Chapter Thirty-One:

Conflict of Interest

A maelstrom of surprised shouts and flailing limbs ensued Bakura's lunge as everyone present attempted to stop the thief before he could deal damage to Yami. At the end of it, a nicely sized dog pile had formed with Bakura's dagger wielding hand trapped mere centimeters from the Pharaoh.

"Get off of me!"

"Hell no!" Joey shot back. He yelped when Bakura bucked up against the pile up of bodies, nearly flying off but managing to stay in place. "Yami, move it!"

"He can't," Marik sing-songed. "Remember who controls who around here."

Joey shot a glare over at Seto to see not a trace of the teenaged CEO anywhere. That lousy, no-good chicken! Just when we need help he has to run off!

Ausar was glaring hard at Marik from his upside down position under Kavala, trying to murder the spike haired fiend with his smoldering gaze. "Play fair for once," he hissed, having guessed just by looks that Marik was somehow "related" to Mahaado.

"Hey, Antaios!" Kavala hissed. "Try to get to that creature and get the Rod!"

"He'll see me!" Antaios pointed out in exasperation.

Before another word could be exchanged, the dog pile suddenly seemed on man shorter and Joey cursed when he saw Bakura make another go at Yami.

"Bakura, stop!" Marik suddenly ordered, his voice now tense and laden with anger. "Stand down," he growled.

Bakura, with his knife fit perfectly to Yami's throat, stood and waited for orders his mind was screaming at him he couldn't carry out.

Seto smirked as he held Mahaado in a fashion that he could easily snap his neck with little effort. "I don't know what happened or what's going on here, but I can guess by your reaction that his man means something to your existence."

Marik sneered, fingers curling around the Rod tucked into his sash. "Lucky guess," he snarled. "But why would you, of all people, want to save the Pharaoh?"

"Antaios, now you can try to get the Rod!" Kavala hissed, shoving his lover off his back before climbing off of Joey. He took a second to help Ausar up, whispering, "See if you can get the Pharaoh away from Bakura. Or at least get the dagger away."

Antaios carefully approached from Marik's blindside, motioning to Seto to keep the fiend talking. Sure that the CEO would do so, he tip-toed up to the guardian's back, glancing over at Yami and Bakura, eyes widening when he saw a formidable cut forming on the Pharaoh's neck. Taking evil Item now, he muttered to himself. Dear Ra, where's Seth when you need him?

While Antaios carefully removed the Rod from it's sheath, Ausar was creeping up behind Bakura to try and knock him away from Yami. Unfortunately, the snow haired thief caught his movements and purposely dragged his dagger across the Pharaoh's neck before taking a warning slash at his duelist.

"Hey, you!"

"It's Kavala."

"Okay fine. Kavala, there's two more people with us but there in that side room over there." Joey glanced at Antaios to see the crafty little thief had successfully stolen the Rod. "I take it he can create a distraction for us, but I need you to go see how they are. I'd go myself, but I don't want to leave with Seto in the middle of this thing."

Kavala nodded, somehow grabbing his lover's attention without making any noticeable actions. "Big distraction," he lipped to the other Egyptian, motioning that he had to take leave.

Antaios nodded with a wide smirk, tapping Marik on the shoulder. He leveled the Millennium Rod in the former Spirit's face, praying he wouldn't have to use it namely because he didn't know how to. "Release Yami."

Marik sneered, waving his hand at aforementioned Pharaoh. "Give that back."

Antaios danced away from the blond's grasping hand, grinning like a maniac. Okay Seth said just think of what you want the people to do and they're under your control.

Kavala prepared to make a quick dash out of the area, nudging Joey. "Be careful. Antaios with a Thousand Year Item is never pretty."

"Antaios, give me the damned Rod back before I snap you in two," Marik growled.

Seto gave Mahaado's neck enough of a twist to make it look painful. "Don't move."

Hmm... I need Bakura to let Yami go and attack the man by Kavala. Er... Joey he said his name was. Antaios concentrated his thoughts, feeling the underflow of the Rod's power. Bakura, attack Joey! Bakura, attack Joey! he chanted mentally.

But Bakura stayed where he was, lips drawn up in a fanged smirk. His skilled hands held the now released and frantic Pharaoh tightly, waiting for the chance to kill once again.

"Why isn't it working?!" Antaios cried in frustration.

Marik chuckled, letting the thief retain some semblance of an upper hand for the time being. "Look into his eyes, child. Do you see the gleam of a manipulated puppet or the insane sheen of a man out for revenge?"

Kavala dared to glance at his partner-in-crime, gasping when he saw an intense light in the Egyptian's demonic amethyst eyes. "Bakura...?"

The thief chuckled, returning the blade to Yami's throat. "I remember it all now. What the Pharaoh did to my people, what he did to me... What he did to Mahaado." He narrowed his eyes at Antaios. "Remember you said I would have to decide who I heart belonged to?"

Antaios only nodded, pinned in place by the older man's deranged glare.

"To Mahaado."

"No!" Yami cried out, struggling with renewed vigor as he felt Bakura's blade dig into his ribs. "Bakura! Don't do this!"

Bakura snarled like a starved dog, pushing the tip of his dagger in between the Pharaoh's ribs. "You betrayed me, Pharaoh," he whispered in the monarch's ear. "You used me like one of the wenches in your harem and threw me to the dogs when you found out that I played you as well. I don't like that."

