Chapter Twenty-Nine:

Procession of a Thousand Years

Joey shook Seto hard, trying to draw the older teen out of the throws of whatever nightmare he was having before someone got hurt. "Ryuu, hey, Seto! Get up!" The American took a deep breath, letting his hand made solid contact with the CEO's face.

Seto yelped, jerking upright in a dazed panic. "What's wrong? Joey?"

"Hey, I'm right here." Joey hugged Seto to him, smoothing the brunet's tousled hair gently. "What is going on in that thick skull of yours? I've had to wake you up like this all week!"

Seto took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "It's nothing, koinu."

"Oh, like Hell it's nothing," Joey shot back. "Stop being such a hard ass and tell me what's wrong. You've been so preoccupied since..." Since he saw Ishizu. "Seto, what did Ishizu show you to put you in such a state?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Seto Kaiba, Ishizu showed you something that night and I want to know what it was. You've been a complete wreck since then and I have a right to know why!" Joey growled. "No one is here to see you act human, ryuu. You can talk to me."

"I told you, it's nothing," Seto replied, growing irritated with his lover's prying.

"If you won't talk to me, talk to Mokuba. He's worried sick about you. He won't say anything because he knows how you've been but he's a nervous wreck not knowing what's wrong with his nii-sama." Joey moved so he could face Seto. "Have you realized he's not talked to you often in the past week? Have you realized that this is the most I spoken to you in a week?"

"That's your own fault for being so touchy," Seto quipped coldly. "As for Mokuba..." The stoic brunet sighed, running his hands through his hair. "That was a mistake."

Joey glared icicles at his koi. "Seto, stop being an asshole and tell me what in the fuck is going on in that concrete block you call a head before I take a jackhammer to it and extract the information myself!"

Seto hardly looked phased, though he could tell that Joey, as well as Mokuba, had been fretting over his behavior. It's only fair that Joey knows what I do. ...Though, he could stand to not know some facts. "If you want to know, I'll tell you."

Joey nodded, getting comfortable. He could tell this was going to be a long explanation.

* * * *

Ryou groaned as an annoying ray of light that beamed down on his face mercilessly, cracking a hazy chocolate eye open to see he was on the floor in his apartment's living room. ...Huh? When did I... Oh, yeah, Malik dragged me home. The Brit pushed himself off of the carpet, groaning as his whole body loudly protested the action.

Half-yawning, half-groaning, Ryou looked around the room, absently grabbing his Item off the table and slipping it around his neck. Before he could retreat to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, two frantic Spirits appeared before him. "Nani?!"

Bakura shook Ryou's shoulders hard. "Hikari, where in the fuck is the Puzzle?"

Ryou blinked. "Right..." He looked down, icy cold panic washing down his spine as he realized the Item he wore was the Ring, not the Puzzle. He turned away from Bakura, searching around for the Pharaoh's Item in a terror. "K'so! How could-"

Yami grabbed a note off the table, scanning it quickly. His eyes widened fractionally as he balled it up in his semi-transparent fist. "Why that backstabbing son of a bitch," he growled. The third magical eye appeared on his forehead, his form solidifying as a magenta aura licked his frame. "Do you know what happened, Ryou? Have you any idea?"

Ryou gulped. Last time he saw the Pharaoh this mad, it almost resulted in his other half being torn limb from spiritual limb. "No?"

"HE USED YOU!"

"NANI?! Iie! What are you talking about?" Ryou yelped.

"Malik has the Puzzle Ryou! And the Sun Dragon Ra." Yami grabbed at his hair, starting to pace in short circles. "I can't believe that snake tricked us like this!"

Bakura obviously wasn't the only one following. "Who tricked us?"

Yami turned on the other Egyptian, his eyes flickering with a demonic crimson light. "Malik used Ryou to get the Puzzle and my god card!

"He wouldn't," Bakura defended.

Yami threw the ball of paper at the Ring guardian, stopping his pacing to look at Ryou. He flinched when he saw the mix of fear, pain, and disbelief in the sixteen-year-old's eyes, forcing himself to calm down.

"M-my God... Yami no Yugi, I never..." Ryou shook his head, letting his bangs cover his eyes as a shamed blush covered cheeks. He turned stiffly, almost limping as he ascended the stairs to go into his bedroom.

Bakura cringed as a resounding slam echoed through the house, finishing the hasty note. "I can't believe it." He looked at Yami, tossing the paper onto the table again. "How could we have not seen this coming?"

"Like Ryou, we trusted too easily," Yami replied, the third eye slowly fading away with his ebbing anger. "An easy mistake with a character such as Malik."

Bakura sighed, shaking his head. "First time in his life Ryou finds someone to trust and this happens to him." The Spirit crossed his arms. "And I hate to admit it, but this was all Malik's doing. I couldn't sense a trace of Marik within the kid."

Yami sat down on a chair, gazing at the floor. "Then we now know how far Marik's corruption ran in Malik." He looked up at Bakura searchingly. "You know we're going to have to hunt him down."

Before Bakura could reply, the sound of a creaking door sounded through the house. The snow haired thief went over to the stairs, calling up, "Hey Ry, can I talk to you?"

Ryou appeared at the top of the stairway, looking like a life-like statue. "I'm getting in the shower," he stated emotionlessly. "Then I'm going to tell Yugi what happened."

Bakura nodded, but not quite ready to give up. He had been in Malik's position once and was desperate to relay to Ryou that there still may be a third party pulling the Egyptian's strings. ((Hikari, there is still a chance that this is Marik's fault. Don't blame Malik so quickly.))

(Urusai, mou hitori no boku, onegai.)

Bakura winced when heavy mental shield blocked Ryou's mind. "He won't listen," the Spirit said dejectedly. It's been years since he addressed me so formally. "I suppose we're going to break the news to Yugi and work things out from there."

Yami nodded. "Don't let Ryou's disposition get to you. This is a hard blow for him."

Bakura sat down by the other Egyptian, sighing. "And the thing is, we don't know what really happened."

* * * * *

"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!"

Seto continued to gaze impassively at Joey, semi-amused by the American's look of horrified indignance as he loomed over the teenaged CEO. "I didn't see a need to."

