Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Sins Of The Pharaoh ❯ Army Of The Dead ( Chapter 17 )

Army of the Dead

 

Aten's POV

 

I opened my eyes, surprised to feel something soft underneath me as I slept. No...it was someone. One of the High Priest's women was holding me. On top of both of us was a blanket.

I snuggled into the woman's body beneath me with a contented sigh. I never slept with anything comfortable under me….or in anyone's arms before. Anubis never hugged me. Well, he hugged me in the sense that he wrapped his hands tightly around my neck and squeezed me until I lost consciousness when I couldn't shine his weapons properly.

It had been so long since I felt a comforting touch or the feeling of being secure and safe that I snuggled as close to the woman as I could.

Aria walked over to me and smiled when she saw me awake. “Good morning, Aten. How do you feel this morning?”

I yawned and snuggled into the woman's breasts beneath me. They were so soft! I never knew a woman's touch could feel so good and so comforting.

I didn't want to leave the source of my only comfort, despite my bad dreams.

I could still see my father laying in the desert….

My father died painfully, but at least it was moderately quick.

I could still see Anubis standing over him, spitting on his body and kicking my dead father.

My father may have been a thief, but nobody deserves to die painfully…or spat upon.

In my dreams, my father's blood poured from the ground in streams. His blood turned into rivers that ran into the Nile and stained everything it touched.

Despite the nightmares, I was glad enough simply to lay here in someone's arms.

“Do I have to get up?”
”We have to eat now.”

I reluctantly ate with Aria and the other kids. Aria's my friend. She and I used to play in the battle arenas. Yes, we got caught. Yes Anubis would give me a serious beating afterwards for playing, but it was worth it!

Aria was like a sister to me. I really liked her. High Priest Seth loved her, too. She liked him.

Seth came in and he told us there was going to be a public flogging today. The pharaoh took these seriously. Yami enjoyed watching these. It helped to drive fear into the hearts of the masses. These were meant to assure obedience from the public and deter criminals.

It never stopped crime.

I've seen so many of these that it never bothered me. I've been the victim of too many beatings to be concerned. But I always felt sympathy for whoever was being whipped. I know the pain they must feel. Anubis doesn't whip light, either….

Anubis puts all of his strength into each strike.

His hope is to tear as much flesh off as he can. My back is all scarred from his attempts on me.

We ate breakfast and I prepared to leave with Aria. Seth kneeled down to us.

“Aria, are you sure you wish to go?”

“Who is it that is being whipped?”

Seth shrugged. “I don't know. But, I know your father has been captured. I can't guarantee it's not him.” Seth looked uneasy.

Aria looked down. She loved her father. Poor Aria. I'd hate to see my daddy whipped. I wonder where my daddy is. My real mommy died after Anubis pulled me from her womb. I know that much.

“I want to go. Even if it is my daddy, Seth. Please take me with you.”

“Are you certain, Aria? If your father is whipped, he will bleed. Are you sure you wish to see your father being tortured?”

Aria looked down for a moment. This wasn't easy for her. It can't be an easy thing to decide. I wouldn't want to see my father tortured….I saw him die, though. That was difficult. I can still see him…..

“Yes, Seth. If it is my daddy, maybe I can ask Yami not to hurt him. At least I can be there to support him.”

Seth sighed. “Okay, Aria. Once we leave, we cannot return.”

“Yes, my Seth.”

 

Aria's POV

 

Seth and Aten took held my hand. We left for the marketplace together. I hope it's not my daddy being whipped today.

My daddy may be a criminal, but Yami is a bad man! He's done worse than anything my daddy has done.

On the way, I looked around me. I saw poor people lining the streets asking for money. A little girl about my age was dirty and holding a plate out asking for food. I also saw many people who were large in size. They were dressed well and had pretty gold things on them.

I saw one woman in rags laying on the street. She wasn't breathing and some flies had gathered around her. She smelled bad. Her skin was discolored.

