Chapter Twenty-Six:

Egyptian History 101[Pt 1]

The air was charged as Malik calmly got to his feet, dragging Ryou with him. "Evening, Wheeler."

"Shut up," Joey snarled. "Ryou, you have three seconds to explain yourself before I start cracking skulls."

The Brit stepped back a bit under the hateful flame in the American's gaze. "I-I..." He lowered his head, feeling ashamed. "I'm sorry?"

Joey was beside himself at this point. "How can you do this?!"

Yugi stepped up beside his friend. "Don't start, please."

"Yug', shut up." Joey's fists clenched and unclenched. "Do I have to remind you that this is the same wacko that tried to kill me not that long ago? Does our friendship mean that little to you?"

"Hey, back the fuck off, Wheeler," Malik growled.

"Stay out of this, Ishtar," Joey sneered. "Why Ryou?"

The Brit looked at the irate blond, then at Seto. "For the same reason you love him, I suppose," he stated softly.

"Seto hasn't tried to kill me!"

"Death-T?" Ryou shot back. "I know Malik has his faults, but most of what happed wasn't even his own damned fault!"

"Don't you dare use his other half as an excuse for what he did," Tristan jumped in.

Ryou felt his temper slowly mounting. "Me and Bakura were no better at the start of things. He's tried to kill you all countless times and you just turned a blind eye to it."

Joey was taken down a few notches when he heard the creeping anger in the Brit's voice.

"I know I've done some pretty cruel things but most of it wasn't even my choice." Malik wrapped an arm around Ryou with a spiteful smile in Joey's direction. His lilac eyes seemed shrouded. "If you want to tear him away from me, I'll just tear you apart."

"I don't think there's a need for that," Seto intoned serenely. "The lot of us have our own faults, given some are worse then others."

"If you wanna play tonsil hockey with Ryou, we'll leave you to it," Mokuba piped up.

Ryou and Malik looked down at the twelve-year-old, exasperation written all over their faces. "Joey killed the mood," the former grumbled.

Bakura, who had gotten control of Yugi's body as promised, sighed. "Are there any other shadowy romances we should know about before the night's over?"

\Should we tell them about the two of us?\ Yami joked.

\\Oh yeah, they'd react well to that. 'Hey, guess what? The Pharaoh's dating his old lay again. Who's that? Well, let's see, that would be me. No, I'm not Yugi. I'm Bakura, twice removed from life.\\

The former Pharaoh stifled a snigger. \You have a point. Besides, it might be hell to have to explain Marik if Malik opens his mouth.\

\\...You are evil,\\ Bakura shot back. He looked around to see he was the only one still standing and quickly sat down by Yami.

It was quiet until Duke turned to Malik and Ryou, asking, "So, how long have you two been going out?"

"Long enough," Ryou replied with a small grin aimed at Malik. Are we really dating now? I thought you had to ask first?

Mokuba leaned over, putting an arm around Malik's shoulder. "You two... do anything aside from tonsil hockey?"

Seto and Joey didn't know whether or not to be more surprised that Malik hadn't taken his head off or Mokuba's question. "Cut it out!" the latter warned, eyeing his rival nastily.

"I don't kill kids, mutt," Malik noted darkly, looking down at Mokuba with a wistful sigh. "Why do you ask? Kaiba and Joey been quiet lately?"

Joey flushed dark red and Seto's hands curled into fists.

Ryou looked back at them with a falsely innocent smile. "It's an innocent question."

Bakura nearly fell over laughing, leaning against Yami to stop himself. \\My hikari's been hanging around me too long, I swear.\\

Yami nodded, nudging the thief. \You have a habit of corrupting everyone you meet.\

Mokuba snickered and laid down, using his arms for pillows. "They've been plenty busy. Even with Battle City, surprisingly enough."

Yami grinned back at Seto. He was a generally nice person, but didn't see the harm in making his chief rival squirm. "Bow of the Battle Ship under a starry sky. You think no one's around and later on you find every one of your enemies were watching."

Mokuba burst out laughing. "See! I'm not the only voyeur!"

Joey and Seto seemed to be holding a contest to see who could go paler. "You're kidding?" the former begged.

Malik, Yami, Ryou, and Bakura just smiled at the couple.

Tristan tried not to laugh. "So much for the secret romance, Joe. Looks like the majority of us already knew." His eyes darted over to Duke and Serenity to see the latter cuddled against the former, smiling. "What?"

Serenity just giggled louder. "Malik and Ryou weren't so 'secret' themselves. I think the front of Battle Ship was the make-out section of the tournament."

Joey looked over at his sister in shock. "Okay, who corrupted my baby sister?"

"Joey!" Serenity whined. "I'm fourteen! I'm not completely naive."

When Duke stifled a snicker with his hand, he immediately found Joey's face hovering mere millimeters from his own. "What do you want?"

"What's so funny, Devlin?" Joey growled protectively.

"Your face," Duke replied easily.

"And why have you been hanging off Serenity all night?"

Tristan pulled Joey back to the ground roughly. "Just chill, man. I'm sure there's a viable explanation," he said with a sullen glare at Duke.

"There'd better be or I'll do to Duke what I intended to do to the whack job over there," Joey ground out irritably. The blond jumped when a particularly loud firework went off over his head, blushing in embarrassment as Duke laughed. "Aw, shaddup. I'm gonna go get something to eat."

Ryou shook his head with a smile, leaning his head against Malik's shoulder. He watched the bright explosives light of the sky for a while before searching around the group out of curiosity. He spotted Joey rounding on Seto, sitting down quietly in the CEO's lap with an almost shy grin. Duke and Serenity were trying not to look suspicious and failing while Yami used Bakura as a pillow.

The Brit bit his lip, seeing the forlorn look on Tristan's face. Sucks to be odd man out, he chuckled to himself. He let out a small squeak when he felt Malik's arm wrap around his waist. "Are you asking for Joey to behead you?"

"Probably," said blond grumbled. "Would you please get your slimy paws off of my friend?"

Malik turned toward the other teen with an overly sweet smile as his free hand tugged the Millennium Rod clear of his belt loops. "Don't tempt me, Wheeler," he sing-songed, tapping his Item against the ground.

Joey went a little pale, but refused to back down. He still had an obvious bone to pick and wouldn't stop until it was settled. "Try me, blondie."

"You're blond too," Mokuba reminded the American nonchalantly.

Malik smirked. "Try again, mongrel."

That just about did it for Joey. He got to his feet and stormed over to the Egyptian, dragging him upright as well so they were eye-to-eye. "Let's get one thing straight, I'm not a dog."

"But you obey so well," Malik shot back easily.

Joey growled and shook the other teen angrily. "Don't get smart with me, Ishtar. I don't trust ya as far as I can throw ya, but I don't think Ryou would like it much if I dented your bishounen face up... Seeing how it's the only lovable part of ya."

