WSJ: ;; I am in the middle of about six novels, one of which is the latest by Elizabeth Peters-sama, and another one of which is the latest by Terry Pratchett-sama. I have two papers due on Monday (it's currently Thursday night), as well as a big project due Tuesday, and a bunch of drawings I'm doing for the one-act programs due I don't know when. I also need to get my entry ready for the Strawberry Festival's art contest (which, if you're curious, is a pic of Mahaado and Mana). Guess what I should be doing. What am I really doing? --; Eating Pocky (yay Pocky!), drinking tea, listening to the Cutey Honey theme, and writing. :p And yay for fluffy chapters!

Bakura: Oh help...

WSJ: [grins] Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own YGO. Amoura, Lisa, Yunet, and Amoura's family belong to Brood Mayran. Syne belongs to Sesca3. Gwen, Hiro, Scott, the Elementals, and various others belong to me. Sailor Moon isn't mine either. ; Is that everything? I think so... Oh! Sekil, Lark, and their sister are Ebony Kuroneko's. :)

Oy! Oy! If I EVER try and write a duel again, someone slap me! You have no idea how frustrating and hard it is... [chuckles and glances at HCG] Well, some of you don't...

Oh, and on another note, yes my Miho is very very different from the canon one. ;) When I first started writing for her, all I knew was that Tristan had a big crush on her, and that she was cheery enough to make Tea look depressed. :p Therefore, I set out to make her as different as possible, and turned her into a goth with a temper and an attitude. =D Hopefully, that doesn't bother anyone too terribly much. She'll be hanging around for awhile longer. And yes, you should feel very sorry for her, having to travel with Tristan. :p Oh yes, and I know I didn't make it very clear, but Miho's mother is not the leader of the Amazons. If you read carefully, the Amazons keep mentioning that their matriarch is away in Japan, and Miho's mother is just filling in. [grins] And if you read very carefully, you can figure out which tribe Keith and Tristan stumbled into... Which begs the question of where Miho got her purple hair (or rather, who else has it)....

But that's just me looking for conspiracies again. :p But speaking of purple hair and Amazons, no I haven't forgotten about the Ranma/Tenchi/Ryou fight. [cheesy grin] It won't be for quite awhile (in fact, probably not even in this fic), but it's comin'...

And most of you guessed right on the stock company. :) Like I said, keep it in mind... [giggles as Ebony pokes her]

Yeah, yeah, a lot of notes, I know. vv I'm sorry. For those of you who've only seen the Sailor Moon dub, Naru is Molly and Umino is Melvin.

vv Yes, my spelling sucks. sighs

The play I just finished up with is Bye Bye Birdie. It's basiclly a parody on the life of Elvis.

For those of you that noticed, yes, I am using the Japanese names for the God Cards. Why? Because "Saint Dragon" just sounds so much cooler than "Sky Dragon". ;)

There was an author alerts problem last chapter, and I'm very soory about that. I posted my chapter at the same time FF.N was getting some reconstruction done, and somehow or another the alerts didn't get sent out. ;) Hopefully that won't happen this time.

Grrrrrrr... I WANT MY SYMBOLS BACK!! [tears hair out in frustration]

()()()()()

Home Sweet Home

Chapter 14 - The Calm Before the Storm

Quote of the Chapter:

"Oro?!"
(Himura Kenshin, Rurouni Kenshin)

Dedication:
To all the senior thespians who are leaving us.
Derek-san...
Michael Allen-sama...
Jenny-chan...
Ashley-san...
Jessica-san...
Ryan-sama...
Kelsey-chan...
Ben-kami (don't ask!)...
And Heather-sama.
We're gonna miss you!

They were awakened the next morning by sun streaming through the windows. Sometime during the night the storm had completely cleared away, leaving a dripping wet earth and a bright, cheerful blue sky that promised a warm day. The power had come back on too, and apparently they'd forgotten to turn off the TV, because it was now broadcasting static.

It was Mokuba who woke up first, yawning and stretching his arms over his head. He'd fallen asleep on the couch the night before, and now he looked around the livingroom with bleary eyes. He was weighted down by something heavy, and when he glanced down to see what it was, he 'eeped' in surprise. Lisa was curled up against him, her arms wrapped around his waist. Worse yet, Rebecca was on his other side, also cuddling against him with her head on his shoulder.

Sweatdropping massively, the younger Kaiba tried to untangle himself from their arms. Darnit! No such luck, both of the girls were beginning to wake up. Sighing quietly to himself, Mokuba settled back to wait for them to come fully awake.

Rebecca moaned and snuggled against him, then blinked as she came fully awake. She blanched as she realized who she was leaning against and sat up quickly, blushing a deep red. She fumbled for her glasses, which were sitting on the coffee table, and shoved them in front of her eyes, still with her gaze locked on the ground.[1]

Mokuba chuckled and reached over to tilt her chin up, so she could see that he was amused and not angry. He would have said something, but now Lisa was starting to wake up, so he just winked. She hid a giggle behind her hands as Lisa blinked and sat up, obviously not fully aware.

The Irish girl yawned, and then her eyes bugged out as she finally realized what she'd been leaning on for the past seven or so hours. "MOKUBA!!!!"

"It's not my fault!" Mokuba said, trying without success to hold in laughter. "You cuddled up to me!"

Lisa huffed and climbed to her feet, ignoring the fact that her hair was a mess and her clothes wrinkled. "Why would I want to cuddle with you?! Hey! Stop laughing at me!"

Mokuba tried again to smother his laughter. "I'm sorry Lisa-chan! Really! Hey, come on, don't be like this, you're my friend too."

Lisa blinked at him, lowering her angry posture slightly. "Really, Mokuba?"

Mokuba gave her a genuine smile and nodded. "Uh huh. Of course you are! You and I have known each other since we were little kids, Lisa. How can we not be friends?"

"But... I thought you hated me..."

"What?" Mokuba blinked in true surprise. "No way! I was annoyed sometimes 'cause you'd hang all over niisama, but I never hated you."

Lisa grinned and sat back down on the couch, giving Mokuba a quick hug. "Oh I'm so glad! You don't know how long I've thought that... that..."

"Well I don't," Mokuba assured her, putting one arm around her and the other around Rebecca. "Hey, I have an idea. I turned 16 and got my license a few weeks ago, so how's about we drive over to Kaiba Land and party."

Both girls jumped out of his arms in excitement, and ended up on his lap. "Yah!!!!!"

They rode to the airport in uncomfortable silence. Madame had offered to drive them (since none of them were licensed to drive in France), and even she could feel the tension. Ryou was sitting beside her in the front, with Serenity just behind him. Serenity kept leaning forward to brush her hands through his hair. Beside Serenity were Yami and Yugi, who were leaning against one another in a sort of a sad silence. This prospect of being apart for the rest of the summer was really beginning to get to them. They'd never had to be apart so long before.

Yugi and Serenity were sceduled to fly out for Japan this morning, and Yami and Ryou had offered to come see them off.

"Well," Madame said, cutting the engine. "We're here. I'll wait in the car."

The four nodded and climbed out of the car. Yugi and Serenity gathered their luggage, and Serenity took Ryou by the hand. The telepath couldn't sense metal, glass, or stone, and since that's what most of the airport building was made out of, Serenity kept ahold of his hand so she could unobtrusively jerk him out of the way of running into any walls.

They made their way through the airport and to security, the point where Yami and Ryou could go no farther. The two groups seperated slightly to give each other some room, and then proceeded to say their good-byes.

For a long moment Yami and Yugi just stared at each other. Then Yugi threw himself against his yami, giving him a fierce hug which Yami readily returned. "I'm going to miss you, Yami," Yugi said, his voice slightly muffled by Yami's shirt and what sounded suspiciously like tears.

