Ryou: ¬¬ Why do you always do stuff like this to me?

WSJ: ^^; Um... because?

Ryou: *mutters darkly*

Serenity: *turns blue across the nose as she reads ahead in the chapter* Urk...

Disclaimer: I don't own YGO. ^^ Fate is mine, and Priestess is mine, and Mana and Mahaado's personalities are mine, but I don't really want that last one... Is anyone else getting really annoyed by my version of Mahaado? :p

Warnings: Mahaado being a jerk, some cursing, extreme angst, slight blood & gore, slight romantic fluff, and severe secrets reveiled. ^~ Do not read if you have a weak heart or tend to cry easy. ^o^ Seriously. I was sniffling through most of this chapter and I'm the writer, for crying out loud!

R Amethyst: Power of the Pen? You're going this year?! Sweet! No, I don't have your e-mail, but be sure you get back to me on this! Since I'm in 9th grade I can't compete this year, but I am going to try and be a runner or a judge or something, and I'm defiantely going to be hanging out with my school's team at all the events. We may have to coordinate a meeting. ^~

Oh, and Windswift-chan? ^~ I expect a really long review from you for this, because there is a lot to comment on. :p

()()()()()

Home Sweet Home

Chapter 9 -- Blood for Blood - The Revelation of Ryou's Mother!

Mahaado's steady stream of curses continued as Mana attempted to bandage the deep wound on his neck, where Ryou had bit down on a major artery. It wasn't like Mahaado could die, of course, but he was beginning to get his robes rather messy. "Mahaado..." Mana said hesitantly, then gained courage and pinched her lover on the sensitive skin around his wound, causing him to yelp. "Mahaado be quiet! And open the door already, would you?"

"Why should I?" the purple-clad Egyptian sneered, aiming a kick at the prone telepath on the floor. "He deserves to die alone in here. A tomb for the damned, how fitting."

"Mahaado! His father is out there, worried sick! I can tell! I may not be a good mage, but I'm really good at the spells that let you sence another's feelings, you know that! It doesn't matter what Bekhura did to us in the past. This isn't Bekhura Mahaado, it may look like him but it isn't." Mana had her lover by the shoulders now, and she gave him a hard shake. "He's already going to die. Would you have his father find him dead, or have a few more hours with him at least? Now open the door."

Mahaado winced at the word 'father', but did as his apprentice asked and released the magical seals that had been holding the tomb door shut, dispite all the archaeologists efforts on the contrary. As soon as they'd been removed, the door creeked open, allowing daylight to spill into the tomb along with the frantic voices of certain Egyptologists.

Still scowling, Mahaado grabbed Mana's hand and drug her toward the burial chamber, where he knew they wouldn't be desturbed. Mana knew it was useless to resist him, but she couldn't help but turn around to give the telepath on the floor a last look. Her heart went out to him, and her eyes filled with silver tears before she shook them away. Yes, he was the reincarnation of the tomb robber that had made their lives just so much living hell, but he was only a boy. Only barely older then their pharoah had been when he'd...

Still twisted around to look behind her, Mana saw Shen run head long into the tomb and then stop dead in his tracks. The female magician couldn't help the sob that caught in her throat as she beheld the look of absolute horror on the father's face as he saw the still, cold form of his one and only son.

"Will he be all right?"

Shaadi glanced up at Shen as he stepped out of the tent that had been hurridly confinscated as a medical hospital. Shen had been pacing back and forth outside for the past four hours while Isis and Shaadi tried everything in their power to find out what was ailing Ryou. The guardian shook his head, then shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine, my friend. This is like nothing Isis or I have ever seen before. His fever is up to almost 110º now, but his heart and breathing are slow and shallow... If I had to guess I would say he's been poisoned, but Isis and I have administered all the anti-toxins it's safe to give him without professional medical evaluation, and his condition hasn't changed at all."

"What about snake bite?" Shen asked, wringing his hands in a distracted manner. "Who knows what may be living in that tomb."

Shaadi sighed and pulled off his turban, letting his long hair fall down his back as he wiped the sweat and dust off his forehead. "Snake bite was the first thing we thought of Shen. Nothing. There isn't a mark on him that could possibly be because of snake bite."

"Can I at least see him?"

Shaadi nodded, and so Shen pushed back the tent flap and stepped inside. Ryou was laying in a cot by the west wall, his face and throat a flaming contrast to his white hair as he battled against the fever that raged inside him. In a desperate attempt to cool him, Isis and Shaadi had stripped off his shirt, leaving his chest bare except for the livid purple bruise that covered the right side of his stomach and the old scars that criss-crossed his torso and arms. Isis was sitting next to him, keeping his forehead covered with cool wet rags to try and get his fever under control. Priestess was curled up at Ryou's feet, her big eyes wider then normal as she made sad little cooing sounds. Apparently she had gotten over her troubles with Socrates, because the little cat was curled up beside her, anxiously licking the blanket that covered her master's feet.

Isis looked up as he came in, and then quickly climbed to her feet. As Shen stepped up to take the chair she'd vacated, Isis pulled him into a sisterly hug. "You have to have faith." she whispered in his ear. "He's gotten through worse before." With her cheek agianst his Shen felt the wetness, but wasn't sure if the tears belonged to him or Isis. Then she let go and moved past him, leaving him more or less alone.

For a moment Shen just stood in the middle of the tent and looked around forlornly. Then he sat down heavily on ths crate Isis had been using as a chair. Mechanicly his hands took the cloth from Ryou's forehead and dipped it in the bowl by his bed, wringing it out and replacing it in silence. Then he busied himself with smoothing out the sheet that covered Ryou from the waist down, and plumping the pillow under his pale hair, his eyes averted from his son's face.

Finally at a loss for anything else to do, Shen seized his son's hand as if it were a lifeline and held on for dear life. For what seemed like a long time they sat like that, Ryou laying as still as stone, Shen leaning over him, their hands meeting somewhere halfway between. Down by the foot of the bed Priestess cooed anxiously, and Shen stirred slightly. Letting out a short laugh he began to talk, not to Priestess or Socrates, but to Ryou, just as if his son could hear him.

"Isis is right..." he mused, flicking a tear out of his eye. "You've gotten through worse before, and there's no reason for this time to be different. A-after all, if you can survive being beaten by a mad Egyptian spirit, tortured in another realm, fighting against the forses of darkness themselves, there's no reason for you not to come through this too. But..."

Lowering his head to the sheets, Shen couldn't help the tears that slid out of his eyes. Taking off his glasses he wiped them off on his shirt, but didn't bother to put them back on as the tears began to flow. "But I've lost so much already... Ryou please, you have to get well! I thought my heart would break when I came home from that dig, and found only you... Angeline was bad enough, but losing Amane at the same time..." He let out a shuddering sob, Ryou's hand pressed against his cheek, as if by physical contact Shen could hold him in the land of the mortals.

"But it hurt you too, I'll bet. Ryou, I never had the chance to say I'm sorry. I know back then you must have been hurting too, but I ignored you in favor of my own grief. Oh Ryou forgive me, I'm so sorry... Please, please... Just be all right again... My son, my only son..." Although in name Bakura was also his son, and Shen did consider the former spirit a son, nothing could ever dispute that Shen and Ryou were blood, while Shen and Bakura were not.

Looking up and through the window, Shen could see the sun setting over the sands in the distance. That brought back a flood of memories, the most prominate being the night after Angeline's funeral, the day before Amane's. He'd been sitting out on the front porch watching the sun set and trying not to cry when Ryou had unexpectedly climbed up on his lap. For those few minutes, neither of them said anything and just sat in harmony.

That had been one of the few times during Ryou's childhood that Shen had actually been there. Silently Shen cursed himself. He'd been gone so much, he'd missed so much of Ryou growing up...

Abruptly his eyes refocused as something flaoted across his field of vision. He blinked and watched the white feather float down to rest gently on Ryou's chest. Shen stared at it a moment, then turned to look up in puzzlement at the unblemished, completely whole tent roof. When he turned back, the feather was gone. "What the-"

"Shen?"

Shen wiped his eyes and turned, putting his glasses back on as he did. His eyes were still shedding tears, but of course no one blamed him. Standing in the doorway of the tent were Isis and Shaadi, and behind them Shen could see a third figure silhoetted against the rapidly darkening skies. Stepping inside, the two Egyptians motioned for the third figure to join them inside as well. It hesitated slightly, and then stepped in to reveal a woman with long blond hair wearing some sort of ceremonial robe and carrying a long staff in one hand, and the Millenium Ring, which she then handed to Shen, in the other. She looked tired, and although her face was young her eyes were old. The same kind of eyes Bakura and Yami had, Shen realized after a moment. But while Yami and Bakura's eyes were laughing and happy now more often then not, this woman's eyes were old and sad, as if she'd seen far too much and wished she hadn't. "My name is Mana," she said quietly. "I think I can help you."

