Chapter 22

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Serenity's head throbbed. She reeled as her memories returned to her.

...

"You think you were smart? Untying him like that? Were you trying to save him?" Bakura yelled, smashing his palm into her cheek. "Well once he delivers those damned millennium items, he's in for a real shock." He said, waving a gun in her face.

...

The last thing she remembered was the butt of the gun coming at her. She shifted slightly, noticing that she was leaning on something cold, but also that she was completely unbound. Before her stood two male forms with light hair. Hearing her shift, one looked back and smirked.

"It seems our little hero is awake." Malik sneered. Bakura flashed an angered look at her, but his features brightened immediately.

"Just in time." Bakura mused as he watched someone approach their location. "Speak, and we'll kill you all." He added to her before ignoring her.

"I pray this works..." Ishizu said hopefully. She was quickly shushed by Kaiba. He was dressed in a black turtle neck sweater, some black slacks and his blue duster. Yugi and Tea were nowhere to be found.

"I was hoping to see the look on the little one's face when he watched as I obtained my own body!" Bakura shouted. Kaiba and Ishizu found the pathway to the obelisk and stopped about twenty five feet away. "Show me." Bakura demanded. Kaiba cracked open his briefcase then turned it around to show the millennium rod, ankh, necklace, and puzzle laying in the soft lining. Kaiba snapped it shut and glared at them.

"I throw it over after she starts towards me." Kaiba called. Bakura flicked his gaze over to Serenity, smirked, then nodded her over. Immediately she began to run. He started to draw the gun in case Kaiba decided to keep the items, but was forced to drop the thing as he caught the briefcase. Serenity reached him and went to hug him, but he grabbed her hand and began to walk away instead.

"No time, run." He whispered, and they took off.

"Finally, the millennium puzzle is-" Malik reached down, attempting to take hold of the puzzle, but his hand sunk right through them. He roared with anger. How could he be so stupid as to trust the genius CEO of a company made solely to create holograms? He slammed the case down, breaking the device and making the items zap and buzz out of existence.

Kaiba, Ishizu and Serenity were still in sight of the boys when Kaiba glanced back and watched as Malik threw the case, Bakura regained his weapon and they began pursuit.

"It's time. Be careful." He shouted to Ishizu. She nodded in agreement and split from Kaiba and Serenity. Shortly after Kaiba led Serenity down a series of allies, completely separating them from Ishizu. Kaiba heard footsteps behind him. He glanced back and caught a glimmer of white hair following. Perfect.

Serenity watched as Kaiba formed a smile. He looked ahead and nodded to something then continued to run. After a few seconds, she could hear her pursuer slam onto the ground violently. Kaiba immediately started to slow down and she followed his lead. Looking back she saw that Tea and Yugi had used a tripwire and the second Bakura fell, disarmed and bound him. Serenity looked up at Kaiba, who smirked over Bakura, then reached down and grabbed the ring. Yugi's eyes glimmered.

"What about Ishizu?" Serenity asked.

"She's covered." Kaiba said dismissively, and turned to Yugi. "You said you could do it, right?" Yugi nodded and allowed Yami to take control. He approached Bakura, who was cursing and struggling, and raised his hand.

"Bakura, your evil ways of treachery and thievery are coming to an end." He said, sealing the screaming Bakura in the shadow realm. After it was said and done, Ryou's weak body fell limp. He turned back to Kaiba "We can untie him now." Kaiba nodded and released the boy. And helped carry him back to the hotel.

Ishizu was waiting there with an unconscious Merik.

"Is he..?" Kaiba didn't feel the need to finish the question. Ishizu nodded. Serenity looked confusedly between Kaiba and Ishizu.

"How..?" She wasn't entirely sure how anyone other than Yami could free someone from an evil spirit. Ishizu smiled to her.

"My family is well educated in the ways of ancient Egyptian rituals." She said simply. "We should all rest. We have a big day ahead of us. Someone will be right over to take them to the doctors." She finished. Her eyes flickered between them all, then finally rested on Yami. She smiled warmly then excused herself. Kaiba heard her bid farewell to the guard he had hired to watch the room, and then the hall was silent. Everyone took turns taking showers and getting ready for sleep. Kaiba grumbled as he stepped out, cursing himself for forgetting to ask for more towels. He resigned himself to drying off with a hand towel.

When he exited, Tea was laying next to Serenity whispering something and peering over at him. Yugi laid in the boys bed and was fiddling with the millennium puzzle, and Ryou and Merik were gone. Kaiba stalked over to Tea.

"Move." He glared down on her. She opened her mouth to say something, but Serenity put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a pleading look. She got up and scooted off the bed, shot a nasty look at Kaiba and then sat next to Yugi and began to chat. He placed himself beside Serenity laying down in he bed, and scooped her up. "... I'm sorry..." He whispered into her ear. It wasn't long before they drifted off.

"Y...Yugi?" Tea called a few minutes later. A slight blush crossed her features. She had never shared a bed with a boy before.

"Yeah Tea?" Yugi turned to face her.

"I'm excited."

"Me too." He said, mind wandering to the events about to take place. "I just cant sleep."

"Yugi... Is... Is the dance... never mind." Tea's blush almost burned. Yugi looked at her questioningly.