When we arrived, I gripped Seth's hand tightly. I saw my daddy!

“Father…..” A tiny whimper escaped me as I saw my daddy tied to the pole on the podium.

My daddy's arms were wrapped around the pole. His forehead was pressed against the wood. He wasn't even trying to free his hands!

Seth lead myself and Aten up the stairs to the throne. When we got there, I saw daddy's back, cut up and hurt. I could see him struggling to breathe.

“My pharaoh, please don't hurt my daddy!” I pleaded.

Pharaoh Yami glared down at my daddy and didn't pay attention to me.

My eyes filled with tears as I saw my father in pain. “Daddy! Up here!”

He looked up! He saw me!

I waved to him, but I saw him lower his eyes and turn his head around. I ran to Yami and dropped to my knees on the podium. I had to try to help my father!

“Daddy….don't hurt my daddy. Gods, please!” Aria ran to Yami and fell to her knees. “Please, Pharaoh Yami! Don't hurt my daddy! Please! I'll do anything you want! Just please don't make my daddy bleed! Please spare my father!”

I looked down and saw Anubis step behind Daddy with a whip. The people crowded around the podium and started to cheer.

Yami laughed. “Spare your father?!!! Your father deserves to be executed! I'm being lenient here, girl!”

“He's my daddy, sir! Please don't hurt my daddy!”

Yami raised his hand to me and I jumped back. “My answer is NO! Your father deserves to be disemboweled, drawn, and quartered! I should castrate him! He deserves death!”

I looked down at Anubis grinning and unfurling his long whip.

“Daddy, I love you,” she whispered.

 

Normal POV

 

The naked, bleeding prisoner looked down, avoiding his daughter's eyes.

“This prisoner has been caught raiding the royal tombs! He has walked on sacred ground and has desecrated the statue of Isis in her temple! Let this be a lesson to anyone who dares desecrate sacred items!”

Anubis unfurled the whip. Bakura raised his head and yelled at the top of his lungs, “Osiris, protect me!”

Aria screamed as the whip connected with Bakura's back. “Daddy!”

Bakura clenched his teeth, fighting the desire to cry out in pain.

Anubis whipped the King of Thieves harder, eventually cutting into Bakura's skin and tearing pieces of flesh off with each strike.

Yami stood up and grinned. “THE THIEF KING BLEEDS!”

The crowd cheered as Bakura's head started to fall back. Aria could look into her father's eyes….those terror-filled, pain-filled eyes. He looked in a lot of pain. With each whip strike, Bakura winced, but he did not cry out.

Aria clutched onto Seth tightly as she watched Anubis crack his whip against Bakura's back again. “Daddy…”

“I don't hear the prisoner screaming! Anubis, whip him harder!” Yami called.

Seth brought Aria into his lap and held her against his chest. “Don't watch.”

Anubis whipped Bakura harder with each strike of the whip. The prisoner's head slowly fell backwards, his hair dipping into the red on his back. “Scream for the pharaoh, you dog!”

As Anubis struck him harder, a puddle of red form under the prisoner. Blood trickled down Bakura's back and pooled underneath him. “Scream!”

Seth turned his head to Yami who grinned at the spectacle beneath him. He was enjoying himself.

The puddle below Bakura began to drip off the podium.

Yami grinned, clutching his fists as if he were excited by the spectacle below.

`How could anyone enjoy this? This man was being hurt! This man was a human being! He did not deserve to be hurt like this! This is wrong,' Seth thought as he glared at the pharaoh.

Slowly, Bakura started to slip down the pole. He started going limp from blood-loss and shock. Anubis whipped him to his knees.

“PLEASE! STOP! BY THE GODS, PLEASE STOP!” Bakura screamed loudly.

“My pharaoh, stop this!” Seth called to Yami.

Anubis became dotted with Bakura's splattering blood.

“My king, please!” Seth protested again. “The prisoner is going to die!”

Yami turned to Seth. “So?”

“He knows where the other items are! Besides, this is barbaric!”

