Kaiba landed on his head on a cold stone floor. Luckily there was some hay to break his fall, but before he could get up, Ro, Misaki, Tali, Makimura, and Mokuba came tumbling down on top of him.
Makimura landed on top of the heap. "Whew," she said.
Ro looked at his sister. "Makimura, if you don't mind, would you get down from their so we can get up?"
"Would you ALL mind getting off of ME?" Kaiba growled, irritated.
The kids disentangled themselves from one another and got to their feet, brushing hay off their pants. Tali looked around the room.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"It looks like Toonworld or something," Kaiba commented.
It was a fairly large, dark room made of stone. Torches were lit here and there, casting eerie shadows about the room. The group huddled together, shivering and trying to keep warm.
Suddenly Misaki gasped. "Look!" she exclaimed, pointing upwards. "It's the same window we were standing by when Mokuba stepped on the trap door!"
"You're right!" Tali exclaimed.
"But that must mean we're in the same room as the make inu and his friends," Kaiba added.
"All right!" Ro cried, punching the air. "Now all we have to do is find where they are and release them from their chains!"
"Easier said than done," Kaiba demurred. "It's not like we have a key or anything.
"Stop being so negative, Seto."
Misaki's face contorted in anguish. She threw her hands up into the air and said, frustrated, "Ugh! If only Dajan or Ay were here! They could use the Millennium Key to open the locks!"
"Something tells me the Millennium Key is being put to good use elsewhere," Tali said, with a knowing look in her eye. (A/n: yeah, like to say Yami from the fiery duel arena!!! LOL!)
Ro sighed. "I guess the only thing to do now is to search for their bodies."
"We could use Misaki's glasses as a key," Kaiba joked.
"ACK! Seto, quit it!" Misaki whined.
The group split up in three groups to search for the captives. Kaiba and Mokuba were in one group, Ro and Makimura in another, and Misaki and Tali in the last. No one knew where to search first, but they all figured that since the prisoners had been sighted directly across from the window, they should head in the opposite direction of which they came, away from the window.
Kaiba and Mokuba walked forward for a few minutes before they met a dead end and had to turn around. Ro hit his head when he reached a dead end of his own, but Misaki and Tali found themselves wandering in circles. Finally Ro and Kaiba met up with each other, both feeling it had been an exclusive waste of time.
Kaiba knocked his head against the wall. "Where ARE those bakas?" he complained. "We're been looking forever!"
"Technically, we've only been looking for ten minutes," Ro objected.
"Jonouchi's been looking for his brain for a lot longer than ten minutes," Kaiba grumbled.
It was then that the duo noticed their siblings had disappeared.
"Oh no!" Kaiba groaned as he searched around frantically for the kids. "You take your eyes off them for one minute and...!"
"Quick! This way!" Ro commanded. Kaiba obediently followed.
They didn't run into Mokuba or Makimura, but as Tali and Misaki made their sixth trip around the same stone column, they crashed into each other once more. After briefly explaining the situation to the girls, they began searching for the lost kids and calling out their names.
"Mokuba!"
"Makimura!"
"Kids, get out here!"
"Where are you?"
***
Setsuna hugged herself, befuddled and wondering where she was. There were mountains all around her, and not a soul for miles. Where had Taidu sent her, and why? Begrudgingly, she started to walk towards the mountains.
At that moment, she heard her own voice singing a Hebrew song. Baffled, she searched for what sounded like herself. Her eyes came to rest on a hillside nearby, and she watched her past self climbing up it.
"Ahh!" she exclaimed. "Um... I'm sorry! I didn't know anyone was -"
But the other Setsuna made no response. She walked right past the present-day Setsuna, humming merrily and swinging her bag. Soon she came to a cave in mountainside with rocks blocking the entrance.
"Oh my," the past Setsuna stated, amused. "Looks like my super-strength will be needed here after all." She began digging with ease through the boulders, pushing them aside.
"I have to make a way for the others to get inside the mountain," she said to no one in particular. "The quickest route to the Sennen Sets goes through here. I'll have to be quick about it - I'm sure Zhur's followers want to take this way too. But once we get the Sets... what will we do with them? Shaadi wouldn't tell us their purpose, only that there's one for each of us. Zhur has one already, and seeks the others. I'm worried, though. If Shaadi wouldn't even tell US their purpose, then their power must be incredible!"
The present-day Setsuna blushed when she realized her past self had a habit of thinking out loud. She was glad she'd lost that habit after spending five millennia in the Millennium Mirror.
'Sennen Sets,' she mused. 'That must have been what we used to call the Millennium Items.' (A/N: No duh! I just thought that since the items hadn't been around for a millennia yet, the people of Ancient Egypt would have called them something different. Japanese is always good! ^-^)
The past Setsuna was still tearing at the rocks, trying her best to unblock the entrance. Sweat poured down her face and the hot Egyptian sun was no help. She stopped a minute and leaned against the mountain to rest.
She heard a rustling above her. Curiously, she looked up and saw a figure crouching on a rock ledge jutting out of the mountainside. Before she could ask who it was, the figure leaped down and landed in front her, before drawing to his full height.
It was a tall, broad, muscular man with hairy arms and wild, tangled hair. His eyes were cat-like and yellow, and out of his mouth protruded two sharp fangs. He walked in a gorilla-like manner, his huge feet causing the ground to shake. It was one of Zhur's minions, a Shadow creature of brute force known only as Zhong-wan.
"Hello there, little warrior of the Priest of Light," he growled, a lopsided grin on his scarred face. "I've been searching for you. You'll make a nice meal for my friends!" He snapped his large, rough fingers and out of the woods came five lions and two cheetahs, all licking their black lips hungrily and advancing on Setsuna. "But I fancy you won't be enough to satisfy their hunger. They'll have a feast where your friends get here!" He laughed hysterically.
"That's not going to happen!" Setsuna objected. "Just you wait, Zhong-wan! I'm going to make you wish you'd never crossed Setsuna, daughter of Uzziah!"
Zhong-wan lunged at her, and Setsuna jerked out of the way. She pulled off a spectacular hand-spring and kicked Zhong-wan's head with all her might as she came down. He grabbed her hand and pushed her to the ground, ripping at her flesh.
Setsuna cried out in pain as he slashed at her arm. Lifting her foot, she kicked him away from her and dashed out of his reach. Already she was a terrible mess, and had hardly landed a scratch on him.
'Wh-what's with this guy?!' she mentally screamed. 'He's gotten stronger since the last time we fought! Well, time to get defensive. I'll have to summon a monster!'
She focused on the type of monster she wanted to summon. She wasn't very sure of her summoning abilities - that was Yami's specialty, and she had only come to Egypt a few years ago as a captive from Midian. Only in Egypt was that magic taught, and she had only begun to get the hang of it. Still, she had no choice now.
"Rock and rubble, here my cry! I call upon the forces of earth to come to my aid! Stone Soldier, arise!"
The rocks in front of entrance to the mountain began to crack, and suddenly the cave was visible. The boulders had formed together to create the powerful Stone Soldier, wielding his great stone sword, more than thrice the size of Zhong-wan.
"Beat that, fool!" Setsuna taunted, feeling much more confident now that she had a shield to defend her.
Zhong-wan wagged his finger. "Don't forget, my beloved ones," he threatened, gesturing to the lions and cheetahs. "They're not interested in rocks. They like FLESH!"
With that final word, all the carnivorous felines rushed out of their waiting spots and attacked Setsuna. She grabbed a stick on the ground and whacked their faces and tails, but the cats had five sharp ends and a whip-like tail to boot. She was scratched and bitten, slapped and knocked down more than she would have liked. At the same time, the Stone Soldier was pounding Zhong-wan, but after a while of this she saw the monster shriek in pain and disappear.
By this time, Setsuna was beaten pretty badly, and Zhong-wan called off his pets. He stumbled over to Setsuna, nursing his wounds from Stone Soldier's assaults. Still, he was ready to finish off Setsuna.
He raised his fist above her head.
"SAY GOOD-BYE, MIDIANITE!"
"RIGHT BACK AT YOU, FALLEN ONE!"
Shock filled Zhong-wan's eyes as Setsuna somehow found the strength to jump from the ground and lock her legs around his neck. With every ounce of strength in her she tightened her grip around him, and he choked for breath. He tried to tear her from his body, but she was too determined and refused to let go. At last he fell to the ground in a dead faint. Setsuna didn't loosen her grip just in case he was still alive, but that gave the felines the chance they'd been waiting for. They bounded out and attacked Setsuna, who shrieked and let go, running from the site and then tripping and falling to the sandy ground.
The felines had turned on their master and were now feasting on his dead body, Setsuna shut her eyes and turned her head; the sight was too gruesome.
Setsuna laughed slightly as a thought crossed her mind, but immediately stopped; it was too painful. "This is great... Setsuna," she said sarcastically to herself. "Now you'll really be able to tease that idiot Yami. Yeah, you're going to do a great job impressing him, in your condition. He'll definitely believe he's inferior now! Darnit... I'm not ever going to be teasing him again, am I?"
"PIERCING LIGHT IN DARKNESS!"
"SHINE SENNEN SEAL!"
Yami and Kiara were running up the hill, their feet pounding on the scorching sand. They had attacked the lions and cheetahs and caused them to run away, growling threats as they left.
The prince and princess flew up the hill at top speed. Kiara, being the fastest of the Shadow Gamers, reached the top first, veered around Zhong-wan's carcass, and rushed to Setsuna's side.
"Setsuna!" she cried, cradling the girl in her arms. Tears fell from her lavender eyes as she called to her brother, "Hurry, Yami! She's hurt bad!"
"I sent a mental message to the others!" Yami wheezed as he collapsed on his knees when he reached them. "Himoko will be here soon, she'll heal you, Setsuna!"
"What are we going to do? Her wounds are deep and the blood won't stop!" Kiara had ripped off part of her dressed and was trying to stop the blood flow, to no avail.
Setsuna, like so many of her friends, hated to see the ones she loved cry, so she plastered on a smile and told Kiara not to cry. "I'm not going anywhere..." she choked out in a hoarse whisper. "After all... it would be murder to leave Y... Yami here with n-no one to... look out for him."
Yami was crying too, although silently. He took Setsuna from Kiara and ripped off nearly all of his pants up to his knees, then tore them into separate strips. These he wrapped around her most deadly wounds, praying Himoko and the others would arrive soon.
Setsuna looked away from her best friend and locked eyes with Yami. "I-I can't go anywhere and leave... leave you, Yami..." she struggled to say. "I mean, y-you're stupid and naive and y-you never think about yourself, so some... someone's got to look out for you, you idiot."
Yami let out a strangled sob.
"B-but that's nothing... your naivety, your childishness, your innocence and st-stupidity... none of it matters. You have... the strongest heart... Yami."
'I love you,' she thought. 'But I could never tell you. I know you don't care in the least about romance, and I don't need to torture you with the thoughts that I love you.'
"N-no matter what, you can't ever g... give up... because if you do... there won't be any h-h-hope left. You have to be... strong, and... brave... like I know you are. So don't l-let them bring you... you down, Yami."
'I love you. I wish I could tell you.' Setsuna's heart felt like it would burst
"S-Stop, Setsuna!" Yami begged, having no idea what Setsuna's true feelings for him were. "Y-You're going to be fine, really, you are! And then you can t-tease me as much as you want! Himoko will be here any moment now, r-right, Kiara?"
