Yami: Last time Nazo and I made up for my mistake. She's really in such bad shape, I wish I could help her more. Yugi also finally confessed his feelings for Anzu! Now, Mr. Hanif says something's wrong with Nazo! What now?

Chapter 6 Exploration

Yugi had left Nazo alone while he searched for Anzu. That had only been a couple of hours! What had happened?

Yugi let Yami take over his body as he, Anzu, and Hanif entered the small house. Nazo was not only awake, but lively and looking very pleased with herself. She held up a hand of cards, showing them off to the group gathered in the small living room. "Three Aces, three 9s, and the 10, Jack, Queen, and King of hearts!"

"Gin," said Yami without missing a beat.

The others turned around when they realized he and Anzu had arrived. "Yami-sa," exclaimed Nazo. She jumped over the table and threw her arms around him. "It was incredible! One of my best Shadow Games ever! I wish you could have been there!"

"What happened," asked Yami, pulling her waist closer to his. He did not say so, but he was relieved she was safe and happy.

Nazo stared into his eyes. "I woke up and went for a walk to relax. On the way, I saw these guys running from the police, so I followed." Yami's eyes narrowed.

"Why would you-"

Yugi's soul split from his body. {Shush! Be glad she's distracted!}

"That was still pretty foolish of you, considering everything from yesterday," voiced Mai.

"Sounds like she took care of herself," said Jonouchi.

Nazo smiled. "The men had stolen something from the ruins just outside the city! So I challenged them to a game of Gin Rummy. They lost, tried to get away, and I gave them a Penalty Game." She took Yami's hand and pulled him to the center of the group. A cloth draped over a pointed object on the table. "I'm not sure what it is, but as soon as Isis-san gets here, she'll know what to do with it!" She uncovered the object.

Ryou, Yugi, Hanif, and Calpurnia gasped. "What is it," asked Mai and Honda.

"It's an Osiris statue," said Ryou.

"Osiris," asked Jonouchi. A thought bubble popped up with the god card Osiris the Sky Dragon. [1]

"Osiris was an Egyptian god. He was the first son of Ra, and considered to be the next strongest. He was the original pharaoh, until his younger brother Set killed him and scattered his remains. Since then, Osiris became Lord of the Underworld, and his son, Horus, took over the rule of Egypt. Most pharaohs were believed to be the representative of Osiris on Earth."

"Nice family," joked Jonouchi.

"Yeah," agreed Honda. "And I thought only Jonouchi had it rough!!"

Yami studied the statue. "Looks like it was broken out of something," said Yami. He ran his finger along a groove on the side. "This was made recently by a chisel or some other tool."

That's such a shame," said Anzu. "Something like that, holding up for thousands of years, only to be damaged now."

The door opened, and Keiko came out cheering, "I found her!!"

Isis entered and gasped. "The sacred Osiris!" She hurried over to examine it. "Its been damaged as well! How terrible!"

"Where'd it come from," asked Mokuba, who had come in with Keiko, followed by Kaiba.

"Two big guys stole it," Nazo replied.

"This statue is an important part of the Temple of Osiris just outside of the city," Isis explained. "It was kept in a stone box sealed with a spell set by Thutmosis, your grandfather, Pharaoh. Akunamukanon erected the temple not long after." She ran her fingers along the gouge along the figure's side. "It was Shadi who insisted this remain in the temple. The FBA had security nearby in case any theft was planned, but it looks as if we have failed." [2]

"Once again," Calpurnia added under her breath.

Isis did not respond. She looked heartbroken. "Shadi never would have allowed this. It means he is truly in danger. There is no other explanation." There was a moment of silence. Isis stood up, clutching the statue. "I must return this to the temple tonight!"

"Tonight," asked Mai and Honda.

"She's right," said Keiko, uncharacteristically serious. "That statue has watched over the city for over 3,000 years. Removing it now opens up a floodgate of evil spirits to gather."

Isis' eyes misted over, staring at the statue. "The gods may be furious that this was damaged, but at least it can be returned before anything terrible happens to the city."

"But it's nighttime," Mai insisted. "What if those thieves return with some of their buddies? This isn't Ancient Egypt! Bad guys have guns now!"

"I'm going with you," said Nazo.

Everyone stared at her. Nazo placed her left hand (the one with the Bracelet) over her heart. "I saved it from those thieves, and I won't rest until its back where it rightfully belongs! I'll provide some protection with my Bracelet, too."

Kaiba sighed. "Looks like we're all going, then."

Yami raised an eyebrow. "How do you figure?"

"Chain of loyalty. You and the girls wouldn't let Nazo put herself in danger without you, I'll follow Keiko, Mokuba follows me, and the Three Stooges over there would follow you off a cliff if you asked!" Kaiba whipped out his cell phone. "So, I just saved my ears from hearing another damn 'friendship' speech!"

"Who are you calling, Se-chan," asked Keiko.

"I'm ordering another jeep. I can't afford to lose a motorcycle race to you twice in one week."

