Chapter Eighteen:

Truce for a Day

Morning had approached all too rapidly, though the promise of Sunday morning and no school was an appealing enough reason for most of Japan's teenage population to sleep in. Most teens, that is, except the ever-busy Seto Kaiba.

He was already halfway dressed before Joey even stirred from his deep slumber, yawning widely and stretching as he flipped onto his back. A hand felt for the bed next to him, coffee eyes shooting open when he didn't feel his lover's presence next to him.

"Morning, koinu," Seto greeted when he saw the other teenager sit up in bed.

"Ugh, why are you moving around? It's only ten in the morning," Joey whined with a sideways glance at the nearby alarm clock. "Get your ass back in bed."

"I'd love to, but I have a few meetings to attend. I'll be home for dinner," Seto replied, throwing his white trench coat on and grabbing for the azure belts that sat on the dresser.

"That's what you always say and then Mokuba and me are left here with nothing to do all day," Joey insisted, dragging himself out from under the covers to drape himself over the CEO. "Stay home. Say you're sick." The seventeen-year-old nipped at Seto's neck, running his tongue over the abused area lightly. "It'll be more fun."

"Joey, as much as I would love to blow work off, I can't."

Sighing, Joey ran his fingers up and down the Japanese teenager's back, nibbling at his ear playfully. "We haven't been to the movies together lately."

"I have to go or there will be Hell to sort out later," Seto defended.

Joey trailed searing kisses down the taller brunet's neck, leading them to capture his lips for a fleeting moment. "Mokuba's wanted you to see him play that dance game at the arcade."

"Do you know what would happen to my reputation if I'm seen at the arcade?"

Rogue hands ran up and down Seto's hips as their owner went back to attacking Seto's neck with alternating nips and licks. "You can tell them to screw off."

Seto inadvertently leaned into the blond's ministrations, suddenly finding the idea of staying home so much more appealing, especially with his puppy dog and the nice, warm bed. Unfortunately, the CEO put business before all else. "I can't."

Joey's hands toyed with Seto's zipper, licking the shell of his ear and blowing lightly. "You have enough money. Bribe them."

"Yeah, Seto! My day isn't complete without a little voyeurism."

"Shit! Mokuba!" Seto yelped, reluctantly pulling away from Joey and straightening out his clothes. "We were just saying good bye."

Mokuba shook his head and moved away from the doorframe to take up residence on the bed. "So, good bye now consists of making out and undone flies?"

Joey, now redder then a tomato, quickly did Seto and his ego a favor by zipping his pants back up. "What are you doing up, brat?"

"I've been up for a while now. I heard you and Seto talking, so I figured I'd see what we were doing today. And what do I find...?" Mokuba glared sidelong at the two teenagers. "You keep that routine up, Joey, and the only thing Seto would be screwing off is you."

"Mokuba Kaiba! Watch where you walk before I flatten you!" Joey growled, now neon red. "God, where do you learn what you know?"

Mokuba grinned. "I have a walking Sex Ed. class in my own house. Where do you think I learned it?"

Seto looked back at Joey with a helpless sigh. "I should get going. Why don't you two head down to the arcade and I'll meet you there after my meetings."

"How many do you have?" Joey asked hopefully.

"Just two, back to back. By time you guys get ready, I'll be half way finished," Seto replied. "Then maybe we can catch lunch and a movie?"

"Really Seto?" Mokuba chirped, excited at the thought of spending the day with Seto and Joey together. The chance to endlessly torture them about their secret sex life was almost too much to hope for.

"I'll try my best." Seto gave the two a rare, warm smile as he fastened the belts around his arms and grabbed his briefcase from the chair. "Be good and I'll see you guys later."

Joey nodded and leaned up to give the older CEO a quick kiss. "Good luck and have fun."

"Fun, at work? The two just don't go." Seto ruffled Joey's hair and waved to Mokuba. "Don't get into any trouble and I'll see you by noon."

