Disclaimer: I don't own YGO, heck I'm not even sure I own this story.

A/N(1): Muito Obrigado (Portuguese) for reviews: WaterGoddessMizu, SeaBreeze-Yami/Anzu fan, norestar-angel, Karania Avalon, Luthien-Anwaman, SweetMisery1, YamiandAnzu4ever, eveeee90, Sylvia Viridian, Moonfree, AerinM, Shining Friendship, and Healing Spirit! WOW! I got a lot of nice feedback from you guys. A lot concerning a sequel, lol. Anywayz, thanks! Lots of love!

A/N(2): Happy Holidays to all! I hope you all enjoy the last chapter to ALMOST ROYALTY. It's been a lot of fun, and I hope to have another Yami/Tea story up soon. Thanks to everyone who supported this story. To those who didn't like it, I couldn't blame you. Sometimes I read and wonder why....Why? WHY? LOL....

Title: Almost Royalty

Chapter XIII: The Sun Goes Down

Anzu was in shock. 'Marik killed....mother?' The thought alone was killing her. It seemed to be eating at her everytime she connected Marik to her mother's murder. 'How? He....died..." Her eyes flickered upon the realization. "You died!"

Marik smiled. "Who fed you that story?"

"T-the priestess--your sister!"

Marik lowered his eyes. "I am dead to her. She knows what happened after..." He stopped, not interested in telling her anymore. "It matters not. What matters is that I finish off what I started with Teana!"

Anzu could have screamed. She could have found safety near Yami. She didn't. She only stood there, eyes shifted on his impassive face. The name she had just heard caused her legs to freeze, like if they were plunged into the depths of the Nile. 'Teana?'

"What has silenced you, Anzu? The fact that I killed Teana, or that I'm going to kill you?"

Anzu shook her head. "Teana was not my mother's name."

"What are you talking about?"

"Zahra was my mother's name. Teana was my Algerian name."

Marik's face grew pale. "What?!"

Mai stuttered, "where did that come from?"

"I found it on the floor," Migu paused. Then, throwing it at Jou, he said: "Where are they?"

Frowning, Mai still played dumb. "Who? The two fugitives? We told you that we have no idea!" As she talked, the air around them grew tighter. The pressure was unbearable.

"What she means is that we haven't seen them," the tall man beside her added.

Migu narrowed his eyes. "Impossible. They wore the same cloak." As he spoke, the other guard came from the sleeping chamber, carrying the other cloak. Migu gasped. "We are beyond suspicion now. Where are the Pharaoh and the girl?"

"We don't know," Jou replied, keeping his argument strong. "We're the only ones who came in."

Migu was silent. Then, "you're both under arrest by the royal guard."

"What?" Jou stepped forward. "On what grounds?"

"Helping two dangerous fugitives escape their punishment."

Anzu's eyes shifted upon Marik. "My mother and I were from Algeria, but we had to move to Egypt because she was banished from the temple. My mother didn't want anyone to know, so she changed my name from Teana to Anzu."

As she spoke, Yami, who still lay near the wall, had found enough strength to lift his head. The words coming from Anzu sounded unspoken before, like she had not told a single soul until now. 'She's not afraid anymore. She now knows who killed her mother, so there's no point in hiding the truth.'

Marik stumbled back, fear gleaming from his eyes. "No..." Fingers trembling, he placed a hand over his eyes. "The one named Teana was supposed to meet Osiris," he whispered inaudibly.

Marik's fear reflected off Anzu's eyes. "What do you mean?"

"You were supposed to die that night, not your mother."

'Think Jou...oh Ra...I'm too hungry to think.' He frowned. 'Um...we could run...no, they probably would catch us. They're royal guards after--WAIT..' His frown turned into a smile.

Het stepped forward to bind Jou's hands together, but Jou shook his head vigorously. "Stand down, officer. I am not the enemy."

Migu signaled for Het to stop. Then, he waited for Jou to elaborate on his response. Jou did not answer. Instead, he showed an initiation brand on his forearm. "I am the Pharaoh's bodyguard."

Mai's eyes slightly widened. 'Since when does Jou have a good plan?' She watched as the guards stood silent, the taller one deep in thought.

"If this is true then, why did we find these cloaks?" Migu finally replied.

Mai groaned. 'Back to where we started...'

Though there was a pregnant pause, Anzu found no comfort in the silence. Her thoughts were swimming around in her head too fast for her to comprehend. "I...don't understand."

