Chapter 9 The Gang's All Here

The patrol outpost 100 miles north of Luxor was rather quiet. Two watchmen and a pilot stared at the monitor, watching an old black and white Three Stooges episode, bored out of thei minds otherwise. They glanced at the other monitor, which viewed the hanger and their patrol helicopter, and noted the mechanic working away peacefully on the engine. "Nothing weird tonight, Omar," said one.

"Does anything ever?"

The mechanic, Ali, wiped his brow. "Check-up is okay. Just need to re-fuel the gas tank and..."

Two people entered the hanger Ali had never seen before. One was an old man, mid-sixties, wearing old fashioned archeologist clothing, boots, and a dark hat. The other was a young woman dressed in tractor boots, kahki pants, a green shirt, and black headband. She had a blue-white charm on her necklace. The woman smiled sweetly. "Excuse my rudeness," she said, "but our car broke down, and we need to get to Luxor in a hurry. Can you give us a ride?"

Ali scoffed. "You gotta be kidding me, lady! This is a governmental outlook post! We don't give free rides to tourists!"

The old man cleared his throat. "I understand your situation, but please understand ours. We need to help some people with matters of worldwide importance."

"Like what?"

"I'm afraid I cannot say."

Ali snorted. "Let me guess, a mummy has been resurrected that'll bring on the plagues of Egypt, or will open the underworld, if you two, an old professor, and your pretty daughter, don't save the hero and defeat it. Am I right?"

"No, but let's just say that wouldn't surprise me..."

Ali shook his head. 'Damn tourists!' "Look, don't think I haven't heard shit like that before, old man. The point is, I don't give free rides f-" He choked. The woman had come up from behind him and pulled his arm behind him with one arm, and held him in a strangle hold with the other.

"Furia," exclaimed the old man.

The woman let go of Ali's neck, and held an oddly shaped dagger to his face. "Look here," she growled softly, mocking his previous tone, "this dagger is soaked in arculus spider venom, all the way from the southern tip of South America. My son is in danger, and if you don't take me to him, you'll be grateful if you vomit out your own liver!"

Ali tensed. Was she serious? She certainly looked it. "Y-yes ma'am!"

Sugoroku sighed. 'Maybe it was a mistake to tell her about the Millennium Items and everything after all!'

Keiko giggled insanely as she rushed back up the stairs with Kaiba and Mokuba behind her. "Isn't this great! There's so much in these notes! Given time, I can decipher the exact spell Yami used on Minkabh to curse him! And now we know who Prince Naeem was!"

"Funny how obvious it is now that we know," added Mokuba. He stopped. "Crap! I forgot my backpack!"

"Leave it," grumbled Kaiba. "I'll get you a new one!"

"Aw! But that had some of my clothes in it! If we're gonna fight evil spirits, we need first aid and-"

"Enough," Kaiba snapped at Mokuba, surprising him. "I don't want you to get involved in all of this nonsense! Don't you understand that the fact that it's so obvious Prince Naeem is really Yugi makes it false! It's too obvious! Coincidences like that don't come about!"

"But-"

"And don't tell me that it's because of some cosmic design that we're all here, Mokuba! I came here on my own accord! No one forced me! There is no such thing as magic, fate, or ghosts!"

"Se-chan..."

Kaiba and Mokuba looked up at Keiko's squeak. She had reached the top of the winding stairway long before them. What frightened Kaiba was that Keiko's squeak, though very cute in itself, rarely came from her lips in such a fashion. She only gave that tone when she was completely terrified beyond conscious thought. Preparing himself to protect her, Kaiba took the stairs three at a time and found Keiko standing at the entrance, facing outward. As soon as he left the doorframe, something invisible hit him like a fist! Straining to stand on steady legs, he put his hand on her shoulder. "Kei-chan! What's wrong?"

Keiko shivered slightly. "Can't you feel it?"

"What?"

She took a step forward; the wind gently blew her curls across her face. "So much evil energy is surrounding the city walls, forcing their way inside. The wards protecting this city are losing their power under its weight. Something, or someone, caused this while we've been underground." Keiko looked very serious. "Seto, we have to warn everyone right away!"

Still refusing to admit his ever growing belief in these happenings, Kaiba nodded. "Let's go, Mokuba."

