The Shadow Sands

by Yami-AJ Yu-Yu-InuCaptor

Ancient Egypt,Atem the pharaoh Bakura the thief, their paths will never cross…unless the things Bakura wants the most are in the hands of a pointyhaired ruler, and the shadows draw near…. The downward spiral begins

2. Split Screen

A lone tree stands on the hill as the sun rises, shadows forming as the drizzle stops and a stupid creature falls from a the tree…landing on her face.

Yami AJ: OoO OWWWWWWWWWW!

Ash::jumps down from tree: So pathetic. --

Yami AJ::gets up: T.T Hi, I hope you remember me, the author that has the crappiest PC on the planet to go with her crappy fics.

Ash: If you didn't remember…It's her :points to Yami AJ:

Yami AJ: -.- Unfortunately she's right. First I'm sorry that this update took so long. Chapter two was ready a while ago, but I didn't have a PC to type it on.

Ash: Isn't that pathetic- I mean sad?

Yami AJ: :punches Ash in the head:

Ash: Iyaaaa. X.T

Yami AJ: XD Enjoy!

Warning: ( O.o Did I give this warning before, oh well) If you can't stand cursing please turn back (NO! STAY PLEASE! JUST SKIP THE CURSING!) Bakura and several of his friends curse in strings . This chapter is kind of long, if you are a reader from the first chapter ( I LUV YOU GUYS!) then you might be expecting it to be shorter but…. it isn't. If it's too long for you, read part at a time. It's really looooooooong.

Disclaimer: I Yami AJ do not own YGO or any of its related characters, I do however own the inhabitants of the den ( Thoth, Sen, Ari, Fasen, Haktep, Shila, Shefnu, Rayeel and so on.) Thank you for reading….

…………………………………………………………….

Split Screen

………………………………………………………………………………

A new frightened chorus filled the air in the underground chamber as twelve more people were hoarded down the stairs. Resistance was a request for more pain although silence and obedience did nothing for the chained Egyptians. The torches that burned every five steps only added to the stifling heat.

Two pairs of green eyes and another pair of lavender gazed at the bloody and inhuman scene before them. The elder of the group fought the urge to throw up as deep crimson liquid trickled down the sandy-coloured stairs, pooling at the base of a bubbling cauldron.

"Where are we going mommy?" a young boy asked, his eyes sparkling with wonder.

His mother smiled down at him as her tears fell to the ground near their feet, the salty drops mingling with the blood coating the floor. "W-We're going to see Osiris (1)," she replied softly, gently rubbing his head.

"Then why are you so sad?"

She smiled at his blissful ignorance and tightened her grip on his hand. "I'm sad because it is not your time."

"Don't worry," he smiled. "I don't mind going anywhere with you."

Another tear rolled down her cheek as she twitched slightly, the brief scream from the girl three steps ahead of her attracting many worried glances

"You'd better shut up, midget," a robed man hissed, the hem of his floor length, brown attire crusted with blood. The youngest survivor twitched, the words playing over and over, the man's voice scratched onto their mind. Scratch.

"They're children you ass," the one beside him spat, his mouth the only visible from the brown hood. "Just...Just keep walking." He looked back on the two and sighed, handing Saiori a thick piece of cloth. "Try...try to get some of the blood off…" he said quickly, his voice becoming unsteady as he glided away.

The redhead on the step fell to his knees, the new blow to the back of his neck throbbing immensely. He touched the spot carefully then gazed hatefully at the blood on his pale, sore fingers.

"RA WILL DAMN YOUR SOUL AND YOUR HEART SHALL BE EATE-" a girl screamed, her voice growing hoarse before a soft hand covered her mouth. She brushed her black hair from her dark lavender eyes and glared angrily at the hideous floor.

"Clam down Saiori (Say-or-ree)," the boy whispered, his bright green eyes not losing their sparkle.

"How can I? We can't survive and we both know it……….How could I let them find us? How can I leave Bakura, T?" she asked quickly, roughly wiping her face.

The pair moved forward, dragged on by the lengthy chain that connected 99 members of the village. "Ari….Ari will take care of them."

"DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO SHUT THE HELL UP?" the ignorant guard snapped, slashing the one who had spoken in the stomach in a fluid movement. The redhead fell on his back, his shoulder length hair cushioning his bleeding head. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth much slower than it did from the painful rip in his abdomen. "GET UP YOU LITTLE FREAK!" he continued, raising his dagger.

"You…..YOU ASS HOLE!" Saiori snarled, hatred dripping from her voice as she bit into his thick arm.

"You- You LITTLE BITCH!" he retaliated, knocking her to the ground with a flick of his blade. Saiori's eyes widened as she fell forward onto her best friend, the blood from her shoulder soaking her sleeve in seconds. She panted as the pain spread to her neck and arm, the man above them smiling at his work.

"Bastard…" she gasped through clenched teeth. The barbarian chuckled and placed his foot on her torn shoulder, pressing her into the unfixable abdomen of the green-eyed boy beneath her. Pain shot through their bruised bodies, the eyes of the hidden growing wider by the second.

"Now you two have learnt to shut up…. bet you wish you didn't have such a crappy family now," the guard mumbled as he walked away. Scratch...

The duo on the floor lay in their own blood, the crack in the wall the best gift they could ask for. Their siblings were hidden and would survive…even if they would not. Breathing became a torturous activity that filled their lungs with the same fluid that drenched their clothes. Clear, even footsteps rung in their ears, one of the few other sounds they would hear from now on other than emotional screams. Leather sandals became visible, the one who wore them waiting for them to move, something they would and could not do.

The man loomed above them, his face one of the few shadowed by a black hood. He smiled down at their dying bodies, stepping on them in order to move forward. Blood flew from their mouths, their eyes wide as their bodies wept blood. The smirking man chuckled at their weak cries as he splashed through the pools of blood, the bottom of his cloak soaking up some of the liquid that slicked the floor.

Saiori let out a strangled sob, doing something she didn't do in front of others; cry. Pained eyes rested upon respective siblings, wordlessly telling them they were sorry for leaving…. saying 'I love you' in every possible way. In unison the five let a tear roll down their cheeks, grasping the moment that would forever haunt those who lived. T smiled at his siblings, his emerald eyes losing their sparkle as Saiori reached to her brother, mouthing him words he would never forget. The ones who stood hidden remained stationary as two sets of ragged breaths filled their ears, the other screams non-existent to their disbelieving minds.

…. Bakura didn't want to remember. He didn't want to have the picture of his sister and her best friend imprinted on his mind, their situation a picture of suffering. But he did want to remember the face of who had done this…. He would remember and make him suffer the way he made others writhe in pain…

The thief was wrenched from his thoughts as a pair of cold, dark eyes focused on the gap, the man behind the orbs smiling darkly. Bloody footprints marked his crooked path as he neared the group. Bakura turned, a twelve-year-old Thoth and a seventeen-year-old Ari looking back at him with raised eyebrows. He stepped forward.

Thoth smirked from under his pile of head wrappings. "Keep going Kura…Keep going," Thoth said softly.

Lavender eyes narrowed dangerously as darkness infected his surroundings, the priest drawing near. Bakura felt for the knife at his belt, his chest seizing as he realized nothing was there. Bakura shook his head and memorized every morsel of 'face' he saw, the priest's eyes were hungry for power. He stared into the darkness of the hood, searching for features he would recall, two high-pitched screams echoing behind him.

He looked behind him, Thoth and Ari lying crumpling on the floor, blood oozing from the slashes in their chests. "Too bad little thief," the priest snickered, his voice hacking away at Bakura's heart. "It's a real pity…" he continued, pulling a curved blade from the shadows. "A pity that there are two more you're too feeble to save." The words burned Bakura more than his new injury and his burning chest and the burning of his soul that threatened to burst into flames. Blood dripped down the metal of the dagger, a gash appearing in the crook's stomach as he fell to the ground. Cruel laughter rung in the bandit's ears, the smiling priest bringing the blade down with a mighty-

…………………

"Stab," a voice prompted, punching with one with white hair. "That's what Thoth's going to do if you don't get up."

Bakura opened his eyes and hastily sat up, his clothes drenched in a cold sweat. A damp cloth hung before him and he took it without question, mopping his creased brow. Thoth's green eyes shone in the darkness of the den, a tiny flame in the corner providing light. "I had that bloody dream again," Bakura said in a hushed tone, careful not to wake the others.

"Thoth noticed. You kept on calling Saiori…. Thoth wishes he knew what the priest looked like. You were screaming 'die priest, you will dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!'" Thoth mimicked, making stabbing motions. Bakura gave Thoth shifty eyes.

Bakura: :Shifty Eyes:

"The dark priest found us this time…he stabbed me," he continued while he got up. " I saw them die again…."

"Keep going Kura," Thoth said, lifting Malik from the ground.

"You said that in the dream…. why do you say that?"

"Thoth says that when he wants someone to continue talking…usually so he can think of a suitable reply. So keep on talking."

"Why couldn't I help her as he stepped on her…. Why was I safe as she bled to death…." Bakura said in a distant voice, looking to Thoth. "Why do you think the dreams started again?"

Thoth adjusted his head wrappings and gave a sigh. "You're worried Bakura, either that or something is upsetting you... are you upset?"

O.o "Nani1? I don't worry and I DON'T get upset," Bakura snorted. Thoth snorted in reply and gave a fake cough, hiding the word 'loser' in it.

"You liar."

"Don't call me a liar."

"L- I-A-R," Thoth taunted, shoving a large piece of cloth into a sack. Bakura growled and jumped on top of the other thief, the two rolling around on the floor. "Get off Thoth you ass."

"Take it back you girl." Thoth gasped and pushed Bakura onto the ground, straddling him (AN: Don't even think perverted thoughts, that's Rayeel's job X.X).

"YOU RAYEEL!" Thoth hissed, pulling Bakura's hair as he was punched in the arm.

"You prick, you're calling Thoth a Rayeel?" Bakura scoffed, pointing at Thoth's position. "You ass."

. "Don't even try," Thoth mumbled, climbing off his friend.

Uu "Shut up," Shefnu said, throwing a shoe at Bakura before he rolled over and went back to sleep. Bakura threw the shoe back and got up, brushing dust from his hair.

Fasen mumbled during his dreamtime, his hand on the head of Anubis. "Hehehhe, oh Kana…" he giggled. Thoth shook his head and Bakura stared, wondering why Fasen wasn't upstairs.

"What time is it?" Bakura asked.

"Sometime relatively early," Thoth answered.

"Then why are you up?"

"Thoth's always up early."

"Yeah, but where are you going?"

Thoth chucked a bag at Bakura and lifted his cat from its resting place. "Thoth is going to get clean you dope. Coming?"

"Are you an idiot or are you an idiot? Why would I come out so early?"

Emerald eyes flashed with glee as the one behind them snickered quietly. "Thoth just wanted to get there early…no real reason," he said slyly climbing halfway up the ladder. "Just looking out for you Kura….hheheheh…"

"Wait," Bakura said quickly. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Rayeel stayed the night."

"Rayeel stayed the night?"

Thoth jumped to the floor and shrugged, his voice showing his amusement. "No one else bathes this early in the morning….So Thoth is sure he won't mind being crowded in the good bathing space with his…Sexy Kura," Thoth laughed, making kissing noises as he wrapped his arms around himself. Bakura went wide-eyed and twitched at the thought.

………..

Bakura could see it now…Thoth prancing along the riverbank cackling evilly, snickering as Haktep and Shefnu used the white haired one as bait. Yep, they would gang up on him along with Oberon and MAKE him share a space with Rayeel….OO…..after all it would be easier for them to bathe in peace if Rayeel was staring at him….

"Ha-Ha Ha-hahahahah!' Shefnu would yell in excitement. 'He'll leave me alone if he can annoy you!'

'Can I rub your back Bakura,' Rayeel would probably ask his eyes flashing. 'Just let me -'

OO 'Stay away from meeeeeeeeeee!' he'd shout, wondering where his towel was. 'Thoth, help me!' Then he'd see his towel floating into the deep, crocodile ridden parts of the Nile.

'I just want to be your friennnnnnnnnd…. my sexy Kura,' Rayeel would whisper as Bakura shrunk into the reeds. OH NO! THOTH'S WORDS WERE COMING TRUE!

'IYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!' Thoth would shout, accidentally seeing the boys with no clothes on.

'Thoth HELP ME!' Bakura would scream.

'AHHHHHHHHH BAKURA!YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT UNCLOTHED PEOPLE!'

Then Rayeel would giggle and bat his eyelashes, throwing Bakura's clothes into the Nile, advancing upon the white-haired thief who had nowhere to go.

'Just a little hug….' Rayeel would say with a giggle.

'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOU….YOU RAYEEL(2)!'

'SAY MY NAME MY KURA!'

'DON'T CALL ME THAT YOU FUCKER!"

'I'M NOT ONE YET!'

'IYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!' Thoth would scream after hearing Rayeel's perverted words.

'COME ONNNN BAKURA!'

'GET BACK!' Bakura would hiss, looking for an object to kill Rayeel with.

'Get on your back? Naughty! Heheheheh!' the slimy Egyptian would continue, jumping towards Bakura.

'HOLY RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!'

OO Then he would remember Thoth's offer and tremble in fear……………………..

………….

"Bakura you spaz," Thoth said snapping his fingers, his finger-less gloves coming in contact with Bakura's head. Thoth placed a sleeping Malik in his bag with no fuss and smirked. "What's wrong with you?"

"I just had a short nightmare about sharing the bathing spaces with Rayeel….it was ugly. I'm permanently scarred." O0

Bakura's best friend suppressed a laugh. "Thoth can see it now," Thoth said, he coughed and attempted to sound like Rayeel…doing a disturbingly good job of it. "Oh me oh my! You look extra special today Bakura…If you let me touch you I'll say it again…" Thoth whispered, rubbing his shoulder against Bakura, exaggerating Rayeel's advances.

Shefnu giggled. "Did you put on different bracelets… they make you look sooo good…… Can I hump you?" Shefnu continued, before dozing off again.

Bakura glared at his friends but couldn't help smiling himself as he wished a certain someone would ask him that question…Then Oberon would have a heart attack when he knew who the girl was, but it'd be funny.

"You spaced out again," Thoth said, kicking Bakura in the shin. Bakura shot him an angry look. "Don't tell Thoth that hurt."

"Dope," Bakura said, picking up his bag and stuffing on his shoes. He looked at a snoring Shefnu who would kill them later for not taking him along.

"Brainless leech."

Bakura snorted and dragged Thoth to the ladder. "Let's go Thoth."

"Rightio Captain!"

…………………………………………………………….

The thin stream of smoke bent at the will of the wind, the pleasant scent drifting away from the only one who would smell it. Sunlight crept into moonlight, immersing the land in an enchanting deep lavender. It didn't matter to the prince that his pool was numbingly cold; the large discomfort was a small price to pay for solitude.

"Leave it Bastet," Atem requested, silently walking through the shoulder high water to swat his cat away from the incense bowl. A hissing sound issued from the container telling him he had somehow extinguished the flame with his wet hands. Atem sighed and completely submerged himself, the flower petals on the surface riding the new ripples. Bastet took her role as 'watch dog' and prowled the perimeter of the three-walled room, before curling up beside Atem's towel.

"Why couldn't you be my sister?" Atem asked with a sigh, resting his chin on his arms. Bastet lazily opened one eye with no interest and watched her owner doubtfully. "Of course you would have to be human, but you wouldn't need to have grey or brown eyes, you can have green ones like you already have… perhaps you can still have the tan hair but any other colour would be fine….an unusual colour would be even better." Bastet closed her eye and rolled over.

Atem: +OO;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ARG!

"Fine!" Atem roared waving his arms. "BE LIKE THAT!" The tanned cat gave a muffled meow telling Atem she was a) bored with the subject, b) didn't care or, c) didn't care because it was boring. The prince punched himself in the head for even talking to a cat then stared through the five silver curtains that replaced the fourth wall.

The Nile undulated as Atem climbed from his large bath and wrapped himself in a large piece of cloth, his drooping hair obtaining a wavy appearance. Pale petals blew in from outside, handfuls of them passing under the fluttering curtains to brush against tanned legs. The pre-teen shivered as he slowly put on a sandal, the hair on the back of his neck standing up just as it had done a day before. Something fell to the ground beyond the door of the bathing room, a figure partially blocking out the light from under the door.

Goosebumps rose on Atem's skin, his eyes growing large as he hoped the irrational hope that the wind had somehow tipped over a heavy lamp. He walked noiselessly around the sunken bath in the centre of the room, stepping behind one of the semi-transparent curtains as the thing behind the door moved slightly as the lamp was stood.

Bastet attempted to push her nose under the door, meowing softy as Atem watched her. The door creaked and the prince took a step back, his footsteps silenced by the thick layer of petals beyond the drapes. A long rectangle of light infiltrated Atem's perfect lavender, the tall figure in the doorway looking to the feline on the ground. Atem hung his head and sighed, shaking his head at how paranoid he was becoming.

"What are you doing here Bastet?" Seth asked, lifting the cat from the ground. He wasn't wearing a shirt, telling Atem he had probably only recently woken up. "Where's your owner, cat? The two of you are usually together." Bastet meowed and Seth raised an eyebrow, looking to the dead incense bowl on the floor. "So someone takes incense to the bath…how nice," he commented, stroking Bastet. The priest in training looked to the curtains, the prince stepping backwards to avoid his view. But that wasn't enough; Seth was walking towards him and would probably bombard him with questions, asking what he was doing here so early…. and Atem didn't feel like answering any.

The prince walked backwards, stepping of the stone and moving into the flowers and foliage beyond his bathing room. His mother often went out here but he didn't, and he didn't really want to do it in the dim light of the early morning. He neglected the clear path between the halves of growth and jumped into a thick piece of bush, the strange silence almost burning his ears.

Seth stood at the curtains, looking beyond them with the green-eyed cat in his arms. He gave a genuine smile and Atem resisting the urge to gasp loudly. "I'm not going to hold you forever," Seth said to Bastet, turning on his heel and leaving the room.

"Thank you Ra," Atem whispered, fighting his way onto the path. He bit his lip and stood in thought, wondering if he should just go back to his chamber, keeping himself out of harms way…or walk down the path to see how far it went, it wasn't like Ka demons lived in flowers. Atem walked down the empty scar in the plants until he came to a gate, reeds lining the riverbank before him. Hopping the gate, Atem stepped forward and looked at the Nile, remembering this was on of the safest points along it. It was also one of the thinnest sections of it although it was deep.

Atem's face grew hot as his eyes rested upon something in a clump of reeds opposite him, and even though they were a good distance away, he felt uncomfortable. Their long dark hair floated on top of the water, only their eyes and nose above the river. She stood up and Atem's face grew hotter, slightly confused if he should be happy or sad that she was facing away from him and that her hair came a good way past her hips. He blinked rapidly as something brushed against his legs. He looked down and a huge bug sat on his leg, staring at him with large ugly eyes. He shook his leg, the bug biting him in protest.

OO "GET OFF!" Atem shouted, shaking his leg madly before finally picking the bug off himself and throwing it into the bush. The girl was looking in his direction, her body once again submerged. Atem stepped back and told his face to cool down, his cheeks now burning more than before. Her bright eyes grew wide and she stuck her head beneath the water.

