Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ Stripped of Shadow Powers ( Chapter 28 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Lisette: I feel special! *hands Robbie plushie* That's for reviewing!

I is me: *fears hole puncher of doom*

Broken Time: *hands gold mallet* use it well

Anubiset: Asher will get to burn something soon. It won't be long. I'll get to Tristan next chappie.

Kura Magician Girl: I know, I'm evil. But that can be a good thing. Much evilness will come…and the weddings will be starting in the next couple of chappies.

Yakari Taito: *hands aten and Robbie plushies* I hope that helps.

Finkleymeyer: What song is that by John Denver? That sounds really good.

Valea: Aten will belly dance….and drive Robbie crazy in the process..

Lady Elfskye: *sweatdrops*

Sakiyama: Robbie will get it back, don't worry.

Draza: Yes I am evil incarnate….and insane.

Nanx: *evil grin* I will make it right…Me promise.

Shadow of Light: Yami Aten does care about Robbie.

Tari Helyanwe: I'll set everything straight in the end. You know me.

Beysie: It won't be permanent. I can't do that to him.

Stripped of Shadow Powers

Aten's heart sank and his eyes filled with tears in disbelief. He held onto Robbie's hand.

“W—What? Robbie…it's me….Aten.”

Robbie closed his eyes and gave a whimper of pain. “I…don't…know…you.”

Aten held up his hand. “See, Robbie? You gave this to me. This is my engagement ring.”

Robbie blinked and turned to Dr. Ginsby. “Who is this?”

“Robbie, this is Aten. He's your fiancé. Don't you remember anything at all?”

“No.”

Aten looked up at Dr. Ginsby. Tears came down his cheek. “Why doesn't he remember me?”

“Aten, Robbie's had some major trauma to the skull. It's quite possible that some damage was done to his short or long term memory.”

The Egyptian shifted closer to Robbie. “Robbie, do you remember this?”

Aten leaned down and kissed Robbie's cheek. He placed the kiss softly on the pale skin. He pulled back reluctantly.

“Don't you remember how much I love you?”

Robbie blinked and looked up at Aten with bewilderment on his face. “You….love me?”

Aten stood up. “I have to go.”

Dr. Ginsby looked up at Aten. “Aten?!”

The Egyptian ran from the room, sobbing.

Marik and Miranda jumped to their feet as Aten burst out of the double doors. The son threw himself at his father, burying his face in Marik's chest. “Father! I want to go home!”

“Aten, what's wrong? Is Robbie okay?”

Aten looked up at his father sadly. “My Robbie doesn't know who I am…..he…he doesn't know me.”

Miranda put her hand on Aten's back. “He just went through something terrible, Aten. Give him some time.”

“We're supposed to be married next month!”

Marik caressed his son's white and blond hair. “I know, Aten.”

Aten held onto his father tightly as Dr. Ginsby entered the waiting room.

“Miranda? Do you want to see your son?”

“Yes. Aten? Do you want to come with me?”

Aten clutched onto Marik. “I can't…..”

“You go on, Miranda. I'll stay here with my son.”

Miranda followed Dr. Ginsby to Robbie's bedside.

She sat beside Robbie's bed. “Hello, Robbie….I'm so glad you're okay!”

Robbie blinked. “Who…?”

“I'm your mother, Robbie. Your dad isn't here. He'll be home next month for your wedding.”

Robbie reached out to her with both hands. “Mother??”

Miranda leaned over and hugged her son tightly. She sniffled as she felt his hands grip onto her just as tightly. Miranda cradled her only son against her chest. “Robbie, I prayed that you would be okay. Do you remember what happened to you?”

Robbie shook his head, keeping his arms around his mother. “No….”

“It will come to you, Robbie. Just relax.”

Robbie's grip slowly loosened. “Dizzy……”

Robbie went limp in Miranda's arms and his body started to tremble.

“Robbie?”
”He's gone into a seizure,” Ginsby said as she put Robbie's file by his bed. “Stand by the bed, Mrs. Morgan. Don't let him fall out of bed.” Dr. Ginsby stood by the bed and put another pillow under Robbie's head. “Mrs. Morgan, can you help me turn Robbie on his side?”

