The Eternal Gem
Chapter 3: Isis' Betrayal
The early rays of dawn shone in through the window upon the soundly sleeping figure. Very gently, Yami stroked his fingers across Yuugi's face and through his hair. His face was a bit paler than usual just like it had been the other day. When they had gotten back to the palace, Fidil was right there to hear the good news about Yuugi's victory. However, Yami told him he wanted Yuugi's health evaluated. Fidil's smile had immediately vanished even though Yuugi appeared healthy in front of him. Yami trusted his viziers with all his heart, but he was certain Fidil knew something he didn't. The torn expression on his face showed he desperately wished to tell Yami something, but he hadn't.
Yuugi had been checked up physically and nothing showed up on the evaluation; he was perfectly healthy, but his face remained a bit off color. Fidil had told him perhaps Yuugi was exhausted from his big day, but Yami wasn't so sure. He and Yuugi had had plenty of big days, like during the festival and other things like that. The only other time he had been off color was after battling Kontar again; Yami knew when his complexion paled it was a sign that something wasn't quite right with his body. He just didn't understand why the evaluation on him didn't show up with anything.
Sighing, Yami leaned down and pressed his lips against Yuugi's cheek. Yuugi made a noise in his sleep and turned his head. Yami hadn't gone to sleep much through the night since he was so worried about Yuugi. He'd have to talk with Fidil again and see if there was something he needed to tell him. The door to the room suddenly opened without even a knock and Yami turned to find Bakura walking in. He saw Yami's hand upon Yuugi's sleeping face and smirked.
"How touching pharaoh," he said quietly. "Can we talk or are you too busy being lovey dovey with little Yuugi?"
Yami just smiled and shook his head. "We can talk outside."
He got up from the bed and made sure Yuugi was tucked in nicely before heading out of the room with Bakura following. They walked down the hall and toward the stairs in silence. When they were a distance from the bed room door, Yami turned toward him.
"Bakura, what is it?"
Bakura's face hardened and he tensely folded his arms across his chest. "Look, Yami, I want you to know that what I'm about to say does not leave this hallway and you are to forget it right after, understand?"
Yami blinked curiously and Bakura's eyes narrowed. "I understand. What's so urgent?"
Bakura suddenly stopped walking when they neared the end of the hallway and he glanced out the window that was on the tall wall above the railing. Glancing down, Bakura saw the second and first floors. Yami came up next to him, resting his arms on the railing.
"I need you to tell me what you think about something. And don't speak until I'm finished, got it?" Bakura snapped, his eyes flickering over to him.
Yami nodded silently, obviously sensing whatever he was going to say would be hard for him. Bakura scowled and then turned around so his back was resting up against the railing and his arms were crossed again. Yami remained facing the opposite direction, waiting for Bakura to speak.
"Do you remember when I walked in on you and Yuugi when you were giving him a massage?"
Yami glanced at him uncertainly and saw Bakura's eyes move toward him and he nodded, but remained silent.
Hesitating, Bakura glared at the wall ahead of him. "I asked Yuugi for some of those body oils and lotions so that I could use them."
Yami nodded. "Alright. So…it's about using the lotions then?"
"NO!" Bakura snapped, roughly bringing his fingers through his hair in frustration. He wheeled back around and rested his arms on the railing similar to the position Yami was in. "It's about, you know, Yuugi's friend!"
"Ryou?" Yami asked curiously, tiling his head up.
Bakura didn't look him straight in the eye at first. Then he scowled again and straightened up facing Yami.
"Yes, it's about him, okay? And this will not leave this area, got it? I tried the whole massage thing and it didn't work! At first it worked, but then when I tried to kiss him he got all mad at me and I was kicked off the bed again! I want to know exactly how you get your dear little Yuugi to be so…so mushy and cooperate with you!" Bakura exclaimed, all in one breath.
Yami's eyebrows rose just a bit at his ranting but he nodded in understanding. "I see. So how did he react exactly? When did he kick you off the bed?"
Bakura rolled his eyes, sighing in frustration. "Well we kissed, alright? And if you want to know the sexy details it was after I stuck my tongue in his mouth. He was fine with it! We've kissed like that before. And just like before I was going to reach down to put his legs around me, but I barely even got to his hip when he jerked suddenly and my finger got caught beneath the elastic of his pants because he didn't keep still. Then suddenly he screamed stop, kicked me off the bed, told me something about not being ready for it and I told him he could've said no to a massage, then I left."
Yami stared out the window for several minutes lost in thought. Bakura angrily glanced at him.
"Well? Any words of wisdom pharaoh?"
"It seems…," Yami said quietly and Bakura waited, "when he kicked you off the bed…Yes, I believe that's what happened."
"Would you mind speaking so I understand you?" Bakura drawled.
