Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Children of Destiny ❯ Eye of Ra ( Chapter 18 )

"Joey… Joey can you hear me?" Yami whispered nudging him slightly. Serenity was stroking Joey's hair whilst his head rested on her lap like a pillow. Yugi hearing the commotion was looking on with worry over Yami's shoulder.

"I'm ok now nisama" Mokuba whispered to him before glancing over at the small group hovering over the blonde. He shuffled off the table before approaching the group though slightly held back by Seto. Yami was now glaring defiantly at the young CEO whilst tending to the still incapacitated blonde. "Will he be ok?"

"He's fever's come back but it's worse than before," Serenity answered. Seto narrowed his eyes before grabbing Mokuba by the arm.

"Come on Mokuba"

"Huh? Where are we going?"

"Home. I shouldn't have brought you here" Seto replied as he strode off towards the hidden passageway that was meant to be their escape route.

"But what about-"

"Forget them… it's none of our concern"

"Kaiba!!!" Yami yelled after him. Seto turned to glare back at him. "I'm not going to stop you from leaving but you can't allow yourself to hate someone who doesn't deserve it. Joey has done nothing but help you and Mokuba. Think!!! None of the questions that you had were answered, taking control over you, impersonating Joey and hurting Mokuba was all that Katsuya was planning to pit you and Joey against each other for some reason. And my guess is because of you and Joey's past life"

Seto closed his eyes. "I don't give a damn about the past anymore. I'm not risking my brother's life again just because I wanted to find out something that happened to me in a life I don't even remember"

"But Joey's-"

"I don't care what happens to him either"

"But I do!!!" Mokuba yelled wrenching his arm away from him. Seto stared back at Mokuba shocked that his own brother was opposing him and siding with someone that was out to hurt the raven headed 11-year-old. Mokuba looked away shamefully at from his outburst but he knew what he was doing was right. "In only a couple of weeks I ever got to know him all he ever did was protect me in anyway he could. Like back in that time those corporate jerks trapped you in your own game. He got his Red eyes to protect me and then in the alleyway I was attacked from this gang on my home way from school, he was there to help me too." Seto's eyes shifted as the events of Joey's deeds for protecting Mokuba played back in his mind. Come to think of it he had never even said thank you to him or anything. Mokuba clenched his fists as if gathering up more courage. "I know that Katsuya and Joey look the same but they are both completely different people. Katsuya is a backstabbing monster. Joey could never do such things and I don't want to turn my back on him after all his done nisama… Please Seto you gotta believe me" Seto flinched as he saw sparkles of tears drift from Mokuba's eyes as he had said what he could to prove Joey's innocence. He growled silently to himself before glaring at the blonde nearby.

There was a weak groan as Joey had started to wake up. Looking dazed and oblivious to the worried cries of his friends around him he slowly turned his head in the direction of the Kaiba brothers. Mokuba gasped whilst Seto's glaring hatred turned to surprise in a blink of an eye. Joey was deathly pale, his half closed eyes looked glazed and his lips were parched. Just the sight of him made Seto's hatred fall.

"I'll go get some water" Yugi said hurriedly and ran out of the room whilst Joey merely stared transfixed upon the younger of the two brothers.

"Hey…" Joey whispered each breath laboured as he spoke. "Are you ok now?"

"Yeah… I'm fine" Mokuba replied walking towards him and kneeling beside him. Joey smiled.

"Gomen…"

Mokuba blinked in surprise. "What for?"

"For not being much help… when you were hurt" he closed his eyes out of the sudden exhaustion that had come over him.

"It's alright, just gets some rest" Mokuba had said as he drifted off to sleep again. Mokuba had pulled Andrin's coat up to cover the blonde when the same wonderful warmth had seemed to surge into him like when he was in his comatose state. Yami's eyes widened as he could see the aura around the young boy and the energy he was inadvertently draining from the sleeping blonde. With that he wrenched Mokuba away from Joey. Mokuba gasped as the warmth had disappeared.

"So that's what happened," Yami mused as Mokuba stared half confused and half longing to be embraced in that warmth once more.

"What happened?" Mokuba asked in a panic. Yami ignored the question and hurried to Joey's side.

"He's weaker than ever"

"What are you talking about?" Seto rasped at the former pharaoh. Yami closed his eyes in deep thought before he answered.

"I've always been wondering why Joey had fallen ill ever since we arrived to Hong Kong Harbour or to be more precise since that strange barrier had protected the ship from Gabriel's storm and carried us to safety" Yami turned to stare at the others. Serenity gasped.

"I remember… Katsuya had said something about it on our way up the mountain…"

****FLASHBACK*****

Joey's headache had come at full force that he felt as if he's head had split open.

