"Is this the place?" Yugi wondered curiously as he and Tea stopped in front of a building on a Chinatown street.
"The name looks familiar," Tea remarked, gazing up at the sign.
**This is where I took Jade last night,** Yami Yugi remarked from inside the Puzzle, sounding surprised.
~Wow, really?~ Yugi exclaimed, pushing the door open and looking around at the interior. "Um, hello?" he called. "Is . . . anyone here?"
"Hello," a rather high-pitched voice greeted, and an elderly man with graying hair stepped out of the back room. "Welcome to Uncle's Rare Finds!"
"Oh . . . hi," Yugi replied, and introduced himself and Tea.
"And what can I do for you today?" Uncle asked a bit suspiciously, probably thinking that teenagers usually were not interested in antiques.
"Well . . ." Tea paused, taking out a newspaper. "We . . . we were investigating those strange robberies here in the city and we heard about the Egyptian artifacts that disappeared from your shop," she admitted.
"What Egyptian artifacts?!" Uncle demanded, looking even more suspicious. "And why are you investigating the robberies? You are much too young to be police officers!"
Quickly Tea held up the article for him to look at while Yugi tried to explain that they were amateur detectives. Uncle didn't seem very receptive to the idea.
"You are teenagers!" he cried. "Teenagers!! And you will be bad influence on Jade!!"
Yugi turned a deep crimson, but before he could stammer out a reply a much younger man appeared in the doorway, looking embarrassed as well.
"Uncle!" he exclaimed. "This is the boy who brought Jade home last night!" He blinked at Yugi, suddenly realizing that he looked a bit different. "Aren't you?"
"Actually . . ." There was a flash of light and Yami Yugi appeared in the room as well. "That was I."
"AIIYAAA!!!" Uncle yelped, backing up. "A spirit came out of the pyramid that boy wears around his neck!!! Jackie!!!!"
The man called Jackie stepped forward, looking confused. "What is going on here?" he demanded, staring at Yugi and then at his Yami.
"Do not move!" Uncle ordered. Narrowing his eyes, he took out a blowfish and, pointing it at Yami Yugi, chanted an ancient Chinese spell. After a moment he relaxed and put the fish away. "There is no need for concern," he said then. "He is good spirit!" And with that he whacked Jackie on the forehead with his index and middle fingers.
"Ow!" Jackie cried in protest.
"Hey, what's all the hubbub?" a familiar voice exclaimed, and then Jade appeared, sliding down the banister from upstairs.
"Hello, Jade," Yami Yugi greeted.
"Oh hey!" Jade chirped enthusiastically, and then greeted Yugi and was introduced to Tea. "So," she said now, "did you ever find that mundo-weirdo who got your friend all sloshed?"
"What?!" Uncle exclaimed. "What is she talking about?!"
"Um, she's talking about a guy she met who's posing as a friend of ours," Yugi explained. "And . . ." He paused, trying to figure out how to say that the imposter had been sent to a dark realm. "Well, I don't think we'll need to worry about him causing trouble again," the boy said at last.
"Oooh." Jade's eyes lit up at the thought of intrigue. "Did he get offed or something?"
"Jade!!" Jackie cried in disbelief.
"No," Yugi said slowly, "he's still around somewhere." Quickly he changed the subject. "But anyway, we were wondering about those stolen artifacts," he said again, explaining again why they were there and looking to Jackie for help.
"Oh!" Jackie said in understanding, looking at the article Tea was still holding up. "Those artifacts disappeared the day after I brought them back from Egypt. I am still trying to find them."
Uncle whacked Jackie again. "Aiiyaa! They are still missing?!" He folded his arms and looked vexed. "They were stolen by forces of darkness!" the man proclaimed loudly.
"Uncle, please," Jackie protested. "I really don't think . . ."
"Of course you don't!" Uncle snapped. "But they have magic powers! The forces of darkness are now stronger!!"
"Magic powers?!" Yugi exclaimed, stepping forward.