"It's not difficult. I was supposed to kill Teana, but when I confronted your mother, she told me not to hurt her Anzu--you. Knowing that your name was Anzu, I killed your mother with confidence that she was Teana."

Anzu closed her eyes. "This isn't real..."

"But I am!" His eyes now gleamed with hate. "And this time, there will be no mistakes."

"Why are you doing this?!"

"My sister was to be an apprentice for a renowned priestess, but she soon learned that the priestess took interest in another individual." He paused. Then, eyes shifted on the ground, he added: "She wanted Teana to be her apprentice."

"What? I never heard anything of this--"

"Don't interrupt me," Marik growled. "She wanted you because your mother--Zahra--left the clergy due to her beliefs in the gods of abeyance. She was the only one believed in their destructive power." He paused again. "The priestess took great interest in this and since she couldn't ask Zahra to be her apprentice (because she left the clergy), she wanted her daughter in the clergy--you!"

"My mother was not a priestess!"

"Indeed she was," Marik added, "didn't you say before your mother was banished from the temple? She couldn't have just left the temple, she HAD to be banished."

Anzu gasped. "That still doesn't explain why you wanted to murder me!"

"My sister had been training for years to be a priestess with my father. She was crushed when she learned the priestess declined her apprenticeship. That meant that she would be living underground, protecting the Pharaoh, for the rest of her life. I couldn't let that happen. I didn't want her to end up like me. I wanted her to have a life."

As he spoke, Anzu could have sworn she saw her tear in his eye. She shrugged it off as he continued: "I saw what the outside world had to offer, and I wanted Isis to be a part of it." He took in a deep breath. "I decided to kill the one that shamed my sister." He paused again. "That night, I went out in search of Teana. I spoke to many people, and all guided me toward a hut--Teana's home. That's when I killed your mother."

"We only just came in!"

"Yes," Jou said, nodding at his wife. "We had no idea that they were left here!"

Suspiciously, Migu eyed the couple. "Am I to believe that the two fugitives waltzed right in here and left valuable evidence behind?" His companion stifled a laugh. Migu then looked at Jou, "even as the Pharaoh's bodyguard, you are not allowed to leave the palace."

Het then stepped forward. "With regard to the book of Ma'at, you are both placed under arrest and will be trialed before the Pharaoh and the High Priest."

"We're innocent!" Mai yelled, as Het wrapped rope around her wrists. "Jou!"

Jou was speechless. As a bodyguard, he always arrested people. It was never the other way around. 'I'm out of ideas. Maybe it's best we go back to the palace. Seth may not be in power anymore.' As Het came toward him with the rope, Jou only put his hands out for Het to latch them together. Mai was in disbelief. "JOU! Do something!"

Jou only shook his head. "No, it's best if we prove our innocence before the Pharaoh." He then winked, but Mai didn't understand what he was trying to make her perceive.

"No..." Anzu sunk to the floor, belief finally weighing down her efforts to disbelieve. "I..."

Marik towered before her. "There's nothing more to say, Anzu. Knowing the truth, you can finally rest in peace in the afterlife." The puzzle started glowing. "But how can death be seen without an audience..." Raising his hand, he used the power of the puzzle to lift Yami to his feet. "There, my conscience holds no demons.."

"But it will!" Anzu's strong voice came out of nowhere. "You will never be looked upon as the brother Isis once knew! You took a life, and never stopped to think who you would be hurting in the process. Now Isis doesn't have a brother, and I have no mother. Your conscience will never rid the demons that swim in the depths of your mind!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" bellowed the murderer, his hair now lifting off his shoulders. "You have no idea what you're talking about! Isis ignores my existence because of who I've become--a man of hatred and impassiveness. It happened after my Tomb Keeper's initiation....I became another person. A person of whom I could not control."

"There's not a person in this world that control one's own will! You are weak-minded!"

Growling, Marik smacked Anzu across the face, causing her to fall to the ground. "Never call me weak-minded!" he seethed, his tone breathing anger. His hair, at this point, was now standing at an angle, too.

"An...zu.." whimpered Yami, as he watched helplessly. His mind and body were weak. 'No, I need to help Anzu. I can't let Marik hurt her anymore.'

"You can't do anything, Yami," Marik said, looking at the moribund peasant. "I will kill Anzu; resurrect the gods of abeyance; and then kill you. You know why? Because I'm strong....and you're weak."

