Rebirth

Chapter 11: Deadly Games (part 2)

Yami knew right away it would be a trap. The signs from the attack on the village and other villages leading up to the mountainous area was all he needed. It was like a trail of murder leading toward the murderer—which it in fact was. Now all he had to do was locate the hideout. He had told Fidil that from the signs he had been getting it was clear this person would have constructed something out of view. He suggested that perhaps the hideout was underground.

"Pharaoh!" Fidil exclaimed, calling him over.

Yami approached to where his viziers and guards were bent over something. They had been planting devices to see if it could detect anything underground. The metal detector had apparently found something very intriguing and very large. He tried his best to see through the ground and remembered he didn't have his powers anymore—Fidil had…transferred them out of his body so they were safe elsewhere. He trusted where his powers had been taken, but now that he didn't have them he was seemingly helpless. However, he knew that even if he found out who was behind it that he wouldn't be able to stop the person, knowing they had Yuugi (as well as Isis and possibly others). If he left it in more capable hands and confronted the person, even if they captured him like the others, he knew that the person he relied on most would come through for him.

Fidil glanced up at him uncertainly. "Pharaoh, should we…"

Despite that he trailed off, Yami knew what he was going to ask. Should they dig deeper and penetrate through then go inside even when not knowing what would be below. Yami nodded.

"Yes, but I will go in alone."

Fidil's eyes widened. "Pharaoh, you can't! It's too dangerous! Without your powers—"

"I know what'll happen without my powers!" he interrupted, his eyes flashing intensely even without the physical power behind the gaze. "This is what must be done or we're all doomed! I need you to be at the palace, you know why."

Fidil's expression was a torn one, but as usual he obeyed, being not only Yami's most trusted vizier, but trusted friend as well. Fidil nodded, albeit reluctantly and nodded for the others to back away. One of the viziers handed Yami a tool he could use. Yami nodded in thanks and then waited as Fidil ordered the others to get back on the horses and head back to the palace. They were all stunned by the request, not understanding why Fidil would leave their pharaoh alone, but Yami inwardly smiled in gratitude. It was Fidil's idea after all and it was a brilliant one—their only hope really. And now it was time to put it into action. The first phase had been completed when Yami's powers had been sucked out of him, and now the next phase was to begin. He was certain that he would be defeated by the enemy once he got below, but he was prepared. After all, once he was defeated, the protected destination of where his powers ended up would feel his defeat and be activated completely. So once he was defeated his powers would think he was truly gone and react on their own—and it wouldn't just be his powers that would help Egypt.

Smiling sadly, Yami watched as his trusted viziers walked away. Fidil glanced back only once with a forlorn expression before turning back around and continuing on his way. Once they were clear of the area, Yami slammed the tool into the ground where the peek of what looked like a pipeline or some sort of architecture was poking through. He slammed and slammed, realizing how much harder it was to work without powers, until he made a crack in it. Realizing it was an actual wall, or ceiling of some sort he kicked harshly into the hole to expand it so it would become bigger. He worked at it for several minutes, determinedly kicking and slamming until he was able to slowly lower himself inside.

It was quite a drop down but once he was inside he realized he was in a hallway. By the looks of it, it was an underground building—a brilliant idea, actually. It wasn't easily detected until it was searched for and without knowledge of its existence it would be an excellent place to hide out for a long period of time. Walking forward cautiously, Yami listened for any sounds of the enemies lurking about. Feeling it was safe enough, for the time being, he walked slowly down the hallway heading in the only direction he could. It went on a little ways but when it stopped it was a dead end. Yami looked all around, wondering if perhaps the section wasn't completed, but by the looks of the newly crafted walls he knew there was something else. Perhaps there was a hidden door.

