Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Lethally Hot ❯ Reveal the Sixth of Healing ( Chapter 11 )

//…// is Yami to Yugi; /…/ is Yugi to Yami; <<…>> is Bakura (the yami) to Ryou; <…> is Ryou to Bakura. [#] are footnotes.

Disclaimer: Toboe LoneWolf does not own YGO, Ebola, a bloodthirsty nature, or the works cited:
Stetter, Cornelius. The Secret Medicine of the Pharaohs: Ancient Egyptian Healing. Carol Stream, IL: Edition Q, 1993.
Preston, Richard. The Hot Zone. New York: Anchor Books, 1994.

Toboe LoneWolf: ^_^ But I do own an Ebola plushie! *waves plushie* Meet Ravie!

Everyone: …

Toboe LoneWolf: -_-;;;; Alrighty then, onto the chappie…

Chapter Eleven: Reveal the Sixth of Healing

There were still emergency cases coming to the ER. Even though the initial chaos from the nine o' clock news was (fairly) over now, chaos from the "normal" sources of heart attacks, gang fights, and car crashes still went on. Ah, if only people could save emergencies for later. Then the world would be a much better place. Or at least it'd help the ER staff. Or at least they'd save money because the ER staff wouldn't need to drink so much coffee. (Save that tax money!)

"I've got a LOL with road rash and a broken leg, shock, elevated blood pressure!"

"Ooh, look at what we have here! Crispy critter from same accident!"

"This man's FOS!… Shoot! Code Brown! Code Brown!"

"Sir, we've got a GSW; need your expertise here!"

Dr. Seimei, cardiologist consultant, rushed into the emergency room, racing to stabilize the patient enough to get him to the operating room. Dang, this guy had it all. Crash and burn, gunshot wound in the chest, can't he ever get a break?

He slid on a pair of gloves. Egads, this guy had a lot of blood, didn't he? This is going to be a pain to clean, Dr. Seimei vaguely noticed, his blood is splattering everywhere.

Nurse Kusuri rattled off the statistics. "Shot with a .38, BP 80 over 40, neck veins distended, heart sounds inaudible. Believed to have a bullet lodged between his sternum and his heart."

He winced. "Kuso."

Dr. Seimei managed to hold Death off long enough to get the man to the operating room. Thankfully, that was not his job. He relaxed slightly as he took off his gloves, running his hands through his hair in an attempt to get it into some order.

"Well, Seimei my man, you beat Death again this time." Dr. Keni laughed good naturally as he pulled off dirty gloves and began putting on new ones. Dr. Keni was the chief ER physician, well trained and a veteran of the hospital. He was in his forties, dark brown hair just beginning to fade, with cool, steel-gray eyes, with the air of a man who deals with facts only. "So, how are the zebra cases coming along?"

Dr. Seimei sighed. "Badly, what else?" He rummaged through his coat and pulled out some black and white photographs. He cast them on a nearby gurney and motioned for Dr. Keni to look at them. "Here, take a look at these. They're the pictures that Tsuikyu took before he apparently died."

Dr. Keni squinted. "Well, seems like some fairly normal Ebola viruses to me…whoa! Check that out! It's a microphage!"

"Exactly. A single microphage actively consuming Ebola viruses." Dr. Seimei nodded. "And look at this…" Dr. Seimei pointed a finger towards the center of the cell body. "…there's some sort of abnormality here. Some sort of luminous spot." Dr. Seimei raised an eyebrow. "And on the Ebola particles themselves, there is a slight difference in the lipoprotein -- see, the spikes are longer and more defined, and in general the virus particles are smaller. And some Ebola particles also have this strange luminous quality…see, here, here, and here."

Dr. Keni shook his head. "Seimei, you're the zebra case consultant, I'm the ER chief. I don't remember this biology stuff. Just say it, blunt and simple."

Dr. Seimei twitched. "I am not the zebra case consultant." He glared at Dr. Keni, who was smirking. "Alright, I'll be blunt. I believe that this virus could easily become airborne due to the lighter size and longer hairs, and as thus it may be a bioweapon. There may or may not be a magical phenomena revolving around Tsuikyu and the zombie cases, possibly linked to this testing of a bioweapon. Someone may be making sure that this virus will work without inspection."

Dr. Keni whistled. "Assuming a great deal, are we, Seimei?" He paused, and then cautiously asked, "What did happen to Tsuikyu? Did you find anything out?"

Dr. Seimei bit the inside of his lip and looked around. Everyone was busy. "Actually, the coroner found this actually…burned on Tsuikyu's body." He pulled out a piece of paper from his wallet. "It seems to be few symbols, along with Egyptian hieroglyphs, or something like it."

"What?!?" Keni snatched the paper and peered at it. Sure enough, there was a row of hieroglyphs, but below it was a bunch of symbols he'd never seen before. "Definitely Egyptian. After all of those Egyptian exhibits at the Domino Museum, Egyptian hieroglyphs are kind of hard to forge."

"Do you know what they mean?"

"This?" Dr. Keni snorted. "Of course not. Besides, this stuff on the bottom is not hieroglyphs either." He pursed his lips. "You know, perhaps we should send this to Ishizu. The one who came to Domino recently. Open-minded and not averse to helping us."

Dr. Seimei raised an eyebrow. "How would you know this? You have contact with her?"

"I'll give this to her tonight. Perhaps she can tell us what it means." Dr. Keni stuffed the paper into his pockets, and then blinked at Seimei's question. "Ah…I have her phone number."

Dr. Seimei's eyebrow raised even higher. "I'm not asking why." He grinned though, to see Keni blush.

Dr. Keni coughed and changed the subject. "So, um, how's the boy?"

Dr. Seimei shrugged, mused for a bit and then said, "I'd give the boy ten percent chances. He's beginning to lose his mind."

Dr. Keni attempted to release the tension and pulled out his wallet. "You know, I think I'll put down ten yen that he'll pull a 21."

There was deadpan seriousness in Seimei's eyes as he took out ten yen as well. "Matching yours, on surviving it."

The nearby assistants and medical students jumped in as well. Hey, they need a little fun once in a while.

"I'll put five yen on a 21!"

"No way, he's not gonna do that! Seven yen on making it!"

"…And I'll put down a hundred yen that the Administration would definitely not approve of gambling on a patient's life."

All eyes turned towards nurse Kusuri, who had one hand on her hip. "Aren't we supposed to be working to save lives, not bet on lost ones?"

Everyone sheepishly said no, and gingerly took their money back. Seimei rubbed the back of his neck. "Aww Akiko, it was just a joke."

A faint grin came across nurse Kusuri's face as she shook a finger in front of Seimei. "I know. But let's not get too foolish in here. We are supposed to be working."