Yami turned to him, straightening up. "Bakura, I think it was a misunderstanding. Did he seem frightened at all?"
"How should I know? I was too busy picking myself up off the floor. He did stutter a bit when he told he wasn't ready for it, but why did he agree to the damn massage if—"
"It's not the massage," Yami interrupting, causing Bakura to glance at him a bit surprised. "I think Ryou thought you were going to try and take advantage of him."
Bakura's eyebrows rose up in a sarcastic response. "And where would he have gotten an idea like that?"
"I think your movements were too sudden. I know you said before you had kissed him passionately—"
"With tongue."
"Right, passionately," Yami said, while Bakura rolled his eyes. "But when you did it the first time what was different?"
"The first time there was no massage and it was again after the tongue kiss that I asked him to put his legs around my waist! Where is this going pharaoh?" Bakura snapped heatedly.
"That's your problem right there, Bakura," Yami said, staring at him gently. "You asked him the first time to put his legs around you. This time, because you didn't ask, he probably assumed that your intentions were something else. And when you said your finger got caught in the elastic of his pants—"
"You're joking! That's what happened!" Bakura exclaimed. "All because I just didn't voice what I wanted to do he automatically assumed I was trying to get him to take off his clothes, spread his legs and—"
"Exactly," Yami finished. "It was all just a misunderstanding. Bakura, I know you didn't mean for him to take it the way he did, but do you know your intentions toward him?"
Bakura's eyes locked into his intensely. "What exactly are you insinuating?"
Yami just remained staring at him gently. "Bakura, listen to me. Ryou is a lot like Yuugi. They both come from different eras where things in their time work differently. They're both sensitive and caring boys, but they have their strengths as well. Ryou might be having trouble trusting you and with the way you normally are on the outside I can see why."
"What exactly does that mean?" Bakura snapped.
"I'm not trying to insult you. I'm trying to tell you that unless you're sure your intentions toward Ryou are good you shouldn't be so intimate with him. Even if he trusts you completely he could get hurt later on. I'm just saying," Yami said, putting an arm on Bakura's shoulder, "that if you really care about him, you'll be patient with him. If he's not ready to be intimate then don't force him."
Yami gave him a small smile and then removed his arm from Bakura's shoulder. He then turned around and left him to his thoughts. Yami made his way downstairs to the first floor.
"Good morning pharaoh," said Ashla, one of his viziers who had been pretty new back when he ruled Egypt long ago.
"Ashla, good morning," Yami smiled. "Have you seen Isis?"
"No, not since this morning. She left the palace a little while ago," Ashla said.
"Isis left?"
Yami and Ashla turned to see Fidil standing in the doorway with a concerned expression on his face.
"Did she say anything to you?"
Ashla shook her head. "No, I don't think she even saw me. She seemed to be in a hurry."
"Did she have anything with her?" Fidil demanded.
Ashla looked nervous and nodded. "She had a bag, yes."
"Fidil, please," Yami said, putting his hands on Ashla's shoulders to calm her down. "You may go Ashla."
She nodded and hurried away. Fidil glanced down at the floor, his fist clenched by his side. Yami approached him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Fidil? What is the matter? I feel like you've been distant lately."
"I…I'm so sorry pharaoh," Fidil said, looking torn. "I trusted Isis would tell you when the time came. She said she would once she figured out a solution. But she didn't…she's run off! I don't understand."
Yami's face morphed into worry as he gestured for Fidil to sit down. "Fidil, please, my friend, tell me what's wrong. Do you know where Isis went?"
"I don't know, pharaoh…I don't know what to think. A part of me is hoping she'll come back so that she can explain everything to you herself, but…but I can't hold any secrets from you any longer! I know you'll hate me once I've told you."
"I could never hate you, Fidil," Yami said gently.
"Even if Yuugi's life was in danger?"
Yami's expression turned to one of shock and he stared silently at Fidil, who glanced downward.
"Isis told me a little while ago of the problem. She had found something wrong with the evaluation of Yuugi and Ryou after Kontar's final defeat. She said that she found no trace of your power within Yuugi, which means that the both of them have lost the bond with the Millennium Items, for whatever reason. She said she feared this would happen even from the very beginning when we all first met Yuugi. She hadn't voiced it before because we were all more concerned with you becoming complete and the prophecy being fulfilled. She said that because Yuugi and Ryou are from a different time there's no way their bodies would be able to stand the power of the Millennium Items. And I didn't understand what she meant, because Yuugi used your powers to defeat Kontar. Isis told me that she thought perhaps she had been wrong as well, but soon she realized that the signs were all there. When Yuugi used your powers he became weaker very easily and the pain was twice as bad as if you had been using them. Very slowly, she said, the Millennium Pyramid has been draining his life essence away, which is why he takes longer to heal and get tired very easily. That's why he wasn't looking so good when he came back from the duel, pharaoh," Fidil said, looking up as tears glistened in his eyes. "Eventually the power of the Millennium Items will kill the both of them by sucking all their life essence and energy out of their bodies. I am so sorry that I didn't reveal this sooner! I am…so sorry!" Fidil exclaimed as tears came down his cheeks.
