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To prevent any more confusion then necessary, I've decided to give you all a break and jot down the persona for the AE mini-arc.
Khasekhemwy: Spirit of the Sennen Puzzle, Yami
Seth: Seto Kaiba
Ausar: Joey Wheeler
Kavala: Ryou Bakura
Antaios: Malik Ishtar
Mahaado: Spirit of the Sennen Rod, Marik
Bakura: Spirit of the Sennen Ring/King of Thieves
Kasirika: Bakura out of disguise
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Chapter Twenty-Seven:
Egyptian History 101 [Pt 2]
Bakura barely rolled out of the way in time to miss the twin deathblows, anger bleeding through his mask of hazed shock.
Khasekhemwy growled and successfully pounced on the thief this time, holding his dagger to the other Egyptian's forehead. "Why did you do that?"
"It's complicated."
The Pharaoh rested his arm against Bakura's throat to slowly choke off his air supply. "Start explaining. Why is Mahaado still alive?"
Bakura rolled his eyes and shoved Khasekhemwy off him easily, climbing to his feet gracefully. "It's easy. He never died in the first place. As far as that tablet goes, Mahaado only sealed a small part of himself into it, just enough to throw you all off. He's been lying low with us for the time."
"'Us'?" Khasekhemwy echoed darkly.
Bakura flicked his gaze to Kavala and Antaios. "The three of us, we were the dreaded Thousand Year Thieves you all feared so much." He shrugged. "It wasn't meant to go this far."
"Then why did you throw the daggers?" Khasekhemwy demanded.
At that, Bakura's shoulders slumped. "I had to." He could feel Seth's glare on him as his own eyes dropped to the bloody floor.
"Why?" Khasekhemwy pressed.
Bakura looked at the monarch, his eyes now a deadened coffee color instead of amethyst. "If I hadn't, he would have killed you. It... was a conflict of interest."
The Pharaoh gasped as Bakura's hair bled to black, his mind reeling. "Gods... Kasirika?"
The thief held his hands out helplessly. "It's been the plan all along, Khasekhemwy. We were only supposed to destroy you, but now I can't even do that." Kasirika's seemed ready to snap from the tension wracking his frame. He seemed different without his disguise, younger and more vulnerable.
"I thought that-"
Kasirika sighed. "Now is not the time, my Pharaoh. Mahaado will plan to strike again and we must prepare for the next attack will be fiercer then this one."
Khasekhemwy nodded, still incensed and upset as he picked himself up off the ground. He had the mind to kill Kasirika right here for treason, but his heart wouldn't let him. Sighing, he gathered Ausar into his arms and lent his shoulder for Seth to lean on. "Come along," he said harshly, trying to stay above his emotions.
Kasirika winced and gathered his fallen companions, following after the Pharaoh with a growing sense of dread.
* * * * *
It was sunset by time the survivors were settled. Kasirika had been kind enough to heal Seth's jaw to allow the Priest his rightful fit of verbal abuse. Surprisingly, the Priest was calm and collected as ever despite the deathly pallor of his skin. "What do you want to know?"
"Too much to ask in one shot," Seth replied as he paced. "But, I would like to know how you and the Pharaoh know each other."
Kasirika refused to look down again, reminding himself that he was the King of Thieves no matter what he looked like. "If you have to know, he's my lover."
Seth nodded. "And what about Mahaado?"
"That broaches the subject of his plans. As he stated earlier, I want revenge for Kuru Eruna and he wants revenge for his family. He was already in the Pharaoh's court in a trusted position. I entered the picture as myself with the intentions of... distracting Khasekhemwy while Mahaado collected the Items from the other Priests."
Seth raised a slender brow. "You seduced him to cover for Mahaado."
Khasekhemwy smirked. "I would say it's the other way around."
Kasirika had the dignity to look angry and embarrassed. "At first, that was the plan. But, this idiot palm tree managed to break down the grudge I was harboring towards him and that spoiled everything."
Seth turned to his cousin with the barest of smiles. "You seduced Bakura's grudge away. How sweet of you."
Khasekhemwy shrugged.
"What about the other thieves?" Seth continued to question.
"I met Kavala and Antaios out by the ruins of my village. They showed some promise and took them under my wing. I never meant to get them tangled in this catastrophe, but Mahaado thought they'd be useful." Kasirika sighed. "He wouldn't take no for an answer either."
Khasekhemwy tried to stay irate at Kasirika, but couldn't find it in himself to. "So you were forced into his whole disaster?" The monarch knew the answer would be no, but he knew it would get the thief talking in earnest.
"Yes and no," Kasirika replied. "At first, I agreed wholly with tricking you, taking your Puzzle, then chopping your body up into little bits and scattering the pieces across the Nile."
Khasekhemwy blinked. Maybe he got his lover to talk a little too much. "Um..." He gulped. "And that's changed?"
"Yes."
Seth drummed his fingers against his arm, still pacing like a caged tiger. "One thing I'm not understanding. Why the disguises?"
Kasirika sighed. "That too was part of the deception. I met Mahaado long before I met the Pharaoh here and he pretty much took me under his wing."
"And just how long are you talking about?" Seth asked.
Kasirika took a moment to tally up the years. "We met before I was at my thirteenth turn... About seven turns?"
Seth and Khasekhemwy were floored. "You've been in this very palace for that long without my knowing?" the latter asked.
"On and off, yes." Kasirika yawned, going to run his hands through his hair. The second he saw his palms were stained solid red, he put them down again with a wince. "I met Kavala and Antaios almost three turns ago."
"That's all fine and good," Seth muttered. "I think we should pay attention to the matter of Mahaado's next attack. I can call the others back from-"
"No," Khasekhemwy cut in. "The three of us can hold one Priest off fine."
"One Priest with two of the Thousand Year Items and exponential amounts of Shadow magic," Kasirika pointed out. "And if memory serves, his Ka is a god?"
"We're aware of that," Seth replied. "But I'll also have you know that the both of us are in possession of two gods as well and your Diabound is nothing to overlook."
Kasirika nodded. "Just what gods to you two harbor... Just for curiosity's sake?"
Khasekhemwy answered this time. "Seth shares control of the Divine Soldier and has the White Dragon." The Pharaoh glared nastily at his cousin for a second. "I possess Osiris and the Sealed God of Exodia."
"...And you're saying my Diabound has any room in there?" Kasirika asked. "You're all touched, honestly. Kavala was good in the Shadow duels, not me."
"You faired well against us last time," growled Seth.
"I had the Ring then. I don't now."
"Kasirika has a point," Khasekhemwy conceded. "And with him in... Three Items."
"What?" Kasirika and Seth chorused before shooting glares at each other.
"Mahaado has the Puzzle, the Rod, and the Ring now," Khasekhemwy pointed out dimly. "And that means he has shared control of our gods."
Seth stopped pacing for a second. "We have shared control of his god as well."
Kasirika sighed, flopping down next to Khasekhemwy bonelessly. "I'll stay here, but I'll be of no use to you if it comes to a battle." His eyes narrowed as a though struck him. "Wait, I remember a rumor going through the taverns that Seth's White Dragon was obtained through another person. Is this true?"
Seth started pacing again. "Yes, it is," he supplied gruffly.
"And you consider the White Dragon to be a god?"
"Where are you going with this?" Khasekhemwy prodded.
Kasirika took a deep breath, casting his eyes to the floor. "Not even Antaios knew this, but Kavala's true Ka is that of a dragon."
"You lie, there's only one," the Pharaoh shot back.
Kasirika shook his head. "I'm not lying for once. Kavala harbors a second White Dragon. S-Since he... Well, he has to use for it anymore, so maybe his dragon can aid you in your fight."
Before Seth could berate the thief, Khasekhemwy jumped up, crimson eyes alight with glee. "Kasirika, you're brilliant!" he beamed, grabbing the teenager's face and kissing him quickly, but soundly.
Seth raised an eyebrow at the ecstatic monarch, coming to a halt once again to stand before his kin. "The last time you got this excited, it nearly cost me my head."
Khasekhemwy took a deep breath, looking up some at the much taller Priest. "We don't have to strip Kavala's Ka; it may not obey us at any rate. So, what if-"
Kasirika shot to his feet. "No. Absolutely not. I know full well what that entails and I am not letting you do that," he spat.
"The wounds are simple to heal!" Khasekhemwy retorted. "Besides, you have no say in the matter. I'm the Pharaoh and you're the thief and my word in final."
"Unless one of the Priests deems you have taken leave of your given senses," Seth stepped in. "I have to agree with Bakura on this. It's inhumane."
