(grumbles about lack of reviewing)

Hi...Yes, I'm mad at the majority of you. You're not reviewing. That makes me gloomy, which in turn will make me kill off more characters….instead of waiting until the sequel to do so….which, since they'll be dead there won't be a sequel…Unless you want that you'd better start charming me. (grins) or I won't update until after Christmas…and after this chappie: you do NOT want that.

Yay! New reviewers! This is the most per chappie yet…well, technically one was for chappie one, but it's a new reviewer for the story so I'm pleased!

Bluegrass Elf: (grins) Thanks so much for the compliments. Love your name. I was thinking about some elf name myself. I'm a LOTR's fan. I'm not sure if that's the type of elves you're referring to but…yeah, sorry I'm babbling. I'm so glad to have you as a reviewer! Please continue!…Love ya!

Anei Aikouka: Heh. No, that chappie wasn't too violent. This is the gory chapter. You don't actually see the violence but witness the aftermath. You like how Honda's helping out? I was worried about my characterization of him. My sister (who's read all the way up to chappie 18) says he's mean later on. I disagree but I guess I'll have to wait and see what you guys think. So you also wanna know what's going through our dear tomb robber's mind? You'll get more insight after this chapter…not very much in this one. Whoa, this has got to be my longest response yet! Cool! Thanks dearie! Continue!

Mandy: YES! I've got an anonymous person! (Hugs excitedly) If you go to my profile page I talk about you and my other anonymous reviewer. (grins sheepishly) I guess I was pretty hyper and excited…Thanks so much for the review. At least someone paid attention to my pleas, threats, etc. Just for that, I'm dedicating this chapter to you!...um…it's a bit gory…Hope you're okay with that… It's okay if you don't know what to say. I just appreciate hearing from people! Love ya!

Dragonlady222: Weeha! I love you dear! You tell me what you like, don't like, what you're wondering…(hugs) Anyhoo, yes I did spare the little one. No, I don't like it when children die either. The thing is I wanted that reaction. I'm trying to emphasize how horrible this situation they've gotten themselves into is. (sigh) I must say it was a depressing scene to write. They'll be mentioned again…you'll see Jancey again…not for a looong while…Thanks for the reviews and loyalty! (Kowtows)

Satra: Don't feel stupid about saying you like the chapters. That's what I love to hear! So Yami's your favorite character, huh? (sighs) He's one of my favorites too. Don't worry, dear. He's done screwing things up…well, no that's a lie. There's a funny incident I'm writing in chapter 19 right now. It's funny though. Nothing bad; and it's not just him either! (looks hopefully for approval) But yeah, he's done making the situation worse. Love you! (hugs)

This chapter is dedicated to Mandy!

Coward's Strength

You cannot always run

You have to face your fears

That torment your weakening soul

And shriek malice in your ears.

If you run forever

Pursuers grow in number and might;

Instead, halt and turn around,

It's time to stand and fight!

Chapter 11: Savior

"I feel like a celebrity or something," Yugi grinned at the ID card around his neck.

Marik rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smirk. He didn't really have anything against Yugi. The boy hadn't wanted the pharaoh to use the spell, after all. He had a gleeful personality that was difficult to hate…well…except in the early morning.

"All right, boys, let's get started," Mr. Mutou opened the door to the room that held all the ancient Egyptian artifacts that weren't on display.

"Holy shit!" Marik whistled when he caught sight of the size of the room.

There were large crates all over, labels stamped on the side of each. The room was as big as the entire Mutou residence times two. There were file cabinets, each drawer individually locked, as well as row upon row of dusty display cases.

"I thought we'd be in some musty old room the size of a closet or something! Holy shit!" Marik repeated, eyes wandering from wall to wall.

Mr. Mutou pursed his lips, rather irked by the young Egyptian's vulgar language.

"I don't even know where to begin," Yami murmured.

"Well, I can at least help you there," Mr. Mutou answered. "Everything is set up according to time period. We'll be over that way," he pointed to the far-side of the room.

