The Lost Pharaoh
….For Amber Eyes whose birthday was May 28th! Happy Belated Birthday!….(sorry, can't use asterisks because FF won't let me)
Thanks to my wonderful beta, who had a successful move, Towairaito Zoon!!!!
Note: The delay was totally inevitable, and it has never happened before, so it's not likely to happen again. Not only was my beta moving, and going to camp during the week, but the file I sent her of the chapter wouldn't open for her. THEN my laptop broke so I didn't even have access to the chapter, but it's fixed now and everything is saved to floppy disks. So, just for a note, this is mainly a rough draft, though I did edit it myself. Any changes will be revised by this weekend. Thanks for being patient!
Chapter 16: Escape
The rays of light shown down upon the city as a dark cloud drifted in the horizon, yet to block the rays. People were bustling around doing their normal activities, all except one. Inside the game shop, an elderly man had stopped what he was doing, blinking and staring around widely as if he had never seen the place before.
"What…when…how did I get downstairs? Have I been sleepwalking?" Sugoroku wondered aloud, scratching his head in thought. "I remember saying goodnight to Yuugi and Yami and then…what time is it? What day is it?"
He blinked, hoping that whatever had happened to him hadn't scared his grandson, or his friend. Walking up the stairs, he opened the door on the right.
"Yuugi, I'm sorry to wake you but…," he trailed off, staring down at the clothes strewn all over the room.
The bed was unmade leaving the sheets rumpled and the entire room looked as if it hadn't been cleaned for days. The most unusual thing was that his grandson was no where to be found.
"Yuugi?" he called out. "Yuugi?!"
He ran into the other room nearly across from it and flung it open, his mouth dropping open and his eyes widening. Yami's room was a bit neater, but the clothes he had worn were folded neatly on the chair nearby and the bed looked untouched. Sugoroku's eyes went wide. Could they be at school? What was going on? He didn't remember waking up to say goodbye. He hurried to his own room and tore through papers to find his watch. It was lying on the floor and he snatched it up, staring at it. It was not a school day, it was the weekend.
"Oh my….this can't be," he whispered aloud. "I remember the night I said goodnight to Yami and Yuugi, but my watch says…that was three days ago."
The watch slipped from his fingers, falling with a clatter to the floor and Sugoroku stood dumbstruck in his spot. How could he not remember the last three days? Where were Yuugi and Yami? What was going on?
"Maybe they just went out, or possibly to get some help. Maybe I was sleepwalking and they didn't know what to do," he tried to calm himself down with reassuring thoughts.
He walked back down the stairs, still in a daze. A knock sounded at his door and Sugoroku jumped with a start, calming his racing heart as he went to open it. There standing in the doorway was none other than Jou, who looked either incredibly annoyed or frustrated.
"All right! We're gonna try dis one last time gramps!" Jou said.
Surogoku blinked at him and then tilted his head to see the rest of Yuugi's friends running to catch up to him. Anzu, Honda, and Ryou rushed up out of breath.
"What's going on?" Surogoku asked, staring at all of them as he stepped out of the game shop.
"What's goin' on?! I'll tell you what's goin' on gramps!" Jou shouted, his eyes ablaze. "You forgot your own grandson, that's what! Yuugi hasn't been to school in three days and you're sittin' here like noth— "
"WHAT?! Yuugi's missing?" Sugoroku exclaimed, startling the teens. "And I thought I was imagining things! Oh no…I can't remember the last three days, or…or…," he trailed off, his eyes wide with concern.
Jou blinked, and then blinked again, "Eh…wait now, you can't remember the last three days? You mean to tell me ya don't remember forgetting Yuugi?"
"Forget him? How could I forget my own grandson?! We've got to call the police! Why didn't anyone tell me sooner!?"
"Right…he's really lost it, Jou," Honda said sarcastically, raising his eyebrows. "Mr. Mutou please excuse my friend, he's only using half a brain right now. We've all ready talked to the police and they said to put up flyers first and ask around to make sure he's missing before they take any action."
Sugoroku seemed to calm down a bit and nodded, "I just hope he's all right."
"Well, he's not alone, right?" Ryou spoke up quietly, his polite voice easing the tension.
Sugoroku jumped a bit, startled that he had appeared by his side and he hadn't noticed.
"What do you mean, Ryou?" Anzu asked.
"He's with that transfer student, Yami, isn't he? So if they're together I'm sure they're all right," Ryou smiled reassuringly.
"I hope you're right," Surogoku sighed heavily, his eyes lowering.
Jou opened his mouth to speak but a huge gust of wind surprised him. He held up his hands to block his face.
"What was dat?!" he exclaimed, looking around. "Hey guys, I think a storms comin'."
Anzu glanced up at the sky, as the rest of them did as well. The dark clouds were now hovering more profoundly in the sky. The sun's rays had dimmed; a chilly wind filling the atmosphere.
"Somethin' strange is going on," Jou said, staring up at the sky.
He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle and rubbed his head. There was an eerie feeling that he couldn't quite place. He stepped backward, looking around suspiciously. Something didn't feeling right. Suddenly, his back hit something…something solid, and warm. Jou halted, his eyes as wide as saucers as he slowly turned around. A white veil was the first thing he noticed with intense eyes within it. Jou yelped and jumped backward, tripping on his feet and falling to the ground.
"Jou! Are you all right?" Anzu exclaimed.
"Please don't be alarmed," a voice spoke up.
Jou scrambled away from the figure that had appeared out of no where. Anzu gasped, covering her mouth as she stared wide-eyed. Honda had stepped behind Ryou, who blinked innocently and stared at the woman without panic. Sugoroku had been immobilized, staring with unblinking eyes at the familiar necklace around her neck.
"That necklace…," he whispered. "W-where did you get it?"
The woman looked up at him, her intense blue eyes gazing at them with wisdom. She didn't answer his question and instead spoke confidently.
"Your grandson Yuugi is safe," she said.
Jou's eyes widened even further and his mouth dropped open. Sugoroku stared back surprised, but he didn't look frightened.
"Yuugi…where is he?!"
"He has been under the protection of the pharaoh for the past three days. I cannot say much, but you all must come with me," she spoke softly.
"The pharaoh?! What pharaoh?!" Jou exclaimed, stumbling back on his feet.
"The only true pharaoh of Egypt. I will explain everything to you when we get there. For now, you must trust me," she said.
"Trust you? We don't even know you?" Anzu spoke up, fear clouding her eyes.
"My name is Isis; I am a priestess for the pharaoh and I have come to take you to Egypt."
Honda's mouth dropped open as well, but Ryou was the only one who wasn't frightened or shocked.
"Oh my," Ryou said, blinking.
