Chapter 14:

The Soul Jar

Yugi thought his lungs would explode as he ran with everything he had towards the palace. Marik, who wasn't too far behind kept pleading with him to slow down. Slow down? How could he, when he knew something terrible had happened? Nothing was going to stop him from getting there! Nothing!

"Yugi! Please! We'll get there, but there's something I need to tell you first!"

Yugi finally gave in and stopped running. Turning around frantically, he gasped. "What is it? There's no time for this!"

Marik sighed. "Yugi…it's already too late. My sister…she's gone and now Téa is too. It doesn't mean we can't save them! You still have the key! But, if we think rationally, we won't get anywhere!"

Yugi bowed his head. "Marik…alright…what's the plan?"

***

Joey carried Téa over to the bed in her room. Gently laying her down, he began to sob. He placed the ring in the palm of her frozen hand. After the whole mess, Tristan had been crawling all over the floor, trying to find her ring. After what seems hours, he found it just as it was about to roll underneath the large arena. He gave it to Joey, who carried it along with Téa back to her room. Tristan, trying to comfort him, coxed him out of room, giving Yami some time alone with Téa. Bakura had already left, feeling it was entirely his fault that this had happened. Deciding to find Mai and Kaiba, he headed off to the hospital wing.

Yami hovered over Téa's still form. Her skin was a bluish tinge and her eyes were sunken in and solid grey. Her body gave no signs of life. No matter what anyone did, without her soul, Téa was never going to wake up again.

(Why did this happen? Sometimes I still blame myself for all of this. If it wasn't for that ring…or…this whole match…you would still be here. You'd still be smiling, cheering and being as bubbly as ever. I miss that…even though I always acted annoyed and un-amused. You could always make me smile! Even if you didn't know it…I…was always watching you. Protecting you. But, even I can't save you now. Yugi…he'll save you. Somehow…it won't be easy. But with all of us together, I'm sure we'll find a way.) He leaned over and brushed his transparent hand over her forehead in a gentle caress. (Why can't you just wake up? Then everything would be fine…maybe I have been denying things too much lately. Even Yugi knows…so there's no point in trying to hide it anymore. I love you, Téa. I don't know how or when…but somehow you've become such a big part of my life. Or afterlife…I'm still not sure what I am anymore.) He chuckled. (I doubt anything could happen between us. I'm not real after all…but…just knowing that you and Yugi are together…is enough for me. After all…we are the same person…in many ways.) He walked over to the window and gazed outside. (For once in my life…I don't have a plan…or anything. This time, I am relaying on Yugi and his pure heart. Even I am afraid. And these feeling, despite being foreign to me, feel more real then anything I have ever felt. I'm afraid…and I don't know what to do.) He put his head down and stared deep into Téa's eyes. Moving back over to her, he glanced down at the broken necklace and the missing ring. His eyes trailed down to her clenched hand. (So, Tristan was able to find it…that's a relief.) He closed his eyes, remembering the fateful day his mother gave the ring to him.

***

"Here I want you to have this." A kind middle-aged looking woman said. Smiling warmly and proudly at her son. She had auburn hair, which was covered in a headdress. Her violet eyes twinkled with merriment. She looked just like Yugi's mom, except her eyes were narrow just like Yami's.

"Thanks mom, but what's it for? It's a woman's ring, I can't where this!"

His mother just chuckled. "My mother gave me this ring a long time ago. Said it would bring me luck and a happy life. And anything I wished, would be granted. Anything…

"Bel um Fal's eyes widened. "Really? How many wishes can it grant?"

His mother laughed at his innocents. "It's not like a genie. It can't grant as many wishes as you want, it can only grant your hearts desire. I sometimes wonder if it was possessed or had a spell put on it. It never failed to protect me, it was as if my mother was still there, watching over me and taking care of me. I want you to have this ring, and give it to the one you love. And I don't mean just any girl you are chosen to marry. I mean, someone you love from within your heart. Like that, Téana girl for instants."

Bel um Fal's face went bright red. "Mom…"

She reached out her arms and hugged her son close to her. "I know what that girl means to you. Don't let her get away." She winked as she pulled him away to face her.

