A/N on song - I chose the song 'Breaking the Habit' by Linkin Park for several reasons, the main being that Yugi is no longer acting as the pushover he was at the start of the series. My fondness of Yugi spurns from this fact, because he does grow substantially by the end when he duels Atem.

Yami: Last time, Everyone was captured by Minkabh and Bakura! Yugi was going to be used as a sacrifice, but managed to escape. Finding no other option, he ghallenged the kuso tomb robber to a dangerous fight!

Chapter 10: "

Breaking the Habit"

Furia and Sugoroku rushed into the city and to a police station. "Excuse me, I'm looking for..." But everyone in the station was asleep. Sugoroku checked to make sure they were breathing. "They're alive," he informed his daughter-in-law, "but they're dead asleep! Must be some sort of spell to keep people away from the action."

"But why would Yugi-chan - or rather the Nameless Pharaoh - do something like this?"

"They wouldn't. We need to find out where they are." He took the officer's keys. "Come with me, Furia-chan. The Ishtals live not too far from here. Any of the tomb keepers in the area dealing with the Nameless Pharaoh will be helpful right now."

Furia took a paper-weight from the officer's desk to break open the arsenal cabinet. Once opened, she grabbed a small machine gun and several extra rounds of ammunition. "Which to you prefer, Father? Remington 870, Ruger MKI, Tommy, Uzi...?"

"None of these will be much help against demons and wizards."

"These are for anything else we encounter." She cocked her Browning A-5. "Now, where's the closest tomb?"

After explaining what had happened to them, Mai and Mokuba had a few questions of their own to have answered. "How come we are solid here if our bodies are still in the real world," asked Mokuba.

"Astral bodies are different from our real bodies," explained Calpurnia. "When an astral body gets hurt, it's either connected to someone else in pain or your own body is being hurt. It's a kind of resting point before it splits into the Baa and Kaa. But we can only be solid in the Shadow Realm."

Malik gave an example. "The pharaoh and Bakura need hosts in order to interact in the Light World. But in this place, they don't."

Mai plopped down next to Calpurnia crossly. "But we can get back to our real bodies, right?"

"If someone manages to open the Shadow Realm, we can."

Mokuba's eyes misted over. This place felt very cold and dark. He wanted Seto nearby. "I'm scared," he admitted softly.

Malik put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry, kiddo. The fire will protect us from the Shadow Realm's harm."

Yami hadn't said a word through their conversation. He only listened from the side, half out of reach of the firelight. 'We're safe, but who's going to protect Yugi,' he thought. Even with the Puzzle fixed, Yami still felt as though something was amiss. He needed his Aibou and his wife. He needed them by his side. He hid his face in his knees as he hugged his legs tighter. 'Mou hitori no ore,' he thought sadly. 'Nazo-sa... Please be safe.'

"GAME START!!"

Yugi didn't have time to blink before Bakura appeared in front of him with a vicious left hook. He managed to duck the next punch from the left, but ran right into a punch to the gut. Bakura tried to hammer down his fists, but Yugi managed to step aside and try a punch of his own. It missed, Bakura side-stepped, and elbowed Yugi in the back. Yugi turned around, arms ready to defend himself again. "One thing's for certain," said Bakura. "You can take a beating!"

Yugi smirked. "After the years of being beaten up by the punks at school, that was nothing!"

"Course not." Bakura flipped his dagger so the hilt pointed at Yugi. "I haven't even started yet!" He took a swing. Yugi dodged, grabbed Bakura's forearm, and threw him away. Bakura quickly regained his balance and tried a back kick. Yugi jumped back.

Bakura turned his failed thrust kick into a step-trust but catching himself with his fallen foot and thrusting out again. This kick nailed Yugi hard in the jaw, sending the shorter teen staggering backwards a few feet. Bakura tried another hard punch, but Yugi dodged, grabbed Bakura's forearm, and fliped the tomb robber over his head.

Honda whooped. "Dude! Did you see that?"

Jonouchi laughed. "Dude! Yugi's actually got some moves!" [1] Jonouchi stared at his friend in wonder. 'Is this the same guy I picked on a year ago?'

