The Ultimate Bluff (Part 1)

DIMENSION: MANGA (The One that Saves the Day)

The Game Shop

Yuugi and Atem waited. Jounouchi did too. While they waited, the Ishtar's spoke of how they were being held hostage, trapped underground, so that they couldn't follow the forbidden magic signs they had seen.

"We were close," Isis Ishtar said to Atem. "We were very close, Pharaoh. I knew what needed to be done, and I had the Domino museum accompany us again. Even if something happened that left you without help in the museum, I instructed others to work with Kaiba or Yuugi easier if found in the exhibit area."

"We didn't know what would happen if you had been summoned back to Earth, so we were ready even if you came to your body and not Yuugi," Malik said. "Night or day, we were ready! We still don't know which Pharaoh this is either, but it doesn't really matter now. What matters is someone convinced the gods that the world wasn't worth keeping anymore. Mankind was exploring beyond its means. It was getting dangerous."

"Master Malik had followed a group of people who had more demonic items," Rishid said. "There was also another group that seemed to be on the same trail as us."

"Kaiba ran into them," Yuugi informed them. "They are gone now, and he took the rod from them."

"That's dangerous, to use anything from him. He could raise Zorc, he's not simply dead. He's a demon, he can be resummoned," Isis warned them.

"Maybe not," Jounouchi said next to her. "I asked Bastet to help him, so Shizuka would be okay. I think she bit Kaiba. So, he's protected by Bastet, right?"

"Oh." Isis nodded. "That weakens the chances Zorc would try anything through him. Still, the more of his power that is produced, the more likely he will come back."

"I have enough problems with one," Jounouchi said as he tucked Mana's blanket around her more. "The millennium items, there are two sets. Good and bad. I mean, if you call sacrificing your life knowingly for humankind's survival good. I would. I think his rod came from there."

"That's Mana," Yuugi told Isis as she stared at the baby. She must have been seeing something. "The past soul that had ran the Dark Magician . . . and the Dark Magician Girl."

"Fused?" Isis was surprised.

"Set didn't want to wait for a date for the damn game," Jounouchi said cuddling her closer. "He advanced Mai's pregnancy. She's not here no more." That was the end of his speaking.

"I am sorry for your loss," Malik said to him.

"We'll get her back. Once we win, we win everyone back," Yuugi told them. He looked at the crib. "Why did Set just bring you straight here? The Game Shop barely has room as it is."

"He seemed to be in a great hurry," Malik admitted. "No words, he just grabbed us and tosses us out here like he quickly had to take out the trash. There must be a reason for that."

"This is not good, this is really . . . really not good." Bakura looked at them. "You three, you have to find another place. There are plenty of places. I need to get everyone different places. Those Ankh idiots will come back, we need permanent places. This is for Yuugi and Anzu and their godly child."

"Godly child?" Isis asked.

Yuugi explained their current situation.

"Oh dear! That must be a terrible predicament for them," Isis said. "I am very sorry, everyone."

"I don't care," Yuugi said. "At this point, I really don't care , as long as she comes back safely with it."

"Pharaoh?" Isis asked Atem. "Who is your new Queen?"

Atem didn't answer right away. "The Other Self of Anzu," he said. "It's . . . complicated."

"Will it really be using millennium power? The darkness within it?" Malik asked. "That's terrible."

"No, it'll be fine. It has more than that," Yuugi insisted. "It'll be good. It won't be a demon." He looked toward Atem. "It won't be a demon."

---

Next to the Gods Realm

///Anzu: I sure could use a nap./// Anzu smiled though at her slightly glowing boy. "I picked a good name." She had to think of something fast, they all demanded it. So, Hikaru. It worked. The birth was almost painless, and she actually survived. Amazing.

It was cute. Looked more human than godly. Besides the slight glow, it was reminiscent of Yuugi. "Apparently pink, black and yellow are dominant colors." She never would have guessed. It's hair even stood up like Yuugi's.

Even though it was so fast, Anzu was already excited to be holding the little one in her arms. Hikaru was certainly larger than the average newborn too. A full head of hair, and skin lit up like the sun. ///Anzu: I thought I'd be upset when you were here, but you're so cute and fragile, I can't be mad about this./// Heh. The science of cuteness. It apparently worked on her too.

She tried to find Satiah. She wasn't around there anymore. "Satiah?" Anzu looked over at her mirror. Should she show Yuugi, or should she wait until she was returned? She was going to wait, but she didn't see Set either. ///Anzu: I can't risk it. What if something happens? What if Yuugi never gets a chance to see him?///

No. He should know. She lifted the mirror and smiled in it. "Yuugi? He's here." She shined the mirror down toward him.

