Disclaimer: Marik: Sariah doesn't own Yu- Gi- Oh. Blah.

Sariah: Blah?

Marik: *shrugs*

Sariah: Um... okay...

SIDE NOTE: Sariah: Erm... yeah. *clears throat* Well, anyway, I'd like to thank my reviewers! Every last one of you! You make this fic very *quotes in the air* special, so as to quote Mr. Simmons on Hey Arnold! Which I don't own, of course. Wheeeeee!!!! I'm hyper and I'm updating, so, see ya!!!

Yami opened his eyes slowly. Where was he again? And where was Yugi...? Oh, wait...

After Yugi had mysteriously passed out, he'd woken up asking where he was. For some odd reason, he had been overly delighted to see Yami, calling him a name that he had never heard before. Now he couldn't remember what it was, but he did remember that he'd passed out himself shortly after that. Now where was he?

He tried to stand, but he found his wrists and ankles to be tightly bound. He suddenly felt very stiff.

'Where in the world am I? And why in such a forbidding place?' Yami shifted a little to try and get comfortable. Then it occurred to him that with the two pieces of twine tightly binding him, and with the awkward position he was in, that was impossible.

He sighed and tried to figure out how he had come to be there, when all of a sudden he heard someone crying softly next to him. He turned as best he could and saw a very familiar young girl with her head buried in her knees.

"Serenity?" the girl looked up sharply at the sound of his voice.

"Who's there?" she searched around wildly in the darkness, trying to find who it was who had spoken. She was slightly frustrated with the bandages covering her eyes. Yami shifted to face her with some difficulty.

"It's, um... Yugi," he replied.

"Oh... Yami. My brother explained the whole thing about the Millennium Puzzle to me. I can tell it's you, 'cause your voices are different." Serenity finally found him, gripping his shoulder as though afraid he'd move and she wouldn't be able to find him again. Yami shifted again so she was touching the twine that wrapped around his wrists.

"Mind helping me with this?" he asked.

"Oh, sure," Serenity began to untie him. "Um, this may take some time; the knots feel pretty tight."

"Take your time," Yami sighed. "So, how did you end up here?"

"Well, to tell you the truth, I'm not sure," replied Serenity, struggling with a large and frustrating knot. "I just passed out right in the hospital, and woke up here. I don't think I'm dressed in the same clothes... the clothes I'm wearing now seem a little worn. But I think they used to be silk. What about you?"

"I passed out as well, and ended up here. And Yugi passed out before I did. It gives me the impression that we are replacing the people who really belong here."

"Is that so?" Serenity managed to get the last knot undone. "Well, I feel sorry for the person who you replaced. He must have lost his circulation after a while."

Yami rubbed his wrists as the twine came off. "Yes. I was starting to lose my circulation as well." Yami then proceeded to untie the twine from his ankles. He also noticed that he wasn't wearing what he had been before. He was wearing an odd sort of black shirt that was torn and dirty in a few places. He wore a sort of rusty armor on his arms and legs. He didn't appear to be wearing any shoes.

"Yami? You're so quiet. Is there something wrong?" Yami realized that Serenity couldn't see what he was looking at. The silence must have been bothering her.

"I'm just now realizing that I'm not wearing what I was before," he explained. "That's all. I didn't mean to worry you."

"Oh, you too? That's kind of weird, isn't it?"

Yami nodded. He looked at what Serenity was wearing, which did appear to have been silken at one time. It was a faded pink color; a very slim dress that was perfect for her figure. It went down to her ankles and had sleeves that reached her elbows, but it was dirty and torn at her knees.

Yami finally managed to untie the rest of the twine and he stretched out his legs. He was very confused as to why he was here, and he vaguely wondered if Yugi was somewhere nearby.

"Yami?" Serenity's voice was quiet.

"What is it, Serenity?"

"Do you think... do you think that my brother is nearby?"

"I'm not sure... is there something wrong?"

"I'm just a little scared, and it would be nice to have him right by me. It's times like this when I feel I really need his support."

"I'm sure we'll find him at some point, Serenity. Don't you worry."

Serenity smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Yami."

"You're welcome."

Marik blinked once and he was awake. Actually, he couldn't quite remember if he had passed out... well, he was still half- out. It took him a moment to collect his thoughts.

"Sir? Master Machete?"

'Master Machete? Where in the name of Ra did that come from?' Marik groaned and sat up, shaking his head. Now he remembered. He'd passed out in the street and then woken up here... and now he was being called a machete? This didn't make any sense...

"Who are you, and what did you just call me?" he snapped at the man before him, who appeared to be a guard.

"Your name, sir... You are Lord Machete, and I am your head palace guard."

'Head palace guard? I must be dreaming. The only time I'm the pharaoh is in my dreams... but then again, in my dreams I wouldn't be called "Lord"; I'm always called pharaoh. And I certainly wouldn't be called a machete...'

"Master Machete?"

"Stop calling me a machete! Where am I?!"

"Well... sir, you are in your palace. In Sweden. You govern this city and three others."

"Govern?" Marik snorted in disgust. "Well, if I don't rule anything, then why am I even here? I'm more suited for ruling, anyway..."

"Well, we're working on that, my Lord. That is what I came to tell you. We have news on the prince."

"A prince?"

"Um... yes, sir. Prince Jonan. He rules Europe, remember? You agreed to govern for him so you'd be able to get more information on the weaknesses in his kingdom. And I've found more news."

"If this isn't about the pharaoh, then I'm not interested."

"Pharaoh, sir? I'm afraid I don't understand."

Marik gave a frustrated sigh. "The pharaoh! A five- thousand- year- old ancient ruler who lives in the Millennium Puzzle! I've been trying to take his title for years."

"Um... sir?"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

"Your memory isn't quite functional, is it, sir? You are Lord Machete... and, according to your opinions, a pharaoh, who only rules a small country, is a worthless title. Now, Prince Jonan rules an entire continent, so he has a very large title, and therefore, is much more worthwhile. Do you understand, sir?"

Marik stopped and thought about this. 'So the pharaoh rules only one measly country? I thought he ruled the world! Well, now... if that's so, then I believe this prince has much more to offer... much more. This may work to my advantage...'

"Um, sir? Sir, do you understand?" the guard seemed very confused by his master's behavior.

"You know, I do believe my memory is not what it used to be. Perhaps you need to refresh it... and when you're done with that, THEN you may give me the latest news on this prince. My mind must be refreshed of the old news first."

"Yes, sir. Where do you want me to start?"

SIDE NOTE: Sariah: Whew! That's done... now, to get my reviews. Gah, this is no picnic for me.

Dragaria: *pouts* Is my Yami hitting on Serenity?

Sariah: *sighs* No... well, I don't know... I don't think so... stop pestering me!!!!!!! T_T Well, anyway, this was hard stuff. I mean, I did ALL the math with the servants and people and stuff in the earlier chapters. And I looked up countries in Europe just for the purpose of this story!!!! I HAVE A FLIPPIN' HEADACHE!!!!! ^_^ I'm done. Please review A.S.A.P.!!!!!!!