"You're making a mistake, Karim." Azra pleaded as her husband turned away from her, trying one last time to make him realise he did not need to attack, "Would you just…"
While she had foreseen him lashing out at her, she was taken by surprise by his speed as he wheeled around and smacked her hard enough to cause her to stagger. While she was recovering, he grabbed the Necklace and yanked hard enough to break the catch holding it in place.
Letting out a hiss as the item in question stung his hand, he tossed it to one side, where it skittered under the table, before pulling a knife from his belt and pointing it at his wife.
Azra, disarmed and disappointed, held her hands up, "I'm not going to hurt you, my husband, I just…"
"Shut up, traitor." Her husband hissed out, "You've made your position clear. I should end you right now."
"You won't though. You can't afford to." Azra reminded him, watching the knife carefully, "There's no one left in the catacombs who'll take you. You still need me."
"Hagar! Bes!" At Karim's call, the two men he had brought with him—the last two hulking brutes that remained in the catacombs after the Ishtar rebellion, who had inspired the flight of most of those old enough to manage for themselves outside the tunnels—entered the room. "Help me with her."
Azra did not try to fight back. The Necklace had already revealed these events to her, along with what would happen if she resisted. She had no intention of dying today, so she allowed herself to be forced into a chair and did not struggle as she was bound in place. At this point, it was better to be tied up for a few hours than end up impaled on her husband's knife while struggling for her freedom.
"If you try to take Marik and Rishid from their home by force, you will die." Azra warned them as her wrists were secured behind both her back and the back of the chair, while her ankles were bound to the front legs. "I am trying to save your lives, you fools."
"I would have believed you once." Karim's sadness was palpable as he fished the Millennium Necklace out from where it had tumbled, "And it's because I could once trust you that I'm letting you live… I can't let you go though."
"I know…" She breathed, "But Karim…"
"I'll see you later, Azra. Once I've recovered the Millennium Rod." He cut her off as he straightened and pocketed the Millennium Necklace, "Maybe then I can assure your loyalty to the tribe."
As he, Bes and Hagar left the room and she heard the lock on the door click, Azra closed her eyes, trying to hold back the liquid she could feel pooling in her eyes. Karim had chosen his path, and, in a few hours, she would be free to follow hers for the first time in years…
"Goodbye, dear husband."
"To Anzu!" Five voices toasted as six glasses rose into the air.
"And to making that jerk feel as stupid as he was acting." Mai added, a small smirk on her face. "Seriously, I don't even mind losing the bet after that."
"I don't like making people feel stupid." Anzu sighed as she lowered her glass, "But he was cheating, and I wasn't going to let that stand."
"You shouldn't feel bad about helping a fool embarrass themselves." Ishizu shook her head as she took a sip of her drink, "He was being arrogant and cruel to his opponents. You simply removed an obstacle to other peoples' entertainment."
"And you didn't shove him over like he tried to do to you." Yugi added, "He fell over by himself while trying to trip you."
"Overstretched and overbalanced." Rebecca nodded. "If it helps, he was trying to make you look clumsy by tripping you, so he planned to make you look stupid first."
Anzu nodded and took a sip of her drink before looking around at their surroundings. The Victorian Gothic restaurant that Amane had recommended was done up to look like an old manor's library, with wrought iron and dark wood carvings making up the décor. The food on the menu had mostly been of a European style and there had been something delicious for all of them, even Ishizu who, like her little brother, found meat unpalatable.
Amane was inclined to think that the investment in the place had been worth it, and that it was perhaps not a bad idea to invest in other such start-ups. It was not like she lacked the capital to do so, and it possibly, was a more traceable way to have income than from the proceeds of her other self's nocturnal activities. Not that she had asked anything from the restaurant, but it was something to consider in the future.
As the others sorted the tip between them, Ishizu's phone chimed. She rapidly slid a five hundred Yen note across the table to add in and checked it, only to relax when she discovered that Marik had messaged her, but only to let her know that he had gotten ink all over himself while changing the cartridges in their printer, and if he was still coated in red when she got home, it was not Rishid's fault.
