord Aknadin led us into an underground sanctuary. He, too, has heka abilities. There are guards in here and they become zombified. What…?

"To Kul Elna!" they shout, raising their spears.

Kul Elna? What is that?

A village of tomb robbers in the Valley of the Kings.

I watch in horror as the people are slaughtered!

"Lord Aknadin-"

"We must hurry. Egypt is in great danger."

But…

"Masa, let us go."

I walk down into a sanctuary underground with Lord Aknadin and the other five magicians as screams fill the night.

We gather in a room. Lord Aknadin reads from a tome, making us repeat what he is reading. The dead bodies are brought in and thrown into a pot of liquid flames.

Why?! Why are we?!

Wait; is this the spell Pharaoh approved of?! But he would never do that! What is this?!

A large stone with strange indents appears from the ground and the liquid flames turn into liquid gold metal.

Seven days. Seven days of tirelessly chanting the spell, of hearing the screams of the tombrobbers, and watching their souls being ripped from their bodies and their bodies melting into gold! All because of the slaughter of the guards and the spell spoken from my lips!

How could Lord Akandin have done that?!

A shadow hand wraps around Lord Aknadin. It is angry! It squeezes the man to near death.

"Lord Aknadin!"

"Unhand me at once, you foul beast!" he hisses, putting the golden eye, the Millennium Eye in. His screams echo the chamber, but they pale in comparison to the screams of the people who made these Items.

We barely manage to make it back to the palace. When the enemy attacks, and the Millennium Items were used to protect the kingdom, I realize why Lord Aknadin did what he did.

Even so…

Lord Aknadin demanded that I keep it a secret. What choice did I have? I feared I would be executed, and the Items did protect Egypt.

Yet, that was nothing compared to what we are dealing with now.

If only I had listened to my instincts. If only I had told Pharaoh Aknamkanon before! Then maybe Pharaoh would still be in the palace and Bakura would not have had to lose his entire clan.

Malik

"We need to do something," Amane says.

We're gathered in the 'throne room'. All of us except Pharaoh and Bakura that is. Bakura has not left Pharaoh's side since he passed out. It has been two weeks, and his condition isn't stabilizing or improving. In fact, it's getting much, much worse.

"I agree. Nothing I have tried is working," Ryou sighs, rubbing his eyes. "Not to mention Bakura has grown ill from lack of sleep."

"The Ring would help, but Pharaoh is wearing it." Kisara says.

"Do you think Pharaoh will die?" Amane asks softly.

I am so thankful he is getting a bit more respect. I know Bakura still hates him, but there is more. Much, much more.

Ryou looks at the entranceway of the hallway where our rooms are. "I can't say. I'm doing everything I can to keep him alive, but…"

"We need to get him out of here," I say.

"Where would we go?" Kisara wonders.

"Khalid's."

We look up to see Bakura standing with Pharaoh in his arms.

"Bakura!" Ryou exclaims, rushing over as the Thief King nearly collapses.

I help to catch him as well.

"Easy, Fool, we'll get you both there."

"What about the hideout? Who will watch it?"

"I can stay," Otogi says.

"But the Priests are always together!" Amane protests.

"Yeah, but…"

"We're all going. It isn't fair if you have to stay."

"What if I stayed too?" Honda asks.

"I can't-"

"We're the only two without children, so it makes the most sense."

"Yeah, but what if you're attacked again?"

"We won't be. We have our Ka, and Zorc's protection."

Bakura closes his eyes. It's hard to argue, but I understand his hesitation. I know Honda and Otogi want to go as well, but we cannot leave the hideout unattended even under the protection of Zorc.

"Fine, but be careful."

"We will!"

"I'll stay as well!" Amane says. "I can't leave these guys hungry now, can I?" she smirks.

With everyone in agreement, we head to Khalid's. I'm unsure if this will help, but Pharaoh needs help. Valentina is a skilled healer as well, so perhaps she can help Ryou?

It is worth a shot at least.

Khalid

I hum as I carve the heated glass into an Osiris figurine. I haven't met Pharaoh officially, but Bakura was kind enough to paint me a picture of the God Ka.

I'm still amazed that Pharaoh is the Pharaoh of Legend and Bakura was able to hold his own against him not once, but twice.

Then again, only a god can hold its own or even defeat another God.

