Why haven't I updated in so long? Just read my profile and you'll see. Don't expect frequent updates though.

Past Recollections

The following day, Joey, Tristan and Duke had set out to look for Yugi, combing the streets of Domino.

"Yugi!" Joey hollered.

"Yugi-kun!" Tristan swung his head left to right.

"Where in the world could he have run off to?" Duke panted. "This isn't like him and his grandpa to just suddenly disappear."

"So why are you breathing like that?" Tristan cocked his head to the side, giving Duke a strange look. "You look like you saw a ghost."

"It's…it's just…" Duke tried to catch his breath. "I just came from Yugi's house and…and…"

"Spill it Duke!" Joey snapped.

"When I went to Yugi's house, it was so different. From the outside, it looked the same. But on the inside…"

"What do you mean?" Tristan shook Duke. "The place got trashed."

Managing to pull himself together, Duke caught his breath. "Come, you guys should check this out."

The three made their way up and down the streets, crossing left to right until they reached the game shop where Yugi and his grandpa currently reside. Looking through the windows, the counter was still standing, the floor was free from cracks and trash. No cards appeared to have been stolen.

"I don't get it." Joey's eyes darted around. "Everything looks fine in here."

"Sure it looks fine from the outside." Duke placed his hand on the doorknob. "But when I went inside…"

"I can tell you where Yugi is being kept." A voice called out from behind. Startled, the three looked up seeing Rishid standing before them in his usual cloak, although he allowed the afternoon sunlight on his head.

"Isn't that...?" Tristan snapped his fingers.

"You're Rishid, aren't you?" Joey pointed his finger at him. "You and I dueled during the Battle City Finals!"

Rishid stared on at Joey, as if seeing him for the first time. He then turned around and made his way down the street. "Follow me."

"Should we follow him?" Duke watched Rishid questionably.

"It's the only way we can find Yugi," Joey followed Rishid. "Then so be it."

Shrugging their shoulders, Duke and Tristan followed behind. They all walked in silence for quite some time, the sun beginning to set.

"Hey," Tristan looked around at the unfamiliar streets. "Where are you taking us?"

Duke's eyes darted around. "Either he's taking us to the other side of town or out of it." He shifted his gaze to Rishid. "Hey Rishid, where are we going?"

Rishid remained in his silence, continuing to walk. Finally, after tunneling through the twisted alley, they reached an abandoned warehouse.

"Isn't this the old Nijima Factory?" Joey scratched his head. "I thought they closed down years ago." But Rishid continued walking, unaware of the constant chatter.

"Rishid," Tristan called out, running after him. "Wait up!"

All three followed him inside the dark warehouse. Although a bit run down, it appeared to be in fine shape with cobwebs hanging in the dark corners. Tristan, Duke and Joey unknowingly continued to follow Rishid.

"Dude, where are you taking us?" Tristan kept his hands in his pockets. Finally, he stopped in his tracks, stepping to the side. A shadowed figure sat on the chair, hands and legs bound with rope. The figure appeared to be weak, bruises covering his face. Being aware of his surroundings, its eyes widened seeing the three of them.

"Yugi?" Joey, Tristan and Duke stared at utter belief.

"Get out of here!" Yugi cried out. "It's a trap!"

"Say what?" All of a sudden, the doors slammed shut. Dark colors of blue, red, and black swirled in together as lifeless trees with huge cocoons hanging from its branches.

"Where the hell are we?" Joey was not at all pleasant at the surroundings. He shifted his gaze towards Rishid. "Where have you taken us?"

"Too a world where solitude awaits." A soft voice called out. Wearing a short black skirt with chain links hooked around her waist a short black turtleneck with most of her midriff showing. A golden bracelet adorned her wrist. Black boots with matching color laced stockings embraced her legs as the form came in to full view.

"Tea?" Tristan and Duke gazed at the one standing before them.

"Wait a minute…"Joey arched an eyebrow.

Rishid, however, fell to one knee. "My dear sister, I brought you the kids you asked for."
Upon hearing this, Joey grabbed Rishid by the neck with one hand, raising his fist towards his face. "You freak! Traitor! What did you lead us down here for?"

Smiling, Mari tilted her head to the side. "Rishid, I'm so proud of you." She slowly made her way towards Rishid, placing her hand on his head. "But I feel you've done enough for me.

"Mari," Rishid looked up at his sister. Joey finally released his grasp on Rishid's neck. "I wanted to make it up to you. I know how you felt ever since Bakura left you and the epidemic that robbed me of my former life."

"Hey man." Duke took a glance at Rishid. "Why are you making this such a big deal? She just said you can go home."

"That's not what she meant!" Rishid shot a look of fear towards Duke.

Laughing softly, Mari released her hand from Rishid's head, smiling innocently. "You have already made it up to me Rishid." Kissing him softly on the cheek before stepping back, that smile ceased to fade away. "And now may your soul be in peace." At that point, a vine shot down from one of the trees, wrapping Rishid by the ankles before thrusting him upside down like a frozen turkey.

"Rishid!" Joey couldn't believe what was going on. Sure, Rishid may have stabbed them in the back but in all things, he considered Rishid an okay person. After all, he had seen him when he was under Marik's control. Before he could step forward to help Rishid, the vines rapidly wrapped around Rishid's body, the thorns piercing through his body. Before long, his entire body was wrapped up.

Satisfied with her work, Mari gazed at the three. "I'm sorry you guys had to see that. I really am."

"Who or what are you after?" Joey glared at Mari. "If you want to mess with either Yami or Tea," he held up both fists in a fighting stance. "You have the golden opportunity to get through me."

