Desert Rose

Lady Kaiba

AN/ I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. !_!

LK: Okay!!! Chapter 9. Getting close to the end of this story!

Lara: But then it's time for the SEQUEL!!!

LK: Shush!! Anyway, R&R!! Oh yeah. . .::sweat drop:: I'm a little late with this, I already have 56 reviews, gomen!!

Lara: So shut up and start writing, already!!!

LK: Okay, shish.

~*~*~*~

Chapter 9~ Mysterious Figures

~*~*~*~

"What do you mean?" Yami asked. 'It isn't true, is it? Saren of the royal family?' he asked himself.

"You have heard of the Princess Sleet, correct?" Talla asked. Yami nodded. "Sleet is the youngest daughter of Isis and Amun. Your grandparents. When you were born, she decided, since very few new she was a member of the royal family, that she would no longer be called by her birth name. She changed her identity and became the Pharaoh's sorceress-in-training."

"So now, I am your sorceress, Yami. But I am also your aunt Sleet." Yami stared at them in disbelief.

"I was told that Sleet was dead." He said.

Saren shook her head and adverted her eyes to the ground. "I hope you forgive me for deceiving you, Yami. I did it for you and your future, as well as the kingdom's future."

"I don't understand. How could that be for my future?" Saren winced at the hurt and anger she heard in his voice.

"If I hadn't, Isis's plan would have been carried though. There's no way you would be able to even begin to *imagine* what the world would be like if I hadn't." The others flinched at the anger in her voice and Yami flinched at the tears that were forming in her eyes, also. She quickly tuned away and left the room. Yami watched her retreating form, eyes showing his remorse.

"You have no way of truly understanding her, Yami. She never wanted to trick anyone. She has had her abilities since she was four years old. For twenty-four years she has been suffering, a lot longer than you have. All because she is the daughter of that witch Isis." Talla explained further.

Yami bowed his head. "I did not mean to hurt anyone."

"Everything will be okay, Yami." Yami looked down at Yugi with a small smile.

"I know." He took Yugi's hand. "Come on. It's late now. We should go to bed." With that, he left the room

~*~*~*~

One week had passed without a peep from Isis or Pegasus. The Magi were always on guard now, and things seemed a bit tense around because of it. The enemy was not the only thing unseen. Saren had not shown herself since the confession of her true identity. Yami, though he did not show it, was very worried about her. Everyone was, but especially Talla. When they tried to visit her, there would be no answer at her door, nor would the Magi let them in.

Yugi stood on the balcony, watching as the people went along with their lives. 'Everyone has just brushed off that attack. They've completely forgotten about it.' He thought. 'I wonder if Saren is okay. She's been silent for a long time now. I should pay her a visit. Maybe they'll let me in today.'

Yugi nodded to himself and replaced the sad look with one of determination. He walked off of the balcony and to the door. His hand paused by the handle of the door. "Maybe it's because. . ." he quickly opened the door, startling the Magi slightly, and strode past them in the direction of Saren's room.

Ryou smiled and waved to Yugi when he spotted him. "Hi, Yugi!" He blinked when Yugi muttered a hello and walked right past him. "Where are you going?" He asked as he followed and walked with him.

"Saren's room."

"Good luck. I just came from there, and they wouldn't let me past."

"I think they'll let me, unless they want to regret it."

Ryou blinked in surprise. "What does that mean?"

Yugi looked at him with a big grin and held something up.

Ryou gasped. "You'd really summon a monster on them? I didn't even know you were a duelist!!"

Yugi nodded. "I use to duel Jou and Honda all the time, when we weren't working that is."

"I see."

~*~*~*~

Bakura lifted an eyebrow when he overheard Ryou and Yugi's conversation as they passed, not noticing him. 'Hm. . .I have to see this! Innocent Yugi prepared to use force to get into her room. How amusing.' He smirked and followed the two down the hall.

~*~*~*~

They came to a halt at the doors to Saren's room and the Magi crossed their weapons in front of it. "You cannot enter." The one on the right said.

Yugi glared up at them and Ryou took a couple steps backward, bumping into someone. He let out a surprised gasp when he did and his eyes widened when a pair of arms circled around him and he heard the man chuckle in his ear.