Game Shop

"Atem! Jounouchi!" Yuugi called out automatically. When they rushed over, he showed them proudly. "Look! Look." He kept staring at it. "He's got hair like me. He? It's a he?"

"It's a he," Yuugi heard Anzu's voice. "I had to name him quickly, so I named him Hikaru."

"Hi Hikaru." Yuugi waved at him. His hair really was like his and Atem's. "My son, Hikaru." He watched as the boy opened his eyes. He had strange amber eyes.

"He's so huge for a newborn. A full head of hair. He's kind of glowy and his eyes are cool," Jounouchi said. "All in all? I'd say your kid's pretty awesome you two. Three."

///Yuugi: He will be awesome./// Yuugi watched Anzu though for her reactions. So far, she seemed happy. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, but, I'm stuck here waiting," Anzu admitted through the mirror. "Set isn't back, and Satiah isn't here anymore."

---

Atem looked toward Anzu as she arrived, almost next to Yuugi. She immediately clung to Yuugi, hiding herself in a gold robe with nothing underneath Set had put her in. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. We all are." Anzu moved from Yuugi slightly, showing off Hikaru. "You are too, aren't you?" She smiled at Yuugi. "We all made it through." She looked back down at him. "Did you want to hold him, Yuugi?" She looked toward Atem. "Or Atem?"

"Yes, yes!" Yuugi easily scooped him up as Anzu handed him over. He was clearly better with babies than Atem knew how to hold them. Atem wasn't good with children in the first place. "Oh, look at you. Nice to meet you in person." He held out his pinkie and Hikaru held it back. "He seems like a normal baby."

"Except that he's a lightbulb in the middle of the night, yeah," Jounouchi said teasing him. "This uh? This wasn't at all how I saw this day ending." He pulled up Mana to look at him. "In three days though, the day is gonna end with you in your momma's arms. We have to win. We have to. We've got Mai waiting on us, Honda, and Hanasaki." Jounouchi looked over at Atem. "You guys can use any of my cards you want, and Mai's too. I've got a gigantic collection. Oh, if my house is still around?" He looked for Bakura, who was standing a fair amount away. "Hey, Bakura? Is my house still around?"

"Yes," Bakura agreed. "You should consider moving there with your daughter. If there's extra room, taking one of the new people is also a good idea." Then his voice changed to Bandit King. "Those Ankh people don't always seem to want to call up their superiors before starting to murder."

"Atem?" Yuugi came over closer to him, while Anzu was still holding onto him like a lifeline. For safety or to hide herself, he wasn't sure. "I'm sure Masika is coming with the second."

Set showed up one more time. Something felt off about him. He pointed to Hikaru. "50% Anzu. 10% a-hole. 40% idiot. After the battle? 100% mine."

Atem could barely keep from rolling his eyes at that. "Where is Masika?"

"100% afterlife." Set shrugged. "Not everyone gets a happy ending."

Dead? "Is that a sick joke?"

"100% afterlife," Set said again. "You 100% a-hole. Enjoy your 10% kid." Then, he disappeared.

"She's gone?" Anzu didn't seem to know whether she trusted that. "She's done that to me twice now. She can't really be gone. Not this time."

"Not everyone is lucky in childbirth." Atem kept his speech factual. "Many women didn't always survive childbirth. There are no guarantees. I feel happy you made it Anzu." He nodded toward her.

Yuugi understood though. ///Yuugi: I'm the idiot. He's the ahole to Set. Hikaru is almost completely mine. But not quite./// "Do you want to hold him?"

Atem held up his hand in refusal. Even though he was also a part of Hikaru, something felt . . . off. The boy seemed fine. It wasn't evil. In fact? It seemed a little too pure. Atem took his finger and pressed gently against Hikaru's head. The baby just tried to cross it's eyes and look at the finger. ///I can't feel an ounce of millennium power. Something. I've been tricked more than once. This is another one! I can feel it. He can't take Masika away, that's against the rules of tradition. Bakura clearly said it so that he wouldn't do it. The punishment must be severe. So what is he trying to pull?/// "There is no millennium energy in him, Yuugi."

"Oh, there must be some," Yuugi said. "Maybe it's just really light? And besides, you aren't just energy. You're Atem."

"I know what I am," Atem said more confidently. This time, with a slight smirk. "I think I understand." He gestured toward Hikaru. "This has nothing to do with me, Yuugi. Like Mai, he was only . . . rushed."