Prince Honda walked through the crowd, his head held high. "Ra, I should get back to Simbel." He groaned, but remembered that Shizuka would be awaiting his arrival. He smiled, then groaned again. "It's not like we can show our affections in public." As he walked, thoughts whirled around his mind like a sandstorm. "I hate this....if only Yami was Pharaoh..." Before he could finish his thought, he caught a glimpse of two blondes walking through the crowd.

"That's unusual," he said, walking closer. "Hold on....that's Jou!" He didn't know the other one, but remembered her from the palace. "Did Seth relieve them of duty? No," he looked at the two guards escorting them. "They must have tried to escape. I must help them. There's no telling what Seth will do to them." He looked around. His eyes gleamed when he saw two camels for sale. "How much?"

"One hundred coins," the merchant said, as Honda took out his coin pouch. Handing the merchant one hundred coins, the merchant added, "each camel." Honda rolled her eyes and threw another hundred on the counter. "Thank you, sir."

"Right," the Prince said, putting his pouch back. "Listen, hold these two for me. I'll be back with some help." The merchant looked at him and said:

"For a price."

Honda rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll give you fifty coins when I return."

Once the merchant nodded, Honda forced himself through the crowd, toward the two guards. They seemed in a hurry, but Honda stepped in front of them, which caused both to stop. "Fool, step aside--" Once Migu raised his head to look at the distraction, he wished he hadn't opened his mouth. "Prince Honda, I'm sorry--I...."

"Nevermind that," Honda said, "you will apologize with your two slaves."

"You'll never defeat me now that I have the puzzle! Admit it! You are weak without this!" he pointed to the puzzle. Then, not waiting for an answer, he walked back to Anzu, who was kneeling on the floor. "And you! Without Yami to help you, you're worthless." He kicked her to the floor. "Now, it's time to fulfill my plans! Step one, kill Teana."

She looked at him, pain shown throughout her face. "Don't Marik, if an evil does live within you....you must defeat it." Marik froze for a moment, but then broke out into a huge smile.

"As long as there hatred inside of Marik, I will live with him forever!"

"Marik," Anzu said, "if your sister knows that there is an evil inside you that caused you to kill Zahra, she will forgive you! Fight this battle for Isis!"

"I can't Anzu! I can't win!" A voice came out of Marik, but it was soon replaced by an angry one. "He's been fighting me ever since his initiation, there's no way he can defeat me now. I've grown stronger, feeding off his anger."

Anzu held her stomach. "Marik! You can't defeat him because he's been feeding you lies! There's plenty of good within you! You have to find it and use it against him!"

Marik froze again. This time, his hands were held against his head. Marik was fighting his evil inside his mind. "I can defeat you! No you can't! Yes I can! I will always be a part of you! FOREVER! No!" Marik fell to his knees, his bangs now covering his eyes.

Anzu gasped. "Marik?"

He looked up, eyes filled with fury. "GUESS AGAIN!" Standing up, he clenched his fists together. "I have heard enough from you, Teana. It's time for you to die!"

Migu looked at the two behind him. "They have disobeyed the Code, I couldn't possibly leave these two in your hands. If you follow me, I could find you some other--"

"No, I'm in a hurry and these will have to do."

Migu swallowed hard. He knew he couldn't go against the judgement of his superior. He had to think of something quick. "Please, Prince Honda, Het and I will help you instead."

"Very well." Honda guided the four toward the merchant's camel shop.

"How can we be of service to you, Prince Honda?" asked Migu, trying to get back on the Prince's good side. "Shall Het I saddle and place your goods on the camel?"

Honda nodded. "Yes, and I'll keep an eye on your fugitives."

As they set to work, Honda gave the merchant the fifty coins he owed, and then he looked Jou, who was staring at him. "Once they're done," he whispered, "I want you to take the camel on the right. We will head back to my palace."

Jou looked down at his hands. They were still bound. "How?" Before Honda could answer, a voice bellowed over their conversation.

"PRINCE! Do not stand too close to the fugitives! They are dangerous!"

Honda chuckled. "Do not fret, I can protect myself." Searching through his tunic, he pulled out a dagger. "Now, hurry, I'm late for a very important engagement." As Migu and Het set back to work, Honda pointed the dagger at his bound hands. "Hurry, put your hands out." Jou obeyed. "There," Honda cut the rope, "keep your hands together so they do not notice." Jou nodded. Honda then did the same for Mai.

"There, Prince, your camel are ready."