Oh no... He remembers everything! Yami realized with a sinking feeling pulling at his heart. He could remember much more then before, but some pieces of his history were still hazy at best. He yelped when he felt he dagger press in further, blood staring to run down his skin in earnest. "You don't understand!"

"I understand fine, Khasekhemwy," Bakura sneered. "And you will not live to see tomorrow."

Marik snatched the Rod back from Antaios' unprepared grip, smiling triumphantly. "You can quit acting now," he muttered.

Before Seto could react, an elbow crashed into his gut, sending him reeling back as Mahaado sprang away from his grip. Again, his reflexes were too slow as he was faced with the point of a curved sword. "Bastard," he growled.

Mahaado just smiled, turning cinnamon eyes to Bakura and Yami. "Do you see now, Pharaoh, what the pain of a lover's betrayal can cause?"

Yami grit his teeth, choking back any sort of pained noise trying to escape his lips. "Like a dagger in the side," he ground out.

Marik hooted in laughter. "That's rich, Khasekhemwy! Though all too true."

Joey glanced at Kavala, making a shooing motion.

Kavala rolled his eyes, pointing at Mahaado then making a cutting motion across his throat. "He'll see me," he lipped.

Joey shrugged.

"Now Bakura, show your loyalty to me and finish the Pharaoh for good," Marik ordered.

Kavala kicked a bit of sand at Antaios, getting his attention the hard way. "Distraction," he whispered.

Antaios nodded, doing the first thing he could think of and rushed Mahaado with a reckless battle cry.

* * * * *

Ryou groaned, clutching his chest as tendrils of lingering pain hit him. Hazy chocolate eyes slowly cracked open, instantly coming in contact with a pair of cat-like emerald. The Brit yelped, scuttling away from the stranger and nearly into Malik. "W-Who are you?" He looked closer, the features striking a memory. "Kavala?"

"Yep. Who are you?"

"Um, I'm Ryou."

Kavala shrugged, moving over to Ryou to inspect him quickly. "You're alive. What about the dead guy behind you that looks like Antaios?"

"Oh! Malik!" Ryou turned on his knees, leaning close to the Egyptian to find him awake. "Hey, how do you feel?" he asked, shelving any biting remarks for the time being. He trusted that the blond hadn't betrayed him, but was smart enough to know some truths were going unsaid.

"Like shit, honestly," Malik grumbled in reply.

Kavala rolled his eyes. "Tactful."

Ryou ignored his past self, leering down at Malik for no real reason other to assure himself that he still had a chance to still kiss the Egyptian then hit him. "Do you think you can walk?"

"I could run around all of Egypt," Malik replied lightly, trying to turn over onto his side. The movement only sent a shock of fiery pain through his veins and he decided to stay still. "Then again, no."

Ryou sighed, running his hands through Malik's black hair. "What am I going to do with you?"

Kavala touched Ryou's shoulder, getting his attention. "I would advise the two of you to get out of here as soon as possible." A scream drew the small Egyptian's gaze to the doorway, his frame suddenly tense. "Then again, Ryou, can you walk?"

Experimentally, the Brit climbed to his feet, swaying uncertainly before steadying. "What's going on out there?"

"Two strangers whom I can assume are with you, the Pharaoh, Antaios, Bakura, Mahaado, his freakish look-alike, and Ausar are in a bit of a stalemate right now. I need you to help me," Kavala explained shortly.

"Wait! Someone has to stay here with Malik!" Ryou protested.

"I'll be fine."

"You can't even flinch, baka." Ryou looked to Kavala. "Stay here with Malik and I'll take your place."

Kavala shook his head. "But Antaios is out there!"

"Antaios can walk, Malik can't!"

Kavala growled, "Then stay here with your pathetic little dog."

Ryou's eyes narrowed. "That 'pathetic little dog' is Antaios reincarnation, Kavala."

The Egyptian huffed. "No way."

"I don't have time to argue. Are you coming or going?"

"Would you two shut up!" Malik hissed, being his ever lovably stubborn self by trying to get up.

Kavala sighed. "I know a few spells that'll get him back on his feet. It'll only take a few moments so go out and don't you dare let anything happen to Antaios or I'll hurt you so bad."

Ryou nodded and dashed out the room, only to find himself back on the ground underneath a pair of warring Egyptians.

* * * * *

Antaios diversion, while effective, had won him a brilliant struggle with Mahaado that had sent the two of them tumbling across the time rip and right into Ryou. "Sorry Kavala!"

"I'm not-GAH!" Ryou had to push himself and Antaios underneath Mahaado's blade, keeping the Egyptian's head down for good measure. "We have to keep him on that side!" he pointed out.

Antaios nodded, having noticed the change in the hallway's appearance. He gave a reckless cry and lunged at Mahaado to tackle his legs, forcing the Priest to fall back through the rip. "Get the blade someone!"

Ryou made it across the barrier in time to catch Mahaado's blade, Marik's merry chuckles causing a wave of anger as the Priest's sword cut into his fingers. "Antaios, move it!"

"Aren't you late to the party, Ryou?" Marik chimed. "Still, you're just in time to see the end of the mighty Pharaoh!"