"Are you sure?" Tea wanted to know.
Uncle waved his arms about wildly. "Of course Uncle is sure!!" he yelled. "Do not doubt Uncle!!"
"Um, okay," Tea said slowly, blinking.
****
Mokuba shook his friend frantically, tears pouring from his eyes. "Come on, Marik!" he sobbed. "Wake up! Please!!" The younger boy felt warm blood run over his hands and he gasped in horror. Feeling sickened and alarmed at the realization that the blood was Marik's, Mokuba tried harder to revive the Egyptian boy.
"Come on!! It's . . . it's okay, Marik! Just . . . say something," he sobbed. "Anything! . . . Don't just lay there like . . . like you're dead or something!" Mokuba tried again to pull his friend up and this time managed to get him propped up against the same building he had hit his head on earlier. Marik's body was limp and motionless as his blonde hair fell across his face and as a frighteningly long train of blood dripped from his forehead to the ground.
"You've gotta be okay," Mokuba wailed. "Please, Marik! Please!!!" He pushed the older boy's back up against the wall and tried to look into his face for any signs of awakening.
"Mokuba."
The boy looked up to see Rishid standing there, looking grave.
"Oh Rishid!" Mokuba said in relief. "Can you help Marik?! These really messed-up guys came and were beating him up and I couldn't stop them and they hurt him really bad!!" Tears filled his eyes. "I can't get him to wake up!!"
Quickly Rishid knelt down next to Marik and lifted the teenage boy into his arms. "Marik?" he whispered softly, angered when he saw how his adopted brother was bleeding. "Who the devil would hurt him like this?" the man growled, holding Marik's body close.
"I don't know," Mokuba said shakily, "but I think they were mistaking him for someone else, maybe even that creepy double!"
Rishid's lip curled in disgust. "You will have to describe the attackers to me," he said as he carried Marik out of the alley.
"S-sure," Mokuba nodded, blinking. "But how did you know to come? And is Marik gonna be okay?!"
"I sensed he was hurt," Rishid replied quietly. "As for his condition . . . he still lives. He needs to be able to rest peacefully, but I believe that he will be alright." He paused. "You were very brave, Mokuba—trying to protect him."
Mokuba shook his head. "He was the brave one," he said softly. "He was trying to protect me."
Rishid smiled softly to himself as he held Marik closer. Yes, he knew that was true.
****
Shadi stirred, trying to pry his eyes open. He felt confused and exhausted, as if he had spent most of his strength fighting a treacherous demon.
"Ah, you are awake."
He blinked, looking up to see Ishizu standing over him.
"The doctor says that you are doing much better than he'd hoped," Marik's sister went on.
Shadi tried to rise but was gently pushed back down. "How long have you been here?" he asked, finding his voice.
Ishizu turned slightly. "Not long," she replied.
Now Shadi realized that his turban had been removed and that his long, dark hair was spilling freely over his shoulders, but he made no comment on that as he looked around the room. "Where is Bakura?" he wanted to know.
Ishizu didn't look surprised. "Bakura is away from the ship," she replied.
Shadi's eyes narrowed. "They will go after him," he said soberly. "I have seen it in my dreams."
"As have I." Ishizu nodded and went to look out the porthole. "Some people are not at all what they may seem," she added mysteriously, but Shadi knew exactly what she meant.
****
Bakura glanced around Eliza's living room curiously, seeing the many statues and paintings of cats that decorated every available space. "You certainly seem to enjoy cats," he commented.
"Oh yes," Eliza smiled. "They're just dears." She paused. "But you and your friend must be thirsty."
Bakura glanced at his Yami, who was still buried under his furry fan club and looking less than happy about it. "Well, I'm alright, but perhaps Yami would like something," the boy said slowly.
Yami Bakura grunted. "Just get these beasts off me and I'll be satisfied," he hissed.
One of the cats stirred and rubbed up under his chin, purring loudly. Another climbed onto his shoulder and licked his cheek.