He jerked when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder and he looked up into Yami's kind but worried eyes.
"I understand why you didn't tell me this right away. Were you and Isis looking for a solution?"
Fidil nodded, wiping at his eyes. "Yes, Isis said she might have found something, but that she had to look into it. She told me to keep silent until she was certain this was the solution. But she never told me what it was and now she's just gone off. I don't even know if she'll ever come back."
Yami's eyes fluttered closed briefly and he nodded. "I see. Well, we mustn't assume that Isis won't come back. She's always been there for us before."
"Pharaoh, aren't you…upset?"
Yami's eyes dimmed. "Of course I am upset about Yuugi and Ryou's conditions. If they can't be around the Millennium Items then…they can't be here. The only solution is to send them home."
"No pharaoh, you mustn't!" Fidil exclaimed, grabbing onto Yami's arm. "Egypt needs them! You need Yuugi and he needs you! You can't just send them home!"
"If there was another solution I'm sure Isis would've told us. Yuugi was looking pale yesterday and still is today. It's going to get a lot worse and I'm not sure how fast it will work until it's killed them both. I can't take that risk…," Yami whispered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I can't."
"How typical."
Fidil and Yami glanced up to see Bakura standing before them with his arms crossed.
"The two boys are in danger and you decide to run away from it. You know, I really expected better from you, pharaoh!"
"Bakura, please, I don't have time to argue," Yami said sternly.
"This isn't arguing! This is: shut up and listen to me!" Bakura exclaimed, approaching close to him and pointing a finger in his face. "If you truly care about Yuugi you won't just give up and run away like a coward! If you truly love him you'll find a way for him to live here with you in Egypt eternally!"
"Bakura, I…," Yami started.
"Listen to me! I bet Isis was onto something and that's why she's run off! Why don't we check in her room huh?"
Yami glanced at Fidil who returned the gaze. "Alright, but if there is nothing there…"
"Then we'll find another way!" Bakura insisted. "Now move it!"
The three of them headed upstairs with Bakura in the lead. They went straight to Isis' room and opened it. Bakura immediately walked in and started looking everywhere, throwing things around searching for something. Yami glanced around the room. Closing his eyes, he used his Millennium Pyramid to guide him. When his eyes snapped open, his direction was toward the chair by the table. Yami walked over to it and searched around. His eyes caught sight of something stuck between the chair cushion and the arm of it. He pulled it out, noticing it was a journal.
Upon opening it there were words that Yami couldn't understand. He realized there was a magical binding spell on it. Setting it down on the chair he summoned the power of his Millennium Pyramid. The Eye of Horus glowed brightly on his forehead and the windows and doors began to rattle. Bakura and Fidil looked up from their search to see Yami's entire body illuminated by the power of his Millennium Pyramid. The book shook only a bit, but it didn't move. Angrily, Yami's power heightened and he reached a hand toward the book. It began to float upward toward him very slowly. Suddenly a huge gust of wind shattered the glass windows and the journal fell back onto the chair.
"What was that?" Bakura snapped, having ducked behind the couch.
"This journal was protected by magic. I think I've broken it."
"You could've broken my head too! Next time warn me to duck, will you?" Bakura shot back.
Yami lifted up the journal and opened it, realizing he could read it. His eyes skimmed over each of the pages and Fidil and Bakura approached him. For many minutes, Yami sat skimming through pages until Bakura couldn't stand waiting any longer.
"Well?" he asked impatiently.
Fidil sent a glare toward him, but Yami carefully shut the journal. His eyes were wide with disbelief.
"This journal belongs to a Queen Elmina—a woman who ruled and watched over an island that was apparently built underground to keep people off the island, thinking it was a wasteland of some sort. A lot of it was about her lover and her life on the island, but she mentions something called the Eternal Gem."
"What's that?" Bakura asked.
"It's a rare Gem—the most powerful form of magic ever created. It was way before the time of the Egyptian God beasts or any Egyptian magic. It can grant any one wish."
"Any one wish? That…that could be the answer!" Fidil exclaimed.
Bakura snorted. "Yeah, only if it exists. If this journal is older than we are, who knows if it's accurate or not."
"Isis must've believed it was, right?" Fidil asked.
Yami sighed heavily. "Unfortunately, I don't know. I remember this journal though…it was buried with my father along with his other possessions he kept in his magically sealed room."
"So that's it!" Bakura snarled. "Isis has broken into the tomb of your father! There's a penalty for that!"