Khasekhemwy folded his arms over his chest. "I know, but as I said, the wounds can be healed. Seth, we have to do this. Mahaado has taken leave of his sense, not me. He has three of the Items and control of the gods. If we don't do this, there's no telling what could happen."
Kasirika huffed. "Mahaado will only destroy the capital and then advance outward until he has the entire world within his grasp."
"Besides," Khasekhemwy growled. "It's a chance to bring Ausar back."
Seth stood a little taller and his eyes grew a little darker. "No. Do with the thieves what you will, but I am not going to disgrace Ausar by denying him what he deserves."
"And what's that? Death?"
The edges of the Priest's harsh facade were starting to unravel. "No. Peace."
Khasekhemwy saw the deep hurt in his cousin's gaze and sighed. "As you wish, Seth." He turned to Kasirika. "Antaios and Kavala must be revived though. We cannot do this alone."
Kasirika grit his teeth together. "Fine." The thief's eyes burned with anger. "But we have to prepare for this."
Khasekhemwy nodded. "Agreed. And I think I have just the plan you were speaking of in mind."
* * * * *
As the land was stripped of its last dregs of warmth, Bakura had just lit the last lantern in the small room. He had switched back to his exotic facade some time ago, feeling comfortably detached from what had to be done in a short while. His deduction was that the blood would stain his hands, not Kasirika's.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Khasekhemwy asked softly from the side, resting a hand on the thief's forearm. "You don't have to."
Bakura turned to the Pharaoh, amethyst eyes hard and cold. "I don't have a choice," he replied in a measured tone. An almost fond smile touched his lips. "I don't want them to have any reason to hate you, love. You need allies now, not enemies."
Khasekhemwy nodded his understanding, placing a sword stolen from a guard into his lover's hand. "Seth is almost finished. You will have to be swift or the spells will counteract each other. Once you are done, I will bring them back."
Bakura gave a barely audible response, staring down at the sword. "The c-cuts don't have to be serious, correct?"
"No."
"Good."
Khasekhemwy smiled sadly and led Bakura past a curtain into a much larger room. It was well lit but threadbare, the only real decoration being the blood pooling on the floor. The Pharaoh hated this room, but knew there would be no interruption here.
Seth remained intent on his task, murmuring an incantation as intricate as the symbols he was carving. It was only when the last line had been made did he fall silent, standing up straight to look over the gruesome task he had been given.
Bakura stepped forward, knowing there was one final incantation for the Priest to utter before he had to play his part in this.
I'm coming.
The thief's gaze snapped up, searching the room. His posture was stiff, his extraneous senses screaming that something was wrong all of the sudden. "Pharaoh-"
Khasekhemwy just nodded. "I know. All the better to make this quick."
Bakura swallowed hard. He'd felt the sensation of creeping death before and could attach it only to one being. "Khasekhemwy, I think-"
Seth broke in. "Finished. Bakura, now!"
The thief shuttered as the feeling grew worse, approaching the two bloody, stone slabs quickly, staring hard at Kavala and Antaios' forms. He gripped the sword in his hand tight.
Yes, hurry up, Bakura.
Bakura grit his teeth and raised the sword.
Almost there. Swing hard, love.
Bakura brought the sword down hard, the sick sound of ripping flesh and shattering bone filling the room. Forcing himself to stay composed as he turned to the second slab.
Don't look now!
Khasekhemwy gasped. "Bakura! DON'T!"
Bakura saw the small flash of light, followed closely by Mahaado's form. He started to lower the sword to his side, but his arms wouldn't move. Eyes widening with fear, he looked over at the ex-Priest.
Mahaado smiled wide, his face stretching grotesquely. He only raised the Thousand Year Rod with an unhinged look in his eyes. "Swing," he commanded.
Without an Item, Bakura couldn't fight Mahaado's command and the sword came crashing down with another wet snap following in the weapon's decent. The thief felt a cold wash of blood cover his face before consciousness fled his grasp.
* * * * *
"Kasirika.... Kasirika, get up! ...KASIRIKA!"
Bakura's eyes snapped open, bloodied hands gripping the arms shaking him in a crushing hold in a typical reaction. Amethyst met emerald squarely and the thief's breath caught in his throat. He swallowed hard, pulling his hapless "alarm clock" into a bear hug.
"Gah! Kasirika, let me go!" Kavala whimpered. "Can't... breathe!"
Bakura felt someone prying his arms away from the other thief and sheepishly let go. He looked up to see Khasekhemwy's tired features smirking down at him. "W-Where's Antaios. Did... Is he...?"
"He's fine," the Pharaoh replied. "They're both okay."
Bakura let out a relieved breath, amethyst eyes falling on Antaios' form just behind his lover.
"No. I'm not going anywhere near you," Antaios stated plainly. "So, the scarab's awake. Care to fill in the blanks for us?"
"Wait, how long have I been out?" Bakura asked.
"A while," Seth replied. His gaze was hard and cold as stone, his frame tense as if he made to jump at the King of Thieves at any moment.
"Oh." Bakura gracefully picked himself up off the ground, patting the back of his head where a nasty lump had formed. "This is going to be a learning experience for all of us."
Khasekhemwy sighed. "Kavala, Antaios, correct?"
Said thieves nodded attentively.
"How much do you remember previous to waking up?" the Pharaoh asked carefully.
Antaios' stare was flat. "I know we were dead." His stare turned to a poison-laced glare when his mismatched eyes moved to Bakura. "What I want to know is why we're not dead anymore."
"It's complicated," Khasekhemwy replied.
"Do the sudden appearance of scars have anything to do with it?" Kavala questioned. "Because Antaios' back looks horrible and I want to know why."
"In good time," the Pharaoh placated. "Mahaado is in possession of the Thousand Year Puzzle, Ring, and Rod. Along with that, he can control the gods."
"Being...?" Kavala drawled.
"Divine Soldier of Obliesk, Osiris, Ra, the White Dragon, and Sealed God of Exodia," Khasekhemwy replied. "And, because Kasirika had control of the Ring long enough to bond his Ka to it, I have no doubt Mahaado can also control Diabound."
Antaios hissed. "And how does that involve us? We were quite happy being dead... Or at least I think we were."
"You have control of a second White Dragon," Seth spoke up. "It is unhindered by outside control and is a god. We need all the advantages we can get and Kavala is just another means to an end."
"Oh, I feel so appreciated," Kavala muttered, rolling his eyes. "So, the scars?"
Khasekhemwy looked reluctant to share any part of this information, but knew it had to be told. "You know that if a body is mutilated, the gods cannot recognize it, correct?"
Antaios and Kavala suddenly paled.
"The scars you see on Antaios' back are something completely different." Khasekhemwy moved forward to remove the collar from Antaios' throat and gave the cape on Kavala's shoulders a yank. "The scar on your neck and your shoulder were required to prevent you from going onto the Afterlife."
Kavala glanced at Antaios, eyes widening as he turned to leer at his lover closely. "What in the name of the gods happened?!" He traced the pale, jagged line with a twisted sneer.
"I don't think we have to ask," Antaios murmured, studying the wound on the small Egyptian's shoulder. "I would like to know who did it, though."
Bakura cleared his throat. "Seth carved the hieroglyphs and Yami did the magic working. I was left with the dirty work."
"So you-"
"It was Mahaado," Seth spoke up. "He used the Rod to control Bakura long enough to remove Antaios head."
A warcry echoed through out the room seconds before Kavala sprang at Bakura, hands outstretched to choke the life out of him. The pair crashed to the floor and the young thief started throttling his older companion hard. "You double-crossing bastard! You kill me then... AIE!"
Antaios plucked his raging lover off Bakura calmly. "What are the hieroglyphs on my back for?" he asked, as if Kavala wasn't struggling to strangle the King of Thieves again.
"LEMMEGO!" Kavala squealed. "Lemmeathim!"
Antaios held the squirming thief closer still, sighing.
Khasekhemwy smiled. "Because I do not want to chance anything like this happening again, I have decided that the Games of Shadow must come to a close. Thus far, Antaios, you are the Key and Kavala is the Guardian."
Kavala stopped moving when he heard his name, looking over at Khasekhemwy like he was insane. "The what?"
"It's complicated," the Pharaoh replied.
"This whole thing is complicated!" Antaios exploded. "And it's confusing as Hell!"
Bakura rolled his eyes, still sitting on the floor. "It all comes down to this: The Games of Shadow are officially out of control and the Pharaoh's going to seal it all away before any of this can effect the rest of the country. So, we're all going to go on a suicide mission to defeat Mahaado."