{It is just me, love.} Bakura said through a mind like Ryou hadn't known of.

[Bakura? What are you doing here?]

{I came to see the show.}

[Show?] Bakura didn't have to answer, since Yugi did for him.

"I'll use force if I have to! Now let me in!" the guards laughed at this.

"How would you use force on two Magi, Young Prince?" The one on the left asked.

Yugi glared at them. The air to the left of him rippled slightly and a black portal opened. Both Magis' eyes widened when they recognized what it was. A monster came out of the portal and the space behind him became normal again.

"Master." The Dark Magician bowed to Yugi, then turned to the Magi.

"Y-you summoned HIM?!" the Dark Magician glared at the men.

"Will you let me through?" Yugi asked in a cool voice, which betrayed his expression.

"W-we can't. We promised that we would let no one bother her."

"Fine." The men's eyes widened in horror when the Dark Magician stepped up, thinking that he would kill them for sure.

Two bodies fell unconscious as the Dark Magician knocked them out with his staff. He pushed open the doors and Yugi entered, ordering him to guard outside.

~*~*~*~

Yugi entered the room and looked around. Saren was no where in sight. "Saren?" Yugi called into the room. He heard a startled splash come from the bathing room and curiously wandered over. He walked through the silk curtain door and found Saren in the bath. His eyes widened and he immediately adverted his gaze and turned away, blushing.

"Yugi?" A light blush on her cheeks, Saren walked up the steps out of the water and pulled on her thin robe. She took Yugi's shoulders and led him into the bedroom. She chuckled lightly at the blush on his cheeks.

"S-sorry for interrupting you." He said as he looked at her, then quickly away again.

"It's alright. Now, what did you want?" she asked as she sat on the edge of her bed.

Yugi walked over and sat by her, his body facing hers. "I'm worried about you, we all are. We've been trying to see you, but we're always turned away by the Magi."

She watched him curiously. "So how did you convince them today?"

Yugi blushed and smiled sheepishly. "I threatened to use force."

She smiled. "I thought I heard laughter." She mused.

Yugi frowned. "Yeah, they didn't believe me so I summoned Dark Magician."

She stared at him with wide eyes, startled. "You are master to a Dark Magician?" He nodded.

"Why is it so surprising?"

"There is only one person known of that possesses the Dark Magician, and that is Yami. Dark Magician is a very powerful and advanced monster, hard for anyone to possess. Yami is the only one that has never had any trouble in ordering it and owning it. Tell me, was it easy for you to command him?" she asked curiously.

Yugi nodded. "He was the first card I received. It has never been hard to command him, but I never really did that. I'm more his friend, than master." He replied.

"Ah, I see. But he still calls you 'Master' am I correct?" Yugi nodded. "Then that is one more hint of you and Yami being soul mates." She looked at him with a small smile and his blush deepened from what she said. "We've strayed from the subject. Tell me what you came here to."

"Why have you been locked up? Yami thinks this is all his fault and he feels terrible, not to mention nothing is the same without you around!"

"It isn't Yami's fault. I'm fine with everything that happened that day, minus the business with my mother and her lackey." She added with a sour face.

"We could have all done without that." Yugi said.

"I apologize if I'm causing trouble, Yugi. Please tell Yami it isn't his fault I'm locked up here." She stood and walked over to her balcony. Yugi stood up and walked over to her.

"What is your reason? Is it. . ."

She looked down at Yugi when he didn't finish his sentence, but she knew his question. She sighed. "Yes, Yugi. I've been resting a lot the past week, conserving my energy and not trying to exhort myself." She looked back outside. "However, rest means I have been seeing more visions. Don't worry about them, though. They are nothing of importance." Yugi nodded.

"Okay." He watched her for a while longer before walking back over to the door. He stopped halfway there. "Saren," she turned around to face him and he stared into her eyes. "Please stop lying to me."

Her eyes widened in shock. "But I'm. . ." she stared back into the intense stare of Amethyst orbs. She let out the breathe she hadn't noticed she had been holding and looked away.

"I don't want to trouble you, Yugi."

"No one does. That's why I'm starting to get tired of it." She looked back at him, shocked. He was glaring, not at her, but at himself. "I'm being treated as if I'm a young child, I'm not! I'm an adult now. Please don't be like others." He softened his glare.