Yugi's speed gave out quickly, though. He'd never fought in a real fight before, only defended himself. Bakura soon began dealing punch after punch, until Yugi coughed up some blood. He knocked the smaller boy to the ground, put his dagger in his belt, jumped on top of Yugi, and grabbed both of his wrists. After a brief struggle, and pressure to Yugi's right wrist with his thumb, Bakura forced Yugi to drop his dagger.

"I don't get it," groaned Yugi, still trying to get Bakura off. "Why haven't you used your dagger yet? You carry it around, so I thought-"

"That I'd be itching to use it," asked Bakura. He squeezed Yugi's right wrist harder to the point Yugi was sure it would break. "I am, but I'd rather drag this out a little. Get me some exercise, you know." Yugi's eyes darted back from his dagger to Bakura. Bakura smiled. "You want that, don't you?"

Yugi felt his ligaments in his wrist strain. He couldn't move. From somewhere further down the room, he thought he heard Jonouchi yell out two words: "Hair!" and "Eyes!" Of course! Yugi snapped his head down so that his spiky hair hit Bakura right in the eye! Bakura let go of Yugi's wrist. In that instant, Yugi punched Bakura as hard as he could in the chest. Bakura coughed up some spit and blood, and Yugi scrambled out from under him.

Yugi held up his dagger in defense, panting hard. "Well, Bakura," called he, "you still think I'm no threat?"

"Now I know you aren't!" Bakura wiped his mouth clean. "Your fighting spirit is almost non-existent. That was nothing to me! Only a coward would crow after one clean hit!" Bakura positioned his dagger at a right angle to his left forearm. "Looks like I'm gonna have to teach you to fight properly!"

Yugi was shaking so badly from fear and anger, he could have sworn his friends heard his knees knocking from several yards away. "I'm not a coward," Yugi growled under his breath. He raised the dagger to strike and ran towards Bakura. "I AM NOT A COWARD!!"

Bakura ran directly past Yugi towards a pillar behind him. "Lesson number one!" Bakura used the pillar as a spring board to send his hurtling back at Yugi three times faster. "Strike to kill!!"

In the Shadow Realm, Yami screamed out in pain, clutching his side. "Pharaoh!" Malik and Calpurnia rushed to his aide. Mokuba jumped. "What's wrong, Yami?"

Yami straightened up. The pain was gone as suddenly as it came. He stood up and looked around, as if his answers would pop out of nowhere."Something," he began, "something is wrong with Yugi!"

Ryou gulped. 'Mou hitori no boku,' he whispered to himself. 'Please stop!'

It took only a moment's hesitation. Yugi suddenly felt extreme pain in his side. Things slowed down. Not a sound was made. He glanced down and saw his own blood fly away from his side, splattering the pillar about three feet away. Yugi vaguely felt the dagger rip at the side of his abdomen. The world turned as he floated backwards, away from Bakura, away from his blood, in the direction of the door. His friends' voices echoed in some dark corner of his mind as he finally hit the floor and skidded some yards against the rough, stone surface.

"NO!!" Jonouchi pulled hardest against the chains. "YUGI!!"

Yugi's figure reflected in Kaiba's horrified eyes. It seemed very familiar... [2]

'Beautiful!' Minkabh licked his lips hungrily. 'His death shall mark the true fall of Pharaoh Akunamukanon's family, and my reign over the World of both Light and darkness!'

Bakura wiped blood from his broken nose. 'If I could see better, I'd've hit his stomach!' He stopped and stared at the blood as it ran down the side of the pillar. He remembered Ryou's plea to spare his friends; how Ryou begged for Yugi-tachi's lives to be spared. He clearly pictured his hikari's shining, chocolate eyes. Why? Why could he envision him while looking in the face of Yugi's imminent death?

Bakura's mind snapped back to the present as Yugi struggled back to his feet, his eyes remaining in shadow. The teen unbuttoned his formerly white shirt the rest of the way and tied the sleeves around his waist, using it as a make-shift bandage to slow the bleeding. "Strange," the spirit mused. "I didn't think you'd still be willing to fight once I cut you."

"Yugi, stay down," Jonouchi yelled.

"Please," screamed Anzu, "you tried! We understand! Just escape!"