Yami smiled sadly and hugged Yugi, stroking his hair. The pharaoh was slightly surprised to see that Yugi was nearly taller than him, not that either one of them would be getting much taller. "Not as much as I shall miss you, aibou." They didn't use the yami and hikari nicknames very much anymore, but on serious occations like these they sometimes still did.

Yugi sniffled and pulled away from him, staring up at his yami with big eyes. Then he blinked, and a look something akin to determination settled on his face. Yugi took hold of the Puzzle and made to pull it off over his head before Yami grabbed his hands, keeping the Puzzle where it was.

"Yugi, what are you doing?" Yami asked, "If you think forcing me into my soulroom is going to make me go with you-"

To his surprise Yugi burst out laughing, an obviously amused expression on his face. "Yami, that's not what I was doing at all! If you really are mortal, or at any rate close to it, you should be able to exist without the Puzzle on me. I was just going to test that, I promise,"

Yami looked at him skepticly, but let his hands drop back to his sides. Giving his yami an encouraging smile, Yugi pulled the Puzzle over his head, letting the chain dangle from his fingers. Yami braced himself, expecting to be violently thrust back into his soulroom, and was surprised when he stayed put. He let out a slight muffled squeak and looked down at his hands, as if he expected them to be transparent. Yugi let out a soft gasp, and both of them stared in surprise as the spirit-Puzzle around Yami's neck faded away.

Every time a yami seperated from their hikari, they aquired a "ghost" of their Item, a version that was not real but looked just the same, could not be physicly touched except by the yami, and could be used as a link to the real Item's powers. It was always the hikari that held the real Item. Of course, once Bakura had been turned into a mortal, the spirit-Ring had vanished and never returned. That the spirit-Puzzle was vanishing now as well, leaving only the true Puzzle, said a lot.

Yugi's face broke into a wide grin. "Oh mou hitori no boku! Bakura was right! You must be mortal now!"

Yugi was practicly dancing, and Yami chuckled. "You're not going to squeal 'loff' on me, are you?" [2]

Yugi burst out laughing, and Yami grinned. The laughter attracted Serenity and Ryou, who'd been saying their own quiet good-byes a few steps away. Serenity's eyes widened in surprise as she noticed the Puzzle dangling from Yugi's fingers. "Yami! Are you standing here without the Puzzle?!"

A wide grin threatened to split Yami's face in two, and he nodded. "I am,"

Ryou smiled, one arm still around Serenity's shoulders. "So you're officially a mortal now. Bakura's gonna be delighted. He can finally practice all those practical jokes he's been thinking up."

Yami sweatdropped. "Oh dear... Actually, I'm not sure whether I'm mortal or not. I can still feel my magic, deep inside, and I could probably cast a spell right now if I wanted to."

Ryou chuckled. "Just because you have magic doesn't mean you're not mortal. Look at me!"

"You're not mortal." Yami said, making a sour face at the half-god, who just laughed.

"Okay then, better example," Ryou said, still grinning. "Bakura still has his Shadow Magic, he just hasn't used it in quite awhile."

"Truly?" Yami asked, his eyebrows going up. Ryou nodded in confirmation.

The intercom came on and called Serenity and Yugi's flight, first in French and then in English, which half of them understood (Yami and Serenity were still working on it). Yugi and Serenity looked at each other in a panic. They weren't even through customs yet! Ryou grabbed Serenity and whirled her into his arms for another kiss before she left, and Yugi darted forward to sling the Puzzle's chain around Yami's neck. The pharaoh stared at him in shock and surprise, for what seemed like the tenth time that day. "Wha-?"

Yugi smiled at him softly and winked. "I'm going home, Yami. So are you, but in a different way. If we're to be apart, you need the Puzzle more than I do."

Yami ran his fingers over the cool metal of the Puzzle, reveling in having its familiar weight across his shoulders once again. "Aibou..."

"You need it more than me," he repeated. "But I expect you to return it at the end of the summer," He was trying to sound stern, but also obviously teasing.

Yami smiled. "Then I thank you for the loan of our Item, otouto."

Yugi's face broke out into one of the sunniest grins Yami had ever seen. He gave Yami another quick hug and then picked up his luggage, looking around for Serenity so the two of them could get through customs and to their plane before it left without them. After a moment he spotted her, and couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Yami'd seen them too. "Oy! Ryou!" he called, causing several passers-by to stop and stare at the short man with crazy hair shouting in Japanese. "Stop making out with Serenity so she can go!" The couple broke apart, blushing, and Ryou 'hmph'ed slightly as Yugi giggled and Serenity blushed.

"Sayanora koibito," Ryou said fondly, handing Serenity the bags he'd been carrying for her. Then, before she could go, he took hold of her wrist, and with his other hand brushed just the tip of one finger in what seemed to be a random pattern across her forehead. "May Fate bless you and guide you, all your days, until you come back to my arms."

Yami wondered if he was the only one who'd noticed the Eye of Horus glow faintly on Serenity's forehead for an instant.

"I'm more worried about you..." Serenity said whistfully, seemingly unaware of whatever Ryou had just blessed her with.

"I'll be all right," Ryou said, smiling and trying to resist the strong temptation to kiss her again. "Be safe, my love."

"That I will." she answered. The two pulled away reluctantly, and Yugi rolled his eyes slightly as he grabbed Serenity and practicly drug her toward customs.

Ryou was still smiling, and he turned toward Yami as he sensed the other man still fingering the Puzzle's chain and looking thoughtfully after Yugi. "I'm sure they'll be all right, Yami."

"Oh, I know," Yami shook his head and the two turned to make their way back to the car. "I know. I'm worried about us."

-()-

Malik muttered something in Arabic that Gwen guessed was probably vulgar. Ishtar had begun chanting in another language. It sounded vaguely like Arabic, but not quite. As for herself, she couldn't be more in awe. Even though she was about to lose a duel, there couldn't be a better way to go! Demolished by one of the Egyptian Gods...! She hadn't even been aware they were still in circulation. She'd heard that they'd been donated to the Domino Museum for their Pharaoh Atemu/Duel Mosters exibit.

A bright light began to form in the center of the arena, causing Gwen to squint and Malik to throw his arms up to cover his eyes. The crowd had ceased cheering, and the entire place had gone eerily silent. And then...

And then there it was. Gwen's breath caught as she stared at the most awesome thing she'd ever seen. She'd studied a little bit about Egypt, and more once she'd become friends with certain ancients, but she was still amazed. If Ra had had a physical form other than that of the sun, this was surely what he'd look like.

The Winged Dragon of Ra towered over the crowds, golden light spilling off of him. He stretched his wings wide and roared, forcing most of the crowd to clamp their hands over their ears. A few children burst into tears. The holographic projectors fizzled and died, but Ra stayed put. Gwen found herself on her knees at the sheer beauty of it.

"Shit!" Ishtar cursed. Ra was trying to emerge from the Shadow Realm, become fully physical like he had during Battle City. "No Ra! Not here! There's too many innocents!"

If he'd expected the god to answer him, he was astounded when the dragon turned its head slightly to look at him over its shoulder. For a moment Ra's red eyes faded to simply orange, and Ishtar could have sworn he saw understanding...

Ra turned and bent his head toward Malik, who simply gaped as the mighty head came nearer and nearer. By the time Ra's massive head was right next to him, the dragon's hind legs were across the arena near Ishtar, and his tail stretched a good forty meters beyond that. Ra and Malik seemed to regard each other, and then Malik reached back to pull out the Millenium Rod, which was stuck through his belt, as usual. With his other hand, he reached forward to lay his palm against Ra's nose. For a moment, Malik touched a god...