His palace, after all, had many secret areas, some that the builder didn't even know of—and even a couple of those unknown places Yami had stumbled across in his years of being pharaoh. He walked toward the wall at the end and felt around for some sort of hidden lever, or loose tile, or anything. He found nothing. His eyebrows furrowed in frustration and in a slight moment of anger he pounded roughly on the wall. The floor beneath him seemed to vanish as he fell through, barely getting out a gasp before he slid down a tunnel, flinging his arms out around him to catch himself if he fell against anything hard. The floor, or ceiling now, that had opened, closed back up and he was left in darkness, sliding down an unknown tunnel. He was suddenly, and surprisingly, flung forward when the slide apparently ended and he rolled on the floor once he landed.

Picking himself up, he looked around realizing it must've been a secret tunnel, or trapdoor possibly, because it led him to a different room—a large room with a strange contraption in the middle, shaped like a star. And a strange machine that was making a soft humming sound that was right nearby it. There also appeared to be some ledges up above him, as if they were small rooms attached from the wall close to the ceiling. It felt like a maze, or labyrinth of some kind. Luckily it wasn't a dungeon—that much was a relief. Maybe there was a chance he still hadn't been detected.

Yami walked forward, curious about the very large contraption nearby. It was like a star and had what appeared to be rectangular glass containers. Maybe it was an underground factory. Could he have the wrong place? Or was it just a cover? His answer was unfortunately answered as he approached the rectangular containers. Familiar faces of Isis, Marik and Bakura stared back at him lifelessly. Yami's eyes were so wide with shock and terror and he unconsciously reached forward to put a hand over each container, wishing what he was seeing wasn't true.

"So the famous pharaoh finally shows his face."

Yami wheeled around, anger flooding through his veins as he realized he would finally meet the enemy. Before his own memory recognized the voice he was forced to look into the same eyes of his arch nemesis—the one he had thought he had destroyed last time. The anger vanished and was replaced by disbelief and some horror. There was no way…

Kontar laughed coldly at the expression on his face. "I see you don't believe your eyes. Well, I'll tell you pharaoh I am no illusion."

"I destroyed you! My power no doubt sent you to the Shadow Realm!" Yami exclaimed, clenching his fists as the anger returned full force.

Kontar smirked in amusement. "Yes, your power would've sent me to the Shadow Realm, had I not locked myself in my Millennium item. I knew that if my soul was sucked into the Millennium Scale I would escape the Shadow Realm and my empty, soulless body would be sent there. However," he said, stepping forward as he traced his fingers along the Millennium Scale in his hand, "I was taking a big risk. See, if you would have tried to destroy the Millennium Scale while my soul was inside I would've vanished…been defeated without ever a hope of coming back. I took the risk however; it was that or the Shadow Realm. And there was always the possibility that you'd be too sentimental as always and keep the Millennium Scale, just because it's part of the Millennium collection, despite its different powers from the rest of the items. It's more…shall we say, unique."

Yami's expression became harsh as he glared at him with pure hatred. "So…you were trapped in the Millennium Scale, but how did you get out? It was protected in my palace."

"Apparently not protected very well," he smirked. "You see, Keith went to steal the item for Marik, who was very, very curious about this particular item. Of course he didn't even want to use its full ability—what a waste," he sighed sarcastically. "Keith accidentally dropped the item, which made a crack in the Millennium Scale and once he picked it up, since I still was able to harbor and control a portion of the Millennium Scale, I used its power to transfer my soul into his body. Thus I used him for a while trying to figure out where I could put my soul. I tried transferring my soul into…others," he sneered coldly, referring to the missing people, which made Yami's blood boil even more.

"However, that didn't work as planned…The people soon died and strange things happened to their bodies. Some of them disintegrated and others went crazy and just died randomly. So I decided the only body that would be able to take in my soul that had harbored some of the Millennium Scale's powers would be my own, since I had already controlled some of it. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say I was able to recreate my own body with a certain hag's help—unwillingly of course. And wouldn't you know it, despite being able to transfer my soul and take people's memories away and drain others of their powers and life essence," he continued, glancing at the lifeless forms in the containers, "I still haven't harbored all the power of the Millennium Scale. Incredible, isn't it?"