"I'll check!" Kiara said desperately. She stood up and ran to overlook the hillside. At that moment, Ahmose and Kerihk reached her, and she quickly filled them in on what had happened. Kerihk went back down to tell Himoko to hurry up, and Ahmose scurried to Yami.
Setsuna closed her eyes. 'I'll never know... if you could ever love me back, Yami,' she thought. 'That's for the best. I'm just glad you even let me be your friend. You don't push anyone away... but there are so few you really trust. I'm so glad I was one of them. No matter what, I'll go on loving you... even if you can never love me... if you're happy, then so am I.'
"Himoko!" Kiara screamed. She whirled around. "Hold on, Setsuna!"
Yami opened his tearing eyes and looked at Setsuna. She wasn't breathing.
"... Kiara..."
Kiara stopped shouting as a pang of nervousness filled her heart. She came over to the three and looked at Setsuna's peaceful face. She gave a half-hearted laugh.
"N... no!" she giggled in insane, grieving laughter. "She's not dead... she can't be dead! Setsuna, you can't be dead! Open your eyes, Setsuna, please don't go! Don't go!"
She fell on her knees and cried, hugging Setsuna's body just as Himoko and the rest made it up the hill.
"Setsuna!" Yami called despairingly, but it was over; she was gone. Ahmose laid a hand on his shoulder as he cried for her.
Thoughts of her filled his mind as the group mourned as one. 'Setsuna... if only you would come back and tease me again! Just one more chance to hear you call me 'stupid idiot' or yell at me for making some mistake! Just one more chance is all I'm asking! Please, Setsuna, we're not complete without you... You always loved teasing me, why, why, WHY did you choose now to tell me I'm strong? With you, it was always okay to act normal and not have to pretend that I'm stronger than I really am! You were like a sister to me! Setsuna... come back..."
The present-day Setsuna watched all of this unfold through blurry vision, until the sorrowful cries of her friends disappeared altogether and the drama ended. She found she was on the ground with her legs sprawled out, stunned by what she had seen.
Like with Kiara and Kerihk, Taidu now entered the dream and called out to her.
"Setsuna."
Setsuna's head spun around, her long brown hair whipping behind her from the force. Her golden eyes were filled with tears. "That really happened... didn't it?" she said gloomily. "That battle... my last words... Yami's thoughts..."
The red-haired priestess nodded. "I'm sorry. It had to be this way. In order to fulfill your destiny, you must remember your past."
The Hebrew Shadow Gamer bit her lip, trying to decide if the memory made her feel bitter or loved inside. It had been her own death, but her friends had certainly missed her. "So they did accept me."
Taidu smiled. "Yes. Of course we did."
Setsuna looked at her and smiled.
(A/N: One more death scene to go and then we're done! Well first Kaiba and Yugi hafta meet up, but at least no one else is dying...)
***
Meanwhile, Mokuba and Makimura were quite undisturbed by their obvious lack of older siblings. Their footsteps made no echo in the room, which was no fun, but Mokuba swore he saw a light up ahead and convinced Makimura to follow him. The ten-year-olds raced off together, and every now and then would catch a glimpse of Mokuba's light.
At last they realized the light had been a reflection of the glow of a torch off a chain. The chain was attached to a leg. A leg belonging to none other than Katsuya Jonouchi.
"Wow! It's our friends!" Mokuba gasped.
Next to Jonouchi, chained to the wall, were Anzu, Naoko, Honda, and Tetsuya. Each of them were unconscious and unmoving, as if they had placed under a spell of deep sleep.
Mokuba and Makimura looked at each other. "We have to tell our brothers!" Makimura exclaimed.
"Sokua, sokua," Mokuba said with a careless wave of his hand. Then he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted into the darkness (as only Mokuba can), "SETO!!! WE FOUND THAT JERK JONOUCHI AND THE OTHERS!!! GET OVER HERE, NII-SAMA!!!"
Kaiba heard Mokuba's voice even above the calls of his friends. "Mokuba?" he shouted back, not quite as loudly. He grimaced as he realized he'd have to do the childish thing and yell until his throat hurt. Sighing, he put his hands around his mouth and screamed, "MOKUBA, WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Tali, Misaki, and Ro were forced to cover their ears as the two brothers posed a friendly conversation with one another.
"I'M OVER HERE!"
"OVER WHERE?"
"OVER HERE!"
"I DON'T KNOW WHERE 'HERE' IS!"
"FOLLOW MY VOICE!"
Kaiba decided to take his little brother's advice and beckoned for his friends to follow him.
Mokuba and Makimura began singing "Jingle Bells" as loud as they could to lead the teenagers to them. Misaki and Tali rolled their eyes, and Ro and Kaiba looked extremely annoyed.
"Those two have some set of lungs," Ro commented, not at all happy about it.
When he saw his brother silhouetted in the light of the torches, Mokuba and Makimura finally stopped their obnoxious yelling. When the teenagers caught up with them, they showed them where they had found the captives.
Kaiba reached down and brushed some of Jonouchi's hair out of his face, pretending to study him hard. Then he stated, "Yep. He definitely looks like a pathetic dog."
The others sweatdropped.
"Now what?" Tali questioned. "We found our friends, but we have no way of freeing them."
The group stood in thoughtful silence for a few minutes.
"Any of you have any bobby pins?" Ro asked.
Misaki and Tali shook their heads, saying their hair was too short to need them.
"We could still use Misaki's glasses," Kaiba suggested, earning him a scornful glare from Misaki.
"Does anyone feel a breeze?" Tali asked.
The others looked at her, confused. "A breeze?" Kaiba repeated. "In this place? The only window is indoors, so nooooo... why do you ask?"
Tali looked scared. "Because there's a very strong, chilly breeze blowing through here," she explained, rubbing her arms for heat.
The others stood still, and sure enough, they felt the cool gust of wind. "Where is it coming from?" Misaki asked curiously. Mokuba and Makimura cowered behind their brothers.
A fell voice drifted to their ears with the wind. It laughed grudgingly, echoing through their systems. The chill of evil traveled up their spines.
"S-Someone's c-coming," Mokuba whispered.
The owner of the voice was marching towards them. They could hear his loud footsteps and his shallow breathing. Soon, they knew they'd be able to hear the very beating of his heart.
He then stepped into the light of the torches. It was Jyor-lang.
He was still battered up from his duel with Yami, and his face was pale with defeat. However, his eyes shined with fervor and sneered at the group.
"Hello there, little friends," he said wickedly. "I hope you weren't planning on saving Master Pegasus's prisoners. That wouldn't be good." He laughed.
"Who are you?!" Kaiba wanted to know.
"I? I am Jyor-lang... presently defeated by that annoying Pharaoh... but not for long."
Kaiba looked shocked. "You dueled Yami?"
(A/N: This is going to be forty pages by the times I finish... I have GOT to cut back. o_O)
Jyor-lang snorted and crossed his arms. Just the very mention of Yami's name insulted him. "Yes, we dueled. I lost, thanks to his annoying hikari. But I will have my revenge!"
"Two wrongs don't make a right!" Tali shouted.
"Not that Yami did anything wrong..." Misaki added quietly.
"I don't care," Jyor-lang responded, expressionless. "Besides, that isn't what you should be worrying about. I'm a whole lot more dangerous towards YOU."
"What?"
Jyor-lang stretched out his long index finger and raised it above his head. "My master, Pegasus, wants you extinguished," he said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. "Using the power of his Millennium Eye, he gave me a spell to blow you far from this place. So good-bye."
Power radiated from his fingers. The six found themselves unable to move as he cast his spell.
Šanå ên Çéïl!!!"
The whole castle seemed to dissolve before their eyes and fall to pieces. Kaiba-tachi found themselves falling again, but this time they had absolutely no idea where they would end up...
***
"Is this a dream?"
"It can't be a dream. It's too real!"
"But where are we, and why are we here?"
"And who are those people who look just like us?"
Ahmose and Ay were the two conversing in the above discussion while Himoko was standing in silence nearby. They were standing on a dark cliff at night, the only light coming from the Millennium Items of their past selves and Yami, Taidu, Osona, and Shaadi. The four other Millennium Item bearers had died by this time.
They were reliving the one crucial memory the trio were all there for and despised the most: the memory of Yami's defeat of Zhur.
The past Himoko, Ahmose, and Ay were standing in between the past Taidu, Osona, and Shaadi. Each of them were holding out their Millennium Items to cast a glow in the dark of the night. The Millennium Items of those who had died, the Pendant, the Mirror, the Ring, and the Rod, had been scattered in different places. Yami had left the pendant in a discreet place under a tree in an oasis as a memorial for Kiara. The Ring, Rod, and Mirror had been taken by Shaadi to a sacred place underground where they would be kept safe from harm. There were only eight of the original twelve left, and one of them, Zhur, had turned to the dark side long ago.
Four others also stood behind the Shadow Gamers, there for the defeat and entrapment of Zhur in the Millennium Eye. They were Kiara's best friend, Rise, and Yami's two exuberant companions, Jono and Tyren, along with the recently reconciled High Priest Semaret. Rise was praying fervently while Jono and Tyren had their swords ready for battle. Semaret was eyeing his former master bitterly, ready to cast a spell if necessary. The young pharaoh was ahead of the group, his Millennium Puzzle glowing with a light to rival the sun.
The present-day Himoko, Ay, and Ahmose exchanged glances. They were beginning to figure out what was going on.
The past Yami stepped forward. "Come out, Zhur, you cowardly heathen!" he commanded. "It is time you faced the music! For what you have done, I will show you no mercy!"
Out of a dark cloud descended Zhur, the very image of all that is evil. Even now, he was confident in his powers. Yami's heart wavered for an instant as he received a full blast of dark power from Zhur's aura, but quickly recovered and faced Zhur with the greatest of courage.
Zhur never resisted an opportunity to torture any of the Shadow Gamers of Light, especially if it was Yami. "Little prince, what are you doing?" he teased softly. "This is much too big of a battle for a seventeen-year-old. Go back to your cradle and fight me when you're a man."
"Go back to your own," Yami hissed. "Or were you raised in a box, vile, filthy snake?"
Zhur's eyes flashed. "Your impudence is quite daring, little prince, considering I have the upperhand here."
"Do you?" Yami answered scathingly. "I don't see any of your followers here with you, while I have ten of mine. Four you struck down, and my father, yet these ten still remain and you are helpless."
Malignant laughter rose from Zhur's throat, as if Yami's boldness was amusing. "Before this day is over, you will have learned obeisance while in my presence," he assured him. "Why does a child like you make such defiant statements? You do know you have caused me nothing but trouble since the day of your birth. When I win today, I shall delight in stripping you of your royal title and subjecting you to my own version of slavery." Knowing full well that Yami would make no attack on him until he was sure he had him right where he wanted him, Zhur could manipulate the boy until the last possible moment. He stepped forward until he was directly in front of the boy pharaoh, seeing him up close for the first time in five years. He was yet small and thin in stature, wearing a long cape and the mystical Eye Symbol on his black shirt. His white pants sagged around his ankles, and his sandals and all his golden jewelry except for his golden tiara had been cast aside to let him move as freely as he needed. Like the rest of his company, his clothes were torn and patched, and it looked as if they hadn't had a change of clothes in months. Their faces were dirty; Jono was nursing a split lip; Yami had great slashes on his arms and chest from the attack of a Duel Monster the last of Zhur's Shadow Gamers had summoned before dying. The slashes were bleeding profusely, but the young king made no effort to stop the flow. Even now, his courage and dignity radiated around him, and he glowed with a light like the stars.