Malik raised an elegant eyebrow. "Are you hitting on me, Wheeler?"

The barb caused Joey to let go of the Egyptian's shirt, stepping back with disgust written all over his face. "You're sick."

Malik picked himself up, still smiling. "I thought you'd never notice."

"Why you..."

Tea growled, springing to her feet and marching over to the two blonds, grabbing an ear respectively. "There's a lot of bad blood here, but I'm sick of this."

"But-" Joey whimpered when Tea yanked on his captive ear.

"Joey, you weren't the only one controlled," the brunette pointed out crossly. "I think if Ryou, the most extorted out of all of us, can more then forgive this psychopath, he must be redeemable." Tea punctuated her point by yanking hard on Malik's earring without getting her head removed.

"Forgiving is one thing," Joey shot back. "But making out with him is another."

"The same way the lot of us caught you making out with Kaiba?" Bakura questioned smugly, watching the firework's finale raptly.

Joey's cheeks colored. "That's not funny, Yug'. I-OW! Stop it!" he growled at Tea.

"No. Malik, you're a psychotic lunatic, I just want that to be known right now. I'm not inclined to trust you, but if Ryou sees some good in you, we're all willing to give you a chance."

Malik tugged his earring clear of Tea's grip. "That's all fine, whatever," he replied off-handedly. He set his dusty lilac eyes on Joey. "I won't prod into your affairs. Don't prod into mine."

"He won't," Seto spoke up darkly, his voice the only give-away that he wasn't happy about Malik's presence either. "I'll give you fair warning that if you touch a hair on the mutt's head-"

Ryou jumped in, plucking the Rod from Malik's grip with practiced ease.. "We gave you a fair chance. Please back off."

"Give that back!" Malik yelped. "It's mine."

"You have a spare," Ryou replied wolfishly, fighting a blush at his own brash words. I think the time away from Bakura will do me good.

"Why are you so quick to forgive this loony?" Tristan asked, slightly scarred by the exchange.

Bakura, having lost the entertainment of the fireworks, turned his attention to the fragile situation. "Respectively, Ryou and Malik would be a threat if their yamis still existed-"

"But I made sure that each Spirit was eradicated from their host bodies," Yami muttered, making Bakura jump slightly. He had looked like he was sleeping.

"What about that thing?" Joey asked, glaring pointedly at the Millennium Rod.

"Useless," Bakura replied.

Mokuba sighed, having had enough of staying quiet. "Guys, it's late and the show's over. Not only that, but we have school tomorrow." His ashen eyes held a sarcastic light. "As much as I love to watch this display of machismo, I need to get home so I can count the knocks against the wall."

"Mokuba!" Seto growled.

The chibi-Kaiba smiled sweetly. "What? It's the same as counting sheep. One's just... noisier."

Joey flushed scarlet. "I'm going to kill you."

"Over my dead body," Seto retorted.

"I still have your Blue-Eyes," Joey cackled before taking off into the night.

Mokuba's eyes widened when he felt Seto's smoldering glare fall on his head. This is a chance to cause a real riot! He took three seconds to snatch the Rod from Ryou's unprepared grip before tearing off after Joey. "Come back here!"

Malik blanched. "GIVE THAT BACK!" he screamed. "I'm going to kill you!"

"Oh no you're not!" Ryou shot back, dragging Bakura and Yami to their feet by their respective Puzzles before tearing off after the Egyptian.

Seto watched in amusement as the others took off to aid in the capture of Mokuba and Joey, shaking his head. Though, as he watched "Yugi" and Malik, whatever was off about them sent cold shivers down his spine. The young CEO couldn't figure out why, but there was something definitely wrong.

* * * * *

It was well after ten as Ryou pushed the front door open, half-asleep against Malik as threw his keys onto a nearby chair. Mindlessly, the Brit steered his temporary pillow over to the couch before falling bonelessly onto it.

Malik snickered. "We only ran around for an hour," he chided. "Who knew the brat had that much energy?"

"I didn't," Ryou mumbled, throwing a decorative pillow over his head. "All that for a stupid card and piece... of junk." It was obvious the sixteen-year-old was quickly nodding off.

Malik didn't have the heart to be affronted with Ryou in his semi-conscious state. "Where's your room?" he asked curiously.

"Upstairs, second room on the right," came the muffled answer.

Malik nodded and scooped Ryou's feather light figure into his arms, maneuvering himself around all obstacles easily on his way to the Brit's bedroom. Ah good, no junk on the bed. Smiling at the snow haired duelist's neatness, the Egyptian set his burden on the downy bed.

Ryou groaned as Malik unlaced his sneakers. "Stop sucking up," he mumbled, turning onto his stomach. "I... should be taking your shoes off," he added.

The older teen shook his head, smiling affectionately as he dropped the Converse on the floor. "Since you're only half awake, I'm guess I'll be heading back home now."

Ryou nodded. "G'night, Malik. Arigatou."

Wait, you idiot, one more thing. Malik tugged the Millennium Ring clear of his head, jangling the spears enticingly. "You're back in your own body, so you can have it back now."

Ryou mustered the energy to turn to the blond with a half-formed smile. "You keep it. I kinda like chasing you," he admitted before letting his head flop back onto his pillows.

Malik grinned brightly, leaning down to feather a soft kiss on the sleepy teen's cheek. "Good night, creampuff. Sleep tight."

Ryou just nodded, failing in his battle to ward sleep off.

Malik sighed as he turned, smiling fondly as he put the Ring back on. It's sad. I feel safer with this damn thing on then off, he teased himself, heading down the stairs and out the door, making sure to lock it behind him.

It was when a soft click sounded through the otherwise silent house did Ryou awaken some. He kissed me! ...He pretty much tucked me in. The sixteen-year-old blushed slightly, something else dawning on him. I still didn't get to tell him I love him... Again! The duelist groaned and decided sleep would be easier then thinking all night.

* * * * *

It was dead quiet, albeit the hushed whisper of the Thousand Year Puzzle being spun by its cord. Even the antagonists had stop their terrorizing to regard the exotic little thief that was perched atop the throne. It was the other standout thief that shattered the awed silence.

"How did you do that?"

The emerald-eyed beauty just shrugged. "Is that jealousy I detect, great King of Thieves?" The urchin smirked and let the Puzzle fly through the air toward the self-proclaimed thief king.

But before Bakura could grab the precious Item, another presence made itself known to snatch the pyramid out of mid-air. The snow haired cutthroat growled, fists tightening around his daggers.

Khasekhemwy didn't look anymore pleased. "The Thousand Year Thieves," he sneered. "What an opportune time for you to show up."

The newcomer smiled congenially, bowing mockingly. "Khasekhemwy, always a displeasure," he replied easily. He inclined his head toward Mahaado and Seth, a catty smirk lifting the corners of his mouth. "I forgot to thank you for the Items."

"What do you want?" Ausar growled, an arm across his wounded stomach. "We have enough trouble to deal with."