"You look like crap you know?" Katsuya said looking concerned for his blond twin. "But I guess you would after having spent so much of your energy in saving that so-called boat from sinking and getting it to Hong Kong Harbour"

"That force field…" Isis whispered in realisation. Katsuya smiled.

"Of course you weren't aware you were doing it but the big mistake is your too weak to fight me now Joey…" And he was right. Joey's knees buckled as the pounding migraine had blinded him.

***END FLASHBACK*****

Serenity looked down at the sleeping blonde. "I guess there was so much going on at the time that we forgot about that"

"I see… so it was Joey who produced that barrier field around the ship…" Yami mused again. "It appears that Joey's own magical abilities have reacted from all the activity with Katsuya and Gabriel recently" Yami closed his eyes hovering over the blonde's forehead as he tried to sense the aura surrounding him. "But as it happens, the power he has is in fact still dormant. The only way that he was able to use them was when he was asleep or unconscious and if I'm not correct, Joey had fallen asleep shortly before Mokuba woke up apparently completely healed from his fatal injuries inflicted by Katsuya"

"So… it was Joey that helped me after all?" Mokuba said.

"I guess so. It does provide an explanation for the sudden illness. All magic takes on a huge amount of a person's physical and mental strength when they try to use it. Conscious of it or not" Yami replied as he splayed his hand over the forehead. An aura had surrounded them both as Yami tried to transfer energy into Joey. Yami's eyes widened. "What's this? A seal?" There was a sudden blast of energy as Yami was thrown against the wall. The glowing aura had remained pulsating on Joey, as he seemed to float up into the air.

"Oniichan?" Serenity whispered as he opened his chocolate brown orbs, which suddenly started to swirl in a marble affect before changing completely into a brilliant jade. Seto's eyes widened at the sight as Joey's white jacket flailed in the air. It was Katsuya but nothing like the hateful sadist he had encountered, even the memory archives of his past life hadn't portrayed it as well, the jade eyes were soft, the air around him gentle. There was nothing harsh or sadistic but pure elegance and an ethereal beauty. To be given all honesty it had looked like an angel had descended upon them. Slowly the street clothes too morphed into long silk fabrics. The blonde hair started to grow longer and gradually obscuring his face showing nothing but the jade orbs. Two jets of light shot from his aura and rushed out of the room. Both struck upon two people amongst the crowd of monks.

"Ryou!!!"

"Malik!!!"

Upon being caught by the aura, Ryou and Malik looked stunned as the golden aura became a colour of red and blue. "Wh-what's happening to us?" Ryou asked in alarm as he stared at his hands.

"Blast it Pharaoh what did you do!?!?!?" Bakura screamed at Yami who stumbled out of the room following the jets of light. Yami didn't answer but only stared at the two Ryou and Malik as their auras started to focus and shrink into two balls in their hands before morphing into shapes. Ryou's blue aura ball had started to elongate to the height of his shoulder whilst Malik's red one had separated into two in each hand before they two stretched to being about 2 feet long. When both auras had taken their respective shapes they had faded revealing two solid objects in each of their hands. Ryou was holding a long mythril staff decorated with black Celtic markings, the metal glinted in an almost ethereal light whilst Malik was holding two twin sabres, the blades also made of mythril curved in a exotic fashion whilst a golden hilt that stretched into intricate patterns upon the blades like two flaming fires encrusted with shining rubies. The handles were bounded with black leather for grip whilst Malik looked bemused staring at everyone around him with a sabre in each hand whilst two black scabbards had appeared crossed on his back.

"R-Ryou?" Bakura whispered staring at his hikari. Ryou stared at the new weapon in his hands before he began twirling it like a majorette then stumping it on the floor making a heavy clang upon the concrete.

"Cool…" Ryou said. Malik started swinging the two sabres in a pattern before sheathing them inside the scabbards.

"It's light… Wait a minute… haven't I seen these weapons before somewhere and where did they come from?"

"Those weapons belonged to Ishizu Sota and Rei Chen and apparently they came from Joey's body" Yugi said stunned at the weapons being wielded.

Back in the other room the aura around Katsuya had started to fade and dissipate. Jade green eyes glanced around before fixing upon the Kaiba brothers. The longer hair obscured his face like a facemask with only two jade orbs peeking amidst the locks. Seto stared transfixed upon the emerald jewels before he was drawn towards them. They stared back boring against his cobalt eyes as if trying to relay a message through them. Seto's hand automatically went to Katsuya's face brushing the locks tenderly revealing the face. There was a serene smile graced upon Katsuya's lips. It seemed to come so natural as if Seto had done this a hundred times just to stare then reach out to the blonde. Without warning the jade eyes closed, the silky fabrics of the blonde's attire reverted back to his white jacket and blue sweatshirt whilst the light disappeared completely and Joey fell limply into the CEO's arms.

