Part 9

My mind could not seem to pay attention in class. Not that there was much to be understood as I was still fighting the whole language barrier, but I found myself thinking back to that weird dream from last night making me zone out more than often. I couldn't quite get my head around it all and what it might have meant. Nothing. It was just a dream. A crazy, off-the-wall, random, and totally outlandish story made up by an overactive imagination. My inner voice nagged for the umpteenth time today.

The bell for the end of my 6th period class took me out of my head. Work! Finally! I might actually be able to get busy enough to forget about all this nonsense! I mentally cheered grabbing my things and making my way to the bike racks. I was so focused that I nearly missed the person standing at the exit waiting for me.

"Nikki. Nikki!"

I paused glancing towards the voice to find Yugi standing at the doorway. My head immediately played back the mental image of him in that dream. That dream version was nothing like the guy I knew. Well, not like the Yugi you THINK you know at least! You've only known him like two weeks. That pesky voice in my head nagged subconsciously placing me on the defensive.

"Oh... uh... hi Yugi.." I muttered scanning my eyes towards the bike rack trying to do the mental math on how fast I could get to my bike, unlock it, and ride off if I had to.

"Nikki, I need to talk to you about something important." He stated somewhat seriously.

I didn't want to be here. I was not in the mood to talk after last night. Besides, I have to get to work! I started walking again as I spoke up, "Look Yugi. Right now, is just not a good time. I really have to get going if I am going to have enough time to get home, change, and catch the bus so I can get to work on time."

"But Nikki, it is important that I talk to you." He pressed following my steps.

I made it to my bike, unlocked the chain, and placed it in my bag. I noticed he was still standing behind me and sighed. "Is this important enough that you are going to be late for your last class? This can't like wait a couple hours?"

"I wish it could wait, but I really don't think it can." His face made a slight cringe.

"Look, I'll give you like two minutes for whatever it is, but I really need to get going. Talk and walk?" I sighed as I started walking my bike outside the gates.

"S-Sure..." he nodded matching my pace. "S-So it has to do with... the other day."

"The other day? You're going to have to be more specific." I asked eyebrow raised.

"The day at the museum."

"Ugh! I had a headache that lasted DAYS after that. I hit that floor really hard I guess." I grimaced remembering the afternoon in question and the days that followed.

"About that... we might not have been 100% truthful about what happened."

His words got me to stop walking. "Excuse me? W-w-what?" I stammered.

"Nikki..." he stopped as if looking for words, "You didn't faint from excitement or whatever you thought. We didn't want to tell you what really happened as we weren't sure what would happen if we did."

My mind began to race with the possibilities. What could have happened that got him so freaked out now? "Yugi. What are you talking about? What happened?" I could feel my voice tremble as I tried my best to stay calm.

"Whatever you do, please don't freak out. I need you to stay as calm as possible." He pressed as his tone remained firm.

"Yugi, I am only going to say this once. If you start a sentence with 'Nikki, don't freak out' guess what you just about guaranteed me to do... That being said, I suggest you say what you need to say and do so quickly." I warned as I gripped the handlebars of my bike tightly.

"Ok! You didn't faint. You went into this weird... state... at the museum. You started yelling things in Arabic about a servant and this other stuff. We think you may be possessed by the spirit of an ancient sorceress, and she kind of... got free? You even used... magic! I swear this all may sound crazy and-"

"That damn dream!" I muttered as Yugi's story and the dream from last night kind of melded together. I did use what could have been considered magic in the dream didn't I? If what Yugi said was true, could there have been more to that dream besides a wild imagination?! I wasn't sure if it was the lack of sleep or tying to wrap my head around all this, but there was a sudden splitting pain in my temple. I walked into the alleyway nearby placing my bike against the wall.

"Nikki, are you ok!?" Yugi spoke up bringing my attention back to the present.

I looked over at him with one eye barely open as I fought the sharp pain, "I-I don't know... Pretty sure this is too much for me to think about at once because- ow!"

"Nikki.. Nikki! Whatever is happening, I need you to fight it ok?" I could hear Yugi's voice in a panic.