The thief on the throne snorted derisively, setting bright emerald eyes on Bakura. "Antaios, give Mahaado the Puzzle," he ordered. "We've done our part."

As the precious Item flew at Bakura, Seth intervened, curling lithe fingers around the Puzzle's cord before the ex-Priest beside him could get it.

Mahaado swore violently, pivoting on his heel to grab for the younger Egyptian. He missed by a hair and shouted, "Bakura! Kill him!"

Khasekhemwy went for Bakura, thinking that the thief was going to try for Seth. But, the thief named Antaios knocked him to the ground. His companion saw Ausar try for Bakura and sprung into action, running for the duelist full tilt.

Bakura saw all this and knew full well that he had enough time. A cruel smile blossomed on his lips as he brought his dagger up. Before he could throw it though, the nameless thief got in the way. He faltered.

"Do it!" Mahaado growled. "Prove your allegiance and do it!"

Ausar shoved the emerald-eyed thief out of the way, nearly upon Bakura now; still thinking it was Seth he was aiming for.

Antaios saw otherwise, but was busy keeping Khasekhemwy down. "Kavala, move!"

As the words passed the teen's lips, Bakura turned and let his daggers fly-

"WAKE UP, NII-SAMA!"

Seto awoke with a start, nearly crashing his head against Mokuba's in the interim. His breathing was a little choked and his heart felt like it was trying to hammer its way out of his ribcage.

Joey stared at the brunet in concern. "You okay, ryuu? Ya look a little pale."

Seto shook his head, forcing himself to calm down. "It's nothing. You just startled me," he replied, ruffling Mokuba's hair with a smile.

Neither the smaller Kaiba or Joey looked convinced, but they knew better then to question Seto when it came to his well being. "Well, we're home," the latter noted before scrambling over his lover out the door.

Seto nodded, letting Mokuba get out before he followed suit. Straightening his duster out, he took a deep breath and headed into the mansion. Almost immediately, he heard the phone ring. How coincidental, he thought with a disdainful roll of his eyes.

"Nii-sama, phone!" Mokuba yelled.

Seto sighed sufferingly and headed into the kitchen to take the proffered phone from his little brother. "Kaiba speaking."

"Hello Kaiba. It's Ishizu Ishtar. I was wondering if you had a moment?"

Seto froze. How in the Hell... The CEO shook his head, remembering he vowed never to ask how the tombkeeper knew what she did. "Make it quick, I have a business to run."

Joey snickered around the eggroll he had found in the fridge, leaning over to whisper something to Mokuba.

"I am aware that your tournament ended a short while ago," Ishizu started carefully. "But, a new matter has revealed itself and I think that you may want to come down here."

"So you can bore me with your hocus pocus?" Seto balanced the phone between his shoulder and ear as he took to the refrigerator for something to drink.

"This is more serious then when we first met, Kaiba," she pressed.

Seto snorted, grabbing a can of soda with Joey's name scribbled on it. "I thought I made it quite clear that I have more important things to do then listen to proclamations of doom?"

Ishizu sighed, knowing she was going to have to play hardball with Seto to get her point across. "What do you have to do that is possibly more important then stealing your boyfriend's drink?"

At that, the CEO froze. "What did you say?"

"It's late at night, Kaiba. There is no business to run," Ishizu continued, unhindered. "If you ignore my request, you will put not only yourself, but Joey in mortal danger as well."

Seto felt like he'd just been thrown into a tub of ice. "How do you know about him?"

"I know much more about yourself then you think I know," Ishizu replied. "I also know that some part of you believes me... especially after that dream."

Seto didn't need to inquire which dream the Egyptian was speaking of. "So you know what's going on inside my head. That doesn't mean anything."

Ishizu felt her patience slipping. "Ignore me, Seto Kaiba, and Joey will die." Her voice was stern and forbidding. "You will leave your little brother alone in the wake of your death. Anyone you trust to watch Mokuba will be destroyed because of your negligence."

Seto capped any encroaching anxiety at the thought of leaving Mokuba or having Joey taken away from him. "Fine. You've made your point. When do you expect me to-"

"Now, if it's not too much trouble," Ishizu broke in. "You may bring Joey and Mokuba along if you wish."

Seto was about to turn to ask the kitchen's other two occupants if they wanted to come, azure meeting sheepish coffee. "You were listening?" the CEO hissed, covering the mouthpiece.

Joey just grinned. "Hey Ishizu! We're coming along!" he yelled.

Seto sighed, shaking a fist at the blond.

Ishizu just chuckled. "And don't worry about my narrative, Kaiba. I know you can read hieroglyphs." Whether she said this to get the last word in or not was forever left up to debate.

"I'll be down as soon as possible," Seto replied before hanging up. Setting the phone on the table, he looked over at Joey and Mokuba. "It seems Ishizu has some groundbreaking news for us."

Mokuba shuttered. "She's the scary necklace lady, right?"

Joey nodded. "Yeah."

Seto smiled fondly at the pair, reminding himself that he was doing this for them. As much as I hate history lessons, I'm not going to risk losing them because I'm narrow-minded.

"You might wanna get that coat off though," Mokuba pointed out. "You've got grass stains on it from Joey."

Seto sighed, glaring mock threateningly at the blond. "In that case, you two get ready to go. I'll be right back down." The CEO watched as Mokuba and Joey tore back outside, shaking his head. Only for them.

* * * * *

Ishizu was waiting patient at the bottom of the stairs when Seto appeared from the depths of his limo, oceanic eyes holding a darker, worried light as she inclined her head. "Thank you for coming, Kaiba."

"Hey Ishizu!"

"Yeah, hey!"

Ishizu smiled at Joey and Mokuba, motioning to the museum with a sweep of her hand. "If you will follow me, I will explain why I called you here."

Seto followed the petite Egyptian at a pace that forced the other two in his entourage jog to keep up. "You can start at anytime," he prompted impatiently.

Ishizu nodded. "While in the tournament, I had a dig team in Egypt searching for more clues pertaining to the Pharaoh and Priest's duel. When I arrived back here, I found not only a startling amount of recovered documents, but a frightening bit of information as well." The tombkeeper turned to eye Seto for a moment as she went inside the museum. "It turns out that the duel between the Pharaoh and the Priest was never concluded."

Mokuba, being the only one aside from Seto somewhat knowledgeable about the past, spoke up. "What happened? Who broke the fight off?"

"All in good time," Ishizu replied gently. "For now, I think it would be best if you looked at the tablet again, Seto."

The CEO shrugged, feeling increasingly less secure as the seconds ticked by. "Trying to test of knowledge of dead languages?" he quipped.

Ishizu shook her head. "You are the type of person that needs to see something for themselves to believe it. I can show you the way, but that is all." At that, she opened the door to the restricted parts of the museum, nodding down the stairs. "That and I have a lot of work to do."

"Hn." Was Seto's only reply as he lead Joey and Mokuba down the stairs.

