Goodbye Domino City (Part 3)

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Bakura's Area

Game Shop

Satiah helped everyone in. She knew Anzu's security codes, but they really didn't do any good. It was out of service. Mokuba and Mai went in first ahead of her. Then, Bakura. "Come in."

"Briefly. I'm not staying here long." Bakura was on the first level. "Take the ring again."

Satiah took it and held it carefully. At first when he came to Kaiba's, she backed away. He pointed out his ring though. He had control already. Then, he gave it to her, so they all knew Ryou Bakura was in control.

Ryou Bakura told the dreadful story. Mai felt faint and Mokuba had trouble believing it. She didn't though. A big event did have to happen. She just didn't want to imagine it would be like that. She gave him back his ring after they all understood.

Ryou Bakura emotionally explained what was going on, also focusing on the changes in Bakura. How he could have always kept the ring and how there was a game that could get rid of him now. That made no sense either, the host soul was needed. Lose it and lose everything. Who could beat that? Meanwhile, Bakura himself had fought the guards and used the magic of his item. They were on a strict race against time.

They made it through safely. But now? "Where is everyone?" Were they the only ones that made it?

"I don't know. Stay in here and don't let Mokuba look out the windows," Bakura declared. "I. Somehow have to run this . . . mess. More are supposed to come to help."

"Thanks." Mai was fairly silent, but she finally spoke up. "If you hadn't made a choice, then only twenty percent would be standing." She rubbed her neck gently. "What kind of world am I bringing Mana into? Oh, Jounouchi."

"Lay down upon my bed, Mai." Satiah told her. She went upstairs and opened the door. "Mokuba, take any of the others you would like." As she got them settled into the bedding, she went back downstairs. "Is Atem alive?"

Slight irritational look. "Would I care? I took the woman and the boy because you wanted me to."

Satiah didn't let his anger distract her. "Is Anzu alive?"

"If Jounouchi is alive, the rest probably are. That would be just their luck," Bakura answered.

"I wouldn't call this situation 'luck', Bakura." ///Satiah: I have his power. Would it do anything?/// "We need to find Atem. I need to breathe into his mouth."

Bakura's nose crinkled. "You're a strange woman."

Satiah shook her head. "Anzu and Yuugi kissed and he got more information. However, it took time to get enough. I don't believe it's kissing or coupling, but that the breath releases it." It was worth a shot.

"He can't do anything anyhow. What's he supposed to do? What's he going to do? Last time I heard, he was no longer Pharoah. He's been replaced with someone else. Someone that has a changing name like best of all time or shit like that. Atem is no one now, just another boring mortal who can't do squat." Bakura looked back at her. Her mixed-up thoughts. Bakura thought back to what Hanasake had said about past lives. ///Bandit King: More than once. I had no power, yet this new Pharaoh gave me room in his scheme, like I was still someone to be concerned with in his kingdom. He wants her power, I'm supposed to keep her safe.///

"Bakura! Open up, it's the People of Prophecy!"

Bakura opened the door and went out. "People of Prophecy, huh? Is that the Greatest Pharaoh's army that has decided to remodel Earth?"

"We have many names," one of them answered. "We are here for Masika."

"I think the slipper is starting to fall off the foot." They already wanted Rider. "Tell me? The new Pharoah? Is he a god? I'm anxious for details considering we destroyed more than half the world's population for it."

"Bakura. That is your name?" the other asked. "We shall help you and show you what to do in this new world. But first, we need Masika."

"How do you know my name?" Masika approached the door area. "No one uses that name except Atem."

"Atem is not within the household right now. We should talk to him?" One of them looked at the other. "I don't know. There is still room. We'll see if the Greatest Pharaoh of All Time has room for him. But you, Masika, you are coming with us." The men both held strange golden items too. One looked similar to the ankh, but with a round circular top. The other held a gold scarab, like Hanasake had.

///Ryou Bakura: They can't take her!///

///Bandit King: I would do nothing but get killed which would leave this area to fend for itself without any item help. I don't think they are going to kill her.///

Rider moved toward them. She would willingly go, hoping she could find out more, or find Anzu Mazaki again. She did that kind of thing. She had always been a weird one. A street rat, an outcast, and yet. An almost strange jive came to her sometimes. In her attitude, and in her mannerisms. He never quite knew what to expect with her.

"No, I refuse to go yet," she said.

Things like that. Stupid things like that. Ugh.

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Hanasake's Area

Atem leaned against a building with Jounouchi and Yuugi. Yuugi had Anzu leaning against him.

"Come nightfall, you guys get rest," Jounouchi said to them. "I'll watch out."

There was a headcount of 2,236 people. Give or take some that were hiding in houses. Although it was by no means the biggest number, it was a desperate time. Taking a nap could equal being killed. "I will switch watches with you."

"I guess, I'll never go back to America," Anzu said from Yuugi's side. "Seems like such a small trivial thing now. Where to eat. Where to live. We don't even have a place."

"Oh, we are getting a place," Jounouchi said as he cracked his knuckles. "Property owning isn't going to be by money alone no more. We are all getting a place and we are surviving this. Every single one of us. Every single." Jounouchi didn't get into greater details, but the point was made. He hadn't forgotten about Honda.

///Atem: Most likely. I must believe in my friends. Yet? I must believe somehow that this can be won against. Yet?///

"Atem."

Atem instantly stood up as someone came around and addressed him. Someone knew him. "Who are you?"

"Atem. Yeah. New Kingdom, right?" He introduced himself. "I'm Li. The Greatest Pharaoh of All Time wishes to see if you would like to help rebuild and bring peace to the world again."

Atem barely managed to keep his clenched jaw from showing. His nose wrinkled. A Pharaoh. Someone claiming to be Pharaoh caused this travesty? "I would like to meet Pharaoh in person."

The man scoffed. "You jest. What sway do you have? You aren't even a great grandchild."

"I was once Pharaoh!" He wasn't mincing words.

"You're not his descendant though. You just ruled as a man, pretending to have ties to gods. Egypt Pharaoh's stopped being divine long before your time." He shrugged. "Either way, I have no authority for that. My status is below Hanasake. Hanasake is below Mitsuma. Mitsuma is below Sakura. Sakura is below Indila. Indila is below Masamune. Masamune is allowed to speak to Pharaoh."

"Bureaucratic nonsense!" Atem commanded him once again. "Take me to this Pharaoh you speak of, now!"

"I don't have that authority. You're more on a list of things to do, that's why I'm here. I can't get you that, it's way above my status."

"Then get me to someone who can!"

"I can't really do that either. Let me tell you in today's tongue. Sorry dude, you aren't important enough. Um?" He rubbed his chin. "I know. I can probably take you to Hanasake or Bakura. They are the local leaders now."

A loss of air. Bakura! His teeth were so jammed against themselves, bearing the weight of those words. "Take me to Bakura."