Saren looked away. "Not even I with to know of these terrible things that I foresee."

"Tell me what it is you see."

She looked back into his eyes sadly.

"Death."

Yugi's eyes widened.

~*~*~*~

"Is everything ready yet?" Isis asked. "Almost." Pegasus replied. Isis smiled. "Good. All we have left is to wait for the perfect time."

Pegasus yawned, board. "And when will that be?"

"When Saren finally decides to come out of her hiding."

Pegasus looked curiously at her. 'Saren, hiding? Gee, I wonder why. . .' he thought unenthusiastically.

~*~*~*~

"She did not fulfill the destiny she chose."

"Another path has been opened to her mind."

"She acted wisely in her new choice."

"She was very wise for her age when the first path was chosen."

The voices echoed through the darkness of the shadow realm.

"Indeed. A child wise enough beyond her years to choose the path that would bring peace."

Four cloaked figures appeared in the darkness, gathered around a pool of glowing water watching it. They watched as Saren stood looking out upon the land, completely oblivious to it and all else around her.

"Instead of the path that would have led to destruction."

The young cloaked man with golden eyes said.

"She is still wise beyond her years. A very understanding woman that puts the lives of others before her very own life."

The young woman with crimson red eyes said.

"She has chosen a path of danger."

The elderly sounding man with amethyst eyes said.

"Of danger, yes, but it is the better choice,"

The young male with piercing blue eyes said.

"Over the path of Ultimate Death."

Finished the young male with golden eyes.

They then each clasped their hands together forming four different symbols and began a chant, their eyes never leaving Saren.

~*~*~*~

Saren snapped out of her trance. "Chanting?" She looked around the room. 'Where is it coming from?' as her eyes searched the room they stopped on her table where a small crystal pyramid sat. It began to emit a soft white glow. She quickly crossed the room and stared down at it.

~*~*~*~

In the throne room, Yami, Talla, Yugi, Bakura, Ryou, Anzu and Seto stopped what they were doing.

"What is that?" Ryou asked.

"What is what?" Jou asked.

"I don't hear anything." Honda said. They were both confused.

"Chanting." Yami answered. "But where is it coming from?" They looked to the doors, startled, when they heard quick footsteps.

"Saren?" Talla watched her sister walk quickly toward them. "You hear it too?" Saren nodded when she came to a stop in front of them.

They listened as it continued. "Where is it coming from?" Yugi asked.

"The Shadow Realm." The group, that actually knew what the Shadow Realm is, gasped and stared at Saren.

"Are you serious?" Anzu asked.

Saren nodded. She held out her hand and Talla's eyes widened. In her palm sat the glowing pyramid. The others had the same reaction as well, and stared at the pyramid.

"Where did you get that?" Yami asked.

"It was given to me by my father."

"What is that?!" Jou asked.

"It's-" Talla had begun to answer his question.

The chanting suddenly stopped and the pyramid emitted a bright glow, causing everyone to close and cover his or her eyes.

When the light dimmed, they uncovered their eyes and gasped. Before them now stood four transparent cloaked figures.

All that could be seen of the four figures were their eyes, gently glowing red, blue, gold, and amethyst. "The Millennium Crystal." One of the figures said, his voice young and similar to Seto's.

"A portal between realms for us to travel through when the time is right." A female voice said.

The figure with the amethyst eyes nodded its cloaked head. "Created by us and passed down from Amun to you, Sleet." It's deep, elderly, voice said. Yugi's eyes widened and he stared at that man.

The four figures removed their hoods and the group, including Honda and Jou, gasped.

~*~*~*~

LK: ::moron's grin:: CLIFFIE!!!! Muahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Lara: O.o And I thought *I* was evil! ^-^ I'm so very proud of you, hikari!!

Yami: WHO ARE THEY??? I have TO KNOW!!!

LK: ^-^ You'll just have ta wait. THIS time, I wanna have 70 reviews. No whining!! I have 56, so all ya need ta give me is 14 more reviews, you can do it, can't ya??

Lara: Ya know. They might not. . .

Yugi: Don't discourage them!! Come on people!! R+R!!!! And you'll get the next chapter!!!!!