Priestess squealed at the top of her little Kuriboh voice and launched herself off the bed and into Mana's arms. The startled magess nearly dropped her, then laughed as she petted her fur. "Ah, it's good to see you again too..." Then her face turned more serious, and she motioned for Isis and Shaadi to have a seat, while she remained standing.

"Mahaado doesn't know I'm here." she said, keeping her voice low as if fearful that the magician in question would hear her. "I think I can shield my presence well enough that he won't know I've been to help you."

"Is Mahaado the one that did this to him?" Shen asked, nearly jumping out of his chair. "Tell me, is he?! I'll -"

Mana nodded sadly, but motioned for Shen to stay in his seat. "Please, just let me speak. Mahaado really isn't a bad person, he just lives in the past. Five thousand years ago he was the most brilliant magician in Pharoah's court, but now..." she sighed sadly as she thought of the old days. "I was his apprentice, as well as his lover. Besides being a mage, he was also one of Pharoah's seven Inner Circle of priests. In fact, he was the Priest of the Ring." She said, smiling a little as she saw their looks of recognition.

"But what does this have to do with Ryou?" Isis asked.

"I'm getting there. About three years after Mahaado mastered the Ring's powers, I became pregnant with twin boys, something virtually unheard of in those days. Mahaado and I were as happy as could be, until it all shattered. One night Mahaado and I awoke to find a thief in the middle of the act of stealing the Ring. It was a thief named Bekhura, or Bakura, as you would know him. Mahaado loved me, but he loved the power of his Ring even more. He began firing spell after spell at the thief, until through some clever dodging Bekhura managed to manipulate Mahaado into firing a spell at me.

"Since I was a magess-in-training, the spell had no effect on me, it was only a simple spell of paralysis. But it killed the two babies I was carrying. In the confusion, Bekhura escaped with the Ring. Mahaado vowed he would get revenge on the one who had stolen his power and killed our children, and he's been obsessed with the thought of killing Bekhura ever since."

Mana paused and shook her head. "Unlike my master, I don't blame Bekhura for what he did. There was no way he could have known I carried children, and hitting me with a spell was probably the only way he saw to escape.

"After Pharoah sealed away the Shadow Games Mahaado and I performed a ritual of our own. Now our souls are bound to the jewels at the ends of our staffs, much like Pharoah and Bekhura are in the Millenium Items. For the past five thousand years Mahaado has been stewing in his own rage, and when Ryou walked into the tomb he snapped, and attacked him."

"I get the idea that Mahaado isn't exactly the sanest of men." Shen said softly. "But what does that have to do with Ryou getting sick all of a sudden?"

Mana sighed softly. "No, the Mahaado that resides in that tomb now is merely a shell of the man I once loved. While he and Ryou were fighting, Ryou bit him, and swallowed some of Mahaado's blood."

"You bleed?" Isis asked, speaking up for the first time.

Mana looked startled. "Pardon? Yes, we bleed. We take completely physical forms when we're not in our staffs, and yet at the same time we cannot die. Does that make any sense?" The others were nodding, thinking of Yami and Bakura and Ishtar, so she continued. "Why is Ryou swallowing Mahaado's blood so bad you ask? It's a rather long story..."

"We have time." Shaadi said, then suddenly glanced at Ryou. "Or do we?"

"Time enough," Mana decided after a moment. "Sunrise is our deadline, since I cannot be out of the tomb during daylight.

"There are two kinds of magic in the world." she began, leaning back against a tent pole and looking up at the ceiling as if reading her script from there. Priestess had curled up on Shaadi's lap, and Socrates was content to sit by Ryou's feet. "The first is known as 'natural magic'. That kind of magic takes its power from the world around you, and has two sides, light magic and black magic. Mahaado and I both practice natural black magic, and that's the magic you most often hear about in fairy tales.

"The other kind of magic is 'spiritual magic', sometimes called 'psychic magic'. That type of magic takes its power from inside, usually a person's soul or will. That is the kind of magic Ryou posseses as a telepath.

"For the most part natural magic and psychic magic have their own distinct, seperate styles, although some powers such as healing, teleportation, levetation, and some forms of fire or lightning spells are present in both natural and psychic magics. But the most important thing about the two types of magic is that they cannot mix. To do so would create untold disaster.

"What's happened to Ryou is a phenominon known among magic circles as mage-poisoning. If a telepath swallows a mage's blood, or the otherway around, it acts as a poison and will eventually kill him."

Shen and Isis gasped, and Shaadi's eyes widened. As one they turned to look at Ryou. "No matter what?" Shaadi asked.

"No matter what." Mana said sadly after a moment. "It doesn't matter how strong they are, mage-poisoning always kills them."

"There's no cure?" Isis asked.

Mana seemed to think of something and brightened for a moment, but then her face fell again. "There is, but I doubt very much we'll be able to find it in time. Back when magicians were plenty the cure was never a problem if a mage was mage-poisoned, but there were never very many telepaths and there are even fewer today."

"Mana," Shen stood up and put a hand on Mana's arm, his eyes determined. "Mana, tell us. I'll go to the ends of the earth if that's what it takes to cure Ryou."

Mana smiled, slightly amused. "I don't doubt you would, but it is always a question of time. I may be able to slow the effects of the poison, but only when I'm here, and you can be sure Mahaado would skin me if he knew I was here now. The cure is this: for a mage poisoned with a telepath's blood, he must drink an amount of another mage's blood equal to the amount of telepath blood he swallowed. The same for a poisoned telepath. So you see, there really is no hope. Where are we to find another telepath in time to save Ryou? We have but a week at the most, less then 48 hours at the worst."

"Takeo," Shaadi said, snapping his fingers. "That kid that helped Ryou out when he was fighting Jalila! He was a telepath, wasn't he?"

Shen nodded gloomily. "But do you have any idea where he is, how to contact him?"

Shaadi sighed. "Good point."

"What about..." Isis paused. "What about Serenity Wheeler? She's a telepath of sorts, and we could have her flown down to Egypt in the matter of a day."

Shaadi nodded and left to go contact her, while Mana gave Isis a quizzical look. "What do you mean, 'a telepath of sorts'?"

Isis and Shen exchanged glances and chuckled. "This might take awhile..." Shen said, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses. "My son has a past longer then the Sphinx's tail..." He and Isis started at the beginning, and by the end it was several hours later and Mana was nodding thoughtfully. Shaadi had come back after e-mailing Serenity, and contributed what he could to the long story.

"Ah..." Mana murmered once they'd finished. "So much makes sence now..." She glanced over at Ryou, and then blinked and started as if she saw something no one else did. "Child of Fate..." she whispered under her breath.

"What was that?" Shen asked, blinking in confusion.

Mana shook her head. "Nothing, nothing of importance. It's almost sun rise, I must be getting back to the tomb. I'll be back tonight just after the sun sets. Farewell until then." She rose to leave, taking her staff from it's place leaning in the corner, and left as silently as she'd come.

Isis and Shaadi and Shen sat and just looked at each other for a few minutes, letting the revelations of the past few hours sink in. All three jumped when Shaadi's cell phone began to ring loudly. Sheepishly he pulled it out of his pocket. "I told Serenity to call me when she had the chance." he explained, and then checked his watch. "It's only about 7 p.m. in Japan." He flipped the cell open and put it to his ear. "Serenity?"

"SHAADI!!! What do you mean Ryou's dying?!?"

Shaadi winced and pulled the phone away from his ear, letting Serenity yell at him for a few moments. "Serenity please be coherant." he said after a minute. "Ryou has fallen ill, and may be dying. And we think you may hold the cure." That was a slight stretch of the truth, but in the circumstances Shaadi thought it necessary. What they didn't need right now was Serenity falling apart at the seams. "Can you catch a plane to Egypt?"

"I can if I borrow some money from Duo," she said, her voice worried. "Joey's taken it into his head to go after some gang leader, but with Mai-san and Scott around he should be all right. I'll take the first flight I can."

"Good." Shaadi said. "Isis and Shen will be there to meet you at the airport. See you tomorrow."

"Or today..." Shen muttered, looking at his watch, which read 2 a.m. "And I'm not going to the airport. I'm staying right here."

"Oh no you're not." Isis said firmly. "You are coming with me. You need to get out of this tent, and a little travel never hurt anyone."

Shen sighed as Shaadi hung up his phone. "Yes mother..." Suddenly he seemed to think of something, and his eyes grew wide in thought. "Isis, has your Millenium Tauk shown you anything? Please, tell me!"

Isis looked startled that Shen had asked, and reached up to touch the piece of magic jeweralry. "I have seen the future," she admitted softly. "But to tell you what it is may ruin everything and change the future I have seen. All I can say to you is that Serenity is not the one who holds the key to Ryou's health, but it is destined she be here anyway." She closed her eyes, almost as if another vision were coming to her that moment. "'Not all who died have gone away, not all who live will choose to stay. The past and the future meet as one, and finally a mother will find her true son.'"

Opening her eyes she blinked, and then smiled sadly at Shen. "That is all I can say, I'm afraid. But you'll know soon enough. I'll meet you by the jeep at 11. My Tauk says Serenity will be coming in on the noon flight, and it's at least a half-hour's drive to Cairo." Standing up she moved to the door and then through it, leaving Shaadi and Shen behind.