Even though money has been tight due to more mouths to feed, I still enjoy my life. Bakura always ensures the children are not doing without. Despite his life choices, deep down, he is a good man.

He's just hurt and broken.

And even more so now because of his daughter.

My wife has to constantly keep an eye on her. We had to hire more help for the other children because of it. Being here is the only way to ensure their safety. They would be killed if they lived in any of the hideouts.

Even so, I love helping out Bakura. It's the least I can do for his sister.

Koranna…

What would she think of all of this?

I find myself thinking of my first lover quite a bit these days. It is not as though I don't love Valentina and our two children, but…

Maybe that is why I'm so close to Bakura and his daughter.

My workplace door slams open.

I nearly break the glass figurine, but catch it just in time. "Bakura?!" I exclaim, setting the glass down and running over to him.

He's standing in the entranceway, nearly falling over with someone wrapped in a thick blanket in his arms.

"Please, Khalid, you have to help him!"

I catch him, and stare at the man who is feared by so many. The look in his eyes. I've never seen him in this state before.

"Where are the others?"

"They're in your house. You weren't there, so I figured…"

"Come on, let's get inside."

He nods, and with my help, we get inside.

"Set Pharaoh right here," Valentina says, fluffing up a pillow on a cot in Akila's room.

"Is it safe for Akila and Pharaoh to be near each other?" Mai wonders, gripping her cactus whip.

"Let it go, Mai," Malik says. "We don't have much choice."

Bakura ignores the exchange as he sets Pharaoh down on the cot gently. One of the servants has already put chairs out for all to sit in. The children are fast asleep.

"Daddy? Mommy? Why are you here? I sense a new presence." Akila says, sitting up slowly, rubbing her eyes.

Kisara walks over, sitting on the bed. "Try not to move so much. You know you need your rest, Akila."

Akila "looks" at Pharaoh.

Due to the lights being on, she can't see. None of us have ever heard anything like it. She is a very unique girl. Her skin is pale like her mother's, but with strange markings on her legs and arms that only glow in the dark. Her hair is jet black and long. What is the most striking thing about her is her eyes. They appear to resemble the night sky full of stars. Like something out of a dream. In the light, she is completely blind, but in the dark, she can see.

"Ryou, will you turn the light off so Akila can see?"" Kisara asks.

Her twin nods, doing so.

Akila's eyes glow and she stares at the man in the bed.

"He's dying."

"Yes, dear, he is," Kisara whispers.

"Daddy is sad."

No one says anything.

"What happened?" Valentina asks, placing a cool wet cloth onto Pharaoh's head. "He is burning up. Your heka has not worked, Ryou?"

The foreigner shakes his head. "No. But from what I've learned, he's been poisoned."

"Poisoned? Tell us everything."

Aknadin

I bow to the Stone.

"It took you quite a bit to get here, Aknadin," the deep voice of Zorc says from the Millennium Stone.

"My apologies, Lord Zorc. Preparations were more difficult than I had originally thought."

"Yes, because both of your spawns are scurrying around. I must say it was amusing you nearly ran into them. You ought to thank me I concealed you."

I keep my voice even as best I can. "I am, of course."

"I assume the other Items are on their way?" he asks, ignoring my "rude behaviour".

"I have Masa to lead the Pharaoh's search astray."

"Excellent. And what of the message to Kisara?"

"Already sent out. My creature will detect her through her power, so no matter where she is, she will get the message."

A creature I was able to take thanks to my Eye and Masa. He really is a fool. He doesn't realize the truth of any of this. A wasted effort to keep secrets when I'll dispose of him soon enough.

And the creature will die as soon as Kisara gets that message from it.

"Good. We will wait for the girl. The Pharaoh's minions will come with the Items before long."

Indeed they shall. As long as Masa does his job that is.

A simple job. One he shouldn't fail at. He's a good magician. He knows how the create any barrier even if an illusion. That is why the fake kidnap letter demanded he be a part of my search party.

After all, Seth is the only true Pharaoh. I need Zorc to make that possible. Using Masa is just a small part of my plan to make it so.

Although, having Seth and Mokuba out looking for Pharaoh and waterfalls wasn't originally in my plan.

Oh well. It can work to my advantage.

And luckily, those two foolish "kings" the Pendant. All I need is to take the Rod and the Ring. The Tauk, Ankh, and Scales should be easy. Especially the Tauk with Isis being pregnant like a foolish woman she is.