"Do you have any idea what we should be looking for?" Yami asked the blond.

"Not the foggiest. Perhaps a book of counter-curses and spells…" Marik shrugged, Millennium rod in his good hand.

They had decided to bring the item along; not knowing how much power would be needed. Yami also brought along the Millennium necklace.

"All right then…" the pharaoh sighed loudly as they opened the first file cabinet drawer.

"This is ridiculous!" Jou grumbled.

Thunder was rumbling in the distance. They had been searching for a few hours by this time. Anzu had insisted on not stopping for lunch yet.

"Can't we go eat now?" the boy pleaded, stomach growling loudly.

"Jou it's only just around our usual lunchtime," Anzu rolled her blue eyes in exasperation.

"We could go back to the museum and see how they're doing…and have lunch," Jou said hopefully.

"Oh won't you hush!" she snapped, quite irritated.

"Everyone else has gone in. Look!" Jou motioned around the streets.

It was true. The sidewalks were empty. All the people had gone in for shelter from the approaching storm.

"Let's keep going until it starts sprinkling," Anzu said, determined to hunt for as long as possible.

"But…!"

"Jou, Ryou and the others are depending on us to help find Bakura. He's already murdered some people. Now do you want to stop?"

"I hate you and your guilt-trips," Jou glowered sourly as they continued, trying to ignore his empty stomach.

"Man, this museum has an excellent restaurant!" Marik exclaimed as they sat in the eating area.

"To die for!" Mr. Mutou agreed.

"I think I saw a pay phone over there. I'll call Anzu's cell to see how she and Jou are holding up!" Yugi stated, bouncing away.

"All right, what's he on?" Marik smirked at the little figure.

"Don't say things like that," Yami scolded, keeping a protective eye on his hikari had disappeared from sight.

"Let's wrap up this break," Mr. Mutou stood. "We'd better get back to work."

"Right." The boys stood up too.

"I'll go tell Yugi. We'll meet you back in the room," Marik volunteered.

"I…but..!" Yami stuttered as the boy ran off. He took a step to follow.

"Hold on, Yami. Let him go," Mr. Mutou held out an arm to block the former monarch from his pursuit.

"But Marik…he has the Millennium rod…" Yami cast a worried eye toward the direction of the phones.

"And you gave it to him. Yami, you've trusted him thus far and he's remained true. In order to stop Ryou's yami we're going to need to continue trusting Marik…despite his attitude," Mr. Mutou stated firmly, steering Yami away.

"I…but…" the flustered monarch stammered as he was taken away.

Yugi hummed a tune to himself as he put money into the slot of the phone. His fingers tapped the numbers with the beat as he dialed. It rang once. Twice.

"Hello?" a hoarse voice said softly.

"Anzu? This is Yugi. How are you and…"

"Someone's after us!" Anzu cut in, out of breath.

"What?"

"Someone's chasing us! Jou and I got separated. I'm hiding behind a dumpster in some god-forsaken neighborhood," the girl all but sobbed.

"Who's chasing you? Is it Bakura?" Yugi asked urgently.

There was no reply.

"Anzu? Anzu!" Ygu screamed desperately into the phone.

"Yugi! What the hell's going on?" Marik suddenly was at his side.

"Someone's after Anzu and Jou. Jou's missing!" Yugi cried hysterically.

"All right, all right!" Marik said, noticing the stares they were receiving.

"They can't defend themselves against Bakura!" Yugi continued to shout.

"Hush hush!" Marik grabbed the boy's arm and started racing for the storage room.

"It's all my fault!" the smaller boy continued to sob. "It's all my fault!"

"This is crazy," Jou muttered as he warily looked about.

Thunder was booming directly overhead, rain falling in sheets. The jacket he was wearing thankfully had a waterproof lining.

There was the sound of footsteps approaching. Jou turned to his left and spotted the person that'd chased him and Anzu.

(Flashback)

"Jou?" Anzu suddenly asked worriedly.

"What?"

"Someone's following us." Jou detected the tremor in the girl's voice.

