"Arise from Darkness"
By Heikou and Janime
Chapter Twelve
Dark Discovery
"We have to go on those things?" Seto asked, pointing to the four camels that were sitting near a large tent. "What's wrong with the jeep?"
"The jeep uses gasoline," Rashid answered. "The camels were fed and given water, they will suit us well."
"Seto don't worry," Cheri climbed up into the saddle of the first camel. "Just think, it's environmentally safe." She glanced over to Ishizu as Rashid helped her sit astride on the camel's back. For a moment, Rashid rested his left hand on Ishizu's lower abdomen, and she smiled at him.
Well, well, Cheri thought and grinned slightly. I'll ask later.
Seto, after mumbling about the 'fleabags', finally got up in the saddle of the camel between Cheri and Ishizu.
Rashid climbed on the camel in the front and before they knew it they were off. It was almost funny to watch the high and mighty president of a multi-billion company struggle to ride a camel that didn't seem to care for him very much. He didn't have to say anything but the look on his face showed he was not enjoying himself. The others tried hard not stare but it was funny to watch.
I am so glad no one else is here to see this, Cheri thought. She didn't seem to have trouble but it certainly was a weird way to travel.
Never again. I am never riding another animal as long as I live, Seto growled to himself as he glared at the camel. The thing kept trying to nip his leg but he had no idea why. "Do they do this often or am I just an exception?" he asked with irritation.
Cheri bit her tongue to prevent herself from laughing, and just shrugged in response.
The camels carried their riders across the desert until they were only a short distance away from the sacred Valleys.
"Kings or Queens?" asked Rashid.
"Which is closer?" Seto finally got his camel to stop trying to bit his leg.
"They are an equal distance."
"Queens," said Cheri.
"Naturally," Seto smirked at her.
"Of course!" Cheri grinned as Ishizu laughed.
"This way then."
It didn't take long before they arrived. The area was indeed ancient looking with stone pillars roughen by the sands of time but the camels had no trouble making their way in. Stopping Rashid got off first and went to help Ishizu down. Cheri leaned over and with a bit of a struggle slid off.
"That was fun," she smiled, scratching the camel's neck as it leaned over to nip at her hair. "You okay, Seto?"
"Just fine." He managed to slide off but held on tightly until his legs stopped shaking. "I hate camels."
The camel snorted as if it heard him before swinging his tail, catching him by surprise in the side of his head.
"I think the feeling's mutual."
Seto huffed and adjusted his sunglasses. He'd make damn sure that no one home would ever hear about him riding on a camel as far as he could help it. Except for Mokuba, of course.
Rashid led the way to the underground entrance, Seto following, while Cheri and Ishizu dropped back a little.
"May I ask you something?" Cheri looked at the older woman. "And please forgive me if I'm prying into a personal area."
Ishizu nodded. "Alright."
"Are you pregnant?"
Ishizu blinked and then smiled. "Yes, almost three months."
"Congratulations," Cheri also smiled. "Now when did you two get married, and why didn't Marik or Malik tell us?"
"Custom in our family. It's not his place to say unless we gave him permission."
"I see," Cheri reached out and squeezed her hand. "I'm very happy for you. Jealous, but happy."
Ishizu smiled and gently squeezed her hand back. "I'm sure that you will be able to have children as well."
"Here's hoping."
One good thing about camels was that they didn't mind waiting until they returned and wouldn't wonder off. Since there was no light Rashid brought some flashlights and gave one to Seto. The entrance was a long hallway with indents where torches were once held in the ancient times. In the light there were hieroglyphics carved into the wall and one such passage caught Cheri's eyes that she stopped.
Seto paused and looked behind him to see that the girls had stopped. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Can you shine the light over here for a minute?" When the light was brought it was revealed to be a passage of the weighting of the heart. The ibis-head god Thoth was holding a scroll while Anubis led a man to the scales where his heart and a feather were being weighed. To the side Osiris sat, waiting and Ammit was watching.
"I remember this... our mothers told us all the stories about the gods but this was my favorite..." Cheri said softly as she gently trailed her fingers over it. "She said that Anubis was so proud that I had taken an interest to him while many feared him."
"I can see why," said Seto, looking nervously at the scene.
"Seto, you are in good favors with the gods," said Ishizu. "After all, you would not be here right now if you were not."
Thank you, Anubis, Cheri prayed quietly to her deity.
The small group continued through the tombs, Cheri and Seto looking through the hieroglyphs and depictions of the gods and people. Then Seto stopped just outside one of the tombs, which was set back from the others. As he shined the flashlight over the hieroglyphs, Seto began to feel sick. He wrapped his arm across his stomach, vaguely hearing his name being called.
