Notes
:mental speech:
private thoughts
Because this was brought up by my beta Sansi - I don't know what pairings, if any, will be in this fic.
Review Replies:
Pretty Arbitrary: Well, I could answer your questions, but then I'd have to hired Black Diamond to make sure you didn't tell! :) Anyway, read and see!
ToothyOne: I'm sorry for the confusion - they way I understand it, 'sensei' can be used for anyone who is a master of their craft - such as Takahashi-sensei. This is the way in which Yugi was using the term - I've switched it to -sama from this point forward to avoid any further confusion.
Thanks to all my readers and reviewers!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone in this story you recognize by name or even a vague description. They are all the property of Takahashi-sensei. Anyone you don't recognize is my Original Character, so please don't use them without my permission, okitay? Arigato.
Chapter 3
"I think Mitzra-sensei is up to something." Marik commented at lunch. Three days had passed since Yugi had forged his pact with the Black Diamond, and absolutely nothing out of the ordinary had happened up to this point. Not a flash of black nor a hint of purple had broken the daily routine, but Yami Yugi refused to let down his guard. Yugi agreed; the two often switched at unexpected intervals so that neither became complacent.
"What makes you say that?" Jounouchi asked, licking a finger clean of salt as he chewed, expertly keeping from spraying food all over the place as he talked. Marik looked up from his salad and lowered his voice.
"I saw her. When I was going to my locker, I saw her outside, speaking with a strange man behind the pool building. I saw something long and golden in her hand - I wasn't close enough to make out any other details."
"What did this...guy...look like?" Bakura asked carefully. His tone didn't betray the slightest hint of nervousness, but he glanced over at Yugi.
"I couldn't see much - he was dressed all in purple. Some kind of robe - he might have been an actor or something. It didn't make much sense to me." the blonde Egyptian concluded. The rest of the group looked at each other with worried expressions.
:So...it appears that Mitzra-sensei is in league with the Ghouls - that explains why she bound Yami Bakura into his soul room before the first attack.: Yami Yugi murmured.
:But yami...if that's the case, why hasn't she done it again?:
:Because she didn't expect him to be able to free himself. She would not know how difficult it actually was for me to free him - so she has know real way of knowing the strength of the binding, and does not wish to tip her hand any further.:
:I guess that makes sense...: Something about the whole scenario bothered Yugi, but he shrugged off his suspicions. Yami Yugi was smarter and more perceptive than he, after all.
"We should follow her after school." Jounouchi leaned forward and grinned conspiratorially. "See where she hangs out - maybe we can even find her lair, and call the police or something."
"Or something." Honda agreed.
Jounouchi winked at Anzu and Yugi, who looked a little worried. "You just watch - we'll bust this whole thing wide open!"
Marik smiled slightly.
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Atop the gymnasium building – with an excellent view of the school cafeteria - a man knelt with a gun, leaning against the knee-high parapet. He glanced through the scope at a particular hairstyle, one that was impossible to miss. His mark was in clear view and utterly oblivious - the perfect time to take him out.
Squeezing gently on the trigger, he braced himself for the recoil - and slumped forward in a spray of blood as the weapon fell from his limp fingers. The androgynous black figure of Black Diamond pulled the man backwards, catching the weapon in a firm grip. With a flick of the wrist, the assassin pulled a nearly invisible razor-wire garrotte from around the man's neck. Awkwardly tucking the gun under an arm, Black Diamond coiled the wire up and tucked it away before catching a handful off the now-dead-man's hair and vanishing.
Seconds later, sans one gun and one dead body, the assassin returned to the roof, resuming watch over Motou Yugi and his friends - the teens continued with their lunch, not a care in the world.
"Hardest 550 yen I've ever earned." the assassin murmured to the wind. "And that's the fifth attempt this week. Somebody really wants this kid dead - I just wish I knew why and who."
As though in answer, a second figure appeared on the gym roof. Young, male and what around here would be called bishonen, he sported flyaway blond hair to the middle of his back, midnight blue eyes and a killer smile attached to the body of a professional model.
