Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ You Are Not Alone ❯ Osiris ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: Zzzzzzzzz…….zzzzzzzzzzzz………Huh?

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, it's just you guys. I really need a lot of sleep lately. ^_^

Anyhow…...

I'M SO GLAD THE REVIEWERS LOVE MY FIC!

Even if it's just one, I'm glad someone likes it, and I owe them a lot!!!!!!

Thanks to everyone too. I really hope you guys are still enjoying!!!!

BY ZE WEY:

Malik- The Yami

Marik- The Hikari

NO YAIOI/YURI HERE!

*SENET- a game played to decide Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt. They take this seriously though! (You wouldn't wanna know what happens to the losers, what they do, I mean)

**TEMPEST WING IS NOT AN ATTACK! It's one of the ways Horus controls the wind in the fic, and since Yugi has the God's powers and probably the God himself, Horus' powers are his and most likely Horus protects him too.

You Are Not Alone

Dark Strider

Chapter II:

Figure It Out…

~Seth found out that the Hikaris have the talismans. He's after them and the Hikaris must figure out the power of their Talismans before Seth takes the magical new items. Sure, the others, especially their Yamis (if Bakura would do anything that is) will do anything to protect them, but how long will they last against the God…?~

Times of Osiris :

Day 1-

Uncovering Truths and Tearing Bleeding Hearts

***

It was never joy standing alone…

It was never peace wandering…

It was never love shutting away…

Alas, it was never life…

Summer Break:

~Dear Journal

I am recounting to you what happened the last three days. I mean this is REALLY weird, but true. Oh I wish it was not me who had to go through this, but fate chose me. I have to fulfill what it entrusted to me.

I have no one to share to, not even Yami for now, but I have this really powerful Talisman, a magical object that I don't know how to work it, but I am sure I should find how, or else I'll be killed by those who want me dead.

Anyway, you see what happened back then…~

Last Friday…

Everything seemed perfectly normal. It nearly slipped out of Yugi's mind about those funny talismans, what happened before. Ryou looked like it was just in the past, a past worthy of being forgotten.

Yugi stored the books of my last subjects in the locker then headed to the Park where Jou, Ryou, Honda and Anzu were waiting.

"Hey Yug', let's move! I've got to see the new game in the Arcade!" Jou waved as Yugi approached.

"Yeah, Jou, how many times have you been saying that?" Honda grinned.

"Yipe!"

"Like a minimal fifty times per hour."

"Honda!"

"Will you two PLEASE!" Anzu shouted, shutting the pair up.

"As always." Ryou sighed.

"Let's just go." The tri-colored haired boy smiled as the group left for the Arcade.

A few hours later, Yugi left with Ryou earlier because Anzu still had to go to a library, Jou and Honda had their reasons to stay at the arcade.

"Hmm, tomorrow's Saturday so that means Yami and I will be stuck forever bored, so do you want to have a sleep over with Yami and I? Jou, Honda and Anzu…erm okay so they didn't…uh they are all busy and I noticed that you don't have anything else to do too. Puleeeeeeezzzz say yes, 'cause I don't wanna be bored this weekend, Grandpa's out all week anyway!!!" Yugi showed at once his cute, irresistible puppy face. And with the look on Ryou's face, he know the other boy can't refuse.

"It's fine with me Yugi, but Ba-"

"We'll work something out, if they get too wild, I'll kick them to the basement. Deal?"

Ryou laughed a bit. "Oh all right. I'll make the arrangements."

Yugi looked like he could hug him any minute. "THANK YOU, A BILLION THANKS TO YOU RYOU-CHAN!!!"

"Erm, okay Yugi…"

A creaking noise made the pair jump…

"Hello, squirts…" a burly man came out.

"AAAAHHH!" Yugi gasped.

"Good God!!!" Ryou screamed as the pair started running.

"Too bad you won't get away this easy!" the bully snapped his thumbs and three other thugs popped out of nowhere.

"Yugi, it's a good time now really to call Yami…" Ryou swallowed.

"Uh…" Yugi paused. /Yami!/

//Huh? Yugi?//

/Yami, help me… Ryou…an…/

//Yugi? YUGI!!!//

/Ya…/

"Oh my g0od! I lost connection." Yugi gasped. "What about your Yami?"

"I'll try…" Ryou concentrated. /Yami, can you hear me? Bakura?/

/Ryou…I can't…/

/BAKURA?! BAKURA PLEASE…/

/Ryou…/

"Bakura too…" Ryou swallowed.

"Nowhere to run to now, kids." The bullies sneered.

"Who, who the hell are you? What did you do?" Yugi suddenly found courage to shout at him, wanting to know what happened to his link with his Yami.

"I did nothing child but…" he pointed the Puzzle against Yugi's chest. It was glowing in a purple aura, strangely.

"What's this?" Yugi looked at his Puzzle closely. "Mine too." Ryou raised his Ring. "Yugi, they're not normal. If they can do this to our Yamis, what more…"

"RYOU LOOK OUT!!!"

"AAAHHH!!!" A fist threw Ryou off his feet.

"RYOU-AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Yugi felt someone raise him up. "Let me go! Help, help me please, Yami…"

"He can't hear you, little Yugi…" the bully's eyes turned yellow, like a cat's and so did the rest of the group.

"You…you're no human!" Ryou trembled.

"You've met your ends, kids." The group grinned.

"WHY?!" Yugi hollered, struggling against the bully's grip.

"Bye bye, little Bakura…" The bully drew a knife and lunged for Ryou.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!" Bakura drew his arms to his head to protect himself.

GREEN BLAST!

"GAK!"

"Huh?" Yugi blinked.

Ryou shivered as he uncovered his face. "What have I done?"

"Ryou-help!" Yugi still struggled, the captor seemed determine to crush him under his grip.

LIGHT OF TRUTH!

"AAH! I CAN'T SEE!"

Yugi looked, as his enemy wailed, stunned.

"Yugi, let's move!" Ryou grabbed Yugi's hand and ran.

"Come back…" was all they heard when the pair dashed madly away from the road.

After a while, Yami came out, looking more panicked than you can imagine. "What the hell happened?! Are you OK, Yugi?"

"A bit breathless but alive…" Yugi choked.

"There were some bullies out there, and he tried to kill us…" Ryou panted. Then Bakura materialized in front of Ryou.

"And is there a good reason why?" Bakura snorted.

"Like you care!" Yami shot at the other spirit.

"Stop it," Ryou panted. "We don't know why."
"And I'm a bit interested at how you got away." Bakura said quickly.

"Erm…" Yugi went pale. "I uh…"

"Ouch…" Ryou wailed, falling to his knees.

"RYOU!" the other three shouted at the same time.

"My side hurts. Can I go home now?" Ryou forced himself up.

"Let me take over." Bakura offered. Ryou looked doubtful. "Only to come back home, I promise…" the Yami assured.

"OK then…" Ryou sighed. "You promised!" With that Bakura took over the Hikari's body.

"Are you sure you're fine, Yugi?" Yami moved over his hikari with concern.

"I'm fine, thanks Yami. But I wouldn't mind having company after what happened, along the way." Yugi smiled.

"Ok then." Yami ruffled his hikari's hair gently.

"Bye then!" Soon, the three parted ways.

***

"Yugi?"

"Hmm, Yami?"

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault. It was that guy's magic, whatever it is that trapped you in the puzzle. I really don't blame you."

"I know you'll forgive but…"

"Yami, if I can forgive you, you can do the same thing to yourself."

"Easy say, hard to do."

"Yami, it's not your fault OK?"

Yami smiled. "Ok, we're home."

"Yey! Back at last!" Yugi smiled.

"Whatever." Yami sighed as he went to the kitchen, while Yugi dashed to his upstairs bedroom.

