Jaid: Ohayo! Well, I'm back with an update. Next chapter I think should but up sooner than this one was, but I can't promise. I can promise that after this, there are only two chapters left and then a whole new story for the series!

****

The room was silent. Isis, Shadi, Yugi and Katya were seated around Shadi's table. Ankh stood nearby, Yami leaned against the wall behind Yugi and Scales pretended not to listen from a corner of the room.

"We can do something right?" Katya asked in a whisper. "We're just not...I mean..." Her voice cracked and she fell silent.

"I think I can trace my steps back to the place where I was being held. That's most likely where the bodies would be." Isis said slowly. "But we have Qenamun to contend with...and I don't know how..."

"We don't have to defeat him, just get Yugi and I in there long enough to save the others." Yami said, straightening. "Hopefully there will be enough adrenaline in their systems to get them out of there."

"And if not?" Shadi asked. Yami looked at him, crimson eyes flickering.

"I don't know." The spirit admitted. "But we shouldn't just sit here."

"Yami's right." Isis agreed quietly and stood. "We have to try."

***

"She's going cold." Mana looked fearfully up at Ankhkare. The green-haired man took one of Tara's hands and softly muttered something. The girl's hand was as cold as ice. Ankhkare began to rub the appendage vigorously, as well as the wrist.

"Do what I'm doing to her other hand." He directed. Mana immediately obeyed.

From the doorway, Mahado watched. Mana was nearly as pale as her sister...with a sigh, the priest withdrew. Ankhkare was right; there was something magical about this sudden plague. But what was the reason? And why two servant girls? A princess he could understand.

Mahado shook his head, turquoise eyes troubled. There were too many questions...and not nearly enough answers.

***

Rei paused considering the door. This could work...but it could also land her in a heap of trouble. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

"I'm freakin' insane." She muttered, then raised her leg and delivered a sharp, powerful kick at the door handle.

Years of lifting weights and training for track had been worth it. Rei felt a small hint of victory as the door gave a satisfying crunch and swung violently open. Rei didn't waste time, but immediately ran out, only pausing a moment to decide with direction to go in the hallway.

'Didn't anyone hear that?' the girl wondered to herself as she turned a corner, then stopped short. Several men wearing dark purple cloaks stood there. Rei backed up a few steps and whirled around, only to find her way blocked. She turned towards the way she came, but it too was blocked.

"Um...I guess you heard the door?" she asked, trying not to sound as nervous as she felt.

There was no answer, no movement. They all just stared at her, their eyes overshadowed by their hoods.

'I'm surrounded by a bunch of purple grim reapers.' Rei thought sarcastically. 'This is too surreal...'

"I was wondering when you would get out of that room."

Rei felt some nasty chills go up and down her spine as she slowly turned. A man clothed in white had appeared and his hazel eyes stared at her coldly.

***

The sun was quickly going down. Yugi felt it was about time; the day had seemed to drag on impossibly slow as they all waited for the evening so that Isis could lead them to Qenamun's hideout.

Right now, the boy was seated on the rooftop, eyes closed. /Yami, do you think this will work?/

\As much as anything we've ever tried.\ the spirit answered, but he too sounded unsure. Yugi smiled for him.

/Yeah...we've faced hard odds before. I'm sure we'll make out again this time too./ he said, sounding cheerful.

\Yes..\ Yami seemed relieved now too. Yugi opened his eyes and hugged his knees, looking out at the sunset. He didn't want Yami to know, but sometimes he was tired of fighting. Tired of the high stakes and tired of when a game became a life and death situation for his friends.

Yugi rested his head on his knees and sighed.

\Yugi?\ Yami said, sounding vaguely worried.

/I'm just a little tired, that's all./ Yugi told him. /Nothing to worry about./

/Are you sure?/

\Yes.\ Yugi raised his head and stood. \It's almost time.\

***

Shadi's house was empty and dark. A full moon shone down the courtyard as a lithe figure expertly climbed over the wall, not making a sound.

The figure paused, then quickly made it's way to the door, as quiet as a ghost. It paused to pick the lock, then entered the building, closing the door behind.

***

It was as silent, rather grim procession that made its way down the darkened streets of Luxor. Shadi and Isis, both cloaked led, with Yugi behind them. Katya followed with the children.

Their journey was slightly slow; often Isis would pause, trying to remember were to turn or which street to take, but eventually, they were led to a small shrine that sat next to the temple of Amun were this whole mess had started. Isis stopped.

"This is it." She said. "They'll be in there somewhere."

"Right." Yugi nodded, then closed his eyes, allowing Yami to take control. The spirit looked up at the temple, then at the shrine and nodded. "Let's go."

***

Ryou felt someone shaking him and he opened his eyes, then winced as a groan escaped from his lips. He squinted upwards as the blurry figure above turned into the recognizable form of a male servant.

"What?" he asked groggily. His head was pounding for some reason...as if he had hit it or something.

"Your parents wish to speak with you." The servant said quietly. "It is about the Lady Bener."

Ryou frowned in confusion, then his eyes widened in fear. He stood quickly, then staggered as a wave of painful dizziness hit him. A pair of strong arms supported him.

"My lord?" the servant asked worriedly. Ryou winced as the man's words seemed to increase the pain in his head.