Two jeeps headed down the sandy path to one of the ancient Temples of Osiris. Leading the group was Calpurnia in her own jeep. Her passengers included Jonouchi, Kaiba, Keiko, Mokuba, Karim, and Hanif. The second was driven by Ryou, accompanied by Yami, Anzu, Nazo, Honda, and Mai. Jonouchi and Keiko were playing a game of their own. They were naming off food dishes off the top of their heads. The object of the game was to name something related to the previous dish, and whomever ran out of ideas or gave up from hunger lost.

"Pork chops," said Jonouchi.

"Beacon," said Keiko.

"Eggs."

"Okenomiyaki."

"Cheese pizza."

"Pepperoni pizza."

"Sausage pizza."

"It takes either a deaf man or a very patient man to put up with this every day," muttered Hanif looking at Kaiba type away at his laptop.

"Niisama has gotten used to blocking Keiko's voice out," said Mokuba, not looking up from his book.

"What are you reading, young one," asked Karim.

"Yugi leant me this book about the life style of Ancient Egyptians. It's really fascinating! You know the pharaoh had to wake up early every morning to attend a special ceremony in order to raise the sun? People really thought he was a god!"

"So it had been deemed by Horus at the beginning of time, when his successor took the throne. All of the ancient ways of worship were considered not only law, but facts of life. No one questioned the strong values of their ascendants at all. Pharaoh was a god, and his priests were the messengers of him."

"Isis said that my brother was a High Priest alongside Yami."

"Yes, meaning he was the most intelligent, respected, and talented individual hand chosen by Pharaoh to be by his side."

"Niisama still refuses to admit it," whispered Mokuba, "but I think he's starting to believe it's all true!"

Kaiba raised an eyebrow, not pausing in his typing. "Mokuba," he said warningly, "I can block out Keiko, but I can still hear you!"

"Spaghetti."

"Linguini."

"Angel hair pasta."

"Shrimp pasta."

"Battered shrimp."

"Shrimp cocktail."

Meanwhile, in the other jeep, Anzu told Mai quietly what Yugi said to her only less than an hour before. "What should I do?"

"Well honey, you've got to keep a cool head bout this. Remember, he's still on the run from the law, and you aren't. It'd be pretty hard to start a relationship now."

"I know," said Anzu blushing. "But I can't stop thinking about how he looked when he said it! He looked so… so…"

"Romantic?"

"Yeah."

"Take it from a girl with a few notches on her headboard, Anzu: 'True love' is rare, if it's even true at all! You're still sixteen; you have so much time ahead of you to find the guy you want to get serious about. And considering the fact that Yugi cannot return to Japan, it may never work out."

"But... What if he is the perfect guy? "

"Then you'll come together no matter what separates you."

"Dui!"

Mai and Anzu looked up to see Nazo setting her cards down in triumph. Yami gave a slight pout as he inspected the cards. "You win."

"Don't look so cross," said Nazo collecting the colored chips they bet. "You got a quan dui last time!" [3]

"I've never lost at this game before!"

"There's a first time for everything."

"Very well, deal again."

Anzu smiled. "I'm so glad those two made up! Nazo looks so happy right now!"

"Yes, she is," admitted Mai. 'I would not have thought true love was possible at all,' she thought. 'I figured such a notion was as pathetic as friendship. But those two managed to find each other after thousands of years, and their love is still so strong.' She closed her eyes. 'These people have taught me so much about myself in such fantastic circumstances. I only hope that everything turns out alright in the end for them.'

The driver adjusted the mirror and watched as the pharaoh gathered his cards to play. Chocolate eyes glinted in the setting sun, and a feral grin swept across his features. "Almost there," he said in a cheery tone. 'Almost there…'

The original city of Thebes spread out only six miles across the Nile River. In order to conserve the ruins of some historical areas, the city slowly moved as it was built up in later centuries, leaving behind many of its abandoned temples and palaces. The palace of Akunamukanon/Yami's time was one such palace left out of the public eye. Certain sections of the city surrounded it, preserved thus far as an ancient ghost town.

The group left their vehicles outside of the gates to this area and proceeded on foot so as not to disturb the ground more than necessary. They each took with them a bag/pack with what each considered "essential." Although each had a different opinion on the term "essential," they felt relatively safe.

Keiko shivered under the weight of the spirits' emotions as she entered. So many had died in this place, and so many continued on as if they had never died. They saddened and frightened her. She kept close to Kaiba. His presence always had a way of calming her in dire situations. She could feel his love, and he felt hers. Sure, he did not openly believe in her powers, but he would not snub her for them. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she stopped shivering.

"Where is the temple," Yugi asked, now once again in control.

"This way," said Isis, "next to the remains of the palace."

"Great," said the white-haired teen. "I wanted to check it out."

"Un," agreed Yugi. "Me too!"

"I really think we should try to stick together," said Anzu. "This place gives me the creeps! And who knows where…" She scanned the group. "Where's Keiko-chan?"

The rest looked around. "No Mokuba or Kaiba either," said Mai.

