Ishtar: X* Make it stop!

Malik: *hands over his ears* Dear Ra, would you STOP it already onna?!

WSJ: :p What'sa matter, you don't like my music?

Malik: No, we don't like your singing. There's a difference.

WSJ: *pout* Anyway, I got Evanescence's Fallen as an early birthday present from a friend last week, and I've been listening to it non-stop.

Ishtar: I've had about all I can stand of Everybody's Fool, My Immortal, and Hello, which are SJ's favs...

WSJ: ^o^ Everybody's Fool reminds me of Malik. And yes, it's been done, but I can't help but liken My Immortal to Yami.

Malik: XP Yes, it's been done. Very. Wait, early birthday present?

WSJ: :D Yup. My birthday is September 16, today!! *bounces around hyperly* I'm now officially 15! Which means in six months I can get my driving permits!!!

Malik & Ishtar: O_o; *look at each other and gulp*

WSJ: The Kuriboh-name winner will be revieled at the very end of this chapter. ^o^ And I must say I found it a hard choice. You guys came up with some great suggestions, and I really wish I could use them all! *hugs* Thanks for all the suggestions!!!

Malik: *eyes the previous chapters* So what are Ishtar and I doing here? Aren't Ryou and Bakura your usual muses?

WSJ: ^^; Well yes, but at the moment Bakura is being hypnotised by my lava lamp, and Ryou is pouting.

Ishtar: ...Pouting?

WSJ: ^^ Wouldn't you pout if you'd been through everything I've put Ryou up to?

Ishtar: Now that you mention it... yes.

WSJ: *looks at her reviews with glee* Yay! ^0^ Yes, you guys are correct. The tomb's occupants are Mahaado and Mana, the very first Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl. However, I don't know much about them past the fact that Mahaado held the Ring when it was first created and that Mana was his student. The past that I come up with here is completely AU, I made it up myself. Please do not lecture me about being canon, because in case you haven't noticed this entire series is quite a bit off the regular track.

Malik: *reads the past SJ has come up with for Mahaado and Mana* O_o; You're a very disturbed person WSJ...

WSJ: ^^; Coming from you, I guess I'll take that as a compliment. So thank you.

Malik & Ishtar: v_v;

WSJ: Oh yes! And guess what! I'm happy!! ^^ Next year, in the spring of 2005, (which makes it the spring of my sophmore year in high school) my French class is taking a trip to France! *sighs happily* I hope I can raise enough money to go. If anyone's got any good money-raising ideas, make sure to toss them my way!

Ishtar: >> You. In France. In Paris... Poor Amoura. v_v

WSJ: Anyway, has anyone noticed that the chapters keep getting longer? Oo; Should I try and shorten them up some, or are you guys all all right with longness?

Malik: *pokes her* Just get to the chapter already.

WSJ: Okay, okay... *punches the play button on her stereo, which starts blasting My Last Breath* ^^ Mood music.

Ishtar: Oo; If THAT'S mood music, I don't want to be here anymore...

Malik: v_v; You and me both...

WSJ: ^o^\\//

Disclaimer: You all should know by now.

()()()()()

Home Sweet Home

Chapter 7 -- Pros and Cons

Yami groaned and opened his eyes, immediately closing them again as the bright light hit him in the back of the head like a sledge hammer. "Am I dead?" he asked sluggishly, groaning again. He tried to move, but sighed and stopped as pain rocketed through his head.

A very angry voice penetrated his thoughts, apparently in answer to his question. "No, you are not dead Yami Sef Moto [1], but in about ten seconds you are going to wish you were!"

Someone chuckled. "Yup, you may not be in hell pharoah, but your little hikari sure is acting like a demon!" There was a sound like a rolled up news paper hitting flesh, and the person who'd spoken second laughed. "Very like a demon. He's been running around with that stupid paper and ranting at random objects all morning."

Yami cracked his eyes open, squinting against the sunlight and trying to ignore the pain at the back of his brain. "Now I know how Osirus Tutankhamen felt...[2]" he slurred, half to himself. Through the bright light and his pounding head he could just make out Bakura in the corner of the room, standing with his arms crossed and his shoulders shaking in silent laughter.

Nearer at hand stood Yugi, and Yami was a bit surprised at the look on his aibou's face. Yugi was fuming, and was smacking a rolled up newspaper against his hand with a peeved look on his face. Apparently, the sound Yami had heard earlier had indeed been Yugi hitting Bakura with said newspaper.

"Yugi?" Yami asked plaintively, a bit scared by the look on his hikari's face. "It's bright in here. Could you close the curtains?"

Yugi exploded, almost causing Bakura to lose his fragile grip on his tongue and laugh out loud. "No, I will NOT close the curtains!! If you want to go out and get drunk you get to suffer the hang-over!" He lept forward, shaking the paper in Yami's face. "I can't believe you Yami!!! You - you desecrated the Arc in - in blood and attemped rape on the ambassador's daughter! I don't know what to do with you!!!"

