Ishizu stared at Téa in wide-eyed disbelief. "You want us to do what?"

They were all sitting in a booth together a diner in Cairo, Marik and Ishizu on one side of the table, and Odion sitting next to Tea on the other. Téa waited until after the waitress came and took away their dirty dishes and then continued.

"I want you to send me to the Egyptian Afterlife," Téa said. "I want to be with Atem."

Ishizu shook her head. "What you're asking us to do is strictly forbidden by the laws of the Tomb Keepers."

"And even if it wasn't, you do realize it would entail giving up your earthly existence, right?" Marik added. Ishizu and Odion nodded, agreeing with their brother.

"I don't care, my life's a dumpster fire right now anyway." Téa replied with a sigh. "Joey and Mai are busy with the Couples Dueling Tournaments, Tristan and Serenity moved away, and Yugi's now dating Rebecca."

Odion place a hand on Téa's shoulder. "We do sympathize, Ms. Gardner, but we can't do what you're asking of us."

"Why not?"

"Well, even discounting the reasons Ishizu and Marik just gave you," Odion continued, "The only possible way to do it would be to inter you in the Catacomb of the Concubines."

Téa looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "And?"

"And that catacomb has been lost for eons," Ishizu said, "No one on Earth has any idea where to find it, not even us Tomb Keepers."

Téa smiled. "Need I remind you I have the world-famous archeologist who found Atlantis on speed dial?"

"Let's say for the sake of argument that Professor Hawkins does find the catacomb," Odion said, "You're still asking us to violate the laws of our clan. How are we supposed to be absolved of that sin?"

"I could duel Ishizu for it." Téa said, "If she wins, I'll forget the whole thing and go home; but if I win, you have to—"

"Are you sure you want to challenge Ishizu?" Marik asked, surprised. "She's the best duelist in our family… next to me, of course."

"Very well, Téa." Ishizu said, "I accept your challenge."

They stood in the street outside the diner, with Marik, Odion, and numerous bystanders silently looking on. The two women strapped on their duel disks and shuffled their decks. Each then launched her two holographic emitters, establishing the dueling field. Drawing their first hands of cards, they did rock-paper-scissors to determine who went first.

Téa looked over her hand, maintaining a poker face that impressed even the stoic Odion. "I play Graceful Charity, drawing three cards from my deck and discarding two from my hand."

She put two cards into her disk's Graveyard slot and then turned her attention back to Ishizu.

"I then play Shining Friendship."

The holographic playing field shimmered and then the tiny angelic creature appeared in midair above the concrete. Téa smiled at Ishizu.

"It's your move."

"Very well." Ishizu said, examining the cards in her hand. "I draw."

She pulled a card from the top of her deck, glanced at it, and added it to her hand. "I play Agido, and I attack Shining Friendship."

A red orb with wings, mechanical claws and a single golden eye appeared on Ishizu's side of the field. It discharged a beam of energy from its eye at Shining Friendship, causing it to explode. Téa flinched a little as her Life Points went down from 8000 to 7800. Ishizu then placed a card in one of her Spell/Trap zones.

"I play a card facedown and end my turn."

Téa drew from her deck. She rubbed her chin looking at her cards and then said, "I play Monster Reborn, bringing back my Shining Friendship."

The little spherical angel reappeared on her side of the field. Marik raised an eyebrow and then whispered to Odion. "Why is she wasting a Monster Reborn on that ball of nothing? Ishizu just blew that ridiculous little thing away like lint a moment ago."

Odion kept his mouth shut and just shrugged. Téa continued her turn.

"I then Equip my Shining Friendship with Silver Bow and Arrow."

A shiny, magical bow and arrow manifested in Shining Friendship's hands. I chirped as it drew back and took aim.

Téa pointed to Ishizu's side of the field and called out, "Go Shining Friendship, attack Agido!"

The arrow was launched and this time it was Ishizu's monster that was obliterated. Ishizu's Life Points dropped to 7900.

"Not bad," Ishizu said with a feline smile. "But you'll have to do better than that if you think you're going to defeat me. I suggest you forfeit right now and go buy your plane ticket home."

"Not a chance," Téa shook her head. "I came to win. I place a card facedown and end my turn."

A facedown card appeared on the field with a shimmer, behind and to the left of the bow wielding Shining Friendship.

"Very well then," Ishizu said, drawing from her deck. "I play Keldo in defense mode."

A metallic looking fairy with twin shields in its hands appeared on Ishizu's side of the field.

"I end my turn."

Téa draws and plays a spell card. "I play Pot of Greed, which allows me to draw two more cards."

A hologram of the infamous green pot temporarily appears in Téa's back row as she draws two cards.

"I then play Offerings to the Doomed. I can destroy one monster on your side of the field in exchange for giving up my next Draw Phase."

The spell card, featuring a picture of a church alter, appears in Téa's back row. A portal opens beneath Keldo, bandages wrap around the metal fairy, and then it's dragged down inside, disappearing from the field. Téa then plays another spell.

"I then play Elf's Light, Equipping it to my Shining Friendship."

The chubby little cherub on Téa's side of the field morphs into a lithe being with long blond hair and a white gown. its Attack Points increase to 2000. Téa points to Ishizu. "Go Shining Friendship! Attack her directly!"

The beautiful, angelic being fires another arrow. Ishizu yelps as the attack reduces her Life Points to 5900.

Ishizu regains her composure and chortles. "I must admit, I wasn't expecting that. Nevertheless, this is far from over."