"'Kay! Later!" Mokuba waited until Seto was out the front door before jumping up and give Joey a high five. "Dude, you couldn't have done that any better!"

Joey grinned widely. "He can't resist the old Wheeler charm." The Brooklyn native gave Mokuba's wild locks a tug. "Now, go get ready." The American thought about inviting the others, but figured it would be nice just to have the day to just the three of them.

"Um, you're not inviting Yugi or Tristan or Duke?" Mokuba asked. "Or Tea?" he added with a tiny shutter. True, she'd probably saved his life during Battle City, but she annoyed the pre-teen to no end.

Joey shook his head. "If we bump into them, we bump into them." The American suddenly grinned and went over to the closet, pulling out jeans and a tee shirt. "Find a bag to put them in. I have an idea."

"Oh! Do tell!"

After Joey outlined his plan, Mokuba bounced into the shower grinning and practically cackling in a way that would make his brother proud.

* * * * *

It was around eleven thirty and, hands in pockets, Ryou walked down the semi-crowded streets of Domino in an aimless shuffle. Yami, Yugi, and Bakura were all still asleep and he'd been up all night worrying about that past day's findings all night, so the Brit had finally given up around nine, gotten dressed and headed out.

Despite his earlier disdain for the supposedly 'useless information' that had been found, the Brit found it all very unsettling and the thought of have died more then once sent a cold chill down his spine.

He swore to stay away from any thought of Malik having been reincarnated.

Rounding the corner of a building, Ryou finally lifted his head from the ground to see just where he had taken himself, slightly surprised to see he was next to the arcade, of all places. But what got the teenager was the annoyingly familiar motorcycle sitting by the sidewalk and the even more annoying Egyptian sitting on it. Well, isn't Lady Fate being kind to me? "Hey Malik!"

Said blond turned, a smile breaking out over his face when he realized it was Ryou talking to him and not Yugi trying to cause trouble for him. "What are you doing here, Ry?"

"I'm wandering around. What about you?" the sixteen-year-old replied, moving closer to Malik so he didn't have to talk so loudly.

"I just got my bike back and it's been acting funny since." Lilac eyes rolled around in their sockets, their owner sighing deeply. "I think Bakura jinxed it or something."

"What makes you think that?" Ryou asked with a small chuckled. It was a possibility...

"It's been acting weird since I met him." Malik smiled wryly. "He probably got pissed that I wouldn't give him the Rod and in turn cursed my bike."

"I wouldn't put it past him." Ryou reached into his back pocket, he withdrew Yugi's wallet and found a good amount of yen. Smiling widely, the Brit asked, "Wanna go in and play a game or two with me?"

Malik eyed the wallet the other duelist was holding. "Isn't that the midget's?"

Ryou's smiled just widened. "Technically, I am Yugi at the moment, so it's technically mine."

Shaking his head, the older Egyptian got off his precious bike and grabbed the keys. "You've been hanging around Bakura for too long."

Ryou just shrugged and headed into the arcade. His eyes wondered around the rooms, not quite knowing where to go first or if Malik even knew how to play the games. "Um, where do you wanna go first?" he asked.

The Egyptian's eyes were trained on the large crowd gathered around a formerly discreet corner of the arcade. "Let's see what's going on over there."

Ryou nodded and led the other teenager to the throng of people, grinning as they wormed their way to the front. The game that had the people's attention was a dancing game the Americans had titled Dance Dance Revolution. He loved to watch the people play, but prayed to God that Malik didn't do something stupid. Like get him to try it, for example.

"Man, how in the Hell can they keep up?" Malik muttered, watching the two dancers move in time to the music and arrows on the screen. He looked rather disinterested on the outside, but his inner child was ogling and bouncing up and down at the sight of the game. "When they're done, can we try?"

Ryou looked over at the Egyptian pleadingly. "I'm not that good. Can we just kinda watch and not touch?" he asked lamely.