Atem found himself unable to breathe as he ran back to his room, closing the door before he sat on his bed. He dressed himself quickly and put on his headpiece his eyes still as wide as saucers. oO.Oo "Ra forgive me," Atem said quickly. "What was I supposed to do?"

Atem's door opened slightly and a hand with Bastet in it appeared. "Good morning Atem," Seth said, popping his head into the room.

"H-Hello Seth," Atem said quickly.

"Your cat."

"Oh...Oh yes, thanks," the prince said, taking his cat from the one with blue eyes. Seth looked at Atem with a raised eyebrow.

"What's wrong with your face?" Seth questioned, an unusual pinch of amusement present in his voice.

OO "NOTHING! I'M PERFECTLY FINE!" the prince replied defensively. Seth gave a disbelieving nod them pointed to Atem's clothes.

"You had a bath already?"

o.o "NO! I HAD ONE LAST NIGHT! I'M CLEAN! IF YOU THINK I'M LYING, SMELL ME! " Seth shrugged and closed the door his footsteps soon becoming too faint to hear. The prince lay down on his bed gave a loud sigh, looking at his lazy cat. "I hate my life." (AN: DARN THOSE RAGING HORMONES!…sorry I had a weird moment O.o)

…………………………………………………………………….

"THOTH!" Bakura shouted, making sure he was hidden in the reeds.

"WHAT!" Thoth called back. "CAN'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE? I'M TRYING TO DRESS HERE!"

"THIS GUY IS TAKING MY CLOTHES!" Bakura yelled, splashing around in the water looking for stone to throw at the one stealing his clothing.

"Sorry little man," the crooked eyed man said happily, examining Bakura's clean and dirty cloaks. "Some nice drawin's ya got on here."

Bakura slapped himself, wondering why the day Thoth packed his favourite robe someone tries to rob him. "GET AWAY YOU IDIOT!" the white haired thief hollered, walking out of the water towards the middle-aged man.

"Stay away," the stranger hissed, pulling a knife from his own dirty brown robe. "I'll- I'll- I-" he stuttered, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he slumped to the ground. Bakura put his hands on his hips as he looked down at the unconscious body of the would-be thief.

Thoth grinned broadly from under his wrappings, his eyes closed as he proudly put his hands on his hips. "Maybe he was hired by Rayeel," Thoth snickered.

"Very funny," Bakura snapped, gathering his clothes and placing them in a safe place. A cold wind blew by and Bakura twitched looking down at himself while Thoth pushed his necklace back under his clothing.

"You know Ku-" Thoth said slowly, his voice dropping to a whisper as he opened his eyes. Bakura walked back into the water up to his waist as Thoth's face turned a shade of pink, the colouring in his cheeks noticeable even from under his wrappings.

"Yeah," Bakura said casually, crossing his arms.

"BAKURA!" Thoth roared. " YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT SEEING PEOPLE WITHOUT CLOTHES ON!"

"What? Nothing you haven't seen before…You better not start acting like Rayeel."

Thoth picked up a rock and threw it at Bakura, the stone hitting the Egyptian in the forehead.

T.O "Ouch…….." Bakura said sinking into the water. "You just do that cause I look better….Ouccccch," Bakura growled rubbing his head.

. " Good, I hope it hurt," Thoth snapped, walking away with Bakura's clothes in hand.

………………………..

"I thought you were my friend," Shefnu sobbed, grabbing the doorframe. "MY FRIEND!" ;.;

. It's just a bath….you usually can't wait to have one," Fasen said doubtfully, pulling his friend by the ankles.

. "COME ON!" Shila ordered, pushing her friends head with her foot. "LET GO SHEFNU!"

;O; "MOMMY!" Shefnu cried, nearly slipping. "BAKURA! HELP ME!"

"Why?" Bakura snickered, putting his feet on a table before throwing a slice of melon at his terrified friend. "Ha, you suck."

OoO "THOTH! SAVE MY SOUL!"

"Silly Shefnu! Want some beer?" Thoth offered, abandoning the subject completely. Shefnu sniffed loudly as Thoth rolled onto his back, his head hanging over the side of the bar counter. "Poor Shefnu needs a bath."

;oX "KILL ME NOW!"

"What's going on?" Ari questioned from beneath his hooded robe, walking past Fasen and the screaming Egyptian, Anubis at his heels.

"ARI!" Thoth shouted falling headfirst off the counter. "Crap."

"Thoth my good si-sibling!" Ari squealed, running to hug his brother. Thoth glared and Ari stopped in the middle of the room, knowing hugs were out of the question with his brother. "Have you been drinking?"

Thoth threw his cup behind the counter and laughed nervously. "Me? NEVER!" . ;;;;;

O.o "Ari?" Fasen screamed, dropping the thief who bolted behind the counter.

"ARI MY SAVIOUR!" Shefnu cried, jumping to the den. "I LOVE YOU…BUT NOT IN THE YUCK WAY!"

"Ari!" Shila smiled hugging the green eyed one before her. Ari smiled and gave a smooth compliment, finishing with a sparkling smile. "Ha! If I was another girl I might be all over you," she laughed. Ari shrugged, putting his hands over his heart.

. "You're popular all of a sudden," Bakura commented, rubbing Anubis' head.

"It comes with the good looks," Ari smirked.

. "Yeah, sure."

"Someone's more grumpy than usual…."

"He didn't sleep well," Thoth said quickly, appearing beside the pair in an instant. "Did you bring anything?"

"Here," Ari yawned, handing his younger sibling an eye shaped pendant. "Sen and his stories... kept me up all night…"

"Sen? When is h-" Thoth and Bakura asked with interest before being pushed aside by Fasen. O.O

"Another Eye of Horus?" Fasen asked with a raised eyebrow. "So, what did you bring me?"

"Well………nothing," Ari admitted. Fasen blinked rapidly and stared at his brother. O.o

Hey, you guys….NO FIGHTING IN MY-" Shila began before Fasen jumped onto Ari, the two rolling around foolishly on the floor. "Never mind." T.T

"YOU CRACKER! GET OFF ME FASEN!"

Shila, Bakura and Thoth: . ;;;;;;;;;;

. " Your brothers need help. Fasen is always tired and Ari attracts more women than Shefnu," Bakura mumbled, Shila slapping him for the latter part of his statement. "FOR RA'S SAKE SHI!"

"They don't need help…They just have deep underlying problems that may stem from their feelings of lack of identity, insecurity and jealousy in relation to who Sen and Thoth like better," Shila mused.

O.o "Wow…"

"That's what Haktep thinks," Thoth said.

"I know, I read it from one of his scrolls," Shila giggled, following Bakura and Thoth behind the counter.

"YOU IDIOT!" Ari and Fasen shouted in unison, the sound of two objects shattering following seconds later.

"Do I want to see what they broke?"

"Not really……" Bakura mumbled. Shila turned around anyway, her eye twitching.

"My vases….Please pick the bits up…………." Ari and Fasen stared foolishly, the pair dripping wet. Thoth gulped down more beer and raised an eyebrow.

"Have your brains already been removed for your mummification?" Thoth asked calmly, slamming his cup down on the counter. "Hm?"

"Well…no," Ari and Fasen squeaked, shivering slightly, a puddle forming at their feet.

"Well if you'd like it to stay that way start cleaning, please." Bakura gave a small clap, applauding Thoth's flawless use of the 'I don't need to get angry or shout or need any feelings to live' act, which the pair practised daily.

"Yes Thoth," the pair smiled, hurriedly picking up the shards on the floor.

"Yay," Shila beeped.

"Sometimes they can be so pathetic," Bakura snickered. Thoth glared at him, giving the 'only I brothers can call their brothers pathetic' look. "Fine Thoth, sometimes they're so sadly pathetic." Thoth gave a nod of approval.

"Well at least my bar's being c-l"

"AHHHHHH! SHILA, FASEN'S HEAD IS BLEEDING HORRIBLY!" Oberon screamed, dropping the bags he held. "AHHH! THAT GUY THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE FASEN IS ALSO BLEEDING! AHHHHHH!"

Bakura rubbed his head, looking at the wet, confused brothers. Ari and Fasen stared at Oberon oddly and he grabbed Shila's arm, pointing at the dripping pair with his mouth wide open. "The shit's hit the palm now…" the lavender-eyed bandit mumbled.

"NEXT I'LL FIND OUT THOTH'S A GIRL, RAYEEL ACTUALLY LIKES MEN, BAKURA LIKES FLUFFY ANIMALS, SHILA'S A MAN AND HAKTEP CAN'T READ!"

Bakura, Thoth and Shila: o Not funny

"Did someone say my name?" Haktep asked, appearing behind Shila, a bound and sobbing Shefnu in tow. "I had to tie his wrists and ankles together to get him to stay up here. Shila shrugged, at the moment more bothered by her screaming brother than her gagged, wailing boyfriend.

"Haktep can answer you questions," Shila smiled nervously. "Please tell him things. Leave out some stuff," Shila mumbled to Haktep, patting his head and walking past her petrified boyfriend.

"SURE!" Haktep said perkily. "Well Oberon, I'll explain this slowly. The one who looks just like Fasen is Ari, they looks the same because they were born at the same time, ok? ( AN: Oberon has never seen a pair of twins before)" Haktep explained pointing at the now waving pair. "They aren't bleeding, they just have red hair…they wear dye in their hair to fit in and avoid awkward situations such as these. Thoth is their brother; they have another brother called Sen…ok?"

o.o "Yes," Oberon answered softly, the information slowly sinking in..

"Good! Now for some useful information on those whom you have met so far, in the bar. Hey, that rhymes!" Haktep smiled, not noticing the affect of the new facts on his friend. "Thoth is Bakura's best friend, the two of them are like a partially dysfunctional tag team…. as you might have noticed. Everyone can read up to grade 5, Ari, Thoth, Sen, Fasen, Asami, Shila and myself can do some magic, Bakura could kill you anytime he wishes in lots of different ways, so be nice to him. I like grapes, Thoth likes to draw, Shila likes Shefnu, Shefnu and just about everyone else fears Rayeel in one-way or another, everyone likes Malik because he is cute, Anubis is dangerous and doesn't know you that well so never stay in a room with him alone…don't stay in a room alone with Rayeel either. Bakura is good with a bow and arrow, Thoth is good with a sword and can eat enough for three people and is good with a sword, Ari -and Sen- are so good with knives they can juggle them, Ari, Shefnu, Sen and Fasen attract too many women, Fasen sleeps too much and shouldn't be disturbed, and Shefnu loves his hair, oh and Bakura's nickname is Lord Grumpy because he's so grumpy when he wakes up, 'the brothers four' sometimes call me Hawk cause I have an eye for detail. Now, Bakura should be given his space, Thoth's sarcastic and if you love your blood don't touch him and don't try to drum up conversation too often, leave Shefnu's combs alone, never tell Ari and Fasen they resemble each other, do not touch anyone's scrolls unless they give you permission, especially Ari's, Sen's and Asami's, I'm saying this for your own protection, never say Saiori in this building or you'll be hated or hunted for your mistake, don't expect the midgets (Thoth and Bakura aren't abnormally short, they're just the shortest of those who live in the bar), Sen, Renora or Rhea to show you any compassion what-so-ever….Asami may show some if she's in a good mood from killing someone or playing with her snakes or killing someone – and last but not least, don't act like you're better than us or we'll shoot you down with a flaming arrow and send your sorry carcass back to your rich face uncle. Did you get all that?" Haktep said quickly, finishing with a perky smile.

o.o "Yes," Oberon whispered as Haktep walked around the counter.

"We've been living a lie since you got here. We've been pretending to act normal so you could become accustomed to us… tomorrow everything will go back to normal. Thoth will speak about himself in the third person and spontaneously wash his hands, Bakura will ignore you and do sit-ups on the table while you're trying to eat, Shefnu will kiss Shila at least once every hour, Fasen will not speak to anyone for long periods of time while he writes on the scroll that's hanging in his bedroom, Ari will clean his and his siblings pendants over and over again and talk to Thoth, Sen and Fasen in a made up language no one else can understand, Shila will practice her magic during the day and light at least one thing one fire, and I will read, read until my eyes burn." Oberon was dead silent. "Rayeel isn't as bad as you may think, Shefnu likes to exaggerate. And we will all have occasional stupid moments were we become incompetent."

"TELL HIM ABOUT YOUR FAMILIES!" Shila yelled from her room.

"Well," Haktep began, sitting on the counter with a cup of beer. "In the bar and the den there are usually a lot more people than what you've seen. Most of them are away and will stay at Asami's house tonight but they'll be back tonight or tomorrow morning; they'll introduce themselves properly then. Sen, Ari, Fasen and Thoth are siblings, Kana is my sister and Fasen's girlfriend, Rhea is my girlfriend and Senna's sister, Senna is with Ari, Asami is with Sen, and Shila with Shefnu," he said. He swallowed hard and his eye twitched. "Renora is Rayeel's sister...she likes Bakura. I don't think Thoth likes anyone," Haktep swallowed again. "I'm not even going to talk about Rayeel."

"What about Bakura?" Thoth smirked from behind the counter. Bakura glared to no affect at his snickering friend.

"I personally think Bakura likes Nayami," Haktep smiled. Bakura's face turned slightly pink at the absurd statement, and so did Thoth's, the pair staring stupidly at Haktep. The one who had spoken ducked two cups that flew through the air, narrowly missing his calm, smiling face.

"THAT WASN'T THE ANSWER I WANTED!" Thoth shouted, as Bakura threw a bowl.

"Calm down short guy and shorter guy," Ari said calmly, his hair wrapped up turban style. "Nayami is our sister that doesn't want people to talk about her," Ari explained. "She's very pretty but doesn't think so; she lives hidden away from everyone…. it's sad."

o.o Oberon nodded slowly.

"What was that?" Bakura whispered to a mumbling, grumbling Thoth; a squeaking sound once again registered in Bakura's mind. The thief tackled a yawning Thoth to the ground before the door to Fasen's room opened. Anubis barked, snarling angrily his fangs dripping.

"DOWN ANUBIS!" Shila shouted irritably from within her room. Bakura's dog lay down instantly.

;o; "SOBEK (3) EAT ME NOW!" Shefnu wailed.

Oo0 "AHHHH!" Ari screamed, grabbing Fasen's arm.

0oO "AHHHH!" Fasen screamed, grabbing Ari's arm.

;.; "This is why Shefnu wanted to die……." Haktep concluded.

"Gooooood morning everyone!" Rayeel sang, stretching and yawning from his recent awakening (despite the noise). "Everyone looks ready to go."

Haktep, Ari, Shefnu and Fasen: ;.;

Oberon: O.O

"But where are my grumpy midgets?" the unnaturally clean teenagers asked.

Bakura and Thoth mentally gagged and sighed, happy for the cover of the high counter. The green-eyed thief rolled over and picked up the new pendant, staring into the silver momentarily hypnotized. "Want to bless it?" Thoth offered in a barely audible voice, holding out the shiny trinket. "It's nearly the same colour as your ugly hair."

Bakura inwardly smiled and took the pendant, kissing the item and handing it back to Thoth. "I Bakura, bless your eye of Horus. May it bring boundless luck to you and death, indescribable pain and sickness to your enemies," he said.

"That was wonderful," Thoth said, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye.

"I kno-AHH Rayeeeeeeeeeeeeeel!" Bakura twitched, Rayeel standing above him like a vulture.

Thoth: 0.O fffreeeeeeky.

"Are we receiving a gift? Rayeel, you stayed the night! What have we done to deserve such a treat?" Bakura asked, his voice coated with harsh sarcasm that his friend picked up instantly.

"We must have been extra good for Ra to grant us the painfully sweet pleasure of your company," Thoth continued venomously.

"Hi," Rayeel chirped. "You didn't do anything more special than usual, I was just tired," he said not noticing –or perhaps just ignoring- the underlying cruelty of the messages. "Fasen was nice enough to give me his whole room even though there are so many beds in there…Just in case you didn't notice we're leaving."

"We went to bath already," Bakura smiled.

"Yes we did," Thoth confirmed, placing the silver eye on his necklace.

"We?" Rayeel repeated, his eyebrows raised in amusement.

O Thoth made throwing-up noises, twitching on the floor as Bakura stood. .o "Thoth….Thoth IS MALE Rayeel. He meant 'we' as in 'each of us; separately.'

"OF COURSE!" Thoth and Bakura glared at the one who glided half way to the door, Ari attempting to hide somewhere. "Oh! Hey Ari! I didn't notice you! Nice earrings!"

"Thanks man," Ari replied quickly, Fasen covering as many flattering things on himself as possible.

o.o Ari continued smiling and nodded slowly, sprinting past Rayeel into the nearly empty street followed by a bag wielding Fasen. Haktep gave Rayeel an acknowledging nod, picked up his and Shefnu's bags, and then dashed away as fast as possible. Rayeel looked to Shefnu, the distraught thief bolting out the door as soon as he untied himself.

Thoth and Oberon: O.0

Bakura: .O :thinking: must not poison Rayeel

Shila stepped out of her room with her towel over her head as she dug around in her bag. "Why was everyone making so much noise?" she asked. "Where's She-" she began, taking her towel off her head to see a smiling Rayeel holding Shefnu's shoe. "I THOUGHT YOU WENT HOME RAYEEL! NO WONDER FASEN SLEPT IN THE DEN!"

"I was tired," Rayeel laughed running to the door. "YOU FORGOT YOUR SHOW MY SHEFNU!"

O.O+ o + "YOUR SHEFNU!HE'S MY SHEFNU!" Shila yelled, following Rayeel in rage. Bakura thought about what Shila had said about throwing Rayeel limbs in the desert and pondered one thing, 'how much gold would she charge to see such a show?'

o.o "I'm so confused," Oberon whispered. "Everyone is acting so different." Thoth handed the wide-eyed teenager his bag and a cup of grape juice.

"Wine wouldn't be very good for you right now," Thoth said. Oberon nodded. "They're not acting weird Oberon, they're just acting how they normally act." Oberon nodded and sipped his juice.

"Thank you. Once again I'm sorry for yesterday…"

"It's ok," Bakura said.

o.o "Yes…" he sniffed, walking away with a horrified and doubtful look on his face.

"I like him like this, he's quieter,' Thoth commented, Malik rubbing lovingly against his leg. "Perhaps now others can learn to appreciate silence."

"You love silence yet you live in this bar," Bakura reminded the other person in the room.

Thoth shrugged and drifted over to the den, throwing a pair of Haktep's shoes through the opening and jumping down after them. Bakura closed the door and sat down in front of it. He rubbed the head of his dog, pondering something Haktep had said. 'I personally think Bakura likes Nayami….'

……………………………………………………..

"Are you feeling ill?" Nephthys asked as her son stuffed breakfast into her mouth.

"No, I'm fine," Atem swallowed with a smile.

"…….If you say so……."

"I'm just great," Atem continued, attempting to sound as normal as possible. "I've finished have a good breakfast."

"But Atem, I want to-" she began before Atem ran past her, hurrying through the door. "-talk to you….."

…………………

. "I thought we weren't starting summoning until after the ceremony," Mahado said, pouring himself more water and gulping it down in second. "I still have so much practice-work ( AN: kind of like homework) left for Shimon, and now there'll be some more for Akunadin-sensei."

"Things change, hopefully for the better," Isis commented. Mana chewed thoughtfully, Karim and Shada mumbled to each other and, as usual, Seth ignored what had been said.