Then there was a burst of light and a rushing wind that made everyone turn away from the arena. When finally they could look again, Ra was gone, Ishtar's duel disk was on the ground smoking, and said duelist was clutching a burnt wrist and cussing.

"It's your own fault," Malik told him, crossing the field at a run to take a look at his yami-brother's burns. "What possessed you to try and summon Ra?!"

"It wasn't my most inspired idea..." Ishtar admitted. "If he hadn't listened and escaped the Shadow Realm... I guess we're just lucky he obeyed you, you being the holder of a Millenium Item and the original holder of his card, and all."

Malik gave Ishtar a very strange look as Gwen and Syne came running up to them, with a couple duel officials not far behind. Obviously, with the holo projectors and Ishtar's duel disk fried, the duel wouldn't be going any farther.

"(What are you talking about 'he'?)" Malik asked, speaking in Arabic as one of the officials motioned for one of the medics on standby to come look at Ishtar's wrist. "(The Winged Dragon of Ra's a girl.)"

-()-

"Duke!"

"Naru-chan! Umino!"

Duke blinked his eyes open, squinting against the rising sun that was shining directly at him. Slightly disoriented, he sat up and glanced around. Ah, that's right, he was on the porch of the shrine. He must have fallen asleep while waiting for the Sailor Senshi to return. Yes, he'd been asleep. And there was something else... Something about a dream... But it didn't matter. Still blinking sleep from his eyes, Duke looked around in case the Senshi had returned.

And return they had. Makoto, one ankle wrapped in bandages and a crutch leaning against the porch, was giving Umino a bearhug, and Ami and Naru were hugging and giggling and crying all at once. Before Duke could look any farther than that, he found himself encased in a hug of his own.

The dice master smiled and wrapped his arms around his cousin, hugging Rei against him. "I was so scared," she admitted, squeezing him tightly. "But I knew Usa-chan would get us out of it, she always does..."

"You okay, Rei-chan?" Duke asked once they'd let go and were facing each other again.

The soldier of fire nodded, fingering a bandange that had been taped to her cheek. "Just scratches. Usa-chan made out worst of all, but she should be okay too."

"Where is Usagi-chan?" Duke asked, raising his eyebrows as he glanced around the courtyard. "I don't see her or Mamoru-kun..."

"Both of them are with Chibi-Usa." Rei said. "At Mamoru-san's apartment. The four of us thought they needed some time to themselves, so we decided to come back here and regroup. We figured you'd be waiting on us, we just didn't count on Naru or Umino."

Duke smiled and nodded, but his eyes kept wandering past Rei's left shoulder. Finally she chuckled and patted him on the arm, climbing to her feet to go wake her grandfather and assure him she was all right. Duke turned to watch her leave, then he got to his feet as well.

Minako was standing by herself under one of the cherry trees, and appeared not to be hurt at all. She was watching the group on the porch, which now consisted of Makoto, Naru, Ami, and Umino, along with Artemis and Luna, so she didn't see Duke coming until he wrapped his arms around her from behind. She squeaked in surprise when he did, then turned in his arms to face him. "Oh, Duke-san. You scared me."

He smiled at her. "I didn't mean to, Mina-chan."

She blushed slightly at the suffix he gave her name. "Ano..."

So suddenly that she squeaked again, Duke hugged her tightly, pressing his face into her hair. "Kami-sama, Mina! Don't ever scare me like that again! I thought I'd lost you!"

"I'll never leave you..." Minako answered immediately, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Never ever."

"Good," Duke said, his breath tickling her ear as he pulled back slightly so they were face-to-face. "Because I won't let you."

And he kissed her.

-()-

"As far as I know, Scott and Mai are still going to be at the hospital with Joey." Serenity told Yugi as the plane began to decend toward Kyoto. "My cousin Duo Maxwell is going to meet us, I think."

Yugi nodded, stuffing the book he'd been reading back into his knapsack. "I hope Joey's all right..."

"He will be," Serenity said firmly, though her smile was shaky. "He's been through worse before..."

Yugi nodded. "Yeah. He's been crazy enough to nearly drown for my sake, almost get barbequed for Mai's sake, nearly get eaten by the Shadow Realm for your sake... He'll pull through."

In hearing Yugi name Joey's achievements, Serenity's smile had grown a little more firm. "Yeah, he'll be okay." The plane was circling the airport now, and the two of them buckled up.

Indeed, almost as soon as they stepped off the plane, they beheld a brown-haired, black-clothed figure bouncing up and down and waving his arms over the heads of the crowd. Giggling, Serenity pulled Yugi in that direction. "That's Duo-kun. Watch out, he's about as hyper as Gwen-chan is sometimes."

Yugi's eyes widened slightly. "Man... Remind me never to offer him Pocky..."

(WSJ: POCKY! [leaps upon Pocky box and devours all its contents])

Serenity laughed and nodded. "One of Duo's friends, Trowa, already figured that out the hard way, I've heard."

The two of them elbowed their way through the crowds to reach Duo, who grabbed Serenity in a fierce hug the moment he laid eyes on her. "You okay?" he asked.

Serenity nodded, returning the hug eagerly. "Uh huh. Joey'll be okay, I know it, so there's no reason to be worried."

Duo chuckled ruefully. "I wish Mai-san shared your convictions, Sere'. She's scary when she's worried!"

Yugi laughed, and Duo let go of Serenity to turn toward him, although the braided man kept one arm around his cousin's shoulders. Duo sized him up for a moment, then grinned and stuck out his hand. "I'm Duo Maxwell. It's nice to meet ya'. You're Serenity-chan's boyfriend, then?"

Yugi started laughing harder than ever, and Serenity blushed bright red. "Duo! What in the words 'long white hair' do you not understand? How could you possibly mistake Yugi for Ryou?"

Duo grinned. "I'm just messin' with you, Serenity. You'd be Yugi Moto? Joey's told me a lot about you."

Yugi grinned and shook Duo's hand. He was so used to doing it with Gwen (who never seemed to be able to quite surpass her American roots) that he didn't even think about it. "Hai, I'm Yugi. It's nice to meet you too, Maxwell-san."

Duo pulled a face that made Serenity giggle. "Just Duo, please. I'm your hired chaufer for the evening," he tipped his black baseball cap comicly. "I'll be gettin' you over to the hotel and then off to the hospital, just as soon as we can collect your luggage."

Yugi nodded as the three of them started off, Serenity walking between the two men. "Sure thing. And, between you and me, Duo-san, we'd better keep a close eye on Serenity. If anything happens to her and Ryou finds out..." he made a slow slashing motion across his throat, and Serenity laughed.

"Yugi stop it! Ryou's not nearly that bad!"

"Right." Yugi said dryly. "Did you see Takeo's black eye after he kissed you?"

Serenity's eyes bugged out. "But that was for a play! It's not like we had a choice!"

Yugi nodded. "My point exactly."

Duo gulped.

-()-

Ishtar nearly swallowed his tongue. "(A g-girl?!)"

"(All the monsters have their own ka spirits that live in the Shadow Realm. The Kami no Kardos are no exception.)" Malik looked at him mildly. "What did you expect," he asked in Japanese. "An it?"

Ishtar gave him a 'we'll talk about this later' look, and allowed himself to be led away by the medic to get his wrist seen to. Behind him, Syne and Gwen, along with Hiro and Alexi who'd rushed down from the stands, surrounded Malik, pelting him with questions.

"What happened to Ishtar's wrist?" Hiro asked as soon as he'd skidded to a stop. "Is he all right?"

"Should be," Malik said, nodding. "Ra's power made his duel disk overload and partially melt, which burned him. It didn't look too serious though." he frowned slightly. "That didn't happen during Battle City..."