Yami grinned. “I can be barbaric, High Priest….I am being lenient here.”

Seth looked down at the bleeding prisoner, pieces of flesh began to hang from Bakura's back. “You call that lenient?!”

Yami held up his hand. “Stop, Anubis!”

Anubis stopped his flogging.

Yami stood up and glared down at the prisoner. “Where is the Necklace, Bakura Osiris Itemri?”

Aria and Seth watched as the prisoner's breath came in sharp gasps. Bakura's eyes were wide and the corner of his mouth was trickling with blood.

“Marik Ishtar! I love you! Gods! I love you!” Bakura went limp against the pole. His head fell forward and closed his eyes.

Yami stood up. “Take him away. Tie him to the pole in the palace courtyard! Let's see how he enjoys being frozen cold at night, broken and bloody!”

Anubis grabbed Bakura's body and untied it. Aria watched as his body fell forward motionless.

“Is my daddy dead?!” she asked.

Seth shook his head. “No, Aria…he doesn't look dead. He's still breathing.”

Anubis kicked Bakura's body to the ground and grabbed his legs. He dragged him through the dirt on his back.

As they descended the stairs, Seth looked on the podium. Small strips and pieces of white flesh littered the wood of the podium. A large puddle of blood remained where the prisoner had stood.

Aria looked down from Seth's shoulder. `The pharaoh has no heart.'

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

Aria remained quiet all day. She cleaned the linens on Seth's bed. She cleaned his robes. Aria replaced the flowers in the pot on Seth's balcony. She looked down from the balcony and saw her naked, bloody father tied. When she busied herself with her chores, she tried to walk through the courtyard to look at her father.

Bakura remained limp as he was tied kneeling to the post. The thief's groans were quiet. When she heard him crying, it was quieter. Bakura's hair was stained with the blood on his back. Crusted blood covered him on his back and between his legs. Aria's heart broke at the sight every time she saw her father.

Aria saw Yami stand in front of Bakura once. The pharaoh grabbed her father's hair and pulled it back.

“I wish I could slice your throat now, thief….but that would make your death too easy. You deserve to suffer….and suffer you shall.”

“I'm…..still no monster……compared to you,” Bakura whimpered.

Yami growled and slapped Bakura across the face. “You will pray for death.”

Bakura drew a sharp breath in. “Likewise, ph-ph-pharaoh.”

“Will you beg me for mercy now?”

“N-No….I w-won't beg for mer-cy.”

Aria watched the pharaoh leave and watched her father shiver.

That night, she waited until everyone had fallen asleep. Seth had taken two of his women for that night's activities, neither one of them Rayna.

Aten opened his eyes and saw Aria creeping for the door. “Where are you going?”

“I'm going to see my father.” Aria ran to a tray of bread and fruit. “My father needs to eat something.”

Aten slipped from a sleeping woman's embrace. “I want to come with you. You can't do this alone!”

Aten and Aria sneaked down the hall passing Seth's door. From behind the door, a male's moans mixed with two female moans. Aria and Aten quietly crept past Seth's door and crept past Yami's door as moans of pleasure echoed in the pharaoh's room. Yami's seven-year-old body slave slept on a mat outside his door.

Aten saw the boy and wondered who had the unfortunate duty to be the pharaoh's toy this night.

They ran to the courtyard where the moonlight illuminated the prisoner in a shroud of silver.

Bakura's head hung low as a sniffle came from him. “Marik….why did you have to die? I want you back so bad…..it hurts.”

Aria approached her father quietly and cautiously. “Daddy?”

Bakura lifted his bruised and bloody face to her. “Baby…baby girl?”

Aria climbed up on the pedestal and raised her hand to her father's cheek.

Bakura flinched. She put a gentle hand on his cheek. “My poor daddy.”

“Aria? Baby girl…why are you out here?”

Aria brushed the hair out of his face. “You were hurt. I can't see my daddy be hurt. Let me get you some water.”

Aten stepped to the tied prisoner. “Bakura?”