"Is it hard?" Mana asked, her question directed at the only one who had summoned Ka monsters before.

"Not really," Mahado smiled. "It's simple."

"If you have any skill that is," Seth added shortly. " Or else….it's just a waste of time that one could use doing something else they perform poorly at."

Mana frowned and slid down in her seat, sniffing miserably as Seth continued eating and reading. "I'm sure you'll do fine," Shada said. "You have enough energy to summon for everyone, so now you just need to learn how to use that energy properly.

"Sure!" Mana encouraged herself as Atem ran in.

"Morning everyone," the prince greeted quickly, grabbing a chair from an empty table and sitting between Mahado and Mana.

. "You usually take longer to eat, are you sick?" Mahado inquired.

o.o "I'm not sick, I had a bath, WHY ALL THE QUESTIONS?"

Isis, Mana, Karim, Shada: O.o;;;;;;;;;;

Seth: .

Mahado: . ;;;;

"Someone's a bit jumpy," Seth remarked, putting his cut down, and leaving with his book on divine beings.

"Are jumpy because of today's summonings?" Mahado asked. Atem nodded quickly and harassed his friends to eat faster.

" Why are you acting so strangely? You don't seem normal…….well as normal as you can get Ouji-sama," Mana mumbled, sitting down on the bed in one of the spare rooms as Atem closed the door.

"This morning I saw something…." The pointy-haired speaker whispered.

"You saw something? It's a miracle," Mahado gasped sarcastically as Bastet brushed against his legs.

. "Something I shouldn't have seen…."

.o "Don't tell me you went back to the Hall of Time."

o. "No. I bet Ouji-sama saw a gift he's going to get for his birthday," Mana suggested.

.o "I think he accidentally walked into the women's bath."

o. " I think he saw under someone's skirt."

.o "No, he a-"

o "I DIDN'T DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS!" Atem boomed.

" Then what did you do?"

"I was having a bath this morning….then Seth was outside the door and I didn't want him seeing me…so I went outside, he picked up Bastet and t-"

ToT Atem sniffed as Mana punched him in the head. "YOU WENT OUTSIDE," Mana growled. "YOU WENT OUTSIDE, UNPROTECTED. ALONE. EARLY IN THE MORNING!"

"Perhaps you don't understand the word 'safety'. If you want to go outside at least take Bastet," Mahado said holding out the tan feline. "She appears to be very skilled in the art of keeping you out of trouble. (Atem: U.T;;;;; My cat's more able than me…that's pathetic) If creatures can get you inside these walls they can surely get you out of them."

"One learns through experience, and to live a life void of curiosity is the same as never learning anything at all," Atem preached knowledgeably.

"Stop quoting your mother and tell us what you saw."

"I saw a girl," he mumbled, violet eyes focused on the floor. O/O

"Uh huuuuuh," the users of magic nodded.

"And she had pretty eyes…….." Atem blushed.

"Come on………."

"I saw this girl in the Nile…..andshewasnotwearinganything."

O.o "WHAT?" Mana asked, looking at Atem as if he was a crazy idiot. "I didn't understand any of that."

"He saw a naked," Mahado smirked, pointing to his favourite ruler. "That's why he's acting this way.'

Mana: O/O Oh my!

"What should I do?" Atem asked.

"Nothing! What can you do but forget it or remember it forever. Perhaps this should be a milestone event, the first time you found a girl attractive…hmmm……"

"I don't feel very comfortable…"

"Shame on you. Ask Ra and Ma'at (4) to forgive you for your crime," Mana huffed. She put her hand on his shoulder and smiled. "It'll be ok Ouji-sama. Pray extra hard tonight."

"I didn't even see anything…"

"Crime?" Mahado laughed. "This whole situation is actually very funny."

. "Mean magician," Mana and Atem chorused.

"Thank you," Mahado bowed.

. "Argggg!" the pair growled, jumping on the one who found the situation so amusing.

X.o "Hey! OWEY!"

. "You me-" Atem began.

"Time for class!" Akunadin ordered, knocking on the door. He pushed it open, gazing at the trio in doubt. "Class. Now," he repeated walking off.

Mana and Atem climbed off a swirly-eyed Mahado, flopping on the bed in wheezing heaps. "I think I just had a heart attack." .

……………………………………….

"You said we weren't going to do assassinations anymore," Shefnu breathed.

"This isn't a good idea," Shila repeated, placing cups under the counter.

"We won't kill anyone…on purpose," Ari said firmly. "We can just sneak in, get what we need and go."

"How did you get us into this?" Bakura asked, looking across the table at the redheads.

"For once it's not Shefnu's, Asami's, Senna's, or our faults," Fasen said proudly. " Jenset's problems are coming for us. One of his drunken buddies is threatening to go to the guard."

"Who's Jenset?" Oberon asked.

"Rayeel's brother. He died in a slow and horrible way. OH WELL!"

"What do we need to retrieve?"

"An amulet," Ari said.

"So what's the problem?"

"Location. Location. Location," Fasen sighed.

"So where is it?" Bakura asked.

"On the neck of a palace guard," the brothers said in an undertone.

"WHAT?" the other four yelled.

"You can't!" Shila ordered. "Are you crazy?"

"Did you catch Renora's stupid disease?" Bakura said. "Cause the bonehead bowl looks like it got a bit fuller for you two."

"Don't say that you two," Shefnu said after calming down. "They aren't the ones who want to go on this trip."

"Neither are we!" Shila and Bakura hollered.

o.o "Hey you're right…"

"Can we think before we speak?" a voice asked from the darkest corner of the bar.

"Think logically," another voice hissed. "Heed our words."

Oberon, Shila and Shefnu: o.

Bakura and Ari: . Oh brother

Fasen: UU : asleep:

. "Oh just explain," Bakura said, pulling Thoth and Haktep from the shadows.

Haktep: Oh poopie! . I liked the corner.

"Fine," Thoth sighed, taking a seat beside Haktep. "We can go to the place a quick in and out, or we can wait for Jenset's buddy, Shin, to report us. If you prefer we can kill Shin, but still only gives us three choices."

"What exactly does Shin want a teeny-weeny amulet for? He has as much gold as Lord Grump and the Sarcastic Sultan," Shefnu said, pointing to the youngest ones in the room.

"Isn't it obvious?" Haktep sighed, thinking everyone should share his knowledge and common sense. "He wants it as a trophy. He probably has something against 'said guard'. The amulet a guard wear symbolizes his rank, therefore, without it, he is nothing. Besides if he get caught we could drag Shila, Asami, Rhea and even Rayeel down with us."

"I think we should just kill Shin. The best way to get rid of a hindrance is to make sure it never comes back," Bakura said. Thoth snickered, but quickly hid his amusement, putting on his 'like Haktep when's trying to be serious' face.

"I vote for letting Bakura kill him," Shefnu said.

"Me too," Ari agreed. "Plus, we get some free entertainment." Ari and Shefnu laughed, giving each other high-fives.

"High-five Thoth!" they shouted, extending hands to the glaring thief before them :crickets chirp:

Thoth: .

Ari and Shefnu: o. Ohhhh cold

" I might get to shoot more guards at the palace anyway," Bakura mumbled.

"You're acting so tough," Shila giggled ruffling Bakura's hair. She sniffed dramatically, the male population of the room cringing in fear. "OH JUST THE OTHER DAY YOU WERE SO SHORT AND TINY BUTLOOK AT YOU NOW! READY TO LEAVE YOUR POOOR SHILA ALONE AND RUN OFF WITH SOME GIRL! WHY DO THEY GROW UP, SHEFNU? WHY?"

Others: O.o huh?

"Where did that come from?" Shefnu questioned.

"In a few days, he'll be a young man!"

"He'll be thirteen," Thoth said dully. "So what?"

Shila sniffed and floated over to Bakura, hugging him with arched eyebrows. (Shefnu: I wish I was that short again…look at how close Bakura's head is to her- : smacked by Haktep: U.T)" Oh Bakura! Promise you won't leave your poor Shila just like that…"

"You're not my mother," Bakura said bluntly, hiding his happiness. "I need a place to stay for free, and I need someone to cook for me…so I won't leave you just like that."

"Good!" Shila beamed. "Renora will get older and run off to; she'll get someone good…she's so much better than Rayeel…. She'll get a boyfriend with a fast horse, pierced ears and a cool tattoo…a perfect boyfriend like Sen or Ari...or even a great guy like Fasen!"

Shefnu: ;.; What am I? Cow fodder?

"Renora will get a good boyfriend if she starts being more hospitable…" Shila sighed, ignoring Shefnu. "And you Thoth!"

"Oh no," the one in question pleaded.

"YOU'LL BE LOVED BY ALL AROUND YOU! You'll get a great boyfriend too!"

Thoth: oO.Oo Shila!

"Boyfriend?" Oberon said doubtfully. "THOTH IS LIKE RAY-"

Oberon was silenced as Ari placed his hand on his shoulder, the one who had spoken freezing instantly. Ari sighed. "I can't believe you slipped Shi," Ari sighed. "He isn't ready to know."

"I'm so sorry Thoth," Shila whispered. "So sorry."

"It's no big deal. Right Thoth?" Bakura said.

"F-Forget it; It's n-nothing. Thoth doesn't care," Thoth stammered, not meeting Bakura's gaze. "Thoth thinks he'll try to open the book again…"

Thoth jumped down into the den, the others in the bar looking at each other. Bakura shook his head and picked up Malik, the kitty meowing as Bakura moved to beneath the bar. "What should we say?" Haktep whispered gently.

"Nothing," Ari said.

"What's the big deal? What's Thoth's problem…So what if it looks a little weird."

"LITTLE WEI-" Shefnu shouted, Shila slapping her hand over his mouth. "Little weird? Two guys together would look freaking creepy! People would try to beat Thoth up!"

"Don't worry," Ari assured them smoothly. "Thoth's belief of 'life without emotions' doesn't permit the feeling of embarrassment or any so called 'feeling of weakness.' He's probably already dismissed it."

"What about Oberon?"

"Slips of the tongue are easily cured by rigid veils," Ari smiled walking to the door. Shila and Shefnu nodded is agreement with Ari's message. "I'm going to buy you some new vases," he smiled stepping over Fasen's dreaming body and leaving quietly.

"Those were some wise words," Shila said. "But what the hell did they mean?"

"They may have been wise," Shefnu smiled. " But I think I like stupid words better."

……………………………………………………………

' Summoning is simple…..if you have any skill that is,' Seth's words reminded her as she walked behind Mahado and Atem. The spellcaster shivered as the stepped into the main courtyard, the huge Obelisk (5) at its centre blanketing her in shadow.

……………..

' YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING!" YOU CALL THAT 'YUCK' SUMMONING! I COULD BEAT THAT MONSTER WITH A CRACKER!" Mana imagined the teacher screaming, Seth laughing, and Mahado and Atem shaking their heads, in the background.

o "I tried!" Mana would scream back, fire raging behind the instructor.

o. "Not hard enough," he would whisper, pulling a cord that hung from the high ceiling. The floor collapsed under Mana's feat, the room that she feared replaced by infinite black and confused cries.

……………….

"Mana? Mana? MANA!" Mahado shouted, awkwardly shaking the swirly-eyed brunette. Mana babbled incoherently until she was silenced by water.

OoO "AHHHHH!" she screamed yet again.

O.o "Are you alright?" Atem questioned, the empty vase in his hand telling Mana where the water had come from.

O.o "Yes….I think," she answered a she stood and picked up her book.

. "What happened to you?"

U.U " I saw something weird. I just had a really bad daydream…." She mumbled telling the pair about it.

Mahado: O JUST GREAT! MANA IS CRAZY LOON AND ATEM IS A LADY WATCHER! THE PALACE IS CRUMBLING FROM WITHIN!

Mana and Atem: o :punch Mahado:

"Perhaps we should tell Akunadin-sensei you're sick," Mahado suggested, rubbing his abused arm. "If you scream and fall on the ground in the middle of summoning you'll look pathetic." Atem frowned and nodded.

"Hmph! I'm going!" Mana informed them as they stood at the foot of the Obelisk. "AND MAK MY WORKS! PRIEST AKUNADIN WILL NOT-SCARE-ME!" All but one of the others in the courtyard smiled and clapped for Mana's efforts in bravery.

"Good Morning everyone," Akunadin said softly, suddenly standing beside Atem and behind Mana.

Atem::thinking: .O How'd he get so close

Mana: :thinking: O.O Help me Ra, Help me Ra, help me Ra, Help me Ra………..

Mahado::thinking: UU Need to sleep, need a pillow….need Shada to stop staring at me?

Isis::thinking: I wonder what we'll summon….0.0 why does Shada keep looking at me like that?

Karim::thinking: I wonder what's for dinner……

Seth::thinking: U.U Lonely….I'm so lonely, without my book on beast of mass destruction to l- what's wrong with me! No more wine in the morning…why does he keep on staring at me…just looking at a great person doesn't make you like them…..

Shada::thinking: UoU I wish I had great hair like Mahado or Karim, Isis or Mana…even hair like Seth's or Prince Atem's……….

"Today we will begin summoning instruction. Because Mana is so excited she can go first," the priest continued, walking away with Seth in his wake.

T.T "somebody," Mana sniffed. "Please shoot me."

…………………….

Usually Seth was first in line and today was no exception. The summoning chamber lay deep beneath the palace, leaving it void of any sunlight past the first few steps towards it.

Sunlight hurried into the dark infected staircase to the chamber, the light only healing the first ten steps. The flame on Seth's torch danced uncontrollably casting eerie shadows on the red and black steps and hieroglyph covered walls. The tunnel- wide enough for five to walk side by side- twisted unexpectedly, hiding whatever could not stand the light. The party rounded another corner, Seth and Akunadin lighting another torch as they continued their descent. (AN: walking order: Akunadin and Seth, Karin and Shada, Mana and Isis, and Atem and Mahado at the rear)

"What creature do you think we'll have to summon" Atem asked.

"Perhaps something easy like a Magician of Faith or a Kuriboh," Mahado suggested.

"A Kuriboh, that's ve-" the prince began before tripping over the crouched body of a black haired, 15 year old.

Atem: .X : flat on his back: It doesn't really hurt…..I swear……..:groans: X.X

"Sorry Prince," Isis said tracing her finger along the wall.

"What are you looking at?" Atem asked as Mahado helped him up.

"Look," Isis said softly, standing to show them all she had noticed. A strip from floor to ceiling had been divided into eight, each square –but the fourth- containing a picture of a Millennium item. "There are eight squares but only seven mystical items."

"Maybe an engraver made a mistake," Mahado suggested. Atem looked for the Millennium puzzle to see it was the first item in the column; the Ring, the Rod and then the empty square….

"It's not empty," Atem whispered. "There are words engraved but left without colour." Mahado held a torch as close to the square as possible, the four squinting to read the text.

"Wow!" Isis said in surprise. "You have GREAT eyesight Prince Atem!" Mahado snickered.

. + "DON'T SAY ANYTHING!" Atem shouted at a smiling Mahado.

"I have no idea what you mean!" Mahado smirked gleefully.

o + "DON'T DENY IT! I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY!"

"What in the world are you talking about?" Mahado said as if he was completely clueless.

o "I KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO SAY MY EYESIGHT IS GREAT, GREAT FOR LADY WATCHING!"

Mana slapped her forehead, and Mahado bit his lip.

Isis: O.o Huh:: zoom into background: oh my….

Atem: . Isis! NO! It's- It's

"It's a joke!" Mana laughed nervously. "Right Mahado-sama! Hahahah?"

Mahado nodded and, along with Atem, began to give their best fake laughs. Isis smiled and gave a weak laugh also, shrugging and forgetting the topic altogether.

Atem, Mahado and Mana: U.u;;;;;;; Phew!

"Thank you Mana," Atem smiled gratefully. Mana winked.

"I can see a few words," Isis said unsurely, the others joining her in staring at the piece of wall above them.

"Something about light," Mana said.

"Something about warriors," Atem continued.

"Something about a blade...or sword," Mahado mumbled.

"Something about saving…or a saviour," Isis sighed.

"I want to know what it say," Atem frowned, looking to Isis, Mana and Mahado.

. "If you haven't noticed none of us are tall enough to see it properly," Mahado reminded him blankly.

"I am well aware of that," the prince said getting on his hands and knees.

Others: O.o Nani?

. "What are you doing?"

o "Making a step, you can help me."

. "Don't be stupid."

o "Come on."

. "No."

"I command you," Atem snickered. -

o "I loathe you," Mahado grumbled, mimicking the prince's position.

"No you don't!" Mahado gave his prince a glare and stared at the floor. "Climb on Isis."

O.o "Huh?" Isis spluttered. "I can't climb on your back. You are the prince. That wou-"

"I command you."

U.u "I don't think it'll be high enough anyway."

"Use your books!" Mahado groaned loudly as Mana stacked three books on the pair's back.

"Oh my," Isis sighed, taking the torch from a laughing Mana and climbing onto their backs.

"What does it say?" Atem asked, his voice echoing strangely.

"Part of it is damaged."

X. "What do you think it say!" Mahado yelled.

" I think it's 'The last warrior who wields the blade of salvation will aid the saviour of the light,'" Isis said slowly. " There is the part that is damaged and there are guide lines for a few more words…" she continued, climbing off their backs and taking her books.

"What do you think that means?" Atem mused. "Are you sure that's what it says?" Isis shook her head.

"It might mean something completely different…parts of glyphs are missing so it's hard to read."

"We should go," Mana said noticing that the other four were long gone. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and she grabbed Mahado's arm reflexively. "Please," she urged, pulling them forward. Mahado winced at how tight Mana's grip had become. Atem's arm tingled and he looked at the thin scratch left from yesterdays attack.

A sucking sound echoed from behind them, a frigid wind blowing out every torch to their backs. The quartet turned slowly, facing nothing but utter dark, silence consuming them in an instant. Isis attempted to relight the torch to no avail, the burning torches beside her going out seconds later. "Can you create fire?" Isis asked the magicians, only to receive a barely audible 'no.' Mana's leg grew numb as the group remained unmoving, attempting to decide what to do….then it came.

Like a sandstorm, unwanted and unexpected, it came; a deafening scraping sound that made Atem's hair stand up even more. A serrated claw appeared, the pearly white tool of death reaching for fresh prey. Two yellow dots gleamed from the gloom and another claw appeared. The four drowned in silence, the sound floating to the surface was that of Mana's book hitting the floor.

………..

"They were right behind us," Karim said, lighting another torch in the chamber. Shada nodded.

"Seth," Akunadin called. "Please go and find them. Maybe they got lost," he added sarcastically.

"Yes Akunadin-sensei," Seth answered, collecting a torch and re-entering the tunnel.

………………………………………………….

"Why are we doing this again?" Shefnu mumbled. Those around him gave him glares of varying strengths. "Never mind."

"Nothing stupid. Nothing unnecessary," Haktep reminded them quickly. "Make sure you keep your wrappings on. Remember the name of the one we're looking for: Kumon."

"Yes mommy," Shefnu replied.

"Here," he said handing each pair a map. (Shefnu: I didn't get one. Fasen: . that's cause you're with Oberon and I. Shefnu: Oh yeah……………..Fasen: you have the memory of a rock . )

"Where'd you get these?" Bakura asked.

