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

3. Wind Whispers

Ash: :dressed in ring-leader outfit: Welcome! Welcome! One and all, to another sadly written chapter of the waste of space that is…….THE SHADOW SANDS!

:crickets chirp:

One person::clap:

Yami AJ: Today we have a circus theme. I'm trying to have happy intros in this chapter because after Chapter three or four….I think the Shadow Sands will start to earn its Angst title. :dressed in black leotard: Only problem with these happy intros is the costumes….unless they're on the bishounen….

Joey: Now the St- Well, NOW THE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR SHOW, RYOU AND HIS CRAZY ASS YAMI, BAKURA! :also dressed in ring-leader outfit:

Ryou and Bakura::pushed into the ring in tight black leotards:

Ryou: This is a bit uncomfortable.

Ash: Then take it off :grins: Yami AJ will help you

Yami AJ::smirk:

Ryou: I'm fine…really .

Bakura: This sucks .

Ash: No, this does :holds straw: Don't complain, everyone but me and my assistant, Joey, has to wear a black leotard…except Kaiba and Yami.

Ryou: Why don't they have to wear one?

Ash: Because they are the stars of the show, they get elegant costumes.

Kaiba: :comes out wearing long white angel wings and a silver and white leotard: Dorks.

Ryou: :sniff: T.T I love angels.

Yami AJ: RYOU IS AN ANGEL! HE GETS THE ANGEL COSTUME! :rips it off Kaiba and gives it to Ryou:

Kaiba: :standing in underwear: IYA!

Bakura: How the hell can you wear underwear, it shows through this damn thing.

All: :stare at Bakura: o.o;;

Bakura: I'M STILL WEARING UNDERWEAR AND SO IS RYOU!

Marik and Malik: Popcorn! Who wants candy? Pizza? Crystal Meth?

Yugi: :ears perk up:

Ash: Yugi has a secret…he's really a junkie….remember; drugs are how he gets his hair to stand up.

Kaiba: I'll beat you YUGI! I HAVE SUPERIOR DUELING SKILLS!

All::stare at Kaiba: OO;;;

Ryou: :puts on costume: Yay! :glitter rains from no-where:

Yami AJ: You're the star of the trapeze! :eyes glitter: Angel Ryou, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………….

Yami: :comes out in red and black leotard, with black wings: Hello.

Ash: BAKURA GETS TO BE THE DARK ANGEL! :rips costume off Yami and gives to Bakura:

Kaiba, Yami AJ, Ryou and Joey: MY EYES! AH! NO! THAT'S NOT RIGHT! .

Yami: :naked: oO.Oo AH!

Bakura: See, someone who knows that underwear shows, even if it is the ignorant PHARAOH! MWHAHAHA! :cackles for no reason:

Ash: See, the Doujinshi's are wrong! You're not that bad Yami, ahhahaha!

Yami AJ: YOU PERVERT! STOP ACTING LIKE ASAMI! :slams head against wall: Once I saw a graphic Doujinshi and my eyes actually hurt because it was so GRAPHIC. DON'T LAUGH AT ME!

Asami: :comes from nowhere on rope:: Did someone call! :looks at Yami: Oh Yami :moves eyebrows up and down: Those Doujinshi's are wrong, in a good way! Hahah, you're naked. Scandalous!

Ash: He's naked O.O ...AHHHH! :screams and scratches out eyes: I'M SORRY PHARAOH YAMI!

Yami AJ: Definitely no more coke before chapters.

Oh yes, IMPORTANT! In the last chapter I did not effectively describe the three girls that came to the bar with Asami. I give a basic description now. AHEM!

Senna: 16 years old, (nearly seventeen). Amber eyes. Usually has a sort of mischievous or calculating look on her face. Honey-brown hair that falls to mid back and curls outwards at the ends, unevenly cut bangs that come above her eyebrows. Knee long violet robe, black knee long dress, violet belt. Black boots (like Thoth). Same height at Shila, tattoo on left ankle in the shape of an arrow. Double piercing in both ears.

Rhea: 16 years old (nearly seventeen). She and Senna are sisters, but have different mothers (who are dead). Usually looks kind of bored or annoyed. Chocolate brown hair had comes to just above her shoulders and curls outwards at the ends; Even bangs that come just past her eyebrows. Knee long blue grey robe, black belt, black boots and grey-blue knee long dress. A hair shorter than Senna and Shila. Tattoo on right ankle in the shape of a knife. Double piercing in left ear.

Kana: Also 16 years old. Light brown eyes. Has a slightly innocent look (she's kind of naïve and clueless sometimes). Waist long wavy black hair that she keeps in a low ponytail. Even bangs that frame her face. Ankle long, creamy coloured dress and shoes with a yellow belt. Same height as Rhea. Double piercing in both ears.

Please note that even though Bakura and Thoth are called midgets and short man and stuff like that, they're not really short. They're just the shortest ones in the bar along with Renora.

Disclaimer: U.U I do n- :knocked out by one of Anzu's stupid platforms: X.X

Anzu: whoops my friend, I d- :knocked out by everyone and rolled into highway next to Tristian:

Yugi: She does dot own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters

Duke: She does however own this story and the inhabitants of the bar and such.

Yami AJ: X.o Happy reading :passes out:

Ash: :looks at body and drinks more coke: WHO WANTS NACHOS?

Everyone: Me! :skip away dragging Yami AJ behind them:

WARNING: PLEASE BE WARNED THAT THIS CHAPTER IS ALSO KIND OF LONG. Why am I making the chapters long? Well, because I don't want things to happen without any real explanation. I want you to understand the characters and the actions that lead up to major events later on in the story. The chapters five and six are guaranteed (umm…………practically) to be shorter…mainly because I can't write a whole chapter of violence and stuff….

…………………………………………………

Wind Whispers

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Atem nearly rolled down the stairs. His arms felt worse that yesterday, and although he had not been called to any classes, he felt bummed. The prince, wondered what time it was, as servants passed him by, giving greetings of 'Good Morning.' He didn't smell breakfast so he guessed that it had already passed. His throat felt weird; it didn't hurt, it just felt odd.

"What……….Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat time is it?" Mana yawned, following him as she rubbed her eyes. Atem gave a tiered, stuff shrug turning to look at one of those he had left sleeping in his room.

"I'm hungry," Isis said, eyes half-open as she held onto the wall for support.

"What's for……." Mahado began from behind Isis before he yawned and scratched his head. "What's for breakfast?"

"We're all late for class," Seth mumbled, eyes more closed than open as he took a step forward, tripping and rolling down the stairs, taking the others with him. "Oh sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy," Seth yawned, mouth wide as they lay on Atem.

"Ouch………my whole body hurts," they all mumbled in unison. "Even my butt hurts…….."

The five rolled off each other, lying in the middle of the floor. "Someone, help me up please," Isis requested. "My side hurts….my back hurts…. I want to go back to sleep….."

"Me too," the others thought aloud.

"Good afternoon everyone," Nephthys said happily, her long hair done-up with ivory combs and pins instead of its usually loose style. They stared at her. "It's late morning, so I'm getting ready for the afternoon." They nodded.

"Hellooo mother!" Atem replied, his voice squeaky and high. The other four on the floor struggled to sit up and looked at Atem.

"What's wrong with you?" Mana asked, looking at her high-pitched friend. "Are you getting sick?"

"Is your throat hurting?" Nephthys asked, crouching beside her son. Atem put his hand to his throat, squeezing it and poking it. "Would you like some honey?"

"It doesn't hurt," Atem said, slightly confused as his voice returned to normal.

"That's good. I'm sorry I can't stay, but the high priests, your father and I have many things to discuss due to recent events. Don't be alarmed if you notice more guards than usual," she continued. "Oh and, go have a bath so your bandages can be changed," she shouted, running off. "No classes until further notice."

"You sounded a bit like a girl just then," Seth said to Atem as they dragged themselves back up the stairs.

"WHaT DO you mEAn?" Atem questioned, his voice suddenly growing deep and then high again. "WHAT'S HappeNNing To my voicEEE?" Atem asked desperately. ( AN: When letters are in caps lock it may bean that there is emphasis-as usual- or that Atem's voice has gotten deeper. You people are smart so you know that already.)

Isis and Mana looked at each other and shrugged.

"The past few days have not been good to you," Mahado said, the five standing at the top of the stairs.

"But my throat isn't hurting! What's wrong with me?" Atem questioned, holding onto Mahado's shoulders and shaking him. " MAHado! FiX Myyyyyyyyyyyy ThroAt! Fix iTTT NOw!"

"I think you are sick, prince Atem," Mana said, feeling Atem's forehead.

"Your voice is breaking," Seth said calmly, sitting on the floor and leaning against a wall.

"WhaT?" Atem screeched. "WHAt doES tHAt MEeeeeean?"

"Mahado can explain it to you."

"No, you can have the pleasure," Mahado insisted.

"No, you can take it."

"I know it's hard for you to part with it, so take the honor!"

"YOU TAKE IT!"

"I'll explain it," Isis said with a smile, stepping in. "Umm…..Shimon told something about this when I had a sore throat……..but I can't describe the feeling……."

"Never mind Isis," Seth mumbled.

"We'll do it," Mahado sighed. "There comes a time in every ummm….boy's or young man's or man's life when he has to deal with changes," Mahado explained awkwardly. Seth nodded slowly, the four except Atem sweatdropping as they searched for appropriate words.

"These changes signify your growth into a ……man?" Seth said, looking at the others to see if that made sense. They shrugged but nodded all the same.

Atem looked at their slightly doubtful faces and sighed; he hated being the youngest.

………………………………………………………………………………

"You're finally awake," Fasen said to Bakura as he climbed into the bar from the den. Bakura didn't answer, standing up and leaning against the counter. Fasen had learnt not expect a reply from a 'newly-woken' Bakura. "At least you beat Thoth." Bakura tried not to act interested, bothered that the early-bird of the bar as still asleep. As usual, Fasen had a tired, or 'I just woke up' look on his face.

"Hello Bakura," Rayeel said, sitting on a stool behind the counter. Bakura nodded in his direction, giving a tired wave to the blue haired one beside him. He walked around the counter and looked at the bar. All the broken tables and chairs were gone, the space perfectly organized as if nothing had happened. Kana sat at one table, scrolls and brushes covering every inch of it. She gave Bakura a small wave.

"Asami wants to see you," Sen said softly, gloved hands in his lap. Bakura looked at the bandages around Sen's right ankle and wondered where else was bandaged under his clothes. "She's upstairs." (AN: Yes the bar does have an upstairs, it just hasn't been mentioned yet.)

Bakura walked over to the left side of the room, walking into the first 2 meter inset and knocking on the door. Senna opened it, her hair held up with a flower-carved comb. "Hey short man," she said, messing up his already messy hair. He grunted and walked past her into the girls' room. It held six four-poster beds. Senna's was on the right, furthest away from the door, her green sheets balled up and way past untidy. Asami's was opposite and no better. In fact, Rhea was the only one who had made her bed. There was one small rectangular window at the top of the room close to the ceiling which was nearly useless since one couldn't see out of it. Beside the drawer at the end of the room was a beaded screen that blocked the stairway. "Asami wants y-"

"I know," Bakura mumbled. Shila pushed the screen aside as she came downstairs, holding a small bowl in her hands.

"Afternoon, Bakura," Shila said, holding it open for him.

"What?"

"It may as well be afternoon. You didn't just miss breakfast, you're a short time away from missing lunch…..a few hours is a short time…." she smiled, red beads brushing against Bakura's nose as she walked into the bar.

"You're slow today," Asami declared, pointing to the one at the bottom of the stairs. Her hair was in a low ponytail, her body lined in stripes of light from the small, screened window at the top of the stairs.

Bakura took his time in climbing the stairs, Asami tapping her foot impatiently. "What is it?" Bakura questioned as Ari came running up the set of stairs that came from the boy's room.

"Hello, Bakura," Ari said, long red hair in a pony-tail. Ari's arms were also bandaged and his left leg was wrapped up to the knee. "We thought you were dead but didn't care enough to come down and check." Asami nodded, her and Ari smirking as Sen and Fasen came up the stairs.

"What's with the group meeting?"

"We have much to discuss," Haktep said quickly, head popping around a corner.

"Not before I stitch up Thoth," Shila said, holding a steaming bowl of water with a piece of thick cloth.

"Yeah, sewing first," Rhea said, joining the crowd around the stairs. "This will be pleasant."

"I hate stitching," Fasen sniffed.

"I hate this uncomfortable gathering on the stairs," Asami mumbled.

"Let's go see Thoth so we can begin the meeting," Haktep said. The group walked single file into the first room on the right of the short corridor. Bakura was last in line, his breath getting caught in his throat when he saw Thoth. Thoth's bloody wrappings were thrown over the bottom of the bed, most of his bloody clothes taking the same position. He lay in his pants and a sleeveless shirt; his eyes closed as his chest slowly moved up and down. Thoth looked paler than usual and his long fringe was pushed out of his sweaty forehead, showing his eyebrows arched in pain. The gash above his eye was gone, but the large rip in his shoulder remained, blood staining the sheets despite the thick bandaging. His right arm was covered lines of blood that appeared through the cloth around his limb. Sen looked down at his youngest sibling, long hair brushing against Thoth's face. He gave a weak smile and looked at the huge empty scroll on the wall.

Bakura looked over at Ari and Fasen, their heads slightly low as they looked at the one on the bed. Asami shook her head. "Thoth got it really bad yesterday," she said softly, as Shila peeled Thoth's shirt back slightly to show a line of blood stained wrapping around his abdomen. Bakura tightened his fist and looked away.

"Why hasn't he woken up?" Bakura whispered.

"Why are you still talking about Thoth like that? Oberon is ok, and Rayeel is downstairs." Bakura shrugged. "Anyway, Thoth did wake up, very early this morning. Sen, Ari, Fasen, Shila, Shefnu and I haven't gone to sleep-"

"Shefnu hasn't gone to sleep?"

"He blames himself for many of Thoth's injuries. If Thoth hadn't been trying to help him, his ribs and a few others things might not be broken. Well, since they didn't sleep, they noticed when he woke up…"

"And?"

"He wanted to talk to you, but remembered you don't want to talk to him…he hasn't woken up since…"

"I don't care. He can stay like that," Bakura said faking the coldest voice possible. Asami punched him in the head.

"Don't be stupid. You know just as well as we all do that you and Thoth feed off each other. Don't give me any macho crap," Asami said to him bluntly. Bakura walked to the other side of the room, leaning against the scroll, with his arms crossed. He tried not to listen to the ragged breaths of the frail looking body, he tried not to pay attention as Shila and Asami began to discuss Thoth's many major injuries…..he failed in blocking out 'massive blood loss', 'scorching fever', 'broken rips', 'possible organ punctures'……. He wanted to hate Thoth, and now he wasn't completely sure why. Shin's words echoed in the back of Bakura's mind. 'Is Bakura just too retarded to talk?' but then Thoth's punch to Shin's face and defensive reply followed after. Bakura looked at the dark screen that covered the small rectangular window to the top of the wall, looking for something to forget about what he had been pondering.

"Do you think Thoth will stay asleep……" Rhea thought aloud, a needle and black thread in her hand. Ari gave a sigh and took them from her, pulling up a seat next to the bed, Shila mimicking him a second later. Bakura walked to the other side of the bed and stood next to Haktep.

"Move," voice ordered wearily. Haktep and Bakura looked around in confusion.

"It's Shefnu," Shila said. "He was napping on the floor; he probably rolled under the bed….very sad." The pair stepped back as Shefnu rolled out from under the bed, dust in his hair.

"He's still not awake," he said softly, looking at Thoth. Thoth's cheeks were slightly pink, Bakura watching as sweat beaded on Thoth's head. Thoth's fists tightened, the thief moving slightly, his amulets slipping from under his shirt and landing on the bed. One of the pendants was bloody but it shined eerily, Bakura catching a glimmer of green through the red-brown crust before Thoth's sat up, eyes as wide as he began to scream.

The bottom of the scroll caught fire, the flames not having time to destroy anything else before Rhea and Senna put it out. Thoth clutched his chest, holding a fistful of amulets and a portion of shirt in his quivering hand. His long dark blue hair fell around him, eyes half open as he struggled to push himself onto his knees. He looked at Bakura and smiled, eyes blank as he fell forward onto the arms of the white haired bandit.

………………………………………………………………………………

He was embarrassed; too embarrassed to argue when the others had used bathing as an excuse to postpone the explanation they were attempting to give. Atem sat in the bathroom, wanting to be the last to get ready. He wasn't sure how long he had been sitting in the water, but he knew it was long enough for it to go from a muscle-relaxing warm to a goosebumb-inducing cold. He put his chin on the edge of the bath, Bastet opening one eye to stare at him. His head hurt just as much as yesterday and he wondered if he was for no reason, surely there were others who had it worse than him…. So what if he had things to understand….it was part of growing up…that's what he told himself but for some reason the words still fell out of his mouth.

"ThIS isn'T FAiR," Atem whispered his voice sounding hoarse while he looked at the bruises and cuts on his arms and legs. He closed his eyes and remembered the blood on his mother's handkerchief and the tears on his fathers face…. He touched his throat and squeezed his eyes shut, putting his head under the water and screaming as loudly as he could.

………………

Isis and Seth had been called away by Shimon, leaving Mana and Mahado to wait for Atem by themselves. Mana sat cross-legged next to one of the fish ponds, humming as she stared at her feet.

"What are we going to do, Mana?" Mahado questioned out of no where pacing back and forth.

"What?" Mana asked.

"He's growing up so fast, and the pharaoh and queen are so busy…He's so confused…….and we're nearly useless."

Mana stared at him blankly. "No Mahado-sama. We're not nearly useless; you and Seth are nearly useless. How would Isis-chan and I know about any of this?" Mahado sweatdropped as Mana stood up, grabbing his wrist and pulling him along.

"Where are we going?"

"The library," Mana said quickly. "We can look for information on it. At least one scribe must have written something about it…."

"It's not exactly a sickness, so I'm not sure any doctor would ask a scribe to record it. This is hopeless….."

Mana stopped abruptly, Mahado walking into her. "IT'S THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE THAT'LL STOP US FROM HELPING OUJI-SAMA SO SHAPE UP, MAHADO-SAMA!" Mana ordered. Mahado sweatdropped as Mana dragged him into the library, Isis and Seth looking through rolls of parchment and heavy, leather-bound volumes.

"What are you doing?" Mahado asked, looking at the pair.

"Things," Seth replied, standing on a stool to reach another large book.

"What are you searching for Isis?" Mana questioned. Isis stepped down from her bench, dropping three books onto the already overstocked table.

"We start summoning two days after tomorrow or perhaps even tomorrow," she said with a small sigh. "So, Shimon has asked us to look for a few basic books on summoning." Mana gulped.

"Why didn't he ask Mahado-sama to help?"

"Shimon wanted him to help, but we told him of the prince's problem and he thought that someone should be there if he had any questions," Seth said.

"The prince has been in the bathroom since you left……." Mahado informed them, grabbing a stool to join in the search.

"We were conveniently walking by while the Pharaoh and the others were speaking near the doorway," Seth said, looking around and giving a small cough. "They were discussing bringing forward or slightly moving back the ceremony of the millennium items….they also believe that it is necessary that we learn to protect ourselves, so they are considering adding a weapon-skills class….." Seth trailed off staring at the bookshelf as if it held answers he was looking for.

"Weapon skills?" Mana asked softly. " They- They want to teach us how to kill people?"

"No, they want to teach us to defend ourselves… yesterday's events have probably made them think that we do not know how to protect ourselves," Mahado said. "….Maybe….Maybe we do need the classes…" Mana stared at her teacher, knowing that he was most probably right.

"What's happening all of a sudden?" Isis whispered, letting an ink patterned roll of papyrus unravel and clatter to the floor. Seth looked over his shoulder at her as he placed a roll back into its slot. Mahado looked at her from across the table, watching as Isis sat on the floor, looking at the ground. "What's happening?" There was an odd silence, Mahado sitting on the edge of the table laden with writings, Seth sitting on his stool and staring at the roll Isis had left to completely unravel.

Mana took a seat, watching as the three stared at the floor eyebrows arched in worry, confusion or sadness, or perhaps as mixture of the three; she didn't know…. More often than not, Atem joined her in her bewilderment but today she sat alone, staring sadly at the spot beside her that her Ouji-sama usually filled.