Zhur reached down and tilted Yami's face in any way he desired, gently, yet Yami felt the coldness and evil power dispelling from his fingers. He winced momentarily, but quickly made his face impassive. He would not show fear in the presence of this miserable excuse for a human being.
"Ahh, yes." The voice of Zhur was smooth as butter, yet still haunting and teasing. "So many have sought you, fair child of Ramses. You are gifted with a magical power so rare and beautiful like your demeanor. Many have desired to make you their own, their prize. Whether to obtain your power or merely to say they owned you, they desired you. You really are lovely, young one. I should kill you, I think, but I wouldn't mind a trophy for my success." He whispered darkly in Yami's ear. "Would you hate being my prize? You are too fair for death. I am sure I could put you to good use." With that he drew himself to his full height, and commanded, "Bow before your master, slave!"
"I shall never bow to you, captive of darkness," Yami declared in a low voice. "No matter what, I will never call you 'lord' or 'king.' And certainly not 'master'! You may do what you want with me. Chain me with manacles! If you can find it in your heart to bind a pharaoh with golden chains, it wouldn't matter to me! Chains are chains, bonds are bonds. There is no compassion there! If you should win, you can kill me. Enslave me. Make lovely, young me your pet prisoner. But I shall never bow to you!"
Zhur's face was heated with fury. The pharaoh was once again succeeding in really getting on his nerves and frustrating him. Somehow, despite the prince's pleasant, becoming mien, Zhur could never like him. "You will bow to me," he said.
"Never!"
"You have so much pride, little prince. How will you ever learn the lesson of humility?"
"Yami is more reticent than anyone I know!" Rise objected forcefully. "If he wasn't so modest, he would have turned out like the others of the royal family - believing only in power and ordering everyone to call him 'Prince' or 'Pharaoh'! But he doesn't! He feels for his friends, and for everyone in the kingdom! Besides, even if he was like Prince Pentaware and the others, he would still have more modesty than you!"
"But, little girl, I don't think you understand," Zhur corrected coolly. "I do not need to be humble. I, the most powerful sorcerer of the world, and soon to be its king. Ruler over all the earth, Shadow Realm, and Ryúnade combined!"
Yami was shaking visibly now. "You are wrong," he stuttered out defiantly. "The Shadow Realm is its own kingdom and takes orders from no one, not even you. You may be able to control some of its inhabitants, but only for a limited time and not everyone will trust you. They are not a trusting - or trustworthy - world. Earth has no king. There are simply too many citizens of earth to oversee, even with careless, evil intentions. You care nothing about the people, so you expect ruling will be easy, but by stirring fear in the peoples' hearts they will fall into poverty, and in time, so shall you. You have not conquered death, Zhur! That is an impossible feat!"
The enraged Zhur chose not to respond to the last statement. He grabbed Yami's face once more and forced him to look directly into his normal eye and his golden eye. "You forget to mention Ryúnade. That is where I shall draw all my power, all my followers. There shall me plans -"
"No no, the power of Ryúnade is off limits even to me," Yami responded as he tried to pull his head out of Zhur's tight grasp. "There is only one ruler of Ryúnade, land of the peaceful Duel Monsters. She is Queen Kiara, the living Chalice of Life. She is dead in your mind, but her spirit does what her body could not - it became one with the very being of Ryúnade. You can do to a body what you like, but you can never harness a soul!"
Zhur raised his free hand and slapped the pharaoh, snapping his head around. "Ignorant fool!" he hissed. "You will pay for your impertinence! A slave you shall be, and in the end you shall beg for death and relief of pain and torture, but there will be no comfort for you!"
Yami gave a look as if to say, "Try me. Just try and break me, if it brings you pleasure. You will find I am impossible to bend!"
"Let go of me," he demanded, still trying to rip Zhur's hands from his face.
Naturally, Zhur wouldn't comply. Instead, he used one strong arm to keep Yami's hands immobile behind his back and used the other to pull him to him, pressing him against his body. Welts from the recent battle on his back and shoulders were aggravated and burst open, crimson blood spilling from the wounds. He felt the pain, but refused to utter a sound. Too long had he given Zhur the satisfaction of hearing him shriek. Not any longer!
Ahmose roared with anger and lunged forward, wielding the Millennium Sword. "Release him!" he commanded. "He is your pharaoh! You have not the right to treat him so!"
"He is no pharaoh!" a spiteful Zhur spat, drunk in self-confidence. "He is mine! Never again shall the sun or her child shine their light on this wretched world!"
Yami spoke to Ahmose. "Do not strike," he gasped, trying to breath while bound by Zhur's tight grasp. "We will go to the Shadow Realm. There we will conduct a Shadow Game. If Zhur wins, he gains control of Egypt and the entire world, plus those other two realms. He gains dominion over all people, and my life."
Zhur sneered triumphantly.
"However."
Yami's eyes narrowed, and passion and fierce determination burned in his ruby eyes. He glowed with the light of one with the strongest heart as he finished his speech.
"If I win, everything will go back to the way it was. The Shadow Realm and the Shadow Games will be locked away. Ryúnade will be forgotten, and no events concerning it shall be remembered in the future. This entire war shall be forgotten by the next generation of mankind. And Zhur shall be exiled to the darkest, dreariest corner of the Shadow Realm to wallow in misery and defeat for all eternity."
"Fair enough," Zhur said stiffly, "considering I'm going to win anyway."
Yami ignored him and spoke directly to Semaret. "Sem..."
Semaret had turned away when Zhur's abuse of Yami had begun, remembering all too well when he had been one who would torture the child king as well. Now he faced Yami, guilt spread across his face.
"If I do not return..." Yami looked at him - no, he looked through him - as he thought of what to say next. "If I do not return, I give you my kingdom."
The company gasped in surprise.
"I had promised it to Kerihk... my dear friend. I knew him inside and out. Other than my guardian Datran, he was the only one who encouraged me to duel for the right to become pharaoh, not only so Kiara could be queen, but also so I could put in effect my plans for a peaceful kingdom of equality and friendship. We shared the same views. He would have done as I see fit. But he has gone... to wherever we go when we die. Semaret, you must lead my people in my stead. I don't care if you go about finishing what I started. I believe you will be a wise king. Do take care. I trust you."
Semaret could hardly believe his ears. "Pharaoh... after everything that's happened... I betrayed you... I hurt you and your friends... I bowed to this vile snake... yet, you still trust me with the land you love?"
"It is not the land I love, Sem," Yami responded with a weak smile. "It is the people. You are one of the people. You have been reconciled with me. I would trust you with my life. If that is not great enough an honor, I would trust you with Kiara's life." Kiara had seemingly been Yami's only weakness. After her death, he had thought he couldn't go on. To say he would trust anyone but himself with her life was truly an honor.
Yami's eyes traveled to the others and he gave final farewells. "Ahmose. Do not blame yourself for Kiara's death. She had foreseen it, and it could not be prevented. She took in her the Chalice of Life! Ironic that the Chalice of Life should cause one to die, yet she knew it needed to be done but her body wouldn't be able to sustain it. It is no fault of yours. I trust you above all, Ahmose.
"Taidu and Osona, I know I have not always been the ideal pharaoh you have hoped I would turn out to be. I will try my best to remember everything you taught me in this final duel. Keep safe, priestesses. The gods smile on you.
"Himoko, daughter of both Egypt and Greece. I pray a blessing on you and Semaret, that your life together should be prosperous. I daresay if I don't survive, you shall be queen of all Egypt. Keep healing, Himoko. Keep watching, and waiting. Your destiny will reveal itself to you in due time.
"Ay, a sailor of many lands. When you go on your voyages, remember me. I should have liked to see those grand places. Learn much, and bring it back to teach the new generation. You are wise beyond wise, Ay.
"Jono and Tyren, my life-long companions. Do not lose your enthusiasm and energy! That may be all that will sustain you after today, should I fail. You've been my best friends since the beginning. I thank you for all your support... perhaps one day our paths will cross again.
"Shaadi, thank you so much for all your help. You took care of my kingdom while I was away. You guided us in areas we had little to no knowledge of. You kept safe the Sennen Ring, Mirror, and Rod once their owners had been killed. Your friendship has been such a blessing to me."
The last member of the group was Rise. After all they had been through together, Yami found it was hardest to say good-bye to her. Her blue eyes glistened with tears as he began to speak.
"Rise, you came to us when I was only eight years old, hoping to train in the palace to become a magician. At first you weren't sure you were going to stay... but I am so glad that you chose to remain with us. Kiara loved you as her very best friend and really looked up to you. I daresay I did too - you were always encouraging me. We were a good team, and great friends. Father took it too far when he arranged for us to be married one day, but after today that betrothal will be canceled, one way or another. I hope you can be as happy as possible with the one you do love." He smiled warmly at Jono and Rise, the young couple.
Rise stepped forward. "Yami, just don't forget how much your friends love you," she stammered bravely. "We believe in you, like we always have! As long as you focus on our love for you, you can't lose! We'll be there for you, even in the Shadow Realm."
Yami smiled.
This had gone on too long for Zhur. He was anxious to begin the Shadow Realm. "Are you quite finished?" he wanted to know. Yami heard the impatience in his tone and finally consented.
"Yes. I am ready."
"Good! Prepare to die."
Above them, an entrance to the Shadow Realm was opening in the sky. It was dark and evil, cold and mysterious. Yami took one last look at his friends as Zhur jumped into the black hole, pulling him with him. That was the last he saw of his friends were five thousand years.
Before the hole closed, Yami's voice echoed through the wind. ~If the sun rises at dawn, I have been victorious. Look to the horizon. The sun shall rise.~
The present-day Himoko, Ay, and Ahmose had watched all this in utter silence. Even now, they sat where they were, staring up at the sky with their past selves for the longest time.
At length, dawn arrived. Osona, guardian of time, announced that it had come. Anxiously the group looked to the horizon, as Yami had instructed. They didn't even blink as they waited to catch the first ray of sunlight, should it come. For a long time they sat there, unmoving, until hope itself seemed hopeless.
Suddenly Rise gasped. "The sun! I see the sun!"
It was true. The sun was rising, brighter and more beautiful than ever before. As its rays touched the ground, it sprang up with new life. Flowers bloomed, grass grew, trees branched out. All over the world, people's hearts were light as they realized the dark times were over. Yami had been victorious!
Rise and Himoko hugged each other and laughed for joy. Osona and Taidu clasped hands, keeping their composure, but they couldn't help but cry with happy tears. Jono and Tyren were cheering their loudest, but even they were drowned out by Ahmose's jubilant roars. Semaret, Ay, and Shaadi just stared at the rising sun, at peace in their hearts.
Rise looked around. "But... Yami hasn't returned. Something's not right."
The group immediately stopped cheering as her words hit them. The world was safe now, but could Yami have perished along with Zhur? No... it wasn't possible! Shaadi decided to perform a spell to reopen an entrance to the Shadow Realm; perhaps Yami was just too weak to make a new one himself.
No sooner had he begun the spell than an entrance opened all on its own. Out of it emerged two tall, strong women, one clothed all in black with long, dark as night hair and matching eyes. The other was clad in white with hair and eyes to the liken of it. The dark one was carrying the small, motionless frame of King Yami in her arms.