Dr. Seimei laughed. "Right on." He glanced at his watch. "Oh, shoot. Back on shift." Seimei shook his head as he left the ER. "And I still have to deal with those zebra cases…Kami-sama, I swear that the fates conspire to always give me the zebra cases…"

* * * * *

The group found themselves in the same position they had begun in -- sprawled all over each other in one big mess. Poor Ryou happened to be on the bottom, and in general everyone else was either cutting off circulation to various parts of Ryou's body or getting their own circulation cut off. The lucky person on top happened to be Yugi.

"Ow…"

This summarizes the entire group's feelings.

After much groaning, rubbing, and cursing in various languages everyone righted themselves, or at least enough to not be on top of each other. They all lay on the cool stone floor, processing the latest memory. Although they hadn't seen, well, the past selves of apparently Joey and Tristan, this was Yami's memory. Vaguely they understood who "Honda" and "Jonouchi" were and what "they" looked like, and it all added up to either strange delusions (Kaiba) or more reincarnations or other such things (everyone else).

And basically, the last memory had blood, this memory had "off-stage" blood, and now they had the foreshadowing of more blood. Great material to ponder on.

"I died." Tristan said in the silence. It's a funny feeling, to know that in the past, you died…

"Oh yeah? I'm gonna die." Joey stared at the hole in the ceiling.

Kaiba couldn't help remarking on this logic statement. "And that would be an improvement for you…how, Wheeler?"

"What?!?"

Tristan sat up and rubbed his neck. "Yeah, well, at least Joey has a chance." His voice hardened. "I died at the hands of a thief."

All eyes turned towards Ryou, who had his eyes closed. He was sitting against the wall, his head wearily resting on his shoulder. Ryou didn't notice the eyes on his thin body, but his whispered question spoke for them all.

"…Why? Why did you?"

The tarnished Ring on the center of Ryou's chest flared. Tristan hissed as Bakura took over to speak for himself.

Bakura spat on the floor. "Pah. Stupid mortals and their morals. Why not? It's quite fun you know. Death is merely a method to my means, and their death the best for my plans." He licked his forefinger, as if he could taste blood on it. Perhaps in remembrance. "Besides, they were convenient, on hand, and amusing to boot. I never miss an opportunity like that."

Tristan glared at Bakura. "Twisted murderer." He clenched his fist, and it visibly trembled.

Kaiba raised an eyebrow at Bakura, faintly amused. "How did you escape anyway?"

Bakura laughed. "I, escape? I am the King of Thieves, the Touzoku-ou. Do you really think a mere prison cell can hold me?" He smirked. "Pity you cannot remember, priest."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "I am no priest."

Bakura flicked a finger. "Believe what you want, O Ye of Little Faith. Simply because you choose not to believe does not change the fact."

The Ring flashed again, and Ryou regained control. Shakily, he pushed his bangs out of the way. Ryou muttered, "Seems like he's being a bit more vocal these days. Strange."

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "How many times must I hear someone refer to the concept that I am a priest? It is getting to be quite tiresome."

Shadi shrugged. "Until you do not need reminding."

Silence.

Yugi clenched his hands around the Puzzle until his knuckles were white. He needed the physical contact, the knowledge that it was still there to convince him that Yami was still…alive. Yugi closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to feel if Yami was doing any better.

--falling in darkness, cannot find a way, who? Who is there? Where is here? Do not understand…all black and swirling…where is the light? All cold and unseeing, no no please, my light--

Yugi gasped, lungs heaving from pulling away from a mind slowly falling apart. Yami wasn't doing any better; he was doing much, much worse. Yugi gritted his teeth. They needed more time, time to find the remaining pieces, time to find the right path -- if only there was a way to stop time!

Shuddering, he could feel the waves of…deterioration…through their shaky bond. Like there were little pieces and fragments coming off and floating away. From what, Yugi didn't know-- and did not want to know.

"Ah, are we going then?" Tea said.

Mumbled assent. (Joey: "Yeah, we're ready…" *trip*)

"So, now what?" Tristan looked around. "Tea, are you going to 'lead' us again?"

Tea put a finger to her chin and thought. "No, I don't think so. I mean, I don't think I can." She tried to explain. "I can't feel it."

Guys do not get it. "Ummm….."

Tea shook her head. "Look, the last time we tried using 'women's intuition.' And it worked. Kind of." She pursed her lips, frowning. "But now, I can't feel it, the next door. I think intuition will only work for one door. You know, Fate, Lady Luck, and all that."

Joey's eyes lifted up at that. "Hey, that's it!" He pumped his fist in the air. "We'll ask good ol' Lady Luck to give us a hand!"

"Whaaa?!?"

Joey grinned. "Trust to luck to find the door! Flip a coin or somethin' at each passage." Joey thought about that. "Naah, that'll take too long. How about we just run down this here hallway and then randomly turn when we get to a crossing point?"

Tristan shook his head. "Luck. You would think that, Joey."

Kaiba frowned and crossed his arms. "Isn't that what we were 'using' beforehand?"

"Naaw, see Kaiba, those times we were searchin'. We were lookin' for the door, picking out ways to go, splitting up the group. This time, we're just gonna run, and trust to luck, and the door'll just pop up in front of us!"

Yugi smiled wryly. Trust to luck. A true Joey idea. How many times had Joey played a card that involved chance? A lot…

Ryou shrugged and put his hands in his pockets. "It might work. After all, what else do we have?"

"So Joey, how about you going first?" Yugi winked. "You're the one that has the most 'experience' with Lady Luck."

Joey grinned and raised his fist. "Yeah! Let's go!"

And with that, he was off and running. Off on a quest, or something like it, except the "questers" had absolutely no clue where they were going and were following someone who turned on a whim. Highly scientific.

Yugi panted, little legs churning. "Joey! Slow down!"

"Oops. Sorry Yuge."

Ryou grinned, easily loping next to Yugi. "What, can't keep up?"

Yugi didn't respond, because quite frankly he was running like the living dead.

More running. More almost crashing.

Joey cheered. "Whoo! Finally we're movin'!"

"Joey, if you keep that up I'm going to slap you," Tea muttered.

"Good exercise, though." Shadi pointed out, running with a nice, easy gait.

Everyone stared at Shadi at that. While running, of course. Whee, what a breeze they were making! Run, run, run…so much fun to run…

Things somewhat fell into a pace. Joey in front, who never seemed to tire. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying this. Tristan slightly behind, watching things go by in way too many directions. Kaiba and Shadi next, their long legs giving them an advantage (although Shadi seemed to float, due to his clothes). Tea keeping up after that, and she was blessing her experience as a cheerleader, when they would run laps for hours on end. And then poor Yugi, manfully trying to keep up. He was vowing to participate more in gym class with every step. Yugi felt as if his legs were divorced from feeling, and perhaps that was a good thing, because he had enough trouble breathing.

Surprisingly, Ryou was doing pretty well. He was off to the side near Yugi, occasionally encouraging Yugi from time to time. Ryou actually liked running; it seemed to free his mind somehow, as if he could escape.