"Everything okay?" Yugi asked as she fired off a text back, reminding her brother that the acetone cleaner was in the bathroom and that should help with the ink removal.
"Perfectly, just my brothers getting into a mess." Ishizu replied, her lips curling up in a smile as she pocketed the device, "I believe you mentioned that a nail bar was next?"
"When you're competing at such a high level, you have to look good as well as duel well." Mai nodded, piling up the notes and then placing her credit card on top before motioning to the waitress, "I'm in the process of trying to teach a certain someone that."
When her eyes drifted to Yugi, the Queen of Games winced and blushed in embarrassment.
"Until I got the title, I didn't have to care about my appearance, and I didn't really have time between school and the shop. Besides, there was no point when I was going to end up covered in mud, or bruises, or..." She trailed off when she realised the others were staring at her.
Much to Yugi's relief, the waitress arriving and thanking them for the tip cut through the slightly awkward air. As the waitress took the card to pay, they rose from the table.
"The nail place is just around the corner from the card store we're stopping at." Anzu informed them as she pulled her jacket on, "Mai booked us all in with the artists so we can get something cute."
"It's a shame Jonouchi's sister couldn't come." Mai grimaced slightly, "She seemed so enthusiastic when she overheard us making plans."
"Shizuka had to go to Tokyo for a few days for some last tests on her eyes." Anzu replied without thinking, causing Yugi to bite her lower lip as Ishizu suddenly got a calculating look. "If they come back clear, then the operation was a complete success and she shouldn't need a follow up."
"Is she the one you gave your prize money to?" The Bearer of the Millennium Rod asked Yugi, making Anzu realise what she had just done. "I remember you mentioning it in the interview back in December."
"Yeah, it was that or let her go blind and I wasn't going to do that." Yugi tried to hide how bothered she was that Ishizu was clearly thinking about doing something. "I'm sure you understand not wanting someone to have to live in the dark."
There was a distinct pause as the other Item holder turned that over in her mind, then Ishizu nodded.
"Will she be back in town in time for Battle City?" The question unnerved Yugi, due to Ishizu's previous plans to make Battle City hell, causing her sister to slip into control.
"If she is, she'll be with Katsuya the whole time." Meisa's slightly sharp tone made Mai and Rebecca realise that something was up and they turned to watch. "But it'll depend on how the tests come back."
"Easy, my Pharaoh." Ishizu put her hands up, recognising that she might have pushed a little too hard, "I'm just curious. We're allies right now, after all. Threatening her doesn't serve any purpose and I wasn't sure how well her recovery had gone."
The Pharaoh in question relaxed a little and nodded. "I'll be sure to pass on your concern."
"Please do."
"Well, let's get going." Mai put herself between the two Item holders and took her card back from the waitress, "Otherwise we're not going to get much time at the card store before our appointment."
"Yes," Amane latched onto Meisa's arm and tugged on the Pharaoh, not wanting a Shadow Game to break out, "Lets."
"Got it." Marik smirked as the Duel Disk he had been using to test the fake cards that he and his siblings printed activated without a hitch and projected the monster on the card they had printed perfectly.
"About time, I was worried the anti-cheat systems were going to brick the console." Rishid let out a relieved breath and leaned against the table the printer was on, nearly knocking over the bottle of acetone in doing so. "Print a batch while I grab a drink, and we'll test them once the ink is dry?"
Marik nodded, "Just because it works for one card, doesn't mean it'll work for all of them. Grab me a cola while you're at it."
"Sure." The older of the two brothers headed downstairs, taking the stairs two at a time. The fake cards made up the majority of their income, so getting the products working with the Duel Disk had been a top priority for him. After all, they would need to be able to afford to live after everything was settled.
He was halfway through choosing a herbal tea bag from their collection when the floorboards behind him creaked. That was not unusual for the house they resided in, so he did not think much of it until a second creak sounded, followed by a third… and more. He slowly and quietly put down the container of tea bags and started to reach for his phone only to feel something sharp press against the back of his neck.
