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Emergence of the Tombkeepers	By : Aten Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2374 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer:‭ ‬I don’t own Yugioh and make no money off of this.‭ ‬I do own the OC’s‭ (‬Aten,‭ ‬Aria,‭ ‬Umi,‭ ‬Robbie,‭ ‬and anyone else not Yugioh-related.‭)

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Fade Into Darkness

Yami Bakura clenched his teeth as his 1978 Grand Tourino wouldn’t start. A line of honking cars protested behind him. Son of a bitch....start, damn you....Bakura stuck his head out the window. “Go the hell around me, assholes!” He turned the ignition again, cursing under his breath until the car finally started. About time, old girl....Bakura pulled away from the green light with an annoyed groan. I think she’s on her last leg, but what do I expect? She’s old. Ryou and I need a new car. She smells moldy, has no hubcaps, the back doors don’t work, windshield has chips and cracks, the back seat is patched up with duct tape,only a wooden plank separates the back seat riders from touching the road with their feet, damn carpet is stained with baby puke, the damn rear view mirrors are held together only by tape and gum, she barely goes over 4o miles an hour, the back of my seat is slashed when Aria got her hands on one of my daggers...Ryou never lets me live that one down....Aten painted on the back of the passenger’s seat when he was a little boy, the radio barely works. It only gets Country stations or static. I’d rather listen to static. Aria carved pentagrams and skulls into the orange paint that’s now chipped to hell. Aten thought it would be a good idea to join her, so the various occult symbols are joined by carvings of cats, happy faces, flowers, and hearts, the shocks are shot, the seatbelt only works if you knot it. The old girl may be a piece of shit, but, she gets me to where I have to go. I have to face the fact I don't know when I'll need her and she won't be able to start.
Bakura arrived at the Domino Police Station. This was the last place he wanted to be, but the Ishtars' call and Aria's subsequent phone call in tears cajoled him. She's my little girl. I guess I won't be able to get my fuel pump fixed. Damn it all to fuck.
Bakura stepped out of the car and looked down at the Millennium Ring dangling against his chest. His ring began to glow as one of the sharp spikes rose towards the Domino Museum. The yami held up the ancient relic which housed his soul. The needle pointed to the museum no matter what . "So that's where the Ishtars went. Or perhaps another Millennium Item. I'll check it out after I finish with my little girl."
Bakura closed the door of his car and climbed up the steps to the police station. The yami tucked the glowing item underneath his blue and white shirt. This is not going to be easy.
Bakura turned the knob and walked into the police station. A woman at the front desk lifted her head from her paperwork. "Can I help you, sir?"
"Yes, I..." Bakura felt the sharp needle of the Millennium Ring tremble against his nipple. "Damn it. One minute." Bakura shifted the Millennium Ring with a sigh of relief. "I'm here for Aria Kanika Tsunami."
The woman typed her name into the computer. "She's a fiery one."
Bakura sighed. "Yeah, she's too much like her old man when he was young."
"Alright. The bond total comes to $700.14. How would you like to pay that today? We accept cash or credit card."
Bakura's eyes widened. "What the fuck did that girl do?"
"Let's see....Disorderly Conduct, Assault, Striking an Officer, Disobeying a Direct Order..."
"Alright....here's my credit card. Ryou's gonna kill me.....again."
The woman ran his credit card and returned it to him with a smile. "Thank you, Mr. Itemri. Aria will be out shortly."
Bakura sat in a chair and crossed his legs. He leaned his head on his fist as he heard Ryou through the mindlink playing with the baby.
His eyes looked down at the metal twitching under his shirt. If it is Ishtar, he’s not moving around. Perhaps he went somewhere to pound his little Light into oblivion and set it down. That wouldn’t surprise me. His eyes wandered to the magazines beside his chair. ‘Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Break Up!’ in bold yellow letters graced the cover of People magazine. ‘Oh, who the fuck gives two shits,’ he sighed. Against the wall displayed a number of informational pamphlets on preventing and reporting crime. The yami snickered in his head.
A man entered the station and approached the officer at the desk. Bakura yawned as he listened to the furious man post bail for his daughter. Rough week for the dads here, it seems.The irritated man sat across from Bakura, clenching his fists and grumbling angrily. Bakura removed his deck from his pocket and began to shuffle from boredom.
Bakura looked at the clock when he heard Ryou. /The itsy bitsy spider crawled up the water spout..../
//Is our son behaving for you?//
/Of course he is, he’s not walking yet. Wait until he can crawl. Then we’ll need to worry. Kailani is behaving herself, too. Umi said he had to leave and take the boys home. It was nice seeing them today./
//I didn’t know they left.//
/Oh, Kailani is crying...the phone is ringing...one moment, love./
Bakura watched the irritated man stand up when his daughter was escorted into the room. The father began yelling at his daughter, Skylar, for her behavior and told her she was grounded. The yami watched the daughter walk past her father without so much as a ‘thank you’ for bailing her out. The father followed her out, verbally scolding her as they left.
Aria was stepped through the doors, glaring angrily. “UMI, I---.” Aria’s anger immediately diffused as she saw her father sitting on the chair. Bakura calmly rose to his feet and crossed his arms against his chest. Bakura’s spiky hair gave a slight twitch as he sternly looked at his daughter. “Aria Kanika Itemri Bat Bakura.”
