Author's Notes: Well, here's my latest chapter. It wasn't easy to write. I was busy containing a nasty little virus while I worked on it. Please enjoy. And I am glad I was able to help you I LoveYami Marik. I would love to read your story. ^_^ Thanks for the reviews everyone!
Chapter 13:
Aziz's Diary
Ishizu opened her eyes and found herself in a steel cage hung about five hundred meters off of the ground. "What in the world?" She reached over and touched the cold steel. She glanced down and noticed she wasn't wearing her blue dress anymore. She was wearing a short cream-colored mini dress. She had three gold bands on each of her arms and long gold earrings. She noticed she was wearing boots that went almost up to her thighs. A chain was wrapped tightly around her neck. Her hair was in a high ponytail with a veil covering her face. She gasped as she felt the cage lowering itself. There was a cloth on the cage, so she couldn't see where she was.
Yugi noticed a commotion at the front on the stage. It seemed that Aziz was arguing with someone.
"What are you doing here?" He shouted at the shadowed figure. "You're going to ruin everything!"
Yami Marik came out of the shadows and laughed. "As I told you before, I don't care what your plans are. I want to have some fun!" He signalled for Odeon, who came forward. He was holding onto a thin piece of rope. "People of Domino! I have a new prize for you to be won! Witness this jewel of the desert! My very own 'sister' He grinned. "Ishizu Ishtar!" He snapped his finger and Odeon pulled back on the rope. The cloth fell to the ground and a very revealing Ishizu was exposed for the world to see.
Yugi's jaw dropped. "I…Ishizu?"
Everyone looked up at the sound of her name. The boys couldn't stop staring, except for Bakura, who really couldn't see anything. Téa smacked the boys and rolled her eyes. "Please…" She sighed.
***
Kaiba sipped his coffee as he read the names that scrolled across his screen. "Ishtar…hmmm…Aziz, eh? This might be interesting…" He clicked on the name 'Aziz Ishtar' and hit enter.
Aziz Ishtar was born in 1947 on March 24. He was the eldest son of Rose and Joanan Ishtar. Brother of 2, he was discovered at the age of 7 for his ability to process things faster then the average human. Passing all of his classes before his time, he grew on to develop an interesting in artefacts and ancient magic. In 1994 he became the curator of the Egypt museum, his niece Ishizu Ishtar was his protégé. In the year 2001 he discovered the ability to open portals to other worlds. News got around that he was insane and highly dangerous. His experiments were destroyed and he was banned from Egypt and his home.
Kaiba sighed. This info was helpful, but not enough to explain why Ishizu was attacked or why Marik disappeared. He was about to close the program when he noticed a small blinking light at the bottom of the page. He raised an eyebrow and moved the mouse over the blinking light. He clicked it and a new screen popped up.
Welcome Aziz Ishtar, please enter your password!
A female voice came over the speakers.
"This was his site?" Kaiba wondered. 'He wrote that bio…no wonder it was so accurate!" He thought for a moment. Just what would his password be? He typed everything from Ishizu and Marik to the names of the millennium items. He even tried Aziz name, wondering if he had an ego as big as Pegasus did. He punched the keyboard. "Damn it! I need that password!" Little did he know; the password he was seeking was right before his eyes the entire time.
***
"This lovely flower will be yours along with the money if you become the champion!" Yami Marik continued his speech. Guys were hooting and hollering.
Téa looked like she was going to throw up. Ishizu didn't deserve this! This was sick! She suddenly realized that Yami Marik was looking at her. She watched as he stepped up closer, revealing himself to the crowed.
"MARIK?" Everyone shouted.
Joey tired to rush the stage but Tristan held him back. Mai stepped in front of him. "Remember what Téa said? Don't make a scene!"
Joey growled but settled down. Tristan released him. "Take it easy man. I know how you feel, but now isn't the time."
Yugi changed into Yami. "I was sure I sent him to the shadow realm! What is he doing back here?"
Yami Marik's eyes glanced toward Yami's. "Hello again, Pharaoh. Lovely day isn't it? Give me that girl!" He threatened.
Téa backed up into Bakura. Bakura placed his hand on her shoulder. "Now I know what's going on…" He whispered in her ear.
Téa looked up at him. "Care to inform the rest of us?" She said in a shaky tone.
Bakura looked over at Yami. "That Marik was defeated by you, right?" He asked Yami. Yami nodded. "But before that…the real Marik was using Téa and I to help him stop his darker half. My half stopped him from killing Odeon, and Téa stopped him from killing Yugi. And we've all learned that he is quite insane. I have a feeling he's been after us three for a reason."
"And that is?" Yami asked; his arms crossed.
"Revenge…"
Everyone looked over at Bakura. It made sense now. But one thing still bothered them. How did he return?
***
Kaiba rubbed his temples as he stared at the password scream. He gave it a dirty look. "This is just wasting my time…" He hovered his hands over the keyboard. "What would be your idea of the perfect password?" He reread Aziz bio, trying to find any hints or clues. "His eyes lingered over his parents names. He tried them, but it didn't work. Then he thought of something. He typed in 'rosejoanan'
Access granted!
Kaiba sighed with relief. He found he was on a page that was made up like a diary. He began to read the entries. And entry marked on the date Ishizu came to Domino interested him. He clicked it on.