Seth followed his father and the other priests into the tomb, as the sarcophagus was carried down the stone steps and into the burial chamber.
Akunadin looked at his son, the light from the torches glinting off the Millennium Eye in his left socket, as he tried to read what was in the boy's soul. He smiled inwardly, seeing how well Seth masked his emotions. Yes, he knew that his son was terribly upset that the gods had called his mother, but she was now in the Valley of the Dead. Akunadin's one prayer was that his wife would pass judgment of Anubis fairly.
"Seto!" Cheri looked at him worriedly as she reached up to touch his face.
"What's wrong? Ishizu asked, concern evident in her blue gaze.
"I'm fine..." Seto managed to say as the images past. "I'll be okay."
"What happened?"
"... My mother... she died when I was a child... I remember watching as her sarcophagus was taken to the burial chamber... this tomb was hers…"
Cheri's eyes widened and she looked at Ishizu and Rashid. "Why don't we go look in the Valley of the Kings?"
Without a second thought, the four quickly left the Valley of the Queens and remounted the camels. Once they reached the Valley of the Kings, Seto seemed a little unsettled about entering this burial ground. But with Cheri's encouragement and holding onto his hand, the CEO was led inside.
"You okay, Seto?" Cheri asked as they explored the tombs.
"For the moment," he answered quietly.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, don't worry."
"I care," she said softly
He smiled and squeezed her hand. "I know."
"Be careful," said Ishizu. "Some of the flooring is a little unstable."
"Shouldn't you be listening to your own advice?" Cheri asked. She looked over to her left and saw a picture of Isis with her son Horus in her lap, sitting in the middle of swap reeds. Cheri stepped closer to the wall, reaching out to touch the mural. Suddenly, the floor under her feet cracked and she sank two inches.
"Cheri, freeze!" Seto yelled.
"I'm frozen!" Cheri cried.
Rashid walked slowly closer to her. "Stay calm, Cheri." He shined his flashlight to her feet and saw where the cracks ended. "Listen, don't make any sudden moves. Slowly turn around and face me, alright?"
"Okay," Cheri whispered and did as she was told.
The floor collapsed and she fell, screaming.
"CHERI!" Seto started to her but Rashid grabbed him and held him back. When the noise stopped, all three went to the edge of the hole. Ishizu standing back as the two men knelt beside it. "Cheri!" Seto yelled.
"... Ow!" came the response.
Seto breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Are you alright?"
"Well, nothing's broken if that's what you mean," Cheri answered. She fumbled around and found her flashlight, smacked it twice and the light came on. "SETO! GET ME OUT OF HERE!" she screamed. "THERE'S SKELETONS DOWN HERE!"
"What?!" he shouted back.
"She must've fallen into a burial chamber," Rashid said.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS, GET ME OUT!" All around there was nothing but dead bodies and she hated it. Okay deep breathe, don't move, don't panic, don't touch anything! she told herself.
"There's some rope on the camels, I'll go get it. Wait here." Rashid left the flashlight with them as he ran back outside.
"Where would we go? Cheri, Rashid went to get rope so we'll get you out soon," Seto called to her.
"Okay. Ugh the walls are covered with these guys!" She flashed her flashlight around before frowning. She kept stepping on something that was making a crunching noise and now something was pricking up her legs. Looking down she resisted the urge to scream once more. "Oh... my... gods… I-Ishizu, are scorpions deadly?"
"It depends on the species. Why?" she called down.
"Because... I'm standing on a nest of black scorpions and they're crawling up my legs," she whimpered.
"Black scorpions..." Ishizu whispered.
"I'm going down," Seto moved closer to the edge.
"Don't!" Ishizu grabbed his arm. "If you do go, they might attack you."
"And they might attack Cheri!"
"But they haven't! As long as she remains still, she'll be fine!"
"They're getting to my knees!" Cheri whimpered and closed her eyes tight, whispering the little chant Keriam had taught her when they were children. "Close your eyes and don't be scared, no harm will come to you. Close your eyes and don't be scared, the dark is where I'll find you."
She continued repeating the verse over and over, until she noticed the scorpions that were crawling on her legs, left her and the entire nest moved away from where she stood. Slowly, Cheri opened her eyes, and pointed her flashlight on the ground. The scorpions were roughly a yard away from her. Then they parted, making a pathway towards the other side of the room.
Swallowing hard, Cheri cautiously walked along the now open space. She reached another wall and shined the light upon it. "Oh my lord Anubis..." Cheri breathed.
There, along the wall looked to be like a passage with the image of a man with the body of a scorpion and instead of arms had pinchers. Slowly she moved the light over to reveal that Anubis was standing over him, like he was punishing him. Looking on the wall she noted that it told a story but one she never heard of.