"Let's not jump to conclusions, Bakura," Yami warned. "I'm not worried about Isis at this time. Wherever she is, she's safe. For now, we must find out what we can about this Eternal Gem. If sources indicate it's real, then we must go search for it."
"But if she knew about it she's probably on her way to go get it to have her greedy wishes granted!"
"It only grants one wish, Bakura and I'm not so sure about anything right now. I will have to get into my father's Forbidden Library."
"WHAT! Pharaoh, that…that's been sealed since his death. There's a law stating no one should go into it."
"And that law was made by my father, which I'm willing to abolish, especially for this crisis!" Yami exclaimed determinedly. "It's our only chance."
"Alright, let's go now before the two brats wake up!" Bakura insisted.
Yami nodded and tucked the journal in his robe. Bakura and Fidil followed him out of the room and down the stairs. They walked all the way to the back of the kitchen where Yami used his Millennium Pyramid to reveal a hidden stairway down into a lower level. Without a word, the three of them walked down the stairs and into the room. Bakura looked around at all the shelves covered in cobwebs.
"This is the Forbidden Library? It's not very big."
"This is only part of it. There is another way to get to it through my father's tomb, but only I knew of my father's hidden stairway here. It seems that someone has broken the seal on the entrance door," Yami said, feeling the door gently. "However, it seems that this person did not know that this is only a section of the Forbidden Library," Yami said, approaching one of the shelves. He searched around for his father's favorite book—one that he had stolen from Kontar's father's library which was coated in gold—and pulled on it. A secret door opened from behind the book shelf, barely noticeable in the dim light. Bakura and Fidil exchanged glances before following Yami through the dark tunnel toward another secret room.
"Incredible," Fidil whispered.
They walked into an enormous room with a very tall ceiling and a gorgeous chandelier hung down, completely made from diamonds and gold (which Yami's father specifically asked for). There were cobwebs covering the many, many book shelves that lined all of the long walls from top to bottom, but otherwise it appeared in good condition. There were some long tables in the center with dusty cushioned chairs and couches. This was the Forbidden Library—Yami's father's private sanctuary; a place for him to be completely alone and have the world at his fingertips with all the information and records he ever wanted. This was also where he kept many of his valuables, though he had so many that he stored them in various places.
"Where in the world would we start looking?" Bakura asked; his tone doubtful.
"We'll start with Queen Elmina, if there are no records about her we'll go into legends. The Eternal Gem must be mentioned somewhere. Let's start looking," Yami said.
Bakura sighed heavily. "Great. This is going to take weeks!" he muttered.
XXXXX
Yuugi yawned and blinked from the sun shining directly on his face. Sitting up, he winced as a dull pain throbbed in his chest. Glancing beside him, he noticed that Yami wasn't in bed. He did sleep in kind of late; perhaps he was more exhausted than he had thought.
"Where is Yami?"
Slipping out of bed, Yuugi didn't bother to change into day robes as he left the room. He jumped startled as he came face-to-face with Ryou, who was just about to knock on the door.
"Ryou! You scared me!" Yuugi exclaimed, clutching his chest.
"Sorry Yuugi, I didn't mean to. I was wondering if you were up yet. I haven't been able to find Fidil or Bakura or Yami. This nice vizier named Ashla told me she had seen them earlier, but she's not sure where they are now," Ryou said, looking concerned.
Yuugi's eyebrows furrowed. He could sense something was bothering him. "What's the matter, Ryou?"
Surprised, Ryou glanced at him then sighed heavily. "It's nothing really. I just had a bad dream."
"Really? Don't let it get to you," Yuugi smiled softly. "I haven't had a bad dream, but I woke up with this terrible pain in my chest. It was a lot worse yesterday when I got that sudden pain right after the duel, but it seems to have come back."
Ryou tilted his head curiously. "Maybe you pulled a muscle."
"Maybe," Yuugi shrugged. "I suppose we should go look for Yami and Bakura then. They could've stepped out for a minute."
Ryou nodded a bit disappointed and followed Yuugi down the stairs. As they reached the bottom they saw the vizier Ashla talking with someone familiar. Ryou stopped at the bottom, staring at the two conversing.
"Who's that man?"
"That's the same man from the meeting," Yuugi said quietly. "His name's Mahado. I remember he asked me for permission to come see me duel, but I didn't see him there."
"Looks like he must've just arrived. He's most likely looking for Yami. I guess we can leave it up to him to find him."
Yuugi nodded. At that moment Mahado turned around as Ashla began walking away, having shook her head about something. Mahado's eyes locked into Yuugi's and it was then Yuugi saw that his hand was gloved in a thick, transparent glove, most likely made from a magical cloth from the way it was glistening. He appeared to be carrying what looked like a dagger—its blade shone brilliantly in the light and the two emeralds at the bottom glistened. The handle of the dagger had gold and silver engraved with the material used. And small, barely noticeable diamonds covered the length of the tip. It was magnificent.
