Chapter 59: The Sands of Egypt

A/N LATE UPDATE IS LATE BECAUSE LATE UPDATE IS OVER 20,000 WORDS. Seriously. I guess I lied about the whole never writing anything longer than Matters of the heart. But it has copious amounts of Bakura, Thief King, Malik and Ryou so I hope you enjoy it!

This chapter is full of typos, grammatical errors, missing words and such. If that hinders your enjoyment of fic, please just skip this chapter and come back after my lazy butt gets around to editing it.

Somethings to know:

The Lesser of Two Evils is canon in this.

Takes place when season five would normally take place and relies heavily on if you watched. Still slightly AU though.


Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~ Martin Luther King Jr.


Ryou Bakura was accustomed to awaking in strange places.

The spirit of the ring (just the thought of him in passing made Ryou cringe) had a habit of getting Ryou stuck in the most random of places and then violently shoving him back into control of his body without him having the slightest clue as to where he is.

So it was no surprise to Ryou that he was not in his bed or even in his house.

What was surprising was the fact he was laying in sand. Ryou's eyes fluttered open and ungodly amount of sunlight poured onto him. He struggled to stand up and what he saw made him gasp.

Large, mountainous hills of sand surrounded him like armed guards and the bright blue sky didn't even have a wisp-like cloud. He recognized the landscape well; it was always on the postcards his father sent him.

Egypt.

Oh, no.

-0-

Malik opened his eyes and found himself in a pile of sand.

Shocking, really. Sand, in Egypt. How unexpected.

The lilac eyed boy stood up and brushed the sand off. He tried to recall what happened, but to no avail. All he remembered was showing the Pharaoh the ancient tablet and…

No. No way.

Malik looked around wildly. Sand, sky, pretty much standard Egypt. Standard, not at all the way he it looked now. Like the way someone would imagine Egypt if it was a board game or someone only had half recollections of the place.

It looked like what Malik would assume the Pharaoh's memories looked like.

Malik let out an exasperated cry.

That just wasn't fair! Hadn't he already done his job as tomb keeper? What more could he possible do to serve the Pharaoh?

His stomach plummeted. Was this some sort of divine punishment for Battle City?

Whatever the case, he was stuck in the middle of the ancient Egyptian desert, with no food or water and no signs of civilization in sight.

Malik kicked the sand.

Damn it.

-0-

Ryou honestly hadn't the slightest idea where he was going.

He wasn't even sure what part of Egypt he was in, much less which way to the nearest city. Worse than that, he couldn't remember how (or why) he was in Egypt in the first place.

And the millennium ring was gone, so he couldn't even ask the spirit…

(Not like the spirit would have answered. But still.)

The sun was still high in the sky, so maybe it was one or two o'clock. That gave Ryou a little hope. Maybe he could find some help before the sun set. Because the heat was one thing Ryou at least knew how to deal with it, the cool desert nights were something completely different.

Ryou froze. Was that hooves heard? As in horses?

The white haired boy turned around cautiously. He'd always been a cautious child, but added to the fact that the spirit of the ring always made new enemies wherever he went, Ryou's carefulness had only increased.

What Ryou saw intensified his fear.

There were five people on horseback, though only one of them actually looked like a person. He had short, slightly spiky gray hair and a blood red cloak flowed from behind him. On this man's left and right were identical figures. All four men (if they could be called that) had glowing red eyes and were covered in black cloaks. It didn't even look they had faces.

Ryou's heart skipped a beat. He wanted to run, but his legs no longer worked.

The riders broke apart and encircled Ryou. Apparently, the time to run had come and passed.

The man with the red cloak rode right up to Ryou.

(Ryou willed himself to stop shaking.)

The man looked at him up and down. Then, as if he just became certain of something, smirked. He offered Ryou his hand.

"Get on."

When Ryou didn't take his hand faster enough, the man grabbed Ryou by the collar and threw him onto the horse. He pulled on the reins and the horses sped off.

Well, weirder things had happened.

-0-

Ryou was too terrified to ask questions, even though he was overflowing with them.

Like first and foremost, who were these mysterious riders? And where were they taking him? Why him?

Had he just been in the wrong place at the wrong time?

(Though Ryou seriously doubted that. Ever since he had received the millennium ring, there was no such thing as a coincidence.)

And of course, the man refused to talk to Ryou. On the other hand, Ryou was pretty certain that the black robed things couldn't talk period.

So they rode in silence and the knot in Ryou's stomach grew tighter and tighter.

Finally, after centuries of nothing but the sound of horse hooves, something became clear in the distance.

It was a village. Or at least what was left of it. The outline of a long group of huts was visible, but there was only fragments of actually homes. There were ashes everywhere, and the rubble of the houses was black.

Ryou shivered.

(Ninety-nine eyes watched him.)

The man in red looked at him inquisitively, as if he was waiting for Ryou to say something.

Ryou avoided his intense grayish blue stare.

The man snorted and turned away. He muttered something under his breath. It sounded vaguely like 'that damn bastard was right'.

What did that mean?

They road deeper and deeper into the village, they cloaked men always right behind them. The man with the red cloak pulled the horses reins. They stopped in front of one of the least charred houses.

The man leapt off the horse without another word.

He'd walked a totally of three feet before he turned back to Ryou.

Glaring, he said, "Well, come on, you can walked can't you?"

Ryou frowned and weighed his options. Obviously this man was quick to anger, and he was very…um…muscular…so the chances of Ryou being able to out run the cloaked man weren't so good. Better to just do what he said.

Ryou, cautiously, jumped off the horse.

The man glared at Ryou once more (Ryou had never meet person who hated him so much so instantly. Maybe they were scared of him that fast, but never hated.) before he turned and started to walk again.

The man kicked the door opened.

"I found him," he said to someone, gruffly.

Ryou's throat closed up. (Suffocating…it felt like he was suffocating…)

He knew who the man was talking before he even got inside.

"Good morning, Landlord," said a dark, twisted version of his own body.

Ryou froze and cold rage tore through his body.

"You," he hissed.

The man in red blinked, surprised at the amount of venom in Ryou's voice.

"I thought you said he didn't remember," the man in red asked, glaring at the spirit of the ring.

"He remembers some," the spirit of the ring replied.

It was only then did Ryou noticed something.

"You don't have the millennium ring," Ryou gasped.

How was the spirit able to be here, corporeal no less, without the ring?

"Not yet," the spirit of the ring said, shooting a poisonous glare towards the man in red. He returned it with more vigor.

Wait, did this man hate the spirit of the ring as much as Ryou did? Was it even possible for someone to hate the spirit more than him?

"It doesn't matter," the spirit said again, refocusing his stare to Ryou, "They'll be mine eventually."

"Mine," the man in red muttered under his breath.

The spirit took a step forward to Ryou and he instinctively took a step back.

"What do you want from me?" Ryou glared, though it was lacking power, "You have your own body."

(Ryou found that he didn't even want to know how the spirit accomplished that.)

The spirit smirked.

(It made Ryou cringe.)

"You still belong to me, landlord. And I still have use for you."

That sent chills up Ryou's spine. It was one thing when the spirit was nothing but a voice in the back of his head. But now Ryou could see him. He was real. (Not just some bad dream that if Ryou tried hard enough, he'd wake up from.) The spirit was flesh and blood.

"I won't help you," Ryou said, trying to sound confident.

Both the spirit of the ring and the man in red snorted at that.

"You are going to do what apparently the King of Thieves cannot," the spirit, again, turned his frigid stare at the man in red. Seemingly, the 'King of Thieves'.

"I was doing fine before you showed up," growled the Thief King, crouching down as he did so.

"Clearly. That's why you have no items in your possession," the spirit of the ring said.

The King of Thieves launched himself at the spirit, who merely side stepped the impacted.

Ryou stared at of this unfolding, not knowing how he should react.

"As I was saying," the spirit said, glaring at the fallen thief and then returning his attention to Ryou, "You are to retrieve my items for me, from those pathetic 'friends' of yours."

"And if I don't?" Ryou clenched his fists.

"You will."

Ryou hated that voice. Confident, self assure. There was no doubt in the spirit's mind that Ryou would follow him.

"Enough of this!" the thief yelled, "Zorc must be awaken."

"Zorc?" Ryou asked. That name sounded so familiar.

(Oh, no…)

The spirit grinned, canines included.

"The God of Darkness," the spirit said and Ryou had never heard him sound more pleased.

(Ryou gulped.)

-0-

Night had fallen.

And Ryou still wasn't sure exactly what was going on. He'd picked up quite a few things though. Firstly, who the King of Thieves actually was. In between the insults traded between the thief and the spirit, Ryou deduced that they were the same of sorts. Or at least, some of the same soul. The spirit was the part of the thief's soul that was sealed into the ring and Ryou was what was left off the soul's reincarnation.

It didn't make much sense to him at all.

(Not to mention the fact that it would mean he and the spirit of the ring…were the same person…)

Their plan was pretty simple. Gather the millennium items, unleash Zorc. What still remained unclear (at least to Ryou) was how they were in ancient Egypt in the first place. The thief didn't know. The spirit of the ring wouldn't tell him.

Really, the only definite information he'd gotten (and the only information he actually believed) was the ruined village's name.

It was Kul Elna.

But even when Ryou gathered up the courage to ask about Kul Elna, he was meant with stony glares. It was touchy subject for both of them.

(Which was bizarre in of itself, because Ryou hadn't thought the spirit was capable of having a touchy subject.)

Everything was chaotic at best. But out of all of that, there was only one thing that truly frightened him.

He wasn't even fighting against them. Not actively.

Ryou justified it by telling himself that even if he fought, he'd lose. Both the thief and the spirit were far stronger than him.

(But he could try. He should try…)

It didn't matter. Even if the spirit now had the thief at his disposal, the spirit would lose.

Maybe not to Ryou. But to the Pharaoh. The spirit could never defeat the Pharaoh.

(Ryou took a small amount of smug satisfaction from that.)

In the distance, Ryou heard the thief and the spirit arguing. Again. Honestly, the entire day was spent with bickering about how the day should be spent.

Ryou sighed.

At least it kept them away from him.

Suddenly, they both strolled into the dark and ashy hut, both wearing identical scowls.

"Make sure he doesn't escape," the spirit told the thief, who then promptly replied with a few choice words.

The spirit rolled his eyes.

"Landlord!" he said, "Come here."

Ryou furrowed his brow, but obeyed nonetheless.

(He always obeyed the spirit.)

The spirit pulled Ryou close to him, by his collar.

"I'm allowing you a little freedom here, host. Do not make me regret my decision," he said disdainfully. Then he pushed Ryou to the ground and walked away.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Ryou said, ashamed at how scared his voice sound.

The spirit didn't answer.

"Where is he going?" Ryou asked, this time to the thief.

He scowled and turned away, choosing instead to stalk off into the night.

Ryou looked down at the ground, slightly hurt. The spirit of the ring was one thing, but the thief seemed different. He seemed human.

Disenchanted with the whole ordeal (the millennium ring, reincarnation, Egypt) Ryou slumped against the wall. He closed his eyes and prayed for sleep.

("Our son…our only son…")

Ryou's eyes snapped opened. He swore he'd just heard whispering. Softly, he walked to the door of the ruined hut. He looked both ways for signs of someone, but saw nothing.

Was he going crazy now, too?

Ryou took one last look at Kul Elna. In the moonlight, it seemed like it could have been a beautiful place once. But now, there was only half buildings and broken pottery.

He stepped out, searching for more. The thief was still no where in sight.

A burst of adrenaline flooded his veins and before Ryou knew it he was running. He ran faster than he ever had, even when the darkness had been chasing him…

Ryou didn't stop for even a second until Kul Elna was nothing but a bad memory in the distance.

He collapsed on his knees and buried his hands in the sand. Oh God, what had he done? The spirit had, in some twisted form, at least trusted him a bit just now. But now when the spirit caught him (and it was a when, not an if, he could never hide from the spirit) his fury would be unimaginable. Ryou shuddered at the memory of when he'd protect Yuugi during the Monster World game and caused the spirit to lose.

Ryou moaned. Even though the spirit was going to make him do despicable things, at least Ryou would have been able to do with his own hands. At least he would have some form of control. But now…nothing. It was too late to turn back.

(Had he really become so hopeless? So compliant with his role?)

Up ahead, Ryou heard footsteps. The spirit found him already?!

"Ba…Bakura?" said a bewildered voice.

Ryou glanced up. Instead of a mock reflection of himself, he saw a tanned Egyptian boy with lilac eyes. He was familiar…

"Malik Ishtar?"

Something dawned in Malik's eyes.

"Oh, you're not Bakura…you're his other," he said.

Ryou flinched.

He knew Malik had been entered in the Battle City tournament, and that he had once possessed an Egyptian God and the millennium rod. Ryou knew, but didn't remember. All of his Battle City memories were fragments and glimpses at best.

Ryou arose from the desert floor.

"Can you help me?" he asked, slowly, carefully. Ryou couldn't remember if Malik had been a good person or not.

Malik blinked and then said, "Oh. Oh. How long have you been wandering the desert?"

Ryou shrugged, "Maybe a few hours."

Malik fished something out of his pockets. It was a canteen.

"Here," he said, offering up the pouch, "drink this."

"Thank you," Ryou said sincerely and snatched the pouch up. It was the first drink he could recall having since he got here. Apparently the spirit and the thief did not need food and water like normal humans.

