Chapter 8: Saved?

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, if I did… Well let's just say you would know it. I only own the plot and a few random characters.

Thought is in italics.

Mind talk is in bold italics.

Yelling is in CAPITALS.

Ancient Egypt, The Outskirts of the village, Bakura's hideout.

With Joey, Tristan, Diana, Reana, Serenity, Duke, Ryou and Maita.

Duke panted as he evaded yet another lackey. 'How many of these people does h bloody well have?' he wondered as he executed his 'famous' punch, kick and jab maneuver and the lackey he was fighting was rendered unconscious. 'Well if its not famous it should be,' he smirked.

Reana glared at the man standing at the back, behind all of the fighting, 'Coward!' she mentally spat as she quickly blocked a knife aiming for her stomach. She fought quickly with the man and managed to knock out the wielder of the knife with a blast of magic. 'He attacked us first and yet now he is standing behind his stupid army.' Reana quickly ducked as a sword cleaved through the air, right where her head had been. 'Damn, that would have hurt.'

Tristan sighed he knocked out his fifth lackey with the butt of his dagger. 'This is getting boring and very repetitive.' He gritted his teeth as he faced another opponent.

Diana gritted her teeth as she felt the dagger slice into her arm. She quickly punched the offender in the face with her other hand so hard that he was knocked out and jumped out of the way as another man sliced at her with his sword. 'Crap.' She thought as she staunched the blood flow with her uninjured hand.

Ryou yawned as he looked around, lying on the floor knocked out were 7 lackeys who had just attacked him. He looked around for any of his companions and noticed that Diana was trying to fight two men off at once and quickly rushed to help; only to find that by the time he got to her that she had already knocked out one of her opponents and was currently dodging the other. Ryou grinned and quickly threw out one of his arms, aiming for the man; who was clearly a try hard because he was trying hard and failing to hurt Diana. He sent out a green beam of magic at the man and watched as it slammed into the back of the lackey and his knees crumpled under his unconscious weight and fell over flat on his face.

"What?!" Diana exclaimed surprised.

"Don't worry about him." Ryou said as he came closer. "He'll be unconscious for a good while at least."

Diana grinned before grimacing. "Nice work." She said clutching her injured arm.

"Thanks." Ryou said as he watched her face go from happy to being in pain. Ryou grabbed her arm gently and raised it so he could see the wound better. "What happened?" he asked with concern, as he inspected the diagonal slice.

"Well, when a dagger comes full force in contact with skin-"

'Bloody sarcasm.' Ryou groaned. "Yeah, yeah" he said out loud. "I know that, but how did this happen?"

"Damn bugger got the better of me." Diana replied gesturing to the first man she had knocked out.

"Ah," replied Ryou. "I see."

"Yep." Diana said

"Is it causing you much pain?" Ryou asked her as his attention became fixed on scanning his surroundings and making sure no enemies were sneaking up behind them.

Diana gave him a sarcastic look. "What do you think?" she asked.

"Hmm, right, let's get you to Mana and see if she can heal it completely. I can take away the pain and seal it; but as you use your arm more, the skin won't stay sealed for long."

Diana grit her teeth as she looked at her wound again, trying to apply pressure. She could see a diagonal cut from a few centimeters just under her elbow running almost to her wrist. "It'll do for now." She said. "Do what you can and I'll get it looked at when we get outta here."

"Alright, watch my back." Ryou told her.

'Duh.' Diana thought as Ryou held his hand over the slice on her arm and a white light appeared as his eyes closed and he mumbled words that she couldn't hear. Diana quickly scanned the area around them as Ryou continued to heal her arm. She saw Duke and Tristan hi-five as they combined together to take out 7 more opponents; she saw Reana as she flipped over her opponents head using his body weight before sweeping his legs out from underneath him as she struck at him with her dagger. 'Nice job.' Diana thought. She watched Serenity as she teased her opponents and then took them out with blue magic blasts. 'She is so much like Joey.' She thought suddenly.

"All done." Ryou announced suddenly, removing his hand from her arm. "That should do until either we get outta here, Mana can heal it completely or you reopen it again."

"Thanks." Diana said as she gingerly flexed her arm with no pain. "Ok, now lets get back to taking out these guys."

"I agree." Ryou said, "Just try to go a little easier on your arm."

"Yeah, yeah." Diana said as she started moving away to rejoin the battle. "Let's kick some bad guys arses!"

"Nice moves." Reana said to Serenity as she moved over to her. "They didn't know what hit them!"

"That was the idea." Serenity replied grinning. "Thanks, you did an awesome take down yourself before."

"Thanks." Reana replied as she threw her dagger at a man who was creeping up behind Joey, getting him in the back before recalling it with magic again.