"Is that the Dagger of Anubus?" Yuugi whispered to Ryou, taking a few steps forward.
Mahado began to approach them, probably to ask them about Yami's whereabouts. He only got within five feet to Yuugi before a sudden searing pain erupted through Yuugi's chest. He screamed loudly, shocked, and collapsed to the floor, clutching his chest. Ryou immediately ran to his side and Mahado, surprised, hurried over as well. The pain increased filling his head with a strange sound that blocked out any words that Ryou and Mahado were saying. His veins felt like they had been lit on fire and his eyes were tearing from the agony. Yuugi screamed as the pain sharpened, hitting him all over his chest and through his stomach. It became so unbearable that Yuugi soon collapsed entirely, having passed out.
XXXXX
Three hours later…
Bakura threw another book down, furious that they had been down there forever and a half and still nothing turned up. He wheeled around, glaring at Yami's back as he flipped through pages of an unknown book.
"Pharaoh! This is taking forever!"
Yami closed the book and sighed. "I know, Bakura. It's going to take some time to go through the sections that we have to look through."
"We've been gone for hours, pharaoh. It would've been better to alert someone of our whereabouts in case you're needed," Fidil said, putting another book back on the shelf.
Yami's eyes dimmed and he nodded. "Very well. We'll continue this tomorrow early in the morning. Hopefully we can find the answer soon before anything happens."
"Finally," Bakura grumbled.
Yami strode out of the room and Bakura and Fidil followed. There was no choice but the leave the project for the next day. Yami was disappointed, but he tried his best not to show it. They left the room, closed the secret passage and headed up the stairs back into the kitchen. Yami closed the hidden stairway and followed behind Bakura as they entered the dining room.
"Pharaoh! Oh pharaoh, thank goodness!" Ashla cried, running to him. "We didn't know where you were! We were looking all over!"
"What is it?" Yami asked.
"Pharaoh, it's the prince! He just collapsed! Mahado was here luckily and he carried him up to his room, but—"
Ashla didn't get to finish as Yami hurried out of the room. He ran up the stairs and barged straight through the door. There he saw Yuugi thrashing on the bed, screaming in pain.
"YUUGI!" Yami shouted, running toward him.
Yuugi's scream increased and his body arched up off the bed.
"Pharaoh, don't! It'll make it worse!" Fidil exclaimed, rushing into the room and grabbing hold of Yami's arm. "You can't approach him! None of us but the viziers can!"
Yami's eyes widened as his eyes glimmered with tears, watching as Yuugi's scream continued to echo throughout the room. Fidil pulled him backward away from the bed and Yuugi's scream died down a little. Mahado was also standing a distance away with a grim expression on his face. Ryou was sitting beside the bed, sniffling as he watched his friend suffer. Mahado walked over toward Yami.
"I am sorry. I fear it's my fault, pharaoh."
Yami shook his head, tears threatening to fall. "It's my fault…I should've sent him home immediately."
"Are you insane!" Bakura roared, grabbing hold of Yami's robe and pulling him face-to-face. "I told you we can't just give up! Either way he'll die! Either he'll live in misery far away from you or he'll die here! The only solution is to find that Gem!"
"What Gem are you speaking of?" Mahado asked.
Yami wiped at his eyes as Bakura released him. "We'll fill you in downstairs. Lina please take good care of Yuugi," Yami said to the vizier, who nodded worriedly.
Yami, Bakura, Fidil and Mahado left the room leaving the several viziers and Ryou in there to watch over Yuugi. They entered into the sitting room and each took a seat. Bakura crossed his arms tensely, per usual, and Mahado sat gently across from Yami and Fidil.
"Isis may have stumbled upon a rare artifact known as the Eternal Gem," Yami began. "It has the power to grant one wish, but any wish at all."
"Where would that sort of power come from?" Mahado asked; his eyes wide with shock.
"I'm not sure. But the ruler who knew of this power was a woman named Queen Elmina. I don't know if she was magical like us or not, but she was in search of this Gem. The journal just ends abruptly, which leads me to believe something may have happened to her, or even all her people, I'm not sure. If we can find out if this island is real then we can sail to it by ship and find this Gem. It is the only way to cure Yuugi and Ryou."
"Ryou? The boy seemed fine," Mahado said.
"For now," Fidil said quietly. "But soon he will be in the same state as Yuugi. It is because Yuugi used much of Yami's powers that it is progressing a lot quicker for him."
Mahado took in a deep breath and sighed, leaning forward. "I was afraid of this. I didn't want to say anything pharaoh, but about a month ago, after Kontar's defeat, I spotted Isis talking with a woman with long, wavy blonde hair and blue eyes. Her name is Mai Kujyaku. She is a woman who has worked for and befriended Marik."