………………………………………………………………………………

Shefnu and Oberon had left to get something to eat, everyone gathering that Shila would be too busy with Thoth to cook them anything. No one has said anything since Thoth had gotten up, everyone still slightly unsure why the scroll had caught fire.

"Thoth's hungry," he whispered breaking the silence. Bakura inwardly gave a sigh of relief; at least it was the same Thoth inside that battered shell.

Sen felt Thoth's forehead giving a small smile. "Your fever went down," he said softly. Thoth gave his brother a weak smile, looking at the thread in Ari's hands then gently touched his shoulder. "You know we have to do it so we can heal it better."

"You've been stitched tons of time, Thoth," Senna reminded him. "Sure none have been on wounds as deep, jagged, painful, blood-releasing and all around horrible as this-" Senna stopped when she noticed everyone glaring at her. "Yeah…uh huh, you'll be fine?" she smiled, as Ari carefully unwrapped the bandages around Thoth's upper arm and shoulder. Rhea bit her lip, wondering how such a wound hadn't killed Thoth. Although it had been magically healed many times it was still possible to see its original size due to bruising and scratches. Bakura was one of the few who didn't leave the room once Shila said she would begin, Thoth's brothers and Asami being the others to remain.

"You look tired, Shila," Thoth said. "You should have gone to sleep." Shila shook her head.

"I don't believe you Thoth, sitting here and talking like that doesn't even hurt," she said.

"It only really hurts if you let it….." Thoth breathed, looking past Shila at a staring Bakura who turned away, arms crossed in feigned hate.

"Once we put the stitches in we can heal the wound, and you can remove the stitches by tomorrow morning or even tonight," Sen said, Malik jumping onto the bed next to his master.

"That's fast, why didn't you use it yesterday?" Fasen questioned. Sen sweatdropped.

"I learnt an accelerated healing spell last night…..I can heal everyone else soon as Thoth is healed…."

Asami raised an eyebrow dangerously high. "You successfully learnt an accelerated spell in one night?" she asked.

"Yes…it was easy….and I leant a spell that can charm any object to be used by a Ka monster."

"For Ra's sake Sen," Shila mumbled. "Just finish the book already why don't you."

"Oh, I did…." Bakura stared at a sweatdropping Sen in disbelief. The book of spells were a collection of years of magic works by summoners and magicians. Sen had stolen four such books nearly two months ago and was already finished his volume. "It only had fifteen spells in it………or was it fifty-one….."

"Your head will explode. So will Thoth's, and Ari's…….at least Fasen is going through his volume at a good pace."

"I have five pages left in mine," Ari said, threading the needle. Shila shook her head.

"Thoth has seven pages left, but just finished another book…….." Thoth said, wincing as Shila wrung a white piece of cloth, and dabbed Thoth's cut.

"You need hobbies….other than magic, Shila said. "At least Fasen knows when to slow down."

"You bet Shila. I slowed down so much I was going backwards…….and have six pages left."

"No hope." Thoth bit his lip as Shila pushed the needle in, slowly sewing up the rip in his body. More blood ran down his arm before Sen healed it, smiling with delight when his spell worked.

"I did it!" Sen said happily. "I wasn't sure it would work….but it did!" Sen smiled as he repaired Thoth's arms and ribs. He jumped around, holding Asami's hands and bouncing up and down. Shila gathered up all the bloody cloth, everyone staring doubtfully at a bubbly Sen. Ari picked Thoth up and walked out the door after Bakura and Fasen, Shila reminding Sen that they had a meeting as she left.

"You're really bouncy today," Asami noted. Sen smiled and opened his bright, green eyes. He stared at Asami with a smile on his face.

Asami's cheeks felt hot but she pushed away the unidentified feeling that was doing this to her. "I have reason to be happy. Thoth is going to be ok; I can do something when my family really needs me."

"You always come through for them, what are you talking about?"

"Do you sometimes feel like the things you do are not enough……..and no matter how hard you try you'll always fall slightly short of where you need to go? And you may come through sometimes….but is it when it really matters the most? " Asami swallowed quietly.

"No," she lied.

"Well, yesterday I felt like I let Thoth down…….I felt like I failed because I couldn't protect he-"

"That's silly Sen. You don't know how to fail…." Sen smiled, and hugged Asami, the blue-eyed summoner going pink. She blinked and closed her eyes, inhaling the unmatched scent of the one who she could never admit to… Her eyes flew open as he let go, reminding her of the meeting and darting away. She wondered why she hadn't hugged back and looked down at her outstretched arms, knowing that she had done too little too late. Something caught her eye and she looked at a scrap of papyrus, eyes narrowing in anger and fear as she ripped it, tearing apart the words that appeared in red dripping ink.

'I'll take them, Asami….'

………………………………………………………………………………

"There's a chance of no classes but summoning and potentially weapon skills for a while," Seth told Atem while they sat down for what should be their breakfast.

"At least this means we don't have to finish that work for Shimon," Isis sighed, chewing her honey-cake thoughtfully.

"But summoning class is exhausting….how will we survive?" Karim mumbled.

"Survive what? The summoning or Akunadin-sama?" Shada questioned. Everyone but Seth gave a sigh, only just remembering that it was, in truth, Akunadin that would be teaching them.

"Perhaps Shimon will explain the new class schedule, we should go and find him," Mahado said, hanging his head over the back of his chair.

"We can't," Seth grumbled.

"Why?" Mana asked, chin on the table.

"The meeting still isn't finished."

"Awwww," the others but Atem groaned.

"I think I actually miss classes….." Mahado said.

"Yeah," everyone chorused.

"I'm so bored…." Isis complained.

"So bored," Mana repeated, falling off her chair onto the floor. Atem looked at her and sighed. "Why aren't you saying anything Ouji-sama?"

Atem turned away, and put his head on the table. "You still didn't give the explanation," Isis reminded Seth and Mahado bluntly. "And now you have help," she continued, pointing to Shada and Karim.

Shada and Karim: o.o;;;;;;;;

"Do you still want the explanation, prince?" Seth asked slowly. Atem gave a grunt that Isis and Mana insisted must be a 'yes'.

The males in the room looked at each other and mumbled to themselves, finally standing up and giving coughs. Mana, Isis and Atem turned around, looking at them doubtfully.

"Well, when we are born……" Karim began unsurely. "We are beginning a journey…."

"A journey to manhood," Shada added, the four standing ones nodding. "On this journey there are many hardships…?"

Atem raised an eyebrow. "Let's look at our journey as a…a….a….a……."

"A SANDAL!" Seth exclaimed. (All: X.o;;;;; WHAT?)

"Yes, a sandal," Mahado said, grabbing Seth's sandal from his foot. "Now if we look at the bottom of our sandals we will notice that part are flat and smooth, and other parts are bumpy and uneven," he went on, pointing to the shoes rough grip.

"These uneven parts may not be as soft or comfortable as the smooth parts but, it's these parts that help most on the journey."

"Yes, because if it weren't for these bumpy parts we would be continuously falling over." Mahado sweatdropped, realizing that those words had not come out properly. "If it weren't for the bumpy parts we'd never reach our destination," he reiterated.

"Our destination that is adulthood," Shada continued.

"One of the bumps on our sandal-I mean journey, is the changing of our voices," Karim added.

"One day, like today, your voice will begin to change…."

"It'll go from high to low in a second but this is all because you're becoming a man!" Atem looked at them doubtfully; he was becoming a man at twelve going on thirteen…weird.

"It will seem like it takes forever for your voice to get to anything that sounds remotely normal," Mahado assured him. "But sooner of later, everything will fall into place and you'll forget all about it."

"So you shouldn't worry," Seth said. "Once you get past this, it's one less step to climb." Atem gave a small nod and smiled, bowing his head in appreciation.

"While you're here, why not talk about the other 'steps'?" Mana suggested. Everyone stared at her. "I know most of the steps but Ouji-sama needs to know also." Atem nodded.

"YEah," Atem whispered, Shada and Karim hearing his uneven voice for the first time that day.

Isis stared at Mana. "Please tell me you didn't mean what you just said," she begged.

Mahado, Karim, Seth and Shada stared at Isis, pulling her up so she could join in the explanation.

"Another step……ummm…well…." Shada thought aloud. Mahado sighed, Seth joining him in the realization that they would have to explain one of the most difficult things ever; girls.

…………………

Atem and Mana watched as the other five filed back into the room, each wearing different clothes. Atem had not asked about 'girls' but had asked how to tell if you like someone. Atem and Mana noticed Mahado and burst out laughing.

"HAHHAH! YOU'RE A WOMAN!" they squealed, pointing at their friend who was wearing Isis' clothing and jewelry, and even had two lumps under his shirt. "HAHAHAH!" They fell onto the floor but continued laughing.

"I don't understand why I have to be a girl," Mahado grumbled.

"You have the longest hair," Seth reminded him. The blue-eyed teenager unrolled a blank sheet of papyrus that ran from one end of the table to the other. He took a brush and painted an uneven line drawing a red arrow next to one of the bumps. Next to the arrow he wrote 'Voice changing,' and beside anther bump he wrote 'Girls- how to tell you like them.'

"Now, prince, Mahado and Isis are girls," Shada said. Atem nodded slowly. "One day Seth and Karim are walking along and they notice them." Seth and Karim walked from the other side of the room past Mahado and Isis, attempting to look interested as they went along. Mahado and Isis gave dry giggles. " Seth likes Mahado, but is unsure of what is happening."

"Oh-my-Ra," Seth said dryly, slapping a hand to his face. "She is so-pret-ty. When I see her-I feel all-weird inside…even though I've only seen that man-ish looking girl once…" Mahado bashed his head against a wall.

"What do you mean, weirdddddddd?" Karim questioned, eyes wide to show that he was supposed to be interested.

Seth put his hand to his chest, eyes slits as he gave a snort. "My heart beats faster and my cheeks get hot. Sometimes I feel-uncomfortable and stuff. What is wrong-with me…Karim?" Atem looked at them ignoring their pathetic acting and lack of any gusto.

"I think that you may like her," Karim nodded, pointing to a glaring, slouching Mahado and then to Seth.

"What do you mean?" Seth asked with two percent enthusiasm, giving a dead shrug.

"It means that………well all it means is that you like her….what el-" Isis pushed Karim away.

"What it means," Isis began. "Is that you have feelings for her. Maybe she makes you feel special, or you feel a certain way around her and no one else. And sometimes you don't even know why you like her, there's just something about her….." Atem nodded. "And even though you've never said a word to each other you think you know her, you think that you have a connection." Atem nodded, leaning forward. "You've only seen her once and you're sure you shared something through the silence….." Atem was on the edge of his seat, hanging of Isis' words. "And every time you see someone who looks a tiny bit like her, your heart skips a beat, hoping that it is her…..hoping that you can be next to each other……"

"That sounded more like 'love' than 'like'," Mahado said to Isis. Isis gave a shrug, telling them she had found it written in a book of medicine.

"It says that there is rarely a true cure for a broken or ailing heart…."

"That sounds tacky," Seth told them bluntly.

"It wasn't tacky," Mana informed Seth. "Right, Ouji-sama. Ouji-sama?" Atem was nodding even after Isis stopped talking, everyone gathering around him and watching in confusion as he stared straight ahead with a glazed look in his eyes and a small smile on his face.

………………………………………………………………………………

Nearly everyone sat downstairs, slouched over tables, rocking on chairs, tapping feet in impatience, or doing something else to pass the time until Shefnu and Oberon returned with food. Thoth's left arm had been put in a sling, he had changed into his usual long sleeved shirt, pants and gloves, and his wrappings once again took their place. Rayeel spoke to Thoth, absentmindedly smoothing creases in his skirt.

"I'm hungry," Fasen said again, curled up on the floor, playing in his hair. Ari sat in a chair, leaning back on only two legs as he hung his head over the back.

"Where is Shefnu? Where is Oberon?" Ari groaned. "I'm going to die…."

"We can always eat each other," Senna proposed. Everyone stared at her.

"That's a great idea," Haktep, Ari, Shila, Rhea and Kana chimed.

"But who do we eat?" Everyone first looked to Rayeel, inwardly wondering if they could catch his weirdness through consumption.

"Who could feed the most people…Who's the fattest?" Rhea asked. Everyone shrugged. "Who's the slowest?"

"Well, Thoth is the fastest, but now he's injured game….." Kana said, sitting up and looking at the one at the bar.

"Thoth is injured, he's damaged goods," Thoth said quickly.

"You're right. Who else is fast…..Sen is very fast so he's out…."

"So is Bakura, he's super fast…." Haktep added. "And Ari… and Senna………."

"Not you either Haktep….." The pair came to a conclusion through the process of elimination, staring at Fasen.

"I'm not the slowest in the bar!" Fasen shouted.

"We know, but you're always falling asleep. There are so many opportunities……." Ari said. Kana and Rhea rubbed their hands together.

"MY OWN FLESH AND BLOOD!" Fasen screamed.

"Should Thoth fetch his saber?" Thoth questioned. Sen nodded.

"MY OWN FAMILY!" They all looked at him with wide eyes, the red-head doing the fastest thing he could. "Where's Asami?" he said, changing the subject.

"Where is Asami?" Sen wondered, looking around.

"Thoth will go and look for her," the thief offered.

Bakura watched Thoth go into the boy's room, and heard him stomping up the stairs. He got up and followed, stomping up after him. He got to the top of the stairs, going down the passage to the first door. He looked at the door's handle; it was encased in ice, a line of the crystal-like substance all around the frame of the door. Thoth was no where to be seen, Bakura's ears picking up the faintest of whispers from behind the door. He looked around as if expecting Shila to pop out of nowhere and tell him that eavesdropping was wrong……then join him in the act. Slowly he put his ear to the cold door, struggling to hear what was being said.

"You can't," Asami ordered, her voice just above a whisper although it was forged of rage. "I won't let you." Bakura's brow creased in confusion wondering who Asami could possibly be talking to. He could hear her ragged breaths and briefly entertained the thought that she was speaking to Thoth.

Bakura's eyes widened when he heard the other sound, a sound that was far from anything a human could create. A low hissing and a dark, twisted chuckle that burnt into Bakura's mind. "Not only will I take them Asami," the voice hissed in a mocking, satisfied tone. "I will bend them and break them, and make them suffer for my enjoyment and your sweet misery."

"I won't let you. Never……I will not let you hurt them…"

"You lie to yourself, young one. You know that you can not, and will not escape the fate that you have so beautifully postponed. And now, my dear Asami, because of your disregard for my wishes along with your mother's disobedience, those around you will have to pay a small, but costly price……"

"They have done nothing to you," Asami attempted to shout, her voice hoarse. "I will not let you harm them…"

"How will you stop me? Look what happened to your mother when she attempted emancipation, now all that is left of her is a pathetic shell. She was able to give it away, and for some reason the one who know holds her visions cannot be bent…"

"He's stronger than you…They all are."

"Are they really, Asami? They're so strong….your little friend would have died if it had not been for Ari…." Asami gasped. "Yes, I know their names…..Thoth would have died…….and maybe next time he will….I'll get them."

"No," Asami growled.

"Or maybe, Sen…."

Bakura struggled not to fall backwards as an icy blast rushed through the crack under the door. "YOU WILL NOT TOUCH SEN YOU BASTARD! YOU WILL NOT TOUCH ANY OF MY FAMILY!"

"Don't talk to your father like that, Asami," the voice laughed. Bakura shook his head, doubting he had heard the word 'father'. "So they're your family now…. That hurts my dear."

"I have never been disobedient although I never owed you anything! You took my family away!"

"And I gave you the gift to bring them back, you're so forgetful."

"I have resurrected shells, shadows of what they once were….. Ne Ne told me…..they will all go, and I will be left…" There was silence; Bakura not breathing for the fear his breaths would bring attention to his presence.

"Your dear, beautiful Ne Ne. She still isn't dead is she? And her sight was not passed to her child….pity her time is coming, and then you will be the only human to house my gift."

"I don't want your gift."

"I'm not asking if you want it. I'm telling you that you are taking it."

"I will sooner die."

"Brave words, Asami, but there is one thing you are forgetting."

"What?"

"Your Ne Ne also told you that something will be taken away from you, and without the sight you have no hopes of finding out who will be snatched up…"

"You……" Asami growled, her voice dark and warning. "You touch them and you will find the true meaning of suffering."

The other being gave an amused chuckle. "Who ever said I, personally, will be the one taking them? Their blood will stain your hands and cries shall echo throughout the passages of your shattered mind."

"You won't…"

"Their voice shall haunt you, their eyes will follow you to the plains of insanity and beyond."

There was a ripping sound, Asami's laugh following shortly after. "You miserable thing…My mother gave up the sight but I know you wanted her back….but you can't get her, it's stopping you."

"I can reclaim her as a vessel anytime I wish."

"The ring is stopping you……you can't get in…." Asami's laugh grew slightly louder, this time sounding slightly twisted. "And if it's the ring that keeps you out then you get use any of them…..How could I have been so foolish?"

"You are foolish. If I want them, I WILL TAKE THEM! EVEN IF IT MEANS RIPPING THE RINGS FROM THEIR BODIES!"

"YOU CAN'T YOU ARROGANT BASTARD! YOU CANNOT USE THE DEAD AND THE RINGS CAN ONLY BE REMOVED THROUGH DEATH!"

"Unless they give themselves up…."

"No one is foolish enough to do that…you're out of options, and you can't give me the full force since he gave me the ring…."

"It's their fault…..you only became so stubborn when you developed feelings for him …maybe I should just get rid of him altogether."

"I will not allow it. And I know for a fact, he can kill you."

"You're so stubborn. But you will soon comply."

Blue light spilled onto the dark passage from under the door, Asami's laugh drowning out the stunned groan of the one she spoke to. "Comply? COMPLY! I will fight you until the day I die…..AND I WILL MAKE YOU WRIHTE IN PAIN THE WAY YOU HAVE MADE US SUFFER!"

Bakura stepped back, leaning against the wall as the ice around the door began to overtake it. He could hear a loud crackling and he knew what it was; it was energy gathering in Wingweavers hands. Asami continued, her laugh on the verge of becoming a fully demented cackle. An unearthly screeching joined, a thin line of purple light coming under the door. Then came a banging, loud and out of place.

"Asami!" Thoth screamed. "Wingweaver? ASAMI!" Bakura couldn't see where the voice was coming from as he began to kick the door, an impression in the wood after he had assaulted it twice with his heel.

The screeching grew louder, as two things hit the ground beyond the door.

"THOTH GET OUT!" Asami screamed as Thoth landed on the floor.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING!" Thoth yelled. "Oh Ra…."

"I'LL TAKE THIS ONE! THIS COULD BE THE ONE THAT I NEED!" The voice hissed, laughing as a chunk of ice from the wall hit the floor and shattered.

"YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HER!" Asami boomed. "DON'T TO-" Asami didn't finish her sentence before the hissing grew louder and more vicious.

"MOVE BAKURA!" Sen shouted, swinging around the corner clutching something through his shirt. The blue-haired magician kicked the door twice, the wood splintering on the first hit then breaking on the second. Bakura was almost afraid of Sen's strength. Sen gazed inside the room and put his hand out. Bakura stepped to the side as the door glowed, ripping from its frame and slamming into the wall behind them. Wingweaver was pinned to the floor, black stakes through her wrists, her eyelids fluttering ghostly. Sen was mumbling to himself as Thoth crawled to Wingweaver, wrappings pinned to the floor by the same black fragments. Bakura saw it and froze; it was shapeless and dark but glowed, emanating cold and gloom. It slowly took on a partially human shape, the bottom of its body long and serpent like. No mouth was seen but two shining slits of eyes appeared. It held Asami by the neck, slamming her to the ground as Wingweaver touched its arm, black 'flesh' peeling under the Ka monster's touch.

"You. You are the one who I must kill, the double sided key…." it hissed to the green-eyed one who had released Asami's creature, Wingweaver shielding Thoth as it drew closer. "I will kill you before you summon the weapon!" Thoth shuffled backwards, a ring of fire igniting around him. The energy gathered in the Ka monster's hands, Wingweavers eyes growing wide as wisps of black snaked around her arms.