Sugoroku stepped forward bravely, "And my grandson? He's in Egypt?"
"Yes, but unfortunately he is no longer under the protection of the pharaoh. Something has happened and now you must come with me," Isis said.
"Something's happened to Yuugi?!" Jou clenched his fists.
"What happened?" Sugoroku asked, fearing for Yuugi's life.
"Please, we are running out of time, you must trust me," Isis said.
Sugoroku stared at her, studying her for several minutes before he finally nodded. Jou gapped at him in shock, opening and closing his mouth. Before he could say a word the sky began to darken. The clouds overhead began swirling above them, creating what looked like a funnel of a tornado. Anzu had latched onto Ryou, who was staring calmly but awed at the sight. Honda and Jou had latched onto one another in fear and Sugoroku stood amazed and frightened. A blast of bright light broke through the center of the funnel surrounding them in a brilliant glow. Isis had risen her arms high, and with her eyes closed was muttering something in another language. Within seconds, they disappeared into thin air, the beam of light sucking them up into the sky and going with them, disappearing into the dark clouds. The sky changed back to normal as if nothing had ever happened.
XXXXX
The sound of dripping water had been going on for as long as he could remember. Strangely, it felt like a dream; the sound of the distant splash of water drops on a solid surface. He felt numb all over, had for a while, but the feeling was returning. His fingertips moved slowly as the tingly sensation struck through his nerves. Slowly, he began to feel his legs and feet, and his back that ached a little, as if he had been lifting something. His arms too felt a little sore, but he couldn't place why. In fact, he couldn't even remember what happened or where he was.
He groaned softly as he felt himself awakening to reality. It had been slow, but he was finally beginning to register his surroundings. He felt cold…cold and damp and the smell of something metal drifted in the air. Was it metal…or blood? A pair of lavender eyes shot open at the thought, blinking weakly.
W-where am I?
Yuugi's eyes opened fully as he blinked away the blurriness clouding his vision. He didn't recognize the place. It looked like an underground cellar, or perhaps a dungeon. The floor was completely cement; dark and damp, with the water leaking through the cracks above…probably sewage. That explained the musty smell mingling with the smell of blood. He wasn't sure it was blood, but it smelled an awful lot like it. If he smelled blood, maybe he was in a dungeon.
How did I get here? When did I get here? I can't remember anything.
Breathing deeply, he tried to calm his racing heart and panicking mind. He wasn't going to get anywhere by screaming or going crazy from worry. He squinted his eyes as he thought hard to remember what had happened. It was fuzzy, but it was slowly coming back to him. He had been kidnapped, that much he remembered. Kidnapped by a man…and those eyes…
Yuugi shivered inwardly, not wanting to think about it. They had seemed so sinister and yet so familiar. He remembered sitting in the chair, tied down and afraid of what was going to happen to him…and to Yami. The man plotting against the pharaoh was obviously a long-time enemy. He had been planning a scheme for a while and…what had he said?
He's using me for bait…
Yuugi sighed heavily, closing his eyes momentarily. He wished there was a way to get to Yami and warn him, but that wouldn't do much good. Either way Yami would have to face the man sooner or later. Yuugi was afraid that Yami was still not up to his full strength. And if he wasn't, the man had an advantage over him. He wanted to help somehow, but he didn't know what he could do, especially from a dungeon.
His wracked his brain, trying to remember how he had ended up in a dungeon. The man who had tried to get information from him, the one who staged his kidnap, had talked to him, telling him he would lure Yami willingly or not. And then…then there were footsteps, different ones after the man and his cloaked men had left. Yuugi had been sitting alone, vulnerable, and the door had opened. His eyes had widened considerably at the sight of the same man that had been inside Yami's palace, the same man who had promised to protect the pharaoh. Hadi had stepped inside, his eyes unblinking, not even looking at Yuugi, but the sinister smirk on his face was enough to prove that something wasn't right.
Hadi had spoken to him, but the moment words came out of his mouth Yuugi was sure there was something terribly wrong with him. It wasn't his voice at all, but rather someone else…someone else who was talking through him with a raspier and colder voice. Hadi's lips had moved with the words as they were spoken to him.
"We meet again little Yuugi…," the voice had said, the sneer on Hadi's lips never wavering.
"Who are you? What do you mean we meet again?"
A cold laugh was a response, "You may not recognize me right now, but we have met. I have my orders to set you up as bait for the pharaoh."
"You're not Hadi!" Yuugi had exclaimed. "Who are you?"
"Relax, little Yuugi, I will show myself again shortly. Until then, you have to come with me," the voice had said.
"No!" Yuugi shouted. "Not until you give me some answers!"
The voice had laughed coldly, "You will do as you are told, for you have no choice."
Yuugi remembered what happened next. Hadi had pulled out a tall, golden object, one with the same symbol imprinted into the small golden ball at the top of the staff that was also imprinted onto the puzzle worn around his neck…the same symbol that Yami's crown had. And then he had felt something pull inside him, sending shivers up his spine. And the next thing he knew he was in the dark, cold dungeon.
He shivered and looked around, turning his head to examine the space. He blinked twice, wondering if he was imaging things. He was in a dungeon, as he figured, but there were no bars or cells around him. He was in a completely open space and the door was just meters away from him, beckoning him. He stared in shock that they would leave him unbound in front of the door. Getting over his shock, Yuugi moved his hands in order to lift his body toward the door…And found he couldn't budge.
Yuugi's eyes widened as he noticed his hands were chained. Silver bracelets encircled his wrists tightly, a small chain connecting to the back of a wall. It wasn't just any wall, though, because it wasn't attached to the cell. It appeared to be a completely different wall, shaped only to fit Yuugi's body against it.
He tugged roughly on the chains, but it was no use, he knew he was trapped. The loud creaking of a door made his breath catch in his throat. He shivered, trying to sink further against the wall as he watched the door open all the way. It was too dark to see through it, but he could hear breathing. Yuugi gulped, breathing deeply as he heard the rough footsteps slowly enter. He saw the cold face he had seen once before, his mouth dropping open in surprise.
"It's…you!" Yuugi gasped.
The man stepped inside, his lips curling into a wide smirk as the door slowly closed. His cloak wrapped around his body, flaring out around him. Cold, familiar purple eyes bore into his.
"I told you we'd meet again little Yuugi."
Yuugi's eyes widened fearfully as the familiar golden object was pointed at him. A luminous light filled the room, blinding him momentarily. He squinted, his heart beating wildly as he watched the light sweep over him, wrapping around his body. Something was happening, something strange…he could feel his body sinking, a cold feeling chilling his back and creeping up his neck. He screamed loudly in terror, trying to break away from the power as the light became too bright to look at.