Aria swallowed nervously as her father offered her the same glare when she was naughty as a little girl. “Daddy?”
“Come with me,” Bakura said quietly and calmly.
“Yes, sir,” she said timidly as she followed her father out of the police station.
They crossed the threshold and Bakura stopped by the car. “What is the first rule I taught you as a little girl?”
“Umm...you can be naughty, but don’t get caught?”
“How did you end up here of all places? You know it cost me $700 to get you out of there. What the hell did you do, girl? I never had to bail your half brother out of jail.”
Aria lowered her head as her eyes to avoid her father’s angry eye contact. “I’m sorry.”
Bakura saw tears swell behind her eyes as she began to cry. The yami sighed and wrapped his arms around his nineteen-year-old daughter. “Did anyone mistreat you in there? Do I need to send somebody to the Shadow Realm? Hmm? Does daddy need to send someone’s soul to everlasting torment?”
Despite her tears, Aria chuckled uncomfortably. “No.”
/Yami, have you seen Joey?/
//No. Why?//
/Seto was just on the phone. Joey hasn’t returned home all day. Seto’s worried./
//The mutt probably has Seto’s security with him. I’m sure he’s fine.//
/No, he doesn’t have anybody with him./
Bakura caressed his daughter’s white, spiky hair. //That’s strange. I’ll keep my eye out I think I may have found the Ishtars, though. My Millennium Ring keeps pointing to the Domino Museum.//
/I feel awful about this morning. I shouldn’t have attacked Malik like I did./
//I’ll track them down and bring them home. We can work this out.//
/Alright, baby./
Bakura felt the Millennium Ring jingle between them. He pulled back from Aria and turned to the Domino Museum. “The Ishtars have to be in there somewhere. Want to come with me?”
Aria sighed as she looked at Bakura’s car. “It’s better than sitting in there.”
“She’s nothing fancy, but she gets me where I have to go. I know I have to get a new car, though. With your new brother, I need something better and a lot more safe.”
Aria followed Bakura to the museum. “Umi left me, daddy.”
“What?! What do you mean he left you?” he asked as they walked to the museum. “He came to visit us and brought the kids along.”
“Are they still there?!”
Bakura shook his head. “Ryou sent me out for more baby formula when I got your call from the jail. Apparently, Umi and the boys left before I got the call that you were arrested. Umi left Kailani with your mother.”
Aria grit her teeth and clenched her fists. “That son of a bitch!”
“Did you two have a fight? Why would he leave you?”
Aria’s eyes darkened and she snarled as her hair spiked angrily. “Because he’s a fucking asshole!”
Bakura raised a curious eyebrow. “What did he do to you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it!” Yami Aria snarled with a curled lip.
“Fair enough,” Bakura said. But this conversation is not over.
Bakura and Aria climbed the steps and saw the museum door open. That’s odd.
/What’s wrong, yami?/
//The Domino Museum’s door is cracked open. Marik and Malik must have broke in. I wonder if they are fucking in one of the western stagecoaches again.//
/Don’t let the cameras catch you in there./
Bakura looked up at the camera by the door. //I don’t need to worry about that because the camera has been disabled....this one, too. Marik must have used the Rod to turn them off like he did before.//
Bakura looked up the steps and sniffed as a familiar smell brushed across his sinuses. //Something sweet is in the air....oh, yes....mmm....delicious.//
Yami Aria kneeled down and picked up a Duel Monsters card. “Mask of the Accursed. What’s this doing here?”
Bakura shrugged as he walked towards the steps. “There’s something upstairs. Can you feel it?”
Yami Aria narrowed her eyes. “Death.”
“Shadow Realm and blood. Lots of it.”
Yami Aria nodded as she looked at her father’s Millennium Ring. The needle dropped limp. “There was a Millennium Item here.”
The yami father looked down at the limp needles on the Millennium Ring. “Very odd. It just...disappeared.” Bakura removed his deck from his pocket. He turned to his daughter. "Be a good girl and stand guard."
"What?? Fuck, no. I'm coming with you."
Bakura narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't curse at me, Chibi Yami. Stay here and keep an eye out for the cops or anything else which may be here."
Yami Aria crossed her arms against her chest. "You may need me."
Yami Bakura smiled and pat his child on her spiky white hair. "My little girl, I'm five thousand years old. I've learned a thing or two about taking care of myself."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, and we are leaving it at that. Stay here, sweetheart. Daddy will be back."
Bakura climbed the stairs as the smell of blood wafted into his nasal passages. The yami gripped the Millennium Ring as it began to glow. He looked at the wall..."Forever Walk in Darkness." Beside the writing, he saw a strange symbol. He stepped closer to examine the bloody symbol as a gutteral groan and grinding metal stood nearby.
Bakura looked up at the large metal monster and gasped. The machine raced towards him with its arms extended. "Headless Knight!"Bakura exclaimed as he drew the card from the top of the deck. The Headless Knight appeared before its master with its sword drawn.
Yami Aria raced to the top of the steps and stood beside her father. "What the hell is that?!"