"You did- Ugh! I can't... You... Koi no baka!" Joey threw his hands up. "Think about this logically for three seconds, Set! We need to tell Yugi because he may know something we don't!"

"According to Ishizu, he's been living through what I just explained," Seto replied serenely. "Why tell him what he already knows."

"Because he don't know what happened in the past! Him and Yami think that you were Yami's antagonist in Egypt, not that creepy guy! We need to tell them!"

"Don't be ridiculous, koinu. Yugi's a smart kid. He can figure it out on his own."

Joey growled, storming over to his half of the closet to pull out a tee shirt and a pair of jeans. "I don't care if I have to carry you there, we're telling Yugi everything you just told me."

"Why should I?"

Joey growled, peeling his pajamas off to quickly jump into his street clothes. "You've got three minutes, Seto. I'm going to go tell a convenient lie to Mokuba."

Seto rolled his eyes. "He standing right there, koinu."

Joey looked down as he opened the door to see a highly sheepish Mokuba standing there. "You're horrible, kid, you know that?"

Mokuba shrugged. "I know." He glared over at Seto. "You're going to tell Yugi or me and Joey will."

Seto was already up collecting his things. "Before you two start a revolt, I'll tell the little twerp what's going on. But I'm not getting involved in an wild goose chases, got it?"

"Fine with me," Joey replied. "You've got five minutes."

"It's not like the world's going to end in ten," Seto muttered.

Joey glared at him. "Get moving, ryuu."

* * * * *

Yugi yawned widely, shuffling over to the front door. Most traces of sleep instantly disappeared when he saw Seto and Joey standing at his front door. "Um... Hi."

Joey dragged himself and his lover in past the stunned Puzzle holder. "Yug', Seto here has some important information to relay to you."

Yugi's brows furrowed. "What's wrong?"

"The moron when and saw Ishizu a week or so ago and he's been harboring the entire past in that thick head of his the whole time." Joey smiled sweetly at Seto. "But, he had a change of heart and decided to come here and tell you, isn't that right?"

Seto just glared at the blond.

Yugi sighed. "This is going to take a while, isn't it?"

"Given you're his worst enemy, I'd say so," Joey replied forcing Seto to sit before jumping into his lap to prevent the CEO was going anywhere quick. "So, start talking, Set."

* * * * *

It had been three endless hours of questions and answers and whoever had knocked on the door at that moment was Joey's unknowing savior, with Seto three seconds away from throttling the brains out of his lover's head.

Yugi got off the chair, padding softly over to the door. The Japanese teen was shocked to see Ryou standing there, a shaken mess. "What happened?" he asked uncertainly. His surprise doubled when the Brit knocked away the arm he put around the trembling shoulders.

"Don't touch me," he nearly growled, eyes cast toward the ground.

"Yugi, what- Ryou! What's wrong, buddy?" Joey asked, appearing around the corner. His eyes fell on the Item around the other duelist's neck. "You have the Ring back."

"And M-Malik has the Puzzle."

"Nani!?" Yugi yelped.

Ryou glared at him, pulling a slip of paper out his pants pocket. "Read it and weep, Yugi," he murmured, slinking into the living room with a small sigh. "Don't ask what's wrong, Kaiba," he cut the CEO off, knowing exactly what he was going to ask.

"Ryou, how did this happen?" Joey asked, having just finished the note. "I mean, how'd Malik get the Puzzle from you?"

Ryou couldn't bring himself to admit it. "I don't know," he replied harshly, wiping at his eyes hastily to clear the collecting tears. He'd slowly been stewing in his rampant emotions and was quickly loosing control all together.

Yugi appeared a second later. "Y-Yami and Bakura? Where are they?"

"Why would the Pharaoh be in the Ring, of all places?"

A small light was the only warning before Bakura appeared next to his hikari, Yami at his shoulder. "Finally admitting to the whole hikari/yami complex?" the thief sneered, sitting down on the arm of Ryou's chair.

Yami yelped when he was dragged down into the other Egyptian's lap. "We don't know how this happened. But, we have reason to believe it wasn't Malik's fault."

"You don't know shit but you know who took the Puzzle?" Ryou snorted derisively. "That's a contradiction if I've ever heard one."

Bakura spared a dark glare at his other half. "Stop wallowing in pity, moron." He was sick of his hikari's attitude, especially since the teen wouldn't hear any line of logic outside of his own.

Ryou turned on the Spirit with a sort of ferocity no one had ever seen in the gentle teen. "Just shut the fuck up, Bakura. You have no idea what just happened to me and you probably wouldn't understand either way."

The only one not phased, strangely enough, was Joey. The American crossed the living room to take up a seat opposite Bakura and Yami, trying not to dwell on the creepy factor of being able to see through them. "We're not tryin' to pry, Ryou-"

"Then don't."

Joey's coffee eyes narrowed some, some divine line of thinking striking the blond. Shit! Malik and Ryou... Damn! That's the problem. He shot Seto a look. Tell me that doesn't ring a bell. Tact Wheeler, remember. "Look, I know it hurts to wake up alone, but you've gotta get over it."

Ryou looked at Joey in mixed shock and rage. "So you're pretending to know?"

The taller teen held his hands up. "Nope. I've been down that road before, Ry. Look who I'm datin' and argue the point."

Ryou's shoulder's slumped. "So?"

"So stop it!" Joey shot back. "There's always a reason for the assholes to take off."

Ryou crossed his arms, taking a steadying breath. He refused to break down in front of everyone but his resolve slipped with each passing second. "What are you and Seto doing here anyway?"

"I suppose you can say I learned an enlightening lesson from Ishizu," Seto replied. "I told Joey and he dragged me over here to let Yugi know. I was about to kill him for being thick when you walked in."

"Forgive me for interrupting," Ryou snipped.

"Forgiven," Seto replied coolly.

"I wasn't being serious."

Seto shrugged, leaning back and crossing his legs easily. "Think of it as repentance for more then interrupting me."

Yami smoothed down Ryou's wild hair. "Just listen to us, Ryou. It might not have been Malik." The former Pharaoh sighed. "I'd dare say that Marik could have taken refuge in one of our Items before I defeated him in Battle City. "

"That would explain that writing on the walls," Bakura pitched in.

"What writing?" Yugi asked.

