The Priestess Legacy
Chapter 8
The Past is Present
"What do you mean you don't know where she is?" Kaiba snapped.
"I'm sorry Mr. Kaiba, but we've combed the entire city, we have no idea where she could be." Roland explained.
"Then you'd better look harder, because the second time I send you back out into the city, it'll be to find another job." Kaiba threatened. Roland nodded and led the other members of Kaiba's security guards out of the CEO's office. Kaiba sat down and clasped his hands together.
"She said she had to return to Egypt for some half-baked reason, but that was days ago. Where is she?" He growled, narrowing his eyes. He recalled the last time they had spoken. She had called him to inform him that she was returning to Egypt. Why she would feel the need to inform him, Kaiba didn't know. She had spouted some nonsense on returning a spirit to the afterlife, then hung up. Whatever that girl was up to, he was going to find out.
"I will not be robbed of my rematch for a second longer." Kaiba said, reaching for his desk phone and dialing. "If Gardner thinks she can hide from me by going around the world on a ghost hunt, she's got another thing coming."
"Domino International Airport, how may we help you?" The voice crackled on the phone.
"This is Seto Kaiba. I want a private plane to Egypt is half an hour. I don't care if you have to reschedule, I'll pay." Kaiba hung up and opened his desk drawer to pick up his briefcase and Duel Disk. He marched out of his office and brushed by Mokuba who was playing Capmon on his secretary's computer.
"Hey Seto, what's up?" He asked, looking up as his brother hit the button to call an elevator.
"I'm heading to Egypt for a few days. You're in charge while I'm gone." He explained.
"Huh? Why Egypt?" Mokuba asked. But Kaiba was already halfway down the elevator shaft. It opened on the ground floor, and he headed out to the curb where he had telephoned his limousine on his way down. He walked to the sidewalk and opened the door.
"Ah, look out!" Kaiba looked up and stepped back to slam his door shut as a bicycle zoomed between him, the rider skidding and flipped over the handlebars to land on the sidewalk as their bike landed on the Kaiba Corp steps. Luckily they were wearing a helmet and pads.
"Watch where you're going!" Kaiba snapped. The rider pulled off his helmet and rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry Kaiba, but I didn't think you'd open the door." Ryou Bakura laughed awkwardly as Kaiba glared.
"You." He growled. He remembered this freak all too well. The last time they had met, he had attacked Mokuba and challenged Kaiba to a duel, only to weasel out of it and run away once Kaiba got the edge. As he had split, he had muttered some babble about his connection to his Blue-Eyes and his past in Egypt. And now he showed up again, the first time they had seen each other in a year, just as Kaiba was heading to Egypt? An amazing coincidence. But coincidence was something Kaiba didn't trust.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded as Bakura stood up and looked at his battered bike.
"I was just going out for a bike ride, that's all. Is something the matter Kaiba?" He asked, picking up his bike.
"Please, don't expect me to believe that. You showed up a year ago when Yugi headed Egypt, and now that Téa went there you're back."
"Téa went to Egypt? What happened?" Bakura asked. In the year since the battle in the Pharaoh's memory, his relationship with Yugi and the gang had grown strained. Sure they spoke occasionally, but the fight against Barakhan hadn't served to make Bakura more popular.
"That's really none of your business, is it?" Kaiba snorted, opening the door to his limo. Bakura put a hand on his shoulder.
"Kaiba, please, if something's wrong, I want to know." Bakura insisted.
"Let go of me." Kaiba ordered, reaching up to move Bakura's hand. As he grabbed the boy's hand, there was a sudden spark of light, and Bakura jumped back in surprise. Kaiba opted for looking down at his hand in disinterested.
"You felt it too." Bakura accused.
"Static electricity, so what?" Kaiba muttered.
"Kaiba, I'm not an idiot, and neither are you." Bakura said. "I know something is wrong, and I know that you know it too. Regardless of what you admit to our faces, you know that the magic we've experienced is real. And if something is wrong concerning Téa and something with the ancient past, then I have as much a right to know about it as you do. Besides, Téa and Yugi are my friends, and if you don't help me help them, I'll find a way on my own."
"Quite a speech. But I stopped listening halfway through it. I'm heading to Egypt to hunt down Gardner, and that's all you need to know." Kaiba replied, climbing in his limo. He closed the door, leaving Bakura to shake his head and turn to his bike to adjust the now-bent handlebars. A few seconds later, Bakura noticed Kaiba's limo hadn't moved as the door opened again.
"Just don't annoy me." Kaiba said. Bakura gave him an odd look, but nodded and climbed inside with him.
"So, care to explain what's going on?" He asked. Kaiba rolled his eyes.
"Half of it I don't care about and the other half I don't believe, so take your pick."
- - - - - - - - - -
Barakhan leaned against the side of one of the abandoned buildings of Kul Elna, casually picking his nails with his dagger. A light breeze ruffled his hair as an unseen spirit whispered in his ear. Barakhan smiled.
"Right on schedule." He laughed, stepping out into the street. Several feet in front of him, Seth's horse reared to a stop as Seth jumped down.
"Alright Barakhan, your dark crusade against the Pharaohs is over!" He cried. "Make peace with the gods, although I doubt there is any hope for your redemption."
"Those who desire redemption do so only out of fear for what Anubis holds for them, and I fear not what awaits me in the realm of the dead. Death is something I deliver, not something I fear." Barakhan shot back. "If you can kill me Seth then do so, although I sincerely doubt you can. In case your memory is starting to fade prematurely, a mere three days ago it took nearly all your priests to contain me. And even before that when we battled, you were no match for me."
"Things have changed, at least for me. You are still the same petty thug you always were. I am no longer a mere Priest, but the Pharaoh of this land, and as such I cannot allow you to threaten my people." Seth's diadianhk unfurled. "Prepare yourself Barakhan!"