"Disgusting!" Yami spat, glaring coldly at him.

Kontar sneered and narrowed his eyes. "You never did appreciate true power, did you? Sad…seeing as how you have too much of it," he snapped. "But…that will all change. Soon I will be able to drain your powers like I did from the others. Once I have the powers of all the Millennium Items I will be completely immortal, which means I'll be immune to the powers of the Shadow Realm and anything that anyone tries against me. That is what I'm striving for. And to think all I wanted was to be pharaoh in your place last time," he smirked. "The crown of the pharaoh is no comparison to all the power of Egypt, now is it? And this time…I want more than just your power and control of your precious Egypt, but I want…your precious little Yuugi."

If Yami had had his powers there would be items all around shaking and crumbling before them. Instead, he stood before him shaking with rage not liking the demon-like look that Kontar gave him.

"My, my, pharaoh. Quite possessive of him, are we? Yes, him and his dear friend would be great assets to my collection of servants don't you agree? Especially since he means so much to you. Just think," Kontar said, walking forward as he toyed with the item in his hand, "I will be able to get Yuugi to do anything for me…anything at all."

"SILENCE!" Yami roared, his anger boiling to a max. There was something much more sinister about the way Kontar spoke, something that made him believe he didn't want just servants to bring him food and clothes and have all the control of Egypt. No, this was much more evil. He wanted full control, to be able to get people to do whatever he wanted. And Yami wasn't liking the way he said it either.

Kontar seemed even more amused about something. "You know, I'm curious as to why you haven't used any of your powers against me, even when I see you're itching to. What's the matter, too afraid? Have you finally realized you'll be defeated, pharaoh?"

"Never!" he hissed. "You're the one who'll be defeated, Kontar. Once and for all! I won't leave any room for you to escape this time."

Kontar's eyebrows rose high in amusement. "So why haven't you stopped me? How can you stand there and say you'll defeat me when you haven't even made one little move?"

Yami held his temper and didn't answer. He kept his eyes level with Kontar's and didn't make a move. It was too early for him to be defeated by Kontar—too early for Kontar to realize he wouldn't, or couldn't, fight back. He needed to know more answers first.

"Well, this has all been fun, but I think that perhaps you need a little reminder about who's in charge," Kontar's lips curled upward maliciously. "So how about I bring you a little surprise?"

With a snap of his fingers the small room high above began to lower. Yami stepped back unsure of what was going to happen. It didn't seem like Kontar planned on using powers…yet, but then what did he mean by a little surprise? By instinct, Yami's stomach churned with an unsettling sensation. As the room lowered, Yami could tell it was a little room—not just a little room, but a room with no doors or windows—rather a cell-like room only with wooden floors and glass walls; probably glass walls that couldn't be penetrated by any regular objects. There had to be some sort of magic used on them. Once it finally lowered to their level, Yami's eyes widened as he saw two familiar figures trapped inside. Before he could open his mouth, Kontar snapped his fingers and Yuugi, who had been leaning against the glass wall obviously stunned he was seeing Yami there, fell through and landed on the floor.

Yami made a move to help him but was pushed back by an invisible force. Ryou, who was also inside, pounded on the glass walls to try and help but to no avail. Kontar just smirked at the exchange of horrified expressions Yami and Yuugi were making. With a wave of his hand, Yuugi was forced to his feet unwillingly staring at Yami with wide, uncertain violet eyes. Yami had never felt so torn in his life staring into the eyes of his innocent and trustworthy soul mate—the one he loved and cherished so dearly.

"Yami…," Yuugi choked out, obviously trying to hide the fact that his eyes were watering.

He couldn't say anything more since Kontar interrupted with a devilish grin. "I thought Yuugi could join the party, what do you say Yami? I figure you won't use your power if he's here anyway and besides…you and I need to talk before we fight."

