"Taking the items from them is the only way to go about it. It's risky, but it is how they draw their power. Yami and Marik have been taken, or are missing, we have no idea. The best time to go is now, the only time to go is now. We are running out of options"

Yuugi sat on the stairs as he listened to Atemu discuss with Duke, Joey and Tristan what to do. Bakura had escaped, Marik was nowhere to be found, and he still couldn't sense the presence of Yami. It was difficult, unexpected even, to see how far they had fallen. They were doing so well, things were looking up, but Atemu was right, the only way to go forward now, to get rid of...this monster once and for all, was to approach head on.

They could sit around pretending the problem didn't exist, they could ignore the thought that Malik was somewhere, hurting innocents and taking over areas of Domino. But at the end of the day, Malik would come for them, he would never leave them alone. They had to do something.

"We don't even know where Malik is though, or Bakura. Like haven't we tried looking for them before? Nothing works, we've looked everywhere Atemu. I don't know where else we could find them" Joey sighed, causing Atemu to groan, and glance around.

"You're right, I know we've looked, but we have to keep looking. If we can't find them, and considering we've lost the ring, and the puzzle. They've got all the items now, no idea what they can do with them, but we can't let them win, we have to try." Atemu turned to Yuugi, who gave a soft smile, and a nod. He couldn't do much to help, but he did agree with Atemu, they had everything to lose now, finding these demons was a priority. They had to get rid of them, before whatever they were planning would come to light.

He was about to turn to find Ryou, when he noticed Akefia slip through one of the open windows, quietly. No one else seemed to notice the thief as he landed elegantly on the floor.

Yuugi could tell, he still wanted to avoid the group as much as possible. Though he had been here a while now, being kept in the same place as your worst enemy couldn't be good for you. He offered Akefia a soft smile, and the other gave a nod, before approaching Atemu directly.

"Your connection to the Spirit of the Puzzle may have been lost, but I still hold my connection to Bakura. I have managed to locate the whereabouts of both Bakura and the demon. I'm afraid I could not get too close, as the demon has the place surrounded by prisoners of the rod, however I did manage to slip passed a few. It's definitely the location of magical energy. Even without the ring I can sense that" Atemu nodded to Akefia, turning to the others.

"Thank you Akefia, that really gives us the help we need. We are planning to go after them, and as soon as possible. Is there any way you can get close enough to locate the Millennium Items. I know it is dangerous for you, and I wouldn't be asking if we didn't need it. But the only way we are ever going to have the upper hand against those demons, is if we push through and steal those items. Your reputation as the King of Thieves is still intact, is it not?"

Akefia couldn't help but smirk at the question. He knew Atemu was trying to persuade him, but it was working. There had been nothing he couldn't steal in his past life, in Egypt. Not even the Pharaohs guard could stop him then, Bakura and Malik had no chance, even with their fancy Shadow Magic.

"If I get the items, and I need to get the Rod and the Ring of their persons, then I need you to be there, and be ready to grab the items Pharaoh. The best way to get rid of them is by surprise, it was how you won last time, and it is going to be how you have to win this time. I can only do so much on my own"

Atemu nodded at that, before giving a soft sigh.

"Fine, we shall go now. The sooner we get this over and done with, the better chance we have of succeeding. I know a spell that will be able to send the demons back to the shadow realm where they belong, and cut their connection with the items permanently. The only downside is, if Yami is still alive, then it has a chance of sending him back along with them. I do not want to risk that."

Even Yuugi was listening intently by now, and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"If it is to save the rest of the world, to protect us, I'm sure Yami would allow it, the Yami I knew would anyway. He was not anything if not loyal to the protection of innocents. Whatever has happened to Yami, I know he wouldn't mind it. You can try not to though? I've lost him once, if he is alive...I don't think I could stand losing him again. Being away from him is difficult enough. It's like...losing a part of you. I miss the connection we had. I miss knowing he is there for me."

Atemu walked over to Yuugi, putting a firm hand on his shoulder, offering him a gentle smile.

"I know Yuugi, I understand completely. I will try my best, I promise you. I will make sure we don't lose him again, and we can bring him back from whatever place those demons may have sent him. He will be fine, we will work to protect him, and Marik. Okay?"

Yuugi turned to the others, Joey, Tristan, Duke, Tea, Akefia...Ryou, who was standing in the corner watching the whole situation.

"Okay Atemu, we can get through this, and we will get Marik and Yami back, I believe in you" Atemu smirked, lifting him into a hug before turning to Akefia.

"Right, show us the whereabouts of those monsters"

-x-

A glowing sigil,

Shining Bright,

In the shadows,

Of the Night.

Bring forth the chaos,

We have lost,

Sacrifice and bloodshed,

Is the cost.

To free the master,

We will obey,

Bring forth a new dawn,

A chaotic new day.

-x-

Mind slaves roamed the streets near Malik's hideout. They looked and acted like ordinary people, it was very difficult to tell them apart, if you weren't attuned to Shadow Magic. Even so, Bakura found them highly unsettling. To imagine that Malik could see through all these eyes, to keep tabs on everything and everyone. It was unnerving.