"In order to do this," Seth continued. "We need two Keys, a Guardian, and three bonded spirits contained within three of the Items. Khasekhemwy has agreed to guard the Puzzle, as he is already bonded with it."
Kavala's slender brows knit together in a confused frown. "So, I'm the Guardian. I'm guessing that Antaios is one of the Keys?"
Khasekhemwy nodded. "He is the Key to opening the Games. Coincidentally, Mahaado is the second Key, bearing the information on how to close the Games."
"I'm taking up guardianship of the Ring," Bakura said in a quiet voice.
Seth and Khasekhemwy turned to the thief with identical expressions of doubt on their faces. "It's painful, being bonded to an Item," the former warned caustically. "Your soul will be ripped from your body and bonded to the Ring for eternity. The only way for you to die is for the Ring to be destroyed."
Bakura shrugged. "Doesn't sound so bad to me." His amethyst eyes sparkled with a contradicting light of fear. "We need the Ring here to do this, right?"
Seth motioned to the dagger sitting on one of the slabs. "Just a simple set of markings and it's done," he replied. "Of course, only the Pharaoh can perform the ceremony."
Kavala looked almost pleased with this turn of events, making it obvious he was holding a grudge against Bakura for killing him. "What about the third guard?"
Seth smiled cruelly. "That's already taken care of," he replied.
Antaios shuttered, still holding his lover tightly in case he tried to spring again. "I still have no idea what we're doing, but it sounds well thought out, so I guess it's okay by me."
Kavala rolled his eyes. "So if I come up with some intricate plan to throw you over a cliff, you'd go along with it?"
Antaios looked down at his feisty lover with a raised eyebrow. "Now why would you do a thing like that?"
"Because you're dull-witted and clumsy?"
Bakura sighed, getting up. "So, we know what we're going to do after Mahaado is disposed of. Any ideas on what we're going to do to get rid of him?"
"Khasekhemwy and myself will control the gods best we can. I know full well what a White Dragon can do, so if we get into trouble, Kavala can more then bail us out," Seth replied. "It isn't much, but we must work with what we have."
Bakura folded his hands into his oversized sleeves, allowing his King of Thieves facade to slip and fade away. The exotic urchin couldn't betray Mahaado, but Kasirika, the Pharaoh's lover, could. "There is one more problem."
"And that is?" Khasekhemwy prompted.
"I'm not sure. But, Kavala, Seth, and Mahaado each have the same sort of aura about them. I've never seen it, but I would caution you that Mahaado may possess a third White Dragon," Kasirika replied.
Seth looked somewhere between dazzled glee and bitter contempt. "Now that is impossible. I'm not even sure this little street rat possesses a god and I refuse to believe Mahaado does."
Kasirika turned to Khasekhemwy. "Is it possible for three of the same god to exist?"
"On different levels, yes," the monarch answered hesitantly. "And it is possible, Seth."
"Shh!" Antaios suddenly hissed, dropping Kavala unceremoniously. "Someone's coming." The teenaged thief crept forward stealthily, bending down long enough to pick up the blood encrusted sword on the floor.
Knowing that no one in the room was going to trust him with anything sharp, Kasirika spread his extraneous senses outward, seeking out the invading Ka to confirm whether it was friendly or not. His toffee eyes snapped open when he brushed the nameless aura, paling to unhealthy proportions.
Antaios raised his weapon, hearing the soft fall of steps against the polished floors.
"Don't!" Kasirika hissed. "It's a spirit creature, not a person."
"What type of spirit creature?" Kavala demanded.
"It's a dragon, that much I can be sure of. I swear I've felt it before, but I can't place where," Kasirika murmured.
"Whatever it is, it's small," Seth pointed out.
"Hush!" Khasekhemwy snapped, slinking to the curtained entrance way soundlessly. He peeked out into the room, eyes going wide before he turned. "It's a dragon."
"How big?" Antaios asked.
"...Not that big."
"Then why in the hells are you so pale?" Seth pressed. Having dampened every sense he possessed, and not about to free them again, the Priest was blind to the new threat.
Before a response could be formed, a dragon the side of a camel flapped into the room with a hunkered down passenger. Ruby eyes searched the room before falling on Seth, a flutter of ebony wings the only warning before the spirit creature pounced with a pleased roar.
"GAH! Down Red-Eyes! Don- SETH!"
A flurry of tangled limbs and appreciative growls followed the surprised cry, the three thieves and Pharaoh not daring to move; each looked as if he had seen a ghost.
Seth, in the meantime, was dazed as he tried to struggle out of the pile-up of bodies. Kicking the black dragon off of him, he seized the creature's master by the shoulders, glaring into coffee eyes pleadingly. "A-Ausar...?" Tentative fingers reached out to touch soft, slightly chilled skin, an audible gasp escaping pale lips. "You're alive."
Ausar just clung tighter to Seth. "Of course I am."
Khasekhemwy had obviously pushed his title of "Pharaoh" aside as he leapt into the fray, wrapping deceptively strong arms around Seth and Ausar.
Kasirika, Antaios, and Kavala just watched all this in silent confusion. "What just happened there?" the smallest of the three asked.
"No idea, love," Antaios replied. "I think that's the Pharaoh's mongrel."
"I'm not a dog!" Ausar hissed.
Antaios nodded. "Yes, that is. But, how?"
"Actually, it's more of a 'why?' question, little thief."
"Shit!" Antaios nearly jumped into Kavala's arms, mismatched eyes blazing a hole into Mahaado's head. His sword came to bear, the point prodding the insane Priest's throat.
Mahaado's smirk never faltered, even when he found himself staring down a very angry Diabound and an even angrier White Dragon. "Such a warm greeting. I thank you all."
Khasekhemwy sprang to his feet, dragging Seth up with him so they were blocking Ausar from view. "Do you have a death wish by coming here twice in the same night?"
Mahaado shrugged. "I suppose I might." He nonchalantly patted the snarling White Dragon's muzzle while staring down at the sword almost pleasantly. It was his way to show he was not afraid of the power he was facing. "But I haven't the faintest clue as to why you're all mad at me."
"'NO IDEA'?!" Kavala screamed, his Ka's displeased roar nearly drowning him out. "Y-You killed us!"
"I suppose I might have had a hand in that. But I more then made up for it," Mahaado replied calmly. "Why else would my younger brother be cowering behind his precious protector?"
Seth stepped forward, dark eyes blazing with outright hatred as his Ka shimmered into existence next to Kavala's. "How dare you," he hissed.
"Oh, I dare to do many things," Mahaado chided.
The other Priest's frame shook, knuckles clenching. "You wanted him dead so badly, why did you bring him back? To torture him even more? Make him plead for a swift death? Is that what you want, to have him asking to be slaughtered."
Mahaado chuckled, a chilling sound. "No, no, no. My motives are actually quite different." His smile was dripping with snake's venom. "You did pay attention to our lessons when we were younger, correct?"
Seth was put off by the question. "What does that have to do with anything."
"Quite a lot." Mahaado tapped the Thousand Year Rod against his armband as he pretended to think. "If I can recall, one of the lessons detailed the encounter between Seth and Osiris. Now, I find it incredibly amusing that you and my brother share the same names as our rivaling gods."
"Don't you even think about it!" Ausar spat.
Seth jumped when he felt the duelist's hand land on his shoulder and shove him aside. "Ausar, don't!" Despite his earlier protests to Ausar's reanimation, the Priest wasn't about to let the prideful Egyptian die again.
Ausar paid Seth no mind, shoving Khasekhemwy and Antaios out of the way so he was standing eye-to-eye with his older brother. "I don't care who killed me or who brought me back."
"Then move aside and let the angrier members of this crowd have their say," Mahaado replied, sounding bored.
Ausar growled and seized a fistful of the older Egyptian's hair, getting into his face with an evil leer. "I'm this crowd's general voice. If you want to duel, you're going to have to face me to get to Seth and Khasekhemwy."
Mahaado clocked his sibling with the Rod, exasperation painted all over his features. "We're going to duel, Ausar. But it's not going to be pretty." He turned, cinnamon eyes falling on the small thief trying to get his Item. "Admirable try, Kavala."
Before Kavala could take another step, an invisible force swept him into the nearest wall and kept him pinned there. "You bastard!"
Mahaado turned his unsettling gaze to Seth. "You remember how the battle went? Wasn't Osiris the one to fall under Seth's might?"
"I'll never fight Ausar," Seth declared, even though he knew if Mahaado used the Rod, he wouldn't have a choice in the matter. "You cannot force me to."
The other Priest shook his head sadly. "Actually, I can."
