Hello! I'm really happy right now because I just made 2nd chair clarinet for district and I will be going to All-State in December. It would have been in a week but due to Hurricane Rita and Katrina they moved it to December! That would be an awesome birthday present to myself! I'm so excited! Hehe Wish me luck! And here you are my faithful and some new reviewers! Chapter 13 of Gems of Amethyst and Ruby!

P.S. Sorry this took so long…I didn't mean to. Lol School has been murdered. I'm glad I'm on Fall Break cuz I wouldn't have had time to write this!

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own it. This is getting tiring writing this…

Unveiling the hoods of Thebes?

The hooded man stepped to the side and behind him almost identical in size and stature was another man. If not for their devious doings they would look like monks, innocent in their doings and solemn in voice. It was a mere façade that could easily be seen through.

"You did not listen, you'll regret that."

"That you will," spoke the other hooded figure in response to his partner, "but no matter, perhaps we'll have a little fun this way."

Atemu moved slightly closer to Yugi fixing both men with a glare. "Who are you?"

Both figures chuckled simultaneously, "we who follow Ma'at." They replied in a singsong voice.

Yugi took a slight step forward, "What have we done to deserve the justice of Ma'at served by you?"

"Ma'at seeks those who bring death unnaturally."

Atemu was furious, "Who are you? What business do we have with you? Why have you tried to kill Yugi?" he bellowed.

"Amen and Binemwase, but come now we'll be frank. Marik and Bakura would be our names to the world. Had you not taken them away."

"Taken your names away," Atemu asked skeptically?

"Of course, we are lost. Everything…gone." There was emptiness to his voice that seemed to reverberate off the walls.

Yugi shot Atemu a curious glance, "Who are they?" Atemu did not hold the same question in his mind. He knew now and he could remember who they were.

"Nobles. The both of you, I heard something vaguely of your disappearance. What responsibility are we supposed to claim for that? That was months ago."

"We had everything, we were kings! Gods of our land, damn you!" Bakura lunged forward with his outburst.

Marik caught him and thrust him back, "No! Calm yourself, this is to be our night of revenge, do not waste it with haste and blindness."

"Revenge…" Yugi voiced softly, "We have done nothing, speak plainly. Maybe we can reach some sort of understanding?"

"Understanding? That is laughable," Marik did indeed laugh, a bitter laugh with no humor. "You don't understand, Prince. Perhaps I should show you."

Marik held his palm open almost in a token of peace. The gleaming ruby shined with a sudden light and Marik beckoned Yugi with a mere gesture of his hand. Yugi shot forward suddenly and fell at Marik's feet.

Marik kicked him over on his back and placed his foot at Yugi's neck. " You understand now?"

Yugi looked up alarmingly, for a brief moment he wondered where Atemu was he turned his head only to find it kicked back into place, staring up at Marik.

"Don't worry about your precious Prince, Bakura will take wonderful care of him."

Atemu had shot forward to help Yugi but he found himself restrained by some invisible force and held against the cold wall. Bakura appeared in front of him with his amethyst jeweled ring shimmering in the dim light.

"Going somewhere? I suggest you watch the show." Atemu turned his head in Yugi's direction; he could see Marik with his heel to Yugi's throat, choking him.

"Let him go!" he said fiercely, anger burning in his eyes, but Bakura merely chuckled.

"Isn't it wonderful, to watch someone else suffer while you are helpless to stop them?"

"Bastard!"

Bakura shot both his hands around Atemu's neck in sudden retaliation. "You'll do well to stay silent," he hissed. He released Atemu and pushed Atemu's head away in disgust. Atemu gasped for breath, and watched Yugi helplessly.

Yugi was desperately trying to breath, but his tormentor only pressed his foot down harder. The world around him started spinning and blurring so fast Yugi had to close his eyes. Everything started to dissolve and Yugi felt himself go limp.

Marik lifted his foot at the last moment and Yugi realized he could breath. He took a huge breath, which ended up choking him. Yugi rolled on to all fours, trying to draw in air.

He finally managed to catch a breath and stood up to defend himself. Marik met him halfway up and sent him flying with a flick of his hand. Yugi hit the wall hard and sank to the ground. He was desperately trying to cling to some sort of reality by blinking, but his world slowly dissolved into black.

Miraculously Atemu managed to get his hand free, and he punched Bakura straight in the face. (YES! Sorry…authoress had to say that…lol) Atemu sprinted down towards Yugi, Marik raised a hand against him but Atemu pushed him down toward the steps.

Atemu gently lifted Yugi's head into his lap. He lightly tapped his love's face, "Come on Yugi, wake up."

Yugi gave a slight groan and blinked his eyes open. Confusion was evident in his eyes and voice, "Atemu?" Yugi's voice was slightly slurred toward the end.

"I'm right here."

"Mark…Bakra?" (Who is this strange new Mark? Lol Sorry, I'm really cheesy)

It was almost comical the way Yugi was talking, despite the seriousness of the situation. Atemu gave a slight smile and helped him sit up. "They are down for now, but not for long love."