"That was really the Winged Dragon of Ra?!" Gwen asked, her eyes still shining slightly. "Amazing! I'd heard that the Kami no Kardos were at Domino museum!"

"Nope," Malik started to say, but was interrupted as a kid of about ten pushed an autograph book under his nose. The five of them had left the arena and headed for a large open area near the first-aid station where they could wait on Ishtar. They were immediately flocked by fans, and Gwen and Malik pulled out pens to begin autographing. After a moment Hiro was forced to do the same, because hey, he was standing next to two dueling legends! Another duel was in progress nearby, one involving a girl with what looked like a mostly fire-type deck, and Syne and Alexi had run off to cheer her on, since she was a friend of theirs. Syne and Gwen exchanged promises to write and said their goodbyes. Once Gwen was finished, she reposed her question to Malik, who just grinned. As long as they spoke in Japanese, they didn't have to worry about anyone overhearing something they shouldn't.

"No, they were in the museum for awhile, but after three theft attempts my sister gave up and gave them back." Malik grinned and winked at Gwen. "Ra is mine and Ishtar's, Saint Dragon of Osiris belongs to Yami and Yugi, and Kaiba has Obelisk."

Gwen chuckled. She'd heard all about Malik's past with the Ghouls. "Theft attempts?"

Malik tried his best to look innocent. "Not by me!" he saw her open her mouth and quickly added, "Or my men!"

Gwen just snorted, trying to hide a smile.

It wasn't much longer until Ishtar emerged from the first-aid station, his wrist bandaged and a bottle of lotion for it sticking out of his back pocket. He waded through the waist-high crowd, dutifully signing a few autographs as he went. After all, it was his left wrist that hurt, and he was right handed.

"Can we go now?" he whined when he finally got to where Hiro, Gwen, and Malik were standing.

Malik laughed. "You're just mad you didn't get to blast me with the Winged Dragon of Ra."

Ishtar stuck his tongue out at his hikari. "You got that right!"

Gwen grinned and glanced at her watch. "Yeah, I think we can go now. We've been here nearly all day. I'm hungry,"

"Me too." Hiro said, "But I won't be after you drive us home."

Malik and Ishtar groaned in tandem, remembering Gwen's style of driving. She glared at the three of them and muttered something about men and babies under her breath. Hiro tried his best to look plaintive, but only came out looking pouty. "Can't we just take the bus?"

The sound of fist hitting skull was heard all over the mall.

-()-

Bakura looked up from his book as the door to the room opened to let Yami and Ryou in. Valeraine had gone out to lunch, and Tea was watching Julien in their hotel room, so it'd just been him and Amoura all morning. They'd talked for a long time, but about twenty minutes ago Amoura'd been yawning and struggling to keep her eyes open, so Bakura had told her firmly but gently to get some rest. "How'd things go?"

Ryou flopped down on an overstuffed armchair, and Yami sat down with little more care on the couch. "Pretty well, considering," the ex-pharaoh said, running a hand through his long hair.

Bakura debated for a moment, but decided he may as well take the bait. "Considering what?"

"Considering that we nearly had to use the jaws of life to get your little brother to let go of Serenity," Yami said, rolling his eyes and ducking the pillow that Ryou telepathicly threw at him.

Bakura laughed, easily imagining what that scene could have been like. "You should have found a room, Ryou," he teased. "Much harder for them to find you and drag you apart that way."

Ryou muttered something under his breath, and both Yami and Bakura snickered. Yami shifted on the couch, causing the Puzzle around his neck to swing slightly and catch the light. Bakura's eyebrows shot up to his hairline and he motioned for Yami to get up and come to him.

"What do you want?" Yami asked tiredly. "If it requires moving, you're out of luck."

"I want to look at that bloody Puzzle of yours, palace brat," Bakura said, making a face at him. "It's reflecting the light too well to be an illusion, and an illusion is what the spirit-Puzzle should be."

"Here, then," Yami pulled the Puzzle off and tossed it at Bakura, who nearly didn't catch it in surprise. For a moment he just stared at the Puzzle in his hands, then he turned his astonished gaze on Yami.

"How in hell's name..." he started. "Yami, this is the real Puzzle! And you're still sitting here! Confound it, you're Puzzle-less!"

(WSJ: [cackles and hugs her collection of Elizabeth Peters novels] Yay for Emerson!!)

Yami chuckled and leaned his head back against the wall, throwing one arm over his face. "Very good tomb thief, you win first prize..."

"Hey, are you okay?" Ryou asked, looking concerned. "You seem awful tired, Yami..."

"I'm okay," Yami said, sighing as Bakura tossed the Puzzle back at him. He easily caught it, hanging it around his neck once more. "It just feels so weird not having Yugi around to talk to... I mean, I've gotten so used to feeling him in the back of my mind... He's still there now, just a lot fainter."

Bakura and Ryou chuckled and exchanged glances. "Really now?" Bakura smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "You'll get used to it. It's what bein' mortal's all about."

Yami frowned slightly. "Not... not truly mortal yet. I can exist without the Puzzle, yes, but..." he laid a hand against his chest, and a strange, distant look came over his face. "But no heart beat..."

Bakura raised his eyebrows and looked at Ryou, who only shrugged. "Only answer I have is that the Puzzle's letting his mortal body 'fade in' to replace his spiritual one." Ryou said. "Letting him go slowly, instead of becoming human all at once like you had to become."

"And with a gaping hole in my chest, no less..." Bakura muttered, and the other two chuckled quietly. [3]

There was a light knock on the door, and Yami heaved himself to his feet to answer it. In stepped the doctor who'd been treating Bakura, followed by a nurse. Ryou mentally poked Amoura, lightly prodding her back awake. She stirred slightly and yawned. "Vhat 'ave I missed?"

"Nothing," Bakura assured her. "But we need a translator. Yami and Ryou barely speak any French at all, and mine is shaky at best."

Amoura finally noticed the presence of the doctor and nurse in the room, and sat up a little straighter. "Bonjour monsieur." she said in French. "What can I do for you today?" she asked politely.

The two talked for quite awhile, while the nurse crossed the room to check Bakura's bandaged hand and feet. Though he only caught about half of what she said, she seemed pleased with how his amputated digits were healing over. He'd lost the pinky finger on his left hand, and the two smallest toes from each foot. It annoyed him slightly, but didn't really hurt or anything except for a slight twinge every now and then. Ryou had wanted to heal Bakura completely, now that his strength was finally returning, but Yami and Bakura had both said no. If Bakura made too miraculous a recovery, the doctors would begin to ask unwelcome questions. Amoura had firmly made the same choice, stating that she'd broken bones before and would survive this time too.

By the time the nurse was finished, Yami was sound asleep on the couch, and Ryou was reading the book that Bakura had put down. The nurse went to whisper something to the doctor, who smiled and said something to Amoura. Amoura's face brightened considerably, and she thanked the doctor several times over as he left. As soon as both doctor and nurse were gone, Bakura turned anxiously to Amoura. "Well? What did he say?"

Her smile made his heart jump. "Ve, both of us, are being released from zee 'ospital tomorrow morning."

Bakura's loud 'whoopee' woke Yami, who twitched slightly and snorted as he sat up. "Oh Amoura!" Bakura was practicly dancing in his bed. "If you weren't across the room I'd kiss you! It's about time we got out of here!"

"It's only been a week," Yami said, irritated that he'd been woken up from his nap. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go write a letter to Yugi."

"He's only been gone an hour..." Bakura pointed out, rolling his eyes. Yami glared at him, but didn't answer as he stalked out of the room. Ryou chuckled and gave Bakura a gentle look.

"Don't tease him too much, oniisan. You remember how hard it was at first for us, too."

