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Chapter 33

"The Blood of a Pharaoh"

Yami Bakura's DD2 glowed and five of his cards (four of which were the fiends he'd needed) fell out of his graveyard, hitting the floor quietly. Numbly, he drew his useless Dark Nercofear. It was over…again, he would have to bow in defeat to the Pharaoh…humiliated again…was this his lot…? To always fall in the shadow of the King of Egypt…? But why…?! It wasn't fair…he couldn't accept it…he wouldn't accept it!!

"NO!!" he cried, falling to his knees, pounding the stone floor with both fists at once, "So many times I've been so close…" he murmured, almost whimpered, "Why is what I desire always brought so near to me only to vanish before my fingertips before I can touch it…??"

Across the hall, Yami watched, keeping very still. This was certainly not the end to the duel that he had been expecting. The Spirit of the Ring had never been one to show much emotion (aside from anger and arrogance). So what was he doing on the floor?

Then Yami noticed something that nearly made him lose his composure! The real Bakura in translucent spirit form was standing behind his evil counterpart! Yami felt Yugi's spirit leave their body and start towards his friend, and he held out a hand to stop him.

A voiceless exchange passed quickly between the two in which Yugi looked to Yami imploringly and the Pharaoh just shook his head. For some reason, for the first time ever, Bakura's spirit had been freed while the thief was still in control of the body. Yami could sense that this was something that would be ruined with interference. He had to observe…to figure out what exactly was going on. Yugi seemed to understand, and nodded, turning his gaze back to the opposite side of the corridor.

Bakura was leaning down towards his counterpart, hand outstretched. As soon as his fingers made contact with the Spirit's shoulder, he jolted up, whipping around with a snarl like a hunted animal. "What!!" His eyes widened as he realized who it was standing above him. "Y-you?!" he stuttered, "But how–??"

"You let your guard down, I suppose…" Bakura said, "When you lost the hope of winning the duel, the bars around the cage you keep me in dissolved…it's never happened before…I thought perhaps my body had been destroyed, so I went searching…and found my way out here…"

Yami Bakura scowled, hugging his knees close to his chest. "So why haven't you tried to retake control yet?" he asked curtly.

"Because I wanted to ask you something…" Bakura said, crouching down so that the two of them were at eye-level with each other, "I know that everything you've ever done since the Ring came to me has been focused on one goal – the Millennium Items. I understand that they're powerful, but they're not the only ways to achieve power. I was wondering what it was that…well, what I mean to say is – and I know this sounds naïve – why?"

"…Why…?" Yami Bakura echoed, eyebrows raised.

"Why is the Millennium Items' power so important to you?" the British teen persisted, "The whole obsession is rather illogical. I just find it hard to believe that you could hurt me so many times just for power. It doesn't –"

"You know nothing of pain!!" Yami Bakura spat suddenly, cutting the boy off, "Spend endless nights on the street starving, while others," he shot a death-glare at Yami, "are born into the lap of luxury. Be spat at as you walk the streets because of the illegitimacy of your birth." He stood up quickly, and back-handed the boy hard across the face, now towering in rage, "So I decided to take what was rightfully mine. All the rights of the first-born son are divine, handed down by the gods. And by their guiding hands, I began to steal what should have been mine."

Bakura gingerly rubbed his cheek, "Your always talking about what's rightfully yours," he said, "I don't understand…what do you mean 'first-born son'?"

Yami Bakura's eyes widened for just a split second, then spoke again, "I mean, that my father was the same contemptible bastard that spawned our dear Yami here." He jerked a finger over at Yami Yugi, now smiling slightly.

Both boys in spirit form turned at once to stare at Yami, who was looking bewildered. "Is this true, Yami?" Yugi asked quietly.

"I…I…don't know…" Yami stammered, "I remember so little of my past…but I think I would know something like that…"

"How?" the Spirit of the Ring asked spitefully, "My dear younger brother, do try to use your head for once in your goddamn life! I was born three months before your embryo even existed. My mother died giving me birth! Do you really believe that our father would have ever mentioned this matter to anyone, especially you?"

Yami frowned, and turned his eyes to the floor. The Spirit was right; such a shameful matter certainly would've been kept quiet from everyone, including him. And despite how much he didn't trust Yami Bakura, something in his gut told him that this new revelation was pure fact. "So the right to rule was truly yours…" he said, "But answer me this: if your mother died in childbirth, how is it that you came to know of your parentage? Wouldn't our father have considered you a threat and disposed of you during infancy?

"I've pondered that myself…" the spirit responded quietly, "But he must have let me live out of love for my mother. I was sent to live with an elderly couple, who maintained a thirteen year silence through the pay of the throne. When I became too curious, they told me what I know now." He shuffled his feet slightly, and a single tear fell from his closed eye to the floor, "And the next day the Pharaoh had them killed."

Yami's eyes widened. A blurry image of his father had entered his mind a few moments ago, and a horrible feeling began churning in his stomach. Of what he was beginning to remember of Pharaoh Yami Sr., he had always been cold and distant. And now, with this new bit of history revealed, his worst fear was confirmed. Involuntarily, he found himself crossing the room towards his half-brother. Yugi followed, hurrying over to stand beside the true Bakura. Both boys looked like they were straining to hold back tears. Yami stopped in front of the Spirit of the Ring, "And…once you were truly alone…? Did this mark the start of your quest for revenge…?"

