I’d Die For You

“Are you sure you want to do this?” questioned Marik Istar as the Pharaoh handed him back the Millennium Rod. The cold metal object felt odd in his grasp. He hadn’t touched it since the day after Battle City and fought against the dark memories that surfaced – reminding him of how he was. It seemed so long ago now.

“We have no choice,” Yami replied.

This was too important. This had to be done – whether he wanted to or not.

Marik cast a concerned glance at the Spirit of the Millennium Ring, but he kept his head down low. Marik frowned. The Spirit had been ignoring him for some time now, and if they were ever together Bakura would do all he could to avoid his gaze.

The Tomb Keeper wondered if he had done something to upset or offend the other man, but he couldn’t think of anything.

Marik sighed inwardly. Things had gotten so – so complicated.

Bakura looked terrible. He was gaunt and expressionless. There was a faraway look in his eyes, and he seemed exhausted. Marik had never seen him look so awful – not even when, well, he didn’t really want to think about that.

Yami knelt down by the other spirit and began to wrap the Millennium Puzzle in a black, silk cloth. He then placed the bundle into a solid gold box where it lay next to the Millennium Ring and Millennium Necklace, which had been similarly bound. Nodding at Bakura, the Pharaoh lay the lid of the box onto the top. A bright light flashed as the Millennium Symbol appeared on his forehead, and then the top of the box – sealing it.

Taking the box, Bakura wrapped it in another cloth of dark silk, and then hid it in yet another box. This time, it was carved wood with a heavy metal lock. Closing the catch, Bakura proceeded to turn the key and secure the Items. The key was passed to the Pharaoh, who in turn left it in the care of the Tomb Keeper.

“Do you really think this is necessary, Pharaoh?” he asked as he took the key.

Yami nodded grimly. “The Necklace sent me a vision – I believe that it was telling me that someone will search for the Millennium Items. They cannot be allowed to triumph in their quest. No good can come from it. I am not sure of their intentions, but there was a reason I sealed them away three millennia ago.”

“Why not leave them in the care of Ishizu and I?”

“If my vision is to be true, you may not be around to protect them. I sense that they will be a powerful force. Unless we succeed here, we may fail – and this time, it may not only be the fate of one world at stake. This way is best – for all of us,” the Pharaoh said firmly.

Bakura lowered the box into a deep hole, before refilling it with the formerly displaced earth. Over the top he placed a heavy ceramic tile, and finally – with the aid of the other two – shifted a heavy gold stature over it.

The mood was bleak as the Tomb Keeper looked from the Pharaoh to thief and realised that there would be no turning back.

“Are you certain about this?”

Both nodded in acquiescence.

Marik took a deep breath.

This is madness.

Fighting against all sense and logic, he raised the Millennium Rod high over his head and a menacing purple haze surrounded them. Mournful wails cried out in the darkness and shadows began to swirl around them, hands clawed at them – icy fingers tightening on their limbs.

The two yamis closed their eyes.

I’m already dead, anyway. This means nothing…

The less I fight, the easier this will be…

The Millennium Rod shone bright gold and a moment later, both Yami and the spirit stopped moving and their bodies fell onto the floor in lifeless heaps.

Marik Istar had sent the souls of the Pharaoh and the Tomb Robber to the Shadow Realm.