Malik grasped his arm awkwardly.

"Look, I know that in Battle City…" he trailed off.

"What about Battle City?" Ryou asked and cocked his head to the side.

Malik's eyes narrowed and then he shook his head.

"Nothing. Never mind. I have a small camp set up back there, if you want to spend the night with me."

"Really?" Ryou said shocked, "Alright. Thank you again, for so much…um, kindness."

Malik snorted. "No problem."

They walked in silence for quite a while, before Ryou saw a small fire in the distance. He sat on the sand near it and began the seemingly impossible task of warming himself up.

Before he managed to thank Malik again, Ryou was fast asleep.

-0-

Malik could not believe it. He really didn't remember. Though it was a long time ago since their last conversation in his soul and he had told Malik he'd forget…he really forgot.

And now he was sleeping. Passed out on the sand without any sort of explanation.

Malik tilted his head. He kinda looked like a kitten.

"Hey, Bakura," Malik said as he poked the sleeping boy. It felt weird calling him that. The half-insane, smirking, arrogant spirit of the ring was Bakura.

Bakura but not Bakura opened his eyes.

"Sorry…" he said groggily, "That was so rude of me."

Malik suppressed a laugh. The two Bakura's were both so different from each other.

"Hey…um," Malik tried to find a way to express his discomfort politely. He knew that both Bakuras didn't get along, to say the least.

Ah, screw it.

"Look. I know this might sound weird but calling you Bakura is bothering me. What's your first name?" Malik said bluntly, as always.

The white haired boy blinked in confusion.

Hesitantly he said, "My first name's Ryou."

Ryou. Now that fit much better.

"Can I call you that?" Malik asked. If only Ishizu could see him now, she'd be so impressed. Sometimes he wondered if she really believed that he was trying to make progress…but he was. Especially to Ryou, who he almost killed. And hadn't even cared at the time.

Ryou looked away and rubbed his arm.

"I guess," he said.

"Great," Malik said and gave a half-hearted smile.

An awkward silence ensued.

Malik realized this was going to be a long night.

-0-

The silence bothered Ryou to no end. He knew it bothered Malik too. Ryou was scared that maybe Malik would ask more questions. That name thing had been so…bizarre.

Finally, Ryou decided he needed to ask the questions first.

"So why are you here?" Ryou asked, not realizing how rude the question sounded until it was out.

Malik shrugged, "You're guess is as good as mine. I don't even remember what happened right before this."

Ryou let out a sigh of relief. He had just assumed he didn't remember because…well, he never remembered anything.

"Why did you decide to make camp here?"

(Ryou liked asking questions, it didn't leave any room for Malik to ask question about him.)

"I don't know," Malik grumbled, "It was close and had good resources. Why so many questions?"

"I was just wondering," Ryou said.

Silence spread between them yet again.

"So," Malik said awkwardly (it seemed like he was trying), "How have you been since Battle City?"

"Fine," Ryou replied mechanically, "And you?"

"Just dandy."

More silence besides the crackling of burning sticks.

"What's living in Egypt like?" Ryou inquired, desperate for some communication.

"You tell me," Malik said sardonically. "This is Egypt."

"Right," Ryou mumbled and stared at his feet.

Malik cringed. He hadn't meant to be so mean, but being nice was just so hard.

"It's…nice. Hot most of the time. Except at night. Obviously."

Great Ra, Malik thought bitterly, how much stupider could he sound?

"My father lives in Egypt," Ryou said, still keeping his eyes on the ground.

"Really?" Malik said and his eyes widened a little.

The white haired boy nodded, "He's an archeologist. He has been on a dig here since I moved to Domino."

(Ryou didn't know why he was telling Malik all this…it just seemed right.)

"Oh, well that's must be…interesting," Malik replied, not really knowing what to say. Ryou hadn't said anything bad, necessarily, but he still sounded so…sad.

"I guess," Ryou shrugged, "He was here when he sent me the millennium ring. As a gift."

Malik narrowed his eyes. Now that definitely sounded bitter.

"Do you wish he hadn't?" Malik probed, suddenly eager for answers.

"Hadn't what?" Ryou said and tilted his head to the side.

"Hadn't given you the ring."

"Of course," responsed Ryou, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Don't you wish you had never even seen a millennium item?"

Malik thought about the rod. Remembered holding in his hands, feeling the cold gold and the power that would burn through his veins with each use. Remembered what he had been able to accomplish by using the rod's specialties. Remembered all he had done with the dagger hidden inside…

"You've got a point there," Malik said with a bitter chuckle.

Ryou smiled slightly.

"So," Malik said when realized now was his chance to ask the one question that had been bugging, "What were you running from?"

Ryou cringed.

Malik swore inwardly. He hadn't know his curiosity would totally hit a sore spot.

"You know the spirit of the ring…don't you?" Ryou asked. His brown eyes were foggy.

A chill ran up Malik's spine. Maybe Ryou did remember.

"Yeah," Malik admitted.

"He has his own body now," said Ryou.

"What?" Malik exclaimed. That millennium item obsessed prick had his own body now?

"But how?"

Ryou shrugged.

"I don't know. He just does. He doesn't have the millennium ring, either," said Ryou, so softly Malik could barely hear it.

"What?" Malik repeated, "How does that even make sense?"

"It doesn't," Ryou said, in a sickening familiar bitter tone.

"And you ran away from him because…" Malik said.

He never could quite comprehend why Ryou hated his darkness so much. It wasn't like Bakura was completely and utterly psychopathically insane like his darkness was. In fact, in a strange way it seemed like Bakura cared for Ryou. Yeah, he stabbed him in the arm, but he had been fully in control when that happened. Plus he took the hit for him in the duel with the Pharaoh…

Ryou looked up at Malik like he was insane.

"I…I mean…he's…" Ryou was speechless.

"He, he's planning something," Ryou said after a moment.

"Planning what?"

Ryou curled over.

"The end of the world," he said, "Eternal Darkness. The rise of the dark God Zorc."

"Oh," Malik said.

"Oh," Ryou said, again with that darker and deeper bitter voice.

"So what are you going to do stop him?" Malik questioned. Maybe he'd help. Maybe then Ishizu and Rishid could actually trust him again…

"Me?" Ryou asked bewildered, "What could I possibly do?"

Malik stared in horror. He'd given up so fast?

"What the hell kind of attitude is that?" Malik snapped, suddenly filled with rage. After all the fighting Malik had done against his own darkness…and all the fighting Malik had thought Ryou had done…he was just going to quit?

Ryou looked as if he'd just been slapped across the face.

"You have a duty!" Malik continued, "If you know his plan, you need to stop it. What's wrong with you? How can you quit so easily!?"

Ryou opened his mouth to say something, but Malik quickly cut him off.

"Whatever you say doesn't matter. We are going to go to sleep right now and when we wake up in the morning, we are going to think of a way to stop him."

A way to stop Bakura?

Malik smirked.

"Tomorrow we are going to find the Pharaoh."

Something clicked inside Ryou's brain. Duty. Yuugi…Yuugi was his friend and Ryou had a duty to protect him. Malik was right. He couldn't quit.

(Even if he failed, he had to try.)

"Right. The Pharaoh," Ryou said.

Malik was startled; he hadn't expected Ryou to agree with him so fast.

"Yeah. The Pharaoh. I mean, he can defeat anyone. It's sort of his thing," Malik said, partly bitter.

Ryou stared into the fire and hoped.

"What do you think will happen after the Pharaoh defeats the spirit of the ring?" Ryou asked, looking at Malik again.

(Ryou purposely avoid the word if. He had to be certain that the spirit of the ring would be defeated.)

"We will get to go back to the real world. He'll probably go to the afterlife or something."

"The real world?" Ryou inquired.

"Yeah, well I mean this is just a memory," Malik said and then he saw the look in Ryou's eyes.

"Oh," Malik said, "You don't know."

Ryou shook his head.

"Okay, basically, according to the scriptures, the Pharaoh sealed away himself and his memories in order to protect the world. Now he has to find them and I guess save the world. Again."

"So this is like a game?" Ryou said and pressed his lips together.

"I guess."

"So when the Pharaoh wins, he'll be released from the millennium puzzle?"

"I assume," Malik said, trying to hide his annoyance.

Ryou slumped over.

"What will happen to us?" Ryou asked, his eyes filled with hurt.

Malik was suddenly very uncomfortable.

"Well, what were you like before all this happened? Before the millennium ring?" Malik asked, trying to divert attention away from himself.

"I don't remember," Ryou admitted.

Silence came after that. Neither one could think of anything else to say after something like that.

They both drifted off into much needed sleep.

(Both had nightmares.)

-0-

Ryou awoke with the sun the next morning.

He was so thankfully for Malik's tirade. It had brought him back to his senses. Ryou would never let the spirit win. Not without a fight.

Malik awoke too. He seemed to enjoy the mornings because Ryou distinctively heard him whisper, "I love the sun."

They were to start their journey to the Pharaoh today. But, Ryou thought as he shook sand out of his hair, where was the Pharaoh?

"Malik?" Ryou asked.

"Yeah?" he said back.

"Do you know where the Pharaoh is at?"

"The palace," replied Malik.

"Where's that?" Ryou persisted.

"About a day's walk from that village up ahead."

Ryou's mouth made a small 'oh' sound.

"I went there an hour or so ago, while you were sleeping. Asked for directions."

Ryou looked away, "Why didn't you wake me up? I would have gone with you."

Malik sighed. How should he explain this?

"Okay," Malik said and pulled Ryou closer to him, "I needed to just blend in with the crowd. In order to do that I had to be very inconspicuous."

"I know," Ryou said, slightly offended by Malik's patronizing tone, "I can be inconspicuous."

(He was even better at being invisible, come to think of it…)

Malik snorted, "Ryou. You're hair is white."

Ryou tugged on his own hair shamefully.

"I mean, sure your hair is nice," Malik backtracked after seeing the look on Ryou's face, "But people in Egypt don't have white hair. Or skin for that matter."

Ryou nodded, "So what are we going to do?"

"Cover you up," Malik said with the ghost of smirk. He pulled from behind his back a pile of clothing.

"Malik, please don't tell me your stole this," said Ryou as Malik wrapped him in layer after layer of clothing.

"Fine," Malik said, "I won't."

Ryou cringed. He hated stealing.

(It reminded him of…)

"Relax, Ryou," Malik said, rolling his eyes, "This is just a memory. The people aren't real."

Ryou didn't bother to explain to Malik that it was the moral situation that bothered him and not the resources they were taking.

The white haired boy was literally covered from head to toe.

Malik seemed extremely proud of his work.

"Um, Malik?" Ryou said, "Isn't this a bit dangerous, won't I get too hot?"

"Don't worry," Malik responded, "I have water."

With that, they started their journey.

-0-

The Pharaoh's memory certainly did not have a good variation of scenery. Malik was sure he and Ryou had passed that sandy mountain looking thingy a thousand times.

He glared up at, focusing all his rage and frustration at the never changing rock. In the far corner, a trio of robed men on horses stared back at him.

Great. Now they were being followed. But who were they following, Malik thought with distaste, himself or Ryou?

Well, only one way to find out.

"Hey, Ryou," Malik said.

"Yes?" Ryou replied with that sleepy, soft voice of his.

"I'm going to go up ahead to left for a couple minutes. I'll catch up with you later."

"Why?" Ryou questioned and titled his head.

Malik looked at Ryou up and down. He seemed so innocent and naïve, like a squishy marshmallow.

"Because you're annoying me," Malik finally said, not wanting to bother with explaining everything just yet.

"Oh," Ryou said, obviously hurt, "Well, um, bye then. See you soon?"

Malik clutched his arm absently, "Yeah. Right."

Wow. And he had thought working with Bakura had been tense.

Malik ran off far away from the white haired boy, all the while never taking his eyes off those cloaked creeps.

-0-

Ryou always felt like he was being watched.

Even before this.

He had grown used to it, (Ryou had the uncanny knack for adapting to any situation) and simply chalked it up to the spirit of the ring. Ryou knew on some level that the spirit of the ring was always watching him, making sure he never said the wrong thing, waiting for a chance to hurt Yuugi…

But this feeling was different. When the spirit watched it felt like being wrapped in darkness (and, on some level, he still felt this, which unnerved Ryou even more). But this feeling was much more like people were staring at him.

It wasn't much better.

So, when Malik ran back to Ryou after being gone for ten minutes at the most, Ryou wasn't really surprised at what he heard.

"Someone's stalking you," Malik said dryly.

"Can you see who it is?" Ryou asked.

"Yeah. Three freaky looking dudes with black cloaks on horses."

Black coats? Ryou broke out into a cold sweat.

"Do they have red eyes?"

Malik paused, "I think so. I can't really see. Wait - do you know who they are?"

"Kind of," Ryou admitted as he tried to mentally assure himself that there was no way that the Thief King was with them. He would have sensed it.

"What do you mean 'kind of'?" Malik sneered, "Who are they?"

"Well," Ryou paused, trying to think of a way to explain it. "I think they are the Thief King's…um…henchmen, I guess?"

Malik look blankly at Ryou and then laughed.

"Ha!" Malik said, "I knew they had something to do with him! Ra, he was always weirdly protective of you."

Ryou blinked, "What?"

Malik mirrored Ryou's inquisitive look. "You mean you couldn't tell?"