"Make a move and you'll regret it." A male voice snarled from behind him.
"It would be unwise for me to move while a knife is pressed against my neck." Rishid spoke calmly as his phone was fished out of his back pocket. "And even if I did, I suspect you have someone upstairs with Marik."
"Smart boy." Ice formed in the pit of Rishid's stomach at his brother's pained cry, which echoed down the stairs as a second voice spoke. "Come quietly and only one person needs to die today. Fight us and Marik is the only one we actually need. I'm only taking you back because you're useful."
Anger flooded through Rishid, but he held it down as he heard someone, probably Karim, run water into the sink and drop something into it with a splash. If he got himself killed, he was no use to his brother, and with his phone now drowning in the sink he had no way to reach his sister to warn her the Tomb Keepers were done trying to recover her.
But there was still a way he could protect himself and Marik…
Upstairs were the Mementos that Ishizu had created. They were already infused with magic that was bound with her blood and memories. If he could activate one, she would sense it instantly. He could use one to take out one or more of the thugs, and she would get the message that something was wrong…
He just hoped she did not come to their aid without thinking first.
"I recommend you don't touch the things on the desk in the second bedroom." Rishid warned as his wrists were dragged behind him and held, most likely so they could be bound tightly. "Ishizu has them infused with magic that could even take down an Item holder, I know how to transport them safely though."
"I'll be able to…" The loud thuds of at least one body tumbling down the stairs and the yelps of pain that followed caused Karim to trail off and dart for the door, but Rishid was faster. He whirled around, ripping his wrists out of the grip of his captor and slammed his fist into Karim's face hard enough to send the Leader of the Tomb Keepers crashing to the floor before weaving around the man he had brought with him.
As he darted down the hallway, he could feel liquid trickling down his neck, suggesting the blade had cut him, but he did not care. Instead, he dashed for the bottom of the stairs, where Marik was trying to extricate himself from the jerk who had tried to push him down the stairs, and did not expect Marik to drag him down with him.
"Rishid! I…"
"Where's your phone?" Rishid cut him off as he picked the other guy off of his brother and tossed him across the hallway before helping Marik to his feet.
"In the print room. It was across the room when… ah!" Marik yelped as he tried to put weight on his right leg, only for it to buckle underneath him, sending Marik tumbling back to the floor.
Before Rishid could catch his brother, someone slammed into him, knocking him off his feet and into the wall. Before he could rise, the blade was back at his throat, held there by the furious Leader of the Tomb Keepers.
"I warned you." Karim snarled out, slurring slightly as his jaw moved awkwardly, the blade pressing hard enough against Rishid's neck to draw blood. "Tell Anubis I'll be sending Ishizu his way shortly."
Preparing for the final blow, Rishid flinched.
"STOP! I'll come quietly, just don't… please!"
Marik's cry stopped Karim in his tracks. The Tomb Keeper turned to look at the teen. "What?"
"I can't run." Marik offered, holding up the golden coloured plastic coin his sister had finished infusing this morning, "But I still have access to magic. I won't use it on you to escape if you let Rishid go."
"Mari…" Rishid trailed off in a pained hiss as Karim pressed harder to silence him.
"I won't run, I won't scream." Marik stared directly into Karim's eyes as he pocketed the coin, "I will go with you quietly as long as you leave Rishid alone."
"Fine." The Tomb Keeper nodded, gesturing to the men he had brought with him. They stepped forward and dragged Marik to his feet. Rishid tried to surge to his feet to stop them at his brother's pained whimper and paling face, only for Marik to shake his head.
Then it hit him.
Ishizu would be able to find Marik, no matter where the Tomb Keepers took him. Marik was betting on his sister coming to the rescue.
He did not know that coming to their aid could be the last thing she ever did…
"They'll ki…"
Before he could finish his sentence, the dagger left his throat and the hilt slammed into his temple, sending the world spinning into darkness.
"I don't know, it's a good card but it's only got like one use in my deck." Yugi shrugged as the girls headed down the road towards the nail bar. "I don't actually carry many dragons, just the Blue-Eyes."