Ausar jumped back when the Thousand Year Rod sparked with dark magic, steadying himself for an attack of the worst sort. His last mental defense was thrown up when a startled cry echoed through the small room, shattering his concentration.
Khasekhemwy barely avoided Seth, yelping when Kasirika slipped in front of him. "You idiot, you don't have a weapon!"
"Diabound, attack Seth's Ka!" Kasirika yelled while diving for the Priest to do manual damage.
"Counter attack with White Lightening!" Seth ordered his dragon as he sidestepped the urchin easily. He lashed his arm out to catch Antaios in the stomach as the teen charged. His arm came around to hit Antaios' hard enough to knock him out.
Ausar scouted around for his brother, realizing he had disappeared from the scene. Growling, he turned in time to be blinded by Blue-Eyes' White Lightning, clapping his hands over his ears when Diabound roared in pain as he slammed into a wall.
"Attack Seth directly!" Kavala ordered his own Ka. "Give it all you've got!"
Ausar's heart froze. "Red-Eyes! Attack the second dragon with your Inferno Fire Blast!"
Red-Eyes glared at his master, but seemed to understand that the duelist didn't want this. Roaring, he built up the molten attack in his maw.
Khasekhemwy saw the carnage unfold before it even happened, his heart leaping to his throat. He quickly searched out his Puzzle's power, latching onto the Item before spreading his senses out further. Suddenly, a rush of pain spread through his chest, a bloody bruise appearing there.
"Pharaoh!"
Khasekhemwy realized he was feeling Diabound and Kasirika's pain and kept searching for the right Ka, finally grasping it's aura before pulling the power into himself. "Magician of Illusion, Black Magic Attack!"
The appearance of Mahaado's Ka shocked everyone as the magic crafter unleashed a colorful burst of energy on the trio of dragons below him.
Seth refused to fall, his own will appearing through the haze of the Rod's control long enough for him to call out, "White Dragon! Attack the Magician of Illusion!"
Kasirika felt himself moving outside his own accord again and fought to control himself. His endeavor failed and his voice, distorted with an undertone of Mahaado's, called out, "Shou Rai Dan!"
Diabound's snake tail glowed violet, energy amassing between poisonous fangs. The spirit creature turned on the White Dragon with murder in its black eyes, slightly distanced hands holding the same energy collecting at it tail.
"Magician, block the others!" Khasekhemwy demanded.
The attack was unleashed in massive proportions a second later, the walls disintegrating under the undirected energy.
Kavala screamed in pain as his forearm was scorched black, his leg twisting unnaturally before giving out on him.
Khasekhemwy fell to his knees, tears, burns, and blackish-red bruises appearing all over his body as the Magician of Illusion faded from what was formerly a room.
Seth climbed to his feet, strangely unhurt by Diabound's attack. His glassy eyes searched through the rubble to see Ausar trapped behind a slab of marble and a half-formed wall. "Thank you, Bakura, for that lovely show," he purred to the now inert thief. "Dragon of mine, White Lightning Attack! Destroy Ausar directly!"
"NO!" Khasekhemwy cried. He let go of the Magician of Illusion's power, some of the injuries fading. He couldn't summon Osiris in time with the Puzzle out of his control, leaving himself open to direct damage.
Kavala heard a groan to his side and saw Antaios slowly sit up, holding his head pitifully. "Love, time to get your ass in gear!" he grit out.
Antaios shook his head to clear the remaining haze, instantly aware of the life-or-death situation taking place. "Dear gods..."
"ATTACK HIM!" Seth roared. "Destroy Ausar!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon growled in pain disapproval, daring to disobey his master. He purposely turned his back to Ausar, moving the fallen wall out of the duelist's way before wrapping his tail protectively around the small mortal.
"What are you doing!?" Seth growled. "Kill him, not protect him!"
Red-Eyes suddenly gave a pained roar, seeming to struggle with himself as another fireball attack built up.
Blue-Eyes took it as an instant show of betrayal, lifting Ausar up to leer at the easily demolished Egyptian angrily.
"I swear, it's not me," Ausar yelped fearfully, not liking the way the azure dragon was glaring at him. "Red-Eyes, stop it!"
The black dragon tried to and failed, unleashing a second attack directly on Blue-Eyes. Red-Eyes screeched as he was released from Mahaado's control, watching in shock as the other spirit creature crashed to the floor.
Seth fell as well, his side split and bleeding horribly. "Counterattack," he croaked, holding his side tightly. His face screwed up in repressed pain as Blue-Eyes forced himself upright again, metallic hide showing irreparable damage as he did so.
Ausar scrambled over to Seth, seizing the Priest by the shoulders. "Snap out of it, you sanctimonious son of a bitch! Stop it before you kill some one!"
Seth smirked chillingly at the duelist. "My target is you, little Ausar. The others are just in the way, that's all." His doubled-lined voice was laden with pain. "Attack now, White Dragon!"
"Attack him first!" Kavala ordered his dragon. "It hurts, but get the hells up and fight!"
Antaios climbed to his feet, a strange shadow beat appearing next to him as he rose. "Stop, White Dragon," he commanded calmly. He moved his hands in fast patterns, chanting softly in the Shadow language.
The two White Dragons in the area paused their attack, almost as if they were frozen in time.
"Pharaoh, summon Osiris!" Kavala ordered.
"Why?"
"Just do it!"
Khasekhemwy's chanting joined Antaios' after a moment's hesitation, the different incantations filling the air and charging it with energy.
"Attack!" Seth ordered his dragon. "Stop standing around and move!"
Antaios suddenly fell silent, the shadow creature behind him disappearing in a violent spark of light. In it's place, a third White Dragon appeared.
But this one was different from Kavala and Seth's. It was of a much darker hue and it's eyes shone with the pitch black of an evil heart.
Antaios closed his eyes, a soft violet aura appearing around his frame.
"Impossible!" Seth gasped, eyes dark with anger and surprise. "How can that little slime summon my Ka?!"
Kavala started murmuring someone softly, his voice rising in pitch.
Antaios followed him into the chant, aura flicking like a flame in the wind as he knelt down to take Kavala's hand in his own. "Let two be one, let two be one, let two be one, let two be one..."
As the thieves chanted, the three dragon gods flicked from existence, their massive bodies seeming to swirl together before the mess disappeared in a flash of harsh light.
Khasekhemwy's concentration shattered when the ear-splitting roar sounded echoed through the night, his eyes falling on the tri-headed, azure dragon looming over those present with a fierce light in his gaze. "This is... impossible!"
"God of the White Dragon," Antaios murmured.
"Hear our bidding and dispel the evil of the hem-netjer-tepey. Destroy the black heart," Kavala added softly.
Khasekhemwy's blood ran cold and he scrambled to finish summoning Osiris. He had no idea what sort of a god the two thieves had just summoned, but he could tell they had little to no control of it. "Wait!"
Ausar looked at the looming beast fearfully, the amount of power it was radiating shocking him almost witless. "Seth, snap out of it! That thing will destroy you if you don't!"
"Seth is gone, Ausar. He is just my little puppet now."
Before Ausar could reply, Osiris lithe form appeared over those assembled, vermilion eyes instantly locking onto the other god present. "See! You're going to get us all killed!"
"Then you'll be out of my way," Seth growled.
Osiris roared in a pitch that cracked the walls, double mouths screeching out a violent protest to the presence of the god Antaios and Kavala had more or less created.
Ausar grit his teeth, remembering the one way to snap the Thousand Year Rod's control. "I'm so sorry, Seth," he muttered before digging his fingers into the Priest's wounded side.
Seth cried out, trying to get Ausar away from him. The combination of the physical pain and the tearing control of the Thousand Year Rod were almost overwhelming. "M-Move," he commanded weakly.
Ausar stayed fastly, trying to keep what little he had eaten that morning in his stomach. "Seth, come back to me."
At that second, Hell broke loose at Kavala and Antaios' command, the tri-headed dragon god loosing a maniac screech he fastened his wicked claws around Osiris' neck.
"Dear gods... Red-Eyes! Help Osiris!" Ausar called, though his eyes never left Seth's. "Fight him, Seth. If not for Khasekhemwy, then for me."
Diabound suddenly joined in the fray of flailing dragons, vast hands gripping the dragon gods three necks in a near crushing grip. Its snake tail lashed out, grabbing Osiris fastly without poisoning him.
Red-Eyes stopped in mid-flight, not having seen the looming fiend reawaken.
"None of you get it, do you? I can control anyone at anytime I wish. This is pointless fighting that will lead to a bloody end anyway."
Khasekhemwy snapped out of his shock to see Bakura standing, amethyst eyes glittering with a demonic, cinnamon edge. "Mahaado, stop this!"