Bakura turned his head abruptly while his eyes narrowed. "Let me guess, Isis is helping Marik get this Gem."
"Perhaps, I'm not sure. However, I'm certain Isis didn't have access to those records being since the Eternal Gem isn't in any of the main libraries."
"No, it's in the Forbidden Library," Yami said coldly. "My father must've been keeping all records on it so he could find it for himself. Luckily he got distracted by the war between his kingdom and Kontar's father."
"But pharaoh, you did say the small section of the Forbidden Library had been broken into," Fidil added.
Bakura's eyes narrowed. "So the goody-two-shoes priestess actually broke a law? I'm shocked."
"We don't know for sure," Yami said quietly, though his eyes dimmed slightly.
"It will take too long to search those records with just the three of you," Mahado said, standing up. "I will help as well. And if we find those records I will make sure to get you the best ship, if I may come along."
Yami stood up and smiled softly. "I wouldn't have it otherwise, dear friend."
"We best get started now. None of us can enter that chamber anyway. We'll let Yuugi rest. If this just happened hopefully we still have some time before the worst comes," Mahado said grimly.
Yami nodded, his eyes narrowing in determination as he headed out of the room, leading them all back toward the Forbidden Library. There was no way he was going to let something like this happen. There was no way he was going to lose Yuugi. Bakura was right; even if he saved Yuugi's life and sent him home it would break both their hearts too much. They'd both be living in misery anyway, so the only solution and the only hope was this Eternal Gem. And if it existed, Yami would make sure to find it.
XXXXXX
Two days later…
"No. No! NO!" Bakura shouted, throwing books aside. "Nothing! Always nothing! Two days of looking for hours upon hours with barely any sleep and still nothing!"
"You do not have to alert us every time you fail to find something," Mahado said casually.
Bakura wheeled around and glared at him. "What was that!"
Mahado just ignored him and continued to read. Bakura's fists clenched up and his face began turning red. He stomped over toward him and Mahado turned around.
"You may think that you can just boss anyone around, but not me! Got it!" Bakura snapped angrily. "And just because you may have figured out a way to get those powers out of that dagger doesn't make you a hero!"
"Please stop spitting in my face, it's aggravating," Mahado stated calmly as he closed the book he had been looking in and walked away.
Bakura's mouth remained open and his face turned redder. Snarling, he wheeled around to see Mahado's back turned to him but before he could think of a come-back he was startled by another voice to his left.
"I found something! Pharaoh, come quick!" Fidil exclaimed.
Yami hurried over to Fidil's side, dropping the book he had been searching through. Mahado and Bakura approached them quickly as well, wondering what Fidil had found. Fidil held up a very, very old book that was worn and falling to pieces. It was made out of some kind of animal's skin. There was no title on it and it was small—small enough to be easily missed many times.
"This book has the same strange language as the journal you found in Isis' room. It is also protected by magic, but it is so old it probably wouldn't be hard to break," Fidil said, holding it out to Yami.
"Give me that!" Bakura snapped, snatching it away.
He took out his Millennium Ring and concentrated hard, using his anger as a power source.
"Break the spell!" he shouted as his item began to give off a golden-yellow hue.
For a minute all it did was glow, until a blast of light erupted from one of the triangular ends and hit the book. The book shook almost forcefully as if it were about to be torn in two. Then suddenly a huge blast of light filled the room and Bakura was pushed off balance. Yami fell into the nearest shelf and Fidil landed on a table, while Mahado barely budged. The book fell and Yami caught it before it reached the floor.
Upon opening it he realized there was only one page that had been written on while the rest of the book was blank. The words slowly began to transform out of the strange language and into words he understood. Bakura's spell obviously hadn't worked very quickly, but it definitely did the charm. Bakura picked himself up, glaring at Mahado who still hadn't budged.
"Well, what does it say?"
"Most of it is blank, except this page. It says: 'the date is the Eve of the ice queen. A new baby girl has been born by the family who lives nearest to the center. Their baby girl's name is Elmina. She is a lovely child. The people have chosen her as the future ruler since there are no other kids around. Most everyone has been killed. But Elsa and Atemu…,'" Yami stopped at the name. Atemu was his last name—a name that had been passed down through generations upon generations. But this was the man's first name. There couldn't have been a connection. " '…they have said that with just us few we can start a new village again, now that the ice queen has been destroyed. It is decided that we build our homes underground, that way if any more strangers come to our beautiful island to try and take it over with war and bloodshed, they will find nothing but a wasteland atop. Our homes and village will be hidden underground forever, where we will continue to live and produce to keep our line running. After all, that is why strangers try and take over us, because we're different from all the others; the last breeds of Merlin the Great and other ancient practioners of majick. That's what those strangers called it anyway: majick. To us it's our lifeline, but they will never understand. They want it for themselves. In order to further protect the island we go out every day to feed the sharks in shallow waters to keep them here. And luckily, many storms come around our island; we've had to build houses many times over again because of the strong winds from the gods. Now no one will find us. We will finally live in peace. This is the only map of our island left. I'm going to hide it in this tattered book and keep it with me until I die…no one will know of our island, our sanctuary...no one.'"