XXXXX
Dark clouds formed overhead as the crackling of thunder tore through the sky with a deafening cry. Flashes of lightening followed afterward, lighting up the gray sky. Every person was running for cover in the safety of their house, locking the doors tightly. Children were crying as fear struck the hearts of the people, everyone all ready knowing what was to come. The darkness had arrived and their only chance for survival lie in Kemet where the armed soldiers and guards protected the palace, waiting for signs of any attack. There was no need to worry about all of Egypt just yet…for the pharaoh's palace was the main target.
Among the soldiers, viziers stood patiently waiting their orders. Their pharaoh was sitting atop a horse outside the palace walls, waiting for news. The guards had found the path had led to a dead end so there was no way of knowing where Yuugi had been taken. He was growing impatient and weary. Never before had an innocent life been so in danger…so close to the enemy. In the past at least the people had protected one another, alongside the pharaoh. But Yuugi was outside of his reach, far out of depths of Kemet. There was no telling how he was fairing.
"Pharaoh!"
Yami turned his head abruptly, having been waiting for nearly an hour for any news. Fidil ran up to him, holding something in his hand. As he neared, Yami recognized the object as a piece of parchment.
"My pharaoh," Fidil said, approaching him saddled on the horse, "this letter came for you."
"Who is it from?" Yami asked, taking the letter.
"I don't know, a large black bird was carrying it and dropped it right at the feet of the guards by the front gate," Fidil said, looking weary. "It could be from the enemy."
Yami nodded, and wasted no time in opening the letter. It was in fancy hand script that he didn't recognize. Though Yami didn't know whose handwriting it was, or where it came from, the letter said all he needed to know. It was what he had been waiting for: a sign, a clue, anything that would lead him to Yuugi's rescue and to finally see his enemy face-to-face. It read:
Yami,
Forgive me for not being respectful of your title, pharaoh, but we're beyond formalities. After all, we know each other very well. I'm sure you were expecting an ambush or something less discrete, but I thought I'd surprise you with a little…meeting arrangement. I'm not surprised that you'd think this is a trap, for it very well is. But I have something of yours…your protégé, the one person responsible for your return. Yes, we've been introduced. I'm quite fond of him…such a sweet, innocent boy. You wouldn't want him to be tainted, now would you?
I can see the look on your face. I know you'd do anything for your people; you proved that five thousand years ago when you gave your life for them. However, this boy holds something more…he's more than just another civilian you've sworn to protect, isn't he Yami? After all, this boy is bound to your fate, he is tied to you and has been ever since he awakened you. And you know what that means. You may have sacrificed yourself for all of Egypt, sealing the shadows away so that Egypt would be protected, but this boy…he is not from around here. He has never been a part of Egypt…so he is not protected from the shadows…
If you wish to save him from a fate worse than death, I suggest you meet me in Giza by the tallest of the three pyramids. I will give you only an hour to get there; I'm sure the great Pharaoh of Egypt can find a way. I will be waiting there for you, and I will bring your protégé as well in exchange for your life. Come alone or say goodbye to Yuugi.
Looking up at the blackening sky, Yami's eyes narrowed. Either way he would face his enemy and fight to the finish. He would have to sacrifice himself all over again, but before he did he wanted to make sure Egypt would be safe, and Yuugi as well.
"I must leave Fidil," Yami said, looking down at him. "Yuugi is in great danger, as is the rest of Egypt. If I don't face this enemy now it will only put everyone's lives in greater danger. He will try to attack with soldiers while I am facing him, that I am sure of. Make sure you find where Bakura and Marik have gone. And once Isis gets back from escorting Yuugi's grandfather and friends here tell her that it is time to perform the ritual."
Fidil's eyes dimmed, "Yes, pharaoh."
"I am not sure if I will return, but I leave Kemet in your hands."
With a small nod, Yami dashed away toward his destination. Fidil watched on and sighed inwardly. He had hoped the same fate wouldn't fall upon him…perhaps it wasn't too late. Perhaps there was something else that would happen, but for the moment, only time would tell.
XXXXX
The thunder crashed above the three large pyramids of Giza, the sky a dark gray turning black. Sand flared up like a funnel, the winds picking up strongly. Out of the mist of sand, Yami appeared with his white horse, riding toward the pyramid. He slowed the horse down as he stared up at the tallest one, standing in the center. The large dark cloud looming overhead was directly centered over it, lightning and thunder crashing around it.
Yami's eyes widened as he noticed something strange with the cloud. It was forming a slight funnel, the winds picking up with strong force. The funnel vanished and a black-cloaked figure was left in its place.
"Who…who is that?" Yami wondered aloud, staring up at the cloaked figure.
The figure had not only appeared from the funnel but appeared to be floating only meters above the tip of the pyramid. Yami didn't know who the figure was, but he knew this person had great power in order to use such magic.
"Welcome pharaoh," a cold voice echoed around him.
Even though the figure was so far up on top of the pyramid, his voice sounded strong and fierce. He was using even more magic.
But how can this person contain so much? Who is it?!
"I see you have come alone…very good. I expected you to follow my orders since a dear friend of yours is at stake," the man spoke, his cold voice sounding amused.
"Where is Yuugi!?" Yami shouted angrily, glaring up at him.
He knew he could appear beside the man and find out who he is and threaten him, but that would use too much power. He had to conserve his energy otherwise if he got to weak there was no chance he would be able to sacrifice himself.
"I told you he'd be here, so he is," the man said, lifting his arm up.
In a matter of seconds, another funnel came down nearby him, winding quickly like a tornado. The black clouds that formed it were taking on a peculiar shape. It was in the form of an oblong (1) that was floating mid-air. Narrowing his eyes, Yami studied the shape carefully and realized that it resembled an oblong mirror…and was in fact just that. It was a mirror, reflecting the strikes of lightning that came now and then. Yami blinked, unsure of what the mirror represented.
"Here's little Yuugi," the man laughed coldly.
Yami's eyes widened as a figure appeared inside the mirror. Yuugi stood just inside it and slowly opened his eyes. He looked around wildly and from the expression on his face figured out that he was not in a place he wanted to be. He began screaming and pounding on the mirror from the inside, but it wouldn't budge; his screams going unheard.
"What have you done to him?!" Yami demanded, his eyes flashing intensely as the symbol on his crown glowed threateningly.
The man laughed again, the sound echoing around them, "I have trapped him in a dimension between ours and the Shadow Realm. If you wish for him to return to this dimension, I suggest you give your life to me now."
Yami glared harshly, "Let him go first."
"Please, Yami, don't make me hurt an innocent boy. It's you I want," he said, his tone dark but pleased.
"What do you want from me?" Yami glared at him, demanding to know something about him or whatever grudge he held.
