Disclaimer. Yu-Gi-Oh! does not belong to me. It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi and crew. Some characters will be made up by me. Please ask if you want to use them.

Mahado straightened, glancing at the feathers.

"Do you have a string of some sorts?"

Mrs. Ryou stood up, walking over to the cupboards lined along the wall. Opening one, she took out a clump of thin leather strings, plucking one out of the tangled mess. She gave it to Mahado, putting the clump of leather back in the cupboard.

Mahado tied the leather around the two feathers with a delicate hand, before tying the entire thing around his staff.

The two feathers dangled sadly, no longer bright with life like they used to be.

Mahado turned around, walking to the door before glancing back over his shoulder.

"This may as well be our first and last meeting. It was nice to meet you. Goodbye, and may your days be filled with brighter times unlike today."

He left, not hearing a response from Mrs. Ryou. He walked farther away from the hut, noticing the sky had turned dusky. Initiating his invisibility spell, Mahado continued on his way.

'I shall not let nightfall stop me. By hiding my presence at night, I am able to avoid unwanted attention by night predators.'

Ipiria took off after him, her keen eyesight enabling her to see Mahado in his invisibility even at night.

Atem paced back and forth in the courtyard, having to go outside for some much needed air. His worries about Mahado, his duties as Pharoah and the threat of Bakura had been piled upon his shoulders, weighing them down.

Seto had yet to leave his room.

After that day Atem had found him in the hallway, there had been no movement from the still injured Priest. Someone had relayed to him that Seto had fallen unconscious and has been ever since.

The other priests, being Kalim and Shada, have been meeting countless times, their angered voices echoing around the palace.

Atem wasn't too worried. He knew they would confide in him in time.

A sigh escaped his lips. Looking up at the star filled sky, he saw one star that was not like the rest. It was purple, with black streaks flowing from it. He growled.

"Bakura." He said simply.

Lowering his head, he turned and stalked back into the palace, his stress rising.

Stalking down the corridors, he passed the room where Isis was. Retracing his steps, Atem came back to the room.

The guards saluted.

Atem walked past them, staring at Isis intently.

Her form was sagging, and beads of sweat rolled down her face. The Millennium Tauk around her neck glowed with the light of a faint ember. It was dangerous to interrupt her while she was concentrating, but at the state she was in now was also dangerous.

Atem came up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Isis. Return."

There was no response.

Atem shook her shoulder a little roughly. "Isis! Do you hear me?" He said a bit louder.

The Millennium Tauk sputtered before the glow faded.

Isis opened her eyes, panting and trembling.

"What? What do you want?"

Atem knelt beside her. "I understand you're doing this to relieve us of worries by keeping a constant watch on him, but you will die if you continue to deplete your Ba levels. Just rest for a bit."

Isis took Atem's hand off her shoulder. "But then who will watch him?"

Atem sighed.

"Doesn't matter right now. You should rest. Go back to your room. I will not have you or any other priest exhaust themselves to death."

Isis opened her mouth to respond but Atem talked over her.

"Go.

Rest.

Now."

Standing up, Isis left without a word, her expression full of conflicting emotions.

Atem watched her go, crimson eyes dark with suppressed anger.

'Bakura! You cause us never ending pain and worry. My priests are exhausting themselves to their limits.

And you have the nerve to take Aknadin away with you. And the girl Seto cares for so much.

Well. I'm on to you. We'll be ready when you attack. I'll see to it.'

He stormed out of the room, a total defense and attack plan forming in his mind.

End Of Chapter Seventeen