"Long ago there lived a great warrior simply called the Black Scorpion who had no equal for he was the greatest assassinate that ever lived. His clan was slaughtered in cold blood because the greedy lord of the land feared them all. The warrior prayed to the Jackal God, Anubis, that if he could destroy all his enemies he would give up his soul to him in exchange. Anubis agreed and so the warrior defeated the lord and took the land as his own kingdom.
"Time passed and when Anubis came to claim what was his, the warrior said that now that he was the Scorpion King he had many enemies and their agreement was if he defeated all his enemies than the god would get his soul. Against his better judgment Anubis gave the Scorpion command of his Army of the Dead. Together they ravaged the lands, destroying all the warrior's enemies but in the process killed many innocent people. Soon, the king became greedy for power and wealth. He wanted to be the king of mortals and gods.
"Anubis could not bear this burden anymore and asked Mother Isis for help. The great goddess said he must trick the warrior into giving up everything, including his soul, in his name. Once he did so the army would return to him and the Black Scorpion would be powerless against him. The God of the Dead thought for many days before appearing in the dream of the priestess of his temple. He gave her the task of seducing the Scorpion King into giving up his army, his kingdom, and his soul in his name. She accepted.
"The priestess was given as a gift to the warrior who fell in love with her and took her as his queen. In one month he gave her his kingdom, in two months he gave her his army, in three months he gave her his soul. Having it all the priestess ran away, back to the safety of her temple and god but the Scorpion King was enraged. He caught up with her and stabbed her, leaving her dying body in the temple of Anubis.
"The jackal god was enraged at what he had done that he summoned his army to destroy the Black Scorpion's kingdom and dragged the king's soul to face the ultimate judgment before Ra. But before dying the Scorpion uttered a curse; 'I will destroy Anubis and reclaim what was stolen from me!' It was then that the Jackal god realized the priestess was with child and so with Osiris' permission, breathed life into her until the child was born. The baby girl was given to the successor of the now dead priestess, to be cared as if she were her own; but the child would never know that the blood of the Black Scorpion King, the betrayer of the gods, ran through her veins."
Cheri gasped and shook her head. "Mother..." she whispered.
"Are you okay, Cheri?" Seto asked.
"Yeah," she answered and walked back to the hole in the ceiling. "The scorpions backed off. They're leaving me alone."
"Good," Her fiancé sighed. Ishizu just looked at Cheri with questioning eyes.
Rashid appeared a few moments later with the rope. Seto and Rashid tossed it down to Cheri, which she made a loop and sat in it as the two men hauled her up. Once she was on her feet, Seto immediately went about checking Cheri's legs for any marks.
"Seto, I'm fine," she assured him.
"Are you sure? You didn't get stung?" he asked.
Cheri slowly nodded her head. "Standing still helped."
"It's strange, but never have we come across anything like this," Rashid said as he flashed his light into the hole.
"I think we had better return to the city. Next time we may not be so lucky," Ishizu said but she also wanted to know what Cheri had seen while down there.
"Yes, I agree we should call it a day," said Seto, and they left the underground burial grounds.
~
Yugi let out a yawn. It was slow, as it usually was around noontime, but this was ridiculous--it was practically dead.
His grandfather had gone out to pick up a small shipment that somehow ended up at his friend's place, and Yami was in back putting away the overstock.
Just before boredom was about to make Yugi rest his head on the counter, a wicked idea popped into his mind. Grinning, he picked up the phone and dialed Tea's cell phone. Yugi knew that she wasn't going to answer as she had gone with Keriam to the museum and look at the Egyptian exhibit to see if they could remember anything else from their former lives.
After four rings, Tea's voicemail kicked in: "Hi, this is Tea. I can't answer at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you." *BEEP*
"This is your favorite obscene phone call," Yugi said in a husky tone. "After the beep, I shall commence heavy breathing." He pushed a number and then started to breathe heavily into the phone, as if he and Tea were in the middle of lovemaking.
"Calling Tea's cell again?"
Yugi slammed the receiver down and his faced turned a bright shade of red, while Yami burst out laughing.
"As always," the shorter boy glared at his darker half, "your timing is impeccable."
"A gifted talent," he grinned as he went to his side, leaning his back against his with his arms crossed over his chest. "Bored?"
"As if you couldn't tell. There's nothing to do..." he sighed and rested his head on the countertop.
"Maybe you could call Joey and invite him to keep you company; at least until Tea and Keriam come back."
"If he wasn't killed in the crossfire at Ryou's house."
"Uh oh..."