"Are you even using her?" Anzu questioned with a head tilt, "With the ante?"
"Don't know, but if I don't, this card won't do anything for my deck."
"You might not want it, but I do." Rebecca spoke up, "I'll trade you for the 'Secret Village of the Spellcasters' I picked up."
Yugi paused to consider the offer. The field card was useful for Spellcasters and would lock up her opponent's side of the field, preventing them from using magic while she had a Spellcaster on her side of the field. Trading a card that specifically powered up dragons for something that would work with about half her deck was not a bad idea.
As they stopped outside the nail bar, the two girls swapped cards. Ishizu headed in behind Mai and Anzu, deliberately pushing past Amane to get ahead of the Thief Queen's vessel. As Mai got them signed in, the other girls headed for the technicians they were directed to. Ishizu was surprised to find that the one assigned to her had several test nail strips worth of designs to pick from.
After one last check of her phone, she chose a gold and bronze design with swirls and diamonds, and let herself relax, letting the babble of the nail technicians wash over her. She had never been to a place such as this before, but there was something almost calming about the efficiency and care of the woman working on her hands. As the pattern was formed on her fingernails, she decided that she would be back again at some point.
If they could stay safely in Domino after Battle City, of course.
Glancing across the various booths, where the other girls were getting their nails done, her gaze fell upon the Queen of Games, who had picked a design that matched up with her magicians and was talking happily with her technician.
Ishizu was surprised how well she was managing to get on with Yugi. She had half expected to end up in an argument with her by the end of the day, but so far, they had been perfectly civil. She hoped that it could stay that way.
The design she had picked out for her nails was the second most complicated, next to the feathers that Mai had picked out, so she was one of the last to be finished. By the time the polish was dry, she was getting twitchy, having watched the clock tick away for over an hour and a half.
She wanted to think that her brothers would ring if anything had happened, but the same nerves that had made her check the device every thirty minutes or so in other locations, were screaming that she needed to ring her siblings and check, now that there had been a time gap.
Within seconds of her nails being done, she shot out the door and rang Rishid's number.
When it went straight to answer phone, fear crashed into Ishizu. She was in the middle of bringing up Marik's number to call that instead, when a hand landed on hers. Her head shot up to reveal that the one touching her was an Egyptian male wearing a turban. A male that had Shadows rolling off of him, a golden Key hanging around his neck and a set of golden Scales hanging from his belt. Both items had the same eye symbol as her Millennium Rod.
"W…who…?" Ishizu stammered, pulling back and drawing power from the Rod, able to sense Hanaq was ready to take over, should she need her. "If you've done anything to my brothers…"
"I have done nothing, but the Tomb Keepers knew you were going to leave your brothers unattended. They waited until you met up with the Pharaoh, then launched their attack. They have taken your youngest brother captive." The man shared, "While your oldest lies injured and alone."
"What?!"
"You might still help them, but you need to go soon." The man shared, "Before those that serve the Pharaoh get too far away."
Ishizu's hands balled into fists as best they could while she was holding her phone.
They had waited for her to leave. They had KNOWN she was coming into town.
She did not want to believe Yugi had betrayed her. From what she had learned of the Pharaoh's vessel, it seemed uncharacteristic.
That meant the one who had given her away had to be…
"Azra…" She hissed, fury coursing through her.
"The Necklace Bearer is captive too. She tried to stop them." The other item holder shook his head. "They had another source of information."
Ishizu's eyes snapped to the Pharaoh, who had been chatting happily to her dancer friend and was now getting to her feet to dart out the door, looking worried.
It did not serve the Thief Queen to have been the one to betray her. Not with the deal they had in place which meant that Yugi had betrayed her.
She had lured her away and told the Tomb Keepers when it was safe to attack her brothers.
As Yugi stepped out of the building, Ishizu's Shadows flared up with her temper, ready to help her rip the Queen limb from limb for her betrayal.
'We can destroy her later.' Hanaq hissed into her head, 'Right now we need to get back or we'll lose Marik.'
