I am so so so so so so so so so sorry this took so long. I had 14-hour shifts at work for the past 6 months and no energy for writing. Now that I've quit I hope to have some more time for this while I try to figure out my life.
Thank you all who are still here reading and I hope to hear from you in reviews.
Thanks to the amazing battousaisgirl16 for the edits. I only own Airi and other OCs.
Enjoy :)
Chapter 67
Yami could tell by Yugi's expression he was going to demand an explanation of some kind. He took a deep breath and waited for the horse to approach. Esset reigned in her horse a few feet away. Yugi slid off, lost his balance and fell on the sand.
Yami held out his hand. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Yugi muttered. "I'm good." he accepted the hand. Back on his feet, Yugi stood awkwardly looking anywhere but at Yami.
Yami cleared his throat and turned to Esset. "Thank you for bringing my friend to me."
"I better make sure Mana and the rest of your friends find their way here."
"The rest of them?"
"The gang wanted to come," Yugi said.
Yami wanted to ask about Airi, but the way Yugi acted he didn't dare.
Esset waved before turning her horse back the way they'd come.
The two friends stood looking at anything except each other.
"Did you lose the puzzle during the last fight?" Yugi asked.
Yami nodded.
Yugi did a half passed away before he rounded on Yami. "Why did you keep this from me?"
"Be more specific," Yami said.
"You and Airi. You're a couple aren't you?"
This was harder than Yami had figured. "Just because my wife looks like your sister doesn't mean I'm in love with Airi."
Yugi wasn't buying it. "You didn't answer my question."
"We are not a couple." That was the truth, at least he didn't think having an invisible boyfriend counted.
"But you're in love with her aren't you?"
Yami sighed and nodded. "I tried to keep it from happening, but it still happened."
"I knew it." Yugi started pacing. "How could I have been so stupid not to notice." Yugi suddenly gasped and faced Yami. "Oh gosh, is she your sister? Are you married to your sister?"
"No, she's not. Her brother is the Dark Magician."
Yugi blink. "What?"
"It's too complicated. I'll tell you when we get out of here. I don't know why Airi and Esset look alike."
"That's a relief." Yugi still looked agitated. His eyes suddenly widened "Wait, while I was soul snatched, did you…"
"No!" Yami was horrified at the thought. "We've never done anything like that, especially not then."
Yugi again didn't seem to believe him. Yami couldn't feel his frustration rise. What could he say to get this through Yugi's numb skull?
"Yugi, nothing's happened between me and Airi. Why would it when I have a life here?" he regretted it the moment he said it.
"Great."Yugi snorted. "Not only do I find out my sister is dating my doppelganger, but you strung my sister along until you could get back to the original."
"Stop it!" Yami shouted. "I love Airi. She deserves better than a ghost."
The two stared at each other. Yugi's eyes were wide. Yami suddenly realized he'd let his boundary down. All the pain and emotions he'd been hiding were now flowing fee.
Yami turned away sitting down on the beach, glaring at the water rushing before him.
After a while, Yugi sank down to sit next to him. Neither looked at each other.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Yugi's voice was quiet.
"What would be the point? When this is all over. I'm dead." Yami's fist clenched. "Why bring it up when it would cause more heartache when I have to leave. I never wanted to hurt her."
"But?" Yugi prompted.
Yami blinked. He'd been glaring unblinking for a while. Even after his eyes still stung.
"I couldn't help it. I fell for Airi. Hard. I thought I could keep it hidden. But she . . . I could never hide anything from her."
Another pause.
"She . . . she loves you too?" Yugi finally said.
Yami nodded.
Yugi cleared his throat. "I was really stupid."
"We didn't want anyone to know; my being dead and having a mission makes relationships rather . . . pointless," he said the last through gritted teeth.
"But you don't have to go it alone."
Yami managed a small smile. "Thank you, Yugi, but please don't make this harder. If Airi hasn't told you please don't tell the others."
"It might be a bit hard to hide now. Your queen looks like her. The others are not that clueless."
Yami laughed. "I suppose not. Is Airi with them?"
"No. Shadi wouldn't let her come."