Yami winced a little and pushed himself up on his elbows. 'Gee,' he thought sourly to himself, 'So this is nausea. How pleasent.' "Desecrate is a harsh word aibou," he said, as firmly as he could. The truth was that Yugi was scaring him shitless. Yugi was starting to remind Yami of... himself... "It wasn't blood, it was red spray paint. You know as well as I that the media always blows things way out of proportion. And I didn't rape her." he stopped and sweatdropped a little. "At least, I don't think so..."

"Oh, you didn't rape her," Yugi said unhappily, his mouth turning down at the corners. He unrolled the newspaper and stuck it in Yami's face. A giant picture of the vandelized Arc covered almost the entire front page. "But according to this you attempted to grope her, kiss her, and drag her into a dark alley. Yami, your description is all over the front page! And therefore my description is all over the front page!!!"

Yami was beginning to sweat all over. "Did I mention I don't hold liquor well?"

In the corner Bakura finally gave up and sat down on the floor, leaning up against the wall and holding his stomach as he laughed helplessly. "Oh we found that out the hard way, didn't we pharoah?" He gulped in air and wiped a tear of mirth out of his eye as Yami glared at him.

"Shut your mouth tomb raider." Yami said sourly, settling back against the pillows and pouting.

That sent Bakura back into spasms of laughter as Yugi looked on curiously. Finally Bakura had calmed down enough to explain, "I was always trying to get into the royal treasury. It was my one dream. So in one attempt I substituted the mild wine pharoah here usually drank for the strong stuff the peasents kept." Bakura snickered. "I was hoping to knock him out so I could get at the treasure. Unfortunately, Yami didn't just pass out like I had hoped, but attempted to drag the Queen of Persia to bed with him. I didn't get into the treasury, but it did make for one great show!!" Bakura relaxed back into gales of laughter as Yugi sweatdropped.

"What is it with you getting drunk and going after women?" Yugi asked, semi-glaring at his Yami.

"Because he can't get any any other way?" Bakura dodged the pillow Yami heaved his way and fled the room, still laughing to himself.

"Rigel, I will not stand for this."

Rigel winced a little at his master's words, but did not look up from his place kneeling on the stone floor, one hand over his chest in a salut. He knew he had failed to capture the telepath's heart when he had boasted so highly that he could, and that would cost him. "I assure you Master, Mistress, I will not fail again."

It was Mistress who spoke up this time from her throne beside Master's. "You had better not Rigel. Our hosts become restless. The sooner we can bring our true selves into this realm the better. Then these worthless human hosts will be of no use to us."

Rigel dared to risk a glance at the two beings who controlled his destiny. They sat side-by-side on identical thrones, surrounded by stuffed animals and toys to indulge their childish human hosts. Mistress's host had short black hair and a frail-looking figure, and was dressed in a deep purple and black dress. Master was dressed in purple and black as well, and the low light glinted off his host's glasses.

Master and Mistress had many names, too many worth mentioning, but as far as Ryou Bakura was concerned they were and would be known as the True Pharoah, or Pharoah 90, and Mistress 9. Both were higher entities, spirits, Rigel believed them to be gods, possessing human hosts. But as soon as Rigel and his companions had suceeded in their quest to find the three pure hearts that held the Talismans of Power, Mistress and Master would be able to cast aside their human shells and enter the world in their true forms, which currently resided in another dimention.

"I will avenge Jalila and Firas and Briar-Rose." Rigel promised fiercly. "I swear it."

From behind him came a high pitched, squeeling laugh. "Swearing is not good for your soul Rigel, you should learn that it can only do you harm."

Rigel growled, but otherwise did not turn or acknowledge the presence of Kaolinite, his supposed "partner" in his missions. Master and Mistress, however, had higher concerns to worry about then petty grievences.

"What news Kaolinite?" Master asked, absently playing with the crook and flail that rested on his lap.

Kaolinite bowed, her flame red hair falling forward to hide her face for a moment. "Master, Mistress, I have selected the next target."

"Are you and Rigel not supposed to work together?" Mistress asked, a frown crossing her host's pretty face.

Rigel could no longer hold his tongue and he jumped to his feet, his hand gripping his sword hilt half out of anger and half out of preoccupation. "Mistress I cannot work with Kaolinite! She is petty and rude and will never listen to my oppinions. I can do just as well on my own!"

Kaolinite scowled at him. "Who are you calling petty you ignorant, uncivilized beast?"

Rigel's growl deepened, and his hand tightened on his sword before Master spoke. "Rigel, Kaolinite, stop this at once! We must work together or all is lost. The Sailor Senshi are drawing closer every day, and we still have not secured even one of the Talismans!"

Rigel and Kaolinite both instantly dropped to their knees in a bow, murmering a quiet "Yes Master." as they did.

