Big thanks to everyone taking the time to read! Please let me know what you think!

. . . .

Hello, everyone! Since it is Halloween, I was watching a few of my favorite flicks and of course on the op of that list is "The Corpse Bride" from Tim Burton. A thought occurred to me and as a lot of my other fan fictions come about it was also a dream I had: What if somethings were changed, such as the characters involved? Let's give it a try! I present to you: The Mummy Groom! I do not own rights to the characters of "The Corpse Bride" nor Yu-Gi-Oh!

I hope you enjoy!

Summary: To save their family from the poorhouse, the head of the Gardner family has arranged for his daughter to marry the wealthy Kaiba's heir. Neither of the involved young adults wish for the union but what are they to do? Tea, distraught, decides to run away…but maybe that is the wrong choice of words. A mysterious man appears and offers a solution when an accident occurs.

The Mummy Groom

To Win a Game, You Must Play

They collapsed to the ground, his arms tight around her as she clung to him desperately. How had she known his name? His eyes closed tightly as she cried his name again and again, relishing in how each caused his body to grow warmer. He gently soothed her by answering each of her cries with a brief squeeze. Tea's hand rose and caressed his cheek, her eyes spilling with tears as he suppressed a sob that threatened to choke him. "You knew my name…" he whispered, burying his face against her shoulder as they sat up. "It's been so long since I've heard it…" Her heart broke for him as his being trembled and she gently wrapped her arms around his shoulders, one hand rising to slip into his hair to rub his scalp in soothing circles as he clung to her. His grip tightened when her hands cupped his face and raised his head so that their gazes could meet. If he had been alive, she was sure that the largest tears would be trickling down his cheeks as she apologized for making him wait so long. He shook his head and bit his lip as another sob threatened to choke him. "How…how do you know it?"

She showed him the infinity loop on her finger that tied them together, matching the one on his own finger. "I had a little help."

"So my assumption was correct." Atem quickly stood, releasing his hold on Tea but keeping their hands entwined as he bowed lowly. Horus though had his attention on the girl as she flinched back when he chuckled while circling them. "Fear not, child, I will not harm you. I simply find it fascinating that her soul has been reborn without my knowing is all."

Anubis nodded, casting a wary glance towards the woman as she moved to stand next to her daughter. "It would explain why I couldn't sense her within my realm." He noticed the odd silence and expression upon the pharaoh's face and asked him what was wrong. "Spit it out."

The happiness that he felt upon hearing his name and finding out that Tea was his former beloved caused a heavy weight to settle upon Atem's shoulders. "What happens now?" His eyes shone with worry as he looked between the two gods. "There's still the threat of Bakura."

"Leave us for now," the ruler of the dead dismissed them with a wave. "This is no longer your problem." Tea gently tugged on Atem's hand as an expression of rage overcame her mother's features and they quickly departed when the pair began to argue again.

The palace had felt foreign to her at first but now it felt like a second home as she tugged him along. He asked where they were going but her only answer was a giggle and bright smile. She only paused once at a fork, hesitating the slightest when she had to take a few steadying breaths, then continued onward as her excitement reached its peak as her goal appeared ahead of them. It hadn't taken long for him to understand where she was going and he quickly fell into step next to her. They were practically running now but neither cared. He couldn't contain the laugh that leap up his throat as she came to a screeching halt to rid herself of the constricting lace once they had entered the room she had awakened in and would have doubled over with more laughter as she cursed the blasted corset that threatened to squeeze the life out of her. Despite her flexibility, she was unsuccessful in untying the strings that kept the near torture-like device on her body. His hands gently moved her own away and deftly removed the contraption with a few pulls here and there. She inhaled deeply as it slipped up her body and was tossed to the side without a second thought. "I've always hated those things," she groaned, giggling softly as her hair was released from the incredibly tight bun.