The Headless Knight's sword slashed through the machine's arm as it shattered.
"That, my dear child, is why I said to stay downstairs. I said the Shadow Realm was here...and blood."
Yami Aria chuckled. "Now we need to find the blood. I can smell it."
"Keep watch," Bakura told his servant.
Yami Bakura watched his daughter walk down the hallway. Inside the room, they saw an iron gate blocking the way into a heavily vandalized room with shattered glass broken pottery, and two dead man laying on the floor face-down in pools of blood.
Bakura gripped the gate in panic as he recognized Yami Marik on the floor by the other door. "ISHTAR!" Bakura ran around the hallway to the other door and kneeled beside the fallen yami with a mask around his face. "What the fuck is this? Ishtar?" Bakura saw Marik's hand protruding from the iron gate. He lifted Marik's arm and it dropped heavily onto the floor. Bakura's heart raced as he touched Marik's wrist.
No pulse.
"Aria, find a way to lift the gates. The gates are controlled by the main computer in the security office. Hurry!" Bakura carefully lifted Marik's head and examined the mask. The Mask of Weakness...His energy is drained. If he has no pulse and his energy gets too low....Bakura looked around the fallen yami for the Millennium Rod. His item isn’t nearby....This could be bad.
"I thought you said...."
Bakura's head snapped towards her. He rose to his feet and pointed out the door. Aria watched his hair spike with fury. "Stop your arguing with me, child! Go to the security office and open these gates!"
Yami Aria ran out of the room as Bakura quickly flipped through his deck.
"Remove Trap."
The mask around Marik's face disappeared. Bakura reached through the bars and caressed Marik's blond hair. "Marik Jibade....wake up....come on, partner, stay with me." Marik laid on his stomach unresponsive. "Open your eyes.....please. Do something to let me know you can hear me....anything." Marik's body laid motionless on the ground.
“He can’t be.....” Bakura lowered his head as he grit his teeth. "Don't.....please don't tell me I'm too late." Bakura sat by the iron gate and took Yami Marik's cold hand. He pressed his lover's hand against his cheek. "I can't lose you. Please, Osiris....don't take him."
Bakura kissed Yami Marik's hand and slipped it through the bars so he would not be caught in the gate as it lifted. Bakura jumped to his feet as he looked around. "Malik! Malik Ramses! He has to be around here somewhere." The yami's eyes wandered to the defaced mural. "I know I've seen this somewhere. What is it?"
The yami jumped as the gate began to open. He rushed beside Marik and rolled the yami onto his back. Marik's head lulled to the side as his face and chest were soaked in blood. Bakura looked down at his unconscious lover and bit his lip. So much blood...he's bathed in it. It smells sweet... Bakura leaned over slowly and tilted Marik's head upward. I love you, Ishtar....Bakura planted a tender kiss on Marik's blood-soaked lips. Bakura snaked his hand under Marik's bloody blond hair and cradled the back of Marik's skull. The white-haired yami moaned into the kiss as his hand snaked under Marik's shirt and rubbed his lover's chest.
He's not responding.....Why?.
/Yami, what's wrong?/
//........I found Ishtar. He's hurt. Badly. Wrecked.//
/Oh my god....What about Malik? Is he hurt, too?/
//I can't find him.//
Aria stood in the doorway and looked down at Marik. "What happened to Father Marik?"
Bakura took a deep breath as he pressed two fingers to Marik's throat. Bakura lowered his head as he put a hand on Marik's chest. Aria saw her father's face flood with worry and fear. "No pulse. I have to do something. Fast. If his energy fades too low.....he'll....."
Aria looked at her father and Marik. Bakura leaned over and buried his face in the side of Marik's neck. His only chance may be CPR...Bakura began compressing Marik’s chest. He pinched the blond’s nose and breathed into his mouth. “Come on, Ishtar....” Bakura compressed Marik’s chest again and breathed into his mouth again. Aria watched as her father tried desperately to revive his lover. After several attempts, the yami breathed heavily as he looked down at Marik’s lifeless body.
Bakura touched Marik's unbloodied cheek.
"Don't....." Bakura leaned forward again and buried his face in the side of Marik’s neck. I can’t give him energy....only Malik can do that. He is missing. Only a Light can give power to the Darkness. I can’t get his heart....or what is left of it.....started. Marik, I can’t lose you. Damn it! Fuck! Shit! I’m helpless and I can’t do a damn thing for him!
Aria heard her father sniffle. Bakura pulled back and looked up at Aria. "Find Malik. He has to be here. He wouldn’t abandon Marik like this.” Bakura paused. “Please find him.”
Aria nodded. "Alright, dad."
Bakura watched Aria walk away. Her yami must have withdrew. Marik....I have to get him home somehow. I have to get him out of here before the mortals come in for the day.
"I have to move him." Bakura wrapped his arms under Marik’s shoulders and his legs. He tensed as he tried to lift up the other yami. He cursed, unable to pick up Marik who was heavier and built more muscular than himself. “Damn it,” Bakura growled as he flipped through his deck. "My loyal servant, Dark Necrofear, come to me!" Bakura's servant appeared before him holding her baby with its cranium smashed in above its eyes.