Malik pouted, hitting Ryou back with the dreaded puppy eyes. "I just want to try. I haven't seen anything like this before and I want to try!"

So much for avoiding the game. "I guess." Ryou sighed deeply, another thought coming to mind. "Do you even know how the game works?"

"...No?"

Another sigh. "It's easy. You hit the arrow pad that the arrows tell you to at the same time they line up with the arrows at the top of the screen."

Malik watched at one of the guys pulled over an insanely flashy trick, wincing. "Easy? These two are making it look like you have to be a genius to even get on the thing."

Ryou was about to reply, but the song came to an end, with the player who had pulled the last second stunt being kicked off. He's not looking for a challenger. He's not looking for a challenger-

"Is there anybody here who wants to take me on?" the small, raven-haired winner challenged, ashen eyes glittering.

Malik grinned wickedly and pushed Ryou into the small gap between the crowd and the game system. "He will!" the Egyptian called. "Good luck!" he added.

Ryou grit his teeth together, reminding himself that killing was a smiting offense. He tugged his jacket off and chucked it at Malik, getting onto the platform. Belatedly, he realized that he was facing one Mokuba Kaiba, number one game freak in Japan.

The pre-teen eyed Ryou almost knowingly. "I didn't know you played," he remarked calmly as he picked the next song to his liking.

"Neither did I," the older teenager replied under his breath, casting Malik with a sour look. But there's no way in Hell I'm losing to Kaiba's kid brother. Malik'll never let me hear the end of it. And if Malik knows, Marik knows, and what Marik knows, Yami, Bakura, and Yugi know. And what Yugi knows, Joey knows, and what Joey knows-

"Anytime now, Yugi."

Ryou shook his head to clear it, facing the screen and placing his feet in the center of the four arrows. He was no stranger to the game, but between the crowd and his opponent, he wasn't exactly relaxed about it.

"Don't worry," Mokuba assured the Brit. "I only got a double A last time."

...I feel so much better. Ryou rolled his eyes, watching the screen closely as the arrows starting scrolling up in small, fast clusters. The music was undeniably techno, but had a dominant Middle Eastern sound about it.

As the song started, Malik thought that he had inadvertently made an ass out of Ryou and was about to rectify the situation when he saw the sixteen-year-old start moving.

Mokuba was good, there was no denying that. But Ryou had a sort of grace about him that made it look like he was flowing through the different steps with no problem. As the song went on, the former started to show some signs of fatigue, missing some steps and panting some.

Murmurs of "that kid's good" and "he's barely missed a step" and the like ran through the crowd as the onlookers drank in the duel of sorts.

Mokuba, already knowing the steps, spared Ryou and look and nearly fell on his ass. The Brit obviously knew full well was he was doing, as he was barely looking at the screen now. Swallowing hard, the younger of the Kaibas pushed himself faster.

Malik smiled, seeing Mokuba's renewed determination, but knowing it was for naught. Ryou was moving like a professional dancer, flowing through the steps lightly and quickly. He's probably played this before. I wonder why he didn't want to play?

Finally, the song came to an end, with Ryou achieving a double A and Mokuba an A. As the older teenager stepped down, he looked back at the latter. "Ask Malik. He'll want to play."

"Hey, hey, hey! No, no, no!" Malik interceded. "I am in no way, shape or form, playing that game. I couldn't follow along if you paid me."

"If I gave you Obelisk, you'd play?" Mokuba asked, being close enough to hear.

Malik glared at the little imp. "No way in Hell."

"Well, Ryou, you won, so it's your turn to challenge someone," Mokuba pointed out, stepping down. "I've gotta find Joey anyway."

"Joey's here?" Ryou asked.

"Yeah."

"Why'd he take you?" Malik added in, ever the tactful one.

Mokuba faltered. "Um..."

