As Seto Kaiba and Yugi/Yami both searched the world wide web and the Egyptian Historical Society archives for more information about their enemies, Sesshomaru waited outside with Rin. Who was now asleep in his lap. Before Amateratsu had retreated again into Rin's mind, she had told them about her past life, and her ancient rivalry with Ra.
Flashback/Narration
"I was raised by farmers here, in the heart of Japan over 10000 years ago. I was still really small when I discovered my powers. It was a bad harvest, and one night I snuck out and slept in the garden, and when I woke up everything had grown tall, as if it had had an entire spring to grow. Then, my mother told me the truth about a Thunder God who visited her. He was my real father. So when I grew up, I left with the family dog and crossed the ocean to the great continent. I traveled for thirty years, but I never aged over 20. I crossed over lands, deserts, and rivers, until I came at last to Egypt. It was there that I found out about my father, whom they called Osiris. In Greece he was called Zeus and, to the North Men ,Thor. But he was already dead. The blame had been placed on his brother Anubis, but the truth was that his son, Ra, had killed him. To avenge my father I challenged my half brother to a battle. It was forever after known as 'The Battle of The Sun'. It lasted, in the span of human years, for 5000 years.
"When it was over, Yami had taken Ra's seat as ruler of Egypt, and the people had forgotten that Ra, Bast, and others had actually walked among them. So I sealed Ra away in his fortress and let the desert cover it's secret. When I was finished, I returned home to Japan and united its people to make a nation. I married, had a son, and gave him the sword I had used in Egypt to defeat Ra. Then, before my body withered away, I gave a gift to my faithful dog. I gave him human form and named him the first Inu no Taishu, and I swore to be with his descendants forever. Sadly, his children mated with demons, tainting the gentle blood of the forest spirits I had created.
"And that's why I came to Rin. I had watched her bright and shining face, and knew she was destined to bring the gentle spirit back to my old friend's blood line. When she died, I feared that light was gone forever. I had no idea Lord Sesshomaru would find her just as I had entered her body. When he healed her, he sealed me inside. Now, I must wait until Rin is grown before I can reveal my true form. And with Ra's return, I will need her to help me destroy him once and for all."
Transition
Souta sat sulking on the well house steps. He was ashamed of himself for having let his friends and family down again. Kagome had tried earlier to comfort him, but there was no comfort that even her loving soul could give.
"Just leave me alone," he had told her. After she had left, Souta stuffed his hands into his pockets. Then, he pulled out his Duel Deck. He had forgotten about the cards. Slowly, he shuffled through his Zombie deck, and as he looked at the different monsters, he knew what he had to do. The only way to redeem himself from his cowardice.
"I'll get you Ra," Souta said out loud. "And I don't care what the cosmos do to me!"
Transition
"Kagome, could you go out and get your brother? It's dinner time." Mrs. Higurashi asked.
"Sure thing Mom," Kagome said. She lifted up one of the tarps that covered the walls of their now-under-reconstruction home. "Hey Souta!" she called, "Time to eat! Hurry before Inu-yasha takes your plate."
"I heard that!" Inu-yasha retorted.
"Souta?" Kagome called again. She went around the grounds, looked in the well house, in the shop, and in the woods around the shrine. He was gone. "Mom!" she cried, "I can't find Souta!"
"What? Wasn't he just outside?" her mother asked.
"He's gone," Kagome said frantically, "And I bet I know where to." She grabbed Inu-yasha up from his seat, and said, "You go down the well and get Sango and Miroku."
"Why?" he asked.
"Duh! Cause Kirara's the only one who can fly!" Kagome answered. "Just get them, and I'll meet you at Kaiba's. I have some phone calls to make."
Transition
Ra was ecstatic about his triumph. Not only had he destroyed one of Amateratsu's shrines, but he'd also forced the Avatar to reveal herself before her true awakening. Now she would be weaker than he'd had first anticipated.
"Our next move must be swift. Without mercy." Ra said to Bast and Apothus. "If I am to rid myself of my half sister before she has regained her full power, we must kill her now."
"But she had those dog demons protecting her," Bast argued. "Those icky smelly dogs! Gah!"
"And the Pharaoh'ssssssss sssssssservantssssssss will be prepared to fight for her too." Apothus added.
"That makes little difference to me. The Pharaoh is weak now without the power Amateratsu gave to him in the past. And his Shadow Powers do not pose a problem. As for his servants they hardly know how to use the Items. Those tools are no better than toys in their childish hands."
"So it's safe to say that none of my friends pose a threat to you?" Loki said as he stepped out of the shadows in his Norse battle armor.
"Ah, Set. You always did prefer the North Men, in their foul smelling furs." Ra said,not bothering to turn around.
"I've come to challenge you," Loki said.
"Ah. For title of the Sun God?" Ra asked, laughing.