Master settled back into his seat, but the frown did not leave his face. "Two of the Trinity are on their side, but we have just as much power as them." A sly smile crossed his face. "After all, they may have Diamond-White and Crystal-Clear, but we have Obsidian-Eyes and Sailor Saturn." Mistress laughed at that and ran a hand seductively up Master's arm. "We will win," Master said, placing his hand over Mistress's. "As long as we remain united. Now Kaolinite, tell me about this new target."

Kaolinite tossed a triumphant smile Rigel's way and climbed to her feet. "He has witnessed several Daimon/Senshi battles, but that shouldn't be a problem. I plan to attack while he is at a large public 'convention' next week, completely out in the open and unprotected." Master and Mistress listened intently as she continued on, but Rigel stalked from the room, his cape swirling behind him.

"This is not over 'Kaori'..." he muttered to himself. "Watch your tongue or you shall find it cut from your head..."

Ryou walked into the house, dropping his bag onto the carpet with a sigh. It was good to be home. His cat, Socrates, rubbed around his ankles and began to purr loudly, so he bent down to give her a scratch behind the ears. "Sorry I've been gone," he said, picking up the cat and continuing to pet her as he walked toward the kitchen. It had been a long bus ride home from Juuban, and he was thirsty.

Dispite all Ryou's protests and pleadings, Duke had refused to come back to Domino with the telepath. "I don't know how I know," Duke had told him. "But I'm meant to stay here." Reluctantly, Ryou had agreed.

After getting a drink and making himself a sandwich, Ryou sat down at his computer to check his e-mail. The day before yesterday he'd gotten one from his father about some sort of supernatural light at the top of the platau near where they were working, and Ryou hoped he might have an update. Sure enough, his account logged in two new messages.

The first was from Bakura, the second from Shen. Ryou opened the one from his "oniisan" first.

Ryou,
Yami's gone and done something stupid again. I can't tell you much that the newspapers probably haven't already, but suffice to say that we're going to have to lay low for awhile. Don't worry about us, we'll get through just like we always do. Here's hoping Yami hasn't drunkenly started an international war.
Yours, Bakura

Ryou twitched a little at that. That morning Duke had read the paper to him and they'd heard all about the "Yami scandel", as they'd termed it. Of course, the Tokyo newspaper had a rather more Japanese slant then the Parisian one did. Ryou almost felt sorry for the Japanese government. They didn't have anything to do with it, but of course France didn't believe this.

Ryou sighed and shook his head ruefully, and then opened his father's e-mail.

Ryou,
We've made some very intresting discoveries here, including what we're convinced are spirits haunting "our" tomb. And you may not believe it when we say it, but there's also a real Kuriboh. A live one, no less. You've heard Shaadi say that there's a mummified Ferral Imp and two stuffed Kuriboh's in Yami's tomb, but this one is live, I assure you. But I should probably get to the point of this, shouldn't I?

We need you Ryou. The spirits, or whatever they are, won't talk to us, and whenever we try and get into the tomb now something happens to drive us out. Our lights blow out every single bloody time we try and go in, for no reason at all! Once, Shaadi and I tried to go in by feel alone, but both of us started to get a really bad feeling that something would collapse on us if we tried to go much farther, so we got out of there fast.

It's beginning to drive us all a little crazy. There's too many mysteries to solve that we can't even start on without getting into that tomb! We know that the door on the right leads into the burrial chamber, but we don't have so much as a hint as what is on the left! Not only that, but Isis is convinced that if we could only get a good look at the hieroglyphics in the burrial chamber a lot more of Yami's past would come clear!

Unfortunately, Yami is unreachable right now. We've tried calling the number he gave us for Amoura's home, but no one picks up the phone. We assume you know why, but it is very frustrating to us.

So what we're asking is this, my son. Could you hold off on your classes and come down to Egypt for even a week? Any help you could give us would be much appreciated.
All my love, Father

Ryou stopped and sat still for a moment, then hurridly ran his fingers over the braille, reading the letter again. Then he groaned and sat back in his seat, running a hand through his hair. He'd just gotten home, for pity's sake! Finally he stood up and moved to the kitchen to call Raiden-san and let him know he'd be abandoning his classes for another week. As he dialed, Ryou sighed again.

"Why me?"

The children of Keith's little tour were bouncing around like jumping beans as the Chinese woman led Keith through the center of town. His escort had long black hair done up in two buns on either side of her head, and had given her name as Purfume. Her Japanese was faulty, but at least she spoke a little. As they went through the center of town other Amazons came out to see what the comotion was about, giving Keith pleanty of time to drool.

"Nihao!" One of the other Amazons called out in Chinese. ":Purfume, what do you have here?:"

Purfume bowed to the older woman. ":He is a slave I captured near the river. I will go put him with the other one.:"

":The village is being very profitable while our Matriarch is away.:" the other Amazon laughed. ":Just wait until Cologne and Shampoo return!:" Purfume laughed and nodded along with her.