"I just pawned it off as a cruel joke, especially after Yami told me to forget about it."

"I told you?" the Puzzle guardian repeated. "I never remember anything about writing on the walls or telling you to blow it off."

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "But you said, and I quote, "It's probably someone's idea of a sick joke. Just forget about it, okay?" You looked a little off, but I counted it as you having a bad day."

"How off?" Yami demanded.

Bakura shrugged. "Just tired. But, I figured if you had the energy to..." The thief's eyes narrowed. "You never were the dominant type..."

"Bakura!" Yugi groaned.

"He kissed me, fern head. Remember, in school?" Bakura growled. "Pretty pushy about it too. Only... Shit." He looked down at Ryou, then at Yami, who looked completely clueless. "That wasn't you that kissed me, was it?"

Under any under circumstances, the others would have gone into hysterics at the crestfallen look on Bakura's face. But now, it just made Ryou's nerves fray worse. No, no, no. Bakura said Marik's dominant... Malik wasn't. No way in Hell!

Yami threw his hands up in exasperation. "This just got better. Seto's withholding important information from us all, Marik's got the Puzzle, and the traitor kissed my thief!"

Bakura blinked. "Possessive much."

Ryou moved off the chair with a wince, trying to smother his limp as he went into the kitchen to collect himself. This is too much. I knew I shouldn't have dropped my defenses! Goddammit! Malik even warned me not to be so trusting!

"Ryou?"

The Brit turned to see Yami enter the kitchen. "What do you want?"

"Don't blame yourself or Malik," the spike haired Pharaoh replied softly. "There are still other explanations."

"It doesn't justify what I did. I was careless with the Puzzle," Ryou hissed, trying to grasp the last bits on his control. "I told you not to." The Brit snorted. "Everyone can see that I'm dangerous and I just ignore their warnings."

Yami shook his head, leaning his back against the counter. He stayed silent, knowing that the snow haired teen needed to vent.

"Malik told me not to trust him, gave me numerous chances to turn back. What did I do? I didn't pay attention, just kept on going without a thought to the repercussions." Ryou buried his head in his hands. "I just keep screwing up and now it can't be fixed."

Yami sighed, resting a comforting hand on the Brit's shoulder. "It can be fixed. If you're up to it, we'll go back into the living room and see what Seto has to say."

Ryou shook his head. "Go on. I'm just removing myself from this situation before I get someone else into trouble," he growled, going over to the kitchen table to gingerly take as seat. He took the Ring from around his neck, throwing it at Yami. "Take it."

The Pharaoh looked down at the precious Item, closing his eyes before setting it down on the table by the Brit. "Bakura, come here."

Ryou glared up at the Spirit as his other half came into the room. "What now?"

"Ryou, let Bakura take control and you hang around your soul room," Yami replied calmly. "That way you have someone to talk to without the incriminating glances."

The Brit just nodded, switching places with Bakura of his own volition for the first time in his life. Once he was safely away from his consciousness and had blocked his yami properly, Ryou sat down heavily and finally allowed himself to break down.

Before long, the teen had fallen into blissful sleep, missing the heartbroken sigh that floated across the room.

* * * *

"So, Kaiba, what's this big revelation of yours?" Yugi asked as Bakura and Yami sat back down.

"According to what I've seen, the real battle that happened in ancient Egypt wasn't between my past self and the Pharaoh as expected, but a handful of people versus a renegade Priest."

"But the tablet that Ishizu found...?" Yami asked.

"The winner of the duel was never mentioned because the duel was never finished. The Priest, whom everyone had thought destroyed by a thief, took that moment to reveal himself. He never said why he wanted to destroy the Pharaoh, but made it apparent that he hated you," He pointed at Yami. "And everyone associated with you."

"Do you know who 'everyone' is exactly?" Bakura questioned.

Seto ran the different people through his mind, trying to recall their names. "Khasekhemwy, Ausar, Seth, Kavala, Antaios, Bakura, Kasirika, and Mahaado."

Yami glanced at the Ring Spirit. "Bakura had white hair?"

Seto nodded. "Messily chopped, white, and his eyes were violet." The brunet studied the carpet. "Kasirika and Bakura are the same person and I take it you know that."

Yami sighed. "Yes, we do. Keep going."

"When the Priest interrupted Seth and the Pharaoh's duel, it ended in Ausar, Kavala, and Antaios' deaths. I'm not sure, but I think the Priest and Ausar were brothers. But, after that duel, the Pharaoh and the others were given a short respite to regroup before the Priest attacked again. No one fell in that duel, it was decided that the two thieves that were murdered would be reanimated in time to face off with the Priest. The Pharaoh managed to get things in order for the third and final duel in the ruins of a village. The end result was everyone but the Pharaoh and Kasirika, surviving."

"They killed each other the following morning," Yami intoned solemnly.

Bakura looked troubled. "We can pretty much piece things together from there. Yami is Khasekhemwy, Kavala is Ryou, Antaios is Malik, the Priest's name is Mahaado and he's lovely little Marik." His chocolate eyes darted between Seto and Joey, suddenly feeling bad for the latter. "Seth was obvious you, Kaiba. That would make Joey Ausar's reincarnation and Marik's brother."

"WHAT?!" Joey thundered.

"Well, it makes sense," Yami pointed out. "Things are playing out just as they have, right down to the last scar."

"I am not that fruitcake's brother!" Joey grabbed at his hair. "Anyway, what gives with Bakura being two different people at the same time?"

Bakura shrugged. "I remember that when I was with Yami, I was Kasirika. When I was with Mahaado, I was Bakura." The thief hung his head. "Mahaado took me in and I helped him plot against the Pharoah. Unfortunately, I fell in love with the fern head and was forced to keep switching sides to keep my secret safe."

Seto's gaze darkened considerably. "If it helps, your magic act got your hikari killed."

Bakura stiffened. "Why would-"

"I suppose the Priest caught on to you and ordered you to kill the kid as a sign of loyalty. You did it okay." Seto shook his head. "Then you had the audacity to stick around and help bring him back for a second round."

"Hey, hey, back off, Seto!" Joey hissed, elbowing the CEO in the ribs. "He made up for it in the end. Stop being so intense and creepy. It's weird."

