"Arise from Darkness"
By Heikou and Janime
Chapter Twenty-Four
Losing Streak
Keriam and Tea froze suddenly.
"Tea, are you alright?" Yugi asked.
Joey looked at them. "What's the matter?"
"Oh my God…" Keriam said.
Tea's eyes widened. "Cheri…"
--
"Well, Duke, it looks like your question is answered," said Malik. "Dungeon Dice is affected by the Shadow Realm as well."
"Wonderful," Duke groaned, "I guess this means I'll have to close shop from a little while till all this blows over."
"Hate to say it," Marik spoke, "but at this rate it'll be a very long while before you open shop again anyti--aaaaaaaahhhh!" Marik screamed and fell to his knees, hands pressed against both sides of his head.
"Marik!" Duke and Malik cried as they quickly moved to him.
"Get back!" Marik hissed.
They backed away, eyes widening as a dark purplish glow surrounded the Egyptian.
"Book of Shadows hear me now, break the bounds and released the spirit within. Return to us what was taken. Bring back Meanae the Thorn!"
The glow vanished and Marik fell.
Once the glow disappeared the two boys ran to their fallen friend. Skilled Ninja didn't move or say anything but deep inside he knew something was very wrong.
"Marik! What's wrong? What was that glow?" Malik asked his brother, looking at him worriedly.
"Something... Something happened..." he gasped out, staring at the floor but not looking at it. "... the Book of Shadows..."
Duke said nothing but helped Marik to sit on the chair, keeping him steady so he didn't fall off. "Okay you want to repeat that?"
"... Lately I've been hearing a voice in the back of my mind... right now I heard it but this time, he was reading a spell... I don't know why but I think Tristen is in trouble..."
"Tristen? Oh no... the Book of Shadows!" Marik just nodded slowly.
Duke cursed and wasted no time in grabbing the phone behind the counter and dialed the first number that came to his mind.
--
Joey grabbed his cell from his pocket as it rang. He looked at the number, answering, "Duke, I've got a bit of a problem, right now. Can I call-"
"We're going to have more than our share of problems," Duke cut him off. "Have you seen Tristen?"
"Not yet, why?"
"Marik collapsed. He said he's being hearing a voice in his head and that this time someone was reciting a spell."
A spell? And the girls said Cheri's name… Joey paled. "Duke, I'll call you back." He hung up. "Kaiba mansion guys, and pronto!"
They didn't waste any moment as they piled in Tea's car. Since she was pale Joey opted to drive and soon they were racing down the street. Keeping on eye on the road he called Tristen's house.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Taylor, is Tristen home?" he asked.
"No he isn't. He said he was going to Kaiba mansion," she answered.
Shit oh shit! "Okay thanks." He hung up and dialed the cell phone.
"We're sorry but the number you are dialing is out of range. Please try again later."
"Damnit! Tristen's not home and I can't reach his stupid cell phone!" the blonde growled, speeding past a red light as he honked at the other cars to get out of his way.
"Shall we?" Arcaida asked.
"Why not," said Kenji, and the two magicians held up their staffs.
--
Seto kept a hateful glare on the two Scorpions, but inside his heart was breaking as he glanced at his wife. The gentle look she had was now gone, replaced with a dark smirk.
Katsuya growled, sharp white fangs revealed under the curling lip.
Don Zaloog glared at the Silver Fang. "You would make a nice rug."
The wolf gave a menacing bark but didn't move.
Bakura was royally pissed and this time, he knew he couldn't talk Cheri back. That's when he noticed the bracelets on the floor. "Performance of Sword... what happened to her? She was guarding the door that held you inside!" he demanded.
"That ritual warrior? She was removed before I was released," Meanae stated, waving her hand as if nothing. "For all I know she could be dead."
"Impossible! You said once before that the three of you were bonded together! If one gets hurt the others feel the same!"
"Yes but the Book of Shadows seems to have the power to break such bonds," Cliff stated as he twirled his dagger.
"I believe our little discussion is about done," said Don.
"Let her go!" Seto demanded.
"Forgive me," Meanae looked at her husband and for a brief moment, she almost looked like she was sorry. "But I must be with my father." A large shadow enveloped her and Cliff and they were gone.
Don Zaloog smiled. "A parting gift." He held up his hand and the energy wave sent all four into the wall. They slumped down to the floor, groaning.
Downstairs the front door banged open and hurried footsteps were heard as they raced up the stairs. Joey, Keriam, Yugi, and Tea stared before going to their friends. Joey held his phone tightly as he dialed the number to Duke's game shop. It answered on the first ring.
"Joey?"
"Duke, how fast can you get to Kaiba mansion?"
"I don't know but we're out the door." The line then went dead.
"Kaiba what happened?" Yugi asked as he pulled the CEO to his feet.
"Two of the Scorpions, Zaloog and Cliff were here... they took Cheri..." he whispered quietly.
