Author's Notes: Nah, I don't think this will be the last chapter. At the very least, I'll do an epilogue to let you know what everyone's up to. We'll see! And… erm… I may be wrong, but this chapter doesn't seem to have much of a point. Hmm… Oh well, neither do I. ^_^ I probably won't be updating very often (do I really have enough chapters left to call ANYTHING 'often'?)
Wow, you guys hate Bobasa even more than I do, if that's possible! If he weren't part of the story later on, I'd gladly kill him off… Sorry, I know it's disappointing. But surprisingly, Ankh will be the one who gets to hurt Bobasa.
Ah, some good suggestions about names! I'll keep those in mind, thanks! ^_^ At the moment, Crossover Authoress's "Inheritance" fits the best. I think I'll so something with that.

Wretched Ghost of the Attic: *squeaks quickly and repeatedly, then purrs happily* (translation: Indigo doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh, but she owns Scale! And Ankh and Shadi. And Scale! Isn't he the best?)

-
Three-In-One Combo!
-

As Scale appeared back in Shadi's house, he heard a loud, painful groan. It seemed to be mid-morning now, and Bobasa stood leaning against the wall, clutching his head in both hands. He didn't see Scale yet.

Being in Shadi's body, Scale was in an advantageous position. "Blo - Bobasa!" he said firmly, trying to keep his voice calm and even like Shadi's. "Give me back my Items. Now!"

"M…master Shadi!" Bobasa exclaimed, horrified. His vest was open and he immediately took out the Ankh and Scales, handing them to 'Shadi.' The Ankh glowed and Ankh appeared, staggering a little and blinking, disoriented.

Scale slipped the Items into his belt. Ankh hardly noticed. He knelt down, rubbing and shaking his lowered head.

"Take the lump's body, you useless weakling!" Scale ordered. He separated from Shadi's body, letting it fall on his startled fellow spirit, who quickly possessed the body before it fell on its face.

"Do you have any IDEA what you've done, you bloated buffoon!?" Scale screamed, advancing on Bobasa, causing the large man to back up. "You nearly ruined the Balance, you planned to keep us in your disgusting… 'flesh safe,' and your precious 'Master Shadi' is STILL in there! It's your own fault! Don't you even have the sense to know when somebody's controlling you? It was so OBVIOUS! I should kill you for this!!" As Scale continued to yell, it became apparent that Bobasa not only had a massive headache, but was completely horrified at what he had done.

"Scale, stop it," Ankh groaned. "That's not helping Shadi any." He slowly pulled himself to his feet. Shadi's body wobbled only slightly. "Here, I can do it. Take the body for a minute, though."

"Oh you're SO lucky that we have to do this fast, maggot brain." Scale whirled around and stalked over to Ankh. "Fine, get out." He disappeared and took over Shadi's body.

Ankh separated from Shadi's body and took the Ankh out of his host's belt. He walked over to Bobasa, who took a step back. "Please stay still," Ankh said, frowning slightly. "This will probably hurt a great deal. Just don't suck the Ankh into yourself." He used the Ankh's powers to make Bobasa want to obey.

Scale lay down in Shadi's body and separated from it to go stand behind Ankh, glaring darkly. "I still don't see why we can't just kill the freak first…"

"We'll see. Be quiet and let me concentrate." Ankh clasped his Item for a moment with his eyes shut. Then his eyes snapped open, almost glowing, frowning in concentration. He plunged the Ankh into Bobasa's flesh, careful to avoid the imprints of the Items. Being dull, it couldn't go in very far, but Ankh forced it in as far as he could. Bobasa gave a roar of pain, but he had his back against a wall and couldn't move. Using all his strength, Ankh pushed the Ankh around in a stirring motion. Bobasa tried to move to the side, but Scale glared and rammed the Scales into his thick arm.

With one final jerk of his Item, Ankh pulled it out. He turned slightly, putting a hand up to the side to heal Bobasa a bit. The Ankh held most of his attention. It had a dark, smoky blue cloud of pure life force clinging to it and swirling around.

"Scale, get Shadi's body up again. It'll settle more evenly that way. But don't possess him. His mind's in enough confusion, he doesn't need someone else in his head with him," Ankh said, carefully sliding his hand along the Ankh to pull the blue mist off of it, gathering it into a ball in his hands.