"It was indeed the start. It began with small things like food and trinkets form the market place, but it wasn't enough. Things grew as the thrill of danger continued to lure me to greater heights. I even got my revenge on the old man by robbing his personal treasury, but still I continued. I wanted to hurt him and his 'family' that I had been excluded from as much as I could."

"After having stolen this Ring at seventeen, which already possessed magic of its own, I broke into the palace…" A sadistic smile had crossed the Spirit's face, "It took less than an hour to kill the jackass. When the guards found him in the morning, I was long gone. I believe that will explain why you were able to rule the country at such a young age, brother."

Yami set his jaw. "I remember the day my father was murdered…" he said, "Not even my mother could bring herself to grieve for him…I often look back on it, and I think he abused her. I cannot say I bear you any grudge for that…he was not one who would be missed…" He paused for a moment, reflecting, and then said, "It was not until years later that the two of us actually faced off…why did you choose to wait before confronting me…?"

"It would have been easy to kill you, but by then the Queen would have been able to order the guards to capture, than behead me. When you had full control of your servants after several years of ruling, I knew that you would have them back down. It was our fight, not theirs. Back then, you didn't believe me when I told you we were related and that it was my right to rule Egypt." Yami Bakura straightened up and cracked his neck back and forth, "You know the rest."

"I do," Yami nodded, hanging his head, "It was that night that I sealed your soul within the Millennium Ring." From the shadow cast over his face, the faintest trace of a tear sparkled in the corner of one eye, and his voice was shaking slightly when he spoke again, "If I…if I had known the whole story…"

"It would have made you soft and I would have killed you." He adjusted his Duel Disk on his arm.

Yami looked like he wanted to protest, but thought better of it. "I suppose…" he said.

"Excuse me…?" Bakura spoke up, "But…what now…?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Yami Bakura asked impatiently, "History has repeated itself, only this time in the form of a duel. I've lost and the Pharaoh will banish me once more. Only this time, since you've gained strength, Bakura, I won't be coming back. It's what you've always wanted, isn't it?" He began to place one hand over his deck, ready to signal his defeat.

But the white-haired teen grabbed his counterpart by the wrist quickly, "No!" he said, and the others all gaped at him.

"What are you talking about, boy?!" Yami Bakura demanded.

"I won't deny that for the past few years I've wanted nothing more than to be rid of you for good," Bakura said, "But now I'm not so sure…I've grown so used to you I think I'd feel…empty if you were gone. I – I know we've never really gotten along, but you have protected me from time to time…And there must've been a good reason why the Millennium Ring chose to bring itself to me, don't you think…?"

"What are you saying??" the dark Spirit asked, eyeing the boy uneasily.

"I'm saying…or trying to say…that I…" he swallowed hard, "I don't want you to leave…"

"I'm afraid that that isn't a choice I can make, although…" he paused and took a deep breath, his dark eyes fixed upon his counterpart, "I thank you for your sentiment." He finished placing his hand over his deck, and all the cards from the duel vanished back into their respective decks. The Spirit turned around and looked at the ancient King of Egypt, "Well? What'll it be, Pharaoh?"

Yami gave the spirit a small smile. "If I am to banish anyone today, it will not be you," he said.

Yami Bakura returned the smile briefly and then the chain of mini-items around his neck began to glow and his face contorted in pain. In a blinding flash and a cry of agony, Yami Bakura was gone and the true Bakura was back in his body, hands on his chest, verifying that he was solid again. "What happened?" he asked, slightly panicked, "Where'd the spirit go? Why am I back in my body? I –"

But before he could finish his next sentence, the pupils of his eyes disappeared and he fell forward onto the floor. Yami stepped back in surprise, and then his gaze fell on the figure emerging from the shadows behind where Bakura had been standing.

Jetsu walked calmly out into the light, ignoring Yami and his counterpart for the moment, and pointed two fingers at the boy's body. Both of the Millennium Items that he had been carrying revealed themselves and began to float next to the body. When he pointed his fingers up, the Items drifted carelessly towards him. Both the Shield and the Sword began to glow red again. Seconds later, both the Items crashed to the floor, now useless. The Millennium Eye began to roll across the ground, and out of sight.

"Now that we have that matter out of the way… I offer you my congratulations Pharaoh, for successfully completing every part of my plan that I needed you to. It was my desire and intention all along, after all, to have you be the victor of the tournament… and the final Spirit to be claimed."

"Spirit to be…?" Yami echoed, and then his purple eyes flared with anger, "Jetsu, what have you done to the others?!" He felt Yugi rejoin him in their body and was thankful. The boy was safer within the depths of their minds.

The man chuckled softly, "Smart move, my liege. The boy would have made an excellent addition to my ever growing collection of souls. Yes, your friends have helped to feed my power nicely…"

"Jetsu…" Yami growled, "It's time we ended this game of yours."

"We will end the game when I see fit, Pharaoh. And I intend to win on my terms." He did an about-face, his back now facing Yami. With a wave of his Sword a bright blast of golden light illuminated the corridor, the thin strip of energy hovering high near the ceiling, "Follow the light, little Yami. You'll meet your end soon enough." With that Jetsu faded away, his magic taking him back up to high chamber to wait.

Yami gazed up at the path of pure energy. I suppose we have no choice but to do things his way… he thought solemnly.

Yugi's voice filled his head, We have to, or we'll never figure out how to save the others. I just hope they're not hurt.

Yami thought that this was wishful thinking, but he didn't want to upset Yugi any sooner than need be so he was silent, and began following the golden trail into the maze of corridors once more.