Miranda helped the doctor turn Robbie on his hip. Dr. Ginsby held Robbie's wrist to monitor his heart rate.

“This can happen after trauma, Mrs. Morgan. The brain has to heal itself. I did an MRI scan and found some damage on the surface of the brain. Robbie will be okay, Mrs. Morgan. It may take him a while to get some of his memories back, but none of this damage is permanent.”

Miranda rubbed Robbie's arm as the tremors slowly ceased. “Aten's upset. I hope Robbie will be ready to marry next month. He's been planning this for the longest time.”

Ginsby nodded. “Robbie will be fine, Miranda. He needs time to heal. His memories may come back either in a flood or a trickle. He'll remember what happened to him. It will just take time.”

Miranda ran her fingers through her son's curly black hair. “I know. I'm just glad I have him back.”

Ginsby released Robbie's wrist. “He's asleep now, Mrs. Morgan.”

The door to the ICU opened and Aten walked through.

“Aten? How did you get through the door without access?”

“My father controlled the nurse's mind and made her open the door for me.”

Ginsby raised an eyebrow. “And…how did he do that?”

Aten approached the bed. “Actually, he was flirting with her and talked her into opening it.”

Aten sat by Robbie's bedside. “He's tired.”

“Yes, he is, Aten. Just let him sleep and let's see what he remembers tomorrow morning.”

Aten sat in front of Robbie and watched his loved one sleep. “My Robbie….”

Miranda sighed as she sat by the bedside. “The damage isn't permanent, Aten. Robbie will be alright.”

Aten sniffled and brushed a lock of Robbie's hair out of his face. “Sleep, my angel….I'll watch over you….always.”

***************************

Bakura and Ryou ran towards the Crestwood Apartments. Squad cars and Ambulances surrounded the building. Police surrounded the place, dragging out the inhabitants of the apartment building.

“This is awful!” Ryou gasped as he saw the people being lead out into the police cars in handcuffs.

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “Stay with me, Ryou. Don't wander away. Follow me.”

Bakura ran down the alley and looked up at the building. Ryou looked around nervously. The jingling of the Ring took their attention. The pointers on the Millennium Ring pointed up.

“My Ring! There's a Millennium Item in this building!”

“Yami!”

Bakura snarled and his hair spiked angrily. “That bastard has to be behind all this!”

The yami ran up the stairs to the alley door. “Ring, open this lock so we may gain entrance within!”

The lock snapped open.

“Ryou, are you sure you want to come along? You know how dangerous this pharaoh can be.”

Ryou nodded. “I'm not leaving you, love. So quit asking me.”

Bakura nodded. “Okay. We'll have to take the stairway. Let's go.”
Bakura and Ryou ran up the steps, noting the bullets lodged in the walls and the stairs.

They could hear people's angry voices raised in the halls as they entered. The door to the stairway above them opened and three men burst into the stairwell.

Bakura stopped and pushed Ryou against the wall out of sight. The yami held onto his lover.

“What's this all about? You guys just can't walk in here and start shooting at innocent people?” a man said in protest.

“Guess what, faggot? We just did.”

BANG!

Ryou tensed as the gun fired. The victim was thrown over the side of the stairs and fell ten floors to the bottom of the stairwell. Ryou's terror-stricken eyes widened as Bakura covered Ryou's mouth to stop the hikari from screaming.

Ryou shivered in Bakura's arms. The door to the stairwell closed again.

“Ryou, I tried to warn you. You okay?”

“Yami….why are they doing this? What have these people done?”

The Ring continued to point higher. “If the pharaoh is here, there is your answer. Yami enjoys playing with mortals. He doesn't need a reason to mess with these people. He just wants to see innocent people suffer.”

Bakura removed his dagger from his belt. He handed it to Ryou. “Use this to defend you. I have my Shadow Magic. Alright?”

“Yes, yami.”

“Good boy. Now come on.”

Bakura and Ryou ran up the stairs again until the Millennium Ring pointed to the doorway they stood beside.

“He's down this hallway.”

Bakura opened the door and walked into the hallway. As they entered, the lights flickered on and off. The temperature of the hallway had become bitter. Ryou looked around nervously, waiting for Yami or something to jump out of a room.