"Hold on Joey." Duke blocked Joey's fists. "Shadi said Mari has ties with the ancient Egyptian past. Why don't you just duel her? That way, this whole thing can blow over."

"You're forgetting," Joey gently brushed Duke's hand off. "That bracelet she's wearing is not connected to those millennium items like the one Yugi has. Plus, Shadi said she's not capable of dueling."

Tristan shifted his gaze towards Mari. "Why don't you explain that."

Clearing her throat, Mari stared at the three innocently. "I am well aware of the ancient duel monsters, as well as the Egyptian God Cards and millennium items. With all the training under Marik's aid, however, I never got around to gaining any dueling skills."

To this, Duke and Tristan laughed like hyenas on a rampage. Tristan held his sides, trying to stop the hysteria. "You have to admit, it's really hilarious. A being from Ancient Egypt who doesn't have any skill in dueling."

"That does suck." Duke leaned against the tree, laughing as well. "Everyone who had some role in Egypt can duel at least but this one can't."

"Uh…guys." Joey had a worried look on his face.

Tristan and Duke managed to wheeze out their laughter when they noticed Mari smiling and laughing softly.

"I take that this is not a good sign, right?" Duke stammered.

"Truthfully," Mari smiled. "I like people who can find great ways to have a laugh." She pointed right behind them. "I like to create a few laughs myself."

Turning to where she was pointing, all three gaped in shock, seeing Yugi's fallen body about ten feet away from them.

"Yugi-kun!" Duke and Joey made their way towards their friend, turning him over. His eyes were closed as if in a sleep-like state.

"Yugi!" Tristan shook Yugi gently but to no avail. He then turned towards Mari, shaken and tense. "What have you done?"

But Mari's smile remained plastered. "There were many things I wanted to do to that poor boy. That is, until I came up with the prefect plan."

"I hope Yami kicks your ass Mari." Joey hissed. "Once he finds out what you did to Yugi, you're done for!"

"Well, I'm not going to leave a body laying in my own realm now would I?" snapping her fingers, Yugi's body began to crumble, the soil absorbing the last remains.

"What…she…have…" Duke stammered in a state of panic.

"In a few hours," Mari folded her hands, resting them on her stomach. "He'll become one of the many trees that grow here."

"And that's what you've done to Mai?" Joey was seething under his breath.

"Oh, her?" She took a glance behind her, noticing the small blonde girl hiding behind one of the trees. "Yes, I was about to send her to the same fate Yugi endured but you came out so I had to drop my plans. In the mean time, I left a little personal reminder to get back to her as soon as I dealt with you and a few certain people."

"What have you done to Mai?" Joey roared. "Damn it Mari, tell me!"

"Ah, that's exactly how Tea was. Fierce, determined, it's too bad that she was easy to penetrate like all the others." All of a sudden, the little girl emerged from the trees, wandering aimlessly in the forest.

Instantly, however, Joey recognized the child. "Mai!"

Tristan glanced at Joey. "Hey you're right. That is Mai but as a kid?"

"I was about to let her suffer the same fate but you two came out instead. So I thought I should let her enjoy this hell in such a fun way."

"I doubt I would enjoy this place." Duke looked around the twisted, dead forest.

Mari shifted her gaze towards Joey. "I've kept my eye on you for quite some time Joey. I know the kinds of feelings you have towards Mai and even I could admit, it's rather sweet."

"Turn me into one of those cocoons and I will get you." Joey glared.

"All mouth and no dignity serves as sympathy for me." She shook her head. "Poor Joey. I'll make an exception to you. After all, you're special and special people get special treatment."

"I don't like the sound of this." Joey took a step back. "What…what are you going to do to me?"

Slowly approaching Joey, Mari smiled innocently at the blonde. "I won't make you suffer like the others have. That would be cruel after all." She proceeded to place her hand on his stomach. A burning sensation surged through Joey for a slight second or two before a ghostly hand emerged from his stomach, holding Mari's hand. The soul of Joey's inner child emerged from Joey's body, looking up at Mari curiously.

"Joey!" Duke was unable to hold back his horror. Mari led Joey to Mai, t he two kids staring at one another curiously, as if they never laid eyes on one another.

The sorceress shifted her gaze back to Joey. In her hands is a pearly, white ball. Bouncing it on the ground a few times, she stood a good two feet away from him. "Like I said Joey, you're very special. Doesn't mean you could get out alive." All of a sudden, a huge flash surrounded Joey, causing him to disappear.

"Joey?" Tristan called out.

"Joey, where'd you go?" Duke frantically looked around.

"He didn't go very far." Mari smiled warmly, holding up the ball. "Now I'm sorry you two but I must be going." Mari tossed the ball to Mai, who gazed at it very curiously before tossing it to Joey. In response, Joey tossed the ball back. Soon enough, a game of catch came about.

"What are you going to do?" Duke's voice shook. "Make us into your little cocoons?"

Shaking her head, Mari pointed up. "Look above you two."

Doing as they were told, Duke and Tristan looked up at the cocoons above them. There was a small opening that gradually began to widen.

"What the hell is that?" Tristan's fingers gripped on to Duke's shirt. Before Mari could answer, arms shot out from each of the two, grabbing both of them. Screams of horror filled the air as they were devoured. The creatures living in the cocoons ate out the bodies, blood dripping on to the ground. Not a hair or scrap of the two remained.

Making her way towards the cocoons, she patted one of them. "Soon, just a few more bodies and you'll be free."

(-)

Sorry folks, this is not a fun loving story with good intentions. But feedback will be appreciated. Any tips or ideas on how to improve or where to go from here will be great.