Author's note- Just a reminder (since it's been so long since I posted the last chapter (sorry!))- Ryou and Bakura still share a body.

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Guardians of Darkness

Chapter Contents- © November 12, 2007

Chapter Six: A Little Maneuvering

Ryou shifted his attention back and forth between Bakura and the road, desperately trying not to think about how much this situation reminded him of life before the ceremonial duel. It was impossible to keep his mind off that thought though, since an unresponsive Bakura driving a three thousand pound vehicle faster than the legal speed limit was more than enough to set Ryou's imagination on fire.

Bakura had refused to answer any of Ryou's questions, and Ryou was more than a little confused by the overwhelming sense of possession Bakura unconsciously directed his way. He had no idea why the name Mahado had sent Bakura off the deep end and he was getting a little worried that Bakura had not given up control of his body yet- and gave no indication he would any time soon.

Ryou wondered if Yugi ever had problems like these when Atemu still shared his body.

Before Ryou could let his imagination run out of control, the spirit brought the car to a skidding halt on the gravel shoulder. Ryou instinctively reached out to grab hold of something and blushed when he saw Bakura's glare.

"Like you wouldn't have just passed through the dashboard, Ryou," Bakura muttered as he leaned back to dig into the pocket of Ryou's jacket.

Pulling out the cell phone he had grabbed on the way out of the apartment, Bakura scrolled down Ryou's friends list, and then muttered something Ryou didn't quite catch as he highlighted one name and hit the dial button.

The scowl Bakura had as he stared straight ahead only got deeper when the other end of the call picked up.

"Shit, they were telling the truth." Ryou watched Bakura sink lower in the seat, the hand gripping the steering wheel tight enough to turn the knuckles white.

Bakura listened to the voice on the other end a moment, and then shouted, "What do you mean, Pharaoh doesn't know where the runt is? How the hell did he manage to lose his other half?"

Ryou started at the question, panic creeping up his back; but he was surprised when Bakura gave him an almost apologetic glance before scowling again at whatever he was hearing.

"Yugi was kidnapped by someone who wants to get to Pharaoh?" he asked a few seconds later. "What the hell has that got to do with Kaiba sending his goons after Ryou's?" Bakura twisted in his seat, clearly scanning the area around the car before snapping, "Do you really think me and Kaiba in the same room is a good idea, Priest? Especially now that he's got the Rod and Seth?"

Ryou couldn't stop a nervous laugh from slipping out. It certainly sounded like a bad idea to him.

Giving Ryou another glare, Bakura said, "Look, Ryou is my responsibility- not Kaiba's, and sure as hell not Pharaoh's- I'll decide if and when we need help from them." Ryou could hear the person on the other end say something but Bakura jerked the phone away from his ear and stabbed the off button before angrily tossing it in the back seat and stepping on the gas.

Bakura was muttering words under his breath that sounded suspiciously Egyptian, and it was Ryou's turn to sink down into his seat as he tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. As worried as he was over this whole situation, a ticked off and angry Bakura swearing in Egyptian while driving a three thousand pound vehicle over the speed limit was by far his most immediate concern.

And he wasn't about to break Bakura's concentration until the next time the car came to a complete stop- hopefully in one piece.

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Hisoka sat stiffly on the plush couch in the living room the younger Kaiba had lead them to, trying not to sense the emotions bleeding down from upstairs. He had hoped that whatever the magician had done to him would last; but it had definitely been a temporary fix and now Hisoka was back to square one.

It also wasn't helping his state of mind that Tsuzuki was as emotionally wired as a kid on a sugar high. As painful as the thought of Muraki still alive was in his own mind, Hisoka knew it was far worse for Tsuzuki. There was something about Muraki that fascinated Tsuzuki, and Hisoka suspected that Muraki had answers about who and what Tsuzuki was, or at least knowledge that would lead Tsuzuki to the truth about himself. He was terrified of what that information might do to Tsuzuki.

Barely concealing a sigh, Hisoka glanced over at Tsuzuki, disguising the look by tilting his head down and letting his bangs fall forward. Tsuzuki was sitting hunched over with his hands tucked under his legs at the other end of the couch, one foot rhythmically tapping the leg of the coffee table as he stared at the floor.