"That was not Cheri and you know it," Bakura growled, ignoring the helping hand as he pushed himself to his feet.
Keriam didn't know what to say as she slowly picked up the braces from the floor. They had been broken in half and the gem stones looked dull and lifeless. She closed her fingers around them tightly. "..."
Tea appeared next to her and took the shattered bonds from her Sister. "Anubis, forgive me," Tea prayed. "I failed…"
"No, you didn't," said Ryou. "If you failed, Tea, then we all failed."
Bakura snorted. "We all failed? Perhaps you're right. This round we did. But I'll be damned if I'm going to stand here and mope with the rest of you!"
"Wait! Bakura!" Ryou started after him but was stopped when Seto caught his arm.
"Leave him," he said.
"He's a Chosen of Anubis!" Ryou shouted. "And he's also a Guardian!"
Blue eyes narrowed. "Try not to remind me," Seto all but spat. "We don't need him."
"I need him." Ryou shook his arm free.
Yugi watched his friend ran out, chasing after his dark he reached for his own link with his own darker self. --Yami?--
--Yugi! I felt a great deal of power being, released right now. What has happened?-- the ancient pharaoh asked, worry in his tone.
--The Dark Scorpions have taken Cheri--no, that's not right. They took Meanae, Tristen is missing, and Ryou just ran off after Bakura.--
Yami uttered a few choice words as he ran his hands over his face. --Gods above give me strength,-- he utterly quietly. --Where is everyone now?--
--Tea, Joey, and Keriam are with me, we're at Kaiba mansion with Seto. Bakura and Ryou left. Malik, Marik, and Duke are on their way here.--
--I'll be over as soon as I can. Tell Kaiba not to call Rose yet.--
--But, she's Cheri's mother. She has to know!-- his light protested.
--I know and I know that she knows what's going on but right now we can't let this get out of hand. We have to talk to Ishizu though. We have to find out more of what's going on before we do anything drastic.--
It wasn't even twenty minutes later when Marik, Malik, and Duke arrived. Shortly after, Ishizu and Rashid arrived at Kaiba mansion.
"Great gods," said Rashid and rested his hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Ishizu," Seto looked at the Egyptian woman, "is there any way you can tell what will happen to my wife?"
"I'm sorry," she shook her head "I can't. Ever since I became pregnant, the visions have appeared less than they did before."
"Nice side affect," said Joey.
"So what do we do?" Yugi asked. "Wait until the Scorpions attack?"
"I wish I knew," she said quietly.
Duke sighed and rubbed as his eyes. "Okay so we know Tristen is missing along with the Book of Shadows, Meanae has taken over Cheri's body, and whether we like it or not a really old enemy is coming back from the past. What else can possible go wrong?"
--
Tristen's heart fell as Don, Cliff, and Cheri--or was it Meanae, now?--appeared from the black shadow pool.
Cliff turned to the bound Keeper and smirked. "I thank you, Keeper, for allowing my sister to return home."
Tristen didn't say anything, just turned his head to the side.
Meanae walked over to him and knelt on one knee. "Tristen."
He couldn't look at her, knowing that he was responsible for what happened.
"It's still me."
"No, you're not. If you were, you wouldn't be here."
"This is my father," she said darkly.
"Really?" Tristen finally looked at her. "Excuse me, but your 'father' is bent on destroying everything that exists that you protected over a year ago."
Her fist clenched. "He has been judged unfairly," she explained.
"Unfairly?! He killed you and your mother in Egypt! He's a murder, a betrayer, and he deserves what he got!" the Keeper yelled.
"Silence!!" Her hand lashed out and landed an open-palmed slap onto the side of his face. The force was so great Tristen's head snapped to the side; he would have fallen over but the rope binding his hands to the metal ring, kept him up. "You know nothing of what you speak of. I have my father back and I am not going to lose him."
"My daughter... you have returned," the Scorpion King said.
The hooded figure smiled and approached the young woman, holding a ritual dagger out to her. "One with the blood of a god can release the Black Scorpion from his prison but it must be shed in his name," he explained.
The young woman looked at him, eyes narrowing but she stood and took the weapon. Saying nothing she slowly walked up to the dais and opened her right hand. "I, Meanae the Thorn, assassin of the Dark Scorpion clan and descendant of Anubis, hereby shed my blood in the name of the Black Scorpion King." She didn't flinched as she drew a deep cut across her palm and waited until it began to bleed before pressing her hand against the cocoon, and slowly smeared it along the sticky webbing. "Let my blood be the key to release the greatest of warriors from his unearthly prison and be reborn once again."
The blood on the cocoon seeped into the lines and spread all over the surface. It pulsed and grew larger; little sprays of some kind of fluid spurted out in any direction. Near the center, the cocoon matter was stretching and it tore. Two human hands pulled the opening wider.
Tristen felt the bile rising and looked away. Suddenly his hands fell into his lap. He looked at the rope and noticed that is was slowly disintegrating. The fluid from the cocoon had landed on the rope and was eating it away.