"The oracles of Dark and Light," Taidu breathed. "Suta-raito and Tenpi! They are spirits that ensure the balance of the world isn't off kilter. How astonishing that they grace us with their presence!"
The past Ahmose rushed forward, hardly realizing he should show reverence to the oracles. He stopped before the Oracle of Starlight, Suta-raito.
"Is he all right?" he questioned apprehensively. "He isn't... dead, is he?" It was a bleak question, for Yami couldn't look any more dead.
Suta-raito was the one to respond. Her voice was deep and womanly, but her cool gaze was kind. "Pharaoh Yugioh's spirit no longer resides in his body," she stated simply, much to the distress of his followers. "But neither his spirit, nor the spirits of the four other deceased ones, has left this world. His spirit and theirs now reside within the Sennen Sets."
"What do you mean?" the past Himoko asked.
"All of you were born in this time to defeat this great evil," the oracle of Sunlight, Tenpi, explained. "However, your destinies take place in a different time. A future time, when you will again be needed to defeat this same evil at its worst."
The teenagers were shocked, and their faces showed it. "He's dead then," Rise sniffed. "I thought it was so." Their minds were torn between grief for their leader and confusion as to the oracles' words.
Tenpi spoke again. "As six of you here have Sennen Sets, when you die, your souls shall also be entrapped in your sets. The four of you without Sennen Sets will be reincarnated at the same time as your friends are freed. Please, do not grieve yourselves. Peace is upon the world, for a little while. I assure you, the next time around there will be no tragedies like you have faced these past three years. Go now, Shadow Gamers."
Suta-raito handed Yami's body to Ahmose and stroked his tri-colored hair. He looked as if he were only sleeping, but his heart was not beating any longer. "Sleep well, young king, your true destiny lies in wait," she said softly. Then she cast a benign smile upon Ahmose. "Don't be sad, Ahmose son of Ramose. He fought bravely, and it was a battle that astonished even the highest of oracles. The apocalypse of this war is yet to come, but you have all proven to be the strongest of all. Take him and give him a traditional burial. But if archaeologists enter his tomb a millennia from now, let no heart be surprised if his body is not there!"
Thus ended the vision. The present-day Himoko, Ay, and Ahmose each remained on the ground, going over the events in their hearts. They thought of everything which had happened, and what it meant now. Most of all, they remembered that final, dark battle, and Ahmose truly understood for the first time why he loved the royal family so much.
Taidu realized these three completely understood what had happened, and that their memories had been restored. She surveyed them carefully, and then her lips curved up in a knowing grin. Clasping her hands and muttering a spell, she brought them back to reality.
***
(A/N: Whew! Two more parts to go... two SHORT parts!!! ::gasps for air:: I'd better get reviews, I worked exceedingly hard on this chapter...)
Yugi awoke with a start when he heard a thud as six heavy objects landed on the ground. Curiously, he stood up from the damp grass he and his friends had been sleeping on, and found that Hikaru, Bakura, and Ai were already awake. They had been playing a game using rocks and Duel Monsters cards which they called "Rock RPG." The game had abruptly ended when the sound had been heard and awakened Yugi, Takehiko, and Dajan.
"What the heck was that?" Ai asked.
"Don't look at me, I was asleep," Takehiko answered.
"Maybe you kicked me really hard in your sleep," Dajan suggested in annoyance. "Again."
"Let's go and see," Yugi said.
"What about him?" Hikaru interrupted, pointing to Yami who was still asleep on the ground. He had a strained look on his face, but he was in a deep, practically unbreakable sleep. Yugi thought it would be a pity to wake him up when he was so tired.
"Leave him alone," he said gently. "He needs his rest. We'll check this out."
"Be careful," Hikaru reminded him as she and Ai went back to their game.
Yugi, Takehiko, Bakura, and Dajan quietly sneaked out of their hiding place to search the area where the sound had come from. Acting like agents of the CIA, they darted from bush to bush, trying their best not to alert the cause of the sound that they were there.
The first thing they spied was a foot covered by a trench coat. Peering through the bushes, Yugi-tachi immediately recognized the Seto Kaiba gang all lying on the ground.
Yugi beckoned for the others to follow him as he raced to Kaiba's side. "Kaiba! Misaki! Tali! Are you guys okay?"
Kaiba groaned and opened his eyes. Ro pulled Mokuba and Makimura out from under him. Misaki and Tali held their dizzy heads.
"Where are we?" an unstable Kaiba asked.
"Weren't we just at a castle?" Misaki mumbled brilliantly.
"That weirdo Jyor-lang cast a spell or something and sent us here," Tali explained.
"You met Jyor-lang?!" Takehiko gasped.
Kaiba's group seemed to notice Yugi and company for the first time. He blinked and then exclaimed, "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
It took a lot of explaining to tell both sides of the stories to their friends, but at last each group had at least a vague understanding of what had happened. Yugi-tachi took Kaiba's group to their resting spot, where Hikaru and Ai greeted them joyfully, Hikaru going even as far as to hug them tightly, startling Kaiba.
"It's good to know Naoko and the others are at least alive," Hikaru said.
Yugi nodded. "Now maybe we stand a chance at saving them."
Mokuba and Makimura were showering Ai with tales of their adventures. She was laughing like crazy but they didn't seem to mind.
Tali walked over to the slumbering Yami and placed a hand on his forehead. She frowned when she noticed he was sweating. 'So it has begun...' She knew her yami, Taidu, was planning on reuniting the yamis with their memories, and understood it would be painful for them to relive their worst moments.
"So this is what happens to the stubborn other Yugi when he fights a duel too hard."
Tali looked at the owner of the voice, Kaiba. "Shut up, Kaiba," she said, irritated. "Try saying something nice for once."
Kaiba looked thoughtful and mischievous as he pondered and answer. Softly he said, "He looks cute when he's sleeping."
Everyone sweatdropped.
Kaiba scanned Yami quickly, thinking of Jyor-lang's vow of revenge. The former pharaoh truly radiated with innocence as he slept. Against his will, Kaiba felt his heart melt. Stooping down, he picked up the battered body, observing Yami's wounds and thinking of the best way to tend them.
"It was raining before," Ai stated as if it were an important fact.
Kaiba sighed and rolled his eyes. "Well, it's not now. Let's see if we can find a better place for him to rest. That's the only cure for fatigue."
Somewhat surprised that Kaiba was concerned with Yami's well-being, the others consented and followed him out of the woods. They clambered across the wet lands and over the barnacle-covered rocks seeking a better shelter. Camping had just become much harder.
***
The yamis opened their eyes one by one. Kiara and Kerihk both blushed when they met each other's eyes, but quickly recovered and turned away. Kerihk buried himself in his legs so no one would see him cry, but Kiara knew what he had seen. Setsuna hugged her knees and did not fail to notice the tears staining the faces of everyone, including Taidu. Ahmose, Ay, and Himoko had their heads bowed in reverence.
Finally Taidu broke the silence. "It is over, friends," she said, but her voice cracked. "I - I'm so sorry... you had to relive those terrible times. But you had to know. You had to. And you will never have to go through that again. But remember... the only way to deal with the pain of those times, is to accept them, not to forget."
Slowly the group got to their feet, attempting to hide their weaknesses even though they felt anything but strong. Taidu spotted the black book Hikaru had found tucked between Kiara's arms.
"The Book of Truth!" she exclaimed, running his fingers over the red Eye symbol emblazoned on its cover. "This is a book of tao spells. Tao, the forces that make up the universe. One Song. Universe. Yes, you would be sent this book for help and guidance. Its powers will benefit you. Use it well." She pursed her lips at the sight of so many gloomy faces. "Don't look so glum, my friends! The bad times are done with. New times are beginning! You have great things going for you. Don't you want to make your hikaris' lives perfect for them? Then put aside the past and focus on the future! You are stronger than that! You live in both eras. Use your knowledge!"
Kiara grinned unexpectedly. "We know," she said. "We don't need to dwell on those times."
"We have a second chance to right our mistakes," Kerihk chimed in.
"We can help those that we love," Ahmose added.
"We can discover our true destinies," Himoko put in.
"And make new friendships and strengthen old ones," Ay suggested.
"It's a new life, guys! I daresay we're all glad we have our memories back, but that's not what counts!" Setsuna punched the air. "Let's get out of this dreary cave and show the world who we are!"
With this as food for thought, the Shadow Gamers of Light left the dreary gave that had been the home of much evil. They cast away dark thoughts from their souls and left happier than they had come.
Strange how these things just work themselves out, isn't it?
((Don't ever wait to find what you've been looking for
Don't ever hide your light behind a closing door
Don't give up the fight to find a way to realize your dreams
Don't you know you can be anything you want to be
You can be a star shining out in the darkness
You can be a fire blazing into the cold
You can be a voice calling out into silence
You can be as bright as the morning sun
You can be the blue sky after the gray
You can drive the clouds of fear away
You can bring healing to a world that's come undone
Don't you know you can be The One
You know that you can be The One
Don't ever miss a chance to find what the future holds
'Cause I can see a passion burning in your eyes
I know there's a God who's up in Heaven looking down
And we all play a part in a master plan of grand design
You can be a star shining out in the darkness
You can be a fire blazing into the cold
You can be a voice calling out into silence
You can be as bright as the morning sun
You can be the blue sky after the gray
You can drive the clouds of fear away
You can bring healing to a world that's come undone
Don't you know you can be The One
You know that you can be The One...))
Angel: There you go, gang! *whew* It's not 40 pages! ::twiddles thumbs:: It's 35.
Everyone: ::anime fall::
Angel: Should I change the rating to PG-13? It's probably only going to get more sappy and gory from here... I suppose I completely bored you to death... if I didn't, please tell me...
Yami: You certainly bored ME to death.
Angel: That's because you slept the entire time.
Bakura: I didn't have any lines.
Kerihk: Be happy. I sure did.
Ay: It was your fault!
Kerihk: No, it was yours!
Angel: ::whines:: Guys!!! You'll make it 36 pages! *gets cheerful* Who likes the song? It's so fun. I got issue 2 of Shonen Jump! Yami is hot even in terrible animation! AND TEA SAID THAT SHE'S IN LOVE WITH YAMI!!! *jumps for joy* "I'll never forget that voice. 'Let's play a game...' After all, I've fallen in love with its owner!" YEP! We all fall in love with Yami-kun.
Yami: ...
From the Desk of Ryou Bakura since I believe he was the only character that didn't have any lines:
Nan desu ka - what is it
imouto - little sister
Daijobu desu ka - are you all right
Daijobu desu - I am all right
nii-sama - big brother (cute form)
make inu - pathetic dog (Kaiba's nickname for Jonouchi, one of many)
doshite - what?! why?!
aishiteru - I love you
-tachi - and company
urusei - shut up
sokua, sokua - right, right (I'm not 100% sure of this but someone used it in their own fanfic and said it was Japanese for "right, right" so blame them if its wrong, lol)
No Character of the Day today cuz I'm tired of writing so here's the plan for chap 10.
Next time: Chapter Ten, Jimiru Maiho-mu (as told by Dajan Hada): We find shelter at a nearby Chinese restaurant, and both Yami and Bakura are being tortured by different dreams. But the food is great! Can you believe we hikaris can cook that well? Plus, Kaiba and Yami find Ay and the others and we are reunited! A couple things happen - Kaiba and Yami fight, Kiara and Hikaru have a talk, and Kerihk and Bakura bite each other's heads off. It's actually a peaceful day, compared to everything else we've been through. But for how long? Let's hope longer than the hot dog incident!