Yugi nodded. "Yeah, he was going to get Malik out of the house for a little while. Ryou can handle Bakura and Marik, it's just when Malik's in the middle of it..."
"I know, Yugi," said Yami. "Believe me, I know."
~
Joey yelped as Malik dashed behind him. Why did I come over here again? he asked himself as he watched Ryou keeping Marik and Bakura from tearing each other's throat out. "You sure you can handle them, Ryou?" he asked.
"Just go Joey! Maybe they'll calm down for a few hours!" he said as he pushed the yamis apart once more. "Will you two stop it?!"
"I'm warning you, tomb raider! I do not want to hear you threatening or insulting Malik! Especially where I can hear you!" Marik growled.
"Like I said, I don't care what you say and I sure as hell am not going to listen to you!" Bakura yelled back.
"C'mon kid, let's go have some peace and quiet." With that the two blondes left before they went deaf with all the yelling.
"You think they'll kill each other?" Malik asked.
"I think Ryou will do that if they continue. Where do you wanna go first?" Joey asked.
Before the young boy could answer, Joey's cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, grinning when he saw "Kame Game Shop" appear on the LCD screen. "Hey, Yugi."
"Hi, Joey. Are you at Ryou's house?"
"I just left, and I got Malik with me."
"Going anyplace?"
"Not yet, haven't decided."
"Why don't you guys come over to the shop?" Yugi asked. "It's slow here and we can play Duel Monsters."
Joey looked at Malik. "Wanna go to Yugi's place?"
"Fine with me," said Malik. "As long as I can avoid Bakura, anyplace is good."
"It's cool; we'll be over in a little while."
"Alright," said Yugi. "See you shortly."
Joey pressed the button and placed his cell phone back in his pocket. "Keriam and Tea went to the museum to see the Egyptian exhibit."
"Trying to remember more of their pasts?"
"Yeah, that's what Keriam said."
"How come you didn't go with them?" Malik asked.
Joey shrugged. "I remember enough of what happened back then. Watching the Sisters die and then me taking my own life..." he shuddered. "That's enough for me."
"You have a point..." It didn't take long for the two to arrive at the game shop and Yugi was happy to see them. Yugi and Malik began a friendly game as Yami and Joey watched on.
"So how are things between the other two spirits?" Yami asked.
"When we left Ryou was playing referee between the two of them," Joey sighed.
"What is it this time?"
"What else? Bakura insulted Malik and Marik jumped to his defense."
"It's not my fault that Bakura has no sense of humor," said Malik as he picked up another card.
"Bakura has no sense, period," Joey chuckled.
Malik shook his head. "I wouldn't say that. Bakura does have a hard time trusting people. When Marik and I went into Ryou's body, and Bakura dueled the third personality with Marik, I saw some of Bakura's thoughts and memories. His family was a traveling merchant tribe, and when Bakura was around my age--physically, that is--bandits killed everyone, stole the entire shipment, and left Bakura for dead in the desert."
"Oh man," Joey whispered.
"How did he survive?" Yugi couldn't help asking.
"A traveler found him three days after the attack. He was a master thief."
"So that's how Bakura learned his trade," said Yami.
Malik looked at the pharaoh. "He was also a priest that your father had sent into exile for trying to open a gate to allow Set back into the world."
"Go, dad," Joey grinned.
"We should be thankful he didn't decide to follow in his footsteps," Yugi sighed.
"He's had so much tragedy in his life, I'm actually surprised he hasn't gone mad with it," Yami said softly.
Yugi placed a card down. "Explains how he learned about the Shadow Realm and Duel Monsters."
Joey nodded as he rubbed his neck. "Great, just when I thought I hated the guy I find out he has a twisted life and now I can't hate him anymore."
"Just don't feel pity for him or he'll really send you to the Shadow Realm," Malik added.
~
"History really likes to repeat itself, doesn't it?" Keriam asked as she and Tea looked at the stone tablet depicting the battle between the High Priest Seth and his cousin the Nameless Pharaoh, known now as Yami.
"Indeed," agreed Tea. "And it's funny how things haven't changed much."
"No argument there."
Tea smiled as she walked around the room, looking at all the artifacts that were brought over from Egypt. "Feel anything?"
"Not yet," Keriam said, her gaze landing on a pair of curved swords, similar to her own weapons.
"Do you think, we'll be able to stop the merge from happening?"
"If not we're going to have to get used to being part Duel Monster."
"I wonder if Cheri is having any better luck."
"Don't know. I haven't heard from her since she called saying she arrived."
"How's Bakura handling it?" Tea couldn't help asking.
"A lot better than I thought," Keriam admitted.