Looking at the center of the room, Tristen saw that no one was paying attention to him--their eyes were watching the Black Scorpion emerge from his prison. Taking advantage of the situation, Tristen slowly moved until he was behind the pillar. He removed the rest of the rope from his hands and stood with his back pressed against the stone.
Can't leave just yet, he thought, I have to get the Book of Shadows away from that nutcase first.
The man from within finally stepped out and nearly fell but as the assassins moved forward he held his hand up. They moved back and watched as he stood, naked as the first day he was born. The acidic fluids caused the stones to burn and crack upon contact but no one gave it a second thought.
He was tall, muscular built, bronzed skin and showed the faint sign of battle scars. His hair black as night and hung down his back but he was alive. He looked at his hands and took a deep breathe of air then grinned broadly.
"Once more I live... I breathe... but I will finally extract my revenge," he whispered, his voice deep and rough.
Tristen swallowed hard. He cautiously peeked out from behind the pillar. The hooded man started walking towards the Black Scorpion, leaving the Book of Shadows floating unguarded.
Works for me, Tristen thought and raised his hands. Over here!
The book flew towards him and he caught it with a smile.
"Master!" Chick shouted. "The Book!"
"Shit!" Tristen bolted from behind the pillar just as it shattered. Holding the Book of Shadows tightly, he ran blindly around the large room.
Cliff and Gorg blocked his path causing him to skid to a halt. He started to double back but Chick and Don appeared. Tristen started to go towards the dais.
He stopped and felt his blood nearly turn to ice.
Oh dear gods… no… it can't be…
Tristen's eyes barely noticed Cheri and the Black Scorpion, now wearing the hooded man's robe, standing next to the platform.
As for the unidentified man, he was wearing the same outfit Tristen had last seen him wear on Battleship, along with the sinister smirk he had when he sent Mai and Joey's minds to the Shadow Realm.
"Did you actually forget me, Keeper?" he asked.
"Y…you…" Tristen backed away, clutching the Book tighter to his chest.
"It's only been a little more than a year," he stepped towards him, "and here we are again. Marik and Malik have their own bodies now; it's only fair that I should have mine."
"How did you…?" Tristen's back hit the wall; his eyes still fixated on the psychotic entity in front of him.
His smirk widened. "Thank Marik; he can still hear me as I still have a piece of his soul."
Tristen's heart slammed in his chest. Osiris! Get me out of here!
A red glow surrounded Tristen, and before any of the Scorpions could move, he vanished.
"What happened?" demanded the Black Scorpion.
"Obviously, he escaped," the dark entity said.
"He took the Book of Shadows with him!" Cliff shouted.
"Don't worry," the dark one smirked again. "He's already opened the gates of hell."
"How will that aid me in my quest for revenge?" the King demanded angrily.
The psycho continued grinning. "Nothing can stop us now and nor can you be sent back to your imprisonment. The only way to defeat you… is through death."
"We have dedicated our lives for our King and nothing will stop us from it even now," Don Zaloog said venomously. "We would each lay our lives down for our cause."
That… is very much what I am hoping for, the newly reborn warrior said to himself, laughing silently.
--
"Bakura please! Wait up!" Ryou called to his darker self, his pack slapping against his back a bit painfully.
The former tomb raider sighed and stopped, waiting for his light to catch up before continuing his walk. For a while neither said anything but he broke the silence.
"So the Scorpions have Cheri imprisoned, that doesn't give them the right to just mope like whipped dogs and blame everyone else," he growled lowly, "I would think Kaiba would be trying to form a plan to get her back."
"I understand but he just lost his wife," Ryou tried to reason, trying to still catch his breath.
The thief winced. "Do you have to remind me?"
"Sorry. But I'm going to help you the best I can. Cheri's my friend too, and regardless what Seto said I'm not letting you go in this alone," he answered with a slight smile.
Bakura looked at him and cracked a smile. "You and the others are really rubbing off on me. I hate being so… soft."
As they continued walking, thinking what to do they were about to pass an alleyway but froze. Bakura, having been sent to the Shadow Realm more times than he could remember, felt the prickle of magic in the air. "Ryou wait." Catching his light's shoulder he pulled him back and cautiously looked around their immediate area.
The young man looked up at him but said nothing. He looked around as well but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
"Just right now… I think I felt, Shadow Magic."
"What?"
A slight crash and groan was barely heard. Ryou backed up and Bakura stood before his light in a protective manner but both were not expecting Tristen to stumble out of the alleyway, clutching the Book of Shadows tightly in his arms. He looked worn and tired.
"Tristen??"
"Taylor!?"
Dazed hazel eyes looked up at them before he cracked a smile. "Guys… I honestly didn't think I'd make it back…" he said slightly out of breathe. He nearly tripped but they caught him easily, helping him to stand. "I… I'm sorry…"
"For what? Taylor what the hell happened to you?" Bakura asked, finally noticing the rope burns around his wrists.