Bakura narrowed his eyes. He could sense the Shadow Realm's presence.

Ryou held onto Bakura's hand as they walked down the cold, dim hallway.

“Pharaoh, I know you're here,” Bakura growled.

Yami appeared at the end of the hallway, the Millennium Puzzle and Sennen Eye glowing on his forehead.

“Hello, King of Thieves.”

Ryou ran behind Bakura. “Yami!”

“What are you doing here, pharaoh? Are you the one who caused this chaos?”

Yami chuckled. “Why are you so concerned? What a noble criminal you are!”

“Why did you attack Otogi? He's about as threatening as a fly!”

Yami gripped the chain holding the Puzzle around his neck. “Because he was helping with Seto's wedding. I won't have Seto get married!”

Ryou looked over Bakura's shoulder. “What about Joey? Joey was your friend, Yami. How could you do this to him?”

“Casualties of war must be made, Ryou. Tonight…you will be the casualty.”

Bakura snarled. “Our battle is between you and I, pharaoh! Leave Ryou out of this!”

“I'm afraid I can't do that, Tomb Robber. Giant Soldier of Stone! Appear!”

Ryou gasped as the Giant Soldier of Stone appeared. The walls beside Yami crumbled under the size of the duel monster.

Bakura stepped back. “Ryou? Run….”

The Giant Soldier of Stone lunged for the Bakuras. The walls crumbled as his body impacted the sides of the hallway.

Ryou turned sharply and ran down the hallway. “Bakura! The doorway!”

Bakura turned to see the Giant Soldier of Stone remove one of its stone swords. He saw the stone giant pull back the sword, destroying the ceiling.

“Ryou! Duck!”

Bakura lunged for Ryou, knocking the hikari onto the floor. The stone sword flew past them and destroyed the door. “Crawl under!”

The giant stone sword had embedded itself into the opposing wall of the stairwell, cutting off access to the door. Ryou reached out his arm and hand through the crevice between the floor and the sword's handle.

“I…can't…get through!”

Bakura looked back to see the Stone Soldier hovering above them. “Try!....AH!”

The Giant Soldier of Stone picked Bakura up by the right ankle and dangled him upside-down. Ryou turned back. “BAKURA!”

“Ryou, go through that door!”

Yami walked down the hallway casually. Ryou struggled to get himself through the crevice, but his shoulder could not slip through.

“Hello, Ryou.”

Ryou's eyes widened and he turned around. He looked up at Yami standing over him. “Y—Yami!”

Bakura swung his fists in mid-air, the Millennium Ring jingling around his neck. “Stay away from my husband, you Ra-damned asshole!”

Ryou trembled and reached for Bakura's dagger. The hikari grabbed the handle and lunged, slicing Yami's leg.

Yami screamed and fell in front of Ryou. The hikari tried to crawl past Yami, but the pharaoh grabbed Ryou's collar.

Ryou raised the dagger to stab the pharaoh again, but the pharaoh caught Ryou's wrist. The hikari struggled to bring the knife down to stab the pharaoh.

“GO, RYOU! GET HIM!” Bakura called out to Ryou as he dangled in the grip of the stone giant.

Ryou's face covered in sweat as he fought Yami for the dagger.

“Ryou, give up! I'm---- much---- stronger!”

Yami struggled with Ryou, struggling to his knees.

The hikari found himself being pushed back.

“Ryou!” Bakura struggled with the Stone Soldier, who tightened his grip. The yami growled as he felt his ankle being crushed by the grip of stone.

Ryou fell back, the dagger falling out of his grip. Yami reached for the dagger, but Ryou threw him off. Ryou turned to crawl to the dagger and fell to the floor as Yami tackled him.

The hikari felt the pharaoh on top of him and screamed.

“Ryou! Get off of my husband, pharaoh!”

Yami grabbed Ryou's wrist and pulled it behind his back. A squeal of pain escaped the hikari.

“Yami, let go! That hurts!”

“You thought you could get away from me, huh?”

Yami leaned down and whispered in Ryou's ear. “I should punish you severely for fighting back….Bakura knows what my punishments are all about.”

