Sorry about the long wait, but my computer deleted my files and i had to rewrite all of this again. Hope it worked out alright.

Only own Airi. Thanks to batousaigirl16 for editing. Only own Airi and OCs.

Enjoy :)


Chapter 63

When the ringing in his head stopped Yami was sitting on the throne. Yami didn't remember sitting down. He felt like he had run a mile nonstop. There was no sight of Akefia or any of the monsters. He realized Seth was at his side the other priests were nearby clearly still surprised by what had just happened.

"Are you alright, my pharaoh?" Seth said.

"I'm, where . . .Esset!" the queen was gone.

Seth gently pushed him back to sit down. "She's alright. Mahad took the queen to her chambers."

Relief flooded Yami. If she was still alright then that meant Airi was still alive. This had to be that stunt Bakura pulled back in Battle City.

"Where is Akefia?"

"He has fled. Your attack from the god monsters showed he had no chance and he withdrew."

"Good." Yami still felt weak. Summoning must be his own energy and life for and life points must be the same here. His fingers went to Airi's gift. Not having a connection with the Mutos was driving him crazy. How was he supposed to know if she was alright? If she was connected to Esset then all he could hope for is keeping her alive long enough before this twisted game was over. In that way, Airi would be safe.


It took a while before Airi could breathe without pain. Taking a deep breath she finally opened her eyes. The others were crowded around her in concern.

"It appears you are connected to the shadow game."

"Kinda figured that out already." Airi muttered.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Yugi knelt beside her, still helping to keep her from falling over.

She managed a smile. "I'm fine."

Shadi pulled out his millenium key.

"What are you going to do with that?" Yugi demanded.

"I need to determine the condition of her life force." he looked at Airi. "May I?"

Airi swallowed. She didn't have many good experiences with other millennium items. "You may."

Shadi placed the key on her forehead. It felt like searchlight was rushing through her blood and spreading to every inch of her being. In a moment it was over. The warm feeling left when she saw Shadi's expression.

"What's wrong?" Joey demanded.

"It was a serious hit. Your life force is barely keeping your soul in your body."

"Which means?" Airi suspected the answer.

"You can not go into the shadow realm. If you receive another hit, or you use some of your powers it will damage you further and you will die."

She could feel Yugi stiffen next to her. One look at her brothers face told what to do.

"I guess I'm staying here." she said.


Yami left the throne room alone. Thankfully none of the servants followed him. He wandered the never ending halls, but his mind was still spinning too much to take notice.

Somehow he wondered out to a balcony. The stars glittered in the black ribbon of the Nile winding in the distance. Dark shadows of mountains loomed on the horizon. How was he going to fix all of this? He didn't know what to do. He was apparently reliving his past for some reason and he had no idea if what he was doing any of this right. He managed to fight off the Akefia/Bakura threat, but after his experience in the future that was only the beginning round.

His hand went to the pendent Airi gave him. He wanted to feel the connection of his friends, but all he felt was a dark hole in his heart. Why couldn't he get sent here with his friends? Then again, having Airi and Esset meet would be awkward. His fingers tightened around the pendant. That was the strangest part of the past was how familiar everyone was with him but he remembered none of them. If he failed, he'd be letting down two groups of people, past and present.

"My pharaoh."

Startled, Yami turned to see Esset's brother kneeling behind him.

"Oh, ah Mahad." Yami said.

"Forgive my intrusion. It is dangerous for you to be alone with what happened today."

"Right, I guess I should go to bed, or something." Yami realized he didn't know where his room was located in the palace.

Mahad rose. "Allow me to escort you to your chambers. This is an uncertain time."

"Yes." Yami tried to hide his relief as he followed the priest down the corridors. "How is Esset?"

"She resting. Summoning a spirit monster is hard enough on a body and holding on while being attacked over and over in a battle was taxing on her. I had hoped she didn't have to use her powers in a battle again."

"Will she be alright?" Yami asked.

"As long as she doesn't do anything too taxing, like summoning again."

"Why doesn't she have a diadhank? Doesn't that help?"

Mahad gave him an odd look. "It's only allowed by millennium guardians, my pharaoh."