"How close?" he asked, not turning.

"Too close."

"All right. Don't look back. Pick up the pace, but not so it's obvious," he ordered, worried she'd bolt.

He slowly turned his head slightly and glanced back. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the figure.

"Anzu, listen to me. On da count of three we're gonna run."

"Jou?" she whimpered.

"One." He could feel the figure's eyes on his back. "Two." His hand brushed against hers for a second. He could sense her trembling. "THREE!"

They ran as fast as they could in terror. Next to him, Jou could tell Anzu was struggling. She was wearing high heels.

'We can't out-run him!' he thought frantically, turning to find the other gaining rapidly.

"Anzu!" he screamed as they rounded a corner.

He grabbed her arm and dragged her down an alley.

"Mpph!" she cried as his hand clamped over her mouth.

Jou looked to the back of the alley to see a tall, wooden fence. Off to the side of the fence led to another alleyway. He decided he'd have to risk whatever was on the other side of the the fence.

"Hurry!" He dragged her over to the fence. "Step on my hand and I'll boost you over!" he whispered fiercely, kneeling down next to her.

"But…!" A shadow appeared at the entrance of the alley.

"NOW!" he screamed.

She stood on his hand and he hoisted her up to the top of the fence.

"Jou!" she shrieked as the toppled over to the other side. The last view she saw of her friend was their stalker chasing after him down the narrow side alleyway.

(End flashback)

'I wouldn't let him get his hands on you,' he promised her silently.

Glaring at the approaching figure, he shouted: "Come out and show yourself!" He stood his ground, tired of running. The figure immerged from the shadow, also drenched in rain.

"Well, well, well. Finally ready to face me, are you? Where's the girl?" Torrda sneered.

"It doesn't matter," Jou replied fiercely.

"You've been avoiding us, keeping your little friends away as well."

Jou felt his stomach drop when he saw eight other gang members come into view. They were all smiling, chuckling at their cornered prey.

"Hello Blondie," a teen with long, black hair smirked. Jou glared back.

"What? Not going to talk to us?" Torrda grinned, a glint in his charcoal eyes.

"What's there to talk about?" Jou shot back, rain pouring down on them.

"Good point," Torrda laughed, advancing on the blond.

The others closed in. A few of them held knives; one large teen was swinging a link of thick chain back and forth.

'Oh shit. Oh shit.'

"You thought you'd just evade us. Tsk, you should've known better, blondie." Torrda lunged, knife in hand.

Jou dodged, tripping in his attempt to escape. The black-haired boy grabbed Jou by the scruff of his collar, but fell down immediately as the blond's fist met with his gut.

Jou smacked another teen in the face, the other's blood covering his hand. Two gang members raced forward and grabbed Jou's arms, slamming him against a brick wall.

"Aaack!" Jou choked on blood as a fist connected with his stomach.

He let out a scream as the chain connected with the side of his face. His eye burned, warm liquid pouring down his face along with freezing rain water. He winced, in a daze as knives were run down his arms. He could faintly hear the teens chuckling darkly at his plight. Pain erupted all over his body. Struggling helplessly, he glanced up out of the eye he could still see out of to find himself completely surrounded. Torrda stood directly in front of him, knife in hand.

"So much for you," the gang leader grinned wickedly, holding the knife high above his head, lightning flashing above.

Then there was a piercing scream.

"Where should we go? Did she say where she was?" Yami questioned his hikari as they stood on the front steps of the museum.

The wind was howling all around, rain pouring down quicker than the sewers could drain the water from the streets. Yugi, Marik, and Yami stood hudled against a pillar, trying to hide from the elements.

Yugi shook his head mournfully.

"Should we stay here or go to your house?" Marik yelled above the wind.

"I…"

Mr. Mutou came through the doors. His eyes were full of worry. He cautiously made his way down to the trio.

"All right, let's go home," he stated, descending the stairs.

"But Anzu and Jou…!" Yugi protested.

