Part 6: The Seven Millennium Items

The call had come while Bakura was talking to Yugi, admitting to having gotten into an odd agreement with the spirit of the Ring. Yugi had been able to keep his other side quiet, and he was fairly sure that Bakura had only just done the same thing. The whole of the conversation was as to the odd events, and at that point Bakura had been introduced to Luna, who after hearing everything had warned him that if his spirit didn't behave, an irate Shinto Priestess might try to send him back to wherever he had been and permanently this time. She was known for her temper sometimes, though she was actually quite cool and calm the rest of the times.

The call had been from Kaiba, and it had been rather direct in telling him to get Jounouchi and his female friend Makoto and bring them to KaibaCorp by any means necessary. When Bakura was mentioned and the fact that he had a Millennium Item pointed out, he was added to the list.

So Bakura and Yugi had gone and gotten Jounouchi and Mako, both still in the hospital and both ready to tell them about the two dragons which had appeared.

This made them hurry a little more to KaibaCorp, Jounouchi wishing his sister good luck for the morning when she would have her surgery.

Shadii was seated near Mokuba, who was holding Artemis on his lap. A new person, who was introduced as Isis Ishtar, sat quietly nearby, the Millennium Torque around her neck. Kaiba sat at his desk, glancing up as the group entered the room. Of Rei, there was no sign and this worried Yugi greatly.

"Where's Rei?" Yugi asked.

"She went to do…something, concerning a vision she had after coming in contact with Ishtar-san and the dog's romp in the Shadow Realm."

"Hey! Wait, how did you know--about…"

"I called forth a Blue Eyes, as did Mokuba. I know when someone else called forth one."

"But I didn't call it! Shizuka did! Mine was the Red Eyes."

The group looked at him and Mako nodded. "The blue-eyed dragon stayed near Shizuka, and the red-eyed one went over to where Jou was and dealt with that youma. Um…who's Rei and why am I here?"

Artemis cast a glance at Luna, who blinked back while Jounouchi looked to Yugi for the answer.

"Um…it's complicated."

A door on the other side of the room opened, showing Rei dressed in her traditional priestess outfit, her dark hair showing off the purple coloring even more then usual and her eyes seeming to glow with a strange fire behind them. "I can make it a little less complicated. Please, come with me."

The room had been converted into a makeshift Shinto temple, and obviously just recently constructed, with a middle fire glowing and she motioned for them to all sit. Shadii and Isis stayed in the background, as did Bakura until she motioned for them to join the circle around the fire.

"I'm about to show you the vision that Isis showed me. I don't think even she knew how the Torque would react to my own powers, but this might help to shed some light on what we're up against, as well as events of the past and future."

Kaiba looked at Rei from his place across from her. "We don't have to hold hands or anything, do we?"

Jounouchi, who was on one side of Kaiba, cast a quick glance at Rei as well. "If so, can I move?"

Rei cast them a glare and Mako held Jounouchi's hand. Rei shook her head, though if it was at the antics of Kaiba and Jounouchi or to answer the question was never really answered. She instead turned her eyes to the fire and tossed in a rectangular piece of wood before closing her eyes and began chanting quietly. The group seemed to unconsciously turn their eyes towards the fire, each slowly becoming lost in it as her chanting continued. Something flashed in the fire, and suddenly everyone seemed to be engulfed in it--

Dream of sand…

The sands were hot, and from it rose two figures. Bakura, or his Yami, grinning madly as he turned towards the palace, a burning and ruined town behind him. The other was harder to see, but her outline was distinctly that of a Senshi…

…The town was where it started. Innocent turned evil as he watched the horror unfold. Ninety nine were slaughtered…his family, his friends, all were killed and thrown into a pot…their blood turned into gold…

Bakura and Ryou split in two that day. One that should have been, and one that had been. The great divide, and thus a new being.