The senior Amazon nodded. ":And the children?:" Purfume shrugged helplessly, and the woman cackled. ":Just leave them to me.:"

Purfume nodded, quite happy to do just that. She sketched another bow to the woman and continued to lead Keith through the village, toward the hut at the other side. When they arrived she pulled back the flap of hide used as a door and motioned for him to enter. He did, and stopped dead in his tracks. "YOU!"

On the other side of the small hut, lounging on a pile of pillows dressed in tight leather with a chain around his neck and definately not looking happy about it was one Tristan Taylor, who looked even less happy when Bandit Keith walked in.

Rebecca giggled and snuggled down next to Mokuba on the couch as the older boy offered her some popcorn. "What are we watching?"

Most of the servents had the night off, and so Mokuba and Rebecca had decided to do a little movie watching. It was storming outside, so there wasn't much else they could do. Currently they were sitting together on the couch that directly faced the huge screened TV, with a big bowl of popcorn between them. Mokuba was doing his best to ignore Seto's grumblings in the back of his mind.

"Lord of the Rings: Two Towers extended edition!"

"Ohhhh..." Rebecca said, her eyes widening. "But that doesn't come out in America for another month!"

Mokuba grinned mischieviously. "I know." he said smuggly. "There are advantages to being the CEO of one of the biggest technology-based companies in the world."

Rebecca laughed at him. "You pirated a movie?! Mokuba!"

"What?" he asked "innocently". "I couldn't stand to wait another month for it to come out! And I'm desperate to watch it with cast commentary. The commentary on Fellowship was absolutely hilarious!"

Rebecca and Mokuba looked at each other and smothered laughter as Mokuba hit the "play" button. "Tig!"

//Oh please...// Seto grumbled as the opening credits began to roll with Japanese subtitles underneith. //Couldn't you have picked a... a... less fantasy-type movie?//

Mokuba snorted mentally and turned up the volume on the TV. /Like what?/

//Like... Freddy vs. Jason.// Seto said, pouting slightly. //If you're going to pirate something, at least pirate something good.//

Mokuba surpressed the urge to shudder. /I didn't like your obsession with American horror movies when I was little, and I don't like it now./

Seto snorted, but said nothing.

It was forty-five minutes later, during the middle of the Battle of Helms Deep, when things went array.

" 'Do you want me to discribe it for you or shall I go find you a box?' " Mokuba and Rebecca spoke the line along with Legolas and then began to giggle madly like the fifteen-year-olds they were. All at once the lights went out, as a tremendous crash of thunder shook the mansion. Rebecca shrieked and grabbed onto Mokuba's arm as the TV flickered and then died, leaving them in complete darkness and silence, save the rain outside and the sound of their heavy breathing.

"Mokuba?" Rebecca whispered, although she wasn't really sure why she was. "Mokuba?"

"I'm right here 'Becca." Mokuba assured her. "You have my arm in a death-grip."

"Ooops, sorry," Rebecca said, loosening her grip sheepishly. The two sat huddled in darkness, until there was a loud thump from upstairs. Rebecca and Mokuba both shrieked and jumped, clinging to each other. "Wh-what was that?" Rebecca asked shakily.

Mokuba gulped and stared into the darkness, just as a loud moan split the air. "I don't want to know!"

"It's a ghost!" Rebecca whimpered, throwing her arms around Mokuba. At any other time he might have enjoyed this, but he was clinging to her just as much as she was to him. "It's your big brother come back to haunt us!"

Mokuba gulped again. He knew this "ghost" wasn't Seto, but...

Sitting in the darkness with Rebecca in his arms and something clattering around upstairs, Mokuba tried very hard not to think about Gozenboru.

"DUKE!!!"

"Gurk!" Duke rolled out of bed, falling to the floor with a thud. He thrashed around on the floor for a moment, then looked up at his waker, slightly disoriented. "Rei-chan?"

Rei was dressed already in her red and white temple priestess robes, and was glaring at him with her hands on her hips. "Get your lazy bum out of bed already and get to work! This shrine doesn't run itself!"

Duke blinked at her for a moment longer, and then suddenly began to laugh. It was the day after Ryou had left, four days since that explosive battle in which Ryou's heart had been stolen and returned, and Duke's ribcage had been effectively smashed and repaired. The last several days had been spent on rest and recuperation, but apparently Rei thought it was time for him to get back to work.

"Sorry Rei-chan," he said after he managed to gether himself. "But I've got other work to do."

"Other work?" Rei asked, slightly exasperated. "What could be more important then helping me at the shrine?"

Duke smirked at her with a gleam in his eye as he stood up and set about digging through his bag for a shirt. "Dungeon Dice Monsters Rei-chan, Dungeon Dice Monsters."

"Your game?"