"Yami!!!" Yugi cried running after the former pharaoh who had hurried back into the room where he had left Joey with a previously `Bent on killing Wheeler' CEO. Andrin was also nearby anticipating an attack on the unprotected blonde whilst Serenity looked on anxiously. Seto glanced up at Yami before bringing his attention back to the unconscious blonde trying to put together of what had just transpired.

"Nisama" Mokuba whispered. Seto ignored his brother intent on only staring at Joey sleeping peacefully in his arms. Joey had protected Mokuba where he could not, saved him and in perhaps other things he had done for him. Now that the rage and despair had disappeared when Mokuba woke up, he was thinking clearly again and noticed many things didn't fit. Yami had been right though he didn't want to admit it. Joey was nothing like that sadist that seemed to particularly like to torment him so but also he didn't seem to fit the description of Katsuya Jounouchi either so who was he? He sighed before scooping Joey's legs in one arm whilst supporting his back before carrying him to the room he had been earlier. (A/N: And the nice warm bed in it too ^o^ hehehe…).

Yugi breathed a sigh of relief that Seto wasn't going to kill his best friend before turning worriedly to Yami and gasped. Yami smirked.

"A seal to store away two weapons belonging to two great generals in the first Chinese Dynasty in his body. I guess Joey seems to be more involved in this 5000 year old mystery than either of us would have thought huh Yugi?" he said smiling down at him. It turned into a worried frown though as Yugi was staring at him strangely. "Aibou? What's wrong?" Yugi didn't answer but he didn't need to as Yami noticed the strange stares of everyone else around him. "What?" Bakura approached him with staring not at him but more at his forehead. "What's wrong? Somebody answer me!!!" Yami yelled.

Bakura suddenly poked the strange anomaly on his Yami's forehead making a funny squelch under his finger.

"BAKA!!!!!" Yami screamed as a huge explosion sent Bakura flying into the air and crashing against the huge ice block that Ryou had made earlier.

"Kura!!!" Ryou yelled running after his lover waving away a bit of smoke that was emitted from a burnt out trail. When the smoke cleared Ryou could clearly see that Bakura's body had made a huge indent on the massive ice cube about 10 feet above the ground. "Oh boy…"

Yami was crouched with two hands covering his forehead whilst Yugi looked on worriedly. "Yami are you ok?"

"I just got blasted off my feet and became human drill on a concrete icicle and he's asking if the Pharaoh's ok?" Bakura coughed crawling out of the 3-foot tunnel he had made in Ryou's ice cube, his hands raw from the freezing ice and his hair slightly singed from the explosion whilst his clothes were bedraggled extremely tattered.

Yugi ignored his complaint and went on to sooth Yami, who was at the moment whimpering with his hands still covered over his forehead. "Come on… Yami look at me…" Yugi coaxed gently prying the hands away. Teardrops had formed on each of his eyes as Yami blinked a couple of times opening his `three' amethyst eyes fully. Yugi gasped again.

"Would somebody tell me why everyone is staring at me like that?" Yami cried. Finally Isis had taken out a mirror and shown him of his newly acquired third eye and it wasn't like the symbol of the Millennium items but an actual third eye just like Yugi blinking as if it had always been there.

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Gabriel smirked as one of his corrupted pearls were played between his fingers when he sensed the sudden release of power within the confined towers of the monastery whilst the skeletal Ghouls clawed at and picked at the huge block of ice. "Hmm… I wonder if they've gotten to find out more of their involvement with each other, perhaps I'll help them along. I'm sure the pharaoh would love to take a trip down memory lane once more. Right Anzu-chan?" he asked to Téa standing by his throne lost in thought. Gabriel chuckled as his icy blue eyes turned red.

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"Oh no `Kura your shoulder's been dislocated" Ryou fussed worriedly whilst Bakura rolled his eyes.

"It's an inconvenience but nothing major Ryou… Don't worry"

CRACK!!!! POP!!!!

"OOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!" Bakura screamed as Ryou pulled the shoulder back into place making the others around him squirm in their seats. Ryou smiled massaging it gently.

"There we go… it's all better now" Ryou cooed sweetly leaning on Bakura's shoulder. Malik chuckled shaking his head shamelessly before frowning and rubbing at his chest.

"Malik what's wrong little brother" Isis asked in concern.

"Heartburn…"

"Heartburn? But you didn't eat much…"

"Oh don't be such a wimp hikari" Ishtar growled. That was when Malik let out a loud `burp' followed with a huge blast of fire incinerating anything that was directly in front of him namely Ishtar. Isis fell on her arse from the sudden flame throwing attack whilst Ishtar was charred `well done'. The others stared in shock.

"Oh… " Malik whinged rubbing at his chest some more, the heat of the fire coming from his mouth had made his heartburn even worse. "What's happened to us?"