"A…alright…mom." He took the ring and put it in his pocket.

"Bel um Fal…no matter what happens…I'll always be with you. Just remember to follow your heart, not your head. Because one day, all of this will be yours to rule."

Bel um Fal smiled. "I won't let you down mom…"

***

Yami smiled at the memory. (That ring really does work. Because…before I was sealed, I wished that I would find Téana again. And somehow…) He looked over at Téa. (I did…) He felt a tear run down his cheek. (If only I could touch you…) The ring glowed faintly and as Yami reached out to touch Téa's hand, he noticed he could actually feel her ice-cold fingers. He jumped back; afraid he might have imagined it. He looked at his hand and then moved it over to her hair. He ran his fingers gently through it. It was soft and silky, though a bit tousled. "I can touch you! But how…" He pulled the ring out of her hand and held it out on his palm. "Mother was right..." He watched as the ruby glistened in the moonlight. "But…this ring is too dangerous! It should be destroyed somehow. I just know Pegasus would go after it if he knew what it could do." He glanced at his reflection in the mirror. "Does this mean…I don't need Yugi's puzzle anymore?" He looked closely at himself. He looked no different then before.  "Am I…alive? No! This isn't the time for this! I need to find Yugi!" He took off out of Téa's room in a flash.

***

Yugi and Marik were finally at the castle.

"You know what to do! Just be careful! Anything could have happened!"

Yugi nodded and opened the door. If Yugi hadn't already gone through so many unbelievable adventures, he would have thought the site before him was just the desert heat reacting. In the doorway, stood a very shocked and very relieved Yami.

"Y…Yami?" Yugi asked, reaching out to touch his partner. "Are you…real?"

Yami nodded. "Yes…somehow…I am. But there is something more important right now, Yugi."

Yugi felt a dreaded feeling welling up in his stomach. "It's Téa, isn't it?"

Yami nodded sadly. "We couldn't save her. But you can! I just don't know where to look..."

A voice from the shadows spoke up. "Perhaps I can be of help?" Everyone turned around to come face to face with Shadi. "Before her demise, Ishizu uncovered something…I think it may be the key in releasing all of those souls."

Yugi reached into his pocket and pulled out the golden key Mai had given him earlier. "Well, if it means saving Téa, Ishizu and everyone else, I'm willing to risk anything to do this!" He put the key back in his pocket.

Yami stopped him. "True, and I know how you feel, Yugi. But, if we rush into things, we'll just mess things up even more."

Marik glared at Yugi. "That's what I'VE been telling him."

Yugi sighed. Yami softened up and put his hand on Yugi's shoulder, which caused Yugi to cringe for a second.

"What's wrong?" Yami asked, releasing his shoulder.

"Sorry, but it feels kind of weird since I am used to seeing you only in your soul room. He blushed and laughed nervously.

***

Bakura skulked in the shadows, in case any guards were still around. Some voices ahead of him caused him to freeze up and hide. Straining his ears, he tried to hear what the voices were saying.

"Kaiba, what's wrong?" Mai asked worriedly.

"I don't know!" He spat. "I feel so strange…"

He stood up and grabbed his head. A purplish light suddenly engulfed him and he screamed. Mai blocked her eyes from the blinding light and when it died down she gasped at the sight before her. Kaiba was now dressed in long purple and gold robes. A headdress was upon his head and a staff was clutched tightly in his hand.

"K…Kaiba?" She stuttered.

"Kaiba? I'm sorry, but I don't know that name. My name is…Seto."

"What?  Well we all know that's your first name…right?"

He glared down at her. "Is something wrong?"

Mai regained her composure. "N…no…nothing is wrong." She laughed timidly.

"Where is Bel um Fal?"

"Uh, who?"

Seto rounded on her, seizing her shirt and pulled her close to his face. "The Pharaoh! Where is HE?"

Mai gulped. "Um, this is the year 2002, hun. Pharaohs don't exist anymore. If you are talking about Yugi, I don't know where he is!"

Seto tried to let all of Mai's words sink in. "2002? Yugi? Have I been gone for…?"

"5000 years, old fool!"

Mai looked up to see Dark Bakura walking up to them.