A sharp, cold laugh was received as the man stared down at him, "You don't recognize my voice Yami? I'm surprised. It hasn't been that long…Ah yes, but you wouldn't have thought about me, not after what you did. What I want from you is your life, your power, everything that should've been mine!"
"You wish to take my throne then?" Yami asked, not really surprised to hear that. "If you want the power to become pharaoh you'll have to defeat me in an ancient duel. Even if I agreed to exchange my life for Yuugi's, you still would have to fight me fairly in order to win my millennium item."
"Don't try and fool me! I all ready know about that, but I have a better way of getting your millennium item. But first you must agree to fight on my terms before I let your little friend go."
Yami glanced toward Yuugi who was still pounding on the mirror, his eyes wide with fear. Sighing heavily, Yami turned back toward the man and nodded.
"I agree."
"Then it is done," he sneered, snapping his fingers.
The glass shattered and Yuugi fell out of the mirror with a yelp. Instead of falling he was held up by an invisible force. Blinking widely, he opened his eyes and nearly screamed in surprise. He could barely see the ground from where he was, and he wasn't fond of heights. His eyes caught sight of something standing on the ground. Even though it was so far down he could tell who it was.
"Yami!" Yuugi cried out.
"Yuugi! Are you all right?" Yami called up to him.
Yuugi nodded, "I'm fine, Yami! You have to get out of here! It's a trap!"
He heard a cold laugh and turned his head to see the same person from before who had questioned him about Yami.
"It is too late, little Yuugi. Yami has all ready signed his life over to me."
"NO! Yami don't! It's all a lie! He won't let me go!" Yuugi cried, tears on the verge of spilling.
Not only would Yuugi never get to see Yami again, but he wouldn't get to see his grandpa or friends either. And Yami would be killed by this guy, never to return to Egypt. He saw Yami's eyes harden and turn abruptly to the man who was still standing with his cloak covering his face. If only Yami could see his eyes…he would know who he was. Yuugi's eyes widened as an idea struck him.
"You lied to me!" Yami shouted, the crown glowing from his anger.
The man laughed coldly, "You should've expected that pharaoh! But it's too late now, you're mine whether you like it or not."
Yami's eyes flashed with rage as the man sneered down at him. When neither were looking, Yuugi stood up, finding that he could stand in mid-air because of whatever the man had done. He glared at the cloaked figure, finding courage deep within and running toward him. With all his might he crashed into him, grabbing his cloak roughly.
"Yuugi, no!" Yami shouted, surprised by what he had done.
The man hissed darkly and pushed him backward. Yuugi fell onto air, wincing from the force of the push. He looked up to see the man hovering over him.
"It…it can't be…," a soft voice said.
The figure stopped advancing toward Yuugi and glanced down toward Yami, who was looking up with wide, shocked eyes. The man wheeled around toward Yuugi, who looked up at him as well. The man's hands lifted and touched his own face, realizing that his hood had been pulled down to reveal his identity. His lips curled into a malicious smirk as his dark eyes flashed dangerously toward Yuugi.
"Well, well, clever move little boy. I didn't think you had it in you," he sneered.
Yuugi trembled fearfully, but managed to hold his stern expression.
"I believe it's time for you to go back to your cell now," the man's eyes flashed.
Yuugi's eyes widened and he quickly turned to look down at Yami, "Yami, you have to get out her— ahhhhhh!"
Yuugi screamed as harsh winds surrounded him, the dark clouds gathering to form a funnel. He managed to open his eyes, trying to use his hands to shield him from what was to come. The dark funnel that had been formed suddenly surrounded him, causing him to scream loudly. He heard the man laughing viciously and heard Yami calling out to him, but the voices were lost as he vanished within the funnel.
"YUUGI!" Yami shouted, angrily pushing off the ground.
His body was hoisted up high in the air, soaring towards the peak of the pyramid. He stopped mid-air just as he reached the spot where Yuugi had been. Yami's crown glowed and light surrounded him as he tried to recover him before it was too late.
"Too late, pharaoh," the cold and familiar voice spoke.
Yami's power died down to conserve energy and he glared into familiar eyes. The same eyes that had haunted him five thousand years ago when he had fought to save Egypt then. The same eyes he had once trusted but only had found bitter jealousy and hatred. The dark maroon eyes bore into his as if trying to reach into the depths of his soul.
A cold smirk appeared on his face, "Well, Yami, aren't you going to say hi to an old acquaintance."
Yami's eyes were still wide as he stared into the face of the last person he had seen before he had summoned Slifer all those years ago.
"Kontar…?" Yami whispered, shocked.
Before Yami could blink a blinding red light came out of no where and hit him square in the chest. He grunted as he was thrown backward nearly losing his concentration on keeping him afloat in mid-air.
"Yes, it's me," Kontar drawled. "The same one who challenged you all those years ago; back when I thought that you couldn't summon anything more powerful than duel monsters. And to think you could summon an Egyptian God. That was rather...unexpected."
Yami winced from the pain he felt from the hit but stood up, "How did you survive?"
Kontar sneered, "What an interesting question…I suppose I can tell you. Right before that stupid dragon of yours shot his power at me I disappeared using the power of my millennium item," he said, pulling out the millennium scale to show it to him, "and in my place one of my guards stood. I had to fake my death and make sure that everyone believed I was dead, so I had to stay cloaked all these years and wait until I had enough power to challenge you…not only that but I had heard that you had been put in a deep sleep, more like in suspended animation; preserved until you were able to wake up.
"While I was waiting for your return I read the prophecy. I read everything about you and now and then kidnapped someone from the palace by luring them out and tortured them into telling me something I didn't all ready know. I needed to know everything about you…how you were able to harness so much power, why you were supposedly the true Pharaoh of Egypt. No one had any answers for me. So I decided that if you could harness a power, so could I. I knew I needed the power of an Egyptian God to help me," he sneered, taking a step closer.
"Unfortunately, I found out that all three Egyptian Gods had someone who controlled them. You still controlled Slifer, even though you were sleeping in your tomb, and Bakura had accidentally accessed power to Obelisk, when he wasn't supposed to be the one in control of it. And of course Marik who held the Winged Dragon of Ra. So instead I decided I had to make a deal with either Bakura or Marik. Unfortunately I also learned everyone with a millennium item was put into a deep sleep, like their pharaoh. But then…then I found out that Marik didn't have any millennium item. And that intrigued me. How could he harness an Egyptian God without power from an item? I decided to figure that out later, first I had to befriend him. Marik was a lot more clever than I gave him credit for and knew what I was planning. So I made a deal with him. This way I am able to use his Egyptian God card in exchange for whatever he wants, with the exception of you or your throne."