Duke nodded, his smirk widening somewhat. "For the next week I'm booked solid with talks, autograph signings, and promotional duels." He laughed again at the look on Rei'd face. "Two words cousin of mine. Otogi Con."

(WSJ: I read somewhere, I think, that "Otogi" means "dice", but I can't be sure... *shrug*)

It was a cold, rainy morning (do they have those in California?), but Gwen seemed abnormally bouncy. She entered the dining room at a spirited trot, and everyone looked up at her bleary-eyed as she made herself a cup of coffee, humming some unnamable show tune under her breath.

"...You have no right to be so happy." Ishtar told her after a moment.

The kids were grouchy because they couldn't go outside. The adults were grouchy because they were stuck with the kids. Malik was grouchy because it was cold out, and Ishtar was grouchy because it was raining. Hiro was grouchy because everyone else was grouchy, so there was no telling why Gwen was so happy. Most of the kids were either in their rooms being grouchy or sitting around the TV being grouchy. Malik and Hiro were eating cereal, Mr Kennady and Ishtar were sipping mugs of coffee. Gwen's aunt and uncle were no where in sight.

Gwen laughed at Ishtar's comment, leaning up against the counter and surveying the grouchy table. "Me? You bet I have a right to be happy. You guys will be too, soon enough."

"Have you read the paper yet?" Mr Kennady asked, shoving the Las Angeles Times her way. On the front page was a picture of the Arc de Triumph, with some sort of red scribbles around the base. Gwen picked it up and blinked. "Hmmm... Says here that a young Japanese man, estemated about twenty years of age, was seen vandelizing the Arc last night. Apparently, he got away." She read a little farther, and her eyes widened. "Oh hell!"

"What?" Malik asked, leaning over her shoulder dispite the fact he couldn't read English.

"France is thinking about declaring war on Japan! The kanji on the Arc apparently says something along the lines of 'Your mortality shall be your downfall' and France is taking it as a threat. Not only that, but apparently some ambassidor's daughter was nearly raped, they think by the same guy." She read on and sweatdropped. "The description the girl gave was a man of about five feet, three inches with spikey black and blond hair and narrow violet-red eyes. She says he was drunk too." She exchanged worried glances with her friends.

"Oh wonderful..." Malik groaned, putting his head in his hands. "The pharoah's done it again..."

Hiro frowned at Gwen as three brain cells finally lined up in a moderately-straight line. Hey, it was too early in the morning to be thinking. "What are you wearing?"

Gwen chuckled at that too, and looked down at her outfit. She was dressed in a dark purple suit and an orange tie, and behind her on the counter sat a purple hat that looked vaguely familiar. Mr Kennady laughed too and shook his head. "Is it that time of year already Gwen?"

"Yup, you bet." Gwen said, nodding. She then turned back to her puzzled Japanese friends. "Pegasus Con is on this week." she said, as if that explained everything.

Ishtar choked on his coffee, and Malik sputtered, spraying half-chewed cereal all over the table. "Pegasus what?" he asked, wiping his mouth off on his sleeve.

"Pegasus Con." Gwen repeated. "It's a big Duel Monsters convention that California hosts every year in memory of Mr Pegasus. It's starting today, and I need to be there for the opening ceremonies. I figured you guys would want to come. At least it would get you out of the house and away from my sibs."

"You have to be there?" Hiro asked, absently mopping a bit of Malik's cereal off his cheek.

Gwen blinked at him. "Well duh. I never mentioned that I'm California's top duelist?"

Malik, Ishtar, and Hiro oogled at her. "Did you go to nationals?" Malik finally asked.

Gwen nodded agian and smiled. "Yes, but I didn't do so well. Out of fifty duelists (the top duelist from each state), I placed 18th."

"Still, that's not too bad." Ishtar pointed out. "So because of that you're being forced to go to this convention thing?"

"Well, not forced..." Gwen shrugged and picked up her hat, twirling it absently between her fingers. "I would have gone anyway."

"So what's with the suit?" Hiro asked.

"What, you've never heard of cos-play?" Gwen asked. "I'm going as the Witty Phantom, of course!"

At which point Hiro, Malik, and Ishtar each privately decided that their hostess was most definately nuts.

Bakura was still chuckling as he made his way downstairs, where Tea, Amoura, and Grandmama were sitting around the kitchen table and attempting to come up with some sort of plan.

"In less then a few hours Japanese are not going to be welcome here." Tea said, frowning. The three women glanced up as Bakura joined their circle. "This is not good."

"It's all Yami's fault." Madame fumed, crossing her arms and frowning decisively. "If only he could learn a little restraint...!"

Bakura chuckled. "Much as I agree with you Madame, I am partially to blame as well. I should have kept with him." He lowered his head a little, but Tea's sly comment jerked it back upward as if on a string.

"You didn't keep an eye on Yami because you wanted to hurry back to the limo to be with Amoura."

