Disclaimer: ... Do I have to go through this again?
The Taur'i Pharaoh
~ * ~
Once again Daniel found himself within the shadowy realm that Bakura had taken them through to see Yami. However there was a difference this time… he couldn't seem to focus properly and he was finding it harder to breath as the seconds ticked by. His strength was deserting him.
Yami, hearing slight wheezing behind him, turned around to find the archaeologist crouched on the ground. "Fool… don't you know that mortals cannot survive the Shadow Realm for very long before they lose their very souls?" He hissed impatient to be off, not wanting to have to baby-sit the mortal. He did have far more important things to worry about.
"How was… I supposed to know…" Daniel said, struggling a little trying to catch his breath, he felt like he had just run several kilometres without stopping. "I know nothing of this dimension… anyway I came through… before with Bakura…"
Hearing his name the Thief stopped and glared back at the pair. "How pathetic," he sneered, "can't you use you're slow witted brains… you only survived passage through this realm because of me." He dismissed Daniel with a savage wave of his hand. "Baka Pharaoh, just leave him with the consequences of his actions… it's amazing that he even survives in his own world…"
Jackson stared back annoyed at the others' almost inhumane attitude and Bakura's verbal abuse. "I've survived and helped to destroy Ra… I deciphered the dead, and almost forgotten, language… on the cartouches… Not only that but I've participated in… successfully defending this planet and others from the Goa'uld… several times. I've died once and come… close to death several more times… in my quest. Can you say the same?"
The tiny beginnings of respect surfaced in the Egyptians' gaze before Bakura gave him a wicked smirk. "Actually I think we could. As you know we sacrificed our very lives some 5000 years ago and had to endure loneliness, darkness and combat insanity as a consequence. We went up against and utterly defeated the false Gods thus liberating our planet and helping other cultures on many worlds when we could during the war. We were travelling the heavens, learning and documenting all out there before other cultures even considered the possibility. In this day and age we've saved this world a couple of times from all types of tyrants… I think that comes close enough, don't you?" He looked at Yami for his opinion.
"If you've quite finished boasting your deeds… perhaps you'll turn your attention back to your own present predicament?" An oddly vibrating voice spoke out from the inky blackness surrounding them.
Daniel paled rapidly as he looked over Yami's shoulder. Standing there was the Bakura look-a-like that he had seen on Abydos, along with a couple of Jaffa guards.
"Now here is the prize catch of the day, not only do I have the cursed Pharaoh – the Apostate – and my host's previous possessor, I also have one of the rebel Taur'i vermin," the Goa'uld said smugly.
"You will release my Hikari now!" Bakura hissed venomously, gathering his power to him for an attack.
"Why should I? I am a god and I may do as I please… besides this body has some powerful gifts that I have coveted for a long time."
"The Pharaoh here is more of a god than you'll ever be… and that's saying something in my opinion," the Tomb Robber mocked the System Lord.
At this insult to his God one of the Jaffa fired his staff weapon at Bakura who quickly erected a shield and retaliated. A stream of shadow magic snaked its way into the guard's mind quickly causing him to go insane.
Immediately the others in the System Lord's routine joined the affray. The Thief had to concentrate on strengthening his defensive shield as several shots came his way. Yami was the one to do the attacking this time.
He flung out his right arm. "MIND CRUSH!" One guard fell silently, not even having a chance to scream as his soul was ripped away. Noting that this wasn't going to help them much due to the enemy's numbers, the Pharaoh pulled a card from his deck. He called forth the magic card's properties thus bring mirror force into play around his own form. Everything that hit the 'wall' was repelled back to its source, causing the attackers to dive out of the way.
Bakura used this distraction to throw some of his own monsters into the enemy ranks. Daniel however had none of his own weapons to help the spirits and even if he did he wouldn't have the strength to help. While the two Darks had their backs on him the enemy took the advantage and grabbed the Doctor pulling him behind their own lines.
Yami, sensing something behind him, turned to find Daniel gone.
Bakura! You need to go now! He's bringing in reinforcements! The Thief's eyes glazed over as his Light's message swept across their link.
Then I'll take them all on! Came his savage reply.
You won't be able to take them all on… even with their weakness in the Realm! Please Bakura! Ryou pleaded.
His Dark didn't even bother replying. Muttering some foul Egyptian curses he turned to the Pharaoh and lunged, flinging them both through a portal he had just opened.
~ * ~
Ryou watched on as his other half fell through the portal, invisible to the mortal eye. The Light half was glad that his other had seen sense and fled taking the Pharaoh with him. He glanced over to the man that had come with the Egyptians and caused the snake inside him to become twice as smug and arrogant as usual. He was sorry that he had been unable to help him. To be honest his main concern had been Bakura and his friend. Turning back, Ryou stared wistfully at where the portal had been opened and fidgeted slightly.
He'd never spent this much time in his spirit form before and he still couldn't get over how unusual it felt. Though he actually found it easier to withstand his captivity being like this rather than being cooped up in his soul room or trapped in his own mind. He really missed his Yami more than he originally bargained for. Not that he had even considered this happening to him in the first place.
As scary as the start of their relationship had been even then, in some strange way, he had known that Bakura wouldn't let anyone harm him. Even if he constantly abused his Light or showed no interest in him, the Thief constantly kept an eye on his safety. Nowadays Ryou's Yami was just more open with his feelings however gruff he was, and if one pondered, even more protective of him.
Because of this very reason, the separation was even more unbearable than their first division. This felt akin to several dull knives being constantly being driven into his heart and soul. Ryou's ghostly eyes filled with tears, he wasn't sure how much longer he would be able to stand being away from his Dark. He could only hope that it wasn't a great deal longer.
~ * ~
Bakura and Yami both landed hard on Yugi's living room floor. Bakura stayed where he fell glaring at his fists while Yugi came out of his soul room and appeared in his spirit form. The King of Games looked sadly at the Tomb Robber; he didn't bother saying anything to him because he knew the Thief hated any form of compassion. Yami didn't waste any time, however, and was already thinking of alternative strategies to get around their problem.
"We'll use the Stargate to reach Abydos and track down the Goa'uld."
"And how will we get to it?" Bakura spoke up sullenly.
"Kaiba," Yugi piped up.
"What about the Priest?"
"We could ask him if he'd be willing to take us to America in his private helicopter."
"I'm not going to be stuck in a small space having to listen to all his disapproving and arrogant remarks."
"Well if you have enough yen to get to the country we could try to get two airline tickets. Or if you have any other ideas…?"
The Tomb Robber glared up at Yugi before stalking out of the house. "Smart ass…" He hissed heatedly beneath his breath.
~ * ~
I know, I know! Bad, bad, BAD FireSenshi! You're supposed to update much, MUCH sooner!!
The only thing that I have in my defence is that work got in the way and I had a slight writers block with the little fight scene. I'm hoping I won't be as bad updating next…
Anyway, I'm coming up to another writers block soon… so for anyone who has ideas on what I might do after Yami & Bakura get through the Stargate they'd be most welcome.
Thanks for all those who read and reviewed! Sorry again… *author gets to her knees and begs* please forgive???