Mokuba was staring at a place many yards away from them. "Niisama..." He began running towards a figure sprawled on the ground against the wall of the palace. It was covered in shadow, except for her left arm. The moonlight hit the Bracelet, and the gold sparkled in the dark. Another figure, clearly female with Egyptian garb, was attempting to carry her.

"Nazo-neechan!!" The older two sprinted for the fallen queen. Keiko gasped when the fresh burns when Nazo's legs and arms came in sight. "Nazo..."

As Mokuba approahed, Calpurnia's eyes turned to Mokuba. They gave a green glow, and Mokuba screamed as the light enveloped him. The boy collapsed into the sand.

"MOKUBA!!!" Kaiba and Keiko froze several feet from them. "What the hell did you do to my little brother," Kaiba demanded angrily.

"All in due time, High Priest," said Calpurnia in a strange tone.

Nazo let out a groan of pain as she began to regain consciousness. Tears trickled down her cheeks. "Yami-sa... I can't sense him anymore. He's really gone!"

Keiko tensed. "So that's what attracted the evil to this spot!"

Mokuba opened his eyes. Instead of their normal grayish blue, they also glowed green.

Jonouchi stared at the Shen in wonder. The weight, the feel, the look of that snake, all seemed familiar. But surely he had never seen it before. 'As soon as I find Yugi, he and Yami gotta explain this!'

The others gaped momentarily. Then Isis, overjoyed and not knowing what else to do, stepped forward, threw her arms around Jonouchi, and kissed him full on the lips. His eyes widened substantially, and he jumped away. "What? What was-? Huh?"

Isis' eyes filled with happy tears. "Thank you! Thank you so much, Jonouchi-san!"

'Jonouchi-SAN?!' Jou blinked. "Heheh! Anytime, Isis! Anytime!"

Hanif, Karim, and Isis bowed. "You've set our families free," Karim explained. "The final Item has been found, and the mystery of the Pharaoh's brother solved, all thanks to you!" He raised his head. "Once this entire affair is over, we can finally join the modern world free of ties to the ancient past."

Isis kept her face to the ground. Tears fell down her cheeks. 'I wish my brother was here to know this!'

As if on cue, Isis heard a very familiar voice call out her name. "Isis! Sister!" Isis' head snapped up. Could it really be her brother? Here?

The others looked at each other. "Wasn't that...?" "Someone else is here!" "Did you hear Malik just now?" "Sounded like him." "I thought he was missing."

Isis looked out of the large window out into the sandy streets. Malik and Rishid's forms stood only a few feet away from the entrance to the palace. Malik had his hands cupped to his mouth, calling for her. "Isis! Sister Isis!! Where are you!?"

"Malik," Isis whispered. Then, "MALIK!!" She ran down the stairs, her companions at her heels, past the concealed entrance to the mural, out the door, and into her younger brother's arms. "Malik! Oh, Malik! Rishid! Gods above, I am so happy to see you!!" She sobbed with joy when she felt the weight of her adopted brother join the embrace. "I've been so worried! I thought... I thought..."

"Shh." Malik stroked his sister's hair. "I know. I know. I'm sorry I worried you."

"Malik! Rishid!" Jonouchi, who had hidden the Shen inside his jacket, and the others finally caught up with the Ishtals. "You're okay! We were startin' to wonder-"

"I am alright," Malik interrupted. "But Yugi is in danger."

Rishid motioned toward the temple. "The pharaoh was captured by Lord Minkabh and is being held in the Temple of Osiris! We must hurry!"

"Yugi's in danger," gasped Anzu. "What about Ryou?"

"And the queen," questioned Karim. "Was the queen with them?"

"Let's go," yelled Honda, ready to lead the charge.

"Hold it!" Everyone froze and looked at Mai. She folded her arms. "Isn't it awfully convenient that these two just so happened to show up in the middle of nowhere to tell us where Yugi is? I don't know. Sounds a bit too convenient for me!"

Everyone thought about this for a moment. Rishid stooped to the ground and drew a symbol in the sand. Mai asked, "What are you-?" But she was interrupted when a green light surrounded her, and a ripping sensation pulled at her body.