"NO!" Thoth yelled as the black straps covered the Ka monster, dragging it to the floor. Sen ran into the room, checking Thoth for major injuries then looking to Asami. Her neck was bleeding, her eyes blank as she lay motionless on the ground. Bakura ran to the end of the passage, a transparent wall of energy blocking his path. Ari and the others stood on the other side, the magicians already covering it in spells and charms.

Bakura ran back, Sen's eyes narrowed, The Dark Magician of Chaos at his side as he stood in front of Asami. . "Why can't you just leave her alone?' he asked, voice low.

"The same reason you won't leave her," the voice whispered. "I need her…." Sen's eyes suddenly looked pained and far away. "But look at what happens to people who rely on you…just look at Touya…." A step too far.

Sen shook his head. "Dark Magician of Cha-"

"Do you really want to do that? You know even more about me than she does," the creature went on, pointing to Asami. "You know that if you kill me…."

"She might also die……." The creature and Thoth said in unison. Sen looked at Thoth, fist tightening.

Bakura looked at Asami's body, her blank eyes were still open and she hadn't moved but now something was missing. "Thoth?" Bakura whispered.

"She wants you dead. I believe Asami is strong enough to survive…." Sen said firmly.

"Will you take that risk?" the voice taunted. Sen stepped back, his Magician lowering its staff. "You have so much potential….just like your sister…." Sen's eyes narrowed.

"YOU BASTARD, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ASAMI!" Thoth screamed, swinging his saber through the creature's middle. The thief dropped his sword as the creature reformed, not a drop of blood in sight. "No…." The figure turned quickly, eyes enlarging in rage. Bakura's heart momentarily stopped as he hoped for a savior for his friend. Sen's Ka monster rushed forward instinctively, impaling the creature before it could lay a snake-like finger on Thoth. The thief hurriedly put his wrappings on, not even tying them in place. Thoth didn't move eyes unblinking as he was helped up by an equally confused Bakura.

Asami's eyes refocused for a second, her pupils shrinking as her back arched in pain and she began to scream. "I warned you Sen," the creature laughed. Wingweaver screamed, the black bands around her arms exploding. The Ka monster, slammed the creature into the ground, the black matter sizzling under her fingers. The thrashing mass of darkness let out a hollow gasp as Wingweaver's eyes turned blood red and her fingers penetrated its neck, blood flying onto the walls before it exploded.

Ari and Haktep fell over each other as the panel of energy disappeared, Fasen's eyes slipping closed as he fell asleep, a small smile on his face. A line of blood flowed from Asami's mouth as Sen healed her neck, head hung low as he stared into her blank, half open eyes. Bakura and Thoth looked at each other, the pair letting go and staring as a tear rolled down Wingweaver's face, hitting the floor as the Ka monster turned to icy shards and scattered over the ground. The Dark Magician of Chaos melted onto the floor, a small mound of sand left in its place.

"AS-" Haktep began, dropping his chalk when he noticed the state of the room. The others didn't enter but simply stared at the scene, unblinking with mouths slightly agape.

Ari pushed past them, supporting Fasen's softly snoring figure. Sen was kneeling on the floor, hands bloody as he held onto Asami. "I……." Sen trailed off, looking at his brother. Asami didn't move as Ari dragged Fasen into the room, the awake red-head dropping his brother on the floor next to Thoth. He bent over and looked at Asami's neck, a single scratch still visible. "She's not getting up…..her injuries didn't appear that bad…she should be alright…"

"Damn-it Asami, you're a little too comfortable," Ari mumbled. He yawned as Haktep stepped in and picked up a few of the shards on the floor, examining them and giving a sigh. "Get up Asami or I'll give you a gift. I warned you Asami." Ari quickly slapped Asami's face, the sapphire eyed teenager on the floor sitting up with a start, rubbing her neck and coughing up some blood.

"ARI! I'LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR IT!" Asami shouted. Ari turned around and slapped his butt with a defiant and taunting smirk, gathering the shards and melting them in his hands. Sen sweatdropped, taking the cup of wine from the side table and drinking a mouthful.

"Whiner. Next time you want to have a discussion with you-know-who, do it at your house." There was silence as the one's who were completely clueless stared at the ones in the know, Thoth shaking Fasen as Asami pulled herself into a standing position. "I'm hungry; maybe we should go and look for Shefnu and Oberon…" Ari trailed off, walking out off the room, through the gathering at the door and down the stairs. "DAMN IT! WHERE ARE THEY! I'M GOING TO EAT FASEN!"

Sen looked at those in the doorway, their faces changing from pictures of confusion to portraits of anger. "I'm presuming you want an explanation….." Asami whispered. Haktep and Sen stepped to the side, the eyes of the others locking onto them.

"YOU'RE NOT OFF THE HOOK EITHER!" Rhea shouted, pointing at the pair.

"Yeah, you're not off the hook!" Asami reprimanded them. She went silent when everyone glared at her. "ahem…"

o.o;; "Well I guess all this confusion made everyone tired, why don't we all go to sleep?" Haktep suggested nervously.

"WE'RE HAVE THE MEETING AND YOU'LL LIKE IT!" Shila shouted. "PARK YOURSELVES DOWN STAIRS AND START TALKING!" Haktep and Asami blinked rapidly, staring at the floor. Sen stood beside Thoth and held his shoulder.

"Are you alright?' he whispered.

"Of course Thoth is alright," Thoth said. "…..You will explain what just happened, right?"

Sen gave a small nod. "Of……..Of course I will. I'll explain everything." Sen said, knowing that that statement could not be made a reality. Thoth nodded as Sen struggled to get Fasen's arm over his shoulder, Haktep joining him in his efforts. The others shooed a whining Asami out of the room.

Thoth brushed against Bakura as they got to the top of the stairs, the white haired thief backing away quickly. "Don't touch me," Bakura ordered angrily.

"Thoth doesn't know what makes you so angry," Thoth whispered, fidgeting with his hands.

"Why don't you ask the prince, you obviously listen more to him than me."

"His friends wanted so badly to save him, and he did help Thoth…Did you want Thoth to leave him there to die…?"

"Why didn't everyone here leave you to die?" Thoth stepped back and Bakura wondered if he had gone too far. He could feel his expression slipping into one of regret but quickly kept it under control. The pair faced each other, Thoth's silence shouting volumes to Bakura. He had gone too far.

"Thoth…..Thoth knows you didn't mean that."

"THEN THOTH DOESN'T KNOW VERY MUCH!"

"He knows that already, Thoth knows he is stupid and worthless….you need not remind him."

"I should remind you. You sicken me, go and defend your prince now, see if he even remembers you. He doesn't care, he doesn't give a shit about me, or you or ANYONE."

"You don't know that……"

"AND YOU KNOW OTHERWISE!"

Thoth smiled and hung his head. "Thoth doesn't need to know that he cares about his people," Thoth whispered, hastily secured wrappings falling to the floor. "He just needs to hope he does…he put his friends before himself…Thoth just needs to hope that he shall do the same for his all his people."

"Stop being ignorant. Stop acting like I'm your friend…"

"Thoth wishes he could stop. Sometimes, Kura, people get so used to feeling certain ways, seeing certain people and doing certain things, that they're not sure how to function properly with out them… They've grown to exist with something and when its taken away, they function as if it were never gone…not because they do not now that it is no longer there, but because they cannot accept its absence…they cannot take change as an option. Thoth is has no real reason to hate you, but although you hate him, he can't hate you back. Simply because he's not sure how to hate you the way you hate him, he's never needed to know how…We've always been friends, you and I…….always…" Thoth had just referred to himself in the 1st person without being asked to; Bakura was inwardly gasping.

Bakura looked at Thoth, the green-eyed swordsman staring at his friend. Thoth always found a way to make him think about what he was doing at that was only true reason he 'hated' Thoth. The green-eyes thief was looking at the floor, eye-brows arched in worry as he kept his smile. Bakura extended his hand, looking away from the one who went wide eyed. "I'm putting you on probation, hopefully-for you- you can regain my approval," Bakura mumbled. Thoth took his hand and shook it, Bakura asking if Thoth intended on dislocating his shoulder. The pair gazed at each other, wondering what to do in the uncomfortable moment.

"HONEY CAKES!" Ari shouted, the youngest ones in the bar not turning fast enough to stop two honey filled pancakes from hitting them in the face.

Thoth and Bakura: O.O;;;;;;;;;;;;

"Shefnu and Oberon have more downstairs if you want," Ari said calmly as if nothing had happened. Bakura and Thoth took the cakes of their faces, their cheeks glazed in honey.

"More what?" Sen asked, him and Haktep walking with Fasen between them.

"Honey cakes," Ari grinned, throwing a cake into Haktep's then Sen's face. The pair dropped Fasen, the sleeping one curling into a ball still dreaming away. Haktep and Sen glared at Ari, the cake slipping off Sen's face and falling onto his arm, covering more of him it the cake's filling. Ari walked over to Sen and licked his arm, laughing hysterically and running off down the stairs.

. "Ari!" Sen shouted, his voice not that much higher above normal. He jumped over Fasen as he stuffed his cake into his mouth as he flew down the stairs. "That's so nasty! I told you to stop that!"

"Run Fasen mumbled in his sleep, the smile on his face growing slightly larger. Haktep chewed his food, stepping over Fasen and saying that everyone would probably forget about the meeting since they had food. "Bad Hawk," Fasen continued, giving a small yawn.

"I want another cake," Bakura mumbled, the stair squeaking as he stepped onto it. He looked at Thoth's honey covered cheek and shook his head; Ari could be so weird.

"Sometimes Ari is so weird," Thoth said. Bakura stopped.

"That's what I was thinking, honey face," Thoth smiled, and looked at Bakura oddly, pointing to his cheek. Bakura shrugged and Thoth leant forward licking the honey off of it.

"You think they brought any cakes other than honey," Thoth pondered. "HEY! THOTH IS MISSING FOOD!" Thoth screamed in horror redoing his wrappings, racing down the stairs and through the screen. Bakura touched his cheek, his face pink as he sat down on the step his mouth a small 'o'. Something creaked at the top of the stairs and he turned slowly, looking at a half-awake Fasen.

"Is Shefnu back yet?" Fasen asked, dragging himself to the edge of the stairs. He yawned and Bakura nodded, the thief getting up and scrambling down the stairs in a drowsy panic. "I'm going to miss fooooooooooood." Bakura stood up slowly, still not letting go of his pink cheek his mouth curling into a small smile. He let out his breath, now noticing he had been holding it in.

"Hey!" Thoth shouted, head popping out through the screen. "Hurry! Thoth can only save you on- THAT'S THOTH'S CUCUMBER!" he stated, running back into the bar. Bakura stood up and walked too the bottom of the stairs, forcing his face to go back to its original colour. Asami was sleeping in a corner, leaning back on a chair as she snored. He walked into the bar, the others crowded around a sweating Shefnu and Oberon, with Rayeel no where in sight as he sat down in a corner, smiling silently to himself.

………………………………………………………………………………

" I STill don't unDERstand IT," Atem squeaked, Mahado and Seth bashing their heads against the wall. Seth was now a woman also, and was claiming that dressing up was bad for his health. " I don't UNDERstand EItheir side…"

"You'll never understand them," Mahado sighed.

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" Isis and Mana boomed.

"Fine," Shada said, attempting to stay as calm as possible. "We'll do it again."

"Mana and Isis are boys, and Mahado and Seth are girls," Karim announced, from the floor. "Note how they act."

"Hehe-eheheh," Mahado giggled dryly, flipping his hair over his shoulder. Seth was shaking his head in disbelief as he poked himself in his fake chest. Mahado elbowed him.

"HeHe," Seth grunted.

Isis and Mana came by. "You're stupid and you stink," Mana insulted Mahado. "And why does your hair look like that?"

"Her ugly friend is no better," Isis snorted, pointing to a glaring, staring, mumbling, grumbling Seth. Mana and Isis walked away, taking exaggerated steps as they walked off.

Mahado and Seth made fake crying noises. "Wee-oooooh-weee-ohhhhh," Mahado wailed, putting his face into his hands then looking to the sky. "RA STRIKE ME DOWN! ANUBIS, COME FOR ME!" Seth was moaning for real as he hit himself with a book.

"HAHAHAH!" Isis and Mana laughed. "WE MADE THOSE SISSY GIRLS CRY!" Atem wondered why the girls could act so much better than the boys, wondering if it was because the boys had less energy and enthusiasm than a dead fish. Isis and Mana took a huge step forward.

"Now that we're far away, so far away that those girls will not hear us, I have a confession!" Mana exclaimed.

"OH MY!" Isis shouted, slapping her hands to her face. " A CONFESSION? WHAT IS IT!"

"I'm not sure," Mana mumbled. Isis elbowed her. " I MEAN YES! MY CONFESSION IS THAT I SECRETLY LIKE THAT FREAKY MAHADO GIRL!"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"YES! DEEP, DEEP, DEEP, DEEP, DEEP, REALLY FAR AND DEEP, DEEP, DEEP-"

"ENOUGH ALREADY!" Seth screeched.

"WELL, YES!"

All: O.O;;;; Huh?

"KILL ME!" Seth begged. Mana gave a cough and continued.

"Although I insult her, deep inside I truly like Mahado."

"Then why do you insult her?" Isis questioned.

"Because I am a dumb, insensitive man-"

"HEY!" Mahado, Seth, Shada and Karim shouted.

"Because I am a weirdo, or a boy, I do not know how to express my feelings!"

"That's so sad!" Isis informed them dramatically.

"Yes, the insults are a cover for my true feelings! I th-" Seth and Mahado pushed Isis and Mana to the side.

"I'm a girl!" Mahado squealed.

"Me too," Seth reminded Atem, poking the lumps of clothing stuffed under his and Mahado's clothing. "We like to complain and whine, because our feelings are always being hurt! Wah wah wah!"

"We also insult people when we SECRETLY LIKE THEM-"

"Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo." Seth chimed in.

"OR, we follow the people who we secretly like around and never tell them anything or when we do, we act stupid."

"Like this," Seth said, skipping over to Shada. "ohhhhhhhh, helloooo Shada," Seth said in an extra high voice, flapping his hand to wave. Shada tried to get away, only to be stopped by Mahado. " I'm-I'm-I'm-I'm pathetic, I mean I'm a girl, Seth, nice to meet youuuuuuuu."

"We met already," Shada mumbled.

"Oh yesssssssssssssssssss! Silly meeeeeeee! Tee-hee-hee-heeeeeeeeee-SNORT!" Seth continued. "Oh I'm so embarrassed I could go and cry and complain and whine and complain some more about my feeeeeelings!"

"Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"Meeeeeeee? Oh Ra noooooooo! Not me! Do you know my name?"

"Seth."

"AH! HE REMEMBERED!" Seth screamed, running to Mahado the pair jumping up and down and screaming in delight. Atem was laughing until he saw Mana and Isis, the pair glaring at the scene, their fists clenched tightly. "I'm going ...TO DIE!" Seth screamed.

"OH-MY-RA!" Mahado came in.

"I think you are so cuteeeeeeeeeeeeee," Seth complimented Shada, batting his eyelashes. Shada sweatdropped.

"HE LIKES YOU BACK!"

"AHHHHHH!" the pair screamed in unison, jumping around a trembling Shada. Mana and Isis put their legs out tripping a bouncing Seth and Mahado, the boys falling on top of a groaning Karim.

"I'm a BIGHEADED MACHO GUY!" Isis shouted. "I'll like you, but I'LL NEVER TELL YOU! I'LL LET TIME FLY BY WITHOUT LETTING YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL, LIKE SO!"

"Oh Isis, SHE'S SO HOT! I REALLY LIKE HER!" Mana said over-dramatically, hand over her heart as she glared at Mahado and Seth. " I've NEVER liked anyone as much as her!" Isis walked by, smiling at Mana. "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT UGLY?" Isis looked at Mana and walked off.

"AND THEN," Isis shouted. "I DIE!" Isis crumpled on the floor, Mana running to her side sniffing loudly.

"WHY! IS THERE NO JUSTICE! I LIKED HER SO MUCH!" Mana screamed. "IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER INSTEAD IF BEING A RUDE, INSENSITIVE MEATHEAD!"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING MEATHEADS?" Shada, Seth and Mahado boomed, Karim swirly-eyed since Seth and Mahado had only just climbed off of him. The two groups stood facing each other, panting and shaking fists.

"I Understand!" Atem shouted with a smile. "GooD JOb!"

"You undrestandddddddd?" Karim wheezed.

"Yes! Girls USually show how they fEEl, somETImes a little too much, and let people know what they think abOUT them, and guys do the OPPOsite to what they fEEl –most of the time- and don't do things until it's TOO late! SO BotH genders ARE CONfusing, EXTRemeLY conFUsing!" The others nodded slowly, Atem nodding and sitting with a smirk. "That WasN'T that HARD."

Seth walked over to the papyrus and ticked 'Voice changing' but left 'Girl…emotional situations', the topic still wasn't finished. He sighed. "You're sure you understand?" Mana questioned.

'Yes, but what do you do….." Atem trailed off looking at the floor.

"What do you do…what?" Mahado asked.

"What if you think you like a girl….how do you tell her?"

Others: X.X;;;;;;;;;; Oh Ra have mercy on our souls

"Well," Seth began unsurely. "I guess you first have to make sure you really like her. When I say 'really like' I don't mean you kind of like her, or you think you like her, or you like her now and then, you must 'LIKE' LIKE her, if you're going to tell her."

"Yes, because if you say you like her and you really don't she'll get vicious and attack you like a desert viper," Karim said. Isis and Mana glared.

"So….if you're sure, how DO you tell ThEM?" Atem asked unsurely. No one replied. "NONE oF you KNOw?" Atem gasped.

Others: O.o;;; Well ummmm……………crickets chirp

"Who says we don't know!" Seth shouted. The others stared at Seth. "What?"

"You've told a girl that you like her?" Shada whispered, looking around as if Shimon or Akunadin would pop out of nowhere, lecturing them on wasting their time.

"Maybe….." Seth grunted, crossing his arms and looking away. He remembered the girl in the caravans; her long white hair and her blue eyes…her smile and the way she asked him for his name……

"I think he's drunk," Mahado and Isis said with shifty eyes, Seth ceasing his staring into space to glare at them.

"SO nO One knows?" Atem questioned.

Mana and Mahado glided over to Atem in record breaking speed. (Atem: o.o;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; thinking creepy…)

Mahado and Mana: 0.o 0.0 o.0 HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM :shifty eyes:

"We were just thinking…Why are you so eager to know…….OUJI-SAMA?" Mana asked, her and Mahado centimeters from his face, eyes slits as they thought of possible situations.

"Is there something you're neglecting to tell your FRIENDS!" Mahado continued.

Atem slid off his chair and shuffled backwards. "NO!" he shouted defensively. Seth and Isis stepped forward.

"Those sound like the words of someone keeping a secret," Shada mused.

"Yes. Yes they do, Shada my good man," Mana and Mahado said, taking a synchronized step forward. "Are you keeping a secret, OUJI-SAMA?" Atem stepped back again.

"Are you?" Isis asked, poking Atem in the back. "We are your friends after all….."

Seth raised an eyebrow and Atem wished that Seth's eyebrow would malfunction or fall off from moving up and down so much. "You smell of a secretive, pointy haired prince," Seth said.

"Yep. Yep, he does," Mana, Isis, Mahado and Shada chimed. The four nodded in odd harmony looking at the prince doubtfully.

"Secrets are meant to be kept; they keep life interesting," Karim said.

"EXACTLY!" Atem shouted, jumping behind Karim and nodding enthusiastically. "But in case you all are wondering, I 'm not keeping a secret from you…" The others looked at him doubtfully as a servant came to the doorway, bowing until Atem told her otherwise. "Hello."

"Greetings Prince Atem," she said softly, head still slightly lowered. "Do you and other others wish to have lunch now?"

"But….we didn't have breakfast that long ago…." Mana said.

"Queen Nephthys requested that I ask you now."

The others either nodded in agreement to eating or shrugged. "Yes, we'll have lunch now thank you," Atem responded, the servant bowing again and walking away. The fun had been sucked out of the room in that instant.

The group took a seat around a table, and stared at their hands or the floor or anything that took up space. "Why do you think they want us to eat so early?" Mana whispered, voice lowered in case anyone walked by.

Everyone leaned forward. "They probably want to question us fully," Seth said quickly, his voice meeting the quiet requirement.

"About what?" Karim asked.

"About yesterday…"

'They already did."