Bakura looked at his lover's son. The boy's blond hair and purple eyes reminded him of his dead lover. The boy had inherited his father's handsome looks. The thief looked at the child and his eyes filled with tears. “Marik…”

“Bakura, I'm sorry I killed my daddy.”

Bakura let out a sob and shook his head. “I miss your father, Aten. I do.”

Aria returned with water. “Aww, daddy, don't cry.” Aria gave him the water and he gulped with great thirst.

Bakura took a deep breath when he was done. “I haven't had water in two days, Aria. Thank you.”

Aria ran her fingers through her father's bloody hair. “I love my daddy,” Aria smiled.

Bakura continued to cry. “I love you, too, my angel.”

Aria took a cloth and started to wipe the dried blood from Bakura's face.

Bakura shook his head. “Sweetheart, no. You don't have to clean me. I don't want you to see me.”

Aria looked at her father with large brown eyes. “I clean Seth when he is naked. Why are you so upset about me seeing you naked?”

“I'm your father, Aria. Daughters should not see their fathers this way…and they should certainly not touch their fathers this way.”

“Daddy, I've been cleaning men with no clothes for a long time. The least I can do is clean you.”

Bakura squinted his eyes. It was more painful having his daughter seeing him naked, bruised, and bleeding than having her clean his torn back.

Aria cleaned her father's back. She moved Bakura's hair aside and her eyes looked with pity. Her eyes could see Bakura's torn skin. His back had several places where the flesh was stripped from his body, revealing soft tissue. Aria saw a piece of her father's flesh hanging off his back. She cleaned her father up carefully and brought him a crust of bread to eat.

Bakura took a big bite and chewed it hungrily. He swallowed and took another big bite.

Aria caressed Bakura's hair. “I really love you, father. I'm sorry I couldn't stop the pharaoh from whipping you.”

Bakura smiled. “I love you, too, my little girl. There was nothing you could do. The pharaoh has a heart of stone.”

Aten saw some guards approaching. “Aria! Guards! Go!”

Aria kissed Bakura on the cheek and ran back to Seth's harem.

Bakura watched his daughter and Marik's son run away. When they had disappeared, he hung his head low.

“Osiris, protect my daughter.”

Bakura closed his eyes in sleep, once again hoping to see Marik in his dreams.

Aria and Aten returned to Seth's harem quickly to avoid detection.

Aria laid on her bed of linens and watched the moon from outside the window. She couldn't hear her father below.

`My father didn't deserve to be whipped like an animal…….Father, I promise you that one day, when I get older and stronger, I will defeat the pharaoh and I will avenge your suffering. I won't stop. He won't get away with this. I'll whip him and beat him senseless for hurting you. I may even become pharaoh one day….and then I will bring Egypt into the Light again. Pharaoh Yami will die at my hands for doing what he did to you. I will have my revenge.'

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

Aten woke up the next morning hearing a collection of worried and concerned voices. He opened his eyes to the morning light and saw a group of women surrounding Aria.

Aten lifted his head from his pillow and yawned. “Aria?”

“What are we going to do?” Veria asked.

“We have to do something for her. What about some herbal tea?” another woman asked.

Aten sat up and walked towards the women when one of Seth's younger daughters approached him.

“Don't get too close to her. You could catch her illness.”

“Aria's not feeling well?” Aten asked quickly, running past the five-year-old girl.

Aten squeezed between two women and saw Aria laying on a bed, her face red with fever and her body covered in sweat. The boy walked up beside her and looked down at her sadly.

“Aria, speak to me. Say something.”

Aria opened her eyes weakly and opened her mouth. Aten struggled to hear her words, which came out inaudible.

One of the women helped her sit up and began trying to get the little girl to drink.

Aten looked up at Rayna. “Is Aria going to die?”

Rayna held her daughter's hand gently and looked at the boy with teary eyes. “This is in Ra's hands now, Aten. If it is his will that she dies, Aria will die.”