"It seems you're starting to develop the powers that Rei and Ishizu had…" Yami whispered whilst his three eyes were deep in thought.

"Then if I'm not correct my brother and Ryou must be their reincarnations and from the looks of it Joey's definitely the reincarnation of Katsuya since the existence of these weapons came from him" Isis added.

"So is this like Kaiba was to the High Priest Seth and Yugi is to Yin?" Malik asked. Yami and Isis nodded in confirmation.

"And what about your eye?" Ryou asked. "How did you get it?"

"Like I said before," Yugi explained. "Joey was really ill and Yami said that his fever was magically induced. When he tried to solve the problem, he found uncovered a magic seal within Joey's mind"

"I guess the seal reacted to my magic and broke which is the reason why these weapons appeared as is this third eye I've suddenly acquired" Yami added.

"It seems that this is further proof that you and Yugi were fated to be together," Isis noted. "Both having had a past then separated to meet thousands years later. Two twin weapons and both blessed with the Eye of Ra"

"Oh well… that's all well and good but… does someone have an indigestion tablet or something maybe some water?" Malik whined rubbing his chest. "I think another barbecue is coming up" he burped again and another stream of flames shot from his mouth and incinerated a nearby tapestry on the wall. "Sorry…"

"Hmm…" Ryou mused as he walked up to the huge ice cube being promptly ignored by the others.

"Uncomfortable it maybe but somehow you both seem to regain your energy from that seal being broken…" Yami said whilst Ishtar was grumbling still wiping away the burnt ash from his face. Bakura smiled.

"I can't wait to see you fight again Ryou… You make me so proud" he added beaming at his hikari.

"`Kura it's not healthy to be continuously violent" Ryou said before he picked up a pike that had been dropped on the floor from the previous battle, snapped part of the metal off for a makeshift ice pick then stabbing at the ice wall ferociously. Bits of ice began to crack as the metal bashed at it mercilessly followed with psychotic grunting on Ryou's part. Everyone else stared with wide eyes as the stabbings became faster till it sounded like a humming of a drill before Ryou stopped and turned back towards them. A cup full of flaked off ice whilst behind him was a swan sculpture with the head of a Ghoul's head just hanging over it after Ryou's work of thawing it. The Ghoul blinked before coming to life and growled behind Ryou's back. Ryou responded by thrusting his makeshift ice pick into its forehead and silencing it. "Malik I'm guessing that magic fire you've been spouting from your mouth is what's causing the heartburn so I wondered if this ice would cool it down"

Everyone except Yami and Yugi shivered and shuffled away from him whilst Ryou cuddled up with Bakura who was in a state of post-traumatic stress, his face paled even more than usual. "Um Pharaoh?" Bakura asked.

"Yes?"

"Are there any other things that was released asides from the obvious weapons and a third eye"

"I'm not sure…"

"You're not sure? HOW CAN YOU BE NOT SURE!?!?!? I'M ALL FOR MY HIKARI KICKING ASS LIKE REI USE TO BUT NOT IF HE STARTS KICKING `MY' ASS LIKE REI USE TO!!!!"

"What do you mean `Kura?" Ryou asked fearfully. Bakura glanced at him before he shuddered.

"Let's just say I remember a few things about Rei…"

"I remember a few things about her too and Ishizu…" Ishtar added.

"What things?" Malik questioned.

"Like the day we found out that Rei and Ishizu were…" That was when the room started to dissolve as another memory archive had manifested.

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Seto sat wearily after laying Joey on the bed. The incident with Mokuba had ripped his emotionless mask away and revealed a horrifying face. The anger and despair had welled up out of him showing that he… the great Seto Kaiba who he had prided himself to be level headed and logical throughout any situation had completely lost control. Of course it wasn't the first time this had happened where Mokuba was involved but in his berserk fury he couldn't see that there was something wrong with the whole picture. Yami had made some sense and yet he couldn't bring himself to admit it nor the feeling of hatred towards the unconscious blonde lying there before him. It was the single problem that he and the monster that had the same face. One seeking to torture him whilst the other helped him in any way he did. Even risking his own life to save Mokuba.

"I'm not going to kill him if that's what your worried about" he said suddenly before glancing behind his shoulder seeing Andrin at the doorway with a tub of water. He knelt beside him wringing a towel and placed it on Joey's head before sitting back on his feet stealing a few glances at Seto. "You don't like me very much do you?" Andrin blinked his face just as stoic as Seto.

"You're half right… I hated you the second I saw a picture of you on a newspaper… but as it happens and what had recently transpired…"

"Oh?"

"I pity you Seto Kaiba. I pity the fact that you closed yourself off from everyone even family sometimes…" he earned a glare for the comment but it didn't deter Andrin for what he had to say. "So much so that you've completely lost your sense of identity… your sense of being" Seto chuckled at the statement.