"Not about yesterday morning…..about the events of the afternoon." Shada and Karim looked at each other realizing they were out of the loop.

The other five looked at each other, giving small nods, Seth telling them what had actually happened both in the morning and afternoon. Karim's mouth was slightly agape; Shada was leaning so far over on his seat that he fell on the floor. "You're kidding?" Shada said, pulling himself up. He looked at the serious faces of those at the table. "You're not kidding…"

"You cannot tell anyone," Isis said quickly. "No one at all."

"A bunch of thieves saved you from a plague released, from one of their items, by your guards?" Karim said. Atem nodded.

"Not only were they thieves, I'm sure at least three of them are magicians….and not inexperienced users of magic, but skilled sorcerers," Mahado added.

"That's amazing."

"As much as they should be punished for intruding the palace grounds, we have to give them some leniency for their services," Seth mumbled bluntly. Everyone stared at him. "What? You know I'm right." The others sighed.

"Isis should punch you again," Mahado mumbled.

"What did you say?"

Mahado smirked. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"We can't get them in trouble…they saved us," Atem whispered. "We owe them our lives…."

"What if they ask us questions and we crack under pressure? What if we say something that makes them suspect something-" Mana moaned. "How do we know they'd get in trouble if we explained why they came to steal the am-"

The groups coughed and acted as if they had been discussing nothing of importance as four servants came in carrying their lunch. They stared at their food and gave sighs, lying on the table ignoring their food.

"I bet I'm getting grey hairs from all your whining," Seth said, looking at the hair that had fallen in his face.

"Eat up," A voice said from the door. The seven sat up, hair slightly untidy because they had moved so quickly. "Eat up," Akunadin repeated from the doorway. Now, the fun hadn't just been sucked out, it had been killed. Seth looked at his teacher, his eyes practically asking the question 'What are we going to do Akunadin-sensei?' Mana adjusted her hat, attempting not to look any more like 'non-summoner' material in Akunadin's presence. The holder of the millennium item looked at them and Seth's eyebrows narrowed, wondering if Akunadin was thinking of using his millennium eye on them. "Hurry students and Prince Atem. We'd like to have a word with you…"

………………………………………………………………………………

"Hurry," Ari said to Bakura as the thief stuffed clothes into his bag. Much to Haktep's dismay, people had not forgotten about the meeting because they had food, instead, they had simply decided that such a talk should be held somewhere else. Bakura climbed out of the den, closing the door behind him.

Shila stood above him, examining his head with a skeptical eye. "I think I'll have to cut your hair," Shila told Bakura, touching his white tresses that were now beginning to pass his shoulders. "Or perhaps we should let them grow to the length of Sen's hair…." Shila stared at the blue haired thief whose hair had grown a great time in the three weeks he had been away. "Or to Ari's length….no, you need a haircut. We'll do it at Asami's."

"Where are my shoes?" Shefnu asked coming out of his room. No body answered. "WHERE ARE THEY?"

Shila threw them at him. "You left them upstairs."

Fasen, Ari, Sen and Thoth sat cross-legged and cloaked on the counter in a straight line with their bags on their backs. They watched everyone, turning their hooded heads in unison. "We have to wait for Rayeel," Fasen said as Bakura took a seat. His siblings nodded. Oberon watched them oddly.

"Why?" Bakura asked.

"He said he had to get something."

"Why does he have to come?" Shefnu grumbled as the girls and Haktep ran between the rooms. "I don't like the way he looks at me when I'm asleep."

"How do you know how he looks at you if you're asleep?" Sen questioned.

"Sometimes I just pretend to be asleep to see what he does and stuff…" The others nodded slowly.

"Rayeel may be a little weird but he's not all that bad," Thoth said. Sen nodded.

"He's just a little different…" Sen said gently.

"So what if he likes other guys….If we can't get rid of him we'll just have to learn to like it," Bakura mumbled. Thoth nodded. "Everyone is different…I don't really have any problem with it anymore…"

"That's very mature of you, Bakura. It's good to see that you're so open minded."

"He's not so bad…except for the always being clean, and the way he looks at you sometimes…." Fasen mumbled, yawning again.

Shefnu gave a shrug as Senna sat down. "Finally finished packing?" Ari questioned.

"Who was packing?" Senna asked dryly. "Asami and I were drinking," she whispered, looking around for Shila.

"So?"

"Shila said not to drink; she doesn't want us to be dead drunk when we're getting the explanation."

"ASAMI! I SAID NO BEER!" Shila screamed, striding out of the room with Asami holding her leg.

"Please Shi! PLEASE!" Asami begged.

"DRINK WATER!"

Asami let go and looked at Shila uncertainly. "Water? What's that?" Shila put the beer under the counter and crossed her arms. Asami flopped onto a table and complained about her rights to be intoxicated. "I can't even be stoned in a bar!"

Rhea came out of her room carrying two bags full of books and scrolls. "You pack light," Bakura said.

"These are Haktep's," she informed him as Haktep followed her with two more bags.

"Just a bit of reading," Haktep murmured as Senna shook her head. Ari, Thoth and Sen reached for the writings, Shila slapping their hands.

"I had a very good dream today," Fasen said, leaning back and letting his head hang over the counter.

"About what?" Asami inquired still staring at the ceiling.

"Bakura," Fasen smiled, eyes half open.

"Really? Who was I killing?" the one who was mentioned asked.

"You weren't killing anyone…"

"Was there any one else?" Oberon asked.

"Nayami…." Sen's head tilted to the side in interest.

"Nayami?" Bakura repeated.

"Nayami; dress, bracelets, earrings and all…she's so pretty. Right Thoth?" Thoth blinked as everyone waited for him to answer.

"Whatever," Thoth mumbled, jumping off the counter and landing on the table next to Asami. The blue eyed, beer lover fell off the table and hit the floor, shaking a fist as someone pounded on the door. (AN: Rhymed! I wonder how many rhyming sentences I have….)

"Somebody get the door," everyone chorused. "Who's going to get to the door?" Everyone looked at each other and then the door, all those in the main bar feeling too lazy to open what was being knocked on. "KANA! GET THE DOOR!"

Kana walked in slowly and scratched her head. "Why don't you get the door?" she asked, as Thoth resumed his cross-legged position on the counter.

"Kana," Haktep gasped. "Stop being so lazy."

"Is it so hard for you to just get the door?' Shefnu continued.

"What kind of example are you setting for Thoth and Bakura?' Asami asked even though she was only three meters from the door. The others nodded.

Kana opened the door and Rayeel stood there, skirt dusty, belt uneven, hair sticking up with one sandal in his hand. He hurried in and slammed the door, bolting it and sliding to the floor. Everyone twitched as something slammed into the door and someone growled and began to scream.

"OPEN THIS DOOR YOU IDIOT!" someone screamed viciously. It was a girl behind the door who was obviously angry. "NOW YOU DUMB COW! DAMN IT!"

"Hide me," Rayeel squeaked, putting his other shoe back on.

"OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!"

Fasen looked at Shila. "I don't think she's ever going to get that boyfriend with a fast horse…she might get a fast horse though," Fasen said to Shila.

"The horse will only be fast because it's running from her,' Rayeel panted, hiding behind the bar.

"She's going to break our door," Rhea said. "Some one should open it." Everyone –even Rayeel- looked to Kana.

"Fasen, Senna, somebody get the door," Bakura said.

"That noisy brat. Somebody get the door," Rayeel sighed.

"Somebody's at the door," everyone sang. "Who's going to get the door? Kana's gonna get the door-"

"You need help," Kana sighed, walking over to the door and unlatching it before they could finish singing.

"RAYELL! I WILL SK-" Renora began, before she noticed everyone and went quiet. She gave a nervous cough her brown eyes narrowing as she searched for her prey. Her hair was much like Rhea's because it curled up and the ends, but it was layered and came to her shoulders. She was Thoth's height, and wore the basic outfit of those in the bar; knee long, dark green cloak, white dress halved by a dark green belt and white slip on shoes. She scanned the corners of the bar for her elder brother, fist shaking as she panted.

Ari raised an eyebrow and jumped off the counter. "Let's go then," he said calmly. Renora looked at him out of the corner of her eye, staring as Ari and Sen attempted to roll a sleeping Fasen off the counter.

"Eyes off the prize," Asami and Senna said, stepping in front of her. "They may be ultra sexy but they belong to us!"

"Ye- I didn't say that," Asami whispered. "Sen isn't mine…….." Senna began to beat her friend with a shoe.

"What are you talking about?" Renora snapped.

"You're staying a Sami's house tonight," Senna reminded the shorter girl, eyebrow raised. "Better hold your tongue before she puts her snakes in your bed. Politeness is one of the keys to venom-free bodies. "

"Exactly," Asami said. Renora crossed her arms, dropping her bag on the floor, scrunching up her face as she took at seat. Bakura leaned on the counter next to Thoth, both of them sending silent messages. Shila had once said at Renora had a rather pretty face…right now as she sat grumbling in the corner, they couldn't see what Shila had been talking about. Thoth picked up Malik and coughed.

"I'm awake," Fasen informed them with a yawn as he fell onto the floor, eyes half open as he gave a small stretch and scratched his head.

Senna stood up. Rhea turned to look at him. Kana beamed. Shila went starry eyed. Even Renora stopped grumbling to stare at the one on the floor. "He's….." Shila began.

"HE'S SO KAWAII!" all the girls who had been staring screamed.

Asami gave a snort. "He's so….." Asami mimicked in a high voice.

"Kawaii!" all the guys screamed, Thoth joining in late since he had been attempting to drink some beer without Shila noticing.

Fasen rubbed his eyes and when he opened them they were a bright, emerald green. "What?" Oberon asked.

"Oh, it's magic," Ari said, holding a hand over his right eye. He removed his gloved hand, the eye beneath it a shiny amber. "We can have any colour we want." Oberon watched as Ari and Sen began to change their eye colours from grey to green, from blue to brown.

"I think we should get going, it's already after lunch time," Rhea said. Haktep nodded and everyone drained out of the bar with their bags and pets. Rayeel slipped out, Renora noticing him and glaring as Shila closed up the bar.

"So, we haven't really spoken. You're Oberon…Shila's brother," Senna said as they walked, hoods up, faces slightly down. Oberon nodded. "Oberon…Oberon…Oberon," Senna said over and over, mumbling to herself.

"She's looking for a nickname for you. She doesn't call anyone by their real name," Shila told her brother.

"I heard that you got the crap beat out of you last night," Renora mumbled to Thoth. "Anything broken?"

"Not anymore," Thoth answered calmly.

"Sen fixed him already. His ribs and his arm were broken," Bakura said. Renora nodded. Sen and Asami, as usual walked towards the back of the group with Bakura, Thoth and Renora.

"Renora really has it in for Thoth today," Sen pointed out. "She's very grumpy lately."

"But it's strange that even she would be so odd, since her and Thoth get along so well……Maybe she thinks that Thoth is making Bakura dislike her. Thoth and Bakura usually rely on each other to make decisions, perhaps Renora believes that Thoth is somehow making Bakura more hostile towards her," Asami informed her sometimes naïve friend. "Just a thought."

"That's silly, Asami. Maybe Bakura just doesn't like her 'that way' if at all…. Girls are weird." Asami shook her head, wondering how someone as wise as Sen could sometimes fall into a state of such blissful childishness. Sen put an arm around her shoulder, and smiled. "I'm happy you're not a girl, Asami." Sen chuckled. Asami smiled, thankful for her hood, and crossed her arms.

"I'm happy you're not a boy either, Sen."

Rhea watched the youngest ones out of the corner of her eye, her and Haktep whispering to each other as Renora snapped at Thoth once again, the green eyed thief shrugging as if he had heard nothing.

"You're angry today, Renora," Thoth said, finally giving Renora some verbal acknowledgement. Fasen walked beside them, humming as they traveled. "Would you like to share what makes you so miserable, grouchy and all around nasty to be around today?"

"Shut up Thoth," Renora growled.

"Touchy, touchy. Thoth thinks that you need stop having these emotional bursts in public."

"Shut up! You're worse than Rayeel!" Renora screamed, striding away from the pair.

"Renora?' Fasen said softly.

"SHUT UP FASEN!"

"Thoth and Fasen didn't mean anything. Jeez, girls," Thoth said.

"She's being even weirder than usual," Bakura mumbled to his friend. "It must be a female thing….right?" The pair looked at each other, looking to Shila and Haktep. They moved first to Haktep.

"What's wrong with Renora?" Haktep and Rhea asked.

"She's angry and disgustingly sensitive," Bakura explained. "All Thoth and I do is say a few words…and she looks like she's ready to start crying or beating us…pathetic." Thoth nodded.

Haktep gave a shrug, Rhea looked up and practically zoned out as she searched her mind for an answer. Bakura slid over to Shila as Thoth went to question Senna and Ari.

"What's wrong with Renora?" Bakura asked quickly. Shila bit her lip.

"Well, Bakura. It's a girl thing that you wouldn't understand…." Shila began.

"I'll go get Thoth th-"

"Thoth might not be much help. Sometimes when you get older you change right. Remember the talk you and Thoth started to get?" Shila reminded him, stepping to the side as a child ran by. "Just as boys change, girls change too….sometimes during these changes girls and boys can become slightly more sensitive. It'll go away in a while…these weird moments come in bursts." Bakura nodded and walked over to Thoth.

"What are you saying?" Thoth questioned Ari and Senna. "You are confusing Thoth."

"Renora is becoming a woman," Senna said. "Well I think she is...I can't explain it's confusing and stuff……"

"So? Ari, help Senna explain."

"I can't, I don't understand either," Ari whispered. "It's all weird and freaky." Bakura and Thoth nodded, Senna slapping them all on the backs of their heads.

"SENNA!" they shouted.

"I'll kick you next time," she mumbled. "Insensitive jerks."

"Thoth is hungry," Thoth complained.

"I'm hungry too," Shefnu moaned. "Let's get some more food."

"You just ate," Shila said, the group stopping in the street.

"But I'm hunnnnnnnnnnnngry…." Everyone shrugged, reaching for their bags, searching around for something to barter for food.

"Thoth must have money; Thoth needs more food," Thoth told Bakura, Sen and Asami walking to the pair. Anubis let out a low growl as Bakura dug around in his bag. "Ow, Malik," Thoth said to his cat, as the blonde feline dug its claws into his arm, beginning to hiss.

"What's wrong with you?" Bakura questioned his snarling dog. The thief pulled out a shoe, stuffing it back and reaching around, feeling something smooth under his fingers. He grasped the corner of the object and pulled it out.

Bakura dropped it to the ground as if it had burnt him. Anubis barked, tail stiffening as the lock of the book caught the light. "Why are you carrying it around?" Bakura shook his head.

Asami bent over and picked it up. "The book of Buried Pearls?" Asami said doubtfully. She ran her fingers over the gold and sliver covers.

"Who found it?" Sen questioned. Bakura pointed to Thoth. "Have you opened it?"

"NO!" Thoth shouted. "YOU DON'T NEED TO OPEN IT!" Asami stepped back.

"What's wrong with you?" she questioned. Thoth lowered his arms when he noticed they were raised defensively.

"Don't open it."

"Amazing. A book that you don't want to read?"

"It gives me a weird feeling….maybe because it must be an enchanted object," Sen whispered. Thoth bit his lip, sweat beading on his forehead. Ari watched the book as if it would get up and attack him.

"It's so shiny,' Fasen whispered, running a finger along it.

"So, shall I open it up?" Asami asked, Shefnu still complaining about food. Thoth gave a shrug and stepped back, cradling Malik in his arms.

"Open it," Bakura directed Asami. "Open it."

Sen and Thoth picked up their bags as Asami placed her finger on the first lock, the golden latch unmoving. "Why won't it open?"

Fasen sighed. "Maybe you're not the right type of magic user to open it," he suggested. "Or maybe it just doesn't like you." Asami punched the red-head and asked Sen to try. He pressed the lock reluctantly, giving a sigh of apparent relief when it didn't open.

"You try then." Fasen shrugged, placing his finger on the book.

"Not there, here," Ari said, placing his finger on the lock.

"That's two users of magic," Asami mumbled, putting her hand also. The lock still didn't open. Haktep tried also to no avail. Fasen and Ari poked the lock, Sen laughing at them, and joined in the poking.

"It's open," Bakura said quickly, as soon as Sen had touched the book.

"What?" Thoth said, voice sounding raspy and surprised. Bakura grabbed the book and threw open the cover, everyone- minus Sen, Ari, Fasen and Thoth- letting out a disappointed moan when they saw another set of thinner (but still thick) silver covers with another lock.

There were hieroglyphs somehow carved into the precious metal, but where hard to read since they lacked colour. The only line in colour was read aloud by Asami, "Reveal the secrets to the true King of Thieves. Great suffering shall fall upon those who seek to hinder the rule of the vast power. A magician holds the key to the guide of destruction or salvation….That's a pleasant line…oh there's some more it-" Thoth stepped forwards and slammed the book shut.

"Thoth doesn't like it," Thoth said quickly, attempting to fix his bag while holding Malik.

"It's a bit weird….I don't like it much either,' Fasen whispered, taking Malik off of Thoth's arm and handing the cat to Sen. Ari and Sen gave responses much the same.

"You're afraid of a book?" Kana said doubtfully.

"It's probably the magic that seals the book that is affecting you," Haktep said. The Brothers Four nodded, Haktep was probably right.

"This is a bit heavy, take it Bakura," Asami said, thrusting it into his arms. The lock popped open, Bakura almost dropping it again.

Fasen's eyes rolled back in his head, the thief taking a sharp breath before falling forward to an unsuspecting Thoth. Kana covered her mouth and stepped forward, Sen and Ari blocking her way. "What's happening to him?" Shila asked, Renora telling children to 'Shoo' when they wanted to see what was happening.

"I don't know," Sen confessed. "He's just blacking out, more and more…" he continued as Ari and him pulled Fasen off of Thoth. Ari shielded Fasen's face from the others, quickly wiping away the line of blood that ran from his brother's mouth. Thoth searched Ari's eyes for answers, his brother turning away.

Bakura closed the book and stuffed it into his bag. "We'll talk to him when he gets up," Ari said, his brother and himself, supporting Fasen.

'Protect me,' a voice whispered. 'You have to protect me…'

"What?" Bakura asked Thoth.

Thoth stretched and bent backwards making a perfect arch. Renora pouted, she couldn't bend back that far. "What? Thoth did not say anything… perhaps it was just the wind. It often seems to whisper you know." Bakura gave a dismissive shrug.

"Haktep," Kana said quickly.

"Yes," Haktep answered slowly.

"Haktep."

"GO AWAY SHIT KING!" Renora shouted. "GO AND WASTE THE TIME OF ONE OF THOSE DUMB WOMEN YOU'RE ALWAYS AROUND!"

Haktep turned slowly to see who Renora was shouting at. His eyes narrowed in disgust. "What do you want Shin?" Haktep hissed. Shin was bandaged from head to foot, his arm was in a sling and his nose was covered in thick bandages and objects to keep the bone in place. But Haktep noticed Shin's red, bloodshot eyes.

"I need to talk to the lot of you again," Shin breathed.

"Do you have a pain fetish?" Ari asked blankly.

"Unfortunately not, Ari. You will get yourselves back to the bar…please." Everyone raised eyebrows in surprise.

"We don't take orders from you," Rhea spat.

"You will unless you want me to go to the guard."

"Your threats are empty," Asami said.

"I have something important I need to discuss with you. If you are not at the bar when I get there, I will go to the guard." Asami opened her mouth. "If I do not return, one of my associates will go to the guard and say that I was killed by the band of ruthless, evil thieves, who released a plague onto the place and attempted to kill the price and future priests. Please, I desperately need to speak to you…." "

Ari and Shefnu grumbled. "We can't risk it…this is the last time we'll take his crap," Haktep said to his teem-mates.

"I'll see you there." Shin turned on his heel and walked in the other direction, the group silent.

"Well," Renora said to Asami, as they turned to go back to the bar.

"What?" Asami asked, smoking with a sigh. Sen pulled the object out of her mouth, snuffing it out on the ground.

"Now you can't put snakes in my bed," Renora smirked, already out of her angry/emotional mood. She walked over to Bakura and Thoth, engaging in conversation; already back to giving an insult in every sentence. "You can't do it!"