Fight it? What is there to fight?! Just trying to not let my head split! I closed my eyes in hopes that it would relieve the pain. What I didn't expect was the absolute silence and seemingly inescapable darkness that followed...

(Yugi's POV)

I quickly walked up behind Nikki setting a hand on her shoulder. Her body flinched and staggered several steps away.

"Get away from me!" She managed to get out through clenched teeth.

"Nikki, I'll help you. Just-"

Her eyes opened only slightly, but just enough to see the blue glow, "Run Milki! I beg of you!"

The name she used. Milki? That is what the one spirit called the pharaoh! "Y-you're the sorceress from the other day aren't you?!"

"And you're the boy with a death wish! I said Get away from me please!"

"I- The pharaoh needs to talk to you! You know about his past?" I tried to press. This is what we needed. If she could remember the past, maybe she could shed light as to why the pharaoh was here.

"Boy!" The spirit sneered, "Right now, I am holding back the witch that seeks to kill you! If you value your life, run!"

"Let me help you! What can I do?"

"Get away! Please!" She yelled as she went to her knees.

"Silvers?" The voice was behind me. I looked back recognizing Kaiba of all people. I could tell that he was confused but he glared in my direction as he took something out of his pocket and tossed it in my direction. "Stop being useless and call for help you idiot!"

I caught the small item recognizing it was a cellphone. It was then I realized he had read this situation entirely wrong. He must have thought Nikki was in medical distress! This situation was going from bad to worse. On top of wanting to hurt the pharaoh, the witch the sorceress spoke of was looking for Kaiba too, wasn't she?! He was already kneeling next to her. Was it too late?

I was about to say something, but the sight of Nikki tossing her arms around his neck froze me.

"You're here!" The spirit spoke as if relieved. Kaiba on the other hand was visibly startled by the sudden act. His hands were steady on either side of him as if not sure what to do with them. But he came to his senses and pulled Nikki's arms from his neck.

"What's the matter with you Silvers?" He asked sharply.

The spirit looked at him confused for a moment then let out a sigh, "So much for your second life theory." She suddenly doubled over as if the pain in her head spiked again. Kaiba put one arm out quick enough that he caught her before she hit the pavement.

He looked up and glared at me. "You going to call for help like I told you Moto! Add delusional behavior to the list of what is wrong with her! She's probably having an aneurism or something!"

I went to take a step toward the two when there was a sudden gust of wind that sent me falling back with a painful landing behind me. Looking up, I saw Nikki was standing to her feet, but Kaiba was not next to her anymore. I looked around the space noticing he was collapsed on the ground next to the wall across the way unmoving.

"Are the fates with me or against me?" I heard Nikki's voice ask calmly. "Both of you look like enemies of old, but neither of you has the knowledge or power to actually do anything against me?" She walked over to where Kaiba was out cold, "A spitting image of The Guardian himself, but the strength of an annoying gnat is all I can sense." She paused long enough to nudge him with her foot as if she were checking to see if he was awake but he didn't move, "Is your soul somewhere else Guardian?"

It was obvious that the 'witch' as the sorceress had labeled was the one in control. I couldn't just sit here and do nothing! I found the courage and got to my feet running on their position. "You get away from him!"

The spirit took a step back just as I approached her causing me to run right past and trip forward.

"Like I said. Neither of you are near what I remember you being." She turned her attention to me, "Tell me, do you think this means Kira is just as powerless? If so, this will all prove quite easy."

"I don't know a Kira." I was shuffling myself back towards Kaiba trying to put some distance between myself and her. I made it to where Kaiba was on the ground and took note of the pretty large bleeding gash on the side of his head. No wonder he was out! The force of whatever the witch used must have slammed him headfirst into the wall. The gash was pretty bad. It was making a small pool in the short time since the initial injury. I had to think of something! I had to get us all out of here!

"I believe you boy." The witch taunted, "But it doesn't matter. Because as long as the vessels of the pharaoh and guardian inhabit this plane, my master cannot ascend to his throne." Her eyes glowed that eerie purple as she held her hand out closing her fingers in a fist. My chest suddenly began to tighten and hurt just as it did the other day. I couldn't breathe! I was starting to panic.