"Never, Pharaoh." Bakura smiled. "Diabound, snap them all in half."
"Stop him!" Khasekhemwy called to Kavala and Antaios. A colorful stream of curses flowed from his mouth when he saw the thieves were missing. "Damnit, Mahaado! You have the Items, stop this madness!"
Bakura threw his head back, laughing hysterically. "Pharaoh, please, give me more credit than that. I mean to hunt all your precious Item holders down one by one and snatch their lives and treasures. It will be a short endeavor, with all this power laid down at my feet, but once the preliminary work is finish, the world will be mine for the taking."
Seth gripped Ausar's wrist hard, pulling the duelist away from him with stunning strength given his condition. The Priest grimaced as he got to his feet, pulling Ausar into a chokehold. "You see, Khasekhemwy, I can control many people at once. You're outnumbered, with all your little friends now at my mercy."
Khasekhemwy looked around, seeing he was alone. Red-Eyes, Diabound, Osiris, and the nameless dragon god all leered down at him threateningly, spelling out certain doom for the Pharaoh very shortly.
Ausar struggled to free himself, but Seth had him in a death grip. "Morning Star, RUN!" His eyes focused and unfocused, trying to fend off Mahaado's mind control with little luck.
"You can't run, you're trapped," Bakura sneered. "It was so nice to know you, Pharaoh."
Khasekhemwy knew if he tried to summon the Sealed God of Exodia or the Divine Soldier of Obelisk, Mahaado would seize control of them as well. He stood tall, facing down the imposing spirit creatures gracefully. "Then strike me dead now, Mahaado."
"In good time," Kavala retorted smugly. "For now, I have other things to contend with."
Ausar felt the last threads of his control quickly slipping from his grasp. "Brother, stop, please!"
Khasekhemwy grit his teeth. "Leave Ausar alone, Mahaado!"
Seth held a hand out, a forgotten dagger jumping into his outstretched digits. "It's time to end the war, little brother. I let Bakura kill you the first time to let your pathetic Priest flounder a bit. This time, you will die by our hand the way I've intended it be in the first place."
Ausar struggled to get away from Seth. "Then kill me yourself, do not use Seth as a means to an end!"
The controlled Priest didn't waver any, the dagger poised to clash with Ausar's skull at a whim. "Trying to protect the one you love, how precious. I'll tell him to said good-bye."
Ausar closed his eyes, waiting for his second deathblow in the same day. His lips quirked up at the thought, prepared to die and probably wrenched from the Afterlife again.
Seth watched the lithe duelist resign himself, a concerned frown falling over his otherwise twisted features; a look that was anything but Mahaado. His dagger-wielding hand twitched, slender fingers uncurling one joint at a time. His free hand reached up to aid the process, eyes slamming closed against the onslaught of pain his struggle bought him.
Khasekhemwy felt Kavala's signature presence re-enter the area then, but couldn't tell where. His mahogany gaze flickered to his lover, nearly collapsing with relief when he saw the thief's disguise had been dropped.
Kasirika made a shushing motion, jerking a thumb over his shoulder toward the shadows.
Khasekhemwy searched the dim recesses of the ruined room, sharp gaze catching the glint of gold off of Kavala's jewelry. His heart started racing again, unsure about the thief's motives.
Kavala crept forward quickly and soundlessly, coming up behind Seth with a slab of marble in hand. He had just raised the burden over the Priest's head when Mahaado presumably caught on.
A hand fell in order for Seth to bring the dagger around, trying to drive the weapon into Kavala's side at best. He growled when the blade bounced off the marble, turning to face the wiry thief fully.
"Surprise!"
Ausar and Seth barely caught Antaios sudden appearance with another sheet of ruins in hand. The fomer just barely ducked the projectile, shuttering when he saw it crash against Seth's chest relentlessly. The duelist realized too late why Kavala was standing there and tried to shove Seth out of the way.
"Just hit him!" Antaios yelped, seeing Ausar scramble upright to stop his lover.
Kavala closed his eyes and brought the stone down as hard as he could, successfully rendering both Seth and Ausar completely unconscious.
"Look! There's no one else here to control!" Antaios shouted gleefully. "We've all broken your spell Mahaado and you don't dare touch the Pharaoh! Come back when you have a better plan!"
Osiris roared angrily, struggling out of Diabound's grasp easily. His vermilion eyes leered exclusively at Khasekhemwy and his top mouth curled into a shocking portrayal of Mahaado's smirk.
You haven't won yet, Pharaoh. Remember that and plan well, for next time, I will not relent.
Kasirika stumbled, shocked not by the mental sneer echoing from Osiris, but how pained Mahaado's voice sounded. He shoved that down with a quick reminder that worrying about the Priest was Bakura's deal. "You're just too weak to keep fighting! Face it, you can control us, but every injury we receive mirrors on you."
A lucky guess, Mahaado growled. Be thankful for the twist of fate- He faltered, sounding more and more tired. -And be thankful for my thoughtfulness in bringing Ausar back. Osiris made a rolling growl in the back of his throat that sounded akin to a chuckle.
"You're going to regret it," Khasekhemwy promised boldly. "You're going to regret every single thing you've done wrong."
I look forward to that... challeng...
Kasirika shuttered as he felt a cold wash of pain from Mahaado as the Priest was forced to let go of his control, watching as the Ka monsters slowly disappeared from the wreckage.
"Let's get these two to more comfortable quarters," Kavala suggested, seeing the pain look on Kasirika's face. "We can plan things out better in the meantime."
Khasekhemwy nodded, giving his lover a reassuring smile despite the warring emotions in his heart.
* * * * *
Antaios tapped a small dagger against his kneecap restlessly as the more magically adept members of the room discussed a plan of action, piecing together only that this whole ordeal was a bonafide suicide mission.
"So, we still need a third Spirit to successfully seal up the Games, correct?" Kavala asked as he nicked a loaf of bread from the nearby table.
Khasekhemwy nodded. "The other Priests were only bonded to their Items enough to allow them to utilize their magic. Only I have been completely bonded to the Puzzle."
Kavala looked thoughtful as he tore the bread in half and started digging out the soft dough in the center. "And Kasirika said he would take up guardianship of the Ring?"
"I'm right here, kid," Kasirika grumbled. "And yes, I am."
"I think you're nuts," Kavala replied, digging the last of the center out. He handed the crust to Antaios and started munching on his half of the goods. "I think the Pharaoh's nuts too. Why are we sealing the Games up just because of one person?"
Khasekhemwy sighed deeply. "Seth has been trying to get control of the throne and the Games of Shadow for many turns now. I was never aware of Mahaado or Kasirika-"
Kasirika stopped the monarch by pitching a grape at his head. "Let's get one thing straight: Bakura and Kasirika are two different people. Bakura serves Mahaado while Kasirika loves and protects the Pharaoh."
"A vexing problem," Antaios muttered as he tossed some fruits into his shell of bread. "It always has been, Kasirika, you have to choose who it is you love and want to serve before it's too late."
Kasirika sighed, bowing his head. "I digress, forgive me." His eyes were shadowed with uncertainty and warring emotions. "As for the third guardian, I would elect Seth or Ausar."
"Why one of us?" Ausar piped up groggily, still trying to fend of a killer migraine.
Kavala answered, "I would say you, mongrel, because you show unerring loyalty to the Pharaoh. I have seen Seth's more traitorous side and I don't think it would be wise to have someone like him coming back in the next life."
"I can hear you perfectly well, thief," Seth growled.
Kavala shrugged. "Good for you. So, Ausar, what do you say?"
"Um, I'm not sure about that," the duelist replied hesitantly. "I'm not to good at guarding things, especially that which belong to the Pharaoh."
Kasirika snorted. "You've done a damn shitty job, but your heart's in the right place. We're not forcing you to do this."
"What about Mahaado?" Antaios suddenly asked before biting into his food.
"Hells no," Kavala shot back. "How would we keep him down long enough to cut him up?"
"Ask Bakura. Seemed easy enough for him."
Kasirika winced at the justified barb.
Kavala hit Antaios with his sandal hard, glowering at him. "We'll deal with our grudges later on. Right now, we all unfortunately have to work together."
"I'm curious as to why the freak child thinks we should deign Mahaado as the third guardian," Seth spoke up.
"First off, I'm not a freak child," Antaios shot back. To prove his point, he dropped his disguise and stuck his tongue out at the Priest. "And second, Mahaado has control of Ra and obviously a third White Dragon."
"Speaking of which, what was that dragon that you two merged?" Khasekhemwy asked. "I've never seen anything like it."
