Dark Magic Rising

A/N:Yu-Gi-Oh belongs to Kazuki Takahashi; this story is my own... / = communication with yami or through the Shadow Realm (like when Yami sent a message to Pegasus in "Give Up The Ghost.")

Dark Magic Rising
Evil Overlady

~ Chapter 1 ~

"Uh... It's okay," Yugi said quickly. "You're among friends. I'm Yugi Mouto, and this is Ryou Bakura. We share our souls with Millennium spirits, like you."

"Share?" the spirit repeated, putting Téa's hand to her chest as she sat up. She eyed the IV and the heart-monitoring contraption on her finger. "What are these things?" She reached to pull them off.

"Don't. Don't pull them off," Yugi told her gently, cupping his hand over hers. "They're... uh... things that help the healers keep an eye on you."

The spirit eyed him curiously and frowned at her other hand, putting it away.

Yugi continued. "There's another presence inside you. Her name's Téa. She got hurt, so we brought her here; but the man who attacked her did so with Shadow Magic and we didn't know what else to do except give her the Millennium Necklace, which in turn woke you up."

"Is she all right?" Ryou asked.

The spirit hesitated.

"She'd be in your Spirit Room," Yugi clarified.

"Uh- I can't go back there." She shivered.

"You'll have to. You can't keep Téa locked up forever." Yugi squeezed her hand assuredly. "It's all right. Don't be afraid..."

Reluctantly, the spirit nodded, and her eyes went distant.

Téa didn't know how long she'd been wandering these dark halls, but she was starting to panic. If this was a dream why wasn't she waking up? "Hello! Is anyone there?"

A shape materialized in front of her, and Téa fell on her butt.

"It's all right," a woman's voice echoed, and a mirror image of Téa appeared in front of her, wearing the Millennium Necklace.

Téa gasped. "Where did you get that? And why do you look like me?"

There was a certain fluidity and air of superiority in the woman's movements that Téa lacked, and her voice was deeper, like Yami's was to Yugi's. She sounded an awful lot like Ishizu but not quite as aloof. "I am you..." Then, she sighed, planting a hand on her hip as if she couldn't stand talking to someone of lower class. "It's complicated..."

As in too much for my feeble brain... Téa thought bitterly.

The woman blinked, hurt. "I didn't say that."

"But that's what you meant. Now. If you would kindly show me the way out I can finally get out of this nightmare."

"This is not a dream, Téa."

"You know my name?"

"Uh, yes. Your friend Yugi told it to me. You may call me Tiye, if you felt so inclined."

"Tiye," Téa gasped. "The woman who cursed Bakure? The pharaoh's wife?" Téa paused. "Does that make you a queen?"

"I am a priestess and a dancer, and, yes, I did bind that thief to that Millennium Item and I did marry the pharaoh, but please don't call me queen."

Téa climbed to her feet and stood eye to eye with the spirit of the Necklace. "So this is really real. Someone put the Millennium Necklace on me and you popped out. Why didn't you stay with Ishizu?"

"Ishizu wasn't compatible. Only a special few people can release the spirits of the Millennium Items... Namely the reincarnations of the seven wielders." Tiye looked Téa in the eyes. "Your friend was fortunate he did what he did. Had you perished before I could reach you I might have had to wait another five thousand years in isolation... or worse..."

"I... I died?"

"Almost," Tiye corrected. "Your friend said something about an attack... by Shadow Magic."

Téa nodded. She'd almost forgotten. "By your friend, the Master of Secrets."

"Hery? Why would he...?"

"Hey! I don't know. All I know is it was him, and he used a Duel Monsters card on me, only for real." Téa's eyes widened as it all sunk in. "I better tell Yugi."

Tiye grabbed her hand. "Wait."

Téa turned.

"You'll come back for me, won't you?" Téa could see the fear filling her eyes. Téa had been scared of this place for a few minutes but this woman had to endure it for a couple thousand years.

"I'll come back to you," Téa told her. "I promise." She smiled. "Someone's got to teach you about the new century!"

Tiye gave a sigh and a weak laugh.

Téa touched her hand and left.

Téa was sitting up in the hospital bed, Yugi and Bakura looking on expectantly. Téa blinked the dryness out of her eyes. "Yugi! You're not gonna believe-"

A shadow appeared in the doorway.