"You have the Winged Dragon of Ra?" Yami asked, his eyes widening.
"Yes I do," he smirked. "And I am able to use it."
Yami's eyes narrowed, "Why would Marik give you control of an Egyptian Godcard?"
"I asked that question myself and all he said was that he wanted something more. Perhaps the fool doesn't know how powerful these Godcards are," Kontar sneered. "But for now all that matters is that I get what I came for."
"The throne does not belong to you! Egypt needs a leader who actually cares about others and not just themselves!" Yami shouted.
Kontar's eyes narrowed, "I don't really care what you think Yami! The fact is that I can take the throne! I have a right to it since your father killed my father!"
"My father defeated yours fairly in a battle! Your father was the one to try and kill mine first. In fact, as I recall the laws of Egypt stated that what your father did was illegal! Therefore you would be arrested rather than given the throne if anything happened to me!" Yami shouted angrily.
"They won't have a choice once you're out of my way!" Kontar hissed, his eyes ablaze as he pointed his millennium scale at Yami.
Yami's eyes flashed as the symbol on his crown glowed brilliantly, beams of golden light coming out to surround him in a shield, blocking Kontar's attack. The red beam that had blasted from Kontar's millennium item reflected back upon him. He disappeared just in time.
Yami wheeled around as Kontar reappeared behind him, sending another jet stream of red light toward him. He barely blocked the attack, keeping the red light from touching him but having been thrown backward from the force. He was panting as he rose to his feet, glaring at Kontar, who was smiling in amusement.
"Looks like you're not very powerful without that millennium item of yours, huh Yami? Too bad it's in the possession of your little friend who you're trying to protect," Kontar smirked and took several steps toward him. "I could easily convince the people that Yuugi was my accomplice and befriended you so that you were entrust him with the millennium item, because without it you're much weaker."
"NO! They won't believe you!" Yami growled darkly. "Yuugi would never do that!"
"You know that, and I know that, but do you think your viziers will really believe that? After all, it does seem suspicious of how much he knew about you from the beginning…He knew about the Lost Pharaoh, the Pharaoh of Egypt, and he allowed the millennium puzzle into his possession even learning that it contained all your power. You barely know this boy, Yami. I thought you would have been more careful."
Yami's eyes were glistening angrily and Kontar smirked with amusement. But Yami just stood up straight and shook his head.
"You're wrong," he said calmly. "Yuugi is not like that."
"How would you know? You just met him," Kontar's eyes rose in amusement.
"I know because of what I saw in his eyes the moment I met him," Yami said quietly. "And I know because the prophecy would have never been interfered with if Yuugi wasn't meant to free me."
"Suit yourself, Yami. Either way, you're doing to die," Kontar's eyes flashed before he was surrounded in a deep red glow. Yami clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for yet another attack.
XXXXX
Everything was spinning around and around. He was screaming but he knew that no one could hear him. Finally, it stopped and he fell onto something cold and hard. Yuugi winced in pain as he felt his skin scrape against the rough surface, cutting him. He lifted his arm to see that it wasn't anything more than a shallow scratch, although it was bleeding a bit. He pushed himself to stand, shakily grasping anything that would hold him upright while the dizziness subsided. Shaking his head, he blinked several times to adjust to the darkness.
Yuugi ran forward, his fingers gripping the bars in front of him that prevented his escape. Just beyond the bars lie the door that led out of the dungeon, but it was out of his reach. Yuugi whimpered and knelt to the floor, his fingers still tightly gripping the bars of the cell he was in.
"Yami…," Yuugi whispered shakily, his eyes filling with tears. "I'm so sorry…I promised you I'd help you, but I'm not strong enough…You were even going to put yourself in danger for me…," Yuugi choked back a sob, biting his lip to keep from crying. "Please don't die…Please don't die."
His lip trembled and the tears threatened to spill over his eyes. The door crashed open and a cry of pain was heard before something smashed roughly into Yuugi's cell. He jumped backward just in time before a guard's head crashed into the bars. Rough footsteps were heard outside the door and a figure walked in. Yuugi had scrambled to his feet and was sinking back against the wall, watching with wide eyes. He stifled a gasp as the figure came into view.
Familiar long white locks framed a slightly pale and definitely angry face. The robe covering the figure's body was torn here and there. There were marks that covered his arms that were still dribbling blood, but as he walked forward he didn't even seem to notice the cuts. The angry, deep brown eyes bore into the man shivering on the ground. The familiar necklace in the shape of a ring with several diamond shaped objects dangling from it, with the center piece of an Egyptian pyramid, hung loosely from the neck of none other than Bakura.
"I warned you to let me out or you'd pay," Bakura hissed darkly. "And now I'm going to show you what happens to those that don't pay heed to my words!"
The guard tried to scramble up, his black cloak ripped badly as he gripped the cell bars for dear life, as if trying to sink through them. Bakura's fingers brushed across his millennium item as his dark eyes narrowed maliciously. The item began to glow brightly, surrounding him in a luminous aura. The guard shook his head, his eyes wide with terror.
"Now your soul shall be sent to the Shadow Realm for eternity!" Bakura shouted, laughing lightly.
A bright light burst from the Millennium Ring and the guard screamed loudly as he was engulfed by it. His screams died down almost instantly after he was hit, his head drooping back against the cell and his arms sliding down to rest by his limp body. The only thing that looked out of place, besides his abnormally pale face, was the dead look in his eyes where his pupils had once been.
"No one tries to put me in a cell! And next time I ask for food give it to me!" he shouted, glaring at the man's body before turning around sharply.
"B-Bakura?"
He suddenly halted by the door, turning around slowly. His eyes landed on the body of the guard, but soon lifted as Yuugi walked toward the front of the cell. Bakura's eyes bore into his and soon he visibly relaxed.
"Ah…Yuugi is it? Fancy meeting you down here," Bakura said, grinning sinisterly. "Not exactly the pharaoh's palace, now is it?"
Yuugi bit his lip from the mention of Yami, "…N-no. Can you help me?"
Bakura's eyebrows lifted in half amusement and half wonder, "Help you? And why should I?"
"Please, Bakura!" Yuugi pleaded, gripping the bars tightly as he stared up at him. "Yami's in real danger and I have to get out and help him!"
Bakura snorted, "And why would I want to let you out just to go rescue the pharaoh?"
"Listen to yourself!" Yuugi shouted, startling Bakura, who glanced at him with raised eyebrows. "Yami has kept Egypt together all these years. You live in Egypt, it's your home! Without Yami, it would've been destroyed long ago. And now…now he might die," Yuugi said, his lip trembling again. "And I have to try and save him…I promised…"
"All right, stop giving me the hero speech," Bakura muttered. "Stand back."