"We're here, Hikari."

"Thanks, Bakura. I hope you didn't run into any trouble."

"You don't trust me do you?"

"Who would?"

Ryou took control of his own body while Bakura re-emerged by his side, entering the house.

"I don't care if no one in the world believes in me." Bakura flopped down the couch.

"You never cared about anything." Ryou fixed supper.

"What're you having?" Bakura changed the subject.

"Spaghetti and soup, want some?" Ryou asked.

"Whatever." Bakura stretched and lay down the couch.

"Suit yourself." Ryou boiled some water for the soup.

"Ne, Bakura?" Ryou left the soup to boil by itself as he went to see Bakura lying down lazily on the living room couch.

"Hmm?" The spirit asked lazily.

"Did you do something while I lost contact with you?"

"If I can't get out of the ring, how can I even try anything?"

"You mean, you can't do anything? You didn't do that?"

"Did what?"

"…" Ryou paused in thought.

"Ryou?" Bakura noticed the Hikari's worried expression, he knew something was wrong.

"Oh, I - it's nothing…"

"That doesn't sound nothing, what's with you?"

"Soup's ready." Ryou rushed to the kitchen.

"Ryou!" Bakura called after him.

"Later, Yami." Ryou poured the dish on a bowl. "Dinner's fifty percent done! Help me with the pasta!"

"Fine then." Bakura sighed to himself, he knew too that his Hikari won't just tell him something was wrong.

"Yugi, dinner's here."

"Arigatou Yami-chan!"

Yugi ran down the stairs. "Hmm, what's cookin'?"

"Spaghetti." Yami said simply.

"Great, I'm starving." Yugi propped himself down the table as Yami served his plate.

After a few moments of silence due to eating, Yugi aroused one question. "Yami, while I was calling you, did you anything?"

"Besides trying to call you back or taking control of you? None."

"You mean, you can't even attack my enemy?"

"I can only if I'm either in control or I'm outside. Too bad I can't do either."

"Then it wasn't you."

"Who what?"

"Oh, by the way, Ryou and Bakura are having a sleepover here at our place, and I'm wondering if you can let them." Yugi changed the topic, not wanting any other questions from the spirit.

And for some reason, it worked. "Aibou, Ryou's fine but that, that TOMB ROBBER! You're insane!"

"Yami, can't you even go through one night not doing anything to kill Bakura?"

"Not even the Gods can do something about it!"

"Can you give me one good reason why you hate him so much?"

"Because he's a jerk, a total idiot and an asshole."

"Good, but not good enough."

"AIBOU!"

"Ok, good enough. Anyway, Ryou and I are planned so you can't do anything about it."

"Can't he just leave the ring behind?!"

"Yami!"

"Groan."

"You're the one who'll do the dishes."

"But I thought…"

"I did it last time, so you do it!"

"Double groan!"

"Get up lazy butt."

"Shut up shorty!"

Yugi sighed in resignation. "Fine then. I'll be at the living room watching TV. Come there when you're done."

"I hope I can finish this earlier." Yami stood up and gathered the plates.

RRRRIIIIINGGGG!!!!

"I'll go get it." Yugi dashed for the phone, leaving Yami behind. "Hello!"

Yugi Mouto…

"Hello? Who are you?" Yugi asked.

Give me the Talisman, don't deny it, I need it…

"If this is a joke, then you've picked on the wrong person." Yugi's hands trembled. Yami recognized Yugi's look of fear.

I'm warning you, if you want to save your friends, give it to me…

"Leave me alone!" Yugi nearly sobbed. "I don't know what you're saying!"

I will hound you…I will kill you…HAND ME THE TALISMAN YUGI!

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!!!!!" Yugi banged the phone on its cradle.

"Yugi?" Yami turned off the faucet and ran to his light's side.

Yugi fell to his knees and cried, his body shaking. "Leave me alone."

Yami knelt beside Yugi and cradled him to his arms. "It's all right Yugi, I'm here." He said softly, comfortingly.

"Yami…" Yugi accepted the comfort, the fear slowly melting away.

"What was that about?" Yami asked.

"Someone…some jerk wants something from me I don't even know…I'm scared Yami, he said he'll find me, he'll kill me, he'll…" Yugi cried harder against Yami's shirt.

"No one will even touch you as long as I'm here, I'd die first." Yami rocked the younger one gently.

"I'm sorry Yami-chan." Yugi pulled away and smiled.

"Now that's the Yugi I know. Now if you'd excuse me, I've got a date with the sink." Yami stood up and went back to the kitchen.

Yugi however held his Puzzle. Talismans, are those things the ones we found in the cave three weeks ago, the ones that faded in my Puzzle and Ryou's Ring? Are they real? I'm scared than ever.

/Don't trust anyone…even if it's the darkness of your own hearts…/ Yugi recalled. Even the darkness of my heart, he must've meant Yami. But why can't I trust him? He obviously would give everything up just to see me happy. Yugi's eyes fell on his Yami scrubbing, annoyingly, a plate. But come to think of it, if he'll spend of time looking out for me, doing everything for me, I'll wear him out, and he might not be there when I need him. I should stand by myself, I should be strong too. For Yami, and myself too. So that in turn I will be the one to help him…

"Hey there's mail down here." Ryou picked up some envelopes he found in the mailbox.

"Whatever." Bakura said lazily, watching TV.

"Bills, bills, a mail for me, bills, bills,… Wait a minute…" Ryou looked at the black envelope, addressed to him. "Hey, there's mail for me!"

"Heard it." Bakura said.

"I'll put the bills aside first. Hey Yami, care to read with me?" Ryou called the spirit.

"Hmm, wait a sec." while Bakura was on his way to his Hikari, Ryou already opened the first black envelope.

The message was in bold black ink:

BEWARE! I'LL BE COMING FOR YOU!

SURRENDER TO ME NOW! OR I WILL KILL THE ONE YOU TREASURE!

GIVE ME THE TALISMAN!!!!!!

"What joke is this?" Ryou stood up from his seat, horrified, and Bakura entered the room.

Seeing the expression on Ryou's face, Bakura snatched the letter, reading with half-horrified, half-enraged face. "Who the hell will write something lame as this?" He shouted, tearing it in half.

"I don't know…" Ryou sat back on his seat, shocked.

"Hey, don't chicken out just because of some note! Anyone who'll play a practical joke with you this bad'll have to go through me." Bakura said.

"Huh?" Ryou blinked. Did he say what I think he said?!

"I said, no one plays a practical joke around with you while I'm around 'cause I don't wanna wait for five more millennia to find a new host you know! And do they know how it feels to be trapped in some musty Soul Room? NO!!! So as long as I'm alive, I won't let you die and I won't be trapped in my Ring for Ra knows how long!" Bakura huffed. "Now I've got a show to watch!" And he left the kitchen.

He may not admit it, but it looks like he does care for me. Ryou smiled, then it faltered. Kill the one I treasure? I wonder if they meant Bakura. No, they can't get through Bakura easily, if I know him. But…what if they'll take him away from me…because of my own recklessness? NO! I'm not going to loose Bakura! I'd rather die. Ryou saw his Yami brawling at the TV for not switching on, not noticing that he's using the wrong remote. Even if doesn't care about me, he's my Yami, my oniichan, and I LOVE HIM. And I'd go to all the ends of the earth just to have him safe with me!

Last Satuday…

"Yugi, found anything yet?"

"Nope, not yet anyway."

Yugi and Ryou spent a few hours before the sleepover on the books of the library, looking for something.

"Yami must be having a good sleep, wish I can sleep as peaceful as he can." Ryou laughed to himself.