Yami's head jerked up. "Why?"
"There is some kind of connection that hurts her," Yugi said. "Now I've seen Esset it makes more sense."
Yami's face darkened. "She's hurt?"
"Shadi says as long as she doesn't come into the shadow game she'll be fine." Yugi paused. "So, Esset's brother. Will we see him around?"
"No, Akefia killed him."
"Oh," Yugi said. "Who?"
"He's the past version of Bakura. He hates me and my family for wiping out his village. Esset's brother tried to take him out but ended up fused to the Dark Magician."
Yugi looked confused but nodded. "OK, hopefully, you'll be able to explain everything when this is all over.
Yami only nodded.
"Oh, I just realized. What's your real name?"
Yami hesitated. "I don't know."
"Huh?" Yugi said. "How could you not know? Don't Ancient Egyptians put pharaoh's name on everything?"
"It's been absent from everything. Everyone calls me Pharaoh. Esset uses a nickname. I haven't heard anything that sounds like my name."
Yugi frowned. "Wait, so if this is a game, just a model of this past, that means there's got to be a way to find your name and learn how to end this!"
Yami considered this. "It makes sense. But how-" he stopped when he realized Yugi was looking at the horizon. Monsters could be seen approaching them.
Yami stood. "It looks like my priests have found me."
Airi paced around the room. She'd get claustrophobia if she stayed in here much longer. Nasira stood, stretching while muttering similar sentiments in Ancient Egyptian. Ryu mostly stayed motionless, still sitting with his eyes closed. Airi did two more laps around the room. Getting blips of what was happening in the other room wasn't helping her remain calm.
A grinding sound made them all look up. The sealed door was moving. Airi moved forward but froze when Kaiba walked through. In his hand shone what looked like a gold eyeball. The other three were only snapped out of shock when the door began the close.
"Wait!" Airi darted forward but the door was already closed.
"What!" Nasira said. "I thought it was just the puzzle that could open the door."
"Apparently not," Ryu said.
Airi pounded on the door but only got a stinging on her hand. She shot a glare at her Ex. "Nice one, idiot."
"It's not my fault you're in here." Seto snapped.
"And now, you're stuck too." Airi pointed out. "What are you doing here?"
"You left Japan without explanations," Kaiba said.
Airi crossed her arms. "So?"
"You couldn't at least leave at a decent time."
"Your tournament was over and you hadn't spoken to me since." Airi shrugged. "I'm surprised you noticed I'd left at all."
"How did you get in?" Nasira cut in. "And what are you doing with the millennium eye?"
"I showed up after an unnecessarily long time locating you," Kaiba kept looking at Airi as he spoke. "Only to be greeted by that maniac who tried to ruin my Battle City Tournament, lead down here and handed me Crazy Pegasus' eyeball and told me to go through this door."
Nasira called Marik something too dirty to translate from Egyptian. Airi shook her head; Why would Marik and Ishizu let Kaiba down here unless he was needed, or just wanted to get rid of him.
"What's the matter with your brother?" Kaiba motioned to the motionless bodies on the floor.
"Shadow Game," Airi said.
"Again you're persisting on that crazy excuse."
"What else do you want me to say!" Airi snapped. "No matter what we say you never see what is happening in front of your face. Explain why an eyeball helped you get into a door?"
"It wasn't locked," Kaiba said. "And you opened it."
"Go reopen it then," Nasira said.
Kaiba tried, but the wall held firm. It only made him accuse them of locking the door. Airi left Nasira and Ryu to argue with her ex. Again she faced the tablet. The figures of the past versions of her passed out brother or spirit friend and her ex-boyfriend. It was feeling really crowded in here.
Yug didn't know where to look. The moment the priests had arrived he'd noticed how many look alike there was. Yugi's eyes grew as he recognized more faces among the group. A Kaiba? He should have expected that from the stone tablet. And a Shadi look-alike, and some guy with the scales, and . . . .Grandpa?
"My pharaoh" grandpa look-alike was saying. "Thank the gods you are safe."
"We have regrettable news." the Shadi look-alike said. "The queens has also gone missing."