"Right." Yami studied the pillar they passed. He was going have to be more tactful with his questions to not sound like an idiot.

They walked through a small courtyard with a reflecting pool in the center. It reflected the night sky, dotted by lotus flowers. A large pot was the by the door they two approached. A thud came from the pot.

Yami froze. "Did you?"

Mahad was already raising his diadhank. "Show your self!"

Something rocketed out of the pot and the next moment had something wrapped around his body and Yami's vision was blocked by a mess of brown hair.

"Mana." Mahad sounded annoyed as he pulled the teen girl off. "What are you thinking?"

"Come on, I was just having some fun. You ruined my entrance." Mana dusted off her dress. "Why are you so tense?"

"Didn't you hear of the attack on the palace at the celebration?"

She frowned in thought. "Grandfather said something about that. Now I wish he let me go."

"Shinon had his reasons." Mahad said.

Yami's eyes widened. Was she related to the Grandpa Muto look alike?

"I just froze some of the palace guards and couldn't reverse it. It's not worth banning me." Mana said. "Every time he keeps me from going palace events, excitement happens."

"Excitement?" Mahad said. "The pharaoh was challenged and Esset used her spirit monster and is recovering. Des that sound like excitement?"

Mana looked ashamed. "I guess not."

Mahad sighed. "Why are you hanging around here this late?"

"Well, I was bored." she glanced around the courtyard. "And I was waiting for someone."

"Geb?" Yami said.

Mana looked up startled.

"Wait." Mahad interrupted. "I doubled the security in the palace. How could you be wondering the private courtyards?"

"Oh, I ah, kinda froze the guards over by the pharaoh's chambers."

Mahad's eyes widened in horror and he disappeared down back into the palace corridors. A few moments later they heard a sound like a frustrated groan followed by something like chanting of words.

Mana turned to Yami. "I goofed right?"

"A little." Yami said.

She slumped against the pot. "Typical me."

It was so much like a Joey or Tristan it caused Yami to smile fully for the first time since he entered the past. At least he had friends in this strange timeline.


Airi was helped to the side of the chamber by Nasira. Ryu, still sitting slumped against the wall was the back of the tomb, intently studying the stone floor.

Shadi had Yugi, Tristan, Joey, and Tea stand in the middle of the room in a circle. The Spirit began chanting in ancient Egyptian. Airi could feel the intensification of spirit energy. Light shone around the group. Shadi disappeared and the rest of group slumped to the ground. Airi and Nasira checked their bodies and they were all still alive. Airi recognized soulless bodies after all her experience.

"Now what do we do?" Nasira asked.

"I guess we wait." Airi went back to the wall next to Ryu and sat down.


The nameless pharaoh and evil Bakura looked around as they felt a shift the in the shadow magic.

"Someone entered the game." Bakura said. "Was that you?"

"You're the one who has control over this game."

Bakura looked over their playing field. "What? How did those brats get in there?"

The nameless pharaoh looked over the field and saw the small group of teens standing in the streets of the capital city.

Bakura looked up at the pharaoh with an evil grin. "Should we have them disposed of? They are unexplained pieces in a duel. I should have them destroyed for not having a side in the game"

"You can't hurt the host."

"Oh, I did agree to that. But the others don't have that protection."

"I claim those pieces." the Nameless Pharaoh said. "I'm using one of my moves."

"Are you sure you want to do that? You only have three times to intervene. Are they really worth it?"

He nodded. "I take my turn."


Officials and priests had been in and out of the throne room all morning. Yami did his best to act like he was paying attention but after several hours of listening requests and delivering orders, he hoped wouldn't cause more problems he was becoming very conscious of the hardness of the throne.

Akefia apparently caused havoc in the capital on his way to the palace and reports of destruction had been coming in all morning. Yami had to pretend to know what he was doing while he ordered relief to different part of the country. Now the priests were discussing security and arguing about what to do about Akefia.

Mahad returned from an excursion to the former pharaoh's tomb to see the damage. He knelt before the throne.

"Pharaoh, I'm sad to report the tomb of your father was ravaged and damaged. I oversaw the restoration of the tomb and have cast a protective spell to keep more robbers out."