"One of Asami's connections. Each of you has a designated search area…if you are feeling too dumb to figure out where your area is, it's circled in bright red. Try to go through areas that wouldn't be in heavy use this time of the day…like the baths… I'm not scraping anyone's ass off the floor, so BE CAREFUL. If you find what we're looking for light something on fire, or make lots of noise…or both.

"Yes Haktep," the others answered quickly, placing the maps in their bags.

"Be careful…get going." The groups began to disperse, Thoth and Bakura smirking with delight at the chance to use their saber and bow respectively.

"Thoth!" Ari called. Thoth turned and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Ari," Thoth answered walking over to his brother.

"Be careful ok…"

"No, I'll try to get stabbed or shot," Thoth said sarcastically.

"And…Be careful with your saber," Ari continued, eyebrows arched as he pointed to Thoth's sheath.

Thoth stared at his brother. Should I be worried? "Ari are you-"

"Are you pregnant?" Bakura and Haktep butted in, pointing to Ari's stomach.

Ari: . no….get going Thoth.

Thoth nodded and followed Bakura to the corner of the wall, giving Ari a thumbs-up before he disappeared from his brother's range of vision. Ari sighed, holding his bow so hard his knuckles burned, he clutched the green-blue stone that hung from his necklace.

"What was that about Ari?" Haktep asked.

"Time is like sand, Hawk. It slips through your fingers and before you know it, it's all gone," Ari said softly, green eyes distant and empty. "While the sand is in my grasp I must use it….the ones you love are also like the sands…hold them tight, for tomorrow they may be nothing more than a memory…

………………….

"This is awfully unfair," Thoth mumbled, standing between the two large fishponds in part of the palace garden. "Do you think they're edible? What do they eat? What's with the lack of security? Why was it so easy to climb over the walls?" Thoth rambled away, taking a piece of parchment and a charcoal pencil from his bag and crouching beside the pond.

"The last questions are the only ones that really need answering," Bakura replied. "Now, if we are here," Bakura said to Thoth pointing to the map. "Then we should go through here…." Bakura stopped when he realised Thoth was paying more attention to the fish he was drawing than his partner. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING DUMBASS!" Bakura shouted, slightly annoyed and embarrassed that he was being ignored.

Thoth looked away from labelling his perfect drawing and raised an eyebrow. "Piss of bitch."

"Fuck you."

"Fuck you, Fucker."

"Fuckier Fucker."

"Fuckiest fucking fucker."

"Shit-face fucking fucker."

"Asshole, bastard, can't get a developed girl, man fucker!" Thoth smirked. "Can't touch this!"

Bakura raised his middle finger. "Flat-chested, half-ass, looks like a man and can't get a man, too lame to fuck, fucker."

"That was cold Kura. Thoth doesn't want to do the nasty anyway, he's only twelve."

"I know, but that comment still burnt you."

"Bitch."

"You're such a moron…." Bakura trailed off, hearing the sound of approaching footsteps. Thoth rolled up his finished diagram and put it in his bag.

"What is it?" Thoth questioned as Bakura pulled off his bag. "Hey, what are yo-"

"Look dead," Bakura instructed. Thoth opened his mouth to question, Bakura shoving his friend into a pond and darting away as two guards appeared.

"They say that the thieves took seven chests worth of gold," the younger guard said in amazement, screaming loudly when he saw Thoth's body. "Look!" he shrieked again, pointing to the blue clothed body.

"Let's see if whoever this person is…is dead," the guard #2 said. "Let's try to bring him to the edge," he continued reaching for the body with his spear.

O.O "I'm not touching it!" Bakura tried not to gag at how pathetic the guard was.

"Not even with your spear?" The younger guard shook his head in denial. Thoth's body was brought to the edge, the guards staring at his large saber. The older guard pulled Thoth's body onto the ground, waiting to see if he would move. "He doesn't look too old…"

"He's dead, isn't he? What do we do?"

"You learn how to handle your spear better and stop being so pathetic," Thoth said abruptly, sitting up. The guards crawled back, picking up their spears in a mixture of fear and curiosity.

"A-A ghost…" Thoth raised an eyebrow and wrung the bottom of his cloak.

"Thoth wishes," Thoth sighed.

"In the name of Pharaoh Akunumkanon I order you to state your name and how you breeched the palace walls."

The thieves chuckled darkly. " Those are the least of your concerns," a voice said dangerously before both guards were knocked unconscious. Bakura put the bags down and smiled. "You looked very dead," Bakura said, Thoth and himself dragging the bodies out of view.

"You looked very dead," Thoth mimicked spitefully. "You didn't give me time to take a breath."

"So?" Bakura said bluntly. Thoth shook his fist angrily, throwing a floppy punch that Bakura dodged with ease. He then gave a lame kick that Bakura sidestepped. "Did the water melt your brain?" Thoth smiled, Bakura only now noticing where his dodging at put him; the edge of the pond. Thoth roundhouse kicked Bakura into a pond, sending fish into cardiac arrest.

Bakura swam to the edge of the pond, realising it was deeper than he thought. "Who, may I ask, is the dumbass now?" Thoth smirked even though he was still dripping wet. Bakura said nothing (but three curses) as he pulled himself out, sitting down and removing his wrappings to wring them. "What are you doing? No one can see us, put that back on," Thoth said warningly.

"Make me," Bakura challenged. Thoth stomped forward, kneeling down and grabbing one end of Bakura's wrappings.

"Don't be stupid!" Thoth shouted.

"I'll stop being stupid when you start being smart!" Bakura retaliated, grabbing Thoth's shoulders, the pair falling to the pond again.

"Fuck," they grumbled in unison, the pair submerging again when they heard footsteps.

There was silence, the guards who saw the pond from the other side of the garden not seeing any cause for alarm. Bakura and Thoth surfaced seconds later, heaving themselves onto the ground once again. "Fine- leave-it off- thennn," Thoth wheezed.

"No…I-think I'll-put it on," he replied, placing the soaked cloth back on his face. "What a good guy you are Thoth."

"You too man."

"What would I do without a great friend like you?"

Thoth shrugged. "Thoth doesn't know buddy, Thoth doesn't know."

……………………………………………………………..

Atem wished for Bastet, the one thing that had kept him alive until Mahado's arrival. The four stood closely together on one step, wondering if they should run or hope that if they kept still enough it would go away. Atem could picture the gears spinning out of control in Mahado's mind, the magician searching his thoughts for a solution to their problem.

Isis took a deep breath. "Run," she breathed, throwing her unlit torch and books forward into the inhabited darkness and taking off in the opposite direction. An unearthly shriek downed out their footfalls, the four racing down the stairs at a breakneck pace. The sucking noise came again, their hair blowing about madly as torches went out two at a time. The screeching and scraping doubled, all but six of the lamps in front of them being extinguished. The floor ran into the rectangle of light, standing back to back, using each other for support.

"Help Ra, please," Mana begged, still holding onto Mahado's numb arm.

Isis gasped. "It's on our side," Atem panted. "We can run back to the courtyard."

"That's not possible," Mahado said shaking his head in disbelief. "It can't be on your side because it's on our side."

The claws came first, two to both long arms. Rows of razor sharp teeth followed, gripping grotesquely beneath a pair of ravenous, gleaming eyes. Its brown exoskeleton shone disturbingly, its long, white horns scraping the ceiling even in its hunched state. Saliva pooled at its feet, slicking the floor in transparent slime. The creature's mirror image appeared opposite it, both monsters towering above those who lacked protection.

"I don't want to die like this," Mana said quietly. Mahado said nothing about the loss of feeling in his arm, all his energy focused on the 3 metres between them and the bugs.

"Mana eater bug, " Isis said knowledgeably. "Not the most powerful monster-"

"- but it could kill us all anyway," Seth finished breathlessly. The bug ahead of Atem and Isis turned slowly, saliva from its mouth dripping onto the foot of the one with the blue eyes.

"We're going to die," Mahado admitted regretfully.

. "No," Isis said firmly. "I can't die….I have so much practice work left to do."

Others: ToU YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

The claw rose into the air, Seth's eyes dilating in fear. Isis took a deep breath and ran forward, the three behind her staring in utter shock.

OoO "WHAT IN OSIRIS' NAME IS SHE DOING!" Mahado screamed.

Isis slid between the hideous legs of the creature, he side getting covered in slime and her cheek getting gashed by a protruding leg scale, as she knocked Seth out of the way.

All: O.O :crickets chirp for a while:…………WOW!

"Hurry!" The future priestess shouted, helping up a swirly-eyed Seth as the Man eater bug tried to wrench its claws from the floor.

O.o "AHHHHH!" Atem screamed, sliding on his back instead of doing it skilfully on his side. "AHHHH!" Mahado followed seconds later, dragging Mana behind him.

Mana: . Gonna die, Gonna die, Gonna die………..

"WHY DID'T YOU COME FOR HELP?" Seth shouted, his torch flickering dangerously as the sprinted down the stairs, struggling not to fall over in their slimy shoes.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK WE WERE TRYING TO DO?"

"SORRY….AHHHHH!" Seth screamed girlishly.

Mana and Mahado stopped when they saw the cause of the yells. Barely visible in the flickering light was a Ka monster, its brown body pressed against the top of the tunnel. It swung at lengthy arm, a lethal claw ripping off Mana's hat. She screamed, the five hitting the cold floor in their slime soaked clothes. The other beast appeared behind them, snarling with rage and frustration that its meal was so elusive.

"We can't die," Atem shouted, pulling off his shoes –with some difficulty- and shuffling around to throw it at the creature. The others threw their shoes to no avail. "We can crawl away if we just distract this-"

Seth's screams interrupted Atem in mid-sentence. "ANOTHER ONE!" Seth yelled. The other four shuffled back around, their jaws dropping in the sheer hopelessness of the situation.

All: O.O Gonna die, Gonna Die , Gonna die……..

"Maybe we can slide lying down," Isis said. "I'm definitely slimy enough to slide again…"

Seth, Atem, Mahado and Mana: O.o Oh Jeez Isis

"Oh no…please," Mana breathed as the bugs on the sides lumbered forward. "We can't escape…" Piece of the ceiling crumbled to the floor, sprinkling five sets of hair with dust. Seth rolled onto his back and closed his eyes, blue eyes and white hair all he could see inside his eyelids. He opened an eye as saliva fell onto his leg, his blood freezing as quickly as the walls.

"W-What's happening?" Mana asked, a crystal like mass covering the legs of the fang-bearing monsters. "W-What is it?"

"Who cares?" Seth moaned, the air becoming even colder than before. "It can't save us…"

Atem blinked, his mother flashing before his eyes. Mother? Footsteps echoed around them, the students pleading for someone who could help. "Help!" Atem yelled.

"Not helpful enough," Seth breathed, his eyes locked on the thing above them. The others knew what he meant and they closed their eyes, such a death should be quick, and so, they prayed to be killed quickly. Time seemed to drag on, prolonging their fear, stretching their suffering for amusement.

"Wing Weaver!" a voice shouted. (AN: There is a Yu-Gi-Oh card called Wing Weaver, I didn't make it up)

"Buster Blader!" another yelled.

Two creatures rushed forward, one shielding the stupefied place residents as the other cut the falling predator into arm-length chunks.

"Finish them!" the two shouted, the Ka monsters under their command following instructions.

Mana stared -wide eyed- as the feminine creature –twice as tall as Seth- spread its six, feathered blue wings, its long lavender blowing out behind it. It smirked and winked quickly, sapphire eyes glinting with satisfaction. Its yellow halter, wrap around dress seamed to float by itself, the students staring in awe. It smiled cruelly as it gathered energy on its fingertips, shoving the orb of energy into the Ka bugs head. Seth watched as the bug hacked up blood before shrieking in anguish and crashing to the floor.

(Everyone knows what Buster Blader looks like . ) A large sword swung only once, Buster Blader's sword shining with blood. Four of the five stood up slowly, the blood that spurted from the bugs' neck, showering the five in blood.

O.o "What just happened?" Mahado spluttered, blood and slime dripping from his hair.

"Cool hair," a voice commented from their left.

"Look at the colour….that really is extraordinary," another voice replied.

"Lights?"

"Oh yes." They adjusted to the light as all torches behind them burst into flames, one squinting figure instantly illuminated. Her hip-length, silver streaked, black hair shone even in the dim light, her sharp looking bangs falling neatly above her raised eyebrows. Her bright sapphire eyes scanned them doubtfully as she gave a small smile, Atem automatically giving a small smile back. The plum ankle length robe she wore was embodied with silver thread, as were her dark purple shoes. She was probably Isis' height if not a bit taller and couldn't have been much older than the future priestess either.

The one she had been speaking to remained in the dark, not saying another word.

"Prince Atem," the girl said quickly, quickly giving a bow. Atem's jaw dropped, Mana, Mahado, Isis and himself dropping to the ground before her.

"Thank you! WHOEVER YOU ARE!" they cried.

"It's not a problem," she smiled as they stood. Atem couldn't stop staring at her…why did she look so familiar…it was her smile and her eyes….where had he seen them before? "I'm Asami."

"Thank you Asami!" She nodded and reached out to the wall , the crystal like substance receding to unknown regions.

"May I?" she asked, extending her hand. Atem took her head and shook it, chills running up his spine . "Sorry," she whispered. "Are you two magicians?" she asked, her gaze resting on Mahado and Mana.

"Yes…" they answered.

"So is my friend Sen over there," she continued pointing to the young man opposite her. "He's a bit shy."

"HOW'D YOU GET IN HERE?" Seth snapped, (in his opinion) his debt to his saviours fulfilled.

Asami raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"You he-"

Seth screamed in pain as Mana, Mahado and Isis punched or slapped him. Asami raised an eyebrow as Seth's nose began to bleed, the wide-eyed Egyptian holding both his red cheeks, blood running onto his lip.

"SHUT UP YOU UNGRATEFUL PIG!" the three shouted angrily. Seth stood up, and began to shout, Asami joining the other three in her own defence.

Atem had gone deaf as words flew between the others in the light, violet orbs searching for the figure that remained hidden. They sat with their back to the wall, one leg bent and the other straight out.

'Why do you stare prince?' a smooth voice questioned in his head. Atem scratched his head through blood-matted hair, shivering in crimson stained clothes. He took off his head piece and threw into the ground.

'I'm crazy. I nearly get killed AND I'm crazy,' Atem mused.

'No, you are perfectly sane…I hope. I can just speak to you telepathically. Forgive Asami's long insults…she knows too much.'

'How can you speak to me?'

'I'm not sure Prince. Perhaps you are special.'

'Step into the light.'

'Huh?' the voice asked in alarm, changing from the perfect, silky tone to a squeak of confusion. 'As you wish...I guess.'

Atem stepped forward, nearly slipping in another puddle of bloody slime. Seth stood facing Mana, Asami, Mahado and Isis, the groups creating complicated but altogether senseless insults to throw at each other.

"YOU WHINY SIMPLETON! I COULD SLIT YOUR THROAT IF I WANTED!" Asami yelled.

"Asami, no death threats before dinner," Sen sighed, standing and gracefully walking into the light. Silence once again reared its uncomfortable head as Sen reared his beautiful one. His eyes had to be the most beautiful thing about him; an emerald green, enchanting and mysterious. He squinted and blinked before adjusting to the light, cheeks briefly going pink when he noticing everyone but a mumbling Asami was staring at him. His midnight blue hair came to his waist where it became slightly wavy; his bangs covered his left eye, but stopped above his eyebrow to the right. His navy blue robe touched the ground, the hem soaking up some of the blood on the floor. Both his long sleeved shirt and knee long skirt were black, but his shoes and belt were the same colour as his belt. Those from the palace found themselves staring at him; not at his gorgeous hair or extra long belt, but at his skin. It was as pale as the moonlight and looked even paler against his dark clothes. He bit his lip and gave a low bow, his hair almost toughing the floor. Asami rolled her eyes and gave a snort of amusement.

"Yo-you're s-s-so……" Atem stuttered.

"Odd. Weird. Freakish," Asami suggested.

"So much like an outsider….a very strange outsider……and you're not ugly," Mahado said oddly.

"So different…" Seth whispered.

"We must go, prince. Asami," he said urgently, gripping something through his shirt. "Let's go."

"What is it…" Asami whispered, sharp eyes darting all around. Footsteps became audible, those who were not of the palace looking at each other in amusement.

"Akunadin-sama?" Mana squeaked. Sen tapped his foot and raised an eyebrow.

"This marks the end of our visit. It was good meeting all of you. Regards to Nephthys, Atem," Asami said quickly. "We will now leave through the nearest exit." Asami shook Atem's hand, the prince's palm going numb.

Atem stared at Asami. O.O

'You will know your three magic weapons by their common loves, prince Atem,' Sen informed him. 'You must know…for the sake of your kingdom you must….'

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Atem screamed aloud, recent event overloading his mind.

"You will all have to understand," Sen said in a warning tone.

"Understand what?" Seth asked, pinching his nose closed. The footsteps were upon them now, the five turning to see Akunadin with Shada and Karim in tow.

"What's going on here?" Akunadin queried, lip twitching when he noticed the state of his blood covered students. The five turned to see that they were alone, the shrivelled Man-Eater bug pulsing strangely.

O.o "What happene-" Shada began before the bug exploded, blood showering them all.

Akunadin, Shada and Karim: O.O

Others: .

"W-W-W-What?" Karim stammered.

Mana fell to her knees and hugged the remnants her hat lovingly, rocking back and forth as he hummed to herself. Akunadin gazed at his shoe less students then at the chunks of flesh on the floor. No one said anything until Isis looked at Atem, and handed him something covered in slime and whispered a few words with a smile, "Your bloody head-piece prince…. it looks like we'll be able to do that practice-work after all."

……………………………………………………………………

"This isn't him either," Bakura mumbled, examining the pendants of three more guards they had knocked out. Thoth shrugged and rolled the bodies into some flowers behind a bush.

"We have two more places to look," Thoth whispered, pointing them out on the map. "We're here so we should exit through here to go into a separated part of the garden…. then we can enter through the baths…"

Bakura nodded, Thoth walking ahead of him. Bakura glanced at a column engraved with deeds of the pharaoh. His fist tightened, and he took an arrow from his bag, stabbing the pillar in rage. He hung his head in anger, dropping the arrow on ground when he saw he had only managed to flatten the pharaoh's forehead.

"Are you tired or something?" Thoth asked walking back to his lingering friend. Bakura shrugged and walked ahead without a word. Thoth picked up the blunt arrow on the ground and looked up the column; the column that had cracked from bottom to top, the cracked neck of the engraved pharaoh saying more things than the hieroglyphs around it.

…………………………………………………………………………….

"I-hate-my-life," Mahado grumbled, shivering miserably in a towel.

Seth, Mana, Isis and Atem: Me too U.U

Atem shivered, pleased with the slightly convincing lie that they had told Akunadin. According to them, another Ka monster had come from nowhere and began eating the Man-Eater bugs, ignoring them because it said they smelt weird and were ugly. Akunadin hadn't looked convinced until Seth added a confusing ending that was too confusing to tell whether it could be true or not. He didn't ask why how Isis' cheek got scratched or why Seth's cheeks were bruised and his nose was bleeding. Karim and Shada didn't have to stay for questioning so they had already had baths, food and gone to their rooms.