Aten closed his eyes tightly and covered them with his hands. “If only Aria and I hadn't went to visit Bakura last night!”

The women looked at him sternly.

“Aten, you were out of the palace without Yami's permission?! Do you know what would have happened if you would have been caught?” Veria asked.

Aten sniffled and nodded. “Yes. We would have been punished badly.”

Rayna looked down at Aten chidingly. “You children would have been in very deep trouble. You know Yami wouldn't hesitate to beat you both severely for what you have done.”

“I know! Aria wanted to see her daddy and I didn't want her to go alone so I protected her!”

Rayna's harsh countenance melted from the boy's honest confession. “You…you went to see Bakura yesterday?”

Aten nodded and removed his hands from his eyes. “Aria wanted to see her daddy because she wanted to help him feel better. She was worried about him after his whipping. I did what a good soldier would do; I protected a member of the royal family.”

Rayna sighed sadly and looked down at her daughter. “It was very painful to watch Bakura yesterday. I can't blame my daughter for wanting to see her father again. She loves her father. And I….I still love Bakura. I can't get angry at her for loving her father. I just hope she doesn't die from her illness.”

A young woman of twenty ran into the room. “The High Priest will be here shortly. He's in a meeting with the pharaoh.”

Rayna shook her head. “The pharaoh's lust for power continues after all this time. Yami will never stop searching for those Millennium Items and he will never stop interrogating the one person who knows about the Items….Bakura Itemri.”

Aten's eyes narrowed at Rayna. “Yami won't get away with it. I'll see to it. Yami is a very bad man and he needs to be stopped. But…I can't do it alone.” Aten sat beside Aria and took her other hand. “Aria's my best friend. She hates him, too. Yami won't get what he wants.”

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

Yami narrowed his eyes at the General standing before him. “Anubis, I need the Necklace, Scales, and Key. I have the Puzzle, Ring, Rod, and Eye. Why have you not found these Items yet? I have told you where the Scriptures said they would be.”

The soldier kneeled. “Sir, the Items were nowhere to be found. Nobody has heard of these Items for millennia.”

“THEY SHOULD BE RIGHT WHERE THE SCROLLS SAID THEY ARE! I don't think you looked hard enough.”

The General bowed his head. “I will search the area once more, my king.”

Seth stood before the growling pharaoh. “My King, these objects may have been moved to keep their location secret.”

“High Priest Seth!”

The General and the High Priest turned to see one of Seth's wives run into the chambers.

“What is the meaning of this?! Females are not to enter the pharaoh's throne room, lest they taint the holiness of the pharaoh!” Anubis spat furiously.

The High Priest walked towards the shaking woman. “Calm down, Kes. Tell me what is wrong.”

“It's Aria, sir! She's taken ill! She's feverish and her body shakes with sickness!”

“We are not finished here, Seth. You must remain here,” Yami demanded.

Seth turned to Kes. “I will be there shortly. In the meantime, try and cool her down. Give her fluids and I will be there as soon as I possibly can.”

The woman fled from the room quickly, seeing Yami's furious face and Anubis' hand going for his sword.

“I want these objects found,” the pharaoh said as he stood up. He walked down the three steps to stand in front of the High Priest. “These objects are important and I will not take any excuse. The Key and Scales must be somewhere. The Necklace's power is vital to my plans. If I could find the Necklace, I could find the other Items.”

Anubis stood beside the pharaoh. “The Ring can locate other Millennium Items.”

Yami shook his head. “The Items are powered by souls. The Ring cannot even detect my Puzzle now. It needs a soul, but apparently, not any soul will do. It has to be the right soul to sacrifice. Without the correct soul, the Item is worthless.”

Yami narrowed his eyes at Anubis. “These artifacts were last seen in the Valley of the Kings. You march your men into the valley and find those Items! Tear the graves apart if you have to!”

“My King! You'd be disrupting the repose of the dead! The dead deserve our respect.”