<<Ah, little yadonushi, you can never escape it all.>>

<But you did.>

<<Oh, you would like to know?>> Bakura grinned. <<That can be easily done…>>

Ryou winced and tensed. Now he was in for it--

Flash!-- Slammed into the cavern dungeon. Perfect. A private, lone cell. Just as I planned--

Flash!-- Should be around here, tunnel comes down this way, hah! If only the Pharaoh knew who was using going to use this tunnel--

Flash!-- Jam the knife here, there we go! Now push, and wedge in the blade in that crack, there! The floor is moving--

Ryou gasped and stumbled, clutching his head. Distantly he heard footsteps behind him. Ryou gritted his teeth and took another step, hoping it was over. But his mind was no longer his own--

Flash!-- Now carve the mark, carve them all--

Flash!-- The Eye, the Mark, and the Snake--

Flash!-- And let the magic be unleashed, the darkness fall, and the blood pour out--

Flash!-- "By the blood I sacrifice, by the pain I promise,
May Ra turn from you, may Osiris curse you,
Strike the King, my curse upon his head,
Nen renet emem ahnkhoo..."

It was not over yet. Bakura decided to "remind" his vessel that he was the Master with a little "extra."

Flash!-- Ah, it's a lovely night. Nice moon; good omen for my kind. Oh, how nice, company. Company that I happen to despise--

Flash!-- As if I will stop for you, chsm. No, you come to me, my little prey--

Flash!-- Flick! There. All is set. Hm, that was interesting, he actually blubbered to death. The other one can spread--

Ryou fell to one knee, heaving, his right hand covering his eyes. No. No. They had had no chance--

Bakura lightly (in relative terms by Ryou) whapped Ryou though their "bond." <<Remember ahou, I am the superior one. I get. I hold. I say. You do.>>

<… Yes, master.>

<<And never forget that, vessel.>> Bakura smirked. <<I have plenty more memories to…entertain you, if you ever forget.>>

Ryou shuddered. A hand touched Ryou's shoulder. "Ryou? Are you okay?"

Ryou jumped a little, and looked over to see Yugi panting in exhaustion. And yet he was still worried for someone other than himself. Ryou shook his head. "It was nothing. Just, ah, tired." He pushed himself off the ground and began jogging again.

Yugi ran to keep up. "Yes it was something. I saw you almost fall. Is the spirit up again?"

"He is always 'up.' " Ryou elaborated. "He showed me how he had escaped. Through a hidden tunnel. And how he killed the two guards." There was no emotion in his voice, and no feeling in his eyes as he stared straight ahead at the group in front of him.

"Oh."

"He likes," Ryou said bitterly, "to remind me of that characteristic of his."

Silence. Nothing more than running and following. Away they did go, running and running, to where nobody knows!

Joey was feeling pretty good. Ah, it felt nice to stretch his legs! Feeling the ground beneath his feet, feeling the air whisking behind him, feeling all the pressures of the race just fall away…

And then, quite literally, he felt nothing at all. Joey blinked, and looked down.

"YAAAAHHHH!!"

One second, Tristan was mind-numbingly staring at the back of Joey's T-shirt. The next, Joey was flailing his arms, teetering over a surprise edge.

And as Tristan was pretty much brain-dead with all the running, wasn't quite paying attention in the first place, and had a lot momentum, Tristan crashed into Joey, and they toppled over the edge.

"YAAAAHHHHH!"

…

Blink.

"Hey."

"We're not falling."

"Weird."

Joey and Tristan stared at each other, and then at their feet. Yes, they were quite solidly on the floor. They looked up. No, wall. Floor. Wall. Floor.

Kaiba peered over the edge, expecting two sprawled bodies on the ground. What he saw were two stunned teenagers clutching each other and staring at their feet. Oh, and they were standing horizontally.

"What in the world…"

Tea caught up, panting. "Have- we- found- it?" She paused, and took a deep breath. Then she noticed that Joey's loud voice wasn't around. "Where's Joey? And Tristan?"

Shadi walked over to the edge, next to Kaiba. He looked significantly down, and raised an eyebrow at Tea. "It appears that they have 'fallen' over the edge."

"What?!?" Tea ran (slowly) over to see for herself. She saw a very deep edge, a lot of blackness, a bunch of doors in the distance, and two guys hastily shoving each other's arms off a few meters down.

"However," Shadi hastily assured, "they are quite safe and sound. They appear to be standing."

Joey turned his neck around to see Tea's confused face. "Hey, Tea." He waved.

"What happened? What's wrong?" Ryou questioned, walking over to the group on "top."

Kaiba shook his head. "It appears that the laws of physics do not apply in this place."

Yugi crawled over to the edge to see. "Huh?"

"Well," Kaiba drawled, "while the force of gravity works 'downward' for us here, it appears that gravity works horizontally there, pulling them towards the wall. Except that what is wall to us is floor to them."

"This place is weird…" Tristan whined.

Yugi shrugged. "It's a soulroom. And with Yami…" he tapped a finger on his jaw. "How did I once describe it to him? Ah. 'Your Impossibly Confusing, Physics Defying, Logic Screwing, Trap-filled Giant Maze Room Thing.' "

Tentative laughs. Soul rooms aren't exactly a laughing matter…

"So…if it's just a screwed up gravity thingy, they can just come back up, right?" Tea concluded.

Tristan nodded, although both his and Joey's were still facing "downwards." They weren't going to turn around, not when their back would be facing something far, far down…

"Hey!" Joey exclaimed. "I see something!"

"Huh?"

Joey grabbed Tristan's head and pointed in front of them. "See? There? Do you see what I see?"

"I'm not seein' anything, man." Tristan pushed on Joey's arm.

Joey whacked Tristan's head. "Numskull. Right there! See? It's the sixth door!"

"You mean the sixth door is down there?" Ryou said incredulously.

"Yeah! I see it! It's got the Scales!" Joey grinned and slugged Tristan. "Told you luck would do it!" Joey waved. "So just come on down!"

"We just…walk off?" Tea frowned.

Yugi shrugged. "How else?" Yugi tapped his jaw with a finger. "Come to think of it, I often see Yami seemingly walk upside down. I guess he does this a lot. Huh. Here, I'll go first."

And with that, he walked over to the edge, and stepped off.

Tea bit back a scream.

Yugi gave a thumbs up. "Nothing to it." He winked. "Just do it, it makes it a lot easier if you don't think about it."

Joey and Tristan moved forward a few more spaces, to make more room. Yugi walked down further. "Come on!"

Tea looked behind her, and saw everyone else staring at her. Well, she was the closest… Taking a deep breath, Tea stood up and touched her foot on the nearest spot, bending her foot in a peculiar angle. The wall/floor didn't fall apart, didn't seem slippery, and it seemed solid. Swallowing, Tea shifted her weight over the edge and placed her other foot over the edge. She was now officially on the edge. And standing horizontally. There wasn't even a jolt or anything to signify the total weirdness of it all.