The ka, the one who gained power from his anger and rage, his want of revenge for those who had killed in the name of justice, who had destroyed lives in the name of order. Diabond was it's name.

The figure out of the sands was someone else, and on her wrists glinted two golden bracelets…

The hall was interrupted by Bakura the thief. Seven items for ninety-nine dead, and he would take them all, to use their dark power to gain it, and gain back all he had lost…

A woman in silver, and he was looking in as his father was speaking. From where he was, he couldn't hear exactly what was said, but he knew it was important. The woman turned, her blue eyes focusing on him…

A stone sword was in the ground, like Excalibur, only the background was different. Instead of the moon in the distance, the Earth seemed to make up the dark background of the place. Destroyed pillars lined it, and words that even he couldn't read were on there…

"For you son, understand this. The power you create is a double-edged sword, cutting both ways into the soul of a person. Your son is good, I see that, but there are those who will use the items for evil should they gain it."

"I understand the dangers, but it must be done. For peace, we must do this."

There was a pause, then a bow. "I hope, then that the first foretelling of the events comes to pass. Even my kingdom is not without it's curses, Pharaoh."

He was the Pharaoh. Then he would protect him!

There are seven others, just like the Millennium Items. He is the eighth, and alone. But from it can come the power to destroy what is there…

The threat is to the setting sun.

What?

When the sun sets, it must fight the great serpent to get a new dawn, a new day. The serpent once more looms, threatening both the moon and sun.

I am to protect the Pharaoh.

The woman was scared, and he wasn't going through with this. She was an innocent, and even if her ka was powerful, she cared for Priest Set. She could be convinced to use it in his favor. Don't kill her!

His fate was done that day, as was many others. But he had vowed to protect the Pharaoh, so that vow carried on to the modern day. He had taught the Pharaoh how to be bold, and now--

He was flung against the pillar, his body's internal bones and organs cracking under the force and causing his death only after he saw that the ones he had tried to protect so the Pharaoh would be okay were destroyed…

He hated Set for not being braver, for not fighting. That hate carried over as well…

She was the Senshi of Jupiter.

The great snakes appeared, and everyone quickly took their stance. Despite it being their job to protect the Princess, the Outers took that a little more seriously, their powers dangerous but great.

She gave it over to them so they could save her. The attack shouldn't have happened! Jupiter and the others quickly blew as many away as they could, and turned to see one had tried to attack Tuxedo Kamen, luckily blown away as well.

Then another wave. And another. And another…more and more started to get through, then a scream and suddenly their power disappeared, as did the world--

She made us forget her. I won't forgive her. I will never forgive them!

The Blue Eyes was a powerful ally, but originally wasn't his.

The girl has light hair and pale skin. She was odd, but he had a strange feeling from her. He cared for her, and suddenly before his eyes she was split as the captain of the guard also helped to protect her.

Three Blue Eyes now. I have one, my brother has one. The other belongs to--.

The captain was familiar and as Set knelt beside him, the dying man spat. "Never…forgive you…Set…I'll never…you killed…her…"

Jounouchi's sister. The girl…

"Kisara! No, stop! She shouldn't have to die!"

…had given over her soul to two others, and thus there were three Dragons.

I stand beside my brother, but I'm taller and scared. Nearby is Jounouchi but not Jounouchi…What is happening?

There is fear. They're going to kill me for my soul…

Then there was two of us. Why are there two of us?

The captain has been nice, as has High Priest Set. He has taken care of me when the High Priest was elsewhere. Now…he has been hurt because of me…

There are two of us to protect Jounouchi and Nii-sama.

The past merged suddenly and they were all there, standing as they watched the darkness fall over everything, a giant mouth seeming to swallow everything before them.

"What's going on?" Bakura yelled over the sudden wind as it was all pulled into the darkness. Light appeared behind them and just as suddenly seven points of stars appeared, each colored and with faint outlines before they merged into one. A woman with wings stood behind it. Yugi looked up and Mako whispered, "Sailor Moon."