"No, for revenge," Loki answered. "That shrine you destroyed was my home."
"It was the home of you Avatar, do not make the mistake of thinking it your home. You have become like so many lesser beings. Born as a human, thinking you are human, when you know your true place is here among the stars. Even worse, you think those fickle creatures down there love you. Love as humans see it is fleeting. Why else would my father have sought so many human lovers yet never once found happiness in them? He disgraced me and my mother in making these half creatures. Some so weak it's laughable."
"You weren't laughing when she was born," Loki said, smiling. "Are you done with your 'my Daddy didn't love me' routine, cause after 5000 years, it's gotten kind of old."
"Silence!" Ra commanded him, finally turning and facing the Lord of Chaos. "If you want a battle then name your weapon of choice."
"Very well, I choose a Shadow Game. And I'll use the creatures I created 10000 years ago: Duel Monsters!" Loki said, drawing his cards form his modern Duel Disk.
Ra extended his left hand, and a Disk grew from the skin. Then, with a wave of his hand, a deck appeared in the slot. "You underestimate me… Loki. Hmph, such a primitive name."
"Shut up and Duel!" Loki yelled. "I play call of the Mummy, so I can call two monsters at once. Now I summon Master Kyonshee (1750/1000) and Pitch Black Warwolf (1600/600) in attack mode." Before him a martial artist whose face was covered by a charmed cloth, and a werewolf carrying a black and crimson sword appeared.
"Loki, really, I thought Anubis was Lord of the Dead, not you." Ra said, laughing.
"Are you talking or dueling?"
"Very well," Ra drew a card and said, "Behold the power of Ra and tremble, Loki! I play Phoenix the Light Heart (1500/0) in attack mode." The fortress shook as from the smooth marble floor flames erupted, screeching into life came a great winged bird covered in white fire. "And when Phoenix the Light Heart is on the field, I can automatically summon Phoenix the Dark Heart," Ra said laying down a second card, and form the flames a second winged creature emerged, but this one was covered in black fire.
"Impressive, but I've seen this combo before," Loki said. "You're missing one important piece."
"Yes, The Winged Dragon that bears my name is ruler of all Phoenixes," Ra said. "But you may find, Loki, that my skills have improved since the last time we dueled. And this time when I win your celestial status will not only drop, but you will become my personal slave."
"Not the Mind Crush!" Loki exclaimed.
"Indeed. And you will find it more powerful than the Pharaoh's. I shall finish by leaveing this card face down. Now make your move."
Loki was genuinely worried when he drew his card. "I play Pot of Greed, and draw two cards. Now I sacrifice Pitch Black War Wolf to play The Vampire Lord, " The wolf howled as it disappeared, and in it's place a suave, white haired vampire draped in velvet and bat wings took it's place. "And now I attack both your monsters!" The martial artisit did a flying kick to Light Heart, while the vampire used his immense cape to swallow up Dark Heart, thus both Phoenixes were destroyed.
"You're forgetting my facedown card," Ra said. "Go Phoenix Ash! This powerful Trap Card allows me to summon both my Phoenixes from the Graveyard." Suddenly Both fire birds were back. "In addition, this card raised my Phoenixes by 500 points. That's 2000 points each."
(Ra: 3250, Loki: 4000)
"Now," Ra said, "If you are quite done. I shall go," he drew a card and smiled, then chuckled. "Loki, you are about to see why I am greatest of all the gods of Egypt. I play Tribute to the Phoenix. This magic card allows me to discard all my Phoenix monsters from my deck to the Graveyard. Next, I summon the only Phoenix that can rival The Winged Dragon: The Eternal Phoenix! Arise, mighty one!" he commanded. The ship shook and quaked as the fires that birthed the first two Phoenixes spread around them, and from it's depths, it's cry piercing the farthest reaches of space, The Eternal Phoenix (19000, 0), it's flames orange and red with it's fury, arose.
"Now, Loki… it is the end. For you see, not only is my monster's attack determined by the number of Phoenix cards in the Graveyard, but it can attack your life points directly. Go oh mighty Phoenix! Unleash our wrath!" Ra ordered. The flaming bird swept in, and covered Loki in it's fires of destruction. As he cried out in the sheer pain of being burned alive, Loki's monsters disappeared. Then, finally, The Eternal Phoenix vanished as well.
(Ra: 3250, Loki: 0)
Burnt and defeated, Loki transformed back into Souta Higurashi, and started to cry as he curled up in a ball. Then, Ra loomed over him.
"Do you recall the terms of our duel, Loki?" Ra asked.
"Please," Souta begged, "Let me go home…"
"You are home. For now, boy, you are stripped of your status as a god. And what's more as my slave- even as Bast and Apothus are. And my orders for you are to bring me the Avatar, so I may kill her."