"I think you need to get your facts straight. I know who I am…"

"Seto Kaiba, CEO of a huge corporation specialising in the cutting edge of holographic technology. Everyone knows of your name and your status… "Andrin said "but if you really did know whom you are then why did you come here?"

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The three yamis and hikaris stood watching over their past as they journeyed through the exotic lands of India then towards the borders of where Thailand and Taiwan would be. It was only a few days since they had met and separated from Seth and in that time they had gotten to know about each of their new friend's personalities. Ishizu, the Malik look a like was on the average a cheerful extrovert albeit a little perverted with his use of language that tended to cause some discomfort for the three boys. Rei was one of the philosophical types and tended to go with the flow with things as was the same personality of his elemental power. He obviously would be one to console and soothe other's problems but he can be a bit extreme when he got pissed off. When he got angry, he became as cold as ice. His glare rivalled Seto Kaiba and in some strange way it also caused the air around to go colder. (A/N: If you've seen Fruits Basket and have heard of the character called Hana or Electric/Vibe girl it's like that) Honda of course was really no different to Tristan today except for the fact that he had bit of a darker tan than the brunette.

"Hey your hurt. Why don't I fix that wound" Past Ishtar had offered to Ishizu who slapped his hand away.

"I can do it myself"

Ishtar glared at the platinum blonde as he had made his way towards the river. "FINE!!!! Don't come running back to me when the snakes get you!!!"

"I'm not afraid of snakes" was the arrogant reply as Ishtar crossed his arms angrily at the rudeness. He glanced back to see the Malik look a like's head just poking above a large rock.

"Ra, what's his problem?" Honda the Tristan look alike asked. There was a brief silence with the exception of the water crashing against the rocks.

"AAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!" came the shrill cry. Honda rushed Ishizu's aid before he was knocked out of the way and splashed into the river.

"Wh-What is it? Are we being attacked? You got bitten by a snake!?!?" Ishtar yelled just as Ishizu came bounding towards him then hiding behind him.

"IT'S A FROG!!!! IT'S A FROG!!!! AARRRGGGHHHH!!!!! KEEP IT AWAY FROM ME!!!!" Ishizu screamed clutching at Ishtar's tunic whilst the small amphibian stood staring at the two of them bogged eyed. Honda having being knocked in a daze could only sit in the ankle deep water.

"Rebit…" said the frog that made Ishizu shriek and clutching onto the tunic of Ishtar.

"GET RID OF IT GE-" Ishizu paused in mid-sentence staring at Ishtar who was staring at the two peaks of her breasts. "AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" came the shrill cry giving Ishtar a fright of his life and ran away.

"AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!! MY EYES!!! I'M SORRY!!!! I'M SORRY!!!!" he yelled as the two of them ran in opposite directions. Ishizu covering her body whilst Rei sighed wearily. They both calmed down and (in Ishizu's case) dressed to sit around a fire. Rei was glaring at Ishizu who was now red with embarrassment.

"So you're a girl?" Atemu asked, who was at the time gathering firewood with Bakura and Yin so happened to tag along as well so he was unable to see what had happened. Tyrande was curled in his lap, as he was busy stroking her. Ishizu nodded meekly whilst Rei rolled her eyes.

"D-d-damn it I d-d-didn't get a look," Honda cried as he shivered next to the fire in a blanket whilst his clothes were hanging out to dry.

"Does that mean that Rei is as well?" Bakura asked.

"Thanks for blowing our cover Ishizu…" Rei said letting down the white hair from its crop bun and retying it into a large plait.

"Sorry… but you know how I get when it comes those… things" Ishizu replied undoing her hair as well.

"I heard in some countries they `eat' frogs… You must wonder what they taste like" Rei had replied monotonously the cold glare started to form into vibes that shot out from her. Ishizu cringed.

"Oh don't worry about it Rei… we understand why you needed to keep it from us but you don't need to worry about it now" Atemu said

"We still think your cool with all you've done to escort us after all" Honda said when Yin had come back and plopped right next to him with an armful of blankets, which she wrapped around him up in half a dozen layers till he looked like a deformed Eskimo with the exception of two brown eyes and brown locks sticking out.

"It's getting cold as we approach night milord" Yin had said cheerfully.

"T-t-thanks" Honda said gratefully. "Atemu you're so lucky" Rei smiled whilst Atemu groaned. Rei's smile immediately turned into a frown as a tweaking sound came from her chest. Bakura grinned as he pulled his hands away from her breasts.

"Yep they're real" he confirmed cheerfully. There was a hard smack as Bakura's face was screwed with shock and severe pain.

"Excuse me, but from what I figure, we can still make it to an inn by nightfall if we set out now" Rei said as she withdrew her staff from Bakura's crotch and stamping out the fire.