"What are you talking about?" Ryou asked.

"Your other. He has…like a soft side for you or something."

Ryou's mouth dropped open. The spirit of the ring having a soft side for him? What?! The spirit stole his friends' souls and sealed them into cursed figurines. The spirit (when he did talk to Ryou, which was rarely) only mocked him. He would regularly rob Ryou of control of his body for weeks at a time…

(And of course, there was the constant oppression of his soul room and the draining of Ryou's memories…)

Since when would that be considered a soft side?

All of Ryou's reasons were true, but he only managed to say, "He hates me."

Malik shook his head.

"What planet are you living on?" he scolded, "When we were working together he would always throw a hissy fit when I entered you mind - he didn't even let me meet you! And honestly Ryou even you aren't that thick not to notice. I mean I can still remember perfectly the absolutely brilliant plan I had to assure his victory against the Pharaoh in Battle City and he threw it away - just because you might get hurt."

Ryou fell quiet, processing what Malik had just said.

"You…" he said slowly, glaring at the ground, "Entered my mind? You worked with him?"

(Ryou was shaking.)

Malik frowned, "Well…yeah…didn't you know? All of Yuugi's other friends knew."

Ryou cringed.

"Hey, Ryou. I'm…I'm…I'm sorry, okay, I thought you knew. I thought it was just water under the bridge…" Malik sputtered.

"No one ever told me," Ryou whispered, nearly inaudible. His eyes were blank.

"Hey, look it's not your fault that your other half suppressed your memory -" Malik was cut off by Ryou's smooth soft voice.

He looked up at Malik with pleading eyes.

"How much more do I not remember about my own life?" he asked and then with a sick, plunging feeling in his stomach, realizing that this was what the Pharaoh must always feel like.

Malik didn't know what to say.

"It doesn't matter anyway," Ryou said bitterly, "Let's just go find the Pharaoh."

-0-

"Malik?" Ryou said softly, gazing up at the sky with awe.

"What?" Malik sneered back as he glared at his feet, the sun finally wearing down on his nerves.

"I think I found the palace."

"What!" Malik's head snapped up, "Oh."

"Yeah," said Ryou as he stared.

Never in his life had Ryou even imagined something close to the Palace's magnificence. It was so tall; it seemed to touch the sky. The rocks were covered with gold and in the midday sun, the walls shimmered so brightly. Even the dirty, brown village that sprawled around the Palace did not make it any less great.

Ryou stuffed his hair further down into the cloak.

"Ready?" He asked Malik.

Malik nodded and they headed into the village.

-0-

Walking straight through the village to the Palace was definitely interesting. It was crowded and shouting everywhere, but everyone seemed to be happy.

But the best thing was that no one noticed them at all.

Ryou did his best to keep his head down and cover every inch of skin imaginable. It worked. People passed by the two of without a second glance. In a matter of minutes they'd be at the Palace and be able to tell the Pharaoh everything. Ryou wasn't naïve, like everyone seemed to believe (mostly because of the ways he lied to them). He knew that he didn't stand a chance against the spirit of the ring. Only the Pharaoh could defeat him.

Him. It was more appropriate. Saying him implied that the spirit of the ring was human, and not just the manifestation of a thousand nightmares…

Ryou shook his head. He had to stop being afraid. It was the fear in him that made Ryou such a good host to a thing like the spirit of the ring. The fear was the reason why the spirit of ring thought Ryou would just bend down to his will, just become another pawn in this game.

Well, Ryou refused.

He was sick of being afraid.

Ryou looked up to the sky and nearly gasped. The Palace was taller than he'd thought.

"Malik," said Ryou nervously, "How are we to get in?"

The lilac eyed boy frowned.

"I guess," Malik said, "we start looking for an entrance."

Ryou gave him a look and Malik glared at him back.

"You've got any other plans? It's not like they are just going to let us see the Pharaoh," he snarled.

Ryou sighed. He didn't have any plans.

"Should we split up?"

"No," Malik responded, "If we get caught it will be easier to escape if both of our together."

Ryou didn't ask anymore questions, instead simply followed Malik as he ran off.

-0-

For being the place where the king of Egyptian lived, there was a surprising lack of guards. Ryou and Malik only had to duck behind a bush once or twice while they searched the perimeter, looking for an opening.

A small glow caught Ryou's eye. It was a small hole.

"Malik," Ryou whispered, "Malik! Look!"

The boy in questioned looked.

"Do you think we can fit through that?" questioned Ryou.

Malik pursued his lips, "Maybe. Kinda looks like it's our only option."

Ryou stepped out from the shadows they had been hiding in to take a closer look. The gap was only mildly wide, maybe just maybe big enough for them to slip through…but it would be a very tight fit.

"Hey! Stop right there!" A voice low and deep called out, followed by the sound of footsteps.

Oh, no.

(Behind him Ryou heard Malik curse under his breath.)

Three bulky and muscular guards came running. All armed with spears.

Ryou gulped. He had never been in a fight. Even when his body had, the spirit of the ring would just suppress his consciousness.

Malik shouted words at him, but none of them made any sense to Ryou. His whole head was going fuzzy…

The three guards stormed near him, pointing their spears at his chest.

"What are you doing here?" The middle one asked, jabbing his spear at Ryou accusingly.

Ryou couldn't answer. His throat was glued shut.

The middle guard motion to the other two and then said, "Maybe a night in the dungeons will teach him some respect."

Ryou's eyes widen. Dungeons. An icy cold wave of hatred washed over him.

(He began to shake…)

All of three of them closed in of Ryou. He felt something beating in his chest. Like, like…he couldn't even…his mind was so fuzzy…

The middle one lunged at him.

"Ryou! Watch out!" Malik screamed, finally coming out from hiding.

Ryou easily sidestepped the enormous guard. The guard stumbled and then all three glared at him.

"Get him!" the one on the ground called out to the others. Both guards nodded and ran out him.

Ryou smirked.

He dodged effortlessly. The obvious commander of the two other guards arose from the ground. He launched himself at Ryou.

The white-haired boy ducked down and snatched his spear from him. He plunged the blunt side square into the man's chest. The guard fell to the floor unconscious.

This only enraged the other two guards, instead of warning them. Both at once came charging at Ryou. Without breaking a sweat he blocked all of their attacks and both were on the ground in mere seconds.

An absolutely perfect warmth filled Ryou's body. He hadn't felt this happy since…since…his thoughts were all so foggy and unreachable…

The spear dropped from Ryou's hand.

(And he suppressed the urge to vomit.)

Malik walked towards him.

"Well that," He looked at three unconscious guards with a faint trace of a smirk, "was surprisingly badass."

Ryou blushed, "I don't know where that came from…"

Malik shrugged. "Who cares? Now come on, let's go find the Pharaoh."

"Yeah," Ryou nodded and pushed that queasy feeling down deeper.

"Fighters first," Malik said as he motioned to the hole in the wall.

Ryou gave Malik an uneasy look, but then slipped through the hole with surprising simplicity. As he did so, he couldn't but hope that whatever had just happened would never repeat itself.

It was worse than when the ring spirit took over his body.

(Because whatever had just happened had been him. Completely, fully, one hundred percent him.)

-0-

The hole, miraculously enough, lead to an empty hallway. Instead of say, the dungeons or the Pharaoh's bedroom or any of the numerous possibilities that had ran through Ryou's mind just as he slipped in.

Malik had a bit more trouble, but nevertheless he managed to slide in just fine.

"Which way do we go?" Ryou whispering, looking around for any guards coming.

"How should I know?" Malik hissed back in a low voice.

"I thought you knew stuff like this. Aren't you a tomb-keeper?"

"Yeah. In the present!"

Just then, footsteps echoed down the hall.

"Hide!" Malik called as he pulled Ryou by the collar and behind a large vase.

Peeking around the edges, Ryou could make out five figures. Two voluptuous women draped in lavender scarves and three young boys carrying plates of food.

Next to him, Malik's stomach grumbled.

All five walked passed both Malik and Ryou without so much as a second glance. Thank goodness.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here," Malik said once they were out of sight, "but I think they are heading to the throne room."

"Right, let's go," Ryou said as he got up.

Following that group was wonderfully easy. They chatted a lot, giving good cover for whenever Ryou would accidentally trip over something.

"I hope you're memorizing these halls," Malik murmured.

"I am."

That was truth. The spirit of the ring had taught him many things (as disturbing as that was) and one of them was to be alert. Always. It was only a matter of time before you needed to escape.

They turned a right and music flooded the halls. The throne room must be close.

(Ryou felt sick. Deep down his guts were spilling out.)

Amazingly, there were no guards protecting the doors to the throne room. One of the dancers opened the door herself.

Malik gave Ryou a look, motioning for him to sneak into the room with the small group.

Reluctantly, the brown eyed boy slipped in as the door closed. On the other side, Ryou was greeted by seven glaring faces. And only one of them was the Pharaoh.

He looked exactly like Yuugi, only with tanner skin and more gold jewelry. That eased Ryou's anxiety just a bit.

Yuugi-kun.

(If he was to be honest with himself that was the real reason he was doing all this. Not to help the Pharaoh. Not to spite the spirit of the ring. No. All he wanted was to protect Yuugi.)

"Who are these intruders?" growled a vaguely familiar voice.

The owner was taller, angular man. He stood out from the other six figures because he was the only one wearing blue.

And he looked…

Ryou turned to Malik and blinked, "Is that Seto Kaiba?"

Malik didn't responded. He was too busy gawking at the only female and the one wearing the millennium necklace.

"Is that," Malik said aghast, "Ishizu?!"

"Well, Mahaado?" the Kaiba doppelganger hissed at another man.

The man in question turned to the Pharaoh.

"Shall we dispose of them, my league?" Mahaado asked.

Ryou's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Dispose…?

The Pharaoh gazed at Ryou with cold, unforgiving violet red eyes. (So unlike Yuugi's.)

"Not yet," he ordered.

Ryou frowned. Not yet? What did that mean? Ryou glanced over at Malik, who was wearing the same look of offense.

"Um, hi," Ryou said softly, realizing that if he didn't say something fast the Pharaoh was going to send them to the dungeons.

All six figures glowered at them.

Ryou was at an absolute loss of words. How did he describe his situation – to a crowd of strangers no less?

Well you see the spirit of the millennium ring – you know the guy who is always taking over my body and trying to steal your puzzle? He's at the whole collected all items and destroy the world thing again. Yeah well his previous incarnation kidnapped me in the desert and they both expected me to help them unleash the God of Darkness to destroy the world. But I didn't want…to um, destroy the world so I ran away and came here. So that you would, you know, save the world.

Even to him, that sounded completely crazy.

"This is ridiculous," the Egyptian Kaiba muttered under his breath, "Guards, seize them!"

"Stop!" the Pharaoh commanded.

"Ryou!" Malik snapped, "Tell him!"

"What do I say?"

Malik muttered a few curses words under his breath.

"Listen," he told the Pharaoh, "Egypt is in danger."

"What?" cried all seven of them at once.

"Danger? From who?" Mahaado said suspiciously.

Malik gestured to Ryou, "Him. Kind of."

Ryou glared.

"Not me," he said indigently, "Him."

The Pharaoh's eyes sparked. Thank goodness, he knew who Ryou was talking about.

"Yeah…it's um…complicated," Ryou started.

"Then explained," Kaiba but not Kaiba said, rolling his eyes.

Malik glared at him on behave of Ryou.

"He told me his plan," Ryou said, focusing all his energy into the Pharaoh, "He wants to resurrect the god of darkness – Zorc."

The Ishizu look alike gasped.

Kaiba look alike was not so easily impressed.

"Then why are you here?" He asked, looking at Malik.

Malik folded his arms, "Because without me Ryou would have ended died, kidnapped or raped."

Ryou grimaced.

"No offense," Malik said at the sight of Ryou's face.

"Bakura?" the Pharaoh said. Ryou looked up. His stare was hard and Ryou could see all the doubts in it.

(Ryou couldn't blame him, after all the things his other had done. Plus, Yuugi wasn't with him. He didn't know that for sure, but he had a feeling.)

"Look I know this seems odd," Ryou said.

Kaiba snorted.

"But he's more dangerous than ever know," Ryou paused, searching for the right words, "He has a new pawn."

When no one else said anything, Ryou took that as a signal to keep on.

"I think he's going after Yuugi first."

The Pharaoh's eyes went wide.

"That's why when he brought everyone here – he scattered us. He knows that separating you two makes you weaker."

"My Pharaoh," Mahaado said, "Who is he talking about?"

The Pharaoh brushed him off.

"I came here – ," Ryou was cut off by a coughing noise.

Malik stared at him.

"We came here," Ryou rephrased, "to help you. I don't want him to win."

The Pharaoh relaxed slightly, but only just.

The women who bore an uncanny resemblance to Ishizu closed her eyes and hovered her hands around the millennium necklace.

"My king," she said, "I sense great darkness in front of us."

"Is she," Malik said with horror, "talking about us?"

As if on cue, all of the items began to glow. An old man had the millennium eye installed, a bald man had the millennium key and another man with longer hair held the millennium scale. Obviously, the women had the millennium necklace and the Pharaoh had the puzzle. But Ryou hadn't expected was for the Kaiba look alike to pull out the millennium rod.

"The rod!" Malik exclaimed as his eyes narrowed.