"I'm afraid they won't go, Yami," Bakura chuckled.
Eliza, meanwhile, had stood up and was now standing behind Bakura. Without warning, she suddenly knocked a planted plant to the floor and then gasped. "Oh my! I'm just so clumsy these days," she apologized, leaning down to pick it up.
Immediately Bakura stood up and went to assist her. "It could happen to anyone," he smiled.
Eliza looked at him thoughtfully. "You really are a sweet, innocent boy, aren't you?" she remarked, purposely letting a white cloth sail to the floor. "Oh dear. I'm just dropping things left and right today," she said with a sigh.
Still blushing at Eliza's comment about him being sweet and innocent, Bakura bent down to pick the handkerchief up. As he did so, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a strange smell which, he soon realized, was coming from all over the cloth.
Sensing trouble, Yami Bakura suddenly sprang to his feet, disturbing all of the cats. "Get away from that!!" he growled at Bakura, pulling him back abruptly. Much to his annoyance, the felines all crowded around once more, apparently not even angry at Yami Bakura for startling them.
Bakura blinked in surprise. "Why, Yami, there's no need to get so upset about . . ." He trailed off, unable to shake the feeling of being tired from his mind.
"Sweet, innocent Bakura." Eliza smiled a smile which looked hauntingly fake. "Maybe you should lay down and have a nap, hmm? You're looking awfully sleepy."
"What did you do to him?!" Yami Bakura growled.
"Me?" Eliza pointed to herself in horror. "You actually have the audacity to even think that I would do something to him?! I'm shocked speechless!!"
"Bakura, you imbecile!!" Yami Bakura yelled as the boy slumped against him. "Stay awake, you dolt!!!"
Bakura could only hear the voices very vaguely as he slipped into unconsciousness and knew no more.
****
Joey and Tristan, meanwhile, had quite by accident met up with Seto and Mai over near the shopping district.
"Boy," Joey remarked sarcastically, "it sure does look dangerous here."
Seto grunted. "I'm looking for the man who was following us yesterday," he admitted, "not engaged in any ridiculous shopping trip."
That was when he was suddenly knocked to the ground by several rambunctious kids. "Tag!" one of them yelled. "You're it!"
Seto growled in irritation as he pulled himself up. "I don't think so," he replied.
"Hey," Joey asked the kids, "have you seen anyone weird hangin' around here lately?"
"Sure," one of the kids answered promptly.
"Really?" Tristan exclaimed. "What did they look like?"
"Like him," a girl announced, pointing at Seto. "Only he was dressed really funny."
"Seth again?" Mai wondered.
"It looks like it," Seto grunted. "Was he alone?" he asked the kids, who rapidly shook their heads.
"There were two people with him," a boy reported. "Some weird lady with silver hair and orange eyes, and some guy with black hair that was mostly in a ponytail and a long scar across his left cheek."
"Nuru," Seto muttered. "That must've been the girl. And the other man sounds like the one who was after us yesterday." Louder he demanded to know, "How long ago was this?"
"About twenty minutes ago," another girl said. "Are you related to them?"
Seto growled and turned away, not about to answer.
"He is," Joey answered for him with a grin. "At least to the one guy, anyway."
****
"Bakura."
The boy stirred slightly, hearing the familiar voice. It wasn't a pleasant sound.
"Wake up, Bakura. Come back to the world of the living."
A match was lit and Bakura opened his eyes, seeing that he was laying on a hard wooden slab with Eliza standing over him.
"What . . . what have you done?" he rasped. "And where is Yami?!" He paused. "And who are you really?! I know your voice from somewhere. . . ." He trailed off.
Eliza seemed amused. "Yes, you do, don't you . . . darling."
Bakura gasped. "No," he whispered. "No, it can't be!"
"You do remember me. How reassuring." With that "Eliza" rubbed off the makeup she was wearing and smirked at the boy. "I've come back from the dead, you could say," Vivalene purred in a low voice. "And now nothing will stop me from claiming what is mine."