Yami glared at Seth. “Why should I be concerned with the needs of the dead? When I have all of those Millennium Items, I will control the dead and make them do my bidding! The dead will be my army!” Yami grinned. “If your servant girl dies, Seth, she will join my army and fight for me!”

Seth shook his head. “I cannot condone your disgrace of the dead's resting places. I must see to my servant girl.”

“If she dies, Seth, do not despair. She will join my army and will be a valuable asset to both of us.”

Seth ran with haste to the harem. He burst through the doors, making the women jump. “Aria?”

Rayna looked up at him from beside the bed. “She is very hot, my lord. We are trying to cool her down with water.”

Seth ran beside Aria and took the little girl's hand.

Aten lowered his eyes as the High Priest approached.

“Her skin is red and she is very hot, indeed. This is a sudden illness. I've never seen her become sick like this before.”

“Aten, isn't there something you'd like to tell High Priest Seth?”

Aten swallowed hard and his body trembled. “I…I think I know why Aria is sick.”

The High Priest looked down at the child and narrowed his eyes. “Tell me, Aten.”

Aten's body started to shake. “Aria wanted to see her daddy outside last night. She was concerned about him being tied outside in the dark. I know we shouldn't have gone, but I was protecting Aria from Yami and anyone else who wanted to harm her!”

The High Priest nodded. “While you did your job of protecting Aria well, you also failed to recognize the risk. If Yami would have caught you and Aria outside the palace after dark, Yami would have seen both of you executed. Yami wouldn't let a servant girl and a novice soldier out of bounds so late at night. That was a very foolish thing to do, Aten.”

Aten lowered his head. “I know, but Aria didn't want to see her daddy die. I…I saw my daddy die. I couldn't bear to watch her see the same.”

“Did anyone see you?”

Aten shook his head. “The guards couldn't see us. We ran away too quickly for them.”

Aria opened her eyes and looked up at the High Priest. “Seth?”

Seth looked down at Aria and kissed her hand. “I'm here. How are you feeling?”

“I'm not feeling well, Seth.”

“I'll try to gather herbs for you that will help you. You rest and drink some water.”

The High Priest helped Aria sit up to drink. Her skin felt searing hot and Seth held his breath nervously. The child's fever was out of control. “Sip it slowly.”

Aria sipped and laid back down on the bed. “Is my daddy still outside?”

“Aria, you put yourself and Aten in a lot of danger. Yami would have killed the both of you if he had caught you.”

Aria looked up at Seth with glassy eyes. “I had to help my daddy, even if it meant going behind the pharaoh's back.”

“So that is why you are ill, you wretched little girl,” a voice said behind them.

The women bowed to the new arrival. Yami approached Seth, Aria, and Aten.

“Your noble act will end up costing you your life, my precious.”

Aten held Aria's hand, trembling. “Her daddy needed help.”

“Aten, come here.”

“My Pharaoh, don't do this,” Seth whispered.

The boy stood up on weak legs and walked around Seth and Aria. He stood in front of the pharaoh and looked the pharaoh in the eyes. The pharaoh looked into the purple eyes and saw a glimmer of defiance.

“Is my little jackal cub growing teeth, Aten?”

“Aria is my friend and I couldn't leave her alone.”

Yami leaned over, bringing himself nose-to-nose with Aten. “You weren't trying to free Itemri, were you?”

“No, we weren't trying to free my daddy,” Aria moaned. “Just….give him water.”

Yami glared down at Aten as he stood erect. “You must think yourself very tough if you believe you could protect Aria on your own, Aten.”

Aten shook his head. “I don't think so, my king.”

“I beg to differ, Aten. You must think you are a very tough boy to protect Aria all by yourself.”

“She's my friend,” the child said. “I don't want her to get hurt.”

Yami smiled. “Well, since you are so tough, Aten, I'm sure you won't mind testing your skills.”

Seth stood up. “My Pharaoh, don't do this, please!”

