Note: Here it is, chapter 43. I know Full Digital Reality was removed and, as soon as I can, I'm re-uploading it without the contest. Don't worry, those who entered will still be added in time. I may be putting the fic on Media Miner, where I WILL keep the contest, so for those of you who still want to enter, go there. Sorry for the interruption.

Chapter 43- To Egypt!

"Do you have everything?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

Nicole nodded to Heather, who insisted in staring over her shoulder as she went through her bag. They were in Heather and B's basement, the glowing portal in the center of the room producing strange smells that Nessert assured the group was somewhat stale, long-since dead Egyptians, mold, and other niceties. Perhaps a tomb wasn't such a good spot for appearing into, but it was the coordinate Rusty had given them.

"Positive?"

"Forty shield talismans, one reusable exorcism kit, two pounds of beef jerky, a book of portal coordinates, eight bottles of water, an ankh, a djed pillar, a heart scarab, a Wadjet eye, six sealing spells, a box of candles, three kinds of incense, sixty gold rings, a deck of Tenu cards, a deck of Duel Monsters, fifty blank talismans, and my spellbook."

"Good. If you're missing something I could kill you."

"If Nes' doesn't get me first."

Andro patted the young mage on the back.

"There, there. She'll only be sharing a body with you until we get back. Then she'll go back to being a horrible, chibi-thing."

Nicole's face changed, eyes becoming full of malice. Her backwards-sweeping bangs jutted back, horn like.

"That's not why I'm pissed. Without an extra pair of eyes, Vessel's more vulnerable. If she gets hurt, that stupid jackass of a pick pocket'll have to pay very dearly…"

"'Vessel' survived life before you, she can do it now."

"NO ONE IS TO CALL HER VESSEL BUT ME!"

Andro snickered. Sure, Nessert was one of his oldest, and best friends, but she really was a pain. It was fun to annoy her… Most of the time. Meanwhile, Ryou and Bakura were looking through a book Nicole had given them. For the sake of the trip, Bakura had returned to the Millennium Ring. The book was written first in hieroglyphs, then in Egyptian with the English alphabet.

Er, Bakura? Can you actually read any of this?

The spirit's presence shifted.

'Not at all.'

"Yo, get over here! The portal's ready!"

Heather snapped her fingers and Laura laughed, hopped forward and, wrapping her arms around Ryou's waist, picked him up and started walking towards the portal. Ryou squirmed.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"Helping!"

"Could you please put me down!"

Laura stopped and set him down on his feet. Nessert laughed.

"Strong, isn't she?"

Ryou nodded, Laura giggling cheerfully. Heather grinned.

"'Gotta love weres. They're so nifty to have around…"

"Cool! I'm nifty!"

Aaron walked over to the portal and stepped through, vanishing into the light. Andro blinked.

"I think that means we have to go."

Nessert nodded, returning control to her lighter half. Andro nodded and walked into the light. Nicole turned to Ryou.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

The entered the circle together and the light died, the basement returning

Location: A Random Tomb in Egypt

It was dark. Very dark. It took a few moments before Ryou could see anything, the scent of decay was the only way he could tell that he was still somewhere. Around him the others shifted.

"Let me guess. That damned pickpocket gave us the coordinates of the wrong tomb."

That was Nessert. Apparently she'd gotten bored already. A large shape moved somewhere off to Ryou's left.

"No, I sense his presence. Jack and Russell are her somewhere."
"And we all know you're so good at sensing things, Andro."

"Shut up B."

"Once again, you idiots had us all stick our heads into the snake hole."

"No one asked you, Aaron."

There was a finger snap and the tomb came into focus, lit by a flame lit on the tips of Aaron's fingers. The tomb was a big one, a couple of meters across and high enough for Andro to stand. Probably belonged to a powerful king, or at least one's favorite noble. Most of the owner's wealth was still in the tomb, which took the form of golden furniture, rows of Ushabtis, and an intact sarcophagus. Something behind this last object shifted and the group tensed. There was the sound of laughter, strange, yet good natured, and the New Jersey gang dropped their guard.

"Rule one of being a mage: Expect the unexpected."

Nessert scowled.

"Let me guess, Rus', Jack set you up to this."

A boy, who had been crouching behind the sarcophagus, stood up. He was of average height, but rail thin. His hair was a deep black with crimson streaks, a red mask tied at an angle to his head. His cloths were a pair of black knickers, and a black shirt with a stylized demonic face colored red. The mask was a stylized version of the traditional face of the devil: red fleshed, with a pair of short horns jutting from the forehead. The mouth was open in a twisted grin; the eyes narrow in dark mirth. There was something about it that felt old, despite the bright colors and flawless paint. The boy, however, seemed happy, nonchalant.

"And I bet you're the newest recruit." He grinned to Ryou, doing an exaggerated bow. "I am Russell Smith, host to Spring-Heeled Jack, the nuisance of 19th-century Britain."