"Thought I might find you here." he said by way of greeting, his voice a mild baritone. The smile disappeared as he sat on the parapet facing the other assassin, careful not to block Black Diamond's view.
"Did you find out anything?"
"Sorry. Nothing more on the source. Whoever it was offered me nearly what they offered you for the job. I told them to stop wasting my time and the Guild's."
"Idiot. Every time the employer approaches the Guild, there's a chance he or she will slip up and give themselves away."
"Sorry." the young man said again, though he didn't sound like he meant it.
"Never mind, Phantom. See what Einstein's 1 up to - maybe he can backtrack this and find the source."
"Alright." Phantom gave a ghost of a grin. "I did find out that four more people outside the Guild have accepted the contract. That kind of money combined with the chance to show you up buys a lot of scum."
Black Diamond winced. "Ouch. Looks like I'm not getting any more sleep this week."
The grin widened. "Why not? School's the perfect place to sleep."
"That explains your grades."
Phantom's tone turned serious. "Something else you should be aware of - I sent word to Amber about these amulets you were instructed to pick up after the hit. She had no idea what I was talking about, but said she's look into the matter for us."
"Thanks." The assassin paused. "Wait a sec - I was only told about Mouto's pyramid necklace."
"You got another offer while you were out, for that white-haired friend of the kid's. Bakura Ryou." Phantom held up his hand. "I refused it for you - but in the detail column it specified a golden necklace as proof of the hit. That's why I thought there might be more than sentimental - and substantial monetary - value to the things."
Black Diamond glanced around the schoolyard. "You think it's a collector?"
Phantom just shrugged and crossed his legs. "Dunno. We've almost nothing to go on at this point."
"Okay." The assassin stifled an urge to sigh and tightened a concealing bandana. "If Amber finds out anything, let me know asap, alright?" The school bell rang over the grounds. "I have to go - lunch break's over."
"Have fun!" Phantom vanished like his namesake. Black Diamond scowled at the air, then stretched.
"Four more hit men, and that's only the tip of the iceberg. I really have to find out whose behind this - at least if I want to sleep at night."
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Yugi woke with a throbbing headache. He tried to move only to find himself chained hand and foot what felt like a cold concrete floor.
For a moment he couldn't remember what happened; then memory resurfaced.
She'd taken the bus, which made following her laughably easy even for a group of school kids. Mitzra-sensei had gotten off at an apartment complex in the middle of the city; Yugi and his friends had gotten off at the same time as she, blending in with the crowd of students who had taken the bus. While trying to decide on a further course of action, violent hands had grabbed him and a foul-smelling cloth pressed over his mouth.
Well, that did explain what had happened. He tried to roll over, flopping unceremoniously on his side.
:Mou hitori no boku?: No answer - even the feel of his other self was vague. Suddenly noticing the lack of weight around his neck, Yugi bit back a cry of despair. They had the puzzle!
Horror and panic threatened to overwhelm him; Yugi choked, pulling futilely at his bonds. He had to get out - had to find the Puzzle!
Beside him, he spotted a mop of white hair - Bakura. Maybe...Yugi always wore his puzzle outwardly, but Bakura almost never wore the ring where it could be seen. If he could just call mou yami no Bakura... He hated the thought of depending on the soul stealer for anything, but until he could get the Puzzle back, he was pretty much useless.
"Bakura-kun!" he hissed. "Bakura, wake up!"
A moan emerged from the white-haired teen, then a louder groan as his eyes fluttered open. "Yugi-kun?"
"Are you okay?"
"I feel awful." With a grunt of effort, he managed to roll on his side to face Yugi. "What happened?"
"We got ambushed following Mitzra-sensei. It all happened too fast - they took the Puzzle, whoever did this."
That made the other's eyes go wide, hands groping for his chest. "They got the Ring too."
"So whoever did this knows about the Millennium Items." Yugi sighed, not realizing until pain cut through his wrist that he had still been jerking on the chains in a useless attempt to free himself.