Ryou froze and he grit his teeth.

“Do you want a little bit of punishment…Ryou? How long has it been since you've been…really…punished?”

A lick to the back of Ryou's ear sent a shudder up Ryou's spine.

“Please----don't..”

Yami grinned. “Why not? It's been a long time since I've been..punished.”

Bakura clenched his fists. “Come over here and I'll give you the ass-kicking of a lifetime, pharaoh! Get off Ryou!”

Yami grabbed Ryou's hair and stood up with the hikari. “What's the matter, Bakura? Jealous?”

“Pharaoh, I swear to Ra when I get my hands on you, I'll---!”

Yami grabbed the blade and put it to Ryou's chest. “Do you really want to finish that sentence, Bakura?”

“Y-Yami…don't do this,” Ryou pleaded.

“I think it's about time that you see my new home, you two. I think you'll find my accommodations most…stimulating.”

*********************************

The Giant Soldier of Stone carried Bakura in his grip. The yami growled as he saw Yami walking holding Ryou by the wrist. The dagger was held tightly in the pharaoh's hand.

//I'll have to wash that handle for a month!// Bakura thought through the mindlink.

/You know what Yami is capable of, Bakura./

Bakura kicked at the soldier's hand with his other foot, hoping to release himself. The stone giant's grip tightened and Bakura let out a scream.

“Now, Now, Bakura…the harder you struggle, the worse it will get for you,” Yami said patiently.

Ryou's eyes widened at the temple before them. “It looks like….my….father's temple!”

Yami grinned. “I rebuilt it and have made that my home. Why don't you say we look inside?”

Ryou shook his head and struggled to pull away from Yami. “No! I don't want to go in there!”

Yami growled and turned to Bakura. The pharaoh threw the dagger at Bakura, embedding the blade in Bakura's shoulder.

“AH!” Bakura screamed as he held his shoulder.

“BAKURA!”

Yami gripped onto Ryou. “You will not question me or your yami will pay the price!”

Bakura grit his teeth against the pain in his shoulder. “Bastard….”

“Let's go into my temple, shall we, Ryou?”

Ryou walked up the stairs with Yami, his eyes were turned to Bakura.

/Yami, I'm so sorry!/

//It's okay, Ryou…..a little time in the Ring….and I should heal quickly.//

/Are you angry?/

//I'm more ready to tear Yami's throat out than to be angry at you, Ryou.//

Ryou looked around the temple. The altar that he had seen his daughter tied to so many years ago remained in the large room. The throne of gold still stood above several steps. A post in the corner was circled by strong rope.

Yami saw The Pharaoh's Servant step from behind the throne. Yami threw Ryou to the ground in front of the zombie. “Tie him up well, my servant.”

Ryou backed away with a scream as the zombie approached him slowly, his decayed body lumbering towards him.

Bakura snarled. “Ryou! Run!”

Ryou turned to escape, but the zombie grabbed his leg and dragged him towards the post. Ryou clawed at the floor and kicked at the dead man dragging him.

“Let me go! Let me go!”

Yami saw his monster struggle with the terrified hikari. He walked towards Ryou and pinned the man to the post.

Bakura kicked the Giant Soldier of Stone, cursing Egyptian at the creature crushing his ankle.

“Don't struggle, Ryou,” Yami grinned. “It may make this more hard on your yami than it needs to be.”

“AH!!” Bakura yelped as the stone soldier grabbed his other ankle.

“Yami! Don't hurt Bakura anymore! Please!”

Yami laughed. “Oh, really? And what do you think you are going to do to stop me?”

Ryou felt the heavy roped bind his chest to the post. The heavy ropes wrapped around his neck, keeping his head up.

Yami touched Ryou's face gently. “It's amazing, Ryou. How can a placid little hikari like you, give birth to two unholy demons?”

Ryou swallowed hard. “My babies are not demons, Yami!”

“Oh, but they are, Ryou! You just haven't seen the light yet. I see that your daughter is about to create a holy demon herself. Aria's due to give birth herself soon, isn't she? I'd say within the next couple of hours. At least, that is what the Book of Prophecy fortells.”