Bakura sputtered at her as Amoura blushed deeply, and finally the white-haired thief just stuck his tongue out at her and turned away. "Oh, very mature." Tea laughed. "But right now we've got bigger things to worry about then you and Amoura."

Amoura sighed and ran her hands through her hair. "It iz zo, and you cannot ztay 'ere. Zee French governement may blame you!" She cast a shrewd glances toward Yami's room. "Even if it iz your fault."

Madame snapped her fingers suddenly. "Amoura, I know just what we'll do. We still own that little cabin up near that Switz ski resort, right over the border into Switzerland. You five can go hide out there for a week or so, until all this blows over."

"Five?" Bakura, Tea, and Amoura chorused in surprise.

Madame nodded sagely. "Amoura is the only one of you who can speak passible French, so she'll have to go with you." The old woman smiled. "Cheer up. Make it into a holiday. Have you been skiing before?" Bakura and Tea shook their heads, and her smile widened. "There, you see? Now is the perfect time to learn."

"All right then," Bakura said hesitantly. "When do we leave?"

Joey lay awake that night in the hotel room, staring up at the ceiling and lost deep in thought. Even the synchronized snoring of Scott and Duo wasn't enough to move him. He thought about a lot of things.

He thought about Serenity, and about how she was growing up so fast. One more year and she'd be in college with them! His little imouto-chan wasn't so little anymore.

He thought about Ryou, and his love for Serenity. Ryou was so powerful, Joey knew he'd do anything to protect Serenity. How many times had Ryou already saved her life? Twice, three times?

He thought about himself, and how he'd never be as strong or smart or powerful as Ryou, but somehow Serenity still loved him more then her white-haired boyfriend. How was that? Aw, he was just her big brother, nothing special. He'd never be able to do the things Ryou did. But maybe... Maybe he didn't have to?

And most of all, he thought about Mai. Those jerks who killed her lover... Maybe... Joey almost didn't dare think of it. Maybe he could find them, and get revenge for Kale. Maybe then he'd be the hero in Mai's eyes. Maybe...

Joey rolled over and sighed, resigned to the fact that sleep would not find him this night.

By the time the plane landed in Cairo, Ryou was just about asleep. So it was a sleepy and much-hasseled telepath that made his way down from the plane, the wire cat carrier in one hand and a suitcase in the other.

Shen and Isis were there to greet him, and Shen was so surprised at seeing his son hauling the cat carrier along that he didn't notice the look on Ryou's face. "Ryou!" Father and son hugged, and if Shen noticed that Ryou squeezed him with just a little extra tightness, he didn't give any sign.

"Thank you for coming," Isis said, sharing a friendly hug with Ryou as well.

"It was no trouble," Ryou the ever-polite said. "I do hope I can help."

"So do we," Shen said. "Ryou, why did you bring Socrates along?"

"Oh," Ryou looked surprised. "I didn't think you'd mind. She can catch mice or rats or whatever in the tombs, and I figured she might like a little fresh air and new faces after you and I have been gone so long."

"You?" Shen asked as the three of them began to walk out to where the car was waiting. "Where have you been Ryou?"

Ryou realized his slight mistake and laughed to cover it up. "Oh, I went to visit Duke Devlin in Juuban. I'd no sooner gotten home then I got your e-mail and turned around to come to Egypt."

They got into the car and Shen started it up. Once they were well on their way to the dig Ryou undid the latch to the carrier and let Socrates out into the car. She curled up happily on his lap and began to purr. The ride was about a half-hour long, and taken up by Isis and Shen describing what they'd found and what they hoped Ryou could do to help them.

They approached the dig from the south, a small cluster of tents under majestic sandstone cliffs that seemed to rise out of the desert like a sheer wall. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon, when the sun was at its hottest, so everyone was under whatever shade they could find. As Shen pulled the car to a stop near the outskirts of the tents, Ryou was rooting around in his bag and muttering to himself. After a moment he threw up his hands in exasperation. "I don't believe this!"

"Don't believe what?" Isis asked as she got clambered out of the jeep and turned to face him.

Ryou sighed as he slung his bag onto his back and picked up Socrates. "I know I packed a hat! Or at least, I thought I did..."

Dispite the fact that his son looked so cross, Shen couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Uh oh... Ryou, you're going to go home as red as a lobster."

Ryou made a face. "I know. And just about as broiled. Dad and I have been to Egypt before," Ryou explained to Isis. "And unfortunately, I do not tan like otou-san and Bakura do. I burn. Easily and badly." He sighed again. "At least this time I'll be in the tomb itself, not outside hauling sand." He cast a semi-glare at his father at these words, but Shen only laughed again.