Though he was definitely happier to be back with Malik. What had seemed like a dangerous and foolish partnership all those months ago, was now finally looking promising. Malik had found a way to bring the Shadow Realm to the Mortal Realm. To free the creatures, to free Zorc once again. Something he had wanted for so long. He truly hated this place, and the promise he had given that demon so long ago, he really had to fulfil one of these days.

Malik was sitting on a chair, relaxing he continued reading the book. Marik had translated most of it, nearly all of it in fact, and it was all Malik seemed to do now. That, and continuous practice of his Shadow Magic.

He noticed Yami, kneeling on the ground in front of Malik, not moving, barely even breathing by the look of him. No matter how strange the Mind Slaves were, how strange Malik was in general...he would never get over seeing the pretentious Spirit of the Puzzle in total submission to Malik. The way he obeyed every order without hesitation, when not weeks before he would have defied him in a heartbeat.

He still had no idea how Malik really did it, he knew it was some spell in that strange spell book, but considering he couldn't Marik's native language, considering Ryou only knew Japanese and English, and Akefia couldn't read at all.

"So, what is the plan now?" Bakura sighed, pushing himself up from the wall. Malik glanced up, and smirked softly, they had seemed to grow fond of each other, far too fond. Bakura had one time found himself sitting too close to the demon, they had been talking as normal, and neither one seemed to mind the proximity. He was used to living with Malik, used to his quirks and outbursts, considering they had similar goals, tastes and personalities, it shouldn't really have been a surprise they got along so well.

Though the amount of trust they held for each other, was what was extremely strange.

"We want to summon Zorc, we have all the Millennium Items. I have two of my Mind Slaves out to get a few ingredients. I need as much magic as I can to bring the entire Shadow Realm to the Mortal Realm, this spell is going to be extremely weakening. I will need to ready in case it goes wrong, a slight slip and we could be trapped in between Realms, or worse. The amount of Shadow Magic this is going to use has a chance of wiping out all life around us, at least in a 50 mile radius. Which is bad considering I need life forces to be able to merge the two. It's one of the reasons I've collected all these Mind Slaves."

Bakura nodded, moving to sit beside him, taking the chance to scan over the book, though he had absolutely no idea what it said.

"So, we wait for these ingredients. We go up to the roof, arrange the items and the rest of the ingredients in the way you told me, then I just let you do your magic? Or do you need me to do anything, other than be prepared for the worst?" Malik shook his head, placing the book down on the table, turning to look directly at Bakura. The look caused a shiver to glide down Bakura's spine, however he managed to remain stoic on the outside.

"I don't want you to use any of your magic, in case we need to make a quick get a way. You are to think of the safest place you can, as far away from here as possible if anything goes wrong. I'm sure you'll be able to tell when things are not going as planned. But you are to take me and you to safety, understand?" Malik placed his index finger under Bakura's chin, causing his heart to speed up ever so slightly. However he tried to remain calm, trying to force his nerves to slow down, but the smirk on Malik's face was showing how obvious his emotions were showing.

"What about Marik and Ryou? Should I try to get them out too, or just you?" Malik nodded quickly, glancing over to his light half, who had fallen asleep in a corner, piles of papers around him.

"Yes, we need them with us. They provide us with the most power. Besides, I've grown fond of him. I know it's a pathetic notion, but there is something comforting about having Marik around. Strange how feelings grow, hmmm?" He grinned, looking back at Bakura, who glanced away, pulling away from Malik, clearing his throat softly.

"Yes, strange indeed" He muttered softly, causing Malik to give another deep chuckle, and that shiver to crawl down Bakura's spine once more.

-x-

Akefia sighed as he looked on from one of the rooftops, keeping as much cover as possible. The Pharaoh and the others were waiting a little bit behind, he knew he could get to the items if he was careful. Bakura was the only real threat, he was the only one that could read his patterns well enough. They were practically identical. But he could feel, he knew Bakura was distracted right now, by something he had never felt before. A feeling he had only really held for Ryou. It was strange to think Bakura would be able to experience that feeling, the soulless demon was always full of surprises, even now.

A pair of mind slaves passed by one of the windows, before disappearing around a corner. Akefia took the chance, leaping from the roof and gripping to one of the ledges. He lowered himself down easily, and gracefully, before landing without a sound on the damp pavement.

With that he took off, running swiftly across the street and vaulting over the ledge, through one of the open windows, and ducking behind one of the chairs.

Once he made sure the room was empty, and he was not going to be interrupted, he closed the window quietly, and crouched back down behind the chair.

He held his hands up, focusing on the space between them, chanting softly to himself. Atemu had taught him how to take Shadow Magic from the air around him, how he didn't need to rely on the items. Yes it wasn't as powerful, but it was all he needed. With this, he could locate the Millennium Items.