"We can talk without Yuugi here," Yami said angrily, clenching his jaw.

"Oh, but it's so much more fun watching you suffer," Kontar added with a cold sneer.

"Leave him alone!" Yuugi blurted out angrily, glaring at Kontar without fear.

Kontar glanced at him a bit surprised and just sneered again. "Well, isn't that touching. You two seem like you can't bear to be apart."

The moment he said that Yuugi's eyes shifted over to Yami who stared back at him. Yuugi's eyes sadly looked into his still reflecting love and concern in their depths and Yami wanted so badly to reach out toward him and embrace him to give him some hope—to tell him that everything would be alright because he had sacrificed all his powers to destroy the evil that was becoming stronger. He couldn't, however, say anything so he just stared back into Yuugi's eyes lovingly. Kontar didn't fail to notice the exchange between them. His hand immediately clenched around the Millennium Scale in his hand and Yami's eyes immediately flickered to the item.

Kontar held up the item and turned toward Yuugi, whose eyes widened with fright. The item glowed brightly and a light jetted out of it and hit Yuugi's forehead. Yuugi was stunned into place as the force held him tightly in place. His head tingled as sharp pain emerged inside. He made a gasp and Yami ran forward.

"NO!" he bellowed.

With a wave of his hand, Kontar forced Yami backward suddenly, causing him to hit the contraption behind him roughly. The beam of light finally eased itself from Yuugi's forehead and came back to the Millennium Scale. Yami picked himself up quickly, staring with angered eyes as Yuugi collapsed to the ground, obviously stunned.

"Yuugi!" Yami exclaimed, knowing he couldn't reach out to him. "Are you alright?"

Yuugi picked himself up slowly and glanced at Yami and nodded. It didn't hurt too much although he wasn't sure what it was supposed to do. Yami's eyes immediately glowered onto Kontar, who held the Millennium Scale very close. His eyes were glazed as the Millennium Scale caused him to see something. Yami took advantage of that and rushed to Yuugi's side, helping him up and backing him far away from Kontar's clutches. Yuugi embraced Yami tightly, holding onto him as if afraid he'd vanish in a second. Kontar's eyes returned back to normal and he sneered, noticing that they were now together.

Kontar laughed coldly and Yami instinctively put a protective arm around Yuugi. After his laugh subsided the cold smirk was still on his face. His eyes were gleaming with an unreadable desire—something that made Yami's stomach churn again.

"Well, well, well…isn't that interesting. It's great that the Millennium Scale can absorb all the powers from all the Millennium items. It's able to give me the power of vision from Isis' item."

Kontar's smirk widened as he suddenly lifted the Millennium Scale up and Yami was flung backward, losing his grip on Yuugi.

"Yami, no!" Yuugi cried out as he reached out to grab him, only an invisible force pulled him back roughly until he felt Kontar's cold hands on his arm.

Yami regained his balance, even though he was feeling much weaker from being hit with magic so many times, and glared as he saw Kontar again had Yuugi in his grasp.

"I saw something very interesting pharaoh, though somehow it doesn't surprise me," Kontar laughed coldly again. "I knew you were sentimental, but to get so attached to a boy you hardly know…well, it's just something only you would do."

Yami wasn't completely following him, but was more worried about Yuugi at the moment. Kontar forced Yuugi to face him and froze him in place with the Millennium Scale—obviously a power from the Millennium Rod. Yami unconsciously stood up prepared to lunge out if Kontar tried to hurt Yuugi in any way. Smiling almost deviously, Kontar forced Yuugi's head up so he was staring directly into his eyes. The cold maroon eyes and devilish features unnerved Yuugi as he was forced to stare at the one man he truly loathed. Unexpectedly, Kontar bent down and suddenly pressed his cold lips against Yuugi's fully. Yuugi was so shocked that even if he hadn't been forced still with magic he wouldn't be able to move. Kontar's lips were extremely different than Yami's…so cold, with no love or feeling at all. The kiss didn't last long, if that's even what it was, and Kontar pulled away smirking and glanced back at Yami.