"Oi." Jounouchi's voice came from Yugi's other side - he glanced over his shoulder at the blond teen; beyond him lay Anzu, Honda and Marik. They'd gotten everyone then - Yugi suppressed an uncharacteristic urge to swear.
"You okay, Jounouchi?" he whispered.
"Ow. My head feels awful. What the hell did they hit us with? Never mind - not important. Can you reach my pocket?"
"Why?"
"'Cause I have a jackknife in there; if you can grab it, I can use it to pick the locks on these handcuffs."
"Right!" A flash of memory ran through his head - Jounouchi trapped in a cell, chained to a psychopathic killer named the 'Chopman' who had been working for Kaiba. He'd picked the lock on the handcuff with the point of a candleholder before he could be filleted into tiny pieces.
Yugi rolled over, the simple fact of having something to do driving the worst of the panic from his thoughts. He wiggled around so that he could reach gingerly into a pocket, wishing that his fingers were longer as he felt the rounded edge of the knife handle slipping from his grasp.
"Kuso!" Jounouchi snapped; Yugi instantly rolled back over and went limp, almost ripping the other's pocket off in the process. Just in time - a group of people dressed in purple robes had entered the warehouse, their attention on the group. Yugi watched the proceedings through half-lidded eyes - he wasn't sure if he should let them know that he had awakened. Bakura evidently had the same idea, because his eyes were also nearly closed, only the slight glimmer of blue belying the illusion of unconsciousness.
"Well, what are we going to do with this detritus?" a familiar American accented voice drawled. "I guess we could let them go now that my master has what he wants, but...they'd probably go straight for the cops."
"Keith!" Jounouchi, who wasn't feigning unconsciousness, snarled at the American duellist. Yugi could hear the scrape of metal on the floor as Jounouchi tried in vain to break the handcuffs. He let lose a stream of profanity that made Yugi struggle to suppress a blush while Keith laughed at his efforts.
"It might be safer just to kill them - especially that one; he looks rabid." The other Ghouls snickered at the jab.
"You...Let us go, you mother-fucking cheating gaijin bastard!"
"Or maybe the Master would like some new slaves." Keith mused, ignoring Jounouchi completely .
"You might as well look at me, Yugi-chan." the American added. "I know you're awake - the fact that you twitch every time your friend utilizes his...extensive vocabulary is a dead giveaway."
Yugi complied, rolling onto his back awkwardly and sitting up. Indeed, Bandit Keith stared down at them - but something was subtly wrong. Even without his yami, Yugi could tell that someone else controlled the American duellist.
"Keith!" One of the other robed man came running up, catching Keith's attention. "There's a problem in the basement!"
"Shit." He grinned down at his captives. "Well looks like you got lucky, punks. I guess I've have to take a little time to decide what to do with you." Following the other robed man, Keith and his goons left the room. Jounouchi sent a few choice curses after them with Yugi rolled back over as soon as they were out of sight, reaching once more for Jounouchi's pocket.
"Yugi-kun." Bakura hissed. "I'll try and wake the others as well."
"Good idea." Slipping his fingers deep into the pocket, Yugi strained to reached the knife...
"Here." An increasingly familiar, androgynous voice murmured. "These might work better." Yugi looked up as Black Diamond literally materialized from midair, holding a bunch of keys in a black-gloved hand.
"There isn't much time." the assassin noted, moving swiftly to unlock the chains. "I don't know how much time the distraction I set up in the basement is going to buy me, so we'd better hurry." After unlocking Yugi, Black Diamond turned to Bakura's bonds; the teenage duellist took over the task of reviving the others. By the time they were all awake, they were also free - and following their rescuer, fled the warehouse.
"I'm glad you came." Yugi murmured, bowing from the waist to the assassin, who shifted a little as though uncomfortable.
"That's what you pay me for - seemed like that Yankee was about to off the lot of you. Damned amateurs."
"Yeah, thanks." Jounouchi echoed Yugi's statement; the others swiftly followed suit. Anzu was still crying and leaning on Honda's shoulder for support - Yugi suppressed a flash of jealousy.