The woman held out her tier and the light streamed at the mouth. There was a cry of rage and anger before the light seemed to continue to fall into the mouth.

Then they were no longer part of it, instead they were observing. Yugi stood before the monster, a stone sword in his hand that was split in two, one raised against himself and one pointed at the monster. Where the Puzzle should be instead there was a glowing crystal lotus, though what color it was no one could tell. He faced the monster with no fear, and Yami blinked in confusion.

"Aibou?"

The scene seemed to split, warp, and suddenly there was two sides, one dark and one light. But neither were promising. The dark showed a broken sword, Yugi at the feet of the dark entity, beaten and poisoned, as it held up the glowing lotus and looked to the crystal tower nearby and roared. It couldn't get the rest but it had this part, and therefore couldn't be defeated…

The other had the same crystal tower, but now Yugi lay with blood out one side of his mouth and a larger stain in his chest. The stained sword lay next to him, and the seven Millennium Items were around him, none glowing. The crystal itself was gone, and from the crystal tower came a bright light, a silhouette of a woman with long streaming hair, a long cape and a power that was as great as the universe, the seven nijizuishou around her and the lotus-crystal that Yugi once held also there, glowing just as brightly…

"NO!"

The voice had brought the group back into reality rather quickly, and they all turned to see that Yami was now in control. He had backed away from the fire and was blinking at it, angry and ready to strike out. Kaiba cast him a look while Jounouchi got up to help him, Mako following just as quickly while Rei sat, her head down. Shadii looked to Isis, who also looked as taxed as Rei did.

"I will not let that come to pass! I will not let my aibou die!"

Jounouchi was there to call him down. "I want that even less then you do. You think we need to face some evil…whatever…that wants to engulf the world? If there's a way around it, we'll find it and Yugi'll be alive and happy."

Yami looked to Isis and Rei. "Tell me that isn't what will happen. Tell me this is only if we fail to stop his rise."

Rei sighed and nodded. "I believe that is what it is, but I worry as well. The last time I had such visions was right before the invasion by the Death Busters, and…"

Mako shivered while Mokuba looked to them both. "What? What happened?"

"They awoke Saturn," Mako said. "I remember. We were trying to stop it, but they nearly took our hoste…our souls. A girl named Hotaru saved us, and with what power we had, we used it to attack the entity that was trying to kill us all. We attacked until we didn't have anymore power left, until we fell from our places. The Outers were drained as well and couldn't hold up their shield. That's when…that's when…"

"Sailor Moon went into the being, with her item of power, and right after that Sailor Saturn appeared," Rei finished. "At that time, Saturn's only purpose was to destroy the world once the salvation was gone. She had done it when the Moon Kingdom ended, and she was doing it to Earth, to destroy the monster, until Pluto sealed her in the Time Gates, along with her power and the monster. That destroyed her…but she was reborn again, this time her power is enough that she can fight with us."

The group was silent and Bakura looked over at Yami, the two dark sides catching each other's eyes before Bakura said, "I'd rather not get eaten. I'll lend my help, but don't think this makes us friends."
Yami nodded his understanding, though it was obviously his main worry was still on Yugi's possible fates.

The group had left, and Kaiba now stood before Rei. "Are you okay?"

"Hai, just drained. Such visions…do that to me."
"What about how you came to lose your memories?"

There was a pause and she said, "There is a force behind this that is as ancient as the Millennium Items, one which even Bakura's dark side fought because it was even worse then he. I don't know it's name, but it works for the creature…the one which wishes to eat the world and engulf it in darkness."
Kaiba looked out and sighed. "I hate this…magic…but I am involved in it. I will help Yugi and his other side however I can."

"They care very much for each other, don't they?"

Kaiba paused, considering, then shrugged. "I don't know. Ask the dog, or one of the cheerleaders, but either way I couldn't tell you."