Shaadi stood up as well, and put a hand on Shen's shoulder. "Go to bed Shen, I'll stay up with Ryou tonight. If what Mana-san said is true, there won't be any change, but it never hurts to watch."

"You trust her?" Shen asked incredulously.

"What choice do we have?" Shaadi shot back. "You don't talk much to your son's friends, but Yami-sama speaks very highly of Mahaado and Mana. From what Mana said Mahaado is no longer the same, but I can see the same loyal spirit in Mana that Yami has talked about so many times."

Shen sighed and rubbed his eyes again. "I know Shaadi, I'm sorry. I guess I am tired."

"Go get some sleep," Shaadi told him sympatheticly. "Things will look better in the morning."

Shen shook his head and cast one last glance back at Ryou before he left the tent. "I doubt it."

Sitting down on the crate nearest Ryou's bed, Shaadi dropped his head into his hands. Priestess creeped on to his lap, cooing gently. Distractedly, Shaadi entangled his fingers in her soft fur to scratch the place she liked best just between her shoulderblades.

And so the minutes ticked by in silence save the sound of Ryou's quiet breathing and Shaadi's murmered prayers.

"I don't feel good about just letting you run off like this Sere'." Duo admitted, scratching the back of his head with one hand and carrying one of Serenity's suitcases with the other. It was about 10 o'clock at night and they were in the middle of Kyoto International Airport, where Serenity was just about to catch her flight for Cairo. "With your brother out chasing villains, Mai-san out chasing your brother, and Scott out chasing Mai-san I feel sort of responsible for you, ya' know?"

"Don't worry about me," Serenity said, carrying another suitcase with a duffle bag over one shoulder. "If you have to worry, worry about Joey. He's never been the smartest of men, but this is one of the dumbest things he's ever done." She grunted slightly as she lifted her bag up on to the x-ray conveyer. "This ranks right up there with vowing to get revenge on Malik and Ishtar."

"The things we do for love, eh?" Duo asked, chuckling appreciatively. "I've risked life and limb and braid more then once for my Hilde-chan."

"And I'm flying out to Cairo to watch Ryou die." Serenity said softly, taking her bag back from the attendant and starting toward her flight gate, Duo at her heels.

"Don't say that." her cousin said sharply. "Listen Serenity, if there's one thing I've learned in my life it's that nothing is ever absolute. My friends and I have been in situations more then once where we should have gotten our butts handed to us on platters, but we managed to fight our way out. Hey, my best friend's nickname is 'Suicide Boy', for crying out loud! Not to mention 'The Silencer' and 'The Dragon That Won't Die'. So keep your chin up, okay Sere'?" [1]

Serenity couldn't help but giggle. "You sure have some strange friends Duo." she said.

"Yup." Duo agreed. "But I wouldn't trade 'em for anything else in the world." He looked down at her, and his smile faded. "What's wrong Serenity?"

"I just..." Serenity paused to hiccup slightly and brush away her tears. "I just don't know what I'll do if Ryou... if Ryou..."

Duo set down the suitcase he'd been carrying and pulled his younger cousin into a hug. "Hey, it's okay to cry. He will get better, You just have to have faith in him, and faith in yourself."

"But it's so hard!" Serenity sobbed quietly into his shirt. "Duo, I love him!"

"Like I said, the things we do for love." Duo said, rubbing her back gently. "Why else would you be taking a seven hour, red-eye flight from Japan to Egypt, if not for love? Love conquers all Serenity, I've seen it first hand."

Serenity wiped her eyes and looked gratefully up at her braided cousin. "Thank you Duo. Tell Miaka-chan I'm sorry to run off in the middle of the night, and take care of Joey while I'm gone, okay?"

Duo surpressed a shudder. "With what he's doing... I think I'll leave that to Mai. ^^;"

Serenity chuckled and hefted her bags as her boarding call came over the intercom. "Bye Duo!"

"Bye Serenity!" Duo called after her, waving his arms over his head. "See you soon, I hope! And don't worry about us, we'll be just fine."

Serenity stifled a giggle as she entered the plane. "Knowing you, I doubt it," she muttered under her breath. She stowed her bags in the overhead compartment, then sat down and settled herself for the flight to Bangkok, where she would change planes before heading to Cairo. She took out a book and tried her best to read, but fell asleep soon after take off. She awoke briefly to change planes in Bangkok, then drifted back to sleep. In her sleep, she dreamed.

She was standing outside a church of somekind, but it was partially demolished. She was frightened for no reason she could name. It felt like her heart was swelling up, and that any moment she would choke on it. There were tears in her eyes as well.

It was the sort of dream where you can't control your actions, you can only watch what happens. She ran through the foyer, taking almost no notice of the unconcious people lying around her, except to briefly identify them. Duke, laying with his body half-covering a woman with long blond hair. Malik, looking like he'd been knocked backward through a wall, judging from the hole he was lying under, his hand still clenched tightly around the Millenium Rod. Tea, her arms over her head as if trying to ward off a blow.

She went by so fast, they were only flashes of faces. She longed to stop and check, hoping they were still alive, but she couldn't control her body at all. She ran past them, and burst through the main doors into the sanctuary of the church.

It had been utterly demolished. The stained glass windows running up both side walls had been smashed, and the one remaining one cast fractures of coloured light around the room. Bits and pieces of smashed pews lay all over the place, and the pulpit was in splinters. The old wooden cross on the wall was miraculously all right, but was hanging at a cock-eyed angle.

More people were laying on all sides, people Serenity recognized easily and loved dearly. Mai, her face streaked with tears, holding a battered and bruised Joey in her lap. Yami, franticly shaking Yugi's shoulders and yelling at him to wake up. Hiro, kneeling on the floor with Gwen craddled against him, whispering softly to her and smoothing her blood-soaked hair back from her face.

But Serenity ran past all these too, no matter how desperately she wanted to stop. It was like time was slowing as she ran down the center isle, toward a small knot of people kneeling near where the pulpit used to be. Fate was there, her wings drooping, one of them torn badly and dripping blood, tears streaming down her face. Bakura was there too, a pained expression on his face, one hand clamped tightly over the deep wound in his left shoulder. For a moment Serenity's heart fluttered in fear as she pushed her way between them, but then she saw him, and a relieved sob caught in her throat.

Ryou was sitting crosslegged on the ground, his tuxedo torn and blood-stained, tears streaming from his blind eyes, as he held his father's body in his arms. He let out a choked sob, running his hands over the many wounds that covered Shen's body, as if trying to heal them post-mortem. He looked up then, and his blind eyes met Serenity's.

"Life from death," he whispered. "Is one gift I don't have."

And only then did Serenity realize she was wearing a wedding dress.

Serenity awoke with a gasp, running her shaking hands through her hair. "What a nightmare..." she murmered, shaking her head to clear it. She looked around and realized she was still on the plane, but that sunlight was streaming through the window. She shuddered slightly, but the light calmed her and the details of her dream began to fade, as dreams always do.

Settling down somewhat, she glanced out the window and smiled when she saw sand. Good, they must be just about to Cairo then. Shaking her hair out of her eyes, Serenity glanced at her watch and nearly laughed out loud. It read four in the morning, which was, of course, the time it was in Japan right now. No wonder she'd slept all the way here!

At precisely that moment the captain came over the intercom. He was speaking in Arabic, but Serenity got the main idea and buckled up for landing. A few minutes later she was hauling her bags down from overhead and fighting her way through the crowded plane. She immerged and immediately felt the hot, insufferably dry climate of northern Egypt. All of a sudden she felt like sitting down for a good cry. It was hot, she was tired and her dream was still bugging her. All around her she heard nothing but Arabic, and she had no idea how in the world she was going to get out to the dig where Ryou was.

She had just about made up her mind to go find a corner somewhere and have a really good bawl, and then maybe try and find a phone to call Shaadi, when she heard someone yelling for her in Japanese.

"Serenity! Hey Serenity, over here!"

Serenity bounced to her feet from where she'd sunk down to sit on her suitcase. Grinning she waved her hands over her head, and a moment later Shen and Isis had fought their way through the crowd to her side. "Well now," Isis said, picking up one of Serenity's bags. "There there child, don't fret. Come on now, let's get outside." Shen picked up Serenity's other suitcase and her duffle, and together the trio headed outside.

"It's so hot here!" Serenity complained, searching her purse for a rubber band to tie her long hair back with.

Shen chuckled and nodded. "Thus the reason Bakura hates snow." he said wryly. Serenity gave him a strange look, and so the trip to the dig was spent relating Bakura's adventures two years ago, when he'd first encountered snow in a mortal body with no soulroom to hide from it in.

Serenity was laughing, at least until they reached the camp. Sugoroku and Arthur were working on translating some of the texts they'd managed to copy down before the tomb had been banned from them by Mahaado. They greeted Serenity solemnly, but her attention wasn't on them. She was staring at the tent that Shaadi had just stepped out of. She caught the guardian's eye, and he nodded tiredly.