Indeed Marik and Bakura were already rising with curses and groans. Atemu helped Yugi to his feet and held him to his side.

Marik raised his hand and Atemu came zooming toward him. He landed on the stone ground with a loud thump. Marik walked across the room toward Yugi and turned on the spot. He gave a slight nod to Bakura before they both raised their rings toward the sky.

The floor beneath them all started to shake rumble. A large crevice appeared and slowly stretched till the temple was split in half. A great abyss lay before them, Marik cautiously tapped a loose piece of rumble into the crevice and watched it fall, there was no returning sound.

"You enjoy stories Prince?" Marik asked addressing Atemu.

"Not sick ones told by you," Atemu spat. Bakura sent him skidding in to the crevice. Atemu fell in and was only holding by his hands.

Bakura leaned forward with a sickening grin, "You know I could let you fall right now and feel no regret? Do you know how easy that would be for someone like me who has suffered so badly? Do you?"

The only reason he was still holding on was due to Bakura's magic.

"You want to hear a story now Prince?"

Atemu, seeing no other way out, nodded. Bakura pulled him back up and made him kneel at the edge of the chasm before him.

Marik moved Yugi to the same spot only opposite Atemu. He stood behind him in a relaxed stance.

"Now where to begin," he asked while tracing the line of his mouth with a finger? "Ah, yes, how about the day when our lives were ruined?"

Bakura gave a slight nod but remained silent, it was obvious the Marik was the leader in this whole scheme.

"We were nobles of a good province. We had worked hard to become so, all our younger years were spent with horrible masters slowly giving us penitence. The people there regarded us as their rulers, despite their knowledge of the Pharaoh. We both had wives and each of us was blessed with a daughter. When we heard the Pharaoh of Upper Egypt was searching for a suitor for his son, we both knew what this could mean to each of our families."

The Pharaoh had started searching for a bride for Atemu about a year before coming up with the plan to join the separate parts of Egypt into one.

"The Pharaoh met with us secretively and was charmed with our daughters naturally. We vowed then and there that when one of us became part of the royal family we would bring the other with them. To share the glory we both so rightly deserved."

Atemu and Yugi listened with rapt attention, was all this because of two men's insatiable desire for wealth?

"Then the Pharaoh told us he had found another suitor and that neither of our daughters had been chosen. I asked why, and he told me it was a matter of the well-being of Egypt."

Atemu spoke up, "Since you didn't get into the Royal family then you surely must have returned to your homes, to your families."

"Too right you are, only we found ruin and destruction. Everyone was dead the province was destroyed and bodies littered the streets. We found our families, just outside our home. They were all dead, sliced through the throat."

Marik stopped for a moment to regain his composure; it was strange to think that a man such as he was so attached to his family. The death of his family had brought him to madness and desperation; he was a figure to be pitied.

"The few people left shunned us, blaming us for all that had occurred. The pushed us away and sent us into exile. We were too guilty not to follow their wishes. In the matter of one night we had lost everything we had ever had. Everything we had ever wanted and every chance we had of becoming more. The only things we have left are these rings which our wives had given us."

Bakura gave a slight sad nod, and looked at his ring with reverence. Greed shown in his face and it was filled with desire.

"We found this temple and begged for Ma'at to give us justice. Justice for our families and their suffering! Ma'at held true to our many prayers and sent us to Osiris, our lord and benefactor."

With each passing word Marik's voice grew in solemnity and reverence.

"We pledged our lives to him, in all that he does and begged him to share some of the power he holds in the Underworld. We beseeched him with gifts, praise and prayer. For many nights we stayed in his temple in Abydos. 1"

Bakura had a slight grin on his face; he was reliving the moment that Osiris had rewarded them.

"Osiris appeared before us and granted us power beyond our wildest imagination. These rings became more than ordinary remembrances, they became talismans of great power."

Malik kissed his ring in affection, "I owe everything to this ring to Osiris and Ma'at!"

"Our plan was to kill your betrothed, and when he died we would find some poor girl and offer her as our daughter. For no one would refuse the chance to live in the Pharaoh's home? We made numerous attempts to kill your beloved Yugi, but each one failed more miserably then the last. We know not who attacked our province, but you…you caused all this. Your incompetent fool of a father," he accused while pointing toward Atemu. "We have led you here with an absurdly easy riddle, and our intent, dear Princes, is to kill you. You will suffer a fate just like your parents did."

Atemu had bristled at the mention of his father, but now he shuddered in slight fear of the venom that the vendetta had been made. Atemu suddenly found he could move so he stood as quickly as his sore legs would allow.

Across the wide cavity between him Yugi was doing the same. Malik and Bakura raised their hands in a fake offering to the heavens. Two gleaming swords appeared, blade wedged deep into the stone.

Atemu's hand closed around the hilt just as Bakura unsheathed his weapon from his belt.

Atemu stood straight-backed and proud in front of Bakura. He had an odd gleam in his eye, one of pride and steadfastness. He hefted the sword in front so it stood between his eyes gleaming in the dull light of the cavern.