“Since you think you are so tough, Aten, you will defend Aria in the arena. You will have your weapons, but Aria will be unarmed. The soldiers will be given the order to kill both of you. If you win the battles, then you shall prove yourself worthy. If you die, Aria will also die, and your deaths would have been for my pure entertainment.”

Aten shook his head. “I can't do that, sir! I don't want Aria to be harmed!”

“Then you will be sure to defend her, won't you?”

“Pharaoh Yami, please don't do this! Aria is ill and there's no honor is killing someone who cannot defend themselves.”

Yami grinned. “There might be no honor in killing a defenseless person, but it makes the death that much entertaining. It gets easier every time you do it, Seth, trust me.”

Seth's eyes narrowed. “You have taken lives this way? How could you kill a person who cannot defend themselves?!”

Yami crossed his arms. “Simple. Break their necks, stab them, strangle them. Strangling is my favorite right next to slitting a defenseless person's throat. It is quite stimulating.”

The High Priest's face displayed disgust. “These are human lives, my pharaoh, not toys!”

The pharaoh stepped closer to Seth. “My people are toys, High Priest. I am the physical embodiment of Ra on Earth. The gods will protect me. Aten, you will face your challenges at high sun tomorrow.”

Aten lowered his head. “Yes, sir.”

“Perfect. I will tell Anubis to select your opponents.”

“Anubis will pick opponents who are too strong for Aten to defeat!”

Yami grinned, knowing this would eliminate Aten and Aria as threats to his plans of world domination. “Then Aten will learn his lesson not to defy me further.”

The pharaoh left the room and Seth looked down at the boy.

“I'm sorry, Master Seth,” Aten said, his head lowered.

“You have become skilled in the use of bow and sword, Aten. I have no doubt you will be victorious. In the meantime, we must try to nurse Aria back to health.”

Aten nodded. “Tell me what she needs, sir, and I will retrieve it.”

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

 

****Dream Sequence****

 

Bakura wrapped his cloak around himself as he approached the city. The sandstorm whipped around him as he walked through the desert. The Sphinx and Yami's pyramid were nearly buried from the sand slapping his face.

As Bakura approached the city, he noticed two men standing at the gate. He clutched the knife, concealed under the cloak, ready for the men to attack him.

As he stepped closer, he realized the men would not attack him.

They were both dead. Their faces were gaunt and withered. Skin began to flake off of their bones. Their faces bore expressions of immeasurable agony.

Bakura stepped through the city gates and saw the city void of life. Bones were scattered through Cairo. The bones of men, women, children, infants, goats, horses, and dogs were piled along the sides of the streets.

“Is anyone alive?!” Bakura screamed.

There were no answers.

“I have to find my daughter. Hopefully she did not join the ranks of the dead.”

Bakura examined the bones, some which had decayed into dust. The bones wore no clothing. Any clothing was too faded or was decayed to the point to being unrecognizable.

The thief removed the dagger from his cloak and walked through the streets, searching for life.

Every living thing had died.

Every skeleton bore the same semblance as the guards at the gate. People had died in extreme pain.

The thief saw a light emanating from the center of the city. It was flickering, bright, and ominous.

Bakura raced towards the light source. “Aria! Daddy's coming!”

Bakura reached the palace, the source of the light. Bakura ran through the gates, still clutching his dagger. “I won't let Yami hurt you, baby girl! The pharaoh won't get away with this!”

Bakura burst into the throne room and saw Yami standing in front of his throne. The pharaoh was dressed in black silk and studded leather. Yami's necklace was made of human teeth. At Yami's feet lay a pile of bones.

“You came too late to help your daughter, Itemri. She joins Aten and Seth. I reign supreme!”

Yami burst into loud laughter.

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “You won't get away with this!”

The pharaoh grinned. “Oh, I certainly will! Remember, I am the pharaoh and I have the power over life and death! Now that I also own all of the Millennium Items, I can rule nature and cause chaos at my very whim!”

A powerful wind whipped around Bakura.