"At least I didn't have to do my summoning," Mana smiled.

All: .O

"Sorry I slapped you Seth," Mahado mumbled.

"I'm sorry I slapped you too," Mana apologised.

"Sorry I…..punched you," Isis said to the one beside her.

"Forget it…perhaps I deserved it," Seth admitted as Nephthys came sprinting into the sick room (in some palaces there were places where the sick or injured were taken for treatment and so they didn't mix with anyone else).

All: She's faster than Isis! OoO

Isis: . NO! I'M FASTER! MEEEEE!

"Mummy!" Atem squealed, running to his mother. Nephthys smiled, running to her son and hugging him.

Others: Awwwwwwwwwwww……… O. Hey! He said mumm-

" :Ahem: Mother, how wonderful to see you in the world of the living."

"Are you all ok?" she asked, not waiting for a response before she came over to them, inspecting cuts, examining bruises, and poking limbs. She looked at Seth's face and her eyebrows arched in worry. She took the semi-transparent part of her dress and pinched Seth's nose with it. "Doesn't look good, Seth," she said gently. Seth looked at her with a smile, coughing and looking down when he noticed what he was doing.

"What has Akunadin-sama said about this," Seth asked. The queen held his nose with only her fingers and sighed.

"He is unsure of what measures should be taken, guard are being sent down into the chamber that is clearly unwise. Guards will not be able to stand up to a Ka monster without sustaining some injury. Summoners should have been sent down into the chamber……. That's not our problem right now……right now, everyone should have a bath."

"To help us relax?" Mahado suggested.

"Yes…that and the fact that you all smell and look rather nasty."

Others: XoX :facevault:

"Ahhhhh!" Shimon said in delight, shuffling into the room. "None of you are dead! It's a miracle," he went on, disappearing out the door a second later.

"Ummm…well off you go, the baths are already warm." All but Atem gave bows and the group began to shuffle away. "Atem," Nephthys said before her son could leave.

"Yes mother," Atem answered, walking back to the one who called.

She smiled and held one of his hands on both of hers. "You haven't told the really truth of what happened down there, but I know you'll say when you're ready."

Atem's blood crusted body had gone unexplainably numb. "Mother what ha-"

The queen put her finger to her son's lips. "If you need help to understand, I'm right here….. " she whispered, kissing his forehead. Her hands were cold…as cold as Asami's……. She let him go and walked to the door.

"Mother," he said before she could leave. She looked at him over her shoulder. "Asami sends her regards?"

Atem waited for a look of confusion to wash over his mothers face but it never came. "Asami huh? Now I know the untold story," she said softly. Atem got the look of confusion. "Don't be confused Atem…the untold story………is whatever you want it to be…"

…………………………

Seth was in the bath on the other side of the room, away from Atem and Mahado and hadn't said anything since he came in. Atem and Mahado were in the pair of baths opposite Seth and Atem was talking just as much as usual. Isis and Mana were in the women's bath and were probably talking as well.

"I'm pretty sure she knows Asami," Atem whispered to Mahado. Atem knew that Mahado –like Seth- was already uncomfortable taking a bath at the same time as other people, and being spoken to probably didn't help. Mahado nodded anyway to show he was listening and continued pulling coagulated blood out of his hair.

"How do they know each other?" Mahado asked.

"I don't know," Atem replied, continuing by telling his friend what Sen had told him.

"You're bad luck and you have bad luck. What do you think your magic weapons could be?"

"No idea……..I don't even practice magic. Why couldn't you have been given the message?"

"Because Ra loves me," Mahado smiled, soaping his hair.

"And my mother knows about the message Sen gave me…he said that I need to understand for the sake of my kingdom, and she said she'll help me understand….now tell me that isn't creepy."

"That isn't creepy," Mahado said sarcastically.

"How did Asami and Sen get in anyway?" Atem said loudly. Seth raised an eyebrow and Atem knew he had heard.

"Those are the least of your worries if you're going to be bothered by them," Seth said.

"What do you mean?"

"Their Ka monsters," Mahado said. "Those things had to be nearly ten times as strong as the Man-eater bugs. Those kinds of Ka monsters are hard to summon and even harder to control."

"I am very sure," Seth added. "That the summoners may have been more powerful than the summoned."

Atem sighed, his head was hurting; what was happening all of a sudden? Two attacks in two days? Two outsiders in the palace?

"Let's talk about something else," Mahado said, his hair hidden in foam.

"Yeah," Atem seconded.

"Like what?" Seth asked. "Girls?" he suggested jokingly.

Atem smiled. "Sure."

……………………………………………………………..

"Where did all the guards go?" Bakura asked as they slipped in and out of shadows. Thoth shrugged.

"Thoth doesn't know," Thoth said.

Bakura looked at the map again. "Let's hurry this up, it sucks being in damp clothes. You go through the bath and I'll go through this hall, we'll meet up in this room here. Ok?"

"Sure," Thoth said, running off, extremely quickly.

"Jeez, he ran like there was food over there………."

……………………

Bakura slipped along the hall, sharp eyes searching for any sign of life. His bag was heavy, as if something was pulling him down. He looked both ways, the hall suddenly cold as he squeezed behind a large lamp, finding himself in a recess in the wall. He dug through his bag, fingers resting on something cold and smooth. He pulled it out and stared at it; The book of Buried Pearls.

"I didn't pack this," Bakura said to himself doubtfully.

'Find power through blood...' a voice whispered suggestively. 'The blood of your lover…..the blood of your friend…..blood of the faithful…….blood of your own, Thief King..." Bakura dropped the book on the floor, its gold lock begged for release. He picked it up and stuffed it into his bag.

He rubbed his head and sighed. "No alcohol in the morning."

………………………………………………………………

The three in the bathroom faced different directions as they put their clothes on. Atem wondered how they day had changed so much….how it had become so foul. This morning he had been worrying about girls and his burning cheeks, and then a few hours later he was worrying about being decapitated and the future of his kingdom.

He bent over to pick up his clothes, something reflected in the puddle on the floor. Atem looked up slowly starring at a blue clad intruder. They put their finger to their lips but Atem was silent once he their giant sword.

"Are you done yet?" Mahado asked, him and Seth dressed many minutes ago.

"Hello?" Seth said when Atem did not reply. The pair turned, looking at the one who stood in front of Atem. Atem stepped backwards, tripping over his shoes and sliding into the corner. The three others stared at the towel on the floor, eyebrows raised as she turned slowly, gazing at a naked Atem.

"DON'T LOOK AT ME!" Atem shrieked, attempting to cover himself with his headpiece. Seth's and Mahado turned away, coughing loudly as they blushed.

The thief was not so composed and began to scream, looking like he was trying to scratch out his eyes.

"Stand back prince," Mahado said warningly.

Seth sweatdropped. "He's screaming because he saw someone naked…" Seth said dryly. "What is there to fear?"

The thief continued screaming, Mahado's and Seth's eyes widening as the door caught fire. Atem –confused if he should be thankful for the distraction- put on his clothes.

"Who are you?" Seth shouted again, picking up a tall lamp stand for protection. The thief was silent, eyes resting on Atem. The prince twitched wondering if the green eyes of the thief were flickering with amusement, embarrassment or confusion.

"Who am I?" the thief repeated. "He is…who he is..." he thought aloud. Mahado sweat dropped; Atem scratched his head.

A vein throbbed in Seth's head and he swung the stand, the thief ducking gracefully, pulling out his sword and halving the pole before any of them could react. "Bastard," Seth hissed. Atem wondered who he should fear more; the skilfully sword wielding thief, with the reflexes and speed of a cat, and a weirdly sarcastic attitude…or Seth, the one who had just dented the lamp stand with a single swing and looked like he could bite all of their heads off.

"Conversation is a waste of time. So ours should end now," the intruder commented. Atem opened his mouth searching his brain for a powerful-prince line to show everyone whose boss.

"Ummm…….uh huh…..well," Atem trailed off.

Others: . ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Sad.

"You have no right to be in here," Mahado said firmly taking a step towards the trespasser. "You have trespassed in the home of the Pharaoh and that can not be tolerated."

"That's what I wanted to say, Mahado," Atem sighed. The one in blue did not reply, the curtains undulating eerily as they removed a small box from under their cloak. Mahado and Seth gasped as if they'd just been burnt. "What is it?"

"A turmoil chest," Seth said.

"That doesn't sound good."

"Turmoil chests can only be used by magicians and powerful summoners…..when they are opened they release hundred or thousands creatures like snakes, locusts and scarabs or bring sicknesses of all sorts. Once opened they are difficult to close, the plagues they bring usually strengthening until they are re-confined to the box."

"It need not be opened if only you would allow the retriever to pass," Thoth said quietly.

"Retriever?"

"The thief has not come to kill, but to collect an item from a guard."

"This makes no sense, they why are you entering in such a fashion."

"What the thief needs to collect must be taken by force…." There was silence again, until Mahado stepped back, leaving the outsider a clear trail to the charred piece of wood that was a door. "Thank you….. Mahado."

Footsteps became louder on the other side of the door, mumbling from at least two people now audible.

"Guards," Atem concluded.

"No matter," the thief said calmly standing directly behind the door.

"Prince! Master Seth and Master Mahado!" the guards shouted.

"There are three off them…at least."

"We're com-" They didn't finish before Thoth kicked down the remnant of the door, the piece of wood falling on those who had come to attempt a rescue. He wasted no time, standing on top of the wood and staring down at the three below him.

"Who is Kumon?" he asked slowly. The guards moaned and shouted, breathing becoming difficult under the weight of the door. "Answer me."

"Meeeeeeee," one guard wheezed. A covered eyebrow was raised and a sword sheathed as Seth's nose began to bleed again.

"Thank you," Thoth said quietly, ripping the amulet from the guard's neck with a smile.

"YOU'RE ONE OF THEM!" another guard shouted from the end of the corridor, grinning and pointing with glee. "ONE OF THOSE SUPER BANDITS FROM THE VALLY OF THE KINGS! I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST A LEGEND!" Atem's mouth dropped when he realised the guard wasn't going to do anything.

"Get away prince!" the guards shouted. Atem didn't move.

"They have to be finished by now," a girl said as she rounded the corner. "They weren't that dirty…wait, yes they were."

"MANA! ISIS!" Atem, Seth and Mahado shouted. "RUN AWAY!"

The girls stared at the thief; the thief who stared back at them head tilting to the side in fascination. "Sword," Mana squeaked.

"HEAVE!" the guards yelled, pushing the piece of wood over, the outsiders sliding along the floor and into the wall. The guards wheezed and panted, diving onto the one who was half their size, the Turmoil Chest clattering to the floor. Those in the bathroom joined their friends in the hall, four of the five bursting out in ramblings.

"YOU LITTLE PUNK!" Kumon shouted, hitting the thief in the face. The thief may have had more skill than all of them but he didn't have size or the brute strength. Mana looked past Seth, wincing as she saw blood from the thief's mouth dot the floor. "HOW DARE YOU! YOU SHOULD BE BURNT FOR THIS!"

"That's a little drastic," another guard commented with a smirk, pulling a small knife from his belt. "Maybe just a few cuts and stabs here and there will teach you who to mess with runt."

Atem turned around as he heard something unexpected from the thief; a chuckle. It was mocking and cold, but amused and carefree all at the same time. "Go on then," the thief taunted. "Make my day…bitches." Atem twitched as the thief received a double blow; a punch to the stomach and an attempted stab to the arm which had resulted in the gash to the shoulder.

"Hey!" Atem shouted as the guards yelled, hitting the body against the wall.

Thoth coughed roughly, his mouth filled with the taste of blood. His ribs screamed, crying the way they had done when he had first broken a few ribs, as his shoulder reminded him where bitchiness got him. He grinned at them, fear only setting in when he noticed the chest on the floor.

"The Ches-" he began cut off as a hand clamped over his bloody mouth.

"HEY!" Atem shouted again, pushing past the other guards to the one that held the thief by the neck. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" He threw a surprisingly hard punch, managing to knock the guard in the jaw.

"This intruder could have killed you," the guard said defensively, his mouth bleeding. "We-"

"YOU'RE DISGUSTING!" Atem spat. "HE HASN'T TRIED TO KILL ANYONE!"

"Forgive us," the guards said automatically, bowing as they apologised. Atem glared at them with hatred for what they had just done.

"Get away from me," Atem hissed. "You should be ashamed…nearly killing someone because they hurt your pride."

"B-"

"Leave the palace. If I find out you have not left as I ordered, your pride won't be the only thing being hurt," Atem hissed. "Leave him here. I'll see to him myself." The guards began useless pleas, Mahado, Mana and Isis congratulating Atem on his handling of the situation. Seth watched as Thoth pulled himself into a sitting position, his breathes ragged and uneven. He placed his hand on his torn shoulder, biting his lip as the wound began to close.

"Please, it's-rude…to-stare," Thoth panted slowly, placing his hands over his ribs. Seth said nothing. "My- My box…."

Seth looked for the chest, scanning the floor for the red and gold cube.

"Where is it?" Seth questioned accusingly, as Atem roared at the guards in rage.

"One of-of-them," Thoth said, pulling himself up. "One of them took it."

One of the guards heard Thoth's words, taking the chest from under his sleeve and throwing it. "Who cares, the lock got broken anyway. Catch you little bastard," he snorted.

"NO!" Seth screamed. No one moved as the box hit the ground landing right-side up, the lid popping open with a twang.

"Run," Thoth breathed, pulling himself into a standing position. "Run and run some more until you can't get any higher."

"What's going to happen?" Isis asked. As if answering her question a single scarab beetle scurried out of the box, scuttling past Mahado's leg into the bathroom. Three more bugs followed, each heading in a different direction. The group stared at the bugs, not heeding the word of the bloody one.

"RUN DAMN IT!" Thoth shouted from the end of the hall, taking off before anyone could ask anymore questions. Seth stepped back when the box began to shake, black beetles pouring onto the floor.

"Didn't you hear?" Seth asked loudly. "HE SAID TO RUN DAMNIT!"

………………………………

Bakura rounded a corner swiftly, a long corridor coming into view. Each side was lined with monumental statues of the gods, kneeling. Lamps burned between each idol, not doing much to reduce the darkness of the passage. At the end of the hall was a screen; a slightly transparent lavender screen that had to be pulled open.

Bakura stood facing a statue of Thoth ( God of wisdom, knowledge, the moon, writing and numbers) staring at it with questioning eyes, before sitting on Thoth's foot. He looked at the statue opposite Thoth and squeezed his eyes closed.

"I hate you so much," Bakura informed the statue of Anubis (God of death). "And judging by what you've taken from me so far…you hate me to. But I don't need your co-operation."

'No you don't…with me you can live forever…' a voice sang to him. 'With me….you can have her back…just stay in the light….' Bakura shook his head, rubbing his eyes and adjusting his quiver.

"Now you're making me delusional," Bakura accused Anubis. "You can stay with your partner…..you can do nothing to me…In fact I hate both of you," Bakura continued, declaring his dislike for Horus ( God of the sky, protector of the Pharaoh). "You protect him…..but you don't save those who really need your protection…those who need protecting from him."

Bakura shivered, the lamps threatening to go out as the wind howled through the columns. Another kind of howling joining the wind. Bakura judged the sound was coming from behind him, the screaming and panicked yells of a group.

"Open," he ordered the screen, jamming an arrow into the space between the screen and its frame to force it open. "Open," he grunted, looking for a lock to pick while the voices got louder.

Thoth slid around a corner, a screen at the end of the passage the only thing blocking his way. He unsheathed his sword, darting past the halls to his left and right.

"MOVE!" Isis screamed, running straight into Thoth, knocking him into a pillar. His ribs pleaded for attention, telling him he had done a poor job at healing. His shoulder began to bleed a second later, the thief wasting no time in recovering him sword.

"Wait!" Atem shouted, reaching out for the one who ran away.

Bakura's ears pricked up. "Wait…" he mumbled, taking a small step back. Strong cotton ripped as Thoth cut the screen down the middle, tearing the cloth in two. Bakura blinked, staring through the hole, past a ducking Thoth at Atem, eyes cold. Atem stared back; looking past a theory spewing Seth and crouched thief at the lavender eyed bandit.

It was the first time they saw each other. The first time the bandit and the prince would lock eyes. The first time…….through a split screen.

……………………………………………………….

Sen and Asami's cups exploded in their hands, wine splattering all over the bar. The pair stared at each other for a few moments, Asami nodding before Sen slowly opened his eyes. Anubis whined before going to lie down under a table.

"Don't worry guys," Shila said not looking up from her book. "I'll clean it up…" Malik meowed and Shila turned her page, looking up to notice that she sat all alone.

………………………………………………………….

"YOU OPENED THE TURMOIL CHEST! AND NOW YOU CAN'T CLOSE IT!" Bakura shouted as the pair, jumped over a couple of unconscious guards.

"Hey look Ari and Haktep have been here…….Thoth means, HE DIDN'T OPEN IT!" Thoth retaliated.

Bakura turned a sharp left, swinging around the corner as he held onto Thoth's arm, pulling him behind a column. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing," Thoth replied, attempting to fix his clothes so they covered the rip in his shoulder. "Did Thoth tell you he got the amulet?" Thoth asked holding it up proudly. Bakura grabbed it and shoved in his bag.

"You are so dumb," Bakura sighed. Thoth sighed. "But you did a really good job."

Thoth wanted to give an indifferent shrug but it hurt too much. "Thanks Kura."

………………………

Atem didn't know Isis could run so fast. She was leaps and bounds ahead of them, giving warning when there were bodies on the floor to jump over. "How could only two, little intruders do all of this?" Atem asked, panting as a scarab rushed past them.

"How- do-you-know-there are……" Seth began, panting just as much.

"Only two," Mahado finished.

"Watch out!" Isis screamed from ahead. They were too slow to react, they rounded the corner with speed, tripping over a doubled-over Isis and falling onto the black, undulating floor. Mana squeezed her eyes shut, as she struggled to get up, the scarabs beginning to crawl over their lowered bodies. Isis hurried through the ankle high layer of beetles, helping Atem and Mahado stand so they could help the others. "Hurry up, we need to get to the-"

………………………

"Library!" Thoth said breathlessly, pointing to the map as they ran, a conscious guard too busy with the bugs to notice them. "We can climb on the shelves….they're very high!" Bakura didn't have time for argument. The pair darted towards the stairs heavy footsteps coming their way. They searched for a crack, a space, some cover to see nothing promising. They turned back, the scarabs flooding the ground floor behind them in a black wave.

"No," Bakura said in disbelief.

"What are we g-" Thoth began before a hand was clamped over his mouth and Bakura and himself were pulled behind a huge lamp. The pair were crammed into an inset in the wall, a hooded stranger watching as the guards came and left quickly on their discovery of the approaching cluster of black.

Bakura didn't say anything as the stranger squeezed past out of the space, the fine, partially see-through, white cloth beneath their hooded robe getting caught on the end of Thoth's saber. They took no time in untangling, but simply ripped the piece of cloth off and looked at the pair with concern. "Don't try to close the box. It'll be taken care of…but until then climb, get as high as possible," the stranger whispered. It was a woman, her voice was soft. She didn't say anything more before she ran off in the direction they had come from, moving rather quickly through the deepening lake of bugs.

"Hurry up," Thoth shouted as Bakura followed him up the stairs.