"… The Black Scorpion King has been set free… those assassins, forced me to open the Book but I didn't read the spell!" he said, still angry that he had let everyone down.
"What do you mean? Who else could read a passage from the Book of Shadows?" Ryou asked, knowing that he wasn't going to like the answer.
He looked at Bakura with anger and guilt in his eyes. "Guess who's back from Battle Ship." He slowly nodded when the thief's eyes widen. "Yeah… that psycho that nearly killed Mai, Joey, and the Ishtar brothers… he's back and he's joined the Scorpions."
"Oh my God…" Ryou whispered.
"Ryou, take his Book," Bakura said as he put one of Tristen's arms around his shoulders, "we have to get back to the mansion."
--
"Whoa! Wait a minute!" Duke exploded. "That nut ball is back?!"
Everyone gawked at Tristen who nodded his confirmation.
"The Black Scorpion released him then," said Yami.
Tristen looked at Marik. "He said… he has a piece of your soul, and that you can still hear him."
"Can you, Marik?" Yugi turned to the Egyptian.
He closed his eyes. "Faintly," Marik sighed. "It started before we went to Egypt."
"Get out," Set growled.
"Kaiba!" Ishizu cried.
"How do we know that thing isn't using him to find out what's going on here right this minute?"
"He isn't!" Malik defended his brother. "I'd be able to tell!"
"And what about you?" the CEO demanded. "You two are linked!"
"That's enough!" Keriam shouted. "Okay, we're all upset about the turn of events but pinning the blame on everyone else isn't going to help! Look at us! We're driving each other apart with all this bullshit arguing!"
"What else can we do then?! It's because of your Guardians that my wife has been taken from me!!" the CEO yelled.
"Hey watch your tone, Kaiba!" Joey growled as Katsuya growled as well.
"Is that a threat, mutt?!"
"Enough of this! Arguing among ourselves will not help except to divide what allies we have now," came Shadi's voice. Everyone looked around but he came out from the nearest shadow, flanked by Gravekeeper's Spy and Gravekeeper's Assailant. "I understand that some of you are in deep turmoil as to the abduction of the Daughter of Anubis but fighting among one another will not help us get her back."
"What would you know?! You weren't there when it happened!" Seto yelled angrily.
"At least we know more than you," the Spy said with a suppressed growl.
Yami got up and pushed Seto back with force until he was sitting. "Stay put. What are you talking about?" he asked the Gravekeepers.
"We have been listening from the shadows," the Assailant began to say, "this new foe came to the Scorpions and agreed to help them release the Scorpion King but only if he may extract his revenge. He wishes for the merge of both worlds but if that happens, many lives will be lost. Humans and monsters alike."
"This one who helps the Scorpions," Shadi picked up, "he is over five thousand years old as well. He came to be around the same time you were born, my Pharaoh."
Yami blinked at this.
"When you say 'came to be'," Tea spoke, "I take it that he wasn't born like a normal person."
"No," Shadi answered, "no one knows exactly how or where he came from, but he latches on to a person who has suffered a great amount of pain, betrayal, and grief."
"Well, that explains how he attached himself to me," said Marik. "But what about the piece of my soul he claims to have?"
"When your father carved the Gravekeeper's Oath into your back, this stranger latched onto your pain. As time progressed and your father began to pressure you, your anger and frustration grew and so did the dark one." The young man paused and looked over at Ishizu and Rashid. "Do you remember the day, when your father was killed?"
Ishizu slowly nodded her head. "I don't remember all of it... but in that moment, I knew that wasn't Marik. When he picked up the Rod... he was an entirely new person," she said.
"I saw that as well. It was as if he had been possessed," Rashid finished up.
The Gravekeeper's Assailant nodded. "The first time the stranger had possession of the young body he killed the one that caused the most grief and anger. In a way, he slowly began to gain power but the love of your siblings pushed him back."
"Are you saying, that this thing now thrives on destroying lives himself?" Yami asked, feeling sick in the pit of his stomach.
"Unfortunately yes. Since he resides within the young Ishtar the longest he took his form as his own. If he had been successful in killing that blonde woman and that man," the Gravekeeper's Spy pointed at Joey, "no one would have been able to stop him. Not even you, Nameless Pharaoh."
"Thank the gods that did not come to pass," said Yami.
"What will happen if the Shadow Realm merges with our world?" Mokuba asked.
"Anyone who has a soul of a Duel Monster," Shadi looked at them, "will become that Duel Monster. As for those who do not have that kind of soul, I do not know."
"Why can I picture Rex Raptor turning into a dinosaur?" Joey couldn't help saying aloud.
"And Weevil Underwood a mosquito?" Tristen chuckled.
"It is not a laughing matter," said Gravekeeper's Spy. "Unless the person has a strong will then the instincts of the Duel Monster will take over."