TBC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!! (grr... we just got to 36 pages. Darnit!)
Makimura landed on top of the heap. "Whew," she said.
Ro looked at his sister. "Makimura, if you don't mind, would you get down from their so we can get up?"
"Would you ALL mind getting off of ME?" Kaiba growled, irritated.
The kids disentangled themselves from one another and got to their feet, brushing hay off their pants. Tali looked around the room.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"It looks like Toonworld or something," Kaiba commented.
It was a fairly large, dark room made of stone. Torches were lit here and there, casting eerie shadows about the room. The group huddled together, shivering and trying to keep warm.
Suddenly Misaki gasped. "Look!" she exclaimed, pointing upwards. "It's the same window we were standing by when Mokuba stepped on the trap door!"
"You're right!" Tali exclaimed.
"But that must mean we're in the same room as the make inu and his friends," Kaiba added.
"All right!" Ro cried, punching the air. "Now all we have to do is find where they are and release them from their chains!"
"Easier said than done," Kaiba demurred. "It's not like we have a key or anything.
"Stop being so negative, Seto."
Misaki's face contorted in anguish. She threw her hands up into the air and said, frustrated, "Ugh! If only Dajan or Ay were here! They could use the Millennium Key to open the locks!"
"Something tells me the Millennium Key is being put to good use elsewhere," Tali said, with a knowing look in her eye. (A/n: yeah, like to say Yami from the fiery duel arena!!! LOL!)
Ro sighed. "I guess the only thing to do now is to search for their bodies."
"We could use Misaki's glasses as a key," Kaiba joked.
"ACK! Seto, quit it!" Misaki whined.
The group split up in three groups to search for the captives. Kaiba and Mokuba were in one group, Ro and Makimura in another, and Misaki and Tali in the last. No one knew where to search first, but they all figured that since the prisoners had been sighted directly across from the window, they should head in the opposite direction of which they came, away from the window.
Kaiba and Mokuba walked forward for a few minutes before they met a dead end and had to turn around. Ro hit his head when he reached a dead end of his own, but Misaki and Tali found themselves wandering in circles. Finally Ro and Kaiba met up with each other, both feeling it had been an exclusive waste of time.
Kaiba knocked his head against the wall. "Where ARE those bakas?" he complained. "We're been looking forever!"
"Technically, we've only been looking for ten minutes," Ro objected.
"Jonouchi's been looking for his brain for a lot longer than ten minutes," Kaiba grumbled.
It was then that the duo noticed their siblings had disappeared.
"Oh no!" Kaiba groaned as he searched around frantically for the kids. "You take your eyes off them for one minute and...!"
"Quick! This way!" Ro commanded. Kaiba obediently followed.
They didn't run into Mokuba or Makimura, but as Tali and Misaki made their sixth trip around the same stone column, they crashed into each other once more. After briefly explaining the situation to the girls, they began searching for the lost kids and calling out their names.
"Mokuba!"
"Makimura!"
"Kids, get out here!"
"Where are you?"
***
Setsuna hugged herself, befuddled and wondering where she was. There were mountains all around her, and not a soul for miles. Where had Taidu sent her, and why? Begrudgingly, she started to walk towards the mountains.
At that moment, she heard her own voice singing a Hebrew song. Baffled, she searched for what sounded like herself. Her eyes came to rest on a hillside nearby, and she watched her past self climbing up it.
"Ahh!" she exclaimed. "Um... I'm sorry! I didn't know anyone was -"
But the other Setsuna made no response. She walked right past the present-day Setsuna, humming merrily and swinging her bag. Soon she came to a cave in mountainside with rocks blocking the entrance.
"Oh my," the past Setsuna stated, amused. "Looks like my super-strength will be needed here after all." She began digging with ease through the boulders, pushing them aside.
"I have to make a way for the others to get inside the mountain," she said to no one in particular. "The quickest route to the Sennen Sets goes through here. I'll have to be quick about it - I'm sure Zhur's followers want to take this way too. But once we get the Sets... what will we do with them? Shaadi wouldn't tell us their purpose, only that there's one for each of us. Zhur has one already, and seeks the others. I'm worried, though. If Shaadi wouldn't even tell US their purpose, then their power must be incredible!"
The present-day Setsuna blushed when she realized her past self had a habit of thinking out loud. She was glad she'd lost that habit after spending five millennia in the Millennium Mirror.
'Sennen Sets,' she mused. 'That must have been what we used to call the Millennium Items.' (A/N: No duh! I just thought that since the items hadn't been around for a millennia yet, the people of Ancient Egypt would have called them something different. Japanese is always good! ^-^)
The past Setsuna was still tearing at the rocks, trying her best to unblock the entrance. Sweat poured down her face and the hot Egyptian sun was no help. She stopped a minute and leaned against the mountain to rest.
She heard a rustling above her. Curiously, she looked up and saw a figure crouching on a rock ledge jutting out of the mountainside. Before she could ask who it was, the figure leaped down and landed in front her, before drawing to his full height.
It was a tall, broad, muscular man with hairy arms and wild, tangled hair. His eyes were cat-like and yellow, and out of his mouth protruded two sharp fangs. He walked in a gorilla-like manner, his huge feet causing the ground to shake. It was one of Zhur's minions, a Shadow creature of brute force known only as Zhong-wan.
"Hello there, little warrior of the Priest of Light," he growled, a lopsided grin on his scarred face. "I've been searching for you. You'll make a nice meal for my friends!" He snapped his large, rough fingers and out of the woods came five lions and two cheetahs, all licking their black lips hungrily and advancing on Setsuna. "But I fancy you won't be enough to satisfy their hunger. They'll have a feast where your friends get here!" He laughed hysterically.
"That's not going to happen!" Setsuna objected. "Just you wait, Zhong-wan! I'm going to make you wish you'd never crossed Setsuna, daughter of Uzziah!"
Zhong-wan lunged at her, and Setsuna jerked out of the way. She pulled off a spectacular hand-spring and kicked Zhong-wan's head with all her might as she came down. He grabbed her hand and pushed her to the ground, ripping at her flesh.
Setsuna cried out in pain as he slashed at her arm. Lifting her foot, she kicked him away from her and dashed out of his reach. Already she was a terrible mess, and had hardly landed a scratch on him.
'Wh-what's with this guy?!' she mentally screamed. 'He's gotten stronger since the last time we fought! Well, time to get defensive. I'll have to summon a monster!'
She focused on the type of monster she wanted to summon. She wasn't very sure of her summoning abilities - that was Yami's specialty, and she had only come to Egypt a few years ago as a captive from Midian. Only in Egypt was that magic taught, and she had only begun to get the hang of it. Still, she had no choice now.
"Rock and rubble, here my cry! I call upon the forces of earth to come to my aid! Stone Soldier, arise!"
The rocks in front of entrance to the mountain began to crack, and suddenly the cave was visible. The boulders had formed together to create the powerful Stone Soldier, wielding his great stone sword, more than thrice the size of Zhong-wan.
"Beat that, fool!" Setsuna taunted, feeling much more confident now that she had a shield to defend her.
Zhong-wan wagged his finger. "Don't forget, my beloved ones," he threatened, gesturing to the lions and cheetahs. "They're not interested in rocks. They like FLESH!"
With that final word, all the carnivorous felines rushed out of their waiting spots and attacked Setsuna. She grabbed a stick on the ground and whacked their faces and tails, but the cats had five sharp ends and a whip-like tail to boot. She was scratched and bitten, slapped and knocked down more than she would have liked. At the same time, the Stone Soldier was pounding Zhong-wan, but after a while of this she saw the monster shriek in pain and disappear.
By this time, Setsuna was beaten pretty badly, and Zhong-wan called off his pets. He stumbled over to Setsuna, nursing his wounds from Stone Soldier's assaults. Still, he was ready to finish off Setsuna.
He raised his fist above her head.
"SAY GOOD-BYE, MIDIANITE!"
"RIGHT BACK AT YOU, FALLEN ONE!"
Shock filled Zhong-wan's eyes as Setsuna somehow found the strength to jump from the ground and lock her legs around his neck. With every ounce of strength in her she tightened her grip around him, and he choked for breath. He tried to tear her from his body, but she was too determined and refused to let go. At last he fell to the ground in a dead faint. Setsuna didn't loosen her grip just in case he was still alive, but that gave the felines the chance they'd been waiting for. They bounded out and attacked Setsuna, who shrieked and let go, running from the site and then tripping and falling to the sandy ground.
The felines had turned on their master and were now feasting on his dead body, Setsuna shut her eyes and turned her head; the sight was too gruesome.
Setsuna laughed slightly as a thought crossed her mind, but immediately stopped; it was too painful. "This is great... Setsuna," she said sarcastically to herself. "Now you'll really be able to tease that idiot Yami. Yeah, you're going to do a great job impressing him, in your condition. He'll definitely believe he's inferior now! Darnit... I'm not ever going to be teasing him again, am I?"
"PIERCING LIGHT IN DARKNESS!"
"SHINE SENNEN SEAL!"
Yami and Kiara were running up the hill, their feet pounding on the scorching sand. They had attacked the lions and cheetahs and caused them to run away, growling threats as they left.
The prince and princess flew up the hill at top speed. Kiara, being the fastest of the Shadow Gamers, reached the top first, veered around Zhong-wan's carcass, and rushed to Setsuna's side.
"Setsuna!" she cried, cradling the girl in her arms. Tears fell from her lavender eyes as she called to her brother, "Hurry, Yami! She's hurt bad!"
"I sent a mental message to the others!" Yami wheezed as he collapsed on his knees when he reached them. "Himoko will be here soon, she'll heal you, Setsuna!"
"What are we going to do? Her wounds are deep and the blood won't stop!" Kiara had ripped off part of her dressed and was trying to stop the blood flow, to no avail.
Setsuna, like so many of her friends, hated to see the ones she loved cry, so she plastered on a smile and told Kiara not to cry. "I'm not going anywhere..." she choked out in a hoarse whisper. "After all... it would be murder to leave Y... Yami here with n-no one to... look out for him."
Yami was crying too, although silently. He took Setsuna from Kiara and ripped off nearly all of his pants up to his knees, then tore them into separate strips. These he wrapped around her most deadly wounds, praying Himoko and the others would arrive soon.
Setsuna looked away from her best friend and locked eyes with Yami. "I-I can't go anywhere and leave... leave you, Yami..." she struggled to say. "I mean, y-you're stupid and naive and y-you never think about yourself, so some... someone's got to look out for you, you idiot."
Yami let out a strangled sob.
"B-but that's nothing... your naivety, your childishness, your innocence and st-stupidity... none of it matters. You have... the strongest heart... Yami."
'I love you,' she thought. 'But I could never tell you. I know you don't care in the least about romance, and I don't need to torture you with the thoughts that I love you.'
"N-no matter what, you can't ever g... give up... because if you do... there won't be any h-h-hope left. You have to be... strong, and... brave... like I know you are. So don't l-let them bring you... you down, Yami."
'I love you. I wish I could tell you.' Setsuna's heart felt like it would burst
"S-Stop, Setsuna!" Yami begged, having no idea what Setsuna's true feelings for him were. "Y-You're going to be fine, really, you are! And then you can t-tease me as much as you want! Himoko will be here any moment now, r-right, Kiara?"