Seth gave a skeptic smirk.

"Excellent work Mahad." Yami said.

"My pharaoh." Seth stepped forward. "A spell this complex needs to be tested."

"My spell was successful." Mahad said. "My skills are capable, Seth."

"We've seen you're apprentice's work and are still recovering from the results."

Yami stifled a smirk, remembering Mana's special magic of freezing guards. No one else seemed to think this was funny.

"If you feel like going out to the desert to check on the tomb instead of protecting the city, then proceed," Shinon said.

Seth glared at the grandpa look alike. "I guess he did a good enough job. Better than his security around the palace."

This prompted a heated discussion between all the priests.

Yami facepalmed. This was wasting time, Yami thought. Shouldn't he be finding out a way to stop this evil from happening instead of sitting the throne room listening to his millennium priest arguing about security.

"This must be stopped at all costs." Mahad was arguing with Seth, which seemed to be a common thing around the palace. "The deaths are growing and things are going on ."

"Well then do something about it?" Seth shot back.

"My pharaoh," Mahad turned to Yami. "I request permission to go after Akefia. Personally."

The other priest exchanged looks. Yami should have given it more thought but he was sick of listening to all the arguing and rambling of officials.

"Request granted."


Later, Mahad stood on the wall holding out his millennium ring. The spikes of the ring hung off the side of his hands. If he was going to finish off this threat once and for all he was going to invoke the powers of his items. Turning slowly, he pointed the different points on the horizon.

Pointing at the sun-bleached horizon the spikes rose and pointed towards the distant hills. It was the direction of the former pharaoh's tomb. It would make a good place to stage an ambush. Somewhere in those rocks was Akefia. The thief would probably attack again. This time Mahad would be ready for.

He turned around and was face to face with Isis. he did his best to ignore the pounding in his chest from being close to her.

"Isis."

"You are going after Akefia." it was a statement.

"I have the pharaoh's permission."

"You need to reconsider." Isis's face was grave. "Going on this alone will only end in grief."

Mahad considered. "What did you see?"

"If you face Akefia, you will not return."

They stared at each other.

"Thank you for informing me." he tried to walk past her, but she stepped in front of him.

"Mahad, please reconsider."

"I have a duty to protect my pharaoh and queen."

"I'll inform the queen."

He narrowed his eyes. "Don't cause her any grief."

"You will if you leave."

The words stung true, but he pushed the thought away. "I must risk it. For her safety."


Yami made his way to the reflecting pool he had been at the night before. Amazing he could find it again in this stone labyrinth. He tried to follow the advice Yugi had once told him about getting lost in the mall and looking like you know what you're doing. He tried doing that with all the guarded rooms and servants in the halls. It seemed to be working. Maybe he was starting to get a better poker face like Airi.

Someone was already there. Esset sat on the edge of the pool looking up at the pillars in thought. Her hair was pulled back in a thick black braided rope down her back. She did look better than she had after her spirit monster was destroyed. He tried to discard his nerves. It was the second time he'd seen her He was supposed to be married to this girl. That thought didn't help but made it worse. Taking a deep breath, he approached.

She looked at him and her face lit up. "There you are. I was surprised you took this long."

"There was a never-ending line of officials and aid to give out. Sorry I kept you waiting."

Her expression turned sympathetic. "Has there been much damage?"

Yami sat next to her on the pool's edge. "Quite a bit. How are you feeling."

"Better than before. I'd almost forgotten how much it took out of me. I'm on order from the healers to relax, but spending time in bed was not appealing."

Movements near the doors caused him to notice the guards standing in the covered portico along the side of the yard.

"Mama! Abba!" Kana came running around the corner, followed by a fuzzy brown ball Yami recognize.

Esset's eyes widened. "How did-? who showed-?"

"Kuriboh?" Yami said.

The Queen turned to him. "A what?"

Yami's face turned red. Did he screw up again? "That's what it's called."

"Kuriboh." Kana grinned pulling her fuzz ball down to her and pulling it into a hug. "My Kuriboh."