"That won't be good," Ryou said, hugging the Book of the Dead tighter.
Bakura said nothing as he drummed his fingers along his arm. 'Unless the person has a strong will… then the instincts of the Duel Monster will take over.' I do not like the sound of that. "This is going to be even harder to explain when people begin looking like Duel Monsters. What happens if a child has the soul of a powerful monster?"
"… We call upon every Trap card at our disposal to subdue him, or her," the Spy said with narrowed eyes.
Tea didn't like the sound of that but what else could they do? There were still powerful monsters out there and if someone with a weak will became one… what if that happened to one of their loved ones? If only… the Books had stayed hidden from the beginning. But that would only be prolonging the chaos, she thought to herself.
The front door opened and before anyone could react or do anything, Rose entered the living room. She looked like she had just come from the hospital, still dressed in her uniform but the look on her face was not that pleasant. Her fist shook silently as she gripped the keys tight enough to have the metal bite into her skin.
"Where's Cheri?" she asked in a strain tone.
Keriam looked at everyone and slowly stood. "Mrs. Dante, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Where's my baby girl?" she asked again, her eyes becoming misty.
"Rose, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," Seto spoke up, moving to stand before her.
"I think… I just spoke with one. I was at work when I got a call. I thought it was Cheri but she knows not to call me unless I'm on my break or an emergency. But I took it anyway." She closed her eyes but tears slowly rolled down her face as she screamed out. "How could I have gotten a call from my husband when he's been dead for years?!"
"What?! Rose what are you talking about?!" Seto asked, grabbing the woman's shoulders but suddenly he was thrown back, crashing into the coffee table.
"Seto!!" Mokuba ran to his brother's side.
Keriam jumped back, pressing her back against the wall. Rose seemed to be glowing a kind of dark pink color but she didn't seem to notice. Whenever someone got too close they were ruthlessly pushed back.
"He… He said that… Cheri was gone… he took my baby girl away from me! He said this was revenge just because I wouldn't let him see her all those years ago!"
Keriam's eyes widened as the glow around Mrs. Dante grew brighter. She reached inside her shirt and pulled out the Millennium Key. Managing to catch Bakura and Ryou's attention, the Daughter of Ra held up the Item and nodded towards Rose.
Nodding in return, both boys ran towards the distraught woman. They were both sent flying across the room. Keriam took the distraction and dashed over to Rose, quickly putting the Millennium Key to her forehead.
As soon as Keriam opened her eyes, she found herself in Rose's soul room. For a minute it looked like she was in the hospital but there were hieroglyphics along the walls and sand was covering the floors. "What's going on?" she asked but paused when she heard a crash. The young woman ran down the hall.
A set of double doors were pushed open and Keriam entered what seemed to be the Emergency Room. Rose was in the middle of the room but she was throwing what looked like picture frames along the walls, letting them shatter but every time they broke they came back together. But that wasn't what threw Keriam off. There was another woman there except she wore old priestess clothing of Egypt. She was trying to calm Rose down but the woman refused to listen.
As Keriam walked closer, the priestess turned and faced her.
"Hello, Theliane," she said.
Keriam stopped and stared at her. Memories sprang to life around them. Keriam watched parts of her childhood as Theliane. She saw Agalameia run to the priestess and smiled before vanishing.
"Zashida…?" Keriam whispered.
"Yes, I was born as Rose Neely in this life. And my prayer from long ago of having Agalameia as my blood daughter came true…" Zashida turned and watched Rose continue to fling the pictures at the wall. "But I lost her… just as I lost her mother… my older sister."
"You mean... you were Agalameia's aunt?"
"Yes... Anubis trusted me with her life and I did my best, but it wasn't the same... Now she's gone and I failed in my duties..."
"But it wasn't your fault," Keriam added. "If I can get Meanae alone I can use the Key and get Cheri to take control!"
Zashida slowly shook her head. "No, I'm afraid that's impossible at the moment."
Rose picked up a family portrait when Cheri was a baby. She looked at it, tears rolling down her face before screaming and threw it on the ground as hard as she could. It shattered but the pieces just came together again. She fell to her knees, still crying angrily. "I tried to fill the role of father but it wasn't enough... she never said anything but she wanted her daddy back... I can't believe I lost my baby girl... I'm a terrible mother!!"
Keriam ran over to her and knelt beside Rose, hugging her. "No, you're not," said Keriam. "Things just happen a certain way. When I was growing up, I wanted my dad, too. And when Zack and Terry brought me home… I wanted mom again. That doesn't mean my mom was terrible or Zack and Terry were."
Rose calmed a bit and sat silently as the tears fell.
"She knows you love her," Keriam whispered as her own tears fell, "and we'll get her back. I promise."
Rose placed her hand on Keriam's arm and squeezed gently. "Thank you."
They stood to their feet; Rose looked at her past self, and held out her hand. "I can't do this without you. There are also a few things I need to remember in order to help everyone. Especially Mokuba."
