Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or TBAA. If I did, I'd be paid for writing this story.
Author's Notes: Hi all! Happy Holidays! Still moving forward with the story!
Aura Black Chan: I have actually thought about writing the story where Yami Bakura and Hannah meet. I've got it in my head; just gotta get it on paper.
A special thank you goes to my beta-reader, Hyatt Insomnia!
Warnings: Mild violence and language, so far.
To Steal, Kill, and DestroyChapter Seventeen: Nothing Ever Comes Easy
"Stop dragging your feet, yadonoshi!"
"Sorry," Ryou mumbled. He was rather relieved that they were on their way to Yugi's house. Once they arrived there, he wouldn't have to deal with his Yami all by himself anymore. As an added bonus, Yami Yugi seemed best suited for the hapless job of keeping his Yami in line. Ryou knew he certainly wasn't.
The white haired Yami smirked. "If you hurry, then perhaps we'll have time to stop by that girl's house and take her."
"Tea? Oh, Yami, I don't think it's a good idea to take her with us. After all, it could be dangerous and she could get hurt."
The Tomb robber growled. "Not take her with, you dolt! I mean take her! Take her body! I shall have her first, of course, then you may do with her as you wish."
Ryou was horrified. "Yami! We can't do that!"
The tomb robber scowled. "And why not?"
Ryou thought fast. "Well, you know how Yami Yugi is. He may get impatient waiting for you, and decide to go on ahead without us. And you know what the angels said would happen if you don't work together."
"Hmm," the white haired thief frowned, "You have a point. It would be just like the Pharaoh to do something like that, too. All right, then, we'll just have to forget about the girl for now. Come on, Yadonoshi." Ryou sighed in relief as his insane Yami dragged him along.
Finally, they reached the game shop. Yami Bakura proceeded to pound on the door just as he had before. "PHARAOH!! OPEN UP!!! WE'RE HERE!!"
"Yami, please!" Ryou simply couldn't understand why his Yami always seemed to be so angry.
The tomb robber ignored his hikari and continued to pound on the door. "PHARAOH!! GET YOUR LAZY ASS OUT HERE!!"
Yami Yugi opened the door and glared at the tomb robber. "I am not deaf, you know."
"Really," Yami Bakura chuckled, "You could have fooled me with how long you took to answer the door. Or is it perhaps that you find that you cannot move as well now that you have a body of your own? Is your age catching up to you, Pharaoh?"
Yami Yugi growled. "Is it too much to ask you to behave like a normal human being for 5 minutes!?"
"It appears that I've stuck a nerve."
Yugi, not wanting to risk another fight between the two Yamis, quickly walked to the door and spoke up. "Shouldn't we get going? After all, we want to get rid of Monique as soon as possible."
"Hn. For once your pathetic little hikari is right, Pharaoh. We should get going so that we can get our Millennium items back."
"Very well. The sooner I can get you out of my sight, the better."
"Likewise, I'm sure."
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"May I help you?" The receptionist in the lobby of the Kaiba Corporation greeted them cheerfully.
"Yes," Yami Yugi replied, "We are here to see someone named Monique. I understand that she works here."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No, I'm afraid we don't, but…"
"I'm sorry, but you will need to make an appointment," the dark haired woman flashed them a phony cheerful smile.
"Now, listen you," Yami Bakura growled at the hapless employee, leaning in dangerously close, "Unless you wish to spend the rest of eternity in the Shadow Realm, you will contact that she-devil, and you will tell her that the Tomb Robber has come back to claim his ring. Do you understand me?"
Yugi blushed with embarrassment. "What he means is, that this is kind of an emergency. We would really appreciate if you could at least try to get in touch with her."
"F-fine," replied the woman, glancing nervously at Yami Bakura. She dialed a number on the telephone. "Hello, Monique? I'm sorry to disturb you, ma'am, but there are some people here who insist on seeing you. They didn't give me their names, however one said to tell you that the Tomb Robber has come back to claim his ring. Yes, ma'am, that's what he said. All right."
She turned to face the group. "Monique will see you now. Just take those elevators down the hall and to your left. She's on the 13th floor." (Author's note: Ok, ok, I know it's corny!!)
"Thank you," Yugi replied politely. And with that, the group headed for the demon's office.
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They finally arrived at Monique's door. "All right, everyone, this is it," Yami Yugi warned, "Stay strong."