"Yami said that we should go home at 6:30, I bet he cooked something really good for us." Yugi said, taking out another book from the shelf. Then suddenly a VERY big book fell off to the back.

"Yugi, what's that?" Ryou asked.

"Something fell off the shelf." Yugi picked up the book. "Something…weird?"

"What is it?" Ryou peered over Yugi's shoulder.

"It's an Ancient Egyptian Book, probably hundreds of years ago."

"MARIK-CHAN, YOU SCARED US HALF TO DEATH!"

"Sorry. So, what're you guys doing here? And what's with the book?" Marik said.

"Uhm, we're researching something." Ryou replied, opening the book.

"Care to share?"

"Erm, well…" Yugi paused when he heard Ryou said. "Wow, look at this!"

"Nani, Ryou-chan?" Yugi looked over Ryou's shoulder and so did Marik.

The old book contained a passage in Hiergrypholics.

"What does that read?" Yugi frowned.

"Marik?" Ryou looked up at him.

"Erm, let me try…" Marik stared at the piece for a bit. "It's some sort of letter…no a journal." Marik too the book from Ryou's grip and leafed through it. "Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, hey, this is interesting…" Marik read, as the two other Hikaris listened.

"There were Eight Elements that the Gods owned. All have a specific domain to rule, and to use to fight and protect. They are namely Light, by Ra; Life, belonging to Isis; Soul, of Anubis; Heart, reigned by Bast; Mind, ruled by Ptah; Death, under Nephystis; Earth, held by Osiris and Wind; bound with Horus. But the jealousy of Seth, betrayer of Osiris and Nemesis of Horus, tried to take away the elements to rule the world. His own Element, the Shadow, was transformed into the Talisman, the one item who bore all the magical powers of his Domain.

"His special technique MANIPULATION, transformed the other six pendants into Talismans. Now the other Gods are under Seth's control too.

The desparate attempt of Osiris, Ra and Horus was to seal Seth in a void known as the Shadow Realm, and their elements, their powers and domains were sealed into Talismans of Power, the Divine Triad of Holiness.

"Now every time all Eight Gods had been hit the rays of Ra, the Prison of the Shadow Realm where Seth is chained, will be set free, searching for these Talismans with Sekhmeth, whose own talisman is the War element and the Evil Serpent who nearly killed Ra, whose Element is Darkness, and they form the Triangle of Evil…

"This looks more like a History Book than a journal!" Marik finally groaned. "What's this all about?!"

"So they're real, those Talismans are real!" Ryou gasped.

"Huh?!" Marik shouted.

"Swear to Ra that you won't tell a single soul!" Yugi said.

"Cross my heart." Marik raised an eyebrow. "What's this all about?"

"We found some strange pendants in some cave, then suddenly something happened and the Pendants disappeared into our Millennium Items." Ryou explained.

"We figured they're those Talismans." Yugi finished.

"Wait a minute-" Marik's eyes widened as he listened.

"But there's more." Yugi cut the blond short. "Some voice suddenly said that we can't trust anyone about this, but…I don't wanna be alone, especially not with this thing!"

"I understand Yugi but…" Marik was cut short when Ryou shouted. "OH GOD, IT'S 7:10! YAMI WILL KILL US IF WE'RE LATE FOR THE SLEEPOVER!"

"I'm sorry, we've gotta go now." Yugi was about to turn away when Marik grabbed his arm. "You're going to have a sleepover?"

"Yeah." Yugi's face brightened. "Wanna join?"

"Actually I was on my way to a hotel from my travel here, since Ishizu-onesan is now in Egypt, I asked her to spend three weeks down here."

"Great, you can spend the time with us for three weeks! Grandpa's gone an awfully long time too!" Yugi smiled.

"Thanks." Marik picked up the bag he left at the counter. "I'm ready."

"OK, and Marik, you've gotta run at top speed." Ryou reminded.

"Why?" Marik asked.

"Because if you don't, the later you arrive the more beatings you get!" Ryou made a mad dash after Yugi who sprinted ahead, leaving a puzzled Marik and a cloud of dust.

***

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU TWO DIMWITS BEEN?!"

"BAKURA KEEP YOUR ANNOYING VOICE DOWN ON MY AIBOU!"

"HEY, WILL SOMEONE NOTICE US HERE!!!"

"ALL OF YOU SHUT UP!!!!!" The three Hikaris shouted at their Yamis.

"OK, tell me where you two been, and why is Marik and Malik here?" Yami lowered his voice.

"Ehem, because we kinda spent a lot of researching hour in the Library but we bumped into Marik so, we invited him too. Can we have him too Yami?" Yugi said.

"Why not?" Yami agreed.

"Argh, now I can never have peace." Bakura growled.

"Aww, liddle Bakuwa can't have a peaceful nappy." Malik teased.

"SHADDAUP!" Bakura and Malik started bickering.

"Here they go again." Yugi shrugged. "Yami…"

"Don't look at me Hikari, I'm out of this." Yami shoved away to the kitchen. Yugi sweatdropped, while Ryou and Marik made desparate attemps to calm their Dark sides.

"It'll take hours before I fall asleep." Ryou complained.

"Don't blame me,aibou, blame HIM!" Bakura pointed Yami.

"ME?! Who's the one who started it?!" Yami said annoyingly.

"That's it, you're MINCED PHARAOH MEAT!" Bakura and Yami again brawled around the room while Malik joined them a little while later.

"No comment." Yugi frowned as he went downstairs to the garden, followed by Ryou and Marik.

"I shouldn't have agreed with this Yugi…" Ryou sighed. "Bakura's all trouble."

"Nah, all our Yamis are trouble." Marik included.

Yugi smiled a bit. "Hmm, really but the real trouble around here is…"

"Having you around…"

"Yugi, you meant that?" Marik gasped at the other hikari, tears nearly formed in his eyes.

"But it wasn't me." Yugi said.

"Don't look at me." Ryou shrugged.

"But if it wasn't you, then who?" Marik's eyes widened in fear.

"Is THAT the answer?!" Yugi trembled.

A huge black serpent rose up to the ground, his eyes at the three Hikaris.

"What in the name of Ra is that?" Marik gasped.

"*Gulp* Bad news for sure." Ryou said.

"No kidding." Yugi added.

"ssssssss…..Yugi Moutou…….sssssssss…….." the Serpent hissed.

"And may I ask what are you doing at my home? I don't remember inviting you to the party." Yugi said, gathering up all his courage.

"ssssss…..How heartbreaking….I wanted to attend this…..TO HAVE YOUR HEADSSSSSSSS……..!!!!" The Serpent lunged for them.

"YAMI, HELP!" The Hikaris shouted.

"They can't….sssssssss……help you………ssssssss." The serpent said.

"That's one thing that can't happen! Yami'll always be there for me!" Yugi said, forgetting about fear for a moment.

"Sssssss………Then Die……..ssssssss!" The Serpent sent its tail towards Yugi.

"YUGI!" Ryou and Marik screamed.

"YAAAAMIIIIII!!!!!!!!!" Yugi covered his face.

Then the serpent was sent sprawling by a blast of light.

"YUGI! AIBOU!"

"Yami!" Yugi gasped, running into his Yami's arms.

"Hey, I didn't know you invited HIM for this event!" Bakura pointed the serpent.

"Good one, Bakura. Too bad no one's in the mood to laugh." Malik rolled his eyes.

"Well, if it isn't Pharaoh Yugioh…" The Serpent coiled towards Yami.

Yami held his hikari protectively. "Who are you? What do you want?!"

"Why, you know exactly what I came for." The Serpent hissed.

"I won't let you go near him!"

"Oh yes, you've always tried to protect Akari from before, but you've failed. And I will make you feel not only guilt and loneliness but now MORE pain, for failing your light as you've failed him!" The Serpent hissed.

