Shadow Rising

Hey, bet you’d all thought I’d died or something. Hate to tell you, but the world’s just not that lucky. Anyway, here the next instalment. The cats are all asleep, and I’m too tired to think up anything witty, so…. Yeah okay. Enjoy.

******

The black-haired boy growled in anger as he came up to yet another crossing.

“Ra-forsaken maze!” He frowned as he noticed a strange glow and followed the hall to it, looking at the sandy-haired Egyptian that seemed to be trapped in the magic field.

The boy spoke a strange word, and the emitters in the wall began sparking, then died, letting their captive fall. He spun quickly to frown at his saviour.

“Who are you?” He asked warily. The boy considered a moment.

“You might as well know the name of your new ruler. I am the Pharaoh Nui.”

“Great.” Marik muttered. “Another one.” Nui heard.

“Another one what?”

“Fucking Pharaoh. I suppose you’re here to save the world from some impending disaster as well?”

“Ra, no. I intend to take it over.” Malik frowned thoughtfully at Nui. The boy certainly didn’t look like your normal crazy overlord type. Oh well, if whatever plan he had worked, then Marik could figure out a way to prosper by it, and if it didn’t… well, it wouldn’t be his problem.

“Well, in that case. Let me warn you about a few people…” He suggested, leading the boy the way he had been going before he had gotten stuck. “My name’s Marik, by the way.”

******

“Hey, Squirt, keep up.” Bakura glanced back to see Yugi lagging behind again. He paused to give the short duelist a push. Yugi didn’t even react, only taking a quick step forward.

:What is up with him, anyway?:

“He misses Yami.” Ryou said aloud.

“Puppet without its puppetmaster.” Bakura nodded. “It doesn’t surprise me.” And he slapped Yugi up side the head, sending him to the floor. Yugi blinked, rubbed his head and stared up at Bakura in confusion.

“Well, at least something worked. If you do your daze routine again, we’re leaving you behind in one of those nice little traps Set created.” Yugi looked down and nodded.

“Come on.” He pulled Yugi to his feet, and gave him another push.

:Bakura, that was a little harsh.:

:Good. The boy needs to get a backbone, and if the Pharaoh won’t help him find it, then I will.:

:But it’s not…”

:Ryou, shut up.:

:We could use the ring to find…:

:You really do feel daring tonight, don’t you? Perhaps, when we get home, you would like to spend the rest of the weekend chained at the foot of the bed.: Ryou winced and fell silent, and the three continued on, Ryou leading, Yugi behind him and Bakura bringing up the rear.

******

“And whatever you do, don’t play any games with the Pharaoh.” Marik warned, as he and Nui strolled around the corner. He stopped short as Ryou ran into him, instinctively reaching out to keep the boy from falling.

“Marik.” Ryou yelped, trying to pull away. Marik grinned mischievously and held him close.

Tomb Keeper.” Came the warning. Marik turned his grin to Bakura, as he let Ryou go.

“Is that the Pharaoh?” Nui asked cautiously. Marik glanced down.

“No, that’s his little puppet, Yugi.” Bakura answered. “Who are you?”

“Pharaoh Nui.”

Yugi looked up, only half paying attention. But he did hear Bakura’s comment.

“I’m not a puppet.” He protested. Marik pretended to look astonished.

“It speaks.” Yugi flushed. He looked from Bakura to Marik, then glanced at Ryou, who was currently hiding behind Bakura. With an annoyed sound, he stepped away from the group.

Bakura watched him out of the corner of his eye, as Marik leaned close to whisper in his ear. His attention waned, however, as he took in Marik’s new plan. He looked at the black-haired boy, his evil grin growing, until Ryou tugged on his sleeve.

“Bakura?”

“Not now, Tenshi. I’m planning.” Ryou hesitated, then persisted.

“But ‘Kura…”

“What?” He snapped. Ryou stepped back, lifting a hand to touch his throat, as if already imagining the collar around it.

“Yugi. He…” Bakura turned with a curse, finding that the boy had disappeared. Marik shrugged.

“So leave the brat. He’ll show up eventually.” He said.