"The name looks familiar," Tea remarked, gazing up at the sign.
**This is where I took Jade last night,** Yami Yugi remarked from inside the Puzzle, sounding surprised.
~Wow, really?~ Yugi exclaimed, pushing the door open and looking around at the interior. "Um, hello?" he called. "Is . . . anyone here?"
"Hello," a rather high-pitched voice greeted, and an elderly man with graying hair stepped out of the back room. "Welcome to Uncle's Rare Finds!"
"Oh . . . hi," Yugi replied, and introduced himself and Tea.
"And what can I do for you today?" Uncle asked a bit suspiciously, probably thinking that teenagers usually were not interested in antiques.
"Well . . ." Tea paused, taking out a newspaper. "We . . . we were investigating those strange robberies here in the city and we heard about the Egyptian artifacts that disappeared from your shop," she admitted.
"What Egyptian artifacts?!" Uncle demanded, looking even more suspicious. "And why are you investigating the robberies? You are much too young to be police officers!"
Quickly Tea held up the article for him to look at while Yugi tried to explain that they were amateur detectives. Uncle didn't seem very receptive to the idea.
"You are teenagers!" he cried. "Teenagers!! And you will be bad influence on Jade!!"
Yugi turned a deep crimson, but before he could stammer out a reply a much younger man appeared in the doorway, looking embarrassed as well.
"Uncle!" he exclaimed. "This is the boy who brought Jade home last night!" He blinked at Yugi, suddenly realizing that he looked a bit different. "Aren't you?"
"Actually . . ." There was a flash of light and Yami Yugi appeared in the room as well. "That was I."
"AIIYAAA!!!" Uncle yelped, backing up. "A spirit came out of the pyramid that boy wears around his neck!!! Jackie!!!!"
The man called Jackie stepped forward, looking confused. "What is going on here?" he demanded, staring at Yugi and then at his Yami.
"Do not move!" Uncle ordered. Narrowing his eyes, he took out a blowfish and, pointing it at Yami Yugi, chanted an ancient Chinese spell. After a moment he relaxed and put the fish away. "There is no need for concern," he said then. "He is good spirit!" And with that he whacked Jackie on the forehead with his index and middle fingers.
"Ow!" Jackie cried in protest.
"Hey, what's all the hubbub?" a familiar voice exclaimed, and then Jade appeared, sliding down the banister from upstairs.
"Hello, Jade," Yami Yugi greeted.
"Oh hey!" Jade chirped enthusiastically, and then greeted Yugi and was introduced to Tea. "So," she said now, "did you ever find that mundo-weirdo who got your friend all sloshed?"
"What?!" Uncle exclaimed. "What is she talking about?!"
"Um, she's talking about a guy she met who's posing as a friend of ours," Yugi explained. "And . . ." He paused, trying to figure out how to say that the imposter had been sent to a dark realm. "Well, I don't think we'll need to worry about him causing trouble again," the boy said at last.
"Oooh." Jade's eyes lit up at the thought of intrigue. "Did he get offed or something?"
"Jade!!" Jackie cried in disbelief.
"No," Yugi said slowly, "he's still around somewhere." Quickly he changed the subject. "But anyway, we were wondering about those stolen artifacts," he said again, explaining again why they were there and looking to Jackie for help.
"Oh!" Jackie said in understanding, looking at the article Tea was still holding up. "Those artifacts disappeared the day after I brought them back from Egypt. I am still trying to find them."
Uncle whacked Jackie again. "Aiiyaa! They are still missing?!" He folded his arms and looked vexed. "They were stolen by forces of darkness!" the man proclaimed loudly.
"Uncle, please," Jackie protested. "I really don't think . . ."
"Of course you don't!" Uncle snapped. "But they have magic powers! The forces of darkness are now stronger!!"
"Magic powers?!" Yugi exclaimed, stepping forward.
"Are you sure?" Tea wanted to know.