He reached for the Puzzle instinctively - and gasped in horror. "My Puzzle! They still have it!" He turned to race back to the place where they'd been held, but a solid hand grasped the back of his shirt.
"Hold up, Motou-dono." A flash of gold appeared before his eyes - he grasped the Puzzle with a cry of pure delight, pulling the chain over his head.
:Yugi - are you okay? Did they hurt you?:
:No, mou hitori no boku - I'm fine, just a little bruised.: He felt his other growl and try to take over, but soothed him with a mental hug. :Maybe later, okay?:
:Promise?:
"I think - this belongs to you." Yugi came back to awareness in time to see the assassin holding out a second golden pendant; Bakura grasped it with a grateful bow and slipped the ornament around his neck.
"I saw these in there - thought you two might want them back."
"This is too close." the white-haired teen murmured. "We should leave in case Keith-san comes back and finds us gone."
"I hope his 'master' is hard on him." Jounouchi muttered viciously as they walked quickly away, following the assassin again.
:Not as hard as I'm going to be.: Yami Yugi growled.
:Hush.:
After a half-hours walk – it chilled Yugi to think how close the Ghouls had been to his house - they reached the Kame Game Shop. Black Diamond turned to face them. "I think you'll be safe enough for the moment."
Yugi bowed deeply. "Thank you, Black Diamond-sama. You truly have no idea what you have done for us."
With the mask, no one could make out any expression on the assassin's features but a definite smile could be heard as Black Diamond reached out, tousling Yugi's spiked hair affectionately. "Don't worry about it - no extra charge for last-minute rescues. So who put you in that mess anyways?"
"The English teacher. We think she's working with the Ghouls."
"Come again?" Black Diamond pulled back, crystal eyes puzzled.
Jounouchi grinned. "Yeah - she must have known that we were following her and led us into a trap."
"Really." The assassin blinked. "I'll have to check her out." And with that, vanished from their sight.
"I really would love to know how he does that." Honda commented.
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Reappearing on a rooftop nearby, Black Diamond gazed at the teens below, keeping vigil on Honda and Jounouchi as they made their way to their homes.
Phantom appeared. "Mizaki and Bakura made it home okay."
"Good." A lull entered the conversation, making the air heavy with expectation until Phantom broke the silence.
"Damn...the English teacher. Didn't think to check her out." A smirk creased his lips.
"But...it can't be." the assassin murmured, almost inaudibly. "There is just no way."
"Think I should check her out anyway?" If his grin were any bigger now, the top of his head would come off. "You know, full background check and all. She seems a little shifty if you ask me."
"Would be a waste of time, but go ahead if you want." There could be no mistaking the irritation in Black Diamond's tone – clearly the assassin didn't think it was a joking matter.
"Aw, you're no fun."
"This isn't supposed to be fun, Phantom." Black Diamond glanced over at the young man and his saucy smile. "And wipe that smirk off your face, you look ridiculous."
"Yes, boss." The smile vanished, replaced with an overdone look of stoic seriousness. The assassin's eyes rolled in exasperation.
"And don't call me boss."
"Yes, boss."
"If you weren't my second in command I'd..." Black Diamond began threateningly.
"... have to do all your own paperwork?" Phantom grinned again.
Black Diamond shifted, arms crossing. "You are enjoying this far too much."
"You bet." Phantom threw an arm around his companion's shoulder. "So, you want I should keep an eye on a couple of the kids for you? They're splitting up, after all. Or...I can always check out the English teacher."
He laughed and vanished before the knife even appeared in the other assassin's hand. "Stupid brat." Black Diamond muttered, placing the knife back in its holder.
"I heard that." Phantom's voice echoed on the wind.
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Inside the game shop, Yugi turned on the tap, filling a glass with cold water.
:Are you certain you are well?: Yami Yugi asked his aibou for the eight time.
:I'm fine. Just a little headache and a dry throat.: Yugi reassured his other, drinking deeply. The liquid did wonders for the dryness left behind by the drug.