"MAI!!" Jonouchi rushed over to pull her from the magic. But by the time he reached her, her soul was gone. She fell limp into his arms. "Mai! Mai! Wake up!" He snarled at Rishid. "Bastard! What did you... Eh?"

Rishid's eyes had a green tint around them. "Foolish woman," he said. "She should have kept her mouth shut. It would have made things much easier."

Isis gasped as her brother tightened his grip on her. "Don't struggle, Sister," he warned softly.

"What's going on," Karim demanded.

"You'll find out soon enough, Hem Ntjr," said Malik in a slightly higher pitch than normal. [1]

Mai sat up and Jonouchi's arms. Her eyes were now a little green as well. "Lord Minkabh wanted an audience to be present as he regains his rightful powers from Hell. And you all just so happen to be the perfect spectators for the occasion."

Hanif backed up towards his father, but Rishid shoved him away. "Karim and Isis are guests of honor. Stay well away, or have your soul sent to the Shadow Realm, too."

Bakura closed his eyes and smelled the cool sea breeze as it blew past. Even in the midst of all that was to come, his hikari still kept his soul room peaceful. The vast ocean, the short but clean beach, and the flowery meadow behind him stretched for ages, implying a profound depth to Ryou's soul. Sort of like a built tabletop RPG. No pollution of any kind twisted the environment, leaving the rich color of nature in all its glory. But the vastness and isolation also included a loneliness recently beginning to be filled with scattered pictures of friends and happy memories...

'Prolonged exposure to this would drive me crazy,' thought Bakura. He chuckled. 'Well, further than I am already!'

"What are you doing here?" Ryou materialized near Bakura. "I thought you cut me off completely."

"I did," said Bakura, and he held up the Millennium Ankh. "This thing allows me to enter soul rooms. Nifty toy, huh?"

Ryou's eyes narrowed. He had no real power over his yami, and it angered him that Bakura would be so willing to join forces with Minkabh at the prospect of getting the seven Items. "If you felt up to abandoning me in the Sha-"

"Now that's not very nice!" Bakura folded his arms in mock hurt over Ryou's words. "Here I was even nice enough to give you that fire to protect you from the Shadows' affects, keep you out of danger from the battle, and you're scolding me!" He shook his head. "No pleasing some people!"

"Cut the crap," Ryou snapped. "What are you doing here?" He blinked when he noticed what Bakura was wearing. "And since when did you have a leather jacket?"

Bakura pulled at his new apparel. "Like it? I think I look much better in leather! Spoils of war are all the better when you look good in 'em!"

Ryou's heart sped up. "That's... That's Yugi's..."

"Your task is simple, yadonushi. In a few minutes, something's gonna happen. I want you to tell me how the pharaoh reacts." He grinned and lifted Ryou's chin so their noses nearly met. "And I'll want every agonizing, pitiful detail!"

"What... are you planning...?"

Bakura tapped Ryou's nose lightly three times. "Hi-mi-tsu!" [2] He turned away. "Just do as you're told, and I'll make sure to give you a new body once my powers are at their height." Both looked up as they heard echoes of voices from the outside world. "Sounds like you have new guests. Best get back to them."

The Temple of Osiris had long ago collapsed since Egypt was invaded by the Persians over 2,000 years prior. War, weather, and time eroded the once strong, proud walls of the main temple in the city of Thebes. They now stood only eight feet tall in some places, six in others, and smoothed over with sand and wind. The foundation remained intact, as did pieces of the statue and alter upon the riser at the back portion.

Malik and Mai secured the chains holding the group of 'spectators' with a single key lock. Nazo was forced to the front, flanked by Jonouchi and Anzu on either side, followed by Hanif and Honda. Keiko was in the middle, further tied up with rope around her hands, ankles, and mouth, along with paper charms to subdue her magic abilities.

"Comfortable," mocked Rishid.

"Almost," said Jonouchi, also in jest. "Would it be too much to ask for a complimentary bag o' peanuts?"

"I'll need this, Divine Shukura," said Malik. He peeled the Millennium Bracelet off of Nazo's wrist, revealing a raw pink blister imprint on her skin. She cried as the cool, damp air stung her.