“I will rule all, Bakura. I will decorate the world with the bones of my victims. I will let blood flow into rivers and lakes. I will be the King Of All!”

“How will a king get praises from corpses? All of your followers are dead!”

Yami laughed. “Not necessarily. Behold!”

Bakura heard voices behind him and he turned quickly. His eyes widened at the souls lined behind him. Aria was standing at the front of the souls, her throat cut, her belly full with late-term pregnancy. Aten stood beside her, his throat cut so deep, it was a miracle his head could stay on his shoulders.

Marik stood beside Aten, an arrowhead protruding from his chest.

“Ishtar!” Bakura gasped, running up to Marik. His eyes filled with tears. “Not you, Marik. Fight it. Don't side with Yami.”

The blond man looked down at Bakura. “I obey only one person, Bakura. I am bound to Yami.”

Bakura shook his head and reached out to touch Marik. The thief's hands went through the blond's spirit. “Marik, you can't….Yami murdered your son.”

Marik closed his eyes. “I serve the pharaoh now, Itemri. I belong to him.”

Bakura turned to Yami, growling. “HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO HIM! You are not god, Yami!”

Yami grinned. “Celtic Guardian! Protect!”

A bloodied soldier stood in front of Yami holding a sword.

“Seth brought this man back from the Isles. Unfortunately for him, he never made it back. He protects me now, in the absence of his king.”

Bakura clutched the dagger close to him. “I will teach you to a lesson, pharaoh!”

The group of souls surrounded Bakura. Aria held a trident and Aten held a scepter in their hands.

“Don't make me use this, father.”

Aten clutched the scepter in his hands. “I will kill you if Yami wishes it.”

Bakura stabbed where Aten stood and nothing happened.

Aten grabbed the scepter in one hand and brought it down on Bakura's head.

The thief fell to the ground, aware of little else than his life quickly coming to an end.

Yami walked beside Bakura and smiled. “I will rule over all, Bakura. The world will worship me. The penalty for defiance is death.”

*****End Dream Sequence****

Bakura felt a hand clutch his hair tightly and pull him to his feet. The prisoner opened his eyes and saw Yami smiling at him.

“Hello, my little thief. How are you feeling after your beating last night?”

Bakura winced as light streamed in through the bars. “Is that all you have, Yami?”

The pharaoh smiled. “Oh, I do have more planned for you. However, it is not going to be you as the spectacle.”

“What do you mean?”

Yami grinned. “I have the unpleasant duty to inform you that your daughter is very ill.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “What did you do to her?!”

“Me? I did nothing. Aten told me that he went out of the confines of the palace to see you last night. That means she and Aten left the palace premises without permission, a crime punishable by death.”

Bakura grabbed Yami's collar angrily. “Don't you dare kill my daughter!”

Two guards grabbed Bakura, shoving him against the stone walls of the prison cell. The men kicked and punched the prisoner until fresh wounds were open.

“Kill her, Bakura? I wouldn't do that…..yet. I want to have some fun with her first. I want to see what she can handle before she dies. She strikes me as a very strong female…..very dangerous, I'd say.”

Bakura wiped the blood running into his eyes. “She's like her daddy. She can take a beating and still kick ass afterwards.”

“Well, she can't do much defending of herself when she is as gravely ill as she is right now. Tomorrow at high sun there is going to be a battle in the arena. Aten is going to defend Aria to the death. If Aten survives it and Aria lives, they won't be punished. However, if Aten is killed in battle, Aria's life is forfeit.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “Aten will win!”

Yami laughed. “Anubis is choosing Aten's competitors! Aten will perish! Your daughter will die, as well. I would prepare yourself, Bakura. If Aria dies, I see it only fitting if her father joins her in her grave. Enjoy the sunset today, Itemri, it will be your last.”

Yami and the guards walked out, slamming and locking the metal door behind them. Bakura's hand went to his dirty hair, now stained with fresh blood.

“The two children who are a threat to my plans will soon be dead,” Yami said, grinning ear to ear.