"One thing at a time," Antaios shot back. "As I was saying-"
"You can control Ra and Mahaado's Ka," Kavala broke in. "If you destroy Mahaado, there is a chance you will lose that power and it will be a great loss at that."
Antaios glared at his lover. "You took the words right out of my mouth."
"That's not going to be the only thing I'm going to take out of your mouth if you keep it up," Kavala warned, far too sunnily. "As for the dragon we merged, you can call it our wild card in a duel. Antaios' can control the White Dragon Knight, sort of a tamer for the three dragon gods."
"I can place the three dragons under my control and from there create the creature you saw earlier through the Spell of Merging," Antaios finished.
"What is it's name?" Ausar asked.
"That's the thing, we don't know," Kasirika replied. "These two call it the Ultimate Dragon God."
Seth snorted derisively. "How can two common thieves control a god. Only a Thousand Year Item holder or the Living God himself can summon a god."
Antaios shrugged. "Kasirika taught us how to harness the power of wandering spirits in a duel. It's an excellent power boost to summon higher ranking shadow beasts."
"I am also mage-born, so it enables me to summon stronger creatures with less energy," Kavala added nonchalantly.
Khasekhemwy turned a sour eye toward Kasirika. "You're teaching children how to work dark magic, love?" he asked calmly, though not without a hint of a threat.
Kavala and Antaios glared at the Pharaoh in the same fashion a starved predator would. "Shadow magic is dark magic, you incomprehensible waste of flesh," the former pointed out bitingly.
Khasekhemwy looked rather amused. "So it is."
"Obnoxious bastard," Antaios grumbled.
"If I wasn't so tired, I'd get up and break your legs," Ausar shot back weakly. "But I am tired and I feel like my head is going to fall-"
"Complete that sentence and I will hurt you in ways you never thought possible," Antaios snarled, a hand going for his scarred throat in a unconsciously protective gesture.
Ausar cracked a bleary, chocolate eye at the thief. "What's your problem all of the sudden?" he demanded shortly, shifting so he was laying on Seth's chest instead of his gold laden arm.
"It's nothing," Antaios growled.
Ausar raised an eyebrow. "Now I know it's something. Look, Bakura pretty much cut my throat out and I'm not jumping at every word that's said," he replied.
Kavala wrapped strong arms around his lover, holding the older thief comfortingly. "He doesn't know what happened. Don't snap at him," he whispered gently.
Seth sighed. "Mahaado had Bakura take Antaios' head off, so he's now expecting a sword to fly at him every time someone mentions their head," he stated, ever his untactful self.
Ausar sat up with a wince, eyes wide. "He didn't?! Dear gods, Antaios, I'm sorry. I didn't know that-"
"Oh, shut up," the teen cut in. "It was your brother that did it, not you."
"And I apologize for his... er... out of control behavior?" Ausar shrugged and lay back down against Seth. "I still don't get why he brought me back, honestly. He ordered Bakura to kill me in the first place."
"Don't think about it," Seth placated, the first signs of warmth bleeding through his tone as he ran his fingers through the duelist's silken locks. "But, with Mahaado so out of control, there is no way we could have him as a guardian."
Khasekhemwy looked thoughtful. "I'm not so sure about that. Mahaado's always had a very strong spirit and it is possible to block out the memories of this time." The monarch shuttered. "Trust me, it is quite possible to do that."
Kavala raised an eyebrow when Kasirika snickered. "What's so funny?"
Kasirika grinned not so innocently. "When you're older, kid. When you're older."
"Well, seeing how we're not going to see the next cycle, why don't you enlighten us?" Antaios pressed impishly, wanting to know why Khasekhemwy was blushing all of the sudden.
"How about I don't," Kasirika replied patiently. "There's more important matters to contend with right now. Our plans are completely asunder and we need to put together a solid plan before Mahaado attacks again."
"It boils down to this," Seth started. "Kavala is bonded to all of the Items and is the Games' guardian. Antaios is the Key of Forthcoming and Mahaado is the Key of Closing. Khasekhemwy and Bakura are two of the required Item guards."
"All we need is a third guard," Ausar finished. "But, there's one thing that's bothering me. The other Priests and myself, what will happen to us once the Games are sealed?"
Khasekhemwy sighed sadly. "Truth be told, Ausar, I'm not sure that you or Seth will live to see the end of this. I'm not sure any of us will. The other Priests will be unaffected save for their Items not functioning anymore. Their lives will go on uninterrupted."
Ausar nodded, sitting up to face the Pharaoh. "I will not die until I see that my brother is brought down," he declared sharply. "And if you or Seth are struck down before me, I shall avenge you as well."
Seth shook his head, yanking the duelist back into his embrace. "Shut up and do something useful."
"Like what?"
"Go to sleep or something and let the more intelligent people talk this through," Seth replied, though it was without malice.
"Can I ask a question?" Khasekhemwy spoke after a moment of silence.
"Go right on ahead," Seth replied.
"Why were you and Ausar fighting to begin with. Aside from you trying to murder me and take the throne, what happened between you?"
Ausar sighed. "So you know?"
"It's pretty plain to see," Kasirika pointed out.
"Ausar tried to stop me from overthrowing the Pharaoh," Seth explained. "We had a particularly vicious fight and you all saw how it ended, more or less." He patted Ausar's head soothingly. "I would still be mad at him if he hadn't gone and gotten himself killed."
"Oh, so that's how I have to get you to stop icing over?" Ausar snapped playfully. "In that case, I think I'll find someone a little less picky."
Kavala rolled his eyes and spared Antaios a glance. "Are we the only sane couple here?"
Kasirika threw an arm around the small thief's shoulders. "Planning to take down the single most powerful man in Egypt with a handful of invalids would be a sign that none of us are even partially sane."
Unfortunately, the others had to agree.
* * * * *
The final attack was launched three days later, again as the sun was setting over the sun-bleached sands of Memphis. A warning had been issued by Mahaado, calling the Pharaoh and his entourage out to the ruins of Kuru Ernua village at nightfall.
Now, Khasekhemwy, Seth, Ausar, Kavala, Antaios, and Bakura stood at the wasted establishment, Ka backing them, as they waited for Mahaado to make himself known. It was when the last ray of light was banished from the skies did Bakura give the warning, sensing the shift in the thick air before the attack came.
Ra screeched as he dived at the assembled group, diving at them at impossible speeds with teeth and claws outstretched. The golden god growled when his targets managed to duck and took to the skies again.
The two White Dragons gave chase, catching up to Ra seconds before the third azure god made himself known. Kavala's Ka veered to the left while Seth's flew up to miss the beam of energy that sailed at them. Red-Eyes joined the fray with a giddy cry, going straight for Ra. The larger creature simply knocked the ebony dragon aside, it's sights set on Kavala's Ka.
"MOVE!" Kavala yelled.
Ra unleashed a molten fireball at the unsuspecting White Dragon, dodging out of Red-Eyes' way before firing another one off.
Diabound shimmered to life from the shadows in time to knock Kavala's Ka out of the way, the snake tail giving the azure spirit beast a warning bite. The fiend wheeled suddenly, shoving the White Dragon back as a mighty fist shot out to catch the enemy dragon god in the mouth.
Mahaado's Ka gave a pained shriek as it's muzzle snapped under the force of the blow, ebony claws reaching out to draw a wicked set of gashes down his opposition's chest.
Bakura gasped as the wounds mirrored on his body, staggering but not falling under the onslaught of pain. "Shou Rai Dan!" he called, hugging his robe around his frame to staunch the blood flow and hopefully hide it.
Diabound built the energy up at it's tail and hands, quickly unleashing the power at Ra only to have it knocked into Seth's White Dragon with added force.
Suddenly, a flash of red sinewy scales dived into the fight, spiked back raking long, unforgiving gashes across Mahaado's dragon while equally dangerous claws lashed out at Ra.
The golden god flew at Osiris in a renewed frenzy, not seeing the mass of gelatinous ooze joined in until he had smashed up against it. Ra screamed in frustration and tried to have a go at Osiris again. The ooze stretched out to cover the god fully.
Red-Eyes gave a bubbling sort of roar as he took Ra's distraction to jump into the god's back and fasten himself there. The dragon whooped as he was nearly unseated, but clung fast to his quarry.
Mahaado's White Dragon flung Kavala's Ka to the side so he had a clear shot at the impish Red-Eyes on his partner's back.
"Time to work a little of that black magic the Pharaoh hates so much!" Antaios yelped.
Bakura smirked, loving this trick more with every successful execution. "Spirits of the dead, my fallen comrades, come shelter in my body and give me your power!" he cried, holding his arms out.