Ryou lashed his foot out, knocking the sword out of Mahaado's grip so he could wield the wicked weapon. While he kept the Egyptian on the ground, his eyes roamed over to Bakura and Yami, the chocolate orbs widening substantially. "Bakura!"

The thief glanced over at the teenager, seeing him but not really. It was like he was struggling with something inside of himself.

Ryou tested his bond with Bakura, prying past familiar barriers only to be met with a maelstrom of conflicting emotions that seemed to come from two different minds. (Yami, get a grip!)

Bakura looked startled at the sound of his hikari's voice in his mind. ((I have to kill Khasekhemwy. He betrayed me and Mahaado.))

Yami sent Ryou a reproachful look, shaking his head. \\Stop it, Ryou! He's too far gone!\\

\No he's not.\ Ryou grit his teeth, picking through the sordid feelings carefully. He could pick up bits and pieces of what was causing the conflict; enough to give him a stepping stone. (Bakura, what happened wasn't Yami's fault! Everything that happened wasn't his fault!)

((He destroyed Kuru Eruna, my family!)) Bakura shot back, his voice edged with anger.

(Mahaado tried to destroy you.)

((Because I was... disloyal.))

Yami growled as he tried to twist away from the dagger still imbedded in his side. \\Ryou! There were two sides to his mind, Kasirika and Bakura. I can't sense Kasirika anymore, meaning Bakura's loyalties lie with Marik and Mahaado now!\\

That gave Ryou a brilliant idea. \Maybe they merged over time!\

\\It's not possible now! Ryou, we're back in our bodies and Bakura remembers everything. He must have destroyed Kasirika in the confusion!\\

That would explain why I hurt so much. I got my soul ripped apart... again. Ryou spared the other's a look and realized all eyes were trained on himself, Bakura, and Yami, as if they could sense the growing conflict. (Bakura, do you remember your afterlife? Your time spent as the Spirit of the Millennium Ring?)

((Yes... I think I do.))

Ryou swallowed hard, knowing this next part could be a gamble. (Think about this long and hard before you murder Yami. As the Spirit of the Ring, you were Bakura; Kasirika didn't exist to you! Bakura, the King of Thieves, fell in love with Yami, not Kasirika. Remember what Marik did to you? All the pain he caused you?)

Bakura shook his head. "It was my fault!" he cried aloud. "I must prove my loyalty!"

Before Marik or Mahaado could interject, Ryou cut them off. "No you don't! They both betrayed you! Mahaado forced you to brutally murder Antaios and Kavala, practically life-time friends! He forced you to fight Yami numerous times and in the end tried to kill you! Marik is no different!"

"He couldn't," Bakura defended weakly. "He wouldn't!"

"He did!" Antaios growled. "Open your damned eyes, Bakura! Who did you murder to protect the Pharaoh?"

Bakura winced. "You and Kavala."

Ryou gasped. He did that?!

"And which person tried to protect the Pharaoh?" Antaios pressed.

Something seemed to click in Bakura's mind, the turmoil dimming. "Bakura did."

(See? Kasirika and Bakura will go to any extreme to protect their Morning Star,) Ryou pointed out, things slowly falling into place in his mind. (Even if you had to hurt those around you, even Yami directly, you protected... him.) Like Malik did... Oh my God, I get it now!

Marik growled. "Don't listen to them, Bakura! Finish the Pharaoh!"

Bakura pulled his dagger from Yami's side, now supporting the shaking monarch tightly. "No, Marik."

The Rod guardian grit his teeth, bringing the Rod to bear. "If you do not do it on your own, I will force you to!"

"No you won't!"

"Yes I will."

Just as Ryou was about to remark about the two Egyptian's supreme immaturity, he saw movement to the right, two forms revealing themselves to be Kavala and Malik in much better shape then before. I can't move my hand to keep them where they are! Then again, maybe I still have that link with Malik! The Brit reached out for Malik's aura experimentally, coming up against a wall. Oh no! Bakura's barriers!

To make matters worse, Mahaado caught sight of Malik and Kavala. "So he's still alive. I'm truly surprised," he murmured, more to himself.

Malik smirked, moving forward uneasily until he stood at the barrier. Toffee eyes surveyed the scene with some sort of fiendish glee as he passed the barrier with Kavala in tow. "Quite the party going on here." He looked to Marik, who looked ready to kill Bakura. "You've just got millions of copies of yourself running around! You should pull yourself together before something happens."

Yami's brows knit together, getting the feeling Malik was trying to tell them something.

Ryou yelped when his sword was tugged free from his grasp, holding his bleeding palms to his jeans to staunch the crimson flow. To his credit, he was silent when he found himself in Mahaado's former position with a blade pointed at his throat.

"There's a bit of a problem here now, isn't there?" Marik purred. "I can have Mahaado kill Ryou and end your existence, I can force you to murder the Pharaoh..."

"No you can not!" Bakura spat back, throwing his dagger into the sand stubbornly. He took a step away from the monarch, then another, until he was almost face-to-face with the former Spirit. His heart ached as he looked into Marik's dusty eyes, finding not a trace of the warm, lively Priest he had fallen in love with. The painful burn of insanity shone in the guardian's gaze now and it hurt worse then any deathblow.

Marik shrugged. "When the time comes, we'll see how strong your will is."

"Quit fucking with his head!" Malik growled, fists clenching angrily.