"My Lord Bakura."
"I need you to carry Ishtar for me." Bakura looked down at Marik again. The dangling Millennium Ring continued to point towards the moving Millennium Rod. Bakura leaned down and kissed Marik again. Bakura's ghostly-white hands caressed Marik's dark Egyptian cheek. Bakura hovered over Marik's bloody face. "I love you, Marik. I'm going to get you somewhere safe. Hopefully Malik is nearby."
"Nobody else is here," Aria said when she returned.
"Be careful with him," Bakura said sternly. The baby in the monster's arms disappeared. Aria watched her father's monster cradle Marik in her arms and lift him cautiously.
Marik's head rested against Dark Necrofear's chest, his arm hung limp. The monster burned with an shadow fire as it carried Marik ahead of Bakura and Aria.
"Dad, look at that mural," Aria said as she saw the hieroglyphics written in blood.
Bakura and Aria approached the mural. Bakura's eyes widened. Holy hell....they match the script on Malik's back! Bakura looked at Marik cradled lifelessly in the monsters' arms. "Very few people know of Malik’s past as Tombkeeper. That isn’t exactly common conversation."
"Tombkeepers? Daddy, what's going on?"
Bakura looked to the unconscious yami and blood trickling onto the floor from Marik’s head, neck, and arms. "I don't know, sweetheart. I can only guess, but it may involve a group from Ishtar's past. I'll explain more later. We have to get out of here before someone decides to investigate why the museum doors are open and why there is a corpse and so much destruction in the Egyptian wing."
Bakura dismissed Headless Knight as they passed him.
"Aria, go get the car and park it out front."
Aria looked at the keys in her father's hand. "But, your car sucks."
"Fine," Bakura groaned with irritation. "Keep an eye on Marik. I'll get the damn car."
Aria watched her father sneak out of the museum and run to the car. After several attempts to get the car running, Bakura pulled the car in front of the museum. He opened the back passenger side door my reaching through the window. He jiggled the door handle as he pulled the locking mechanism. Yami Bakura checked to see if there were no bystanders. Dark Necrofear carried Marik down the steps at Bakura's signal.
The door opened and Marik was placed in the back seat.
"Aria, please drive."
Aria looked with horror at the car's steering wheel. Aria looked back at her father,who joined Marik in the back seat. "This car's a deathtrap."
Bakura closed his eyes tightly and rubbed the bridge of his nose. His head was aching. Marik's condition was critical. Malik was gone.
"Aria Kanika, I don't have time for this. Please drive."
Aria groaned and slipped behind the wheel of the car.
********************
Yugi sat at the kitchen table with his friend. Joey stared blankly at the cup of tea Yugi made for him. The blond sighed as he leaned on his arm.
"Are you going back to him?"
Joey closed his eyes. "I don't know. How could he do that to Aria? It's wrong."
Yugi nodded. "Yeah, but maybe he couldn't stop it. Remember when you first arrived at KaibaCorp and you were having flashbacks of your dad? You couldn't help it. You attacked Seto, but he kept you around."
"But Aria's a kid yet! She's only nineteen! He's almost forty! He's old enough to be her father!"
"If Seto and Aria were trapped in memories, perhaps they really couldn't fight it."
A chill shot up Joey's spine. "I don't know." Joey's cell phone rang.
Yugi looked at the phone and at his friend. "Are you going to answer it?"
"I can't."
"He's probably worried sick about you."
Joey wrung his hands nervously and licked his lips. "I know he is. Dammit, I wanna drink."
"That's why I gave you tea instead of booze.You worked hard to get off that stuff."
Joey nodded. "I know. I promised Seto I wouldn't go back to that."
"At least tell Seto you're alright."
The ringing stopped.
Joey sighed. "I still love him, Yug. He took me in when I was at the lowest point in my life. Abusive dad, living on the streets, whoring myself for booze....he helped me. He didn't exactly have a model dad, either. He's told me stories. I know what he went through. It was way worse than what I had."
Yugi looked down solemnly. "I couldn't take Yami back after all he did, so I guess I can understand where you are coming from."
Joey crossed his arms and placed his head between them. "Seto....why...."
Yugi placed his hand on Joey's back. "Poor Joey."
The kitchen door opened and Glenn entered the house. "I'm home!" Glenn saw Yugi rubbing Joey's back. "Joey? What's wrong?"
"Joey's having a rough time today."
"Do you need a place to stay,Joe?" Glenn asked as he stood beside the sobbing man.
Yugi looked down at his friend. "If you need a place to stay for the night, you can stay here, buddy. You might feel better in the morning."
Joey sniffled. "I don't want to impose."
Yugi ran his fingers through Joey's hair. "You're not imposing. I can't just leave a friend to sleep on the street. Glenn, can you get the spare bedroom ready?"
Glenn pat Joey on the back. “You’ll be okay, buddy.” Glenn left the room, leaving Yugi to give Joey a supportive hug.
“Everything will be fine, Joey.”
“Thank you for helping me out, Yugi. I’ll make it up to you. I promise,” Joey returned Yugi’s hug as they heard Glenn’s footsteps above.