* * * *

It had been going on two hours that Seto had been looking over the tablet and just sitting on the floor staring at it as well was starting to grate on Mokuba's nerves. Company dinners, formal functions spent in the lobby, being home alone... All those the young Kaiba could handle because there was something to do.

It would have been more interesting if he could be able to read the hieroglyphics like his reincarnated brother could. But, Mokuba couldn't, so he was left to lay in the middle of the floor and count the dots on the ceiling tiles while Joey slept like a dead man by his lover. After the third million, five hundred sixty-fifth thousandth, nine hundred and seventy-sixth dot, the chibi-Kaiba gave up with a growl of exasperation.

I can't take it anymore! If I have to be here while Seto tries to piece together his past, I might as well look around. I'm sure there are some interesting exhibits around here. "Big brother, I'm going to go look around."

"Be careful," Seto replied, sounding highly distracted.

Mokuba sighed and headed out of the restricted exhibit, not quite knowing where to go once he got to the top of the stairs. Deciding he had enough time to get lost in the gigantic building and find his way back again, the twelve-year-old went left to enter the corridor he and Seto had first come through.

Mokuba looked over the well-protected artifacts and framed papyrus lining the walls. He made a note to take a look at one particular list towards the end of the hall before he came into the main entrance. The pre-teen saw a light on in a small side room to his left and crept over to the halfway closed door.

"Come in, Mokuba."

How did... Never mind. I don't want to know. Mokuba pushed the door open a little shyly, taking up a discreet place on the same wall. "Um, what are you doing?" he asked.

Ishizu looked up from the tablet she was going over, offering the youth a smile. "You're not interrupting me, don't worry," she assured him. "I'm just trying to translate these hieroglyphs."

"Oh... I'll go them," Mokuba mumbled, ducking his head. He saw the time Seto was having trying to piece together the Egyptian script.

Ishizu chuckled. "Honestly, Mokuba, you're fine. Unlike your brother, Egyptian is my native language."

Mokuba brightened considerably. "So you don't take three hours just to figure out three symbols?" he asked innocently.

"No. But there's another language mingled in with the hieroglyphs, so it's not as easy," Ishizu replied, jotting down a note as her slender fingers traced a group of symbols. "Are you good with a camera?"

Mokuba smothered a maniacal grin. "You could say that," he replied, trying to clear the deviousness out of his tone.

Ishizu turned to glance at the twelve-year-old, smiling at him. "If you want to help me, you can start photographing those little tablets over there."

"Really? You mean I can help you!" Mokuba was now bouncing from foot to foot.

"If you want to," the Egyptian replied, making another note as her fingers traveled down the line of hieroglyphs. "Try to pay attention to the script in the center."

"Okay," Mokuba chirped, going over to Ishizu's desk to retrieve the digital camera sitting there. He set it up, taking the liberty of switching the setting so the photos would come out better. He pulled a chair up to the table the tablets we sitting on and stood on top of it.

"I never thought of doing that," Ishizu chuckled, watching as the small Kaiba set up more chairs so he could get pictures from all angles. "You've done this before." It wasn't a question.

Mokuba nearly tripped between jumping across chairs. "I... um... No?"

Ishizu laughed at Mokuba's expression, shaking her head. "Remember, I have a little brother too. Older siblings have a sense for these types of things."

"Seto's always too busy to notice," Mokuba muttered, snapping off another picture before doing a contrast with the flash off.

Ishizu looked up at the quick blink of light. "Never thought of doing that either."

Mokuba shrugged. "Nii-sama always tells me that things always looks different in the light and the dark. Of course, he's talking about backstabbing business partners, but I figure it can apply to other things."

"You're just like Malik was when he was little. Always thinking ahead of everyone else and never staying still."

"I can stay still," Mokuba protested, though his bouncing from chair to chair was contradictory to his convictions. "And with the company I keep, I have to think ahead."

Ishizu nodded. "Joey can be unnerving sometimes, can't he?"

"You don't know the half of it." Mokuba froze. "Wait, how'd you know I hang out with Joey? How did you know he's even with Seto?"

The twenty-year-old touched the Tauk that lay around her neck. "I know a lot about your family. About your brother and Joey-"

"You won't tell anyone?" Mokuba burst out. "It'll ruin Seto for sure!"

"Your secrets are safe with me, I promise," Ishizu replied softly. Her smile was a little slyer the usual. "But, sibling to sibling, has Seto ever caught you?"

Mokuba ducked his head, grinning. "He'd like to think he has. But, I've got him where I want him, really! Him and Joey are constantly with the play fighting, it's like a bad habit!" he explained, snapping off another series of pictures.

"You have mountain of incriminating blackmail that you've copied, don't you?"

"Yep. And Seto knows it too!" Mokuba replied eagerly, getting off the chairs to get a closer shot of the tablets. "They can't stand it when I start teasing them. When they get really annoyed, I've learned that they can whine in synch perfectly."

"Oh, do I know that," Ishizu muttered, moving to the other side of the tablet. "Malik's far too good at that for his own good."

Mokuba snickered. I wonder if I should tell her... Why not! We're talking sibling to sibling and I'm protected. "Have you seen much of Malik?"

Ishizu shrugged. "Not really. I have a feeling I'll be seeing less of him with Ryou around." Her cerulean eyes flicked over to Mokuba, the barest hints of a smirk lifting a corner of her mouth. "Yes, I know full well that those two are up to."

The younger Kaiba sighed. "Does that ever annoy you? Knowing everything that will happen?"

"I don't know everything, Mokuba. But, it does become tiring after a while." Ishizu sighed. "While it would be nice to relinquish the Tauk, I don't have the liberty to be that irresponsible."

Mokuba snorted, casting the Egyptian a suspicious look. "You're worried about Malik."

Ishizu paused before nodding just barely. "You're very perceptive."

"I've figured that that's what older brothers and sisters do. Seto's pretty much gone to Hell and back to protect me and you're like him in a lot of ways, so I know you'd do the same for Malik... Even if he doesn't care that much."

"Malik has a kind heart and he did protect me many times from his other half," Ishizu said. "Many people think that my brother is pure evil, but he's not."

"A lot of people think nii-sama's pure evil, the way he runs KaibaCorp and the rest of his life. He never lets them see that he's really a nice guy," Mokuba murmured, flipping through the pictures he had taken so far. "He thinks if he stopped being the Ice King-"

"People would walk all over him, right?" Ishizu guessed. When the raven-haired youth nodded, she shook her head with a wry smile. "That's what Malik thinks. I think having Ryou with him will help."

Mokuba looked up from the viewfinder. "Joey's sent straight from Kami-sama, I swear. He brings out a side of Seto that takes me hours to dig out."

"Keep talking and word's going to get out that I'm human."

"Seto!" Mokuba yelped, jumping out of his chair. "I... Um, what are you doing here? I thought you were looking at that stone?"