Scale glared at Ankh resentfully, shot Bobasa a murderous look, and went over to Shadi's body again. He grabbed it under the arms and heaved it up. "You'd better hurry! I won't hold this lump here forever!"

Ankh nodded and went over to Shadi's body. He slipped the Ankh into Shadi's belt and compacted the swirling ball of life force in his hands. Then he pushed it slowly into Shadi's forehead.

Shadi opened his eyes, blinking over and over. Scale stepped away, causing his host to almost fall. Shadi staggered, seemingly unable to keep his legs straight or his feet under him. He made a strange, slightly pained sound in his throat as if he couldn't quite remember how to speak.

Ankh quickly put an arm around his wobbling host and led him over to sit down against the wall. "Are you all right, Shadi?" he asked gently.

Shadi continued to blink, and he gave his head a violent shake. He tried to focus on Ankh's face, but couldn't seem to quite make it out.

"Oh if I have to put up with a BRAINDEAD lump now, I'll kill you so even the Millennium Items can't bring you back!!" Scale shouted at Bobasa. Shadi winced slightly at the sound. "You idiotic, bloated, jellyfish-brained PUPPET!!"

"Scale, stop it!" Ankh said, getting up and frowning. "Shadi's mind kind of… diffused a bit. That's why it was swirling all over. Bit it'll settle into place again soon. He's just confused now. Why don't you sit with him and I'll deal with Bobasa. You're just hurting him by yelling." Ankh gave Scale a slightly disapproving frown.

Ankh went over to finish healing Bobasa and explain what they thought had happened. He was careful not to mention Bobasa's… creation.

Scale, meanwhile, stalked over and dropped down to sit near Shadi. "So, not a vegetable yet? You're still more lumpish than usual." He poked at Shadi's arm almost meditatively.

Shadi blinked hard and seemed to really see Scale for the first time. "You…" he croaked. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Are you a friend of mine? But you look so similar to me… My brother? No, I don't think I have a brother… Are you my son?" He frowned. "No, you're not that young… And I have no children. Or do I?" He blinked hard. "My father spoke of a certain crazy uncle Ahmed. Is that who you are?"

"Rrg… Shut it, you empty-headed baboon!" Scale shouted, giving Shadi a sharp whack across the head.

Shadi blinked again, this time in recognition. "Scale," he muttered, frowning. "Please refrain from hitting me again."

"Then you'd better 'refrain' from thinking I'm in your immediate family!" Scale glared at him. "And I'm NO ONE'S crazy uncle Ahmed!"

"Of course not. I was merely disoriented," Shadi assured him.

"Hmph, damn right you were, you gibbering lunatic…" Scale muttered.

"Besides, I have never had a crazy uncle Senui," Shadi mused under his breath.

"What was that, frog legs!?" hissed Scale.

"Nothing at all," Shadi said coolly, getting to his feet with only mild dizziness.

"…So it wasn't your fault, really. It was the former guardians. They tricked you into harming Shadi and us. Just don't trust them again." Ankh stretched up to point the Ankh at Bobasa's forehead. "It feels like something was ripped out of your mind…"

"Well I could have told you that, sprout-head!" Scale said, rolling his eyes.

Bobasa's eyes were wide in horror. "Master Shadi, I beg your forgiveness, though I do not deserve it! Please, I knew not what I did. I do not deserve to guard the Millennium Items…" He knelt before Shadi, bowing low and averting his eyes. "Please allow me to try to make amends for my horrible mistakes."

Shadi took a deep breath. "It was not your fault. I cannot blame you. Even after what you have done, you would make a better guardian than most of those who controlled you. Your devotion to the Pharaoh is admirable. I could not hope to match it. It would be a shame to waste that…"

"So are we going to burn him for fuel or something?" Scale asked with a nasty laugh.

"Scale!" Ankh hissed, jabbing him with his elbow. Scale then proceeded to poke the green-glad healer repeatedly.