Yugi, who had been listening raptly, finally spoke up. "Now what?"

* * * * *

Ryou felt a jolt of guilt leak through his defenses, pulling him away from the peaceful lull of sleep. He immediately felt fingers gently raking through his hair and he growled. "I'm still mad at you Bakura," he muttered, but didn't move at any rate.

"Too bad I'm not Bakura," a heavily accented voice replied.

Ryou jerked upright, halfway expecting to come face-to-face with Malik. Instead, he found himself staring at a young man with wild charcoal hair and glittering toffee eyes. His whole body was covered in blackish-red bruises and various gashes. "W-Who are you?"

The strange Egyptian shook his head. "That's not important and my time here is short. All you need to know is that Priest's other self has taken refuge in the ruins of Kuru Eruna; Bakura will know where that is. You must move swiftly or things will go from bad to worse."

Ryou sat up, confusion and a spark of fear shining in his eyes. "How do you know this?"

"Your questions will be answered later, Ryou. Do not let your confused heart lead you astray and all will turn out right in the end." The cryptic Egyptian started to fade quickly.

"Wait!" But it was too late and Ryou was left alone in his soul room again. The Brit sighed and laid down again, intending to go back to sleep when he felt something give him a hard poke. "What!?" He looked around to see nothing, shaking his head.

"Tell the thief, damn it!"

"Gah!" Ryou was on his feet in no time, heart racing within his chest. Um... Maybe I should tell Bakura now.

* * * * *

"Now, how in the seven hells do we track down-"

"Bakura!"

The thief looked over, surprised to see Ryou appear in metaphysical form by his side. "What's wrong? You look like you saw a ghost."

"He looks like a ghost," Joey muttered, shuttering violently. "That is so creepy."

"Malik's hiding in Kuru Eruna," Ryou spluttered quickly. "I think he's tried to rewrite some part of history and we have to find him quick. You know where this place is?"

Bakura's eyes narrowed. "Where did you find this out?"

"You'd never believe me." Ryou set his hands on Bakura's shoulders. "Just answer me this: Do you know where Kuru Eruna is?"

Bakura nodded, along with Yami. "The both of us do. But, that's all the way in Egypt and it takes a while to get there."

"Hey, freaks, we're forgetting that my koibio is filthy rich and owns half an airport?" Joey spoke up. "I'm sure he'll lend us one."

Seto shrugged, trying his best to hide the fact that this whole situation was becoming extremely unsettling. "Whatever."

Yami looked to Yugi seriously. "You are not a part in this, aibou, so I want you to stay here."

"No way, Yami!"

Seto jumped in. "Mokuba's staying here as well. If you want, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you were to keep him company. He'll be busy from time to time with KaibaCorp, but there's enough at the mansion to keep you more then occupied."

"Wait a second, you're leaving a twelve-year-old in charge of the company?" Joey demanded.

"He's the vice president," Seto deadpanned. "He knows what to do, trust me."

"Last time I trusted you, I got charred by a big gaudy birdy." Joey sighed. "Yug', we don't need anymore people involved then there already are. The dead guys can stay in the Ring and hopefully we'll come home with the Puzzle."

"And the Rod," Ryou put in harshly.

Yugi knew he was defeated and bowed out gracefully. "Just be careful guys. I don't want to have to bury any more friends."

Bakura smiled. "Gods willing, the only person that'll be buried is-"

Yami elbowed the Spirit, knowing what he was going to say and not wanting Ryou to go off. "We'll be careful, aibou. We'll contact you once we get to Memphis."

Ryou sighed, trading places with Bakura and shoving Yami off his lap. "Let's go, lovebird," he quipped at Seto and Joey. "We don't have much time."

"What about packing?" Joey asked.

Ryou shrugged. "We're not going to be there that long, I can assure you of that."

Joey shuttered, something about the Brit's tone none too comforting.

* * * * *

Under the cooling sands of Kuru Eruna, Malik Ishtar smiled. His graceful hands wove intricate symbols as he chanted a long and complex spell under the light of scattered candles. As expected, his plans had worked and the past would soon be rewritten to place him as the Living God, not Yami.

Before the Egyptian fiend lay a barely preserved mummy bathed in an angry red aura. Under the influence of the incantation being woven, the cadaver started to rebuild itself to a state of perfection. Muscle and tissue started to cover now ivory bone as organs once placed in canopic jars reappeared in their proper places.

Malik's chanting grew in ferocity and speed, his hands moving impossibly fast.

Flesh stretched over gleaming muscle, a formerly severed leg rejoining the body with little more then a scar where the cut had been made. Deeply cut and inked lines appeared on the devastatingly handsome face and thick, shoulder-length hair created an ethereal halo around the body. The aura surrounded the lithe frame slowly faded from crimson to ebony before dying away completely.

Malik stepped back, the first incantation finished. He tapped into the underflow of the Ring's power via the Puzzle, his own body surrounded with amethyst energy as a silvery mist appeared before him. The Egyptian started to look pale, the mist taking on a more solid form as it swept forward to join with the newly rebuilt body.

Cinnamon eyes snapped open, looking around sharply from under a fringe of willowy black. A slow smile stretched over his full lips and he sat up slowly.

Malik collapsed to his knees, gazing up at the living Egyptian before him in something akin to fear and admiration.

"Very well done child." The raven-haired man stood, stretching the wounded leg experimentally and rolling his head around. "Excellent work, just like new." He smiled lecherously at the faint seveteen-year-old before him, slender fingers reaching for the dagger that lay on the slab behind him. "You know what must be done now, don't you?"

Malik shuttered, feeling the cold metal trace the taboo on his back. "Y-Yes."

The older man nodded, pulling the younger Egyptian to his feet to lay him down on the slab facedown. "It all comes back to you, doesn't it? The pain you escape, the scars you hide... It all comes back to haunt you in the worst way," he murmured as he tethered Malik's hands and ankles to the stone. "And we all know how much this is going to hurt, don't we?"

Malik barely had time to nod before the dagger plunged into his back.

* * * * *

Ryou paced up and down the expansive room like a caged tiger, having to step over Joey each revolution. "Would you go sit somewhere else?"

Joey looked up at him with a shrug. "The carpet's comfy and Seto's working again so I can't sit on him."