:I still want revenge on the one who did this to you.:
:I know. But you should be careful - I don't think Bandit Keith is behind this of his own free will. He was being controlled somehow.: Yugi placed the glass in the sink and turned to go up to his room.
:Hmm. I wonder who, and how?: To his credit, Yami Yugi never even doubted the veracity of his hikari's instincts.
:I don't know, mou hitori no boku, but considering who I'm talking to, I'm not ruling out anything. After all, if it is one of the other Millennium Items, then maybe the holder has the power to control the mind.:
:Quite possible.: Yami Yugi conceded. A flash of something passed through his mind, but it vanished before he could identify it.
Yugi opened the door to his room, too busy with his and his yami's thoughts that he didn't see the package on the bed until he'd nearly sat on it.
"What's this?"
:It might be a trap.: Yami Yugi murmured. :I don't feel any magic from it - but still, take care.:
"Yeah." After the kidnapping he'd just been through, Yugi was much less inclined to be blasé about his other's paranoia. He glanced at the return address - Kaiba Corp. "Although, if it's from Kaiba-kun, then I doubt it's a trap - he wants to beat you in a fair duel."
:True - if it is from Kaiba.: Yugi felt a glimmer of Shadow Magic as Yami Yugi used his powers to discern the contents. :I don't sense any danger, aibou.:
"Then here goes." Yugi ripped open the paper, revealing a large square box labelled 'Duel Disk Version II'. He blinked, then carefully opened the box, revealing a large, arm-mounted holographic duelling device. In the back of his mind, he could sense his other beginning to salivate.
A letter fell from the box, fluttering to the floor. Yugi picked it up and read:
Motou Yugi;
Enclosed please find one of my brand-new Version Two Duel Disks. Also you will find a book delineating the advanced rules for my upcoming Battle City Tournament and a puzzle card. Please hold onto the card - it and five more will be necessary for you to enter the final round of the tournament.
I look forward to beating you in the finals.
Kaiba Seto
Chief Executive Officer
KaibaCorp Technologies
"He certainly doesn't lack confidence, does he?" Yugi grinned as Yami Yugi appeared in spirit form. Quite suddenly his solemn and serious other looked like a child on his birthday, shadowy violet eyes shining with eagerness, hands clasped together.
:We can enter right Aibou? Please?:
"I don't know..." Yugi paused as though in thought. His yami pouted cutely.
:Please?:
Yugi giggled. "Like I could stop you. Of course we're going to enter." He looked at the letter again. "I don't know when it's supposed to take place, so we might have to wait a while."
Yami Yugi glanced at the new rulebook. :Oh, I think I can keep myself busy in the meantime.:
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:Where are we going?: Bakura asked meekly of his yami, who stalked through the dark streets of Domino City. Personally, he was shocked that he was still aware of what was happening, rather than being locked away in his soul room.
"I want to find out some more information about this assassin the Pharaoh and his brat have on a leash - it could be important. While I'm at it, I see if there is anything about these purple-robed idiots. Since I can't get info off the 'Net, I'm going to try another way."
:But yami, younger people are not supposed to be in this part of town...: Bakura glanced through his other's eyes at the dark, dingy streets.
Yami Bakura switched to mental speech. :That's why I dressed us like this, yadoushi, so that we won't end up with a case of terminal geekness.: He gestured at the black trench he wore over tight black jeans and a red dress shirt. In Bakura's opinion, they looked like a member of the Yakuza, especially with the black sunglasses.
:Yami?:
:What is it now?:
:Why...do you keep calling mou hitori no Yugi a pharaoh?:
The soul stealer froze in his tracks. :Because... he is.:
:I don't understand. You said once that the Millennium Items housed the souls of the dead - does that mean you knew mou hitori no Yugi in your past life - and that he was King of Egypt?:
:Egypt...is that what they call Khemet these days?: Yami Bakura resumed his stalking stride. :Yes, I knew him - or of him. At least as much as any commoner could know of a living God.: A mental smirk curled around the last two words. :Living God my ass. Stupid camel chips started to believe their own propaganda. The pharaohs were mortal...as my lord Prince found out when his precious father passed away.: Thick gloating leavened the words.
