A/n: Hey guys. I just wanted to give you all a quick note before you move on. As you will probably be able to figure out from the following Author's note, I started writing the second I came in contact with the computer. But some things have happened (that I would rather not share) that made me stop writing for a while, in spite of all the wonderful reviews you gave me. I have a good reason for not updating in so long, but I would really prefer to keep it to myself.

Thank you all for being so patient with me.

Yami Yami Yugi: Yes! (Jumps around like a mad woman) Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm back. You're back. The fic is back. And I am happily swimming in nice long reviews! And I have ice cream! (munches) (happy sigh) Life is gooooooood!

Yugi: (Jumps around is a similar fashion to YYY) No more swimming! No more canoeing! No more tents! No more camp food! (digs into real food) Yum! Ramen. World's best breakfast, lunch and dinner! Life is goooooooood! (hops onto couch next to YYY)

Jou: (only one that looks depressed) Why do I have to drag in the luggage? Stupid mosquito bites. Life is so unfaaaaaaair! (sulks)

YYY: (Looking up from potato chips and PS2 games.) You say something Jou?

Jou: (sigh) No.

YYY: Goodie! Well I am in an unbreakable happy mood and ready for action! Who's ready for a fic?

(all hands go up)

YYY: Thought so. I worked hard all summer. It's amazing how fast these ideas come to you in the middle of the woods.

Yugi: Yeah! We had to write home for a second notebook after the first week!

Jou: But don't expect to get it all at once. It still needs work, and besides, it's fun to leave readers sweating a little at a cliffhanger.

YYY: But anyway, after an awesome summer, I'm back to give you guys and awesome chapter. Right after a quick reviewer response:

Amonae: Thank you very much for your review and title submissions. I'm glad you like. And you were the only review I was able to see before I had to be shipped off to camp so you made me all happy like!

lookingatglass: Thank you. And we'll be seeing much more for those four. Trust me.

Yana5: Already with the questions! (grin) Patience people. Patience

Cherry-Wolf: Again with the unanswerable questions! (giggle) You're just going to have to wait. I swear there are answers to everything eventually. Anyway, thanks for the review and title subs. I just love helpful people!

SoulDeramer: Hope your summer was as good as mine! Thanks for the title.

White Phoenix Eternal: Thanks a bunch. Sorry I took so long to get back, but hopefully those mangas kept you busy.

S. Chensu and Luff: Whoa! Slow down tiger! I asked for a review for my story not a term paper on it! lol (grin) not that I didn't like it. Oh boy, here we go with the response.

First of all no crying! If you cry then I'll cry then Yugi will cry and nobody likes to see Yugi cry so everyone else will cry and that's not good! (gasp) Said that in one breath. Not good.

(sigh) So many questions. So few answers. I just can't say anything. You don't want the other reviewers to think I favor you now do you? You'll find out eventually. Maybe. Or maybe I'll just never answer anything so it'll haunt you in your sleep. (evil laugh)

But anyway, thank you so much. I'm really glad (and just a little freaked) that you like my story so much. You're not by any chance going to turn out to be one of those scary stalker types are you… (nervous laugh)

And thanks for your title subs too. And don't worry, more of that fluffy ness you like so much coming up!

Merodi no Yami: Yeah, so I stole your contest idea. It was a good idea. (wink) But by all means give me all the tips you've want. My beta reader went AWOL on me in June. I'm giving her till September. If she's not back by then I getting a new one. And I would very much like to have you as my beta but, uhh… hehe (sigh) (sweatdrop) There's sort of a waiting list. (sigh) Pathetic, no?

ANYWAY (grin) still with the questions. All these reviewers just have so many questions. Well at least I can answer yours.

#1 Yeah, I guess I should have been more specific. They can hide and call anything that's not to big (ex. Deck, armbands…)

#2 Yes it is actually important but I can't say too much. Just sit tight and wait for that one. It'll actually play a bigger role than you may think.

#3 Oops. Damn, I knew I was forgetting something. I had it in my mind; I just forgot to write it down. Look for the answer in this chapter. It'll be there this time.

Thanks for the title subs. You rule!

YYY: Well, that looks like everything important. I guess we'll just more onto the fic…

Yugi and Jou: WAIT!

YYY: Huh? What?

Yugi: Aren't you forgetting something?

YYY: Uhh…

Jou: Something important?

YYY: …

Yugi: (sigh) That you mentioned in almost every review response.

YYY: (thinking hard) nope. Can't think of a thing.

Jou: (sigh) (slaps her over the head) The contest you dolt!