"The kid's gotta get away from that scumbag once and a while. Cut him a break!" aforementioned American cut in, pushing through the crowd to join the small group. His eyes settled on Malik and narrowed. "Yug', forgive me for asking, but-"

Ryou held his hands up. "Don't ask, don't tell."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Ryou grinned politely and motioned to the DDR machine in front of them. "Care to try, Joey?" he challenged, knowing it was the only way to get the blond to focus on something other then Malik's presence.

"Eh, why not?" The Brooklyn native fairly bounced onto the pad, warning, "I'm good, Yug'. Don't take me lightly."

"I just beat Mokuba," Ryou replied calmly, picking out a song he liked more.

"Dumb luck."

Malik looked down at Mokuba, who was looking up at him. "I bet ten that Yugi kicks Joey's ass," he bet, proud that he didn't call Ryou by his name.

"Really? Joey lives for this game and Skee-Ball; he's almost as good as me-"

"And Yugi just creamed you," Malik pointed out.

"So? Joey makes Yugi look like an amateur. And, I'll see your ten and raise you thirty," Mokuba replied confidently. "You still in?"

Malik nodded. "Yugi! You'd better the Hell win 'cause I'm broke!" he called to the waiting Ryou.

Said Brit just rolled his eyes, the only reaction he was able to muster before the music started again and he was off, moving easier and more confidently then before.

Unfortunately, Joey was matching him move for move, though his form was more about flair and less about the score at the end.

Malik's jaw clenched and Mokuba smirked. "This happens to be his best song. He practices to it every time he gets a chance to play," the latter remarked lightly.

Joey and Ryou's move grew more and more flashy, thought they still matched each other so perfectly, it was hard to tell who was the one struggling to keep appearances. The song picked up pace and so did they, nailing some arrows on their knees and Joey going as far to pull a quick handstand for a quick break in the beat.

By the time the song ended, Ryou had managed to copy Joey's earlier handstand, though with slightly less style. When the score came up, they were tied at a double A.

"I guess this means we get nothing," Mokuba pouted. "Joey, you make inu! You were supposed to kick Yugi's ass, not the other way around!"

"Well I-tried," Joey panted. It was now apparent that he was the one that had the hard time.

"I'd say you did well," Ryou replied with a smile, slipping under the rail on the platform. "The both of you were an excellent challenge."

"So, why are you two here?" Mokuba asked, watching Malik carefully. "Especially you," he added with a look at the Egyptian.

"Guys, back off," Ryou cut in, before Malik could get nasty. "Pretend he was never a rampaging psycho that tried to destroy your soul at some point and act like he's a normal teenager."

Joey crossed his arms, obviously unhappy. "You seriously want me to hang around the same guy that has, er, had a wacko other self and kills people?"

"I got rid of my 'wacko other self' and I did not kill anyone. He did," Malik finally spoke up, tired of Joey's suspicions and accusations. "Besides, Ryou's other half was a real nutcase and you guys still kept him around!"

"...Damn you!" Joey growled, knowing the Egyptian was right and there was nothing that could be said in contradiction.

"We're on to damning people now? I never knew dogs could do much more then bark."

Joey bit his lip, counted to ten, and turned around. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Domino's number one sleezebag. What are you doing here with us lower life forms?"

"You happen to have my little brother with you and I would like him back," Seto replied evenly, almost icily. "Though, I would like to know how he got here with you in the first place."

"It okay, Seto, really! I decided to come here instead of hanging around the house and I met up with Joey and Yugi," Mokuba jumped in, loving to be a part in the little facades Joey and Seto put up. "And, um, Yugi happened to bring a... friend?"

Seto's cold eyes finally settled on Malik, a slender brow arching. "The Battle City madman acting like a human? Maybe I've underestimated the thought capacity of dogs." By the CEO's tone, he was not kidding.