:So...what is his real name? I'm sure Yugi would love to know.: Bakura hid shock that his yami was actually holding a conversation with him behind curiosity. After all, Yugi had mentioned once that his yami had no memory of his past.
:I'm certain he would: Yami Bakura slipped down a narrow, filthy alley :- but I don't know the Pharaoh's real name. Kings took a new name when they took the throne, and that is the name inscribed on all but their tombs. Since I didn't get the chance to rob his tomb, I don't know his birth name. His throne name was Akhenkekui - which means more or less Living Spirit of Darkness in your tongue. Kind of unusual, actually - most kings liked to be named after one of the sun gods.:
:You were a tomb robber?: Bakura knew he should be shocked, but really it didn't come as much of a surprise.
:No, yadoushi - I was the tomb robber.:
:So...what's your real name, mou yami no boku?:
Yami Bakura smirked. :Bakhura, the King of Thieves. Now be quiet, Ryou...I have to concentrate, or we could both be killed.:
Bakura shut up instantly. He didn't want his body harmed any more than his yami. Bakhura? How was that for irony? And did mou yami no boku actually call him by name?
So he watched in silence as his other slipped though the dark alley to a grimy door unmarked by anything save a name painted in dull red.
Inside Out
:Who would have thought that a squeaky-clean town like Domino would have a place like this?: Yami Bakura mused. Bakura wasn't certain if he was meant to hear that thought, so he wisely kept silent.
The inside of the place was packed with every type of ruffian Bakura could imagine, and quite a few that he would never have imagined existed.
'...a retched hive of scum and villainy...' the line from the American movie Star Wars ran through his head. Now he wasn't sure he wanted to be aware of what his other was doing in such a place...or why he was being greeted like a regular.
:What do you do while I'm asleep?: he asked his yami, a little sharply.
:Things you would be best not to know, yadoushi, if you would keep your innocence. Now be silent.: Yami Bakura walked up to the bar, placing a 5000 yen bill on the scratched surface and receiving a mug of thick ale in return.
"What'cha doing here tonight?" the bartender asked, either oblivious to the fact that his customer appeared to be fifteen years old, or not caring.
"Info." Yami Bakura replied shortly, flashing his demon's smile. "Anyone in who might have some?"
"Depends on the kind." the barkeep answered. "And on who's askin'."
"Very specialized stuff - concerning assassins." The soul-stealer handed over another bill - it vanished before Bakura could see the amount.
"Over there." The barkeep nodded in the direction of a particular dark corner. "You can't get much better info on that around here."
"Thanks." Yami Bakura slugged back the last of the ale and rose, wiping his mouth on the sleeve of his coat. He slipped around the other patrons - who ignored him - and joined the indicated person at the table.
He was older - 55 or so, Bakura judged. Probably Chinese, given his features and the thin facial hair he sported, as well as the traditional - almost stereotypical - Mandarin Chinese outfit he wore.
"I hear you know assassins." Yami Bakura started without preamble.
"You hear many things, Qubu 2 ." the man answered. "Why do you wish to know of assassins? I am told you follow the thief's path."
"I do, jiisan 3 , but I wish to know of one particular hired killer - Black Diamond."
"Ah." Picking up his drink in long fingered hands, the nameless man took a sip. "You might well ask the size of a sound or the weight of light. Black Diamond is a puzzle wrapped in an enigma - no one save perhaps the leaders of the other Guilds know anything of whom you ask, and then I am not certain."
"Wait - there is more than one Guild of Assassins?"
"Indeed - there are two, and though they are associated, they do not follow the same banner. The Assassin's Guild is larger, with members all over the world, and they follow a triumvirate of leaders.