Esset managed a smile for her daughter. "That's good darling."

This reaction confused Yami. He had guessed summoning spirits wasn't something everyone did, but Esset seemed completely unfazed by it. She also didn't seem to happy to see her daughter summoning a spirit.

"Kana!" voices called. Hurried footsteps hurried along the corridor and a moment later Geb and Mana rounded the corner. Geb skidded to a halt making Mana crash into him.

"What's going on?" Mana looked over his shoulders. "Oh, rats."

Esset and Yami exchanged a look and he could see her exasperation like this had probably happened before. Esset turned to the teens. "Explanation?"

Geb sank down to his knees. "Forgive me, I shouldn't have been distracted in watching princess Kana."

"I was supposed to be watching her." Mana interrupted. "It was my fault. Mahad was too busy to teach me so I decided to show Kana some tricks, and then I and Geb started talking and . . . yeah."

Esset looked at Yami. "What should we do about them?"

Yami shrugged. "Kana's alright."

She didn't look that thrilled with his response. "I guess you realized faster this time."

Kana gave a cry as Kuriboh disappeared. "Where is Kuriboh? I lost him."

"He's a spirit, darling." Esset pulled her up to sit between her and Yami. "He had to go home."

"Can I summon him again."

"Well, that's, not really a good thing dear."

"Why not?"

"You'd be taking him from his home."

Kana looked about to cry. "Will I see him again?"

"Of course you will." Yami said. "He's always with you."

Queen and Princess looked at him. He didn't know what he was saying but he kept going. "If you summon him, that means he chose you. If you need him you can bring him to help you."

"I have him with me?" Kana asked.

"Of course you do." Yami saw Esset's smile at him. Her hand reaching over to grab his arm and gave it a squeeze.

"Can I play with Mana and Geb again?" Kana asked.

Esset gave the two a look. "Yes, but stay in sight of the guards."

The little girl ran over and playfully knocked Geb over. He wrapped her in a hug and they rolled across the grass in a roll of laughs. Mana ran after them, shouting at him to watch out for the trees.

Movement at the entrance made Yami look up. Isis came into the yard looking a bit frazzled.

She approached the two royals. "Excuse my intrusion." she bowed. "May I speak to your in privet, your majesty." she said to Esset.

Esset and her went to the shade of the shaded portico. Yami went back to watching Kana chase the older teens around the yard. When he looked back, Esset and Isis had disappeared.


Mahad lead the way out of the courtyard on horseback. Lesser priests dragged a stone tablet behind them as a way to get things.

"Bow for her majesty the queen." a shout came over the courtyard.

Everyone stopped and bowed where they stood. Esset emerged from the palace, followed at a distance by Isis. The priestess held back as the queen walked into the courtyard.

Esset passed the rows of kneeling men and stopped in front of Mahad's horse.

"My queen."

"Where are you going."

"I'm on business for the pharaoh."

"It's not a secret mission."

"Isis told me you are facing Akefia alone."

Mahad glanced at the other guardian. He should have known she'd tell his sister his plan.

"What else did she tell you?"

Esset swallowed. "She said you wouldn't come back."

"I know."

"Please reconsider."

"I have a duty to the pharaoh."

Esset tried to raise herself to a higher height. "I can order you to stay, as you're queen. I can order all of them to stay."

"Then I will have to obey, but I will go alone, as a brother trying to protect his family."

Her shoulders slumped. "Why won't you please just listen. I've faced this Akefia, and his power is unbelievable."

"I have my powers as well."

Esset's eyes widened. "You mean, you're going to unlock the part you sealed away?"

Mahad nodded "I"m willing to try anything to protect you."

She looked down at the dust of the yard. "Alright, you already have the pharaoh's permission so you can go." she looked up, eyes shining. "Please do everything in your power to come home."

He bowed. "I will my qu-"

"No," she interrupted. "Promise as my brother, and not my priest."

He pulled her into a hug. "I promise, Esset."

They held on to each other for a long moment. Finally, she pulled away. "Be safe." she stepped out of the way. She watched them until the gates closed behind him.


A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Sorry again it took so long. Please review. Thanks for reading, and God bless.