"I'll check!" Kiara said desperately. She stood up and ran to overlook the hillside. At that moment, Ahmose and Kerihk reached her, and she quickly filled them in on what had happened. Kerihk went back down to tell Himoko to hurry up, and Ahmose scurried to Yami.
Setsuna closed her eyes. 'I'll never know... if you could ever love me back, Yami,' she thought. 'That's for the best. I'm just glad you even let me be your friend. You don't push anyone away... but there are so few you really trust. I'm so glad I was one of them. No matter what, I'll go on loving you... even if you can never love me... if you're happy, then so am I.'
"Himoko!" Kiara screamed. She whirled around. "Hold on, Setsuna!"
Yami opened his tearing eyes and looked at Setsuna. She wasn't breathing.
"... Kiara..."
Kiara stopped shouting as a pang of nervousness filled her heart. She came over to the three and looked at Setsuna's peaceful face. She gave a half-hearted laugh.
"N... no!" she giggled in insane, grieving laughter. "She's not dead... she can't be dead! Setsuna, you can't be dead! Open your eyes, Setsuna, please don't go! Don't go!"
She fell on her knees and cried, hugging Setsuna's body just as Himoko and the rest made it up the hill.
"Setsuna!" Yami called despairingly, but it was over; she was gone. Ahmose laid a hand on his shoulder as he cried for her.
Thoughts of her filled his mind as the group mourned as one. 'Setsuna... if only you would come back and tease me again! Just one more chance to hear you call me 'stupid idiot' or yell at me for making some mistake! Just one more chance is all I'm asking! Please, Setsuna, we're not complete without you... You always loved teasing me, why, why, WHY did you choose now to tell me I'm strong? With you, it was always okay to act normal and not have to pretend that I'm stronger than I really am! You were like a sister to me! Setsuna... come back..."
The present-day Setsuna watched all of this unfold through blurry vision, until the sorrowful cries of her friends disappeared altogether and the drama ended. She found she was on the ground with her legs sprawled out, stunned by what she had seen.
Like with Kiara and Kerihk, Taidu now entered the dream and called out to her.
"Setsuna."
Setsuna's head spun around, her long brown hair whipping behind her from the force. Her golden eyes were filled with tears. "That really happened... didn't it?" she said gloomily. "That battle... my last words... Yami's thoughts..."
The red-haired priestess nodded. "I'm sorry. It had to be this way. In order to fulfill your destiny, you must remember your past."
The Hebrew Shadow Gamer bit her lip, trying to decide if the memory made her feel bitter or loved inside. It had been her own death, but her friends had certainly missed her. "So they did accept me."
Taidu smiled. "Yes. Of course we did."
Setsuna looked at her and smiled.
(A/N: One more death scene to go and then we're done! Well first Kaiba and Yugi hafta meet up, but at least no one else is dying...)
***
Meanwhile, Mokuba and Makimura were quite undisturbed by their obvious lack of older siblings. Their footsteps made no echo in the room, which was no fun, but Mokuba swore he saw a light up ahead and convinced Makimura to follow him. The ten-year-olds raced off together, and every now and then would catch a glimpse of Mokuba's light.
At last they realized the light had been a reflection of the glow of a torch off a chain. The chain was attached to a leg. A leg belonging to none other than Katsuya Jonouchi.
"Wow! It's our friends!" Mokuba gasped.
Next to Jonouchi, chained to the wall, were Anzu, Naoko, Honda, and Tetsuya. Each of them were unconscious and unmoving, as if they had placed under a spell of deep sleep.
Mokuba and Makimura looked at each other. "We have to tell our brothers!" Makimura exclaimed.
"Sokua, sokua," Mokuba said with a careless wave of his hand. Then he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted into the darkness (as only Mokuba can), "SETO!!! WE FOUND THAT JERK JONOUCHI AND THE OTHERS!!! GET OVER HERE, NII-SAMA!!!"
Kaiba heard Mokuba's voice even above the calls of his friends. "Mokuba?" he shouted back, not quite as loudly. He grimaced as he realized he'd have to do the childish thing and yell until his throat hurt. Sighing, he put his hands around his mouth and screamed, "MOKUBA, WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Tali, Misaki, and Ro were forced to cover their ears as the two brothers posed a friendly conversation with one another.
"I'M OVER HERE!"
"OVER WHERE?"
"OVER HERE!"
"I DON'T KNOW WHERE 'HERE' IS!"
"FOLLOW MY VOICE!"
Kaiba decided to take his little brother's advice and beckoned for his friends to follow him.
Mokuba and Makimura began singing "Jingle Bells" as loud as they could to lead the teenagers to them. Misaki and Tali rolled their eyes, and Ro and Kaiba looked extremely annoyed.
"Those two have some set of lungs," Ro commented, not at all happy about it.
When he saw his brother silhouetted in the light of the torches, Mokuba and Makimura finally stopped their obnoxious yelling. When the teenagers caught up with them, they showed them where they had found the captives.
Kaiba reached down and brushed some of Jonouchi's hair out of his face, pretending to study him hard. Then he stated, "Yep. He definitely looks like a pathetic dog."
The others sweatdropped.
"Now what?" Tali questioned. "We found our friends, but we have no way of freeing them."
The group stood in thoughtful silence for a few minutes.
"Any of you have any bobby pins?" Ro asked.
Misaki and Tali shook their heads, saying their hair was too short to need them.
"We could still use Misaki's glasses," Kaiba suggested, earning him a scornful glare from Misaki.
"Does anyone feel a breeze?" Tali asked.
The others looked at her, confused. "A breeze?" Kaiba repeated. "In this place? The only window is indoors, so nooooo... why do you ask?"
Tali looked scared. "Because there's a very strong, chilly breeze blowing through here," she explained, rubbing her arms for heat.
The others stood still, and sure enough, they felt the cool gust of wind. "Where is it coming from?" Misaki asked curiously. Mokuba and Makimura cowered behind their brothers.
A fell voice drifted to their ears with the wind. It laughed grudgingly, echoing through their systems. The chill of evil traveled up their spines.
"S-Someone's c-coming," Mokuba whispered.
The owner of the voice was marching towards them. They could hear his loud footsteps and his shallow breathing. Soon, they knew they'd be able to hear the very beating of his heart.
He then stepped into the light of the torches. It was Jyor-lang.
He was still battered up from his duel with Yami, and his face was pale with defeat. However, his eyes shined with fervor and sneered at the group.
"Hello there, little friends," he said wickedly. "I hope you weren't planning on saving Master Pegasus's prisoners. That wouldn't be good." He laughed.
"Who are you?!" Kaiba wanted to know.
"I? I am Jyor-lang... presently defeated by that annoying Pharaoh... but not for long."
Kaiba looked shocked. "You dueled Yami?"
(A/N: This is going to be forty pages by the times I finish... I have GOT to cut back. o_O)
Jyor-lang snorted and crossed his arms. Just the very mention of Yami's name insulted him. "Yes, we dueled. I lost, thanks to his annoying hikari. But I will have my revenge!"
"Two wrongs don't make a right!" Tali shouted.
"Not that Yami did anything wrong..." Misaki added quietly.
"I don't care," Jyor-lang responded, expressionless. "Besides, that isn't what you should be worrying about. I'm a whole lot more dangerous towards YOU."
"What?"
Jyor-lang stretched out his long index finger and raised it above his head. "My master, Pegasus, wants you extinguished," he said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. "Using the power of his Millennium Eye, he gave me a spell to blow you far from this place. So good-bye."
Power radiated from his fingers. The six found themselves unable to move as he cast his spell.
Šanå ên Çéïl!!!"
The whole castle seemed to dissolve before their eyes and fall to pieces. Kaiba-tachi found themselves falling again, but this time they had absolutely no idea where they would end up...
***
"Is this a dream?"
"It can't be a dream. It's too real!"
"But where are we, and why are we here?"
"And who are those people who look just like us?"
Ahmose and Ay were the two conversing in the above discussion while Himoko was standing in silence nearby. They were standing on a dark cliff at night, the only light coming from the Millennium Items of their past selves and Yami, Taidu, Osona, and Shaadi. The four other Millennium Item bearers had died by this time.
They were reliving the one crucial memory the trio were all there for and despised the most: the memory of Yami's defeat of Zhur.
The past Himoko, Ahmose, and Ay were standing in between the past Taidu, Osona, and Shaadi. Each of them were holding out their Millennium Items to cast a glow in the dark of the night. The Millennium Items of those who had died, the Pendant, the Mirror, the Ring, and the Rod, had been scattered in different places. Yami had left the pendant in a discreet place under a tree in an oasis as a memorial for Kiara. The Ring, Rod, and Mirror had been taken by Shaadi to a sacred place underground where they would be kept safe from harm. There were only eight of the original twelve left, and one of them, Zhur, had turned to the dark side long ago.
Four others also stood behind the Shadow Gamers, there for the defeat and entrapment of Zhur in the Millennium Eye. They were Kiara's best friend, Rise, and Yami's two exuberant companions, Jono and Tyren, along with the recently reconciled High Priest Semaret. Rise was praying fervently while Jono and Tyren had their swords ready for battle. Semaret was eyeing his former master bitterly, ready to cast a spell if necessary. The young pharaoh was ahead of the group, his Millennium Puzzle glowing with a light to rival the sun.
The present-day Himoko, Ay, and Ahmose exchanged glances. They were beginning to figure out what was going on.
The past Yami stepped forward. "Come out, Zhur, you cowardly heathen!" he commanded. "It is time you faced the music! For what you have done, I will show you no mercy!"
Out of a dark cloud descended Zhur, the very image of all that is evil. Even now, he was confident in his powers. Yami's heart wavered for an instant as he received a full blast of dark power from Zhur's aura, but quickly recovered and faced Zhur with the greatest of courage.
Zhur never resisted an opportunity to torture any of the Shadow Gamers of Light, especially if it was Yami. "Little prince, what are you doing?" he teased softly. "This is much too big of a battle for a seventeen-year-old. Go back to your cradle and fight me when you're a man."
"Go back to your own," Yami hissed. "Or were you raised in a box, vile, filthy snake?"
Zhur's eyes flashed. "Your impudence is quite daring, little prince, considering I have the upperhand here."
"Do you?" Yami answered scathingly. "I don't see any of your followers here with you, while I have ten of mine. Four you struck down, and my father, yet these ten still remain and you are helpless."
Malignant laughter rose from Zhur's throat, as if Yami's boldness was amusing. "Before this day is over, you will have learned obeisance while in my presence," he assured him. "Why does a child like you make such defiant statements? You do know you have caused me nothing but trouble since the day of your birth. When I win today, I shall delight in stripping you of your royal title and subjecting you to my own version of slavery." Knowing full well that Yami would make no attack on him until he was sure he had him right where he wanted him, Zhur could manipulate the boy until the last possible moment. He stepped forward until he was directly in front of the boy pharaoh, seeing him up close for the first time in five years. He was yet small and thin in stature, wearing a long cape and the mystical Eye Symbol on his black shirt. His white pants sagged around his ankles, and his sandals and all his golden jewelry except for his golden tiara had been cast aside to let him move as freely as he needed. Like the rest of his company, his clothes were torn and patched, and it looked as if they hadn't had a change of clothes in months. Their faces were dirty; Jono was nursing a split lip; Yami had great slashes on his arms and chest from the attack of a Duel Monster the last of Zhur's Shadow Gamers had summoned before dying. The slashes were bleeding profusely, but the young king made no effort to stop the flow. Even now, his courage and dignity radiated around him, and he glowed with a light like the stars.