(Lol, kudos to Yokomon 52 for the idea of Broiled-Lobster Ryou. ^~ Gee, I wonder if that's anything like Suntan Barbie... Warm water makes him burn, cold water turns him pale again... XD)

The three were approaching the steps down into the tomb now, near which were the trio of tents where the archaeologists had been staying. Arthur and Soloman had the biggest, so it was toward this tent they went. Indeed, Ryou could sense Arthur, Soloman, Shaadi, and a funny little greenish-blue aura inside. He stopped for a moment outside the door, puzzled at this fourth presense. It wasn't human, but from what he could tell it wasn't animal either.

Shen and Isis were looking at him strangely, so he shook himself out of his thoughts and stepped inside the tent. Unfortunately, he'd forgotten that he still had Socrates in his arms, and that turned out to be a mistake.

The little she-cat took one look at the ball of fuzz still sitting on top of Shaadi's head and began to hiss and squirm to get out of Ryou's arms. Additionally, the little Kuriboh was also hissing at Socrates, its claws digging into Shaadi's turban as it made agressive little 'woo woo' noises.

"Shoot!" Ryou said, wrestling to keep the cat in his arms. "Dad, take her for me. I didn't think about Socrates not liking whatever it was you guys found." Shen took the cat from Ryou and took her outside. Once Socrates was gone, Shaadi's little attaché began to calm down somewhat.

Ryou sighed and dusted himself off. "Okay, now let me see this little... thing you've found Shaadi-san."

Shaadi chuckled as he extracted the Kuriboh from his head. "It more of found me, I think. We walked into the burial chamber and it looked like it was going to attack us. Then it decided to glomp me instead."

Ryou kneeled down next to where Shaadi was holding the Kuriboh on his lap and reached out a hand to pet it. Dispite not having a visible nose, the little Kuriboh sniffed him for a moment, then 'woo'ed and rubbed up against his hand. Ryou chuckled and closed his eyes, reaching out to attempt to speak with it. The Kuriboh froze and stared at Ryou with its big blue eyes. "Coo...?" it asked cautiously.

(It's all right...) Ryou soothed mentally. (I don't want to hurt you. What is your name?)

*No name Old Master give me no name New Master name me?*

Its thoughts were jumbled, but clearly intellegent. "What's her name Shaadi?" Ryou asked with his eyes still closed.

"Her?" Shaadi asked, startled. Ryou nodded, and he sweatdropped slightly. "So much for calling it Fido..."

"She's very intellegent," Ryou chuckled as the Kuriboh hopped up and down at the indignaty of being called 'it'.

"Priestess." Isis said suddenly. "Her name is Priestess."

Shaadi shrugged. "Fine with me."

(Your name is Priestess.) Ryou told her telepathicly.

*Good name very very good I like it good name.*

(Who was your old master?)

*Old Master Mage Mahaado longlong ago very long ago Mistress Mage Mana too.*

(Are they the ones in the tomb?) Ryou asked, his excitement growing.

Priestess began to hop up and down on Shaadi's lap again, and in her excitement she leaped onto Ryou's head and sat down in his hair, still making happy 'woo woo' and purring noises. *Yes yes! Master Mage say 'Guard tomb' and Mistress Mage crying and Master Mage saying 'We will die soon' and Mistress Mage saying 'We love you' and Master and Mistress Mage make me sleep long time longlonglong time asleep.*

Ryou was beginning to get a headache from going round and round trying to decypher Priestess's thoughts. (You've been asleep five thousand years?)

*Don't know no don't know long time very very long then strangers come in but one Mistress Ishtar and one Master Guardian but no Master Mages and no Master Pharoah but okay okay because of Master Guardian Shaadi.*

(Thank you,) Ryou said, reaching up to massage his temples a little. (You've been a big help.)

*Yes yes Master Fate's Spawn!* Priestess cooed happily and jumped back onto Shaadi's lap, then turned to give the surprised Ryou a big slobbery Kuriboh-kiss before jumping back to Shaadi's head.

Ryou sat in stunned silence for a moment, and then became aware of a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Isis holding out a glass of water and a couple asprin to him, and he took them gratefully. "Thank you much... Kuso! The way she 'talks' is addicting." He swallowed the asprin and then took a seat on a nearby crate. Everyone else was sitting around various places in the tent, and were now gazing at him expectantly.

Ryou chuckled as he mentally reviewed the conversation he'd just had. "Apparently she belonged to the tomb's two occupants, at least to a certain extent." His eyes brightened. "Oh, and I've learned their names. Apparently they were mages under Yami's service, and went by the names Mahaado and Mana. I think they knew they were going to die before they actually did, because they put Priestess 'to sleep' and ordered her to guard their tomb. She says she was going to attack you when you came in because you were strangers, but that..." he thought back to Priestess's exact words. " 'It was okay because Master Guardian Shaadi.' She also mentioned Master Pharoah, whom I assume is Yami, and Mistress Ishtar, that would be you Isis-san." He chuckled again. "And she called me 'Master Fate's Spawn'. I've been called Child of Fate before, but never quite like that..."