Asami raised an eyebrow, Sen and Ari sighing at how creepy Asami could be. "I can't can I? We'll see about that…."

"We're going to have some fun at the bar," Ari said sarcastically. Fasen mumbled to himself.

"Hello……prince…" he said, a small smile on his face. Sen sighed. "Wow…your hair…..pointy…"

Asami stopped in the middle of the street and turned around. "What are you doing?"

"I need to go," Asami said quickly. "It's later than I thought."

"Asami," Sen called. Asami turned to look at him, her eyes telling him to speak quickly. "…Take care will you."

Asami ran down the street slapping herself for taking a nap earlier that day. "Take care?" she said, repeating Sen's request. " For Ra's sake Sen….you never could ask for easy things…"

………………………………………………………………………………

They were waiting in the corridor to be called into the meeting that was taking place, and had taken their lunches along to eat as they stood, crouched or sat.

"I don't think you should do it again," Seth said. "You're already increasing your chances of punishment ten fold. Doing it again will only make things worse." Mahado and Mana gave shrugs; Isis was easily the most agile among them, the boys bowing their heads in shame at her skills, but the Egyptian magicians were the stealthiest. Atem was speaking now since his voice had returned to normal, free of any disturbing fluctuations.

"Hurry," Atem whispered. "See how much else you can find….and don't let anyone see you." Mahado nodded, Mana and himself slinking down the hall in silence.

"I can't believe we're listening on the conversations of the servants…" Shada mumbled. "That's so disrespectful…"

"We need facts, and where better to get in that from those who go everywhere and always seem to hear everything?" Karim said. "They discuss it among themselves but they'd never let anyone get a whiff that they know a grain of secret information."

"What kind of pharaoh will I make if I'm asking my friends to eavesdrop on my subjects, I'm lying to my people, I'm protecting thieves and can't summon or use magic, a weapon or do anything really useful?" Atem pondered aloud, sliding down the wall.

"You'll make a great pharaoh," Isis said with a smile. "You're not protecting thieves; you're protecting those who helped you. All great leaders take time to be shaped; formed into those who can guide and protect….all you need is time…." Atem smiled.

"Thank you, Isis."

"For what, prince. I only speak the truth."

Seth was standing as close to the edge of the doorway as possible, straining to catch a loose word. "I can't hear a thing that they're saying," Sen grumbled. A screen blocked his view. "I can't see anything either…" The wind blew and those in the passage were amazed at how loudly it howled, whispers lost in its moan. "Stupid wind."

"The wind," Atem repeated softly. "That's what we need…." Isis and Seth looked at the prince doubtfully. "When people in that room speak, their voices can be heard in the room above and behind it…but only when the wind blows…."

"How do you know this, prince?" Isis asked.

"Mana and I spend a lot of time walking around while you are in your priest classes," Atem smirked. Isis and Atem put their lunches down beside Mana's and Mahado's, and began to run off, Seth catching their collars and shaking his head.

"You can't just disappear. We were supposed to be waiting," Seth reminded. "What if YOU get caught and we ALL get in trouble? I don't want to scrub the floors."

Isis looked at him oddly. "Well, it appears that I have to go wash my hands," Isis said.

"My wounds are stinging, I'm going to apply some oils," Atem continued, turning on his heel and following Isis away.

Seth slapped his forehead. "Why?" He mumbled. "Why Ra? Why won't you just kill me now?"

……………………………………

Mana and the end of the hall, looking around for any signs of life. Mahado and Mana lingered around the kitchens, the older magician hiding behind a large pot.

"AHHHHHHHH! DESERT COBRA!" Mana screamed, pointing to an empty patch of the floor. "AHHHHHH! IT WENT INTO THE KITCHEN!"

"COBRA!" those in the kitchen screamed, running into the hall and running away from Mana's fake screams of terror.

"Hurry, Mahado-sama," Mana said. Mahado ran into the kitchen and jumped onto a stool, climbing onto a shelf. Mana handed him the stood and he stacked it on top of the shelf. "Oh no, it's not high enough to climb onto the rafter."

"Don't worry about it, just get out," Mahado instructed. Mana nodded and sprinted away. The magician noticed some garlic on the counter and broke it apart, scattering in onto the floor before sliding himself into a space between a tall cupboard and a column.

Footsteps. They were getting louder and Mahado lay down on the floor, peering under the cupboard at the ankles of those who were reentering the kitchen. "It must be gone," a woman whispered, picking up some garlic.

"Yes. The garlic (1) is here, but who scattered it?" another questioned.

"Someone probably did it in the rush," a man suggested. The others gave grunts and murmurs of 'yes' to his proposal. Mahado pulled a clump of dust from his hair and sighed. He wondered what the meeting would be about….maybe they were all over-reacting, they were making it a big deal; they were worrying about something that no one else knew about…

"The young thieves," a young-lady said, snapping Mahado out of his state of thought.

"Oh yes," a man said.

"They are the ones that stopped the scarabs, after a guard broke one of their magical boxes."

"Hmmm…Yes. They didn't want a fight or anything….the guards are becoming arrogant."

"The prince put them in their place."

"I didn't hear about that?"

"One of the guards was saying that the prince punched a guard when they began to beat up one of the thieves."

"He's defending those scum?" A gravely voice remarked.

"Shut up," was the sharp rely from everyone else.

"Anyway, the woman continued, what we have heard today is very troubling…."

"What have you heard?" another woman asked, her voice soft.

"Is pharaoh Akunumkanon going to hunt the thieves?" a man asked. Mahado could see dusty feet in front of him and could smell bread, and now wished he had eaten more of his lunch.

"Don't be stupid!" the another man said jokingly. "Our pharaoh is wise; he will do the right thing…which is to merely prepare the prince and our future priests for attacks…" The others gave the general mumbling or grunt of 'yes', 'of course' or 'obviously'. Mahado gave a sigh of relief and smiled. "But that does not mean others will try to change his mind…"

Mahado stiffened as they chatted of spies among the guard; people who were always watching and waiting, for what, they did not know. They had not heard of what happened in the summoning chamber, but they had heard something Akunadin had said while they went to give drinks to the pharaoh.

"He thinks that the thieves were trying to harm the pharaoh, even though it is rumored two of them were in a room with him posing as guards and actually offered to go out and look for the prince." Various 'ooooooh's' and 'hmmmmmmmmm's'. "He doesn't know the true story. Perhaps it would change his mind to hear the truth….I do not know what the children told the Pharaoh…"

"I don't know that much about it, so I guess that's all that we have to worry about for now," a lady sighed.

"We have to worry about more energizing meals for the prince and the future priests."

"Why?"

"They'll begin strict summoning classes soon."

"Poor them." Mahado lay stuffed behind the cupboard and his eyebrows arched. Too much was happening in such a short space of time.

They spoke of an attack of a large family who owned a bar, by an unknown assailant but said that no one was injured and the perpetrator disappeared; they were wrong about that. He was looking straight ahead at the sandaled feet, his head hitting the wall when an onion dropped to the floor, rolling a slight way under the shelf.

'No!' Mahado shouted mentally, looking for someway to hide.

"Hurry and pick it up. We don't want the children getting sick," someone said. Mahado sweatdropped, wondering why everyone still referred to them as if they were seven years old.

He saw a pair of feet become stationary, knees touching-down on the floor a few seconds later. He knew that trying to stuff himself into the corner would only make him look like a scrunched up, trespassing, eavesdropper. He had nothing to cover himself with, the brunette closing his eyes tightly as someone mumbled "Where is the onion……"

He slowly opened on eye and a lady stared back at him, reaching for the onion. She smiled and Mahado mouthed her a thank you as she stood up and claimed the onion was bruised and should be used for something else.

…………………………

Isis and Atem were sitting under a window, waiting for the window to blow stronger through the circular room. They were taping their feet, anxious to hear what they weren't supposed to. The flames danced in their round lamps as the wind moaned through the corridors of the palace. Atem's ears perked up as he heard a faint whisper.

"The question still remains ……the palace," someone said, the pair unable to make out the speaker or properly hear the whole sentence.

"The guards are not vigilant enough. Those who have been questioned say that the oldest of the intruders was no more than seventeen or eighteen," someone else said.

"I do not think that they had any intention…..-kanon, Atem or myself," Nephthys commented firmly. "I think……would be an unnecessary venture."

"What DID SHE saY?" Atem whispered to Isis.

"I don't know. I don't have any idea what venture they're talking about," Isis replied quickly.

"I agree," Akunumkanon said.

"I d-" Shimon began.

"My Pharaoh," someone interjected. "Do you dare risk the chance of them returning and harming the queen, the prince and yourself?"

"AHEM. The prince and all the students told us what happened; they say nothing of the thieves attempting to harm them."

"If the thieves own a chaos chest, what's to say they don't know magic? How do we know they are not lying to pro-"

"Be silent," Akunumkanon said firmly.

"Forgive me my Pharaoh…." There was a dull scraping sound that echoed around the room, Atem and Isis disturbed by how well it had echoed.

"Atem would not lie to protect those who are truly deserving of punishment," Nephthys said sharply. "Neither would Mana or Mahado, Isis or Seth, Shada or Karim. I see no true need for punishment to be discussed at this gathering. We are supposed………defense."

"You are right queen Nephthys," Akunadin said. Atem and Isis found that they were not straining to hear the adults as much as before. "They should begin summoning immediately...in a few days or so…thieves."

"All this speculation could easily be solved by actually asking those who were present," someone piped up.

"Yes. Please…..in the children," Akunumkanon said.

Isis and Atem looked at each other, knowing what the unheard part of the sentence was. They got up and rushed out of the room, darting down the corridor as they avoided servants. They swung around a corner, jumping the last few stairs as they saw their destination a few seconds away. Seth, Karim and Shada stood jammed in the door way, blocking the view of anything in the corridor.

They were bombarding Shimon with questions as he came to fetch them, stalling professionally as Isis and Atem slid to a stop, Mahado and Mana appearing a second later, arms covered in flour.

"What's wrong with you three!" Shimon exclaimed pushing them aside. He stared at the panting pair that was Isis and Atem, and the dusty duo of Mahado and Mana shrugging and telling them to come in.

The group shuffled into the room, Atem instantly uncomfortable by the sets of eyes that fell upon him. He didn't remember ever coming into this room and remembered it was because the screen was nearly always locked. Two long rows lined the sides of room, the finely clad people who scanned the group being scribes or vizers (2). There was a table at the end of the room, large, dark and foreboding on its slightly raised platform. The pharaoh and queen sat behind it, Shimon and Akunadin sitting on either side of the raised piece of floor. The walls were carved with hieroglyphs and other markings. There was only one window in the room; it was large and was high on the back wall, focusing a rectangle of light on the slightly uncomfortable teenagers and their sweating prince.

Mana looked at the ground, the clay tiles on the floor a slightly darker than in most of the other rooms. Atem fidgeted beside her and she grabbed his wrist to keep him still. He looked at her and took a deep breath before his father began to speak.

"Hello," Akunumkanon said. All but Atem gave small bows of respect before the pharaoh continued. There was a moment of silence as if he was looking for the most appropriate way to begin his questioning.

"This guard claims that everything you have told us has been a lie," Akunadin said. There was a sudden hum of mumbling in the background. Atem's heart skipped a beat in fear; was it going to be found out that they had lied? What would they do to punish them? What would his parents think of him? Mahado poked him, snapping the prince out of his period of contemplation. Atem looked to what his friend was pointing to and his fist tightened.

The guards he had banished from the palace stood to the side of Shimon, arms and legs bandaged. They glared at Atem and Seth glared at them, his eyes even colder than usual. Seth took a deep breath, already preparing a highly intelligent and effective answer for Akunadin.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK HERE?" Atem shouted, stepping forward. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO COME BACK!" Instant silence.

"They've used their evil magic to turn you against your protectors," one of the guards said, his concern as fake as the wounds his bandages covered.

"They did not use any magic on the prince," Mana said sharply.

"How would you know!" another one of the ex-guards shouted.

"SHE IS A MAGICIAN!" Mahado shouted. "WE WOULD KNOW MAGIC IF WE SAW IT!"

The silence was broken, the frantic whispering in the background resuming. "You've just returned in an attempt to find a shard of your shredded pride," Seth growled. "You're looking for someone to blame FOR YOUR IGNORANCE!"

"If they are magicians, how do we know that they were not working with the ones who assaulted the prince?" Kumon asked quickly.

Mahado and Mana took a step back as those on the sides of the room gasped, eyebrows raised and fingers prepared for pointing. "I'd rather work for the thieves than be like you!" Isis shouted angrily. "YOU PATHETIC WEAKLINGS!"

"You're admitting it! You're plotting with outsiders against the pharaoh."

"NO! STOP TWISTING MY WORDS YOU PALACE REJECTS!" (AN: I like Isis!)

"HOW DARE YOU COME BACK HERE!" Atem shouted.

"What have they done to you? Tainting your mind with darkness so you would forget what they had done to you," another faking guard said dramatically.

"THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ME!"

"YOU'VE JUST COME HERE TO GET BACK AT THE PRINCE FOR SENDING YOU AWAY! YOUR PRIDE IS TOO INJURED FOR YOU TO SIMPLY SCAMPER AWAY LIKE THE REST OF THE RATS!" Seth yelled. It was now a shouting match between the parties, those from the palace attempting a defense that could reveal no details about the outsiders.

"YOU PROTECTED A THIEF!" the guard boomed.

"ONLY FROM YOU, YOU MONSTER!" Atem shouted back, fist clenched in rage. "YOU HIDEOUS CREATURE! HE WAS ONLY A CHILD! HE HAD DONE NOTHING TO YOU! NOTHING!"

"HO-"

"SILENCE!" Nephthys ordered, standing up and slamming her hand against the table. She was obeyed, the room falling quiet at her command. "You have returned against the order to never to enter the palace again. You have disobeyed the descendant of the pharaoh."

"My queen," a guard began.

"I don't want to hear your excuses! You are disgusting! " she growled. Atem felt a sudden burst of pride that she was his mother.

Akunumkanon stood up and Nephthys resumed her seat, eyes narrowing at those who she had quickly developed a great-dislike for. Seth's fist was shaking as the pharaoh asked the guards a series of questions before turning to those before him. "Who created the shield in the library yesterday?" he asked softly. Mana's mouth was already open, the story they had told yesterday on the tip of her tongue. "Who really did it?"

"One of the thieves," Mahado replied. Another gasp from the now annoying 'spectators'.

"Why? Were they in danger?"

"No…" Atem explained. "The two there were both on the highest shelf in the library."

"So why did they erect the shield?"

"The prince was unable to reach higher ground," Isis said. "They put it in place to stop the scarabs from coming in since they were going to cover the prince…."

"So you mean to tell me that the thief in question put the shield up the protect him?" Akunadin said, pointing to Atem. Isis nodded. "I don't see was time was wasted entertaining the story of these fools," Akunadin continued, motioning in the direction of the incoherently stuttering 'palace rejects'. Karim was surprised at how determined Akunadin was to make sure than the 'thief hunting suggestion' would not be made a reality. "Prince, if there is anything that can prevent the unnecessary hunting of a bunch of crafty, stealing…children, say it now…."

Mahado put his hand on Atem's shoulder the prince shaking his head. "My father…he will never trust me again…." Atem whispered.

"Don't be so extreme," Seth said, his voice back to its usual bored, unbothered tone. "You can re-earn the trust that may be lost upon your revelation." Atem's voice was unstable as he told of what had actually happened, the others joining in when they felt Atem wasn't describing the situation properly. There was another gap of uncomfortable quiet until Akunadin spoke again.

"You are saying that thieves, no older than eighteen, were able to summon Ka monsters with such high attack power?" he questioned in slight disbelief. Seth nodded and Akunadin began to mumble to himself. "Please excuse me,' he said before leaving the room.

"A CHILD CREATED THAT BARRIER!" Shimon squealed. "THINK OF THEIR POTENTAL! THINK OF WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS THEY COULD MAKE TOWARDS THE DEFENSE OF THE KINGDOM!" More mumbling in agreement. Atem was surprised there had been no shouts of 'liar.'

"They were sent to steal the amulet? Why did they agree?" Nephthys asked softly. "Why would someone send a group of children, no matter how talented, on such an errand?"

"Members of their families were threatened. The one who sent them had a grudge against him," Seth said, pointing to Kumon. Kumon was panting in rage.

One of guards stepped forward, eyes wide as he began to scream, falling to the floor in a squirming heap. Seth stepped back. "YOU SEE WHAT THEY DID TO HIM!" another guard screamed. "THEY HAVE WIPED THE MINDS OF THE CHILDREN AND MAY HAVE ALSO PLANTED DARK CREATURES WITHIN THEM!"

Those who looked at the scene gasped even more than before as the man writhing on the floor began to let out shrieks like none they had heard. He seemed to choke as foam leaked out of his mouth and his eyes rolled back in his head. Those near him stepped back as his body became rigid.

"I can't take any more freaky happenings," Mana breathed. She squeezed her eyes shut. "Ra, you know I was joking about 'narrowly escaping death tomorrow'."

Karim shook his head. "No, Mana," he whispered. "Ra didn't."

The one on the floor was still, palace guards surrounding his body with spears at the ready. Slowly it rose above him, a dark cloud that began to take some sort of form.

"Everyone, get out," Akunumkanon ordered, people not having to be told twice.

"IT WON'T OPEN!" a scribe shouted. Shimon ran to the door and attempted to pull it open, Seth joining him the struggle to shift it from its frame. Soon, nearly everyone was around the door, Atem only turning back when he heard the pained screams of one behind him.

Atem shook his head in disbelief, begging Mahado to tell him that he was hallucinating. "No, no , no, no……." Atem began to chant. Mahado was shaking his head, as Shimon ran back to the back of the room. The banished guards lay unmoving on the floor, huge creatures towering above them.

Two creatures were troll like, their bodies hunched over with their mammoth fists touching the ground. Around their wrists were spiked, black bands that created grooves on the floor. Although their eyes were small on their hideous, misshapen faces, they darted from one wide-eyed person to the next as if they could see every detail of their frightened expressions. They blocked out the light from the window, the room instantly shadowed upon their formation. The monster beside it scared Atem more, its body like that of a preying-mantis. It was green, front arms curved and sharp for killing perfection. It had six red eyes that locked onto the screaming group around the door, the arm-like appendages on the sides of its mouth moving in anticipation for what they would be pushing to their doom. The last creature was snake-like, a ball on the end of its tail filled with moving energy. It slithered forward, green and brown scales shining as poison dripped from 12inch long fangs.

"MOVE!" Mahado shouted, pushing past those who clung to the door. They moved back reluctantly, the spell-caster kicking the door with all his might. Karim watched as the darkness seemed to solidify, creating a barrier in front of the rulers of Egypt.

"FASTER!" someone screamed.

"SHUT UP!" Mana snapped.

"MOTHER!" Atem screamed, watching as another guard was picked up by the ogre look-alike and slammed into the wall. "FATHER!"

"OPEN THE DOOR MAHADO!" Seth shouted.

"SPELL BOMB!" Mahado shouted, touching the door. Everyone looked at each other before scattering, the door exploding before shards of wood flew in different directions.

People rushed through the door way, guards spilling into the room to take their place. "Please, step back prince," A guard said, shielding Atem from the scene.

"NO!" Atem screamed, pushing him aside. "GO AND PROTECT MY MOTHER!" Atem realized his request was easier said than done when he saw guards tossed aside like rag dolls. They were not dead, but were stunned or unconscious.

"OUJI-SAMA! WE HAVE TO GET OUT!" Mana shouted.

"NOT WITHOUT MY PARENTS!" Atem repeated. All of the guards that had come in were lying on the floor, unmoving and unresponsive.

"I'LL GET THEM! JUST GET OUT!" Mahado and Seth shouted. Atem watched as spheres on energy rolled around in Mahado's hand. The magician ran forward, throwing them at the hissing snake. The ground seemed to tremble as they exploded on impact, purple smoke filling the room.

Mahado ran through the smoke, keeping to the sides of the room as he called the queen's name. "MAHADO!" she shouted back. He couldn't see her but she sounded close…at least he hoped she was.

"QUEE-" Mahado stopped when he saw a shape through the fog. A large lumbering shape. He stopped breathing, crouching instinctively. The ogre was breathing heavily, no more than twelve feet away from Mahado. It searched for him, the brunette blanketed by the purple gas. Mahado became perfectly still a she heard hurried footsteps, another figure coming closer. No, two people. He saw the jagged hair formation and knew one was Atem.