"Let's just get our items back already!" And with that, the white haired thief barged into the office.
"You! She-devil! I've come back for my ring!" Yami Bakura yelled, pointing his finger at the demon.
Monique looked casually at him from behind her desk. "Well, if it isn't the Tomb Robber. How did you ever manage to get out of the Shadow Realm?"
"I told you I would come back for my Ring, didn't I?"
"He's not the only one who has returned," Yami Yugi chimed in as he entered the office, followed by his lighter half, Ryou, and Solomon.
"We know what you are, Monique, we're here to tell you to leave!" Yugi cried angrily.
"Yes, we are all here to stand together against you," the former Pharaoh agreed.
"Oh my, I'm so frightened," Monique replied sarcastically.
"You should be," Yami Bakura growled threateningly at her.
Suddenly Monique picked up a remote control and switched on the TV that was built into the right wall in her office. She started switching through the channels.
"And just what do you think you're doing?" The Tomb Robber was growing more impatient by the second.
"I'm bored, so I thought I'd see what was on TV," she replied, not bothering to give any of them a second glance.
"We mean business, Monique," Yami Yugi said sternly, "We want you out of Domino City and our lives."
"Oh, look! A news report from Egypt!"
"I am not interested in…"
"Oh, my…it looks like it's from an archeological dig around Cairo…isn't that around where your father is, Ryou?"
"What?" The white-haired teen quickly turned his attention to the TV set.
"….whether anyone survived the cave-in or not. They believe there are at least 4 men trapped down there…"
"Oh, no!" Ryou rushed over to get a better look. He gave a small gasp, and his normally pale face lost even more color. "That's where my father is!"
"Forget about that, yadonoshi, and get back over here!!"
"Hmm...well, it's obvious to me that the Tomb Robber doesn't care whether your father lives or dies. But I'm sure you do...don't you, Ryou?"
"Of course I do! He's my father!" Ryou's chocolate brown eyes never left the TV screen.
Monique approached the white haired boy and handed him what appeared to be a sheet of paper. "I know you care about your father, Ryou. That's why I'm giving you this. Sign it and I can assure you no harm will come to him."
Yami Bakura quickly snatched it from him. "Give me that, you fool!" He scanned the document, growled, and tore it to shreds. "He's not signing this. The only one he belongs to is me!"
"Don't worry about that, Ryou. I've got plenty more of them. I know how much you love your father."
"Quiet, she-devil!"
"Ryou." The calm voice of the Pharaoh was now heard. "I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but the Tomb Robber is right. Anything from that demon cannot be good."
Suddenly, a small groan could be heard. Solomon was clutching his chest, and he looked very pale. Yugi was instantly alarmed. "Grampa, are you all right!?"
"I'm fine, Yugi. Don't worry about me, just get rid of her." And with that, he promptly collapsed.
"Grampa!" Yugi cried, rushing over to the fallen man's side.
"Stay calm, Yugi!" Yami was also worried about Grampa; however he knew panicking would not help them at a time like this.
"I'll call for help!" Ryou rushed to the phone on Monique's desk.
"Oh, Yugi, I'm terribly sorry your Grandfather doesn't seem to feel well," the demon said with an air of sarcasm, "As much as I'd like to stay around, I have more important things to do. However, I would feel terrible if I left without extending to you the same generous offer that I made your friend. So, here you go, Yugi. Sign it and I can assure you your grandfather will be just fine." She handed Yugi the contract. "Well, I must be off now. Ta ta!" And with that, the demon turned and strode out the door.
"You fools!! She's getting away!!"
Yami Yugi glared at the white haired thief. "We have more important things to attend to right now, Tomb Robber."
"You are even more stupid than you look, Pharaoh!" He bolted out the door after the accursed she-devil. He quickly caught up to her and grabbed her by the arm. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing!!"
Monique's eyes flashed an angry shade of red. Yami Bakura suddenly felt as though the hand that he was gripping Monique's arm with was on fire. He released her with a cry of pain.
"Perhaps you do, Tomb Robber. But can you stand up to me alone?"
Yami Bakura growled and glared at her in response.
"Hmm. I didn't think so. Well, it's time for me to go now then. Enjoy your time out here in the real world….while it lasts."
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Aww…you kiddies knew it wasn't going to be that easy, didn't you?
Seto and Joey coming back into the story soon…
Please read and review! Arigato!