A/n: this is gonna be a longer chapter. Please review!

Forever in light: The past is repeated

''

Anzu, Ryou, Bakura, and Seto stood in front of Shadi, each a look of determination written in their eyes.

Shadi spoke calmly as he looked at Anzu.

"You must stay with the pharaoh this time."

He turned to Bakura.

"You must take her directly back to the palace."

He then looked at Seto.

"You have the most difficult tasks..."

He paused, glancing at Anzu and then Bakura before he gave Seto a remorseful look.

"You must succeed in killing her."

Bakura placed his arms around her, growling at Shadi.

"You just said I had to take her back to the palace and that she was supposed to stay with the pharaoh! Is he to kidnap her again!"

Shadi breathed deeply and closed his eyes.

"The reason things are so wrong in this time is because she didn't die then. I don't like it any better than any of you, but if you want to be with her now than she must die in the past."

Seto stood silently or a moment.

"I don't think I can do it. I...I love her too much, I can't kill her!"

Suddenly realizing what he'd just said he quickly backed away from Bakura who was advancing on him, fists clenched.

"You kidnapped and tortured her, you are not in love with her!"

Anzu took his wrist as he began to swing.

"Bakura please don't! Does it matter now! Shadi, what will be erased?"

He looked away.

"Even I am uncertain of this. For all of your sakes I do hope that this entire year will be different, but we won't know for sure until it's time to change the present."

Ryou stepped forward with a concerned look.

"What is my part in this?"

Shadi regarded him for a moment before shaking his head.

"You will stay here for the time. When they return you will be sent into your own past to correct this life."

He took up a tall staff that rested against the glass behind him and raised it, pointing to the wall.

"Go now and if you truly want this that do as I have said. The consequences of disobeying me are far greater than you could imagine."

Anzu was he first to disappear, followed by Bakura and then a glairing Seto.

''

Anzu woke next to Atemu one hot summer night.

Her nightmares reflected the rough time Egypt had been going through and even the strain she was beginning to feel on her marriage.

She jumped at a loud sound out in the hall.

Quickly throwing her dress back on she entered the darkened hallway only to be faced with the sennen rod.

She stared through the darkness and saw Set's evil smirk.

He backed her up against the wall, muffling her screams with a kiss and caught her as she fell.

He replaced the item in his belt and picked her up, carrying her through the halls, into the underground tunnel and into Karnack.

She opened her eyes slowly.

He was carrying her somewhere and the torches on the wall were blurred from the pace.

She found that she couldn't move or speak.

They entered a dark room and she was set on a cold stone alter.

Set stood over her and gently smoothed out her hair as he stared into her eyes.

"They're not an exact match but they're still as beautiful. By spilling your blood on this alter, I will bring my beloved dragon to life once again."

He pulled the sennen rod up to her view and pulled away the covering from the dagger at the end.

Suddenly a white blur dove on top of him and pulled him towards two other men.

"Mark my words! I will have my dragon again! She will live!"

As he was dragged off down the hall, torches lit on the walls and she was able to sit up.

Where had the third man gone?

She didn't see anyone...she was alone.

Suddenly she screamed as arms wrapped themselves around her.

As she was lifted up she saw that the man had been the thief king Bakura.

He carried her out of the temple, into the bright moonlight.

Half way across the desert he set her down.

"You have two choices my queen…I can take you back to the palace where you will live out your days in your husbands shadow…or,"

He paused brushing her hair behind her ears.

"You can stay with me and be treated like a goddess."

She looked away for a moment.

Atemu had taken a second wife and was spending all the time with her.

She hated to admit it but she was falling out of love with the king as his power grew.

He stared down into her face and kissed her, knowing her answer.

"I'll make you wish you'd never laid eyes on him. I promise that eventually you will fall in love with me."

She smiled slightly.

"I already have. I've been watching you by day. I have long since found your hiding place at the back wall and your vantage point right above the guard's heads. Take me into another life!"

He smirked and kissed her roughly before picking her up again.

He held out his staff and slammed it into the ground.

She screamed as they fell through stone doors that closed behind them and landed softly below.

He carried her in a dimly lit room and placed her on soft pillows as he knelt next to her.

"Prepare to forget that you were ever the wife of the pharaoh."

She smiled up at him softly.

"Only because I'm now your queen of thieves."

''

Ryou Sat on pins and needles watching everything play out.

Shadi placed a hand on his shoulder as he too watched.