The altar itself had somehow been restored, and a blood red field covered it and whatever was on top. Behind the altar was a broken box, decorated in hieroglyphics, and containing the statue of Osiris. Chained in crucified positions to the pillars surrounding the statue and alter were Kaiba, Karim, and Isis. Yami/Yugi's precious Dark Magician monster card was tacked on to one side, and a glowing green crystal was set on the other.

Malik, Mai, Rishid, Calpurnia, and Mokuba wore dark robes and gathered at the steps of the short rise. The aforementioned area could not be walked upon by common mortals, so the possessed simply waited.

"Hey," said Honda, looking over his shoulder to see what was going on. "The three chained over there! Aren't they the same as three of Yami's priests?"

Keiko wanted to answer, but the rope in her mouth gagged her response. But Hanif knew from his teachings as a tomb keeper. "Yes, those are three of them. Their spirits are connected to the Millennium Items the most, so they can still act as catalysts to force a reaction."

Anzu thought aloud, "Mahado was the priest of the Ring, and Shadi must be trapped in that crystal or something, since he was the priest of the Ankh. But there's no one for the Eye."

"Guess nothing's perfect," muttered Jonouchi.

"How can you be so calm," shouted Anzu, Keiko, Hanif, and Honda.

Jonouchi did not respond. He refused to give away the fact that he was far from calm. Like hell he would relax his guard when there had to be some way for them to escape. Yugi and Yami were still unaccounted for. His undying faith in those two had not let him down yet; he needed to prepare himself for their signal to escape. His body tensed like a wild cat, waiting for his chance to act at a moment's notice.

Up in the sacred area, Kaiba felt different about his situation. He could not move in his current position, so he kept his strength to himself until the time was right. No need to exert more energy than necessary. As long as Keiko and Mokuba were unharmed, hewould remain calm.

Bakura emerged from behind one of the pillars, much to most of the group members' shock.

"Bakura," screamed Honda and Anzu.

"You sonofabitch," added Hanif. "How dare you betray us!!"

"I serve no one but myself," said Bakura, setting the Ring and the Ankh onto a table beside the alter. The table also had the Scales, the Eye, the Necklace, the Rod, and... the Millennium Puzzle!

"Teme," snarled Jonouchi. [3] "What the fuck did you do to Yugi!?!"

Before he answered, a stream of black-purple light tore through the air itself, and Lord Minkabh stepped through a self-made hole between the World of the Living and the Shadow Realm. His black robe blended into the very fabric of the Shadows, and he was only clearly visible once it re-sealed itself behind him.

Once his gold-sandaled foot touched the stone floor, a wave of magic rippled through the ground. The grains of sand melded into the stone, reforming it to look like new, and the walls rebuilt themselves. Torches formed and lit on decorated columns lining the hallway, and the last ray of moonlight was swallowed up as the roof reformed. Carpeting appeared underneath them leading to the altar, tapestries of monarchs and gods fluttered down the pillars, color came to the hieroglyphs on the walls. The closest description Jonouchi could think of was that of the effect of Time Magic in the Big 5's RPG virtual reality game. This ripple effect continued on outside, stretching and reforming matter within the city, outside to the desert, and touching the current city of Luxor.

"We're almost at the dock of Luxor," said Ali the mechanic/pilot as he checked his instruments. "You should be able to s- WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!?!"

Furia and Sugoroku looked out the window and saw the ripple of magic transform the modern buildings into dust, and the monuments into mint condition. The people, resident and tourist alike, lay still as death in the sand unperturbed by the commotion around them. "My God," exclaimed Sugoroku. "What on Earth is going on now?!"

Furia grabbed the pilot's shoulder. "Take us down there!"

"Forget it, lady," said Ali. "I'm getting' me the heck outta here!"

Furia glared, and then went to the back in search of something. She opened the bin and took out two parachutes. "Are you coming, Father," she asked Sugoroku.

He took the parachute. "Hard to think that you are the same Furia my son met in Johannesburg all those years ago!"

"I'm not." She strapped herself into the harness. "I'm a mother trying to help her son!" She pulled open the door and waited for an opportunity to jump. "I'm coming, Yugi-chan!"