Kavala wrapped his arms around the taller Egyptian's waist, trying to stop him from doing anything stupid. Unfortunately, his small frame only wound him being dragged behind Malik as the blond trudged over to his other half. "Damnit!" he sighed.

Mahaado's sword suddenly flashed away from Ryou in an attempt to cut through Ausar then Joey as they lept from their hiding place in the shadows. "Sneaky bastards," he growled, knocking the Brit to the ground so he could hold all three a knife point. Now where did that Priest's look alike run off to? ...Where'd the Priest run off to, come to think of it?

Kavala dug his heels into the sand. "Stop it, you moron!"

Bakura turned to leer at the blond. "Go sit pretty under that knife with your koibito while I rip this heartless bastard to pieces."

"He's mine," Malik sneered.

"With the little thief attached?"

Yami smiled, hands clamped over his side, as he retrieved Bakura's dagger from the ground. If they keep this up, Ra bless their egotistical hearts, I can put an end to all this. The Puzzle guardian crept around to Marik's back, shuddering at the sight of the ex-Priests' scars before raising his dagger. See you in Hell!

"Move!" Mahaado shouted.

Marik whirled in time, knocking Bakura back as he dodged Yami's ill-aimed attack. Smirking wickedly, he grabbed the Pharaoh, relieving the monarch of his weapon to hold the Rod's dagger by his head. "Checkmate!" he sing-songed.

Bakura grit his teeth together, grabbing his weapon. "You baka!" he hissed at Yami.

"How was I supposed to know this would happen?!"

"You're the fucking Living God! You tell me!"

"Will you two shut up already?" Marik sighed restlessly, lashing his clear leg out in an effort to trip Bakura.

The thief backed away, dancing around Marik with his dagger now held out threateningly. His amethyst eyes burned with newfound hate as he leered at the other Spirit. "Why don't you fight me like a man?"

Marik shrugged. "Using Yami as a human shield is so much more fun." At that, he placed his own weapon by the Pharaoh's throat, making a paper cut across the tanned flesh as a warning.

"Stop screwing around!" Yami growled.

Bakura tried to ignore him, but couldn't elude the fact that he had put the spike haired guardian in this position. He feigned a strike from the right but switched the dagger to his left hand to try and stab Marik, only to have to pull back when the blond put Yami in the way of the flashing blade. "Damn you!"

Marik smiled. "Why are you fighting me, Bakura? I know there's a conflict burning in your heart, I could feel it when you tried to attack the Pharaoh. I still feel it as you try to extinguish Kasirika's love for Yami."

Bakura growled, trying to get a hit in on the other Egyptian only to fail once more. "There is no conflict when it comes to you. ...Not anymore, you traitor!"

"Me or Mahaado, we're the same person," Marik pointed out caustically. "So if you have feelings still for Mahaado, you love me as well."

"I do not!" Bakura declared fiercely. His teeth ground together and his hand gripped his sword tighter. There was supreme indecision written all over his face and his shook his head to clear the overwhelming thoughts off. His next statement was still shaky and belied his inner turmoil. "I do not love you at all, Marik. You are nothing but a snake and a traitor." With that, he lunged right at Marik with a war cry.

The Spirit smirked, shoving Yami in front of the charging thief in time miss the blade.

Bakura couldn't call off the attack, his dagger driving it into the Pharaoh past the hilt. He instantly released the weapon, his eyes wide and dancing with unchecked horror as Yami sank to the ground to lay lifeless in the sand.

Marik didn't give the snow haired thief anytime to react, jumping at him with his dagger poised to kill his former lover as well. He never saw the flash of dark scales that appeared in the area nor the claws that raked down to stop his attack.

Mahaado backed up with a spark of fear shooting through his cinnamon gaze. "Diabound." He realized too late that he had given his captives an opening and turned back in time to keep Ryou under his blade. He glared after Ausar and Joey as they scampered off deeper into the shadows.

Bakura smirked as he stood with his fiendish Ka backing him, his expression a portrait of twisted pain and insanity. "Remember what I said would happen if you harmed the Pharaoh before me?" he asked, oblivious to Mahaado's foul up.

Marik stood tall. "You've done your damage time and again, thief."

Bakura gestured wide, his cloak flowing down his arms like outstretched wings bathed in blood. "This isn't my doing!" he cried wildly. "This was supposed to be mine! The Items were mine. The Keys were mine... I had our fucking guardian eating out of my hand! THIS WAS MINE!"

"Yami..." Ryou murmured. He gasped when Bakura turned to glare at him. His features were mixed; amethyst and chocolate eyes covered by black and white streaked hair the testament to the inner battle between Bakura and Kasirika going on as he stood there.

"The Pharaoh was mine to kill for the destruction of Kuru Eruna!" Bakura continued, snapping his gaze back to Marik and Mahaado. He looked crazed as he took a shaky step forward. "He was mine to do with as I pleased but that wasn't good enough for you!"

"Kasirika, stop this," Mahaado commanded, almost gently, as if he were struggling with his own demons. "Your hand did end the Pharaoh. Why are you angry with that?"

"BECAUSE I LOVED HIM!" Bakura slumped down to his knees, head bowed as his frame shook. "Gods be damned, I loved that murderer." His eyes flashed solid amethyst before fading into a dusted chocolate.