Her Wrath was right, and she ran for the motorcycle, which was parked halfway across town, wanting nothing more but to get to it and get home.
'You're never going to get back in time like this.'
Ishizu tried to ignore Hanaq's voice echoing at the back of her mind but she knew that Her Wrath was correct. The motorcycle had been the best she could acquire for her brother, but even if she could reach it, it was not fast enough.
She would fail to get back to the house and her brother would be taken from her.
'I can get us there. I can save him. Let me out.'
She trembled as she stopped, not wanting to trip over her own feet because of the pressure in her head and the fact she was too focused on the conversation with the darkness that had formed because of everything she had done to protect her family from the Tomb Keeper tribe that hunted them.
'I know you fear me, but I am you. Just the you that's willing to do everything needed. After all, wasn't it I who finished off your father? I who kept you three safe in Paris? I who helped show the Pharaoh we're a big enough threat to actually start preparing for what's ahead? Let me out. I won't harm our brothers, they mean as much to me as they do to you, and I will not allow them to be taken.'
Ishizu's phone buzzed in her pocket and she wrenched it out to examine the text message from Marik's phone.
"The Tomb Keepers have Marik and he's hurt," Rishid had to have written, "They invaded the house. I'm not sure how long ago. I just woke up. Be careful. They want to kill you."
Rishid's message made her tremble. He was okay, but this was confirmation. Marik was already gone. Captured. Injured…
'I can find him. We're oathbound to him and he's wrapped in our magic. Let. Me. Out!'
The pressure in Ishizu's temples turned into piercing pain as Hanaq tried to force herself into control and she yelped and screwed her eyes shut.
"You swear you won't harm him or Rishid."
'I will NEVER harm them, they are ours.'
"Then go."
It was as simple as blinking. One moment a frightened, blue eyed young woman stood on a street corner, terrified out of her mind. The next an amber eyed demon stood in her place, wrath at those who dared to take what was hers drowning out any other emotions.
Hanaq reached for the darkness of the Millennium Rod and her lips twisted into a cruel smile as the magic leapt to respond, looking forward to punishing those who dared to harm those that were hers. She focused it, determined to move between points to achieve her goal without more than a second or two, and within milliseconds, a pool of swirling Shadows appeared before her.
She briefly paused to consider the motorcycle, then decided she did not have time to go back for it before stepping into the darkness. She could always get Marik a new one if it was stolen, but right now?
She had a brother to rescue and a set of Tomb Keepers to destroy.
And then the treacherous witch, the Pharaoh, would be next.
She headed for the house first. If Marik was badly hurt, she would need Rishid to care for him while she dealt with the kidnappers. As she stepped through the shadows that the house cast and into the yard, where Rishid was already starting the car, she let out a piercing whistle.
"Ishi…" Rishid's eyes widened as he took in the amber eyes and Shadows swirling around, "Hanaq…"
"Don't waste your time with that. You don't know where they've taken him." She hissed out, fury only intensified by the bruising down the left side of her brother's face, "I can heal that later, but we need to move now."
"I'm ready when you are, but…"
"Ishizu saw the text message." Ishizu's demon-guided wrath shrugged, "I'll deal with it. How badly is he hurt?"
As Rishid explained, Hanaq focused again, this time drawing on her bonds to Marik to try and get a pathway through the darkness to him. It was not hard. She had entwined so much magic around the boy since Paris that he was like a beacon to her, and within seconds she had another portal open.
"You make sure he stays safe, I'll handle the assholes." Hanaq gave her order and Rishid did not dare argue. "Azra actually tried to protect us from the Pharaoh's betrayal, so if you find her, let her out of whatever hole they've put her in. She might be useful."
"Wait, the Pharaoh betrayed us?"
"She lured me away, Rishid." At Hanaq's hiss, Rishid cut off, eyes widening, "She gave the Tomb Keepers this chance with a false promise of a truce. She's going to suffer for that, but Marik comes first."