"Do I ever," Bakura said, smiling at his former aibou fondly. Then he seemed to shake himself out of his sentimental mood and come back more or less to his old self. "Hey! That's my book!"

The day passed in a general sense of all around happiness. Yami lightened up soon enough, especially after Tea came to visit. Yami, Tea, and Ryou would all be staying at the hotel with Amoura's family tonight, but they'd be back first thing in the morning. After Amoura and Bakura got released, the entire group of them were going to catch a plane to Paris. They'd spend that night at Amoura's house, and then the next morning Yami, Bakura, and Ryou would take their flight to Cairo, Egypt, where Shen and Isis were supposed to meet them.

The evening was almost festive. Just after suppertime Madame arrived with a huge tub of iced creame that she'd smuggled in past the nurses. The five teenagers pigged out, laughing and talking and enjoying themselves quite a bit. In fact, the mood became so light that Bakura challenged Yami to a duel. Tea helped pull a table over next to Bakura's bed, and then the two ex-spirits were at it again.

Sitting on the couch and "watching" his brother duel, Ryou couldn't help but smile. Would Bakura ever give up trying to defeat Yami? Probably not, he answered himself. That's just the way Bakura was. Ryou's smile faded as he let his thoughts drift. About now, Serenity and Yugi would be landing in Kyoto. And forty-eight hours from now...

Unnoticed by the others, who were all focused on the duel, Ryou shivered and drew his knees up to his chest. Forty-eight hours from now he'd be back in Egypt. He loved Egypt, of course, and he'd get to see father and Fate-sama again, which was great, but...

Ryou hugged his knees tighter, squeezing his eyes shut. He was not looking forward to facing Mahaado again.

A loud cheer snapped him back to the present, and he quickly put his feet to the floor again, wondering how long he'd been lost in thought. It wouldn't do for any of the others to notice him curled up in a fetal possition. It quickly became obvious why Tea and Yami were cheering. Yami had, predictably, won the duel. Using Saint Dragon, Ryou realized, noticing the slight aura that the Kami no Kardo gave off even in paper card form. Ouch, that'd have Bakura's ego smarting for awhile. Currently the thief had his head in his hands, and was sweatdropping massively at another loss. Amoura was trying to console him, although it was obvious she was trying to hold in laughter. Madame just looked rather annoyed that Yami had won against anyone.

It was soon after that that Ryou, Madame, Tea, and Yami took their leave for the hotel. Ryou and Yami were sharing a room, as were Madame and Valeraine. Tea had insisted that she take Julien for the night, claiming that she didn't want a hotel room all to herself, and that she loved taking care of Amoura's little brother. And after all, her room was connected to Madame and Valeraine's through a common bathroom, so if Julien needed anything during the night all she had to do was come over and wake them. It didn't take much for the two women to agree, and Yami was then bullied into helping Tea move Julien's portable crib/bed into the other room. Once the boy was all settled down, Tea went to bed herself. Valeraine stayed up to read a bit, and Madame watched some TV, but then they too went to bed.

Across the hall, things didn't settle down quite so fast. While Ryou was in the shower, Yami lay on his stomach on his bed, trying to read a doujinshi he'd gotten at the Duel Monsters store in Paris last week (had it really only been a week?), but his mind kept wandering away from him. Finally he gave up and tucked the comic back into his bag, waiting for Ryou to come out of the bathroom.

Had Ryou not been blind, it would have been a startling sight. A man you knew to be pharaoh, laying on his back on a hotel bed in silk boxers and a tanktop, long legs and bare feet splayed over one side of the bed, and head hanging off the other. It was a bit on the surreal side. Yami stared moodily at the digital clock, watching its numbers click over to 11:00 as he waited for Ryou.

Yami rolled over and sat up as the bathroom door opened, letting out Ryou and a large cloud of steam. The telepath was dressed in boxers and a long fluffy white bathrobe, one obviously provided by the hotel. His hair was wrapped up in a towel, and Yami couldn't help but snigger as he compared the sight of Ryou to a robed and turbaned Shaadi. Ryou heard the quiet laugh and darted a quick "look" at Yami as he rumaged through his bag for a shirt. "What?"

"Nothing," Yami said, "Just wondering if you've got your turban wrapped properly."

Ryou snorted and reached up to undo the knot that held his towel-turban on. As it came down he shook his head, making his long hair whip around his face and neck, spraying Yami with drops of water.

"Hey now!" Yami laughed, and so did Ryou. With his hair wet, and thereby straight instead of fluffy, Ryou's hair reached almost to the bottom of his buttox in shining silver-white rivers. Yami hadn't known his hair was quite that long. Quickly Ryou tied his dripping hair back into a braid, and tossed his towel into the bathroom where the cleaning lady would get it later. He then went back to looking for a shirt, and Yami flopped onto his stomach on his bed, wondering how to broach the subject he wanted to talk to Ryou about.

Finally locating one of his older, more comfortable t-shirts, Ryou tossed it onto the bed within easy reach and slipped off the bathrobe so he was standing just in his boxers. He felt, rather than heard Yami gasp, and stiffened slightly.

As for Yami, he couldn't help but stare wide-eyed. Seeing the scars on Malik's back had been a sickening experience, but not nearly so much as this. Malik's scars could be passed off as tattoos, if he wanted, but this... "Ryou..." Ryou refused to meet Yami's eyes, and stood motionless, letting Yami get a good look at his well-muscled and heavily-scarred chest, shoulders, and arms. Yugi-tachi had all seen the scars on his arms before, of course, especially the distinctive rose scar, but only Bakura and perhaps Malik had seem them all, like this.

For a moment Yami was frozen, his horrified eyes taking in the faded lines that criss-crossed Ryou's chest. Old, faded, horrible scars. Some of them had to have come from very deep wounds. Some looked like they came from burns. A bitter taste in his mouth, Yami stood up and walked around Ryou, some horrid facination making the now-mortal pharaoh want to get a look at his back. Obligingly, Ryou pulled his braid over his shoulder, but other than that he didn't move, and he said nothing.

Yami sucked in his breath, and for a moment thought he might faint or throw up from the sight. Ryou's back, like his chest, was muscular from all the martial arts and excersize he got, but the scars were a million times worse. In his days as pharaoh, Yami had tortured people in some grusome ways, as Bakura could readily admit, but this...

"Please," Ryou said softly, his voice amazingly calm, though to Yami's ears it sounded rather sad. "Please don't think of him like that. He isn't..."

"But he was." Yami growled. "Kisima..."

Droplets of water from Ryou's wet hair were running down his back, running through the scars as if they were tiny riverbeds. Most of these scars, Yami could tell, had been made by a whip. Maybe even one of those whips that had shards of glass embedded in it, the kind Yami had reserved for only the worst of criminals. The scars crossed and merged and crossed again, until Yami had to wonder whether Ryou had actually been born with any of the skin that was on his back now, or if it was all scars from where Bakura had ripped it away.

Despite Ryou's quiet plea, Yami was shaking in anger, a red haze gathering at the edges of his vision, and it was a moment before he realized that Ryou was shaking too, but for a different reason. "Ryou?"

"I can tell," Ryou said, his voice choked by tears. Slowly, his back still to Yami, he moved to pick up the shirt he'd laid on his bed and pulled it over his head, hiding the terrible scarring from Yami's sight. Only then did he turn and face Yami, tears gathering in his dark eyes. "I can tell what you think of him. And you're right, you're so right. He did this to me, all of it. Not all at once, but over a period of nearly seven years. I wanted to die, Yami. Oh my God, I wanted to die so badly. But I didn't. I couldn't, and for his own reasons, he wouldn't. So I forced myself to go on, and look where we are now." Ryou spread his arms, encompassing not only the hotel room, but their entire situation. "I've gone through hell Yami, but this is heaven now. I can see what you think of him. Sometimes, blind eyes see clearest. But he isn't. Not anymore. I want to show you something, and I hope it'll drive your anger and hate from your mind."