Tea took a few steps. Gravity did seem to be working right…in that she wasn't falling to a pulp. And although she was sideways, it didn't feel sideways.

"Okay, this is really, really, really unnerving…" Tea muttered.

Well, there was nothing left for the three guys on top but to go over. Muttering stuff about Escher, messed up minds, and the need for logic, Kaiba went over first. Ryou then went second, and for a moment considered crawling. That was before Bakura began a tirade and Ryou remembered that it wasn't that much different from his own soulroom, anyway…just a bit …steeper…and complicated. Shadi finished the train of the horizontal travelers.

Once they had gotten sufficiently far enough away from their "higher" starting point, they got used to it. Everything felt normal, even if their minds were screaming, You're gonna fall! After a while, it felt as if what they were walking on was the right way, and any other way was wrong. There were still hallways and passageways all over the place, although the door was just straight ahead. Even if some doors were kind of part of the ceiling, it was normal. Just one more check for wacko designing.

Joey trotted forward. "There it is! The door of the Scale!"

Everyone walked over. Sure enough, it was the door they were seeking, the symbol of the Scale embossed into the heavy iron door. And sure enough, it was locked.

Kaiba half-heartedly tried the door handle. Nope. "Locked. Again."

"Well, if it's locked, there's gotta be one of those lines, right?" Joey pointed out. "To give us a clue?"

Kaiba waved at the door. "Alright then, search to your heart's content."

Joey bounced over, and stared. Iron, smooth stuff, funky markings, funky markings, more funky markings (when would they ever know what they'd say?), funky mark, squiggly line, Eye thingy…huh…up a bit…

"Hey!" Joey pointed a finger to the upper right-hand corner of the door. "I think that's it!"

"That was fast," Tristan remarked.

Joey squinted his eyes and read aloud, Those who knock, open.

"Aww, that's just too easy!" Joey complained. "All we gotta do is knock!" And with that, he banged on the door. "Hey! Door of the Scale! Open up!"

Nothing. Well, maybe a bit of rumbling, but the door stayed shut.

"Um…maybe if you were more polite?" Yugi said.

Joey drooped a little. "Oops." Clearing his throat and knocking lightly on the door this time, he repeated, "Please open, Door of the Scale, with cherry on top?"

The door seemed to squeak its amusement as it opened. Before the memory opened and the tale unfolded again, Kaiba muttered, "Yea. Storytime." And then it was off to the burning sands of ancient Egypt… ~ ~

We raced our horses down the last few streets, running beneath an omen so heavy and dark it seemed as if it were all over already.

As we neared Jonouchi's home, I could also hear Seto whispering behind me. "Oh no…not the sign…"

To my despair, I could see the mark of warning on Jonouchi's doorway. The sign of the sparrow. Mer. Sickness.

Stay Out.

"Oh Osiris, do not take him yet…" I prayed fervently. "Let him still be in the realm of the living…let his judgement be stayed, your hand of justice be generous…"

Seto practically leapt off his horse's back and slammed the door open with his staff.

"Open in the name of the Pharaoh!"

Eerie silence.

The door creaked, bending from the blow Seto had given it. There was only the wind and the wails from outside. No servants, no sounds of birds fluttering about, not even the pet monkey chittering at the stranger's arrival. Nothing. Not even Jonouchi's loud voice in complaint. That in itself was eerie.

"Where is everyone?" Mahado wondered. "Have they all just…disappeared?"

Akunadin raised an eyebrow. "I take it that this is unusual?"

I frowned. "Very unusual." I dismounted, and led Wahankh into the inner courtyard. The rest of my priests followed. The horses' hooves echoed in the stillness. The ovens were cold and there were half-done mud bricks lying about. It was as if this house was deserted. Wahankh whickered, nervous in the silence.

"Peace, Wahankh." I rubbed his forehead as I tied the reins to a sycamore tree in the corner of the courtyard. "There is no need to fear."

"Ya…mi? That…you?" A raspy voice called.

I yanked my head towards the sound. "Jonouchi!"

Seto's brows furrowed, calculating. "He's not where he usually is, from the sound of his voice." He turned his head, trying to pinpoint where Jonouchi must be.

I cupped the Puzzle, whispering a few words. A soft glow, and I could see Jonouchi lying on a cot, peering at a window. "He's in one of the other inner rooms." Then the view widened, and I inhaled sharply. "…along with a body."

Mahado's eyes widened. "What?"

Isis touched the eye of the Tauk. "I foresee death…"

"Yeah, well if we keep standing here wondering about it, it'll probably happen!" Seto jabbed the Rod towards a door to our right. "He must be in there."

And then my priests noticed that they were talking amongst themselves, because I had already left them for Jonouchi. I could hear them running after me, Seto cursing the loudest.

"Yami! You could have waited!"

"What, and lose more time to Anubis?"

They were now close enough that I could hear Akunadin mutter, "Youngsters today."

We came to our destination soon enough, the Puzzle glowing in the darkness. Taking a deep breath, and nodding to my priests as they took their proper position, I opened the door.

Jonouchi was stretched out on a stuffed straw bed, weakly waving a hand in welcome. His right arm was crudely bandaged with a strip of linen.

Slumped over his legs on the edge of the bed was the body.

And in horror I recognized it.

"No. This cannot be true." I clenched my fists and turned from the empty shell. "Gods, this is too horrible. Don't do this to me."

Seto shook his head and sighed. "Ah, why did it have to be Anzu?"

Anzu, old friend. I had known her for years, ever since Seto and I began our late-night excursions. She had been a dancer; always listening to music -- all kinds -- and trying out new steps from the traders that came by. Now she'd never move again, never tap out a new rhythm, never thwap Seto and I, never know the truth…

She was lying over Jonouchi's bed in a posture of protection, her hands outstretched as if in prayer. Her face was streaked with tears. There was no mark on her, nothing that told us what had killed her.

Jonouchi coughed, and struggled to sit up to speak better. "Cursed…assassin…"

"What?" Mahado whirled his head around. "Anzu was assassinated?"

Jonouchi's eyes went blank. "Anzu had seen the mark outside…she came in anyway…

"Then they came in here…they were all clothed in black, with masks…and all with some mark on their arm…a long, twisted one…

"One of them said something, I don't know…something in a different language, I think…and Anzu just-- sighed, and died…

"I think they were going to get me too, but one said that I was good as dead anyway, and that they had accomplished everything already…" Jonouchi hissed. "And I could do nothing…" He gave up speaking more though, and simply concentrated at sitting, breathing heavily, blood slowly dripping out of his nose.

"Someone's coordinating this," Seto muttered. "They're attacking your friends. People who they know will affect you, Pharaoh."

"Who would dare act against you, Pharaoh?" Isis whispered, staring at the dead face. "And why?"

I closed my eyes and breathed. Outside, I could hear the wail of mourners, their cries echoing in heavy, dank air. I had thought times like these would be over; that I had finished my father's job. That the prophecy of peace would come true during my reign as foretold.