Yugi! Change places with me please!

I knew the voice was in my head. It was the pharaoh. Did he have an idea to get us out of this? As if I had much time to really debate it. I could only close my eyes, let him take control, and hope he could do something.

(Yami-Yugi's POV)

Yugi made the change giving me control of his body. The tightness and burning in my chest was the first thing I could feel. The witch stood right out of reach with a small grin on her lips.

"Come to meet Re yourself child-king?" She taunted.

Ever since the incident at the museum, I had wondered if she was the only one that had the unnatural power in this realm? Though I could not remember the past in which she spoke, I knew that I had such gifts in that past. She had even said our power was a fraction of what she recalled. I didn't know exactly what to do, but I knew I had to at least try. I tried to focus on my and Yugi's connection to the puzzle. If I had the power, it was locked there. It had to be!

I held up my hand in her direction as I thought about the power channeling from the puzzle to my palm. Now or never. Please puzzle, don't fail us now! "Not today... witch!" I forced out as an odd and unfamiliar feeling took over my body and a very bright blinding light suddenly erupted from in front of me. The tightness in my chest was suddenly gone and there was a shriek of pain.

As fast as the light erupted, it dissipated. I had to blink a couple times, but I could see the witch slumped against the wall. Her eyes were shut tightly and a grimace was on her face as blood trickled down the side of her face and nose. Without opening her eyes, she turned her face and smiled. "G-good work Milki."

"S-Sorceress?" I found myself asking. The word she used to address me was the same as the Maza woman. Could the blow have swapped who held control?

The woman nodded opening her eyes, but there was something wrong. They were pale white, colorless.

"Y-your eyes!"

"Your attack was strong Milki. I didn't know you had that strength, but don't worry the magics blinding effect will fade shortly."

"What about the... the-"

"The witch?" She asked eyebrow raised. She shifted forward with a groan, "Your attack sent her back to the shadows, but I must be quick. The magic you used was enough to cause her to flee, but you must take heed." She turned so she faced Kaiba's body on the ground, "Seto will be no help to you in this life. You have to find Kira. I think she is going to be the only one in this time that can kill the witch."

"What about you?" I couldn't help but ask. "There is so much I want to ask you. You seem to know-"

"I will use all the power I have in this life to contain her. Your friend... she is here, but she lacks all the barriers and mental protections I was taught in our time that kept the witch in check. She must remain in control at all costs while I focus my strength on building the barriers."

"How do I help her do that, and how do I find this Kira?" I questioned.

"I-I don't know Milki. I can tell you that Kira is in this realm. The feeling is very faint, but I'd know my sister's light anywhere in any time no matter how many leagues we are apart. As far as your friend, keep her calm. The emotions are the root of our gifts. Do not try to call me forth either. There is one path from the darkness of the soul to the mind. Opening the path for one of us, opens it for both. Do you understand?"

"I-I think so..."

"I will come to her once it is safe. You have my word Milki. Until then, you must strengthen yourself. Your attack was strong, but it only worked because the witch was off guard and underestimated you." she pulled herself forward and crawled the couple feet to where Kaiba was still out. She set her hand over the bleeding gash, "You look like the Seto of our time boy, but I sense none of Seto's soul." She went silent for a moment as it looked like tears swelled at the corners of her eyes "I'm sorry habibi. Osiris is most cruel. To allow me this half-life only to keep yours."

She composed herself and began to whisper a series of words I could not understand. The whites of her eyes began to glow a light blue.

"What are you-"

"Helping the boy." She pressed, "Though he is not my Seto, he is an ally in this timeline. I don't know how, but something in his aura tells me that his fate is deeply intwined with you and your friend." It took her only a couple seconds but she pulled back bringing her other hand to the side of her head. "I have slowed the rate he is losing his life source, but I can't do anymore Milki. I need to save the strength I have to keep the witch bound to where you sent her. Please heed my warning. I must leave you for now. This means you will need to care for your friends from here."

"I-I will..." I wasn't sure what I could do, but the woman looked at me and smiled before collapsing to the ground.

It was over. It was over, and we had survived!