Once Yami was snapped out of his stunned gaze, he growled angrily and lunged forward, not caring that he didn't have any powers to fight with. Kontar raised the Millennium Scale and invisible shield stopped Yami from coming within five feet. He was thrown off balance and hit the floor with a thud.

"Yami! Yami, no! Are you alright!" Yuugi shouted, snapped out of his own horrified gaze at being kissed by Kontar.

"KONTAR!" Yami seethed angrily. "What does this have to do with us? How can you take advantage of an innocent boy for your own pleasures?"

"Please, Yami, spare me the drama," Kontar drawled, pushing Yuugi to the ground. "I saw the lovely intimate moment you two had thanks to Yuugi's memories, and of course not surprisingly it was one of the first memories I received. That's why he's so precious to you, not just because you're bonded by fate, as you say. You've truly fallen for each other. How romantically disgusting. I merely kissed him knowing full well you'd be angry, perhaps angry enough to hit me with some of your great power, which you have yet to do. Still, all you do is make animal noises at me and lecture me."

"You kissed him against his will!" Yami spat with disgust.

Kontar rolled his eyes a bit and just kept the same cold smirk on his face. "It was a harmless kiss, Yami. To prove to you that I am in control here. Yuugi will serve me once you're gone and I'm sure he'll be a great vizier, especially once I rule over all of Egypt and soon the world."

Kontar held the Millennium Scale out in front of him, sneering so wickedly Yuugi got shivers up his spine. Yami's eyes widened, also feeling unnerved by the move and knowing this was it. Before he could react, a huge surge of red light blasted from the item and hit Yami square in the chest, hurling him backward into the contraption where he hit his head hard and collapsed to the floor.

"YAMI!" Yuugi screamed, rushing to his side.

The blast was so powerful it drained most of Yami's energy so he couldn't even sit up. He blinked and winced in pain as Yuugi's hand clutched his own. Yami's eyes lifted to gaze into Yuugi's trying to unconsciously give him reassurance that he trusted Yuugi with all his heart and that he knew Yuugi would know what to do when the time came, but he was too weak to utter a word. Yuugi leaned down, pressing his forehead to Yami's cheek and allowed tears to trail off his cheeks and land on Yami's face. He felt Yami's hand move ever-so-slightly to grip his own. Yuugi lifted his tear-streaked face to look deep into Yami's eyes, seeing sadness, regret and love reflected in his eyes and feeling it since they were so close. Yuugi knew Yami was too weak to say anything—knew that he wouldn't last much longer and wondered desperately why he wasn't fighting back. Bending down, Yuugi planted a soft, loving kiss on Yami's lips, feeling the warmth and love tingle through his lips and cause his heart to flutter, even in sadness.

"Now it's time to end this romantic charade," Kontar drawled from behind, and Yuugi didn't bother to turn around. He stayed focus on Yami, wanting to show him that he wouldn't leave his side. "I'm afraid your precious pharaoh must join the others. First, however, I need to drain his powers."

Yuugi was pushed aside roughly and he cried out as his arm was painfully pushed on the floor under his body weight because of the way he fell. Just as he lifted his head, he saw Kontar looming over Yami and pointing the Millennium Scale at him. Yami stared up at him grimly but didn't seem at all like he was being defeated. Yuugi was forced to watch in horror as a ghastly green color trailed out of the Millennium Scale and surrounded Yami's body. His body was lifted up from the floor and the green power sucked its way into his mouth. For a minute, his body glowed before it was lowered to the floor. The green power came out of his body and traveled back into the Millennium Scale.