"I'm always prepared for a Shadow Game." Barakhan replied, activating his own diadianhk. "Here's a face you haven't seen in a while. Come forth, Diabound!" Barakhan's diadianhk let out rays of dark light as his Kaa burst up from the ground.
"I summon the Diamond Dragon!" Seth commanded. A glittering white dragon with a golden stomach and horns flew out of the relic to take position behind Seth.
"Starting out big, are we?" Barakhan chuckled.
"Diamond Dragon, attack with Diamond Dazzler!" Seth cried. Diamond Dragon roared and fired a shining beam of white light at Diabound.
"Counterattack, Helical Shockwave!" Diabound shot a ray of green energy from its palm, and the two blasts met head-on. Diabound's snake-head rose to fire a second beam of energy, and Diamond Dragon's attack was pushed back.
"Your tricks won't work anymore." Seth said with a smirk. "Diamond Dragon, Diamond Shield!" Diamond Dragon ducked its head down and folded in its wings. Diabound's attack slammed into the makeshift shield, dispersing after a few seconds.
"I came prepared for your Diabound's double attack Barakhan. My Diamond Dragon has wings of solid diamond that you'll never penetrate." Seth declared.
"We'll see, won't we? Diabound, attack again!" Barakhan shouted. Diabound flung forth its palms and fired another Helical Shockwave. Diamond Dragon's wings glowed green, but held strong. However, Diabound's snake head thrashed through the air and came up behind the beast to bite down on its neck. Diamond Dragon's head snapped back in a roar of anguish, and its wings followed suit. Diabound's attack slammed into Diamond Dragon's chest, and the dragon exploded in a flash of light. Seth let out a cry and fell to a knee, clutching his chest. Diabound groaned, shards of white diamond covering its wings as it absorbed Diamond Dragon's powers.
"So, one down. How many more monsters can you conjure, before your immortal soul gives out?" Barakhan mocked. Seth growled and climbed to his feet.
"Enough to defeat you." He snarled, raising his diadianhk above his head. "I summon Chaos Dragon!" The ground shook beneath them as a vast chasm cracked open behind Seth, the gilded beast rising in a flurry of fire.
"Do you have any idea what may happen to you now? If that thing is destroyed, your soul may very well go with it." Barakhan said.
"It's a risk I'm willing to take! Chaos Dragon, Chaos Flame!" Seth commanded. The dragon let out a roar and fired a jet of red-hot flame. Diabound's snake head joined its hands to let loose a double volley. Diabound and Chaos Dragon were thrown back as their attacks met each other and exploded. Chaos Dragon landed on its feet, but Diabound was thrown through the roof of one of the huts.
"Now finish it!" Seth ordered. Chaos Dragon fired another blast of fire at Diabound.
"Have you forgotten Diabound's power?" Barakhan asked. "Or perhaps a better question would be if you had forgotten the power of your Diamond Dragon!" Diabound folded in its wings, the newly-formed diamond blocking the fireball. "Diabound, strike now! Helical Shockwave!" Diabound's snake head fired a green beam of energy, and Chaos Dragon was caught off guard as the attack hit its neck. It stumbled back, and Diabound flung back its wings to fire another Helical Shockwave. Chaos Dragon collapsed to the ground as it burst into flame. Seth let out a roar of agony and stumbled forward to fall to his hands and knees. Diabound's arms and snake-head neck glowed and grew rings of gold energy around them.
"Well, it would appear that once again the Pharaoh kneels before me." Barakhan laughed. "What else shall you attempt?" Seth closed his eyes.
"This." He whispered, raising a hand to his chest. "Kisara…lend me your strength…please, let us unite to take down this fiend!" Seth's diadianhk glowed brightly. Far away, in the tombs of the nobles, The door to one tomb burst open in a shatter of rock as a white light zoomed across the desert. Seth climbed to his feet as the light impacted him.
"What is this?" Barakhan shrieked, stepping back. The light faded as a mighty roar thundered across the sands. A gleaming silver dragon hovered in the air above Seth.
"I call forth the all-mighty White Dragon!" Seth cried.
"Impossible!" Barakhan protested. Seth gasped for breath and clutched his heart. "You fool, you'll die if you summon that beast!"
"Then so be it! White Lightning!" Seth cried, flinging back his head. The White Dragon roared and fired a blast of white energy. Diabound sent forth a double blast of green energy, tainted with flames as a result of Chaos Dragon's power. The two attacks zoomed past each other, both monsters taking the other's attack head on. White light enveloped the two and their masters as the village of Kul Elna erupted in a dome of shining energy.
As the light cleared, Diabound and the White Dragon began to smoke as they faded into nothingness. Both Seth and Barakhan lay motionless on the ground, the abandoned huts of Kul Elna now crumbling around him into dust. Barakhan groaned and slowly got to his feet, spitting a clot of blood to the ground.
"Not bad." He gasped, stumbling to Seth's unconscious body and kicking him onto his back with a foot. "You would really die if it meant my defeat? How disgustingly noble of you." Barakhan hauled Seth to his feet and marched over to his horse that had fled to an alleyway. Barakhan threw Seth over the horse and roughly tied his feet to the saddle.
"I'll let you live for now." Barakhan said, leading the horse back out into the street. "But when next we meet, you will die. But for now I have what I want, so ta-ta." Barakhan slapped the horse's rear, and it began to gallop back towards the palace. Barakhan watched it go with a smile.
"Diabound had been heavily wounded, but it was far worth it." He whispered. "To claim a far bigger prize." Barakhan laughed as he lifted the Millennium Puzzle to eye level. "Once again, one down, six to go." He cackled.