Uncle waved his arms about wildly. "Of course Uncle is sure!!" he yelled. "Do not doubt Uncle!!"
"Um, okay," Tea said slowly, blinking.
****
Mokuba shook his friend frantically, tears pouring from his eyes. "Come on, Marik!" he sobbed. "Wake up! Please!!" The younger boy felt warm blood run over his hands and he gasped in horror. Feeling sickened and alarmed at the realization that the blood was Marik's, Mokuba tried harder to revive the Egyptian boy.
"Come on!! It's . . . it's okay, Marik! Just . . . say something," he sobbed. "Anything! . . . Don't just lay there like . . . like you're dead or something!" Mokuba tried again to pull his friend up and this time managed to get him propped up against the same building he had hit his head on earlier. Marik's body was limp and motionless as his blonde hair fell across his face and as a frighteningly long train of blood dripped from his forehead to the ground.
"You've gotta be okay," Mokuba wailed. "Please, Marik! Please!!!" He pushed the older boy's back up against the wall and tried to look into his face for any signs of awakening.
"Mokuba."
The boy looked up to see Rishid standing there, looking grave.
"Oh Rishid!" Mokuba said in relief. "Can you help Marik?! These really messed-up guys came and were beating him up and I couldn't stop them and they hurt him really bad!!" Tears filled his eyes. "I can't get him to wake up!!"
Quickly Rishid knelt down next to Marik and lifted the teenage boy into his arms. "Marik?" he whispered softly, angered when he saw how his adopted brother was bleeding. "Who the devil would hurt him like this?" the man growled, holding Marik's body close.
"I don't know," Mokuba said shakily, "but I think they were mistaking him for someone else, maybe even that creepy double!"
Rishid's lip curled in disgust. "You will have to describe the attackers to me," he said as he carried Marik out of the alley.
"S-sure," Mokuba nodded, blinking. "But how did you know to come? And is Marik gonna be okay?!"
"I sensed he was hurt," Rishid replied quietly. "As for his condition . . . he still lives. He needs to be able to rest peacefully, but I believe that he will be alright." He paused. "You were very brave, Mokuba—trying to protect him."
Mokuba shook his head. "He was the brave one," he said softly. "He was trying to protect me."
Rishid smiled softly to himself as he held Marik closer. Yes, he knew that was true.
****
Shadi stirred, trying to pry his eyes open. He felt confused and exhausted, as if he had spent most of his strength fighting a treacherous demon.
"Ah, you are awake."
He blinked, looking up to see Ishizu standing over him.
"The doctor says that you are doing much better than he'd hoped," Marik's sister went on.
Shadi tried to rise but was gently pushed back down. "How long have you been here?" he asked, finding his voice.
Ishizu turned slightly. "Not long," she replied.
Now Shadi realized that his turban had been removed and that his long, dark hair was spilling freely over his shoulders, but he made no comment on that as he looked around the room. "Where is Bakura?" he wanted to know.
Ishizu didn't look surprised. "Bakura is away from the ship," she replied.
Shadi's eyes narrowed. "They will go after him," he said soberly. "I have seen it in my dreams."
"As have I." Ishizu nodded and went to look out the porthole. "Some people are not at all what they may seem," she added mysteriously, but Shadi knew exactly what she meant.
****
Bakura glanced around Eliza's living room curiously, seeing the many statues and paintings of cats that decorated every available space. "You certainly seem to enjoy cats," he commented.
"Oh yes," Eliza smiled. "They're just dears." She paused. "But you and your friend must be thirsty."
Bakura glanced at his Yami, who was still buried under his furry fan club and looking less than happy about it. "Well, I'm alright, but perhaps Yami would like something," the boy said slowly.
Yami Bakura grunted. "Just get these beasts off me and I'll be satisfied," he hissed.
One of the cats stirred and rubbed up under his chin, purring loudly. Another climbed onto his shoulder and licked his cheek.
"I'm afraid they won't go, Yami," Bakura chuckled.