“Hey! Who are you?” Glenn exclaimed from upstairs.
Yugi and Joey lifted their heads as they heard the kitchen door open. Three men in purple cloaks and gold chains stepped into the house and closed the door behind him.
“Pharaoh’s Light.”
Yugi gasped as he clutched onto Joey. “What do you want? Get out of here!”
“I’m afraid that is not possible until we obtain what we came for.”
Joey rose to his feet and stood in front of Yugi. “If you clowns want to make trouble, you’re gonna get it from me!” Joey clenched his fist and slammed it against his open palm. “Yugi told you to get out. Now scram!”
“Yugi! There are people up here!”
Yugi turned to the archway leading to the living room as two more cloaked men appeared. The short man gasped as he saw a face he had not seen in years. “P-Pandora?”
“Hello, Yugi. I see you have not grown much since the last time we saw each other.”
Yugi narrowed his eyes. “Get out of my house!”
Pandora chuckled. “You do not frighten us. Seize them!”
The three cloaked men rushed to Joey. They grabbed his arms tightly. Joey pulled his left arm free and punched one of the men violently sending his head whipping to the side. The blond kicked another assailant and bull-rushed him against the countertop.
Yugi ran to the cell phone on the counter, but a Dark Magician clad in red stopped him.
“There is nobody here to help you, Pharaoh’s Vessel.”
Yugi backed away from the angered Dark Magician. “This can’t be happening.”
“I play the ‘Left Arm of the Forbidden One’ and the ‘Right Arm of the Forbidden One!’”
Two arms appeared behind Joey and tore his arms away from his attacker. The powerful hands held his arms motionless.
“You have to depend on your cards instead of fighting me like a man?” Joey growled angrily.
The cloaked woman beside Pandora approached Yugi. “Kidnapping Yugi is like friendship. Yeah friendship.”
Yugi gasped. “Anzu!”
Anzu grabbed Yugi as he tried to run past her. “Hostages are like friendship. Yeah friendship....”
Yugi’s heart raced. “Anzu! Let me go!”
Pandora approached Yugi. “Where lies the pharaoh?”
Yugi swallowed nervously. “I don’t know where he is.”
“The pharaoh’s energy has left this world. Pharaoh’s Light, you of all people in this world know of his location. You can feel him, can’t you?”
Yugi struggled against Anzu. “No, and I don’t care to!”
“I do not see the Millennium Puzzle around your neck. Where is it?”
“I’m not telling you!”
Pandora nodded at his companions, one of whom removed a rope from his robes. “Find the pharaoh. Find the God Cards.”
“Yami and I defeated you in Battle City! Why are you here?”
Pandora chuckled. “Because we have been charged with preservation of the pharaoh and his spirit. We have been slumbering for ages, yet we have not ignored our duty to our king. He must return to the Land of the Living.”
“You are a Rare Hunter! You had nothing to do with Yami!”
Pandora glared down at Yugi. “So little you realize, little one. You will discover the Truth soon enough. Until then, I am here to retrieve your Puzzle and the three Egyptian God cards.”
The cloaked men stepped into the living room. Joey and Yugi were pulled behind them.
“Who do you crazy bastards think you are?! Fight me like a man, chicken motherfucker!” Joey growled, spitting in Pandora’s eye.
Pandora wiped his eye free of Joey’s spit and glared at the blond. “Your fate is not in my hands, but in the hands of our Leader.”
Yugi looked above to see one of the men tying the end of a rope to the staircase above. “Your leader is no longer interested in the Rare Hunters!”
“Yugi! Help!” Glenn called from above the staircase.
Joey and Yugi looked up as four men restrained their captive.
“Tell us where your Millennium Puzzle is located,” Pandora said calmly.
Glenn shook his head emphatically. “Yugi, don’t tell them!”
Yugi’s heart raced as he watched a Rare Hunter tie the other end of the rope around Glenn’s neck.
Joey watched wide eyed as he struggled in Exodia’s hands. “Yugi, they’re gonna kill him! Hey, you guys! Glenn had nothing to do with the Rare Hunters or Battle City!”
Tears fell down Yugi’s face. “Pandora, please! Don’t kill him!”
“Where are the Millennium Puzzle and the God Cards? Answer me or he becomes a sacrifice to the Egyptian gods!”
Yami’s Puzzle must not fall into their hands! They will revive him! He will come back and continue to torment my friends.I can’t let that happen! But.....Glenn....I can’t sacrifice him....
“Please don’t kill me! I’ll do anything! I’ll do any--!”
Yugi and Joey watched in horror as the Rare Hunter pushed Glenn over the side of the staircase. A quick snap and Glenn’s lifeless body dangled above them, his neck contorted in an unnatural direction, his eyes wide and open, staring into nothing.
“GLENN! NO!” Yugi sobbed. “Why?!”
Joey watched wide-eyed as the corpse swung like a pendulum in the air. “Oh my god....”
“Hanging is like friendship. Yay,” Anzu said flatly.
“One last time, Yugi. Where are the Millennium Puzzle and God Cards?”
Yugi closed his eyes tightly and hung his head as he sobbed. “I won’t tell you,” he whimpered as he heard the creaking of the rope above him.