"I know where she is. " Yami said. "She is the reason I am alive now. She went to find help." he motioned in the directing Esset had gone earlier.
"I will intercept her pharaoh." the Shadi look-alike said. "If it is your will."
"Thank you, Shada," Yami said.
Yugi glanced at Yami. Despite his doubts, he seemed to be adjusting very well to being the pharaoh.
Shada rod off and the Kaiba look-alike seemed to take charge.
"Pharaoh, I request we return to the palace. After this last disgraceful attack by Akefia we must raise the palace security."
"No," Yami said. "If you wish to oversee those yourself, you may. I must travel to Kul Elna."
Murmurs spread through the group. Many of the priests looked at each other. Grandpa clone looked particularly nervous.
"My Pharaoh, this is foolish." the grandpa look like said.
"Maybe Shimon, but I must visit this site. This is the only way to find Akefia and end this once and for all."
A few more of the priest looked at each other.
"However, I do now know where Kul Elna is," Yami said.
Everyone looked over at Shimon.
"Aknadin would be a better guide, but I do know the way." he shook his head. "I will take you there, my Pharaoh, but I beg you to reconsider."
"This does not please me either," Yami admitted. "But I need to go there."
Kaiba-clone began shouting orders at some of the priests, sending them back to defend the palace, while taking the rest, mostly made up of item holders, he ordered to come with the pharaoh. A horse was brought forward for the pharaoh. Yami took the reigns, but when Yugi approached he shook his head.
"You're not coming," he said softly.
"Of course I am," Yugi said. "We're a team."
"I need you here."
"In the middle of nowhere?"
Yami pretends to be examining the saddle. "I don't know why you're in this memory Yugi, but I doubt it for my help. There has to be something else."
"Like what? Finding your name?" Yugi said.
Yami nodded. "Perhaps."
"Great," Yugi muttered. It should have been Airi in here. She knew the hieroglyphics without cheat sheets while he had trouble with grammar no matter what language it was in. whoever picked him didn't think this through at all.
"Pharaoh, we are ready," Kaiba-clone said.
Yami gave Yugi's shoulder a squeeze before mounting his horse. Following the grandpa-clone's directions, they turned their horses towards the north. Dust erupted around Yugi and he had to shield his eyes. When he looked around the horses were already growing small in the distance.
Now what. He kicked at the sand in frustration. Now he was stranded in the middle of ancient Egypt with no clue what to do. Keep your head, he told himself. Find the others and then try to figure out what he was doing here. He turned and found half of his problem was already solved.
Towards them came the oddest sight he'd seen thus far. Two hours approached. As they drew closer he realized one was Esset and the other was the Shada guy. Mana rode on the back of Esset's horse, her staff raised in her hand. Behind them, Yugi's friends floated along behind them like odd kites. Babasa jogged along behind them. Yugi could only stare as the parade reigned up in front of him.
"I told you the pharaoh would have moved on by now, my queen," Shada said.
Esset ignored him. Mana waved her wand and Yugi's friends fell in a heap near Yugi.
"Remind me to get a car next time we time travel," Joey said.
"And I thought Duke's driving was bad," Tristan said.
"Well, you made it!" Mana slipped off the horse. "But where is the pharaoh?"
Esset turned to Yugi, expecting an answer.
"He left a moment ago," Yugi said. "He went to some place called Kul Elna, I think."
At his words, Esset's face seemed to pale. "He went there?"
"My queen?" Shada said.
"I am fine," Esset said. "The pharaoh has gone to Kul Elna."
"How would-"
Esset cut him off. "It is something he would do."
"My apologies, my queen."
Yugi suddenly realized the priest had no idea who the queen was talking to. He probably didn't know why Mana was acting so strange waving her staff around for no reason.
"What is that place?" Joey said.
"Maybe he went to find his name." Tea suggested.
Everyone looked confused. Yugi's friends glanced at each other while Mana and Esset, for some reason, looked over at Babasa.
"Can't we just ask them?" Joey turned to Mana. "Hey, what's the pharaoh's name?"