"I was," Seto replied. "But there's too much missing information."

"He just can't read all the little pictures," Joey prodded sleepily, practically leaning against the taller teenager in a semi-conscious state.

Ishizu sighed. "That's always been my problem with trying to piece together the Pharaoh's history. There's many bits of information missing and it's so precise it's like someone destroyed it on purpose."

Mokuba set Ishizu's camera down on the table before him, sticking his hands in his pockets. "I'm not gonna pretend that I know the first thing about the past, but with something as powerful and controversial as the Millennium Items, things probably were destroyed on purpose. Maybe by Yami himself."

Ishizu nodded sullenly. "This is why I have the Tauk, to set these missing pieces into their correct places." Her oceanic eyes met Seto's seriously. "Which brings me to the real reason I called you here. The dreams you described, along with the events that have taken place, are all stepping stones for the past to play out again."

"What events?" Seto demanded. "There's only been those damned dreams."

"Or has there?" Ishizu eyed the CEO carefully. "If I told you that Ryou Bakura died during your tournament, what would you say?"

"That you've gone insane," Seto replied bluntly.

"And I would insist that the Ring holder and his guardian did indeed perish in an illegal duel with Malik's other half. They took refuge in the Pharaoh's Item until they figured out how to reanimate Ryou, ultimately re-writing the present that we are in now."

Seto was starting to think that Ishizu was just as unhinged as her brother. "Can you show me evidence of your convictions?"

Ishizu nodded.

"Mokuba, you and Joey go out into the lobby," Seto ordered. "Better yet, why don't you two go home. I'll be along shortly."

"We'll stay," Joey mumbled, managing to stand upright and not slump over. "C'mon kiddo. Let's let the boring adults talk."

Seto closed the door, turning to meet Ishizu's stare evenly. "So? Can you prove to me all of which you've talked about tonight?

Ishizu touched the Tauk gently with a small, "Yes." She knew a warning would give Seto time to leave before she showed him what he desperately needed to know, instead focusing on her Item's quiet underflow of power. "Believe what you want," was her only warning before the world fell away.

Glittering mocha eyes clashed determinedly with darker mahogany ones through the flames that separated them, a sneer of contempt held on the combatants' faces. Only a Shadow creature, a proud blue and silver dragon, flanked the man dressed in the lavish trappings of a Priest. A tall, lithe protector wielding an intricately carved scepter of exotic jade flanked the other man, obviously the one of higher power.

"Why are you doing this?" the Priest's opposition, the Pharaoh, demanded suddenly.

The Priest chuckled, patting his Blue-Eyes like one would a puppy when it nudged him. "Why? Because it has to be done. You've served this country well but you are weak."

The Pharaoh's guardian, Daryius, scowled. "You don't care about this country or her people. From what I've seen, all you want is power."

"Then you must not see properly, sorcerer. In Khasekhemwy's hands, the precious Thousand Year Items are nothing but pretty trinkets for us to parade around with," the Priest replied.

"You speak of war, Seth! My father did not create the Thousand Year Items for them to be used as tools of destruction. They were forged to help uphold peace!" Khasekhemwy growled.

"Peace can only be obtained by war!" Seth replied evenly.

"If you think that, you're more of an idiot then I thought," Daryius sneered, his long fingers curling and uncurling around his staff. "You think like a barbarian!"

Seth smirked, shaking his head. "Don't make me laugh." The Priest's piercing gaze turned even sharper. "Duel me, Pharaoh. Not with your pathetic Shadow players, but duel for yourself."

A shadow detached itself from behind the Pharaoh's throne then, limping over to Egypt's Morning Star determinedly. "My Lord, you cannot face him."

Khasekhemwy's mahogany eyes softened as he took in the battered form of his most trusted Shadow player, Ausar. "And neither can you, my friend."

"High Priest, allow me to duel you once more in the Pharaoh's place!" By the fierce light shining in the younger man's coffee hued eyes, it was apparent that he was stubborn and most likely wouldn't back down.

Seth sneered, though something about it wasn't quite as fierce anymore. "This isn't your battle! I wish to face your beloved Morning Star and him alone."

Ausar limped forward, trying to hide the fact that his last encounter with Seth, not even a half hour previous, had injured him badly. His eyes, almost covered by beetle black hair, glared fiercely. "If you want to duel Khasekhemwy, you'll have to destroy me first."

Seth almost crumbled under the weight of the Shadow player's voice. "A-Ausar?"

"You heard me, Priest. If you can successfully kill me then you deserve the right to face the Pharaoh." Ausar scowled, looking irate and crushed at the same time. "Do you accept?"

"Don't be so foolish!" Khasekhemwy hissed. "That Blue-Eyes White Dragon will destroy you!"

"Have faith in me, dear friend." Ausar flashed the Pharaoh the shadow of a cocky grin. "Do you accept my terms, Seth?"

The Priest took a second to scramble for his voice again, his heart threatening to tear from his chest. "I accept your terms, Ausar. If I win-"

"I'll be dead and you may face the Pharaoh," Ausar broke in. "If I win, you'll be dead and we won't have to worry about anyone else dueling this day." A charcoal gray aura flickered to life around the Egyptian. "Prepare to duel..."

Seth steeled his resolve to complete his plans, his own dark green aura surrounding him.

"...Traitor." Ausar chanted under his breath, the air growing cold as a black dragon materialized itself behind the duelist.

Seth barely got his Blue-Eyes to intercept the fireball the barely solidified Red-Eyes launched at him, throwing himself out of harm's way. "Attack!"

Blue-Eyes roared sadly before flying at the smaller dragon, latching onto him with teeth and claws. The majestic Shadow creature tore at Red-Eyes' scaly neck, trying to expose the fragile bones underneath for a quick kill.

"Fight back!" Ausar called out, a hand clamped over his now bleeding neck. "Don't show any mercy!"

Red-Eyes complied, though somewhat hesitantly, as he reached around to snag Blue-Eyes' muzzle between his teeth. A sickening crack followed shortly after as the ebony monster snapped his foe's armored scales and his nose. Not stopping there, Red-Eyes threw Blue-Eyes off his back and pinned the larger dragon with wicked claws embedded in it's hide.

Seth cried out as the wounds started appearing on his own body, though resolved not to fall. "Use your White Lightening!"

Blue-Eyes started to build up the energy in his bleeding maw.

"Break his jaw!" Ausar shouted quickly.

Red-Eyes seemed to wince as he dug his razor sharp teeth into Blue-Eyes' bottom jaw, once again pulverizing scales and bones with deadly efficiency.

Ausar watched as Seth staggered, his own jaw effectively snapped. "Can't order him around now, can you?" he sneered vindictively. "Red-Eyes, rip his throat out!"

The dragon looked back at its master almost angrily, flapping its leathery wings to lift himself up and off the Blue-Eyes. Teeth stained with black blood were bared at the Pharaoh's duelist as Red-Eyes crouched down in a telltale pounce.