"I'll not fail again! I'll not fall for your tricks anymore!" Yami stood in front of the Serpent. Yugi watched behind in horror.

"We'll see Yugioh!" The Serpent blasted at Yami yet he avoided it.

The Serpent is quick however. He swung his tail again and hit Yami, sending him flying towards Yugi.

"NO!" Yugi bent over Yami. "Yami, wake up please!"

"Aibou…" Yami stirred painfully. "I'm sorry…"

"YAMI! YUGI!" Ryou screamed.

"Aibou, stay back!" Bakura hissed.

"And isn't that Ryou Bakura, the Tomb Robber, or should I say Yami Bakura?" The Serpent turned to the other Yami.

"What do you want REALLY?!" Bakura shouted, ready to lunge for the creature.

"Bakura, don't! He might kill you!" Ryou held his Yami back.

"Stubborn as ever I see. You haven't changed. You were nothing like your kind, soft, weak and pathetic baby brother!" The creature said menacingly.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Bakura loosened from Ryou's hold and lunged for the serpent. "DON'T YOU DARE INSULT HIM, YOU STUPID ASSHOLE!"

"BAKURA!" Ryou shouted. Then the serpent's eyes glowed black then red.

Dark Spear!

Bakura felt himself thrown against the wall.

"YAMI!" Ryou rushed to him.

Malik stood in front of Marik, guarding him against the Serpent.

"Yami, this is dangerous." Marik said.

"Don't you think I know that?" Malik said angrily, clutching the Millennium Rod.

"Now it's your turn." The serpent turned to the two Egyptians.

"Get ready…" Malik warned.

"Wish I was as good as you." Marik swallowed. "Here he comes!"

The Serpent lunged at the pair, separating Malik from Marik.

"MARIK!" Malik screamed when he realized his light was not by his side. "You OK?"

"I'm fine…" Marik gasped. "Shit, Malik, look out behind you!"

Poison Net!

"I can't move!" Malik cried in pain as he fell to the ground, dropping the Rod.

"MALIK!" Marik made a move to move to his Yami but realized that he was in the way of the Serpent.

"MARIK MOVE OUT OF THERE! MARIK NOOOOOO!!!!!" Malik screamed.

"You're a goner now, friend." The Serpent sent an attack.

"NO!" Marik was defenseless without the Rod, there was no time to get it. Goodbye world.

Sun Focus!

A blinding ray of light shot from the ground and a sun ray appeared out of nowhere and stabbed the Serpent.

"AZZZZZZZ!!!! I'LL COME BACK, AND YOU'LL PAY, ALL OF YOU THEIVES!!!!!!!!" Hissing painfully, the monster vanished.

"MARIK!" Malik felt free from the Serpent's attack. "Marik are you OK?"

"Malik, I'm fine. No need to worry. He's gone." Marik groaned softly.

"Oh Marik." Malik sighed softly as he rocked the hikari gently. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you."

It's that weird ray again… Marik gripped the Millennium Rod. It protected me again…

"Bakura?" Ryou asked. "You OK?"

But Bakura made only a little effort to sit up then pulled his knees to his chest. "Shit…"

"Bakura?" Ryou called, concerned.

"It's all my fault, damnit!" Bakura sobbed to himself.

Ryou gasped. For the first time ever, he saw tears flowing down his Yami's cheeks. Bakura…

"Yami!" Yugi shook his Yami awake.

"I'm OK Yugi." Yami assured groggily.

"Oh God Yami, I thought I lost you to that thing!" Yugi sobbed as he hugged Yami tightly.

"Back then, I felt the same way too. Oh Yugi I felt that way too." Yami said gently, tears formed from his eyes. "I'm so sorry, aibou…"

You cannot live a lie forever.

There's always a truth we need to know!

For we are one, we are each other,

That's why I can't stand seeing you so blue…

Yesterday, Sunday…

"Some sleepover that turned out to be." Marik commented three days after.

Everyone was at Yugi's house. Jou and Honda were helping Anzu in making sandwiches so that they can avoid the bickering between the three spirits within the house, and the Hikaris made their privacy known in Yugi's upstairs bedroom.

"Now this is the moment of truth Marik, do you have one of those talismans too?" Yugi sat in front of Marik while Ryou brought some water then took his seat down too.

"Erm yes, sort of. That's why I came here to Japan, I heard that there are two other more here. I wasn't expecting you guys to be involved. And Malik doesn't know about it, because he doesn't seem to have time for me. He often spends time playing Senet* with Ishizu-onesama or at the drinking bar. It took me days before I finally convinved him to come with me, which means leaving his "paradises" behind, if you know what I mean." Marik shrugged when Ryou and Yugi gave a curious look. "You know, Senet, the favorite Ancient Egyptian game that decides what happens to you in the afterlife. Kinda like the modern chess, or was it?"

"Geez, how can a game decide your life?" Ryou said.

"They're pretty much like the Shadow Games, only thing is they don't have monsters to freak you out every game." Marik pointed out. "And it's very important to the Ancient Egyptians back them. Never asked your Yamis?"

"I never saw him play, or heard about it from him. I only researched before about Egyptian Mythology, not Culture." Yugi said.

"Same thing here." Ryou added.

"Anyway, since we've got ourselves in a pretty big hole, we need help," Marik said. "And our Yamis will be the ones who'll be there for us. They've gotta know."

"But what if the "darkness" the voice talked about from before was Yami?" Yugi blurted, getting looks from the other two that seemed to say what they replied:

"Yugi, have you gone insane? Since when did our Yamis do anything to leave our lives hanging in the balance, especially your Yami, ours hurt us a bit but that's that." Ryou shrugged when Marik shot him a look. "Ok so it was only Bakura who did that to me. But yours fooled you before…"

"But I forgave him and that's that. End of story." Marik said sharply.

"Erm, I'm human. But it feels pretty right though." Yugi said.

"Yugi-chan, they deserve to know. They're a part of us. Lying to them is like lying to ourselves!" Ryou said.

"I know that, but how can I explain this to Yami?"

"Well…" Ryou was intrerrupted when he heard Bakura scream "WILL YOU THREE IDIOTS COME DOWN HERE ALREADY? I'VE BEEN CALLING YOU FOR AGES…AHHHHH LET ME GO YOU CRAZY PHARAOH!!!"

Yugi guessed that Yami and Malik must be strangling him for "calling my aibou an idiot!"

"Really, we'll think about this some other time, someone's gotta calm them three, right?" Yugi smiled. Ryou and Marik simply shrugged.

"*Gak* RYOU, HELP ME WITH THESE CRAZY IDIOTS!" Bakura choked.

"Shut up, Tomb Robber!" Yami tightened his grip on Bakura's neck while Malik was pinning him down. "Yeah, don't go to your aibou for help."

"RYOU GET THOSE TWO DIMWITS DOWN HERE AND GET THEIR YAMIS OFF ME!" Bakura was in real danger now for saying those.

"DON'T CALL MY AIBOU AN IDIOT OR A DIMWIT, YOU STUPID ASSHOLE!" Yami and Malik chorused as they made another fight with the Tomb Robber.

"Your Yami, your resposiblity." Yugi laughed, knowing that the other two agreed. "I was wondering all of a sudden who the real caretaker around here is."

Meanwhile…

/My little Yugi, is your light really undefeatable by the Dark? Is Horus this strong? And now that you have the talisman of Vengeance, you are unstoppable. But don't feel free just yet, you, along with your fellow Hikaris Ryou, Seer of Osiris and that Marik Ishtar, Descendant of the Priests of Ra, will fall down soon and I will strike the you in the most painful way possible…/

Seth cackled then the viewer turned to the brawling Yami and Bakura, with Yugi and Ryou trying in vain to stop them.