Khasekhemwy watched in horrified shock as the Kuru Eruna spirits became highly visible, grotesque and twisted mockeries of life, that flew into and through his lover's body at a frenzied pace.
Diabound started to change to reflect its master, becoming larger and more snakelike, not to mention even more twisted and dangerous in appearance then before.
Kavala wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Kasirika must be a very ugly person on the inside to possess anything like that," he noted under his breath.
"Now Diabound, send them to Hell!" Bakura screamed, pushing the extraneous power into his Ka, twisting the fiend into something even more nightmareish then before.
Ra and the dark White Dragon seemed to know just what was coming at them, as they scattered away from the tangle of warring dragons in time to miss Diabound's overwhelming form. The golden god tried to hit Bakura's Ka, but his attack was deflected harmlessly.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Mahaado!" Bakura called into the night. "You know better then to test my Aura Shield. Nothing can break it, for the wrath of undead souls is mightier then the gods you possess!"
Ra glared down at the Egyptian. Is that so, Bakura? Then what can Diabound do against two divine attacks? Maybe even... three?
Khasekhemwy gasped. "Bakura, don't provoke him! Only three of us here know how to channel the spirits that reside here!"
Bakura gave the Pharaoh a shove, continuing to feed energy into Diabound. "And two of you have use of the gods. Try to make yourselves useful and seize control of Ra."
Kavala dropped to his knees as his Ka was hit hard in the side by aforementioned sun god, a small trickle of blood running down his already bruised face. "Antaios, I know you hate to-"
"But we have to, I know." Antaios closed his eyes, mocking Bakura's earlier pose with a great deal more reluctance. Unlike the King of Thieves, he didn't like the idea of having many angry spirits manipulate his spirit.
Kavala reached out, mentally brushing his lover's aura. Making sure he was latched onto the familiar glow, he started chanting, shuttering violently as a ramification of Antaios own reaction to evoking the spirits' power. The small thief reached out further, brushing his Ka and Osiris' with the borrowed strength before moving on to try and capture Mahaado's White Dragon for himself.
The ground started to shake then and a deep fissure split the sand in half in a single warning as a gigantic azure god rose from the earth, looking like a crimson-eyed version of Diabound.
"Oh shit," Ausar cursed. "Seth, tell me you did that."
"Did you hear me summon Obelisk?"
"....I didn't think so."
Kavala hastily reinforced the others' Ka before letting his link up Antaios cut off abruptly. He stayed on his knees, his breath coming in painful pants against his ribcage. "W-We can't merge the White...Dragons," he stated. "Mahaado has solid control over all his beasts."
"Damnit," Khasekhemwy growled. "We'll just have to make due either way."
The battle suddenly grew ever more fierce as Obelisk attacked Seth's spirit creature and Ra finally clamped his talons around Osiris' neck.
"Red-Eyes, attack Obelisk!"
"NO!" Khasekhemwy screamed. "That will only-"
The Pharaoh was cut off by Seth's pain gasp, the Priest falling to the ground with his hands wrapped around his bleeding throat.
"Oh no.... Seth!" Ausar sunk down next to his lover, already feeling him weaken. "Hang in there. Don't leave this battle so quickly."
Seth just nodded, trickles of blood streaming from the corners of his mouth.
"Get Ra off of Osiris!" Kavala ordered his White Dragon.
"Revival Jam, cover Seth's Ka!" Antaios added, looking down at his thief. "What? We need him around later on, remember?"
Kavala shook his head. "You're just a big softie."
Obelisk was faster then the Revival Jam however and his massive hands closed around his target's neck easily. The god seemed to struggle with himself for a second.
Ausar started to panic. "Red-Eyes! Help Seth's White Dragon NOW!"
Kavala's Ka managed to pry Osiris free of Ra's grip, only to take his place a second later. "Go help Seth!" the thief called, his breath stolen away by the invisible fists squeezing his chest.
"Osiris, attack Obelisk now!" Khasekhemwy yelled.
Kavala caught on with a smirk. "White Dragon, White Lightening attack!"
"Red-Eyes, Molten Fireball Blast!" Ausar spat out shakily.
"Diabound, Thunder Force!"
Revival Jam managed to safeguard Seth's Ka just as the four hellish attacks were unleashed against Obelisk, catching the third White Dragon off-guard and destroying the Ka in a wash of bloody scales.
Like that, Obelisk and Ra disappeared from the skies, leaving Red-Eyes to catch Seth's White Dragon before he could fall.
"I... We did it!" Kavala stuttered. "That was Mahaado's being we destroyed... WE DID IT!"
Bakura was floored, not being able to grasp the concept of Mahaado being dead. He couldn't feel the former Priest's Ka at all and knew it was the end. He was shocked when he felt Khasekhemwy's arms latch around his neck and pliant lips smother his.
"Whoo! Go Pharaoh!" Antaios cheered.
Ausar shook his head, leaning his forehead against Seth's. "I think it's over, Priest of mine."
Seth nodded, his voice lost under the strain of his injuries. He reached a shaking hand out to cup the younger man's face, his thumb caressing soft skin.
Bakura pulled away from Khasekhemwy with a half-pant, half-gasp. "I... You kissed me," he stated dumbly. It was strange. Only Kasirika was shown that sort of affection. "Pharaoh... I thought you-"
Khasekhemwy smirked. "Bakura or Kasirika, it doesn't matter to me. You're the same lovably ugly fiend underneath."
"Leave Diabound out of this!"
There was an exasperated huff from the shadows, followed closely by the clinking of jewelry. "Do you honestly believe I die that easily?"
Bakura gasped, turning to see Mahaado practically appearing from the darkness. "We just destroyed your Ka, Mahaado. You should be dead!"
"Aw, the King of Thieves is disavowing me now as well?" the ex-Priest taunted. "That's sad, really it is. I thought I still had a friend."
Before a move could be made, the air grew thick with smoky amethyst fog and the spirits started to make themselves know with ghastly shrieks and wails.
"They're hungry, you know," Mahaado pointed out conversationally, holding a hand out. He gasped as a spirit passed through, leaving a bloody hole in the appendage. "They love living flesh and souls the best. Care to donate?"
"Never!" Ausar hissed.
"Too bad," Mahaado sing-songed.
The Kuru Eruna spirits' became impossibly loud as they converged on Mahaado's rivals, tearing and ripping at anything they could find with their phantasmal fangs and endless appetites. Amidst the din, it was impossible to tell if any of the mortals screamed as the vicious spirits shred them apart, sprays of blood and flesh the only indication that a feeding frenzy was taking place.
Mahaado smirked, waving his hands as a signal for the spirits to back away. Cinnamon eyes regarded the grizzly scene before him appreciatively, mentally checking off those he had killed as slender digits counted the extraneous, blood-soaked pieces.
"Looking for someone?"
Mahaado spun to see Khasekhemwy and Kasirika standing at his back, seeming to waver before the Priest as if it were the middle of the day. A few relentless spirits tried to attack the couple, but bounced off.
"Only enough energy to save Khasekhemwy," Kasirika stated hazily, leaning heavily on the Pharaoh under the weight of his injuries. "You will pay for this, Mahaado."
Khasekhemwy stepped forward, grabbing a hidden dagger from his lover's sash as he did so, crimson eyes dark and menacing as an angry god's. "I find you guilty of high treason and murder, Mahaado. You have betrayed your fellow Priests and your Living God and for that, I punish you with eternal damnation."
"What are you saying?" Mahaado tried to back up, but his legs wouldn't respond. A glance down revealed Revival Jam encasing all the way up to his knees. "Pharaoh, you cannot do this!"
Kasirika forced himself forward, unsheathing a small sword from his back. "Watch us, love. You have murdered innocents, a fellow Priest, and your own kin. The gods will smile upon this."
Khasekhemwy swallowed hard, starting to murmur the spell to bond Mahaado to the Rod, moving his dagger against' the Priest's arm to form an intricate set of hieroglyphs as he recited the incantation."
"You are banished to the Thousand Year Rod, the Item that you first coveted," Kasirika explained, reciting what Khasekhemwy had told him earlier. "Only a great hatred from your bansei will release you into the world with no memory of your past sins." The thief raised the sword.
Mahaado knew when he was defeated and stood his ground. "Do with me as you wish, I will return. I will reap my vengeance against all of those who have dared to challenge my authority. I will remember and I will exact my revenge."
"May the gods take pity on you, Mahaado," Khasekhemwy murmured as he completed the bonding spell, stepping out of the way. "And may they scorn your blackened, mutilated soul for all eternity."