Ryou rolled his eyes and finally crashed down into a plush armchair. He sat in silence for three seconds before jumping back up to pace again.

Bakura appeared by the restless teen, eyebrow raised. "I wonder if we'll go faster by sticking you on one of those hamster wheels? I think you've covered ten miles in just this little expanse of room, imagine how much faster we could have gone."

Ryou shoved his hands in his pockets, sitting down long enough to tighten his shoe laces before moving about once more. "I just want to get to Egypt, get the Puzzle, and go home."

"What about-"

"We'll bury him under the sands, God willing."

Bakura blinked. He'd never seen Ryou this angry and still didn't know why he was letting Malik's betrayal effect him so deeply. "Why in the Hell are you like this, hikari? What happened at that nightclub?"

Ryou growled. "I got careless, okay?"

"How careless?"

"It's none of your business."

Bakura huffed. "It's not like you got drunk and screwed him."

Ryou winced, sitting down at a nearby table with his back to the Spirit. "Like I'd ever do that," he spat venomously.

Yami appeared in time to hold Bakura where he was. /Leave him alone, Bakura./

//He can't keep running from this, Yami. He's going to have to face Malik very soon and can't do so if he's still-//

/Either way, it is going to hurt him./

Bakura sighed. //You talk to Ryou. He seems to trust you more and I don't blame him.//

Yami looked perplexed before he realized what the thief was trying to say. /I think you should talk to him, Bakura. You were in Malik's position once so maybe you can help Ryou see things from another point of view./

//And what if it turns out that Malik did use Ryou?//

/Then you'll look awfully foolish, won't you?/

"Hey, Set, can I borrow your deck?" Joey suddenly asked.

Without looking up from his laptop, Seto reached into his trench coat pocket and tossed the bundled up deck to his lover.

"Thanks." Joey got up off the floor and joined Ryou at the table, sliding his own cards across the way to the Brit. He rifled through the deck he had been given, relieved to see it was one of Seto's minor decks.

Ryou gladly accepted the distraction from his thoughts and shuffled up Joey's beloved cards. When he was done, he played Ra Sham Bo with the American, looking sour when his scissors were beaten by Joey's rock.

Joey drew his first card and put in the set defensive before ending his turn. "So, what nightclub did you hit?"

Ryou shrugged as he drew his card, setting two in the magic/trap zone before summoning the Swordsman of Landstar. "Hiabobi to Aisu, down by the school. I attack your set card."

Joey blinked as he flipped the card over to reveal a Hyozanryu. "I hate that damned place. Twenty-four hundred damage to you."

"Why? What happened to you there?"

Joey laughed as he pulled the Rude Kaiser. "Me and Seto hit that hellhole right after it opened. We'd been dating for close to a year and got totally wasted. Well, I wake up the next morning sitting outside the club with one hell of an ache. Oh, I destroy your Swordsman."

Ryou's eyes widened as he flipped Graceful Dice. "No way. Yami, number from one to six."

"Three."

Joey nodded. "Seto preceded to ignore me for three weeks straight," he continued as Ryou's put his Swordsman in the grave and drew a card.

"Or he thought I was," Seto interjected. "A business transaction went sour and it took me that long to straighten things out."

"And he's obviously still alive and we're happy," Joey finished.

Ryou huffed. "There's a slight difference between bad business and trying to take over the world," he pointed out, setting his hand down. "Kaiba, no offense, I would expect that from you. But I thought that Malik would be so much different from his other side."

"It's a strong force to try and pull away from," Joey replied. "I mean, I've seen what's happened with you and Yug' and I'd stake my life on this whole thing being that spike haired freak's fault."

"You think so?"

/Didn't I try to say that?/

//Don't question the mind of a teenager.//

"Well, yeah. Look at how many times Bakura's come back from the Shadow Realm or escaped death. I really wouldn't be surprised," Joey pointed out.

Help me...

Ryou suddenly hissed, eyes slamming shut against a torrent of pain that assaulted him. He breath became ragged and he felt like he was pinned down. "I-It's not me," he gasped out, sensing Bakura by his side. "F-from somewhere else." A particularly sharp spark of pain shot through his nerves and he cried out.

Ra, make it stop.

Ryou felt like curling up into himself, a tidal wave of emotional despair clawing at his mind. He could feel little phantom symbols being cut into his back, but realization was slow to his pain-wracked brain. Tentatively, he reached out for the source of the pain, getting a jolt of fear in response.

Don't. Block it out!

Ryou gulped, persistently stretching out through the waves of pain to try and touch whoever it was that was hurting. What he felt made his breath quicken even more. Before he could do anything, steel mental barriers went up around his own mind. "B-Bakura!"

"What was that?" Yami demanded.

"I-It..." Ryou tried to gather himself, now confused more then ever. Did he just try to protect me? But why? "I don't know," he lied.

Bakura glared at his other half.

Ryou forced his heart to stop trying to jump out of his chest and got control of his erratic breathing. "W-Who else do I have a bond to?"

Yami jumped at the question first. "Malik? But what in the Hell could..." The Pharoah somehow managed to look deathly pale. "His back?"

Ryou nodded.

Bakura gripped the Brit's shoulder, staring at him intensely. "Do you know exactly what's wrong?"

"I-I think someone is re-carving the hieroglyphics on his back," Ryou replied tersely. "That's what it felt like, at least."

Bakura swore colorfully in Egyptian, Japanese, and another, even stranger language as he shook his hikari. "This is bad! You know that?! We have-"

"Stop it!"

Bakura let go of Ryou, sitting on the table instead. "'When the blood from the Key of Forthcoming is spilt, a great tear between future and past will appear and the Games of Shadow will reopen for whosoever paints the spell.'"

Yami studied Bakura closely. "Where did you hear that from? I could have sworn I've heard it before."

"That's because it's part of the passage on Malik's back," the other Spirit replied.

Seto looked up over his computer's screen, azure eyes intense. "There are two Keys, one of Closing and the other of Forthcoming. If I'm following you all, Malik should be the Key to open the games. I'm not sure about who the Key of Closing is."

"Do you know who it was that bore the inscription?" Ryou asked.

"Mahaado."

"Marik would have been the Key of Closing then," Yami pointed out. "Ryou, are you sure the pain was coming from your back?"