Tea looked at her. "There's a surprise. I was expecting Bakura to grab Cheri and run off with her after she and Seto told us they were going to Egypt."
"Me too," Keriam giggled. "Right now, Bakura is probably relaxing somewhat. Joey is getting Malik away from Ryou's house for a while to lower certain blood pressures."
The Daughter of Osiris couldn't help laughing. "Good. Yugi called Ryou the other day when I was visiting, and you should have heard Bakura and Marik yelling at each other in the background!"
"Heard? I've witnessed those two firsthand!"
"It actually makes me wonder how those two used to be able to work together and now not a day goes by that they aren't trying to kill the other," Tea giggled behind her hand.
"No kidding. For Malik's sake I hope this isn't permanent or else he won't live to grow up to his true age," Keriam grinned.
The two of them spent most of the time looking over the exhibit, trying to remember something of their past but it didn't seem to help very much. But as they were leaving they passed a tapestry of three women bowing to Isis. They gasped as a memory flashed before their eyes.
"It is good to see you again, my Sisters," Nathifa, the Priestess of Ra, smiled.
"It has been many years since we last meet within Mother Isis' Temple," Dalila, the Priestess of Osiris, said softly.
"Our Mother has decided it is time for our daughters to meet and learn through our teachings," Zashida, the Priestess of Anubis, said while looking at the statue.
Nathifa smiled and tenderly smoothed the hair of the little girl standing before her. She was a pretty thing with gentle green eyes and soft brown hair that reflected red in the desert sun as she held a small kitten. "This is my daughter, Theliane."
The other priestesses smiled at the little girl, welcoming her. Dalila led a young girl with mouse brown hair cut short and bright blue eyes from her side. "This is my daughter, Peisimemne."
The little girl was welcomed as well. Zashida reached behind her and led a little girl before her. She looked shy with thick, deep brown curls and equally dark eyes as she held onto the woman's hand tightly and clung to a toy in her arms. "This, is my daughter Agalameia."
Nathifa and Dalila looked at Zashida. They knew that the previous Priestess of Anubis had been killed and Zashida was the successor but, she never had children. The woman noticed their looks and gave a brief nod, telling them she would explain later.
"Girls, would you give us a moment to talk?" Dalia asked. Theliane and Peisimemne smiled as they ran off to play but Agalameia just looked up at her mother with fearful eyes.
"It is alright, no harm will come to you here," Zashida smiled, giving the little girl a gentle push and watched as she walked off, slowly.
The blue-eyed and green-eyed girls were laughing happily as they played with the kitten, their simple cream colored dresses giving them freedom to run around without falling. They paused when the saw the brown-eyed girl enter, looking at them nervously. Saying nothing they watched as she went to a bench, pulled herself onto it, and played silently with her toy.
Theliane gave the kitten to Peisimemne and walked over to Agalameia. "Hello," Theliane spoke. The other girl looked up from her toy and gave a small smile. "Would you like to play with us?"
Agalameia glanced nervously over to her mother first, but then looked up at the taller girl and nodded. Theliane smiled and took Agalameia's hand, leading her over to Peisimemne.
Peisimemne smiled and held out the kitten to the new girl. Timidly, Agalameia took the kitten. It purred and settled in the girl's arms contently.
"Do you know who your father was?" Peisimemne asked.
Agalameia shook her head.
"I don't either. My mother said that Osiris is my Father."
"My mother said that my Father is Ra," Theliane grinned.
"... Anubis is my Father..." Agalameia said quietly. "That is what my mother told me. He gave me life twice."
"Really?" The young girl just nodded slowly. "Can we see your toy?"
Agalameia didn't say anything but quietly gave her the item. It looked like a stuff dog with fur dyed black and gold painted around the eyes, ears, and neck to resemble a collar.
"He looks like Anubis," Theliane said.
"Mother said he would protect me from my bad dreams... He's my friend."
"We'll be your friends."
"... Really?"
The two girls smiled.
Tea gasped at the flashback and looked at Keriam. "Okay... that was freaky."
"You're telling me," said Keriam as she backed up and sat on a bench. She took several deep breaths. Tea sat next to her.
"What did she mean," Tea finally spoke, "Anubis gave her life twice?"
"I don't know," Keriam shook her head. "Maybe Agalameia died and Anubis decided that since she was to be his next priestess, he resurrected her."
"There's a thought. I think we learned all that we can from the museum for now."
"So onto the Game Shop?"
"Where else?" With the past memory still fresh in their mind the two girls walked out of the museum and down the street.
~
"... I am never going to beat you," Joey said in a defeated tone as he rested his head on the table. "Then again, nobody ever will beat you."