YYY: Contest? Oh yeah! That's right. We have a winner!

(lights flash and funky music plays and confetti and balloons fly)

YYY: First of all I just want to thank everyone again for all the help. All of you ideas rocked. But I can only have one title. And honestly when I saw this one I slapped myself and was like "duh! Why didn't I think of that!" I mean, that was the whole point of the story from the beginning.

Yugi and Jou: Just tell us who it is already!

YYY: Right. The winner is… MERODI NO YAMI for her title CHOOSEN FOUR!!!

(the whole party deal with the lights and music starts again)

YYY: Congratulations! You get to choose from the following for your prize:

1) A role in 'Magic of Love.' You will get a pretty important part actually, but not a main, romantic, story sealing part. Just a little OC to put in there. If the winner does not choose this, I will make my own OC. Warning: I might kill you off. I'm still thinking about whether or not I will.

2) You can get a supporting role in a one-shot of your choice and pairing. Warning: You will have to deal with my unique creativity with this. It may not turn out how you expect depending on what you give me.

3) You can get a fan art from a story of your choice, whether it is from one of mine or yours if you write. You pick the story and what scene you want. Warning: I may have improved as an artist since I last posted on DevinantART, but I still, really can't draw. If you pick this, you are doing it at your own risk.

As for everyone else, thanks again. And MnY I wait for your choice. Just email or review it to me.

And now on with the fic!

Chapter Thirteen

Bakura woke up early the next morning just before the sun rose. He silently slipped out of bed, being careful not to wake the other three sleeping boys. He took a quick scan of the room. It was very small and plain, with just a few pieces of furniture. There were two windows for light and air to get in, but they were very high up, and too small for him to fit through.

So much for an escape plan. Not that he was planning on going anywhere anytime soon (he snuck a quick glance at Ryou) he just figured I would we good to have a plan incase he had to make a quick getaway.

Finally deciding that he was board and nothing to do, he decided to take a peak at the rest of the palace.

Bakura opened the door a crack and looked out. He smirked and opened it all the way and stepped over the sleeping guards. The Pharaoh seriously needed to get better help. First two thieves get in, he lets them take the Millennium Items, and now the guards that are supposed to be watching them are asleep. Absolutely pathetic!

Oh well. It wasn't his problem. Besides, he wasn't doing anything wrong.

…

Well, not yet anyway.

He wandered down the hall taking in his surroundings. He had to admit the place was pretty well done. Then again it was the palace. Anything less than expensive furniture, elaborate decorating, and gold around every corner, and Bakura would have doubted where he was. The whole place was done up. Even the slaves, he noticed as a few scurried down the hall getting the palace ready for the day. Their clothes were decent but most of all, Bakura noticed, they were clean. And healthy. And fed.

They were probably better off than some of the people in the city (and not just the horribly poor ones either.) And these were just the slaves! He could only imagine how othe- Ow!

A door.

Bakura, in all his intelligent smartness, forgot to look where he was going and hit a door.

The glared at the offending door before he realized that he was giving a scary look to an intimate object that wasn't going to run away screaming therefore it was useless not to mention stupid so he stopped.

Being a thief, Bakura was able to spot good thieving opportunities, usually by noticing how precious or shiny it was. So naturally the fact that the door was both caught his attention. It was a big door made of some sort of black substance he didn't recognize. There were hieroglyphics carved onto it along with the Millennium Ring in the center.

He reached out his hand and ran it across the carving. It felt smooth, like marble but softer and… IT WAS GLOWING?!

Quickly he retracted his hand but it was just a tad too late. The black hunk of rock was now glowing green. And then it stopped. Everything was normal. The door was open but other than that everything looked untouched.

"What the bloody hell did you do?"

Bakura whirled around. Standing barely three feet away from him was the Pharaoh. Plastered on his face was a mixed expression of anger, shock and awe. Bakura wasn't sure what to make of this, but something told him he was in trouble.

Yugi's eyes blinked open, the first thing on his mind somewhere along the lines of "Where am I?" He shot up looking around. He was in Yami's room. Now how he got there and why Jounouchi was sleeping next to him he didn't know, but one question to be answered at a time. Let's start with why he was in bandages.

"DAMNIT!"

Okay, or he could start with why Yami was storming into the room looking (and sounding) really pissed.

Jounouchi sat up next to him looking half asleep. He blinked a few times and looked around. "What's going on?" he asked.

Yugi shrugged as Seto ran in after Yami.