Joey wiped some sweat of his forehead before gazing wearily around, taking in all the unconscious bodies around him and quickly scanning the room for his friends. He grinned as he saw Serenity surprise her opponent by flipping over him, then sweeping out his legs from underneath him. 'Haha, I remember the girls using that move on Duke a few times. He fell for it every time.' Joey's grin quickly disappeared as he saw a new lackey appear behind the girls; he unsheathed his sword and crept up on the lackey. "Don't you know that it's cowardly to attack from behind?" the lackey turned around and Joey kicked him in the stomach; the man doubled over then quickly straightened up again. He grinned, showing off his yellow teeth. 'Ugh. Gross.' Joey thought, as the lackey thrust his sword in Joey's direction and Joey parried it, before sweeping his right foot towards the man's legs. The other man moved to the side and attacked Joey again with his sword, causing Joey to go on the defensive from the force of the attack. 'Damn.' Joey thought. 'This guy can actually fight.'

Maita.

Maita ran towards Ryou's group, wincing as she felt a cramp start in her side and stomach from running and being under strain. 'Come on, where is he?' she unconsciously scanned the area for Joey. 'They. I mean they,' Maita thought, shaking her head. 'NOT him.' Maita argued with herself. She scanned the area again and found Joey separated from everyone else fighting his opponent. 'Whoo hoo! Go Joey!' she mentally cheered as she saw Joey repel the man he was fighting with some rather awesome skills, if she says so herself. She saw Joey quickly scan the area for his friends, unfortunately for him it wasn't quick enough as the lackey quickly regained balance and ground and advanced on Joey.

"JOEY!" Maita screamed and bolted towards him. "LOOK OUT!" When she realized that she wouldn't make it in time she muttered a spell and thrust her hand in the lackey's direction, shooting a green blast towards him.

Joey was shocked at Maita's scream and turned his head only to be met with the sight of his opponent rushing towards him with his sword raised. 'Shite.' Joey thought.

The lackey raised his sword at Joey but realized at the last second that a blast of magic was heading straight for him, turned and raised his sword again, this time in defense, causing the sword to deflect the blast…. Straight back at Maita. Her eyes widened as she saw her own magic attack coming straight back at her and hit her in the stomach.

Joey watched in shock and disbelief as the blast of magic hit Maita in the stomach and Maita's screams of shock and pain and Joey's panicked scream of "MAITA!" combined as Maita flew back several feet and didn't move.

Joey growled as the lackey looked at him and grinned, once again showing off his yellow teeth. "Aww, was that your little girlfriend?" he taunted. "Too bad, so sad. Maybe next time-" but he never got to finish his taunt as Joey, who was practically shaking in rage, raised his sword and stabbed it into his preoccupied opponents stomach. The yellow-toothed lackey blinked in disbelief as he slowly collapsed to his knees as Joey pulled his sword back.

"Too bad for you, there won't be a next time." Joey growled and took off in the direction of the motionless Maita not looking back as his opponent fell to the ground dead. He dropped to his knees beside her, rolled her carefully onto her back and cradled her head. "No, no." he whispered. "Please Ra, please no." He couldn't see her chest rising and falling so he bent his head to her mouth to check if she was still breathing. "Thank Ra," he praised as he felt tiny and shallow puffs of air on his ear. "Its too shallow!" he said to himself. "It's ok Mai," he said tenderly to her unconscious form. "I've got you Mai, I've got you." He slid one arm under her neck and the other under her knees and lifted her into a cradle in his arms. 'I'll keep you safe, until we get outta this.' Joey thought fiercely.

Ancient Egypt, the Outskirts of the village, Bakura's hideout.

Mia.

Mia groaned as she slowly and painfully regained consciousness. 'Ohh, I hope someone got the number of the carriage that hit me.' She thought. 'My whole body hurts.' Mia groaned again. 'I've gotta get up. I've gotta move.' She attempted to slowly get up but had to stop as pain coursed through her entire body. "Ohh, so not going to try that again." Mia groaned as she panted through the pain. "I'll just have to move slower. A lot slower."

Mia moved at a turtles pace as she once again attempted to lift herself back onto her feet; finally after what seemed like hours, but was actually only minutes Mia was leaning heavily on the wall that had knocked her out, swaying slightly. She groggily surveyed her surroundings, taking note on where everyone was.