Nazo, too weak to speak, called out in her mind. She still did not know how to direct her thoughts, but maybe if she thought loudly enough he'd hear them. {Yugi... We need you to save Yami... He wouldn't want you to be in danger...}

Yugi panted for a moment, allowing everyone's words to sink in. Something rang deep inside of him, drowning out the common sense of the matter. "I ... can't..." Unbeknownst to everyone else, including its current holder, the Shen began to glow inside Jonouchi's coat. It sparked in Yugi's subconscious, and a gold circle appeared on his forehead. He raised his eyes, shadows creating an eerie affect under them. The Shen revitalized his nerves, numbing the pain and slowing the leakage of blood from his wound. He stood up straight. With his new wind, he cried, "I CAN'T ABANDON MY FRIENDS!!!" Softer, he added, "Even if I can't kill you... Even if I die trying... As long as I'm fighting for their safety, I will stop you!"

Bakura smirked. "You're actually starting to sound more interesting! Your stupid 'friendship speech' sounds better when you're backing it up with blood!" He moved to strike on target this time. Yugi disappeared from view. Bakura's eyes widened in shock. "What-?" Yugi suddenly appeared at Bakura's side and he slashed at Bakura's face.

Ironic how he should get a new body scarred in the same place he scarred the last one!

Bakura felt the wound and growled. "SHI-NE!!" [3] He punched, Yugi dodged and punched back. Bakura pushed Yugi's arm out of the way. With this momentum, Bakura slipped out of his jacket and wrapped it around Yugi's neck. Yugi had only enough time to grab the front before Bakura pulled the sleeves.

Yugi was now being strangled by the leather jacket, his back to Bakura. Bakura grinned evilly. "Did you really think you'd when, even with magic? Baka! You shouldn't have challenged me to begin with. Now, which do you prefer: A broken neck, or strangulation?" He pulled harder, and Yugi's feet lifted slightly off the ground. Yugi gave a small, strangled cry. "Sorry," mocked Bakura, "didn't catch that! What did you say?"

Yugi struggled for breath. Pulling at the jacket did no good, so he had to attack the source. "I-I... sa...said..." Yugi kicked up his knees. "...FUCK OFF!!" He brought one boot up hard between Bakura's legs.

Every man watching groaned.

Before the shock ran its course, Bakura flung Yugi hard against the pillar. Yugi landed chest first, crunching his ribs. He held onto the pillar to stay on his feet. Bakura dropped to his knees, doubled over and clutching his precious package. "Teme..." he groaned.

They both remained in their spots for a minute or so. Everyone else watched in silence. 'Just stop,' begged Anzu in her thoughts. 'Just stop right now, Yugi! No more! Please!'

Bakura finally got to his feet, shaking in lingering pain and rage. "Face me, you worthless vessel!"

Yugi turned, took a few steps, and tripped. He landed on Bakura in a sort of strange embrace. But he was too tired to move at the moment.

Bakura stood perfectly still. "My my," he said mockingly, "I didn't know you cared!"

Yugi opened his eyes. "I..." he whispered, "I don't get it... Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would you help the man who killed your family?"

Bakura's eyes doubled. "Nande?" He switched to thought-speak. {Liar! The old pharaoh did!}

{You don't know?!}

{Know what?}

Yugi closed his eyes and concentrated hard. He vividly remembered Minkabh's words to Yami nearly two weeks ago. "It was I who suggested the spell to control the monsters of ancient Egypt. It was I who chose the thieves to slaughter for the ceremony. And it was I who told your father years later, which caused his health to deteriorate, and him to eventually die."

Minkabh pouted, angered that the fighting had stopped. "What are you waiting for! Finish him off!"

Bakura's dangerous eyes darted to Minkabh and then Yugi. He paused, then side-stepped. Yugi fell to the floor with a grunt. "I can't."

Minkabh thundered, "WHY NOT!?"

"Because he won the game."

Yugi lifted his hand. While he and Bakura spoke to each other, Yugi had pick-pocketed the key from Bakura. But if the thief knew, why didn't he stop him? Yugi looked up at him. Bakura said, {Get out before I change my mind.}

Minkabh climbed down a few steps. "You're letting him go?! What kind of a thief keeps his word!?"