"Yami, wait! What's going on? You just took off with the thief to Ra knows where and the next thing anybody knows, you're having one of your episodes."

"I'M ALLOWED TO HAVE ANY KIND OF EPISODE I WANT! I'M PHARAOH, AREN'T I?"

Seto put up his hands and took a small step back. The Pharaoh was absolutely fuming and that wasn't generally a good thing for the leader of a country.

"Just calm down, Yami," he said. He gently reached out his hand to place on his friend's shoulder.

"No Seto, I can't calm down!" he said pushing away his arm. "We have a problem!"

"PHARAOH!"

Seto sighed. 'Great,' he thought. 'More good news.'

Yami took a few deep breaths and managed to regain his composure. "Okay, we can handle this," he said, his voice now much calmer. "Seto, I want you to find our rampaging -guest- and take him into the meeting hall. Then we need to call a meeting of the council; everyone must come. Make sure that everyone who was involved in yesterday's incident is there as well. I'll take care of these two," he jerked his thumb at the two slaves in the bed, "and meet you there in half an hour. That should be enough to get everyone rounded up."

He nodded and left the room to find Bakura, closing the door behind him.

The Pharaoh sighed and turned his attention to the other two boys who looked like they didn't have a clue as to what was happening. And considering they were unconscious for most of the experience, it was entirely possible.

"Do you two feel okay? Are you alright to walk?"

"Uhh…" Yugi glanced at Jounouchi. :: What's he talking about? :: He asked telepathically. Jounouchi shrugged. "We're fine," he said.

"Are you sure? You were hurt pretty badly yesterday." His words were full of concern.

"Really, see?" Yugi climbed out of bed and walked around the room. He even did a cartwheel to prove his point. "I've never felt better!" he said with a grin.

"Are you crazy? You shouldn't be doing that with your injuries!"

He started to rush over to help him when he was met with words he didn't expect. "What injuries?" He stopped and looked at the boy curiously. He was standing there with a confused look on his face. There was nothing to indicate that he was hurt at all. In fact, he looked entirely healthy.

Slowly, he began to approach him and then cautiously removed one of the bandages. Nothing. There was nothing under them but perfect, uncut skin. No blood, bruises, or even a scar. Curiosity growing, Yami took off the rest of the bandages. The same, unmarked skin met him every time. It was as if he was never hurt at all!

"I don't understand," he murmured.

"Is something wrong?" Yugi asked quietly, not sure what was going on.

"Yes," he said in a low whisper, more to himself than to Yugi. "Yes, something is very wrong. Jounouchi!" he said loudly. The blonde jumped upon hearing his name. "What about you? Are you hurt at all?"

Jounouchi shook his head and removed his own bandages to show him. It was the same thing; there wasn't a mark on him.

"Okay you two, get dressed. We're leaving."

"Where are we going, Yami?" Yugi asked.

The older boy turned around and looked at him. "To get some answers."

The meeting hall was a big rectangular stone room. In the center was a large golden table were the council sat. At the head of the table was where Yami sat. Directly to his right was Seto and to his left, Isis. On Seto's right was Mokuba, then Bakura, and three other older men. On Isis's left was a man named Shadi, then Ishtar, and again another three men. Sitting clustered together on the opposite end of the table were Yugi, Jounouchi, Malik, Ryou, and Serenity.

The six older men were the council members when Yami's father had the throne. They used to be the holders of the items, but when the new pharaoh took the throne they had to give them up. They were, however, required to remain as part of the council until every Millennium Item had a holder again. Nobody liked this because they had their outdated ideas on how to run the country, so there were always disagreements with the younger ones.

But it seemed that this problem was going to be resolved soon enough.

Yami clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them. He quickly scanned the people before him and stated talking.

"As we all know, some better than others," he mumble to himself, "We have had a few problems in the palace over the last few days. Now before we get to the point of this meeting, it is important that everyone knows all the details of what happened. So, let's recap." He looked over to Seto who nodded and stood up.

"Most of us know all this already. My slave displayed some very interesting powers for us a few days ago. We have reason to believe that the rest of his friends have similar powers, but nothing specific about them is known." He took a quick look at the four boys who just sat there listening. It looked like they were okay with this (not that they had a choice.)

"Now what we know about my slave's powers are that he can transfigure things, produce water, and has a deck. All four of them are immune to the powers of the Millennium Items, so they are powerful."

One of the older men stood up. "So they're powerful, and probably dangerous. I say we just kill them now and problem solved."

"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" came the shout from the four masters who were now all standing and mad.