/Poor Pharaoh Yugioh, unable to protect his only friend from the past? How long have you been with this precious Hikari of yours? I do hope you have been through a LOT together for a LONG time now, 'cause the stronger the bond, the more hurt will you get from loosing your precious Hikari; and you too Bakura, will feel even deeper pain now, since I will be taking away the young Hikari you treasure, just like how I took your brother. And then Malik Ishtar too will feel the pain, the price of enraging me, SETH! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!/

~Maybe it's was you that made me strong,

Maybe it was your love that made me live,

Even though, I don't show it to you

Oh you don't know I care so much for you too!

And the only thing I ask of you is to stay

Never stray from me far away,

For I can't bear another day being alone,

Another day without you my Hikari, my Hoshii…~

~Anyway, I'm glad I was able to share this with you, I feel a lot better.

Thank You so much for the time.

Bye, then!

-Yugi~

*--------------------*

We find out what's going on with Yami and Bakura, and who exactly are Akari and Shinji, but who the heck is the new character, Hokage? Seth too cooks up a new plan to finish off the Hikaris and sends another warrior, or is it a MORTAL warrior? And can they keep their secrets this long…?

A/N: HELLO! No, I'm not sleeping! I'm ALIVE 'N AWAKE!!! *props up to play CD*

Anyhow, I'm listening currently to my Celine Dion CD, it raises up me sprits, as usual hope you enjoy my little ficcie, and review.

PS: About the songs that'll be typed down here is written by Dark Strider the almightly writer!

~Suggestions go in two ways: Be kind, this changes; be harsh, this destroys.~

Day 2-

Secrets behind the Darkness' Scars,

More Troubles for the Light's Secret

Summer Break:

Monday-

Yugi marked the calendar MONDAY- PICNIC.

Almost every month, Yugi had a picnic with his friends. And they had a picnic last week, so what's this new one for?

~*Flashback*~

"Take care, Anzu, Honda!"

Anzu was going to spend her time of vacation with her grandparent's while Honda and his family will spend their vacation/ family renunion somewhere else. They are both headed for the same place, Osaka, so they decided to buy their tickets at the same time, on the same plane.

"We'll miss you, Yugi, Jou!" Anzu hugged both Jou and Yugi, then Yami and Ryou.

"And take care of Jou when I'm not around." Honda teased.

"Funny." Jou snorted.

"Enjoy, guys." Ryou said.

"And don't forget to bring back souvenirs." Yami added.

"Yeah, we will. Bye!" The departing pair went to the ticket barrier.

"Bye, guys…" Yugi waved, smiling.

"Ne, Yami-chan?" Yugi tugged his Yami's sleeve while at the grocery store.

"Yes, aibou?" Yami answered, pushing the grocery cart.

"I was wondering if it's OK with you if we'll have a picnic." Yugi said.

"But we already had one last week, and the gang's not complete." Yami reminded him.

"I meant that it will only be a private picnic…" Yugi said. Yami blinked and paused his routine.

"Just the two of us." Yugi finished.

Yami thought for a moment then smiled. "Sure."

Yugi looked up. "Really?"

"Where do you want to have one?"

"Uhm, the Amusement Park, Golden Fields!" Yugi said happily.

"Good thing we're in the grocery store, we can buy a lot for it." Yami grinned. "Especially since one of us here is a big eater."

"No, I'm not." Yugi frowned.

"Yeah, whatever." Yami rolled the shopping cart down the aisle.

"Yami, we're not headed for the noodles aisle, we're going to the breads and cereals aisle! What were you thinking?" Yugi shouted.

"Oops, must've read wrong." Yami said, embarrassed.

"Someone misses his language." Yugi rolled his eyes as he led Yami down the hallway.

~*End of Flashback*~

"A private picnic? Wonder why I never thought of that?" Yugi smiled to himself. "Better get dressed. YAMI!"

"What is it?" Yami called from the kitchen.

"Are you going to get dressed already?" Yugi asked.

"In a minute. Go ahead." Yami answered.

"OK." Yugi rushed upstairs then to his bedroom when he stopped. Since when have I climbed up this fast? I was just in the second step a minute ago.

Then Yugi just took a step in his door then at once he was in front of his dresser. I never knew I was like the Road Runner. I was just by the door, then I'm here where I want to be? Is it a part of the talisman's power? My talisman's power?

Yugi shook the thought off. No, don't think of that now, you're here to have fun with Yami and you spend your time worrying about something that will shake you away from reality. I'll just think about this later.

Sighing, Yugi pulled out his dresser and pulled a pair of pants, different from his usual ones.

"Good, now for my shirt." Yugi put the pants on, then searched the dresser for a shirt.

There were loads of shirts in the dresser; the one that caught his eye however is one of those that he rarely wore.

It was a blue shirt with a gust of wind blowing against a coconut tree in a beach as logo. It was nice.

"I'll have this." Yugi put the shirt on then noticed something else.

At the very end of the drawer was a neck belt, a blue one lined with gold and it had a golden colored buckle. It was different from his other neck belts, in fact it wasn't his.

Grandpa gave it to him, saying that it belonged to his ancestors, who it was he didn't know. But he said it is very special, it was passed down for god knows how long.

"I never wore this, nor have I noticed it. But maybe…" A grin spread on Yugi's face. "A special item calls for a special occasion." And with that he changed his usual neck belt into his father's. I hope you're watching this, whoever owns this, my ancestor. And after the neck belt, he donned on the puzzle.

"Yami?" Yugi called.

"I'm ready." Yami came out of his room, wearing almost the same outfit he usually did.

"OK, let's go." Yugi opened the door, with Yami following closely behind.

But outside, someone was watching…

"Let's go see the rides, Yami." Yugi asked when they arrived at the park.

"Seriously, aibou, I'm not interested in such things." Yami said lazily.

"Come on, Yami, give it a try and I'll bet you'll like them. There's this Ferris Wheel, then the Roller Coaster, and the Haunted House too!" Yugi said excitedly.

"Erm, Yugi I'm not-" Yami was cut short when Yugi pulled him to the Roller Coaster.

***

After handing their tickets, Yugi took a seat next to Yami and helped him buckle his seatbelt.

"Aibou, what's this for?" Yami pointed curiously and the seatbelts and fasteners.

"You'll see, but let me tell you two things before the ride will start: One, don't let go and two: Don't EVER stop screaming or you'll barf." Yugi smiled, imagining what reaction Yami would have with a roller coaster. "After all, this is your first try, and this is more exciting than Duel Monsters, you'll probably scream louder than me."

"How sure are you?" Yami felt the cab moving: the ride was about to start.

"Shout your hardest on three…" Yugi's eyes widened excitedly as the cabs started to go up. "One…"

And it got higher... "Two…" Yugi counted.

"Really, what do I have to scream for?" Yami blinked curiously.

"You'll see…"

And it reached the top. "Now Yami, THREE-AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

As expected, the roller coaster shot down the descending stage of the ramp and it went in circles. And as expected Yugi and Yami were screaming their heads off.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF GOOD RA IS THIS?!"

"IT'S A ROLLER COASTER, YAMI, THIS IS HOW IT WORKS!"

"AAAHHHH! THIS IS A CURSED PLACE! GET ME OUT NOW!"

"YAMI, HANG ON THIS IS A GOOD ONE!"

"NO! LET ME OUT! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL ME!"

"JUST HANG ON TIGHT- WAAAAAAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!"

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! YUGIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

At the end of the ride, Yugi helped Yami up. "You OK, Yami?"

"Never-" Yami said between breaths. "Get me- near that- that cursed cart again!"

"It's not a cart Yami, it's a cab, and it's definitely not cursed." Yugi laughed at his Yami's paled expression. "That's how the roller coaster goes. How about lunch?"