"An unpredictable one." Bakura stretched lazily. 'I'll wait until the old fart's off guard.' He took the Millennium Ring as he walked past the table. "I'm a bit tired. Think I'll call it a night." He walked right out the side door, leaving a very stunned audience behind. [4]

As Minkabh stuttered in shock, Yugi crept to his knees. The fall had re-opened the cut in his side, and he started bleeding again. His jacket was nearby, so he picked it up and put it on to hide it from his friends. He even wiped some of the blood from his face with the sleeve of his shirt. Slowly, he stood up, and trudged to the far wall where Jonouchi-tachi sat gawking. When he got close enough, he smiled as though nothing had happened. "Yo, minna!"

Jonouchi chuckled in relief. "Yugi..."

"That was fucking awesome," yelled Honda.

"You're insane," muttered Hanif both relieved and impressed.

Yugi unlocked the chains, and helped them get free. Honda and Jou hugged Yugi shouting their praises. "Ow!" Yugi whined. They let go. "Oops! Sorry, Yug!"

Hanif ran to the doors and tried to push them open. Honda followed and helped him nudge it just enough for them to escape. "Let's move it, guys!"

Minkabh roared in anger. "If you won't stop them, I will!" He took a card from the top of Yami's deck (still on the table by the rest of the Items), slid it past the Rod, and yelled, "Incursio!" Sorcerer of the Doomed appeared above his head."Attack them!" The monster hesitated. "Attack them now!!"

Keiko took off her gag. "Yugi! Give me the key! I'll get Seto!"

"The Hell you are," screamed Jonouchi.

But Keiko took it anyway and dashed for the alter. Sorcerer of the Doomed powered up a magic blast to attack her. When it let out, Keiko put up a shield to block it and continued on.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING," yelled Kaiba angrily. "GET OUT OF HERE!!"

"Not without you!" She reached his side and put the key in the lock. It didn't fit! She tried to pull at the chains.

Kaiba's heart was in his mouth in panic! "Keiko, get out of here! These people will kill you!!"

Keiko grunted as she pulled harder on the chains desperately. "I told you, I'm not leaving you!"

"Godammit," Jonouchi grunted. He dashed over to help her. Sorcerer of the Doomed fired again, this time at Jou, and he jumped out of the way just in time. But the force of the blast knocked him to the wall.

"Keiko!! Jonouchi-kun!!" Yugi ran a couple of steps, but stopped due to the pain. He cursed to himself. "I have to help them!"

"Here." Nazo weakly held up the Millennium Puzzle. "Call your own monsters."

"Minkabh has my deck!"

"He has Yami-sa's... not yours..." She pulled Yugi's deck from her coat pocket; Yugi had given them to her for safe keeping on the jeep ride."Here... Show Minkabh what you can do..." Nazo fainted.

Yugi wasted no time. He drew the first card, knowing his deck by heart. "Marsh Melon, defense!" Marshmallon appeared just as the blast hit them. Marshmallon disappeared for a moment, then pulled the next card. "Red Gadget! Protect Jonouchi!" Next card. "Silent Swordsman, stay close to defend us!"

Honda came back into the room. "What's taking yo-HOLY HELL!!"

"Take Nazo and head for the jeeps," Yugi yelled. "We'll be right behind you!"

Anzu stared at Yugi. It hit her hard that they may not survive this onslaught, now that monsters were involved. And Yugi was so hurt already, he may not last period! Right after Yugi summoned Yellow Gadget to protect Keiko, Anzu pulled Yugi closer and kissed his cheek. "Come back to me alive, Yugi," she whispered. That said she ran after Honda and Nazo.

Yugi blinked a couple of times. A twinge of red blossomed on his cheeks. Pain long forgotten and confidence tripled, Yugi got to his feet to command his monsters like a true hero!

Meanwhile, Sorcerer of the Doomed destroyed Yellow Gadget. Minkabh pulled out another card. "Fissure, mageia!"

The floor underneath Kaiba and Keiko collapsed, and a clawed hand grabbed Keiko's leg. Keiko grabbed hold of Kaiba's coat as she was being pulled into the abyss. She screamed.

"Keiko!!" Kaiba was bound hand and legs, completely helpless as he watched his beloved Keiko clinging to him. He was completely out of control as Keiko's leg became bloodied and his coat began to tear! "No!!"