“It’s what problems he’ll manage to get into first that worries me. The kid attracts trouble like a magnet.”

“You’re going soft, Thief.”

“And what if he heard something?” Bakura continued, ignoring Marik’s comment. “You know as well as I do that anything the puppet knows, the Pharaoh’s going to learn about as soon as they get back together.” He crossed his arms and smirked at Marik. The Egyptian blinked, then scowled.

“Whatever. I don’t see what we can do even if we do find him. If he heard, we’re fucked.”

“At least we’ll know.”

******

“Malik, be careful.” Anzu closed her eyes as the sandy-haired boy went right through the trapped area without looking back.

“No problems.” He replied. “You two are just a pair of wimps.”

“I’ll wimp you, you little freak.” Sagira snapped back. Malik’s eyes narrowed in anger.

“Let’s just hurry up and find a way out of here.” Anzu interrupted wearily. She moved across the area, still warily watching for the trap to spring, then let out the breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding when she reached where Malik stood, Sagira following silently.

“See? No worr-“ Anzu yelped as the floor suddenly disappeared beneath them, dropping them into a huge net. The net sprung up, as carefully concealed ropes pulled it close to the ceiling and the floor closed up again.

“Ra forsaken miko!” Sagira spat. “Now look what you’ve done.”

“I’ll give you miko.” Malik answered, trying to lunge at Sagira, but only succeeding in flipping Anzu’s skirt up.

“Oh! Malik!” Anzu blushed and pushed it back down. Malik shifted again and found himself between the two girls. He grinned lecherously.

“Don’t even think about…” Malik did more then think about it. He reached out and managed to grab a generous handful of Sagira’s behind. She flushed red, and tried to hit him, only setting the net to swinging again. Anzu sighed, momentarily forgotten by the other two, and hoped that someone found them fast.

******

Yugi moved down the hall as quietly as possible. He paused at a fork, first checking to make sure there were no traps, then closed his eyes and walked forward blindly. He opened them again a moment later, found that he had turned slightly to face the off-branching hall and started down it.

He was tired of Bakura and Marik’s nicknames. He could get by just fine on his own. So he had decided to prove it.

Yugi glanced back, was almost sure he saw something move in the darkness. Firmly he put the thought out of his mind. He knew they were close to the Shadow Realm. He’d been within and around it too many times not to know the feel of the dark magic. Surprisingly, it didn’t terrify him, never had, except for the first few times. Now it felt almost… comforting, oddly enough.

He kept moving, saw a dim light up ahead. For a moment, he paused, wondering if he wanted to risk checking it out. For all he knew, he had just gone around in a big circle and was right back where he had started. But then again, the light didn’t seem to be moving, and he was pretty sure they would have come looking for him by….

“Brat! Don’t you fucking move.”

“Damn.” Yugi muttered, very uncharacteristically. He looked behind him, where he could see a single light. Only Bakura, then. Hmm.

Yugi glanced around, and resolutely decided to ignore the command. He started forward.

“Do every one of you hikari have a death wish tonight?” Bakura’s snarl was closer now. Yugi hesitated again, suddenly unsure. He looked behind him again, yelped in terror as he saw Bakura’s expression, and turned to flee.

Bakura lunged out, just catching the edge of the short cape that hung of Yugi’s neckpiece. Yugi’s feet flew out from under him and he let out a strangled cry as he fell on his back.

Bakura let go off the cape, grabbing him roughly by the arm instead, and pulling him to his feet. Yugi’s lantern had fallen and gone out, and the only light was from Bakura’s. It didn’t go very far.

Odd how the darkness seemed to press in on them, Yugi thought, staring at the ground. Bakura tugged on his arm, and he followed without any resistance, surprised when they continued in the direction Yugi had been headed. Maybe it was the others after all.

“Well, isn’t this cute.” Bakura said, looking up at the netted teens. Malik grinned at him, and managed to flip Anzu’s skirt up again. She yelped and glared at him. Yugi flushed and looked away.

Bakura glanced at the ropes that held the net suspended. He released Yugi with a warning look, and drew a large knife from inside his shirt. Yugi stayed where he was, rubbing at his arm. He was pretty sure it wouldn’t bruise, Bakura was too wary of Yami’s wrath to leave any long-term marks, but he had been far from gentle.

