Finally, I have been planning this scene since chapter two.  I hope it came out all right.  Well, next chapter should have the initial skirmish against Kaiba.  I just have to figure out exactly what that will be.

I am going to put this here just to prevent any confusion in this and later chapters.

/…../ is someone thinking to themselves

\…..\ is Yugi talking to one of his duel monsters

\\….\\ is one of the duel monsters talking back

{…..}  Ryou to Bakura

{{….}} Bakura to Ryou

[…..]  Yugi to Yami

[[…]]  Yami to Yugi.   

 Well, that's that, I know not all of these are in this chapter but it's to let you know

ENJOY

+____^

                There were six gathered in the room.  Ryou and Yugi were on the couch, and behind them stood Dark, Celt, Daniel, and O'Neill.  Yami was in the room just through the door that they were all staring at, Siris was with him, explaining the process hopefully.

                "Does anyone know what she is planning?"  Daniel asked.  He received immediate negatives from everyone but Yugi and Ryou, who glanced at each other before finding something interesting about their hands.  Dark raised an eyebrow at that and leaned down close to Yugi in order to whisper in his ear.

                "What is it you two aren't telling us?" 

                "Um, you'll see.  We wouldn't want to spoil the fun." 

                "Right.  Exactly.  What he said." 

                "Are you guys bothering the hikaris."  Siris spoke as she walked out of the room, alone, and closed the door.  Leaning back she winked at the group, causing Yugi to giggle.

                "Siris, what are you up to.  You've got something up that sleeve of yours, or else you wouldn't be so secretive."

                "Oh, why do you say that Celt?  It's not like I've done something like this before."

                "I certainly hope you haven't done this before, or else they'll see through you." 

                "Ha.  Don't worry Ryou, they won't see through me until it is too late.  And look, here comes the last member to the party.  Why, Bakura, you're late." 

                "Stop your smiling Tali.  You owe me big time for this.  Don't forget that." 

                "Bakura, before you go in, remember it should only take a max of 20 minutes or so.  You'll be fine."  Scowling, Bakura opened the door and closed it roughly behind him.  Siris locked the door as soon as he had and moved over to flop down between the hikaris on the couch.

                "So, Ryou, what would you say as a guess."

                "I would think over nine hours at least.  What's your guess Yugi?"

                "I'm gonna say under eight, but not by much.  Siris, what about you?"

                "Let's see, my guess is..."  She held up her right wrist and switched the mode on her watch to the stopwatch.  "I'm going to say eight hours, 41 minutes and 27 seconds, starting riiiight now."  She pressed the start button in order to emphasize the now and sat back.

                "Uh, Siris?"

                "Yes Daniel."

                "You said that it should take 20 minutes max to remove that headband, right?"
                "Yep."

                "So why are you guys saying it will be hours until he does?"  Laughing softly she took a moment to answer.

                "Because, it will only take about 20 minutes, once they actually get to the process.  The hours bit is how long that will take."  Ryou winced suddenly, as if from some internal blow.

                "Remember Ryou, you can't respond."

                "I know Yugi, I won't." 

                "And so it begins."  Siris stated as a sudden banging started on the door and muffled, and yet still very loud, shouts could be heard on the other side of the door.

                "They won't kill each other, will they?"

                "Nah, but they will bruise each other's ego's.  Just sit back Colonel, this is gonna take a while." 

~~~~~**~~~~~

                "This isn't happening.  What do you think you are doing soul stealer?"  Yami declared staring at the other person standing in the room.

                "I'm doing what I promised I would do.  I'm......I'm here to help you."  Bakura stated rather calmly.

                "Like I believe that.  Get out!"

                "I would, but I do keep my promises, whether you believe it or not!"

                "That would be a first." 

                "Look, I told Tali I would, now just sit down so we can get this over with."  Yami glared at Bakura, making no move to sit in the chair. 

                "I refuse to believe that Siris had you in mind, so stay away!"  Sighing, Bakura tried to keep what little patience he had from falling apart.

                "Awful skittish, aren't you pharaoh.  Look, do you think I am enjoying this?"

                "By Ra, yes I do.  This is a trick you're playing, well I am not going to play along."

                "You are the most arrogant, pigheaded, stuck up snob I've ever met.  You can not seriously believe I would do something like this voluntarily!!"

                "Then leave, I don't need your help anyway!"  Clenching his fists Bakura decided that before he marched out of there he would at least let Siris know, so he contacted his hikari.

                {{Ryou, tell Tali I'm not doing this.  Tell her there has got to be another way.}}  Waiting a moment for a response he started to become very agitated when there was none.

                {{Ryou!  Are you LISTENING!  Tell Tali to forget it, I will not lower myself to help him!}}  Still there was no response.  Yami was watching with only mild interest, still waiting for Bakura to leave.

                {{RYOU!!  YOU ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW OR I SWEAR BY ANUBIS THAT YOU WILL REGRET IT!!!!}}  His only response was a slight mental shudder and a closing of the link from his hikaris end.  Snarling he marched up to the door and started to pull.

                "What the?  First the brat isn't listening and now the door won't open!  What is going on?"  It didn't take long for him to figure it out and when he did he shouted every egyptian curse he knew, as well as some in some other languages and slammed against the door repeatedly.

                "TALI, RYOU!  DON'T THINK YOU ARE GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS!!  OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW!  LET ME OUT!!"  Yami was slightly shocked at Bakura's display and took a few steps towards the enraged spirit.  He quickly backpedaled though when Bakura turned around and advanced on him.

                "This is all YOUR fault!  If it weren't for you I'd be off ENJOYING myself.  But, no, I had to be an idiot and agree to TRY!  And!  HELP YOU!!!"

                "Hold it right there tomb robber.  Don't even think about blaming ME!  Whatever you are ranting about is your fault.  NOT mine!  And you can stop trying to convince me your here to help, I know you better than that.

                "AAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!  WHAT DID I DOOOOOO!!"  Bakura screamed, pounding the door with his fists.  Yami watched wide-eyed, keeping as far away as possible.