Yuugi blinked back his tears and nodded, stepping backwards. Bakura held his hands on either side of his millennium item and Yuugi watched in awe as a bright light began to fill the room again. Instead of shooting out like it did to the guard, Yuugi's eyes widened as the cell bars began to bend. It bent until there was room enough for Yuugi to fit through. He didn't waste a minute as he slipped through the bars, jumping over the man and running to catch up with Bakura.
He didn't bother to close the door as he jogged to keep up with Bakura's fast pace. Bakura glanced around corners and behind them as he kept up a fast pace.
"Thanks for saving me," Yuugi said.
"Shhh, be quiet," Bakura said, glancing down at him. "And I only did it so you could save the pharaoh."
"You want Yami to be saved?" Yuugi perked up.
"Yes, so we can finally have our duel."
Yuugi glanced up at him with a somewhat annoyed expression, but Bakura only smiled down at him.
"I never said I did things for a good reason," he said. "Now, come on, the exit should be down this way."
Yuugi followed behind him as they crept down several more hallways. Most of them appeared deserted. Either the cloaked man hadn't expected Yuugi, or anyone, to escape his prison, or Bakura had taken care of most of the guards.
Who was that guy? I know I've seen him before.
Yuugi had been lost in his thoughts and didn't notice Bakura had stopped. He bumped into him and with a small grunt stumbled backward. He felt a rough squeeze on his arm and looked up to see that Bakura had prevented him from falling backward. Yuugi smiled up at him, but Bakura just pulled him up.
"We've got to be careful. There are guards out front."
Yuugi looked up at him, "Can you use your millennium item?"
Bakura looked back at him, "If we just go marching out there then all the guards will surround us. I won't be able to take them all out since I've all ready used too much of my power at once. But if we manage to sneak and steal a horse from them, I'm sure we could get away easily."
Yuugi nodded, "All right."
Bakura nodded as well and crept out first, hiding in the shadows as they approached the bridge that had long since been put down for their arrival. They both peered out and could see there were guards standing with their backs turned to them. Quietly, Bakura flattened himself against the wall by the bridge and began moving slowly. After several steps he motioned for Yuugi to follow him. Yuugi practically tried to sink himself into the wall as he slowly followed Bakura's steps. There were torches lit around that could reveal them, but they stayed in only the shadowed areas.
Yuugi's heart froze as the guard shifted and began whistling to himself. Steadying himself, he continued to walk along the wall in the shadows. Bakura stopped when they reached a spot that light was shone on. Bakura watched the guards carefully, making sure none were looking. They had to wait for the guard that was pacing back and forth to turn around before stepping over the area with light and creeping back into the shadows. Yuugi took deep breaths as he moved his hand to grasp the wall tightly as he tried to step over the patch of light.
A guard coughed and Yuugi jumped, nearly falling over, but managed to steady himself. Bakura was looking at him slightly irritated and motioned for him to hurry before the guard that was pacing turned around. Yuugi nodded and spread his legs, stepping over the patch of light carefully.
"Hey!"
Yuugi jumped with a start, inhaling deeply and stumbling over. His grip on the wall slipped and he stumbled backward. He hit something hard and before he could cry out a hand covered his mouth roughly. Yuugi looked up to see Bakura kneeling over him, staring in front of them. They were both in shadows and looked to see the guard closest to them walking forward.
"That's my horse!" he exclaimed, pointing to the horse another guard was holding.
"I was just going to put it away with the other horses!"
"Well, don't!"
"Don't order me around!"
Yuugi felt a tug on his arm as Bakura dragged him through the shadows around to the large wall that had the castle surrounded. The only way out was through the large gates. The two guards were arguing over the horse…well, what turned into something other than arguing about the horse, and Bakura managed to use his millennium item to blow out one of the torches near the gates. Luckily, neither guard noticed, and the other guards were on the other side of the bridge.
Yuugi glanced up at Bakura as they hid behind some barrels. His eyes were focused on the horse that one of the guards was still holding onto. The grip on Yuugi's arm tightened and he turned to watch the argument grow.
"You think you're better than me just because you actually got a mission?!" one of the guards shouted. "I don't understand why or how you got it because my horse is faster! And that's why you want to take my horse!"
"You're a blundering fool, Lycas! I just want to put the horse away before master Kontar gets back!"
"Quiet, you fool! You're not supposed to say his name aloud! You're supposed to call him lord! Look what you've done now. I don't know why he trusts you more than me!"
Yuugi's eyes widened considerably. Kontar?! That's…that's the boy Yami told me about. He was the son of his stepfather's mistress, the one who killed herself. And he's the one who kept giving Yami trouble all those years ago, threatening civilians and threatening to overrule him. How is he alive now?! Unless…could he have a millennium item too?!
"DON'T YOU CALL ME NAMES!"
Yuugi jumped with a start as one of the guards lunged for the other. Bakura immediately took action, just as the one guard let go of the reigns. Bakura ran forward, so fast that it caused Yuugi to trip and stumble, even as Bakura still grasped his arm. Instead of falling forward, he found himself being lifted quickly as Bakura ran toward the horse. With great agility he jumped high, nearly flying in mid-air for several seconds before landing on the horse.
The horse neighed loudly, causing the two guards to pause in their struggle and turn with wide eyes. Bakura wasted no time and swung Yuugi in front of him until he was leaning against the horse and took the reigns, turning the horse around.
"Close the gates!" one of them shouted.
Bakura kicked the horse just hard enough to get the horse moving at a fast pace. They raced toward the closing gates and Yuugi saw that they weren't going to make it. He looked up at Bakura and noticed, with slight uneasiness, that Bakura's eyes were narrowed dangerously and his lips had curled into a smirk. He muttered something in a strange tongue and gently prided the horse to go faster. Yuugi's eyes widened.
The gates will close before we reach them! And at this speed we'll crash into them!
Yuugi had the urge to shut his eyes but didn't as he noticed Bakura's millennium item was glowing again. He turned to look at the gate that was now only inches from closing. He watched nervously as the gates finally slammed shut, but Bakura didn't slow down. Yuugi grasped onto one of Bakura's arms, that was still holding the reigns, so he wouldn't fall. Bakura leaned forward, his eyes taking on a more luminous glint as he urged the horse to go even faster. His millennium item was still glowing around his neck, but nothing was happening.
What is he planning to do, jump through the gate?!
Yuugi nervously bit his lip, barely able to see the guards that were running at them, left and right. They were nearly blurs as the horse ran at full speed, heading toward the gate. They were only meters from the gate now and Yuugi was seriously thinking about jumping off, but for some reason trusted Bakura. After all, he had rescued him. Yuugi just hoped he didn't die along with giving Bakura his trust.