Atem's appeared, the prince opening his mouth to let out a scream, Mana darting forward and clamping a hand over his mouth. She pulled him against the wall and slid to the floor, the ogre turning sharply. Mahado wondered why Atem hadn't gone when he had instructed him to leave. The snake slithered forward from the direction Mana and Atem had come from, Mahado getting his answer.

Mana was perfectly still, holding her hand over the prince's mouth. The ogre stepped forward, its scaly, rough foot touching Mana's leg. Atem stopped breathing, eyes wide as the ogre leaned forward, its stub of a nose twitching as it came a foot from his face. It exhaled sharply, the warm breath from the creature causing Atem to let out an unintentional squeak. The creature grunted and Mana's eyes narrowed, her hand moved slowly from Atem's mouth to his head, the girl carefully holding the front of his head piece. Her fingers traced along the pointed part that held it onto Atem's ears. She held it tightly, knuckles white as the creature came even closer. Its large, meaty finger brushed against Atem's leg, the prince becoming unnaturally still.

"I'M NOT GOING TO DIE!" she shouted, pulled Atem's head piece off and stabbing it into the beady eye of the creature. It let out a howl, Mana grabbing Atem's wrist and pulling him along after her. Mahado crawled towards the corner as the ogre slammed against the wall, blood flowing from its eye. Something shimmered out of the corner of his eye, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. It moved slightly before rising into the air and slamming into the ground, the floor cracking as it was hit. Mahado's brain had become stagnant, the serpent silently looming over him. He crawled backwards slowly, maintaining eye contact with the menacing creature that had locked onto him. The injured monster stumbled back and forth behind him, howling in pain as it tried to get the golden ornament out of its eye. There was no where to go…

"MAHADO!" Akunumkanon called. The reptilian creature did not stop staring at the magician. Mahado shook his head, and put his hand out. He searched for an object, seeing nothing through his smoky-veil. He knew his chances for protection were slim; he found it hard to control objects.

"Work," Mahado begged, as the snake came closer. He could hear screaming, high pitched and panicked; Mana.

"OUJI-SAMA! WHERE ARE YOU!" she called. She was attracting attention to herself, currently too desperate to care. He had been next to her, he had been right there. She was walking in circles, unable to find the door or the prince.

"Work," Mahado told himself, as the snake's head rose, tongue moving in and out. It turned although Mana had become silent, eyes flashing. "Work…."

The snake didn't move slowly this time, moving fluidly along the floor. Mana looked around; searching for the creature she could barely hear over the crashing of the ogre. Atem ran into her from behind, panting as blood leaked from the small cut on his upper arm. "Cover it," Mana said quickly. Atem followed instructions, placing his hand over the new wound to his bandaged arm. Golden eyes twinkled from the smoke, Mana and Atem standing back to back as they scanned the smoke for any signs of life.

Atem and Mana screamed as it burst forward, fangs dripping before the large table from the back of the room rammed it into the wall. The parts of the wooden structure that weren't embedded in the snakes head fell to the floor, speckled in blood. Mahado ran towards them, Mana wrapping her arms around him as they attempted to get over the moment. Atem joined in the hugging of Mahado, wheezing as his parents burst through the gloom.

"MOTHER!" he shouted, jumping to her and holding her. He looked to his father, doing the same.

"We need to get out," the pharaoh said quickly. "Get back against the wall." All but Nephthys did as they were told, Atem noticing a strange golden object on his father's wrist. He had seen one before but had no idea what they were. His mother was also wearing one, the symbol on the side filled with golden light.

"Dia Dank (3)," Mahado whispered. Atem did not ask what it was used for or how to use it, knowing that the time was not appropriate.

"HEAVEN TWISTER!" Akunumkanon shouted. Mana stepped forward, a small rectangular carving in the wall behind her lighting up. They heard a sucking sound as the smoke slowly began to move. It moved faster and faster, the combs in Nephthys' hair long lost. The smoke spun together in a twisted funnel, the floor beneath it cracking. As the room cleared.

Mana reached for her hat, deciding to forget it as it flew into the spinning mass. On the other side of the room was the injured ogre, the others noticing that the door way had been broken, the other creatures completely gone. Nephthys shook her head as the purple funnel continued spinning, the tornado swallowing itself. The ogre hit the wall, falling to one knee before it rushed towards them. They all ran to the side, the creature shrieking as it grabbed the limp body of the serpent.

"WAKe up AteM," Atem began to tell himself. "WAke UP." He hated that he already was awake. The creature crushed the scaly snake in its hands before hurling it towards them.

"MIRRORE FORCE!" the queen shouted, the golden object on her hand lighting up in synchronization with a square of the wall. A transparent dome formed around them, the dead projectile sizzling as it hit their shield and flying back towards the one who had thrown it. Mana watching awe at the queen's skills, surprised when the ogre stood up, blood pooling around it. It charged again, the force field gone. "GUARDIAN EATOS! ( AN: I'm not sure if I spelled that right, forgive me!)"

All Atem saw was a flash of light and a pair of snowy white wings as the creature rushed forward, throwing an energy sphere into the ogre. It exploded, everyone cheering in a mixture of temporary relief and awe.

"QUEEN NEPHTHYS! THAT WAS WONDERFUL! PHARAOH, THAT WAS EXCELLENT!" Mana shouted.

Akunumkanon and Nephthys took their praise graciously before turning to the door way. "The other creatures have escaped, we must go and destroy them," Akunumkanon told them. Atem nodded slowly, Seth, Isis, Shada and Karim running into the room. They greeted each other breathlessly, Atem sweating, something shining on the floor beside his foot.

"What's that Ouji-sama?" Mana asked, also noticing it.

"I don't know…" Atem said, staring at it.

Nephthys and Akunumkanon stood beside the broken doorway after they had dragged the guards to one side of the room, looking up and down the hall and ordering the others to hurry. Mana nodded, attempting to run towards them. Atem also tried, falling forwards onto the now grainy ground. He tried to pull himself up, the ground sticky and slightly wet. Mahado looked down at his feet, noticing the sand around them. Mana grunted, attempting to stand up beginning to scream when she realized she was sinking into the floor. The other four looked them oddly, pulling them as hard as possible.

"MANA!" Akunumkanon shouted running back to them. The ground began to tremble, giant swords of shimmering light appearing out of no where to block their path. "NO!" he shouted, him and his wife slamming their fists against them. "MAHADO! ATEM! ATEM!"

"GUARDIAN EATOS!" Nephthys shouted, her Ka monster slamming into the glassy barrier.

"MOTHER!" Atem screamed, as he began to be pulled down, the sand swallowing him up to his waist. Mana screamed as the sand tugged at her neck, the spell caster clawing the air for something to hold. Isis gasped as she realized she was also sinking while she had been trying to help Mana. Seth grabbed Isis' hand, the sand swallowing him in an instant.

"GET BACK!" Isis shouted.

"Never!" Karim yelled, pulling Atem's arm. He fell backwards the sand engulfing him in mere seconds.

"MAHADO-SAMA!" Mana cried. Mahado's hand grabbed at the air, his head disappearing beneath the undulating granular trap. "MAHADO-SAMA!" Shada lay on unmoving ground reaching into the sand for Mahado. Mana screamed as Shada was pulled down, Isis calling him as she also disappeared.

"MAHADO!" Atem screamed. "No…no," he said, trying to hold onto the ground. Mana reached for him, grabbing his wrist. "MANA! MANA NO!" he yelled as she disappeared beneath the quick-sand, her screams echoing in his mind.

Atem's eye grew wide as he heard a laugh. Distant and twisted it mocked him, relishing in his suffering. 'The labyrinth awaits,' it sang.

"ATEM!" Nephthys screamed. He could see her punching the barrier, he words blocked out by the new dome that had appeared. The millennium puzzle was glowing from his father's neck and Atem called their names in desperation.

"FATHER!"

"ATEM!" Nephthys screamed, ramming herself into the wall. "ATEM!"

"MOTHER!" he cried, the sand dragging him further into itself. He reached for her as his neck was covered, his hand reaching longingly for his parents. "Mother!" he screamed again, breathing becoming harder from between the sand.

"NO! ATEM HOLD ON!" she begged as her son's head disappeared. She dropped to the floor and touched the shield in despair as Atem's hand also vanished. "Atem…."

………………………………………………………………………………

Sen and Asami were panting as they reached a well. "Please don't tell me it's in there…." Sen said as Asami looked around for anyone who might be paying attention. Asami shook her head, pointing to a silt filled canal beside it.

"It's in there…." She wheezed. Sen got down on his knees, digging through the grainy grey-brown substance. Asami got down on her knees, staring at her digging friend. "What have I done to you all….." Sen gave her a questioning look. "Look at what I've done to you…"

"Stop being dramatic, you haven't done anything to us," Sen smiled, a piece of mud somehow hitting him in the face. "Oy."

"I don't even know what we're looking for. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ANYMORE!" Asami screamed in anguish, pounding the ground with her fists. She continued to assault the earth, before she began to scream in frustration.

She didn't notice when Sen's foot came towards her and pushed her over onto her back. She looked up and Sen from the ground, panting from her recent display of aggression. She pushed herself up on her elbows. He held two small, golden die. He was staring at them as if they were causing him pain. "I believe we have found what we were looking for…."

"Sen……."

Asami stared at Sen, his eye glittering from under his hood. She hung her head and bit her lip, wished she knew everything bad that was going to happen to him so she could stop it…wished she could protect him… "Asami?" Sen asked unsurely. "Asami, what does this mean?"

She stood up slowly and stared at the shining cubes, the 'one dot' in the shape of the eye of Horus. She looked away from them quickly. "It means that it has begun."

"What is 'it'?"

"It is…what ever he wants it to be."

………………………………………………………………………………

"Where are they?" Shila asked yet again, pacing around the bar like a worried mother. "Where are they?"

"We didn't know then, and we don't know now," Bakura reminded her.

Sen had followed Asami, both of them leaving for unknown places. Thoth was lying under a table, curled up as he played with Malik. "Is it dinner yet?' Fasen asked as he came out of his room, hair messy and eyes still laden with sleep.

"Where did your brother go?" Senna asked the red-head.

"Senny and Asami….I think they went to help prince Atem…." Fasen said as if it was the obvious thing in the world. " But they're not going to the palace…" Ari slapped his forehead.

"How do you know that, Fasen?" Rhea asked.

"Oh, I had a dream about it, and think it was one of those special dreams…other than a normal dream…" Haktep and Ari slapped their foreheads.

"What? You have to explain later anyway…"

Everyone glared at Ari. "WHAT?" Ari shouted. Everyone mumbled.

"How long do you think it'll take them to get back?" Fasen thought aloud.

"How the heck would we know?" Renora replied. Fasen frowned and sat beside Bakura.

"Is Renora angry with me?"

"I don't know. Shila and Senna said it's a girl thing," Bakura said. "So I guess she isn't angry with you because you did something…she's angry at you because you're there." Fasen nodded, briefly glancing at the locked, Book of Buried Pearls.

"I want to go out," Kana said.

"Shin is coming here. We all need to be here…" Haktep sighed. Everyone gave him a blank stare. "I know we're already not matching the criteria because Asami and Sen are gone…but there's no need to make it worse."

"Next time Shin pulls any of that kind of crap, I'll chop his damn head off," Shefnu mumbled, lying on a table. "Oh no, I'll get my swordsman to chop his head off for me."

Thoth turned a page in his book, reading as if there was no tomorrow, Haktep no better. Bakura stalked off into the boy's room and climbed the stairs slowly, jumping the squeaky step to remain quiet. He got the room in which so many things had happened that day. The screen had been put back, the blood cleaned off of the walls, the scroll rolled up the burn marks on the floor magically removed, and although sheets had been changed, the bed was not made. The room looked as if nothing had happened….but it didn't feel that way. It was colder in the room than in the corridor, Bakura scanning the room as he stepped inside of it. He walked slowly to the scroll, raising his arms to pull it down. He felt the papyrus, as he tugged, the roll coming undone. The white-haired thief stared at the sheet, unidentifiable symbols written on it in red ink. He hadn't seen anyone write on it and presumed it must have been Asami.

He traced a finger along the symbol someone whispering his name. 'Bakura,' it called softly, the voice followed by cheerful giggling. Bakura turned, expecting to see Thoth staring at him with a look of doubtful on his face. Nothing but the wind. He stared harder at the symbols, looking for some that he recognized. He touched another symbol, the shimmering, crimson glyph cold to the touch. His hair swayed as the wind blew, the thief resisting the urge to blink. 'Now there is only one more small barrier between us…' Bakura was absent-mindedly nodding, eyes half open. 'Blood of the ever-faithful, blood of your love….' Bakura felt something warm on his neck, he smiled, enjoying the feeling of slender fingers on his neck.

"Kura," a voice whispered, his eyes springing open as he swung his leg around.

Thoth's sling was gone as he lay on the ground holding his ribs. He looked at Bakura doubtfully, as he stood up and punched Bakura in the jaw. "What the heck? Are you trying to kill Thoth?" Thoth asked. Bakura shook his head and pulled the drawstring that closed the scroll. Thoth was pouting as his fist trembled. "Bitch Bakura."

"What were you doing so close to me?" Bakura asked.

"Thoth was calling you, but you didn't answer…" Thoth explained, opening the scroll again. "You can read it?"

"You can read it?"

"Yes…. Asami was reading it this morning…Thoth thinks it's written in a code. First the symbols are written backwards, then the entire statement is written backwards….but the sentences Thoth got didn't make any sense…."

"Didn't? So now they do make sense?"

"From his knowledge on hieroglyphics used by all classes, Thoth can see that this sentence says 'Key eternal everlasting prediction'…but Thoth found a way to read it that might make sense…." Bakura helped Thoth unroll the object completely, the pair sitting on the edge of the bed. "Thoth found a proper statement when he read every three words…."

"How did you think to do that?"

"Thoth was quickly able to identify words, but not able to construct sentences. Then Thoth noticed three letter words such as Sen and Ari, he saw that they were not altered; not reversed or put into any code. So, Thoth thought that there must be something about the number three that one should have noticed….. "

Bakura ran his finger along the sheet, taking a while to figure out the glyphs, re-arrange them, and then count every third word. "I still can't read it…" Bakura said softly.

"The Whispers. That is the title she gave to this scroll……Thoth is oblivious to its meaning but he expects that it will be explaining in the meeting…."

"Why would this be explained?" Bakura asked, not running out of questions to give his friend.

Thoth moved away from the beginning, part of the middle on their laps. "As you have noticed, some of the writing is very messy and written in trademark purple ink….."

"Of course it would be messy. Asami is the queen of chicken-scratch," Bakura reminded Thoth.

"Not 'Asami' messy…but rushed messy…and then there's this…" Thoth said, pointing to large portions of crimson wording.

"Red is your colour…." Thoth looked at Bakura out of the corner of his eye.

"Yes, red is Thoth's colour, and he will not give it you.…." (AN: In the bar each thief has a different coloured cloak, the colour on their cloak is their trademark colour, Thoth's colour is actually crimson, but he wears midnight blue which is very close to the colour that Sen wears.)

"Why won't you just let me have crimson…….." Thoth crossed his arms. "Forget it. Continue with whatever you were getting to."

"The words that are written in red are direct quotes…." Thoth said softly.

"Whose quotes?"

"That thing…..that dark mass that Wingweaver…killed…." Bakura shook his head and traced his fingers along words after word, quickly unscrambling them. He only understood one line so he read it.

"So they are your family now. That hurts my dear," Bakura read in disbelief, pulling his hand away from the message.

"I have never been disobedient although I never owed you anything. You took my family away…" Thoth continued, reading the purple. "I gave you the gift to bring them back…. You are so forgetful." Bakura stared at Thoth, the white haired thief staring at the page. Bakura shook his head.

"How did you know this?"

"Thoth read it this morning when everyone went downstairs for a moment….he didn't understand what it had to do with anything…."

"When did Asami get a chance to write this?"

"Thoth doesn't know…"

"She doesn't write it," Fasen informed them, walking into the room. Thoth and Bakura rolled the scroll up as quickly as possible, staring at Fasen innocently. "Why hide your curiosity? I'm very proud that you can read it Thoth…"

"Why?"

"Not even Haktep can read it…..neither can Ari…Asami can barely read it…"

"But Asami wrote it, how is it possible she can not read her own writing?" Bakura objected.

"Something beyond magic grants her the skill to record the seen…but although it has been recorded in all necessary detail, it is something of a secret."

"Thoth doesn't understand what you're talking about…" Thoth admitted sadly.

Fasen gave a small smile. "The mind is a mysterious thing…it keeps secrets from even itself. Asami's mind is protecting her by carrying out her wishes but at the same time fulfilling one of her deepest desires…."

"Her wishes?" Bakura asked.

"Asami wishes to protect those who she cares for, and the way she does this is by bearing a burden that she might be able to, but will never really give up….but, her deepest desire is to be free of her burden; free, and for once in a long time, able to admit how she feels without having to live in the fear of consequences, y-"

"Shit king is downstairs, come join in the merriment," Ari said sarcastically. Fasen gave his usual small smile and followed his twin out of the room.

Thoth sighed because he had been denied information. Bakura groaned because they would now have to tolerate Shin. He mumbled to himself noticing two die on the floor.

"How did these get here?" he asked.

Thoth picked up the silver cubes and gave a weak smile. "Thoth only followed you to see if you wanted to gamble with us…"

"Where we going for low's or high's?"

"Low's….."

"And what did you roll?" Bakura questioned as they walked down the stairs.

Thoth's lips curled up a bit more. "Snake-eyes."

………………………

Shefnu had been laughing for nearly ten minutes and was now wheezing on the floor. "Say it again, Haktep!" he squealed, eyes watering in amusement.

"Shin says that he needs our help…desperately…." Haktep said grinning broadly. Three of the 'Brothers Four' sat in their usual cross-legged position on the counter.

"Shit King, you just keep on getting funnier," Renora remarked sharply. "First you get your meat-head body guards to practically kill Thoth, and now you want our help?"

"AT least listen to me," Shin pleaded.

Rayeel raised an eyebrow. "Listen to you? Why should be do that?" he asked. The two glared at each other, Shin finally breaking eye contact.

"I don't understand how Nefra can be related to you," Shila said hatefully. "Sure she has her bad moments but compared to you….just forget it."

Oberon walked over to his new, favorite source of information. "Thoth, who is Nefra?" he asked, as Ari got up.

"Nefra is Shin's sister. She is twelve," Thoth informed him. Fasen nodded.

"Do you talk to her?"

"She often visits the bar. She gets along better with Bakura. She is not very fond of Renora. Her and Thoth speak, but she makes Thoth uncomfortable."

Oberon leaned forward. "Why is that?"

"Thoth……doesn't know…."

"Nefra is a whiny little baby," Renora said. "So perfect and proper. Too much so."

"Thoth must agree with Renora. Nefra may be a good cook-"

"YOU AND YOUR STOMACH!"

Thoth sweatdropped. "She may be ummm…talented in the food division, but she lacks skills when socializing with certain people."

"Girls mainly," Renora added quickly. "She's all EXTRA friendly with the boys. Especially Bakura…stay away from her Thoth, I don't like the way she's coming on to you."

"Thank you for your concern."

"She's becoming a little too comfortable with Bakura…" Renora said looking at the floor, her cheeks a slight bit pink.

Oberon, Fasen and Thoth looked at each other. Bakura walked towards them. "Who keeps on saying my name?" he asked. Renora quickly turned away.

Fasen raised his hand. "oh that was me…" he lied. "I was bored." Renora gave him a small smile of gratitude.

Bakura obviously wasn't convinced but didn't bother to continue. "What going on so far?" he questioned, pointing towards a shouting Shin and roaring Rayeel.

"That's about it," Renora said.

"What does he want out help for?"

"We still don't know," Fasen said. "He hasn't got a chance to tell us. Between Haktep's, Senna's, Rhea's, Kana's and Ari's insulting jokes and Rayeel's degrading remarks, he hasn't had much time to tell us."

"Maybe he has a grudge against a baker and wants us to go steal a pancake or hot roll," Bakura snorted. Renora snickered. Thoth sighed. "What's wrong with you?"