Atem's eyes though were locked on his mischievous hand that had once again separated itself and was gently combing her hair with its comb-like fingers. She had yet to notice that he had remained where he was while she had taken a few steps away. With the amount of space between them it wasn't going to be long before she was going to notice it wasn't his normal hand that was touching her. Curiosity filled him at the thought of how she would react. In the throne room she had treated the hand with care, didn't even flinch when she had picked it up. How long would it take for her to notice?

She could feel his gaze, how could she not? It caused her heart to quicken and her cheeks to warm. The underdress she had on today was much different than the one before. Covered with lace, like the wedding dress itself, it hugged her chest below her bust line with a snow white ribbon with another braided into the intricate cloth around her waist so that it could be cinched to better showcase her petite waist. The skirt was much shorter on this one, revealing her toned legs. They protested though when she moved and she nearly stumbled onto the bed as she realized why. There, visible on the outside of her thigh, was the distinct handprint that caused her to shiver in disgust.

"I'm sorry." He appeared next to her, gently taking her hand with his own as she looked up at him in confusion. "If we had been sooner you would not have been at his mercy." His eyes slid closed as her hand rose to cup his cheek. Atem would never tire of how she would touch him without hesitation and relished as the warmth she radiated began to fill his being. As the mighty pharaoh, none would even dare to hold his hand as she has several times. The wandering hand reattached itself as she came even closer, her arms moving to wrap around him in an embrace as his own readily welcomed her.

Alarm, and a hint of frustration, filled him as the door blasted open to reveal a pacing Devlin Skellington. "You two had better come see this."

Tea offered Atem a small smile of thanks as he removed his cloak and wrapped it around her figure when she shivered slightly with the draft that came with now open door and they hurried to follow the skeleton before he disappeared from sight. They soon found themselves back in the throne room with the locals gathered around a reflecting pool that they hadn't noticed before. It was like a well, lined with stone that stood out in contrast alone against the surrounding sandstone, but the size was much bigger than any she had seen. A horrified scream slipped between her lips when she saw the scene in the water's surface.

Yugi was laying across a surface, a trail of blood trickling down his face as a shadow loomed over him. "I know you are watching, little Tea!" Bakura's voice thundered around them as he circled her unconscious friend. If it were possible, she thought he looked even more crazed than before! "Come on out and play with your dearest uncle! Surely you don't want your friend to meet the same end that your father did?"

"I knew it…" she whispered, her knuckles turning white with how tightly she was clinging to the cloak around her shoulders.

"I thought this boy meant a lot to you!" Bakura sneered, grabbing a fistful of hair and earned a shout as Yugi regained consciousness. Panic could be seen within his lavender hued eyes as the ropes around his wrists and ankles came into view, along with the familiar altar of the town's church. "If you won't show yourself than perhaps his royal highness will! Afterall, we go way back, don't we, old friend? I never got the chance to ask how your plan worked out with that lowly dancer girl! Shame I had no use of her after you refused to meet my demands! Never would I have thought that your little crush would lead me to perform the greatest act of my life: killing the great Nameless Pharaoh himself! "

A crack appeared in the sandstone column next to them, earning a surprised exclaim from those who had gathered. Tea quickly pulled Atem away from the pool as his features grew dark and became shadowed. "No, don't listen to him!" She desperately covered his ears with her palms as he attempted to move way, his eyes never leaving the water despite her best efforts to make their eyes meet. "Atem, look at me!" The harsh tone in her voice was what caused him to finally look her way, the shadows receding from his face their eyes finally met. No one had taken that tone with him before and caused him great alarm when he noted that her anger was directed not at Bakura but at himself. "What happened to you and her was horrible but there's nothing that can change the past! You can't let yourself get caught up in something as petty as his games!" Her eyes widened in realization as she heard her own words and her hands dropped to her sides. "We have to play his game."

"You can't be serious, doll face," Devlin appeared next to them, shaking his head so much that whatever was inside caused a rattling sound. "I've heard loads of stories about him. Too many people have been caught up in his games and paid the ultimate price when they lost."