Keriam blinked. "Mokuba?"
"He's in danger," said Zashida, "I'm afraid that's all I can tell you."
"I'll explain everything to you and Seto after," Rose promised. "Right now, there's something very important I have to do."
"You better leave, Theliane," said Zashida. "I don't know what kind of effect this will have on you if you remain here."
"Okay," the Daughter of Ra touched the Key. "Be careful."
"I will," both women answered.
When they felt Keriam leave, Zashida and Rose closed their eyes. A light enveloped both and when it faded, Rose stood in the middle of the room. She bent down and picked up a picture of Cheri, tracing the image of her daughter's face.
"I'm getting you back, baby," Rose whispered. "I'm not losing you this time."
When Keriam came back to her body she blinked. The aura had died down completely but she was still in the mind trance. She waited and Rose took a deep breathe. Her fists relaxed and she let her keys and purse drop to the floor. Taking a deep breathe she opened her eyes and looked at her surroundings.
Ryou swallowed but slowly walked up to the older woman. "Mrs. Dante? Are you alright?" she asked softly.
She looked at him and smiled. "I am now. I'm sorry for my anger right now... I couldn't bear it when I heard his voice again," she sighed sadly. "I thought I would never have to worry about him ever again."
"You mind doing that little trick to the Scorpions next time?" Bakura asked, ignoring the glares sent his way.
The older woman smiled and nodded but looking at the young Kaiba she knew they had to settle this soon. "Seto, I need to talk to you and Keriam. It's important."
--
"Do you like it, sister?" Cliff asked.
Cheri walked around her room and smiled. "Almost the same as the one I had then."
Indeed the giant room was full of many statues of the Scorpion Clan and other artifacts from the past. The grand bed was at the far end of the room, with thick curtains to act as a separator when it was necessary.
"It's wonderful, Cliff," she said, "Thank you."
Her brother took the compliment with great pride. "You deserve it," he said, "after all that happened. And now you are a princess."
Without a prince, she thought then quickly shook her head. Turning so that Cliff wouldn't see, Cheri reached under her scarf and touched the necklace Bakura had given her.
Cliff watched his sister and gently grasped her shoulders. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern.
Meanae smiled and rested her free hand on his own. "I am well. When will we be able to retrieve the Book of Shadows?"
"I am not yet certain but soon I imagine. For now let us enjoy the peace before we are called into battle once again.
She looked up at him, smiling lightly. "Tired of fighting already, brother dear?" she teased.
Cliff gave a dramatic sigh. "Well it does become boring to easily slip through traps and kill those that defy us." He smiled and gave her a tight embrace. "I'll let you be." He left, closing the door behind him.
The young woman sighed and walked over to the mirror. Looking at her reflection she slowly removed the scarf and caressed the golden necklace. A king without his queen... and a princess without a prince...
Cliff stared at the door briefly. He was very concerned about his little sister. Even though her memories had been restored, what about the life she was living prior to now? Would that interfere with her judgment? He turned away and started down the hall.
"She is a beautiful woman."
Cliff quickly spun to his left, glaring at his so-called ally.
His smirk widened, as he looked at the closed the door. "She has the power to give life, and the ability to take it away."
"Stay away from her," Cliff growled.
The darker-skinned man narrowed his eyes at the Trap Remover. "Don't speak in that tone with me. And when you do speak to me, say 'Lord Necrophedious'."
"I could care less what you call yourself. Beside, I have a long list of names I find suitable to refer to you."
"Really now? Here I thought the only reason the Black Scorpion kept you around was so he didn't have to soil his hands."
"How dare you say such a thing! He has been a father to us since the beginning!"
"As a pack of trained lapdogs."
The young man grew furious and pulled the dagger from it's sheath but as soon as his hand wrapped around the hilt an invisible force slammed him against the wall. Completely unaware the weapon clattered to the marble floor.
The powerful spirit approached the stunned assassin and grabbed a hold of his collar, pulling him close enough to hear. "Next time, watch who you try to attack. Although scorpions are deadly creatures of the sands, there will always be something bigger and far more dangerous to destroy you."
Cliff shook his head but glared at him. "Is that a threat?" he hissed.
Necrophedious just smirked evilly. "Perhaps. I believe I should leave you and your lovely sister to your thoughts." Stepping back he released him and slowly walked down the hall in the opposite direction Cliff had been heading.
"Quite the talker, isn't he?" Chick asked, stepping out from behind the pillar.
Cliff just snorted. "If he even thinks of going anywhere near Meanae…" he sighed. Perhaps he should talk with the king about him.
"His majesty has requested our presence," said Chick, bringing the older Scorpion out of his little trance.
"So they're ready?" Cliff smiled.
The younger one nodded. "There is enough made to make sure plenty fall under our command." Chick paused. "Providing that the merge is successful.
"Do not doubt Meanae's power now, Chick," said Cliff as they walked towards the throne room. "My sister will succeed."