Breaking into a run, Serenity sprinted across the sand and ducked into the hospital tent. She nearly choked on her tears as she saw Ryou, and for the moment she didn't even notice Priestess, who was curled up once again by the telepath's feet. Falling to her knees, Serenity buried her face in Ryou's chest and began to sob. She half expected his arms to move around her, but of course he didn't move and that made her cry all the harder.

She felt something nudge her arm and coo sadly, and she looked up and straight into the big eyes of a certain Kuriboh. She shrieked and back-peddled, and Priestess made a queer little noise that was half-way between the sobs Serenity had just been crying and a rather cat-like screech. Socrates looked rather annoyed at this, but then just went back to her nap. The cat hadn't been far from Ryou's side since yesterday evening, when Shen had carried him in. Serenity blinked in surprise, then slowly reached out to pat her. "Hello, what are you?"

"That," Isis said from the doorway, "Is Priestess. She's something between a mascot and a pet, although we're not sure which."

"She's a Kuriboh." Serenity pointed out the obvious, her eyes amazed. "How can she be here?"

Isis shrugged and took a seat next to Serenity, wringing out a new cloth for Ryou's forehead. Sometime during the night Shaadi had started to keep one draped over his throat as well, and so Isis re-wet that one as well. "We're not sure. But she is, undoubtably, a very live Kuriboh."

"Isis?" Serenity asked after a minute of silence. "What... what happened? I've never seen Ryou so sick before." Tears started to come to her eyes again. "When he was hurt, he could always heal himself. But this..."

"Oh child..." Isis wrapped her arms around Serenity and gave her a motherly hug. Then she began to tell the story of what had happened to Ryou and what Mana had told them the night before. When she was finished, Serenity sat in contemplative silence for several minutes before she spoke up again.

"Isis, do you see anything in the future? Anything really bad, I mean?"

Isis was just about to give the same speech she'd given to Shen the night before when she paused, her forehead crinkled in thought. "Peculiar... Somehow, the Tauk is going to let me tell you things it wouldn't let me tell Shen..." She frowned, then began to speak as if reciting from a book.

"'Not all who died have gone away,
Not all who live will chose to stay.
The past and future meet as one,
And finally a mother will find her true son.

Fate's son, Fate's child, Fate's thief-of-heart,
Fate's Realm, Fate's truth, Fate will play her part.

Telepath whole and telepath half,
Come together and join their path.
Mage and magess, king of thieves,
And Pharoah true will meet in Thebes.

When paths cross and destinies clash,
Two alone will rise from the ash.
Standing above and standing tall,
The Sons of Thunder will rule over all.'"

Isis shook her head sharply, and seemed to come out of her trance. She glanced at Serenity and smiled wryly. "I'm sorry, sometimes that just happens. Did that help any?"

Serenity shook her head and frowned. "It would help more if you could repeat it."

"Sorry," Isis said. "I don't even remember what I said. Sometimes I don't, when the Tauk takes me into a trance like that."

(WSJ: *coughs* HCG, say one word about a certain Blue Eyes and I shall hurt you...)

"Thebes," Serenity said. "Why does that sound so familiar?"

"It's the ancient Egyptian name for the city of Luxor." Isis said. "You've probably heard Yami or Bakura use it. That's where they grew up and lived in their past lives."

Serenity's frown deepened and she thought about he next part of the rhyme. "Fate's son, Fate's child, Fate's thief-of-heart... Does that have any significance at all to you, Isis-san?"

Isis looked thoughtful. "Not really, but I do know that those three are all naming different people, not titles for the same person."

"Strange." Serenity said. "Could 'Fate's child' be talking about Ryou? One of his titles is 'Child of Fate'."

"Possible." Isis agreed, then looked started as the Tauk at her throat flashed. "No!" she said sharply, almost in disbelief. She frowned and tapped the Tauk. "It must be going rusty! What it just showed me was what I suppose should have been a vision of the past, but there is no way that what it just showed me could be true!"

"What did you see?" Serenity asked curiously.

Isis shook her head and sighed. "I can't tell you. But I think you'll find out soon enough." Sighing again she turned away to look down at Ryou. 'What do you hide Ryou Bakura?' she thought silently, oblivious to the puzzled looks Serenity was giving her. 'You cannot possibly be what the Tauk says you are. Child of Fate...'

"Isis-san?"

"Hm?" she asked, glancing back at Serenity.

"How far into the future can you see?"

"It depends." Isis answered. "Why?"

Serenity bit her lip and looked down at Priestess, who had curled up in her lap and was purring. "I had a really weird dream on the plane ride here. I don't remember much of it, except that I was in a church, and I was wearing a wedding dress, and that something awful had happened. I don't remember any of the details at all, just that it was a nightmare."

Isis shook her head regretfully. "If you were getting married, it had to be at least five years from now. The farthest ahead the Tauk has ever shown me is three years. It was probably just a dream Serenity, don't worry about it."

"Okay." Serenity said, but she couldn't stop the feeling that something about her dream just wasn't quite right.

She must have dozed off again, because the next thing Serenity knew somone was shaking her gently by the shoulder. "Serenity, wake up Serenity, it's almost sundown."

She yawned and lifted her head from where it had been pillowed on Ryou's blanket-covered legs, blinking sleepily up at Isis. "Sundown? What's that got to do with anything?"

"Mana should be here soon." Shaadi answered for her. "And hopefully we'll be able to cure Ryou then."

Serenity looked down at her hands as Isis, Shaadi, and Shen all took seats around the bed. "A telepath's blood..."

"Yes," said a weary voice from the doorway. "And you're not."

They looked up to see Mana standing in the doorway, leaning on her staff like it was all that was holding her up. She looked incredably worn out.

"What do you mean?" Serenity cried, half indignantly and half fearfully. "Isis said I was destined to be here. She told me so herself, not two hours ago!"

"Destined to be here, yes," Mana said, making her way to crouch down so she was eye level with Serenity. She smiled gently at the shaking girl. "You don't hold the cure, but you will play a part. I don't claim to see the future," she cast a quick glance at Isis. "But I can see the events of the next few hours, and you, Serenity Wheeler, play a crucial role."

"How... how do you know my name?" Serenity asked, blinking in amazement at the living Dark Magician Girl.

Mana chuckled. "Just a little parlor trick, child. You love him, don't you?" She gestured toward Ryou with the end of her staff.

Serenity nodded. "But Mana-san, how come I can't help Ryou? I'm a telepath, or at least part of one. Ryou hasn't really had the chance to teach me how to use what powers I have, but..."

"You have some of a telepath's powers." Mana agreed. "But that's because they were given to you. You weren't born with them, they aren't in your blood. And it's a telepath's blood we need, not its powers."

"So I'm useless." Serenity whispered. "And Ryou's just going to... just going to die?"

"I didn't say that." Mana said, gently but firmly. "Didn't I just tell you you're going to play a part?"

"What part?" Serenity demanded harshly, tears rolling down her pale cheeks. "Tell me so I can do it, and Ryou can get better before it's too late!"

"It's not so simple." Mana explained. "Not all the players are here yet."

"Who else could there possibly be?" Shaadi spoke up in bewilderment. "We could call down Yami-sama and Bakura from France, but I don't think either of them could help either. Bakura has some liguring shadow powers, but from what you said last night Yami uses natural white magic and would only make things worse."

Mana chuckled ruefully. "Yes, that's very true. No, it's not them we need. She should be here very soon."

"She...?"

Mana cocked her head toward the door, which had just been pushed aside to permit a familiar figure entrance. "Yes, she."

"What can I do?" the new-comer asked quietly.

Shen, sitting with his back to the door, stiffened at the sound of the voice. He knew that voice, he'd dreamed of it every night for longer then he could remember. He knew her, he knew he did. But it was impossible! She was dead! He turned around, as if in a dream. Yes, the face was right, but he was pretty sure she hadn't had wings when he'd last saw her. She stood tall and straight in the doorway, as befitted the goddess she was, but her wings were drooping tiredly. There were bags under her eyes, those same violet eyes he remembered so well, which were filled with a very human worry.

Her eyes roved around the room, looking at each of the occupants in turn. Isis, who was sitting with her arm around Serneity, who was kneeling on the sandy floor next to the bed. Shaadi, who was sitting on a crate with Socrates and Priestess curled on his lap, both purring. Mana, leaning up against a tent pole with her staff propped up against the dressing table. Her eyes lingered longest on Ryou, and then turned to Shen. She gave a start as she easily recognised him, and he saw her lips ghost his name silently. "Shen..."

"Fate-sama!" Serenity and Isis said at once. "Are you here to help?" Serenity continued.

Fate tore her eyes away from Shen and smiled, nodding at the girl. "Hai, I am. The Elements represent both sides of magic, Serenity-chan. War and Desire and Passion use the natural magic, while Time and Hatred and I rely on the psychic magics. Death uses something else entirely. We hold the cure Ryou so desperately needs." A pained look came to her face, and her wings fluttered slightly in agitation before they settled back against her shoulders.