Atem's confusion gave way to understanding as he quickly followed what she was suggesting. "Combat his game with one of our own. That's a risky gamble, Tea, are you sure about this?"

"Yugi told me once that some games aren't played on the tabletop, that if one took a step back and looked at a problem from a distance they would find that the solution might be playing along." She set her shoulders and suppressed a shiver. "I know something that will help us. The question is how strong I can be for this to work."

All listened quietly as she conveyed her plan, none noticing the pair who kept to the shadows as they listened intently. Horus glanced towards Anubis, earning a nod. If her plan worked then they could personally see to it that the maniacal man would no longer be a problem. "Your plan is lacking, in more ways than one." They stepped out, causing many to startle and Atem to bow his head lowly. "Are you for certain that you are prepared?"

She nodded. "I have known for a while now that Bakura is not who he says. He's had a strange interest in me ever since I became marrying age. When he kidnapped me he confessed that I smelled as sweet as my mother had."

"That monster is truly heinous," Anubis growled. "One that I will greatly enjoy judging if your plan succeeds. I wonder though if you are truly prepared for your plan requires of you, virgin girl."

Heat flooded her cheeks at the his words, eyes practically burning a hole in the ground as she shuffled in discomfort. She has never been intimate with anyone and the mere thought of what she was suggesting was enough to make her being quake in fear. Yugi's life was at stake though, her closest friend, and she wasn't about to let him meet the same end as her wretched father. "I have to be."

Horus held up a hand as he moved to stand next to his counterpart. "If your plan fails, you will rejoin us as a true member of the underworld. If your plan succeeds, you may never see the pharaoh again." He studied her expression intently as his words sunk in. There was no doubt that she was courageous and willing to risk all she was to save her friend but he wondered if there was more than the outcomes they could see. "We shall leave you now so you may say your farewells." With a sweep of his hand, the room was emptied, leaving only the pharaoh and his bride.

. . . .

Bakura's fist slammed down on the altar as no answer came. His patience was already thin enough with how the wedding had failed but he was not leaving without the girl. Though the original plan had bust he had discovered something just as precious as a gem like her. Yugi flinched as the madman's face hovered above his own. "Tell me, boy, do you have any heritage with Egypt?" When he didn't answer, Bakura struck him across the face. "It's rude not to answer a question!"

"Why would it matter?" The young Mutou spat.

"Your resemblance to him is uncanny, just a few minor changes that are to be expected when the bloodline dilutes, but there's no mistaking it." Bakura raked a hand through Yugi's hair, earning a grunt. "This hair is unmistakable. You must be a direct descendent of his."

"Whose?"

Bakura lip lifted into a snarl. "The Nameless Pharaoh, of course. Imagine my surprise when I found his very own sarcophagus within that dusty building you call a museum."

. . . .

"Tea, are you sure?" Atem collected her hands in his. His amethyst eyes bore into her own as she failed to offer him an assuring smile. "I cannot bear the thought of you willingly offering yourself to him. What's worse is that if you succeed, then this will be the last we see of each other." Though his voice had dropped to barely above a whisper, she still heard, and her heart gave a painful squeeze.

They had started out as strangers, brought together by a mere accident, but both had grown fond for each other. She had been caught off guard at first by the strikingly similar appearance that he shared with her friend and had noticed several personality differences right away. Both were kind, that much was obvious, but the pharaoh had a strength that assured those around him that he would protect without fail. Her friend's smile would be wide enough to stretch from ear to ear and numerous while the Nameless Pharaoh's was rare and shyly small. Their care for others had been shared, as have their interesting genes relating to their hair. As if they were two sides of the same coin, she decided would be the best way to put them. Tea's hands gently cupped his face, earning the softest of hums when her fingers gently caressed his cool skin as he closed his eyes.