~~~~~**~~~~~

                "Anyone want another gobstopper?"  Siris asked, holding the box out.  Silently those gathered took one and continued to stare at the door.  It was now over eight hours since Siris had locked Bakura in with Yami.  A few of the bangs from the other side had actually caused the door to shake, but it still held.

                "You are having far too much fun with this Siris."  Celt murmured as he picked out a green gobstopper before handing back the box.                  "Live a little Celt.  They'll be out soon."

                "Would you mind explaining to me exactly how Bakura can remove it and you can't." 

                "Well Dark, I could try and remove it the same way as the others but since it's on his head I didn't want to take the risk.  And I noticed something different about the headband that wasn't true about the manacles."
                "What would that be?"

                "The headband actually is emitting a bit of shadow energy.  Now, I don't have any shadow powers so I can't do what Bakura will.  And what that is, is he will surround the band with shadow energy of his own, only he will focus it so that is at the exact opposite frequency or concentration.  That will nullify the magic and he will be able to lift it off physically."

                "Why can't Yami do it himself, or perhaps Marik?"
                "That would be rather hard Daniel, the band suppresses Yami's abilities and I'm not sure if Marik could keep concentrated long enough to make it work.  It takes a lot of precision and patience to perform, two things Marik doesn't have."

                "And Bakura does?"  Dark muttered, Celt smiled and gently poked his companion in the ribs, indicating him to be quiet.

"How will we know if it was successful and not them just trying to get out, saying it was?"
                "I'll know Colonel.  You see, Ryou has shut Bakura off so he can't contact him.  That band is shutting me off from Yami, so when it's off he will be able to tell me through our link.  They can't fake that."

                "Ah, so, how much longer do you think?"

                "It has now been eight hours 38 minutes and 10 seconds, Colonel.  It shouldn't be much longer."
                "Right, I doubt they will come out exactly when you said Siris."

                "Doubt if you will, just wait."  They all stopped any further conversation and watched the door, as well as Yugi.  It was indeed only a few minutes later when Yugi jumped from the couch in jubilation.

                [[Aibou, are you there?  If you are, will you please let us out of this room now.]]

                "It's Yami, let them out Siris."  Nodding she motioned to the door and it silently opened.  Yami rushed out as soon as he was able and was met by Yugi halfway to the couch.  Bakura stalked out the door, his displeasure clear, he marched straight to where Siris and Ryou still sat.  Siris ignored him, having stopped the watch the second Yugi had told her to open the door. 

                "Well, what do you guys have to say now?"  She asked, pointing to the numbers on her watch.  Celt stared in disbelief, while Dark muttered something under his breath as O'Neill managed to voice them.

                "Eight hours,  41 minutes, and, and 27 seconds."

                "That's impossible.  Let me see that."  Yugi said, running over and grabbing her wrist so he could move the watch into his field of vision.  "How did you know?"

                "How did she know what?  Bakura demanded, his voice slightly hoarse.

                "How did she know exactly how long it would take for the two of you to cooperate long enough to remove the band.  Bakura glared at her, she just smiled back.  Staring at his hikari for a moment he stalked out of the room after throwing the band onto Siris' lap.

                {{We are going to have a looooong talk later, aibou.}}  Bakura stated over the mind link, Ryou sighed and turned back to the others.

                "Well, now that this is finally settled, we should be able to start on those plans of yours Colonel.  But, first I am going to get some rest, see you all tomorrow."  With that Siris stood up and left, swinging the band as she did.  The others stayed a while longer until the excitement wore off and they too left to get some sleep.  Ryou left last, sighing softly as he went to deal with his other.