Shadi raised an eyebrow at his spirits, but continued. "I have a task for you. The Pharaoh will soon gain all he needs to recover his memories. He will need help with it, though. You should go to Japan and assist him and his friends when he attains all of the God Cards. Tell him I sent you, and they should accept your assistance. Hopefully."

Bobasa stood again, looking worried. "So… you can forgive me that easily? But how could I even hope to help him without any Items of my own?"

"No, I do not quite forgive you. But I am willing to let it drop," Shadi said. "And I believe that the problem of the Items can be solved. Ankh, Scale, give me your Items," Shadi said, turning to his spirits, who had just stopped fighting.

"You've got your own! Look in your belt, you moldy-brained ninny!" Scale exclaimed. Ankh frowned in confusion and nodded.

"I hold the original Items," Shadi agreed. "But you two have your own… copies of them. And even if you are separated from them, you have them again when you go into THESE Items and come back."

"Oh, I see!" Ankh said. "So if we give him ours, we won't be missing them. But… won't they just disappear from HIM when we go back to our soul rooms?"

"Not if you do not wish them to," Shadi said. He heard Scale's complaint before it was even voiced. /And if he has the Ankh and Scale at his disposal, he will leave to watch over the Pharaoh in Japan. Think, wouldn't it be worth it?/

Scale shot him a deadly glare. \\Oh it had better be. Because if it's not, I'm dropping you in the Shadow Realm with those cobweb-headed old guardians.\\

Ankh and Scale grudgingly handed their Items to Shadi, who in turn gave them to Bobasa. Scale kicked Shadi before disappearing into his soul room, and Ankh smiled apologetically and followed suit. Bobasa looked uncertain, but he reluctantly put the second set of Items in his flesh safe. They glowed slightly around the edges and seemed to solidify.

/Ankh? Scale? You're all right, I trust?/

//It felt strange… It hurt a little for a second, but we're fine now.//

\\…If you call having ANY kind of connection to that disgusting blob 'all right.'\\

"You know how to use the transportation spell, do you not?" Shadi asked. He hoped that the ancient guardians had instilled at least that much knowledge in their creation.

"Of course, master Shadi," Bobasa said, careful to bow slightly and cast his eyes down.

"Ah, good. Why don't you go to Japan, then. The Pharaoh lives in Domino City. You should avoid being seen until he gains all of the God Cards, but then enter his mind, perhaps with his friends, and find his true name. That will open the door to his memories," Shadi said, rather eager to have the house mostly to himself again.

"Yes, master Shadi," Bobasa said. He frowned slightly. "I apologize profusely for trapping you… and your servants."

//Servants? Does he mean us?//

\\SERVANTS!? How DARE he!? As if I'd be a lump's servant! Ha, don't get any ideas, yogurt-for-brains! If anything, you're MY servant!"

"They are not really servants," Shadi said frowning slightly. "They are the Items' spirits and power-sources. And my companions, most of the time. But you should be on your way."

"Of course, master Shadi," Bobasa said, bowing. "Thank you." He focused his energy into the Items in his flesh safe and sank into the floor with wide white ripples.

Shadi sighed in relief and staggered over to sink down on his bed, leaning against the wall. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes. Ankh separated from his Item and crouched down beside his host.

"Are you all right, Shadi?" Ankh asked worriedly.

"Ah… yes… I think." Shadi opened his eyes slightly to look at the concerned spirit. "Just tired. And still a bit disoriented."

The Scales glowed, and Scale appeared too. "By Thoth, that glob of hippo lard made this a pig sty… Clean this up, you buffoon!" he growled at Shadi.

"Scale, leave Shadi alone," Ankh admonished. "Why don't you clean it yourself!"

Scale went over and whacked Ankh, knocking his hat off. While Ankh picked it up and put it back on his head, Scale grasped his Item. The dust, blood, sweat, food, and other grime on the floor slowly vanished. "The clutter's your problem, freaks." He kicked an empty can across the floor.

"You know Scale, I am quite impressed. You managed to break their control over him on your own? You did it in the Shadow Realm, I assume?" Shadi asked, turning to Scale.

"Ha, yes I did! See, I'm far more useful than THAT loser," Scale smirked, giving Ankh a light kick.

"Perhaps I don't give you enough credit, Scale," Shadi conceded.