Ryou narrowed his eyes. “You stay away from my daughter!”

Yami chuckled. “Again, Ryou….what are you going to do to stop me?”

“I'll fight you with everything I have!”

“Which is what? Bakura? The Millennium Ring? After I'm done with you both, that Ring will be nothing more than Ishtar's useless Millennium Rod. It will be devoid of power…useless….a pathetic worthless trinket.”

Yami stood up and turned towards the stone giant holding a cursing Bakura by the ankles.

“When I get my hands on you, pharaoh, I'm going to kick your scrawny Ra-forsaken ass!”

Yami approached Bakura. “Tsk. Tsk….so much anger, Itemri. I think the excitement of what I've put you through is too much. Maybe you need to lay down. Giant Soldier of Stone, take Itemri to the altar so he can relax.”

Ryou watched Bakura being carried nearby to the altar. “Bakura…”

/Yami!/

//Escaping from Yami used to be nothing more than dislocating my joints! I can't do that with this Ra-damned statue!//

The Giant Soldier of Stone dropped Bakura onto the altar. The yami's head and his shoulders collided with the stone, knocking him almost unconscious. Bakura's arm hung off of the stone altar limp and the yami gave a little moan.

/Yami! Say something!/

//……………………… .ow.//

/Well, that's something./

Yami stood by the altar with a sigh. “Poor Bakura……fall down, did we?”

Bakura whimpered again and tried to roll off of the altar.

“Ah, ah, no no no, Bakura. I can't have you going anywhere.”

Yami's Puzzle glowed and black iron cuffs held Bakura pinned to the altar. Bakura tried to move his arms and legs, but the metal kept him pinned.

“Bastard.”

Yami stroked Bakura's cheek. “After all we've been through together, Bakura, you're going to call me vicious names?”

“You deserve worse…..Butcher of Cairo.”

“You misunderstand me, Tomb Robber.”

“No….I understand all too well….” Bakura's eyes squinted as he tried to move his ankle.

Yami grabbed the Millennium Ring. “Maybe I should lighten your burden, Bakura. It must be hard to carry this around.”

Yami pulled the dagger from Bakura's shoulder, eliciting a cry of pain from the white-haired yami. Bakura's blood seeped from the wound. The pharaoh slashed the rope holding the Millennium Ring around Bakura's neck.

“Yami! That belongs to us!” Ryou threatened angrily.

Yami held the Millennium Ring. “You'll get it back, Ryou. Although it won't be the same as what you once knew.”

The pharaoh looked down at Bakura's wound. “My poor Tomb Robber….you are bleeding.”

Bakura growled as Yami leaned down and dug his tongue into the wound. The white-haired yami snarled as the other yami tasted his blood.

“You are a fucking madman, pharaoh!”

Yami looked up and placed his lips close to Bakura's. “I thought you loved the taste of blood.”

Yami pressed his lips against Bakura's. The white-haired spirit's head swirled as the coppery taste filled his mouth.

A lust-filled growl rumbled in the back of Bakura's throat as the taste of blood threatened to overwhelm him.

/Yami! Bakura! Baby, are you okay?!/

//Blood…..too strong.//

/No, baby, fight it!/

Bakura closed his eyes tightly. His breathing hastened and his body started to bathe in the thoughts of lustful desires.

/Bakura! This is Yami! Don't give into it!/

Bakura's eyes snapped open as he saw Yami kissing him. This man….who had beaten and raped him repeatedly…was kissing him on the lips, his hands holding onto Bakura's hair in a fist.

The thief snarled and bit down on Yami's lip, causing the pharaoh to bleed.

Yami punched Bakura in the stomach angrily and wiped his mouth clean of blood. “You are going to pay dearly, Bakura!”

/Bakura! Baby, are you okay?/

//….Yes. Hurts like hell….but, I'm okay.//

Yami walked towards Ryou. “Do you value this?”

“My father gave it to me. But that's not why it's special to me. It has Bakura's soul inside. It's his home!”

“I put him in here, Ryou. I made this his eternal prison. However, this piece of jewelry has outgrown its usefulness. Now, this object stands in my way of achieving ultimate power.”

Ryou struggled against the ropes. “How so?”