"Right… no problem" Bakura wheezed before he waddled outside. Rei followed and yanked his ear. "AAIIIEEEE!!!!!" he yelped as Rei snatched back her purse that he had pick pocketed. Aside from the little incident at their pit stop, the journey generally went well with the exception of a highly irritated Atemu being followed by the `servant girl' Yin. Indeed everywhere he went she always followed pursuit. It would seem if he went to jump off a cliff she would follow him. During stops for rest she would be sitting nearby just staring at him as if waiting for orders. As if there was a little rope tied between them where Yin could only make a strict distance of a maximum of two metres. No matter how much Atemu walked, shuffled, sprinted and leaped, Yin would keep to the maximum distance between them to only the two metres. Present Yami chuckled nervously as Yugi watched with fascination.

"WOULD YOU STOP FOLLOWING ME LIKE A SHADOW!?!?!?" his past self finally blew upon reaching the first big city. Tyrande who as always was poking out of his pouch puffed up her fur in fright from the outburst. (A/N: Think electrocuted) Yugi glanced at his darker half who was holding a painful fixed grin upon his face. Yin looked unperturbed and just bowed.

"I'm bound to you with my services milord"

"FOR RA'S SAKES DON'T YOU HAVE A LIFE!?!?!? SOME PRIVATE TIME!?!?!? OR AT LEAST GIVING `ME' SOME PRIVATE TIME!!!!"

"I'll escort you so you can do your `business'"

"NO!!!!! I WANT `YOU' TO LEAVE `ME' ALOONNNEEEE!!!!!" Atemu screamed at her before turning around stressfully wringing at his hair. Bakura, Honda and Ishtar were staring a little disturbed by Atemu's reaction. Rei and Ishizu had covered their mouths to stop themselves from laughing behind them whilst Yin too let a slight snigger escape her lips before she put on her adorable naïve and clueless face just as Atemu turned back towards her. She looked shocked.

"Oh no milord, your Highness's hair is out of place. Let me brush it back for you" Yin said as a comb appeared out of nowhere in her hand. Atemu was screaming into the busy streets hotly followed by Yin and her comb.

"MIIIIOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!!" Tyrande caterwauled as her pouch was bounced upon Atemu's side. "Atchoo…" she sneezed as the dust from the road had been disturbed into a cloud. Present Bakura and Ishtar were screaming with laughter at the former pharaoh.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE I EVER FORGOT THAT!!!! THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE `EVER' SAW YOU FREAK OUT LIKE THAT!!!!!!"

They had stopped off at a local inn to spend for the night. The food was laid down as Honda, Ishtar and Bakura stared at the strange instruments consisting of a bowl and two wooden sticks. Tyrande's tail was twitching as she stared from the ground up on the table. She leapt up into Atemu's laps and onto her hind feet to stare at the good food to eat. Ishizu had started piling their bowels one by one with rice before they started eating with the two wooden sticks. Atemu sighed to himself with relief that he had learned the customs of the Orient as well as their table manners. He picked out a small plate full of chicken and placed it in front of Tyrande who ate at it ravenously. It took him a while to master the ways of the chopstick and in a way he was still having difficulty but at least he wouldn't look like a fool unlike the other three Egyptians. He glanced down at the bowel which he originally thought was just rice but instead had a few choice cuts of the food from the plates laid out on the table. Yin smiled as she neatly placed a duck drumstick into his bowel. (A/N: This is a gesture of goodwill and respect). He glanced at her letting a small smile before he turned back to Ishizu and Rei.

"So how long do we have to travel?" he asked.

"We're at the most southern west region of the kingdom so it should take about a month or so give a take a few weeks" Ishizu said biting upon a cube of tofu. Atemu pondered for a moment before he smiled.

"I've only heard stories of the Forbidden City like it being a sacred ground for great heroes to duel each other. You both have been there. What's it like?" Ishizu and Rei stared at each other looking bemused.

"Well… It's not all that glamorous if you ask me" Ishizu replied.

"It's more like a fortress really, where people from outside find it difficult to get in whilst it's near impossible for residents to get out with the exception of the generals and commanders in the army" Rei added.

"Oh and there is the court houses, a number of gardens and the counsel room where our poor emperor has to endure a few good hours of scrollwork and listening to old fogies and their politic slanging"

"The fore gates are heavily guarded whilst behind are the safety of the steep mountains and a forested area for the emperor's hunting grounds," Rei continued whilst Atemu nodded taking in the detail whilst Bakura and Ishtar were in a sense playing with their food. Bakura had stabbed his two chopsticks into two pork buns to make feet and making them tap dance on the table whilst Ishtar was staring at Yin who was still continuously placing food into Atemu's bowel and attempted to imitate picking and dropping the same beef strip on the plate. Honda decided to just eat with his hands and gobbled as much as he could whilst competing with Yin's pecking with the chopstick and nestling it into Atemu's bowl

"Is it really that boring?" Atemu asked incredulously.