"Not just that," Mana said quietly from her place in the corner. "The cure has to come from someone very close to the victim. And in the case of Ryou and Fate..."

"Mana," Fate said, a warning note in her voice as she turned to look at the five-thousand year old magess.

Mana smiled and shrugged. "Sorry Fate. I won't say it if you don't want to, but sooner or later you're going to have to admit the truth to the rest of them." She stepped forward, ignoring the glare Fate was aiming at her back. "Here's what we'll do," she said to the group in general. "Once we find out how much of Fate's blood we'll need and drain it, someone's going to have to give it to Ryou." She carefully hid her smile as she said gaily, "Who here's taken first aid?"

Shaadi turned blue across the nose as he realized what she meant, and Isis blushed. Shen just snorted and looked at Serenity. Fate just sighed and looked at Shen, and after a moment he turned to look at her too. Their eyes caught and held, and then Fate turned away with something akin to sadness in her eyes. A moment later, everyone was looking at Serenity, who seemed to be trying to melt into the floor. "Me?" she squeaked.

"Mm-hm." Mana said impishly. She was thouroughly enjoying this. "I assume you know how to administer liquid to an unconcious person?" She gave Serenity a sly smile and winked. "Besides, it's not like you've never kissed him before."

"Kissed, yes," Serenity muttered, blushing deeply as she thought about the task ahead of her. "Frenched, no. Even just thinking of it..."

"Oh, you're a big girl now." Mana prodded. "Besides, I don't think anyone else here in willing to slide their tongue down Ryou's throat to make him swallow."

Serenity's face was as red as the setting sun as she searched desperately for something to distract them. By the gods, even Fate was snickering at her! "Who... who would know how much poison Ryou swallowed?" she asked faintly.

Mana's expression darkened. "Only Mahaado." she said, looking at the floor and refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

After a moment of silence on everyone's part, Shen got up from his seat and headed for the door, a determined swagger in his stride. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that he was headed for the tomb to see the living Dark Magician.

"Shen!" Fate's voice took on a note of exhasperation, and she ran after him. No one else tried to follow. They'd seen the looks the goddess and the archaeologist had been shooting back and forth, and it was high time those two settled whatever differences they had.

Outside the full moon turned the golden sand silver, but neither the Ring Goddess nor Shen took notice. Fate had no trouble catching up with the archaeologist and grabbing his arm. "Shen..."

Shen turned, and for a moment they just stood looking at each other, Fate's hands resting lightly on Shen's arm. He knew those hands as well as he knew his own. Those small, perfect hands that could hurt or heal on a whim. No, the hands hadn't changed. The face was the same too, the same beautiful violet eyes framed by pale blond hair. But everything else... the goddess in front of him was so very different from the angel he knew. Finally, after what seemed a few hours, Shen spoke up. "It is you, isn't it." It wasn't a question.

"Say it," Fate said hoarsely, the moon creating a peculiar glowing halo effect with her blond hair and tears. "Say my name Shen."

"It is you... Angeline."

Fate smiled sadly, a couple tears sliding down her cheek to fall into the glimmering bejeweled sand. "Hai, that is one of my names. Oh Shen, I really did love you..."

"I never doubted it," he whispered, choking on his tears. "Why couldn't you stay? And why didn't you tell me? Why did you make me think you'd died? God Angeline, I thought my heart would break!"

"I am the Lady Wanderer." she said softly, turning her eyes to the distant horrizon. "Back then you wouldn't have understood who I was, who I am. And I have duties of my own to perform. But I'm glad to have had ten years with you, at least."

"And I you." Shen held out his hand, and for a moment they stood palm-to-palm, Fate's wings fading away as she unconciously resumed the illusion she had created for herself when she had been Angeline.

"Why?" Shen asked, drawing his wife into his arms. "Why me?"

"Long ago I was granted the statis of a goddess after paying a great service to a pharoah," Fate said, leaning her head against his chest. " But I wanted to see what being a mortal was like. I... I never expected to fall in love."

Shen stiffened suddenly, and Fate looked up at him questioningly. "Shen, what..."

"Amane," Shen said hoarsely. "She died around the time you-"

Fate shook her head forcefully, burying it against Shen's neck. "It wasn't me, it wasn't me!" she sobbed quietly, her shoulders shaking as her wings burst back into view. "I would have saved her, but they wouldn't let me! They were too strong, and I was still weak from being a decade in human form..." she shuddered quietly. "But oh Shen, she's grown into such a beautiful young woman..."

"You've seen her?" Shen asked, blinking in surprise.

Fate nodded. "One of the duties of Fate is to work closely with the other Elementals, including Death. He gives me... certain allowences with Amane. Although one of the restictions is that she can never know I'm her mother." she sighed again, the tip of her feathered wing coming around to flick a tear out of her eye.

That made Shen think of something else, and he glanced back toward the tent behind them. "Ryou's your son as much as mine. Does he...?"

Fate shook her head. "No, he isn't called 'Child of Fate' for nothing, but no, he doesn't know I'm his mother." She chuckled ruefully. "And yes, his Item is the Ring because I am its goddess, and yes he got his powers from me as well." Thinking of the Ring, her face darkened and she let out a deep sigh.

"Mahaado was a great man, once." she said quietly, looking up at the moon as if it held the past for her. "He was once the greatest mage and the greatest friend and the most loyal servant anyone could ever ask for." She lowered her head, her wings pulled in around her like a cloak, as if they could give her some small comfort. "But when Bakura stole his Ring, and Yami-sama died soon after..." she shook her head, more tears sliding down to soak into the feathers of her white wing. "All his sanity fled, and and his anger and bitterness ate away at his insides like acid, until now there is nothing left of the man I knew and loved."

Shen looked startled, and turned to stare toward the dark mouth of the tomb, his fists clenched involentarily by his sides. "The man you loved? You act as if you knew him personally. And I thought Mana..."

Fate let out a sound that was half laughter, half sob. "Oh Shen... Silly silly Shen... Don't you listen to your son? I am immortal. I have been immortal since Yami raised me from the dead five-thousand years ago. And no dearest, you are the only lover I have ever had. Back then... back then Mahaado and Mana were my dearest friends. We all lived there, you know, all the Elementals. In Yami-sama's court, I mean. Ring and Rod and Puzzle, Tauk and Ankh and Scales and Eye. Oh Shen, I'd give anything to go back to those days..."

Her eyes held a far-away look, as if she indeed was back in that far away past. "We were all at peace then. All of us, our holders too. But then the Shadows corrupted Hatred's hikari..." she shivered a little and leaned against Shen. "Oh Shen..."

Shen put his arms around her, holding her close just like he had back when they'd been married. Were they still considered husband and wife? After all, it wasn't like Angeline had actually died.

Shen pushed this thought aside as Fate's wings wrapped around him, embracing him even as he embraced Fate. For a long time they just stood like that under the Egyptian moon, both revelling in the memories it brought back. Finally Shen stirred. "Fate-sama?" he asked hesitantly. "We should be going back inside."

Fate stared up at him, a strange look on her face. "Since when have you ever called me Fate, my love?" she asked, an unidentifiable tone in her voice.

Shen blinked, and then smiled at her. "All right then... Angeline. Either we go back inside or we go into that tomb and beat the shit out of Mahaado for what he did to our little boy."

Fate choked, although whether on more sobs or laughter Shen was never sure. She shook her head, her hand over her mouth. "Oh my lover! How I have missed you!"

Shen smiled fondly, stroking her long hair away from her face. "Well? Which will it be?"

"To Mahaado then." Fate murmered, running and finger down his cheek and tracing his jaw down and across his chin. "When did you decide to grow a beard?"

Shen chuckled ruefully and rubbed his scratchy jaw line. "It wasn't exactly intentional, I just haven't had the chance to shave for a week or two. You may notice Shaadi's starting to accumulate some stubble as well."

Fate giggled, trying to picture the somber guardian with a full beard. "Gods, that's amusing... Shen," she said, turning serious once again. "Let me talk to him. No matter how bitter and lonely he's gotten, he's still my friend. He doesn't know you, so there's no telling how he might react if you try to demand information from him." Shen nodded, and Fate smiled at him as the two reached the tomb steps and began to decend. "Good."

As soon as they stepped over the thresh hold, all light seemed to be cut off, the moon included. Shen cried out, and a small, detatched part of him wondered if this immence darkness was what Ryou experienced every day. As for Fate, she just snorted. A second later Shen became aware of a dim light, and realized with facination that Fate's wings were glowing a faint golden color, as was the Eye of Horus on the front of her robe. (This is one place where the Change of Heart card differs from the being it was modeled after. Where the card has a heart, Fate's robe carries the Eye of Horus, with a small styalized Millenium Ring underneith)

"Who dares enter my sanctuary?"

The voice nearly caused Shen to jump out of his pants, but Fate just shook her head sadly. "Mahaado, come out of the shadows you've wrapped yourself in and face the light of truth. I, Goddess Fate, command you."