"Not everyone is as fast as you," Bakura snapped back, his side aching as they came to an intersection. "Do we go forward or left!"

Thoth rubbed his head. "Umm…." he said looking at the map unsurely.

"Come on!" Bakura shouted as scarab got to the top of the stairs. It crawled over his foot, his skin burning where it had walked. "What the hell!"

"The creatures from the chest get progressively worse….I don't know what the next stage will be. I've only used locust and snake chests before I don't know about scarabs and scorpions."

Bakura shook his head and ignored his foot. "Which way then?" Thoth listened for a moment, the yelling of Atem and his companions coming from the left.

"STRAIGHT AHEAD!" Thoth shouted, the pair darting off as Mahado rounded the corner.

"THEY GOT HERE BEFORE US!" he shouted, gently touching his burnt legs and hand.

"IT DOESN'T MATTER!" Seth shouted.

Mana held her head. "WHY IS EVERYONR SHOUTING! MY BRAIN IN GOING TO BURST!" she screamed, leaving the shouting ones to shout as she followed Isis to the library in silence. The other three followed, wondering why Isis and Mana hadn't actually gone into the library.

The beaded screen that usually hung in the doorway was gone, the five staring at the ones already in the library. They watched in doubt as Thoth ran from the window, jumping onto the table where he stood with his hands out, palms up. Bakura followed, leaping onto the table and jumping into Thoth's hands, the younger thief propelling Bakura forward. The five stood in shock as the thief landed on the edge of one of the highest bookshelves, Thoth throwing Bakura his sword a second later.

"How did they do that?" Isis asked in awe. "They're more like acrobats than thieves." As if wanting to reinforce Isis' theory, Thoth did a back handspring to avoid a bug that had appeared on the desk.

"What kind of thief can do that?" Seth asked as Bakura extended his arm, Thoth jumping to catch it and climbing to the top of the shelf.

Atem stared in wonder and then pain as the creatures began to pour up the stairs. "My mother," Atem whispered, slightly ashamed he had forgotten her.

"She has people for protection," Mahado said shortly, dragging Atem to a shelf. "Start climbing!" Mahado instructed.

"The shelf might tip over…." Isis said, Seth nodding.

"Two at a time then," Atem said firmly. "Mahado and Seth, then Mana and Isis."

"But what if we don't climb fast en-" Mahado began.

"If you're worried about my safety you're wasting time. My safety is no more valuable than yours." Mahado didn't argue again, starting to climb the shelf as quickly as possible. "Help me put something in front of the door."

Isis and Mana nodded, the three pushing a table to the doorway then, with difficulty, tipping it on its side. Mana took book after book, taking up spacing in the doorway, later using them to kill the first scarabs to come through. "Come on!" Seth shouted from atop the largest shelf in the library.

Mana gave Atem a questioning look before joining Isis in the climb to the top. Atem backed up as scarabs began pouring over the desk, one falling onto his leg, his skin burning then beginning to peel. "COME ON OUJI-SAMA!" Mana screamed.

"NO!" Atem shouted back. "YOU MIGHT FALL OFF!" he continued, backing up and tripping over a chair.

Bakura watched without emotion as the prince scrambled onto a desk, the bugs surrounding it in a matter of seconds. "He can't even get to the shelf," Mahado whispered as he helped Mana up.

"DO SOMETHING!" Mana screamed, shaking Mahado as bugs began to climb up the legs of the desk. Atem slapped a bug off his leg as it bit him, his leg bleeding as more skin peeled of.

"Give me some arrows, Kura," Thoth said holding out his hand.

"For what?" Bakura snapped.

"So we can help him," Thoth said reaching for the quiver. Bakura pulled away.

"If you want to help him you will get no help from me," Bakura spat coldly.

"Give me an arrow."

"I will not help you."

"I'm NOT ASKING FOR YOUR HELP DAMNIT!" Thoth shouted. The others watched as Bakura shoved an arrow in Thoth's hand, turning away from his friend and the screaming prince. "HEY!" Thoth shouted. "HEY MAHADO!"

Mahado turned to look at the thief with raised eyebrows. "Me?" he asked. Thoth threw him a string of beads that had hung in the door way.

"Throw this to your prince. And you," Thoth continued, pointing to Atem. "Rip the beads of and throw them on the floor around you and near the shelf."

Mahado didn't question as he threw the string to Atem, the prince ripping beads off with his teeth and throwing them in a less-than-straight line to the shelf. "DONE!" Atem shouted. Thoth nodded slowly, throwing more beads all around the room.

"Pray for me!" Thoth shouted in desperation. Mana, Isis and Mahado automatically began mumbling to Horus and Ra, Seth looking at them with questioning eyes. The thief dismantled another string, taking the largest bead from the pile he had formed and jamming it onto the end of the arrow. He held his sword and sighed. "Your being such a bitch Bakura," Thoth mumbled so only the one on his shelf could hear. Bakura did not reply. Thoth stood up, taking a deep breath and running off the end of the shelf.

Bakura looked up his eyes wide in horror as Thoth landed in a crouched position on the floor, his body covered in scarabs before Bakura could crawl to the end of the shelf. "THOTH!" Bakura screamed, leaning over the edge arm outstretched. He wasn't supposed to say Thoth's name for anyone to hear but he didn't care. "THOTH!" Bakura screamed again, desperate for a reply.

"Oh my Ra," Isis whispered, covering her mouth. Mana's jaw had dropped, her and Mahado staring at the spot where Thoth had fallen.

Atem looked around at the undulating floor of black, looking for the one who he had saved earlier. He shook his head, ignoring the horrible scuttling sound of the bugs around him.

"OWEY!" Thoth screamed, head appearing a few feet away from Atem. Bakura gave a sigh of relief, taking a deep breath when he noticed he had stopped breathing. "Owey, owey, owey……." Thoth moaned, struggling to stand up then, dragged himself towards the table.

"Are you ok?" Atem asked quickly, pulling the one who wanted to help him onto the table and smacking bugs off of him. The prince tried – and failed- not to gasp, staring at the one before him. Parts of Thoth's clothing had been burnt; the thief's undershirt had gone, exposing the bandits flats stomach, his sleeves had burnt exposing two arms that Atem expected to be more muscled, but all the skin that was exposed was bleeding, covered in scratches and a few burn marks. "Ok, you're not ok," Atem whispered, holding onto Thoth's hand and wiping some blood off his arm with his skirt.

Thoth moved away quickly. "Don't-Don't mess up your clothes," Thoth said, not meeting the prince's gaze. Atem's face felt hot for unexplained reasons, the prince poking himself in a cut to change his feelings. He winced with pain, thinking that perhaps he should have thought of a bad tasting food or a good joke to change his emotions. He noticed that he was a hair taller than the outsider and inwardly smiled; at least he was taller than someone.

"Now what's he going to do?" Seth asked blankly. As if replying, Thoth walked to the edge of the table and took out his sword.

"Hold this….please," Thoth said to Atem, holding out the arrow. "As soon as you can see one of the beads you threw, stab them with this arrow." Atem opened to ask a question but decided against it as he began to stare; stare at Thoth's arm, the place that he had cleaned of blood. He swallowed hard and pretended he hadn't noticed it…what he saw couldn't be.

"A magician," Mana said excitedly as flames encircled the thief's blade. Bakura shook his head as his friend stabbed the table, forcing his blade through the incision up to the hilt. Bugs were already beginning to climb it, Thoth smiling as Bakura gave a snort.

The bugs caught fire, a ring of flames emanating from the sword, burning everything in their path including the table legs. Atem fell forward landing in bug ashes as Thoth's position did not change. The ring of fire stopped a few feet away, bugs moving forward as if nothing had occurred. Atem's eyes widened as the swordsman fell to one knee, blood running from their shoulder, down their arm.

"He's weak….he's bleeding a lot," Mahado said shaking his head.

"He's NOT WEAK!" Thoth screamed, a ring of green energy bursting from his sword. The ring of energy passed through Atem's legs, destroying another wave of bugs, the hair of the one's on the shelves flapping madly. Atem watched as Mana squealed in delight, screaming 'another magician Mahado-sama! Another MAGICIAN!'. "The beads!" Thoth shouted. Atem shook his head, spotting a bright yellow bead on the floor. It glowed green, a scarab exploding as it crawled over it.

"STAB IT!" Bakura shouted. Atem closed his eyes and plunged the arrow down, the bead on the floor cracking without event. Thoth sweatdropped. X.;;;;;;;;;

Thoth: You've got to be joking .

"Oh well, everyone's going to die,' Thoth mumbled. Bakura shook his head and loaded his arrow.

"LIGHT ME!" Thoth smirked, and the arrow glowed green before catching fire. Bakura winked, shooting the bead before the prince. "Say crackers," Bakura smirked, the room engulfed in green light.

……………………….

Those outside the palace screamed in surprise as green light shone from the library windows, hundreds of scarabs shooting from the room windows in all directions.

"Where are Atem and Nephthys?" Akunumkanon asked Shimon.

"I do not know my pharaoh," Shimon replied quietly. "Where ever they are, I am sure they are safe. Queen Nephthys and Prince Atem are both intelligent and resourceful, I'm sure they will find themselves out of harms way."

"Would you like summoners to be sent out?" Akunadin asked. The summoners who were protecting the room listened to the conversation with interest ( AN: right now they are in the room that the Pharaoh's throne is in). "After all, even these low class summoners are able to stop the advance of these scarabs, so one high-power summoner may be all that is needed to retrieve the queen and prince."

Summoners: . . We'll show you low-class

"The bugs are getting progressively worse, they are beginning to burn those they touch. Akunadin is right. The scarabs have not reached us yet, but they will surely arrive soon."

"Who shall we send out?" Akunumkanon asked.

"We shall go," two guards said in unison stepping from the shadows. Shimon blinked, they did not look the slightest bit familiar, and although they wore their identification amulets, one wore a necklace with many more pendants.

"You will risk your well being for the sake of your queen and prince?"

"I would be an honour to protect your line my pharaoh," the green eyed guard said proudly, bowing low. Akunumkanon did not question why the ones before him were not in their uniforms or why the green eyed one had gloves.

"Thank You." The pair bowed again and left the room, rounding the corner and picking up their bags from behind a lamp.

"You know that this is 'the' sign," Haktep said, ripping the amulet from his neck. Ari nodded, taking the amulet from his neck and placing it his bag.

"We said we were going to find the prince…so let's go and find him," Ari smiled, beginning to wrap the cloth around his face.

Haktep sighed doing the same. "You're never drunk when I want you to be."

………………………..

Asami's eyes began to water as she dangled from her Ka monsters hand as they skimmed over the Nile. Sen hummed as he hung from Wingweaver's other hand, his Ka monster skimming across the water ahead of them (AN: although Sen summoned Buster Blader, it is not his Ka monster).

"There are more bugs here than under Shefnu's bed," Asami said. Sen smiled, Wingweaver stopping where the bugs lined the waters edge.

'This doesn't look very pleasant," Sen sighed as his monster came to a halt, the green eyed spellcaster listening to the mumblings of Asami.

"Where do you think the chest is?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." Asami watched with a raised eyebrow as the Dark Magician of Chaos jerked forward. "What is it?" Sen questioned calmly, his monster and himself locking eyes. "WHAT!" Sen screamed, birds flying off in the distance.

"What is it?" Asami asked loudly, looking for an approaching enemy.

"Ari, Fasen and Thoth are in there," Sen mumbled. "And Bakura and Oberon and Shefnu…"

"HUH? SHILA DIDN'T TELL US ABOUT THAT! WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING IN THERE!" Asami roared, shaking her fist madly. Wingweaver raised an eyebrow. "WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THEY THINKING!" Asami hissed, continuing to thrash around. Wingweaver dropped Asami in the water, the blue eyed Egyptian looking at her Ka monster with shifty eyes. "I hate you." Her monster smiled in response and stuck out her tongue, hugging Sen to make her summoner angry.

Sen laughed nervously, cheeks slightly pink. "Why thank you Wingweaver."

…………………………………….

Two of the seven stood on the floor staring at each other. "You owe him thanks," Bakura said coldly to the five opposite him.

"We owe him nothing," Seth snapped back. "If it wasn't for the pair of you, we would never have had this problem, and the prince would never have needed to be saved!" Mana and Mahado had long abandoned Seth and were speaking to shy Thoth.

"This is amazing!" Mana said, touching the force field Thoth had created. "You must be talented to make made it."

"T-Thanks," Thoth replied unsurely with a small smile. "Thoth isn't that talented." It took the two a while to figure that he was talking about himself.

"So how does it work exactly, Thoth?" Mahado questioned.

"Well, you have to have several objects to enchant; I had the beads. Then once you have enchanted your objects you have to scatter them, but you can keep them in one general area to make the field stronger- the more concentrated the items the stronger the barrier… Then you have to break one of your enchanted objects to activate the rest."

"You performed a shield spell on the beads correct?" Thoth nodded. Mana watched as unknown marks swam around the walls of the field ( the field in the size of the whole room). "So how do you get out?" Mahado asked, watching as the part of the thigh-high layer of bugs was burnt as it should the shield.

"You just have to move through it at speed, or it can be destroyed by a magician or Ka monster…."

Mana and Mahado twitched at the thought of a Ka monster and gave nervous smiles. Isis was wrapping Atem's wounds with piece of her skirt. "They don't look too bad," Isis said, as she wrapped his arm.

"They're invisible when you compare them to what he has," Atem said quietly, nodding his head in the direction of the magicians.

"Do I detect shame in your voice?"

"Perhaps….I haven't thanked him yet."

Isis sweatdropped. "You're worried about not thanking him and Seth is ready to kill so you don't have to."

Atem stood up and limped over to the thief who attempted to give a bow, their bleeding stomach and broken ribs hindering their progress. Atem bowed and gave a smile, shaking Thoth's hand. "Thank you," Atem said slowly. Thoth went wide eyed, face red as Atem continued to shake his hand.

"No problem," Thoth lied, wincing as his head began to throb. Bakura's and Seth's eyebrows narrowed, Bakura jumping back and loading his arrow.

"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING!" Seth shouted. Bakura didn't reply, and didn't get a chance to as four figures came bursting through the window, one landing gracefully on the floor, two standing gracefully on a table and another slipping along the floor. Bakura's arrow fell to the ground, the robber shaking his head in disbelief.

"ASAMI!" they all screamed, as the raven haired summoner stood up unsurely. Thoth stepped backwards, joining Bakura opposite those of the palace.

"How do you know Asami!" Seth shouted.

"How do you know Asami!" Bakura hissed.

"She saved us earlier today," Isis explained. "How do you know Asami?"

"She practically Thoth's sister in law!" Thoth shouted. Sen and Asami blushed.

"That's not entirely true," Sen piped up, flapping a gloved hand.

"SEN!" the seven yelled.

"How do you know Sen?" Mana asked.

"Sen is Thoth's brother," Bakura growled. The five stepped back, Atem in particular staring at Thoth….what he had seen was true.

Asami stood up, wiping her hair off her face and glaring at her smiling Ka monster. "We have no time to discuss relations," she said firmly. "Let's go close the box, fathead."

"Which one of us are you talking to?" Bakura, Thoth and Sen asked in unison.

Asami sweatdropped. "NONE OF YOU! LET'S GO WINGWEAVER!" They watched as six brilliant, blue wings were unfurled, blowing up everyone's hair. Asami put her hand up and her monster grabbed it, the pair zipping through the field and out the door a second later. Mahado looked at Mana, her mouth was wide open, her eyes shining in awe.

The Dark Magician of Chaos hovered next to Thoth, eyes surveying the damage. "It's beautiful," Mana and Mahado said, mouths WIDE open as they stared.

"Sorry to cut your staring short but we must depart," Sen said in his ultra smooth voice.

"Two meetings in one day, that seems to be too coincidental," Seth said.

"In life there are no coincidences, only destiny."

Seth rolled his eyes. "Oh please."

"Our fates are already decided…there is nothing we can so to change them. Enough has been said, let us leave. Pleasure to see you all again."

"Sen, wait," Atem said stepping forward. Thoth's sword was suddenly out as if he expected Atem to attack.

"Prince Atem, have you pondered my words?"

"Yes, but I still don't understand…"

Sen smiled. "It is before your eyes. You will know when the time comes."

"Wait," Thoth said quickly. "What about the others?"

"WE FOUND YOU!" Haktep wheezed, hanging from Buster Bladers hand, just outside the door.. "NOW LET'S LEAVE!"

"Senny," Ari said with a smile. "Oh just break it BB," Ari smiled, Buster Blader broking the doorway to fit into the room.

Isis, Atem, Mana, Seth, Mahado: O.O

"PRINCE! YOUR FATHER SENT US TO FIND YOU! NOW WE HAVE!" Haktep yelled.

"Why are you so loud?" Fasen asked, sitting in the hands of his Maha Vailo. "Oh, hello :yawn: Senny," he said, stretching, covering his mouth with his gloved hand.

"BECAUSE YOUR BROTHER IS TRYING TO KILL ME!" Haktep screamed. "BUSTER BLADER CAN WALK! WE DON'T HAVE TO RUN EVERYWHERE!"

Ari shook his head. "All that reading's making him crazy," Ari sighed, doing a neat flip to the floor. "Ta da!" Sen and Thoth clapped politely.

Sen smiled and looked at the ones he had met earlier. "Buster Blader isn't my Ka monster," Sen admitted. "The Dark Magician of Chaos is."

Isis, Atem, Mana, Seth, Mahado: O.O

"Why are you here, Sen?" Fasen asked.

"We sensed someone had opened one of my Chaos chests so we came to find it," Sen said quietly…leaving out some details.

"Look what I found," Fasen said pulling a sphere from his robes. "I'm not quite sure what it is, but it powers up Maha."

"Look what I found!" Shefnu shouted, jumping through the shield. "A cooked chicken! I'm taking it…I'm hungry."

"A F-Flame S-S-Swordsman," Isis stuttered, pointing to the creature Shefnu had arrived on.

"A Ma-Ma-Maha Vailo?" Atem sniffed.

"A Dark Magician of Chaos!" Mana squealed.

Seth ducked as another creature flew through the window and slammed to the ground. "PEOPLE DOWN THERE ARE SHOOTING AT ME!" Oberon screamed, rolling of Harpie's Brother.

The five palace dwellers stared at the collection of powerful Ka monsters before them and their jaws dropped.

"Is everyone here?" Sen asked, looking around.

Oberon's jaw dropped. "You're Sen….." he whispered. Sen sweatdropped.

"Yes," Sen laughed nervously. 'I think I am."

"You're not as weird as Shila described."

"Wow," Shefnu smiled, chewing a drumstick, " He's not that bad after all. You go Oberon."

"Let's go," Bakura said crossing his arms. "This place makes me sick." He looked at Thoth and glared. "I hate you. Why don't you just stay with the prince?" Thoth stepped back, hanging his head and standing behind Sen.

"HEY LOOK!" Haktep, Shefnu, Ari and Oberon shouted, pointing to Atem. "IT'S THE PRINCE OF EGYPT!"

Isis, Atem, Mana, Seth, Mahado: O.O ;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Aren't these guys supposed to be ruthless thieves?

Fasen looked at Atem. "Oh yes, it is the prince," he said wearily.

"You're a little slow today aren't you?' Sen asked.

"I just woke up," Fasen replied defensively.