"I...I am not feeling so well..." he stated weakly. "I...perhaps...you should tell...my parents..." Ryou got no further as his brown eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped limply.

***

Bakura looked around the compound of Shadi's home. He had searched the living quarters; there was no one here. Had they really gone...and had they taken what he needed to save Rei with them?

Bakura shook his head and began a methodical and quick search. Years of thieving had taught him how and where to look for certain things. An hour later, he came up empty handed, when a door in the back of a room caught his attention. It was a trap door on the ground, blending in so well with the floor it was near impossible to see in the dark house. Bakura reached for the handle and pulled it up.

'It's probably a store room of sorts, considering my recent streak of luck.' He thought. 'But it doesn't hurt too-'

His brown eyes suddenly widened and he gasped, grasping his chest. The pain in it gradually receded, then came on again in waves. Gritting his teeth, Bakura sank to his knees, clutching the area over his heart.

'What is happening? Ryou...something must be happening to the boy....' Bakura thought, then gave a slight cry as another wave of pain shook him. His breathing had become labored and shaky, and sweat was pouring off him. It felt like...

He was dying.

Bakura's eyes widened with the realization. But why was his body failing...?

Because it was not his...it belonged to another. And that other was trapped somewhere else...

Bakura closed his eyes and bit his lip. 'Fool!' he berated himself. 'You thought that you would be able to keep the body conditioned...fool of fools! Now both you and the boy die...'

***

Two bodies hit the floor hard, unconscious. Katya winced. "Isn't that a little loud?" she asked worriedly.

Shadi said nothing as he stepped over the two guards. Yami shrugged and followed. Katya looked at Isis, who smiled wryly and shook her head.

"Boys will be boys." She murmered, then began to walk. "Quietly now; we don't know what's ahead."

'That's for sure.' Katya thought nervously. She glanced back at Mokuba and Rebecca. The little blonde girl was standing close to Mokuba, gripping his hand tightly. Katya gave them a smile full of reassurance she didn't feel, then turned back to the front. 'I hope this works...'

***

Seto's steps were quick as he walked towards the barracks of his- Well, Seth's father's estate. A young man servant followed anxiously as he opened the door and walked through the lines of soldiers, confused that their lord's son had appeared unexpectedly.

Seto was tempted to pause and let his eyes adjust to the dimmer interior of the building, but didn't out of force of habit. He knew he looked pale and wan; it was the damnable headache. Every time he thought he was rid of it, it came back full force.

He finally reached two cots were Joey and Tristan lay. Tristan's eyes were closed, although his face was tight and full of pain. Joey was clenching his fists as he blinked upwards. A tear escaped from the corner of one of the boy's brown eyes.

"How long?" Seto asked.

"Since early this morning, sir." The young man servant replied quietly. "Ramose I think, needs a healer badly. He...I don't think his breathing is very regular."

Seto stepped closer to Tristan and studied the young man's chest rise and fall. The servant was right. He swore quietly to himself, reaching up to rub his temples.

"My lord?"

"Call for a healer. See what can be done." Seto ordered, then stalked out.

***

"This is where we split." Isis said. Yami nodded and went the direction she had pointed out a few minutes ago. Shadi hesitated, looking at her in concern. Isis smiled at him and his face relaxed, then he turned and followed Yami.

"What are we going to do?" Mokuba asked. Isis turned to him, raising up a deck of Duel Monster cards.

"Run interference." She said.

***

Rei's heart was ready to pound out of her chest. She looked around the room; the candles lit the painted walls eerily as the white-haired priest knelt before an altar. Around her were the purple-cloaked 'grim reapers'. She felt surrounded, freaked out and was worried about her friends...not to mention Ryou.

Rei twisted her tied wrists behind her back. She'd never been tied up before and could safely say that she never wanted to be again.

***

Ryou's body was lying limply on his bed, surrounded by a healer and several servants. His mother was in the room, quietly crying in the corner.

It was strange, almost like a dream. He could see himself lying there, hear the worried murmurs and other noises, but there was a strange disconnected quality about the whole picture. Like he was quickly floating away...the noises were becoming more muffled and the figures more and more blurry, as the colors blended into grey tones.

Ryou's eyes flew open and he was back in Bakura's body again. Pain flooded through him and he saw flashes of white behind his eyes. A groan escaped his lips.

'What's happening? Why...why do I feel like this?'

****

 I really don't hate Ryou...I promise...

Reviewer's Response:

Indigo – Yeah, I tend to torture, don't I? Yes, Ankh is very smart! ^__^ You know, he almost reminds me of Sai no Fujiwara from Hikaru no Go in a small way...anyway...I'll try. But I've been swamped lately too and not just with school work.

Dr. Vorlon - *cringe* Now I just feel guilty! Lol. Well, I do think the next chapters will be out faster; there's only about two more.

Aura Black Chan – Eep! Sorry about that! I try to make them long....oh well. Hope you liked this one!

Amberliz - *glomp* I miss you still! Hey, are you going to be at graduation? I AM!!

Pisces14071 – I'm glad you like! Wow, another Ryou/Rei fan...I had no idea they would get so well liked....still don't believe it...O.o

Coco - *hugs* It's okay. No need to apologize when I've been so late in updating. I just might do that in the next story! ^__^ Hope you like this.