Mana opened her mouth and she said something but no sound came out. Mana looked at the others. "What? i just told you,"
Joey opened his mouth, but Yugi cut in. "Thank you."
Esset motioned to Yugi. she leaned over and whispered in his ear.
"I want you to follow to Babasa. Wait until we've left to say this."
"Why?" Yugi said.
She smiled. "I'm not sure what is going on, but I can see you'll need something important. He'll show you." she straightened. "I'm going after them."
"I'm coming, too," Mana said.
"Should we come?" Tea said.
Yugi caught Esset's eye. "No," he said. "I think we're needed somewhere else."
Esset went to retrieve her horse, which had been drinking at a place near the Nile where the water had pooled. The others started arguing about what they should do.
"Shada," Esset turned to her priest. "We're following the pharaoh. Do you know where Kul Elna is?"
Shada bowed. "I have an idea, my queen and the pharaoh's trail should be so hard to track."
Yugi felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Mana. she leaned down and whispered a bunch of strange words. He stared at her. She motioned towards Babasa.
"Tell him that. Geb told me that's what to do. Think you got it?"
Yugi nodded. He didn't have a chance to ask who she was talking about before she was climbing on the back of Esset's horse.
Esset turned her horses head towards the same direction the others had gone. Yugi watched them go. Esset and Mana's words spinning through his head.
"So, Yuge, any idea what we're supposed to do?" Joey asked.
All three, four with Babasa, looked at him for answers. Not allowing himself to second guess himself, Yugi walked up to the large man.
"Babasa Babasa, your tummy is full. Show us, I plead, the place it is hiding," he repeated the words Mana had told him.
"Wha?" Joey said.
"He's lost it," Tristan said.
Yugi flushed, but before he could react her head Tea gasp.
Before their eyes, Babasa was inflating like a balloon. Head and limbs sticking out of the round body, he began floating like a messed up looking flying carpet.
"Ah." Tea said. "What's going on?"
"Your wish is my command," Babasa said. "I will take you to your lost items."
"What the?" Joey said.
Yugi climbed aboard. After what he'd gone through today this seemed almost normal.
The ruins were closer than Yami had supposed. From the way people talked about them, he'd expected a day's trip. Maybe it was time inside a shadow game, but it didn't seem too long before they reached them. Shimon led the way away from the Nile towards some desert cliffs.
The ruins looked like tombstones standing in the desert. The only building that seemed to be standing was the former temple carved into the stones of the mountain. The scenes from the memories he'd had played across Yami's mind and his stomach turned at the idea of making the items out of the souls of the people.
Urging their horses forward the group continued down the road until they came to the temple. Yami dismounted lead the way to the gaping open door. He glanced back at Shimon, Isis, Karim, and Seth stood behind him waiting for his orders. The remaining lesser priest waited outside with the horses. A twinge of doubt tugged at his mind. What if he was wrong and this wasn't what where he was supposed to be? Leading all these people blindly around the made of his memories. Pushing it away he continued into the gloom.
The inside was as much in ruins as the outside. Stairs lead down into the earth. Putting a hand on the stone wall to guild his way in the darkness he designed. The stairs extended down and down until it finally emptied into a large cavern. Collums stretched out in row shuffling their way to the front of the room. Yami in the middle of the room. At the far end was a raised platform. Someone was already there.
"Welcome pharaoh." Akefia's voice boomed in the deserted hall. "I'm honored you'd come to visit me. I give you credit. Your father never had the nerve to visit this place." the thief sat lazily on a large stone resting on the raised platform. The Millenium Ring around his neck seemed to glow in the gloom. In his hand, he swung the millennium puzzle.
"So you stole it," Yami said.
"Want it back?" Akefia laughed. "Pitty, it suits this place better. The place of its creation."
"Give it back," Yami said.
"No."
"Then I duel you for it."
Akefia's grinned, standing and dropping the puzzle onto the stone. "Really you think that's all I'm interested in. Duels. For what? For my village to be brought back. For years of my life to be reversed." he motioned at the stone he'd been sitting on. "Do you know what this is? This is the stone your precious items were forged form. Not from stone. Not just ordinary gold. But form the lives of people. My people!" the last word echoed through the hall.