Suddenly, Red Gadget jumped into the hole. The claw let go of Keiko and took the monster instead. Jonouchi grabbed Keiko's arm and pulled her up. "You alright," he asked holding her close.

Minkabh called for Summoned Skull. Sorcerer of the Doomed disappeared as the sacrifice, and the skull demon appeared in its place. Yugi quickly drew Marshmallon's Eye Glasses to redirect the attack from the others to his monster. 'Hurry, Jonouchi-kun!'

Keiko punched Jonouchi away. "Pervert! Let me go, and help me free Se-" Jonouchi hit a nerve in Keiko's neck, and she fell limp in Jonouchi's arms. "Sorry, Keiko, but there's no time." He looked up at Kaiba. "We'll come back for you, alright?"

Kaiba's jaw clenched. The only thing worse than feeling helpless: Relying on Jonouchi Katsuya! "Just get her safe, bonkotsu!" [5]

Jonouchi lifted Keiko onto his shoulders. "Geez," he grumbled. "You'd think after I saved his girlfriend, he'd thank me, or at least use my name!"

Since Minkabh had attacked enough for three turns, this made Silent Swordsman's attack a total of 2500 points, equal to Summoned Skull. Minkabh used the magic card "Sand Tornado" to get rid of Marshmallon's Eye Glasses, and attacked Silent Swordsman. Both monsters met in a stalemate above the temple floor.

Jonouchi reached Yugi's side with Keiko on his back. "Can you walk, Yug?"

"Un!"

"Then let's go!"

The two quickly slipped out of the room as they heard the battling monsters shatter behind them. Marshmallon followed Yugi, just in case. Minkabh ordered his possessed followers to seek Yugi-tachi out and destroy them.

At the top of the stairs, Jou and Yugi stopped dead. The entire city of Thebes had been restored to ancient times, with winding streets, tall statues, and hundreds of buildings proximate the temple and palace nearby. This made things much, much harder since the wall surrounding the city stood firm with only one entrance: The city gates which were not in eyesight!

"Now what," shouted Jonouchi.

Yugi bent a little, trying to mask his pain with deep thought. As he did he saw something on the ground at the base of the stairs. He ran down to pick it up. "Its a card!"

Jonouchi braced himself. "What kind of card?"

"The five of hearts." Yugi scanned the area. "And there's another one! And another! Nazo must have left us some bread crumbs to follow them!"

"I thought she left cards!"

Yugi sweat-dropped. "Just stick close to me, Jonouchi-kun!" Yugi began picking up the playing cards as they made their way down the city streets.

At the temple doors, Chimera sniffed the ground. Yugi's blood left the perfect scent to follow...

Noticeably missing from the city were people. Yugi ignored the frightening sense of stillness in the air as he and Jonouchi ran through the winding streets. They caught sight of Thebes' gates just in time to see them closing on their own. Honda pulled at them to slow it down, and Anzu screamed out for the others to hurry. Yugi and Jonouchi sprinted for their lives, but reached it too late. The heavy doors snapped shut with an ominous "BANG!" Jonouchi, Yugi, and Keiko were trapped!

Chimera roared nearby. "We are in serious trouble," stated Jonouchi.

1

"Dude!" - That part sounded like my brother Danny and his buddy Javier! They talk like Matt Stone and Trey Parker (Stan and Kyle from South Park)!
2 Fatal dagger wound – Look familiar? The language is exactly the same as when Naeem was fatally stabbed in ESoT!
3 "Shi-ne!" = "Die!"
4 Bakura's Departure - Before I am bombarded with critiques and e-mails asking why Bakura left so suddenly, I have only three reasons. 1) Be patient and find out for later chapters. 2) There's an alternate section of this chapter with Bakura that did not make sense. 3) Half of the time, I'm not even sure Bakuraknows why he does whatever he does! He's a very volatile character!
5 "Bonkotsu" = literally means "mediocre." Kaiba refers to Jonouchi in this way during the Grand Prix arc.

Yugi: Keiko says she knows a place where we can be safe from Minkabh! Good thing too, because I'm so weak, I can't even see straight anymore! Yami's starting to get sick with worry over me. And Nazo encounters something more frightening than Minkabh... my mother!!