"He's the King of Games," said Malik. "What did you expect?"
Yugi smiled as he and Malik pieced together a picture puzzle of Exodia and several other Duel Monsters.
"Maybe if you're lucky you can beat Kaiba," Yami said as he patted him on the shoulder.
"Yeah there's a thought," Joey smiled lightly.
The bell at the front door jingled and the boys looked up as two ladies came in.
"We're back!" Keriam smiled.
"Are you guys having fun?" Tea asked.
"Loads," Joey said as he stood up and hugged Keriam. "See anything?"
"Yeah, we did," answered his girlfriend.
"A childhood memory to be precise," said Tea. "When our mothers brought us to the temple for presentation as the next Sisters of the Moon."
The two girls then explained what they had seen, while the four boys listened patiently.
"But I still don't get what she meant that Anubis gave her life twice," Keriam frowned.
"I'm certain that you will remember more now that you've seen this memory," said Yami.
Tea sighed. "I hope you're right."
"Do you think Cheri might have had a flashback herself?" Yugi asked.
"There's an idea. Maybe we can ask her when she calls us or something," Malik said and smiled. "Found the head!"
Joey grinned as he rested his chin on Keriam's shoulder. "I wonder how Ryou is handling the bickering duo."
"Hopefully they didn't kill each other or Ryou."
~
Ryou sighed and rubbed his temples. Joey was right, he thought, it was easier when they were still spirits.
After Malik and Joey had left, Marik and Bakura still remained at their little war, and poor Ryou hearing it from both sides. When the two dark spirits finally calmed down, Marik locked himself in the guestroom and Bakura had retreated to the basement.
"Well," Ryou stretched out along the couch, "at least they can't do any harm to each other... or me." He closed his eyes. The front doorbell rang and he groaned. Getting up from the couch, Ryou trudged his way to the door and opened it.
"You look like hell," said Joey.
"Nice to see you guys too," Ryou said as he stepped aside to let the trio in.
"So where are they?" Malik asked quietly.
"Marik's in the guestroom, and Bakura's in the cellar."
"Let me guess, you were finally able to get some peace and quiet."
"Is it that obvious?" He led them to the living room where he sat back down with a sigh.
Keriam smiled good-naturally at him. "You look like you could use a vacation yourself," she said.
"Well, we just came to drop Malik off but if those two are still going at it, maybe you should lock yourself in your room for the rest of the evening," the blonde said.
"That would be nice, if only the room was sound proof."
"Hey, Ryou," Bakura's voice floated into the living room, "where's the..." the thief stopped as his eyes landed on the newly arrived trio.
"Hello, Bakura," Keriam smiled despite the tension starting to build in the room.
"What are you looking for?" Ryou looked at his darker half.
"The remote for the DVD player," Bakura snorted.
"Why don't you open your eyes?" Marik asked as he entered the living room.
Oh boy, Keriam grimaced. This is not going to go well...
"Why don't you tell your shorter half to put things back where other people can find them," Bakura glared at Marik. "You defend him like he's a child then discipline him as one."
"Get bent!" Malik shouted at the thief.
"That's it!" Bakura snapped. "I've had it with you!"
Joey quickly grabbed Malik and bolted from the living room, with Bakura in hot pursuit and Marik racing after them, yelling at the thief not to even think of harming one hair on Malik's head.
Keriam looked at Ryou. "Never a dull moment around here, is it?"
"Unfortunately no. I seriously don't know how much more of this I can take," he said softly as he seemed to sink into the cushions. "When Malik was with you it wasn't so bad. Sure they would argue but then they would separate and cool off. Malik is my best friend but even I can't take this anymore. Marik will do anything to protect him and Malik is using that as a shield to irritate Bakura to no end."
Keriam looked at him and for a moment, it was almost as if he had aged twenty years right before her eyes. Getting up she moved to sit next to him. "Ryou, I don't know if this will work, but maybe Malik can stay with Joey in the basement at my aunt's place."
He looked up at her with a bit of confusion and hope in his eyes. "Really?"
"It's worth a shot. You look like you're ready to collapse and hopefully with Malik not around those two can calm down even more."
He slowly smiled as he nodded his head. "I think it's a great idea but... what makes you think Malik will agree to it?" He winced when he hard a crash from upstairs.
"I don't think I'll have a problem."
"Well, not with the temporary living arrangement but there is one problem."
"What?" Keriam asked.
Ryou looked at her. "Marik."
~
"You're going to have to change a couple things around."