After a few moments he could sense one of them, the Rod. Obviously that one would be with Malik. But the rest of them were further away. He took a moment to calm himself, breathing in deeply before crawling up to the door leading out of the room.

As he slipped down the corridor, he noticed two Mind Slaves standing guard at a door, he could sense the items, he was sure of it, behind that door. He whispered softly, another incantation Atemu taught him, this disrupted the connection between the Rod and the Mind Slaves, but only for a moment. After the spell was cast, the two men slumped against the wall, and he slipped into the room. No one else...Malik had really gotten too cocky with the power he had held.

With a smirk, Akefia grabbed the items, feeling the surge of Magical energy as each was placed on him. Finally, some good luck after all. It was what they needed.

Well he spoke to soon, as he heard two voices outside the room, the connection had returned, Malik would suspect something now.

He focused on the Puzzle, and focused on Ryou, before using all the Magical Energy he could to teleport away, just as the Mind Slaves burst through the door, and saw Akefia vanish.

-x-

Malik swore, sitting up from where Bakura had fallen asleep beside him, causing Bakura to shoot awake quickly.

"What? What happened?!" He groaned, giving a yawn. Malik pushed himself up from the chair, making sure the rod was still secured to his belt.

"That bastard thief, Akefia managed to get into the room with the items. I should have been more careful, he has picked up Shadow Magic, shit!" He motioned for Yami to stand up from where he was kneeling, and Bakura stood up as well.

"You still have a connection to the Thief, don't you?! You could teleport him back here." Bakura nodded, before trying to focus on Akefia, groaning.

"The items are causing some interference. It's easier when they're not there. I can teleport us to him though, that is a better idea." Malik sighed, before nodding and grabbing Yami roughly.

"Fine, do it now, we need to get them back before he brings them back to the Pharaoh." As he grabbed Bakura's shoulder, Bakura muttered quietly, focusing on the location, before teleporting the three of them rather easily to Akefia.

"Where do you think you're going, King of Thieves? Look at you, learning Shadow Magic without permission. How naughty" Malik purred, stepping away from Bakura. Akefia was standing there, arms gripping what he could, shock on his face that they had managed to track him so quickly. Of course if he could sense where Bakura was, it really was a two way street.

"Bring them back, be a good boy and do as you're told, you don't know how to use anything but the Ring anyway. You wouldn't be able to get magic out of them if you tried" Malik purred, causing Akefia to frown, before throwing the Puzzle in another direction.

Malik ran for it, before he saw Atemu catch it with ease.

"You! So, figured out it was me that was causing all the problems, was it really such a surprise Pharaoh. No matter, I will make both of you my mind slaves as well" He chuckled

It was Atemu's turn to smirk then, and began muttering the spell he had memorized in the book, drawing from the power of the Puzzle. Malik was about to step forward, using the Rod to try and stop him, but he knew it was too late. With Akefia, drawing from the power of the Ring, to try and protect the other as much as possible.

When the incantation was finished, both Bakura and Malik had started to fade, separating into orbs of shadow magic before all of a sudden, the two disappeared, the Rod falling with a clatter on the ground where Malik used to be.

Atemu stopped the incantation, before he started to walk over to the Millennium Rod, however, as if by another force, the Puzzle shone again, focusing its attention then on Yami.

"No no, stop! I can't get it to stop!" Atemu swore , trying to pull the Puzzle away from Yami. The same beam of light started to engulf the unconscious figure, before Akefia rushed forward. Taking whatever speed he could from the Millennium Ring still around his neck, he used all his force to shove Yami out of the way of the beam, disappearing in the process.

One by one, the items that had been held by Akefia, fell to the ground with a clatter, just as Atemu managed to pull the puzzle away from himself and throw it to the ground, collapsing himself from exhaustion, tendrils of shadow magic covering what used to be unblemished tanned skin.

"Atemu! Yami!" Yuugi gasped, rushing forward towards the pair, reaching Yami first, as he glowing energy that had surrounded him stopped the minute he was pushed out of the light. He sighed softly, as Yami's eyes opened slowly, placing a hand up to his cheek.

"Yuugi...? W...what happened? Where am I?" He muttered those last words more to himself, taking the chance to sit up slowly. "And what happened to Atemu?"

Yuugi glanced over to Atemu, who was being helped up by Joey, a deep frown on his face, clutching his head, the tendrils were still a deep purple, and still scarring his skin.

"You had been manipulated by Malik, mind controlled. But Atemu found a way to help you...Akefia...Akefia is gone however. He...he pushed you out of the way when the Puzzle turned on you. Atemu!" Yuugi smiled as Atemu walked over to the pair, kneeling down beside them, putting a firm hand on Yami's shoulder.

"How are you old friend? Feeling yourself again?" Yami could only smile in reply, gripping Atemu's hand. "Thanks to you, thank you. I really appreciate it" With that Atemu chuckled, before ruffling Yuugi's hair.

"Let's promise...never to do anything like that again" He sighed, before lying on the damp pavement, Yuugi could only nod in agreement, glad both his partners were okay...for once, things were looking up.