"You! You grave robber! Why are you here?" He pointed his staff at Dark Bakura's chest.

"Easy old man. I won't harm you. My question to you is, why are you here! And what have you done with Kaiba?"

Seto titled his head to the side. "Who is this Kaiba you are all speaking of?"

Mai cleared her throat, causing Seto to glare at her. "Kaiba would be you...but not you. You see…he is your descendant. A reincarnation if you please."

Seto just blinked.

"Ah…you died 5000 years ago and through the years another you would exist, have children and keep the family line going. Seto Kaiba is your uh…great, great, great…"

Dark Bakura snapped. "Get on with it!!!"

"Grandson!" Mai finished, sticking her tongue out at Dark Bakura. "In a way that is…"

Seto blinked again. "Are you saying that my soul has been traveling through time, possessing new bodies?"

Mai rolled her eyes. "That's what we've been saying all this time, hun."

Seto ignored her attitude. "I see…so afterlife and reincarnation do exist." He gripped his staff tightly. "Amazing…"

"Are you…uh…nice?" Mai asked.

Seto looked at her and laughed. "Nice? Me? Maybe…as long as you don't make an enemy of me!"

Mai sighed. "He sure is like the Kaiba we know."

Dark Bakura nodded. "Yep, once an idiot always an idiot!"

Seto walked up to Dark Bakura. "What did you call me?"

Dark Bakura glared at him. "You heard me!"

Mai stepped in between to the two of them, holding them apart. "Ok! That's enough! This is getting us nowhere!" Boys…do they always think fighting is the way to solve things? Ugh…

***

Yami, Yugi and Marik followed Shadi to the arena.

"Before Ishizu disappeared, I noticed her sneaking around the back of these curtains. He felt around and lifted the material up, revealing a hidden passage. "She must have gone in here. It was foolish of her to go alone, but if I tried to stop her, it would have drawn Pegasus's attention. Even though, somehow it seemed to anyways.

Everyone followed Shadi down the dark corridor and into Pegasus's bedroom.

"Hey, I remember that picture!" Yugi said, pointing at the painting of Cecilia.

"In here!" Shadi urged, lifting the painting up and unlocking the door with the key he had found.

"This is getting creepy!" Yugi stated, as they walked down a long spiralling staircase.

At the end of the stairs was the same door Ishizu had been through before. After a moment of hesitation, they went through it. Yami spotted Ishizu on the floor and picked her up.

"It looks like she found out too much." He said sadly.

Yugi walked over to the jar and stared at the green mist forming around it. Inside he could see the spirits of all of the people that were lost at the arena. A familiar face almost knocked him off his feet. "Téa?" He gasped, staring at her soul hovering inside the jar.

Yami put Ishizu down and joined Yugi. "She's really in there?"

Yugi nodded. "But, how do I open this? There's no keyhole. Is there?"

Yami felt around the jar and shook his head. "Nope…nothing Yugi."

Shadi followed the long cord attached to the wall and found a hidden door behind the jar. "This way!" He hissed. Everyone joined him at the door. He opened it, and came to a room with a blank screen and many buttons everywhere. It looked like a giant control room.

"Such modern equipment. Pegasus must have planned everything here."

Yugi walked over to the control panel and clicked on the 'enter' button. The screen lit up and showed a picture of Cecilia with a diagram below it. On the side were the soul jar, and the millennium eye. A voice came from the computer, sounding oddly like Pegasus.

Even though I lost everything in my duel with Yugi Muto, I have been given a second chance. Bakura stole my millennium eye, but little did he know, I was able to take it back. Through the art of ancient magic, I was able to go back in time and take back what was rightfully mine. I refuse to wear it though; I almost lost my mind last time. I have found a way to harness its power and use it by just channelling my thoughts.

I have devised a plan to invite the top duellists from all over the world to Egypt. After learning how to revive the shadow games, I knew I had a chance to bring back the love of my life. Alas, it's taken so much of my power, and I may not live through it, unless I absorb the power of another. I have the young man that comes from Yugi's puzzle in mind. He has great power, and if I could harness it, I will be strong enough to go on. But, during my efforts I have also found a special ring, which can grant any wish the heart desires. It is my last backup if everything else fails. It was to be brought to me by a man, but he betrayed me. Instead I was able to find it yet again, in the hands of a most unusual ally. Marik is what he called himself. He said he had followed the man, and stole it when the car he was in crashed.