"I think I saw them heading for the palace," said the albino teen. "Come on, Yugi-kun! Let's go see!"

Not wanting to miss a golden opportunity to explore, Yugi followed his friend quickly before the others objected. Nazo followed after them. "I'll keep an eye on them," she yelled to Jonouchi, who almost followed. "You go with Isis to return the statue, then meet us at the palace!"

Yami split from Yugi as they ran. {Do you think this is wise, Aibou?}

{No, but we should be okay. What could go wrong?}

Keiko and the Kaiba brothers entered an area at the side of the palace that seemed spaceous enough to fit three houses. "I saw it run this way!"

"Keiko," whined Mokuba carrying a heavy backpack of supplies, "nothing is here! Let's go back with the others!"

Kaiba grabbed a hold of her shoulder. "Neither of us saw anything. If you go off chasing every hunch you get, we'll never get home!"

But Keiko pulled away and scanned the patch of land. Unlike the rest of the area, this place held dirt instead of sand, and Keiko assumed that it used to be the royal gardens many centuries ago. No plants grew there now, since no one took care of them, and the ground was as barren as the desert itself. Still, Keiko swore that she had seen something small and furry run into the garden, and she wanted to figure out what it was.

A small "meow" caught her attention, and the ghostly form of a grey cat stood waiting by a patch of dirt lower than the level of the rest. It climbed down and disappeared. [4]

Keiko bent down and started to dig. "Now what," grumbled Kaiba. "Keiko, get up and... let's...What?"

Keiko had unearthed a stone door hidden for millennia. She ran her fingers along the carvings. "These are spirit wards," she explained to her stunned boyfriend. "They've been placed here to fend off evil spirits and protect all good souls who enter." She grinned. "At least now we know the cat I'm following isn't evil!"

Mokuba knelt down to feel the stone too. "Woah... I wonder what down there..."

"Let's find out!"

"Kaiba-kun," Yugi called into the darkness of the palace. "Mokuba-kun?" "Keiko?" He shone his flashlight from side to side. "Dammit, where are they?"

"Imotou," Nazo yelled. "Mokuba!" Nazo pulled out a lantern from her coat pocket and directed it ahead of them. "Hey, Yugi, look at this!"

"Did you find them," asked their other companion.

"No," said Nazo, "but look at this room." She took a step inside and held up her lantern. "Its the only one I've seen so far without windows. At least I don't think it did. The holes in the side don't look right for windows."

"Egyptian buildings always had lots of windows in order to tell time and to keep sight of 'Ra,'" explained Yugi. He, too, stepped inside. "It's very strange for a random room to have none at all. It must have been used for something."

"Like what?"

"Let's see..." Yugi scanned the room, trying to make out its possible purpose. It was small enough to fit very few people, so it could not have been used to ceremonies, meetings, or banquets. 'I wonder what else could have happened that historians don't know about...'

Yami split from Yugi. {Can we please find Keiko and the Kaibas instead?}

"Be patient," said Yugi out loud. "Let me try to think this out. Its like another puzzle to solve!"

Nazo checked the walls for any marks. "No hieroglyphs. No words. No nothing! Just these handles for stuff."

Yugi walked closer towards the center of the room. It felt familiar to him, somehow, but that was impossible. He had never been there before. Perhaps he felt something through his and Yami's connection. Still... He thought he saw a table nearby, so he walked towards it. Suddenly, he heard a soft but determined voice in the darkness, like an echo. "If the law says someone must be punished, then punish me!" Then a crack of a whip shot through the darkness. [5]

Yugi stood up. Was that him? It couldn't be! 'Punish? Was this... a torture chamber?!'

"Nazo," Yugi whispered. "I think we-" He was cut short when he turned around and saw the barrel of a gun pointed directly at his face. On instinct, he took a step away.

"I'd stay put if I were you," the white-haired teen warned in a low, purring voice. "Everyone knows that the pharaoh would hate his pet vessel to be harmed in any way!"

Nazo turned to them and froze. "Ryou-kun... What in Heaven's name are you doing?"

Chills ran up Yugi's spine as Yami Bakura, spirit of the Millennium Ring, chuckled at Nazo's ignorance. "I'm sorry," said Bakura in the style of a telephone voice machine, "but Bakura Ryou is currently not here. Please leave a brief message at the sound of the bang." He cocked the gun. "Bang." He pulled the trigger.

1

Osiris the Sky Dragon - For those who do not know, its Slifer in English.
2 Osiris statue - From ESoT chapter 11
3 Quan Dui - Chinese card game played with 64 special cards, eight in a player's hand at a time. When all have pairs, dui, a player wins the pot. If a player has all eight matched, quan dui, the player gets double the amount in the pot.
4 Kei's cat Lilac - From ESoT chapters 7 and 9
5 Naeem's torture experience - From ESoT chapter

6

Yugi: It's me! Bakura's back, and as cruel as ever! Nazo challenges him to a Shadow Game. The stakes are their Items! Meanwhile, everyone else stumbles upon different clues of Yami's past... and theirs!