"Dead sure. Whatever was happening, it was scaring the shit out of Malik." The Brit's tone held some sort of feral glee at the notion.

"Don't sound so happy," Joey muttered. "Okay, so any idea what happens once these creepy games are opened again?"

"Complete darkness will overtake the world and plunge us into an age of tyranny and destruction," Yami replied simply. "No big deal."

Ryou sighed, quietly trying to pry past Bakura's barriers for reasons he wasn't quite sure of. I have to see if it really was Malik. ...What if it was Marik? Why in the Hell would he mind that sort of pain? Heh, it had to be Malik then. Ryou scratched his head. Why do I sound so happy about that?

((Stop trying to pry,)) Bakura growled.

Ryou jumped, knowing he was caught. (I just wanted to see if, er, that was really Malik.)

((No, you wanted to see just how much pain he was in as a means of personal revenge for being walked out on,)) Bakura countered.

Ryou ducked his head as Seto, Joey, and Yami discussed the ramifications of the Shadow Games being reopened. (How would you know?)

((Are you forgetting who you're talking to? All my life consisted of was seduction, revenge, theft, and murder.))

(Then what's with Yami?)

((I was in Malik's position by time that my life ended. I still loved Mahaado, but my heart also belonged to the Pharaoh. I had countered this by dividing myself into two people. Bakura belonged to Mahaado and Kasirika to the old fern head over there.))

(So you're saying Malik should force himself to suffer from split personality disorder?)

((No. Each of the hikaris holds an unspoken alliance with their yamis. With you and Malik, Malik has to chose between his love or his life, really.)) Bakura shrugged. ((You did the same thing at one point.))

(...I did?) Ryou didn't like where this was going.

((You had to choose between your love for your friends or your alliance to me. More then once did you betray me to save them,)) Bakura explained. ((Sure, I made my way back home, but it still stung.))

Ryou cringed at the memories of fouling up his other half's plans on several occasions. (But I didn't sleep with you then stab you in the back.)

((So?))

Ryou buried his face in his hands. (So I'm confused as Hell.)

((Marik was a strong force in Malik's life, almost his driving force at times. If I remember correctly, Marik appeared before Malik at age ten. Marik was like a sadistic big brother almost.))

Ryou hated to admit it, but Bakura had a point. (But I could shake you off.)

((No you couldn't. I could feel your guilt and loneliness and even now I see you acting off of what I've taught you.)) Bakura laid a hand on Ryou's shaking shoulders. ((I've been in Malik's shoes before-))

(Did they fit?)

Bakura rolled his eyes. ((Just give him a chance, Ry. Stop trying to take revenge until you know the full story.))

Ryou huffed. (Thanks for the pep talk, yami, but I'll do what I have to do.)

Bakura shook his head, moving away from Ryou to join the heating debate over who was responsible for the whole mess, leaving his hikari in a world of pain and confused thoughts.

* * * * *

After what seemed like forever, the dagger left Malik's back, leaving in its wake a path of bloody hieroglyphics.

"You bleed so well. This will do perfect."

"W-What is your name?"

"Ah, my other self never told you of our past life? In that case, I am the former holder of the Thousand Year Ring, the hem-netjer-tepy Mahaado. And if I'm not mistaken, you're Antaios' reincarnation."

Malik nodded, trying to clear his head of the pained haze clouding his mind. "I guess I am."

Mahaado smiled, releasing the teenager's chafed hands and legs. "But, you already knew who I was, didn't you?" The former Priest's smirk was chilling. "The dark one still resides in your soul."

Malik's dusty eyes leered at the reanimated lunatic dangerously. "I'm the one that brought you here, Mahaado. Don't forget that I can send you back to the underworld at a second's notice."

Mahaado scoffed at the blond's threat, patting down his wild hair condescendingly. "I'm going to have to hurt you one more time, little Malik. Then you can go back to your lover."

"That brat wouldn't have us back."

"Too bad." Mahaado snatched the Puzzle from Malik, studying it carefully. "The three Items have been linked. This is excellent." The willowy man smiled down at Malik. "The Games of Shadow will finally open again. And it's going to hurt you more then it's going to hurt me."

Malik shrunk back. "Like you haven't done enough?"

"Ah, no." The Priest placed the Puzzle around his neck, vibrant cinnamon eyes sliding shut as he started chanting.

Malik only had enough time to witness the silvery specter form by Mahaado's side before a tidal wave of crimson pain washed him into a sea of drowning unconsciousness.

* * * * *

It was clear into dawn as Ryou, Joey, and Seto set foot on Egyptian sand, but it didn't appear that way. The sun seemed to be in a permanent eclipse and puddles of incriminating red were scattered here and there while fires sent billowing plumes of smoke into the already darkened skies.

"What in the Hell happened here?" Joey muttered, dodging around a puddle.

"Blood, fire, darkness... Looks like someone is trying to rip of the Seven Plagues of Egypt," Ryou replied uncertainly.

"As long as the city doesn't come after us with raging boils chanting 'Imothep!', I'm good," Joey noted. He started ticking something off on his fingers.

"What are you doing?" Seto demanded impatiently.

"Blood turns to water, frogs, boils, lice, locusts, darkness, and first born sons die. I'm getting the feeling that the fire was optional?"

"Yami says you're hopeless," Ryou relayed. "And Bakura... We're not going to repeat what Bakura just said." The Brit fingered the Ring like it was a safety blanket. "We have to be close to the ruins. This thing's starting to tug me around."

"Then take it off."

Ryou jumped, glaring at his phantasmal yami narrowly. "Give me some warning before you do that, okay? I think I have enough to worry about in my life without you trying to give me a heart attack."

((I'm coming out, Ry.))

"...Smart ass." Ryou looked around. "This is Memphis. You should know where Kuru Eruna is from here, correct?"

Bakura nodded, Yami appearing by his side. "This almost looks like the place where the palace used to sit, doesn't it?"

The former Pharaoh nodded. "It does, but let's not dwell on such things. The city reeks of Shadow magic and there's a definite disturbance going on. It would be wise to find Malik as soon as possible."

"Well, if Bakura would stop shielding me, I could remedy that problem," Ryou muttered, glowering at his other half. "That's your cue to apologize and stop being overprotective."