"Anzu, Anzu…" My voice cracked. "Khohkh…"

"What was that?" Seto said sharply. "What did you say?"

"That is irrelevant." Shadi said, and grabbed my shoulders. "Pharaoh, enough. What concerns us now is the one we came here for."

I opened my eyes, startled out of my reverie. "Gods--" There were other casualties in this tragedy--

I turned to see Jonouchi faintly smiling, and then give a loud, hacking cough. He shuddered and collapsed back onto the bed.

"Jonouchi!" I grabbed his unbandaged arm. A weak pulse. "You're not giving up now!"

Jonouchi coughed again. "Not-- intending-- to…"

Isis swiftly reached out and touched his brow. His eyes rolled into the back of his head. "Sleep," she commanded. He fell back and the tension went out of his body. Isis turned to me. "We must act now. Whatever you planned to do, Pharaoh, do it now!"

I nodded. "Link together!"

The Millenium Items flared, and our magics merged into one. I opened my eyes to see everything washed in a pale golden sheen, the magical energies that flowed around our auras of protection. This was the overworld of energy, a world overlaying the "real" world and a part of it, much like the famed "Shadow Realm." Linked this way, it would be easier to manipulate magical energies.

I raised a fist, sheathed in magical fire. :Here we go. May Ra protect us and Horus guide us.:

:Amen,: my priests echoed.

And with that, we merged our spirits into Jonouchi's body, seeking the enemy. We sunk deeper, past a crackling, breaking layer of skin, past a layer of muscle and bone that rippled and sparked with pain, down to the layer of enemy. Unlike last time, when we became part of the body's minuscule physical world and existed at their level, we "floated" over one of many battlefields and observed the carnage below us.

The battle was already in the favor of the Ravager. Thousands of them, twisted things, attacking, eating, multiplying, completely ignoring the weakened defense.

In this state, linked to the magical energies of this world, the Ravager had a new appearance. They manifested into the likeness of the cobra, with eyes and scales as black as Seth, scales rippling and convulsing. Some even had the wings of dragons from legend. Their mouths gaped open to reveal long, curved fangs, screaming in silent defiance.

And even though this beast was purely and wholly evil, it was beautiful in its own twisted way. Their scales shone with black fire, and they moved with deadly elegance. The melding of its lust for blood and its ice-cold hate was wondrous in its sheer ingenuity.

They were the face of Nature itself, the obscene goddess revealed naked. This life form thing was breathtakingly beautiful.

:Osiris, Isis, and Horus.: Seto swore softly. :Such power…:

:Power gained through stolen blood,: Isis said acidly. :Or do you wish to harness this power as well, Seto?:

Seto glared at her, or more specifically, her green aura. :Of course not. I was merely commenting on its flawless design.:

:And so we aim to create a flawless defense to counteract that.: I turned my awareness to face my priests.

:We are the Seven. Below us struggle the seven defenders. Each of you, take one, and transform them into a being that can overcome our foe. Give them a part of your essence, your power, so that they can truly become a army of defense.: I raised my right hand. :I myself shall lead the war with the Commanders. What say you?:

Shadi bowed his head. :Pharaoh, if you will allow, I will take the Small Eaters.:

Isis stepped forward. :If Shadi undertakes the Small Eaters, I shall take the Big Eaters. Our items work well together, and so do the main fighters of this army.:

I nodded, :Done, and done.:

:I offer to strengthen the Armmasters.: Karim fingered his Scale. :I shall give them the Fire they need to arm and train the Little Ones to their utmost.:

Mahado stepped forward. :Then I shall guide the Little Ones.: He smiled. :If Karim gives them Fire, I shall give them the Wind, and speed, to catch the Ravager.:

:I shall counsel the Elders,: Akunadin said. :I have lived a long life, and I shall simply add to their wisdom.:

I nodded again, and turned to Seto. He smirked.

:What, do you even need to ask?: Seto twirled the Rod around his fingers. :I ally myself with the Killers, beings of War. They will equal the Darkness in the Ravager when I'm through.:

:Very apt,: I agreed. :To each their own. This is the best usage of our strengths. Shadi, find the main training ground for each group of the army.:

Shadi cupped the Ankh in his hands, and whispered a few words. Seven balls of golden light no bigger than our hands flew out, circling us. Then they touched our heads in acknowledgement, one for each of us, and they chittered in the back of our minds.

:Followfollowfollow,: they said.

I flung out my hands. :Go, and may the gods be with you.:

The golden spheres flew off in every direction. My priests trailed after, separating their paths.

As for myself, my "guide" led me upward, to the command center. We "flew" past the heart and the lungs, already becoming a small battlefield of the war within. I could hear the magical cries of pain below, vibrating the lines of Power in our wake.

:Hurryhurry, bigpain quickquick needhelp realfast--: The ball of light urged, swinging around and even pushing me along. :Gogogo!:

:Alright, alright.: I patted the being's head. This creation acts very much like Mahado's pet Kuriboh. So…hyperactive. :Patience, little friend.:

It "blinked." :Patience? What that?:

Ehrm. :…Never mind.:

It "blinked" again, and flew upward a little. :We therethere!: Then it made a half circle, and zoomed down, leaving a trail of light sparkles behind. It seemed to observe everything, flying about and lightly touching the white orbs, as if testing them. I followed behind, amused at the indignant appearance of the orbs after being "tested."

:Herehere! This one!: It bounced around a particular orb. :Helphelp this one!:

I descended, and held my hand out in greeting. :Peace. I bring help.:

Tcha. About time, the large orb said. The High Command said the Great Leader would come and help "soon." Blasted government stalling.

It --he-- nodded, and pulled in his flanges, looking for all the world like a general receiving orders. What do you ask of us?

:All that you are, and more.:

He gruffly said, Been doing that. Haven't done much good. My captains are going nuts. I've thrown everything we have against this enemy, and we're already losing.

I stretched out a hand, mage-fire dancing around. :Ah, but I offer you what you need to fight the Ravager.: I stepped forward, and touched him in his center. :You have done well by yourself, with only your resolve and instinct to guide you. I offer you this: Experience. With this, you will gain knowledge, hope, and the power to see beyond. Yet this will come at a price: the burden of Command. Do you accept?:

He ruffled around the edges. What am I to question my duty to protect?

I smiled. :We are much alike, you and I, two beings duty bound to protect their own.: With the power of the Puzzle I created a link between myself and this general. :Here, this I give you. Watch, and learn.:

In a flash of a moment, I transferred all of my experience in the military and as Pharaoh to this one soldier. All that I had learned, of skill, of strategy, of tactics, poured into his collective knowledge. He learned the power of Truth and its double edge, the power of optimism and also of pessimism. He experienced, as I had experienced, the cutthroat politics in the palace, of how to maneuver and manipulate the unsuspecting, the ways of attaining and holding of power. And he saw, as I had seen, men that I was responsible for die in battle. For this was the price of command, the lesson of expediency: that what is ideal is not always the best, that as the commander he must see to the safety of those below him, and yet sacrifice those same soldiers to the lesser of two evils.