"However, there is a smaller assassin's guild as well - the Wind Assassin's Guild, who only take into their ranks those gifted in magic as well as the arts of death." He paused, as though waiting for an exclamation of disbelief before continuing. "Black Diamond is the founder and the strongest of these mage-assassins. He – please understand I use the term generically - rules with an iron fist - any who break the laws of the Guild are found dead, unmarked save for this." He held out a gemstone no larger than Bakura's pinkie nail; a three-dimensional diamond carved from hematite 4 .
Yami Bakura took the gem carefully, running it through his fingers. "How much for the memento, jiisan?"
"Take it - but should you ever find out anything of the assassin's identity, please let me know - he is something of a hobby of mine."
"Not a problem. I don't suppose you know anything about a group of purple-robed weirdoes calling themselves the Ghouls, do you?"
"Not much - only that they hail from Egypt."
"Thanks." Bakura slipped another bill across the table - the man made it vanish with the same alacrity as the barkeep had. The thief rose and left the bar, much to Bakura's relief.
:Yami...you stole that money, didn't you?:
:No.:
:Then where did you get it?:
:I stole some artefacts from the museum and fenced them.:
That wasn't really a surprise either. Bakura let his other feel his disapproval, for all the good it would do. :You shouldn't steal from other people, mou yami no boku. It's not right.:
Yami Bakura laughed aloud. "I steal the souls of men and lock them in lead. I was the most notorious tomb robber in the history of Khemet, and almost brought the royal line to its knees - and you worry about my stealing a few trinkets?"
:It's the principle of the thing.:
A wild grin crossed his other's face. "Yes, yadoushi. I know."
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Phantom ghosted above the streets, shadowing Bakura as the teen slipped through the dark alleys of Domino like an old pro. Personally, he was impressed, though the fact that the kid was out this late and in this part of town was guaranteed to give anyone trying to guard him a headache.
He had posted magical guardians at each of his charges' houses before retiring for the night - only to have one go off before he even managed to get settled. Using his ability to teleport, he'd gotten to Bakura Ryou's house in time to see the kid slip around the corner and into this part of town. Not the best part either - he would have expected Bakura to be mugged within fifteen feet, but something about the way he moved screamed 'predator' in such a way that the other night predators left him alone, looking for easier prey.
Strange shadows swirled around the alley; suddenly Bakura was not alone in the dark - four purple-robed people had appeared, two of them with duel discs on their arms and two carrying machine guns, which they pointed at the teenager.
"We challenge you to a duel, Bakura Ryou, with the winner taking possession of your Millennium Ring." Before Phantom could act, an evil, confident smirk crossed Bakura's face.
"A duel?" He laughed, a chilling sound. "I have a better idea...since you have the temerity to threaten myself and my yadoushi..." Phantom cocked his head in curiosity at the terminology "...I challenge you to a Shadow Game." The Ring around his neck began to glow; the robed men and Bakura vanished in a swirl of shifting midnight blue and purple fog.
"What the fuck?" Phantom exclaimed as he dropped down beside where they had vanished. He ran a finger through the edge of the dome of fog - strange magic crackled along his nerves. Suddenly he heard muffled screams inside the dome, followed by high, delighted laughter.
"Punishment game!" Bakura's voice echoed from within the dome as the screams grew fainter, trailing away to nothing. The assassin stepped back into the shadows, teleporting back to the roof even as the swirling mist vanished revealing the white-haired teen - who smirked in a self-satisfied manner before continuing on his way. No sign remained of his assailants. Phantom raised one eyebrow.
It appeared that Bakura could take care of himself.
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1 This OC belongs to my beta-reader Cha Oseye Tempest Thrain, and is used with her kind permission.
2 Qubu means 'shadow' in Ancient Egyptian.
3 Jiisan means grandfather - it's a general term in Japanese for any old man.
4 Hematite is a smooth, dark silvery-grey semi-precious gemstone also called Alaskan Black Diamond.
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Guess who bought a book on New Kingdom society and religion in Ancient Egypt? ;)
Anyway, if you've gotten to this point I presume you've read the chapter, so please click the little purple button and leave a review if you've got a minute. Thanks so much.