Téa swallowed her words as Kaiba stalked through the open hospital door, uncharacteristic duffel bag over his shoulder. "All right, this had better be something real damn important to get me up at this hour!"

"Kaiba?" Yugi gasped, turning in his chair. "What are you doing here?"

Kaiba turned and shut the door behind him. "Let me make this one thing very clear, Yugi. Ancient artifacts do not simply glow like a blasted night light in my household. And for as long as I've had the misfortune to know you things like that just happen when you're around, so just spill it so I can get some sleep... Why is Téa wearing Miss Ishtar's necklace?"

Téa was fixated on the duffel bag. The Rod was in that bag... She could sense it... And it gave her goosebumps remembering how Malik has used it on her...

"Your item glowed too?" Yugi asked.

"That's what I just said, isn't it?"

Bakura smirked. "In so many words..."

Téa eyed the spirit of the ring uncertainly, drawing a blanket up over her bare legs. The spirit did save her life... sort of.

The spirit stepped forward. "Miss Gardner was afflicted with this card." He handed it to Kaiba. "While you're here, perhaps you can do a little research into its owner. Mr. Wizard of Computers." Bakura smirked again.

"Say anything even remotely relating to magic to me again and I'll-"

"Téa almost died tonight, Kaiba," Yugi intervened. "Whether you believe in magic or not, the man who assaulted her used that card."

Kaiba's lips tightened. "I'll see what I can do."

"Look for the Master of Secrets," Téa added. She turned to Yugi's questioning look. "Ask Yami what it means."

"After I'm gone," Kaiba got in quickly. "The last thing I need is that egotistical..."

"He can still hear you, Kaiba," Yugi pointed out.

Kaiba muttered something inaudible but probably unpleasant and opened the door. "I'll bring your results tomorrow at your grandfather's game shop." He stalked out.

Who would've thought... He does have a heart after all... Téa thought bitterly.

Yugi turned to Téa after a thoughtful pause. "Hery-Sesheta," Yugi told her. "That's not a name. It's a title, probably to throw us off the track. In ancient Egypt to tell someone your real name is to give them power over you. A priest could write it on a clay bowl and break it ceremoniously, cursing that individual for all eternity." Yugi blushed. "Grampa told me about that."

"Yes..." Bakure agreed. "I believe he knows a lot about ancient Egypt. I sensed he was old... and familiar, but I don't know why he was after Téa..."

"Hery was Tiye's friend."

"Tiye?" Bakure and Yugi gasped in unison.

Téa grew suddenly self-conscious. Her spirit knew both the spirits of the Millennium items, one intimately. What's Tiye going to think about my attraction to Yami? ...Probably in the worst way... Ugh... I hate this already... "She's as confused as I am why he would try to harm us... or, me, specifically..."

Yami had taken over when Téa turned her gaze his way again, making her cringe internally. Don't make a scene, Yami. This is extremely awkward... "Whatever the reason, we won't let him try again," Yami told her, holding Téa's hand, and she winced at the touch. "Bakura and I will keep watch tonight..." Must you? Couldn't you get Joey or Tristan... But neither had Millennium items. "For now, you should get some rest. You've both been through a lot. It'll take some adjusting..."

Téa grabbed Yami's hand into both of hers. "This is scary for me, Yami," she told him truthfully. "I don't want a spirit. I've seen too much of what happens to Yugi and Bakura under your influences." She couldn't help the tears falling. "I don't want to lose control..."

Yami gripped his free hand over hers, sliding the other free to dust off her tears. "You won't lose control if you're strong, Téa. I will always be there to guide you - myself and Yugi. You won't be in this struggle alone. You have my word."

Bakure watched from afar, contemplating his own rivalry with Ryou.

In the beginning he was so caught up in his vengeance that he found his new body to be a liability, but ever so slowly Ryou had learned to stand up to him and Bakure grew... somewhat... fond of the little weakling...

Bakure watched Téa, saw in her the priestess he once knew...

Tiye could've killed him. She didn't. She gave him immortality, for better or for worse...

Why, Pharaoh? Why kill so many unarmed civilians just to boost your own power? We were thieves, scoundrels... I'll admit. But we were your people. Not the enemy.

We didn't deserve to die like that, stripped of our souls, barred from even testing our hearts against the feather...

Bakure felt his own tears threatening to emerge and turned away. He would not chance letting Ryou see him like this... Damn you all!