"What are you doing?" Ausar growled. "Finish off Blue-Eyes!"

Red-Eyes roared, making it obvious that he was irate. Spitefully, he turned and dragged Blue-Eyes upright none-too-gently.

"You disobedient animal! Destroy Seth's Blue-Eyes!"

"Kill him," Seth managed to ground out, shooting Ausar an even darker glare then his own dragon was giving him.

Blue-Eyes turned to face Red-Eyes fully, forcing his jaw open with a pained shriek as blinding energy collected. A claw rested over the other dragon's as Red-Eyes pounced forward, intent on tearing out the larger creature's throat.

The attacks came at the same time, Red-Eyes tearing vicious marks into Blue-Eyes' graceful neck as the azure dragon launched his vicious counter assault. The two Shadow dragons fell at almost the same time their masters did, whining piteously.

"Enough of this!" Khasekhemwy roared. "There's been enough death without you two going at it!"

"Stay out of this, Pharaoh," Ausar hissed, being the only one able to speak. "I have to protect you until my death." His chest was blistered and split, a bloody gash running across his stomach.

Khasekhemwy crossed the bloodstained grounds, hauling his duelist to his feet. "Your dying will not bring Mahaado back! Murdering Seth for misplaced accusations will not destroy Bakura."

Ausar stared into the Pharaoh's angry crimson eyes. "Seth knew it wasn't safe for Mahaado and he still let my brother go. I can never forgive him for that!"

"So you'll slay him?" Khasekhemwy crispy smacked the younger man, dropping him. "You only disgrace Mahaado's memory, Ausar."

"I don't know, Pharaoh. I'd say he's doing an admirable job."

Khasekhemwy jerked back toward his throne to see a barely clad figure with sweeping charcoal hair and warm cinnamon eyes draped over his throne. The monarch paled considerably, knees going weak.

Ausar looked ready to faint. "M-Mahaado...? How d-did... I thought-"

"Stop your stuttering," the supposedly dead Priest snapped, getting up easily. He sauntered over to Seth, grabbing the younger Priest's jaw roughly. "Truly a job well done, little brother."

Ausar was struggling to comprehend what was happening. He could feel that something was off with his older brother and it was scaring him more then the knowledge that he was supposed to be dead. "What happened? Didn't Bakura-"

"Kill him? Heh, highly unlikely." Following the snide comeback, the exotic King of Thieves, known as Bakura, materialized from the shadows. His demonic amethyst eyes swept the nearly ruined room appraisingly. "Nice job."

Mahaado saw Ausar spring for his lover before the duelist moved, putting his arm out in time to send his brother to the ground in agony, holding his wounded stomach tightly. "I wouldn't try that again, little brother. A dagger might find your gut next time."

"What is the meaning of this?" Khasekhemwy spat, magenta aura just starting to appear with his dawning wrath. "Why in the name of the gods are you working with this... demon?"

Bakura feigned hurt. "Let's not resort to childish name calling," he said smoothly. "I'd win anyway."

"Because that's about all your good for," Ausar snarled. "All talk and no action."

Mahaado smiled poison at his sibling. "And yet, it's talking that got you all in this very position."

"What position?"

"Soon to be bowing at my feet-" Mahaado started.

"Or dead," Bakura finished, brandishing a jeweled dagger hidden in one of his sleeves. He slunk over to Seth, holding the weapon's point at the Priest's ear. "And I've learned that stabbing right here gives you time to cry out your final words before drowning in your own blood," he added conversationally.

"You're twisted," Khasekhemwy growled.

"And you're a sanctimonious, murdering bastard," Bakura shot back, anger creeping into his rich voice. "Slay whomever you wish and force your own people to fear your very shadow."

Ausar climbed unsteadily to his feet. "You're just pissed that you have to wear your mother as a necklace now."

The duelist's sting hit its mark. Bakura slowly turned on him, turning the dagger away from Seth's head. "What was that, you pathetic slime?"

Ausar smirked. "You're just angry that your entire family looks like the jewelry that they used to wear. Maybe even jealous that you're not as pretty and powerful as well."

Bakura's movements were a blur as he raised his hand to throw his dagger, putting enough power behind it to embed the weapon into Ausar's shoulder past the hilt.

Khasekhemwy moved to help his friend up, but found he was lashed to the ground by Mahaado's foot on his cape. "Let me go."

"Not until we... level with one another," the former Priest replied pleasantly. "See, your father made a great deal of mistakes, the brunt of them unfortunately effecting my love over here. But, a few effected certain members of this very court."

"I'm not my father!" Khasekhemwy countered viciously.

"But his sins are yours, so unfortunately, our business is with you." Mahaado smirked down at Ausar, who was pinned to the hard packed dirt. "Your father murdered my family because the two of us had some potential. Then the wonderfully late Pharaoh corrupts my mentor, and my only friend at the time, to the brink of insanity."

"That's not his fault!" Ausar ground out, failing to pull the dagger out of his shoulder.

"I wouldn't do that, brother. When Bakura's angry, whatever he uses tends to stay with you," Mahaado noted. "Then, you yourself strip me of my right to raise my own brother the way I see fit and try to dictate who I bed. Not to mention kindly giving me the same item my mentor died over."

Khasekhemwy's crimson eyes darkened hatefully. "None of that was my fault! It was my father's will!"

"And you executed it without a second thought," Mahaado growled. "You both destroyed my family, not to mention the atrocities that befell Bakura's village."

"Stay down," said thief hissed, pushing Seth back to the ground as the Priest tried to get up. "Or I'll finish the job Ausar started."

Khasekhemy looked between the two lunatics. "Kill me if you wish. Do whatever it is you want to me. But keep the others out of this. They have nothing to do with this."

"Actually," Mahaado murmured, lashing the Pharaoh with wispy bonds of Shadow magic as he moved to hover over his brother. "Ausar has a lot to do with this. I warned him of what was happening and he discredited me, saying I was insane or jealous. He's just like a little dog, trained so well he doesn't have to be told what to do. He just does it."

"Which is why," Bakura added with a gleeful sneer. "He's going to die."

* * * * *

"It's this way!"

"No! This way!"

"We just came from that way!"

"Did not!"

SMACK!

"Okay, okay, we'll go this way."

Kavala smirked triumphantly, shoving Antaios ahead of him roughly. "If there's any traps, do let me know," he added sweetly.

Antaios turned to glare at his lover. "If there's any traps, I'll make sure you are the first one to know about it," he replied mock angrily.

No more words were spoken as the pair followed a memorized path through the passages, eventually finding a nondescript door. Antaios pushed it open cautiously, sticking his head through the gap to check for guards before squeezing the rest of his lanky frame through.

Kavala followed with the same exaggerated caution, taking up a spot by his lover behind a pillar. "We're close to the throne room." His amber eyes checked around the hallway, spotting a garnet piece of fabric tacked to the wall. "Bakura's here."

