Author's Note: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters. Nor do I own the Gates of Hell, the Devil's Tower, or the Blue Hole. The last two are, so far, only used in reference.

Author's note 2: For this chapter, I must explain something. This fanfiction does take place after the Memory World arc, but only the manga version. I know the Millennium Items were sealed away and Atem and Bakura both went on to the afterlife but, considering that Bakura was a thief and not even being banished to the Shadow Realm could keep him away, I feel that if, given the chance, he would simply continue to live as Ryou's alter ego and, once again given the chance, he would steal the Millennium Ring for his own uses. As a spoiler, I have to say Atem, Yugi, and a few other characters WILL be in this fic, just not until later chapters.

Mana-the-Authoress: You're hyperactive aren't you? ;. Nah, the only OC royalty made reference to in this fan fiction is king Apepi, though you may have heard of him being PHARAOH. In reality he was a Hyksos, a race of nomads that came from Asia and conquered Egypt before conforming somewhat to their captives' beliefs, sort of. The real Apepi ruled along side a true Pharaoh and, at one point, actually was pretty peaceful with his rival ruler. But when the current Pharaoh died, his replacement wasn't who was meant to be next on the throne and, sort of, killed Apepi in a burst of flames along with some of his sons. These actual events will be mentioned later on, though somewhat modified.

Chapter 17- Retrieving

Time/ Still Meaningless

Location/ Final Layer of the Gates of Hell

Ryou was slightly confused. They had trekked what may be hundreds of meters beneath the ground through the tunnels, only to come to a dead end. Actually, it was a doorway, but one blocked by two huge stone axes, handle and blade both carved of rock. It was amazing, but Ryou's eyes had adapted somewhat to the darkness so he could make out vague shapes, such as the obstacle.

"How are we going to go through? Those must way tons."

The huge form of Andro stretched its arms and stepped forward.

"This is why I came."

Taking hold of one of the axes, the monster-boy through all of his weight backwards and with a crack, the axe came free. Andro set it softly on the ground and soon it was joined by its double. The giant dusted off his hands.

"Strong as an ox they said! HA!"

He made a polite gesture towards the door. Carved into its face were the images of a bird, a cat, a lizard, and a fish.

"Lady Nessert, would you be so kind?"

The doll raised both hands to the door and the carvings slid to make a single row down the center: Bird on top, followed by cat, lizard and fish. The door glowed and both halves slid away. B laughed evilly.

"So you ARE useful, little Thief."

The doll glared.

"Just remember, oh loud mouthed one, that you are mortal and, being able to die, your continuance depends on my mood."

"You forget I am well versed in the spells of binding. One word and-"

"Oh please, the only knowledge of the spells are from them being used on you!"

"YOU INSOLENT LITTLE-"

Nicole sighed and, in a quick motion, stuck a talisman to B's forehead. The girl's eyes instantly slid out of focus and she fell silent. Ryou and Bakura looked at her strangely.

"Well, THAT would have been useful a few years ago."

"Why? What happened?"

"Nothing, nothing important."

"…moving on!"

The group passed through the door and, with not so much of a flicker, the new room became full of a dimmed light. This was good, after the darkness any more light would be painful.

"Welcome! I was worried you'd never arrive!"

In the center of the room stood Tait, looking as strange and old as ever. Heather raised an eyebrow.

"How do you get here?"

The immortal smiled.

"That's my secret."

Andro looked annoyed.

"But what about the axes? And the lock? How did you seal the room from the inside?"

"Easy, I didn't come through the door."

"…I thought teleportation was impossible down here."

"It is."

"Then you took a short cut."

"No. There isn't one."

"…YOU STUPID OLD MAN! HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET DOWN HERE?"

Nessert's patience had run out. The doll gestured madly.

"I'M A FRICKEN TOMB ROBBER! IF I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET INTO A PLACE LIKE THIS, NO ONE DOES!"

The old man laughed at the pathetic little plush.

"I walked through the stone!"

Bakura's eyes widened.

"But how? I needed my Diabound to do that same trick!"

The old man's eye's twinkled with amusement.

"Why, I used precisely the same method!"

From a leather pouch hanging from his neck, Tait drew a Duel Monster card. Diabound the Dark. Bakura made a quiet, squeak in the back of his throat when the old man handed the card to him.

"I believe this is yours."

Bakura just stared at the card. His Ka… but how? Didn't the Pharaoh seal that away? Then again, he had sealed away Bakura himself AND the Shadow Realm and look how well THAT worked…

"HEY! How come HE gets his Ka?"

The old man shook his head, laughing, before drawing another card from the pouch.

"Here, Sekhmet-Hekau, you've proven to me that you can handle it now. At least without destroying us all."

The doll squeed and, clutching the card, hopped back up on it's host's shoulder. Meanwhile, Ryou was watching his dark half stare blankly at the card.

What is that? Isn't that just a Duel Monster?

'No. It's my Ka, my own soul beast.'

Ryou smiled softly when Bakura finally looked up at him, eyes still wide with amazement. Sometimes the spirit seemed far more innocent then he really was, and the chibi-ish body wasn't helping. Bakura turned back to the immortal that watched him patiently.

"What is the initiation?"

Tait's smile faded.

"We're going to give both of you a spark of magic, to unlock any sleeping powers within you. If it is successful you will become one of us, but…"

"What happens if it fails?"

"You die."