"Calm down brother dear."

"I am calm," Thoth, Ari and Fasen replied.

"ALL OF YOU ARE BROTHERS!" Atem shouted.

All: . :stare at Atem:

Atem shook his head….then what he'd seen might not be true…now he was confused…CONFUSED IN THE EXTREME!

"It really is time to go," Oberon said, climbing back on his Ka monster.

"Well…what else is there to say…." Haktep mumbled thoughtfully.

"Hmmm……." The thieves mused, before grinning broadly (except Bakura who cursed loudly and insulted Shefnu for no real reason).

Shefnu: ;.; I'm telling my mommy for you! HAKTEP!
Haktep: . Who are you again?

Isis, Atem, Mana, Seth, Mahado: O.O;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; They are so weird………

"They're so….weird," Mahado sweatdropped, Atem and Mana nodding in agreement as Seth and Isis shook their heads, reluctant to believe that the bunch of oddballs before them had successfully infiltrated the palace, knocked out all but three guards and released a plague.

Thoth had stood behind Sen and now peaked around his brother and gave Mahado a small wave, waving to Mana a second later.

The group –minus Bakura- did think of something else to say as they jumped through the window on one of the five Ka monsters, vanishing altogether. The ones in the palace face-vaulting at their final statement, "HAVE A GOOD DINNER!"

………………………………….

Asami was now on Wingweaver's back, the speed they were going was too dangerous to be dangling. She noticed how all the bodies of the unconscious guards and been placed out of the bugs reach and her brow narrowed. They turned, a long hall, God statues on each side, to the end, a broken screen.

Energy was already gathering in the Ka creature's hands to blow away the wall. "No," Asami decided quickly. "If we can't squeeze through, find another way." Wingweaver smirked, destroying what was left of the already broken screen and grabbing Asami's arm. "What are you doINGGGGGGGGG!" Asami screamed as she was thrown through the doorway, Wingweaver squeezing through just after her. Asami was wheezing as she landed on her creatures back, her Ka monster smiling happily, delighted it had nearly given its summoner a heart attack. They rounded a corner, a hooded figure standing on an ice pillar in the middle of the swarm. Asami looked at the ice and smiled.

"Ne Ne (6)?" Asami asked unsurely, Wingweaver ready for an attack until she was instructed otherwise.

The hooded figure looked up, a smile her face. "You've grown Asami," she said softly. Wingweaver put her hands down and came closer.

"You don't communicate anymore. I was worried…I thought maybe you had…."

"I will soon. My time is nearly do-"

"No! No IT ISN'T!" Asami denied, already knowing the last word in the sentence.

The one on the pillar gave a small laugh. "You know I speak the truth….ask your red haired friend…you know which one I speak of."

"I ca-"

"You can't look for any loop-holes. There are none."

"You can't g-"

"I will have to. Will you assist me in the matter at hand?"

Asami's eyebrows arched in sadness, she knew the one before her spoke the truth. "Yes Ne Ne." Asami was silent as the one on the pillar crouched and touched the ice beneath their feet, the crystal like substance overtaking the floor, engulfing the creatures in a frozen prison. Asami jumped to the ice, pointing to a spot a meter in front of her. "You know what to do."

Wingweaver nodded obediently, punching the ice with a glowing fist, creating a crater in the ice. Asami jumped into the hole, the Turmoil Chest vibrating as she picked it up, a scarab crawling onto her arm. The hooded one knocked it off, stepping on it as the brunette beside her froze the lid closed. Throughout the palace, bugs turned to smoke, blowing away in the wind. "The end is near, do you know what this means, Asami?"

"What does it mean Ne Ne?"

"You are special because you can see close and distant future….but you can only see pieces, and if you are lucky, you get enough pieces to complete a picture. The one your mother gave her sight to…he views both distant and close future in their entireties…but there is a flaw; the visions come at any time and many times, what is seen…is sadly forgotten."

"I don't understand where you are going with this…."

"Near the end -or if you are lucky enough while your time is still long- visions will come in full splendour; pictures of what is soon to come and what we will not live to see. I have already seen all I wish to see, and many things that have been presented to me please me greatly, but…"

"But what?" Asami asked loudly, her Ka monster breaking up the ice with energy spheres.

"Many things I have seen kill me from the inside for I know what will come can not be changed."

"You know that fate can be altered. I have done it already! I'll do it again!" The one beside her shook her head and Asami dare not question.

"When I go, so will your mother…and all those you have revived…."

"No," Asami said in a choked cry, the ice melting because of the energy, and the bottoms of their clothes getting wet.

"All your sisters will be gone….and it will come again…"

"No…I had kept it away…. I can still manage." (AN: If you're wondering what they're talking about don't worry, you'll find out soon.)

"The burden of the sight had been divided in three. When I leave, it will be merely halved and it will return for you."

"Sen will protect me…my friends will help me."

"I wish it were so simple my dear Asami. When you awake from tonight's sleep you will know that I am right."

"What…what can I do?"

"Say your goodbyes to the ones you care for…..I can not say who…but at least one will be snatched from you; fate has never been especially kind."

"What does this mean, Ne Ne?" The one opposite her, pulled back their hood and hugged her with a smile.

"It means many things my dear Asami….but I can tell you one thing with unfortunate certainty...for this will be the last time I ever say it to you…."

"W-What?"

A tear rolled down the cheek as a hazel eye closed. "Good Bye."

…………………………………………

Oberon bit his lip as his sister cleaned his cuts, everyone in the bar shirtless minus Haktep and Thoth.

"You really did a number on your body…" Sen said softly, once Thoth had told him about everything that happened that day.

"How did you get cut?" Thoth asked, lying on the counter.

Sen gave a nervous laugh. "Wingweaver hugged me…then Asami threw a stone at me and I got cut from that…"

Ari stood over Thoth, red hair touching the face of the most injured one in the room. "Are you going to tell him now…or you still want to wait?" Ari questioned.

"I think I'll tell him now, if he can handle Sen then I won't bother him at all," Thoth sighed, standing up and pulling off his wrappings. Bakura stared out of the corner of his eye, watching as Thoth stood in front of Oberon with his arms crossed.

"Ta da!" Sen, Ari and Fasen said, doing 'spirit fingers' (You know when people do that thing with their fingers where they kind of shake them, but they're wiggling them,….whatever, I can't describe it) around Thoth. Oberon stared for a moment, not saying a thing. Haktep and Shefnu joined in the spirit fingers, Shila coming in a second later.

"You're not ugly," Oberon said blankly.

Others: X.X;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

"So you don't care that Thoth has been lying to you?" Thoth asked quickly.

"Everyone has things they'd rather keep a secret," Oberon smiled.

"We like you when you're sober, you're a lot better," Ari said.

"Yeah!" Shefnu shouted. "Cause when you're drunk, you're an Asshole! Hahahahha!"

Others: .o :stare at Shefnu:
Shefnu: o.o;;;;;;;;;;;

Shila put the last bandage on Oberon as someone knocked on the door. "I said we're closed tonight on the sign outside," Shila huffed. "Are the drunken idiots that come in here too incompetent to read?"

"If we were open then we would have been open for a while…why didn't they come then?" Shefnu said.

"Shin….." Fasen said slowly. Everyone raised an eyebrow dangerously high in annoyance and anger. Oberon –so unphased by Thoth's revelation- helped Thoth rewrap his head and gave him his own cloak to cover himself. Sen donned a hooded cloak and crossed his arms. Bakura didn't move; he wasn't talking to Thoth because he had helped the prince; he simply held onto Anubis and paid no attention. Thoth picked up Malik as Ari, Fasen, Haktep, Shefnu and Oberon sat at a table, the amulet in front of them. Shila cursed and opened the door, Shin, a woman of his, and one of his huge friend's walking through it.

Shin was tall; even taller than Haktep and was leanly muscle. His eyes were incredibly shiny; not the way Ari's eyes sparkled, but shiny the way slime shines. His lips curled into a satisfied smirk as he made a kissing noise to Shila, Shefnu's and Oberon's fists tapping against the table. Haktep, as the leader of the group, stood as Shin came near the table, his head only coming up to Shin's sweaty shoulder. His hair came to his shoulders and was stringy and black, not to mention it smelled like he never washed it. He had no cloak, only a neat short sleeved shirt and a knee long skirt with a gold belt. He smiled, and those who lived in the bar wanted Rayeel, the only one who could efficiently put Shin in his place (They were both from noble families and were rich). He sat down and crossed his legs, his mountain of a man friend standing to his left and his busty, scantily clad female friend on his right. Another large man walked in standing in front of the door.

"I trust you did not fail me," Shin said with a smile. Haktep raised an eyebrow.

"The amulet is right in front of you," Shefnu said dryly.

"So is Shila can I take her home too?" Anubis growled, barking loudly, almost foaming at the mouth. "You got blood on it…"

"So?" Oberon said bluntly.

"Clean it."

"Excuse me!" Shila snapped. Shin smirked, looking Shila up and down.

"Eyes on the item you little bi-" Oberon and Shefnu began, Ari holding his hand up.

"Take it and leave," Ari growled standing up.

"Once you get that nasty blood off of it, I'll be happy to," Shin instructed. "Oh look…I didn't notice you there in the shadows, Sen." Sen didn't reply. "It's rude not to reply."

"And it's rude to look like an ass, so you're even," Thoth snapped, angry Shin was wasting their time.

"Learn some respect, Thoth."

"Learn how to bath," Shefnu said in his friends defence. The man to Shin's right cracked his knuckles.

"Looks like other than my dear Shila, only Bakura knows manners…or is he just too retarded to talk?"

Bakura ignored Shin completely, but Thoth didn't. The thief swung his left fist, catching Shin in the nose. Ari pulled Thoth back as the woman to Shin's side, stepped away from the blood that was pouring from Shin's nose. "TAKE THAT BACK!" Thoth screamed. Bakura was confused, why was Thoth continuing his defence when he had declared his hate for him…

"You broke my nose you little bastard," Shin hissed, standing in rage.

"Touch Thoth and I break your arm," Ari threatened.

"I'll brake you're leg," Fasen continued.

"And I'll slit your throat," Sen said darkly, a blade shining in his hand.

"I'll have you all reported to the pharaoh!" Shin shouted. "Clean the amulet now!" Oberon, picked up the amulet but Shin shook his head. "I want Shila to do it."

"She doesn't have to do anything for you," Shefnu spat venomously.

Shila took the amulet from the table. "Just forget it," she grumbled, pushing past Shin's lady-friend. Although his nose was bleeding Shin smiled and took a seat, satisfied with himself.

"Make sure it's extra clean, Shila," Shin said softly as Shila looked for a water jug amongst the alcohol. He was smirking now and the brother's four spat on the ground in unison. "Extra clean."

Shefnu jumped across the table, throwing Shin to the ground, straddling him and proceeding to break the rest of his face. The inhabitants of the bar cheered as Shefnu broke one of Shin's perfectly straight teeth. The large man on the side didn't remain idle, picking Shefnu up and throwing him into the wall. "SHEFNU!" Shila screamed, dropping the trinket to the floor. Shin's lady friend, Hethra, bent over to help Shin up, most of her chest showing in the process.

"GET OFF HIM!" Bakura shouted as the fat man began to hit Shefnu in the stomach. Sen jumped onto a table, leaping onto the man's back and stabbing him in the shoulder and Anubis ripped off part of his leg. Bakura reached for an arrow, plunging it into the man's side with no effect. "What the….?"

"He's not human!" Ari shouted. Thoth retrieved his saber, pushing it into the beasts back as far as it would go, his sword getting stuck.

"Holy Ra….." Thoth breathed.

"SOMEONE SUMMON SOMETHING! USE SOME MAGIC!" Oberon shouted, as the man near the door swung for him. Thoth tripped, falling over a chair, his ribs numbingly painful.

"We're wasted!" all the summoners and magic users replied. Malik hissed as the man by the door reached for Thoth, scratching out his eye in his master's defence.

Shin was in the corner, holding his nose as Hethra wiped his face with the strip of cloth she had on...called a shirt. Ari's leg swung around, his heel hitting one of the men in the face, two teeth landing on the floor, three falling on the table when Sen mimicked the move. "I need a stone!" Haktep shouted, ducking a table. "I need a stone to summon!"

Shila threw him a rock. "LOOK!" she shouted.

Haktep closed his eyes. "NEO THE MAGIC SWORDSMAN! COME FORTH!" Haktep shouted, the stone swimming with carvings before a sword wielding creature erupted from it, slicing one man in half. The ones in the bar gave a sigh of relief, Shefnu spluttering in confusion as the pieces of the man reformed, creating two equally huge men. Haktep had been injured, his arm bleeding as Neo disappeared.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!"

Haktep slipped on some of the liquid that had poured from the creatures wound. "It's a Revival Jam!"

The door burst open, Asami, Senna, Kana and Rhea standing in shock. "What kind of bloody 'Welcome Back' present is this!" Senna shouted. Asami looked to Sen, her bow loaded a second later.

"What are you doing here, Shit king!" Senna shouted at a bleeding Shin, looking to his lady a second later and giving a snort of disgust.

Thoth struggled to drag Shefnu out of the way, dropping to the ground in a wheezing heap because of his own injuries. "I'm not out of the fight yet," Shefnu said, reaching for the stone that Haktep had dropped.

Shefnu's eyes widened as a meaty fist came speeding towards him, Rhea and Senna filling it with arrows, their amber eyes glinting with pride. "What the hell?" they said in unison as the man snapped the arrows, lumbering above Shefnu. Thoth dragged himself over Shefnu's body, blood dripping from his mouth, the wound in his shoulder was wider than before. Malik attacked again, scratching out the other eye, before being knocked into the corner, silent and unmoving.

"Malik," Thoth wheezed. Bakura stood in front of his friend, arrow out.

"Light me," he said quickly. Thoth gave a lop-sided smile, focusing on the arrow that caught fire. Bakura took aim, firing it into the head of the creature that towered above him. It let out a shriek, crushing two more tables as it fell backwards. Asami jumped onto it, placing her hands over its scratched out eyes, its body quickly engulfed in ice.

"Senny…" Thoth smiled, crumpling to the floor, blood oozing from a gash in his ribs.

"Thoth," Sen said looking at Thoth's damaged body. "Get up, buddy," Sen said softly, fallen hood long forgotten. Thoth opened his eyes and gave a pathetic wink, eyes slipping closed a second later. Asami stood up, looking at her pale friend hold his brother, eyebrows arching.

"Thoth!" Shefnu shouted, pulling himself up. "Shila, help THOTH!"

Shila hurried across the bar as Bakura, Kana, Rhea and Senna emptied their quivers into the two remaining beasts. Bakura turned slowly as Ari jumped clear over a table, flinging debris. Fasen shook his head as blood continued to leak from Thoth's mouth, he placed his hands over Thoth's ribs and chest, a few scratches and bruises on the outside disappearing. "Asami," Sen said desperately, picking Thoth up and placing him on the counter. "DO SOMETHING!"

"Must be bleeding internally," Shila said quickly, limping over to the counter a piece of wood embedded in her leg.

"We're healing him….why isn't he getting up?" Ari asked. Bakura looked between Thoth's brothers, their faces pictures of anguish. He watched as Fasen carefully removed Thoth's wrappings, the inner most layer soaked with blood. A deep gash was above his left eye, Shila running her fingers over it for healing. "SHILA FIX HIM!" Ari screamed, wiping his hair out of his face. "FIX HIM!" Ari screamed.

Shila put her ear to Thoth's chest, the others waiting for a smile of relief to grace her face. It didn't come. "Shila," Haktep breathed.

Shila held her head," I don't know what to do!" she yelled. Shefnu limped over to Shila, holding her shoulders.

"YOU ALWAYS FIX PEOPLE SHILA! FIX THOTH!" he yelled. Sen was shaking his head, the calmest person in the bar sweating is confusion. He put his hands over one of Thoth's cuts, applying pressure to no avail. He looked at his bloody hands, placing them on Thoth's cheeks.

"Come on," Sen begged. "Get up. Please."

"Thoth," Senna squeaked, brushing Thoth's long, dark bangs from his blood crusted forehead. Senna struggled to keep fear out of her voice as she continuously brushed her honey brown hair from her face, throwing it over her shoulder where it came to mid back.

It was infecting them; it was engulfing them; it was panic. Haktep rushed for books looking for something that could help. Shila healed Thoth over and over, tears beginning to stream down her face as he ordered Thoth to get up. Ari's eyes had clouded over as he slid down the wall, a gash on his check bleeding. A single tear ran down his cheek, dotting the floor. Senna's cried, screaming as she broke a table, stabbing the unmoving, arrow loaded creature with a piece of wood. Rhea was silent, waiting for Thoth to get up and declare that it had been a joke so that they could all get drunk together. Asami fumbled in her cloak pocket, taking out a two pieces of rolled up paper with dried leaves inside, Fasen lighting one for each of them, the pair looking at each other refusing not to cry. Kana helped Haktep dig through books, Shefnu sitting on the floor directly opposite Shin, the thief's eyes blank and cold as he cried in silence. But Sen didn't move and neither did Bakura, the pair staring at the body. Little time had passed but it seemed to drag on. Shila was screaming, throwing things like a distraught mother…she may as well have been…they were all a family.

"Time to get up Thoth," Sen whispered, a small smile on his face. He picked up Thoth's limp body sitting on the floor with Thoth in his arms. Sen removed his own glove, taking off his sibling's glove and placing them on the floor. Ari crawled over to the two and took of his glove, putting it on the pile. Fasen got off the chair and did the same, adding a glove to the pile. Ari held Thoth's hand, another tear rolling down his check as Sen and Fasen joined him. Sen put his chin on Thoth's head, blue hair falling on blue.

"Please get up Thoth," Bakura said softly. Thoth didn't move, and a single tear rolled down Sen's red cheek, landing in Thoth's hair, the pierced creatures behind them catching fire, screaming as they were burnt to ashes.

"Oh Ra," Shin breathed in fear. Everyone turned slowly, piercing eyes focused on him.

Asami moved forward, slowly steeping over what had been either a chair or a table. Shin stuttered for forgiveness as ice began to wrap around Asami's arm, coming to a razor sharp tip. Asami didn't have a chance to strike before Senna had shot Shin twice in the leg. He screamed and Senna gave a demented smirk, stepping forwards and pushing it further into his flesh with her foot. Ari blinked and an arrow caught fire, burning slowly until it came to his skin where it charred a piece of flesh. Rhea and Kana began to laugh pulling knives from their boots and cutting along his arms. Bakura stepped forward arrow directly in front of Shin's head. "You'll have fun in hell," Bakura promised, pulling the arrow back.

"Hey," Thoth said dimly. "That's Thoth's line…" A tear rolled down Bakura's face, the white haired thief wiping it away before anyone could see.

Everyone lost their ability to think straight. Fasen and Ari, dragged Shin into the road, Shefnu spitting alcohol into his wounds for their amusement. Hethra was mumbling to her self, eyes out of focus until Senna slapped her. "Get your sorry carcass out of here," she ordered.

Hethra didn't move. " Move," Kana repeated.

"WE SAID GET YOUR ASS OUT OF HERE!" Rhea shouted, punching the useless woman in the face. Everyone was in shock, attempting to remember when they had last heard Rhea say something 'near' a curse.