Malik kept his cool, knowing to get angry would not only let Marik out but prove to everyone he couldn't be trusted at all. Instead, he smirked and locked his fingers behind his head. "You hosted Battle City. Your tournament was the driving force behind everything from my quest for the god cards to Ryou's death."

Joey saw Seto wince and his brows knit together. Seto doesn't think he's... Then the American saw the regret flash through his lover's eyes and his heart skipped a beat. He blames himself for Ryou's death?!

Ryou, ever the empathetic one, saw this too and hit Malik hard. "Shut it. There was more then just the tournament's mere existence that caused all that to happen."

Mokuba was watching all this carefully, having his own theories yet to be solved. His interest was definitely piqued when he saw Malik instantly back down at 'Yugi's' command. Since when does that psycho listen to his victims? The twelve-year-old started to watch 'Yugi' like a hawk.

"Look, can we just have a good time?" Joey sighed in exasperation. He shot Seto a glance. "Even if there are assholes in our midst?" The seventeen-year-old made sure no one was looking before lipping, "Sorry."

Seto nodded in understanding and looked down at Mokuba. "Ignoring the make inu, didn't you want to show me how you're doing with a game here?"

"Oh yeah! Joey, Yugi, one of you help me out here," Mokuba ordered, hopping back up onto the dancing platform. "Unless you want to try, Seto."

The teenaged CEO shook his head. "Why doesn't the make inu help you. I would love to see if Chihuahuas can dance or not."

"Don't. Call. Me. A. Chihuahua," Joey growled, kicking Seto's leg as he took up the other platform. "Your pick, kiddo," he informed Mokuba.

The smaller Kaiba nodded, flipping through the songs and picking out the fastest one of the bunch and setting it on 'Standard'. He wanted to impress his brother, not make an ass out of Joey. Though, if he danced as well if he had against 'Yugi', he was the one who would look really stupid.

Malik leaned against the rail, tugging Ryou up with him. "Who do you think's gonna win?" he asked, watching the two dancers as the song started. "...I still don't get how you can follow that."

Ryou smiled. "Try it, off the pad," he offered. "The crowd's dissipated with Kaiba's presence, so there's no one to see you."

Malik looked at the screen then to Ryou, ogling at Mokuba as he surpassed Joey, turning around so he was dancing with his back to the screen. "Shit! The brat doesn't even have to look at the arrows!" The Egyptian shook his head. "No way."

Seto watched the pair with some interest, though most of his attention was on Mokuba and Joey. It was obvious that the latter wasn't trying as hard on purpose. "What's wrong, Ishtar? Afraid of a little game?"

Malik glared daggers at the taller teen. "Shove it, Kaiba."

"C'mon!" Ryou insisted.

"No."

"You made me."

"You obviously know what you're doing! I don't even know what half this shit does!" Malik hissed, so as not to tell Seto as well.

Ryou rolled his eyes. "I didn't know how it worked! I mean, Mokuba has no life and Joey came from New York so all he knows how to do it dance and eat."

"I think that's more the fact that he's blond and not from New York," Seto chipped in, being able to hear the two at any rate.

Malik glared at the CEO again. "I'm blond."

Seto looked mildly interested. "Is that peroxide or bleach?"

"Wha?"

"Dammit!" Joey cried, seeing his score come up a B while Mokuba's was a double A. "You cheating little slime!" he accused, thought his wide grin gave away that he was kidding.

Mokuba just smiled and jumped down, looking at Seto expectantly. "How did I do, big brother?"

Seto gave the twelve-year-old's hair a ruffle. "Impressive. Where did you learn how to dance so well?" he asked, genuinely impressed.

"Um, well, I come here a lot to practice and I had Joey help me some. I mean, he's better at it. Did you know he can break dance?"

"Mokuba! I can not!" Joey shot back, sitting on the railing. "Yeah, I did teach him how to move a little easier, but I can't break dance."

Seto repressed any and all suggestive comebacks. He plastered a scowl on his face, despite that he was glad Mokuba finally had someone trustworthy to spend time with. "I see you've taken a liking to the make inu. Maybe I'll bring him home for you."