"Of course." Anger surged through the oldest of the Ishtar boys at this news. "I'll help in whatever way I can once he's safe."
"I knew you would. Now, let's go."
Yugi could not believe who she was seeing as she stood in the doorway of the nail salon.
"Sh…Shadi?" Yugi squeaked, shocked by Ishizu's sudden departure and the arrival of the Tomb Keeper, who she had not seen in over a year.
"I am sorry, my Pharaoh." He honestly seemed to be as he bowed. "But I did what needed to be done. I will not watch my tribe create a second Ba-Khu-Ra. I would rather Ishizu face you and destroy herself, than fall down that path."
"What do you…" Yugi did not get to finish her question before he faded away, leaving her staring at an empty spot.
Processing his words took a moment, then she let out a curse and pulled her phone out, only to find that Marik's number was unreachable. It just rang and rang until it went to answer phone.
She darted inside to ask for Amane and Ba-Khu-Ra's help, only to find that Amane had gone ghostly white and was shaking so hard that she was shaking the chair she was sitting in.
"Amane?"
"That…that… I… I have to go." Amane shook her head violently, "I'm sorry, I just…"
The Ring Bearer fled, leaving the Puzzle Bearer with no way to understand what had happened or any way to help either of the other Item holders.
'Sen? Sen, talk to me.'
Amane mentally recoiled from her 'sister's' voice so hard that the Spirit felt like she had been slammed into a wall.
'Stay away. Don't… don't come near me…'
The Spirit of the Ring let out a hiss as flashes of the night the Millennium Ring had fallen into Amane's hands flickered across the soul bond.
The man that had been standing outside the nail salon had died that night, along with several children, all at the hands of Ba-Khu-Ra.
And seeing him again had brought to the surface all the memories that Amane had tried so hard to repress.
Memories of fallen bodies. Burned children. Her own father screaming as the Ring killed him…
'Sen, I…'
'SHUT. UP.'
Amane collapsed to her knees in an alley, safely hidden from her friends as she desperately tried to push the tide of loathing, loss and disgust back. The Spirit of the Ring could feel the demon was awake and watching with interest, feeding off of her sister's fear and horror.
'You know? I can erase those memories.' The creature offered the shaken girl. 'For a price..'
'I'm not…'
'Hear me out.' Ba-Khu-Ra tried to speak up and cut the creature off but found herself silenced by the demon, which had her soul even more tightly bound than it had Amane's. 'I'll take the memories of that night away if you'll do something for me. Just a little something. You won't even have to hurt anyone.'
'I…I'm listening.' Amane answered shakily, fully aware that after Zorc had flooded her soul with Shadows over New Year, he could make her do whatever he wanted anyway. Resisting him was pointless right now. If she had to obey him, she could at least get something out of it.
'The Shadows are SCREAMING with Ishizu's wrath. All you need to do is go and assist her and I'll erase those pesky memories. No more nightmares of those events ever again…'
'That's it?'
'That's it.'
'Fine.' It was not something Amane would not have done anyway, she and Ba-Khu-Ra had a deal with the Bearer of the Millennium Rod. That they would keep the Tomb Keepers at bay in exchange for Ishizu's Millennium item when Battle City was over. 'Where is she?'
Amane found her hands moving of their own accord and suddenly there was a portal of Shadows just in front of her.
'Through there.'
She staggered to her feet and stepped through.
Author Note: To all my readers,
I just want to say thank you.
With everything going on in the world right now, I've found myself in a bit of a downward spiral mentally and found it really hard to get going in the mornings.
Or at all.
But one of the few things keeping me going was being able to come here, or to Ao3 and FFN and read the wonderful comments that I've received over the years.
To those who have been alongside me on the journey of this series for years and those who have just joined.
Those who let me know they grew up reading my works.
Those who have found inspiration from Ennead.
Those who have reached out with questions and comments.
And even just those who read but don't comment at all...
Thank you.
Because you all are the reason I keep writing, and the reason this series will one day reach a conclusion.
I can't guarantee it won't be years more yet, but as long as I have readers, I won't quit.
I promise.