"No, Joey," Marik snapped, "she's going to tell them that I'm really Malik's split personality and that we've actually split bodies yet he's in the form of a ten-year-old. And while she's at it, Keriam's also going to tell them that she's a Sister of the Moon and has control over an Egyptian God that was given to her by Ra himself, and that she now has six wings because she merged with her Wingweaver Card. Plus you also having wings and you two were married five thousand years ago. See, it's better to tell the truth."
Joey narrowed his eyes. "There are times I really don't like you, Marik, and this happens to be one of them."
Keriam sighed. The good thing was that everyone agreed on Malik staying with Keriam. The one part Joey wasn't too happy about was that Marik wasn't going to let his other half stay to far away from him for an extended period of time.
Joey looked at his girlfriend. "Are you positive this will work?"
"Trust me," said Keriam. "My aunt and uncle won't have a problem with Malik and his little cousin Namu staying with us."
Malik looked at her. "Namu?"
"If Marik is supposed to be you then you can't go around saying your name."
"Do you have to use that one?" Joey asked in a sour tone.
"I'm sure you have a name dictionary in your back pocket that we can use," said Marik.
Malik looked at his darker half. "You know, I'm actually going to miss listening to you and Bakura fight."
"You can listen to Keriam and Joey fight."
"It won't be the same. You and Bakura just brush it off afterwards. Joey and Keriam kiss and makeup."
Keriam couldn't help laughing at that; Marik glared at her. "Okay," Keriam said when she calmed her laughter, "Marik is Malik, and Malik is Namu. Any questions?"
"None," all three boys said and they stood up from the bench. Marik picked up the suitcase. "I'm amazed that Kaiba is letting us use his old suitcase and Mokuba's clothes for this."
"Call it a smokescreen," said Joey and he took Keriam's hand. "Is moneybags expecting rental payment?"
Keriam groaned as they started walking. Malik grabbed Marik's free hand and Keriam's other hand; he started swinging their arms back and forth.
"What are you doing?" Marik looked down.
"I'm supposed to act like a child, aren't I?" Malik grinned up at him. "I might as well start now."
Marik grumbled something as Keriam and Joey laughed. They finally reached Keriam's house; she opened the door. "Aunt Terry?"
"Be right there," her aunt called from the home office. "Sorry, trying to balance the checkbook," she said walking into the foyer. "I wish that your uncle… oh, Malik."
"Hello," Marik smiled. "How are you, Mrs. Taite?"
"I'm fine, thank you. And who is this?" Terry looked at the young boy at Marik's side.
"This is my cousin, Namu."
"Well, Namu, it's nice to meet you," smiled Terry.
Malik quickly turned and hugged Marik's waist, causing Marik to jump as the smaller boy tried to hide from the older woman. Keriam suppressed the giggle and Joey barely held back the snicker.
"Bashful, isn't he?" Terry asked.
"On occasion," Marik said; he set down the suitcase and pried Malik's arms from his waist. "He arrived from Egypt with my sister, so everything is new and strange to him."
Terry smiled as he turned the younger boy around. "He looks so much like you, Malik. I swear he could pass as your brother."
"Yeah, we couldn't believe the resemblance ourselves," Joey grinned.
"Auntie, I have a really big favor to ask you," Keriam spoke, getting back to the original subject. "Would it be okay if Malik and Namu stayed with us?"
"Ishizu had to return to Egypt for a little while," Marik explained, "and Ryou's cousin decided to visit, and he really doesn't like children."
"Oh, I see," Terry nodded. "I guess they can stay here. Zack won't mind."
"You sure?" Joey asked, remembering all too well the argument they had when Keriam asked if he could move in. But then again, "Malik and Namu" were temporary guests.
"Don't worry; the only thing is that they'll have to share your room, Joey."
"Hey, no problem," the blonde smiled. Oh great, I have to share my room with the nutcase? Joey thought. Marik, you better keep your hands off Keriam. He leaned down to Malik's level. "So whaddya say, wanna check out my crash site?"
Malik said something in Egyptian and hugged Marik's waist again. Marik frowned.
"What was that?" Joey asked.
"He said, 'I'm not leaving Big Brother'," Marik translated. ~Is this really necessary?~
~Hey, I'm ten-years-old and in a foreign land,~ said Malik. ~I have to stay close to the only person I know in this room.~
"Namu, it's rude to speak in another language in front of people who don't understand it," Marik scolded. "Turn around and apologize."
Reluctantly, Malik let go of Marik's waist and looked at everyone. "I'm sorry."
"Very good."
"He's adorable," Terry smiled. "Help yourselves to the fridge, everyone," she said as she went back to the office. "I went shopping this morning."
"Baloney?" Joey asked.
"A pound and a half."
"Yes!" Joey almost sprinted to the kitchen. "Fried baloney sandwiches, anyone?"