“Like the other Millennium Items, it holds a certain power. I have rid the Millennium Rod of its power to read minds. Now no one can be mind-controlled to rise up against me. Once I rid your Item of its power, your yami will no longer have his powers. This Millennium Ring will be no more than a paper weight.”

Ryou gasped. “You can't! Bakura needs his powers!”

Yami grinned. “Bakura will not be able to recover from his wounds while in the Millennium Ring. I will see to that. He will have to heal like a mortal.” Yami held the Millennium Ring in his hands. “I'll give it back to you when I am finished. In the meantime, Ryou….just sit and relax.”

Ryou struggled against the ropes holding him to the post. The ropes seemed to tighten the harder the struggled against them.

/Bakura, say something!/

Another string of curses flooded through their mindlink. Ryou winced as he felt the pain from Bakura's wound slip into his consciousness.

Yami walked to the altar and put the Millennium Ring on Bakura's chest. He strolled to his throne where he picked up a large black book.

Yami turned to Ryou. “How does Aria like the little curse I placed on her?”

“Curse?”

Yami raised an eyebrow. “Isis never told you about the curse I placed on Aria's womb? Pity. I don't know why she wouldn't have told you. You ARE her mother, after all, Ryou.”

“What did you do to my daughter?!” Ryou screamed angrily.

“Your daughter is dangerous, Ryou. The older she becomes, the more of a possibility that she will bear offspring. Her children mean disaster for me just like they have in the past. I'm afraid I cannot allow Aria to bear a living child.”

Ryou narrowed his eyes and growled. “How dare you!”

Yami opened the spellbook as Bakura snarled at him. “I'm sure that the lost of her first unborn child was a shock. Imagine the amazement when she loses the one which she carries in her womb at this very minute!”

Ryou struggled violently against the post. “I must….warn…Aria!”

Bakura grit his teeth. “The minute you untie me, pharaoh, I'm going to kick your ass from here to the Underworld and back!”

“Just try that, Bakura. By the time I'm done with you, you won't be able to stand, let alone kick my ass.”

Ryou tried to jump against the post. He slammed his back against the post trying to dislodge it. “Aria…must…get…free!”

Yami shook his head. “Bakura, I'm amazed you never taught your hikari to break free from being bound with his arms behind his back.”

Ryou stopped as the pain of exertion spread to his chest.

“Poor Ryou. Poor…pathetic…Ryou.”

The pharaoh opened the book and placed it on the altar beside Bakura.

“I must take away your powers, Bakura, so you are no longer a threat to me.”

“When I get out of here, I'm going to cut your tongue out!”

Yami picked up the dagger and examined it. “You mean, with this dagger?”

Bakura felt the blade press against his exposed stomach. //Shit.//

Yami turned the dagger as the blade pressed against Bakura's stomach. “Maybe I should sharpen the blade on your bones, Bakura. Do you think that might make the blade sharper? Or should you use a dull blade?”

Bakura pulled at the restraints holding him to the altar. “You are insane!”

Yami turned the pages in the book. “And who is to blame for that. Tomb Robber?”

“You can't honestly think---!”

Yami snarled as he threw the dagger against the altar. “IT IS YOUR FAULT, THIEF!”

“How are your mental problems my fault?!”

Yami grabbed Bakura's collar angrily. “Before you and your whore had your children, I had everything!”

“Ryou is not a whore! He's my husband, pharaoh!”

Yami wrapped his hand around Bakura's throat and squeezed, choking the white-haired yami. “Before your children entered our lives, I had everything! I had Yugi! I had people who believed in me! Now I am left with nothing but cold and darkness! I have to live here because I have no other place!”

Ryou narrowed his eyes. “You can't honestly believe that! Bakura and I are not to blame for your intolerance!”

Yami pressed down against the yami's throat. Ryou could feel the force of Yami's palm against Bakura's neck, crushing his windpipe.

“Had you and Ryou not chosen to give birth to those two children, then everything would be back to the way it was!”

“You still would have been an asshole even if we didn't have the children, Yami! I know what you did to Bakura five thousand years ago! You were an asshole then and you are an asshole now!”