Zhur reached down and tilted Yami's face in any way he desired, gently, yet Yami felt the coldness and evil power dispelling from his fingers. He winced momentarily, but quickly made his face impassive. He would not show fear in the presence of this miserable excuse for a human being.
"Ahh, yes." The voice of Zhur was smooth as butter, yet still haunting and teasing. "So many have sought you, fair child of Ramses. You are gifted with a magical power so rare and beautiful like your demeanor. Many have desired to make you their own, their prize. Whether to obtain your power or merely to say they owned you, they desired you. You really are lovely, young one. I should kill you, I think, but I wouldn't mind a trophy for my success." He whispered darkly in Yami's ear. "Would you hate being my prize? You are too fair for death. I am sure I could put you to good use." With that he drew himself to his full height, and commanded, "Bow before your master, slave!"
"I shall never bow to you, captive of darkness," Yami declared in a low voice. "No matter what, I will never call you 'lord' or 'king.' And certainly not 'master'! You may do what you want with me. Chain me with manacles! If you can find it in your heart to bind a pharaoh with golden chains, it wouldn't matter to me! Chains are chains, bonds are bonds. There is no compassion there! If you should win, you can kill me. Enslave me. Make lovely, young me your pet prisoner. But I shall never bow to you!"
Zhur's face was heated with fury. The pharaoh was once again succeeding in really getting on his nerves and frustrating him. Somehow, despite the prince's pleasant, becoming mien, Zhur could never like him. "You will bow to me," he said.
"Never!"
"You have so much pride, little prince. How will you ever learn the lesson of humility?"
"Yami is more reticent than anyone I know!" Rise objected forcefully. "If he wasn't so modest, he would have turned out like the others of the royal family - believing only in power and ordering everyone to call him 'Prince' or 'Pharaoh'! But he doesn't! He feels for his friends, and for everyone in the kingdom! Besides, even if he was like Prince Pentaware and the others, he would still have more modesty than you!"
"But, little girl, I don't think you understand," Zhur corrected coolly. "I do not need to be humble. I, the most powerful sorcerer of the world, and soon to be its king. Ruler over all the earth, Shadow Realm, and Ryúnade combined!"
Yami was shaking visibly now. "You are wrong," he stuttered out defiantly. "The Shadow Realm is its own kingdom and takes orders from no one, not even you. You may be able to control some of its inhabitants, but only for a limited time and not everyone will trust you. They are not a trusting - or trustworthy - world. Earth has no king. There are simply too many citizens of earth to oversee, even with careless, evil intentions. You care nothing about the people, so you expect ruling will be easy, but by stirring fear in the peoples' hearts they will fall into poverty, and in time, so shall you. You have not conquered death, Zhur! That is an impossible feat!"
The enraged Zhur chose not to respond to the last statement. He grabbed Yami's face once more and forced him to look directly into his normal eye and his golden eye. "You forget to mention Ryúnade. That is where I shall draw all my power, all my followers. There shall me plans -"
"No no, the power of Ryúnade is off limits even to me," Yami responded as he tried to pull his head out of Zhur's tight grasp. "There is only one ruler of Ryúnade, land of the peaceful Duel Monsters. She is Queen Kiara, the living Chalice of Life. She is dead in your mind, but her spirit does what her body could not - it became one with the very being of Ryúnade. You can do to a body what you like, but you can never harness a soul!"
Zhur raised his free hand and slapped the pharaoh, snapping his head around. "Ignorant fool!" he hissed. "You will pay for your impertinence! A slave you shall be, and in the end you shall beg for death and relief of pain and torture, but there will be no comfort for you!"
Yami gave a look as if to say, "Try me. Just try and break me, if it brings you pleasure. You will find I am impossible to bend!"
"Let go of me," he demanded, still trying to rip Zhur's hands from his face.
Naturally, Zhur wouldn't comply. Instead, he used one strong arm to keep Yami's hands immobile behind his back and used the other to pull him to him, pressing him against his body. Welts from the recent battle on his back and shoulders were aggravated and burst open, crimson blood spilling from the wounds. He felt the pain, but refused to utter a sound. Too long had he given Zhur the satisfaction of hearing him shriek. Not any longer!
Ahmose roared with anger and lunged forward, wielding the Millennium Sword. "Release him!" he commanded. "He is your pharaoh! You have not the right to treat him so!"
"He is no pharaoh!" a spiteful Zhur spat, drunk in self-confidence. "He is mine! Never again shall the sun or her child shine their light on this wretched world!"
Yami spoke to Ahmose. "Do not strike," he gasped, trying to breath while bound by Zhur's tight grasp. "We will go to the Shadow Realm. There we will conduct a Shadow Game. If Zhur wins, he gains control of Egypt and the entire world, plus those other two realms. He gains dominion over all people, and my life."
Zhur sneered triumphantly.
"However."
Yami's eyes narrowed, and passion and fierce determination burned in his ruby eyes. He glowed with the light of one with the strongest heart as he finished his speech.
"If I win, everything will go back to the way it was. The Shadow Realm and the Shadow Games will be locked away. Ryúnade will be forgotten, and no events concerning it shall be remembered in the future. This entire war shall be forgotten by the next generation of mankind. And Zhur shall be exiled to the darkest, dreariest corner of the Shadow Realm to wallow in misery and defeat for all eternity."
"Fair enough," Zhur said stiffly, "considering I'm going to win anyway."
Yami ignored him and spoke directly to Semaret. "Sem..."
Semaret had turned away when Zhur's abuse of Yami had begun, remembering all too well when he had been one who would torture the child king as well. Now he faced Yami, guilt spread across his face.
"If I do not return..." Yami looked at him - no, he looked through him - as he thought of what to say next. "If I do not return, I give you my kingdom."
The company gasped in surprise.
"I had promised it to Kerihk... my dear friend. I knew him inside and out. Other than my guardian Datran, he was the only one who encouraged me to duel for the right to become pharaoh, not only so Kiara could be queen, but also so I could put in effect my plans for a peaceful kingdom of equality and friendship. We shared the same views. He would have done as I see fit. But he has gone... to wherever we go when we die. Semaret, you must lead my people in my stead. I don't care if you go about finishing what I started. I believe you will be a wise king. Do take care. I trust you."
Semaret could hardly believe his ears. "Pharaoh... after everything that's happened... I betrayed you... I hurt you and your friends... I bowed to this vile snake... yet, you still trust me with the land you love?"
"It is not the land I love, Sem," Yami responded with a weak smile. "It is the people. You are one of the people. You have been reconciled with me. I would trust you with my life. If that is not great enough an honor, I would trust you with Kiara's life." Kiara had seemingly been Yami's only weakness. After her death, he had thought he couldn't go on. To say he would trust anyone but himself with her life was truly an honor.
Yami's eyes traveled to the others and he gave final farewells. "Ahmose. Do not blame yourself for Kiara's death. She had foreseen it, and it could not be prevented. She took in her the Chalice of Life! Ironic that the Chalice of Life should cause one to die, yet she knew it needed to be done but her body wouldn't be able to sustain it. It is no fault of yours. I trust you above all, Ahmose.
"Taidu and Osona, I know I have not always been the ideal pharaoh you have hoped I would turn out to be. I will try my best to remember everything you taught me in this final duel. Keep safe, priestesses. The gods smile on you.
"Himoko, daughter of both Egypt and Greece. I pray a blessing on you and Semaret, that your life together should be prosperous. I daresay if I don't survive, you shall be queen of all Egypt. Keep healing, Himoko. Keep watching, and waiting. Your destiny will reveal itself to you in due time.
"Ay, a sailor of many lands. When you go on your voyages, remember me. I should have liked to see those grand places. Learn much, and bring it back to teach the new generation. You are wise beyond wise, Ay.
"Jono and Tyren, my life-long companions. Do not lose your enthusiasm and energy! That may be all that will sustain you after today, should I fail. You've been my best friends since the beginning. I thank you for all your support... perhaps one day our paths will cross again.
"Shaadi, thank you so much for all your help. You took care of my kingdom while I was away. You guided us in areas we had little to no knowledge of. You kept safe the Sennen Ring, Mirror, and Rod once their owners had been killed. Your friendship has been such a blessing to me."
The last member of the group was Rise. After all they had been through together, Yami found it was hardest to say good-bye to her. Her blue eyes glistened with tears as he began to speak.
"Rise, you came to us when I was only eight years old, hoping to train in the palace to become a magician. At first you weren't sure you were going to stay... but I am so glad that you chose to remain with us. Kiara loved you as her very best friend and really looked up to you. I daresay I did too - you were always encouraging me. We were a good team, and great friends. Father took it too far when he arranged for us to be married one day, but after today that betrothal will be canceled, one way or another. I hope you can be as happy as possible with the one you do love." He smiled warmly at Jono and Rise, the young couple.
Rise stepped forward. "Yami, just don't forget how much your friends love you," she stammered bravely. "We believe in you, like we always have! As long as you focus on our love for you, you can't lose! We'll be there for you, even in the Shadow Realm."
Yami smiled.
This had gone on too long for Zhur. He was anxious to begin the Shadow Realm. "Are you quite finished?" he wanted to know. Yami heard the impatience in his tone and finally consented.
"Yes. I am ready."
"Good! Prepare to die."
Above them, an entrance to the Shadow Realm was opening in the sky. It was dark and evil, cold and mysterious. Yami took one last look at his friends as Zhur jumped into the black hole, pulling him with him. That was the last he saw of his friends were five thousand years.
Before the hole closed, Yami's voice echoed through the wind. ~If the sun rises at dawn, I have been victorious. Look to the horizon. The sun shall rise.~
The present-day Himoko, Ay, and Ahmose had watched all this in utter silence. Even now, they sat where they were, staring up at the sky with their past selves for the longest time.
At length, dawn arrived. Osona, guardian of time, announced that it had come. Anxiously the group looked to the horizon, as Yami had instructed. They didn't even blink as they waited to catch the first ray of sunlight, should it come. For a long time they sat there, unmoving, until hope itself seemed hopeless.
Suddenly Rise gasped. "The sun! I see the sun!"
It was true. The sun was rising, brighter and more beautiful than ever before. As its rays touched the ground, it sprang up with new life. Flowers bloomed, grass grew, trees branched out. All over the world, people's hearts were light as they realized the dark times were over. Yami had been victorious!
Rise and Himoko hugged each other and laughed for joy. Osona and Taidu clasped hands, keeping their composure, but they couldn't help but cry with happy tears. Jono and Tyren were cheering their loudest, but even they were drowned out by Ahmose's jubilant roars. Semaret, Ay, and Shaadi just stared at the rising sun, at peace in their hearts.
Rise looked around. "But... Yami hasn't returned. Something's not right."
The group immediately stopped cheering as her words hit them. The world was safe now, but could Yami have perished along with Zhur? No... it wasn't possible! Shaadi decided to perform a spell to reopen an entrance to the Shadow Realm; perhaps Yami was just too weak to make a new one himself.
No sooner had he begun the spell than an entrance opened all on its own. Out of it emerged two tall, strong women, one clothed all in black with long, dark as night hair and matching eyes. The other was clad in white with hair and eyes to the liken of it. The dark one was carrying the small, motionless frame of King Yami in her arms.
"The oracles of Dark and Light," Taidu breathed. "Suta-raito and Tenpi! They are spirits that ensure the balance of the world isn't off kilter. How astonishing that they grace us with their presence!"