Diabound gave a roar of agreement before rushing forward to attack Marik and Mahaado directly. Almost predictably, Ra's golden form appeared in time to prevent his masters' demise at the hands of the angry Ka.

In the background, almost completely forgotten by the twisted triangle, Ryou, Malik, and their past selves were trying to work out a plan to get Bakura under control and kill Marik and Mahaado.

"We need to draw Osiris out," Kavala noted. "With Ra on the field and Seth mysteriously missing, we'll need to borrow Khasekhemwy's Ka in place of the Ultimate Dragon God."

Ryou shook his head. "Something's not right. I can still sense Yami's spirit in this realm, not tethered to his body but just floating around."

"You're nuts," Antaios hissed. "Besides, only Bakura can follow a person's aura."

Malik glared at the thief. "Ryou and Bakura are joined through the Ring so they share their talents. Besides, I can still sense Yami ghosting around."

Kavala bit his lip. "Antaios, stop fighting with yourself and please try to call the Pharaoh's Ka out."

Antaios rolled his mismatched eyes before closing them, his lips moving in a swift and silent incantation as his hands swept through fluid motions. A brow arched with the passing of an inner thought and his chanting died down suddenly. "Osiris will not obey me."

"That's bad?" Ryou asked.

"He's mad," Antaios replied.

"Yeah, that's bad," Malik muttered. "Can't you try?" he suggested, pointing to Kavala.

"Hmm... I'm not sure." Kavala thought for a second. "Osiris may aid us if he senses someone with a dragonic Ka summoning him. He may have grown angry when he felt Antaios trying to summon him because he only has a tamer's spirit."

"A dragon tamer's spirit," Antaios corrected. "I'm starting to think someone's not quite dead yet."

Ryou glanced at Yami, wincing at the sight of the blood. "If he isn't, I'll eat my foot, sneaker and all." Still, the Brit reached out experimentally, gasping when he felt the barest flutterings of an aura clinging to the Pharaoh. \Yami?\

There was nothing, just a hint of a comforting touch to Ryou's mind.

"Stop fighting!" Malik growled at Kavala and Antaios. "You, work your magic. You... er, me, shut up."

Kavala smirked and worked the same spell as his lover with only the slightest difference in words, the incantation causing the thief's azure aura to flicker around his frame and Yami's.

"He's doing it," Antaios murmured.

Kavala kept weaving his magic, threading in an apology to try and persuade the Saint Dragon to obey him more readily.

The other watched as the azure around Yami mixed with red to create a chasing mass of violet energy before it faded completely to black.

Antaios' eyes widened, notcing the ebony starting to streak through Kavala's aura as well. "Hey! Kavala, stop it!"

"What's wrong?" Malik asked.

"Later," Antaios growled. "Kavala!"

Ryou pushed the thief out of the way and sent his hand flying across Kavala's face, effectively snapping the small Egyptian out of his trance. "Sorry."

"W-What was that for?! Kavala hissed. "I almost had him."

"He almost had you!" Antaios shot back. "Osiris was about to tear you apart from the inside, you incompetent mage! Remember Bakura tried that with Mahaado for practice and his energy went black before he was almost torn to pieces?"

Kavala looked pale. "T-That..." He swallowed hard. "I thought he would help us. I-I... He was talking to me as if he were going to aid our cause."

At that moment, any hope of negotiations between Mahaado, Marik, and Bakura disappeared as Diabound and Ra attacked each other with little warning. They met each other head on, their powers matched evenly. As the two Ka resorted to physical combat, a second, shimmering Ka came into play.

Malik swore colorfully as a darker copy of Ra appeared. "How in the hells did that happen?!"

"They have the same spirit," Kavala murmured. "Meaning they can summon the four gods in double."

"'Four'?" Ryou echoed.

"Obelisk, Osiris, Ra, and the White Dragon," Kavala explained. "...Wait, there's five gods if he can manage to call out of the Sealed God of Exodia."

Antaios wisely pulled the others into a small, semi-sheltered corner. "If we can get our hands on one of the Thousand Year Rods, we can control the gods that way as well."

"But which ever copy has the same Item will be stronger because they know how to use it," Ryou pointed out, eyes darting between the twin gods and Diabound nervously.

"I was thinking. There's nine god-level creatures Marik or Mahaado can summon in pairs," Malik started. "Osiris, Ra, Obelisk, Exodia, the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, and if he's smart, the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon."

Antaios and Kavala glared hard at the seventeen-year-old. "Don't say that," the former growled

"Hmm... And if Kaiba has retained his Ka, that's four Blue-Eyes to contend with. Not to mention Ausar and Joey's Ka make for two Red-Eyes Black Dragons. And make that five Blue-Eyes if you include Ryou. I have no idea what my Ka is, so that's not good."

Ryou reached over to hit Malik soundly. "Shut. Up."

Antaios bit his lip. "We share the Monster Tamer with the ability to control almost any spirit or shadow creature." He looked guilty, as if he were hiding his own secret but refused to share.

"Move!" Kavala suddenly shouted, jumping forward to knock Malik out of a stray stream of energy. He glared over at the Ka to see Diabound looming over the four of them. "This isn't good."

"Bakura, what are you doing?" Ryou growled.

Amethyst eyes glowed with instability, a chilling smirk fixed on chapped lips. "I have to apologize to Mahaado for betraying him," Bakura murmured, leering at his new targets unblinkingly. "I must eradicate his enemies to prove myself."