Yami turned his head towards Ryou. He removed his hand from Bakura's neck, making the white-haired yami cough and gag from lack of oxygen.

“What did you say, Ryou?”

//Ryou! Look out!//

/Yami, are you okay?/

//Forget about me!//

Ryou looked up at Yami hovering above him.

“What did you call me?”

Ryou saw the pharaoh's fists clench. His purple eyes were glowing a fierce red. “I….I called you….”

“Say it, Ryou.”

//Ryou!// Bakura screamed through their mindlink.

“I called…you…an asshole!” Ryou said confidently.

Yami blinked and let out a growl. Yami's foot connected with Ryou's face, scratching and making the hikari's face and lip bleed.

“I hope you watch what you say next time, Ryou….This dagger will find it's way on…or IN some part of your body.”

Yami turned and walked back to Bakura. “This is getting old, you two.”

The pharaoh held up the Millennium Ring and turned the Book of Prophecy's pages.

“Millennium Ring. Item of Gold,

I release your power to steal one's soul!

Do not detect a Millennium Item no longer!

Inside your soulroom, may you not grow stronger.

Take this power of Ring of Old

Take its power and magic bold

I lock them away never to regain

Let no magic of healing power remain!”

The Millennium Rod glowed in Yami's hand brightly. A cold violent wind spun around the altar. Ryou's white hair blew in front of his face as the wind picked up speed and the light became blinding.

Bakura arched his back and screamed as a stream of energy flowed out of Bakura's body and into the wind.

/YAMI!/

//My strength! My Shadow Powers!//

Yami laughed as he held the Millennium Ring above its owner. “Bakura Osiris Itemri, I rid you of your Shadow Powers!”

Bakura let out a louder scream as dark rays of energy left his body.

“Bakura!” Ryou cried out.

The energy stream dissipated and the wind stopped.

Yami looked down at the shaking form of the other yami. “Hurts…..doesn't it….Soul-Stealer?”

Bakura's face was covered in a thin film of sweat. His body trembled from the energy which had just been ripped from him.

Yami ran his fingers through Bakura's white hair. “Such a pity, Itemri…..You no longer have the power of your Items to help you through your afterlife. What….a….pity.” Yami cocked his head to the side. “What's this, Bakura? A tear? Tell me it's a tear of joy.”

Bakura panted heavily and opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

/Yami! Bakura! Baby!/

//……..Ryou? Is that you?//

Ryou sighed in relief. /At least we still have our mindlink./

//Ryou…help me.//

Ryou looked around him and struggled again with the ropes. “I'm coming, Bakura!”

Ryou saw two figure appearing from the far end of the temple. A man in a tall white hat and a woman, scantily clad, holding a doll in her arms.

Ryou gasped as he recognized the monsters. “White Magical Hat! Dark Necrofear!”

Yami looked up and stepped in front of the altar. “What are YOU doing here?”

The White Magical Hat held up his cane. “We have sensed our master here. And we have come to set him free.”

“Oh you are, are you?”

Yami grabbed the Book of Prophecy and tore out the page with the spell that he had chanted. He held the page up and it incinerated in his hands. “Now you will not find the counterspell to giving Bakura back his powers.”

Dark Necrofear narrowed her eyes. “Do not trifle with us, pharaoh. The Thief King is our master.”

The female monster was soon surrounded by a purple aura. In her arms, the doll gave a vacant stare.

Yami let out a scream and fell to his knees. He couldn't move. He was paralyzed.

“What….is….this?”

Dark Necrofear looked down at him. “Fear the power of the undead fiends, pharaoh.”

The shackles around Bakura's arms and legs disappeared.

The White Magical Hat ran for his master. “My Lord Bakura.”

Bakura opened an eye weakly. “About….time.”

The White Magical Hat helped his master sit up. “I apologize for my late arrival. I had to fight our way through the Badlands to get here. Yami's monsters are tough.”

Dark Necrofear walked up to Ryou. “Hello, Little Master.”

“Dark Necrofear, get me out of these ropes! I have to get to Aria!”

The female monster placed her doll on the ground and untied Ryou quickly.