Hisoka thought about the little information he had on his partner.

Tsuzuki craved the comfort of just fitting in, of just being like everyone else; but having that little fact of how Tsuzuki had spent his last years alive, Hisoka doubted that would ever happen. Tsuzuki had survived several years in an asylum without food or water before finally managing to commit suicide ninety years ago.

Hisoka was afraid that, if Tsuzuki ever managed to discover the truth about himself, discovered what had allowed him to survive against all odds, it would destroy him. Hisoka hoped that never happened.

Startled out of his musings by the ringing of a cell phone, Hisoka watched Mahado walk into the hall and pick up the cell phone off the small table near the door. Mokuba suddenly appeared in the entranceway and seemed surprised when Mahado flipped the phone open and began speaking to whomever had called. Mokuba then turned and quickly stepped back to let his brother storm by him.

Mahado glanced up at Seto Kaiba, acknowledging his presence a moment, before frowning and turning away to argue with the caller.

The tall magician dragged a hand through his hair, and Hisoka heard him say, "No I don't, but the situation…" Mahado paused then took a deep breath. "Don't you think Ryou deserves a say…" he said then snapped, "Bakura wait! Bakura!"

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Mahado moved the phone away from his ear and stared at it a moment before closing it and setting it back down on the small table.

Anger suddenly crashed over Hisoka's senses as Kaiba grabbed the magician's arm and yanked him around.

"Where the hell did you learn to use a cell phone?" he snapped.

Mahado blinked in surprise at the hand holding him then simply said, "My soul is tied to Pharaoh's; I know all he knows."

Kaiba's anger only seemed to grow at that confession and Hisoka hissed in pain as he strengthened the few mental shields he had to block out the worst of Kaiba's sharp emotions. Hisoka couldn't figure out why Kaiba was so upset and struggled to stay focused. Unfortunately, he was unable to hide his pain and he felt Tsuzuki's wandering attention come down on him- and the concern Hisoka could feel rolling off his partner was almost impossible to block out.

"You were listening to us?" Kaiba shouted furiously- jealousy adding itself to the anger poring off the man as he stared at the magician.

"Of course!" Mahado suddenly shouted back. "How else did you expect me to know when he has need of me?" The magician broke Kaiba's hold and continued shouting. "And I can feel the conflict in him right now and there's not a damn thing I can do to help him!"

Both men glared at one another for several moments, then Mahado let out an exasperated breath and looked away, before adding in a slightly calmer tone, "I would never intrude on Pharaoh's actual thoughts; I simply listen to his emotions so that I am ready when he requires my protection or a weapon."

"If you're not reading his thoughts then how the hell did you get the information you needed for the cell phone?" Kaiba hissed.

"Do you actually think about how to use yours?" Mahado answered irritably.

It was Kaiba's turn to let out an exasperated breath. Mahado frowned. "You do not trust me?" he asked.

Kaiba scowled "This is Atemu. I don't trust his protection to anyone but myself, soul bonded or not. And why the hell are you still here anyway?"

"I was not summoned to fight a duel. Until I am dismissed or defeated in battle, I will remain here." Mahado gave Kaiba a reluctant smile then glanced into the living room, a puzzled look crossing his face.

"What?" Kaiba asked, stepping towards the room, only to stop when Mahado placed a hand on his chest.

"I think we're about to have more visitors." Mahado answered calmly, just as Hisoka sensed Watari's familiar presence forming by the other end of the couch.

Tsuzuki gave a startled yelp as Watari popped into being next to him, jumping out of his seat and bumping awkwardly into the coffee table. Tsuzuki lost his balance and landed heavily onto the table. Thankfully, the table held under the sudden weight, though Tsuzuki did not seem happy about that.

"Who the fuck are you?" Kaiba shouted.

Watari froze anxiety and confusion filling the air around him. Tsuzuki leaned back, rolled slightly onto his side, and started whining about his now sore behind.

As Hisoka rolled his eyes at Tsuzuki's childish moaning, Mahado crossed his arms over his chest and stated evenly, "He is the same as they are."