Pandora looked up at his companions. “Tear this place apart. Turn over every table and drawer until you find what we came for.”
Yugi watched with fear as they heard glass smashing, shattering wood, and the crash of objects against walls. “This can’t be happening,” Yugi sobbed.
Joey glared at Pandora. “Why did you decide to turn up all these years later?”
“It was only recently we lost our connection with the Great Pharaoh. His lifeforce faded from this world. We will do whatever we must do to return him to this world.”
“Including murdering innocent people?”
Pandora turned to Joey ominously and nodded. “Do you wish to be our next sacrifice to Osiris?”
“He will not be a sacrifice,” a familiar voice said.
Yugi and Joey gasped as Malik entered the room. “Malik, they killed Glenn! Tell them to let us go!”
“Malik, what’s with the mask?” Joey asked.
Yugi watched with fear. That’s not any mask....That’s the Mask of Possession. Someone is controlling Malik!
“He will not be a sacrifice,” Malik said emotionlessly again. “He was one of us before....and he will be one of us again.”
Joey gasped as Malik stood before the other blond. Malik raised the Millennium Rod towards Joey. “He shall rejoin our ranks. He will be one of us.”
Yugi watched through tears as the Millennium Rod glowed, taking the light from Joey’s eyes. “Joey, fight him!”
Joey’s brown eyes looked into the Millennium Rod. “Master Malik, I will obey.”
“Where is the Millennium Puzzle, Slyfer, and Obelisk?”
“Seto Kaiba retains Obelisk the Tormentor,” Joey said blankly.
“Where is Slyfer, Yugi?” Malik asked.
Yugi narrowed his eyes at Malik. “I will not tell you!”
Malik approached Yugi and grabbed him by his collar roughly. “WHERE IS YOUR MILLENNIUM PUZZLE?”
“I will never tell you!”
Malik released Yugi and looked up at Glenn’s body. “You sacrificed him, Yugi. I would have spared him.”
Yugi lowered his head and sobbed. “Why....Glenn....”
The Rare Hunters appeared at the top of the steps. “We haven’t found anything, Master Malik, except the stone.” The men placed Yugi’s onyx necklace in Malik’s open palm.
“Yugi will tell us where the Millennium Puzzle lies. Eventually. Until then, we must take him home. Joey, you will obtain Obelisk for me and you may come in handy for some special....projects.”
Yugi struggled in the grip of Anzu and the Rare Hunters as he looked behind at Glenn’s dead body hanging from the staircase. Goodbye, Glenn....I’m sorry.
*****************
Aten sat at the kitchen table rubbing his aching forehead. A cup of hot coffee sat in front of him as ghostly steam rose from the dark liquid. “I’m never.....ever......doing that again.”
“I should think not, sport,” Daniel said as he read the newspaper beside Aten. “You caused quite the raucous so I hear. Mr. Gillam was complaining all day about his gas-less lawnmower.”
Aten folded his arms on the table and rested his head between them. “He’s an ass-hat,” Aten groaned.
“You can’t choose your neighbors.”
Aten sighed. “I guess so. My head feels like hell.”
“That’s what happens when you drink too much, son.You’ll feel better in a few days. Robbie said you have to grow some...internal organs before your body can metabolize that a little better. You’ll be fine.”
Aten lifted his head. “Did you ever feel this shitty?”
Daniel nodded. “I’ve buried four children, Aten. What do you think?”
“Technically, you only buried three. The other one is upstairs checking on Heaven.”
“I wish I never had to bury any, Aten. Having Robbie back....it was something I never expected, but I’m very happy he’s back with us. It was heartwrenching to see him on that sidewalk. It’s an image I’ll never get out of my head. You don’t forget things like that.”
Aten nodded. “I know. Some things you just don’t forget.”
Aten and his father-in-law locked eyes quietly in an unspoken dialogue.
“ATEN! ATEN, GET UP HERE!”
Aten jumped to his feet and rushed up the stairs to Heaven’s room. “Robbie, what’s wrong?”
Robbie stepped aside from the empty crib and ran to the open window. “Heaven’s gone!”
Aten ran to the open window and looked into the night. “Are you sure?”
“What do you mean am I sure? YES! I gave her a bath and brought her back in here. When I got back in here a couple minutes later, she was gone!”
Aten narrowed his eyes and dashed from the bedroom to the room he shared with Robbie. He grabbed the Scepter of Ra. “The culprit couldn’t have gotten far.”
Robbie followed Aten down the stairs as Daniel met them by the door.
“What’s wrong, boys?”
“Heaven’s gone, dad! We have to find her!”
Aten ran out of the door and looked up and down the road. “Take the left side of the house. She has to be here.”
Robbie ran around the left side of the house and Aten sprinted around the right.
Aten looked on the ground below Heaven’s window. The red jewel on top of the scepter glowed, shining light on the grass.
“There’s no footprints,” Robbie said as he kneeled on the ground. He ran his fingers through the blades of grass. “Nothing was dropped here.”
Aten narrowed his eyes. “I’ll go down this side of the road. You go the other way.”
Aten ran up the road towards his parents’ house. He jumped over fences, using the light of the scepter to find the culprit in the dark. Robbie ran towards the industrial park at the opposite side of the road.