Thankfully the rest of him was in good shape, despite the enthusiasm of his wandering hand. The women of his time were beauties indeed and flocked his palace in hopes of ensnaring his heart with a flutter of their lashes or attempted kisses with their painted lips, which he had somehow avoided without earning too many of their wraths. Tea, as his beloved had been, was humble and modest with a heart practically made of gold. No greed or selfishness could he find when their eyes met and her honesty was truly a breath of air he wished to relish…if he were alive. She had lit the fire, calling upon the gods of old, and was thrown into a world that no living being has seen. Most would have been driven mad by the sights she has encountered. He himself had been well preserved thanks to the customs of Egypt but there was no changing the obvious problem: he was dead. Bitterness wormed its way up his chest -or was that a scarab?- as he gently grasped her wrists and removed himself from her. "I want nothing more than to by your side, to share many things with you, but…"

She bit her lip. There is was, the horrible and gruesome truth that she had attempted to ignore until now was being laid out in front of her. "Please stop." Tea hated that her voice had come out much higher pitched than she expected, making her cringe slightly at how weak she sounded. Her throat was already beginning to close in on itself as the emotions swimming within her chest began to grow cold.

Atem felt himself stiffen as she suddenly stepped forward and something soft pressed against his cheek. It wasn't her hand, he has come to recognize it easily, this was something much softer and warmer. A feeling he had never felt before danced across his skin as he finally realized that she was pressing her lips against his cheek. His being filled with a strange yearn to reciprocate but he swallowed it down as she took a step back far enough for him to see the tears falling down her cheeks. Nothing could be said now, it wouldn't help either of them. It wasn't until she had disappeared in a cyclone of golden flames that he allowed a choked sob to wrack his being.

. . . .

Yugi fought against the bindings but all he succeeded in doing was bruising his flesh, leaving him to think back through all that had happened. His grandfather had told him the several stories of the Nameless Pharaoh that he had come across during his expeditions when he was young. The young Mutou at the time had merely dismissed his grandfather's musings that his appearance was shared with the supposed fabled king. That doubt however had dissipated when he had interrupted the wedding. The unmistakable presence that had filled his being felt ancient yet unthreatening. Maybe his grandfather was right? His eyes grew wide as the church doors opened and felt his heart give a heavy thump. "Tea?!" She quickly shushed him by placing a finger against her lips as she hurried down the center aisle and knelt next to his head once she was sure that they were alone. Worry filled him when he noticed her puffy eyes and the disheartened expression on her face as she freed him.

Tea felt his gaze but deterred him with a shake of her head. "Please listen, I need you to tell the authorities that Bakura is behind my father's murder. I have all the proof they need so please go and get them to come here." Her hands wanted to cling to him, to beg him to stay so that she wouldn't have to do what was next alone, but she was not going to scar him with what was sure to be her last act. She shook her head again when he told her to come with and reminded him of the horrible society they lived in. "If I were to go to them with my findings they would simply dismiss me and possibly hand me over to the Kaiba's to finish the wedding."

He felt a horrible feeling swell in his chest when she turned away. "What are you going to do?"

"There's no time," she practically hissed as footsteps came from outside. "Go before he realizes that you're gone. Do not make me middle name you, Yugi, so get going." Tea swallowed thickly as he finally disappeared through the doorway that lead to another exit. It wasn't until she was sure that he was gone that she removed the sacramental wine from its cabinet, quickly filling the ceremonial goblet with it before taking out the small slip of paper that held a spell slipped to her by Anubis himself before she had been left alone with the pharaoh.

No sooner had she finished the incantation that the doors burst open and she shed the cloak still draped around her, will strengthened by the thought of settling matters once and for all. A shadow stretched down the aisle as she leaned against the altar in a way that a few of the other girls had said their husbands enjoyed the sight of; one of her straps hanging dangerously low off her shoulder, a hip tilted so that the split in her skirt revealed an ample amount of skin. She suppressed a shiver as Bakura's eyes practically raked across her skin as his lip curled into a hungry smirk. "My, my, what a treat you are."

Dun-Dun-DUUUUUUUUUUHN!