Stepping forward before Yami could say yea or nay, Ryou reached up to place one hand on either side of Yami's face. Cupping the pharaoh's chin in his hands, Ryou gently pulled him forward until their foreheads touched.

All was peaceful, in the hospital room. It was dark, and the curtains were drawn. Yami realized that Ryou must be sending him a telepathic image. This was what was happening right now, a couple miles away in the hospital.

Bakura was snoring, but that was nothing new. He was sprawled on his back, his mouth open and his good hand flung over the side of the bed to dangle near the floor. Yami had to admit, seeing him like that it was hard to imagine him ruthlessly beating Ryou.

Amoura was asleep too, much more dignified then her companion. She was on her back, her casted leg stretched straight out in front of her. She was covered from the waist down in a light blanket, cast and all. As Yami watched, she murmered something in her sleep and tried to turn over, making a face as she tried to find a comfortable possition in her cast. In her tossing and turning, the blanket fell away from her cast.

Yami made a face. He should have expected that. Her cast, which was neon pink, was glowing in the dark.

Bakura snorted in his sleep, and suddenly sat straight up, his eyes wide in what Yami realized was fear. He must have been having a nightmare, or somehting. His chest was heaving, gulping down air like he couldn't get enough. After a moment he seemed to calm himself down, and looked like he was going to just lay back down and go to sleep. Instead, he turned his head slightly, and his eyes widened in terror again. He squealed (yes, squealed) loudly, which woke Amoura.

She sat up in bed as well, looking around with fuzzy eyes and wondering why Bakura was flailing around in bed like that. He was going to hurt himself if he wasn't careful. "Wha...?"

Bakura jerked at her voice, and slowly turned to look at her. Yami laughed as he realized Bakura was twitching slightly, and heard an answering burble of telepathic laughter from Ryou, proving Yami's quiet suspision that the telepath was watching this too, though he couldn't be seen.

"Amoura..." Bakura said, his voice dangerously low and his eye-twitch dangerously high. "Why didn't you warn me about that stupid glowing cast of yours? It nearly scared the shit out of me! I thought it was a rampaging Petite Dragon, come to seek revenge or something!"

Amoura burst into peels of laughter, while Bakura gave her annoyed looks. "It's not funny!"

Amoura wiped a tear of mirth out of her eye. "And jus' why vould a Petite Dragon vant revenge on you?"

Bakura froze, his expression a classical "dear caught in the headlights", and absently wiped a trickle of blood away from his nose. "N-no reason..."

Amoura looked at him slyly in the dark. "Suuuuure, Bakura...." she giggled and winked. "Goodnight, mon ami."

"Good night... koibito." [4]

Amoura smiled and blew him a kiss, and then they both lay down to get what sleep they could with the other so close, and yet so far away.

The image faded away, and Yami found himself back in the hotel room. He stared openly at Ryou, who had a neutral expression on his face.

"Now you see." Ryou said, turning away from Yami to sit down on his bed. "Bakura is no longer the same man who did this to me. He... When he died in the Shadow Realm... His soul actually passed on to the afterlife. He actually saw his wife again. It was only Fate's intervention that allowed you and Ishtar to bring him back. He's not the same man, Yami. That day marked the end of his old life, and the true start of his new one. I won't allow you to think of him as a monster, a Shadow Mad bastard. I won't."

Yami smiled and went to sit opposite Ryou on his own bed. "I understand, Ryou. I only wish I had a brother as protective and caring as you."

Ryou smiled, relaxing a little, and leaned over to ping his finger against the Puzzle, which was sitting on the bedside table next to the Ring. "Who says you don't?" He winked, and Yami chuckled.

After a moment of silence, broken by a yawn from Ryou, the telepath chuckled and started to reach for the lightswitch to the bedside lamp, but Yami caught his wrist. "No wait. Ryou, I wanted to... to ask you about something."

"Sure," Ryou said, settling back against the pillows and tucking his hands behind his head. "Ask away."

Yami looked down to where his hands were clenched around handfuls of bedsheets. "Earlier, when you were telling us about what happened to you in Egypt... was... was he really as bad as... as you said?"

Ryou stiffened, his hands clenching into fists involentarily. Yami saw this, but didn't comment. He was too dumbfounded. 'Ryou actually looks... fightened! I didn't think he was truly scared of anything!'

Ryou gulped, making a visible effort to fight off his fear. "Y-yes, he was. He wouldn't listen to me, or to Fate-sama, or even to Mana-san. He was... he was pretty far gone, Yami..."

Yami let out the breath he'd been holding in a quiet sigh, letting his head drop. "He was one of my best friends, Ryou. I know that's hard for you to believe, given your dealings with him, but he and Mana were my dearest friends, next to Jono and Teana..."

"Joey and Tea?" Ryou guessed, and was rewarded with a nod.

"Hai. Jono was captain of my personal guards, and Teana... Sweet Teana... She was my queen."

Ryou's mind was still on Mahaado, and he nodded absently. "Yami... I'm afraid if it comes to a fight against Maha- against him, I won't be of much help..."

Yami could see him trembling, and he smiled gently, leaning over to pat him on the arm. "It's okay Ryou. Bakura and I will be more than enough. But I'm hoping it won't come to a fight, that's why I'm going. Maybe, if he sees his pharoah..."

Ryou shook his head. "I don't think it'll work, Yami, but I pray it does." He reached over and flipped off the light, this time with no objections. The two lay in the dark, and no more words were exchanged, but even so it took the two of them a long time to fall asleep.

-()-

Mokuba grinned as he strolled down the Duel Monsters themed midway, licking an iced creame cone. He'd never really had the chance to just enjoy Kaiba Land before. Whenever he and Seto had come here, it had almost always been for business, never for pleasure. Now that Mokuba actually had the chance to take in the sights, he planned to enjoy every moment of it with his two best friends.

It was a hot day out. After all, it was the beginning of August. Mokuba was decked out in shorts and a tanktop bearing the Kaiba Corp. logo, his long jet black hair pulled into a thick ponytail. He was tall, like his brother, and once when he'd been standing next to Ryou, Bakura had remarked that they looked like a matched set of black and white chess pieces.

Rebecca was wearing a pretty orange sundress that offset her hair, and nice, durable sandals for walking. Her hair was pulled up into pigtails, making Mokuba giggle and think about the way she'd looked when they first met, way back when they were ten and eleven. Lisa was wearing jean capris and a light purple t-shirt, her hair pulled back into a braid. Both girls had huge wads of cotton candy that they were devouring at amazing speeds.

"This is great, Mokuba," Rebecca said, grinning. "I've never really been here just to explore before."

"Me neither," Lisa agreed. "Thanks for bringing us, Mokuba."

Mokuba grinned. "It's no problem. Since I own this place, I get in for free, easy!" He stopped suddenly, and stared at one of the carnivel-type games that the midway was lined with. "Jeez, leave it to Seto to design something like that..."

"That" was a dart-throwing game. The targets were all Kuriboh and chibi-Dark Magician, and the prizes were huge stuffed Blue Eyes plushies.

Rebecca and Lisa weren't paying attention. Both were staring at a game across the way, or more acurately, at the huge plushies that were the top prizes. When Mokuba saw them, he chuckled. He'd nearly forgotten that he'd ordered a shipment of those, just to see how people took them. According to reports, they were now some of the most popular prizes.

"Oh Mokuba!" Rebecca grabbed his arm. "They're so kawaii! I'd love to get one of those!"

"Me too!" Lisa agreed. "Oh pleeeease, Mokie-kun?"

