WOW...Three reviews for the last chapter...
Special thanks to:
Spindlegal
RedGlowingHeart
Doragon-Chan
Thank you three again for such wonderful reviews. I really appreciate great feedback from faithful readers. I hope everyone enjoys this latest chapter.
PhantomBrat out...
Atemu had heard voices in one of the tunnels that he had landed in after slipping into one of the sloping shafts. "I mustn't do that too often, or I'll bruise this body. I promised that I would take care of it."
Atemu brushed the dust from his/Yugi's clothes and headed towards the dim light. Partially there, he tripped over a form that was laying in the walkway. The object yelped and startled a bird that was resting nearby. Atemu landed in the room and looked up to see several pairs of eyes staring at him. He scrambled backwards and landed on the same canine that he had tripped over. It jumped up and snapped at him, missing his hand by inches.
One of the people in the small space stood up and looked at Atemu. The person looked almost like him. "Yugi," the man asked, looking concerned.
Atemu shook his head, "I am sorry, but I am not your Yugi. He has given me temporary possession of his vessel in order to keep it functioning until you can retake his soul and restore it to him."
"If you are not my brother, then who are you," he asked.
Atemu sighed, "My name is Atemu, former Pharaoh of Egypt and a victim of deceit."
The canine and the bird entered the room upon hearing Atemu's name. Everyone was shocked into silence when the two animals shifted into normal form. "Long time no see, 'Temu," the former falcon and jackal stated.
The former jackal looked at Atemu, "Is it just me or did you shrink a few inches?"
"Stuff it, Akefia," Atemu snapped. "I am in no mood for yours or Mariku's antics. Not with one of my descendants' soul at stake. Raiden broke his word."
Atemu's copy stood up, "What do you mean by that?"
"Atem, sit down before I make you," a stern voice snapped.
Atemu looked at the one called Atem with nearly washed-out amethyst eyes, "Akefia, Mariku, and I were captured by Raiden 3000 years ago and were given a choice; to become vampires willingly and protect Egypt and future generations of our families from his kind or be forcefully Changed and allow harm to our country and families. We gave in. I was informed, by sources that shall be anonymous for now, that your Yugi is of my bloodline. Therefore Raiden Takeshi broke his word when he caused harm to one of my own."
"That's not all he did," one of the others in the small space piped up. "He kidnapped us and Turned us while at the same time using us for experiments."
Atemu was curious, "Step forward please." Two small figures stood up and Atemu noticed that they looked almost like Mariku and Akefia.
A third figure grabbed Mariku's copy, "Don't hurt Hikari-Malik. My brother, no touchy."
"Marik, let go," Malik complained. "I think he's here to help us get Yugi back."
Another figure that looked like Akefia glared at his friend, "Marik, let go of the Hikari. Remember that Ishizu won't forgive you if you hurt Malik."
"Shush, Baka-ra," Marik stated. "Hikari-Malik my brother, my twin. Not yours. Hikari-Ryou you brother, you twin."
Having the feeling that his older twin wasn't about to let go of him any time soon, Malik sighed and relaxed, causing Marik to fall backwards with the sudden weight.
Seto was getting a bit upset when their planning was interrupted by three new vamps entering their space. "Will you all shut up so that I can think! Now who are you three and what are your ties to the Vampire Lord?"
"I am Atemu, and these two are my old friends Akefia and Mariku. Our 'ties' to Raiden Takeshi are minimal, forced upon us as I have mentioned earlier. He is the one who Turned us. Any alliance that we were forced into was considered void when he caused harm to a descendant of ours. Now that I have heard that he kidnapped and Turned three of our own, his life is forfeit," Atemu stated.
"He will pay for making our offspring suffer in such a manner," Akefia snapped.
"I seconds that," Mariku blurted out. "I wants to make him watch as I crush his eyes."
Bakura groaned and smacked his forehead, "Great, another Marik to deal with."
"So, 'Temu," Akefia began. "Why possess a runt?"
"I know not what happened to my body after part of my soul was sealed and the other part saved by the Egyptian Gods," Atemu admitted. "When the Gods discovered that one of my descendants had been severely harmed by Raiden, I was furious. They watched as he fought to inform Isis' reincarnation of the danger that these Hunters were in. Ra deemed that he was worthy of a very rare gift. While the fragments of his soul recuperated with them, I would sustain his body until his soul is returned. It also gives me a chance to regain my strength while I try to retrieve the Soul Crystal with the other half of my own inside and locate my own vessel."
Akefia grinned, "You won't have to search for your body, Atemu. Mariku and I stashed it in our chambers. It's safe and sound. I've taken care of it for you."
"Thank you, old friend," Atemu stated. "Now may I ask your names?"
Atem spoke as he pointed to everyone, "I am Atem, and the two with white hair are Bakura and his twin brother, Ryou. The two that are next to them are Marik and his twin, Malik. Seto is the one with the blue jacket, Joey is the blonde with the water bottle. Tristan is next to him, then Duke and Odion. Leo and his cousin Jaden, and the rest are unknown to me as I have not worked with them before."
Akefia was curious, "How old are you two?" He pointed this question at Ryou and Malik.
"In which consideration," Ryou questioned.
Akefia grinned at his response, "Either." He had a feeling that he wouldn't like the answer given.
"In vampire years, we are ten. Human, 25-26. And in appearance, we're 16," he replied. "Yugi is the same age as us in all three aspects, though in normal years he's the youngest of us and then the middle in vampire years."
The three ancient friends were shocked. Rarely did Raiden target young teens. 'That's about the time the weaker halves of the three sets of twins vanished without a trace and the Vampire Lord began boasting about his heirs,' he thought to himself. Akefia decided to ask a few more questions, "Have you three ever bit a human?"
"No. We refrained from harming any people, even if we were starving," Malik stated.
Then how did you three live for ten years," he pressed.
"We only hunted stray dogs that had no collars," Ryou replied. "Or lifted food from outside vendors or gardens when nobody was looking."
"Why do you ask," Malik questioned him.
Akefia grinned, "Because you remind me of us. I am pleased at your replies, young ones."