"Yes you must," Marik purred.

"No you don't," Mahaado growled.

Bakura chuckled, a dry, dead sound. Crazed eyes seemed to clear with a streaking of chocolate. "Forgive me," he murmured. "Diabound, destroy them!"

Diabound didn't seem to be phased by his master's dementia and built up an attack between his massive hands, obviously opting for a drawn out death.

"Bakura, don't do this!" Malik tried.

"Your voice can't reach him anymore," Marik sneered.

Ryou held Bakura's wild gaze, reaching out for the thief through their bond. He was forced back with a hiss, his mind reeling from the scorching lash of his other half's barriers. "Get a grip, Bakura!"

"I have to."

Kavala grit his teeth. "He's out of here. I've seen this before and there's just no talking him out of it," he growled. "Usually Kasirika wins out but I don't think he will this time."

Ryou shook his head. "I know I can snap him out of this!" The teenager realized Diabound's attack was now massive enough to destroy the whole underground complex and scrambled to reach out for Bakura through their bond. He felt mental lashes of fire scorch him in an effort to ward off any invasions but kept moving.

-Don't call him Bakura,- Malik suggested carefully, trying not to startle Ryou. He could actually see burns forming on the Brit and prepared himself to drag him out of Bakura's mind if it got too severe.

Ryou barely nodded, finally breaking past his yami's defenses only to be swept into a whirlwind of emotions, now clearly coming from two minds belonging only to Bakura. (Kasirika, don't do this!)

Bakura gave a start, eyes flickering again. ((K-Kasirika? He's a traitor... Don't call me that,)) he growled feebly. ((I have to destroy... But I can't.))

Ryou felt the last part was from Kasirika. (If you kill me, you'll die as well!) he blurted quickly, feeling the faraway sensation of static from Diabound's attack prickling his skin. (If Malik dies, Marik and Mahaado will. You'll kill them both!)

((You lie.))

(No I don't,) Ryou shot back. I need something to pull him out of this. Something severe. The Brit's mental ropes started snapping under the strain of fighting Bakura and Kasirika's defenses, the feeling of death via the thief's Ka hanging over his heart heavily.

Antaios growled. "Kavala, do something!"

"I can't! My Ka won't obey me!" the younger thief spat.

((I have to destroy you all.)) "Diabound, send them all to Hell!" Bakura screamed, the King of Thieves overthrowing Kasirika with a blast of anger.

The monstrous fiend roared in excitement, pulling his hands apart to unleash the devastating attack.

\NO!\

With the mental cry that resonated between Malik, Ryou, and Bakura, Osiris' awesome presence filled the area before a blast of energy met Diabound's to cancel the attack out. A moment later, his dragonic countenance shimmered into existence over his fallen master.

Malik grabbed Ryou as he started to fall back, his mind creating horrible burns from fighting with Bakura's personalities.

Osiris snarled, bearing twin sets of teeth at Diabound as he curled around the fiend and latched wicked claws around his wrists to prevent another attack.

Bakura growled, feeling the dragon god's tactic binding him as well. He lashed out mentally, slamming the first aura he brushed up against.

Ryou bent double, a long blistering burn appearing across his chest. What is Osiris doing here...? And why does he carry Yami no Yugi's aura still? Shaking his head clear of a dizzy haze, the sixteen-year-old plunged back into the miasma of Bakura's mind. This time, he was met with not only his yami's barriers, but Marik's as well.

"Finish the job, Bakura," the Rod guardian hissed.

The thief glared at Marik hard. "You're the traitor," he spat venomously.

"Then kill him!" Mahaado cried in exasperation, ignoring the other guardian pointedly.

Bakura's eyes fell to the ground, searching through the blossoms of blood for an elusive answer. "But they tried to kill you."

Ryou swallowed hard and reached back out to Bakura. Halfway into the center of the storm, his reserves started to crumble. God, I can't lose it now! The Brit pushed harder, almost feeling himself start to fade away. (Kasirika, Bakura, listen to me! Marik is Mahaado and you know what Marik has done to you! Bakura, you murdered Kavala and Antaios to protect the Pharaoh!)

Malik started to panic, feeling Ryou's soul being ripped apart. Reckless creampuff, he murmured, latching onto Ryou's dying aura. He felt the pain the other teen was undergoing but couldn't touch the thief's mind. -C'mon Ry! Just a little while longer.-

-He won't listen.- Ryou sighed in defeat, leering up at the looming Ka dazedly.

Mahaado grit his teeth, his patience spent. "Ra, destroy them all! I have no more time for these tiresome games!"

"O-Osiris... cou-counter attack."

Ryou felt something snap in Bakura's mind the same time Yami's aura suddenly blazed to life again, lending him strength.

((I didn't kill him.))

Osiris and Ra met in the middle of the area in a flash of claws and teeth, blood and pained roars staining everything in a short-lived confrontation, each Ka backing away for an even shorter respite.

Bakura looked between Yami and Marik, his eyes fading to chocolate while his hair remained snow white. "I see now."

"Then kill them!" Marik sneered.

The area fell into complete silence for a brief second before bemused chuckling infected the thick air. Bakura shook his head, going over to Yami to gently scoop the Pharoah up into his arms and bring him over to Ryou. "Watch him."