"Kaiba, I am not a freaking dog!" Joey sneered. "And who else does the kid have to turn to when you're always so busy with your snout buried in paperwork and fancy lunch meetings?"

Seto looked introspective for a moment. "You're right. He is desperate to seek out your company."

Mokuba sighed and rolled his eyes. "Joey's fun to hang out with. I love ya, but I can only sit around the house for so long before I go nuts."

Ryou looked at Malik. "And this is why I'm thankful that I don't have a brother."

"Imagine having two older siblings."

Ryou mock-shuttered. "Perish the thought."

Mokuba looked at 'Yugi' through narrowed eyes. Yugi's got a good vocabulary, but its not so... refined. I wonder if I was right...?

Joey hopped off the railing, stretching as he decided to make a temporary 'truce' with Seto. "Look Kaiba, I want to have a good day. I also want to hang with Mokuba. It's obvious you want to do the same thing. Ya think you can not be an asshole for the afternoon?"

Seto glared flatly at the American. "Can you not be an egotistical inu?"

Joey shrugged, holding his hand out. "Truce... Seto?"

Ryou raised an eyebrow. Hmm... Nah. Joey just doesn't want to fight with Kaiba for the rest of the day. Don't be so stupid.

((Hell, I guess I dated Marik and the Pharaoh. For all we know, those two are together,)) Bakura suddenly pointed out.

Ryou mentally shrugged. (At this point in time, anything's possible.)

Seto shook Joey's hand firmly and quickly. "Don't think this is permanent, Wheeler."

"The thought ever crossed my mind." Joey shot the CEO a quick grin before turning to Malik. "And you, I don't trust you as far as I can throw ya, but I'm willing to call a truce with you 'cause I'm in such a good mood."

Malik was going to make a come back, but a kick from Ryou silenced the barb. Remember, this isn't Battle City. If you want a chance with Ryou, you have to learn to get along with his idiot friends. "Whatever."

Mokuba grinned. "Awesome! But, Seto, you have to promise me something, just for today."

This is going to be a big order, I know it. "What do you have in mind, kiddo?"

"You act like a normal teenager for the rest of the day. No ice-hearted bastard routines, none of that 'I'm too busy to for' CEO crap, and no limos or briefcases," Mokuba replied.

Seto was about to say 'no', but couldn't resist the puppy eyes Mokuba was giving him. "Fine, fine, fine. I'll act normal, but just for the afternoon."

Mokuba grinned and hugged the older Kaiba tightly. "Domo arigatou! Now, get out of that junk and get into something comfortable and normal," he finished, brandishing a bag from beside the DDR machine.

Seto grabbed the bag without resistance, glaring at his little brother. Admit it, you just want an excuse to act like the rest of the teenager population for once, he chided himself, knowing he wasn't resisting anything that had happened so far like he usually would. "You knew I would say yes, didn't you?" he asked.

Mokuba just smiled. "We'll get lunch after you're done."

"You're so spoiled," Seto muttered before going to the bathrooms to change into Mokuba's definition of 'normal' clothing.

* * * * *

Five minutes later, Seto emerged from the bathroom, holding his work outfit in the bag. Needless to say, he looked like a typical teenager now, but didn't look too happy about it. Mokuba had stolen a pair of Joey's larger and more outrageous pants, black with holes in the knees and chains lashed to the back and a simple, black tee shirt with 'I hear voices and they don't like you' written on the front.

Mokuba grinned, grabbing the bag. "You look good, nii-sama!"

"I want my trench coat to cover those silly chains."

"They're not silly!" Joey shot back.

Seto looked between his lover and brother, deadpan. "Mokuba, don't tell me these are Joey's?" He's taller then I thought.

"He's the only one even remotely close enough to your height!" Mokuba shot back.

"I'm putting you under house arrest."