September 28 2003:
My foolish nephew almost ruined everything! He was finally able to discover Yami no Yume. Ishizu insisted that he find it and destroy it. Somehow the card was released and went off to seek the perfect host. After Marik vanished, Ishizu went to Domino City and found help in that egotistical jerk Seto Kaiba. A few nights before that, I had managed to sneak into the vault of the corp. and steal back some valuable notes. With the help of Marik's evil half, which I brought back form the fabled 'Shadow Realm' we were able to regain control and continue our plans. I can only hope that the police I hired will get there in time before they can alter my plans any further.
Kaiba almost broke his coffee mug in half. That jerk was the cause of Ishizu's near execution and his framing.
September 29 2003:
I have succeeded in removing my niece from the picture. Sadly that fool Kaiba rescued her, but through some money and few people higher up, I have made them both on the most wanted list. Anyone who sees them must report them to the police right away. Now I am starting to notice that the evil Marik is tiring of me and I fear he will soon retaliate. I've also tracked down Yami no Yume. It's become attracted a girl called Téa Gardner. It seems her pure heart is something it wants to corrupt. If I can get it to merge with her, then I will be able to gain all of millennium items and summon forth the gods! My men attacked one of the kids that hold a millennium item. He was a tough one, but that stupid girl Téa stopped them before they could take his ring. I sent one of my men after Yugi's puzzle as well and they failed also. The only way to bring them out into the open is to bait them. I am planning on holding a duel monsters tournament to bring them all out into the open. By frightening the people of Domino, they will surely turn the item bearers in!
Kaiba had almost had enough, but there was still on last recent entry.
September 30 2003:
That bastard has betrayed me! He turned all of my men into mind slaves! I'll be ruined if he isn't stopped soon! The tournament will begin today and I can only hope he won't come and ruin it. I never should have brought him back from the shadow realm. If I could only find a way to reverse the process… Yami no Yume has also changed my plans. The card is attached to that girl but wont merge with her. I don't understand any of this! It doesn't make any sense! I must prepare now…this might be my last entry I ever make…
The diary ended there.
Kaiba stared at the screen. "Téa is in grave danger and…the tournament!" He shouted, realising it had already begun. He looked out the window and saw a crowd of people gathered around a large stage. Yami Marik was having an argument with an elderly man. "Must be Aziz…" He muttered. His eyes glanced downward and he saw Yugi's group in their rare hunter clothing. Then his eyes glanced further up and rested upon a familiar looking woman in a steel cage. "Ishizu?" He whispered. "Then…where's Mokuba?"
***
The elderly man coughed. "You…I knew you would betray me! If I could I would return you to that place I found you!" He cried in pain as Yami Marik punched him in the stomach.
"Old man…you talk way too much!" Yami Marik smirked. "Pharaoh, I have someone I think you'd like back!"
Yami glanced around him and notice Téa wasn't in the crowd anymore. He saw a tall burly man dragging her up the stage. "Téa!" He shouted.
"Yami! Help!" She cried as the man threw her down. She landed in front of Yami Marik.
Yami Marik grabbed a handful of her hair and lifted her up by it. "Well? Which will you save, hmmm? Why not add a few more?"
Bakura saw a man approaching him. He ducked into the crowd. The man pursued. Bakura bumped into another mind slave. Yami Bakura appeared and tackled the man, sending him sprawling across the floor. "Don't ever harm my partner!" He growled. He kicked the man for good measures. The man cried out. Yami Bakura looked up and saw Téa struggling out of Yami Marik's grasp. "Téa …" He ran forward, Yami following him.
Yami Marik held out his hand. "I wouldn't do that if you know what's good for you! See that cage?" He pointed to Ishizu. "I planted a bomb underneath it. If you even touch the cage, I will detonate it! As for this beauty…" He lowered Ishizu's cage and walked over to it, opening it slightly. He threw Téa inside and slammed it shut. He raised the cage once again and laughed. "Now who shall go into the other one?"
Shouting was heard just below the stage. Yami Marik looked over and saw that Joey and Tristan had knocked out the rest of the slaves. "Give us your best shot!' Joey dared, fists ready.
Yami Marik growled. He snapped his finger and Rishid came from behind Yami, knocking him over. He pinned him down. Then to everyone's surprise, Pegasus under his mind control approached Bakura from behind and karate chopped him across the neck. Yami Bakura fell over and Pegasus caught him. He carried him up to the stage and handed him over to dark Marik.
"I see we have a volunteer. Then by all means, join the fair ones!" He threw Yami Bakura into a cage opposite the girls.
"Bakura!" Téa cried, trying to reach for him.
Yami Bakura remained unconscious in the cage as it rose high above the stage.
"Oh and just so you know, there's a bomb placed in that cage too. If any of them move enough to make the cage swing at least twenty five centimetres, it will blow." He grinned maliciously and pushed the button.
Téa and Ishizu froze in place, trying not to make any sudden movement.
"Well, looks like we have a new prize to be won now!" He pointed to Téa. "Enjoy!" He laughed, dragging off a weakened Aziz.
Odeon brought Yami up onto the stage. He chained him to the back wall. He left after that, with Pegasus.
***
Mai had pulled Joey and Tristan away from the fight. "Listen boys, we're the only ones left. We need to buy Kaiba some time. You two duel and caused a distraction. I'm going to see if I can find Mokuba.
***
Téa and Ishizu clung onto each other tightly. Tea kept her eyes on the unmoving Bakura. Then they drifted over to the chained Yami. "Kaiba…it's up to you now…" She whispered.
To be continued…