"She will be fine Ryou. It is only her ancient body that dies, their present bodies are suspended and safe from harm."

He sighed as Ryou closed his eyes.

"It's not that I don't believe you it's just that...I don't want to see her die but I don't want to not see everything. I want to make sure that it will be quick and painless but. Shadi I just don't know how to explain this."

Shadi smiled softly.

"I know. If I assure you that she will feel nothing will you be okay with this?"

Ryou looked up confused.

"I don't understand. She's there isn't she? She can touch and feel right?"

He nodded.

"Yes. She can feel emotion, and physical objects such as fabric...even the other people there but she cannot feel pain of any kind. If she cuts herself it will be as if she's watching someone else. I made it this way because I knew she would have to experience death and I knew that she was in a great deal of pain when she died before. I couldn't let her feel that pain again."

Ryou's breath caught in his throat as he imagined the rest of what might have happened if Bakura hadn't seen.

It hurt him to think of her dying, especially in such a way, however he was unable to keep his eyes away.

"Do you swear to me that she will feel nothing?"

He nodded and Ryou turned his gaze back to his beloved.

''

Anzu sat up as she heard a loud noise in the hall.

This time she knew what would await her.

She slid on her dress and closed her eyes as she walked out into the darkness.

She gave one last glance to the sleeping Atemu before she completely left the room.

Even knowing he was there and what he was going to do to her she was still afraid.

As before he kissed her, slipping something into her mouth that paralyzed her for a few moments.

When she opened her eyes the torches were blurred as Seto carried her to the underground temple.

He laid her gently on the alter and pulled the rod from his belt.

She stared blankly into his eyes and he guiltily into hers as he raised the dagger high.

He closed her eyes, bracing herself for her end as he brought it down but he only embedded it into the granite and fell to his knees in tears.

"I can't. Anzu I'm so sorry but I can't!"

She found herself able to move again and pulled it from the stone.

She knelt in front of him and held it out.

"I don't want you to either but Seto it must be done. I don't want to be afraid of you for the rest of my life. I'm going to close my eyes and I want you to put this in my heart. Quickly."

He was shaking as he took it from her.

He watched her close her eyes tightly and pulled her into his arms.

He hesitated as he stared into her face.

She whimpered his name and fought the tears she felt coming to her.

"Please do it now Seto. While I'm expecting it."

He suddenly kissed her roughly and as he did so he plunged the blade deep into her chest.

He lowered her to the ground and fell sobbing over her.

Bakura and the guards entered too late and a beautiful light washed over her.

''

Anzu opened her eyes to find herself in Ryou's lap.

She sat up and glanced around, dizzily.

"Is it over?"

He nodded and she watched tears roll down his cheeks.

He held her closely, shaking as much as Seto had.

"Did...did you feel anything?"

She shook her head.

"Nothing. I felt the blade rush into me but...it didn't hurt at all. Ryou, did you watch all of that?"

He nodded silently and pulled her closer, refusing to let her go.

They watched in silence as Seto floated through the glass and landed softly on the floor.

Though it took a short struggle, she managed to move away fro Ryou and knelt beside Seto.

Tears streamed down his face and he was still sobbing in his sleep.

"Seto."

His eyes shot open and he stared at her for a moment.

"Anzu?"

She nodded with a soft smile but before she could move to help him up he took a hold of her and kissed her.

This wasn't the kind of kiss he'd given her before, there was something different, almost pure about it.

She stared at him as he released her.

Fear washed over her as she heard Bakura's angry voice behind her.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!"

Seto stood, prepared for the fight that lay a head.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

She glanced at Ryou who only held a firm look. He would be of no help.

And where was Shadi?

She stood and watched the two closely, trying to find a way to stop this before anyone got hurt.

It was too late however as Bakura shoved Seto back.

Fell into her and accidentally pushed her into the glass case containing the stones.

She screamed as the glass shattered around her but suddenly strong arms wrapped her and covered her with a cloak.

She only saw the face for a moment before she felt something sharp enter her neck, and it wasn't glass.

Pharaoh glided above the three of them and unveiled the unconscious woman in his arms with an evil smirk.

"You Seto...I want you to come and save her if you think you can. If anyone else comes I'll kill her."

Bakura growled and glared up at him.

"What did you do with Shadi!"

Pharaoh began to laugh.

"He's having a rest and will be with you soon."

And with that he was gone.

Seto ignored Ryou and Bakura as he ran out.

He knew exactly where he was, though he had no idea why he'd want Seto to come for her.