Looking at the dark look on Kaiba's face, and barely blocking the man's emotions, Hisoka wondered which one of them Kaiba was going to try and kill first.

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Kaiba stared at the man dressed in a white lab coat at the other end of his living room, and at the tiny, little owl flying in nervous little circles around the blond's head. Still angry at the thought that Mahado had heard everything that had happened upstairs between him and Atemu- even though he knew the magician had told him the truth- Kaiba was more than ready to do some more yelling when he happened to glance at the kid still sitting on the couch.

Hisoka was slumped down in his seat, one hand rubbing his forehead as he glared at Tsuzuki, who was looking back at the kid with an embarrassed smile on his face.

Reigning in his anger- again- Kaiba growled, "Someone better start talking fast."

A look of delight crossed the new arrival's face as he stated, "You're Seto Kaiba!" The delight suddenly turned into surprise as he looked down at Tsuzuki to ask in a loud whisper, "Wait, he can see me?"

"Yes." Hisoka answered as he dropped his hand and shifted his gaze to the blond. He shook his head and said, "And you're a little too late, Watari. We already know about Muraki being back."

The blond managed to look even more surprised. "Muraki? He's back? What do you mean he's back?"

Tsuzuki sat up. "You're not here about Muraki?"

"No!" Watari waved his arms frantically, forcing the owl to shift its path to avoid being hit. "I came to get you. There's been a security breach on the server the Imaginary World is stored on and Soryuu is demanding that you get over there to help fix the problem from his end."

"Fix it?" Hisoka asked in amazement. "Tsuzuki has trouble just turning on a computer! How can he help fix a server?"

"Part of the problem has nothing to do with the computer system. What little I have been able to figure out doesn't account for the disruptions they are experiencing on the other side. I think that might be why Soryuu wants him there." Watari shrugged.

"Wait, isn't Soryuu one of Tsuzuki's shiki?" Hisoka asked, trying to remember the names of the shiki that Tsuzuki had never bothered to summon during their partnership.

"Yes, he is the Guardian of the East and the most powerful of all the Shiki in the Imaginary World." Watari turned back to Tsuzuki. "Either way, you need to get over there before Soryuu blows a fuse. Even Wakaba is getting stressed out dealing with him."

Seto watched Tsuzuki struggle to his feet. "Of course, I'll…"

"You're not leaving until Yugi is back." Atemu announced behind him.

Kaiba felt an unexpected chill run up his spine at Atemu's words.

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Muraki rested a finger lightly on the forehead of the young woman unfortunate enough to glance his way when he walked through the plaza dominating downtown Domino. He had easily ensnared the woman's mind and after leading her to the quiet shadows along the plaza's edge, drained most of her life force to give himself a little boost; leaving her with just enough to follow his orders.

Uncertain of what abilities Yugi Motou's twin might possess, it seemed wise to send in a test subject to see what kind of reception he could expect when he met the other boy face to face.

As the woman set off on her mission, Muraki glanced around and caught sight of a white haired figure weaving his way through the crowds with surprising skill. Knowing he would not have even noticed the figure had he not been looking in the right direction fascinated Muraki. He wondered briefly, where the man had acquired such skill of evasion.

So immersed in studying the man, he failed to react quickly enough when the man abruptly stopped and looked him straight in the eye.

Something shifted in the air around the plaza, a flare of power that Muraki didn't recognize. Before he could focus on what the power was doing, a cold fog drifted up from the concrete covered ground around him, surrounding and obscuring his view of the mysterious figure.

Angry at being caught off guard, Muraki made a quick gesture and burned the fog away, but it was too late. The white haired figure was gone.

Stepping to where the figure had been standing, Muraki knew something unusual had happened but was unable to pinpoint exactly what the white haired man had done. He was certain that the strange figure had not summoned any magic- it felt more like a door being opened and closed; a similar sensation to what Muraki sensed when Tsuzuki had summoned Touda from the otherworld during their last encounter.

It seemed that the white haired figure had managed to slip out of this world and into another, and Muraki had no idea how he had managed it.

Interesting.