The voice, which was, of course, Mahaado, whimpered slightly. A second later he stepped into the circle of light Fate was casting, though he cringed as if it hurt him. He looked unbearably like a little lost puppy, even his hat seemed to droop. His staff was clutched tightly in his hands, out in front of him as if as a shield, but Shen couldn't help but note that the mage's hands were shaking.

"Why did you bring us to the Shadow Realm Mahaado?" Fate asked, her voice gentle but firm. Shen started slightly and looked around with more intrest. So this was the place his sons had told him about so often.

"Someone has stolen Mana," Mahaado said, in a dreamy sort of voice, like he was a scared little kid, or a very old man. "Whoever stole her will come back, and then I'll hurt them until they give her back."

Fate tried to keep the tears out of her eyes and voice. "Oh Mahaado, what have you become?" she murmered quietly to herself. Her eyes didn't carry anger or sadness now, just pity and a vast sisterly love. "Oh my Mahaado... No one has stolen Mana. She's just gone for a little walk, and will be back soon."

Mahaado perked up at those words, looking at Fate hopefully. "Back soon?"

"Yes Mahaado," Fate said, ever so gently. "Back soon. She'll come back as soon as you answer a question for me. Do you remember Bakura?"

Mahaado hissed, making Shen jump from where he'd been examining a peculiarly familiar set of carvings on the walls. "Yes. He took Mana, I'll bet!" Mahaado said, a crazed look entering his eyes. "He took my Ring, he murdered my children, and now he's taken my Mana away from me! I'll find him! I'll find him and I'll kill him!"

"He's already been dead..." Shen muttered, careful not to let the magician hear him. "Twice, in fact..."

"Mahaado, Bakura didn't take Mana, she'll come back soon." Fate said firmly. "When the sun rises she'll come home. Now listen Mahaado. Do you remember the boy who looked like Bakura?"

Mahaado's hand strayed up to touch his neck. "Yes! He bit me!" Mahaado cackled. "But he was poisoned! Mage-poisoned! Nasty little telepath won't be here anymore!"

Hearing the childish glee in Mahaado's voice, Shen spun around, ready to tackle the mage. One of Fate's wings snapped open in front of him in an almost off-handed manner. Other then that, the goddess ignored her husband, concentrating instead on the mage in front of her. She feigned delight. "Mage-poisoned! How wonderful! How much?"

Mahaado cackled again. "Almost a quarter-cup!" he announced happily, bouncing up and down on his toes. "Stupid telepath, one of Bakura's allies. No more!" Suddenly he stopped, and he seemed to look at Fate with clearer eyes. "Do I... do I know you from somewhere?"

Fate choked back a sob of remorse. "Yes... A long time ago, we were friends."

"Yes..." Mahaado said in a dreamy voice. "A long time ago... Mana will remember. Mana always remembers. Do you know where Mana is, good lady?"

"She'll be back soon," Fate promised softly, and then turned to lead Shen out of the Shadow Realm and back into the clear night. The tomb doors slammed shut of their own accord behind them, and Fate bit her lip at the finality of the sound. She'd barely taken two steps before she dropped to her knees, her arms and wings hugged against her tightly as her tears spilled onto the sand. "Oh Mahaado..." she sobbed, pounding her fists against the sand. "Why you Mahaado?!"

Shen knew it was probably better to leave her alone as she grieved for the friend she'd once loved so dearly, so he headed back across the sands for the tent and slipped inside quietly. Isis and Serenity and Mana were discussing something over by Ryou. It was probably something womanly, from the way Serenity kept blushing a deep cherry colour. Shaadi was again changing the cool clothes on Ryou's forehead and neck, hindered by the fact that Socrates was trying to give Ryou's face a rather rough tongue bath.

Fate stepped in behind him, and Shen turned toward her worridly. "Are you...?"

"I'm okay." Fate said quietly, standing on tiptoe to give Shen a quick kiss. "Thank you."

Both the goddess and the archaeologist realized that the tent had just suddenly gone dead silent. "What?" Shen asked after a self-concious moment of being stared at.

"You just..." Shaadi tried to figure out how to say it. "You just kissed a goddess, and weren't turned into a fly or blown into dust or anything!"

Fate looked shocked at that, while Shen grinned widely. "Oh I've done a lot more then just kiss this particular goddess... Where in space did you think Ryou came from, anyway?"

"Shen!" Fate blushed deeply, giving her lover a whack across the head. Mana didn't seem surprised, and actually smiled knowingly, but as for Isis, Shaadi, and Serenity their reactions were vastly different.

"You're Ryou's mother?!" Serenity squealed in shock, while Shaadi and Isis just stared with their mouths hanging open. For a moment Serenity looked like she was going to faint, but she recovered herself to add "Does he know?!"

Fate looked a little embarrassed. "I don't think so, no..." she muttered.

"So the Tauk was right when it told me Ryou was Fate's son!" Isis realized. "It all makes sense now!"

"Well good," Shaadi said dryly. "I'm glad it does to one of us."

"Shaadi?" Isis asked, as sweetly as possible. "Shut up."

"Yes dear..."

"Wait!" Serenity said, her eyes widening. "Isis, the prophesy you rattled off earlier! 'Fate's son, Fate's child, Fate's thief-of-heart.' Now we know who the 'Fate's son' is. That has to be Ryou."

"And I would be her thief-of-heart." Shen said sheepishly, casting a loving look at his wife. She giggled and nodded. "Yes, he definately stole my heart."

"Fate's child..." Isis mused. Suddenly she looked up at Shen and Fate. "Wait, you two had a daughter as well, didn't you?"

"Hai," Shen said, a little sadly. "But she passed away a long time ago. She couldn't possibly be part of the prophesy."

"We can figure it out later." Mana said irritably. "We only have a few more hours until I have to leave at sunrise, and Ryou may not be able to wait another night to be cured. Let's get this ox cart rolling!"

"Tell me what I have to do." Fate said, stepping forward.

Mana picked up a tin mug off a nearby crate and held it out to her. "We're going to need you to cut yourself or something and let it bleed into here."

Fate nodded, and then to the surprise of all tore a long strip off her robe and kneeled to tie it around Ryou's left hand like a bandage. "What's that for?" Serenity asked.

Fate smiled wanely. "I'm so closely linked to him that if I get hurt, he bleeds too. That'll keep anything from getting on the sheets." Summoning a knife in her right hand, she quickly slashed open her left palm and then held it over the cup, letting her blood drip into it. Shen stood by with a bandage, so when the cup was about half full he quickly wrapped up her hand to stop the bleeding. And indeed, the strip of cloth around Ryou's hand was bloody too, although when Serenity pulled it away there wasn't any cut or anything underneith.

All of them jumped when Shaadi's cell rang, and he picked it up rather sheepishly. "Hello?" He held the phone away from his ear and winced at the string of Egyptian explenatives radiating outward from it. They were so loud that in the desert silence everyone in the tent could hear them. Once the voice slacked off and began to repeat itself, Shaadi tentatively put the phone back to his ear. "How in hell's name did you get this number?"

The voice on the other end was still yelling, and everyone heard him quite clearly. "Chikuso Shaadi! Does it matter?!? K'so k'so... damnit, I need Amoura to teach me how to cuss in French. WHAT IN HELL IS HAPPENING TO MY HIKARI!?!?!"

Shaadi winced again. "Ah... Would you like to talk to Fate-sama?"

The voice calmed down quite a bit, but everyone could still imagine he was quite purple in the face. "Fate-sama's there? For the love of Egypt Shaadi, put her on!"

Fate banished the knife and took Shaadi's cell in the hand that Shen wasn't fussing over. "Hello Bakura."

"What in %#&*@ is happening to Ryou?! My glove just got soaked through with blood in about ten seconds flat! What hurt him? I'll murder them in their sleep!"

Fate chuckled. "You may have already had the chance to, and didn't know it. Tell me, where did you first get the Ring?"

"From that cocky priest Mahaa... do... No!"

"Oh yes." Fate said grimly. "Quite so."

Bakura let out another long string of explenetives. "I'll kill him!"

"He's already quite dead." Fate reminded him dryly. "And no need to worry about Ryou. He wasn't hurt badly, and in fact, in a few days he should be back on his feet." she lied glibly, ignoring the penetrating looks the others were giving her. "But if you'll excuse me, he needs attending to. Ja."

"Ja." Bakura said grudgingly. "I want him to call me on Amoura's cell as soon as he's able." Bakura rattled off the number, and Fate dutifully wrote it down.

"I will Bakura. Sayanora." She hit the off button and handed the phone back to Shaadi, then turned to look expectantly at Serenity. "Well? My part's done."

Serenity gulped as Mana held the tin cup out to her. "Do I really have to do this?" she asked weakly, trying not to keel over at the sight and smell of so much blood.

"How much do you love him?" Mana asked quietly, and Fate echoed the question. "How far would you go for my son?"