Yami flipped the page and a small folded scrap fell out onto the floor. Carefully he picked it up and opened it.
"Is that…?" Fidil whispered.
Yami nodded. "It's a map alright. It shows the entire island, both surface and below. Not only that, but it shows the secret entrance into the underground area."
"Okay, so there is this island and a woman named Elmina who becomes queen, but it didn't say anything about an Eternal Gem," Bakura said.
"Maybe not, but if Queen Elmina existed and that was her journal I read, then there's a chance it's real. If we go to this island we may find the answers," Yami said, closing the book and tucking it back into the shelves while pocketing the map.
"What about Yuugi and Ryou?" Fidil asked.
"We can't go without them," Mahado said.
Yami's eyes widened. "Mahado we can't bring them along. They'll only suffer!"
"We don't know everything about this Eternal Gem. They may need to be with us for it to work."
"Look, chances are the Eternal Gem isn't on the island, right? Otherwise they would've used it. So, how about we just go to the island to find out everything we can first before deciding whether they should come with us or not," Bakura suggested.
"I think…I think it would be fair to ask Yuugi and Ryou their opinion," Fidil spoke up. "They are the ones who need to know what will happen to them and what's going on. And they can decide whether they want to stay here, go home or come with us."
Yami nodded. "I agree. We shall do that now. Mahado, please get me a ship as soon as you can."
"Right away, pharaoh," Mahado said, walking swiftly out of the room.
"Right away, pharaoh," Bakura mocked.
Yami glanced at him but ignored his comment. He walked out of the room shortly after Mahado with Fidil in toe. Sighing irritably, Bakura followed behind them grumbling. Mahado disappeared out the palace doors and Yami made his way upstairs, followed by Fidil then Bakura. When he reached the bedroom he knocked first. Lina opened the door and smiled at him.
"Pharaoh, Yuugi is awake now and feeling a bit better."
"Thank you," Yami said quietly, smiling. "You can go now, all of you."
The viziers nodded toward him and waved to Yuugi and Ryou as they left. Bakura and Fidil stepped up beside Yami, but as Bakura tried to take a step further, Yami stopped him.
"Yami?" Yuugi asked weakly, sitting up in the bed. "What happened?"
"I'm afraid something bad," Yami said, his eyes dimming as he stared at Yuugi's wide and fearful face. "You both need to know something, something important. And it's up to you to decide what you want to do."
Yuugi and Ryou exchanged worried glances but they both nodded.
"Yuugi…Ryou…Isis found out a little while ago that you two being around such foreign power from the Millennium Items will eventually kill you."
Yuugi and Ryou's expressions changed to horrified ones and Yuugi's eyes welled up immediately with tears.
"No…," he whispered.
"And being around me, or anyone with a Millennium Item is what caused you such great pain, Yuugi," Yami said sadly. "However, we think there might be a solution."
Yuugi wiped at his eyes and glanced at Ryou who was trying his best not to cry.
"What? I'll do anything, Yami!"
Yami sighed heavily. "Unfortunately, it won't be easy, Yuugi. There is this rare gem called the Eternal Gem that grants one wish and one wish only. Information on it is hidden on a secret, unknown island that we've discovered the map to. Mahado is retrieving a ship for us and we will go to this island and search for clues about this Gem and the people living there. If we do find it, you can make a wish. However…I'm not sure, if this Gem is real, how it works. You may have to be there for it to work, I'm not sure. I may not even be able to wish for you. But if this is the solution it's worth a shot. Your choice is whether you'd like to try and remain here while we go out searching for it or be sent home."
"I want to come with you," Yuugi said without hesitation.
"Me too," Ryou spoke up quietly.
Yami's eyes widened. "Yuugi, Ryou…I…"
"That wasn't one of the options," Bakura quipped sarcastically.
"I don't care!" Yuugi cried, his eyes stinging with tears again. "I'm not going to leave you and I'm definitely not going home! I don't want this to happen! I'll do anything so that I can stay here with you forever! I can't leave! I CAN'T!" Yuugi shouted, bursting into tears and running into the bathroom.
Yami made a move to go after him, but Fidil stopped him, shaking his head sadly. Ryou nodded toward Yami and went into the bathroom to help calm him down.
"Pharaoh, if they come…they could die before we find it," Fidil whispered fearfully.