Ryou stood up and ran to his husband sitting on the altar. “Bakura? Baby, please speak to me,” Ryou said as he cupped Bakura's cheeks in his hands.

Bakura reached out for Ryou with both hands and gripped the hikari's shoulders for support. “Weak….”

“I know, baby. Let's get you home.” Ryou stopped. “How are we going to get home? You don't have your Shadow Magic anymore.”

The White Magical Hat raised his cane. In the corner of the room a portal appeared. “Take that portal. The pharaoh will be frozen here until you are safe. Hurry, Little Master Ryou.”

Ryou held Bakura under the arms and slowly set Bakura on his feet. The yami gripped Ryou's shoulders tightly as his weight pressed hard on his injured bones.

“Slowly, yami. Come on.”

Bakura wrapped an arm over Ryou's shoulder. Ryou grabbed the Millennium Ring off of the ground.

“Let's go home, yami.”

**********************************

Otogi watched the police activity through the window. “They're all over the place, Aria!”

The girl stood by Otogi and pulled back the curtains. “I sure hope Uncle Tristan is okay. I wish I could go over there, but…..I can't leave Malik alone. Not now.”

Otogi crossed his arms in front of himself. “I'm so gosh-darn worried, Aria!”

Aria winced as she felt the baby move again. “I know, Uncle Otogi.”

Malik walked behind Aria. “The cops didn't come around yet, did they?”

Aria looked around in the night. “I don't see them yet, Malik. I'll let you know if I do.”

Malik wrung his hands nervously. “Marik's not back yet from the hospital. I don't like it when he's gone this long.”

Aria grinned, her canines showing through her smile. Malik was amazed how every day, Aria was looking more like her father. “I'm here to protect you, Malik. Don't worry.”

Sekhmet walked beside his master and sat beside her loyally. He let out a bark which sounded through the house.

Aria reached down and pet her animal behind the ear. “Who's a good doggie?”

The dog's tongue hung out as it panted.

Otogi shook his head. “You still have him, huh? He's getting up in years.”

Aria smiled. “True…but Sekhmet is my pet. I love him. Watch this. Sekhmet, how many fingers am I holding up?”

Aria held up three fingers and the dog barked three times.

“Good boy! Gimme paw!”

The dog reached out its paw to its master.

“Good puppy! Play dead!”

The dog rolled over on its back and put its feet in the air.

Aria laughed. “Good Sekhmet! I had better give you a puppy treat! Follow me.”

Aria walked her dog to the kitchen when the front door opened.

Otogi watched Ryou struggling with his injured bloody yami. “Holy Heck!”

Malik gasped. “RYOU! BAKURA!”

Otogi and Malik ran for Bakura and helped him to the couch.

Aria walked into the living room and saw her parents bruised and bleeding. “Oh sweet gods! Mother, what happened?” He held onto Aria as he struggled for breath.

“Mother, sit down.”

Ryou sat beside Bakura. “Baby…girl…”

Aria stood in front of her parents. “What did you guys get into?”

“The…pharaoh,” Bakura whispered.

“Dad, that's sick.”

Ryou shook his head. “No, honey…..the pharaoh grabbed your father and I.”

“Wait one second!” Aria ran to the kitchen and returned with two cold towels. She put one on her father's forehead and held the other to her mother's scratched and bruised cheek. “Are you guys okay? What happened?”

Bakura reached out for her and gripped her wrist. “My daughter…..”

“Daddy, what happened?”

“The pharaoh took your father's Shadow Magic.”

Bakura moaned. “Weak.”

“Go into the Ring, father,” Aria said holding up the Ring. Bakura remained sitting on the couch.
”What the---? Father, into the ring!”

Bakura sighed.

Aria banged the Millennium Ring against the couch. “Stupid thing is busted! Father, you can't go into the Ring?!”

“No.”

Aria growled. “That fucking sucks.”

Ryou rolled his eyes. “Honey, watch your language.”

“Well, it does! How can he recover if he can't go into his Ring?”

Aria winced as she leaned over.

“Umm….mother?”

Ryou saw his daughter's eyes widen. “Yes, honey?”

Aria looked down at the carpet as it became wet under her knees. “I…I may be wrong…..but…I think my water just broke.”

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