"But that can't be true," Seth said. "It's well known this village was destroyed by invaders."
"Silence!" Akefia screamed. Around him, white spirits seemed to rise from the stones around him. "Let the fallen be the judges. My family, destroy the son of the man who took your lives!"
The attack came swift. None of the guardians had a chance to react before they were blasted back against the pillars. Yami doubled over as pain engulfed him. Naughing pain like something crawled at his skin, tearing, trying to skin him alive.
Through the pain, he could hear Akefia cackling in delight. Yami fought back but there was no way he could push all these back on his own. Teeth clenched he tried to raise his arm with the diadianhk but he couldn't get any words out to make a command. He couldn't even picture a monster to summon. The pain forced him over and it threatened to swallow him alive. a scream tore from him. He couldn't die now.
Light erupted from his arm. The spirits fled, leaving Yami panting on the stone floor. Gasps came from around him. Forcing his aching body to move he looked up to see a familiar purple-clad figure floating in the air above him.
"Mahad."
Esset glanced around as her and Shada's horses wandered down the abandoned ruined streets. Her pharaoh had mentioned what had happened here but she had not expected it to be like this. She'd seen destruction like this when her parents were killed in a raiders attack, but something even darker permeated the air of this place. Dark deeds had been done here.
"Look," Shada motioned towards a large stone building where priest and horse waited. "The Pharaoh must have entered there."
Esset suddenly felt distressed erupting through her.
"Ata." she breathed. "The pharaoh's in trouble."
"Look out!" Mana screamed,
Out of the ground sprouted skeletons. Esset's horse reared up.
"Your majesty, go!" Shada had already summoned several monsters. Shouts came from the other priest as more skeletons emerged from the ground around them.
Esset spurred her horse forward. They galloped forward, with Mana squeezing Esset tightly to hang on. Somehow they made it through the skeletons to the far end of town, not far from the entrance to the stone temple. Reigning in her horse Esset looked around. From what she could tell no more skeletons were appearing. Looking around she dismounted.
"Where are you going?" Mana squeaked.
"I'm going to find Ata."
"Alone? You don't know what else is out there."
"Stay here if you want."
Mana hurriedly slid off the horse after her. "So where are we going?"
Esset studied the side of the temple it seemed to have been built into the side of the cliff face. Something that big wouldn't have just had one entrance. She began walking along the side, stepping over the crumbling brick walls running alongside it. Mana followed close behind.
Finally, Esset found what she was looking for. Another doorway in the side of the building. From the look of it had been used recently. Glancing around again, Esset pushed the door open.
The passage had been used recently. The footsteps in the grime looked fresh. Glancing back to make sure Mana was still behind her, she ventured into the passage.
The stone stretched out in near blackness. The girls held hands and they ventured along. Esset allowed herself to be guided by the diadem. This place couldn't go forever. Her husband had to be here somewhere. She prayed he was alright.
Finally, they reached some branching out passageways. She frowned. Which one.
"Esset, look at this." Mana had looked into a room next to them.
Esset looked inside and gasped.
At the end of the room stood a spirit tablet. Coming closer she recognized the monster inside it at once.
"Diamound." she said. "Akefia's spirit monster."
"Wait if it's here. Then he hasn't summoned it yet." Mana said. "Can we destroy it?"
Esset looked at the table before her. "It shouldn't be hard. When it's like this it doesn't have much of a defense."
"Good." Mana raised her wand.
Something flew through the air and hit Mana in the back of the head. The girl stumbled and collapse. Esset turned to see who had done this. Her eyes widened.
"Aknadin?"
Yami pulled himself back to his feet. The Dark Magician continued to stand in front of the pharaoh.
"So, you're not willing to just die," Akefia said. "So be it. I challenge you to a duel. The loser goes to the shadow realm."
"Sounds familiar," Yami muttered.
"We will fight with you, Pharaoh." Seth raised his arm. "Protect the pharaoh."
The other's also raised their arms. Monsters appeared before them.
Akefia shrugged, grinning. "I'm coming for your times either way. This will only make it faster." Akefia raised his arm. "Diabound, Arise!"
