A/N: Before I start, I want to thank Yami Val, shining-tears, and of course, Aura Serene for their unconditional support. I would really appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Chapter 19: It's Not Over Yet

Atemu's POV

Despite the problems I'm facing, I feel fine. Nothing could compare to the bliss—the peace of mind I'm having right now. All my priests eventually found out that Seth and I are together now. I guess news spread like wildfire here in the palace. Oh well…

Seriously, the look on Shadi and Karimu's faces were priceless when they found out. Isis, as usual, already knew with the help of her Millennium Necklace. But yes, they accepted it wholeheartedly. Even Shimon. Poor man, I could still see his face when I told him the news. Something was wrong with the picture, though. Everyone can see how tense the atmosphere gets whenever Seth and Akunadin are in a room together. I wonder what happened to them.

"Still awake, Atemu?"

I look at the man I love and grin sheepishly. I didn't mean to wake him up. "Yes, so are you, it seems," I answer as he hugs me towards him. Seth's been acting weird all day. I never saw him sit down and not react to whatever was being discussed. He was too quiet. And I could see him staring suspiciously at Akunadin. Really, what's going on?

"Is everything alright, love?" I ask. He nods and buries his face in my hair.

"Seth?" I ask again

"Hmm?"

"You're not telling me something. What's wrong?"

He suddenly breaks away and sits upright, knowing I'll do the same. As I look at him, I could see the confusion in his eyes. What was going on with him? Something was troubling Seth, it was plain to see.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He meets my gaze, hiding his confusion once again and I find myself staring at the same serious face of his. Something happened when I was gone and knowing him, he's trying to solve it all by himself.

"I know something troubles you. Please tell me."

"It's nothing," he answers. Yeah right.

"If it's nothing then why is it bothering you?"

He sighs.

"I'm confused about something but you really don't have to worry yourself, Atemu. I'm fine," Seth said.

"Seth, I want to help you. Tell me, please?"

I force him to meet my gaze, just to let him know how serious I am. "It's about Akunadin," he finally admits. I knew it! Something did happen between the both of them.

But before I could reply, there was a blast and reflexively, we jumped out of bed and made our way to the throne room where the sound originated. As expected, all my High Priests were there, even Shimon and Mana, but still no Akunadin. Where can that person be?

Seth grips my hand tightly and pulls me towards him protectively; the smoke from the blast not completely gone. From the curtain of smoke, I could make out the form of a person. His chuckle—I easily recognized.

"Bakura!" I exclaimed. Who else will dare blast his way to the palace? He emerged from the gray veil with the usual annoying smirk on his face. Why must he always make my life a misery?

"So you survived, huh, pharaoh?" he said, not completely visible for us all to see. I didn't answer.

"My, my, pharaoh do you look delicious," he said, eyeing me. I narrowed my gaze.

"Shut your mouth, Tomb Robber or must I close it for you?" Seth retorts, making his way in front of me. Bakura laughs at his answer. Seriously, I think he's gone mad already or maybe he's just a good actor.

"Why must you make my job so difficult?" Bakura says, "Just give me the other items and I'll be off."

"You're insane!" I answer as I see my puzzle on his neck with Mahado's Millennium Ring.

The lunatic shrugged, "Fine. You want the hard way as always, so be it," he said, "Diabound come out of the shadows!" Not again.

End of Atemu's POV

Atemu watched as Diabound appeared from behind the Tomb Robber. Its size doubled, he realized. He will have a hard time with this monster.

"Dark, isn't he?" Bakura asked, making his way to the pharaoh.

Seth takes out his Millennium rod and points it at Bakura, "Stop right there, Tomb Robber!" he ordered. Bakura rolled his eyes, "Oh please. You don't scare me with your rod, priest," he answered as he sent Atemu's High Priests flying into a wall with a wave of his hand.

"Seth!" Atemu's eyes widend as all four priests slumped to the ground unconscious. "Now it's your turn, pharaoh," Bakura said, "Diabound, attack!"

Atemu, somehow, couldn't move as Diabound blasted at him. Before he knew it, someone was already in front of him, blocking the attack until the attack was gone. "Are you alright, your majesty?" said whoever saved him.

"Mahado!" Atemu cried in relief. Bakura scowled, noticing who it was, "Not you again! I already killed you!" he said.