The thief handed the knife hilt first to Malik, who used it to cut through the net. Anzu and Sagira tumbled out, and Malik was left holding on by one hand. He let go and dropped lightly to the floor, handing Bakura back his knife.

“Thanks.” He said grudgingly. “There’s nowhere on this stupid costume to keep anything.” He had left the costume’s extras behind when Marik hadn’t been looking.

“Come on.” He said, taking a hold of Yugi’s arm again. “Marik’s waiting with his new friend.” Malik frowned in curiosity, but picked up his lantern from where it had fallen when the trap had sprung. Surprisingly, it hadn’t gone out, though the other two had. Anzu and Sagira exchanged looks and left them behind with a shrug. The lanterns were useless, since they didn’t have anything to relight them. They left them where they lay and moved closer to Malik and Bakura.

“Bakura!” Anzu began, frowning at his grip on Yugi’s arm.

“Shut it. We’re on the edge of the Shadow Realm. It would take very little effort on my part.” Anzu frowned at his emphasis on the ‘very little’, and looked at Yugi. He gave her a small smile, and she dropped the issue with a sigh. Bakura only grunted and tugged Yugi down the hall, not really caring whether the others followed or not. They followed.

“Hey, hurry up!” Marik called as the five of them drew close. “Ryou’s found Yami and Set.” Bakura grunted a reply, keeping hold of Yugi’s arm when he tried to pull ahead. He did quicken his pace, though, as Ryou led them to the room he had found.

******

Yami stared at the brightly lit room cautiously. This was too easy. The room seemed completely empty except for the large bag that lay in the middle. He took a step forward, carefully keeping Mokuba behind him.

“All those traps and tricks, and now it’s just come in and take it?” He thought aloud.

“Maybe he decided that if anyone got this far, they deserved it.” Mokuba suggested. Yami shook his head slightly.

“No. Kaiba, maybe. But we’re dealing with Set. He never gives up anything without fighting until the very end. He could be on his deathbed, and he’d still be planning retribution for whoever put him there.” Yami smirked. “He’d probably succeed, as well.”

“I’m flattered that you think so highly of me, Cousin.” Set appeared near the bag. He smiled mockingly. But then, Yami reflected, that had been the only way he had ever smiled, as if he knew one of your darkest secrets and was considering whether to spill or not.

“The room’s not trapped.” He said, glancing behind him with a frown. His hand tightened on the rod, and Kaiba appeared suddenly, looking surprised. His expression quickly changed back to its usual arrogant cast, only his eyes revealing the anger and fear he held for his dark half.

Set turned back toward Yami, as Mokuba streaked across the room to his older brother. Yami and Kaiba exchanged looks, a silent communication, before Yami turned back to the priest.

“I had forgotten just how arrogant you were.” He told Set. “You do know that if anything has happened to Yugi, you will pay.”

“I’ve heard you’ve forgotten a lot more then just that. And I think you would be worrying about yourself more then the boy, Atemu. After all, he’s not the one pissing me off.”

“I’m scared.” Yami said, his sarcastic tone not at all matching his serious expression. Set smiled again.

“But you were right. There is a last test. A game, with me.”

“A shadow game?”

“So anxious to leave this world? Unfortunately, no. That would get my Dragon a little too upset for my tastes.” He paused, and looked back.

:Yeah, sure. Like he’d really care: Kaiba thought, still not having got the hang of hiding his thoughts from his dark half. :He’d probably happily send me there himself.:

“Is that what you think? Don’t worry. I’m not nearly so evil.” Kaiba didn’t answer, and he turned back, just as the others came in.

“Yami!” Yugi tugged again, and Bakura finally let him go. He hurried to his double’s side, and glared at Bakura. Yami smiled in relief, resting a hand on his shoulder. Then he frowned, but didn’t say anything, his expression changing to annoyance, then resigned agreement. He nodded and turned back to Set.

“Well, let’s get this game of your’s over with.” He snapped. Set shook his head slightly.

“There is a catch.”

******

*yawn* Hmm, sleep.