Several of the guards held their weapons out as they stood before the gates. Bakura didn't seem to be slowing down, but the guards were prepared to launch weapons at them and stop the horse from colliding. It was, after all, supposedly one of their best horses.
"Stop right there! You won't be able to escape! The gates are sealed shut! Give up now!"
Bakura's lips curled into an even wider smirk. Yuugi didn't like the expression on his face, it was one that made him look evil. He gulped and tried to lean backward, only to find himself crushed against Bakura, who was leaning forward with a strange glint in his eyes. The guards held their weapons out, ready to stop them right as they neared. They were only a little over a meter away now and closing in fast. It felt like slow motion and Yuugi just wanted to close his eyes and hope he lived through it.
Suddenly, Bakura pulled on the reigns roughly, causing the horse to neigh loudly. At first, Yuugi thought Bakura was trying to stop at the last minute, but felt the horse leap up. Yuugi's eyes widened with terror.
He's getting the horse to jump?! But that gate is over ten feet high!!
Yuugi gripped the horse's mane tightly as it leaped up high. Yuugi could tell it would only reach as high as the middle of the gate. The guards were shouting that they were idiots and fools and that if the horse was injured they'd pay for it. Yuugi shut his eyes tightly, waiting for that moment when they'd either fall off the horse, or be pulled off roughly…but the crash never came. He opened both his eyes slowly, wondering what happened. He gasped out loud when he saw that the horse was practically flying over the gate. The horse was still positioned in jumping form, but it was being raised higher and higher. The guards couldn't see Bakura's millennium item, but Yuugi could see it glowing brightly, shining even through his dark brown eyes, making them glow a bright golden hue.
The horse flew high over the top of the gate landing safely on the other side. It neighed loudly and stumbled from having been consumed by ancient magic, but was able to ride out away from the large castle, heading quickly out into the night. The guards were shouting behind them, and Yuugi heard them begin to open the gates, but they were all ready a good distance away. Yuugi breathed a sigh of relief, then turned abruptly toward Bakura with widened eyes.
"What about Yami?! We have to find him and help him!"
Bakura glanced down at him, his expression turning to normal, which was a bit better than the evil stare he had on earlier.
"There's no time. Besides, what do you think you can do for him?"
Yuugi opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Bakura stared at him for a minute longer before looking straight ahead of them.
"You haven't got any powers. Yami can take care of himself," Bakura said.
"But he's not strong enough right now! And Kontar's going to hurt him!"
"Kontar? You mean Yami's long-time nemesis?" Bakura laughed. "That's impossible. Everyone saw him killed back in ancient times. There's no way he could've survived an attack from an Egyptian God."
Yuugi blinked in surprise. Hadn't Bakura heard those guards talking?! Or maybe he had been concentrating too hard on summoning enough power to take control of the horse. Yuugi then blinked again, turning to stare back at him in surprise.
"You…you know about the Egyptian Gods?"
Bakura smirked down at him, "Of course I do. You don't think I would just leave everything alone after finding out the item I stole contained ancient magic, do you? No, I went back to the palace after Yami's father died…I went back as he was getting his own millennium item. I came to every meeting that him and those others with millennium items went to. I learned about what it meant to hold such an item…what costs there were, but also what benefits. I was willing to take the risk, since I had lived many of my years as a thief. I had nothing to lose.
"I also found out everything I could about pharaoh Yami. Most everything I found after he took over the throne and trained to be pharaoh," Bakura said, his eyes darkening. "Because I found out that in order to win millennium items one had to defeat them in a duel. The only reason Yami didn't have to win a duel, or any of the others, was because they were bound to their items. I had taken the Millennium Ring before they could find someone to bind it to. And the only way to keep it is to win a duel with Yami."
"Then you would know how to control an Egyptian God, right?! I know that's what the guards said!" Yuugi exclaimed, as Bakura glanced back down at him. "They said Kontar was their master. And if you know about the Egyptian Gods, maybe you could lend some of your power to Yami."
Bakura snorted, "Even if I wanted to there's no way to just lend abilities to the other, unless they have the item. If you're right about Kontar then he's probably the one who stole the missing millennium item. There's no way to help Yami. It's his fight. There's no one that could have the power to help him, unless you have hidden ancient powers you could use to help him."
Yuugi looked up at him sadly, "…No."
Bakura stared down at him, but didn't reply. Instead he turned the horse slightly in order to run up a very steep hill. He said something in the strange tongue and the horse slowed down. Yuugi glanced up and looked to where they stopped. They had ended up on a very tall, steep hill, with only a large tree nearby them. Down below, they could easily make out a village, with all the houses and places hidden in the dark, only some torches lighting up the way. However, a distance away surrounded by more light, was the familiar palace in the center of the town.
"There's the palace, we're almost there," Bakura said quietly.
Yuugi wasn't sure if Bakura was talking to him or just talking aloud to himself. He stared down at the palace, feeling his heart wrench as it reminded him of Yami. The last he had seen him there had been a pained expression on his face. Yuugi had seen how much Yami cared about him, and Egypt, even in the short time they had been together. And it hurt him to think he couldn't help him.
There has to be a way! Maybe grandpa will know something…I mean, he's familiar with the scripture. If only I could see him.
Yuugi sighed heavily and glanced around, feeling oddly comforted by the soft glow the torches gave in the dark of the night. It was then he noticed something that seemed slightly out of place.
"Hey Bakura, what's that in the sky?" he asked, pointing to the section above the palace.
Bakura blinked and squinted his eyes, studying it. In the sky there was a small cloud that stood out among the rest. The sky was dark but the cloud was oddly a bit white, nearly glowing in the dark.
"Hmm…that's strange, it seems as though magic has been used recently. Probably something to do with Isis, she's always doing things. I bet Yami has his guards all ready set up prepared for battle."
"Are you going to drop me off at the palace?" Yuugi asked, looking up at him.
Bakura frowned momentarily, "As long as you don't point out who I am. I'll let you off near the palace."
Yuugi nodded in agreement.
"Let's go then!" he said, kicking the horse gently.
They turned around in order to go down the steep hill, heading toward the town. Yuugi wanted a chance to tell Isis and the others that Yami was in danger and who was responsible for it all. He only hoped that whatever magic had been used wouldn't keep them from getting to the palace. And hopefully Isis would know a way to contact his grandfather, or at least find a way to help Yami. He wasn't just going to sit back and watch Yami bear the burden on his own. After all, he had promised Yami he would help and he never broke a promise to a friend.
TO BE CONTINUED…
sighs with relief I'm glad I finally got this up! YAY! Sorry about the delay! Don't worry, the next chapter won't take nearly as long to get out. Now that it's summer it should be easier to update. This week was just bad, what with my beta moving and me getting my computer fixed. But everything's better now, thanks for being patient!