Rei laughed a little, and he felt himself grow warm from that sound. "Baka…" she said, smiling, "You and Jounouchi remind me of Usagi and myself. You always fight. I bet, though, you'd care if he was hurt."

Kaiba paused, nodded, then added, "And if you tell him that I might have to hurt you."

"Understood, Seto-kun."

Part 7: Eight Laps in the Pool

The day had been uneventful, luckily, but the week itself was still filled with the oddness that had come from the vision they all shared. What their past lives were and the small amount of visions granted from those weren't talked about, almost as a rule, between the group, with the exception of what they had been. Yami, it appeared, was the Pharaoh. Bakura was the bandit. Kaiba the High Priest, and Jounouchi was a Captain of the Guard. Mokuba and Shizuka shared the soul of a girl who had been loved, or something close to that, by both the High Priest and the Captain before her life was taken.

But Bakura was not thinking on that currently. Currently, he was thinking on how nice the swim would be.

The pool was virtually empty, and he liked it that way. No one but himself and the water.

And a slightly annoying yami…

Why the hell are we here? Why not go searching for that person who's trying to attack us or something like that? You're not helping by taking a dip in the pool!

"Nothing's been going on, and we can't figure out things if I'm stressed out by you arguing with me. Let me have some fun before we do anything else."

The spirit of the Ring was mumbling something as they walked to the pool and Bakura cast a look around before jumping in, enjoying the cool water as well as the feel as he swam towards the end. Just as he got near there, he saw someone else was inside of the pool. She had short blue hair and was swimming like it was as natural as breathing, her moves barely making waves or disturbing the water. He realized suddenly that he hadn't noticed her, but he found her extremely…he wasn't sure if beautiful or cute was the right word.

The spirit found something new to mumble about.

The girl lifted her head shortly after Bakura did, both up for air. "You swim well," he said, smiling slightly.

"Arigato," she said, returning the shy smile. "I'm Mizuno Ami. I just transferred in."

"Bakura Ryou."

I can hear the harps playing now…

"…Violins, actually…it's violins, not harps…"

Go back to flirting, or your pathetic attempts at it.

Bakura and Ami swam to the side and hung on, not bothering to leave while they spoke together. He enjoyed her conversation, and part of him wondered briefly if she might be one of the Senshi, but he hoped not. If she was, she would be in danger and he suddenly didn't want her in danger.

Sentimental much?

"Go away."

At least he didn't say anything else as the two spoke.

As they laughed at the joke and headed for the changing rooms, the two suddenly paused. Bakura felt it first, and had to quickly quell the want of the spirit of the Ring to attack it.

The two turned just as the monster was about to attack.

"RUN!" they both grabbed the other's hand and raced back for the pool, ignoring the rules of no running. The monster itself seemed to be on fire and smoldering, and that gave Bakura an idea.

"Quick, get into the pool!" Bakura yelled, feeling the Ring appear and knowing Ami would ask about it. He didn't want her to. He had--.

Jump as well! You idiot, just go in with her. I don't need or want to fight against this monster!

"What?"

Just do it! You can't summon my monster from the Shadow Realm, and I'm not about to let her know about us just yet. If she is a Senshi, this attack will reveal her and we'll have another ally. If not, she's just an innocent bystander. She didn't attack us and you like her. I'm not going to let you get away with being depressed all the time…and if you tell the Pharaoh I said any of this I will hurt you.

"Understood."

The two dove in and the monster stopped, roaring as it became wet and steam arose. The two watched from below the water line.

It's made of fire…therefore we need to get it wet or something…like that.

Bakura and Ami swam, Bakura needing to go up for air and narrowly avoiding a ball of fire that was stopped just as it hit the water, a small ball of charcoal dropping in near Ami.

Crap! We can't go up for fear that it might hit us, but we can't stay down here either. What can we do?