"Just get me away from that thing!" Yami's eyes glared at the cab.

Yugi laughed then the pair headed for the food court.

"Any other rides you wanna try?" Yugi offered after they ate lunch.

"I don't want to risk my life with you again." Yami answered.

"OK, how about the Ferris Wheel?" Yugi asked.

"Huh? 'Fairy's Wheel'?" Yami glanced curiously.

"I meant 'Ferris Wheel' spelled as F-E-R-R-I-S." Yugi grinned. "It's not so exciting but it's great, come on."

Yugi took his Yami's hand and they headed for the Ferris Wheel, paid their tickets and took a cab.

"The view's great up here!" Yugi pointed the small city below, and the people looked like dots.

"How fascinating." Yami was wide-eyed behind the glass too. "I've never seen a place this high. This is great."

"Told you." Yugi smiled. "We'll be going down after four turns."

"Wow, is that our house." Yami seemed like he didn't hear his Hikari, for he was totally amazed by the sight. Yugi sweatdropped. "No use telling."

Meanwhile, the spying shadow earlier re-appeared near the Food Court, glaring at Yugi and Yami heading her way.

"I'm glad I'm the one sent for this mission, I love to spill blood, and also…" the spy glared at Yami. "It was my long desire to make the Pharaohs, Sons of Ra, suffer. Now I have him…" her eyes fixed on Yugi. "Pharaoh Yugioh, you have changed from the cold hearted ruthless Pharaoh into a kind, soft and friendly type, and I guess I have your precious light to blame. To lose him should hurt you beyond your own death. Interesting how a human heart works…" And with that, the evil spy planned her mischief against the unsuspecting pair.

"I wanna go to the Horror Museum now, Yami!" Yugi pointed the huge black building quite far away from the colorful rides.

"That building doesn't look inviting." Yami said.

'"C'mon Yami, it's rather exciting and scary." Yugi smiled.

"Oh fine, let's go- OW!" Yami fell down when he bumped into somebody.

"Ouch, what we're you thinking, you pathetic mortal?"

"I think I know only one person who would use that expression…" Yami looked up. "BAKURA?!"

"What're you doing here?" Bakura sat up.

"Oh, hey Yugi, Yami!" Ryou waved at them. "Hey, where's Malik and Marik?"

"Hi Ryou, Bakura. Marik and Malik didn't come along because he had his RESEARCH to do." And by the sound of that, Ryou knew what the small boy meant. "So having fun on your own too?" Yugi asked as Ryou approached.

"Nah, I planned to come alone then I somehow managed to plead Bakura off the ring." Ryou explained.

"It's 'piss off'." Bakura snorted.

"Whatever." Ryou shrugged. "I'm headed for the Horror Museum today, wanna come along?"

"Actually that's where we're headed. Let's go together."

"Sure. Come on Yamis." Ryou and Yugi led the way while the two as usual bickering spirits followed.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"

"GOOD RA WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"

A floating head that looked real floated towards the foursome as they entered the fifth part of the building, the Curses of the English. So far they have been through the first, Beneath the Greens, the second, A Night at Death Woods, the third, The Dark Fears Age and the fourth, Trip of Terror to Transylvania.

"WAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Ryou and Yugi hugged each other in fear.

"This place is cursed." Bakura trembled.

"Huh? You're scared Yami?" Ryou glanced at Bakura.

"Sh-shut up kid." Bakura was paler than normal, Ryou grinned.

"Anyway, we've got to go straight ah-YAMI LOOK BEHIND YOU!" Yugi pointed a huge witch like mannequin with the most horrible face you've ever seen head towards Yami and Bakura.

"GOOD RA!!!" Yami and Bakura unconsciously hugged each other in fright.

Yugi and Ryou fell down their backs laughing, especially at the reaction their Yamis had when they realized what their Hikaris are laughing at and began shouting at each other.

"Good one, anyway, let's see this side, we're near the exit…" Yugi pointed the last section: Scare in the Pyramids.

"This is the part where the mummies come out." Yugi told the clueless Yamis. "And some cat guardians with ugly masks and uglier faces…kinda creppy to describe."

"And Ancient Pharaohs stabbing your back?" Bakura glared at Yami.

"Not to mention Tomb Robbers creeping away with all the gold you can get?" Yami shot back.

"Can't you two just stop- AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" They screamed when they noticed a mummy come towards them.

"Holy Osiris." The Yamis chorused.

"Let's beat." Ryou led them down the path.

Soon the foursome encountered mummies, cat demons, Winged Cobras and many more.

"We're nearly out!" Yugi declared.

"Good news!" Yami replied, panting.

"C'mon,Yami!" Ryou tugged Bakura's sleeve.

"Fine, I wanna get out of this crap!" Bakura raced Yami to the exit.

"Yugi?" Ryou noticed the other Hikari staring at something moving.

"Hey, does that look like a scorpion?" Yugi pointed the huge bug moved towards them.

"Erm yeah, but it doesn't look THAT big in the real thing, nor does it look to scary." Ryou commented.

"Rather it looks so…real?" Yugi gasped when the scorpion wrapped its stinger around him. "RYOU!"

"Yugi? YUGI?!" Ryou made a move to come after him but the scorpion already bust through the wall down the outside trail.

"Damn, YAMI, BAKURA!" Ryou dashed through the exit where he found the two bickering.

"Ryou? What is it?" Yami noticed the pale boy. Bakura seemed to have momentarily stopped too.

"Yami, its-" Ryou paused when he heard a way too familiar scream pierce the air. "HELP ME!!!"

Ryou this time need not to tell Yami what's wrong. "YUGI!" Yami made a dash towards the source of the voice

Ryou and his counterpart followed and gasped.

Atop the Ferris wheel, the Scorpion held Yugi by its tail and waved him dangerously above the air.

"YAMI! HELP ME!" Yugi cried, tears flowed down his cheeks in fear.

"AIBOU!!" Yami cried helplessly as Yugi dangled above him.

"Yami, thank God you're here!" Yugi breathed.

"I'm coming, Aibou, don't worry." Yami said, who was panicking himself. The question is…

"And how do you intend to do so?" Bakura mentioned what was in his fellow spirit's mind. "The situation seems pretty hopeless you know."

"Bakura!" Ryou frowned.

"No…what can I do…?" Yami watched helplessly as Yugi struggled against the huge Scorpion, then his head fell in despair while other people there were panicking and pointing at the Scorpion.

"LET ME GO!" Yugi struggled but to no avail.

The Scorpion held him as if it was the only purpose in his life.

"YAMI!" Yugi sobbed. That's stupid, you know he can't come up here. You have to do this on your own. Yami will not always be there to cater at your every whim.

"LET ME GO BASTARD!" Yugi kicked the bottom side of the tail with all his might.

The Scorpion screamed in pain and dropped Yugi.

You are ABSOLUTELY stupid! Yugi screamed to himself as he found himself falling. "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

"Yugi?" Ryou looked up when he heard Yugi screaming and his eyes bugged out. "Oh my god!"

"HOLY SHIT! WHAT DID THAT IDIOT DO?!" Bakura shouted.

"Aibou?" Yami screamed when he saw what danger his light was in. "AIBOU!!!!!!!!!!!!" He quickly ran to the Ferris Wheel's entrance, not caring whether the police men are going to arrest him for trespassing the strict yellow line.

"YAMI!!!!!!!!" His counterpart screamed as he saw his Yami and friends run towards him.

"YUGI!!!!" Yami cried, tears started building up his eyes. He knew that he can't save him anymore; it'll take a miracle for Yugi to get out of this alive.

Tempest Wing! **

Yugi, instead of hitting the ground flat, found himself floating slowly. I'm…floating?