"You can kill my body, Bakura, but never my soul," Mahado answered, pointing his staff at the other's monster, "Dark Magic!"

Diabound fell backwards at the attack, its owner clutching his chest in pain. They didn't expect that. Bakura's scowl deepened as he recovered from the attack. Why must that annoying High Priest always interfere with his plans?

"Diabound, blast him into pieces!" he ordered. Atemu didn't need to order a counter attack as Mahado fired back with one of his own, the power of the two equal. "Oh no, you don't! Diabound, stronger!" Bakura ordered.

Atemu shielded his eyes as the blast from the other's monster won, sending Mahado towards the column of the room, and the pharaoh in pain.

The Tomb Robber laughed at the sight of the pharaoh, "Admit it, pharaoh, you're powerless without the puzzle. You're nothing—absolutely nothing without darkness!" he said.

Atemu stared at him, "Look who's talking. If it weren't for me, you're already dead or rotting in the dungeons by now!" he answered back as Mahado flew to his side.

"And I thank you for that with this—Diabound, kill him!"

"No!"

Atemu turned around to see Seth barely standing, his Dios ready to attack. "Seth!" Atemu cried. Dios flew by Mahado's side, blocking the attack.

Bakura growled in frustration, his eyes falling on the four priests behind the pharaoh, "You're all going to die! Diabound, attack!"

"Dark Magic!"

"Hell Flame!"

Atemu watched as all of his high priests' monsters beside the Dark Magician, their powers combining beating Diabound.

The pharaoh waited for the emitted smoke to vanish, his eyes widening at the sight of Diabound still standing and unharmed. Bakura stood smirking, "Surprised pharaoh?" he asked.

Atemu's eyes narrowed. The spirits who wanted revenge for what happened years ago were protecting Diabound. He cried out in pain and doubled over as Mahado fell again from the other's attack, his priests following with their own.

"You don't stand a chance, Atemu," Bakura said, "They want revenge and you can't stop them."

Atemu's eyes widened before falling on his priests. They will die if he doesn't find a way to defeat Diabound and the vengeful souls. He can't allow that to happen. Revenge? That's it! His eyes fell on his cousin one last time, apologizing silently as he walked towards the monster.

"What—?" Bakura muttered.

"Atemu no!" Seth exclaimed, trying to stand up, wincing as he did so. But his lover was not listening to him. That's suicide!

"You were all killed mercilessly and you want revenge. I understand that," Atemu said, addressing to the spirits, "You want revenge? Take it!"

The sprits swirled around the pharaoh, accepting the offer before entering Atemu's body in one full force, the pharaoh screaming in pain as they did so as he fell to his knees, his body shaking terribly at the unusual cold.

Seth watched in horror, unable to do anything. Before he knew it, something from the pharaoh was glowing, transforming into a human being. All high priests gasped, "Pharaoh Akunsunammon!"

Mentioned pharaoh looked down at his trembling son solemnly, understanding his son's decision. "Atemu," he whispered, calling out for his son who met his gaze, "You have decided well. But you must not pay for the sins of others, especially mine. Farewell, my son," the pharaoh added before vanishing with the spirits.

Atemu rose slowly and met Mahado's gaze, who nodded, knowing what he must do. Mahado charged at Diabound, burying his staff on the monster; Bakura stifled a pained cry, "H-how—?" he choked, looking at the pharaoh.

"I wanted to do that to you for a long time," said Mahado.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your family and friends, Bakura, really I am," Atemu told the Tomb Robber solemnly.

"Dark Magic!" Mahado cried, blasting Diabound into pieces, its owner screaming in pain until his death.

Atemu sighed and spun around to face his priests before collapsing to the floor unconscious, his cousin running towards him.

"It's done," Karimu breathed as they watch Atemu being checked by the healers in his chamber with Seth beside him.

"Bakura is dead at last," Shadi added.

"He may be dead but no," Isis answered, "We're not done."

"What do you mean?" Shadi and Karimu chorused.

Isis turned to them, looking squarely at the eye, "It's not over," she said, "Not yet."

A/N: Well you heard the girl. It's not over yet. Read and review! Wow, six pages! Man, I can't believe I managed to write this long again. But no, I'm still suffering from writer's block. Curse you! Oh well… sigh