Minkabh's robe billowed behind him as he strode down the steps. His horrible, pruned face stood out among the blackness of his robes, and his green eyes gleamed with pleasure. His mouth was not visible amidst the creases of his wrinkled face, but the tattooed symbol enlarged is features to twice their size. A gnarled, skeletal hand reached out and grasped the Bracelet from Malik's trembling hands.

"That's Minkabh," asked Honda softly.

"That's him," confirmed Anzu.

"Okay," he said very loudly, "fuck Pegasus, Malik, and Dartz! That guy is one scary-ass motherfucker!!"

Keiko stabbed one of her long fingernails into Honda's back to shut him up.

Minkabh glided back up the steps and placed the Bracelet on the table closest to the altar. "Everything but the Shen," he said in his high, shrill voice.

"I have a sacrifice prepared," said Bakura.

"Good, good." He faced Bakura. "Once we have the Shen, the complete Puzzle will be enough to call upon the power of the gods, and the seven Millennium Items will be yours for the commanding."

"In exchange," said Bakura, "you have your revenge on the High Priest, his wife, and the royal family. And with the pharaoh gone, you may wander around Egypt as you please."

"Or ask you to destroy me, so I can at last be at peace."

"Then we are agreed."

"Why do you persist in questioning our agreement, Bakura-sama," asked Minkabh. "You seem not to trust me."

Bakura smirked darkly. "Funny, that!"

"Such a sad case you are." He walked to the side of the altar. "Now, whom have you chosen as the sacrifice?"

Hanif whimpered. "Gods, please don't be us!"

Bakura waved his hand over the red field of magic, which disappeared instantly. Moto Yugi lay unconscious on the altar. His shirt was torn open and ready for slaying.

"YUGI!!" Everyone else in the building screamed his name.

Minkabh's mouth opened in a delighted smile, and he began panting in ecstasy. He caressed Yugi's face and hair. "Perfect," he breathed. He put his cheek on Yugi's forehead in a very strange embrace. "Absolutely perfect! Beautifully perfect!" He ran his fingers down Yugi's bare chest, down his pants, ending on Yugi's now bare feet. "Bakura-sama, your sense of poetic justice amazes me to the utmost! The pharaoh is guaranteed to sense his hikari's death, and through him your power will be fulfilled!"

Bakura snorted at the praise. He had no personal quarrel with Yugi, except through Yami. But he figured that Yami deserved to experience the death of his only family for the sake of the Items just like Bakura had done millennia ago. Bakura's smile returned at the thought of Yami's reaction. Perhaps the pharaoh would sink into a pit of chaotic insanity. It would be nice to have another person like him around; make things more interesting!

Minkabh went back to caressing Yugi's face. "Your pain..." He tried to stop panting, but failed. He licked his face with his long, dark tongue. "Your pain... Your agony... Your contorted face... Your pure, beautiful, red flowing blood..." The green eyes turned to Bakura. "Do it slowly! Drain him! Spill his blood over the walls of this holy place!"

Anzu looked away in case she might be sick. "No no no no no no!"

Bakura pointed his curved dagger at Minkabh. "Don't forget! His blood and bones go into creating a replacement Shen!"

'Replacement?' Jonouchi's mind spun. He had the real Shen! They didn't know the real one had been found! But should he tell them? Would that stop them? Would he be able to save Yugi that way… or make things worse? Minkabh's green eyes bore into Jonouchi's milk chocolate eyes. 'I have the Shen,' he screamed in his mind. 'You don't need a new one! Let Yugi go!!'

Minkabh's face contorted, as if he smiled, but no one could be sure. {If that is so, tell Bakura yourself... Jabari!}

Jonouchi tried to move his mouth, but found his lips shut. He could barely breathe. 'I-I can't move!' Sweat beaded his forehead. 'He wants Yugi dead, even if I can save him! Yugi... Yug, wake up!'

Everyone else who could talk cried out nearly the same thing, but they fell on deaf ears. Yugi did not make any sign of recognition, nor consciousness. The possessed mortals at the foot of the stairs bowed and begun to chant.

Bakura moved to Yugi's side. He lifted the dagger high. "This is for the blood on your family's hands!" He plunged the dagger downward…

… only to have Yugi clap onto the sides of the blade! "And this is for the blood on your hands!" He pushed the dagger back upwards, jabbing the hilt right into Bakura's nose with a satisfying crunch! The tomb robber staggered back. Yugi grabbed the Puzzle and Bracelet directly behind him. He tucked them under his arm carefully, hopped off the altar, and ran like hounds of Hell were at his heels!!