Antaios nodded. "This should be easy. Given that those two are doing their jobs, we're set," he grumbled, stalking forward.

Kavala chuckled. "Disguises, love. It won't do us good to go charging in there like this, would it?" Even as he spoke, the small Egyptian's eyes faded into a strange emerald hue while his hair stained itself a white-ish blue color.

"That is so disturbing," Antaios pointed out. "Incredibly sexy, but disturbing nonetheless."

Kavala blushed crimson as the older Egyptian forced himself to focus, watching as Antaios skin lightened some and his hair seemed to bleed until it was platinum blond. "Let's see the eyes."

Antaios opened his eyes, revealing one to be lavender and the other still toffee hued. "Good enough?"

"Perfect," Kavala praised, kissing the other thief fleetingly as he fixed his robe on his shoulders. He started forward with his lover in tow, opting to take the ajar passage to the side of the door. "Once we're inside, go for the Pharaoh," he ordered as he slunk through the lit corridor.

Antaios nodded, hearing voices along with the approaching light. "Be careful, beloved," he whispered as the small teen seemed to disappear.

* * * * *

Before Bakura could make good on his promise, Khasekhemwy broke free of his bonds at the same time a new figure materialized out of thin air.

Bakura turned from Ausar to see the angry Pharaoh launch at him and shifted his weight to roll out of the way. But, the newcomer knocked him into Mahaado with little ceremony.

The thief's smile was crazed as he tripped Khasekhemwy, reaching to pulling the Puzzle clear of the monarch's neck as he fell. The crafty little urchin disappeared again with a light snigger.

It was dead quiet for a beat afterward, the hushed whisper of the Thousand Year Puzzle being spun by its cord shattering the silence. Even the antagonists had stop their terrorizing to regard the exotic little thief that was perched atop the throne. Bakura's rich baritone truly shattered the stunned silence.

"How did you do that?"

The emerald-eyed beauty, known as Kavala, just shrugged. "Is that jealousy I detect, great King of Thieves?" The urchin smirked and let the Puzzle fly through the air toward the self-proclaimed thief king.

But before Bakura could grab the precious Item, another presence made itself known to snatch the pyramid out of mid-air. The snow haired cutthroat growled, fists tightening around his daggers.

Khasekhemwy didn't look anymore pleased. "The Thousand Year Thieves," he sneered. "What an opportune time for you to show up."

Antaios smiled congenially, bowing mockingly. "Khasekhemwy, always a displeasure," he replied easily. He inclined his head toward Mahaado and Seth, a catty smirk lifting the corners of his mouth. "I forgot to thank you for the Items."

"What do you want?" Ausar growled, an arm across his wounded stomach. "We have enough trouble to deal with." His voice was shaky at best, making him seem more amusing then threatening.

Kavala snorted derisively, setting bright emerald eyes on Bakura. "Antaios, give Mahaado the Puzzle," he ordered. "We've done our part."

As the precious Item flew at Bakura, Seth intervened, curling lithe fingers around the Puzzle's cord before the ex-Priest beside him could get it.

Mahaado swore violently, pivoting on his heel to grab for the younger Egyptian. He missed by a hair and shouted, "Bakura! Kill him!"

Khasekhemwy went for Bakura, thinking that the thief was going to try for Seth. But, Antaios knocked him to the ground, effectively using his body to pin the Pharaoh.

Kavala saw Ausar try for Bakura and sprung into action, running for the duelist full tilt.

Bakura saw all this and knew full well that he had enough time. A cruel smile blossomed on his lips as he brought his daggers up. Before he could throw it though, the Kavala got in the way. He faltered.

"Do it!" Mahaado growled. "Prove your allegiance and do it!"

Ausar shoved the emerald-eyed thief out of the way, nearly upon Bakura now; still thinking it was Seth he was aiming for.

Antaios saw otherwise, but was busy keeping Khasekhemwy down. "Kavala, move!"

As the words passed the teen's lips, Bakura turned and let his daggers fly. He prayed to the gods that not bothering to aim would send the one dagger past Kavala.

But, his marksmanship was true.

The first dagger embedded itself firmly in Ausar's throat while the second lodged into Kavala's chest fastly. Deathly silence passed over the room as the two fell in mingled blood; Red-Eyes gave a pained shriek as it faded from existence, a sure sign that Ausar was dead.

Antaios tried to scramble to Kavala, but Mahaado held him. "Let me go, you bastard!" he hissed, frantic to get to his lover. "You've done enough!"

Mahaado smirked, pulling the young thief to his feet via his hair. "He deserved it, child. Leave him to die." He turned to Bakura, cinnamon eyes sparkling demonically. "Finish the job, love."

The King of Thieves took a steadying breath. "No." He lifted his foot from Seth's chest, allowing the wounded Priest to console himself over Ausar's dead body. "I will not do it."

Mahaado's eyes darkened, re-pinning Khasekhemwy to the ground. "And why not?"

Antaios was still struggling to break away from the Priest. "Kavala," he hissed, reaching out in vain for the fading thief before him.

Bakura looked disgusted, amethyst eyes flashing dangerously. "We're already damned, Mahaado. I will not force him to suffer endless life."

Mahaado shrugged, lips quirked in a smirk. "Don't go soft now," he sneered, snatching Antaios' dagger from his sash. "Please, I don't want to hurt him," he mocked poisonously, pressing the weapon's tip to his captive's throat.

Despite the dagger, Antaios continued to struggle. "Don't you move!" he seethed, seeing Kavala move to pull Bakura's stiletto from his chest. "Don't you even dare!"

"Aw, how touching," Mahaado sneered. "Go on, Bakura. The poor thing is suffering so needlessly." His eyes narrowed. "But you can feel that, can't you? You can feel Death lingering over us, begging to devour the next soul to depart from its body. You can feel all the helplessness and pain mingling with the stench of fear and blood, can't you?"

Bakura grit his teeth angrily, waving his hand in a seemingly useless gesture. In reality, he had just freed Khasekhemwy from his invisible bonds. "You have the Puzzle. Leave them to grieve now."

Mahaado pouted, tripping Khasekhemwy again. "Please, stop fidgeting. You're making conversation so hard."

Had he still possessed his Puzzle, the Pharaoh would have torn his ex-Priest to ribbons already. "You've made your point, Mahaado. Stop it."

Mahaado shook his head with a dramatic sigh. "If that's what you all want, then fine, I shall return." He smiled wickedly. "But, just as a little going-away present..." He dropped Antaios dagger before snapping the thief's neck cleanly, letting the body hit the ground as the Priest faded from sight.

Bakura was breathless as he fell to his knees, amethyst eyes darting between Kavala and Antaios' bodies in muted shock. When he couldn't feel their Ka, he knew for sure that they were dead. He dimly picked up Seth's choked growl and a scrape of metal.