"Why don't you make one for Namu?" Marik suggested. "He's never had one before."
"Oh Joey don't forget about me!" Keriam smiled.
"Coming up!"
~
Cheri sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. It had been a few hours since they had returned from the Valleys that Ishizu and Rashid thought to show her and Seto around Cairo. For that bit of time what had happened in the burial tombs faded from her mind but now it was back with a vengeance.
"What's going on?" she asked herself, staring at the blinking cursor of Seto's laptop. She had been working on an e-mail to her friends but in the middle of it she stopped. Part of her wanted to tell them what happened today but instead she typed that she was having a good time and that Ishizu and Rashid said 'hi'. Sending it off she set the laptop on the nightstand and laid back on the bed, leaning her head over the edge to stare at the opposite wall. Seto wanted to see the museum but she was feeling tired and stayed at the hotel, telling her fiancé not to worry. Truth be told, she was a bit unnerved by today's actions.
The light glinted off the Millennium Scales and she looked at them. Sitting up she reached over and held it in her hands, lightly tracing the disks. "Don't suppose you can tell me what's going on," she sighed.
Silence.
"Thought as much." Setting it aside she picked up her sketch book and began to draw. As her pencil glided over the page the image of a man with thick muscles began to appear. His long hair was held back by a leather string with several thin braids loose, his face etched in a fierce scowl as he held his sword ready to attack. Leather straps wrapped around his left arm from the back of his hand to a bit past his elbow and what looked like a broken shield was at his feet but around his thick neck bore a chain with a pendent hanging. She couldn't make it out due to the shadows but why did he look ready to kill someone? She frowned as she hunched over the page, working almost furiously over every little detail she didn't seem to notice the scales seem to shimmer as light played over it.
Forgive me...
Cheri's head perked up.
Though you are not my child, you are still a Daughter of Anubis. Agalameia, I will raise you as my own. No one will take your future from you.
"What the..."
She must never know the truth... Zashira...
"Zashira...?"
His blood runs in her veins. Do you honestly believe that she will not fall to the same fate?
Cheri's eyes grew wide.
He would not have given her life if he did not believe in her.
"What is going on?" Cheri whispered. She looked down at her sketchbook and slammed it shut.
She sat there for a few moments before setting the book aside and ran her hands through her hair once more. They... were talking about me... 'His blood runs through her veins'? Does that mean... no, no it can't! she yelled at herself. I refuse to believe in that!
The locked clicked and Seto entered, closing it behind him.
"Cheri? You awake?" he called out, setting his sunglasses and hotel key on the small table.
Cheri got up and putting a smile on her face went to greet him. "Have fun?" she asked.
He smiled and cupped her face, leaning down to kiss her. "It was interesting. How do you feel?"
"Okay. I sent off an e-mail off earlier."
"Did you tell them about what happened in the Valleys?"
"No," Cheri shook her head. "I was going to but I didn't. I don't want them to worry too much."
Seto nodded. "That, and Bakura would probably swipe someone's ticket and fly over here."
"Okay, granted he worries about me," Cheri wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at her fiancé, "but who am I standing with at this moment?"
"I know," Seto kissed her forehead, "but still, I don't like the fact that he's pursuing you even after our engagement was official."
"He's just really concerned."
"Too much for my taste."
"Creep. Hmm I'm hungry."
Seto chuckled softly. "Well want to go out to eat or have room service?"
"Can we have room service? Tomorrow we can go out," Cheri answered.
"... You okay?"
"Yeah... Yeah I'm okay. You know me; I'm just still edgy about the whole tomb."
The young man didn't know what to say but he pulled her tight against him, wrapping his arms around her as if he were afraid she would disappear. She responded by holding just as tightly. For that single moment, time seemed to almost stand still for them but it would change nothing that had happened in the past.
Author's Note:
Heikou: Okay before anyone asks, yes we borrowed the idea about the scorpion king form the movie but changed it around some.
Janime: And the "Close your eyes and don't be scared, no harm will come to you. Close your eyes and don't be scared, the dark is where I'll find you." is from Doomed Megalopolis. Rather interesting.
Heikou: At last Ryou is getting a break. Now all he has to do is keep Bakura from going on a Five Finger Discount Spree.
Janime: Poor Ryou. We put him through hell. Now Joey is going to go through hell with Malik and Marik staying at the Taite household.
Heikou: Not so much with Malik as he will with Marik.
Janime: All three of them sharing the same room... oh dear heaven.
Heikou: Oh god! World War 3 people! lol
Janime: Again thanks for all the reviews. It means a lot.
Heikou: We would love to thank every one individually but that would take a long time ^^