Ami looked at him and them seemed to have an idea. She reached out and a small bubble seemed to appear around the two. There was an air bubble, and Bakura gave her a look before she smiled. "Trust me."

The water around them suddenly seemed to be pushed over and a dark mist surround the monster before the water burst forward, covering it.

The two looked at each other from the bottom of the now-drained pool, water slowly collecting at their feet. Ami swallowed, as if waiting for Bakura to reject her, but Bakura instead said, "That was…incredible. You saved us!"

"Aren't you…afraid?"

"Of what? Do you see this medallion?" at Ami's nod and no spirit interference, Bakura told her about how the Ring had an evil spirit which sometimes attacked his friends, and only now he was becoming a little more partner-like with.

Ami blinked and then Bakura looked off to the side. "There's one more thing, too…"

Jounouchi sighed as he leaned back on the couch. He had yet again had a dream about the past, seeing what had happened to bring forth what had become his anger towards Kaiba.

The young boy had glared at the dark-haired one. "What do you care?"

Behind him was the Red Eyes Black Dragon, the jaws red with blood. He glared at the dark-haired boy who had come in, remembering that he had been a neighbor in the now-burned down town.

"I just want to help."

Then he was in the back again, leaning against the wall. It had been years since they met. They were friends, even if he was a guard and Set was the High Priest. He had just brought in a girl from the town who had been stoned. Her hair was light blue and he had to admit that she was pretty.

"Cute girl," he said, seeing Set turn. "So what's up with her?"

"None of your business."

"Very childish," he commented, "You're usually better with the comebacks."

Set cast him a glare. "Any news on the thief?"

His eyes narrowed and he turned. "Nothing. That jackal has the Ring, and with its powers his own is increased. I'm not about to let him go without a fight."

"Neither am I. He killed Mahaado and made me look like a fool. I'm not about to give up."

"So you're taking in girls with pale skin and hair?"

Set looked at him then crossed his arms in the annoying way he usually did, saying he was going to give an answer but it wasn't the full one. "Her ka is extremely powerful. Without it, I might not be able to defeat the thief."

He turned. "I could always…I could."

"It's too dangerous."

"Who's for you to say, Set!" now he was angry. "If I can, I will. I don't need a stone slab, and I was there too! I know how powerful Diabond is, but that won't stop me from protecting you or the Pharaoh!" He paused, realizing his emotions were boiling over, and looked away. "You're my best friends…I can't let you die."

Another time, not long after that, he faced a near-brainwashed Set. "I won't let you hurt her! Red Eyes, come forth!"

The Red Eyes appeared and attacked when just as suddenly he was knocked out. When he came too--

"I won't forgive you…"

Jounouchi sighed as he came back to reality. I never forgave him. And that carried over to me hating him.

There was a knock on the door and he turned, sitting up and walking over as another followed it. "Coming, I'm coming."

He opened it to show Kujaku Mai, smiling as she looked over at him. "You're a hard guy to find."

"Mai! What are you doing here?"

"I thought it would be nice to come over and visit. Do you mind?"

Jounouchi scratched the back of his head when he heard Mako yell from the kitchen. "Who is it, Jou?"
Mai blinked and Jounouchi yelled back, "It's a friend from Duelist Kingdom! I'm letting her in."
Mai walked in as Jounouchi stood aside and looked at him curiously. "Company?"

"It's complicated…"

"Ohaiyo," Mako said, coming out in a pink apron and with a bowl of something or other she was stirring. "Jounouchi doesn't usually tell me a lot about Duel Monsters, only that he got second place at Duelist Kingdom. He won't even teach me, and I want to learn. But where are my manners? I'm Kino Makoto, but please, call me Mako."

Mai smiled at her and bowed slightly, "Kujaku Mai. I placed one of the four finalists at Duelist Kingdom, and if it weren't for me that brat wouldn't even have been in the tournament!"

