Chapter Nine-Explanations

Bakura looked down at his sleeping sister, worriedly. "Her breathing is so shallow.." He turned his head to look at Kaiba, Joey and Rex. "What could've caused it?"

"They're still not sure. I had to give them her inhaler. So far, they haven't found anything out of the ordinary about it." Rex told him softly. "I'm sorry you had to see this."

"It's all right. I'm really glad you called, Rex. Elizabeth would've wanted me here."

"Definitely." Joey agreed, coming to stand by Elizabeth's bed. "C'mon, Lizzie. You gotta be all right, or Wheeler'll be all upset."

"Wheeler?" Bakura raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're still humoring her about her cards...." He sighed. "I gave up trying to break her out of that habit, but I'd rather no one encouraged it."

"No one is encouraging anything, Dolt. Your sister is gifted with Shadow Powers." Yami Bakura appeared as he spoke. "They're not imaginary playmates, but servants of Pharaoh Atemu, sent to guard his reincarnated child from Mana."

"Whoa......" Joey's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am. She could also use her Millennium Pyramid to protect herself, but thanks to this absurdity with your court system, I have been unable to explain it to her properly."

"I see....." Bakura blinked in confusion. "Are you trying to say you care?"

"Of course I don't care. Who do you suppose killed the Pharoah's daughter to begin with?" His yami replied with a sneer. "I do care about you though, for my own reasons, and therefore, I will make sure this fool child lives." He grunted, shrugging off the looks of shock on their faces. "It was a very long time ago, and to this very day, I regret it."

"Really?" Bakura asked him in surprise. It was unlike the old thief to admit regret when it came to a dishonorable deed.

"That was the deed that drove my dear sister and I apart. I never spoke to Sagira again after that."

"I never knew you had a sister...." Bakura breathed in awe. "What was she like?"

"She was Nuvia's best friend. Nuvia was the pharaoh's youngest child. She was so quiet, and good willed. Even when the streets were less than kind to us. I despised that. I tried to teach her how to pilfer food, but she'd have none of it."

"Then one night, I told the Pharaoh's sentry that it was me who'd been robbing the market, when it was really my brother." Sagira, a thin, silver haired girl who indeed actually looked like the thief,appeared out of the Millennium Pyramid. For the first time, she was visible to everyone including Bakura. "My punishment was to remain forever trapped within this Item. They buried it so well, the original Item keepers didn't even know it existed. Elizabeth's mother found it haphazardly in an Egyptian novelty shop. "

"Y-you know Lizzie's real mother?" Bakura asked, his voice shaking.

"Of course I do. She was an ancient Egypt enthusiast. She wasn't too good of a parent though. Pegasus took her soul one night, and kept Lizzie for himself. I believe you know the rest of the story." The female yami propped herself on the window sill of Lizzie's room. "So, when are you going to hear from the court system about her again?"

"There's no telling..I wish it would be soon." Bakura replied. He'd turned his gaze back to Elizabeth now. He was stroking her hair. "Please don't leave us, Elizabeth.....I'll....I'll do what I can to get you home with me again. I promise. Just don't leave me..."

At the Game Shop, the card guardians were talking to the pharaoh. DM had the floor. "And I'm tellin ' you, Mana went too far. Elizabeth's condition is worse than it was last year!"

"I'm certain it is. Yugi went to check on everything." The pharaoh told him. "This cannot be allowed to continue."

"What do you think we should do?" Wheeler wanted to know.

"I think we need you guys to be more available for her other than when she has her deck with her." Pharaoh Atemu replied. "DM, CG. I want you to enter the human world."

"Why just them?" Wheeler demanded. "I'm her friend too, y'know !"

"Because they know more about her than you do. Don't worry too much. Elizabeth will always be wanting you around." The pharaoh soothed. To the Dark Magician and Celtic Guardian he said,"You'll be given human bodies, and names."

"I will gladly do this service for you, my pharaoh." DM told him, with a graceful bow.

"As will I." CG chimed in.

"Very well." The pharaoh held up their two cards, and the room was flooded with light. A minute later, the two duel monsters were completely tangible, and sporting new clothes. Dark Magician was wearing pants the color of his former robe, and a black shirt the word "dark" written in purple. His staff was turned into a street dagger, which he sheathed in his knife holster. "Does this thing still have all it's powers?"

"Yes, it does. I couldn't have you carrying your big staff around while civilians watched, you know." Atemu replied. "Now, you will be given your name. I name you Katsu."

"Katsu? Like Lizzie's going to be able to pronounce that." He laughed a little.

"She's eleven, not five." CG told him, and then looked down at his outfit. His armor had been replaced with an Irish kilt and short sleeve shirt. "And what will I be called, Pharaoh?"

"I will call you Kedo." The pharaoh told him. "Now go to the hospital and protect my incarnated daughter. "Wheeler, Kuba, you return to her deck for the time being."

"Aww man, that's not fair."

"Don't worry, Swordy boy. I'll take her deck to her. She likes to have it nearby when she'll sick." The newly human Dark Magician and Celtic Guardian left then, to get her deck then to see Lizzie at the hospital.