It all happened so fast, the weight of the events did not click until the others saw Yugi sprinting in their direction. Jonouchi roared in triumph, free of the stunned sorcerer's spell, and the everyone started cheering.

This did not last long. Bakura was now on his feet. He grabbed the carpeting and pulled. Yugi's foot slipped, and he fell face first into the carpet with a thud. Bakura advanced slowly, laughing through the blood coming down his face. "I would have killed you quickly and painlessly, Yugi-kun," he said, "but you insist on prolonging the pain!"

Yugi stood up, the Millennium Puzzle and Bracelet still clutched under his arm. He checked behind him at his friends, chained in a mass ten feet from the door, which was closed and barricaded. His eyes traveled to the ex-priests chained around the altar, his five possessed friends, and Minkabh standing imperiously by the statue box. Finally, he looked back to Bakura, now only a few feet away. "Yugi-kun," said Bakura in a strangely calm voice for someone splattered with blood. "Be sensible. Even if you escape, you'll have ruins to travel through and miles and miles of desert! Just hand over the Puzzle and I'll consider sparing your friends."

"Don't you dare, Yug," shouted Jonouchi.

Yugi had very little time to think. He looked back to Minkabh, who was watching him closely. No, not Yugi, the Puzzle! He still needed the Puzzle! Yugi pulled off the piece with the Eye of Horus. Minkabh's face gave away his fury. Yugi held it up at Bakura. "Give me the keys to their chains!"

"Or else what?"

"I'm not an idiot, Bakura! You left me alone to finish the Puzzle because you need it! Hand over the keys or I'll smash it!"

Bakura glowered dangerously. "Smash it and they all die!"

There was a tense moment as Yugi thought of what to do. Strategies raced through his mind, none very promising, but he was desperate. 'What would Yami do?' Then it hit him. "I'll duel you for it!"

"Come again?"

"You heard me!"

"We took your cards!"

"I don't mean cards!" Yugi put the single piece of the Puzzle in his left jean pocket. "Put the key to the chains in your pocket, and hand me one of your daggers. I'm gonna fight you for it!"

There was another long pause. Honda voiced what they were all thinking. "Are you fucking serious?!"

"Moto Yugi," said Kaiba incredulously, "in a physical fight?"

"He's lost his mind," exclaimed Hanif.

Bakura smirked. He wiped blood from his mouth. "As intriguing as a good old fashioned brawl sounds, I can't help but question the stakes."

"The stakes couldn't get any higher, Bakura!" Yugi took a firm hold of the rope, spun the Puzzle around, and threw it at his friends. To all of their shock/relief, the rest of the pieces did not break. He kicked the Bracelet so it landed less than a foot away from Nazo. "If I win, I get the key, and you allow me and my friends to go free with no hassles!"

"And if I win," asked Bakura, sliding one of his covered daggers to Yugi with his foot.

Yugi picked it up. "You win… I'll put the piece back and slice my own throat!"

Minkabh's eyes sparkled. "He means it, Bakura-sama! This is delicious!"

"Yugi, no!!" Anzu screeched.

"He... He can't," Jonouchi panted in shock. "He... He's really..."

"Hard to believe that this is the same crybaby that could never handle his own duels," commented Bakura loudly.

Yugi unsheathed the blade and held it up at eye level. He narrowed his eyes so that, from the light of the fire, they looked almost like Yami's. "Do you accept the duel?" The sharp blade glinted.

'This truly is the pharaoh's brother after all,' thought Bakura. 'Spilling his blood will be a pleasure indeed!' He unsheathed his blade. "Alright, Yugi-kun! I accept!"

1

"Hem Ntjr" = "High Priest" Yes, folks, I found some real vocab at long last!!
2 "Himitsu" = "Secret", or in this case "It's a secret!"
3 "Teme" = very rude way of addressing someone

Yugi: I don't care if I hate fighting or not; when someone threatens my friends, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do! Even if I have to fight Bakura, even if it may cost me my life, I'm gonna make sure my friends are saved! The old, scardy-cat Yugi is long gone!