"…Yeah, I'm the greatest, and you should both bow to me! And hand over the Ankh! And if you join me now, you can be there when I rule the world!" Scale began ranting.

"Please don't become a megalomaniac right now Scale, I cannot deal with it at the moment…" Shadi moaned.

"Oh shut up, lump," Scale snorted. "The great blob of bloated doom's gone. Lay off for once! Why shouldn't I make my plans for the future?"

"He will probably return after he guides the Pharaoh to his memories," Shadi sighed tiredly.

"Then I can tell him just where he can shove his ugly head," Scale said, grinning darkly.

Ankh looked like he was going to reproach Scale, but he just looked down, nodding sadly. "I wish we didn't have to worry about all of this any more…"

"If he should return, I will ask him to continue keeping CLOSE watch over the Pharaoh. Or I may consider sending him to guard the tombs. The tomb guardians should not be burdened with that for all of eternity. Malik Ishtar has had enough of it, obviously," Shadi sighed, as if he sympathized completely.

"Are you sure you're all right, Shadi?" Ankh asked, frowning in concern.

"I'm tired. And dizzy. But quite relieved to have my body back." He shot a mildly grateful glance at Scale. "I don't see how you two manage."

Ankh grinned. "It DOES take some getting used to, I guess."

"Indeed. Well, I'm glad I won't have to get used to it," Shadi said.

"Um… Do you need anything, Shadi?" Ankh asked, seeing that his host was still blinking hard and shaking his head slightly.

"Ah… I think so, but I cannot put my finger on what…" Shadi gave Ankh a slightly worried look.

Ankh nodded. "Don't worry, you'll be back to normal after you've had some rest. Do you want me to put a sleep spell on you?"

Shadi's clouded expression cleared slightly in relief. "Yes. Thank you."

"Hey, if he stays this clueless, I'll be able to win the Ankh from him without even trying!" Scale said with an almost bright smile.

Ankh rolled his eyes. "Scale, leave Shadi alone." He raised a hand to Shadi's forehead and set a very light sleep spell on him. Shadi fell to the side and was asleep instantly. "What do you think we should do with Bobasa's stuff, Scale?"

"Are you kidding!?" Scale exclaimed. "That big oaf's been sleeping on them for a while now! They're probably as flat as papyrus by now…"

Ankh grinned. "I'll bet you're right. We should get rid of them." His eyes widened. "Oh, and I should probably go reassure the neighbors! You don't want to come, do you? I probably won't even be talking to them, just putting the idea in their heads that they'll be able to sleep from now on, and they have been before too."

"Hm, wiping their memories or something like that? Sure, might be fun. And maybe I can swipe some of their chocolate!"

Ankh laughed. "You havve a one-track mind…"

"Tch, I just have my priorities straight, unlike YOU," Scale said, rolling his eyes. "Power and chocolate are important. What else matters?"

"Well, maybe," said Ankh, his eyes shining with repressed giggles. "Should we go, then?"

"I guess so," Scale said with a a disgusted snort. "If we don't go soon, I'd probably find you collapsed in an alley because you were stupid enough to use up your last bit of energy." Ankh looked at him questioningly and he quickly continued. "And you can't be useful to me if you're unconscious, you insignificant gnat!"

"Okay Scale," Ankh said, grinning tiredly. He went to the other room and dragged out Bobasa's two flattened mattresses. "Take one of these, would you? We can take them to the dump while we're out that way."

"Why should I!?" Scale demanded.

"Because if you don't, it will take twice as long?" Ankh suggested with a slightly lopsided smile.

"Rrg… I hate you, you know. Give me that, lobster-legs."

"Of course… mosquito-nose."

"… …WHAT?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought…"

"No, you didn't! You couldn't insult… a loaf of bread! Give it up, you sickening dead fish! I'll kill you!"

"But I'm not even alive…"

"Oh shut up."

-
Endnote: Eh, that'll do. I'll have an epilogue… some time. I guess there WAS a point to this chapter, but after I got to that, it kind of just meandered around without much to do. So… what did you think? Any good? Are you more satisfied with this as an ending, if I go and wrap up loose ends later? I hope so… And I'll work on the prequel next, but you'll have a while to wait for it!