On Mahaado's chest was the millennium ring.

"The ring…" Ryou trailed off, taking a step back.

Something ignited in Ryou's veins. Every inch of his body tingled and pricked and screamed at him to run ("Pointless, my dear landlord. The ring always comes back to its host.") The ring only brought trouble. The ring was nothing but evil.

How could the Pharaoh allow this man to use it?

All of the six guardians stepped closer to them, millennium items blazing brightly.

"Keep him away from me," Ryou muttered and glared at Mahaado.

Malik did nothing but glowered all of the priests. Especially the Ishizu look alike.

Ryou began to feel that queasy sensation in his stomach again and cloud seemed to drift over his eyes. The feeling was so familiar…he had just experienced it with those guards…hadn't he?

The white haired boy took another step back.

"Malik," he pleaded, as if the Egyptian boy could help him.

"Get away from us," snarled Malik, taking a step forward. He was daring the Pharaoh's priests to do something.

Not the smartest plan Malik's had.

"We are only going to see the darkness in your hearts," said the bold man, holding up the millennium scales, "if you are true then you should have no problems with it."

All the other priests nodded in agreement and a pulse of gold energy ran through the items.

Malik laughed loud, bitterly and slightly unhinged.

"Ha! In case you don't recall Pharaoh," he sneered, "The rod used to be mine. I remember what it does. And there is no way I'm letting that thing into my soul!"

Ryou gave a curt nod in agreement.

"I don't want that ring anywhere near me."

"Fine," said the Kaiba look alike dryly, "It'll be much easier for us just to lock you up in the dungeons anyway."

Ryou flinched.

"Unless," Kaiba looked up to the Pharaoh on his throne, "You have objections, my king."

The Pharaoh looked away and refused to look either Ryou or Malik in their eyes.

"You don't," Ryou's voice faltered, "believe us."

Malik's rage twisted his face into something grotesque. Just when he'd though it was safe to trust the Pharaoh…

Ryou was taking it much worse.

"But I'm not," he said as his shoulders slumped, "I'm not lying…"

(For once I'm telling the truth. Here I am, this is all of me…this is all I can offer…can't you believe me? Please, I'm here – I'm right here! I know what he's done but…I'm not him! I'm not.)

"I just don't want that," he stole a glance at the ring, "in my soul again…"

Malik clenched his fists, challenging the Pharaoh to something. But what?

"Guards!" called Egyptian Kaiba and five guards came out from the shadows. They were identical to the ones Ryou knocked earlier.

Oh no…that fuzzy feeling was coming back…

Ryou closed his eyes, trying to will himself to snap out of it. He rocked back and further, starting to feel very dizzy. Like the whole was foggy.

"Ryou," Malik whispered as the guards closed in on them.

The boy in question heard him, but just barely. Malik's voice seemed to be calling him from inside a tunnel, so far away…covered in mist…

As the Pharaoh said nothing, the guards closed in on him.

"I think if there ever was a time a to retreat, now was it," Malik said, tugging on the sleeve of Ryou's shirt.

Ryou paid him no heed. He was shaking.

("What's wrong, host, don't you remember?")

One guard with hazel eyes lunged at Malik.

He sidestepped and managed to miss the spear.

The guard was not so lucky.

Ryou pulled him by his hair and threw him to the floor. With a demented and manic glee in his eyes, Ryou stomped in his chest. The other guards responded faster than the Pharaoh and his priests. They rushed to their fallen comrade's side. All of them at once trying to stab Ryou in his back.

A small smirk revealed itself on Ryou's face.

He snatched the spear from the hazel eyed guard's unconscious hands. Two guards in unison charged at him. Ryou swung and sliced one of the guard's face. A thin trail of blood cascaded down. The guard looked up with raging eyes and with new found ferocity ran at Ryou.

He wasn't intimated. When the guard was a foot a away, Ryou swiftly avoid his blow and then with all his force prodded the guard into the chest. His body made a loud thud as it hit the floor.

The last three guards left all decided this was there opportunity to attack. With no rhyme or calculation they whirled their spears around, trying to hit Ryou. It was almost boring, it was so easy. Within seconds they were all unconscious on the Palace floor.

Ryou's eyes narrowed. He ready his spear for plunging it through all five of those guards chest.

Malik, who had been more than happy to allow Ryou to wipe the floor with the Pharaoh's guards, stared in horror.

"Ryou? Ryou stop!" Malik launched himself at the boy and wrapped his arms around him.

Ryou's posture did not alter.

"What the hell are you doing?" Malik screamed.

Ryou paused. "They don't deserve to live."

"Since when did Ryou Bakura become the boy to judge that?" Malik hissed, clinging on to Ryou's chest tighter.

Ryou faltered.

The Kaiba twin looked at the Pharaoh. He nodded.

All seven of the millennium items glowed.

"Okay!" Malik said, still not letting go of Ryou's waist, "I'm only going to let you go if you promise not to do something you'll regret."

Ryou's posture collapsed. Malik's voice no longer seemed so far away, and the world was clear and crisp.

(But would he…would he have really regretted killing those guards?)

One of the Pharaoh's priest raised their millennium item and in a split second Ryou and Malik were out of the throne room.

It was a good thing they were both highly accomplished runners.

-0-

One of the gods themselves must have a special place in its heart for Ryou and Malik, because there was no way they should be free. Much less alive.

After the spectacular failure at the Palace, both Ryou and Malik knew it was much to dangerous to hide in the village. So they hid the desert.

Which, obviously, really sucked.

Neither of them said much. Ryou was too busy moping about what had happened with the Pharaoh's guards. Which, Malik kinda didn't blame him for - that was really bizarre - but still. It wasn't like he had actually killed anyone.

Malik, on the other hand, was moping about a much more reasonable topic. The lying, back stabbing, snake of an evil Pharaoh. He, Malik was doing a good deed, trying to help the Pharaoh get a one up on Bakura. And he'd never hated Bakura like he did the Pharaoh, so that made it that much better of a good deed! But that stupid, useless Pharaoh didn't believe him.

And that woman, who looked just like Ishizu, didn't believe him either…

Malik, for about the fiftieth time, grumbled under his breath.

Ryou finally brushed his white bangs out of his face.

"When need a new plan," he said, voice filled with determination.

Malik stared, "Plan. For what?"

"For stopping the spirit of the ring. For helping the Pharaoh save the world."

"Why would should we help the Pharaoh?" Malik hissed, "He was going to let become prisoners. Or be killed!"

Ryou furrowed his brow; he didn't understand.

"Because it's the right thing to do, Malik. It doesn't matter if the Pharaoh doesn't believe us, we still have to help him," Ryou said.

"You're unbelievable."

But deep down, Malik knew that Ryou was right.

Which made him only hate the Pharaoh more.

-0-

Ryou and Malik sat in the sand and tried to figure out a plausible plan.

"Who says we need the Pharaoh to stop your other?" said Malik.

"Wasn't that your idea?" Ryou asked.

Malik scowled.

"Yeah, well that was before, this is now," he said. It's no use trying to convince Ishizu now…even her reincarnation hates me…

"Besides," Malik sneered, "We know his plan. We could stop him ourselves."

Ryou gawked. That was just out of the question. Not only was the spirit even more powerful not that he wasn't trapped in the ring - but there was also the thief. Plus, every time Ryou even dared to think about going against the spirit of the ring…well…

"How?" Ryou said, trying to rationalize his fear, "We don't have any powers. Neither of us have items - how are we going to go up against him?"

Malik pulled his lips together, "If you could go all psycho on him like you did the guards then I'm sure we stand a chance."

Ryou blanched.

"I'm just kidding," Malik said, rolling his eyes.

"We really need a plan," Ryou moaned and put his face in his hands. The more time they wasted sitting here talking about a plan, the stronger the spirit of the ring became.

"Do you hear that?" Malik asked.

"Hear what?"

"Shh! Listen."

Ryou did. It sounded like footsteps and…arguing?

"There are more important things than your stomach, Jounouchi!" said a scolding voice.

"Anzu!" Ryou exclaimed, standing up. To his joy, in the distance, he saw four figures walking towards. A girl with short brown hair reprimanding a taller boy with blonde hair. To their left a boy with brown hair smiled. In the center of the chaos stood a short boy with spiky hair.

Yuugi.

"Yuugi-kun!" shouted Ryou, running towards them, "Yuugi, over here!"

The violet eyed boy blinked and then smiled.

"Bakura-kun! What are you doing here?" he asked and all his friends nodded in agreement.

Ryou was so happy he didn't know what to say.

"We were trying to speak to the Pharaoh," said Malik's voice, emerging from behind Ryou.

"Oh hey Malik," Yuugi said, "You're here too?"

"Yeah."

"Can either of you two us what exactly is going on?" Honda said.

Both Ryou and Malik shook their heads.

"I can't remember anything except waking up here," Ryou said apologetically.

"Same."

"Yeah," Yuugi said, "None of us can remember how we got here either…wait, did you guys say you went to see the Pharaoh?"

Ryou and Malik looked away, but nodded anyway.

"So he's really here? The other me? Did he get his memories back? Does he know his name?" Yuugi asked, bombarding them with questions.

"Well, um, the thing is Yuugi…" Ryou started, trying to find a way to explain.

"He kicked us out." Malik said bluntly.

"What?" asked Yuugi, with Honda, Jou and Anzu's facing wearing the same look of bewilderment.

"We walked through miles of desert, we were attacked by palace guards, snuck in to the most heavily protected place in Egypt all so that we could help your precious Pharaoh and then he didn't believe us and had his guard attack us. Again," Malik seethed.

"The other me wouldn't do something like that," Yuugi insisted.

"Well, without you he's just as cruel as he was three thousand years ago," Malik said, not even bothering with his façade of a nice guy. He was pissed and he had every right to use sarcasm.

Ryou sighed. Malik was not helping there case.

"It's a bit more complicated than that," added Ryou, after looking at all of Yuugi's friend's faces, "You see he had these…priests with him and they weren't so fond of us."

"Well then it looks like there is only one thing to do," said Jou, "we're going have to make him remember who his real friends are!"

"Wait, what?" cried out Malik. But it was too late, all four of them were already running in the direction of the palace.

"Come on Bakura-kun!" Yuugi called back, "We need you."

Ryou smiled and started running too.

Malik grabbed on his arm.

"You're not really going to back there are you?" he asked.

"Of course I am. I told, I'm going to the help the Pharaoh."

Malik stared into Ryou's eyes for a long moment and then let him go.

"Fine. But I swear if I get killed because of this…"

-0-

Malik was not at all enjoying these group field trip. For numerous reasons, but most of them boiled down to that 'stupid, backstabbing Pharaoh'.

In a way, Malik was aware that it was very hypocritical to be angry with the Pharaoh for not trusting. For Ra's sake, he spent pretty much all of Battle City trying to kill him. But he was furious and personally didn't care if it made him a hypocritical.

So while all of Yuugi and his friends made pleasant small talk, Malik just stayed to the said and pouted.

He never said one word. Even Ryou had a couple of sentences with of conversation.

"Look!" said Anzu, pointing up to the sky.

Malik rolled his eyes. Stupid Palace.

"How do we get in?" said Yuugi, a bit crestfallen.

"It hasn't even been a day yet," Ryou said, "I think that hole might still be there."

"Hole?" asked the four of them.

"It'll be a tight fit," Ryou warned, "but if Malik and I managed, I think you guys can too."

"Well what are we doing just standing here?" Honda urged, "Let's go!"

And they all took off running again. Except Malik who walked, glaring at their backs the entire time.

Not surprisingly, there were no guards patrolling the hole in the many walls of the palace.

Jou blanched as he looked at how small the hole really was.

"I guess I'll go first," Ryou said and slipped into the hole.

Honda followed, then Jou and then Anzu.

"You alright?" Yuugi asked at Malik.

"Fine. Sorry if I don't seem that way, it's just usually I avoid going back to the place I just ran for my life from," Malik snorted.

Yuugi gave a small smile.

"I'm sure once we talk to the Pharaoh everything will work itself out."

And then Yuugi slid into the hole.

Ra. That kid was always an optimist. Reminded him of Ryou.

Malik, cursing under his breath, was the last to enter the hole.

The hallway looked exactly the same as it had earlier. There were beautiful hand crafted vases everywhere, along with a thin line of gold on the walls.

"This way!" said Ryou and headed up the hall.

Yuugi quickly ran to the white haired boy's side. Malik, again, sulked at the back.

He really didn't want to see that throne room again. Or that stupid Ishizu. Or Kaiba holding his rod.

Come to think of it, he really didn't want to see Ryou go berserk again. Even if it did look really awesome…there was something in Ryou's eyes when it happened.

Sooner than Malik cared for, they were at the doors to the throne room.

Ryou stopped.

"I think you better go in first, Yuugi," he said.

Yuugi pushed the doors open.

Déjà vu.

Though there was two major differences, though. Instead of six priests, there was only four. The one with the millennium key and the man with who held the scale were missing. However, the one that looked like his sister was still there, face cold and indifferent. And the Pharaoh was sitting on his throne, not a care in the world.

Malik glared at all of them and refused to come in. Ryou stayed behind as well.

"You could at least try to be nicer to them," Ryou said as he came closer to Malik.

"Sorry I can't be as good of a liar as you," Malik countered.

Ryou didn't say anything after that. The comment must have run deeper than he'd expected.