Bakura crossed swords with him in mockery of formality. He grinned devilishly before sending a direct blow to Atemu's head. Atemu stepped back in time to avoid the swipe.

"Dear Prince, that was a reminder of how little I care for you."

"Point taken."

Malik had avoided any such formalities such was his desire for revenge. Yugi, however, was the first to draw blood.

Malik clutched his bleeding arm in a moment of surprise but merely shrugged and charged.

Yugi dropped back onto the stone as Malik fell on top of him. Malik's sword found his shoulder and Yugi hissed in pain. Kicking out with his feet he soon broke free. He pushed himself up on his sword and smiled.

"Nice shot, but I don't think you'll get that lucky again."

Malik gave a ferocious growl and charged again. Yugi turned and ran trying to find some smaller space. The wide space they were fighting in gave to much room for attack and retreat. Yugi searched for some sort of closed in area where he could pin his enemy. He ran until he hit the back wall and towards the back of the temple the fissure was not quite as wide.

Yugi easily jumped the gap with Malik close on his heels.

Atemu noticed Yugi jumping that gap and an idea came to mind. He started vigorously slashing at Bakura in attempt to gain some ground between them.

Bakura easily parried the clumsy attacks but found he could not gain any ground and he was forced to retreat backwards. The abyss below started becoming steadily closer. He called out to Malik for help. He couldn't hold off Atemu's vicious attacks for much longer.

Malik made no move to help his 'partner' and drove Yugi back toward the crevice undoubtedly trying to do the same as Atemu had. Yugi tried to veer left but Malik caught him off guard.

"Now we wouldn't want you straying off course would we?" Malik shoved Yugi back with his sword making the wound on Yugi's shoulder far worse.

Yugi retaliated quickly and effectively slicing Malik's hand off. The hand landed with a brief thud and rolled to the brink of the chasm. Malik gave a scream of pain and loss and dropped to the ground. Bakura cried out again, desperately seeking help. Atemu had Bakura at the very edge with his sword at his throat. Bakura could not move for fear of slicing his neck.

Malik gave a brief look at Bakura but his eyes sought out his ring. The choice was evident; he could save his friend or his ring. Malik dove after his bloodied hand, he needed his ring! He grabbed his hand and held it to his chest like a mad thing. (Kind of like Gollum!) Yugi kicked him and he held on to the edge with a hand. His hand was rapidly slipping and he looked to Bakura pleadingly.

Atemu gave Bakura the shove he needed and he fell to the abyss holding on the edge with his hands. One look at Malik's face and Bakura kicked out with his foot at the betrayal Malik had shown him. His foot hit his mark and Malik fell in the abyss below. Bakura caught his hand and Malik looked up with relief.

"How does it feel to know your life rests in my hands my friend, my equal?"

"Please! I gave you everything! I give it all to you!"

Bakura viciously grabbed Malik's ring and released him, "Tell Anubis Ma'at sent you!"

Malik gave an insane cry as he vanished in to the pit below. Bakura raised the two rings in order to save him but the crimson ring shown defiantly and Bakura found himself falling through space as the void above him closed.

An unearthly voice rang out, "Ma'at does not reward betrayal."

Yugi looked alarmingly around and found no source for the voice. Atemu shrugged and gently took a look at Yugi's shoulder.

Yugi breathed heavily and leaned on Atemu. Atemu pronounced his wound minimal and they looked into the abyss before them.

They watched as the crevice sealed with a sickening crunch. The temple began to shake and the ceiling started to fall. Atemu and Yugi covered their heads and made a mad dash for the opening. The stone gathered together in a landslide of rock and dust and headed out the door. They ran down the steep steps but the onslaught of stones soon caught up with them and entombed them.

Two figures came across the limp forms of Atemu and Yugi. Each was under a large pile of rubble and debris. He and his friend gently removed the stones on top of them and turned them around to reveal their faces.

"The Princes, I know their faces anywhere."

"It's a shame, isn't it?"

His partner nodded in comprehension. "We'll send them back won't we?"

"Yes, may they have nice journey."

His friend retrieved the two camels the Princes had left behind. They lifted them up and draped them unceremoniously onto the camels. They tied their legs to the leads to ensure they stayed attached to the camels. They each gave the camels a strong slap to the rear and they were off like bullet into the desert wind.

"Come dear friend. We have a long way to go before we right this wrong."

"A long way, but I fear not."

1. Abydos was the city the Egyptians built a temple for Osiris, who is the God of the Underworld. He wasn't a bad god per say, but how good do you think a God of the dead is? So I changed how the Egyptians felt about him, just a little.

So did guys enjoy that? Who will be my 200th reviewer? You have to be fourth! Thank you to all the people who reviewed but in my eagerness to get this chapter our I did not proof read it thoroughly and I did not waste time responding to all of you. BUT THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! I hope you understand and are glad for this chapter coming out now!

Review, and I will respond to all of you people next time! Any questions after this chapter? Hehe I know you guys do. This story has a long way to go yet!