Mokuba sweatdropped slightly. "I can't just walk up and take them," he said. "Even if I do technically own them. If you girls want one, we'll have to win them the old-fasioned way."

Lisa grinned, the light of a challenge in her eyes. "All right! I bet I can win mine before you, 'Becca!"

"Can not!" Rebecca answered, taking the bait. The two of them took off toward the stall, vying for the attendant's attention. Mokuba followed at a more sedate pace, chuckling at the nearly four foot tall Winged Dragon of Ra, Saint Dragon of Osiris, and God of Obelisk plushies.

(WSJ: [whines] I want a Kami no Kardo plushie...)

-()-

The stop over at the hotel was fairly brief, just long enough for Serenity and Yugi to drop off their luggage and Serenity to say a quick hello to Tamahome and Miaka, who'd been at teh hospital earlier that morning and would probably be going back later that night. After that, the two piled back into Duo's car and headed for the hospital themselves.

They arrived at exactly the wrong time.

On their way in they passed Scott storming out, and hurried inside to find a sobbing Mai in the waiting room. It was quite awhile before they figured out the entire story, but for the sake of continuity, here's what had happened:

"Look, Mai," Scott tried to comfort the depressed woman sitting beside him in the waiting room as they waited for the next time they could go in and visit Joey. "I know what you're feeling, but he's going to be okay. He always has been." Gently Scot put a hand on her shoulder. "And if you need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here." He tried to draw her into a hug, but to his surprise she exploded at him.

"Don't touch me! I don't need your pity, and certainly not your hugs! Doesn't it occur to you that Joey's hurt because he loves me, and maybe I'm crying because I love him too?"

Both of them gasped at the sudden proclamation, and Mai clamped a hand over her mouth as if she'd said something she shouldn't have. Scott gaped at her for a long moment, then his face turned stormy.

"If you two love each other so much, then you certainly don't need me." He turned on his heel and left the room, passing Duo, Yugi, and Serenity on his way in.

It took awhile for Serenity to get Mai calmed down, during which time the clock turned around to the point where Joey could be visited again. Only three were allowed in at a time, so Duo politely declined, saying he'd just seen Joey that morning, and if anything Duo would make him laugh, which was bad for stitches. Serenity thanked him with a hug, and then she, Yugi, and Mai followed the nurse to Joey's room.

He wasn't in the ICU, though he had been the day before. That morning they'd moved him up into a regular room. His roommate, a fat, balding guy who was recovering from surgery of some kind, was sound asleep and snoring when the trio came it. Joey was awake, and staring out the window at the darkening sky. An IV ran into the back of one hand, and he was hooked up to a heart monitor and a couple other machines that Yugi couldn't identify.

As soon as she saw him, Serenity's eyes filled up with tears. "Oh Joey!" Joey's head whipped around, and his face broke into a bright smile as he saw his sister and best friend standing in the doorway. He held out his IV-less arm to Serenity, and she ran forward to hug him.

"Gah!" Joey struggled feebly in her grip. "Gently sis, gently! OWWW! Watch the stitches, Sere'!"

Serenity quickly let go of him, and he flopped back against the pillows limply. "I'm so sorry oniisan!!"

"It's okay," he said, grinning at her. "It's so good to see you. And you too, Yug'. Weren't you in France?"

"Switzerland, actually," Yugi said, coming forward to stand beside Serenity next to the bed. "But yeah, we were about ready to head back to France when the snowstorm hit."

"Snowstorm?" Joey and Mai asked almost at once.

Yugi's eyes widened. "You guys don't know?" Quickly, taking turns on telling the narrative, Serenity and Yugi filled the other two in on what had been happening to the rest of them since their last set of e-mails. Of course, it wasn't quick at all, and took nearly half an hour to tell.

"Man," Joey whisted appreciatively. "Seems we're all gettin' hurt. I'm surprised you're not still with Ryou, Serenity."

Serenity smiled a little and blushed, looking down at her hands. She didn't answer, and Yugi laughed. "Are you kidding? Yami and I nearly had to pry them apart with a crowbar at the airport."

"Not like you and Yami were any better," Serenity mumbled, causing Yugi to laugh again.

Joey nodded slowly. "Let me get this straight, Yami's actually mortal now, and he's got the Puzzle because he and Ryou and Bakura are going to Egypt to deal with this Mahaado guy, except Ryou's super scared of him because he almost died before?" When the other two nodded, he shook his head ruefully. "Man oh man, this adventure has got to take the cake for one of the weirdest."

Mai, Yugi, and Serenity couldn't help but agree.

-()-

Things were busy in the Letazaut house. Everyone had come home the night before and all but collapsed into their beds. This morning, Yami, Bakura, and Ryou were leaving for Egypt. Bakura's hands and feet had been liberated from their bandaged cocoons, and though they were still sore and tender, they were healing quite nicely. The trio said their good-byes as Jacques and Franz carried their bags outside and loaded them into the limo. Amoura was bedded down on the fold-out couch, and probably would be for the next week or so, since it was too hard for her to try and get up and down stairs with her leg in a cast.

"It was wonderful of you to have us," Ryou was telling Madame. "I hope we get the chance to see you again."

Madame agreed and nodded. "You and your brother are so charming, and your girlfriend Serenity is such a sweety. Who knows, I may fly out to Japan for Christmas. Then again, I could go a thousand years without seeing pineapple head again..." she shot a glare at Yami's back, and Ryou chuckled.

Yami himself was oblivious to Madame's stare, as he was busy saying good-bye to Tea. "Take care of yourself," he told her, giving her a hug. "Don't forget that Madame and Valeraine-san both saw Ryou use his telepathy and healing powers. He surpressed the memories in their minds, but it wasn't permanent and they could surface again at any time. If they do ask, just tell them the truth. They may as well know, especially if Amoura decides to eventually join that wacky family." he rolled his eyes as Tea grinned and nodded. "And you might want to make sure Amoura makes it to Japan in one piece next month, or face the wrath of Bakura the Mighty Tomb Thief."

Tea laughed. "I doubt it, but I'll keep an eye on her anyway." she giggled and looked slyly over Yami's shoulder toward the couch where Amoura currently was. "Although maybe she'd prefer I not..." Yami turned to see what she was looking at, and couldn't help but groan. Bakura was seated on the edge of the couch-bed and was leaning over his girlfriend. From the looks on their faces they'd been lip-locked for the past twenty minutes or so.

Ryou had noticed too. "Oh boy... Bakura, we've gotta go! If I can let go of Serenity for a month, you can let go of Amoura for a month. Now come on before she suffocates."

Bakura and Amoura broke off their kiss, and Bakura turned slightly to stick his tongue out at Ryou. "Fat chance." He smiled and ran his hand over Amoura's hair, leaning forward to give her another (much shorter) kiss. "I'll see you in September, Amoura-chan. Take care of that leg of yours."

She nodded, looking up at him with large brown eyes. "I vill. Bakura... please be careful."

He smiled and nodded as he stood up, squeezing her hand as he stepped away from her. "I promise I will. I love you, 'Moura."

"Love you too Bakura,"

Bakura turned to go, and Yami quickly stopped making the gagging motions he had been at the sight of all the fluff. Ryou chuckled and shook his head as the three of them gathered by the door, ready to leave. Franz was driving them.

"May Fate bless you all," Ryou said quietly, and then they were gone.

-()-

The room is very large, but dark. Being underground, there are no windows to let in the light of the outside world. A sound of movement, the rustling of clothes, the soft strike of a footstep. A spark flashes, and a moment later a torch flares, revealing the face of the one who carries it.