Bakura shrugged. "Just say when."

Ryou was about to reply, when a rush of emotions, fear being the strongest, came rushing at him. He dimly felt strong arms catch him as he fell to the bloodied ground, his whole body screaming at every twitch. Even worse, his very spirit felt like it had been torn apart and sloppily sewn back together. This isn't my pain. Conquer and divide. The Brit slowly started picking through what feelings were his and which ones weren't, finally getting to the source of the pain. "Malik!"

Bakura jumped, looking at the pale teenager. "It is him?"

But Ryou wasn't listening. He stretched out through the forced bond he held with Malik, brushing against the Egyptian's aura to gain a shock. A second later, he got the distinct impression he was about to deal with one very unhappy seventeen-year-old.

-I told you not to go near me, you brainless idiot!-

Ryou frowned, getting the impression that his body was floating. -What in the Hell is up with you?-

A mental snort. -Just go away. I got what I needed and that's all you need to know.-

-That's all? You screw me over in the most literal sense then you go on your "I want to be the Pharaoh!" obsession again?- Ryou couldn't help but feel sympathy for Malik. He sounded like he was suffering so badly... He deserves it.

-Don't follow me, Ryou Bakura. I left you behind so you wouldn't be in the way. Do not come after me for any reason,- Malik snarled.

-Too late. We're in Memphis. You made a grave mistake letting me keep the Ring. Not only can it trace your Millennium Items, but my dark side lived in Kuru Eruna,- Ryou shot back triumphantly. -We're going to send you to Hell, where you belong, Malik. You'll wish you were never born to betray me.-

There was a sad sigh and what sounded like a muffled sob. -Too late.-

Ryou started. What was that? Did he. -Malik- The sixteen-year-old yelped when proverbial doors slammed in his face, jolting him into reality again. "What happened?" Chocolate eyes darted around, realizing he was moving.

Bakura hovered over his hikari with worry painted all over his face. "That's what I want to know. Ryou, you were practically comatose."

"Yeah. You started shakin' and crying and..." Joey trailed off. "Whatever happened left you with a lot of bruises."

Ryou slowly sat up, wincing. What in the... The teen finally noticed the bruises that had formed all over his arms and could tell there was a nice cut that had started to form on his shin. "I-I was actually talking to Malik. God, I could feel him like he was right next to me." He was so scared and in so much pain.

Yami looked extremely troubled. "The bond that Malik and Ryou share was forced. After such a short time, the connection is still very raw and shielding from either party seems to be practically impossible. Bakura, don't let Ryou go again. I don't like what's happening."

Before Ryou knew what he was doing, he was protesting. "But Yami no Yugi, Malik's scared. There's something with him that is enough to make him for his life."

"Why are you protecting him all of the sudden?" Seto growled, not taking his eyes off the road to glare at the Brit. "On the plane, you wanted to tear him to shreds the moment you found him."

Ryou sighed, leaning against Joey as he was the nearest form of a pillow. "I don' t know anymore, Kaiba. I really don't."

* * * * *

Only the heavens knew what how much time it had taken the group to trek their way out into the middle of the desert, half-running behind Ryou as the Millennium Ring mercilessly dragged him along.

"We're here."

"Stoooppp!" Ryou tumbled to a halt at the command, the Ring nearly gouging his heart out from the charms pointing in every which direction.

The other three stopped to look at Bakura, eyeing the dangerously moody Spirit. "How do you know?" Joey ventured to ask.


Bakura glared at the blond mortal. "There are a mass of angry, restless spirits here. Questing for human flesh and blood, kept away from the Field of Reeds because the gods cannot recognize them. Their wicked teeth gnash and clawed hands pry at all of us as we stand here, slowly eating at our immortal souls."

Ryou shuttered as he got to his feet, dusting his clothes off best he could. "What caused this?"

Bakura pointed to the hyperactive Ring disdainfully. "The spirits' life force and very bodies were formed into the seven Millennium Items and the tablet used to draw out their ultimate power. And to have three Items so very near to them is infuriating and glorious at the same time."

"This is Kuru Eruna," Seto murmured.

Yami turned to the CEO with narrowed eyes. "How would you know?"

Seto didn't reply, just started forward quietly with his gaze scanning the bleached sands sharply. He finally came to one place and stopped. "There was a massacre right here. Four people were slain by the spirits. The fifth person was beheaded a few paces from this spot."

Ryou begrudgingly wished he still had Malik by his side. Being able to feel the spirits everyone was talking about made him jumpy and the fact that Seto, the one person who detested magic, was pointing out past occurrences was even more unsettling. "W-Who died?"

"Ausar, Kavala, Antaios, and Seth were murdered here. Mahaado was slain by Kasirika's sword shortly after," Seto replied. "The sand's still bloody." The taller teenager rejoined the group, eyes raking the ruins cautiously.

"Food for my people," Bakura murmured. "We're close to Malik, I can sense the Rod." He suddenly turned to Ryou, a more familiar light in his eyes. "If this is too much, Ryou, go back. No one will blame you."

Ryou shook his head. "No. As you had business with Marik, I have business with Malik. He betrayed my trust and for that, I must defend myself."

Yami's ghostly hand rested on the snow haired duelist's shoulder. "You don't-"

"Yes, Yami no Yugi, I do have to do this," Ryou replied shortly. Despite his cold words, his heart continued to break. His earlier brush with Malik left him so confused, it was giving him a headache.

Joey gulped. "Can I go then 'cause I really have nothing to do with this and… I'm just a fifth wheel, kinda useless. I'm leaving."

"You're actually very useful, being the brother of my other self, your participation is required for me to successfully rewrite the past."

Ryou gasped, gaze jerking up to see a familiar frame perched atop a ruined wall. His hearted pounded, shattering a little bit more, as he stepped forward. "You're…" He looked closely. "...Not Malik."

The stranger smiled, jumping down to the ground gracefully. He was a little shorter then Seto with silky black hair and dancing cinnamon eyes. "In a way, I am." He waved his hand and his hair suddenly turned blond and spiked while his eyes bled to a dusty lilac.

Ryou jumped back, going through Bakura and nearly crashing into Joey. His heart hammered painfully and his breath was stolen away in his shock. "No, no, no."