She observed as Duke, Tristan and Ryou quickly took out what was left of their opponents and taking in the unconscious and dead bodies scattering the floor. She saw Serenity, Diana and Reana all group together to check for injuries and she guessed to relay information. 'Well you would think it would be to relay information and not a gossip session considering we are on a battle field.' Mia mused. 'Hmm, where's Joey?' she frowned and looked for his distinctive blond hair. 'Oh there he is. What's wrong with him, is he injured?' Mia got a proper look at Joey as he slowly turned around, and she gasped, her eyes filling with tears. 'Oh my Ra! Please don't be dead Mai. You cant be dead.' Mia thought desperately, her tears beginning to fall down her face. "No, no, no." she brokenly chanted.

Joey slowly came closer to where Mia was propped up leaning on the wall for balance and support. "Joey?" she croaked. "Is… is Mai dead?" her whispered voice breaking off.

Joey shook his head slowly, frowning as he reluctantly looked away from Maita's still and pale face to look at Mia concerned. "Ra Mia, what happened to you? Are you alright?" he set Maita down gently on the floor next to Mia and reached out and touched Mia's face. When he took his hand away, his fingers were bloody. "What on earth in Ra's name happened to you?" he exclaimed.

"I don't quite remember." Mia said. "I remember fighting and then nothing. I think I was knocked out. I've only just come too and managed to stand up with the help of the wall here. Although I did see a crack in the wall so maybe I was blasted away from my fight and hit the wall. I don't know." Mia shrugged and then cringed and swayed on her feet. 'Note to self,' she thought 'don't shrug again.' She looked at Joey and realized that he was talking.

"- you are bleeding from your mouth and there is blood all over your face, so it is hard to tell where it is coming from. If what you said is true, then you should probably have been dead right now." Joey said crouching down and checking on Maita.

Mia narrowed her eyes at him. 'Hmm, I remember feeling lost and in pain and then calming energy that felt a lot like Mana's come to think of it, only it wasn't as strong as it usually is. Then I heard someone- Ana most likely by the voice say 'Mana has given you a little bit of energy, not a lot as she has used up most of it already, but enough to help you wake and come back to us. You need to wake up because I need you cousin and because if you don't wake up then you will miss the final showdown and us kicking butt and I now you'll be peeved as anything if you miss it.''

"Ah." Said Joey not noticing Mia's internal monologue. "I think she is just knocked out, although she's not breathing properly so I'm guessing she is injured a lot worse internally." He said worriedly.

'Aww, he sounded so concerned and panicky.' Mia thought. 'When this is over, I'll have such fun teasing Mai.'

'Shite! Where's Ana and the others?' Mia suddenly tuned back in 'I can't believe I forgot about my cousin and princess!' she admonished herself. 'Ah there they are. Damn they all look worse for wear. We need something to change the tide of this battle in our favor.'

"Right." Mia said, "Joey you need to gather the others together and bring any injured over here with Mai and then you need to launch an all out attack on Nathan. Actually come to think of it where is Nikolas?"

Joey's head snapped up, his eyes flashing. "I don't know, I lost track of him in the battle."

Mia swore. "We need to find him."

"I agree. Stay here with Mai, I'll let the others know." Joey practically snarled. He caressed Mai's face and gave her a quick and gentle kiss on the forehead. He took off for the group that he had just left. Mia watched him as he quickly let the others know the plan and saw their faces turn hard like stone. Joey returned to Mia with the others in tow.

"We need to find that freaking coward Nikolas." Mia told the group. "We need to split up and search for him."

The others nodded and Joey scowled. "As much as I'd like to join." He said, "I'll stay with Mai." He then added quickly. "To protect her- just in case."

'Sure.' Thought the rest in unison.

Mia nodded. "You guys split up in small groups and be careful. Joey will protect Mai and I will go and join Ana and the others. Let's finish this!"

Ryou gave Mia a quick hug. "You ok?" he whispered.

"I'll get there." Mia grinned ruefully. "For now we have a job to do."

Ryou nodded. "Be careful Mia."

"You too."

Every one split into pairs; Tristan and Serenity, Ryou and Diana and Duke and Reana and split, going in search for Nikolas.

"Keep her safe Joey." Mia said.

"I will." Joey told her seriously.

Mia nodded and turned to move away slowly, grimacing as her body throbbed and her head pounded.

"Mia." Joey said, Mia looked at him. "Stay safe. It would kill Princess Teana and your friends if anything happened to you."

Mia nodded. "I'll try." And with that she slowly and painfully pushed herself off the wall and started to haltingly walk away, staying to the shadows to keep herself hidden.

Ancient Egypt, The Outskirts of the village, Bakura's hideout.

With Ankumanukanon, Tenuamon and the guards.

"Keep noise to a minimum." Ankumanukanon ordered one of his personal guards, as they prepared to enter dark building in front of them. "If the children are fighting we don't want to distract them."

Tenuamon nodded in agreement. "It may also add the element of surprise for us to surprise Bakura."