Up ahead of them, Malik had the perfect view of the scene before him.

"My king do you know these -," but the Kaiba double was cut off.

"Yuugi!" The Pharaoh shouted and actually got of his throne. At that moment Malik's jaw must have dropped.

He looked to all his friends.

"How did you all get here? Why are you here?" the Pharaoh questioned.

Malik cringed, dread consumed him. Yuugi better not…

"Thanks to Ryou and Malik," Yuugi said and pointed to them.

Malik cursed loudly.

(Ryou sulked into the shadows.)

"Them again?" said the Kaiba look alike, "Guards!"

"Wait! No! Stop!" the Pharaoh said as he ran to Yuugi, "These are my friends.

All of the priests relaxed.

Malik snorted. The pharaoh always had a change off heart when Yuugi was around.

The Pharaoh turned to Yuugi. They gazed into each other's for only a second before Yuugi through himself into the King of Egypt's arms.

"I missed you so much," Yuugi whispered.

The Pharaoh closed his eyes and smiled.

It was so sweet, Ryou thought to himself. And though he should be happy about the reunion between two close friends, a knot formed in his stomach.

(He was jealous, beyond jealous…he had never been like that with him…)

BOOM!

A thunderous sound swept over the whole chamber. Then, the softer sound of footsteps followed.

Ryou's fist clenched in fear. He knew.

('Speak of the devil and he doth appear.')

The booming noise was overshadowed by a deep, roaring laughter. Not even a speck of sanity lied within it.

The King of Thieves emerged from the shadows, a malicious grin stretched ear to ear. He was clad in his signature crimson robe, gold jewelry piled excessively on his body. Ryou knew it was just to spite the Pharaoh.

"Is this intruder another friend of yours, my king?" said the holder of the millennium rod. His steely blue eyes glared at thief.

"No," growled the Pharaoh as stepped in front of Yuugi.

"Is that you, Ryou?" Malik asked.

Ryou shook his head. "The spirit of the millennium ring. When he was human."

Malik pressed his lips together into a firm line. Ryou really needed to get over his identity issues.

"So how bad are we talking here?" said Malik.

The five remaining priests closed in on the thief, trapping him in a circle. His grey white bangs cast a shadow on his eyes. He smirked.

(Ryou's skin prickled.)

"Very bad."

"Pharaoh! We finally meet!" the thief grinned, he seemed genuinely amused.

"We will not allow you to even close to the Pharaoh!" said the Ishizu twin.

"Isis," the Pharaoh whispered, touched by her dedication.

The thief threw his head back and cackled.

"Just as your friends," he sneered the last word with intensity, "were not going to allow me to enter the Palace?"

With deep satisfaction burning in the thief's eyes, he pulled out a golden, key-shaped item and a golden scale.

"The millennium key! The millennium scale!" the whole room gasped.

"Thief!" cried Kaiba looking one, "You will pay for disrespecting Egypt."

The smirk was carved into the thief's face, but there was no more amusement. His eyes were cold.

"The King of Thieves," he said softly, bowing his head, "And I have come to take back what's mine."

From his downcast face, the thief bared his fangs.

The prickling sensation went away. Instead, every inch of Ryou's skin was being stabbed.

"Yuugi! Run!" he cried and then added, "Pharaoh, don't let him get the items!"

The thief's eyes turned to him.

(Ryou all at once realized his mistake.)

"You," the thief snarled.

Ryou took a step back, resisting the urge to flee himself.

No. He couldn't. Malik had been right that night. Ryou had to stop giving up so easily. He had to try.

"I'm not afraid of you," Ryou muttered under his breath, "Either of you."

The wearer of the millennium stepped forward.

"This is my fault, Pharaoh. I've failed at protecting the Palace. I shall deal with intruder alone," he said.

"Mahaado, no!" Isis said as she grabbed onto his hand. He shook it off.

"You will not harm the Pharaoh," he said, voice radiating determination. The tassels of the ring stood straight out.

The thief cocked his brow, "Oh? You think you can defeat me on your own?"

He laughed.

"Just try."

The millennium exploded with light and then the thief disappeared.

"Where did he go?" Malik said.

The stabbing did not cease for Ryou.

"Nowhere," replied Ryou as looked frantically for the signs of the thief, "He's still here."

Everyone else who knew the key's special ability was no glancing over their shoulder every second. The Pharaoh moved closer to Yuugi.

Mahaado stood perfectly still as the tassels on the ring spun around erratically.

Without warning, Mahaado was sent flying into the wall. His body made a sickening crack sound as he fell to the ground. He wiped the blood from his mouth when another invisible blow took him.

The thief, slowly like clearing fog, appeared.

"I warned you," the thief said with a smirk. He ripped the ring from the unconscious Mahaado.

Malik gasped slightly. He just took the ring without any sort of duel?

"Attack!" cried the Pharaoh.

Ryou blanched. He hoped that the rulers of Egypt would have at least some tactical abilities.

The thief gave him a backwards glance at the Pharaoh and then to Ryou.

(Ryou couldn't breath.)

"Another day," he said darkly and then whistled. A horse burst through the doors and the thief jumped on it as it was moving. With lightning fast speed he galloped toward Ryou, as the remaining priests struggled to muster an attack.

Ryou knew it was coming.

He pushed Malik out of the way (just in case, he could never tell who and who wasn't important to them).

The thief pulled Ryou by his shirt and swung the smaller boy onto the horse.

Then the where gone.

Malik got up, his head dizzy from the fall.

"Ryou!" he shouted.

-0-

Long stretches of silence spread, like the desert over Egypt, as everyone collected themselves.

Then, Jou bluntly stated, "That sucked."

Everyone nodded except Malik. He was too furious to even move.

After all that, after all they'd been through, after Ryou had sat there and told them it was their duty to stop Bakura - he had just let that crazy theft kidnap him?

He just gave up!

Malik was livid. He knew that any second now he snapped and tried hopeless to calm himself down. It was pointless, unless he had someone else to blame.

The lilac eyed boy turned to the priests, who rightfully looked ashamed of themselves.

"What in Ra's name was that?" Malik hissed.

The Kaiba priest glared at him. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Malik exclaimed, "You just let one guy - one lone person who at the start of today had no items - totally kick your guys asses! And steal three of the millennium items! He even kidnapped Ryou and all you three did was stare and gasp as that one guy with the ring was attacked. Aren't you suppose to chosen priests? Oh, and I may be going out on a limb here - but aren't you suppose to be actually effective?! It was bad enough when you did nothing while Ryou and me were here earlier - but when evil is staring you right in your faces you still do nothing! What's wrong with you all?"

Malik took a breath.

Everyone stared at him, wide eyed.

Then, Anzu said, "I agree with Malik."

Wow. He wasn't expecting that.

"Me too," Jou said.

Honda shook his head in agreement.

Yuugi looked uncomfortable, but then he turned to the Pharaoh.

"We've got to save Ryou and get back the items," he said, eyes sparkling with worry.

The Pharaoh nodded.

"What happened today must never happen again," he said severely.

The three remaining priests bowed their hands.

"But now, we must find out where that thief has gone."

-0-

The only priestess, Isis, concentrated on the millennium necklace.

Malik just looked at her.

She was his sister. There wasn't a doubt in Malik's mind about that. Same here, same voice, same cloudy eyes. Everything.

Except for one major thing. Isis hated him.

He had proof too. Whenever he'd try to catch her eye, she would look away. If he'd walk up besides her, she'd either turn or scoot away. She was repulsed at Malik's very presence.

That hurt more than Malik cared to admit. The only thing he ever had going for him was Ishizu and Rishid. His family…they were the two people in the whole wide world who actually believed he wasn't just a murderous lunatic. They believed he wasn't just his darkness.

And now this Isis, his sister previous incarnation, refused to spare him as much as one glance!

That was probably the defining reason why Malik had followed Isis into her little room with the bowl thingy. He – and he was quite aware how disgusting and pathetic it was – needed to have Isis like him. Or at the very least know why she didn't.

Of course, she hadn't been pleased with Malik's presence. But frankly, Malik didn't care. It wasn't like her was bothering her that much. Most of the time she just sat there with her hands around her stupid millennium necklace, looking for Bakura.

Hmm. Fat chance.

"You remind me of someone," Malik said finally, sick of just watching her.

"I do," she said. It wasn't a question; it was a statement.

Figures she'd know that. She knew everything with that item on.

"My sister," he said nonchalantly.

"I do not wish to be rude," Isis paused, "but this requires the utmost concentration. Finding him is harder than usually…he seems to be surrounded by… darkness."

That caught Malik's attention.

"Both of them?" he asked.

Isis nodded, "Yes. Both of them."

Malik cocked a brow. He had a hard time believing that Ryou – meek, shy, 'I can't do anything but I still want to do good' – was shrouded by darkness.

Darkness. Isis had said the same thing about him earlier in the throne room.

"Do you see that darkness around me?"

There was a long silence. Isis was deciding whether or not she should answer.

"Yes. But yours is a little foggy," she replied calmly.

Malik's eyes narrowed. His own sister had just stabbed him in the back and then twisted.

But somehow, Malik still had more questions. He needed to know.

"So…does that mean you think I'm evil?"

Malik meant for those words to come off as taunting and confident, but in reality that just sounded bitter and broken.

Isis paused, "I sense great darkness in you."

"Isn't that the same thing?" Malik snapped.

"No," she said softly, closing her eyes.

Malik glared at her, waiting for an explanation. She gave none.

More time passed as Isis eyebrows furrowed, trying to see through Bakura's darkness.

Malik waited in the silence, scowling. 'I sense great darkness in you'. What in Ra's name did that mean? That he was doomed forever to be a psychopathic villain. That all his tries at redemption which basically meaningless?

That he could never be more than the darkness inside him?

"If it's any consolation," Isis said, her eyes still closed, "I sense a strong will for good in your heart as well."

That was surprising. Malik blinked and then let himself have a small smile. A strong will was good enough for him.

Isis gasped. Her eyes shot open.

"What?" Malik asked, trying to hold down his panic.

"I've found them," she said shakily.

"Ryou, too?"

Whoa, when did he become so concerned about Ryou's safety?

"Yes!" Isis exclaimed as she arose, "I must tell his highness. The King of Thieves is at Kul Elna!"

-0-

Ryou heard those voices again. Whispers. He couldn't understand them…they made his mind so fuzzy…

("Come back to us our son, have you forgotten your promise? Have you forgotten your promise!")

Ryou shivered.

The thief glared at him.

Ever since Ryou woke up (and that had taken about a day), that was all the thief did. Glare, grumble, scowl. No more than three words at the time and never a conversation.

It was worse than being with the spirit. He and the spirit at least had tension. An intense burning hatred on Ryou's side, cool uncomplicated contempt on the spirit's. Ryou hated being in the same room with the spirit because there was always the cackling of their pure loathing in the air.

With the thief, there was nothing. No tension, no hatred. Just awkwardness.

(Even when Ryou looked away, he could still feel the thief's eyes scorching into him.)

Ryou glanced up at the thief. He was still scowling. The scar under his eye probably should make him menacing.

(But, strangely, Ryou wasn't afraid.)

"Why did you bring me here?" Ryou asked without trembling, "Again."

The thief's eyes narrowed and his short grey hair fell down, "That bastard told me too."

Ryou knew without asking that 'that bastard' referred to the spirit of the ring. He found the nickname rather appropriate.

"Why does he want with me? I'm no use to him. I was ever only just a host…" Ryou trailed off, closing his eyes in bitterness.

The thief snorted, "It's plain to my eyes that you're worthless - but he was adamant on getting you back."

Ryou's face crumpled up, in disgust. (At himself, because he was strangely flattered.)

More silence. (Soft whispers in the background, like pleasant humming. Or dying screams.)

The thief went between fumbling with his newly won millennium items and glaring at Ryou.

Ryou leaned up against the wall and closed his eyes. He did need to catch up on his sleep, but also with his eyes closed he wouldn't have to see the thief glare. The blackness behind his eyes was very inviting…relaxing. ("Son, son - you must avenge us! Three items are not enough! Why do you rest when there is work to be done!?)

Ryou's eyes shot open.

The thief was shaking.

"You don't hear them, do you?" he asked as he clenched his fist. Ryou stared in horror as he drew blood.

"Hear who?" Ryou asked, suddenly scared. Not for himself, but for the thief.

"Our family," the thief cackled, "You don't remember, huh? Don't remember how they were stolen from us?"

The thief quivered and shook. Every inch of him.

He let out another laugh, this one louder and more manic. Like the spirit's.

(Ryou cringed.)

"Well I remember. I see it every night when I close my eyes…their screaming, their blood…that's all I can see!" He laughed again, with genuine humor in his voice.

"Isn't funny? Isn't funny!" the thief screamed, rage intertwining with his laughing, "And when I wake up…all hear is them…whispering at me. And I obey. Because I care, because they were wronged, because I am a good son!"

More blood dripped from the thief's fists.

"I'm the only one that cares for them still. The two of you," he hissed, "have done nothing to help them. So why is all their anger taken out on me?"

Ryou's mouth hanged open. He was watching a man (himself, really, Ryou knew it was himself) go insane.

"Answer me!" the thief yelled.

Ryou pulled his legs to his chest and looked at the ground.

"I don't know what you're asking," he whispered.

Something unidentifiable flooded the thief's eyes.