To be a good soldier you must love the army. But to be a good officer you must be willing to order the death of something you love. That is…a very hard thing to do. No other profession requires it.

One last thing I gave him, the power of seeing beyond. I reached deeper, and showed him the web that ties us all together, a connection of life and Power. This, I told him, would give him a tactical advantage like none other. No longer would he have to wait for messengers and signals. He must only reach out and in, and grasp the lines of Power, to know where and what each and every soldier was doing. He could even communicate with them directly.

All of this knowledge and experience transferred into his being in one shattering blow, and for a brief moment he experienced sentience.

Then it was gone, but we could both see into the web, and observed the other six gaining in ability.

From Shadi, master of water-- :I give you resilience, the ability to change and flow in the barrage of the enemy.:

From Isis, master of earth-- :I give you strength and endurance, to push onward in the face of adversity.:

From Karim, master of fire-- :I give you skill, so that you may pass it on to others and that they too, will past the test of Fire.:

From Mahado, master of wind-- :I give you the essence of the Wind itself, to fly above all others, able to capture anything.:

From Akunadin, master of ice-- :I give you wisdom, and caution, so that those who listen will be the ones who remain.:

From Seto, master of darkness-- :I give you cunning and Power itself, for with these you will be able to overcome any foe.:

With a wrenching of effort I broke the connection.

The Commander backed off, shaking slightly. I see, and I understand.

I shook my head. :Yes, this is the price of understanding.: I pushed him away further, urging, :Now go. Hurry, for now you have a chance against the Ravager.:

Yes--I thank you-- And as he turned away and I pulled myself out of Jonouchi's body, I could see the mark of the Puzzle on his center.

+ + + + +

Slowly we returned to our real bodies and relinquished our hold on Jonouchi's body. A few of us winced in pain (notably Akunadin) in being back in the "real" world.

Akunadin groaned. "This had better work, because I do not believe my joints are up to a second attempt."

I stared down at Jonouchi, who was sleeping peacefully. "Let us hope that indeed it was enough."

Seto's eyes widened. "Yami…what, no, why, is that thing still here?"

I looked up, confused, to see my "guide" still with me. The thing circled around my head a few times, and then pounced over to Jonouchi.

:Get better realquick now!: It bounced on top of Jonouchi's chest. :We all helphelp!:

I raised an eyebrow. "Apparently it came along with me." I looked around though, after all, Shadi had also created six other light-balls. "Although it appears that only my guide is present."

Shadi frowned. "They were to disappear after their task was complete."

Mahado shrugged. "It does not matter." He tilted his head. "In fact, it is somewhat --what is the term for it?-- ah, 'cute.' "

And to that, the little light ball glowed in pleasure.

All eyebrows went up. Significant pause.

"Well Shadi, that must have been one par-ti-cular spell you set up," Seto remarked.

"Yes, well, the shaping of my spell has nothing to do with whether or not this cure for Jonouchi will work," Shadi said irritably.

Somewhat rebuked, Seto turned around and looked down at Jonouchi. "He seems to be doing fine."

Isis walked over and touched Jonouchi's forehead. "No apparent physical struggle."

I bit the inside of my lip. "That does not mean he does not struggle within. The Ravager had a head start, and the defense only newly made."

"You intend to balance them then?" Karim frowned. "That will drain a great deal of your strength, Pharaoh. You have only minimal abilities in Healing."

"I have enough," I said tersely, calling on the Puzzle again. Once again the Puzzle glowed with magic. "I will not break my promise a second time."

I sent strength into Jonouchi, pulling in magic and transmuting it into energy that Jonouchi could use. The little ball of light squeaked and then to my surprise, began giving energy to Jonouchi as well. Jonouchi was practically glowing in the sheer energies flowing through him. I could feel the Ravager resisting though, though it began to feel desperate…

Then the light-ball jerked up, pulsating. Fear radiated out of it.

:Upupup!: it squealed. :FearenemyBADMAN!: Then with a burst of pure light, it shattered into pieces. Even more energy rushed into Jonouchi's body.

Jonouchi gasped loudly, and the glow around him visibly shook. Once. Twice. Screams ripped out of Jonouchi's throat, screams that came from the beast that possessed him within. I could see black magic streaming out of his body, exorcised by the influx of pure energy streaming through him. And then the shield around him broke, leaving him sitting upright, whole and healthy.

"I'm…healed?…" Then intelligence and urgency flooded into his eyes. And fear; terrible fear.

"Gods-- Yami, look out!"

I jerked back in surprise, Jonouchi lunging off the bed and shoving me onto the floor. His right hand flickered out sideways, then snapped forward. A barked cry echoed in the room, followed by a choking gasp and the thud of a body hitting the ground. Then I heard I a low moan, and Jonouchi slowly collapsed over me.

Dead. ~ ~

In a place where the mortal eye cannot see, another cell stepped forward, the mark of the Scales prominently on its center. Unlike its counterpart, this one was quite solid and steady, ready for the harsh duty before it.

For this was its duty: that those it taught would not be killed or injured. In the real world, there would be no gentleness. Better to understand harshness here, and live, then softness, and die.

And that was the problem now -- they were too soft. They were used to the easy-life style of before, when they were the big dogs among the small ones. So now, when the time came to show their mettle, they shriveled up and died.

The time had come for them to learn the pain of truth. It was time to push them beyond their limit, until they became what they were meant to be-- warriors.

It moved outward, and began to ruthlessly press its trainees. This is what you must do, he told them, this is how you must act, this will be your enemy. This is what you'd better be ready to face when you pass through the test of Fire. For the time will come when you will be alone and there will be nothing between Death and yourself except your skill.

For it knew of what was to come. And they must all be prepared for war…

~ * * * * * ~

Bakura walked. And laughed. Walked, stuffed his hands his pockets, and laughed.

He liked the sound of his laughter. Echoing in the hallway, reverberating and increasing in wildness, heightening the lower sounds of hisses, clicks, and a peculiar rumbling…

Bakura had finally found It.

And to think it was so simple!

That, in itself, made Bakura laugh, with positive evil glee.

The Ravager laughed with him in its peculiar language of hisses and growls. It too, rejoiced in the finding of the thing that would make the Pharaoh fall. Finally, their long awaited revenge would be completed.

Revenge, after all, is a dish best eaten cold.

Bakura sauntered about, randomly opening doors and peeking around. After all, he had gotten what he wanted. Now it was time for some…fun.

Oh yes. This was the life. Walking about the Pharaoh's chambers, looking at whatever at will, breaking all rules, and messing anything and everything up. He drew graffiti on the old brick walls, kicked holes in the floor, and took great joy in triggering traps.

And all the while, he laughed.