"Well no… we do like the celebrations recently there was a new discovery different coloured lights that we could make from this explosive powder but we'll leave it at that… I'm hungry… let's eat" Ishizu replied before looking at the half empty plates before her. Honda was snacking on a rice parcel whilst Yin was now standing on her chair to pop a pork bun right on the peak of a good 2 foot long tower of food that was leaning in a precarious hanging position in Atemu's bowl. How it managed to stay balanced like that was a miracle that mankind still had yet to solve. (A/N: Think `Leaning Tower of Pisa') Yin sighed satisfactorily and smiled at Atemu before enjoying her fill of what's left over on the plates, which of course wasn't much. Bakura and Ishtar had given up on the chopsticks and resorted to using their hands too whilst Atemu was staring fearfully at the mountain and trying to see where he could start without toppling it over (A/N: Think Jenga) before glaring at Yin who was happily eating her bowel of rice totally oblivious. Tyrande who also looked fearful of the leaning tower of food had buried herself back into Atemu's kitten pouch. Rei and Ishizu giggled silently trying to eat their fill.

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If you really did know whom you are then why did you come here?

The question rang in Seto's ears reiteratively as he stared at Joey who was still in a febrile state. "Why did I come here?" he whispered to Joey as if he had asked the question. "To… to find solace, especially as Mokuba is growing up, he'll need to leave one way or another" he had answered. The first step to take off the mask even if it was just a moment was made. Sure Joey was technically unconscious but it was still an effort. He took off the dry cloth from Joey's forehead, saturated and wrung it out before replacing it; he's hand though only brushing the skin briefly made him gasp. In that instant moment of contact a surge of warmth had shot through his hand into him and a familiar embrace wrapping around him. The same embrace he'd feel in his dreams of drowning in water. A strange bird was before his eyes staring at him briefly with beryl eyes and celestial gold and red plumage before it disappeared. Seto blinked and there was nothing as he stared down at the blonde.

"You felt it too didn't you? Just now?" a voice asked. Seto turned finding Mokuba in the doorway.

"You mean you…"

"Uh huh. I felt it make the pain go away when I was hurt and cold. I didn't want to really mention this… but I… I-I remembered I had said… I didn't want to wake up when I was… you know… I was being selfish… Gomen Nisama…"

"Little brother" Tears appeared in Mokuba's eyes and trailed down his cheeks before he leapt into Seto's arms. Mokuba sniffed and rubbed his face into the trench coat. Neither noticed the small smile gracing Joey's lips. "Why don't we get a little fresh air huh?" Seto asked and Mokuba smiled nodding as they made their way to the large courtyard where a range of orchids and cherry blossom trees were grown. The ice attack made by Ryou apparently had spread over to the top like a glass ceiling but since it made the air so cool it didn't make much difference to being outside in the park. Just as they had left the shadows in Joey's room started to shift and morph as a satisfied hiss was uttered in the room. The shadow loomed over Joey as a long forked tongue flickered and licked at his exposed neck. The shadow snapped its head towards the doorway hearing footsteps.

Serenity and Tristan were going to check up on Joey since Kaiba had left with Mokuba to the courtyard.

"Man, I've never seen Joey so sick like that…"

"I'm really worried about Tristan. He was so weak and I couldn't do anything to help him. What if… what if he…"

"Don't think like that. Everything's going to be ok. Joey's not one to give up so easily so you shouldn't too"

"Alright…" Serenity whispered before peeping into the chamber. Joey was still sleeping peacefully as they approached his bed. Tristan felt for Joey's head.

"He's fever's gone down… See I told ya…" Tristan said cheerfully

Serenity smiled and stroked the blonde locks tenderly. "Get better soon oniichan,"

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Atemu had promptly fallen asleep the second his head was on the pillow whilst Tyrande was on a bedside table cleaning her fur with her tongue and paw. It was only a few moments when Yin came in after him staring adoringly at the strong face then turned to see Tyrande staring at her curiously. She winked at the ebony and celestial white feline who promptly ignore her and carried on cleaning herself. Atemu smiled at the memory.

"Um… Yami?" Yugi asked. "I didn't think Yin was so… mischievous…"

"Oh yes she was, believe me she hasn't changed much when she was reincarnated"

"Really?" Yugi asked surprised before he frowned. "Hey!!!" Yami chuckled.

"Atemu… Atemu?" she whispered nudging him gently. There was a muffled groan on the pillow of which Yin took as a sign he didn't want to wake up. Sniggering a little she brought out a ladle from her back and emptied the contents of cold water all over Atemu's face. Tyrande had gotten another shock of her life as her fur frazzled once more. Atemu was spluttering wiping the water from his face.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!?!?!?" Atemu screamed at the servant girl who looked bemused as ever. Water was dripping from his golden bangs whilst his black and red tinged hair was limp and frazzled at places.