Honda nodded. "Very good. Now, I shall be on my way. Wait--is this the way you saddle a camel?" Distracted by the Prince's unhappiness, Migu and Het bowed shamelessly. Honda then gave the signal for Mai and Jou to run toward the camel.

"HEY! WAIT! THE FUGITIVES!" Before they could run toward the fugitives, Honda put his foot out and tripped the two guards. "Prince Honda, why? They were two dangerous fugitives!"

He mounted the camel. "No one calls me a fool and gets away with it." He then smacked the camel on the rear, and headed in the direction of the fugitives. Migu and Het were baffled.

Anzu stared at Marik. "Oh Isis....this is really it...'

"Yes Teana," said Marik, as his fists started to glow. "There's no hope!"

Yami looked up. "Anzu...please.....no..." He tried to move his legs, but they remained motionless. "Anzu..." He fell to the floor.

"Yami.." she felt tears moisten her eyelids.

Marik growled impatiently. "That's enough! It's time to end this!" Opening his hand, a ball of energy formed a vortex in his hand. Then, without warning, the vortex shot a stream of energy that went directly into Anzu's head. "MIND CRUSH!"

"AHHHHH!" Anzu yelled, as she fell into the floor. "NOOOOOOOO!" As Marik's attack continued, she felt her mind swelling with pain. She tried to alleviate it with her hands, but the pain only got worse. "AHH! Marik! Please stop!"

"Never! I want you--"

Anzu gasped. The pain was gone. As she looked up, she saw Marik on the floor. "How?" Her eyes then shifted on another being. "What? Seth?"

He smiled; shaking out the pain in his knuckles. "That's one annoyance out of the way."

"NO! I sealed your mind in the Shadow Realm with the rod--NO!" He looked over at the rod. "When the rod broke, it must have also broke the seal on the Shadow Realm!"

Flashback

"I do. Yami does. Why can't you see it?" With this registering in his mind, the power of the puzzle slightly weakened, giving Anzu the ability to smash the rod into a wooden dresser.

"NO! THE ROD!" Marik yelled, throwing Anzu to the floor. "Do you have any idea of what you have done?" he yelled again, his tone angrier. "You....you..." his words drifted off as a mysterious cloud of smoke elevated, and found a home inside Seth. "No....it can't be..."

End Flashback

"NO!"

"Yes! And know I'm going to seal your mind in the Shadow Realm my own way!" Thrusting his fist at Marik, he aimed for his face. Marik dodged, but not before Seth grabbed a hold of the chain on the puzzle and yanked it off his neck.

"FOOL! You will pay!" He yelled, now running toward Seth. "This time, stay dead!" Before his fist could connect with Seth's chest, Seth punched him into the floor.

"Grr..." Marik was about to push himself up when his fingers brushed against something. The broken rod. Carefully hiding it from Seth's view, he stood up and glared at Seth. "Let's dance!"

Seth was about to punch Marik again when he felt something hit his stomach at full speed. As he looked down, he saw a large, red spot encircled around the broken rod. "You....stabbed me..."

Marik smiled and mercilessly pulled the rod out of Seth's stomach. "Yes, now die." Kicking Seth to the floor, he stared down at the rod, which was soaked in blood. "Brings back memories of when I killed your mother." He winked at Anzu. She growled, but didn't retaliate because her head was still throbbing from the mind crush. "That reminds me, Teana. You still have to die."

"Wrong," came a strong voice from the other side of the room.

Marik shifted his eyes on a pair of violet eyes. "WHAT? How are you even standing?"

"Simple," he pointed to the puzzle now around his neck, "I took back what was mine."

"I can still kill you! You're still weak!"

Yami shook his head. "No, there will be no more bloodshed. Millennium puzzle, banish the evil spirit from Marik's body!" Obeying its master, the millennium puzzle started to glow. Then, it blinded Marik with a bright flash of light. Marik's eyes rolled into its sockets and his body found comfort on the floor.

Yami also dropped to the floor, his energy completely spent. "YAMI!" Anzu yelled, as she ran toward him. "You're okay!" Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed him on the lips.

He smiled. "I'm glad that you're okay, too." Before he could say more about her well-being, his eyes averted to a body on the floor. "Seth....is he still alive?" Helping Yami up, Anzu took him to Seth's body. His eyes were barely open, but he was very much still alive.

"Seth," Yami swallowed hard, "what you did for Anzu and me...I--"

"Don't. I was horrible to you both. I just hope my death will not go ....in vain."

Yami shook his head. "Seth, please...don't die. I want to be....your brother."