"I told the museum guards to keep watch for them. We'll go home and try calling Anzu again."

The three nodded dejectedly. The looked at each other remorsefully.

"What about Ryou and Honda?" Marik suddenly asked, stopping on the bottom step.

"The museum guards are watching for them too," Mr. Mutou said reassuringly as the cab he'd called struggled to pull up next to the flooding curb.

"Bakura's got to be freaked out right now," Marik mumbled, referring to the storm.

"Let's just hope they're all okay," Yami replied softly as they ducked into the cab.

Jou shut his eyes tightly, waiting for the knife. Then there was a scream. Jou looked up in shock at Torrda.

The gang leader stood, entire body tensed. His arm that held the knife was curled back in a sickening position behind him; the knife, still clasped in his hand, was protruding from his back, blood oozing down his sides.

Jou could make out a shadowy figure behind Torrda. The other gang members' attention was completely on the newcomer. The blond slid to the ground in agony, blacking out.

Bakura wandered down the empty streets. The wind was picking up, rain already falling hard. The thief had never seen so much rain. It was cold. So cold.

He felt his limbs shaking, begging him to rest. Ignoring his fatigue, he continued on. Leaning against a tree, the damp, rough bark scraped his hand.

"Damn you, pharaoh!" he whispered, throat sore.

He glared down at the Millennium ring. He'd been unable to pick up any signals from the other items. He'd only been able to figure out its basic magical abilities.

He snarled, cursing all the deities of the underworld. His clothing was completely soaked through. No. Not his clothing. The garments they'd put him in. He abhorred the thought of them having complete power over him. He'd been sealed in the ring, but for how long, exactly? The language had obviously changed. He despised the body he had now. It was far less muscular than his own body.

He paused, alert, as he heard a scream. Curious, he wandered into a narrow alley. The thief was cautious. He had no idea what kinds of magic or weapons they possessed in this new time.

He came to a dead end where a small crowd of people stood. They appeared to be torturing something or someone. Bored by the whole scene, Bakura turned to leave when he caught a glimpse of the victim being held against a wall.

It was one of the pharaoh's minions; one of the brats who'd held him against the wall while the jack ass monarch droned on and on. The thief smirked at the irony of it all. He was drawn out of his thoughts by another agonizing shriek from the blond-haired boy.

'He's my only chance at finding the pharaoh!' the tomb robber realized.

The leader of the gang raised a large knife to plunge into the blond. Bakura rushed forward, wrenching the teen's arm back and thrust the knife into his back. The boy let out an agonizing scream.

All eyes were on the thief now. The leader crumpled to the ground, blood gushing from his wound. The other boys yowled in fury, rushing forward with knives, metal bars, and chains.

Bakura smirked. 'Amateurs.'

Jou slowly came back into consciousness, pain throbbing in his head. He couldn't see out of his left eye, vision blurred. The smell of blood ripped through his nostrils. It was difficult to move his arms. Slowly, his good eye came into focus.

His stomach twisted at the sight before him. It was a massacre. All nine gangsters lay sprawled throughout the alley. The black-haired boy was missing his face. The flesh had been completely ripped off. His skull was a bloody mass, grinning grotesquely. Torrda's spinal cord had been torn out but was still attached at his neck, sticking out at a stomach-wrenching angle. What was left of one boy's eyes was laying a few feet from his body, mouth still hanging open in a silent scream. The sickening stench of violent death reeked throughout the alley. Another two were hanging limply by a chain that had been strung through their empty eye sockets; bodies being swung back and forth violently by the wind. Two were missing their limbs, bloody stubs still gushing blood. The other two hand been gutted, the remains of their organs lay in a sickening pile next to their corpses.

Jou turned from the sight and threw up on the ground. His gut wrenched, mind fuzzy, unable to focus. He froze when a shadow appeared over his hunched form. He stared up in terror at the figure before him.

"Oh shit…Bakura!"

Hahaha! Perhaps that will get reviews out of you! Yeah. Did you guys forget about Torrda?

REVIEW. NOW.