Marik smiled poisonously. "Yes, yes, yes, Ryou!" He gestured to the ruins with a grand sweep of his hand. "But, you'll never live to tell the tale."

With a simple wave of his jeweled hand, the twisted spirits of Kuru Eruna shimmered to life and converged on the unprepared group with a hunger that hadn't been sated in five thousand years.

[grins] Okay, now who's confused and who's not? This is your last chance to take a stab at who the real antagonist is before everything's revealed… More or less. XD OH! OH! OH! Before I forget, my damned beta, Sani, sent me a clip of Marik's dubbed voice. Who here has seen "The Mummy" and/or "The Mummy Returns"? (If you haven't seen either, you're a sinner.) You all know Imothep, how he sounds when he's an undead freak?

Meet the American Marik. [shakes head] Malik sounds like a spoiled brat and Marik's Imothep reincarnate.

Evaru: Wow, she listened. No snide remarks this time. XD [gives Evaru Ryou on a leash] Have fun. [shrugs] And I've been caught! Ryou, Mokuba, and Trei's Ecchi-Vanilla-Scented-Vampire-Candle-From-Hell are all in this together. [hangs head] YOU RUINED A PERFECTLY SUSPENSEFUL ENDING YOU JERK! XDD

OxBeachFlirtxO1: Yay! More shocked speechlessness! [jumps up and down] Coolies! …Ahem… Noooo more espresso for the insane author. (Dude, Starbuck's Doubleshot ROCKS! Three or four cans later, you feel invincible. (I'm on six! XD)

happy yaoi lover: Don't die on me yet. This is the last suspenseful chapter, I swear to God. :] And don't take Marik's reappearance as the final answer. [giggles] I'm drawing the suspense out as long as I humanly can.

Shade Azuna: For the readers, trailer's are the Ultimate Evil. For the demonic author with twelve cans of espresso, trailer's are a gift from God. XD

Dragona 2007: lol. Don't worry. The story'll be here when you get around to reading it. XD

Acid Reign: Stop reading my mind with the chameleon tongues, okay?! [grins and bounces around] Everyone's going to have to be good at ducking bricks by the middle of the next chapter. I hope the characters and readers don't have any cardiac problems 'cause I have a nice little shock in store for you all! XDD

YamiCaitlin: …"Tea clones"… Maybe I should reform before it's too late. __U Blech! If I'm going to Hell, I'm at least dragging Marik down with me. Then I can channel Malik and have my bishie suffer an eternal death with me. XD And I'm Diabolical Evil now! HEAR THAT MINNA-SAN? I'M DIABOLICAL EVIL! [starts of seventh can of espresso] Arigatou! I'm… flattered!

Elle-FaTe2x1: I feel so horrible for chibi-Kura! I mean, damn! That kid's totally justified in trying to get the Items in my mind. …Unfortunately, that'll never happen because the fiction community is just plain evil. XD [pats Bakura's head and nearly gets hand bitten off] -___-U Yeah, anyway… If you hate suspense, don't read trailers ever again. XD

Andi-chan: I am evil, aren't I? [grins and giggles] What I did to Antaios is going to pale in comparison to the next chapter. (Or at least I hope it will.) Lots of surprises ahead! [grins] The whole gang is so fun to write, really they are. I kinda made a hybrid of the manga, dub, and anime for each character, but it seems to have gone over well with the masses. XD I'm a genuis! Yeah, so, you still think Malik is the bad guy? Huh, huh, huh? You're all just going to have to wait! [cackles] God, I love power!

Akuro: O)o I'm worshipped diabolical evil! [dances around] This is so awesome! I'm revered and completely black-hearted and twisted at the same time! XD But I would kill to be Yugi. Who wouldn't want two gorgeous guys making out in the back of your mind? (Okay, that sounds really strange, but I am strange, so it's okay.) I'm kinda sad though. I won't have anymore to write REALLY soon. T___T

blu chocobo: I went online before I wrote the last chapter and looked up different drink names. That was the most frighteningly hilarious assignment I've ever undertaken. But, I knew Malik walking out on Ryou would get a definite reaction. Only question left to answer is why, ne? XD

Sailor Comet: Yes, Marik's involvement in Ryou's reanimation is a part of the plot. Everything down to the placement of the last scar will be revealed next chapter. Trust me, Marik didn't just decide to be a good citizen and help reanimate the same kid he purposely killed. (Though that would be funny. XD) But I know about the lemons. [shrugs] It's kinda like a "Fuck you!" to the admins here at FFN and it's also 'cause I'm too lazy to tag everything for AFF. ^____^U I'll get around to doing that one of these days.


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Chapter Thirty Trailer:

Ryou slowly picked through the old debris carefully, holding his injured arm close to his chest. "This looks so familiar," he murmured.

Bakura nodded. "Like we've seen it before, but it wasn't us who was here."

"No," Yami disagreed. "We've been here before. Or, at least I know I have been… A long time ago for something very important." The former Pharaoh looked around. "But, you and Ryou could have seen this place in this life."

Joey shuttered. "Either way, it's creepy and it stinks horribly."

"Your delicate puppy nose can't handle it?" Seto chided, trying to get his koi to stay grounded.

"Shut it, ryuu."

"Look!" Ryou pointed to a hallway. "It looks like there's light coming from somewhere down there." Before anyone could reply, the Brit ran across the open room to the corridor. "Oh dear God."

Bakura disappeared to take form again by the Brit, almost unable to bite back the gasp that tried to flee his lips. "This is disgusting."

Ryou didn't dare enter the room before him anymore then he had too, gazing at the blood slicked floors and slab off in the corner. He closed his eyes, trying to fight back his gag reflexes at the heavy stench of decay and pungent herbs. In that instant, he caught a flash of what this room was used for in his mind's eye.

The small form writhed and twisted, trying to edge away from the merciless, searing blade permanently scarring his back with a "memory" he never wanted to bear. Tears ran down his scared and newly inked cheeks in the same fashion the blood ran down his back, his struggling starting to decrease as he started to slip in oblivion.

Ryou gasped, eyes flying open. "No… Bakura, this dungeon under the village… This-" He tried to grasp the enormity of it. "This is Malik's old home."

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