After a while, a young girl ended up in my chambers. I recognized her from the group little Yugi was with back at my kingdom. By placing it on her finger, I found it seemed to turn her into a slave, and I had great plans for her. Unfortunately, that tomb robber helped her escape and now I must find it yet again.

That nosy girl Ishizu has just discovered my chamber, and I was able to stop her, however, something has gone terribly wrong, and the monsters are starting to come to life. Just like back in the olden times, 5000 years ago. I must quit the duels and plan.

Everyone stared in shock.

"Wow…" Yugi breathed. He turned to face Marik. "It must have been your other half…he's working with Pegasus?  I knew it was a mistake to give him a second chance!"

Marik shook his head. "I had no idea. When he insisted on dragging me to Egypt I thought he had lost his mind. Then I met you guys on the plane…and well, one of Pegasus's henchmen tried to ruin things and hopefully steal your millennium item."

Yami walked over to him. "But, now that I have a body of my own, won't the puzzle be useless?"

Marik sighed. "I don't know." He looked up at the computer and down towards a small hole on the top of the panel. "Yugi, look…"

Yugi walked over and noticed the keyhole in the panel. "This is it…" He lifted the key out of his pocket and placed it slowly in the hole.

Everyone waited with bated-breath. He clicked it and the computer and lights around it shut down. Everything was pitch black now.

"Yugi? Where are you?" Yami asked, holding his arms out.

"Ow! That's my eye!" Marik groaned.

"Hey! Watch it! That's my foot!" Yugi cried.

Shadi found the door and opened it, letting the moonlight from the other room shine in. He sweat-dropped when he saw everyone in a pile on the floor, twisted in every which way. Yugi was the first to untangle himself and he ran to the soul jar. It was empty. Did that mean everyone was ok?

***

Rex groaned as he pulled himself up off the floor. "What hit me?" He asked in his nasal toned voice.

Ann blinked and stood up. "Are we alive?"

Everyone else groaned and opened their eyes, as if waking up form a bad dream.

***

In Téa's room, a light moan was heard from her bed. Her brilliant sapphire eyes were full of life and her skin was back to its peach tone. "Yugi…?" She called out. She sat up and pushed the blanket off her. "Why is everything so dark in here? What happened?" She was thankful when she saw the sun rising in the distance. Soon, light wouldn't matter anyways. She yawned and stretched. "Yami? Where are you guys?" She walked out of the room. "I swear, if this is a joke…" She turned the corner and came face to face with Seth. "Kaiba? What are you doing in that get-up?"

"Téa!!!" Mai and Dark Bakura cried out in shock.

Seto smiled. "Téana, I never thought I would see you again!" He pulled her close to him and leaned forward.

"Huh? Te…mmph…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Seto pressed his lips against hers. He kissed her passionately. Her eyes went wide and she screamed in horror. Recoiling in fear, she slapped him hard across the face. Mai and Dark Bakura sweat-dropped.

Seto just smirked. "I take it you are still in love with that Pharaoh!"

Téa went dark red in the face. "Uh…what?"

Seto circled her like a shark. "Don't pretend with me!"

Téa felt her anger rising. "I wasn't! My name is Téa! I am not the same person you think I am!"

Mai pulled her away before she tackled him. "She's not lying. This is more of that…uh…soul possessing thing we told you about!"

Seto frowned. "You look just like her…"

Téa blinked in puzzlement. "Huh? Oh, you mean Téana! Well…I'm not her…just a very distant relative." She sweat-dropped.

"I see. I am sorry then. It's just been so long since I have seen her." His blue eyes softened with a deep sadness.

"I understand how you feel. I'm sorry I'm not her." She touched his shoulder lightly. He smiled and brushed his hand across her cheek. She blushed. For some odd reason, she felt slightly drawn to him even though he had just kissed her against her will. She smiled and then her eyes deterred towards a familiar face. "Yami!" She cried.

"Téa…"

To be continued…

Next chapter will be up later today!