"I as well, but," he touched his wound. "I won't make it."

Before he could say anymore, Jou, Honda, and Mai walked in. Yami nodded at them, but looked back at Seth. "Hold on, we no have help. We can save you--"

"Let me die, Yami." He coughed. "I want you to be Pharaoh."

Yami raised an eyebrow. "I can't. I have no relations to Bel Saf."

"But you are my brother, and the Code states that if I don't have an heir, a family member can and will take over. You're the only family I have, Yami."

Yami's lip started to tremble from the tears he was trying to hold back. "Seth..."

"Farewell......brother..." Putting his eyes to rest, his hand left his wound and fell to the floor.

Yami's teary eyes left his brother, and met the eyes of others. They all acknowledged his pain with a nod, and walked out the chamber to leave Yami alone with his brother.

Anzu looked at Ra's sun, which had found its place in the sky. 'I must have fallen asleep.' She looked around, and saw that the others were asleep as well. 'Maybe I should check on Yami...'

As she walked into the chamber, her legs froze under her. 'Where's Marik?' She looked around, but did not see him anywhere. That's when she saw a piece of papyrus on Yami's straw bed. It read: "Thank you." She slightly smiled, but soon found greater interest in something else.

She found Yami sleeping on the floor, but there was no sign of Seth. 'They must be preparing him for his journey to the afterlife.' Letting out a sigh, she found herself kneeling next to Yami. "Oh....Yami...you scared me last night." Running a hand through his hair, she felt him stir. Then, she was entranced by the violet eyes that casted upon her. "Anzu..."

She smiled, but didn't stop brushing his hair. "They took Seth last night..." he whispered, "I never felt so close to him then last night. I still wonder what would have happened if things were different."

"Everything has a reason behind it," Anzu whispered.

He sat up. "I know, but I still haven't found a reason...."

"Seth has. Through death, he showed you how much it meant to him to have you as a brother and....as the Pharaoh." She stopped stroking his hair.

"....he also risked his life....for you. He knew how much I loved you, and he wanted to make sure I never lost you." His words caused her to smile.

"But, you're Pharaoh--"

"....and you're a Priestess."

Her eyes widened. "That means....we can....be together."

"Yes," he kissed her, "and it also means that you can be my Queen."

She was too shocked for words.

"Will you be my Queen?"

Again, she couldn't find the words to say. She only nodded.

"Thank you." Placing a hand on her cheek, he kissed her for hope. For a new life. For happiness. For eternal love. For joy. And for Ra's blessing for bringing them together.

It had been two full moons since the incident. Jou and Mai, though welcomed back to the palace, decided to return back to their home, for they hope to start a life on their own. Anzu and Yami attended a burial ritual for Seth, but the mass would be held once they finished creating a new casket for him. The artists had to dispose of his Pharaoh casket. Honda had to stay at the palace to make claims that Yami was entitled to be a Pharaoh because of his ties with Seth. He also stayed to help Yami reinstate the people that once worked at the palace during Yami's term as Pharaoh.

As Honda was writing claims to free everyone of their punishments during Seth's term, he heard a knock on his chamber door. "Enter." He smiled when he saw her. "Shizuka, I'm glad my messenger brought you."

Shizuka smiled. "As am I. I was worried about you."

"I missed you," he brought her into a hug. She was startled that Honda made a public display of his affections. "It's okay. Yami and I agreed that when he reaches eighteen, he'll make a law stating that there shall be no marriage boundaries between the classes."

"Oh Honda!" Before she could say anymore, he kissed her."I'm so happy!"

"Yes. Thank you R--" He paused. Then, "Thanks be to Seth."

Marik stared in awe at the greatness of the temple he was walking into. Every wall had notations and hieroglyphics that were molded in gold. There were two fountains in the main entrance, and two, fully tiled, sets of stairs. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought that he was walking into a Pharaoh's burial chamber.

"Who goes there?"

Even though he had not seen her in years, he remembered her voice. "It is I, Marik."

"I do not wish to speak or hear from anyone with that name."

Marik walked toward the direction of the voice. "Sister, it's me."

Stepping out of the shadows, she stared into her eyes. "It is you....my brother..." Before she could say anymore, he pulled her into a hug.

"Yes, your brother."

It's done! But I did leave a lot of gaps for a sequel. cough Well, thanks for reading! I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter. Thanks for everything. I hope to get another YGO fic up soon. Hehehehehe. Goodbye Almost Royalty! I'll miss writing you!