The past Ahmose rushed forward, hardly realizing he should show reverence to the oracles. He stopped before the Oracle of Starlight, Suta-raito.
"Is he all right?" he questioned apprehensively. "He isn't... dead, is he?" It was a bleak question, for Yami couldn't look any more dead.
Suta-raito was the one to respond. Her voice was deep and womanly, but her cool gaze was kind. "Pharaoh Yugioh's spirit no longer resides in his body," she stated simply, much to the distress of his followers. "But neither his spirit, nor the spirits of the four other deceased ones, has left this world. His spirit and theirs now reside within the Sennen Sets."
"What do you mean?" the past Himoko asked.
"All of you were born in this time to defeat this great evil," the oracle of Sunlight, Tenpi, explained. "However, your destinies take place in a different time. A future time, when you will again be needed to defeat this same evil at its worst."
The teenagers were shocked, and their faces showed it. "He's dead then," Rise sniffed. "I thought it was so." Their minds were torn between grief for their leader and confusion as to the oracles' words.
Tenpi spoke again. "As six of you here have Sennen Sets, when you die, your souls shall also be entrapped in your sets. The four of you without Sennen Sets will be reincarnated at the same time as your friends are freed. Please, do not grieve yourselves. Peace is upon the world, for a little while. I assure you, the next time around there will be no tragedies like you have faced these past three years. Go now, Shadow Gamers."
Suta-raito handed Yami's body to Ahmose and stroked his tri-colored hair. He looked as if he were only sleeping, but his heart was not beating any longer. "Sleep well, young king, your true destiny lies in wait," she said softly. Then she cast a benign smile upon Ahmose. "Don't be sad, Ahmose son of Ramose. He fought bravely, and it was a battle that astonished even the highest of oracles. The apocalypse of this war is yet to come, but you have all proven to be the strongest of all. Take him and give him a traditional burial. But if archaeologists enter his tomb a millennia from now, let no heart be surprised if his body is not there!"
Thus ended the vision. The present-day Himoko, Ay, and Ahmose each remained on the ground, going over the events in their hearts. They thought of everything which had happened, and what it meant now. Most of all, they remembered that final, dark battle, and Ahmose truly understood for the first time why he loved the royal family so much.
Taidu realized these three completely understood what had happened, and that their memories had been restored. She surveyed them carefully, and then her lips curved up in a knowing grin. Clasping her hands and muttering a spell, she brought them back to reality.
***
(A/N: Whew! Two more parts to go... two SHORT parts!!! ::gasps for air:: I'd better get reviews, I worked exceedingly hard on this chapter...)
Yugi awoke with a start when he heard a thud as six heavy objects landed on the ground. Curiously, he stood up from the damp grass he and his friends had been sleeping on, and found that Hikaru, Bakura, and Ai were already awake. They had been playing a game using rocks and Duel Monsters cards which they called "Rock RPG." The game had abruptly ended when the sound had been heard and awakened Yugi, Takehiko, and Dajan.
"What the heck was that?" Ai asked.
"Don't look at me, I was asleep," Takehiko answered.
"Maybe you kicked me really hard in your sleep," Dajan suggested in annoyance. "Again."
"Let's go and see," Yugi said.
"What about him?" Hikaru interrupted, pointing to Yami who was still asleep on the ground. He had a strained look on his face, but he was in a deep, practically unbreakable sleep. Yugi thought it would be a pity to wake him up when he was so tired.
"Leave him alone," he said gently. "He needs his rest. We'll check this out."
"Be careful," Hikaru reminded him as she and Ai went back to their game.
Yugi, Takehiko, Bakura, and Dajan quietly sneaked out of their hiding place to search the area where the sound had come from. Acting like agents of the CIA, they darted from bush to bush, trying their best not to alert the cause of the sound that they were there.
The first thing they spied was a foot covered by a trench coat. Peering through the bushes, Yugi-tachi immediately recognized the Seto Kaiba gang all lying on the ground.
Yugi beckoned for the others to follow him as he raced to Kaiba's side. "Kaiba! Misaki! Tali! Are you guys okay?"
Kaiba groaned and opened his eyes. Ro pulled Mokuba and Makimura out from under him. Misaki and Tali held their dizzy heads.
"Where are we?" an unstable Kaiba asked.
"Weren't we just at a castle?" Misaki mumbled brilliantly.
"That weirdo Jyor-lang cast a spell or something and sent us here," Tali explained.
"You met Jyor-lang?!" Takehiko gasped.
Kaiba's group seemed to notice Yugi and company for the first time. He blinked and then exclaimed, "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
It took a lot of explaining to tell both sides of the stories to their friends, but at last each group had at least a vague understanding of what had happened. Yugi-tachi took Kaiba's group to their resting spot, where Hikaru and Ai greeted them joyfully, Hikaru going even as far as to hug them tightly, startling Kaiba.
"It's good to know Naoko and the others are at least alive," Hikaru said.
Yugi nodded. "Now maybe we stand a chance at saving them."
Mokuba and Makimura were showering Ai with tales of their adventures. She was laughing like crazy but they didn't seem to mind.
Tali walked over to the slumbering Yami and placed a hand on his forehead. She frowned when she noticed he was sweating. 'So it has begun...' She knew her yami, Taidu, was planning on reuniting the yamis with their memories, and understood it would be painful for them to relive their worst moments.
"So this is what happens to the stubborn other Yugi when he fights a duel too hard."
Tali looked at the owner of the voice, Kaiba. "Shut up, Kaiba," she said, irritated. "Try saying something nice for once."
Kaiba looked thoughtful and mischievous as he pondered and answer. Softly he said, "He looks cute when he's sleeping."
Everyone sweatdropped.
Kaiba scanned Yami quickly, thinking of Jyor-lang's vow of revenge. The former pharaoh truly radiated with innocence as he slept. Against his will, Kaiba felt his heart melt. Stooping down, he picked up the battered body, observing Yami's wounds and thinking of the best way to tend them.
"It was raining before," Ai stated as if it were an important fact.
Kaiba sighed and rolled his eyes. "Well, it's not now. Let's see if we can find a better place for him to rest. That's the only cure for fatigue."
Somewhat surprised that Kaiba was concerned with Yami's well-being, the others consented and followed him out of the woods. They clambered across the wet lands and over the barnacle-covered rocks seeking a better shelter. Camping had just become much harder.
***
The yamis opened their eyes one by one. Kiara and Kerihk both blushed when they met each other's eyes, but quickly recovered and turned away. Kerihk buried himself in his legs so no one would see him cry, but Kiara knew what he had seen. Setsuna hugged her knees and did not fail to notice the tears staining the faces of everyone, including Taidu. Ahmose, Ay, and Himoko had their heads bowed in reverence.
Finally Taidu broke the silence. "It is over, friends," she said, but her voice cracked. "I - I'm so sorry... you had to relive those terrible times. But you had to know. You had to. And you will never have to go through that again. But remember... the only way to deal with the pain of those times, is to accept them, not to forget."
Slowly the group got to their feet, attempting to hide their weaknesses even though they felt anything but strong. Taidu spotted the black book Hikaru had found tucked between Kiara's arms.
"The Book of Truth!" she exclaimed, running his fingers over the red Eye symbol emblazoned on its cover. "This is a book of tao spells. Tao, the forces that make up the universe. One Song. Universe. Yes, you would be sent this book for help and guidance. Its powers will benefit you. Use it well." She pursed her lips at the sight of so many gloomy faces. "Don't look so glum, my friends! The bad times are done with. New times are beginning! You have great things going for you. Don't you want to make your hikaris' lives perfect for them? Then put aside the past and focus on the future! You are stronger than that! You live in both eras. Use your knowledge!"
Kiara grinned unexpectedly. "We know," she said. "We don't need to dwell on those times."
"We have a second chance to right our mistakes," Kerihk chimed in.
"We can help those that we love," Ahmose added.
"We can discover our true destinies," Himoko put in.
"And make new friendships and strengthen old ones," Ay suggested.
"It's a new life, guys! I daresay we're all glad we have our memories back, but that's not what counts!" Setsuna punched the air. "Let's get out of this dreary cave and show the world who we are!"
With this as food for thought, the Shadow Gamers of Light left the dreary gave that had been the home of much evil. They cast away dark thoughts from their souls and left happier than they had come.
Strange how these things just work themselves out, isn't it?
((Don't ever wait to find what you've been looking for
Don't ever hide your light behind a closing door
Don't give up the fight to find a way to realize your dreams
Don't you know you can be anything you want to be
You can be a star shining out in the darkness
You can be a fire blazing into the cold
You can be a voice calling out into silence
You can be as bright as the morning sun
You can be the blue sky after the gray
You can drive the clouds of fear away
You can bring healing to a world that's come undone
Don't you know you can be The One
You know that you can be The One
Don't ever miss a chance to find what the future holds
'Cause I can see a passion burning in your eyes
I know there's a God who's up in Heaven looking down
And we all play a part in a master plan of grand design
You can be a star shining out in the darkness
You can be a fire blazing into the cold
You can be a voice calling out into silence
You can be as bright as the morning sun
You can be the blue sky after the gray
You can drive the clouds of fear away
You can bring healing to a world that's come undone
Don't you know you can be The One
You know that you can be The One...))
Angel: There you go, gang! *whew* It's not 40 pages! ::twiddles thumbs:: It's 35.
Everyone: ::anime fall::
Angel: Should I change the rating to PG-13? It's probably only going to get more sappy and gory from here... I suppose I completely bored you to death... if I didn't, please tell me...
Yami: You certainly bored ME to death.
Angel: That's because you slept the entire time.
Bakura: I didn't have any lines.
Kerihk: Be happy. I sure did.
Ay: It was your fault!
Kerihk: No, it was yours!
Angel: ::whines:: Guys!!! You'll make it 36 pages! *gets cheerful* Who likes the song? It's so fun. I got issue 2 of Shonen Jump! Yami is hot even in terrible animation! AND TEA SAID THAT SHE'S IN LOVE WITH YAMI!!! *jumps for joy* "I'll never forget that voice. 'Let's play a game...' After all, I've fallen in love with its owner!" YEP! We all fall in love with Yami-kun.
Yami: ...
From the Desk of Ryou Bakura since I believe he was the only character that didn't have any lines:
Nan desu ka - what is it
imouto - little sister
Daijobu desu ka - are you all right
Daijobu desu - I am all right
nii-sama - big brother (cute form)
make inu - pathetic dog (Kaiba's nickname for Jonouchi, one of many)
doshite - what?! why?!
aishiteru - I love you
-tachi - and company
urusei - shut up
sokua, sokua - right, right (I'm not 100% sure of this but someone used it in their own fanfic and said it was Japanese for "right, right" so blame them if its wrong, lol)
No Character of the Day today cuz I'm tired of writing so here's the plan for chap 10.
Next time: Chapter Ten, Jimiru Maiho-mu (as told by Dajan Hada): We find shelter at a nearby Chinese restaurant, and both Yami and Bakura are being tortured by different dreams. But the food is great! Can you believe we hikaris can cook that well? Plus, Kaiba and Yami find Ay and the others and we are reunited! A couple things happen - Kaiba and Yami fight, Kiara and Hikaru have a talk, and Kerihk and Bakura bite each other's heads off. It's actually a peaceful day, compared to everything else we've been through. But for how long? Let's hope longer than the hot dog incident!
TBC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!! (grr... we just got to 36 pages. Darnit!)