"Why do you get to forget?!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the remnants of Kul Elna.

Ryou hugged himself tighter.

Silence.

(Not even whispers.)

"I hate you," the thief said and regained some composure.

Ryou said nothing.

"You're pathetic. You're worthless, You're weak" the thief prattled on, "You cannot do anything by yourself. You're powerless."

Those words were so familiar to Ryou.

("And how does someone as pathetic as you, my dear landlord, plan to rid yourself of me? You're powerless; you're weak. Without me you'd be less than nothing.")

Ryou looked at him with hard eyes.

"You can't hurt me with those words," he said as his voice cracked, "I already know that."

The thief gasped slightly, blinked, and then scowled.

"You're hindrance. I don't know why my future self keeps you around."

Ryou didn't have answer for that.

The thief glared at him though, expecting one.

Flinching away from the harsh stare, Ryou looked up at the sky. Maybe the answer was written in the clouds.

A long moment of silence passed and out of the corner of Ryou's eye, he could see the thief relaxed. Good, he was much calmer now.

"You hate me so much, but you don't even know me. If anything, I should hate you," Ryou said, a slight airy tone to his voice.

(He wasn't afraid of the thief, even after that outburst, so he was allowed to be honest.)

"You're my weakness incarnated," the thief said, "Why shouldn't I hate you?"

Ryou looked back down to his feet.

"From my point of view, you're are nothing but my hate and rage. But I don't hate you."

(Ryou hadn't realized that was true until he said it.)

The thief, again, was startled.

"You hate him though."

Ryou shrugged.

"That's different. He deserves it," said Ryou. To his surprise, the thief smiled. Then laughed.

(It was friendly noise, carefree like summer. So unlike the unhinged laughs Ryou had just moments ago.)

Ryou smiled back.

Then, the sound of footsteps.

Ryou's blood froze and his pulse quickened. The spirit, it was the spirit.

The thief gave him an inquisitive look.

(He didn't understand. Ryou, even with all of his hatred, was terrified of the spirit.)

"Welcome home, landlord," the spirit sneered.

Ryou glared. But before he could say anything, the thief jumped in.

"Where have you been?" he shouted.

The spirit closed his eyes and smirked.

"I've been busy," he replied.

The thief cursed loudly.

"I've gotten three items without you're help! What makes you think I need you?" the thief roared.

The spirit looked at him up and down, then chuckled.

When the spirit gave no response, Ryou was afraid that the thief was really going to slaughter him. The look on his face.

Ryou suddenly felt a strong surge of affection for the thief. (Despite…well, despite everything.) He hated the spirit of the ring almost as much as he did.

While Ryou was contemplating that, he didn't notice the spirit had moved so that he was standing right above Ryou.

He pulled Ryou up by his shirt and shoved him against the wall. The action wasn't meant to hurt him (in fact it didn't hurt Ryou at all) but meant to show power.

("You're powerless," the thief's word echoed inside Ryou's skull.)

"I was a fool for having allowed any freedom," the spirit's dark eyes tore through his soul, "But assure you, my landlord, that it will not happened again."

Ryou frowned and glared, trying to desperately to hid his fear.

The spirit, his upper lip snarling, dropped Ryou to the floor.

"I heard what you did to protect the Pharaoh's container. Something so noble and brave…you think your friends would have tried to rescue you by now. If they were your friends," the spirit said condescendingly.

"They are my friends…you're a liar!" yelled Ryou and then was instantly ashamed. (The spirit always managed to get the best of him.)

The spirit of the ring turned to him, a small smirk on his lips, "You say that a lot, host. Isn't it about time you meant it?"

Ryou was taken a back.

"I do mean it," he stuttered out.

The spirit chuckled and turned away.

"Get up," he commanded, his back still turned, "I have something to show you."

-0-

"Yuugi," said the Pharaoh, frowning, "Friends, I don't think -"

"Save it," said Anzu, with a smile.

"There's no way we're letting you go on your own," Honda continued.

"Haven't you got that by now?" said Jou.

"Other me…Pharaoh," Yuugi said, with a huge smile, "We are going to be by your side. Always. No matter what."

The Pharaoh's face lighten up and he too smiled.

"Always," he repeated.

Malik watched on from his horse with jealousy. Pure and simple. Why was it that they had so much faith in each other when Malik's own sister couldn't fully trust?

Part of him knew it had to do with the whole trying to kill the Pharaoh and taking control of people's minds thing. But still. It hurt to see such a bond like theirs, when he didn't have one.

Malik sighed and placed his head on the horse. Everyone was ready to make the trip to Kul Elna, except for them. Malik snorted under his breath as he remembered how much work it took to convince them to let him go.

They were so very foolish if they ever for a second thought that he wouldn't come along. He was going to save Ryou. Then, punch him. Hard.

Malik's rage still lingered on the surface. No wonder Bakura could take Ryou over so easily. Ryou probably didn't even try to stop him. Though, when he thought about it, the Ryou he'd meant in the soul room seemed so much more defiant…

"Ready, my king?" asked Seto. Ishizu - Isis, Malik mentally corrected, had told him the priest's name. Not like Malik couldn't have guessed.

The Pharaoh nodded as he got on his horse.

Everyone lashed at their horses. Seto and Akhenaden rode in front of everyone. Malik, Yuugi, Anzu and the Pharaoh rode behind them. Jou, Honda and Isis right behind them. Mahaado was not allowed to come, he needed rest. As for the other priests…it was unclear if they'd even survive.

Again, Malik was impressed how monotonous the landscape was. The real Egypt was so much better. And Malik hated Egypt.

It didn't seem like a long ride, but the sun was setting by the time Malik first saw the flicker of Kul Elna. Slowly, he saw more. In the distance, charred remains of walls and broken houses became clear. The village of Kul Elna looked nothing more than a faded photograph.

Malik narrowed his eyes.

He was ready.

-0-

A ghostly chill ran down Ryou's spine. He trembled a bit.

The spirit left the small, wrecked house. And against his better instincts, Ryou followed him. (Somehow, somehow he always did.)

It was the first time he (truly) saw the village of Kul Elna in the day light. In the moonlight, it had looked almost mystical, but now under the glare of the sun, it simply looked dead.

(Cold, withered, burned and dead.)

"Where are we going?" Ryou inquired, struggling to keep up with spirit's brisk pace.

The spirit turned around. His arms were crossed and the trench coat billowed out from under him.

His eyes were burning black.

(Burning…burning like…)

"You mean you still haven't remembered yet?" the spirit sneered.

Ryou took a step back. Every inch of his body screamed at him to run.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ryou lied.

The spirit snorted.

A strong gust of wind howled passed them.

Ryou opened his eyes to find everything had changed.

The sun was gone. Yes it had just vanished… and in its place was the bright, eerie full moon. The rubble of Kul Elna was no longer rubble. All of the houses looked brand new and torches burned in all of them. Ryou even heard laughter…

"What is this?" Ryou asked, shaking.

(He already knew the answer.)

The spirit said nothing, but from Ryou's perspective it almost looked like he was trembling too.

A thunderous sound of hooves filled the air, blocking out the happy sounds of chatting and laughter. Ryou turned and saw a whole squad of the Pharaoh's army riding towards the happy village.

(Don't come any closer, he silently begged them, please just turn around and go away…)

His skin pricked and his mind went fuzzy.

As the riders neared, Ryou recognized their leader. It was the same man who had been with the Pharaoh when he and Malik had been to the palace. The one who would later have the millennium eye.

They stopped a couple yards before the village actually began and jumped off their horses. In their arms they didn't carry spears like Ryou expected. They had knives.

It was only because Ryou could see them that he knew they were there. As they ran towards the village (his village) they made no sounds.

One ran right through Ryou.

Horrified, Ryou brushed himself off.

"What is this?" Ryou asked, his voice quivering.

The spirit looked at him. (For a second, it almost looked like pity in his eyes.)

"A memory."

Ryou covered his mouth. (Crashing, it was a crashing feeling…no, not crashing…burning…burning like….)

"No!" he said, to no one, but dashed off after the guards all the same.

The spirit followed him.

Akhenaden gave a signal to his men. Then chaos.

With the ferocity only known to demons, they attacked. Some kicked down the doors, others broke the walls. But within seconds the previously silent night flooded with screams.

"Keep them alive!" Akhenaden shouted over the rising din, "It will only work if their alive!"

Ryou furrowed his brows. What would work?

The guards came back out. Ryou gasped. Every guard had bundles of (familiar faces) people in their arms. The men were knocked unconscious, but the women and children screamed.

The children…!

(Acid rose in Ryou's throat.)

All of the Pharaoh's guards were unfazed by the cries. They looked at the people with indifference. They carried them like they were trash.

"This way!" Akhenaden said, "Leave no one behind!"

The guards followed and his families' cries increased. They knew what was coming. They knew.

"Where are they taking them?" Ryou asked the spirit, not because he wanted an answer. He wanted to know his answer was wrong.

The spirit kept his face indifferent (but there was something in his eyes…) and said, "Watch."

Ryou turned around.

A small boy came out of one of the shattered houses. He had short grayish white hair and tanned skin.

(He was crying.)

"It's him," Ryou whispered.

"You," the spirit corrected.

The little boy (Ryou gagged, he was so small, he couldn't be older than seven) ran after the guards. He screamed for his mother, for his father. For his sister.

Ryou had never been more cold than he was now.

Staggering, Ryou fled after the little boy. After his family. He had to stop whatever it was that the guards were going to do. With every ounce of his strength, he had to stop this!

The guards dragged the people into a dimly cavern. A fire in the center was the only light source. Above it was a large golden pot.

Akhenaden pointed to the guard holding one man and three little girls.

"Go," he said and motioned to the pot.

"Stop! Stop! Please!" they cried, "Someone help us! Pharaoh save us!"

Their pleas went ignored and the guard tossed them into the pot.

They didn't scream. The noise they made couldn't be classified as a scream. It was a high pitched, clawing, desperate sound. A soul splitting sound. They screamed and screamed and reached up towards the sky, hoping for salvation. None came. The fire burned them. Licked at their skin, melted the flesh of their burns. Made sure that their faces would forever be twisted in agony. The women's hand reached out as she sank down into the cauldron. Reached out…reached out…(the fire burned it)…reached out.

Then they were all nothing.

The small boy and Ryou's expressions were the same.

(Horror.)

Akhenaden motioned for the next group, when the group before that was a golden liquid.

(Golden like…golden like…)

Ryou remembered.

The epiphany was dim and disgusting. His head throbbed, but was no longer fuzzy. He felt empty; he felt rage. All at once he knew.

There was nothing he could do to stop it.

(The child looking on knew the feeling.)

The next grouped screamed louder than the last.

Ryou covered his eyes and turned to the spirit, who watched the scene with intent.

"I remember! I remember!" he screamed, "Please just make it stop! I'll do anything you want just make it stop!"

The spirit looked down at him (like he always did) and everything around them turned to ashes. It faded away.

(Except the screams. The screams would be there forever.)

The sun shone brightly on Ryou and mocked the slaughter that he had just witness.

(The blood was still there, though. At his feet. The blood was still there.)

"The items! There…there," he stuttered.

The ring. The ring had been made from that. And Oh god, - oh god he had worn them, underneath his shirt. It had dug into his skin. Their souls had been on his skin!

Ryou vomited.

Then he collapsed on his knees. Onto the blood stained sand.

(And cried.)

-0-

Seto and Akhenaden stopped just short of the actually village. Everyone else stopped too.

Malik hopped off his horse eagerly, but no one made a move to go inside the village.

"What's wrong?" Anzu asked, sensing what Malik had sensed.

Yuugi pointed.

The King of Thieves sauntered over to them lazily, a Cheshire like grin on his face.

"Welcome to my home, Pharaoh," he said as his eyes harden, "We've been expecting you."

Malik's eyes narrowed. We?

"Stop this insanity, now!" the Pharaoh roared.

The thief chuckled, "But we've only just begun our game, Pharaoh. Don't you want to have a little fun?"

The Pharaoh glowered at the thief.

"No?" the thief said when the Pharaoh didn't respond, "But the spirits of Kul Elna do and it seems so wrong to deny them…"

The thief's voice was high and seemed amused, but his face wasn't even close to that. There was no light in his eyes. His scar shined brightly on his face.

He bent down in a crouching predator position.

"You will pay for what happened here."

Ahead of him, Malik saw Akhenaden visible flinch.

Before he even had time to fully process that, a sharp pain pierced through his back. He cried out, as did everyone around him. Malik fell to his knees and found that he couldn't move. Something was holding him.

To his disgust, pale screaming faces attached to foggy tails held him down.

Theses ghosts held them all down.

The thief let out a monstrous laugh, worse than any of those ones Malik heard back at the Palace. It almost sounded like a cry.

The man in the red cloak shuffled towards the bowing Pharaoh.

His millennium puzzle lit up but the ghost quickly swarmed to put it out. They did it so easily. Like blowing out a candle.

Out of his cloak, the thief pulled out a knife.

Everyone but Malik gasped.

"Justice has finally come for you Pharaoh," the thief said lowly. His eyes blazed.

The Pharaoh struggled, but Malik could tell it would be of no use. The impossible had happened.

The Pharaoh had lost.

The thief raised his blade and smiled.

"No!" shouted a voice, meek and soft and subtly sad.

Ryou.