"I know," Yami whispered sadly, his eyes dimming. "But this is what they want. I know it would be a lot more painful for them to be sent home. We have to have faith that we can find this Gem in time. Fidil, I know Isis has some extra healing potions in her room somewhere, please retrieve as many as you can find for the voyage."
Fidil nodded sternly. "Of course, pharaoh, right away."
"Do you think those will work?" Bakura asked, watching as Fidil hurried away down the hall.
Yami's face hardened and he glanced over at the bathroom door. "I can only pray."
"You know, pharaoh, if Isis knew about this Eternal Gem and she has been seeing Marik recently, it could be the Marik was the one who was originally searching for this Gem," Bakura said, staring at him firmly.
Yami nodded. "I know. I was thinking of that too. However, I will not blame her until I hear it from her what really happened."
"I know, but if she is working with him, that means they've already got a head start. That's why Isis left two days ago and hasn't returned."
Yami's expression hardened even further, but he didn't answer. "We should go downstairs and wait for Mahado's return. We'll have to leave tonight. Pack essentials but don't bring too much aboard."
"And what are we going to do about the fact that we can't be near them?"
"The boat will be big enough for Ryou and Yuugi to stay on the other end. Fidil will also be joining us and since he doesn't have a Millennium Item he can stay with them and keep them calm. I've also got those healing potions so that if they need to be near us when we reach the island so we don't separate then it should help, I hope. For right now we should concentrate on getting things packed and ready. I'll have to tell Lina and Ashla to let the people know I'm ill or something."
Bakura smirked. "Lying to the people Yami?"
"For a good cause," Yami said, glancing at him. "They will know the truth once everything is figured out. Until then, I will have to fib."
Bakura's eyes narrowed as Yami smiled at him, using his line from before. They became silent and Yami glanced once more at the bathroom door before walking out.
"Bakura, I'm going to make sure the dagger is locked up securely so can you tell Lina or one of the girls to let Yuugi and Ryou know they can come aboard as long as they take precautions."
"Bossing me around already, I see," Bakura glared. "Fine, I'll do it!"
He stomped off and Yami sighed, heading toward the secret passage to the small abandoned room where the dagger was being kept safe. Mahado had brought it to him to show that he had a possible way to get the powers out, but that would have to wait until later. Yuugi and Ryou's lives were much more important. He only hoped that if Marik was indeed after this Gem as well, that they reached it in time before him.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's Note: I'll try and update this asap! I already have the next chapter started! OH YES! And some of you are REALLY guessing good! I've seen some reviews where people are getting close to what will happen:-)
To Reviewers:
Atemu Yugi Lover34: Yep! This chapter was pretty long too! I think most of the chapters from now on will be about this length, especially if there's a lot of dialogue involved. Yeah, you were close! Almost happened during the duel, but not quite. Although now it's becoming more frequent. Poor Yuugi…I feel sorry for him…and yet I continue to torture him. :-)
SpufFan: Tehehehe, well thanks! I try and write comments after every chapter, but sometimes I'm in a rush. So yes, this chapter was full of drama and there's certainly more ahead. Yes I know! Yuugi is so cute with his proposing idea, huh? Well, I'll update this asap!
Josephine Taylor: Yep, trust me though there will be a couple twists in this story. I'm really glad you liked the duel. I didn't want to make it terribly detailed otherwise it'd get boring since you guys aren't actually watching it, but I'm glad it was good.
Yamiyugifanadic: Yeppers, yay for Yuugi, he beat Kaiba! Yes, poor Isis is going through a rough time. You will just have to see what's up with her later. :-)
Citrus luver: Yes, Yuugi's marriage dreams and proposing ideas are really sappy, ne:-) But so adorable! You will just have to see about that…(I can't tell you specifically which part I'm replying too. I don't want to give anything away).
Kari-sama: Yami will always try to find a way to save Yuugi! After all, Yuugi needs some saving now since he's done saving all of Egypt. :-) Don't worry, Yami's on it!
Sansi: Yes, I have read a lot of angsty fics, but this one isn't angsty. :-) Sometimes angst is good, but it just doesn't fit into my mood or storyline for this. But have no fear there will be plenty of suspense and it's not going to be so easy. Oh yes, well you'll have to see about what happens…after all, Yuugi is carrying that ring around…tehehehe….
Kingleby: I'm so glad you liked the duel. I was hoping it wouldn't be too boring. I didn't want to rush it or go too slow so I'm glad it worked out well. Yes, Yuugi buying the ring is adorable:-)
Celeste-the-Hikari: Yes, tehehehe! It was hot huh? I bet I had you fooled; thought the lemon would come in that chapter, right? But nope! I'm making you guys suffer for a little longer. :-) Yes poor Kaiba…he never really gets over his losing streak.