"Y-Yami...?"

Bakura winked roughishly, reaching over to ruffle Ryou's hair. "Thanks kid," he murmured before turning toward Mahaado and Marik. "They're right. Kasirika or Bakura, I've done everything to protect the Pharaoh. Our allegiance is to Yami, not you." He jabbed a finger at Mahaado. "Or you for the matter." The thief raised his hand and Diabound shrugged Osiris off easily.

Kavala saw what Bakura was doing and knew he would need help, swiftly summoning his Ka into play. He nudged Antaios and his lover swiftly called not his spirit beast to the field, but the scorpion demon Selket. Osiris flanked the three monsters.

A pair of Blue-Eyes also appeared by the twin copies of Ra and the air crackled with an anxious energy ready to be relieved the second Bakura dropped his hand.

"See you in Hell guys," the Ring guardian snarled before giving the signal.

Battle cries drowned the area as conflicting Ka launched into a vicious battle. Defense and offense were flawless, each beast covering the other in a critical time of weakness while the others tried to get in that direct attack. Horrible injuries kept appearing on the combatants as if it was them fighting though they were oblivious to it. Each poured all their power into their Ka, lending strength to his comrade when their reserves faltered. All of this wove an intricate, beautiful tapestry of battle with the combatants' heart and soul being poured into the effort to secure the final thread of victory.

Though all this, Malik and Ryou were floored with astonishment, a random thought from the former finally breaking their wide-eyed worship of the fight. "Maybe we can just kill Marik and Mahaado. They're so into this that they'll never know what hit them."

Ryou nodded, scouting around for a weapon. He spotted a dagger stashed in Kavala's sash and removed it with all the care of a seasoned thief. "I'll do it."

Malik shook his head. "It's too dangerous."

"And you're still hurt."

Malik pulled Ryou back as a chuck of weakened stone plummeted to the floor. "You're oblivious and injured."

The Brit scowled and shoved Malik back before taking off across the bloody sands toward Marik and Mahaado. He stopped long enough to grab Bakura's dagger, gripping his weapons in a white-knuckled as he continued his single-minded dash for the Rod guardians.

Malik saw Marik's fingers twitch around the Rod's hilt, unhindered digits coming up to remove the Item from it's sheath. Shit! He knows! -Ryou! Back off! Marik's stil coherent!-

Ryou smirked. -Then his control of Ra and Blue-Eyes will suffer.- He gently nudged Bakura. (Go for Marik's monsters.)

Malik's jaw dropped when he saw all attacks focus on the suggested Ka, drawing Marik's attention away from Ryou. He worried about Mahaado when he saw the ex-Priest was just as focused on guarding his partner's Ka as well. I'll be damned! Though impressed with Ryou's quick thinking, the Egyptian was still nervous.

Ryou circled around the Rod guardians, leveling his daggers so they would cause mortal damage in the least amount of time.

Malik saw the switch in control seconds before Marik spun on Ryou with the Rod's dagger raised. "NO!"

Ryou saw the golden blade descend on his head, heard Malik's cry, but couldn't bring himself to move. His eyes slid closed and waited for a death that never came.

"Nice try!"

The Brit's eyes snapped open to see a great black tail guarding him; a tail belonging to Ausar's Red-Eyes Black Dragon. He looked over at saw Joey, Ausar, Seto, and Seth enter the battle arena with the true Rod holder's own god flanking them.

"How good of you to join us," Mahaado sneered.

Bakura saw the darker Ra falter and sent Diabound's fist screaming into the golden god's face.

Marik's Blue-Eyes countered the attack just in time, clamping vicious teeth around the fiend's forearm and tearing the flesh off in gruesome strips.

Bakura's scream was lost in the flurry of roars, clutching his arm tightly to his chest.

Red-Eyes picked Ryou up and set him back with Malik before flying at Mahaado's spirit creatures with a vengeful ferocity, Seth's Blue-Eyes joining him with his own fire burning strong in his eyes.

Malik and Ryou scampered over to Joey and Seto, realizing they were in the safer area. "Where did you two disappear to?" the latter demanded.

"Ausar wanted us to help him find Seth," Joey replied nervously. "His dragon tried to eat us."

"What's going on?" Seto asked, wrapping an arm around his jumpy lover.

"If I say it's magic related-" Malik started.

"I'll completely ignore you," Seto finished bluntly.

Ryou turned in time to see Yami's already weak defenses crumble. He waited for someone to cover Osiris as he floundered, terror clawing at his heart when the Pharaoh was left open to attack. One by one, he watched Bakura, Kavala, Antaios, Seth, and Ausar falter and fail. "What's happening?!"

Malik's expression was dark. "Marik and Mahaado are weakening them by trying to control their Ka."

Selket and Red-Eyes disappeared completely, their respective masters crumbling to the sand in exhausted heaps. The other Ka were barely visible anymore.

"This is the end for you all," Marik cried triumphantly.

"Ra, White Dragon, finish them off one by one." Mahaado smirked at Kavala. "Starting with that little thorn."

Malik started, as did Antaios. "Don't!"

No one could scramble a coherent defense as the two gods prepared their attacks.

Ryou held Malik back, knowing the desperation the Egyptian felt every time Antaios was in trouble during the battle. He searched the thief's eyes when he glared over at the Brit. "Protect him."