"Where are you now, oh Great Pharaoh?" he mocked. "Lost in your own pathetic mind, trapped within your own traps, and falling prey to the thing you thought you had beaten so very long ago. You fool, don't you ever learn that the darkness cannot be stopped?"

Bakura laughed, and laughed, and laughed at this. He still laughed as he went back into the Ring, a high, wild laugh that spoke of a not quite stable mind.

* * * * *

Far off in a land isolated by nature, a man laughed along with him. Cloaked in black, as befitting his nature, he sat in the shadows and played with a little stiletto, running the sharp blade around and over his fingers.

His laugh was soft and low, almost crooning in delight.

Then suddenly, he stabbed the stiletto into the black ebony wood of his chair. The man snarled.

"Now we have It. Now we have the surety of success." He fingered the quivering hilt. "Now this is the time, my pet, to show him your true power…"

* * * * *

Yugi drifted between consciousness and the memory-world. Vaguely he traveled along the line that would take him back into his own mind, but his grip was unsure. Slowly he slipped, and he was pulled onto a different path.

At first the pull was slight, but it became more and more urgent the closer Yugi got to it. Confused, Yugi emerged out of the tunnel and found himself floating over Yami. Yami was curled in around the hospital blankets, sleeping fitfully.

Yugi blinked. How'd this happen? Hesitantly, he touched Yami's brow, only to see his hand go right through Yami. Apparently Yugi was in a spirit form.

Yugi tried their link. /Mou hitori no boku?/

// ??? … // Then blood-red eyes shot open, wild and dilated.

"See?!?"

Ohhh boy. Yugi thought furiously. That was Egyptian, he knew that much. Other than that he was clueless. He tried again.

/Yami? Yami! It's me!/

Yami turned, looking paranoid. There was a voice inside in his head. That was not good.

"Tjen ashu netek? Netek see?"

Shoot. Man, Yugi thought, I really need to learn Egyptian. Yugi tried to mind-touch Yami again, this time sending images of himself down the link.

Yami blinked. It was the boy. The boy from the memories. The boy was speaking to him?!?

/Please, Yami! Don't you remember me?/

Yami cautiously spoke back. //…Who speaks?//

Yugi sweatdropped. Well, that was progress. /Yugi. Your aibou./ Yugi saw confusion go through his yami's eyes.

//…I- I don't…remember…you…//

Yugi reeled back. Didn't remember him? After all they'd been through? How?

//But I know you…in dreams…//

Yugi whirled around. What?!

Yami slowly stretched out a hand. //I can't see you…// His hand went through Yugi's incorporeal body. //…But I know you're here…with me…//

Tears began to well up in Yugi's eyes, even though as a spirit, he could not shed them like a mortal. He reached for Yami's own hand and tried to touch it. /I'm right here./

Yami dropped his hand. //I don't know you…but without you, I'd be falling down…// His eyes slowly closed, and he fell back down on the bed. //Falling…falling down…//

/No! Yami, I'm right here. I won't let you fall./ Yugi floated right in front of Yami's face, as if Yami could see him.

//Don't know who you are…// Yami mumbled, drifting back into sleep. //But I need you here with me…//

/Yes, I'm here. Till the end of all time, I will be here. Hold onto that, Yami. Remember that./

//…Holding on…//

Yugi smiled, and suddenly found words popping into his mind. It was the Japanese version of an Egyptian lullaby Yami had once sung to him. Slowly, Yugi lowered his head so that their foreheads touched, and repeated the words.

"You arise, O Ra
You arise…
I will not give you up,
I will not give the child…"

Slowly Yugi was pulled back, back into his own mind. Yugi reached out with his hand and lightly brushed Yami's brow. Yugi continued to say the words of the song.

"My hand lies on,
The seal is your protection.
Ra arises.
See, I protect you."

He looked down at Yami, who was now resting peacefully. /Don't worry, mou hitori no boku. I'm always here./

And as the image of Yami misted away, Yugi felt one last mind-touch.

//Don't know who you are…but I know you'll be back again…//

/I will, mou hitori no boku. I'll be back./

* * * * *

This time their positions were switched. It was Grandpa now watching worryingly over the hospital bed, and Yugi's mother who was actually in the hospital bed. All right, so the settings were a bit different -- it wasn't a real hospital bed because Mary wasn't exactly in critical condition, so Mary was actually lying on a sofa with a spare oxygen mask over her mouth -- but the conditions were the same.

All they could do was hope.

Solomon watched her breathing. In…out…good, she was relaxing…come to think of it, he was relaxing too…huh…in…out…

Mary blinked. Gasped.

"Ho there!" Solomon beamed. "You're awake!"

Mary looked down to see a mask covering her face. Uh… "Mmph."

Solomon stared at the mask too. "Um. Here. Let me try getting this off." He reached over and tugged at it. Hmmm. Very tight. He tugged harder, Mary trying as well.

Mary pulled backwards, Solomon pulled forwards, and whenever that happens in the cartoons, both parties fall over and the thing in question pops off into the air.

POP!

HIIIIIISSS!!

Mary rubbed her face, trying to get that universal red mark off her face. She turned to see Solomon staring wide-eyed. "What's wrong?"

"Um…" Solomon pointed.

The oxygen mask, which was still attached to the oxygen tank via a nice, long tube, was now waving madly around in the air and hissing away. People were looking at them strangely.

"Uh oh."

"Um…how do you turn it off?"

Solomon got off the sofa and bent down, shielding with his hands so that the erroneous oxygen mask would not hit his face. "Ow! … Where's the off button when you need it? … Aha!" Solomon flipped a valve, and sighed as the hissing sound went away and the flying mask landed. "I think we'd better give this back."

Mary nodded, and helped Solomon pick it up. They both walked over to the ER doors and gave the stuff to the nurse, who dubiously looked at the mask. It looked broken…

They were just leaving the ER hallway when they met the other relatives. The entire group froze for a moment, and then a huge I'm-so-sorry-about-what's-happened-to-you gathering-thing spontaneously occurred.

"I'm so sorry about your daughter!"

"I do hope they'll get better."

"Did you hear the news?"

"No! What did it say?"

"They've closed the roads and airlines. We're advised to stay indoors."

"Not that I'm leaving! My son's in there, and I'm not leaving until he does!"

Serenity and Mokuba looked wide-eyed at all of the adults talking.

Mokuba sniffled. "I really, really, really want my ni-sama back…"

Serenity covered her eyes. "I do too! Oh, why does he always get into trouble?"

"There there now, everything's going to be fine." Solomon patted them both on the shoulder. "Joey? Oh my dear, you needn't worry about him. He'll pull through. And Kaiba? Do you really think he'd give up? Believe me, your big brothers are fighting whatever it is with all they've got."

The roundabout sympathy giving was becoming a bit strained now. Mary sighed.

"I suppose that we'll have to leave soon. Visiting hours will end soon."