Yugi's feet reached the ground softly, safely, as if he just went out of bed. How did that happen? Did my Talisman save me too? I heard 'Tempest Wing', is that what saved me? Is that what made me float? Is this what my power gives off? Then, maybe I have the power of the…

"YUGI!"

The boy looked up. "Yami…" Then he suddenly felt being pulled into the arms of his panic-stricken dark half.

"Oh God Yugi, I'm so sorry…" Yami cried freely as he cradled the younger one close to him.

"Yami…"Yugi smiled to himself. "I'm glad I'm alive too."

Soon, an ambulance arrived, and the Scorpion was taken care of, for after Yugi slipped away, it just fell off the Ferris wheel, to the surprise of everyone. Especially Yugi's.

"Some day this was." Bakura walked down the road with his little light.

"Whatever you say. I pity Yami though, and Yugi too." Ryou said.

"Geez, that pharaoh is getting way too soft for his own good." Bakura huffed to himself.

Ryou sighed. Sometimes he wondered if his Yami even cared for anyone.

Then the Millennium Ring began to glow. Bakura looked alarmed. "What's wrong?" Ryou asked.

"There's someone around here…" Bakura glared at his surroundings.

Ryou and Bakura were busy staring at front that they didn't notice a pair of hands came out of the shadows and gagged the unsuspecting Ryou. "Hmph…Baku…ra…hmph…!" The younger one struggled as he disappeared towards the shadowy alley.

"Ryou? RYOU?!" Bakura screamed as his light disappeared from his side.

"Hmph-Let-me-hmph-GO!" Ryou bit the hand of his attacker.

The attacker screamed and lets go of Ryou who falls to the ground.

"You brat! I'll teach you to mess up with me!" The attacker picked up Ryou from the ground and choked him.

"Ack…Ya…mi…" Ryou saw black spots before his visioin.

Then his attacker fell forward and dropped him.

"Ow…" Ryou rubbed his neck then looked up. "Yami!"

"Who are you, bastard?" Bakura shouted at the attacker.

"None of your business, Tomb Robber!" The stranger attacked Bakura. Bakura was thrown to the wall.

"Bakura!" Ryou gasped.

"Get out of here now!" Bakura hissed in pain as he stood up.

"No, I'm not going to leave you!" Ryou said.

"Just go, you're just a nuisance. If he gets me, he'll kill you next easily!" Bakura shot back.

Ryou froze, he couldn't tell whether Bakura either wanted to shoo him off or if he really cared for his Hikari. He was convinced however, at Bakura's reason.

But before he could reply, the attacker throws his cloak off.

The attacker was a woman! But she doesn't look human, for she had a lion's head and clawed hands. "How dare you, brat," She pointed her finger at Ryou. "Insult the Goddess of War!"

"War?" Bakura gasped. "SEKHMETH?"

"Sekhmeth?" Bakura questioned.

"She's the Goddess of War of Egypt." Bakura explained. "And she's a bit nasty."

"Why, thank you, Bakura…" Sekhmeth took out something she wore on her neck. It was a red diamond with a lion's head on it. It looked like…

"A talisman? SHE has one too?!" Ryou blurted.

"A what?" Bakura turned to his Hikari, surprised.

Oops. Ryou panicked. "Uh you see…"

"What a smart child you are, Ryou. Much like your brother, Bakura, like Shinji, if I recall correctly, you killed him before. Is this child another victim? Well it seems like what the Egyptians say about you is true." Sekhmeth taunted. "You ARE cursed."

"SHUT UP!" Bakura screamed. Ryou gasped, he never saw his Yami become this angry. It's as if he would kill anyone in his way, even Ryou himself. Then again, his Yami could kill him anytime he'd wish…would he?

"Avoiding the fact, Tomb Robber? You abandoned your brother before, and now it's your fault why you lost him. Who could now ever learn to love an idiot like you?" Sekhmeth cackled.

"Leave him alone!" Ryou shouted, surprised at himself. Bakura looked at him as if he was thinking that his light had gone insane. Snapping at Sekhmeth like that does take a lot of courage…and stupidity.

"You're bossing around me, kid?" Sekhmeth took a step towards the smaller one.

Ryou trembled as Sekhmeth pointed her finger at him. "You know what I can do to you."

"Sekhmeth, leave the kid out of this!" Bakura raged. "What are you here for?"

"You too, Bakura. Now you're both making me very angry!" Sekhmeth's eyes became red with light. "You'll pay dearly…FLAMING ARROW!!!" She pointed at Bakura who hit the wall.

"NO!" Ryou gasped as he watched Sekhmeth walk slowly towards the struggling Yami.

"Ryou…" Bakura forced himself up.

"Poor little idiot…" Sekhmeth smirked as she hit Bakura again.

Ryou watched helplessly as Bakura was being hit all over again by Sekhmeth. "Stop it…please…" What can I do?

/Are you willing to help?/

"Huh?" Ryou looked around.

/Use my magic, call upon it…/

"Who are you? Are you the talisman?" Ryou asked. Then something else was whispered in his head. "Are you sure it'll work?"

/Yes, now do what you have to do. /

"Ack…" Bakura stumbled weakly.

"It's over now, Bakura…" Sekhmeth raised her blade. "I'll send you back to Osiris to be with your brother…"

I'm over now… Bakura shut his eyes, ready to accept the blow.

Venom Wrap!

Then a scream pierced the air.

And Bakura gasped when he realized it was Sekhmeth who screamed as she fell down. He looked around for his savior and his jaw dropped. "RYOU?!"

Ryou held out his hand as mummy bandages attacked the goddess at his command.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" Sekhmeth was sent sprawling, but before she hit the wall, she vanished.

"Wow." Ryou collapsed, exhausted.

"Great!" Bakura groaned. "Now she'll never leave us alone."

"You don't need to tell me." Ryou got up. "At least that's better than dying for nothing."

"How did you do that?" Bakura turned to his Hikari. "It's impossible that those bandages will just come out of nowhere!"

"Actually it did, I didn't expect it to be that strong. It just came." Ryou shrugged.

"Let's go home, I've got enough beatings for one day." Bakura groaned as he collapsed.

"Bakura!" Ryou supported his Yami.

"Let go, I can walk by myself." Bakura growled.

"Stop being stubborn for once and let me help you!" Ryou said.

"Ryou…" Bakura stared at him for a moment. "Oh fine…"

"A lot better." Ryou smiled, uncertain at the wave of gratitude and compassion he had seen at his Yami's eyes a while ago.

After all, he never cared for anyone…

…Right?

***

"Feeling any better, aibou?"

"A lot, thanks Yami."

Yugi lay at the hospital bed, his lungs were sore for being squeezed tightly by the Scorpion, other than that he will be released well by tomorrow afternoon.

"Grandpa called, and he said that he'll not be coming home soon yet. But he wishes you well." Yami said as he made himself and Yugi some juice.

"Oh, thanks." Was Yugi's short reply.

After a pause came the question Yugi feared would come. "How did you do that?" Yami asked.

"Did what?" Yugi trembled.

"You floated."

"That's impossible."

"I'm not blind Yugi."

"…"

"Well?"

"I really don't know Yami. It just happened."

Yami paused, and then looked at his aibou's eyes. They didn't look like they are hiding something.

"It's just that, Yugi, it's strange…" Yami sighed. "I'm just…"

"I know you're worried, but whatever force that was, it saved me, so we both gotta be grateful."

"OK…"

"Ne, Yami?" Yugi asked again.

"Hmm?"

"Who's Akari?"

Yami froze. "What are you talking about?"

"Akari, the person who the Serpent was talking about. Who is he?"

"Erm, Yugi I don't…"

"Yami please."