It's a man, about twenty years old, entering the room from its only door. He moves the flame to light another torch that's mounted on the wall, brightening the room a little more. He wears long, loose Middle Eastern robes, and his feet are encased in soft leather sandals. His hair is semi-long, reaching to a little past his shoulders, and is deep purple. As he turns to light a third torch, we can see his face is calm, his expression a casual one, of almost indifference.

As the third torch catches, the light is bright enough for us to see a bed. A blond woman lays in it, her eyes closed and the covers drawn up to her chin. Her face is pale, and she appears to be caught in a nightmare, as her face is twisted in a horrible grimace. She is young, only about seventeen, and she is obviously not well at all.

Another man enters. He too is wearing long robes, but his are belted around the waist with a strip of blue cloth, and his feet are bare. He's also about twenty, and his white hair reaches past the shoulders on him, as well. Unlike the other man, this one seems very worried. He goes straight to the bed and pulls up a stool, sitting down and reaching a hand to touch the woman's forehead. He bites his lip as the first man comes to stand behind him, still holding the original torch.

"How is she?" the first man asks, flicking a strand of purple hair out of his eyes.

The white-haired man just shakes his head and withdraws his hand. "Not good. She's still burning up with fever."

His companion frowns. "Isn't there anything else we can do?"

"No," the white-haired man shakes his head again, though he certainly doesn't look happy about it. "No, she's in Fate's hands now."

"Not that Fate has ever done a thing for us..." the purple-haired man mutters.

"Lark!" the seated man frowns, calling the other sharply to order. "Shush. Fate does as she sees fit. If you really want to make yourself useful, go pray that Allah spares our sister's life."

For a moment the two brothers glare at one another, and then Lark turns away, making an annoyed sound in his throat. "If that is what you wish, Sekil." He leaves, and the white-haired Sekil breathes a quiet sigh of relief. He turns his face upward and closes his eyes, resting his elbows on the edge of the bed and his chin on his hands.

"The realms are shifting again..." he murmers, half to himself and half to the unconcious girl. "This cannot be good news..."

-()-

[1] I don't even think this note is very necissary, but I'll add it anyway. For those who don't already know, Rebecca shows up again for Doom Organization. In that arc, she's a whole lot cuter than she was earlier. She keeps her hair down, and she has glasses. Even though this series ignores all the anime arcs that come after Battle City, I'm going with her later look as opposed to her little kid one.

[2] Yeah yeah, technicly Yami wouldn't be able to make that comment, as at this point not even Ryou's met Naosu, but I can't help myself. Too cute not to obliquely cameo! gets poked multiple times by Ebony and giggles

[3] Anyone remember Visions of the Heart?

[4] mon ami is French for 'my friend', and koibito is Japanese for 'sweetheart'.

()()()()()

WSJ: [is watching the new YuGiOh episode with an attitude somewhere between amusement and disgust] Malik didn't send his father to the Shadow Realm you bloody idiots! He died! DIE DIE DIIIIE!!! Bloody stupid dubbers...

Bakura: [sighs] Oh dear... Here she goes ranting again...

WSJ: Grrrrrrr... Kaiba's such a jerk...

She gets interrupted mid-episode as something small, red, and rather horny comes racing into the room, careens off the wall, and slides to a stop against Bakura's legs. Bakura looks down at it and goes bug-eyed. It appears to be a chibi-Saint Dragon of Osiris (Slifer the Sky Dragon for you dubbies), with rather large blue eyes.

Chibi-Dragon: Gaaaaah, they're after me again!!!!!

Bakura: [twitches and kicks the thing, sending it sliding across the floor toward SJ] What is it?

WSJ: [pauses in ranting about how big male egos get when sitting in a dueling chair and turns to face the ex-yami and Chibi-God] Oh, him? [sweatdrop] My other muses have all abandonned me, and he just showed up to fill in the gap.

Bakura: [twitches again] Abandonned you?

WSJ: [sighs] All my Duel Monster muses, including, it seems, Harmony and Nao-Nao, have run off to the Shadow Realm, where I think they're constructing a castle, or something. Damon and Horus have run of to NR Egypt without so much as a "see-you-later", and HCG's got Unmei. CP's somewhere around here, I think, but I haven't seen him. He could be hanging out with Brood's chibis. I think Phantom-san's on vacation in Paris. Either that or stalking Michael Crawford. One never knows. So that just leaves you. And him. [nods at the dragon]

Bakura: [sweatdrop]

Chibi-Dragon: Make them go away! [looks in fear at the door he'd come through]

WSJ: [blink] Oh dear... Don't tell me you let the plot bunnies out of their cage again? You know those things multiply like Kuriboh!

Chibi-Dragon: XP

Several small fluffy... things come barreling through the door and latch onto the chibi Saint Dragon, cooing and making various other noises. They look something like Kuriboh with rabbit ears. There's four of them, one powder pink, one daffodil yellow, one mint green, and the last lilac purple. Bakura just stares at them for a moment before turning to SJ with a questioning look.

WSJ: [sighs] Like I said, plot bunnies. They seem to like him. His name's Skank. I dunno if the bunnies have names or not.

Bakura: Skank?

WSJ: Saint Kleptomaniac Antagonistic Neurotic Kami. Skank for short.

Bakura: [looks at her suspiciously] Have you been reading the dictionary again?

WSJ: [sweatdrop] ....I was bored.

Skank: [franticly trying to get away from the four clinging plot bunnies] They do to have names. GET THEM OFF!!!

WSJ: [looks intrested, and peels the pink bunny off Skank's tail] Names for plot bunnies? Really? What's this one?

Skank: [snickers] Himura Pocky.

WSJ: [rolls his eyes] A pink plot bunny named after Kenshin... Ha ha ha... This must be the bunny for the pocky story I'm working on at school... [tosses the bunny (who giggles) at a protesting Bakura and picks the green one off Skank's head] What about this one?

Skank: Aoshi Kaiba. Ak for short.

WSJ: [snorts] This would be the bunny for that weird Twilight Zone fic idea I had. You know, the one about Aoshi being Seto's great-grandfather?

Bakura: [pauses in fussing at Himura-P, who's taken up residense in his hair] Yes! I read the summery for that one! You're just weird.

WSJ: No, I just need to find a reliable, airtight container for my plot bonnies. AND someone who doesn't let them out every few days... [glares at Skank] No wonder they love you so much!

Skank: Yeah yeah yeah... The yellow one's Yami no Amane, and the purple one's Jos.

WSJ: Yami no Amane would be from Her Ring, but Jos?

Skank: Jou-Otogi-Sorority.

WSJ: Oh yeah, that one. :p

Bakura: [makes a sour face as he tries to pry Himura-P off his head] Wonderful. How do we make them go away?

WSJ: We can't.

Bakura: Kuso!

WSJ: [shrugs] At least it's cute... Who knows, Amoura might want them as pets.

Bakura: Oh gods I hope not...

Skank: [snickers]

WSJ: :D Anyway, I had SO much fun writing the Ryou and Yami section. X3 Then again, I wrote most of it while I was having dizzy spells so bad I could barely type straight, so maybe my perspective's a little screwed. :p

Chapter 15: WSJ: (V/O) Well, it's time again for another super-long special! This time, we're headed back to Egypt once again.

Yami: [grins widely as he steps outside] It's about time I came back here...

WSJ: (V/O) But unfortunately, it's not all fun and games.

Mahaado: [hisses through clenched teeth] Tomb robber...

Ryou: [squeaks slightly, shaking in fear]

WSJ: (V/O) Sadness abounds, but a gift in the form of a vision brings some form of comfort...

Bakura: [bursts into the house with tears in his eyes] Ammâh! Ammâh!!

Yami: [flings himself face-down on the bed and begins to sob] Oh Teana...

WSJ: (V/O) Or maybe just sorrow... All this and more, next time!

God bless minna-san!