It was about an hour when the duel was over. Ishizu had played Exchange of the Spirit, but Téa had prepared early in the duel by sending Soul Release and Return from the Different Dimension to the Graveyard. Ishizu was shocked as five of Téa's monsters, including Dark Magician Girl, appeared on the field and attacked her directly. With her Life Points reduced to 0, and the crowd of on-lookers cheering and then dispersing. Ishizu sighed and then looked to her opponent.

"Now that you won, I have a confession to make." Ishizu began. "The Lost Catacomb of the Concubines isn't as lost as I originally led you to believe."

Marik and Odion looked at each other, but said nothing.

They were in a Jeep, heading deep into the Egyptian desert. Marik and Odion sat in the back seat with Ishizu at the wheel and Téa in the front passenger seat.

As the desert landscape went rushing by, Ishuzi explained, "I found a map to the catacomb in my mother's old possessions a year ago. In my capacity as Secretary General of the Ministry of Antiquities, I got together a small group of people I knew I could trust and we went to the site in secret. We've since secured the catacomb just in case it might become a tempting target for tomb robbers."

Odion gasp. "Sister, why didn't you tell us?"

"I agree with Odion," Marik said. "You know full well we can be trusted to keep a secret."

"I'm sorry," Ishizu apologized. "I couldn't involve you two at the time without arousing the suspicions of some rivals of mine within the Ministry."

They came to an area of the desert closed off by tall fences topped with barbed wire. Two guards in desert camo fatigues and red barrets stood on either side of the gate, with automatic rifles in their hands. Ishizu stopped the Jeep in front of the gate. as a guard appoached, she showed him an identification badge.

"Yes, Secretary General." The guard said, signaling his partner to open gate.

They drove further in and parked near a sandstone cliff face. Marik and Odion got two large duffle bags out of the rear of the Jeep. They all followed Ishizu around a corner and down a long, stone stairway.

Ishizu powered up a portable generator near the enterance and threw several switches, turning on numerous halogen lights placed around the underground chamber. Téa looked all around at the white marble walls, floor, and ceiling. There were rows of beautifully decorated sarcophagi, all of them made for women judging by their size, shape and the faces on the lids.

"Welcome to the Catacomb of the Concubines, Téa." Ishizu said, her voice echoing. "The final resting place of the many women who have been the beloved personal slaves of the Pharaohs."

Téa replied, "Great, so are we going to do the ceremony now?"

"Yes, but there are two things you must do before we can comense. First, you must solemnly vow to serve and submit to Mighty Pharaoh Atem."

Téa smiled. "Gladly, and what's the second thing I have to do?

Ishizu said, "You must remove your clothes."

"What?!"

"Concubines typical go to their rest wearing the dresses and jewelry their Pharaohs gave them. Since you're joining Atem's harem long after his time on Earth, you have none of those. Thus you will be naked beneath your wrappings."

"Well...Okay then." Téa bit her lip.

Ishizu turned to her brothers, who had just sat the duffle bags on the floor, "There's a store room down the corridor with some empty sarcophagi. Go pick out one that looks suitable for Ms. Gardner while I begin her preparations."

They both nodded, and left the room. Téa produced a piece of paper and a pen from her pocket, wrote a short note, and folded the paper. She handed it to Ishizu, who raised an eyebrow.

"Could you tape this to the lid of my sarcophagus?" Téa asked.

Ishizu nodded. "A message for the Pharaoh?"

"Yes."

Téa unbuttoned her shirt as Ishizu opened the bags. She took out several thick rolls of clean, white linen bandages. Téa stripped down completely, finally tossing her bra and panties into the pile of her clothes nearby. She blushed as Ishizu looked her over.

"I see you're still a virgin." Ishizu said. "That's good, that means the ceremony is more likely to work. Go lay on the table over there, we need to at least wrap your torso before the boys get back with your sarcophagus."

Téa nodded and laid down on a wooden table nearby. Ishizu picked up some rolls of bandages and approached her. She wove bandages through Téa's crotch in overlapping figure eights, perfectly wrapping her vagina and ass. She then worked her way up Téa's stomach and chest, then wrapped her shoulders and neck.

Ishizu went and got more bandages and started on Téa's right leg, wrapping from her toes to her already bound crotch. She did likewise with Téa's left leg.

As Ishizu was getting more bandages from the duffle bags, Marik and Odion returned, carrying a sarcophagus. They set it on the floor close to the table. Téa and Ishizu looked at the face on the lid.

Téa gasped in amazement. "It looks exactly like me...I can't believe it."

Odion smiled. "Perhaps this is an omen that this was meant to be after all?"

"Perhaps," Ishizu replied. "Now that you're here, you two can help me finish wrapping her and then it'll be time to cast the spells."

"Spells?" Téa raised an eyebrow.

"First, we will lapse you into ageless slumber," Marik said. "Then we'll cast some protective spells to insure no evil spirits can snatch you during your journey to be with your Pharaoh."

"Oh."

"Shall we continue?" Ishizu asked.

Téa nodded. Ishizu wrapped her arms, and then with help from Marik and Odion, began wrapping her in a second layer from the neck down. They brought her feet together and bound her legs tightly. Téa crossed her arms over her chest, allowing them to be wrapped securely in place. Ishizu put up Téa's hair and wrapped her head. At first she thought she would have a panic attack as the the bandages were wound around her mouth and nose, but cloth was breathable enough that it wasn't an issue even as they were pulled tight. Téa closed her eyes as Ishizu bandaged over them. Marik and Odion removed the lid from the sarcophagus and then picked Téa up by the shoulders and ankles. They then laid her to rest inside. The three Ishtar siblings then stood over Téa's mummified form and chanted in Ancient Egyptian.

The chants were the last thing Téa heard before her consciousness faded to black. It was seemingly an eternity later when she saw Atem's surprised expression as he unwound the bandages from around her face.