Author's Note: I was thinking of doing a sequel…since there hasn't been much romance in it. It won't be as long, but at least you all will get your fill of romance! smiles I'll think about it and let you know by the end of this story.
(1) An oblong is a shape, like an oval mirror. It's long though and round around the corners.
To Reviewers:
Kitty Neko: Hehe, that's cool! I'm sorry I took so long to update! Nope, Yuugi didn't get brainwashed, at least not for long. After all, how can he help save poor Yami if he's brainwashed, right? grins
SilverWing147: Thanks a bunch! I tried to get this chapter out when I first had planned, but I had computer troubles and my beta moved but…now it's all right! And now it's up to Yuugi save our poor Pharaoh! Don't worry, the next chapter won't take as long! backs away hehehe…okay, I'm going, I'm going, no need to threaten. rushes off to start on next chapter
Misseystar: well, usually I get the chapters out on those dates, but they are estimations. Unfortunately I had some hold ups, but all is good now! Ah yes…the symbol on Yuugi's forehead. You might be the only one who remembers that. But I can't tell you if that's significant or not, you'll have to see. And yes, about the sphere…you're doing really good with figuring it out! grins hahaha! You're right! It was Kontar! Man, you're the only one who guessed it right. Is there a history of psychics in your family? I was thinking about doing a sequel to this, but I'm not sure yet…It wouldn't be as long and probably wouldn't have much action in it, but there's be humor and romance. Mainly because there isn't much romance in this story. I said this in the author's note too. Thanks for being patient!
Inuyasha0001: hehehe, I know! In this fic though, since Yuugi and Yami have JUST met, it's more of an established friendship and trust. I was thinking of doing a sequel, which would be shorter, that would establish the romance, what do you think? I may have an idea for one…and I know people have been looking forward to it. That way, I could also include Kaiba…hmm…yes, what a good idea! smiles Thanks! Hehehe, yes, definitely some crazy drivers out there. Have you been working on your fics lately? Let me know if there are any you'd really like advice on!
Aitwo: Hehehe….Well, not who you were expecting, but still just as bad as Seto. And actually, I said in the author's note above, I might do a sequel in order to establish the romance and include Seto in it. He wasn't in this story…but it would be too wrong to leave him out, right? I'll let you know by the end of this story! There's only a few chapters left to go!
White Phoenix Eternal: I like your author's name! Very cool. Yes, Marik is a little strange, isn't he? One minute he seems good, the next very bad…yes indeed, not a nice character. But if it makes you feel better, there's something more to it for him. You'll see in the next chapter. watches as Marik is beaten with a frying pan As much as I'm enjoying the show, I might need him in the next chapter. smiles
Cherazz22784: So, was the cloaked figure who you were expecting? Hehehe…Don't worry, I'm not a fan of angst, this is not a sad story. But now it's up to poor little Yuugi to save our dear pharaoh. Don't worry, I'm hoping the ending will be a bit unexpected. And hopefully I will do a sequel.
Thundermousepikachu: YAY! You guessed it right as well! Wow, that's unexpected. Are you psychic too? Yes, Yami deserves to be with Yuugi…And don't worry, this won't have a sad ending. I hate angst stories. But I am planning to do a sequel…one to establish the romance since this story didn't have much in it. Really? I've never seen Inuyasha, sounds very interesting. Sorry I updated so late! The next update won't take as long, promise!
Amber eyes: Yeah, I definitely hate killing people, sometimes even the bad guys. Hehe…but definitely not the good guys. Awww, thanks! Even if you don't read a lot of fan fiction, it's good to know you think I have some talent. grins wickedly Oh don't worry, the ending will be unexpected. I have something in store for Yuugi along the way, have no fear. Besides, it's all up to him to save Yami…The next update won't take as long! Sure, I'd love to have your e-mail! And I'm glad your dad lifted the ban. I'm actually planning on a sequel to this, just to establish the romance. Those who don't like the romance, or couples, won't have to read it because it's going to focus on the romance, not really much action. But I'm still thinking about it….You think a sequel would be nice? I'm not sure how many people want romance, fluff, shounen-ai stuff, so I'm not sure. Oh, your birthday's May 28th! Well, it's a bit late, but I posted a little note at the top for ya! smiles Anywhoo, I must go work on the next chapter!
Hikari no Mayonaka: Don't worry! FF can be really annoying sometimes! Oh yes, Marik does have more than one reason for what he's doing. He'll be in the next chapter. I'm not sure how much I'll give away, but since there aren't too many chapters left you'll probably learn a lot about his plans. Well, Bakura wasn't exactly trying to help him…hehe, but he is being nice, for him anyway. If I do a sequel, he'll be in it as well. The sequel, like I said in the author's note, will be mostly romance. So in the next chapter everyone will meet and things will start coming together. I'll update sooner, don't worry!
Gabe: EnchantressofSilence? All right! I'll definitely go check your stories out. Have you updated anything recently? Awwwwww, thanks so much! And you shouldn't say your stories suck. I mean, I thought when I first wrote this that it was bad, since it was my first Yu-Gi-Oh fic. smiles and gives hug You make me soooooooooo happy! I don't have much to give you, except I will go check out yours stories (sorry it's been a while, but my computer crashed THREE times, can you believe that? I finally, well my mom, got a new $1500 top-notch computer, MUAHAHAHAHA! It will not fail me again). And there will be a sequel. I'm planning on it being a romance ficcy in order to establish fluffiness that wasn't really in this story. Does that sound good to you? All right, must go work on next chapter! Thanks again!
YoukoKurama201: Oh, sorry! I was going to guess that you were a girl, but afraid if I was wrong, you know? Hehehe…I'm sorry I took so long in updating! And to make up for my long updates there will be a fluffy, romantic sequel! Hehe, and don't worry I won't take as long for the next update!
Miss Sera: nods yes! So, have you updated that story yet? I know I haven't checked back in a while. My computer has been giving me problems…crashed three times and it's not even two years old. Soooooo…my mom bought me a really expensive top-notch computer that will NOT fail me, and if it does I will have to destroy it. cackles evilly Anywhoo…yes, I am sorry for the long update and will repay it with a sequel!
Crouching Tigress: Poor, poor Yami…he's just got his hands full now. Oh, don't get in the way of their battle or you might get hurt. Anywhoo, now it's up to poor little Yuugi to save the day! I'd better go work on the next chapter so you won't have to wait too long!
Deathscythe custom: hehehe, I'm sure Yami would like some orange juice right now. Unfortunately, he's a little distracted. Now it's up to Yuugi to save the day. I'd better get working on the next chapter!