Darkness pooled around Akefia. It rose into the air and formed the diamound.
Mana's head pounded. She didn't want to open her eyes. Before her the stone tablet was vacant. Looking around she realized Esset was gone. She was alone. Why would Esset leave her?
"Get a grip," Mana told herself. "Esset wouldn't just leave without some reason." realization crept over her. Something had gone very wrong. She stood, wobbling a little. She had to find Esset and the pharaoh.
She leaned against the wall. She wasn't going anywhere until her head quit spinning. Tears pricked at her eyes. She was completely useless. Her friends were probably in great danger and she could only lean against the wall with an empty rock.
Mana stared at the empty tablet. Maybe she could do something. bending down she gripped her wand. Still leaning against the wall for the support she concentrated all her powers at the rock slab.
"Destroy."
A cracking sound split the air. All the priests and Yami looked around for the source of the sound.
"No!" Akefia shrieked. The Diamound raised in agony as they looked on. "What's happening? My monster!" the thief screamed in pain as the monsters. Both let out a final cry of agony as diamound erupted into shadow fragments and faded into the darkness.
Yami stood there. Was this the final fight? Was this all they needed to do? This was too simple.
"Now we can finish this," Seth said. "Guardians attack Akiefa direct-"
"Stop!" a voice rang through the hall. All turned towards the entrance to the hall.
Aknadin entered. In one hand he held the millennium key. In the other, trapped in a headlock, a struggling Esset.
"What is this?" Seto said.
Aknadin only laughed and waved Shada's key.
"I'm the one who created the items and I'll decide who will live or die here." he motioned with his arm and Esset gasped for air as his grip tightened. "Call off your monsters and remove your diadianhks."
The guardians looked at each other.
"Do it," Yami said.
One by one the monsters faded from the field. Dark Magician glared at Aknadin before he to disappeared. the sound of metal hitting stone followed at the diadiankhs fell to the ground.
"Good." Aknadin the brandished the key at them. "Put your items on the ground."
"No," Esset gasped. "Don't do-"
She was cut short by another jerking motion from Aknadin.
"Now or I break her neck."
One by one the items were placed on the ground and their owners backed away. Aknadin motioned at Akefia to collect the items. Cackling madly to himself Akefia went to each of the items, scooping them up into his arms. Passing Yami Akefia aimed a kick at the back of his leg. Yami pitched forward onto the stones, gritting his teeth to keep from crying out.
"Akefia." Aknadin was now on the platform. "Not yet. You'll get your chance."
Still cackling, Akefia joined him. He began placing the items inside the millennium stone. Yami watched helplessly. Somehow he knew this was the ritual that would destroy them all. But he couldn't do anything about it. There had to be something, but he was helpless.
The last item slid into its spot with a click. A low rumbling from deep in the earth.
"Master Zork!" Akefia said. "It is done as you commanded. The items are returned. You can pass through and take vengeance on the pharaoh."
A laugh close to the cracking of bones answered.
"Well done Akefia. Welcome my new servant Aknadin."
"My lord." Aknadin bowed. Esset slipped from his grasp and she fell to ground coughing. Yami took a step forward, watching the two crazed men.
"You've bought me the times. Such loyalty must be rewarded."
Aknadin bowed. He set his foot down on Esset back, knocking her face first into the stone floor, keeping her from escaping. Yami froze, looking for any other way to rescue the queen. He could sense the other guardians tense behind him.
"Before I can rise again," Zork's voice spoke. "I require a sacrifice."
"May I offer this royal sacrifice." Aknadin motioned to Esset.
Yami's blood ran cold, but the voice spoke again.
"Tempting, but no. I require my servants to be the key to my resurrection."
Akefia suddenly looked nervous. "Yo- your servants?"
"Yes. Servants outlive their usefulness. You didn't bring me all the items and you let the Diamound, a gift i especially gave you be destroyed by a slip of girl."
Yami glanced around. There was only one slip of a girl he knew. Mana better stay hidden.
Akefia sank to his knees before the stone. "But master, I've done everything else you've asked of me."