Eliza, meanwhile, had stood up and was now standing behind Bakura. Without warning, she suddenly knocked a planted plant to the floor and then gasped. "Oh my! I'm just so clumsy these days," she apologized, leaning down to pick it up.
Immediately Bakura stood up and went to assist her. "It could happen to anyone," he smiled.
Eliza looked at him thoughtfully. "You really are a sweet, innocent boy, aren't you?" she remarked, purposely letting a white cloth sail to the floor. "Oh dear. I'm just dropping things left and right today," she said with a sigh.
Still blushing at Eliza's comment about him being sweet and innocent, Bakura bent down to pick the handkerchief up. As he did so, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a strange smell which, he soon realized, was coming from all over the cloth.
Sensing trouble, Yami Bakura suddenly sprang to his feet, disturbing all of the cats. "Get away from that!!" he growled at Bakura, pulling him back abruptly. Much to his annoyance, the felines all crowded around once more, apparently not even angry at Yami Bakura for startling them.
Bakura blinked in surprise. "Why, Yami, there's no need to get so upset about . . ." He trailed off, unable to shake the feeling of being tired from his mind.
"Sweet, innocent Bakura." Eliza smiled a smile which looked hauntingly fake. "Maybe you should lay down and have a nap, hmm? You're looking awfully sleepy."
"What did you do to him?!" Yami Bakura growled.
"Me?" Eliza pointed to herself in horror. "You actually have the audacity to even think that I would do something to him?! I'm shocked speechless!!"
"Bakura, you imbecile!!" Yami Bakura yelled as the boy slumped against him. "Stay awake, you dolt!!!"
Bakura could only hear the voices very vaguely as he slipped into unconsciousness and knew no more.
****
Joey and Tristan, meanwhile, had quite by accident met up with Seto and Mai over near the shopping district.
"Boy," Joey remarked sarcastically, "it sure does look dangerous here."
Seto grunted. "I'm looking for the man who was following us yesterday," he admitted, "not engaged in any ridiculous shopping trip."
That was when he was suddenly knocked to the ground by several rambunctious kids. "Tag!" one of them yelled. "You're it!"
Seto growled in irritation as he pulled himself up. "I don't think so," he replied.
"Hey," Joey asked the kids, "have you seen anyone weird hangin' around here lately?"
"Sure," one of the kids answered promptly.
"Really?" Tristan exclaimed. "What did they look like?"
"Like him," a girl announced, pointing at Seto. "Only he was dressed really funny."
"Seth again?" Mai wondered.
"It looks like it," Seto grunted. "Was he alone?" he asked the kids, who rapidly shook their heads.
"There were two people with him," a boy reported. "Some weird lady with silver hair and orange eyes, and some guy with black hair that was mostly in a ponytail and a long scar across his left cheek."
"Nuru," Seto muttered. "That must've been the girl. And the other man sounds like the one who was after us yesterday." Louder he demanded to know, "How long ago was this?"
"About twenty minutes ago," another girl said. "Are you related to them?"
Seto growled and turned away, not about to answer.
"He is," Joey answered for him with a grin. "At least to the one guy, anyway."
****
"Bakura."
The boy stirred slightly, hearing the familiar voice. It wasn't a pleasant sound.
"Wake up, Bakura. Come back to the world of the living."
A match was lit and Bakura opened his eyes, seeing that he was laying on a hard wooden slab with Eliza standing over him.
"What . . . what have you done?" he rasped. "And where is Yami?!" He paused. "And who are you really?! I know your voice from somewhere. . . ." He trailed off.
Eliza seemed amused. "Yes, you do, don't you . . . darling."
Bakura gasped. "No," he whispered. "No, it can't be!"
"You do remember me. How reassuring." With that "Eliza" rubbed off the makeup she was wearing and smirked at the boy. "I've come back from the dead, you could say," Vivalene purred in a low voice. "And now nothing will stop me from claiming what is mine."