"Do tell! Oh, Jounouchi, I'm making pancakes today for breakfast. Could you set the table for four…if Mai wants to join us."

"Of course," Mai said, then looked confused, "Why four?"

"Shizuka is staying with me," Jounouchi explained, knowing that Mai knew about his little sister but had yet to meet her, "just for a while. Okaa-san agreed to it, especially after she found out that Mako would be the one taking care of us. Dad's in rehab again."

"I'm sorry," Mai said as she went into the warm kitchen where Mako was cooking, the smells wonderful and seeing that Jounouchi was getting close to drooling as the group slowly poured in, Mako asking Mai more about dueling while Shizuka visited more with her brother. The operation had been an success and she had just gotten out of the hospital, allowed to say with her brother and his friends.

Mai smiled at it, but felt completely out of place. Somehow, she hated that. When she had run into Jounouchi before, and even afterwards, she had entertained the idea of falling in love and possibly teaching him a few tricks, but it appeared that the girl Mako had beaten her too it. It wasn't completely that, either. Those two seemed…perfect…for each other. Even Shizuka fit into the picture. So where was Mai in it all?

That part, even after the wonderful and delicious breakfast, Mai couldn't shake. Was she forever destined to be alone?

A little while later, both dressed in their normal clothing, Bakura and Ami headed over to the Kame Game Shop to speak to Luna and Yugi.

And if he asks, I'm not talking to the Pharaoh at all.

"Okay."

Not about to deal with him at all.

"Completely understandable."

…You're gonna make me talk to him, aren't you?

"Not unless you're nice."

I'm supposed to be the evil one. Stop that.

Bakura smiled slightly as he saw Yugi's grandfather and asked if Yugi was home, introducing Ami to the old man. Yugi was in his room, and from the slightly vacant look on his eyes he was having a conversation with his other side. Luna was watching him, possibly trying to see what the two were talking about before she noticed the two. She smiled at Ami and looked over at Bakura. When he said simply, "Um…she knows…is Yugi speaking to the Pharaoh?"

"Yes, they're kinda deep in conversation," Ami jumped when Luna spoke, and she looked back at Bakura.

"Sorry, I forgot to mention that."

Yugi came out of the conversation and looked over happily at Bakura and Ami. "Bakura-kun, I'm glad to see you. Who's this?"

"Mizuno Ami, I think she's one of the Senshi we've been looking for."

Yugi smiled and said, "That's great…what have you told her, 'cause from her reaction it wasn't much."

Ami explained that they had been attacked and Bakura had explained mainly about the spirit in his Ring as well as the fact that there were others like her. Yugi nodded, explaining as much as he could before finally he simply held out his hand. "Here. It's been working so far that if I touch you, then you might gain back some of your memories. Do you want to try?"

Bakura and Ami shifted uneasily but Ami nodded and moved to touch Yugi's hand.

There was a sudden flare of light and Yugi yelped, moving back quickly but not quick enough it seemed. A small gem glowed just over his heart before it disappeared, and Ami's own forehead glowed slightly, showing a blue symbol for the planet Mercury before disappearing and the girl nearly falling, Bakura there to catch her. Luna jumped up and went over to ensure that Yugi was okay when new light flared and she jumped, turning then disappeared from view.

"Luna!" Yugi sounded worried, and Ami shook her head clear, the blue fading. "Bakura…I remember…I remember who I was."

Author's Last Note: I need your guy's help! I have Mina coming up next, but I need ideas for who she's going with. In case you guys don't know who's with who, here's my shipper list:

Yami/Yugi
Kaiba/Rei
Mokuba/Shizuka (later...much later)
Jounouchi/Mako
Ryou/Ami
Bakura/OC
Anzu/Marik (that guy just likes her mind a little too much for there not to be something!)

Yes, I have them all, except for poor Mina-chan! Could you all place a vote for couples? I was thinking Honda, but maybe Ryuugi instead or something. I have no clue! Please someone help!