"A date?" He asked tentatively. Tea nodded. "It can be if... if you want it to be." Yugi didn't know how bold to be or if he was over pushing things. Tea looked away and Yugi could feel his heart sink.

"Yugi... I," Teas voice was almost a whisper. "I'd love for that. I'd like it to be a date." She turned back to him and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. It was Yugi's turn to blush this time. "Try to get some sleep ok?" She said, fixing her blankets over her. Yugi nodded and rolled onto his back. Today was about to be the best day of his life.

Kaiba appeared in an empty void. He didn't wake up, his eyes just seemed to adjust into focus as his surroundings engulfed him. There was no floor, or ceiling, no walls doors or windows. Hues of dark purple and green danced in the distance. Close enough to see, but always just out of reach. He heard a gasp behind him and spun to see who it was. A young girl with red-brown hair stood before him. She was facing away and backing towards him at the same time. He put his hands on her shoulders and caught her when she jumped. She looked terrified, and hugged him to her.

"Where are we?" Serenity asked.

"The shadow realm." A voice in the distance answered. Kaiba's head snapped up and he locked gaze with Set. Serenity turned and gasped again. He looked her up and down, making Kaiba hold her closer. "Where is-"

"Set..." Sarah stood behind Set. He slowly turned, hoping that she was real, and she was. She took a step towards him but before anyone could blink he had closed the gap. He kissed her tenderly, but firmly. Serenity smiled and looked up at Kaiba. He only watched with a blank stare. When the two finally did part, Set brushed hairs away from Sarah's eyes. He then placed a hand at the small of her back and rubbed, hugging her to him. Her head rested on his shoulder as his hand traveled down her left leg next. It continued it's trip up to her left arm, then across the expanse of her back and shoulder blades.

Serenity thought it was sweet how they were embracing, but Kaiba knew exactly what Set was doing. His hands wandered the exact locations of where she was struck by the executioner. And in proper order. He must have sat in his own mind all these centuries, replaying the memory over and over again, memorizing every blow. His hand finally rested on the back of her head, and he lifted her to him, kissing her again.

Kaiba held Serenity close to him, promising to never let such a thing happen to her. Ever.

Kaiba woke to Yugi's alarm. Yugi was already awake, or had never slept, he didn't know. None of them got much sleep, but Yugi looked completely deprived. That didn't keep the smile off his lips though. Ishizu was in about five minutes later. They had only just taken showers five hours prior so they only used the bathroom to get dressed, and were ready to go.

Once out to the obelisk, Ishizu began placing the items. She held the millennium ring out in front of her. Suddenly the pendants hanging from the ring began to glow and point out in many directions. Ishizu stepped around, looking like someone using a metal detector to find a specific location. The far left pointer stayed directed on the obelisk, the far right, on Yugi's millennium puzzle. The other three seemed to point off far into the distance.

The ring flickered a moment and Ishizu immediately stopped. Back tracing to where it shined, Ishizu finally found the right spot. The ring glowed brightly.

"Here, place your personal item here." Yugi placed Yami's book of the dead on the spot beneath where the ring glowed. Ishizu looked sadly to Serenity and Kaiba. Suddenly Kaiba smirked.

"What are you waiting for Sarah?" Set asked, now in control. Serenity-now Sarah, looked at him confusedly. He reached up and removed the necklace from her throat. He placed that and his rod atop the book. Ishizu smiled.

"Now Yugi, the millennium puzzle, it needs to be right... here." Ishizu pointed at a spot at the same angle and distance away from the center point as the obelisk. "The first indicator points to the beam of the heavens, where the Gods watch down on the mortals and can hear their calls." Ishizu nodded towards the obelisk. "The second third and fourth point to the tombs of our past pharaohs in Giza, Saqqara, and Abusir. The set of three pyramids at each of Giza, Saqqara and Abusir all line up directly to point to this specific spot. And of course, the last calls to the puzzle, the source of the mortal power to call to the Gods." Ishizu laid the ring atop the pile of items that were of personal value to the spirits and muttered words in an ancient dialect.

From the center of the ring a thin beam of light shot out and pierced the sky, just as the sun began to rise. Time seemed to slow, and the earth's slight movements felt like great earthquakes. All in one instant the light disappeared. Serenity, Kaiba, and Yugi all collapsed, catching themselves on all fours. Serenity cried out and Yugi gasped. Kaiba winced noticeably as he felt like something was being torn from him violently.

Ishizu and Tea helped the three stand and when they finally came around. When they reached their full height, they stood face to face with their counterparts. Yugi gave a smile to Yami, who returned it warmly. Kaiba received and returned a respectful nod, and Serenity and Sarah hugged. Serenity finished quietly saying how happy she was for Sarah, but before they completely parted they heard a padded thump and then a shriek.

"What are you doing!" Tea yelled, unable to move out of shock. Yami stood, hunched over with his eyes bulging, and Set's fist in his stomach...

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Thanks everyone for the reviews. It's great to hear what you think, what you like, and even what you don't like.

And to 'Stephie ()', Bitz get off mah back, you cant rush art! . . . LOVE YOU! You certainly give the most... interesting reviews.

Hope you all liked this chappie.

R+R+E~3

PS: It's really true, the pyramids at Giza, Saqqara and Abusir all line up and point directly to Heliopolis. Ok, Egyptian mythology fact time over now.