Mrs. Gardener nodded, crestfallen. "Yes. Besides, we need to close up the studio."

"Oh, shoot. I still have work to do." Mr. Taylor slapped himself on the head. "How can something so mundane have to come between me and my son? Ah, life…" He grumbled.

The traveler, who had introduced himself as simply Mr. Bakura, shook his head. "I'm not leaving. I promised Ryou I'd be back today, and I won't leave him."

Mokuba looked around. "Do I have to go?"

"I'm not leaving Joey," Serenity said firmly. "I'm going to stay right here, even if I have to hide in a closet!"

"No, you'll won't need to do that," Solomon said. "Here, I'll stay with you two and make sure you can stay with your brothers. The nurses won't shoo me away." He beamed. "Because I'm on first-name basis with them!"

Mary waved to Mr and Mrs. Gardener and Mr. Taylor, who were leaving now. Mr. Bakura had decided to go to the cafeteria to drink some coffee. She turned to see Solomon herding the two children off somewhere. As if sensing her concern, Solomon turned around and mouthed, I'll take care of the children. Mary nodded.

Then it was just her, all alone.

She walked over to a small sofa and took a deep breath. Well, she couldn't do anything more. It was up to fate now.

As in the time-honored traditions of mothers in distress, she began to pray.

"Oh Lord, keep him safe. Help him get well. Guide him, oh Lord; do not leave him, I ask you. Carry him in this time of trouble, please Lord, he's my only son…"

* * * * *

To the Ravager, patience is not a virtue.

Hate is.

And the Ravager has been waiting long enough.

Tick. Tock. Tick.

[1] = ^_^ Might start off this darkish fic with some humor, eh? ^^ Yes, these acronyms are in English, so it's not exactly Japanese-translatable…but hey, need some fun in a place of death, right?
LOL = Little Old Lady;
Crispy critter = burn victim;
FOS = Full of Stool; (you do know what that means, right?)
Code Brown = >> Someone took a nasty dump; (unconscious people can't control their own bodies, you know)
GSW = gunshot wound;

[2] = "Zebra Case" -- by now, because of the Hot Zone and the media, there's a famous saying that's becoming a cliche: "If you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." In the medical world that means, "Go for the likely diagnosis." Ebola symptoms often look like flu symptoms, but that doesn't mean every doctor who sees the flu thinks Ebola; they think of something ordinary, like horses. ^^ Just wait, though. Just wait.

[3] = "…pull a 21." -- Something I've made up myself. I've heard somewhere that whenever someone dies he/she automatically, at the moment of death, loses 21 grams. (Of course, you may lose more via loss of fluids…) So by "pull a 21," I mean dying. Oh, and note that 3 x 7 = 21. Three, the magical number; and seven, the perfect number. ^_^ SEEVVEEN!!

[4] = the sign of the sparrow is actually a determinative. A determinative in Egyptian hieroglyphics is a glyph that makes clear of the meaning of a potentially confusing word (like in the English language of homonyms). They kind of "group" words. The sparrow was used for small, bad, weak or negative things. What Yami would really be seeing on the door but isn't due to the hurriedness of the scribe is a funky lamp/staff thing, an owl, a mouth below the owl, and the sparrow facing left w/ its tail downward.

[5] = This is actually an early morning spell to be read over a child. But yes, this is a real Egyptian poem.

(6) Egyptian: I want to say here that what I have written in the chapter is the actual pronunciation in Egyptian hieroglyphics; with a few exceptions, which I state here. One: I do not use the transliteration, I use the translation/pronunciation. If you read the words below out loud, you will be speaking approximate Egyptian. (Which is cool, which is why I go through all the trouble to do this.)Approximate, because one, Egyptians usually did not write vowels in their hieroglyphic writing. As customary today, I put in "e" where needed. Two, I have used the traditional substitution of "a" for the transliteration symbols of 3 and 9, or in hieroglyphs, the vulture and the forearm. Famous example: Re vs Ra. The transliteration of the god's name is r9. The correct pronunciation is Re (with that funky triangle symbol on top of the e). The traditional "pronunciation" is Ra. For ease of speaking, since 3 and 9 are hard to pronounce, I stick with "a." Because I use the pronunciation and not the transliteration, it's really hard to know if I'm doing the right thing. But I think you readers would rather have something pronounceable than some weird thing like iaH, msD(i), or ntk. [Bonuses to those that know what those are!] Lastly, I am not an expert in ancient Egyptian, but I sure am trying...
nen renet emem ahnkhoo = His name shall not be among the living. Fitting, yes?
chsm = dog. See, the dog thing's universal.
see = who?/what?/which?, here meaning, What?!?
tjen ashu netek? = Where are you? [tentative grammar]
netek see? = Who are you?

~ Author's End Notes ~

Toboe LoneWolf: *laughs hysterically* Joey's death was the most fun thing to write in this chapter!!!

Joey: >.< Oh goodie.

Toboe LoneWolf: I get you all thinking Joey's gonna make it, and then poof! Byebye! *laughs and laughs and laughs* I love lines are com-pletely unexpected! Alrighty then...miscellaneous info time!

Cast: >> Yea.

Toboe LoneWolf: *sighs* A cool thing I've found out: if you guys have a T-89 graphing calculator, type in "ravager" with without hitting the alpha key (so you get the letter's numerical/symbolical entry). What you get is "2=0=7/2". Check it out! It has the millenium eye in it (=0=), the number seven, (7, WOOT!) and if you imagine it, the "2" and the "/2" can represent the cane and flail held by the Pharaohs. Cool, huh? And it's hidden within the Ravager's name!!

Djanil: You know, only you are geek-enough and obsessed enough to type in "ravager" into your graphing calculator.

Toboe LoneWolf: …I'm not sure if this works on other graphing calculators, but it's really cool! ...Right?

Yami: ...Perhaps they just don't care? …

Toboe LoneWolf: >> Sic 'im, Ravie!

Ebola Plushie: Raaarrr!!! *bounces and snuggles on top of Yami, who is still on the hospital bed*

Yami: O_O GET THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!!

Toboe LoneWolf: Awww, just look at it! It's so cute! Ke'ai! Kaaawwwwaaaiii!!

Djanil: Great, now you're speaking in different languages…

Yami: I have enough problems in the fic, now you have to torture me with plushies?!?

Toboe LoneWolf:…Oh all right. I'll save it for the theoretical "cast party" later. Fun later. ^_^ Torture now.

Yami: *groans*

Toboe LoneWolf: Next chappie, we have some problems. Of course. The gang really gets some Escher action, they have a bit of "Adventure Education," we have a spotlight on Bakura and Ryou, Kaiba gets whacked mentally on the head, and finally Mom gets some reassurance. Ta-da! Coming sometime in my lifetime!

Djanil: That's real encouraging…

Yami: Please don't prolong the torture…

Toboe LoneWolf: Funfunfun, oh yes. *grins* This is going to be fun. Thank you all for reading, and catch you later!