Special thanks to:
Spindlegal
RedGlowingHeart
Doragon-Chan
Thank you three again for such wonderful reviews. I hope everyone enjoys this latest chapter.
PhantomBrat out...
Atemu thought about their current issues and came up with an immediate plan. "Atem, what is Yugi's spirit animal?"
Atem looks at him, "Yugi can take the shape of a bronze-colored Egyptian Mau. Why?"
"We're going to cause a distraction and I need any who can Shift take their spirit animal's shape for this to work. Raiden has yet to see our own forms and for this I am glad," Atemu replied. "We need to try to retrieve not only the Soul Crystal with Yugi's soul, but my own as well. I know that Akefia and Mariku can Shift, but what about you two?"
Malik looked up, "Ryou and I can."
Akefia grinned, "I have seen Ryou's spirit animal's form and must admit that it was a bit of a shock to see that he can Shift into a jackal. So young one, what is your form's shape?"
"Kestrel Falcon," Malik answered. "It was, and still is my favorite animal."
"Hmm, I'm amazed. You three are not only our descendents, but share many traits with us," Atemu stated. "It is a shame that my cousin was not able to see one of his own. Seth would have been proud that you look just like him Seto."
Joey looked at the vampire, "You never told us what you could turn into."
Atemu grinned, "It is not obvious, Short-life? When I said that the three that you labeled Hikaris share many traits with us, I meant it."
"I see," Atem began. "Ryou Shifts into a jackal just like Akefia. Malik and Mariku can both take falcon shapes. This means that you and Yugi can both take the same form, if not the same coloring."
"Close, Short-life, my coloring as a Mau is silver, though I am not sure if my residing in Yugi's body will affect that or not," Atemu admitted.
Bakura got tired of the current conversation, "So what is the plan, vamp?"
"Do not speak that way to the Pharaoh," Akefia snapped. "If you were not of my blood, I would have killed you for that, Child!"
Bakura winced and shrank back. Atemu looked at his ancient friend, "Do not yell at him, the Short-life is correct. We need to get started and in order to do so; I need to share my plan."
Atemu told the group that while those that could Shift took their animal forms, the Hunters would try to provide enough of a distraction to lure Raiden away from his inner room where he kept the most important of his Soul Crystals hidden. This would allow for a small window for the Shifters to retrieve at least one, if not both, of the Soul Crystals. If there was just enough time to grab one, they were to grab Atemu's so that, once back in his own body, he could fetch the High Council of the Supernatural and inform them of the crimes Raiden committed.
"Even when I am returned to my own body, I will continue to keep Yugi's functioning until he is returned or I am told to let him go," Atemu stated.
Duke looked at the pair of crazed inventors, "I know that I'm possibly going to regret asking this, but do you guys have any of those Holy Water bombs left?"
Marik grinned, "Uh-huh. We gots about tree H2Holy Misters left. I's gonna hook them ups to the creep-face's door and blow it ups."
"Shut it, Crazy-Boy," Bakura snapped, feeling a migraine forming from trying to figure out Marik's almost incoherent babbling.
Raiden opened a hidden compartment to place the Soul Crystal containing Yugi's soul in his hidden drawer next to a similarly colored Soul Crystal. He grinned to himself, knowing that he had the soul of a former Pharaoh and another of one of the most innocent creatures, one that should not have existed. He fingered the gem containing the soul of Atemu and compared the 'fire' within the two. He immediately noticed that his newest captive's 'fire' had dimmed a bit.
'So the runt's soul was fragmented somehow,' he thought to himself. 'No matter, I still have his body. I'll just have to chain it in the tunnels in order to keep intruders out.'
The Soul Crystal with Atemu's own contained inside had dimmed within days of his being sealed. He heard a loud explosion as his doors were blown open for the second time in less than two days. Raiden quickly closed the drawer, leaving the secret panel open as he turned to face the intruders. It was the band of escaped prisoners that had grown since their escape.
Once the group was certain that they were seen, they split up and ran. Raiden growled and took off after the trio that looked like two sets of his 'children'. Once he was out of the room, a falcon flew in and landed on the ground while a silver-colored cat dashed in. Two jackals sat in the recesses near the hall to keep watch.
The cat Shifted, revealing Atemu. "Malik, stay in your spirit animal form and be prepared to take off when you hear from Akefia or Ryou."
~Right.~
Atemu opened the drawer and saw that there was only one Soul Crystal inside. This meant that Raiden still had the other one with Yugi's life force inside. He growled as he snatched his up and replaced it with a fake Crystal. Atemu placed it inside a padded bag that was around his neck before Shifting once more.
*Let's go and rejoin the others. I need to tell them that he still holds Yugi captive.*
~Ok. You lead and I'll follow.~
*Just like Mariku on a good day, Young One.*
The pair met up with the group after they managed to lose Raiden. Akefia led them to their chambers and locked the door. "No one ever comes here unless they have a death wish of it's Raiden wanting us to track someone. But even then, he never comes in."
"You mentioned having hid my body," Atemu pointed out as everyone sat down.
Akefia grinned as he grabbed Joey and Tristan to pull them from the bed they were on. He glared at Duke, "Up, Short-life. Now."
Once the bed was cleared, he pulled up the mattress to reveal steps. "It's down here, Pharaoh," he grinned.
The group followed Akefia while Mariku secured the entrance to the hidden stairway. Atemu was surprised to see that his friends had taken such measures to keep Raiden from finding his body. It was lying on a raised bed, looking as if he were just sleeping and everything he was experiencing were merely a dream. "Do you like how you look after being gone from yourself for around 1000 years," Akefia asked rhetorically.
"I thank you my friends for going through such great lengths to tend to my body in my absence," he replied. "So now, how do we return me to my proper body?"
Malik looked at him, "Ryou and I found something that might help. I'm glad that Ishizu made a copy for me. It's an excerpt from Ryota Yori's Hunter's Journal. Here." He handed the papers to Atemu.
Atemu read them aloud, "'It seems that the captured souls can be released, but within reason. One must first locate the vessel that originally housed it and, if the light from within the stone is at its brightest, presses the gem into area above the victim's heart can release the trapped soul. However, extreme caution must be used as any damage to the Soul-Crystal may result in a 'dead' soul; one that cannot be saved, thus mercy is needed upon the poor victim. I had to put down a Faerie Child who had the misfortune to cross the fiend's path. Her 'prison' had been damaged and her 'spark' had lost its fire, thus extinguishing itself.
May this information prove to be beneficial to future generations of the Protectors.'
So it appears that we need to do two things in order to restore my whole soul. Atem, I want you and Akefia to do as I say. You are the only one that can use the Puzzle aside from myself and Yugi. I want you to remove it from me and place it next to the Soul Crystal the moment that Akefia places it above my heart. Bakura, you are to keep this body from falling as the Puzzle is taken from my neck."
Once everything is set, Atemu nods to Atem, "You may proceed."
As Atem lifts the Puzzle from Yugi's neck, his eyes roll back and he collapses. Bakura barely manages to catch the small Hikari in time. Akefia and Atem time their actions precisely, placing the Soul Crystal and the Puzzle just above Atemu's heart. The light leaves the Crystal and the Puzzle flares in brightness before dying.
Atemu groans as he opens his eyes.