"What?"

Antaios closed his eyes, his teeth gritting together as glittering azure wings exploded from his back, the awesome frame of a Blue-Eyes forming itself from the Egyptian's body to create a shield for Kavala.

Mahaado's Ra and Marik's Blue-Eyes unleashed their divine attacks seconds before Antaios' own god had a chance to build up a counterattack, tired and lacking the energy to move swiftly.

Seth's Blue-Eyes intervened of his own will, trying to rescue a comrade only to be caught up in the opposing gods' attacks.

Antaios was dead before he hit the sand, Seth joining him in death even before his Ka suffered his own fate. Their bodies didn't linger to be grieved over, the magic inflicted on them working it charms.

Confusion erupted, Ryou and Kavala trying to get to Antaios while Joey and Ausar went for Seth. In the chaos, a completely new Ka at full strength appeared by Ryou.

Marik and Mahaado never saw the attack coming until the enraged Blue-Eyes tore into their Ka mercilessly. Before more death could be invoked, the guardians disappeared from the area.

Malik rushed forward to catch Ryou as the teen fell in a panting heap, his frame shaking horribly as his spirit beast faded as fast as he had appeared. "What... How did you do that?"

Ryou shook his head. "I... I don't know." He writhed away from Malik's grasp to crawl over to Kavala, his heart rending painfully as the latter begged his lover to come back. "K-Kavala... I'm sorry."

The thief shook his head. "He... wasn't su-supposed to!" He sobbed harshly, hugging himself tightly. "H-he just ove-over did it. He'll b-be fine!"

Ryou rested a hand over Kavala's, forcing himself to stay focused on his past self. That could have been Malik. He closed his eyes, hearing Ausar's ragged sobbing to his left. "It's okay," he murmured, more to convince himself.

"I-I never knew," Kavala whispered, shuttering visibly. "He n-never told me... he held the final White Dragon."

Bakura carefully hoisted Yami into his arms, wincing as his brutally injured arm protested. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

Malik went over to collect Ryou and Kavala, holding the Egyptian thief to him tightly. "He died to save you. Don't grieve for him." He glanced over at Seto as the CEO tried to deal with a near hysterical Ausar and shocked Joey. "Let's move it," he lipped.

Seto glared at the Egyptian nastily, gathering up his charges and following the others out of the underground hellhole for a respite he knew would be painfully short.

Marik watched the retreat from the shadows with a dangerous scowl before fading into the darkness with a hateful flame burning even brighter in his soul.

Without being said, it was common knowledge that both parties would not walk away from his conflict alive again. The next clash would be the last.

I never meant to hold this chapter's release for so long, but I got a nasty ass worm in my computer and had to sneak off to the town library to type this. [hangs head] Whatever scolding I get I soooooooo deserve. Gomen nasii, minna-san. T______T On the upside, I should have the next chapter out within the next two days. [sobs] But it's the absolutely last chapter and it's making me very sad. [wails] Eh, you'll all sick of me anyway. XD Just admit it! [giggles hysterically]

Impish Pixie: XD I love one line reviews. They relay a certain speechlessness that I love. ^____^

happy yaoi lover: We're even, 'kay? You forgot to review and I forgot to update. XDD Dun worry about it, shoujo. But dude, why would I kill the cute Angstshippers? [remembers she a diabolically evil author] Oh yeah... that's why.

Biowolf:[lets out the breath she was holding] Thank God. I thought that making Maly look like the evil bastard for a few chapters permanently screwed the story up. I love that sort of deception in stories anyway; it keeps you on your toes! XD

Ayod Botla: EVERYONE is going to need mucho painkillers once all's said and done. [giggles] That's my price for letting them live, lots and lots o' pain! [cackles] Don't worry about Malik's motives and stuff. Ryou puts him through a rigorous inquiry next chapter. Though... I like the idea of Marik screwing with his head... [grins] You just gave me an awesome idea!

Elle-FaTe2x1: LOL! I think it's apparent who the enemy is now, ne? Though, I hope you people have learned that things are never what they appear to be with me. XD Yesh, I'm eeeeevvviiiiillll! Heh, warning to you and everyone else: Do not get attached to the past selves. ^_____________^

blu chocobo: Um, yep, that's the long and short of what Marik did. XD Though, I have some interesting repercussions set up. [grins] But we'll save that for next chapter, ne? [Marik cackle] Ph33r me! ...I love doing that! XDD

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Hee hee! No trailer this chapter! Next chapter's the last chapter for good and I don't wanna ruin anything 'cause it's going to be a happy, sweet, sad, romantic, suspenseful, and delightful chapter. ^)^

Andi-chan: Last chapter's flow was awesome. I'm not so sure about this chapter now. I tried to go for scenes more artful then graphic, if that makes any sense to you at all. XD [is now very nervous] Everyone was saying the battle scenes from before were confusing, so I hope I remedied that. But Malik is a real pity case, ain't he? [giggles] That shall be his saving grace next chapter lest the angry creampuff rend him limb from limb. XD Hmm... I write sadistically, huh? [grins] I'm not even trying to be graphic. Heh... I'd scar people if I actually sat down and focused on writing something graphic. And don't worry, this trailer won't be half as ad as the others have been. Though, I'm going to be crucified for the ending of this book... I just know it! [looks up] I talk too much, you know that?