Kasirika swung the sword in a powerful sideways arc, making a clean through flesh and bone before bringing the weapon around to cleave the Priest's head off of his shoulders. The thief jabbed his sword into the sand before falling, shaking mightily.
Khasekhemwy knelt by his lover, tracing the fresh markings from his own bonding gently. "It is time for us to finish this, my thief."
Kasirika nodded. "What will happen to the others?" he asked in a lost sort of tone.
"It doesn't matter now....."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Seto was a pale, shaking mess on the floor, his chest heaving with short panting breaths. His wide azure eyes searched Ishizu's with a horrified light. "What kind of a cruel trick is this?" he tried to growl, but it only came out as a pathetic whimper.
"This is not a trick, Kaiba," Ishizu replied heavily. "This is the past and possibly your future if you do not alert the Pharaoh and stop the darkness."
Seto tried to gather up the shards of his self-control, but the sight of Ausar's horribly twisted, mauled body kept dragging him further down.
"I know it seems unreal, but it is," Ishizu stated understandingly.
Seto shakily climbed to his feet, brushing his amethyst coat off to hide the tremors racing through his frame. "I think I've seen enough. Good night to you, Miss Ishtar."
Joey and Mokuba jerked out of their light slumber at the sound of a door crashing open, the pair scrambling to their feet the second they saw Seto emerge from the small side room in a right state. "I guess things didn't go so well?" the former tried.
"Just shut up and walk," Seto snapped, motioning for the pair to start moving. He turned back to Ishizu, trying to look menacing and again failing. "Your hocus pocus stories still mean nothing to be, Ishizu." He did managed a snide smirk. "Leave the fairy tales to little Yugi."
Ishizu shook her head. "I said to believe what you want, Kaiba," she said, more to herself. I tried, Malik. That is the best I can do. The delicate tombkeeper sighed somewhat shakily, fingering the Tauk nervously.
Good, you remembered.
The dark voice scared Ishizu, forcing a violent shutter down her spine. I do remember. He gave this curse back to me so I could be another pawn...
"The Tauk will not show you the future, but it will still show you the past. Do not deny it."
Ishizu started at the nearly transparent facade of her brother in horror; not by the ghost standing before her, but by what he was holding. "I won't."
Malik sighed softly as he moved forward, clasping the Millennium Tauk around his sister's neck carefully. "Do not remove it until the tale is spun, dear sister of mine." The blond smiled mockingly. "Then you can take it off."
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 again 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…
Fweee! That was such a cool chapter to write! [grins and giggles] I, er, went a little overboard with the gore me thinks, but I tried to make it as surreptitious as possible. :] Some of this is actually from the manga while the rest of it is my own little fucked up theories. XD
Akuro: You can kinda say I made Bakura a real schitzo! That'll be important in later chapters. But, killing Kavala and Antaios twice within two chapters was not easy. [shrugs] We've still got Ryou and Malik though, right? XD But, dare to hazard a guess as to who's really the antagonist of the book? [cackles] You'll never guess!
happy yaoi lover: Dude, cliffies are awesome for the digestive system! :] They make a well-balanced meal and come with a free shot of adrenaline!
KeMu: Was this all really Marik's fault? Or is he just the fallguy for Malik's ultimate plans? Hmm… Choices, choices, choices. [Bakura laugh] Anyway, Mokuba's such a fun little punk to write! He's gonna give Yami and Bakura pure Hell when everyone finds out they're together. XD
Ayod Botla1: Squee! Another member of the masses things I'm evil! [bounces around] If you're crushed by Malik's true nature, imagine how Ryou's gonna feel… :D
Acid Reign: I have the distinct mental image of Malik and Ryou as chameleons stuck in my head. Are you happy now that I've been traumatized? XD The whole color changing thing's just a nice little trick they picked up from schitzo!Bakura. And yeeessss, things are going to become confusing for all involved… Including the poor author. T____T
Andi-chan: O)O CAKE! Gods, I love you now! [hands Andi-chan a slice of cake for being so nice] Hmm! I lurve cake, really I do! [chokes momentarily] Don't worry, I have to go back and reread the book and I'm writing the damned thing! XD I know that the flashback scene will be explained much better by lovely prancing psychos in later chapters and it'll all make sense then! [cackles] And if you want to start making assumptions, go right on ahead. I want to hear who all the lovely readers think is the real bad guy. [hands Anci-chan a big box of plushies] Seriously, thank you so much for the lovely feedback. You have no idea how helpful it is! ^________^
Impish Pixie: Fwee! I know I'm doing it again! Isn't it fun? }XD
blu chocobo: "Malik's crazy again"? [cracks up] I don't think Malik ever stopped being crazy, I think it just went into hiding! As I've said, the flashback will make sense in due time. Don't worry, the author isn't as unstable as Malik and actually knows what she's doing… I hope. ^)^U
Elle-FaTe2x1: If people like the AE arc in general, I may very well expand upon the idea. God knows I've profiled the characters well enough. XD And there's never anything wrong with rabid fangirlness! It's just highly distracting when you're trying to write. -___-
Kilam: Wow… Domo arigatou! As I've stated before, it's so reassuring to know that you're managing to keep up with your own plot and keep the masses entertained and hooked 'til the end; maybe even after that. Playing the characters is mad fun and a touch challenging, as I have to keep them in character, but have them grow and change with the book. The plot's just… I have no idea where it came from, but I'm convinced it's a gift from God. XD
YamiCaitlin: O)O …Um… Can I be arrested for killing someone with a book? -___-U I pray not or I'm in really deep trouble. If you think you know what's going on, hazard a guess. I'm curious about the reader's take on the new "Malik's-Gone-Wacko-Again" twist.
Sailor Comet: LOL! Ve don't need no stinkin' fluff! [cracks up] I amuse myself. But I guess you'll just have to wait and see if all that fluffy stuff was real or not. [smirks and cackles] ..I am evil. ^)^U
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Chapter Twenty-Eight Trailor:
From the outside, Hiasobi to Aisu looked like an abandoned warehouse. But, appearances were deceiving once you got a good look at the area. The real tip-off that the building was a hidden nightclub was the small line snaking out from the large bay doors. Lining the walkway on either side were pillars alight with an alternating pattern of red and blue flames and the building itself was a mosaic depiction of hellfire and dagger-like icicles.
As they stood in the line, the unnaturally colored fire captivated Malik. "How in the hell do they do that?" he finally asked.
Ryou chuckled. "They use a certain chemical to color the fire that way. I forget what the chemical's name is, but it can change the fire any color you want."
A grin dawned Malik's expression. "That could be fun to play with."
Ryou rolled his eyes. "My boyfriend is a pyromaniac," he muttered mock-bitterly. When he saw Malik put on a pout, the diamond haired Brit hugged his arm. "But, you're cute either way."
"Damn straight." Malik ruffled Ryou's already mussed up hair and tore his lilac orbs from the fire to take in the rest of the area. "What's with all the fire and ice?"
"It's pretty much the theme for the club. Hiasobi to Aisu translates to 'playing with fire and ice' so someone took that and ran," Ryou explained. "You should see the inside. It's pretty stunning."
Malik arched a pale brow. "You've been in here before?"
Ryou shook his head. "I've heard different descriptions of the club and seen some pictures from random sources, mainly from the Internet." The Brit looked at the colorful building. "I've been wanting to go here for the longest time."
Malik chuckled. "I would ask why, but I think I'll just leave that issue rest." The Egyptian pulled his koibito closer to him, kissing the top of the Brit's head. "I wonder if we can sneak in?"
Ryou shrugged. Sneaking wasn't really his thing, but neither were ecchi nightclubs and overly tight leather. What the hell? Just go for it. "The windows above that crate stack over there are broken. We can probably get in that way," he pointed out.
Malik grinned lopsidedly and seized the sixteen-year-old's gauntleted wrist. "Then let's go!" Not quite waiting for a response, the Egyptian dragged his koibito across the grounds toward said crate stack.
As they approached their destination, the ground started to vibrate under the power of the music playing underground. Once they scurried up the molding old crates and slid down to the warehouse, the saw the entrance for the club itself, unguarded.
Malik chuckled as he proceeded to drag Ryou across the floor. "Just like last time," he noted under his breath, stealing into the shadows to prevent the burly bouncer from spotting the pair.
"'Last time'? Care to explain?" Ryou demanded, allowing his exotic koi to lead him around the 'watch dog's' eye.
Malik just shrugged. "Me and Bakura hit this place once during Battle City." The teenager winced. "I've never had that bad a hangover in my life."
"...You what?" Ryou stopped dead in his tracks, looking none too pleased.
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