/Let me know if you find her, Aten. Somebody is in for some serious butt-whoopin’ when I find them!/
//That’s going to be the least of their problems if I find them. I may need to introduce them to their insides.//
Tall factories and scarce landscaping filled the industrial park. The moonlight offered little light as Robbie walked around the abandoned park. “Heaven!” Robbie called as he walked briskly through the darkness. “Heaven Raine!” Only the chirping crickets answered him.
/If anything happens to that little baby, I’ll never forgive myself./
The night wind caressed his cheek as his blue and white sneakers crept in the dark. He held his breath as he heard an engine nearby. Is someone working late at one of the factories around here?
Robbie stopped and looked behind him as a car drove past the entrance to the park. “Heaven!” Robbie called again as he looked around him.
His heart beat faster as he continued searching for his adopted daughter.
/Aten, what if we can’t find her?/
//We’ll find her, Robbie. She has to be nearby!//
/Have you found anything?/
//No. I made it past the playground without seeing anything.//
/This is no time to pick a fight with your penis again, Aten./
//Ha Ha, very funny.// Aten responded sarcastically.
Robbie heard the low hum of an engine approaching him. Robbie turned behind him and saw a small tree waving behind him. /Aten, this place is creeping me out./
//What’s wrong? You’re scared. I feel it.//
Out of the darkness, a sphere with wings and a robotic face hovered into the moonlight. In one of its robotic arms, it gripped a staff.
/Oh my god! Aten!! Mechanicalchaser!/ Robbie fled from the monster as it flew towards him. /Aten, help! I’m at the industrial park!/
//I’m coming, Robbie!//
Robbie ran around the corner of a building as he fled. /The Machine King follows his command! But I don’t have my Machine King out!/
/Hurry, Aten!/ Robbie gasped as a thousand knives flew in front of him and embedded themselves in the wall. Robbie made a sharp right and gasped when he saw a man on fire standing before him. His sword was made of roaring flame as he raised his weapon towards Robbie. /Flame Swordsman! Aten! Someone has summoned monsters here!/
Robbie gasped in fear as the monster’s sword struck towards him. Robbie rolled out of the way as the monster passed him.
//I’m almost near the park!//
Robbie raced towards the exit as a circular ball suddenly appeared before him with four knives. Without time to react, he ran into the machine. A loud explosion sent him flying into the air and landing on his left shoulder. The curly-haired teen groaned as he landed hard on the ground, rolling several times. His head collided hard against the pavement as rocks and concrete scratched and cut his skin.
//Robbie!Are you alright?//
/Stay.......away./
//You’re hurt bad!//
/Bleeding.../
Aten ran into the industrial park, the jewel of the Scepter of Ra glowing brighter. //Where are you?//
/Don’t..../
Aten continued through the industrial park determined to help his husband. He stopped and closed his eyes, trying to focus on Robbie’s energy. Robbie’s energy was faint, but nearby.
Aten followed Robbie’s energy until he found him laying in the road. A black pile of ash and smoke mixed with fresh, red blood.
“Robbie!” Aten ran towards Robbie and kneeled beside him. Robbie’s face and chest were bathed in blood. Aten raised the scepter and choked as severe pain spread throughout his body. The scepter and Aten dropped to the ground beside Robbie. Aten’s back arched as his tortured screams pierced the night. Aten’s fingers curled as his screams of agony bellowed from his throat.
“Make it stop!” Aten pleaded as his nails dug into the concrete. “Please!”
Robbie winced as he felt Aten’s pain through their mindlink. He grit his teeth and grabbed Aten’s hand tightly as he felt he was being skinned alive. Aten gripped his hair with the other hand as he shrieked.
Robbie’s body burned as if on fire. His fair skin was covered in a thick veil of sweat.
“Time for payback, you little punk,” Robbie looked up and saw Bandit Keith hovering above him. A heavy boot crunching into his back made Robbie scream in pain.
“It’s too bad my Dark Magician missed with his knives,” said Pandora as he stepped from the shadows.
A light above him took his attention from his agony. The Millennium Rod...
“Aten Bakari, child of my Dark, it is time you join your true family bound by blood.”

*******************
Ryou opened the door as Dark Necrofear entered the home with Yami Marik cradled in her arms. “Marik, oh my god!” The hikari watched the monster carry the yami upstairs carefully. “Bakura, what happened?”
The white-haired yami shook his head. “I don’t know, but the Millennium Rod was gone along with Malik. I recovered Ishtar’s cell phone, so maybe we can tell what is going on. Join me upstairs when you have a moment.....”Bakura looked down at Ryou’s feet and placed a soft hand on Ryou’s shoulder. “Please.” Ryou watched Bakura follow Dark Necrofear solemnly.
“Dad is really upset,” Aria said as she stood beside her mother.
“Aria, do you know when Umi is coming back to pick up Kailani?”
“He just left Kailani? What about Rhett and Kai?”
Ryou shook his head. “Umi took them with him.”
Aria bit her lip and began to sob. “Mom, Umi left me...”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry,” Ryou said, hugging his sobbing daughter tightly. “What happened?”