The white haired boy, who looked more like a white streak, raced towards them. The thief didn't noticed and the blade was coming down faster than Ryou could possibly run…

Ryou jumped in front of the kneeling Pharaoh and the knife plunged through -

Malik looked closer. The knife hadn't even scratched Ryou. It had thrust through the wailing ghost shapes.

The thief dropped his knife in sheer shock. His grey eyes widen to extremes and his mouth hung open.

Ryou's eyes narrowed.

"It works both ways, you know."

And Ryou surprised Malik yet again.

-0-

Ryou remembered. He heard his family cry out for their vengeance (and yet they still protected him). In his heart, in his soul, he knew what atrocities had been done to them.

But he would not allow justice to come this way.

Not with blood.

There was too much blood on his hands already, and he could not, would not allow more. For the sake of his forsaken soul. No more blood.

"How…dare…you," the thief said, panting. His eyes darted back and further, in a frenzy.

Ryou clenched his fists.

"I will not let you harm them. Any of them. Not even in their name," said Ryou. He trembled, but his voice reminded steady.

(I'm sure, aren't I, I'm sure…)

The thief stared, his face distorting more and more with each breath.

"Traitor!" he yelled and lunged Ryou.

He sidestepped, but the thief yanked him back by his arm. The thief pushed Ryou to ground. Ryou kicked him squarely in his chest.

"You robbed me of my justice!" the thief hissed as he tried to punch Ryou in the face.

Ryou dodged, "You're justice is wrong! Don't believe the spirit's lies. You don't need to kill the Pharaoh and summon Zorc to avenge them. The fact that you're living is vengeance enough!"

The thief stopped for a brief second, and hope fluttered into Ryou's heart.

Though they did not know it, the ghosts of Kul Elna around the others evaporated.

The Pharaoh arose.

"I shall end you here, thief," the Pharaoh said.

Both Ryou and the King of Thieves turned their attention to him.

(Ryou was suddenly very frighten. The Pharaoh was not Yuugi. The Pharaoh would kill the thief.)

The thief looked at him and laughed.

(And the small flame of hope in Ryou's heart died out.)

The spirit's of Kul Elna swarmed around him as the thief retreated.

"I told you we weren't finishing playing yet, Pharaoh," he said with a grin, "You'll have to come a little further."

And the thief disappeared into the fallen village.

-0-

The Pharaoh took a step to follow the thief, but Ryou grabbed onto him.

"Wait," he said, "Let's think of plan first."

Everyone surrounded the Pharaoh.

"I agree, my king. We must not be unprepared," said Isis.

"Right," said Seto, "There's a reason why that thief wants in the village. He must have another advantage besides those…"

"Spirits," Ryou finished for him, "They're the spirits of the Kul Elna. They protect him because they're his family. He's their only son."

The priest's eyes furrowed as they took that information in. Even Akhenaden's. Ryou shot him a foul look. How could he still pretend he didn't know? If the thief should kill anyone it should have been him…

(Ryou shook his head, trying to shake off the dark thoughts.)

"And why exactly did the spirits protect you as well?" Seto asked and eyed his askance.

Ryou looked at him with disdain.

"Because I am his reincarnation."

All of them looked at Ryou with wide eyes.

Malik smiled. So he finally admitted it. At least that was a start.

"Is that true Bakura-kun?" Yuugi asked uncertainly. (Was that a hint of fear? Or sadness?)

Ryou looked away.

"Yes. It's all true," he said.

Silence overtook all of them as not another word was spoken. Malik saw the cringing Ryou and decided maybe he owed it to the boy to help him out.

"So," Malik said, "what's the other reason why Bakura wants us to go in that creepy looking village?"

Something sparked in the Pharaoh's eyes. He touched his millennium puzzle.

"The items," said the Pharaoh, "they must be the reason why he wants us here."

"What do they items have to do with Kul Elna?" Malik asked.

Ryou waited for Akhenaden to finally confess and answer, but he did not.

Instead, the Pharaoh did.

"The items were created in this village," he said, with no trace of emotion.

Ryou froze as his eyes widened to an impossible size.

"You…know?" he asked, trembling.

The Pharaoh frowned a bit, sensing Ryou's hatred.

"Yes."

"Tell me, tell me how," Ryou said, bowing his head.

(?Does he know? Does he really know?)

The Pharaoh looked to Yuugi and Yuugi motioned for him to explain.

"A village of criminals had to be sacrificed in order to create the items. In order to protect Egypt."

Ryou's face darkened.

"That's a lie."

The Pharaoh looked towards with Ryou with slightly narrowed eyes and said, "What?"

"Whoever told you that was lying," Ryou said slowly, pausing after every word.

(He was trying to regain himself.)

"You're mistaken. Mahado told me the truth himself," said the Pharaoh.

"He's lying," muttered Ryou with a soft chuckle.

The Pharaoh glared for a second and then his demeanor lighten, "You must not believe whatever the spirit of the millennium ring told you, he -"

(God, those words were familiar…but here there were wrong…so wrong…)

"Shut up," Ryou hissed softly, eyes burning.

Everyone's eyes widened, including Malik's.

"You know nothing. What your father's men did to my village was unforgettable, unforgivable, and unequally evil. Eviler than anything my other could ever do! At least…at least he knows that he's a complete monster. That's better than you. Because you're such a liar. You pretend to stand for justice…but all you ever do is play the winning hand. That's it. You are not a shining beacon of morality, Pharaoh. You're not even a decent human. So stop pretending to be the hero. Stop pretending like you're good."

Malik watched, waiting for Ryou to snap out of it. For the white haired boy's eyes to go all wide with shock and start to apologize profusely.

It never happened.

Ryou simply turned away (from all of them, even Malik) and walked towards the rubble that was Kul Elna.

There was a long, seemingly endless moment of silence. It was as if they had all just been slapped in the face, not just the Pharaoh.

"Pharaoh,"

"Bakura is our friend," Yuugi said, but he no longer sounded as sure as he previously did.

Malik shook off his disbelief and the others' doubts.

"Ryou! Ryou!"

Ryou stopped in his tracks.

"What?" He called without turning around.

Malik pulled Ryou's arm and made the white haired boy look at him.

(His eyes were coal black.)

"Ryou!" Malik said and shook him. "What the hell was that?"

Ryou still refused to look at him.

"Was I wrong?" He asked softly, but the bitter undertones loomed at Malik like pointed swords.

Malik didn't have answer. He'd thought lots of things about the Pharaoh, previously. He could still taste that strong hatred on his lips…

But that was before…and he had changed…

"Was I!?" shouted Ryou.

"No," Malik finally admitted, "No, you weren't wrong at all."

Ryou's shoulders slumped.

"I should apologize," he whispered, "There was no reason for that."

But there was a reason. Ryou had just proven that.

"There's nothing worse than apologizing." Malik spoke from experience.

Ryou glared at the ground again.

"I know I should," he said, "but I just can't. I can't take it back, Malik. I meant it."

"I know, Ryou," Malik said, "It was kinda obvious."

Before Ryou could response, a sugary sweet voice chirped in.

"Hey, Bakura-kun."

Ryou's eyes went wide and then settle into smoldering blank stare.

"Can we talk?" The questions seemed more direct to Malik than Ryou.

Malik let go of Ryou's arm, "Fine with me."

The tomb keeper strutted away, but not back to where the others were. No, there was something about this village Malik needed to see for himself.

-0-

Ryou watched Malik leave, silently begging the boy to come back.

(He didn't.)

It was just him and Yuugi.

"Are you alright, Bakura-kun?" Yuugi asked, tentatively taking a step forward.

"I'm fine." It wasn't until after he said that Ryou realized how ridiculous of a lie that was.

Ryou closed his eyes and sighed, "I've been better."

"What happened to you back there?" Yuugi said, finally gaining the courage to ask, "You seemed so angry."

"I am angry!" Ryou shot back, "Even now - three thousand years later - he still refuses to take responsibility!"

Silence. It sprawled across them, separating them even further.

"I'm sorry," Ryou said after a long time. After comprehending that Yuugi was not going to leave him alone.

"Did you mean what you said back there? About Yam - the Pharaoh?" Yuugi asked, his voice quivering a bit.

Ryou shut his eyes tightly.

(He should lie; it would be so much easier just to lie…)

"Yes," he said, still with his back turned from Yuugi.

And then Ryou added, "Sorry."

"Bakura-kun, I know you think you know the truth but -"

"Don't," Ryou threatened, and then pleadingly, "Please, Yuugi-kun, don't."

Yuugi didn't try again, which scared Ryou to his core.

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked softly, holding his hands together tightly.

"What? Of cccourse - of course, not!" Yuugi stuttered a bit, but he sounded honest enough.

Ryou turned around.

The gap between them was a few feet at most, but expanded through lifetimes. A soft wind blew passed them. To Ryou it sounded like whispers.

(The spirits of Kul Elna were growing restless, waiting for the final battle between two kings to commence again.)

"I'm sorry," Ryou said again, closing his eyes, "I really am. I didn't mean for it to turn out this way, Yuugi-kun. I never wanted this…I never wanted to know…"

Ryou opened his eyes wide and smiled.

(It was broken and pathetic, but at least it was honest.)

"I never deserved a friend like you."

"Bakura-kun, what are you talking about?" Yuugi said exasperated, "You sound like you're giving up."

Ryou turned back around. Maybe he was.

"I think you should go back now. The Pharaoh is probably getting worried."

"No!" Yuugi exclaimed and grabbed Ryou's hand, "Not without you."

He (much like Malik had done before) made Ryou face him.

"Bakura," Yuugi said, his violet eyes burning deep into Ryou's own, "Whatever happened here doesn't matter. That was the past. Don't you get it? You're my friend now."

Ryou blinked and tilted his head to the side, "Yuugi-kun."

"Let's go," Yuugi said with confidence.

Ryou smiled, "Okay."

-0-

Ryou returned with Yuugi to where his friends and the Pharaoh's remaining priests were.

He couldn't look the Pharaoh in the eyes. (Even if he hadn't been wrong.)

Suspecious glances bore into Ryou. He knew he shouldn't plan them, he had just had spectacular freak out, but he did. Had he not gone against himself (against his family's only wishes) to protect him?

Ryou had…issues with the Pharaoh. But he wouldn't kill him, if that's what they thought.

(He wouldn't…)

"Where's Malik?" Ryou finally asked, craning his neck for the sight of the boy. After everything that occurred, Malik was suddenly a comfort in Ryou's life. A friend.

"Last time we saw him, he ran after you," Anzu said.

Ryou looked to Yuugi, who was frowning and then at Kul Elna.

"You don't think he went in there by himself, do you?" Ryou asked.

Yuugi looked to Kul Elna as well.

"I think he did."

"Well, then, all the more reason to go into that village right now!" exclaimed Jou.

Seto looked towards the Pharaoh.

"Are we ready, my king?" he asked.

The Pharaoh again touched the puzzle on his neck, "Let's go."

(Ryou closed his eyes, debating for a moment if he should follow them. To go back…after all he'd seen…)

"Bakura-kun?" Yuugi said gently, "Are you alright?"

Ryou opened his eyes.

(Time to prove that he meant what he'd said. Time to stop switching view points. Time to make a final stand.)

"Yeah, Yuugi. Let's go,"

They entered the village, the Pharaoh surrounded on all sides. The spirits rose from the ground and curled up Ryou's leg. He repressed a cry.

A demented laugh came from each end of the village.

"I was beginning to think you'd never come, Pharaoh," the voice said, though no one (not even Ryou) could see it's source.

Anzu screamed.

From the shadows, at least fifteen faceless robed figures surfaced. They were armed with swords and their eyes were a bright, deep red.

Not them again, Ryou thought.

Without warning, the black cloaked things were on them. They attacked everyone separately. Two were on Isis, seven blocked off Akhenaden, Seto and the Pharaoh, five attacked Yuugi, Anzu, Honda and Jou. The final one lashed it's sword at Ryou.

(No miracle fuzzy feeling came to play, no sudden burst of strength.)

Ryou backed away slowly and then ran.

-0-

Isis had never been good at hand to hand combat. She'd always relied on her necklace to protect her…but every since that boy…Malik had entered her life, the sacred millennium necklace no longer responded to her as well.

The black robed figures, servants of the Thief King, lunged at. Yet again, she just barely dodged. She knew she couldn't keep this up much longer…

Even if that meant she'd be failing her Pharaoh. Her duty.

Both of the robed figures swung their swords and Isis ducked and tripped. They pressed both of their blades into her throat.

"Hello, dear priestess," said a voice, growing louder as she heard footsteps, "You have something that belongs to me."

The millennium necklace. Isis gripped it tight.

"You'll have to kill me first," she said, and only by years of practice did her voice remain steady and firm.

The King of Thieves smirked.

"I intend to."

His eyes held nothing but darkness, even if the millennium necklace only vaguely told her that, she knew. He was pure evil.

He reached down to her throat and ripped the necklace off of her.

As he turned he told the robed figures, "Kill her."

The blades moved from her neck and raised upwards to her chest.

Isis closed her eyes. And silently prayed for the protection of the fallen Kalim, Shada and Mahaado.

Prayed for the Pharaoh to save all of Egypt.

The sharp hiss of a blade filled her ears, but she felt no pain.

Isis opened her eyes. The robed figures were nothing but dust. In their place was that boy. Malik.