Oh well. It makes my job easier. Soon enough, this world will be covered in darkness, and Seth shall rule over it!

I throw my head back and laugh, Millennium Eye glowing in the shadows.

Bakura

I'm not sure how long we've been here. I can't eat or sleep. And no matter what, Atem will not get better. Akila has tried to help, but Kisara and I refuse her. She is too weak to try to help anyone. I won't allow my only child to die to save a life.

Especially not the Peasant Pharaoh's!

Yet, I sit here with him only moving to use the bathroom or to check on my daughter.

This is too much.

Even though Gozaburo is dead, what he and his cronies did to Atem has lasted long after his obileration.

We should have found the antidote, or have been able to make one!

"You can't die like this, Pharaoh," I hiss. "I won't let you!"

The man doesn't reply. He just lies in bed with that perfect face of his.

It pisses me off!

I touch it. It's both hot and cold all at once. I miss his touch. I miss his eyes. I miss him fighting me. It's pathetic how he let such a pathetic vermin get the best of him!

Dammit!

I fall to my knees, burying my face in Atem's chest. As much as I try, I cannot stop the sobs choking out of me.

"You love him, don't you, Daddy?"

I look up to see Akila standing behind me.

"Get back in the bed, Akila."

My seven year old daughter ignores me, staring at Atem. What does she see that no one else does?

"He needs you."

"I hate him."

"Don't lie, Daddy."

She knows about Kul Elna. I didn't have to tell her. None of us did. She just knows.

"It's not that simple, Akila."

"You make it not simple. It's more than just his body that's been poisoned too. No medicine will help him."

"I know…"

"I can watch over him while you're gone."

"Gone?" I ask looking up at my daughter.

"Yeah, to Kul Elna. You need Zorc to heal him. It's the only way."

I look at Atem. The only thing keeping the man alive is Ryou's powers, and his and Valentina's medicines. And, of course, the Ring.

Perhaps Akila is right, but even so…

"Zorc hates Atem," I whisper.

"But he loves you, Daddy, and you can convince him to help."

I close my eyes. Can I? Will Zorc listen to me? This has become about so much more than fighting and killing the Pharaoh.

Revenge was so close, and now I…

"Follow your heart for once, Daddy. Anyone can see you love Pharaoh."

"Akila."

"And don't start that "I can't love him" nonsense. Just go save him before it's too late, Daddy!"

I stare at my daughter. How did I get such a wise and beautiful daughter?

I stand up slowly. "Fine. I'll be back as soon as I can, but you better not do anything stupid while I'm gone, Akila."

"Yes sir!" she purs the Ring on mu neck.

"Akila-'

"You'll need it."

"But Atem…"

"I promise I won't let him die. And besides, it was only temporary. You don't want to be falling over while you go get help, do you?"

I stare into my child's eyes. I don't know what it is, but I always believe what she says. It's as if she's a goddess in her own right, but if that were the case, why is she dying?

'Alright, but listen to your mother and the others if they believe your overexerting yourself, Akila."

"Yes, Daddy."

After kissing her goodbye and telling the others of my plan, I take my horse to my home. He neighs and nearly throws me off when a creature swoops down.

"Diabound!" I call, my mighty Ka roars and kills the weakling. She catches it in her mighty grip.

I notice there is a note attached to the leg of it. I take it off, my ka slipping back inside once the vermin disintegrates.

I open it.

Kisara,

Come to Kul Elna alone. I know how to heal Pharaoh and I need your power to do it. If you refuse, I will kill Seth.

I shake in rage, Diabound roaring into the night sky.

I start to head out, but arrows, spears, and heka explode around me.

"Shit!" I hiss, barely avoiding the blasts.

"There you are, Thief King!"

When the smoke clears, there are a few guards and magicians surrounding me.

I look at them, and smirk. I have no time for this foolishness! Who knows how much longer Atem can last.

I shouldn't be able to fight at all, but thanks to using the Ring earlier yo heal, I can and will!

I throw my head back and cackle. "Diabound, let's take care of our pest problem, shall we?! Helical Shockwave!"

Previews

Bakura

"You are nothing! You're not Atem! You're so far out of his league it's embarrassing I'm in this state!"

"How dare you slander Pharaoh's holy name with your dirty tongue! You will burn, rotten thief!"