Aria cried on Ryou’s shoulder, holding him tightly. “I’m such a fool, mom!”
Ryou caressed her hair and pulled back from the hug. He looked into her brown eyes, red and puffy. He lead her to the couch where he sat down with her. “Now, honey, sit down and tell me about what happened.”
“You may want to block dad from your mindlink.” Ryou nodded a moment later and put his hand on her arm.
Aria sniffled. “Kailani is not Umi’s daughter.”
Ryou looked at the sleeping brown-haired baby in the playpen. The infant sucked her thumb as she hugged one of Therion’s dragon plushies. Ryou’s eyes went wide. “Aria? Did you.....Is Seto Kaiba her father?”
Aria lowered her head and wiped her eyes. “Yes. A DNA test was done and Seto was a clear match.”
“What possessed you to sleep with Seto?”
“I don’t know, mom. I don’t know how it happened, but I know he and I have been fighting memories from our previous lives in ancient Egypt. I fought it so hard, mom. We tried limiting our contact with each other, stopped talking to each other, but one night....something...something came over me. I don’t know how it happened, but I found my way to KaibaCorp.It was after that when I found out I was pregnant again.”
Ryou sighed and put his arm around Aria’s shoulder. “Maybe Umi needs some time alone to think, baby.”
“What am I going to do? He took the boys.”
“He’s not going to harm them.He said he would take good care of them.”
Aria wrung her hands nervously. “I know he wouldn’t hurt them, but still...”
Ryou looked upstairs. “Do you want to stay here tonight? Your old room is still open.”
Aria looked at the sleeping baby, her brown hair curling slightly on the ends. “I guess so. I don’t think I can go home tonight.”
“Alright, baby girl,” Ryou said, kissing her cheek. “This is still your home.”
Aria hugged Ryou tightly. “Thank you, mom.”
“I love you, baby,” Ryou said, kissing Aria’s cheek. “If you’re hungry, there’s some leftovers in the kitchen. I have to check on your father.”
Ryou climbed the steps and walked into the first door on the right into the Ishtar bedroom. Yami Marik was laying on his back. Bakura had covered the other yami under his comforters and was sitting beside him on the bed. “How is he?” Ryou asked, standing beside his husband.
“He won’t wake up. He still doesn’t have a pulse.”
Ryou looked down at Bakura, the other yami was worried. Upon opening the mindlink with his yami, Bakura flooded Ryou with his thoughts and fears.
//What can I do for him? Where is the Millennium Rod? Was Malik taken against his will and the Rod taken with him? Is Malik responsible for this? What......what if Ishtar.......fades? There won’t be anything I can do for him if his spirit becomes too weak. I’ll....I’ll lose him.//
Ryou stepped close to Bakura and pulled Bakura against him. The yami rested his head against Ryou's stomach. "Ry..."
Ryou caressed Bakura's hair. "I know, baby."
Marik's chest slightly rose,making Bakura gasp and grab his hand.
"Ishtar, open your eyes," Bakura said with concern. "Ishtar, come on, partner." Bakura caressed Marik's cheek lightly.
Marik's eyelids fluttered as they opened slightly.
"Ishtar, you're home with us. Open your eyes. That's it," Bakura sighed as he leaned over and kissed Marik's forehead. "Praise Osiris," Bakura whispered as he placed his forehead against Marik's.
Ryou watched the blond caress Bakura's cheek tenderly. "Marik, thank the gods you're alright," Ryou said with relief.
Yami Marik wrapped his arms around Bakura in a loving embrace. Bakura heard Marik take a congested breath as his head rested against the Egyptian’s chest. "Itemri...." Bakura closed his eyes as he kissed Marik's cheek.
Bakura opened his eyes as he felt the weight of Marik's arms leave him. "Ishtar?"
Bakura and Ryou watched as Marik's arms fell limp against the bed. Marik's eyes closed as his body began to fade.
"Ishtar!" Bakura exclaimed as he tried to grab Marik. His hand went through the other yami.
"Itemri..." Marik reached for Bakura's cheek, but his hand went through his body.
Bakura watched wide-eyed as Marik's head fell back onto the pillow and he closed his eyes.
Ryou covered his mouth as Marik's body faded from the bed. "Marik..."
Bakura's eyes filled with tears as he looked at the empty bed. "Ishtar.....no..."
The white-haired yami closed his eyes and buried his face where Marik had laid. the white-haired yami gripped the sheets tightly. "He's gone, Ry....."
Ryou sat beside Bakura and placed a comforting hand on his yami's back."I'm sorry, angel."
"He's gone.....Gone.....No...."
Ryou sighed. "Maybe he's not dead, 'Kura. Perhaps he was returned to his Millennium Rod. Remember when my father stole the Millennium Ring and you disappeared?”
Bakura clenched the bedsheets tightly in his fists. “I hope you’re right, Ry.” Bakura’s eyes went to the Ishtar cell phone sitting on the side table. He removed it from Marik’s pocket before placing him in the bed. It looked slightly damaged, but he knew two people who were proficient enough in modern technology to salvage any information which may be contained within it. I will get both of the Ishtars back home safe....no matter what I must do.
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Emergence of the Tombkeepers