--
Seto and Keriam just stared at Rose. "Kisara actually spoke to you?" Keriam asked, bewildered.
"And Mokuba, has the soul of a Blue Eyes White Dragon?" Seto asked as well.
The older woman nodded, having explained the dream she had and then the merge with her past self after Keriam left her soul room. "I got the dream several nights ago, when we had the wedding ceremony," she explained. "The reason I didn't say anything before was there was so much going on now I didn't want to burden anyone."
Seto sighed but he smiled kindly at his mother-in-law. "At least we're finding out before the merge." He still couldn't believe his father in his past life had been so cruel as to kill his unborn son, his half brother. Thank you Osiris… and Kisara.
"When the merge takes place… the people with Duel Monsters' souls will be awakened. Kisara will do her best is helping Mokuba keep himself from getting lost in the dragon's instincts. I may not have the soul of a monster but I'll help the best I can."
"I don't know Rose, since you merged with Zashida there might be a chance you do have the soul of a Duel Monster," Keriam added with a small smile.
Rose blinked but smiled lightly. "Perhaps your right. I take it we don't tell Mokuba that he has the soul of one of the most powerful dragons residing in his body?"
"I think that would be best. I don't like keeping secrets from my brother, but this is for the best," the CEO sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I just hope Cheri's alright."
--
Tea looked out the window of the guestroom of Kaiba mansion. Technically, it was now her and Yugi's guestroom since every time they spent a night (or several) at Kaiba mansion, the couple found themselves in the same Spring-themed room.
Wouldn't surprise me if the others had their own designated rooms, she thought.
Kenji appeared on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Just worried," she said, "about Cheri, Tristen… everyone and everything."
Arcaida sat on her other shoulder. "The Daughter of Anubis is safe," he said, trying to cheer her up a little.
"But… that thing is there…" Tea shut her eyes. "I've seen what he's capable of… and I know he's also capable of doing a lot more."
Kenji looked thoughtful. "Even though Meanae has control, and the Sword Dancer is gone, that doesn't mean that your Sister is lost to us."
"Also, Tristen said the Book of Shadows said how to release the Scorpion King. Maybe one of the Books can tell us how to defeat him," Arcaida added.
"And if we can't find an answer? I'm scared, but everything and myself." She opened her eyes but tried very hard not to cry. "The prophesy said... if the Black Scorpion King was ever released from his prison... he would extract his revenge against Anubis himself. If he manages that, what's to stop him from destroying Osiris, Ra, even Isis? I know I should have more faith in them, but I'm scared."
Yugi stepped out of the bathroom, finished with his shower. His eyes landed on Tea and the two chibi Dark Magicians trying to console her. Quietly, Yugi walked up behind her and pulled his fiancé into his arms.
Kenji took the hint and floated off Tea's shoulder. He grabbed Arcaida by the back of his robe and hauled him off, earning a yelp of protest from the crimson spell caster.
The young woman looked at her soon-to-be-husband but settled in his embrace. They didn't say anything but what was there to say? Yugi gently stroked her hair, wishing he knew what to say to help her but this seemed to be helping. He sighed and broke the silence.
"Tea, I know you're worried but so am I. I haven't been this scared since, well since a number of times," he said with a weak smile.
Tea giggled lightly but relaxed. "I wish there was more I could have done. Meanae is back and unless we can convince her to side with us, she's going to be our enemy. It's overwhelming."
"I know but we will get through this. I honestly don't know how but we'll manage."
"You know that makes me feel better." Smiling she kissed him softly. "I love you."
"Love you, too." Yugi pulled her into another kiss.
--Yugi--whoops! Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt!--
Growling slightly, Yugi pulled away from Tea, answered, --Yes, Yami?--
--… Ryou, Marik, and I are going out to get Bakura.--
--What did he steal this time?--
--Surprisingly, nothing. However, he's in a fight at a local bar.--
--Uh oh…--
--Exactly,-- Yami sent, --we should be back in a couple hours.--
--Okay. And Yami,-- sent Yugi, -- unless it's an emergency, don't contact me for the rest of the night.--
--You have my word,-- Yami promised and the connection ended.
"Let me guess, Yami trouble?"
"Yes."
"No offense but he has the worse timing."
"I'm really starting to think he's doing this on purpose," Yugi sighed but kept holding onto his fiancée. "But we have the evening to ourselves."
The blue-eyed brunette smiled and led him to the bed. The two mages quietly left before the young Champion removed his towel and the young dancer removed her blouse.
--
Bakura growled as he sent another drunk flying. The heavy set man landed on the table before breaking it on impact. The spirit of the Ring has a slight buzz going on but that was the extent. He saw out of the corner of his eye as another drunk tried to hit him with a chair he turned around and grinned in a feral way. The dim lighting glinted off his elongated canines.
The man blinked and paused in his attack. The next thing he knew he fell back on the floor, out of air and the chair gone from his hands.
