In this chapter:

Implications of yaoi

Dubbed monster names (I don't know enough of the original ones)

And an all-round writer's blocked chapter

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I really suck at writing duels. Especially the ones from ancient Egypt. Because the rules were different back then (right?)

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You have been warned. ^_^

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     At first he didn't recall, only knew.

     "Why do you think you are still alive and not rotting in the sands like that bastard Atari? Why do you think you yet have breath in your thrice-cursed body? You think it was by your own strength? Ra knows, if you were left to your own devices, your mouth would be your downfall!"

     "Yami!"

     Dammit. The teenager gave a start. Realized where he was.

     Rai-djedi scowled at him from across the arena. "Are you ready?" he demanded testily.

     Yami shut his eyes for a moment. Stop losing yourself in those stupid flashbacks! What happened has happened! It's over now! Terran is dead, and he can't—

     "I'm ready," he replied.

     And I don't want to think about that anymore. Not about Terran, and certainly not about what he did.

     "Then I'll go first." The high priest raised his hands. "I call upon the spirit of the Battle Ox!"

     The tablet rose, and the sword-wielding monster appeared in a flash of light. Yami let out a groan. Glancing at the slabs of stone below him, he figured that he had enough power to summon something stronger than that.

     Or not.

     "I summon Gaia the Fierce Knight!" As the monster came to life, Yami suddenly felt as if all his energy was being sucked from his body. He gasped slightly as the world around him went blurry.

     "I forgot to mention." Rai-djedi's voice held a derisive tone. "When you summon a monster, it comes solely because your energy is supporting it. If you can't uphold you monsters...then—oh, well—I guess you lose and die from the strain." At the look of bewilderment on the teenager's face, he added. "Believe me. I've seen it happen."

     Yami grit his teeth, forcing himself to stay on his feet. Oh, well! I'll stay alive, then!

     Easier said than done.

     "Gaia the Fierce Knight, attack!" Four slices with the spear, and the Battle Ox was gone. Yami brushed sweat from his forehead in slight relief. It wasn't much, but the strain on his energy seemed to lessen.

     Rai-djedi grinned. "I let you destroy that monster," he said smugly. "Just so you'll see how it feels to win. Too bad that feeling isn't going to last."

     Do you really think I care about that? Yami scowled. "Just summon your monster."

     "Very well. Come forth, Summoned Skull!"

     "Gah!" Yami lowered his head in his hands as Gaia was destroyed. Ra, but this hurts.

     Rai-djedi was enjoying causing his younger opponent pain. He summoned another monster. "Blackland Fire Dragon!"

     The dark-haired teenager took a deep breath. "Curse of Dragon!" he called.

     The high priest grinned. "Dragon against dragon," he noted calmly as the Curse of Dragon burned the Blackland Fire Dragon to a crisp. "Interesting."

     The battle went on. "Insect Queen!" Rai-djedi declared.

     Giant bug. Yami shivered. Just what I need.

     "And that's not all!" The man raised the Millennium Rod he held. "I sacrifice the essences of the Summoned Skull and the Insect Queen to summon..." He paused as the two monsters swirled into one. "The Blue Eyes White Dragon!!"

     "No way!" exclaimed Katsuya as the huge white dragon arose, letting out an earsplitting roar.

     "Why are you so surprised?" Seto demanded. "The Blue Eyes White Dragon has always been the high priest's favorite."

     Katsuya frowned. "I know that, Seto. I just...wasn't expecting it."

     Who was?

     "Dragon against dragon," the high priest said again. He chuckled, ordering, "Blue Eyes White Dragon, destroy Curse of Dragon!!"

     "No!!" Yami cried out as the powerful burst of energy washed over him. The world spun, and he could barely stand. The teenager staggered backward, crossing his arms over his eyes. Ra!

     "Rai-djedi!" yelled Katsuya. "Stop it! You're going to kill him!"

     The high priest didn't move. "Death is the penalty for losing this game, Katsuya," he said forebodingly. "If he dies, it will be his own fault."

     Yami stumbled to his knees. Energy flowed from him like water. He didn't know why, but he figured that he was losing more energy this time than the other times he had lost monsters because Curse of Dragon was stronger.

     I lost...already...Ra, but this is too hard...

     From somewhere in his subconscious mind emerged a frightening memory.

     "I'm beginning to like this, Yami. I like seeing you cower in fear of the one you should have respected from the beginning."

     No!

     He stumbled once on unsteady feet. Then he fell and the world went black.

****

     "Let me out. I'll do anything you say. I-I won't forget! Just-just let me out!"

     Yami opened his eyes with a moan. All was dark. What-? He scrambled to his feet. Where in Egypt am I?

     Maybe I'm not in Egypt.

     Maybe I died and went to hell.

     The teenager took in his surroundings. It was too black around him to see much, but he saw that the air around him was streaked with dark colors. Like a dim fog. And he heard voices.

     "So you're finally learning the importance of obedience, ne? A pity, but you gave in too late."

     "No...no...don't do it..."

     Yami swallowed hard. He would have known those two voices anywhere.

     Because one of them was his.

     And the other one was Terran.

     I'm dreaming. The teenager shook his head, trying to wake himself up. I was dueling and now I'm dreaming.

     How can you dream when you are dead?!

     Yami began to run. He had to get out of this misty place. Those voices...they reminded him of when he had been a slave.

     Which was something that he would rather have left forgotten.

     As he ran the angry voice and the scared one seemed to fade. Yami stopped for breath, heart pounding as he glanced wildly around. No one.

     A sudden, piercing scream tore through his head. It was as terrifying as hearing glass break in the middle of the night. Sweat began to pour down his face. Oh, no... He started running again. Wherever I am...this is too much like...like back then when I was a slave...

     And it wouldn't stop.

     The screaming...the yelling...it wouldn't stop.

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Look for the next chappie soon. I won't take as long to update it.

And please R/R.

~KR