"Alright, alright," said Isis. "Everybody sit down and listen to the full story before we come to any solutions." The five men slowly sat back down in their seats.

"Now, our second problem is these two," she motioned to Bakura and Ishtar. "They are the two thieves that broke into the palace and stole the Millennium items and two of the slaves. Now this was obviously a problem so we devised a plan to get them back. It was simple but was going to require some cooperation from our two remaining slaves.

"What we had in mind was really based of a hunch. Luckily we were right or else we would have ended up with plan B: turn the town upside down until we found them. So anyway, since Jounouchi here," she pointed to the blonde boy, "was able to transform things, we figured he might be able to make for us two fake Millennium Items, and replicate their energy signal. He was able to, and although the signal was slightly different than the real thing, it was enough to fool someone if it wasn't put into comparison with the real thing. That meant that when they went out, they couldn't be with Yami, Seto, and I or else it would have been obvious they were fakes and we were trying to trick them into following us.

"And that was exactly what we were trying to do. We split up into two groups to search opposites of the city. The first step was to locate them. That part was just simple looking around. If our group found them we were obviously just going to deal with them ourselves. If the other two found them, they were supposed to draw their attention to the fake items and lead them back to a group of guards waiting for them. Then a few questions later we would have the items and slaves back in our possession.

"It definitely would have been a lot easier to be strait forward with sending out guards and finding those two, but then there would have been a greater chance that they could get away if they saw us coming, and that would have been a problem.

"But obviously it didn't work out like that anyway. However, I think Serenity would be able to explain this part better."

The meeting continued and the events of that day were explained from three different sides: Serenity's, Yugi and Jounouchi's, and Bakura and Ishtar's. It wasn't until Yami started to tell about the events of that morning that things got interesting.

"I was going to check on Bakura and the others, but when I looked into their room, he wasn't there. So naturally, I went looking for him. When I did find him he was on the top floor in the abandoned corridor. And the door to the Bearer of the Ring was open. As we all know, only the true holder of a Millennium item can open the corresponding doors. So I kept my cool and led him to the Item room…"

"Yeah right! You went mental and dragged me down fifteen different hallways! Fifteen! Then you shoved the Ring over my neck and when it wouldn't come off you fainted. Then in came the High Priest, thinks I killed you and goes after my blood! And then…" He was stopped by Yami's hand over his mouth.

"The point is," he said through clenched teeth. "I would like you to meet… our sixth priest, Bakura."

After the Pharaoh's shocking announcement, the room went into shock. That is, for the first few seconds. After that there was total pandemonium. Every Priest was yelling, demanding an explanation. For a while there was nothing but shouting until Yami let out a burst of light from the Puzzle and had everyone calm down. He spoke to them patiently, telling them that there was nothing he could do. Bakura was chosen and that was that.

Eventually everyone clamed down and they moved on to the next topic, not that anyone was happy about it.

"Next," he said, "we have even more good news." He turned his attention to Ishtar. "You, you're his apprentice, aren't you?"

Ishtar gulped. "How'd you know that."

"You're always hanging around in the back and watching while Bakura takes charge. Not only that but you just seem like a mediocre thief. ("Hey!") Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that you are basically his student, right?" Ishtar nodded. "I thought so. Seto, may I have the Millennium Eye."

Seto's eyes widened. "Yami, surely you aren't suggesting…"

"Seto," he said quietly. "The Eye."

He let out a long breath and handed it over. Yami instructed Ishtar to take it, and when he did, a bright light filled the room, blinding its occupants. A moment later it died down, revealing a very confused thief.

"So it's true," Yami muttered under his breath before speaking out loud. "Our seventh and final Priest, Ishtar. And so the former priests are officially relived from their duties. You may leave."

"But my Pharaoh-"

"I said, leave."

The former priest stood up and filed out of the room. When the last one had gone the doors closed leaving the new officials of Egypt: Keeper of the Puzzle- Yami, Keeper of the Rod- Seto, Keeper of the Ring- Bakura, Keeper of the Eye- Ishtar, Keeper of the Necklace- Isis, Keeper of the Scales- Shadi, and Keeper of the Key- Mokuba.

YYY: And that's the end if the four month long chapter. Like I said before, I'm really sorry about taking so long, but it's a really personal matter and I hope you will understand if I don't share it.

Yugi: Yeah. And thank you for all the wonderful reviews. We really do appreciate them.

Jou: Next chapter will be the second half of the meeting. Expect it out around New Years, if not sooner.

All: Until then

Happy Holidays from Yami Yami Yugi and co.