"And for that loyalty, you are still found worthy enough to serve me again."
A purple haze set surrounded Akefia. He screamed but those turned to gurgles as he skin began changing. Yami watched in horror as the man before him deteriorated into sand upon the stone platform. The purple haze pulled and the sand slid across the ground until it reaches the large eye simple behind the stone. The sand then seemed to fall between the cracks of the wall and floor.
"Ah, much better." Zork's voice said. "My time is now approaching quickly. But as we wait for my grand entrance, I have time to take care of some unfinished business. Aknadin, what was your request?"
The former priest seemed to bounce up and down in glee. Yami could see Esset wincing under the mad man's foot. Again, he took a tentative step forward. If he could just get close enough.
"I request when your eminence take over the land, you name a new pharaoh to rule."
"And who do you desire?"
"My son, Prince Seth."
A gasp swept the room. Yami looked at Seth. he was just as shocked as the rest of them.
"As you wish," Zork said.
"This is madness." Seth finally said.
"Nothing of the sort," Aknadin said. "The last Pharaoh was my brother and you're my son. You're next in line."
"But why? How?" Seth stumbled over his words in shock.
"That is." Zork's voice said. "He is next in line if the current royal family is dead."
"Of course." Aknadin turned towards Yami. "out here, no one needs to know how their dear Pharaoh and Queen lost their lives. Then all that's left is your brat and the trone is all ours." he pulled the millennium rod out of the stone. "Something you may not have known about this rod, my son, is it makes a very effective weapon." he raised the rod pointing it at Yami. "Destroy!"
Yami heard Esset scream and see the gold projectile coming for him. Something shoved him forward onto the stone floor followed by another scream, this time from behind him. Rolling over Yami could see Karim's limp form where Yami had been. Blood pooled from beneath the fallen priest. Isis weeping knelt next to him desperately shaking him. Shimon and Seth were both trying to strap back on their diadianhks.
Another shout from the platform made Yami turn. Esset had managed to unsteady Aknadin allowing her to roll away as he fell against the stone. Yami stood but Aknadin had already pointed the rod him again and saw his lips move to give another command. Esset lept at him, jerking the rod at the last moment. Yami ducked at the bolt barely missed his head and cracked a pillar. Yami charged forward, towards the struggling queen and priest fighting over the rod.
Yami barely reached the steps when Aknadin slammed Esset against the millennium stone, holding her down by the throat. The bottom part of the millennium rod dropped away to show a pointing blade.
Yami stumbled forward.
Aknadin plunged the point of the millennium rod into Esset.
Airi clasped her middle as a stabbing sensation ripped at her insides. She couldn't breathe. She gasped but something was pressing too hard on her insides. She could hear the others around her but couldn't comprehend the words. She sank to her knees, coughing desperately to get some air into her lungs. Something splattered onto the ground in front of her and a metallic taste filled her mouth. Blood? Terror closed in with the darkness.
The ground rose up to meet her. Kaiba's yells seemed so far away.
A hand pressed on her chest and forehead. A voice began chanting in Ancient Egyptian Airi could barely understand through the haze of pain. She grasped onto any strand go hope. She wasn't going to die. Even with her thoughts, she still felt like she was slipping.
Evil Bakura grinned across the game table.
"I enjoy that one, Pharaoh?" he laughed. "This is a much better view isn't it."
The Nameless Pharaoh clenched his teeth. He could only watch Esset body collapsed beside the millennium stone. His fist clenched to keep them from shaking.
"Two in one." Evil Bakura was saying. "The host's sister won't survive an attack like that."
Sounds from the other side of the stone wall behind the Nameless Pharaoh testified this was true. There was no way the host's sisters would survive. Unless . . .
The Nameless pharaoh stiffened. Another presence appeared. It was faint but he could tell a spirit had entered the tomb.
He glanced at Bakura but he was too busy gloating to notice.
The Nameless Pharaoh closed his eyes and focused on this new presence. It had been so long.
"Esset." he whispered.
A/N: Yikes, that was a painful chapter. hope it made sense. Please review. they really do help me while writing. Thank you for all your amazing support :) take care and God Bless.