Ryou smiled. "I'm Ryou Bakura. Nice to meet you."

The boy's face suddenly changed, becoming more self assured. The mask's eyes glowed eerily.

"Oh, come now. You can't honestly expect me to believe that you're the only soul in that body. I can sense another presence."

Bakura revealed himself, taking control. He smirked at this odd spirit.

"I am called Bakura, I don't believe we've met."

"I am called Spring-Heeled Jack, but my… acquaintances call me Devil Boy Jack. I was the most feared being in Britain-"

Nessert snorted.

"You're a character from half-rate 'Greatest Mysteries' books who most mortals don't even believe existed. You're a myth, a-"

"-legend, precisely," Jack grinned, smirking at the Egyptian through Rusty's eyes. "Few people even know you were ever alive, just a figment of the people of the Nile's imagination."

"Yeah, well. At least I was worshiped. You were just put in dime novels."

Heather cleared her throat.

"No one cares who was more infamous. We're here on a MISSION. Now, let Rus' back in control or I will PERSONALLY make both of your afterlives an eternal HELL. Is that clear NESSERT? JACK?"

The two exchanged glares one final time before letting their hosts take control. Russell scratched the back of his head.

"Er, well, the Millennium Items are being reactivated in a temple just outside. Ryou, you're expected."

"How do you know?"

"Well, you have the final Millennium Item, don't you? They're having some, eh, 'problems' with the central item. They sorta need your help."

Ryou frowned. "Is this about the Other Yugi?"

Russell looked surprised. "Well, yes. Seems that they've re-completed the Millennium Puzzle, but the Pharaoh isn't there. When they realized the Millennium Ring was missing, they, eh, figured the spirit that had once been sealed inside had reacquired it somehow and taken off, despite already being admitted into the Fields of Peace. I suppose Bakura's that spirit?"

Ryou nodded. He wasn't sure how he'd reobtained the Millennium Ring, just that he'd fallen asleep one night and had woken up with the cord around his neck.

Aaron's question broke him out of his thoughts. "But aren't the Fields of Peace reserved for those pure of heart?"

Nicole nodded. "Mm-hmm. You forget that the gods promised Nes' a place in the Fields when we both finally die. There's always a chance for redemption, I guess."Heather sighed.

"That's great, but aren't we supposed to be, I dunno, HELPING?"

Rusty blushed, sweat-dropping.

"Well, then, follow me."

Location: Somewhere in the Sahara.

"ACK! WHY IS IT SO BRIGHT?"

"Shut up Heather."

"But, geeze! For once I'd like to go somewhere that isn't too hot, cold, wet, dry, bright, or dark. Can't we try that for next time?"

After the darkness of the tomb, the desert sun was painfully bright. Andro reached into one of the many pockets that seemed to cover his vest, took out a pair of sunglasses, and flicked them on. Aaron was the only one not squinting, seemingly impervious to the glare. Laura, magically, had somehow obtained a brightly-colored baseball cap, nether the sun or the heat bothering her enough to lose her happy grin.

The heat….

Ryou wished he had brought something, anything to get rid of the heat. His friends seemed to feel the same way. Except for Andro. The giant was unperturbed by the heat, though his hair and cloths rustled unnaturally, as if by some unfelt breeze. He leaned over and handed Ryou's stepsister something, muttering something too quiet for him to hear. Nicole leaned over to Ryou and handed him a rolled talisman.

"Here."

The moment the paper touched Ryou's fingers a cool breeze surrounded him, the heat seeming to evaporate.

"Eh, thank you."

"No problem. Andro thought you might want it."

The giant grinned cheerfully, Ryou smiling back.

"Thanks."

Andro waved off the polite comment.

"It's nothing, I don't like the heat much ether."

As with the light, Aaron didn't seem to notice the heat, making him the only group member unmarked by sweat. In fact, where ever the pyro stepped the ground seemed to smoke. It took Ryou a few moments to realize that, instead of leaving footprints in the sand, the executive was leaving patches of glass where the sand had actually MELTED.

"What's he-"

"Aaron's logic is that to beat the heat, you have to get above it. I wouldn't go near him, you'll get burned."

Aaron didn't seemed to hear Heather's explanation, his eyes fixated on the back of Russell's head.

"Where, exactly, are we going?"

"See those ruins? That's where we're headed."

Ryou squinted, looking almost directly towards the sun. The dune's before them looked odd, black shapes seemed to be moving towards them. One of the smallest of the forms suddenly sped up, jogging towards the travelers.

"Ryou! Boy, am I glad to see you!"

Ryou couldn't help but smile as the boy with the tri-colored hair slowed down, noticing his friend's company.

"Yugi! These are my new friends! Guys, this is Yugi Motou! He's one of my friends from Domino City!"