Shen snickered a little. " 'Fate's Spawn'? Wait until Bakura hears this one..."

Ryou groaned a little, then chuckled himself and stood up. "I may as well get this over with. Now that I know the names of the spirits in the tomb (it's a little obvious that the spirits are the ones buried there) maybe I can talk to them."

Isis caught his arm as he started for the tent flap. "Ryou," she said seriously, "Be careful. Some of the drawings show the Mage Mahaado wearing the Millenium Ring, and we don't know why. Just be on guard."

"My Ring?" Ryou's hand strayed up to rest over the Ring, which hung around his neck as always. "Thank you for the warning Isis-san."

He stepped out of the tent and into the blistering heat of Egypt, and the others followed. Socrates was prowling around outside the door, but she and Priestess didn't attempt to jump at each other again. They headed for the tomb, and the other archaeologists stayed on the steps outside as Ryou ventured into the dark cavern, alone.

[1] Apparently, Yami has a middle name, and Yugi somehow knows it. ^~ Either Yami actually remembered his middle name or he adopted one once he started pretending to be Yugi's brother, either way works. *shrug* The name Sef is Egyptian (duh? Like Yami would have any other middle name?) and means "yesterday". ^^ Rather fitting, I thought. *snickers* Bakura and Ishtar have taken middle names too. Bakura's I already know, but if anyone comes up with something for Ishtar I'll give you a cameo later on. ^_~\\//

[2] Tut's mummy shows some signs of trauma to the back of his head. ^^ Yami was attempting to make a joke. I'm not sure how well it went over... *shrug* Ah well, Egyptian pharoah's weren't known for their sense of humor anyway. ^^;

()()()()()

WSJ: *claps her hands* How fun!! So we have another contest starting right now. It will again earn you a cameo in a future chapter. Coming up with a middle name for Ishtar.... *grin* Good luck all!

*smile* As you all have by now obviosuly found, the name that won out was MorTae's choice of "Priestess". MorTae, e-mail me at yamatos_fangirl@hotmail.com sometime in the next few days so I can get some info for your cameo. ^^ Should I announce the runners-up? Ah, I may as well. ^^ So here we go. The top five names (besides the winning "Priestess"), in no particular order, are:

Khalid (Cettie-Girl)
Dust Bunny (MorTae)
Chiree (Amiasha Ruri)
Arf (Sesca 3)
and Roo (Sesca3)

^^ Really though, I got a lot of good suggestions, and it was hard enough for me to narrow it down to six, let alone choose one! ^^ So anyway, hurrah for MorTae, and everyone suggest Ishtar's middle name.

Okay, minor note here. Several people have commented/complained that in the last chapter of SoS Bakura says "Watashi wa Bakura, wanna be friends?" Yes, I know Bakura would be much more likely to say ore, or even boku. I used watashi because I read somewhere the the first words Ryou ever spoke directly to Bakura were "Watashi wa Ryou, wanna be friends?" So I purposely had Bakura repeat those words, as if to signify a new beginning for them. *shrugs* Just clearing that up so my Japanese grammar doesn't seem as horrible as it is... ^_~

Mwahaha. Happy tales ya'll. My next update may be pretty far in the future, because I just started on a big new project. How many of you guys have read The Child Who Suffers? Well, guess what. I'm finally getting around to working on a sequel/companion fic for it, which is taking up most of my time. So make sure ya'll encourage me to get this new fic done fast so I can get back to HSH! It's called Pity the Child, and focuses on a much-abused pair of siblings who are strikingly familiar...

Chapter 8: WSJ: (V/O) Mwahaha... Mokuba and Rebecca are having "fun" at the Kaiba manor...

Mokuba & Rebecca: AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ghost: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

WSJ: (V/O) While Ryou has spirits of his own to deal with in Egypt.

Mahaado: *narrows his eyes at Ryou and raises his staff* Tomb robber.

Ryou: *eyes widen as he backs away, only to run into Mana* What? No, I -

WSJ: (V/O) And meanwhile Joey's contemplating his own "ghosts".

Joey: *frowns* Bah, this "revenge" stuff may be harder then I thought...

WSJ: (V/O) *chuckles good-naturedly* On a lighter note, several conventions are on. California's Pegasus Con...

Gwen: *drags Hiro on stage with her* Come on!

Hiro: *embarrassed* I can't believe you got me to wear this...

WSJ: (V/O) Tokyo's Otogi Con...

Duke: *signing autographs from adoring little DDM brats, er, fans*

WSJ: (V/O) And Domino's... Wait, never mind. It's not a convention in Domino, just a party.

Mako: *slurring his words drunkinly* Hoocha!

Weevil: *giggling to himself*

Rex: Ya' know we weawwy shouldn't... shouldn't... *gives up and grabs another beer*

WSJ: (V/O) *sweatdrop* Oh dear.

God bless minna-san!