Serenity turned her wide eyes toward Ryou, blinking back tears. He'd saved her life so many times. Now it was her turn once again to save his. And ironicly, it again had to be blood, only this time it wasn't hers. "I love him more then anything else." she whispered. Taking the cup from Mana, she moved to kneel beside the bed.

"It might..." Isis hesitanted to make the suggestion. "It might be easier Serenity if you were... you know, on top of him."

Serenity blushed deeply at the suggestion, but apparently agreed with the older woman. Setting the cup down on a nearby small table, she shooed Socrates off the bed and climbed up herself. She gingerly straddled Ryou's stomach, her knees on either side of him. Still blushing she reached over and picked up the cup.

She sniffed it experimentally and almost retched. Yup, most definately blood. Closing her eyes she tilted her head back and let the blood flow into her mouth. It was still warm and tasted coppery with a hint of spice, and she had to work hard not to gag. Forcing herself not to think about how barbaric what she was doing was, she thought only of Ryou and how desperately he needed the cure only she was willing to administer.

Placing her hands on Ryou's shoulders to brace herself, Serenity leaned forward, her hair cascading down around her in auburn waves until their lips met.

His lips were warm, from fever or just body heat, and for a moment Serenity nearly forgot the copper taste of the blood in the pleasure of kissing him again. Sliding her tongue between his lips she opened his mouth to receive the blood into his own. Fearful that he would choke, Serenity didn't dare pull away yet, but instead went deeper still. Timidly she slid her tongue along his, and felt her heart thrill in responce. She only wished he was awake to share this.

A moment later Ryou gagged, and unconciously swallowed. Serneity nearly wept in joy. The cure had taken! He'd be all right! But still, she was having a bit too much fun "exploring", and didn't want to quite pull away yet. She came up momentarily for air, and then kissed him again.

To her surprise and joy Ryou's arms reached up to encircle her waist, pulling her down against him. She squeaked and broke the kiss, but his lips found hers again, and this time it was his tongue that darted between her lips. A moment later she broke the kiss again, slightly breathless, tears making wet lines down her cheeks. "Oh Ryou! You're okay!"

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

"Of course," he said softly. His voice was weak, and Serneity could tell how tired he was, but his arms around her waist were firm and strong. "With you here koi, how could I not be?"

Serenity nearly wept in relief and laid her head against his chest. "I'm so glad..."

Still in need of rest, despite the fact that he would be all right, Ryou quickly fell back asleep. Serenity followed soon after, still craddled in Ryou's arms.

"They're cute." Mana chuckled, taking her staff from the corner and heading for the door. "But I must go. Mahaado is usually lost without me. I'll return tomorrow night to see how he's doing, but I wouldn't be worried if he sleeps all day. The poison may be nullified now, but he still needs to get it out of his system. Keep the cool cloth across his forehead, just in case his fever returns. I'll see you all tonight."

"Wait," Fate rose gracefully to her feet from where she and Shen had been 'aww'ing over their son and his girlfriend, as well as remenicing about their own first kisses. "Mana, it's been too long. Can we talk awhile? There are still a few hours until sunrise, and surely Mahaado can survive until then."

Mana nodded, her face lighting up. "Yes, I believe he can. Come on then Fate-sama, you're exactly right. It has been much too long."

The two women left the tent together, and soon after Shaadi and Isis bid Shen a good night. They were looking lovingly at each other, and Shen decided he didn't want to know where they were headed. He shook his head and, after checking once more on his son, he turned the oil lamp down low and left for his own tent.

He was mostly asleep when Fate slid in beside him, but not too asleep to take her into his arms.

Ryou did indeed sleep through most of the next day, although no one really bothered about him because Serneity was up and about and hovering more thouroughly then Fate could ever hope to. Speaking of, Fate and Shen didn't appear out of their tent until well after noon, but no one could blame them. Now that they'd found each other again they seemed hardly able to be apart for even a few minutes.

It was during this day that Arthur and Sugoroku had a long, long talk with Fate, Isis, Shaadi, and Shen, and quite a few things were finally cleared up for them. Ryou awoke for a short time that evening, just long enough for Serenity to feed him some soup laced with a little more of Fate's blood, just as a precaution. After that he fell back into a deep slumber, not even waking when Mana checked in on him after sundown.

The next day he was awake more, although Serenity would barely let him out of bed to use the bathroom. Fate stayed well out of her son's sight, explaining that at this point seeing her (or rather, not) would be a bit too much of a shock for the poor telepath. He was worn out enough as it was.

But by the fourth day he was up and about, although he stopped frequently to rest. Priestess and Socrates had barely left his side the entire time. Fate finally deemed him well enough to see her, although she thouroughly surprised him by stepping into the tent. His telepathic powers had been much diminished by his illness, and for now he could barely sense anything ten feet away.

"Fate-sama!?" he asked, jerking into as upright possition, despite Serenity's protests.

Fate laughed as Shen stepped in behind her. "Yes and no, Ryou."

Ryou frowned slightly at this, but he was trying to think of something else. His powers might be weak, and his eyesight gone, but he still had his other senses, and he could smell something in the air. He placed it, and wrinkled his nose, his eyes narrowing to slits in agitation. "Someone's bleeding..."

Fate blinked, her right hand absently straying to where her left was still bandaged by her side. It seemed she'd been a bit reckless when slicing her palm open, and had cut a major vein. And for all the power Fate possessed, healing was not one of them. "It's me Ryou. I cut my hand a few days ago and it isn't healing quite as it should."

Ryou looked genuinely confused. "Why don't you go back to wherever it is you stay then, and have Desire-sama or Passion-sama heal it? They both can, right?"

Fate nodded ruefully. "I probably will in a few more days. But to tell you the truth, I was more concerned about you."

"About me?" Ryou asked as Fate came to sit on the edge of his cot.

Fate nodded, a small smile gracing her face. "Hai, about you. Can I ask you something Ryou? Just why is it you're called the Child of Fate?"

"Because I hold the Millenium Ring and you are its protecter." he said promptly.

Fate's smile widened a trifle. "Not entirely. That is one of the reasons, yes, but the other is much more literal."

Ryou's eyes widened to the size of saucers as her meaning dawned on him. He squeaked in surprise then turned toward Shen, who had come up to stand behind Fate with his hands on her shoulders. Serenity was standing in the corner, watching the exchange quietly. "D-dad?" he asked shakily.

Shen smiled a little at how much his grown son sounded like a child. And in many ways, he still was. Especially now. "Yes Ryou, Fate-chan is your mother. I only learned of it myself a few days ago."

Ryou's eyes widened farther. "F-fate-sama is okaasan? Okaasan is a goddess!?! But okaasan died!"

In the corner Serenity's eyes widened. "Ryou, Fate-sama's a goddess!! If she's your mother, that makes you a half-god human!"

"More of a half-human god." Fate corrected off-handedly, causing Serenity and Ryou both to nearly faint.

Fate chuckled sadly and reached out to take his hand. "I more or less faked my own death Ryou. I only meant to be a mortal for a year or two, not a decade and a half. I never expected to fall in love with your father, but I did. I never expected to have you and your sister, but I did. And after I did, after I had a family and a home, I wanted to stay. But I had duties to perform as Fate, and I couldn't stay. But I could at least make sure I could keep watch over you, so I did, by giving you the Ring."

Ryou's eyes narrowed suddenly, and his gaze turned almost accusatory. Unconciously his hand right hand moved to cover the scars that rested on his left hand and arm. "You knew. You knew about Bakura, and gave me the Ring anyway. You let me get beaten and blinded, and you let Amane die! How could you!?"

Fate lowered her head in shame. "Hai, I did know about Bakura. The only reason I stood for it was because my brother Time told me it was necessary. He's the only one of us seven who can see the future, you know. He wouldn't tell me what was to come, but he assured me that you being beaten was required for the proper future to come about. And it has, hasn't it? You and Bakura are now closer then brothers, and Time tells me that that bond must be in place for events that are further in the future. Not only that, but the beatings opened thd door for your true powers to shine through."

Ryou exclaimed in surprise, and Fate nodded before continuing. "As Mana already told you, natural magic and psychic magic cannot exist at once in the same person. I was barely able to create the Millenium Ring's natural magic, because my own powers are telepathic. You, my son, could not develop your powers to the fullest extent while the Ring still carried power. Thus, when the Locking Rituals and Bakura's transformation into a mortal body rid the Ring of all its significant powers, your telepathic magic was able to grow stronger and fill the void in you where the Ring's natural magic had rested before.

"As for Amane..." Fate bowed her head, her shoulders shaking slightly. Shen tightened his grip on her shoulders reassuringly. "Amane didn't have the natural magic of an Item to slow her, and her telepathic powers were already beginning to immerge by the time she was ten. After I "died" the enemy took a swipe at her, because they knew that eventually she had the potential to destroy them. So they killed her. Oh Ryou, I would have stopped them if I could..."

"The enemy?" Ryou asked quietly.