"Oh shut up, Kaiba. You look like one of us," Malik pitched in.

Ryou looked over at the Egyptian with a raised eyebrow. "'One of us'? Now you're agreeing to acting like a normal teenager."

Joey sighed. "Yug', at this point, the psychos are gonna be the normal ones and me, you, and Mokuba are gonna hafta be the ones running around raising Hell."

Mokuba grinned. "That sounds like fun. Malik, crash courses on world domination in exchange for DDR lessons?" he offered brightly.

"I don't think your brother would appreciate that... Or my sister for the matter," Malik replied, cringing at the thought of what Ishizu would do to him if she knew he was teaching 'innocent' children how to take over the world.

Ryou laughed. "From the sounds of Joey's stomach, it's lunch time."

Flushing slightly, Joey grumbled, "I'm just kinda of hungry. I didn't have breakfast this morning."

Seto rolled his eyes as the group headed out of the arcade. "And you're not dead yet?"

"Don't start, ketsu."

Ryou sighed deeply as he pushed the doors open. He had three of the most notorious rivals/opponents all in the same area trying to be civilized. Malik didn't pose much of a threat for the time, but Seto and Joey... The Brit could feel the migraine forming already.

That was fun to write! It's also nice to dream. Last time I played DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) was in the arcade and my skirt was too long so I wound up tripping when I tried to get fancy. Nailed all the arrows I was supposed to for the finish and earned a B, but I embarrassed the shit out of myself anyway. -____-U So yeah, it's nice to dream that I can dance with some elegance.

Akuro: Marik's origins will forever be left to debate, but it's been made official that when Malik's father carved the Pharaoh's memory into Malik's back, the kid created Marik from his anger and pain. Said psycho was loosed when Malik got angry with his father for hurting Rishid and leashed when Malik saw the carvings on the side of Rishid's face. But, yeah, enough history. ^)^ Next chapter's gonna be fun! Mind games, popcorn fights, a little revelation or two, and the start of the end!

Sailor Comet: Hey, I was wonder where you disappeared to! ^)^ Good to know that you're still dealing with my crap!

ExBobble06: Yay! I made another person speechless! ^)^ But, prepare for more Yami/Bakura next chapter! Fluffiness, denial, and more riddles!

Oh, if anyone wants to start throwing me theories, questions, or ideas, E-mail me at Tamer_of the_Dragons@yahoo.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Nineteen Trailer:

So far, Bakura had followed the Pharaoh's aura through a twisted labyrinth with stairs leading to nowhere and doors in all sorts of unusable places, like the ceiling for example. If the structure was any indication of Yami's sanity, Bakura decided the spike haired Spirit was in desperate need of a therapist.

Bakura stepped over a trap and dodged another, stepping through an open door to find himself in a wide, ebony-bricked room. The walls were lined with doors, each one nondescript and plain to behold compared to the other, strange features of the Puzzle.

Seeing no Pharaoh, but sensing his presence somewhere, Bakura took a seat and raised his hands to his face studying his nails. This place feels like a graveyard, he mentally noted, wishing he hadn't told Yugi to stay put at the start of the maze. There's a few bright spots, but most of this area is black as night. A shiver crawled up the tomb robber's back as he stretched his legs out in front of him, sensing a change in the aura. Strange. I wonder what's behind those doors?

Before Bakura could gather up the will to explore the strange room, Yami all but barreled into the thief, slightly winded and looking a mix of scared and excited at the same time. "Shit, Pharaoh, what's wrong with you?" Bakura demanded, picking himself up off the floor.

"I-I... Another door opened. It's another gate to a memory world and I-It's not my memory that was revealed," Yami rambled.

"Talk sense, Yami. What did you find?"

"The answer! Or, the last part of the puzzle we've been trying to put together!" If his ego would have allowed it, Yami would have been jumping around and clapping his hands. "I know what Marik meant now!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~