"Thoth is wondering where Senny and Asami have gone…he always tells me where he's going…" Thoth said.

"Unless he's chasing Asami," Ari said, taking a break from his acts of insulting. "She said she was late for something…I think it might have been something to do with her little visit this morning…"

"That thing can not be Asami's father," Thoth said angrily. Ari didn't back her up and neither did Fasen. "Thoth doesn't believe any of this!"

"We don't know if it's true or not," Fasen said. "Those with the most information are not here…"

"Asami may be creepy, but a mass of pure darkness as her dad…not likely," Renora said, already filled in on happenings of the day.

"That thing is connected to her," Bakura said. "We don't know how they are joined but it is a strong connection. Look at how much pain she felt when that creature was hurt…"

Oberon was the only one who noticed the knock on the door, and so he went to open it. "You're back," he sighed.

Sen and Asami walked in, closing the door quietly behind them. "FOR OSIRIS' SAKE!" Asami shouted, when she noticed Shin. "HAVEN'T YOU BOTHERED US ENOUGH ALREADY?"

"I WOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE UNLESS HE ASKED YOU SPECIFICALLY!" Shin shouted back. "DO YOU THINK I WANT A REPEAT OF WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?"

"Someone asked for me?" Asami croaked. Shin reached down his shirt and pulled out a piece of browning papyrus.

"He asked for all of you."

"Who is 'he'?" Bakura questioned.

"I don't know what he was…." Shin breathed. "It was dark...and so cold. It had no shape it just floated there…then it began to laugh and it told me it would kill her……It said it would kill Nefra…" There was silence.

Asami didn't move. There was no quick insult or witty remark, only a look of disbelief on her face. "No," Asami cried, putting her hands to her ears. "NO!"

Shin took a step back, Haktep gently taking the paper from his hand. He stared at the paper. "What language is this?" he asked. Bakura grabbed the paper from Haktep and handed it to Thoth.

"What does it say?" he asked quickly. Thoth looked at Bakura and slowly took the paper.

"'My dear, Asami,'" Thoth read aloud. "'The game I have promised will now begin….'" Thoth held out the paper. "Thoth doesn't want to read it anymore…"

Sen was staring at his youngest sibling. "Don't tell me you can read it…." Sen said, eyes arched as if he was begging for Thoth to say 'no'. "Please, tell me Thoth….no…not you…."

"How can you read it?" Asami demanded.

"THOTH DOESN'T KNOW!" Thoth shouted, backing away from them and instinctively clutching Fasen and Ari.

"What else does it say?" Shin asked desperately.

Fasen looked at the paper and slowly shook his head, rubbing Thoth's head automatically. "'The forces have been set into motion. I am giving you the unfair advantage of having more playing pieces than me, so I hope you will remember my generosity. They will all be included whether you like it or not. Let me explain a few things. Each of our pieces is connected to us; therefore when they are harmed we will feel pain. They will navigate a labyrinth; the player with the most pieces to exit the maze will win. The maze will be rigged with traps and obstacles so you will have to use your small brains to survive.'" he read aloud. "Please tell me I have misinterpreted this statement so far."

Everyone was quiet. "Does it say anything else?" Haktep questioned, his sister shaking her head in disbelief.

"It does… ' If you win, I will return to you the one called Nefra, and I will grant you freedom, giving you voluntary use of the gift. However, if you lose you must give up your mother, relinquish to me and give up one of your pieces – of my choice- to me…..'" Fasen dropped the paper on the floor, pulling Thoth towards him.

"What else does it say?"

"The chosen piece will be sacrificed or mutilated…he will torture them until they lose their sanity….He says the game begins fully tomorrow night….we should get ready…."

Asami dropped to the floor on her knees, shaking her head in disbelief. "No," she whispered. "No…he's going to kill you because of me….he told me to leave you, to forget about you…why didn't I listen?"

"Asami," Ari said softly.

"NO!" Asami screamed, grabbing the paper and begging to shred it. "NO! NO! NO!" She stood up and threw open the door to the girls bedroom, rushing up the stairs, everyone following her in an unorganized flock. She ran into the door-less room, ripping the scroll off of the wall and unrolling the sheet. "NO!" she screamed, ripping the papyrus apart in uncontrolled rage. She pounded her fists into the parts of the sheet that she had not yet torn, screaming as Fasen knelt down beside her. He reached forward and put his arms around her, Asami still screaming as she struggled to get free.

"Let go, Sami Sami," Fasen said, his chin on her forehead. "Let go, it all go…." He held her tighter, giving a small smile.

"LET GO OF ME!LET GO!" she cried, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. "Let go!" she ordered. Fasen began to hum as Asami screamed at him hatefully. A tear rolled down his cheek and she stopped screaming, eyes wide and eyebrows bent in sorrow and regret. "I've brought you so much trouble…and I know he'll come for me and try to hurt you….What have I done to you?" she asked, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"You've been just like my sister…or sister-in-law….that's what you've done," Fasen replied. Asami's lip quivered as she began to cry in silence, head falling on to Fasen's chest.

"Forgive me," she cried. "Please, forgive me," she begged.

"For what?" Shila asked, a tear rolling down her face. "For getting drunk every week? Then Oberon should be asking for the same thing," she smiled, kneeling beside her sobbing friend and wrapping her arms around her.

"Don't," Asami pleaded. "I'll only get you into more trouble."

"Trouble?" Rhea, Shefnu and Senna said in unison. "We love trouble!" they smiled, skipping over to her and joining in the hug.

"Oh Asami, 'trouble' our middle name," Haktep and Ari said, adding their embrace to the growing collection of arms.

"Well, my middle name is more like 'intelligent'," Haktep mumbled.

"And mine is more like 'dead sexy," Ari mused, receiving a slap from Senna. Oberon and Rayeel also joined, saying that Asami was often too drunk to intentionally endanger their well being. Kana piled on, insisting that Asami was family and that she would never hurt them.

Sen walked towards the growing mass of intertwined people and smiled. Asami looked at him, attempting to wipe away all her signs of weakness A.K.A tears.

"Anything he can throw at you, Asami," Sen said. "We can do it together…we'll always be there for each other…"

Shefnu wiggled, breaking the hugging mass. "Wait a second. We can't always be there because eventually, we'll die," he said, destroying the moment.

All: O.O SHEFNU!

Shefnu: o.; DON'T HURT ME!

Asami stepped forward and looked at Sen as tears began to brim in her eyes. "Why?" Asami whispered. "Why will you stay?"

"Because," Sen said nervously, cheeks going slightly pink as he looked at her. "Maybe…Maybe we do need each other…"

She smiled and grabbed the long bangs on either side of Sen's face and pulled him forward, their lips locking as everyone stared. Sen's face went cotton-candy pink but he closed his eyes, grabbing Asami's bangs in return. The tear rolled down her face as she did the thing she had wanted to do for so long.

Thoth, Bakura and Renora were blushing, Thoth and Bakura shaking each other and pointing to the scene -dumbly. They realized they were touching each other and let go, still pointing-dumbly. Thoth dropped Malik on the floor, Renora's mouth dropping at how beautiful they looked together, saying 'Aww…Sen and Asami are so cool...'. Shila burst out crying, putting her head on Shefnu's shoulder, insisting that everyone was growing up so fast. Shefnu was useless as consolation since he was crying just as much. Ari, Haktep and Fasen put their hands to their cheeks, gazing dreamily at them. Senna, Rhea and Kana looked at their 'men' with shifty eyes before joining in the tear production. Rayeel was sniffing and covered his eyes. Oberon was the only one who was missing an emotional moment.

Asami took a deep breath as she broke the kiss, Sen's eyes opening slowly, the two staring at each other and blushing their brains out. Oberon took the chance to redeem himself. "GROUP HUG!" he shouted.

Those in the room grinned and came together in a laughing lump, Bakura, Thoth and Renora trapped in the middle.

"ARGG!" Bakura grumbled as he was pushed against Thoth.

"EXCESSIVE TOUCHING! TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE TOUCHING THOTH AT ONCE!" Thoth screamed, being squashed against Bakura. "no," Thoth squeaked, wrappings peeling off.

Renora fell to the floor after squeezing her way out of the 'happy circle'.

"Let's sing!" Shefnu giggled. Thoth and Bakura screamed as everyone hugged tighter.

"ARGGGGGGGGGGGG," Thoth groaned.

"Kill me," Bakura mumbled. Thoth gave a nervous laugh and Bakura looked at his best friend, his nose poking out from between the cloth.

"Thoth's wrappings…" Bakura looked at Thoth, green-eyes locking with lavender. They screamed as they were pushed together, cheeks touching as Thoth complained that he would have to scrub his skin off, his wrapping becoming loose.

They tried to squirm apart, only to be knocked into each other again, their noses touching. Thoth's nose poked out through his wrappings, Bakura staring at his friend as Shefnu told a cheesy joke that everyone laughed at, not because it was funny, but because I was so stupid.

"Since we're all being weird tonight, Thoth would like to take this moment to tell Kura that he has a good nose," Thoth smiled.

"And I would like to take this opportunity to say that I know I have a good nose. Thank you," Bakura smirked.

Thoth rolled his eyes. "You are too se-"

Bakura did hear the rest of what Thoth said as Renora pulled him from the lump. "Are you ok?" she asked with a small smile.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Bakura replied bluntly.

"Well, your cheeks are all red so I thought you'd been hit in face," Renora snapped. Bakura looked away as Renora pulled Thoth out by his feet, wrapped thief panting and wide-eyed.

"Thank you, Renora," Thoth said, sitting up slowly.

"I know you don't like excessive touching… Are you ok?" Bakura and Thoth looked at each other. Thoth's face was burning under his wrappings as Bakura crossed his arms.

"Never better."

………………………………………………………………………………

The entire palace was still being searched, but they all knew that they were gone.

Akunadin attempted to keep calm as he gave guards instructions, before he retreated to him room. He stood behind the door and held his head in his hands. He let out a pained sigh, swearing that anyone to harm the seven –especially Seth- would pay with their lives.

Nephthys sat alone in the darkness of her room, staring through the balcony doorway. She stroked Bastet, quietly crying as she prayed. She hadn't seen this coming. She jumped as Akunumkanon came in and sat beside her on the floor, resting his head on her shoulder.

Shimon looked desperately for something to do. Akunadin was taking care of guard assignments so he stood in the room that housed the millennium items, touching the books in front of each of the golden objects. He put his hands on the note books of those who would take up the great responsibility of bearing an item.

"Protect them Horus…." Shimon said aloud, beginning to cry. "Please…protect them."

……………………………………………………………………

Mahado sat up as soon as he opened his eyes, attempting to adjust to the darkness of the room. He was lying on the ground, the floor cold and covered in ashes, dirt and other objects he could not identify. He could just about make out shapes, long and short items littered the ground; they were white or creamy-coloured, perhaps even grey or a type of yellow. He crawled over to the mass in the corner, patting in gently all over.

"Prince," he whispered. "Prince… prince."

"Mahado-sama," someone called weakly from the other side of the small room. He crawled a few metres to Mana who was feeling along the wall. She accidentally poked him in eye, Mahado telling her to forget apologies when she began to say sorry. "Where is ouji-sama?" Mahado held her wrist and pulled her along to their prince's body.

"It's so cold," Atem whispered as he opened his eyes, silent as he also adjusted to the total darkness. "Mahado….Mana?" Mana hugged him, probably already beginning to fear that he was dead. "Where are we?"

The question was one no one could answer. "Mahado-sama, some light…"

Mahado held a tennis ball-sized, green, orb in his hand, the three putting their hands towards it for warmth. They looked at each other, ash-blackened faces scratched and bruised, their clothes were dirty, their hair messy and their shoes were torn. Mahado held the sphere up to scan the room. There was no ceiling, the walls went up at least 50feet, rising into seemingly infinite black. The floor was in fact covered in a layer of ashes, pieces of bloody, ripped clothing, arrow-heads and knives and worst of all, shattered or broken bone. The room itself was round and no more than eight meters across. There was a single exit out of the room; a tunnel that was just as ominous and heart-stopping –if not more so- as the room they were in. Mana crawled backwards when she noticed something hanging behind Atem.

"WhAT is It?" Atem croaked. Mana pointed and Atem turned, backing up at record speed. Mahado finally stood up, his left ankle hurting as he did so.

Something hung from the wall, Mana and Atem peaking out from behind their resident 'magic man' to look at it.

"It's a girl…." Mahado said unsurely. Much to their dismay, he was right. Her wrists were shackled and chained to the blood splattered walls, her knees bent under her as she kneeled on the ground. She looked roughly Atem's height, perhaps there was a slight difference either way. Her dark brown hair was crusted in blood, and it came to just past her double-pierced ears, her bangs partially covering her closed eyes. Her dusty dress was spotted with crimson, deep gashes covering her right leg. She was gagged with something that looked like her own belt. Mahado removed it carefully, now noticing her split lips.

"Is she…you know," Mana began.

"No, she's alive," Atem said. They jerked backwards when she moved slightly, the three bunching together as she opened her dark green-grey eyes.

"Help me," she whispered softly, wheezing as she spoke. "Please don't leave me here." Something creaked, her eyes growing wide as she pushed herself against the wall.

Atem didn't know what to do as tears began to fall onto the floor as she hung her head, shaking it sadly. "What's your name?" he questioned.

"Nefra," she whimpered.

"I'm Mana, this is Mahado and this is the prince," Mana said softly. She looked at Atem and stopped crying, struggling to wipe the snot that was coming out of her nose.

"Where is this place?" Mahado questioned.

"I don't know," Nefra replied. "I was sleeping when it took me….It was so horrible...so horrible…." They looked at her horrified face and decided they didn't want to know who or what took her.

"We have to get out of here," Mana said, closing her eye as she reached for a broken arrow. "We can try to pick the locks….." Her hand trembled as her fingers brushed against a skull. "Here you go Mahado-sama………"

Mahado took it and began to assault the lock throwing it on the ground in frustration. "I won't open," he grumbled.

Nefra's mouth opened and closed as she searched for words. "We're not leaving you here," Atem assured her. "Mahado, Mana, can you blast it off…."

"She might end up getting hurt."

"I don't care," she said hastily, leaning forward as much as possible. "You can chop my hand off if you need to, just don't leave me."

The magicians carefully put their magic bombs as high up the chain as possible running to mouth of the tunnel and waiting as the bomb exploded. Nefra screamed, something squeaking in the background. They walked cautiously back into the room to she her panting on the floor, sleeves burnt off and fingertips slightly singed. Mahado conjured another ball of light.

"Are you ok," Mana asked as Nefra coughed out a mouthful of ashes. She nodded slowly and attempted to get up, her leg collapsing beneath her. She still had the shackles around her wrists and the chains that hung from them, but she was no longer attached to the wall. Mana gathered a few strips of cloth, Mahado healing the wounds as best he could before Mana bandaged them. The magicians helped her stand, Mana noticing her dress was short, coming a short distance past her thighs. "Let's go."

"Not yet," Mahado said quickly. "Gather as many knives and arrows as possible."

Atem did as he was told, carefully shifting through the coating of the floor. "Mahado," Atem called. "I have found a Dia Dank."

"Dia Dank?" Nefra repeated unsurely.

"Take it," Mahado instructed, something squeaking before it let out pained cries and fell silent. They looked at each other fearfully, the four taking an uneasy step into the passage, beginning a game that they had no chance of winning- on their own that is…..

……………………………………………………………………

The bar was closed for yet another night, its usual patrons sighing when they saw the sign on the door, slipping notes under the door to see if Shila was alright.

"Nice to see they care," Shila commented. Asami nodded. Everyone sat around the bar, sharpening knives, arrow-heads, swords, sickles and just about anything else that could be used to cause harm. Although the explanation had been postponed until tomorrow morning, everyone had gathered that they were dealing with something much bigger than themselves. Asami explained that they would know when the game had fully begun.

"I still don't like the idea as being referred to as a 'piece',' Shefnu grumbled. "Sounds kind of…you know…"

"Sounds disturbingly kinky," Senna said.

"Freaky kinky," Ari continued.

"Nasty kinky," Haktep added.

"Lonely-weirdo kinky," Rayeel commented.

"'I need a 'special friend'' kinky," Renora gagged.

"Pathetic kinky," Bakura mumbled.

"OK WE GET THE IDEA! IT SOUNDS KINKY!" Shila shouted ending the conversation.

" 'Let's find a dark corner to do stuff ' kinky," Shefnu squeaked, Shila smacking on the back of the head. "abuse," he whimpered.

Malik meowed and Thoth picked him up, apologizing to his cat for not spending as much time with him today. Anubis lay next to Bakura, watching a bound and gagged, sleeping Shin with vigilant eyes. Sen and Asami sat next to each other, faces still pink as they avoided eye contact, both of them feeling awkward after their 'spontaneous moment'. "Thoth," Renora said suddenly, putting her knives down on the counter. "Can I talk to you?"

Thoth nodded. "Of course. You always talk to Thoth, why would he suddenly say 'no'?" Thoth asked. Renora shrugged and pulled Thoth into a corner, Bakura watching them, wondering why he had been left out of the conversation.

"You're Bakura's best friend," Renora said.

Thoth sweatdropped. "Thoth hopes so….."

"I want….I want to tell him something……." Thoth nodded slowly. "I want to tell him I like him……." Thoth was dead silent, swallowing hard as the last words came past Renora's lips. "How do you think I should tell him? Should I tell him? Am I being stupid? Does he hate me?"

Thoth's mouth opened and closed making him reminiscent of a jellyfish. He looked at the floor and blinked rapidly, before looking over his shoulder at a glaring, shifty eyed, slanty eyed, teeth grinding Bakura. "Thoth…." Thoth trailed off and searched for something to say. Renora continued to stare at the thief hopefully.

"Thoth? Are you ok?"

"Thoth is fine….of course he is……he must be…." Thoth whispered. "You kind of surprised him, that's all. Haktep always said you had feelings for Bakura, he's always right." Renora blushed.

"So what should I say….." Thoth looked at Renora then at his best friend staring at the floor.

'What are going to say, Thoth? You can't just not say anything……You can't tell her that she can't like him because you were there first……' Thoth shook his head, mentally slapping himself. What was he saying? Bakura was his best friend….that's all he would ever be….

"Thoth?"

"Thoth thinks you should tell Kura- I mean Bakura……….Thoth doesn't think he hates you, Bakura doesn't discuss feelings…"

"Boys are weird…."

Thoth nodded. "Thank you for reminding Thoth. Thoth supposes you should tell him…it's better out than in, or else it'll eat you up inside and you'll wonder why you're too afraid to say anything…You'll let time slip away and soon it will have slipped so far away that there is no chance of ever recovering the moment….all because you were afraid of denial or what other people will think….afraid of feelings making you weak…"

"You're so wise Thoth…being male and all," Renora said with a joking smile. "Thank you." She gave Thoth a small hug. "I'll tell Bakura after this whole game thing is over. You're so good to talk to….It's too bad you're not a girl."

Thoth gave a nervous laugh as Renora walked back to her seat, Bakura staring at her then looking to Thoth. The emerald-eyed thief let his head hit the wall. "You're right Renora…it is too bad….."

……………………………

"You're not going to tell me what you and Renora were talking about?" asked again. Thoth looked at him from the other bed in the den.

"Go to sleep, Kura," Thoth said, covering his head with Sen's stuffed rabbit ( AN: They had dolls on ancient Egypt so what's to say they didn't have primitive stuffed animals people throw rocks X.X) "We have a big day tomorrow."

"You were talking about me," Bakura mumbled. "If you don't tell me I'll drag Renora down here." Thoth shrugged, shifting from his cross-legged position to put his book back. Bakura stood up and blocked Thoth's way.

"If you know Renora and Thoth were talking about you then why do you continue questioning?"

"What were you talking about?"

"Thoth doesn't need to tell you," Thoth said calmly, walking around a stunned Bakura, replacing his book and going back to his bed. "Are you going to sleep, Thoth wants to put the lamp out."

"No, I'm not going to sleep," Bakura said stubbornly.

"Fine," Thoth mumbled. "Blow it out when you're ready," he mumbled, lying down with his back towards Bakura.

"What is your problem? Tell me what's wrong with you?" Bakura asked, leaning above Thoth. Thoth sat up quickly, nearly head-butting an unsuspecting Bakura.

"Who has been your best friend for as long as you can remember?" Thoth asked.

"You," Bakura answered.