"Nice try, fat man!" the thief snorted, glaring at the others in the bar. "Who else wants a fight?"
A young man, maybe a few years older than Ryou, walked up. He pushed a lock of long black hair behind his ear. "Your behavior is rather unbecoming," he said, "if you wanted to fight, why didn't you go to one of the slums?"
"This is closer to home, pretty boy," Bakura grabbed his bottle from the bar and took a quick swig.
"Hayate!" a female voice called from where the other patrons had backed off to remain safe.
Bakura glanced over at the speaker, a blonde girl with a picture of an angel on her shirt. Oh yeah… I snapped her bra strap when I came in, Bakura smirked.
"Don't worry, Angel," said Hayate, the returned to the disruptor. "Normally I don't get involved with someone like you, but after what you did to my Angel-"
"Couldn't resist," Bakura cut him off, "she is kinda cute. I just assumed you were with the one with the ponytail."
On the sidelines, the man with the ponytail narrowed his eyes.
"Kei, no don't," another girl with short reddish hair took hold of his arm.
"If you say, Himeno," he said.
The guy sighed and shook his head. "You are something else, stranger."
"You have no idea." he took another swig, prodding over his thoughts. After that little fight he just wanted to be alone but he couldn't seem to move his legs. Good thing Ryou isn't here to see me like this.
He set the bottle down and looked at the new challenger. "Shall we?"
"Not tonight!"
Arms wrapped under his arms and the hands then hooked behind his head. Another pair took hold of his legs and he was lifted.
"Too close," said Yami, keeping a tight grip on the struggling thief's legs.
"Get off me!" Bakura yelled as he tried to kick the Pharaoh.
"Really, Bakura," Marik said, "we know how much you crave attention but this is the wrong way to get it." They carried their burden outside.
Ryou looked at everyone and, clasping his hands together, bowed in apology. "Please forgive my brother. He always gets like this when he drinks too much."
"You don't have to apologize for him," Hayate said.
Ryou nodded and went over to the bartender, handing the man a piece of paper. "Just call me and tell me what the damage costs are." Then he ran outside.
Outside Bakura was cursing up a storm but Marik and Yami refused to let go. Ryou hurried and opened the car door. Since the blonde didn't trust the former thief he got in first, practically dragging the albino in. Yami climbed in after them, closing the door. The young light went to front and climbed behind the seat. Soon they were off.
Marik released the thief and watched as he sulked in his seat. "Mind telling us what you were doing there?" he asked.
"Having a tea party with the other guys and girls!" he snapped.
"You were lucky we were able to find you," Yami added, looking out the window.
"I didn't want to be found! Why don't you pick on someone else?"
"Bakura, I asked them to come because I was worried about you," Ryou spoke up, looking at him through the rearview mirror. "And no one is picking on you."
Growling, the thief shut his eyes. Everyone chose to stay quiet.
About halfway back to the mansion, Bakura spoke. "I have to go."
"Go where?" Marik yawned.
"Hawaii, I decided that is the best place to go for a natural tan. I have to piss, you idiot!" Bakura shouted.
"Quit yelling," said Ryou, and pulled over into the gas station/convenience store.
Marik opened the door and got out.
"Don't steal anything," said Yami.
"Unless you're getting Twinkies," Marik smirked.
Bakura exited the car. Suddenly he punched Marik's jaw, sending the Egyptian to the ground, and took off at full speed.
"Bakura!" Ryou shouted and scrambled from the car.
Yami quickly got out and ran over to Marik.
"Son-of-a…" Marik cursed wiping the blood from his mouth. "I'm gonna kill that bastard!"
Ryou ran to the end of the sidewalk and stopped. His darker half was nowhere in sight.
--Bakura!--
--Sorry, Ryou,-- he answered, --but there's someplace I have to be now.--
The hikari blinked. --What…?--
--Goodbye, Ryou.--
And the link was gone.
"No…" Ryou shook his head as tears welled in his eyes.
Yami helped Marik up and the two walked over to the distraught young man.
"Bakura…" Ryou whispered. "BAKURAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"
Author's Notes:
Heikou: wow! now that's some cliff hanger!
Janime: Keeps them coming back for more.
Heikou: And I think I already know where our dear thief is going. You're good
Janime: Aw, thank you! And you're good too!
Heikou: (big smile) Thanks! Btw, did you have to have Bakura punch Marik?
Janime: I didn't want to as Marik is one of my favs, but it adds to the fic. And if anyone didn't recognize the names of the people Bakura was badgering, Hayate, Kei, and Himeno are from Prétear. (Okay, Angel! I did it for you!)
Heikou: I was gonna ask who they were
Janime: Let's say someone convinced me to add them.
Heikou: Oh well enjoy! Remember, leave a review and we'll update.
Janime: We'd update anyway but having new reviews help.
Heikou: Ego boost.
Janime: Yes, feed the egos!