Sneering victoriously, Kontar watched as Yami's eyes shuttered close and his body remained motionless, just like the others in the containers. New tears flooded Yuugi's eyes as he stared at Yami's lifeless form, not believing that Yami was truly gone—he couldn't be gone! Kontar held the Millennium Scale close and laughed victoriously. He then glanced over at Yuugi who couldn't tear his eyes away from Yami.

"Now, now, dear Yuugi, don't cry. After all, you'll be able to serve me soon, the most powerful pharaoh of all time," Kontar smirked.

Yuugi glared hatefully at him and wiped his tears away. "I'll never serve you! NEVER! No matter what you say you'll do to me! I don't care!"

Kontar's smile faded and he glared harshly at Yuugi. With a wave of his hand, Yami's body was lifted up and a new rectangular container opened up with the same strange blue, transparent liquid, and surrounded Yami as he was dropped inside.

"You'd be wise to just surrender, Yuugi. Now that your precious pharaoh is gone there's no one to protect you. And I can be nice if you cooperate."

"I don't want to cooperate!" Yuugi exclaimed angrily. "I don't want to have anything to do with you!"

Kontar raised his hand up and Yuugi immediately winced out of reaction, expecting him to throw him across the room or send a wave of pain over him. Instead, Yuugi's body was forced to stand up as the room he had been in before opened up. He was suddenly flung inside and accidentally knocked right into Ryou, who had been helplessly watching what had occurred. Kontar snapped his fingers and a door opened suddenly. Keith stepped into the room, obviously somehow getting the message that Kontar wanted him, whether through magic or other means. Keith immediately laid eyes on Yami and his mouth dropped open in awe.

"You actually captured Pharaoh Yami? Incredible!"

"I did say I could do it," Kontar drawled, while smirking. "Now it's time for us to move out of this place and get the rest of them. Paying Shadi a visit should be especially interesting."

Keith's eyes suddenly moved to where Yuugi and Ryou were crouched in the room. "What about those two? Should we leave them here unguarded?"

"They're secure in that room. Besides, they don't have much motivation to fight now that the dear pharaoh has been defeated," Kontar smirked, glancing over at Yuugi who clenched his fists in response.

Keith smirked as well. "Of course."

"Go get our horses saddled up," Kontar demanded and Keith left immediately, not caring about the tone of Kontar's voice.

Kontar then walked over to the glass wall and stared in at Yuugi. "Don't I get another kiss for luck, dear Yuugi?"

Yuugi stared at him with furrowed eyebrows and didn't respond. Kontar's lips curled upward in another cold smirk and he leaned forward, pressing himself against the glass wall.

"Suit yourself, but you will serve me eventually. Both of you," he added, glancing at Ryou who was also giving him a grim look. "You'll just have to admit that your precious love has been defeated finally and that you'll never see him again. If you don't want to have a miserable life until you die you'd do best to treat me with respect. Otherwise, you'll be forced into learning how to serve me properly!"

With that, Kontar wheeled around and snapped his fingers without glancing back. The room lifted up again to return to its place high above the floor. Yuugi watched with tear-filled eyes as Kontar left and again he lay eyes on Yami's lifeless form, which was farther away now but still in view. Seeing all of those from Egypt whom Yuugi had come attached to looking lifeless made all his hope rush out. Why hadn't Yami fought back? Why hadn't he done something? A small part of him wanted to believe that Shadi might be able to stop Kontar, but inside he knew it wasn't possible. If Yami wasn't able to then Shadi wouldn't be able to either, not alone anyway. Kontar was truly gaining much more strength and power than last time and it finally looked as if he was going to win this time around.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Note: Wow, it's almost two in the morning, but I got it finished! Technically, it's the "day" after I said I'd post it, but being two in the morning I'll just count it as being on time. I wanted to make this longer, but it was a nice stop right here. I will be updating this soon, don't worry!

To Reviewers:

Thank you all! Since there weren't really any specific questions I'm going to hold off on individual responses until next time so I can get this up! Thanks!