"Who is the one who finishes you sentences?"

"You….."

"Who is the one you tell everything?"

"You."

"Who?"

"You, Thoth……"

"Always? No matter what?"

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

"…Thoth needed Haru; he always needed him to be there….but now he's annoying and won't leave Thoth alone. Right now, I want him to go away but he won't…."

Bakura watched as his friend rocked back and forth, holding onto his head. "You love Haru….Why not let him stay?" Bakura said softly, crouching next to Thoth.

"He's putting bad ideas in Thoth's head; he wants Thoth to say things that will cause Thoth so much embarrassment…Thoth can not tolerate him when he's like this…."

"What does she want you to say?"

"Something Thoth can never say…..He wants Thoth to take a risk that he will never take…."

"Why won't you take the risk?"

"If Thoth took the risk he might lose one of the best things he has….. What kind of friend would Thoth be to give up something great for the unlikely chance of something that could be better? Thoth would not be a friend at all… He is not strong enough or good enough for anyone…he probably will never be. But Thoth can promise he will always try to be your friend…always, even if I will never really be good enough…."

Bakura hugged Thoth. "You're so stupid," Bakura said bluntly, putting his chin on his friend's head. "You could be crazy, you could be ugly, you could be deaf, you could be a girl," Bakura smiled taking off his friend's wrappings. "You can even be abnormally pale….you can be anything you want, as long as you're my best friend. The one who eats most of my meals, the one who can't do a straight cartwheel, the one who always listens no matter how big my mouth is…… You will always be good enough, strong enough….you will always be great enough for me…"

Thoth smiled. "Haru is very quiet now…" Thoth whispered.

"Why?"

"…..Because he got one of things he wanted…."

"And what did he want?"

"He wanted to know that Thoth doesn't need his help…he wanted to know Thoth was good enough…."

Bakura held Thoth at arm's length. "You and Haru are crazy Thoth. No wonder we get along," Bakura said bluntly. Thoth was sticking his finger in his ear, not paying Bakura any attention. At least Thoth was acting like his usual 'I don't really care about what you have to say' self.

Bakura: O.O;;;;;;;; For Ra's sake Thoth, you bounce back quickly.

That was staring into space. "When Renora says she likes you, say something nice. Should Thoth tell Rayeel and Renora the secret…Oberon was not bothered by Sen or Thoth….." Thoth said quickly. Thoth then looked at Bakura slowly, hugging him back. "Thankies Kura! Thoth was having a weird moment, ignore him….must have been the cake….speaking of food do you think Shila has anything to eat? Thoth is hungry…." Thoth continued to ramble as he put Malik on his head and began to climb up to the bar in search of anything edible.

"You're so stupid," Bakura remarked, pointing at Thoth from the floor.

Thoth grinned. "Thoth knows!" Sen looked down into the den, Ari's head appearing a second later.

"You okay Crazy Man?" Ari asked Thoth, staring at Bakura doubtfully. Thoth nodded, holding up an arm.

"You are terribly lazy," Sen said, sweatdropped as Thoth asked them to pull him up. They grabbed Thoth's arms anyway, the thief laughing hysterically as he began to swing back and forth, pendants jangling. "Thoth! Stop!"

"What are you doing?" Fasen asked, looking at them as he chewed what they presumed to be fish.

"FOOD!" Thoth screamed.

"FOOD!" Ari screamed, letting go of Thoth.

"AHHHHHHHHH!' Thoth and Ari screamed, Sen falling forward and blocking the entrance of the den.

"Hold on!" Sen shouted.

"You idiots," Bakura said, Thoth too far away from the ladder to grab on to it.

"Thoth is hungry," Thoth complained as Malik jumped onto Bakura's head.

"You don't complain about falling on the floor, you complain about your stomach," Bakura sighed. Sen moved slightly and Ari grabbed Thoth's other hand.

"You could survive if you fell on the floor," Shefnu said, face visible through the small square.

"Maybe they should drop you," Haktep said.

"You wouldn't brake anything….hopefully," Oberon mumbled. Thoth began pulling himself up Ari's and Sen's arms, the pair falling forward.

"THOTH!" Ari screamed like a girl. The red head fell forward, falling onto the floor of the den.

"SHIT!" Senna shouted. "Now I have to find a new piece of arm candy!"

Fasen and Thoth were laughing hysterically as Ari lay swirly-eyed on the floor, pointing to the ceiling. "PULL THOTH UP!" Thoth shouted.

"Then stop moving," Haktep said, reaching for Thoth's hand. Thoth grabbed Haktep, the thief losing his balance and falling on top of Ari.

Haktep and Ari: X.X

Bakura began laughing as Shefnu said that Thoth was hazard, and that the young thief was a creature of 'evillllllllllllllll'.

"SHEFNU! I TOLD YOU NOT TO LEAVE YOUR BOWL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED!" Shila shouted, throwing a bowl at Shefnu.

"OW!" Shefnu cried. "MOMMY! HELP ME!" He remembered Haktep was on the floor and was quiet. "MOVE THOTH, SO I CAN COMPLAIN TO MY MOMMY!"

"Thoth can not move, he is dangling stupidly from Senny's arm," Thoth said, stating the obvious. Everyone sweatdropped.

"Is Haktep dead?' Kana asked. "Can I have his bracelets?"

"I GET MY MOMMY'S VALUEABLES!"

"Mine……." Haktep groaned. Shefnu looked at Haktep and put his hands on his hips.

"OH MOMMY! YOU ARE SO EMBARASSING! YOU CAN'T EVEN LAND PROPERLY!"

"As if you can…."

"OF COURSE! I CAN DO ANYTHING!" Haktep slapped himself, attempting to roll away as Shefnu prepared to jump down. "WATCH AND LEARN!" Shefnu tripped over Shila's foot and fell onto Haktep. "I MADE YOU PROUD MOMMY!"

"Kill me…….."

"MOMMY DOESN'T LOVE ME! WAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Are you drunk?" Rhea asked Shefnu.

"No, I have not partaken of any intoxicating beverages since late morning," Shefnu said smartly. "HA! I'M SMART YOU KNOW IT! I'M SMART I SHOW IT!"

"I'M DRUNK I KNOW IT! I'M HOT I SHOW IT!" Senna said, pushing her sister into the den.

Rhea screamed, landing better than everyone else so far, then tripping into the shelf. "I'LL KILL YOU!" she shouted at her hip shaking sister.

"I'LL KILL YOU TOO! Hey……….Where's Ari, my future trophy-husband? WAH!"

"Aww that's so sweet," Ari croaked. "Oh look, it's Bakura. Hi Bakura." Bakura gave Ari a blank stare.

Everyone sweatdropped. "If we die before tomorrow we'll be useless to help Asami," Oberon remembered.

"Oh yeah……." Renora said. "HEY THOTH! I BET I CAN LAND BETTER THAN YOU!"

"NEVER!" Thoth shouted. Renora appeared at the entrance to the den.

"RAYEEL COME BE USEFUL!"

"RENORA! GO BE QUIET!" Rayeel shouted back, coming anyway.

"This has to be fair. I will hang from Rayeel's arm-"

"I feel so lucky," Rayeel commented sarcastically.

"AHEM! And I will land better than all of you."

Others: :blank stare:

"If you two were any dumber," Bakura said pointing to Thoth and Renora. "Wait…you can't get any dumber."

"This is foolish," Sen reminded, Renora and Thoth.

"SILENCE!" Renora shouted. "On one….two…..THREE!" She jumped, Renora landing gracefully on the bed, before she tried to get up and rolled onto Shefnu. "Ow…my leg…I'm STILL BETTER!"

Thoth still hung there. "What?" Thoth said, looking onto space. "Thoth wasn't listening to you…."

Everyone sweatdropped. "This reminds of that pet chicken we had…." He said.

"WHAT!" everyone shouted.

Fasen smiled. "Oh wait…this is nothing like that time with the chicken……"

Fasen, Asami and Thoth: HAHHAAHH!

Others: Oh Ra They're officially crazy…….

"Ha – hahahahahh," Asami and Fasen laughed. "The-The CHICKEN! AHAHAHH!"

Ari and Sen didn't see how their pet had anything to do with the situation. "LET THOTH SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE!" Thoth shouted. He took a deep breath and let go of Sen's arm, slamming into Bakura.

"My back," Renora and Haktep groaned.

"MY MOMMY HATES ME!" Shefnu wailed. Rhea glared at everyone, rubbing her butt. Ari continued to point to the ceiling. Senna complained that she liked her arm candy and wanted him back. Shila drank beer, giving up on keeping people sober.

"It's ok Thoth still loves you!" Thoth said happily, from the floor.

"Really?" Shefnu sniffed.

"No."

Thoth looked at the one he had landed on, everyone in the bar sweatdropping. Bakura lay swirly eyed on the floor. "I Hate you," Bakura groaned. "You meat head."

Thoth held up Bakura's hand and gave Bakura a high five. "Thoth hates you too buddy…" Thoth said with a grin. "Thoth hates you too." Bakura smiled at what his friend said, falling asleep on the floor minutes later. He would remember the moment for a long time and he would wish for things to be that way again.

But sadly…wishes seldom come true…..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(1) GARLIC in ancient Egypt it was believed that garlic warded off snakes….don't ask me why….

(2) VIZERS people (appointed by the pharaoh) responsible for different areas of the government, such as defense and tax etc.

(3) DIA DANK For those who haven't seen any of memory saga, a Dia Dank is an ancient duel disk (made of gold) If you want I can send you a picture of it.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

:sitting in classroom:

Ryou: :raises hand: How did we get from the circus to the classroom?

Ash: :smacks ruler against desk for no reason: Because SHE'S GOT THE POWER! :lightning crashes, sheep bleats, butter sizzles:

Yami AJ: :pushes Ash away: Because I am the authoress, Ryou-kun. Now, First of all I'd like to thank everyone who read this chapter, you don't know how great I feel when I know people read the yuck that I write, so f-

Bakura: AM I GAY?

Kaiba: We don't know. Are you?

Yugi: Yeah, are you happy?

All: O.O :stare at Yugi:

Joey: No buddy he means-

Yami: O.O NOO! DON'T TAINT HIS PURE MIND!

Yugi::smiles and a heavenly light shines on him:

Yami AJ: ASH STOP PLAYING IN THE LIGHTS!

Ash: Awwww….:takes spotlight off Yugi:

Yami AJ: Now, my readers, YOU SHOULD READ THIS TO PICK UP A FEW THINGS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY WILL ALL COME UP LATER! Does anyone have any questions?

Atem: :raises hand: Why do bad things keep on happening to Mana, Mahado and I?

Yami AJ: One, because I want them too, and two, because they explain things that will happen later on. NEXT!

Atem: But so much is happening to me, my voice is breaking, I'm attacked, I end up in a place that emanated evil and darkness…….

Yami AJ: I'm so sorry….NEXT!

Renora: ARE THOTH AND BAKURA FREAKY GAY PEOPLE LIKE MY BROTHER!

Yami AJ: :stands on desk:; HEY! GAY PEOPLE ARE NOT FREAKS! THEY ARE PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME, THEY ARE SIMPLY ATTRACTED TO PEOPLE OF THEIR OWN GENDER!

Ash::nods vigorously:

Renora: So, are they? Cause if they are, Bakura is a freakin' fag-

Ash::takes out walkie talkie: Yaoi Monitors, I repeat Yaoi monitors, we have a one six in progress. Over.

:Huge men is black suits come in and drag Renora away.

Malik: Time for a public service announcement. Yami AJ and her freaky other side, Ash, do not tolerate people who discriminate. Thank you.

Everyone: :claps:

Joey: Next question :wearing huge badge that says 'I'M THE ASSISTANT! RESPECT ME!' Yes, KAIBA.

Kaiba: Why is Thoth so weird acting…all cool and quiet one second then all freaky and spastic in another?

Yami AJ; Although this will be mentioned later on, Thoth has an 'imaginary friend'……he was traumatized as a child and so, he created someone in his head to talk to and make him feel better….only sometimes he thinks the voice is angry or wants something…that's when he gets weird………he also has very little self confidence and sometimes thinks that the voice is only angry because it's trying to make him better….

All: Ooooooooooooooooooohhh, Really? o.o

Yami AJ: Maybe. You guess. n.n

All: :facevault:

Yami AJ: oh yes, can anyone guess why Thoth wear the wrappings? :ignores when people put their hands up: I've given so many hints, you people aren't paying attention.

Joey: Write your questions down and we'll answer them

All: :Write questions down and send to front off class:

Joey: Ahem 'Is Thoth Gay…Is Bakura Gay…they act too friendly sometimes…..'

Ash: I KNOW YOU WROTE THAT YAMI! ARE YOU AND YUGI GAY! YOU'RE TOO FRIENDLY ALL THE TIME!

Yami: o.o My question was actually 'Who is the oldest in the bar….'

Yami AJ: Oh, Haktep is the oldest…..

Joey: Someone wants to know who your favourite OC is….

Yami AJ: Umm…I don't know…..I like everyone…..I love Fasen because he's often so oblivious to what's going on and he's always smiling…not like a crazy person, but like someone who sees nothing wrong with the world. Then I love the way Shefnu and Ari ruin emotional moments. Then I love the way Thoth can change his personality in a second. I love that Asami makes her own cigarettes and smokes. I love that Shila is an independent woman, who doesn't think that you need to know everything to be truly smart. And I love Oberon because he's so unsure of everyone so he asks a lot of questions. And I love the way Sen is mysterious and sometimes naïve. And Kana thinks they're crazy but loves them because they're her dysfunctional family. And Renora is great because she's kind of a tom-boy and isn't afraid to say she's better if she thinks she is. And Rhea is funny because she acts like she could care less about everything. Senna is good too because she can make jokes and be funny but be serious when it matters. Even Rayeel is great; I like the way him and Renora act together.

Ash: She likes everyone….

Yami AJ::shifty eyes: I never said I liked you……..

Joey: 'Why do Thoth and Bakura insult each other if they're best friends?'

Yami AJ: It's because Thoth and Bakura are too stubborn to admit they are actually best friends and do depend on each other, so, they do what you do when you don't like people; insult them.

Ash: ' Why did you call this chapter the wind whispers?'

Yami AJ: Because every time people hear voices the wind is blowing so they presume that it's simply the wind they're hearing. And I'm allowed some kind of freaky poetic license and stuff….

Haktep: Also note that they give each other back-handed compliments. And look at how Bakura helps Thoth feel better about himself…. Oh look! Twinkie!

Ash: Oh goody 'Is anyone going to die in chapters four or five?'

Yami AJ: I can't guarantee anyone will die in the next chapter, although I can guarantee gore, death and blood for chapter five…did I mention violence?

Marik and Bakura::eyes light up and they begin to cackle: MWHAHAHAH!

Joey: 'Will there be a happy ending with Asami and Sen telling each other how they feel, Thoth conquering the voice in the back of his head, Bakura letting go of the past, Fasen understanding his dreams, Ari accepting fate and everyone living happily ever after?'

Yami AJ: No. There will not be a happy ending. NEXT!

Joey: 'What Yugi asked, the whole happy ending crap'

Yami AJ: This is an angst fic, an angst fic written by an idiot who can not picture a happy ending for this story. I'm sorry if you were looking for Renora's crush to last for ten more years, and she and Bakura would get married with Thoth as their sarcastic best man. And Atem would find someone to act as his sister, he would get married have a few kids and the kingdom would be peaceful….

Such peace and happiness does not happen in the actual Yu-Gi-Oh plotline….I'm actually surprised at how much darker Memory Saga was that Battle city, DOOM Orichalcos Saga and Duelist Kingdom...let me stop before I begin to ramble.

Yugi: Couldn't you make things a bit happier?

Random Voice: Sorry porcupine head but no can do.

Bakura: YOU! GET AWAY!

Marik: You know what this means…MWHAHAHAH!

Yami AJ: Time for my favourite thing ever! THANKIES FOR MY REVIERS!

Ash::hitting people with ruler:

……

Bishie Burgers Are Yummy ;.; :cries and sobs: Thank you so much for your review! You are such a great writer, way better than me! Thank you so much for reading my fic and taking your time you review it! I love your reviews, it's good to be immature! Your first review was perfect and your second one is even better! :throws candy and pie: IF YOU PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT I SAY AT THE ( beginning and) END OF EACH CHAPTER, THEN GO AND READ HER FANFIC! YOU WILL LOVE IT!

Random voice: For giving the authoress a momentary burst of self-confidence, you will receive a supply of 'friendship in a can', 'instant gratitude', and 'H.A.M' which means 'Happy Authoress moment.' Oh yes, you will also receive the bishie of your choice….except Bakura he is reserved. And Kurama too, you can't have him. You can have anyone else. Oh yes, because you reviewed the first chapter as well you get a free shirt that's says 'I'm a writer FEAR MY POWER!'.

……

Oreosarecool: O.O You actually reviewed? :falls over in shock: Thankies! (Go read her fic too)

Random Voice: For your review you will receive the bishie of your choice (Except Bakura and Kurama), a wristband that says 'JUST TRY AND SUE ME', and last but not least, 'M.M.R' which me-

Yugi: IT MEANS MEASLES MUMPS AND RUBELLA! :pulled away:

Random Voice: No, it actually means, Many More Reviews.

……

Satra: WAHHHHHHH! THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEW! You said my horribly written ficcy was COOL! :Throws confetti: And you said you liked my writing style :throws grenade: Whoops….THANKIES A TON FOR YOUR GREAT REVIEW…YOU PUT SMILIES IN IT! I LOVE SMILIES!

Drunken Voice: For your review you will receive THREE HUNDRED BOTTLES OF BEER!

Ryou: I thought you were killed…or destroyed or something….never mind.

Random Voice: He's on probation. For your review you will receive an all expenses paid trip to Transylvania, home of Dracula! ( I would love to go to Transylvania), a lifetime supply of gratefulness and the bishie of her choice. Oh yes and don't forget, a pair of custom ninja socks that will stick to any surface…except pudding…

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T.Lei: OH MY RA! YOU REVIEWED TWICE! :falls over again: You said my writing was awesome and original :sobs: Thank you, you said not to stop…AND I WON'T! Because my disembodied voices are arguing, I will present your gifts. For your great reviews you will receive a pair of one-of-a-kind cleats-

Joey: What are cleats o.0

Random Voice: :panting: Cleats are shoes with spikes on the bottom. Ahem. Your special cleats can do it all. They can clean :shows Bakura scraping scum off wall with cleats: They can cook! :shows Bakura grating cheese with cleats: They can get rid of annoying pests :shows Bakura kicking person with cleats: They do it all! You will also get an apple pie. Oh yeah, you will also receive the bishounen or bishoujo of your choice…Yami AJ realized she doesn't know if you are a girl or a boy….o.o;;;. Please note that Kurama and Bakura are reserved.

……

Nameless One: All your questions shall be answered! Thank you a ton for your fantastic review. You really mean that you like the way my OC's mix with real characters :goes sparkly eyed; Ash hits with ruler: You said it's a great story :sniffs: THANK YOU!

Joey: For your review you will receive…….hey, authoress is the reviewer a boy or girl

Yami AJ: :sweatdrop: once again, I don't know……. o.o ;;; ….I'M A BAD PERSON ! WAHHHHH!

Ash: :smacks Joey and Yami AJ with ruler and begins to cackle:

Random Voice: Sad. . Anyway, for your review you will receive countess kudos from Yami AJ, a trip to Scotland, home of the Loch Ness monster, the bishounen/bishoujo of your choice and a magnetic tie. See a cell phone you like? Just turn on your tie and it'll come to you!

……

Oh yeah, I was on MSN the other night and I got an instant message from someone….I don't know who they are but they asked if I was Yami AJ…I said yes but they didn't reply…… Are people afraid of me? I closed down the window and tried to open another conversation box with the person but couldn't get one to open…..I deleted them as a contact and tried adding them again to see if that would help, but MSN said that the email address I typed did not exist so I must have typed the address wrong X.X.

If you want to talk to me online it's no problem….if you have MSN messenger…..if you have it, you can talk to me some time ), after all, I love to chat with people who like anime.

……

Joey: The fanfic has ended let us go in peace.

All: Amen.

Yami AJ: Questions or Comments? Just click 1-800- CLICK-REVIEW, I said 1-800- CLICK REVIEW. Thankies for reading.

……Peace Out