Hethra spat out blood, Asami taking a deep breath to stay calm since it had landed on her. "Get out," Asami growled. Sen stood next to Asami after placing Thoth back on the counter, eyes narrowed in loathing. Shin's apparently drunk date pushed Sen, looking at them all with satisfaction. "Aren't you going to hit her back?"

"I don't hit ladies," Sen said softly.

"Cause you're a wimp," Hethra spluttered drunkenly. "You're a wimp and so is your little sister….or brother…? And so is your bitch girlfriend."

"HOW DARE YOU INVOLVE MY FAMILY YOU DUMB SLUT!" Sen screamed, eyes flashing as he broke her nose. "FIND YOUR SELF IN ANOTHER PLACE TO FUCK! ASAMI IS MORE OF A LADY THAN YOU'LL EVER BE YOU IGNORANT HOE!" Hethra's jaw dropped and Haktep rolled his eyes as she still didn't move. More shock, they had only heard Seth curse twice in his whole life time. "And Asami isn't my girlfriend…"

"If you don't get the message," Haktep said blankly, kicking the girl onto the road. "Fuck off." He slammed the door, leaving the bloody pair out in the cold.

Those in the bar sighed looking at each other then at the body on the counter. "Thoth?" everyone said unsurely.

"That is Thoth's name," Thoth replied. They swarmed around the counter, attempting to hug the broken twelve year old…all but Bakura who went back to the corner…confused. Why had he cried? He was supposed to be hating Thoth… "You're killing me!" Thoth shouted.

Shila was crying buckets but wasn't alone, she was joined by Shefnu who was crying even more than her. "YOU TRIED TO SAVE MT BUDDY!" Shefnu sniffed. "I LOVE YOU!"

"He loves you too, Shefnu," Thoth replied, forcing a smile. Thoth coughed, blood coming up with the expulsion.

"Bandages! WATER!" everyone – minus Bakura, Asami and Sen- shouted, scurrying around the debris.

"You gave me a heart attack," Asami said blankly, smoking again. "Here's your kitty…nothing's broken, he was just knocked out," Asami said, placing Malik by Thoth's head. Asami's bent so her nose was touching Thoth's. "You ever do that to me again and I'll beat the living shit out of you for sure…then I'll resurrect you and beat the dead shit out of you," Asami grinned, a tear falling onto Thoth's face. "You nearly killed Sen…if he dies, who's gonna cook me dinner?" Asami stalked off and sat in a chair, leaning back and stroking Anubis as she put her cigarette back in her mouth.

Sen squeezed onto the counter next to Thoth, a smile on his face. "You'll never leave will you Thoth?" Sen asked, stroking Thoth's hair like a five year old.

"Never Senny," Thoth said holding his brother's hand. "Never in a million years."

Bakura walked over to Thoth and looked at him unsurely. "Why didn't you die?" Bakura asked, attempting to sound as cold as possible.

"Cause Thoth needs to stay around to make your life annoying," Thoth smiled.

Bakura smiled back. "You can't die anyway."

"Why?"

"I don't give you permission."

"So are you talking to Thoth now?"

"No. I'm just informing you that you can't die until I say so," Bakura said, also acting like a five year old.

Thoth nodded as Sen continued to absentmindedly stroke his head. "Rightio…..captain."

………………………………………………………………………………

Atem left the others as he went to have dinner with his parents, his arms and legs bandaged and sore. He walked slowly, his head throbbing, bulging with questions he wanted answering…like: 'What's happening all of a sudden?' 'What does Sen mean?' 'What if I don't figure it out?' 'Why can't someone else figure it out?'

Atem zoned out, walking into a wall. Nephthys came walking down the hall a small smile on her face. "Atem," she said softly, as she walked to him, hugging him carefully. "I was worried about you…"

"I didn't come to look for you…" Atem replied. "I'm sorry. It would have been partially my fault if anything had happened…"

"Apologies are unnecessary. We are both safe, so blame need not be placed," she continued. "Besides, I don't need saving… If anyone needs a rescue, it's you my dear, Atem." She continued to smile at him at until she began to cough, putting a handkerchief to her mouth as she doubled over, the torn bottom of her dress touching the floor.

"Mother," Atem said, kneeling beside her. She didn't reply, holding onto her son's arm as she stopped. Nephthys hurried to fold the handkerchief but Atem still saw part of it dotted with blood. Nephthys stood slowly, dropping the white piece of cloth into a lamp and pulling Atem into the dining room.

"It's ok, Atem," Nephthys said quickly, her smile still in place. "It'll go away eventually."

'It'll go away eventually,' was the line his mother had recited with confidence for years…but every time she said it, Atem believed her less. "Mother what is it? Why can't you find a doctor? Can't we f-" Atem questioned before Akunumkanon came running in.

He was grinning as he hugged his wife and his son, spewing apologies that he had not come to find them. Atem said nothing of the thieves who had saved his and his friends lives, making up an uncannily convincing lie. His father nodded, slightly disbelieving but too confident in his son to question him as they ate dinner. Atem knew his mother could tell he was lying, but she ate with a smile, telling them that she had been on her bed the whole time. Atem nodded, not feeling as guilty about not looking for his mother; after all, she had been the safest among them the whole time. Akunumkanon told Nephthys about the guards he had sent out to find Atem, surprised they knew magic. Atem nodded, in his story it had been the guards who created the shield.

"Such talented men working as mere guards," the pharaoh said, "According to Shimon that was complex magic." Atem shrugged, everyone who had been in the room with him had told those who asked the same lie, just as they had done earlier today. Atem felt sick, so confused by everything that had happened. He took a sip of his water and stared at his reflection in his cup……

'You will know…you must know….' The voice repeated.

"I'm finished, I think I'll go to bed,' Atem said as he stood up. His parents nodded as they stood to hug him. "I'm not a baby you know," Atem said stubbornly.

"We know," Akunumkanon answered. "You're becoming a big-headed young man." Atem sweatdropped as he wished them a good night and entered the hall, looking at his loose sandal with a raised eyebrow. He slowly bent down to tighten it, his father voice audible. He crawled along the floor, peaking back into the room he had come from.

His parents were hugging, his mother's back to him. "I couldn't find you," his father breathed.

"I'm always there…." Nephthys replied.

"I couldn't stop thinking about what might happen to you…..I don't know what I'd do if I lost you…" Atem watched as tears rolled silently down his fathers face as he held on to his mother even tighter. The prince sat back, leaning against the wall, thinking the exact same thing…

'What…What would I do if I lost you?'

…………………………

There was a dead silence in the palace. Atem had been lying on the floor since he came from dinner and had only changed into his nightshirt a few minutes ago. He stared at the dark ceiling, the wind blowing the curtains that hung in the entrance to his balcony. The only lamp in the room had nearly burnt out and he couldn't be bothered to kindle the flame. He couldn't bring himself to sleep; he felt oddly alone, even as Bastet lay on his stomach. He picked up his cat and stood up, walking to the door and quietly pulling it open. He smiled at what stood before him.

"Umm…I know it's rather late……" Mahado said, scratching his head.

"But do you want to play Senet (7)?" Mana asked, holding out a board game. Atem put Bastet down and looked at his barefooted friends, hugging them and pulling them into his room. The three sat on the floor as Mana began to take the board and pieces out of the box. Atem and Mahado pointed to each others bandages, as Mana proudly displayed her completely bandaged left arm. Bastet meowed, trying to push her nose under the door.

"I think Bastet wants to go out," Mahado said, feeding the fire in the lamp.

"Ok then," Atem said, opening the door.

Isis and Seth stood outside, Seth's hand raised to knock the door as Isis held a couple of books. "Oh well, yes, ummm, ok….." Isis said unsurely. "I found an interesting book…perhaps you would like to see it?" Atem hugged Isis as well the brunette sweatdropping with a smile, as Atem pulled her in.

"I just wanted to see where Isis was going," Seth mumbled, crossing his arms.

'Well now you know," Atem grinned, pushing Seth in and closing the door.

"This isn't against any rules is it?"

"Who cares?" Mana asked. "I deserve to play before I narrowly escape death tomorrow."

"Don't say that…..I don't want any more burns," Atem sighed.

"Wasn't it exciting?" Isis asked, punching the air. "What a thrill! My heart was pumping harder than ever before!"

"Isis you're being a freak," Mahado said blankly. Isis sweatdropped as everyone laughed.

"Is that Senet?' Seth asked pointing to the game on the floor, as Isis and him sat down on pillows Atem had given them. Mana nodded. "Oh, ok."

"I know you want to play," Mana said mischievously.

"No I don't."

"Yes you doooooooo."

"No I don't," Seth said, crossing his arms and looking away. Mana hit him in the head with a pillow.

Seth: oO.Oo

"Ooooooooooooooo," the others cooed in the back ground. Seth took his pillow and swung for Mana's head. Missing miserably as Mana darted to the side. The spellcaster stuck her tongue out as Seth swung again, falling on Atem.

"You killed the prince!" Isis laughed, smacking a stunned Seth with her pillow. Mahado shrugged and did the same, a swirly-eyed Atem coughed. Seth gave up with the pillow, jumping on Mana.

"Pile up!" he shouted, everyone else jumping on top of Mana. Atem grinned, jumping from his bed onto the pile, everyone but Mana laughing hysterically.

"YOU'RE KILLING ME!" Mana screamed, arms and legs waving madly. Bastet curled up on Atem's huge bed as they sat back on the floor, pointing at Mana, her hair extra messy.

"Sorry Mana," the four snickered.

"I'll get you…you and your little kitty too," Mana twitched, pointing to Bastet.

The other four looked at each other with sinister grins, holding up their pillows and throwing them in Mana's face. "WHAT EVER!"

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(1) Osiris god of the afterlife, ruler of the dead

(2) Rayeel If you haven't gathered….he's gay. Being gay probably wasn't common in ancient times so you can understand why nearly everyone finds him a little…ummm…..weird.

(3) Sobek God of the river Nile, also the God of crocodiles. He's pictured with a crocodile head. ISN'T THAT PLEASANT!

(4) Ma' at Goddess of truth and justice

(5) Obelisk A monument to the sun god, Ra. It's really big ( I mean REALLY BIG AND TALL!) the top is usually in the shape of a pyramid, and the sides are – usually- covered in hieroglyphs.

(6) Ne Ne This is Asami speaking a made up language. When Haktep is describing the inhabitants of the den to Oberon, he says that the brothers four (Ari, Thoth, Sen and Fasen) speak to each other in a made up language. Well, 'Ne Ne' is part of that made up language so you'll just have to wait and see what it means.

(7) Senet Yeah, it's an actually ancient Egyptian board game. Experts (Archaeologists and Egyptologists) think that it was played kind of like ludo.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Yami AJ: I'm sorry it sucks::people throw tomatoes: I tried:: people throw cabbages:

Ash: . Pathetic.

Bakura: HEY! My friend nearly died and I'm still not talking to h-

Seth: I would never play a game with those losers! They-

Isis and Mahado: WHO ARE YOU CALLING A LOSER?

Seth: .o YOU!

Isis: I'LL PUNCH YOU AGAIN!

Seth: o.o;;;;;;;;; :whimpers and runs away:

All: O. :step away from Isis:

Isis: Ho HA! WHO'S STRONG!

Thoth: How comes Thoth had to get beaten up so badly! THOTH'S RIBS ARE BROKEN! JUST KILL THOTH ALREADY!

Shefnu: How comes Sen gets to be so mysterious and sexy!

Shila; You're sexy too…….

Yami AJ: SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU JUST SHUT UP!

All: :look at Yami AJ: Hmph:: throw rocks at Yami AJ and walk away:

Yami AJ: X.o Ouchies…..

Ash: . YOU JUST LOST MOST OF YOUR CAST:: throws horse at Yami AJ:

Yami AJ: T.o OUCH THAT HU-Hey? How'd you lift a horse?

Ash: DUH! How do Yami, Yugi and Atem get their hair to stand up?

Yami AJ: X. Gel?

Ash: NO STUPID! STEROIDS:: rips door off hinges and walks outside singing 'You're Not Me':

Ryou: You never should have let her watch the Yu-Gi-Oh movie. I think I'll help you with the thanks.

Yami AJ: X.o Let's hurry before I go unconscious.

Yugi, Joey and Yami: FORWARD WITH THE THANKS!

Bakura:: mouth watering: DID SOMEONE SAY FORWARD WITH THE KILLING.

Kaiba: Thanks and Killing don't sound slightly alike, nerd.

Bakura: Who are you calling a nerd, whiner? I can't beat Yugi, wah wah wah!

Kaiba: AT LEAST I HAVE FASHION SENSE!

Bakura and Ryou: DON'T INSULT THE SWEATER!

Mokuba: Don't insult my BIG brother!

Bakura: OR WHAT::pulls Mokuba's hair: MWHAHAHHA!

Kaiba: O.O MOKIE:: steps forward:

Ryou: DON'T TOUCH MY YAMI:: pulls off clothes to reveal ninja gear: HAI YA!

Kaiba: :does the same: WA CHAAAAAAA:: Him and Ryou begin climactic battle with special effects:

Bakura::puts Mokuba down: Hey kid, wanna get a burger?

Mokuba: Sure, I'll buy : him and Bakura walk away, Ryou and Kaiba destroying building:

Ash: : walks back in with her hair on end: FINALLY THE STEROIDS KICK IN! I WANT A BURGER : flows Mokuba and Bakura:

Yugi and Yami: HEY! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO TOOK OUR STE- Ahem…took our MEDICINE:: run outside:

Yami AJ: X.o What ever, help me Joey.

Joey: SURE! FORWARD WITH THE THANKS!

Bishie Burgers Are Yummy: THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR REVIEW! AND YOU REVIEWD TWICE:: hugz: I love your fic so much, and now that my PC is fixed I can read it over and over and over again. I love your writing. : sniff: You said I was awesome……;.; thank you!

Cheesy voice: For your review you get this : Malik falls from sky, bound and gagged: Have a good day::rain starts to fall:)

Bakuras-Hell: You said it was good :sniff: You said it was really good….:sniff: You said damn…oh wait…huh? . Thankies for your review (That rhymes!) : throws cookies:

Cheesy Voice: For your review you get this : Bakura hanging from mechanical arm with burger in mouth:

Yami AJ: MINE:: Bakura disappears replaced by a confused Ryou: NO MORE NINJA ACTION RYOU! GO HOME WITH B-H!

Raven Kaedae::eyes sparkle: I put Bakura in an interesting light? Really? ( Ash: . No.) T-Thank you…I know it was long……..BUT JEEZ THIS CHAPTER IS HUGE! Ahem. :sniff: Here : throws candy:

Cheesy Voice: For you review You-

Yami AJ: Can't you say anything different, I paid a whole five pence/cents/yen for you.

Cheesy Voice: LOOK! YOU REVIEWED SO TAKE THIS:: Throws Yusuke to the ground: GET OUT ALREADY!

Raven K. and Yami AJ: O.O

Yami AJ: O.o Oh my

Hotoke-sama: AHHH! You said it was detailed and mysterious! THANK YOU! AND YOU SAID I DID NOT DISAPPOINT! YOU SAID YOU WERE ADDING ME TO YOUR FAVS:: voice goes hoarse: ThAnk yOU!

Cheesy Voice: LOOK! I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT SO TAKE THIS:: drops Naruto:

Hotoke-sama and Yami AJ: O.o huh?

Cheesy Voice: WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE!

Yami AJ: ;.; YOU'RE BEING MEAN TO MY REVIEWERS! RYOU! I Chose YOU::throws Poke ball::Ryou comes out of Poke ball:

Ryou: Didn't you just give me away?

Yami AJ: I'm borrowing you! Ryou-mon use British bishie attack!

Ryou: . Huh?

Yami AJ: . JUST DO IT!

Ryou: :throws tea on Cheesy Voice box::box explodes:

Yami AJ: Ok, you can go now I'll use this other voice. : Ryou leaves::looks at Hotoke-sama: Here have a cracker.

ohkami majin::dances dumbly: You said it was well written! I did something well XD!

Drunken Voice: Uhh.yeah………

Everyone::stare at Yami AJ: It was the only voice I had left useless you want the potty mouth voice!

Drunken Voice: You get……You Get…..YOU GET TEN BOTTLES OF BEER:: beer fall from sky:

O.M and Yami AJ: . Darn it!

Yami AJ::pulls Hiei from hole: Here you go!

Hiei: O.O YOU! WHAT ARE YOU DONING HERE!

Yami AJ: I write Yu-Gi-Oh as well as Yu Yu Hakusho :grins:

Hiei: :opens mouth and passes out:

Yami AJ: Drugs make him easier to handle!

Ohkami M.: :drags Hiei away:

A lilmatchgirl: THREE THUMBS UP! THANK YOU FOR YOUR INHUMAN ACTS OF KINDNESS! You said my writing was great, thank you a million, kagillion, fafillion….

Ash: :counts thumbs: Hey! I only have two thumbs! AM I A FREAK?

Yami AJ: . Yes you are a freak…….a drunk freak. YOU SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WITH ' Drunken Voice' I WANT YOU TO STOP SEEING HIM!

Ash: : 110 drunk: YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR EACH OTHER! NEVER! I HATE YOU MOTHER::pretends to cry:

Yami AJ: DON'T WALK AWAY FROM ME SALLY!

Others: . o.O :stare:

Drunken Voice: HEY YOU! ARE MY SHINING STAR, D- :slapped by Ash: YOU GET THIS! BOUND, GAGGED AND SEDATED FOR YOUR CONVINIENCEEEEEE…………SESSHOUMARU!

:Sesshoumaru falls from sky:

Yami AJ: BE GENTLE WITH SESHY, LORD OF THE WESTERN LANDS!

Possessed Squirrel: YOU LOVE IT! WE LOVE YOU::Yami AJ and Ash are drunk so they dance: Thankies for the rEEEEviEWWWWWW!

Drunken Voice: IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON PEOPLE, TAKE THIS::drops Yami on floor: MEET YAMI! HE'LL HAVE YOU DEVELOPING A STUTTERING PROBLEM IN NO TIME!

Possessed Squirrel: What do you mean?

Drunken V.: YOU'LL SEE!

Yami: It's time to D-D-D-D-D-Duel!

Possessed Sq. : I D-D-D-D-Don't get it? O.O

Yami AJ and Ash: :slapping each other for no reason: WE LOVE ACORNS!

Andromeda's Chain : Hihi, even though you didn't comment on the ficcy you reviewed…I luv reviews, so Thankies a ton!

Drunken Voice: HAVE YOUKO::throws Youko Kurama:

Yami AJ::too drunk to notice: Don't worry! Be slappy:: throws Shun as well:

Sirithiliel: Hhehehehe…..you said you liked it….and you said to update soon……SORRY I DIDN"T UPDATE SOON::sniffs::throws ice-cream:

Drunken voice: Uh……okey dokey……….You get Ba-

Yami AJ: Bakura's mine bi- :knocked out:

Ash: Bakura's mine::drags Bakura away: MWAHAHAHH!

Drunken Voice: Well have thief Bakura, Akefia……….:throws Thief Bakura:

Yami AJ: ROCK ON! REVIEW

…………………………

Note: If you're wondering why I call everyone else but their Ancient Egyptian names, but I don't call Bakura, Akefia, it's because I just like the name Bakura more than Akefia...THERE YOU GO!. REVIEW! THANKIES!