"The one you call the True Pharoah, and all his minions. Several of them you've already met. Briar-Rose, Firas, Jalila, Kuroi Karasu, and now Rigel. There's something else you should know, Ryou. Your sister Amane was to have been the most powerful telepath in the world. She was the one destined to overthrow the Shadow Realm, but since she was killed that destiny has fallen to you. I cannot see the future like Time can. I can't heal hurts like Passion and Desire can. I'm not as strong as War, as resiliant as Death, as shrewd and wily as Hatred. I'm just me, Fate. But I'll help you any way I can. You have my heart and hands Ryou, use them as you will. I will get back at the evil that killed my daughter and has tried to murder my son!"

"And mine." Shen said quietly. "Whatever it takes Ryou, I'll stand by you."

"And mine too." Serenity said, sitting down next to Fate on the edge of his cot, her face serious. She laid a hand on Ryou's arm, idly tracing the scars that ran across it. Each held the echo of a hurt that was, ultimately, the True Pharoah's fault. "I love you Ryou, so much. I'll fight with you from here to hell if that's what it takes."

Ryou gaped in amazement at his parents and his koibito, an unexpected lump forming in his throat. "I - I can't... I don't know what to say. You three mean the world to me... I don't feel right about letting any of you go on to the battle field to fight with me!"

"But we won't just be fighting with you." Fate said quietly. "We'll be fighting for you. Ryou, it isn't your choice. You have no say over what we do. Our lives are our own responcibility, and if we choose to die fighting by your side, then so be it."

"The Elementals side with Ryou Bakura, now and for eternity."

Ryou's head jerked up, his eyes opened wide. "Hatred-sama?"

"Death will never stop you, in fact, I will fight for you."

"Death-sama..."

"You fight with such a passion Ryou-san, how can I not be on your side?"

"Passion-sama..."

"You have a great many desires, Ryou-san, but the greatest is for peace. I will do all I can to grant that wish."

"Desire-sama..."

"I hope you know I only fight on the winning side of any skermish. So what does it tell you that I fight for you?"

"War-sama..."

"You are my sister's son. Time is on your side."

"Time-sama..." As each of the Elementals pledged their support, Ryou's heart swelled. Tears gathered in his eyes. But once all the Elementals had chimed their vows, it was the next voices that really stirred Ryou's soul.

"Go get'um onii-san!"

"We're right behind you, brother of my brother."

"Kick demon butt!"

"I agree with my wife, Ryou-boy. We're with you."

And still more, voices Ryou had never heard save the first, but somehow knew of their owners.

"Gin Hebi is at your service."

"We fight for you, negative of my hikari."

"Blue Eyes stands by you." [4]

"..." His eyes still watering, Ryou sniffled. "I don't deserve any of this..."

"Of course not." Fate said glibly. "They were supposed to pledge their lives to Amane. But as I said, her tasks have fallen to you. But you, like all of us, have a choice. What will it be my son? Quickly, you only have a short time to choose! Will you defend the realms, champion the light against the shadows, or will you pass on the task to another?"

Ryou paused only a second. It could mean his death, the deaths of all those he loved and cared for, but what was the alternative? Giving someone else, less suited, the same hard task? Never. "I will fight. I've already fought Jalila and Briar-Rose, fought them and won. Who would I be to stop half way?"

Fate smiled, and Serneity put her arms around him. "It won't be easy." the goddess cautioned him.

"Who ever said it would be?" Ryou asked, pulling Serenity closer to him.

Fate inclined her head in agreement, and then blinked and looked up, her brow furrowing in concentration. "Something's wrong..."

Shaadi burst into the tent just then, gasping for breath. "Fate-sama, Ryou! We just got a call from Yugi. Amoura and Bakura are in the ICU in Switzerland."

"What?" Ryou asked, rocketing upward out of bed, and then stumbling a second before catching his balance. "What happened, what's wrong?"

"Apparently they got caught in a blizzard." Shaadi said grimly. "Amoura should be fine, but Bakura's in pretty bad shape. The doctors don't know if he'll make it."

"I have to get there..." Ryou muttered. He took a step toward the door, then groaned and put a hand to his forehead. Serenity jumped to his side to steady him, urging him to get back in bed, but to the surprise of all he slapped her hand away. "I have to go!" he repeated firmly. "If Joey was hurt bad, wouldn't you want to go to him?"

"This is different." Serenity replied, slightly stung. "You're as bad off as he is!"

"It is not different!" Ryou responded, his aura beginning to glow around him. "He's my other half, my other self, my brother in spirit if not in blood. I am going to Switzerland! I have to be there," he continued in a more subdued voice. "Even if just to see him before he..."

"Don't say that." Serenity said, taking him by the arm again. "We'll both go." She turned to look at Shaadi. "How fast can you get us plane tickets?"

Shaadi took the hint and nodded before turning to go. He passed Mana on his way out, and was surprised to find that it was indeed after sunset. She entered the tent and cried out at seeing Ryou out of bed. "You should be resting!"

"I can't." Ryou said, leaning slightly on Serenity. "Bakura may be dying. I have to go."

Mana sighed, then nodded. "As much as Mahaado doesn't like him... He had my forgiveness a long time ago, and I do not wish him death." she said. "Please, if you can, tell him that."

Ryou paused, then straightened up and stepped forward on his own to face Mana. He was surprised to note he was taller then her. After a moment he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to him. "I will Mana-san, I promise. And you had no part in what happened to me, so I am glad to consider you a friend. After all, a friend of my mother's is usually a friend of mine. Don't worry Mana-san. I still have a bone to pick with Mahaado, so I'll be back. Yami and I both."

"Yami-sama..." Mana breathed. Then she let out a sob. "He won't even recognize Mahaado... Go then telepath, and know I fight for you as well."

Ryou blinked at her in shock. "How did you...?"

Mana just smiled, flicking her tears away with her fingers. "I'll go then, and leave you to your packing. Go you safe, telepath."

"And you magess." Ryou said quietly as she turned to leave. "And you."

[1] - Suicide Boy: Ah, that would be the lovable Heero Yuy, who has blown himself up either on purpose or on accident multiple times and has always survived. *sweatdrop*
The Silencer: That would be Trowa Barton, nicknamed Silencer both for the fact that he hardly ever speaks and that he silences his enemies quickly and efficiantly.
The Dragon That Won't Die: The one and only Chang Wufei. ^o^ Mwaha. *glomp*

[2] - *blink* Lots of GW cameos tonight... The song I used was one of Heero's image songs, Flying Away, sung by Midorikawa Hikaru. Obviously, the lyrics are in Japanese. The translation is as follows:

In the burnt horizon yonder
A ray of morning sun shines

Though hurt, I shall not forget your face
I search for the tomorrow when I will meet you

FARWELL A bird setting off to the eastern skies
The world's always around you

Even in the morning I run out of tears
Once again something begins

If it's something that I can't reach despite chasing it
Risking life I'll grasp it in my hands

FLYING AWAY I want to fly the way I am
FLYING AWAY If it's for your sake I shall cruise the skies FLYING...

FARWELL A bird setting off to the eastern skies
The world ought to have been waiting for you

FLYING AWAY I want to fly embraced by the wind
FLYING AWAY If it's for you I can be free FLYING...
FLYING...

If any of you have actually read my entire bio, you'll also note that that is Fate/Angeline's theme song. ^~

[3] - Hands, by Jewel, is now in hot contention with Flying Away over which will be Fate's theme song. ^^ Both of them fit rather well, don't they? Which one do YOU guys think fits her better?

[4] - *hides from HCG and runs away giggling*

()()()()()

WSJ: *squeals* Awww...! How cute is the picture of Shaadi praying? *squeals again* Anyway, jeez what a long chapter! @_@ And in the extended version it will be even longer, because that edition will have several extra scenes, including Serenity's layover in Bangkok and Mana and Fate's long late-night talk. ^~ But that's all later.

*sniffles much* WAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!

Althalus: *sweatdrop*

WSJ: *glomples onto Althalus*

Dweia: X_x; *fumes*

Ryou: ^^; Nevermind minna-san, SJ just finished The Redemption of Althalus, by David & Leigh Eddings, which just may be her new favorite book...

Tenre & Aset: *pout pout*

WSJ: ^^ Anyway, I'll be gone Tuesday through Friday (October 27-31) because of a missions trip my class is taking. So if you e-mail me those days, I WILL answer, just not until Friday or Saturday. ^~

Goodness, a lot of people realized I'd skipped Duke last chapter! *blink blink* I WAS going to put him in, but I ran out of inspiration, plus I was dying to move on to this chapter. *sighs* I'll make sure to stick him in next chapter, okay? And speaking of chapter 10...

So, is that enough meat for you all to chew on for awhile? :p Good, because I don't expect to get chapter 10 out any time soon. X_x; *mutters and wanders off to work on Hot Sands, Warm Arms some more*

Now that we know that Ryou's okay, let's back up about a week and see what everyone else has been doing, as well as the events that led up to the Switz disaster I just finished hinting about. ^_~ Ciao for now minna-san!

God bless minna-san!