It registered in his mind what was happening seconds before Seth and Khasekhemwy lunged at him with weapons poised to kill...

Okay, this time, it wasn't a matter of writer's block. It was a matter of writing a decent action sequence and making things as hopelessly confusing for you all as possible. I think I just gave myself a migraine, but did it work? Did dropping you all into the middle of a conflict confuse you? Eeeeeeexcellent. :] Hey, to make up for it, there was M/R fluff. [nods]

And, to answer any forthcoming questions, to make this chapter bearable for me, I based Tea off of Anzu's personality.

KeMu:[cackles insanely] Neeeever expect me to do anything conventionally! Marik might be dead, he might not be. All I can say is that a lot of hints about upcoming chapters are in the Egyptian mini-arc. And do you really think the teasing's gonna stop 'cause everything's out in the open? Neva! XD

blu chocobo: …[starts wailing] I tried! Really I did! But I don't duel at all. I have the Starter Decks, but they're for show, not playing. The only thing I have to base my duels off of is the show and we're talking about the same guys that had Mei play his Jurai Gumo in the magic/trap zone. -______-U I'm sowwie. When I get the chance, I'll go back and work the kinks out of the duel.

Roen:[snickers] Strangely enough, I agree with you. [shrugs] Still, I couldn't pass up the chance to pull at 'Kura's heartstrings mercilessly. The only way I keep myself sane with that damned relationship is balancing Yami's personality between the manga, Japanese version, and a smidgen of the dub. I'd die if I had to write him as Tea with a deeper voice. But I want the new Shounen Jump so bad! Mokuba wears that cute little pimp coat and is all chibi-Seto like! It's so cute! ^)^

happy yaoi lover: No way would I needle Ryou and Malik out of trouble! [sniggers] I thought it would be fun to see Joey mouth off anyway while Mokuba tries to subdue him with the… er, mature comments. ^)^ Waaaay more fluffiness and "fun" to come! [cackles]

Akuro: …Wow. Someone who can keep up with my logic. O)o Then again, if everyone's still with me after the reanimation arc, then a lot of people can keep up with me. And why on Earth would Mokuba just stop teasing Joey and Seto? [grins brightly] That's too nice of him. 'Sides, it's fun to get the others in on the teasing. And, I'm not saying aaaaanything about Marik except keep your eyes peeled. :]

Elle-FaTe2x1: The "will not drool" thing was pretty much my own mantra while writing the end of that chapter. [snickers] The impending lemon's gonna flood my house out at this rate. ^)^U I really must learn to control my rabid fangirl tendencies if I want to continue writing like this.

Impish Pixie: Hold you all in suspense? Who? Me? [smirks] How could you ever accuse me of such a horrible thing? XD

YamiCaitlin: O)o Me? Damned? Shit… I've never thought about it in that light before. [blinks] I'm screwed if I keep it up with these cliffhangers. But, I'm not sure if creampuffs are strictly an American thing, but I do know that they're sinfully good! [tries not to drool] Ahem… Focusing… [grins] Judging my everyone's earlier reaction, I'm one dead teenager come chapter 29. Like, way dead. Beyond dead… Deader then dead. -_____-U You're right. I'm damned.

Andi-chan: God, I was either giggling or drooling while I was trying to write it. Now, this would be okay if my pesky boyfriend wasn't trying to read over my shoulder. -____-U My parents are just as bad. But, I've come to the definite conclusion that this book is a pure fluke. From start to finish. The fact that I've even got this far proves that. Honestly, I can't figure out why I wanna keep going with this, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's to break the trend of OC fics cropping up. [shutters] But, if the masses want it, I have a sequel planned. Much darker then this one, but just as good… I hope. ^)^ [hands Andi-chan a cookie] Thanks for the awesome feedback! It's reassuring to know I'm not letting this thing fall to pieces yet.

Dragona 2007: Of course I did! There's still so many unresolved issues to work out! [grins] That and I've always wanted to jot down my take on the Egyptian history… Like everyone else of course. [jumps happily on the bandwagon]

Acid Reign: I'm praying to God that no one attached themselves to Kavala or Antaios early… I'm hoping no one misses them at all or I'm screwed. -___-U My insatiable need for murder's gonna be the end of me one day. [perks up] Malik and Ryou'll find out they were an item soon enough. And oh the surprise that will herald!

Jantra: SQUEE! [takes the warheads] I adore these things! [pops one in her mouth happily] But, I was re-watching Yugi's duel against Bandit Keith/Malik and that was just… Ugh. Yugi barely made it, so I exaggerated a little and voila! The dueling plague that it Yugi Mutou! XD

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Chapter Twenty-Seven Trailer:

Ishizu watched with growing trepidation as Seto, Joey, and Mokuba left the museum, her oceanic gaze falling back on her temporary office. A slender hand touched the Tauk around her neck as she turned fully, facing the encroaching shadows with a boldness she did not feel. "I can do no more. Is that enough for you?"

The darkness chuckled. "No, no, Ishizu. You did spectacular. By the time that sanctimonious bastard gets over his pride, it'll be too late for all of them."

Ishizu shuttered as a cool breeze blew past her. "Why are you doing this? What can you achieve by doing this to them?"

"I'm just doing what I have too. The deception is necessary, unfortunately, but it makes the game so much sweeter in the end." The shadows moved, taking on a more solid shape as the voice dared to step a little into the light.

"So you'll risk everything you've struggled to build to chase an insane dream?" Ishizu demanded.

"It's not insane, nor is it a dream. You yourself said history repeats itself. I'm just taking it upon myself to make sure everything plays out more precisely."

"It will never work. We saw what happened and you can never win against the Pharaoh. It is by his will alone that you still live."

There was a chilling bark of a laugh at the accusation. "Only by my own mistakes is the Pharaoh still alive. Ishizu, don't you see that I have the power to make this happen."

The delicate tombkeeper stood her ground. "What about the Ring holders? Doesn't they mean anything to you anymore?"

"Expendable pawns in a winding game," the shadows replied, a flash of gold reflecting the harsh lighting overhead. "You can say what you want, but you know as well as I that I will succeed where my other has failed."

Ishizu shook her head. "You're wrong, Malik."

The lilac-eyed Egyptian just smirked, leaving the safety of the shadows to head for the door. "We'll see in the end, dear sister." He stopped in front of the older Ishtar. "Now you may relinquish your burden of bearing the Tauk. You've fulfilled your part in my play."

Ishizu didn't budge. "I will never give it to you," she spat.

Malik shrugged. "Very well." Quicker then the eye could catch, he had the Tauk in hand. Giving his sibling one more chilling smirk, he swiftly took his leave in a twirl of his cloak. Tucking the precious Item into his pocket, the Egyptian smiled contentedly. Things are falling together beautifully. Soon enough, I won't have a need for this pathetic being.

Malik laughed into the silent night, a crazed sound reverberating through the serene air mercilessly. Yes, soon his revenge would be complete…

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