"Mueh…" Tyrande mewled as she entwined her body against Yin's legs.

"You've been travelling for so many days and sleeping under the stars. Surely you don't want to be covered in filth on the your first night for a week in a real bed" she reasoned then smiled. "So I've prepared you a bath!!!"

"A WHAT!?!?!?"

"Come milord… you'll be pleased" Yin giggled dragging a flailing Atemu off the bed. Tyrande who was over the shock of Atemu's outburst promptly followed, her tail twitched lazily as they entered the bathroom. Yin was at the moment trying to take Atemu's clothes off whilst ATemu was looking blushing all shades of red.

"FOR RA'S SAKE I CAN TAKE MY OWN CLOTHES OFF!!!!" Atemu bellowed slapping Yin's `groping' hands away. "LEAVE!!!" Yin pursed her lips that he was so upset but held her ground to keep the façade up.

"But milord… it's against my training of services to ones that I'm bound to" Yin said.

"Well can I say you're relieved of your services when it comes to this?" Atemu asked exasperatingly, his cheeks still red. "Please?"

"Um… well… alright…" Yin said deciding that he was going through enough torture. "But I hope you do take the bath, it'll soothe your aches and pains most definitely"

"I will Yin…" Atemu said finally breathing a sigh of relief to privacy.

"But I'll be back to scrub your back alright?" she called from the distance. Atemu widened his eyes and his blushing returned. He groaned in defeat. The victory for privacy was short lived. Tyrande was once again licking her fur and pawing at her face before stretching her limbs.

"Another month of her… I don't think I can take another second of this" Atemu whimpered stressfully as he stripped and wrapped a cloth around his middle before heading towards the main room where there was a screen in the way. Tyrande followed Atemu as he slowly trudged towards the bath. "I swear I'm going to go crazy… I'm going to-" he paused in mid-sentence as he saw what was before him. It was a large clean marble tub full to the brim with steaming hot water and littered with many rich colours of gold and red flower petals from the sweetest smelling exotic plants around the world. The water wasn't boiling but it would burn at a bit at first before one became numb. Tyrande's tail twitched again as she had leapt up onto a table beside the tub dabbing the water with the pad of her paw then staring incredulously at him. Atemu blinked before he slipped the towel and climbed in. His body went numb after a few moments of getting accustomed to the heat. He looked a bit bemused when Yin came in afterwards with a handful of bottles, two clothes, a large bucket and a ladle.

"I've brought Persian exotic oils, spicy salts from India and if that's not enough I thought some of this camel's milk would remind you of home" Yin knelt beside the tub smiling good naturedly whilst she wetted the cloth in the tub and went to wipe the grime from his face. Then she took the ladle and bucket of water made Atemu tilt his head back and tenderly poured the water over his hair then massaging it. She poured some the Persian oil and rubbed it into the tri coloured hair then washed it out again with another of ladle of water. She did this twice before taking another cloth and rubbing Atemu's back this time, some of the petals stuck to the cloth. Tyrande cocked her head from the interaction before stretching her limps and curling into a ball.

"That's just so unfair" Present Bakura moaned whilst Yami smirked smugly before he sadly stared at Yin tenderly washing his younger self taking her affection for granted.

"Well… I'm finished…" Yin announced as Atemu watched her pack her things. "Don't stay in there too long, you'll get dizzy from the heat"

"Um… Yin when are we leaving tomorrow?"

"Hmm… well it's going to be difficult because everyone is preparing for the lunar year festival for tomorrow night. Rei says we need to get barter for some horses and food supplies but there won't be any businesses willing to serve us at this time of year. So Ishizu said that'll we'll be staying a few nights until the celebrations are over"

"Oh… I suppose there's no harm in staying for a few days. I might get to know about the customs"

"This city is renowned for its brilliant festival activities too"

"Hmm…" Atemu replied. Yin smiled before she left him alone. Tyrande was now fast asleep whilst Atemu sighed leaning back staring out a window of a beautiful starry night.

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Sam: THIS'LL SET THE SCENE FOR A ATEMU/YIN DATE!!!! ALSO COMING IN THE NEXT CHAPTER IS THE SETO/KATSUYA SHOWDOWN!!!! Read and flame if you must… I'm busy until 26th June so again, don't expect another update to come too soon. T____T Gomen. DARN EXAMS RUIN EVERYTHING!!!!!

I've changed the names in an attempt to make it less confusing to which Yami I'm referring to. ( though I think I just made it even more confusing) Atemu is Yami when he was still alive in Egypt, before he was trapped in the puzzle. Yami is referred to his present self because that's when he changed his name when he was with Yugi. --UUU