"You?" she asked, in awe. All this time she had been so certain that he would eagerly watch her die.

Malik smiled, with a hint of a small smirk.

"Me," he replied and offered her his hand.

Isis faltered. The millennium necklace had told her, she had seen, the darkness in this boy's heart. How could she possible trust him? Even if he did save her, how could she trust him around the Pharaoh?

Malik sighed.

"Look," he said, "I don't care what you think of me. You're my sister. And not going to let anything happen to you. Now come on."

Isis didn't hesitate. She grabbed Malik's hand.

"Let's go save the Pharaoh."

-0-

The robed figures followed Ryou, though they never tried to actually hurt him. It both relieved and angered him.

(For Ryou knew they were sent not to kill him, but recapture him.)

So he never stopped running, not even for a second. But the faceless black cloaked…(well, Ryou wasn't sure what to call them) did.

They bowed.

Ryou turned around, slowly, as nausea hit him.

The spirit stood behind him, arms crossed, trench coat curling with the wind.

"What? You're not going to run away again?" the spirit sneered.

("How can you quit so easily?" said Malik.)

Ryou looked down, defeated. He knew he was a hypocrite…but he just couldn't…

"No," he said and then he turned back towards Kul Elna, "Let's go."

-0-

When they arrived at the place where all of the soul of Kul Elna had been fused to create the items, the theft was already waiting for them. He held the millennium necklace, twisting and playing with it. To the right of him was Akhenaden.

"Why is he here?" Ryou demanded, his fists clenched.

"He knows the power of darkness," the spirit said, "and he has the eye, the puzzle and the rod."

It then dawned on Ryou why those robbed men had split them up in the way they had. Akhenaden had planned to take the Pharaoh's and Priest Seto's items from the very beginning.

How despicable. Ryou thought if he should ask why Akhenaden would do something like that, especially after slaughtering his family in the name of the Pharaoh. But suddenly, he found that he didn't care. (About anything, anymore.)

He just…he just wanted…

(Ryou didn't know really. That's why he saved the Pharaoh. That's why he was here with the spirit and the thief by his own accord.)

The thief grinned, "They're coming."

Ryou knew who he was talking about.

(And knew that now was when he could not longer make false promises. Now he had to chose sides.)

The spirit looked to Ryou, raising a brow.

Ryou didn't look at him, instead her focused on the doorway to the dark, charred, bloodstained, cavern.

"I'm ready."

-0-

Yuugi came in first. There was a long slash on his check and the robed figures dragged him across the stone floor with no mercy. Anzu followed. She was completely unconscious. Honda and Jou were brought in together, both kicking, cursing and desperately trying to squirm out of the mysterious figures grasps.

Ryou hid behind a wall. He couldn't face them (because in his heart he knew what he was doing was wrong; he was ashamed).

Next came the Pharaoh. One robed monster held him from behind, two more pointed their swords at him. He glared but was stony silent.

Priest Seto followed him. One faceless thing held him as well, but he only had one other that was guarding him too. His pupils were freakishly small and he was sweating. He looked like he'd seen a ghost.

No one else followed. Not even the Priestess Isis. Or Malik.

Ryou's heart skipped a beat. Malik. Where was Malik?

The spirit of the ring stepped out to center stage.

"Hello, Pharaoh. It's been a while."

The Pharaoh's eyes went wide.

"Bakura! I should have known you were behind this!" he shouted.

Ryou rolled his eyes. Didn't he and Malik specifically tell the Pharaoh that the spirit was behind all this?

(But they hadn't believed them and Ryou had been so upset because he had honestly wanted to help the Pharaoh. And now…)

Ryou looked at the Pharaoh with disgust. He hated him. Maybe, maybe he really deserved to die.

He clasped his hand to his face. How could he think these things? The Pharaoh had never been cruel to him, never done anything with malicious intent. How could there be so much hate in his heart?

(The Pharaoh didn't deserve this, his mind told him, I should stop this all…)

"Reverse what you did to Akhenaden!" the Pharaoh shouted.

The spirit chuckled.

"Me? I didn't do anything. He sought the darkness on his own," said the spirit.

"Liar!" the Pharaoh roared.

"He was the wise one, Pharaoh. Once Zorc is summoned you will realize that. It, after all, will be the last thing you ever see."

The spirit laughed and the Pharaoh said no more.

Everyone watched as Akhenaden placed all the items in the tablet. The emitted a spectacular light, far brighter than anything Ryou had ever witnessed before.

(It hurt.)

The thief watched Akhenaden with intent, hungry eyes. He licked his lips.

Ryou watched with sad, forlorn eyes. So it was finally happening. Zorc was going to rise again.

He could stop it. If he wanted to. He should stop it. And because of that (because of every scream) the fact that it was the good thing to do no longer matter. Vengeance ached in him and…killing would be wrong….he couldn't stand to see anymore blood. (But maybe…) Maybe, the darkness they were about to unleash would cover his eyes. Then he wouldn't ever have to see anything ever again.

(Would that make the hurt stop? The darkness? Would it make the hurt finally stop?)

Yuugi spotted Ryou and gasped.

"Bakura-kun?" he said as voice trembled.

Ryou closed his eyes.

(And prayed for his sins to be forgiven.)

A loud crash sound rippled from the doorway.

Ryou stared up in amazement. A horse leaped out towards them; it carried Isis and an armed Malik.

Malik leapt off without a second's effort and he with his sword in hand charged at three robed figures guarding the Pharaoh. He destroyed one of them and the Pharaoh eagerly helped him finish the last two off.

Ryou glanced at the spirit, who did nothing.

Behind them, crouching, the thief let out a monstrous laugh.

"Just what the hell is so funny?" Malik hissed, in between pants.

The spirit smirked.

"Theatrics aside," he said, seemingly almost amused, "You're too late. All of you."

The tablet sunk into the ground and the light collapsed on its self. In it's place thin wisps of smoky darkness seeped from the hole.

Ryou took a step back.

Oh no.

Tears overflowed his eyes.

Oh, god - oh god, what had he done?!

Ryou fall onto his knees. How could he have let this happened? How could he have not even tried?

The darkness grew stronger and deep rumbling shook all of the other.

No one moved. All anyone could do was stare.

It was all his fault. This, (the darkness spilling out) was all because of him. His hatred, his desire for vengeance, over millennia, over two lifetimes. It clung to Ryou eternally and now…now he had doomed the world to his same fate.

Yuugi. Malik.

He had betrayed them both, out of pure selfishness! Because he refused to let the past be the past…let it go…

Forgiveness.

Akhenaden jumped into the rising darkness (and behind him Ryou faintly heard Seto cry out).

The thief was transfixed by it. He loomed over the edge.

Don't, Ryou begged him silently, don't let it take you.

(It had already fully taken the spirit. It had already taken him. Even if he didn't have blood directly on his hands, it didn't matter. What he had done was wrong…and he would never be able to forgive himself.)

Forgive himself.

That's how this all started, wasn't it? Because he could never forgive himself for surviving when all of his family didn't. (His own family couldn't forgive him either.) Even though it hadn't been his fault! Ryou had seen (again and again and again) - he was just a child! And the darkness preyed upon him, festered and poured salt on his wounds. Feed his hate.

Now he was nothing but hate. Hate and cold indifference.

(More tears fell.)

No more. He would not die like this.

Not with all this hate.

Ryou touched the thief's hand.

The thief recoiled and glared at him with renewed hatred.

Ryou did his best to smile.

"Please don't," he said, "You don't have too. It's okay to stay here and live, even without them."

The thief gaped and furrowed his brow. Not in anger. He just didn't understand.

(A weight was lifted off his shoulders and for the first time since he arrived in this place, Ryou could breath.)

But there was still hatred for himself. Still darkness in the corner of his heart.

The spirit.

(Yes. Time to finally except that he was part of the spirit and the spirit was part of him.)

He hated the spirit. Truly, fully, because of what happened in the past.

Ryou closed his eyes. He was going to die without the past (no matter how recent) tied to his soul.

The spirit eyes flashed with a cold fire. He watched the darkness grow with anticipation and…maybe admiration.

Ryou took a step to him. The spirit looked at him with mild disinterested and narrowed his eyes. Ryou took a breath. He step forward and hugged the spirit.

Ryou didn't say anything, because he had no words to say to the spirit. All he had to give was forgiveness.

He hugged the spirit tighter and buried his head in his shoulder.

(And just let all of his hatred…go.)

The spirit wrapped his arms around Ryou.

And hugged him back.

Then, complete darkness.

-0-

Malik awoke, for the second time in Ra knows how many days, in a pile of sand. The lilac eyed boy cursed slightly as he brushed the sand off him. It was only then did he realize where he was. The Pharaoh's tomb.

The events of whatever that was bombarded him. The last thing he remembered was the darkness bubbling over, only to exploded and then -

Ryou. Ryou had done something.

"Damn it!" he cried, as he raced down the stairs. Everyone must be done further than he was, because he had refused to go any further than this…

As he jumped the finally step, Malik saw double. Literally.

The Pharaoh was just now groggily coming back to his senses. Yuugi was sprawled out of top of him.

…That was not what the scriptures had told him would happened.

But where was Ryou? Where was that lying, backstabbing, weak, kind-hearted, noble white hair?

Malik had to step over quite a few bodies, Kaiba, Jou, Honda, Anzu to name a few. before he saw what he was looking for.

"Ryou!" he exclaimed and rushed over to the boy's side.

Ryou clutched his head and opened his eyes.

"Malik, is that you?" he said, barely awake.

"Yeah," said Malik, kneeling towards the boy.

Ryou smiled weakly at him.

Malik smirked back. Then promptly punched in the shoulder.

"Ouch!" Ryou hissed, and rubbed his shoulders, "What was the for?"

"For almost destroying the entire world!" Malik snarled.

"Oh, yeah," Ryou bowed his head, "I guess I really deserved that."

"Yeah," Malik snorted, "To say the least."

"Do you hate me?" Ryou asked.

"What?" Malik nearly shouted, "No! I said almost destroyed, remember?"

To prove it, Malik flashed a genuine smile.

Ryou did the same.

But his smile disappeared when he peeked around Malik.

"They'll hate me though, for sure."

Malik couldn't lie, "Yeah. Probably. But at least you can you put a stop to…whatever it is you were starting. How did you stop Zorc, anyway?"

Something dawned in Ryou's eyes.

"I don't know," he whispered in amazement, "But it worked! Malik! We're not dead!"

Before Malik could work up a fittingly sarcastic remark, a voice called out from behind him.

"Malik?" said a woman's voice, cool and collected.

Ishizu.

Malik whipped around, "Ishizu?"

It was. She smiled at him. Malik, letting his whole arrogant guy façade drop, ran into his sister's arms.

Ishizu was startled for a second, than hugged him back.

"We've missed you," she said. Behind her, Malik saw Rishid walking towards them.

"What happened in the Pharaoh's memories?" asked Ishizu.

Malik smirked.

"It's a long story."

-0-

Ryou watched with a queasy feeling in his stomach as all the people he almost killed woke up. He was momentarily shocked at the fact that both Yuugi and the Pharaoh had separate bodies, but after the events of the days previous, it wasn't that hard to believe.

(Did that mean that the spirit…?)

Ryou stood up awkwardly. Expecting the worst, expecting what he deserved. Yuugi got up before anyone else.

He looked just as he did back in the Pharaoh's memories. Except for one very important thing. The slash on Yuugi's check was gone.

(All the wounds from the past were gone.)

Yuugi, shyly, smiled at him.

Ryou's heart fluttered. He ran into Yuugi's arms.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as he squeezed Yuugi tight, "I'm so sorry."

Yuugi closed his eyes and hugged Ryou back.

"I forgive you."

Everything next was a blur as Ishizu and the Pharaoh tried to figured out what had happened. And how the Pharaoh now remembered his name. Atemu.

(Ryou purposely zoned out after the word Zorc. If there was ever anything in his life he wanted to forget…)

Soon they all filed out of the Pharaoh's tomb. No one had tried to kill him yet or yelled at him for being a traitor, so Ryou was ecstatic. He went to follow Yuugi and the others when Malik stopped him.

"Don't think just because this little adventure is over that it'll be our last," Malik hissed at him.

Ryou glanced at him, "I don't think we could top this if we tried, Malik."

Malik crossed his arms, oozing smugness.

"You obviously don't know me, Ryou," he paused, "Wouldn't you agree Bakura?"

Ryou blinked as Malik stared into the shadows.

"Oi!" Malik called, "I know you're there, so didn't even bother pretending. Besides you can come out, they're gone."

Slowly, a figured formed out of the shadows.

Ryou couldn't help but smile.

The spirit sneered at Malik.

"Brat," he muttered. Malik just chuckled and ran up the stairs.

Ryou turned to the spirit. The spirit looked at him with tender eyes.

That's all Ryou needed.

"Come on," he said with a bright, truthful smile, "Let's go."

A/N Holy Crap. Guys. This is 80 pages long. I know, I know, so much TL;DR. And I know that the plot holes are big enough to drive trucks through, Akhenaden got no characterization, the uber cheesy ending, and good lord the typos….but despite all the problems with this fic. I'm really proud of it. Usually when I come up with an idea this long, I never finish it. But I finished this! And I worked so hard, so if there every was a time to review. Now is it.

I need your feedback guys. I want to know if you liked it.

Please, please, please review!