"Ok, Yugi, he's a special person to me."

"In a way that?"

"In a way that he made me realize what friendship is all about, and how important it is. But he died, and it was all my fault…"

"Wh-what happened?"

"Well, back then I used the evil powers of the Shadow Realm, and it sort of controlled me. And while it was controlling me, a lot of people were killed, and one of them was Akari.

"He was my only best friend in Egypt, the first person ever to understand me, the way I felt, and that I still had a heart. But then…HE ruined everything!" Tears formed on Yami's eyes.

"He?" Yugi sensed his Yami's distress.

"The damned god Seth, he tricked me, he USED me to be freed from his prison the Shadow Realm, and he made me kill Akari…" Yami held his head on his hands and cried.

"I promised to be his friend, to protect him and we'll always be together as friends but now…"

"Shhh, Yami it's over calm down." Yugi comforted his Yami. Yamis have such interesting histories. "I'm sure he's not mad at you, he'll always be your friend, because he understands your situation back then. That's why don't blame yourself, he wouldn't want it. If he can, he'll re-appear here and snap some sense into you." Yugi looked at his Yami who smiled. "I'm sure he's not angry at you, not even a bit. That's why cheer up."

"Thanks Yugi. I've been bearing that burden for millennia already." Yami smiled.

"That's heavy." Yugi joked.

"Honestly Yugi." Yami turned serious. "It startles me why he wanted to eliminate Akari so much. He said that it was because of some item with magical powers, that he needed it. Something that was called a Talisman…"

"A what?!" Yugi gasped.

"A Talisman. What's with it Yugi?" Yami looked at him, curious.

A Talisman? Akari had it too? Just like me. Meaning that Seth, whoever he is, is after me? Must that mean that…? Yugi swallowed. Yami, Seth will turn Yami from me too? Just like what he did to Akari? Is this the darkness whoever the voice was talking about?

"Yugi?" Yami looked over him, worried.

"Ah, Yami? Oh no, I'm just thinking how cruel Seth is…yeah that's it!" Yugi lied.

"I know." Yami sighed coldly. "He's a betrayer, and he's making me turn into one. I remembered he had Bakura under him before too.

"Really?"

"Yeah, and he made him kill his brother, I think his name is Shinji, Shinji Bakura."

"Woah, that's heart breaking."

"Bakura? Have heartbreak? That's something to laugh at."

""Well of course he's upset about it, very if possible, but of course he won't show it."

"I guess you're right."

Yugi thought for awhile then asked again. "Did you cry when you lost Akari?"

"It's not such a nice thing to talk about, but I have to admit that I did, maybe even did worse than that." Yami replied staring at the busy city outside.

"What do you mean?"

"Well it made me sort of a "closed" person: I was less open to people and I didn't want to remind myself of the benefits of friendship, it makes me remember the hurt as well. That's why when you first had me, I didn't want to come out too often or even be a part of your life. Maybe because I don't want to face the same pain, or maybe I was just scared…"

"Yami…" Yugi looked up at him. Yami smiled softly at his aibou's direction.

"But back then, when I was watching you with your friends, Jounouchi, Anzu, Honda and Bakura, I thought to myself "why not give myself another chance?" After all, it is a bit cold and painful being alone."

"You made the right choice Yami." Yugi nodded. "You definitely did.

"I know I did." Yami replied. "If I didn't, I wouldn't have realized how great it is to be a part of you and your friends."

"I have to agree on that."

"*yawn* I'm very sleepy!"

"I think you should get your sleep Aibou."

"Right, goodnight Yami." Yugi sighed sleepily as he lay his head down the pillow, instantly falling asleep.

"Right…" Yami smiled at his light's sleeping form, then it slowly faded when he remembered his past conversation with Akari from before…

~*Flashback*~

"Ne, Yami-chan?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you ever know what it means to loose something?"

"Probably not…"

"But what would you feel when you'll lose something important?"

"I dunno, but all I know is, it'll hurt. Maybe only a little though, but it'll hurt…"

"Someday, Ra will make you feel that pain. But with all my heart, I wish you wouldn't have to feel it the way I did…"

"What do you mean?" Yami blinked then gazed at his friend.

"When someone dies in front of you, and that you're unable to protect him, you'll not only suffer deep pain, but also guilt…" Akari paused, remembering the pain of the death of his grandfather.

"That'll never happen to me, I can do anything, it means I can protect anything too.!"

"Thought so." Akari sighed to himself. Then he smiled.

"Oh god, Akari hang on please…"

Yami held his dying friend's hand as he was about to go to the Field of Reeds.

"I..it's..ok…okay...Yami…" Akari coughed out blood.

"No, you're not, and this is all my fault!" Yami's tears slid down from his face down Akari's golden bangs.

"Ya…mi…don't…blame…yourse…lf for…this…" Akari choked, but he forced a smile on his face.

"Akari, for Ra's sake, please don't leave me…" Yami cried.

"It hurts…doesn't it?"

"Of course it does, you're the only friend I have…"

"If you'd ever live from this… and had found a new friend, I beg of you…take care of him…if you don't want the same pain to come back, probably…it'll be worse…"

"I promise…"

"I…I…love you…goodbye, friend…" Akari's hand dropped to the floor.

"Akari, Akari…AKARI!!!!!"

~*End of Flashback*~

I promised you, Akari… Yami thought. I promised that when I find a new friend, I'll never fail him, as I've failed you… He took his sleeping aibou's hand. They'll have to kill me first before they hurt Yugi. I'll not let them hurt Yugi, never again…

"Well this is helping me!"

"Yami stop complaining, it's just alcohol!"

"ACK! STOP IT! IT HURTS!"

Bakura struggled, groaning in pain, as his Hikari gently applied alcohol on a cut on his hand. "LET ME GO!"

"Just a little more Bakura!"

Bakura wrapped a bandage of clean linen around the cut. "There, done!"

"THANK THE GOODNESS OF RA!"

"Yami!"

"Whatever!" Bakura trodded to the upstair bedroom he and Bakura shared (OK I just made this up), since Ryou would not let him inside his father's room, even though his father was in a business trip, for *security* reasons.

"Whose turn is it to sleep on the floor today?" Ryou asked.

"Hmph." Bakura grunted.

"I'm taking that as your turn, Bakura." Ryou said. "So get the bed ready."

"Fine!" Bakura took out the mat from the closet while Ryou looked outside the window. "Who's Shinji?"

"Come again?"

"Who's Shinji, Sekhmeth said he was your…"

"Brother, younger than me for about three years. I was separated from him when he was only three. I found him again at the Pharaoh's Palace, but I never knew it was him…and then when I did, he died, because of me…"

"Did you kill him?"

"No need to ask, I didn't do it intentionally though."

"No need to tell."

"Hmph, what do you know about being alone, you always have your friends and your dad with you! I have none before even now."

"…"

"Ryou?"

"I'm sorry Yami, oyazumi." Ryou retired to his bed and fell asleep, leaving a puzzled Bakura to think over his words. For some reason, did I hurt him? Bakura looked over his hikari's innocent face. I don't know him much, just like he doesn't know me. For all I know, his innocence could be hiding a lot more than it seems…

I don't know why but somehow…

It bothers me…

A/N: End of the chap 2! Anyway, stay tuned for chapter three!

Chap. 3: Truths are hard to hide, but they will come out no matter what. This chapter focuses on the two main Hikari's past, and a little of Marik's and Malik's. I made up most of Ryou's and Yugi's past here, but what'll happen when the Yamis realize…that their "innocent" Hikaris have gone through more trouble, not to mention pains and scars, than they did…and what will be the reaction when they find out their secret? Find out in Chap. 3- Truths, Pains and Shocks.

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