Ankumanukanon scoffed, "Wouldn't bet on it." He said quietly, Tenuamon glanced at him but did not speak.

"Yes milord." The guard replied quietly as he relayed the order to the rest of the men. Some of the guards grabbed some unlit torches off the walls and managed to light them.

The rather large group moved as quietly as they could down the long barely lit corridor, most of the light was coming from the torches the guards were holding. As they got further down the corridor, they found open doors as if someone had been searching for something.

'Or someone.' Tenuamon thought to himself as the guards cautiously checked each room they passed, to make sure that nothing was going to surprise them or jump out and attack them. 'I hope they are alright.' Tenuamon thought. 'Hang on daughter, we are coming.'

As quickly and quietly as they could the group progressed further into the dark and decrepit building, Ankumanukanon stopped and cocked his head- he thought he had heard something. "Quiet." He hissed motioning for everyone to stop where they were.

"What is it?" Tenuamon whispered.

"I thought I heard something." Ankumanukanon replied.

The guards and two kings stopped and listened. Sure enough they were soon able to hear soft measured footsteps and breathing coming from further down the hallway.

"You two and you two." Tenuamon gestured four men forward. "head quietly for those two doors and wait just in the shadows of the door way." He pressed his back to the wall behind him. "Stay close to the walls." Tenuamon hissed quietly and the others copied him quickly.

"Wait for my signal." Ankumanukanon whispered, as he and Tenuamon quietly drew their swords.

The guards all nodded in reply, copying their kings as they drew their swords or readied their bows and arrows.

As the footsteps progressed up the hallway, closer to where they were, Ankumanukanon could hear the footsteps steed up slightly, as if the person did not care if they were heard or not.

The person drew close enough for them to see a dark shape and they watched as the dark shape moved passed the open door ways where the guards were hiding. Ankumanukanon gripped his sword tighter and stepped forward.

"Stop!" he commanded.

The figure chuckled. It was a dark menacing laugh and Ankumanukanon did not like the sound of it at all.

"Now." Ankumanukanon said and before the figure could make a single move, he was surrounded by guards pointing their weapons at him.

"Remove your hood slowly." Tenuamon commanded as he stepped forward in line with Ankumanukanon. "Keep your hands where we can see them."

The figure gave another dark chuckle as he slowly removed the hood from his face. He turned to Tenuamon. "So you are the foreign king." He said. "I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with your daughter- the princess and two of her guardians." The end of the sentence became mocking.

Tenuamon gritted his teeth and gripped his sword tightly moving toward the figure, pointing his sword three inches away from the mans chest. "Have care how you talk." He warned. "Unless you wish to not talk at all in the future."

The man narrowed his eyes at Tenuamon. "If everything goes to my masters plan, neither of you will be in the future." He replied.

The circle of weapons surrounding his body moved closer.

"Is that a threat?" Ankumanukanon questioned coolly.

The man didn't answer.

"What is your name?" Tenuamon asked.

Again the man didn't answer.

"Last chance." Ankumanukanon warned. "We will give you one last easy question."

"Where are our children?" Tenuamon cut in.

"Still battling my masters forces and most likely losing." The man replied. "Can you not hear the sounds of glorious battle?"

"If the battle is so glorious, why are you running away?" Tenuamon asked him sarcastically.

"I can see where the princess and her friends got their attitude from." The man shot back.

"You said most likely losing, then my son and his friends are most likely giving your men trouble." Ankumanukanon pointed out.

The man snorted. "That pathetic princeling."

"Once again, mind your words." Ankumanukanon warned.

"Guards, take this coward for questioning." Tenuamon said, growing tired of the stalling. "if he makes to run feel free to shoot him in the legs." He grinned.

Ankumanukanon shook his head at his friend as eight of their guards, restrained the man and started to escort the prisoner to the chariot to await being taken back to the palace.

"By the way," The man said turning around to face the kings. "Tell the kiddies Nickolas sends his regards and that I'll see them real soon." He laughed darkly as he was forcibly taken away.

"Let's keep moving." Tenuamon snarled. "Follow the sounds of the 'glorious' battle." He mocked.

Ankumanukanon ignored his friend and gave the order to continue moving down the corridor.

Time was of the essence.

So… (Sheepishly grins) I'm sorry about the long wait. I honestly did not mean to stop writing for 6/7 years. I found this chapter written in a notebook and decided to type it up and post it. I cannot believe that I am still getting alerts and reviews for this fic, considering I haven't updated in years. I read through all the reviews the other day and I couldn't believe how positive they were.

I hope even though it's been years since I've written any stories, this chapter isn't too bad. Let me know what you think!

Thanks for your patience,

Blondie- It wasn't me