A.N. Okay, so this will get kind of confusing so pay attention closely but, if you still don't get it at the end I will explain at the very end and I apologize if you didn't. It's my fault but this chapter did kill me a little and I'm so sorry it took so long. I love you lovely reviewers!

*Time period-Salem Witch Trials*(picking up where the last flash of the past revealed)

Mahado walked into their hideout where Mana sat twiddling her thumbs.

"Your spell worked?" Mana asked.

"Yes.." Mahado said. "Atemu is fine and well, but we have to go. Isis has packed everything up and they will likely come for you considering you two..erm…fancy each other."

Mana blushed. "Where is he?" she asked.

"He is hiding at the Proctors." Mahado said. "Isis is there with him. Come Mana."

They froze hearing a knock at the door. Mahado's hands shook.

"They've come…" his voice shook. "They will question you just act like you knew nothing of our magic and you know nothing of how Atemu disappeared…act like you support their cause. They can accuse us after we are gone."

Mahado went to the door and smiled at the Marshal.

"Evening, what business do you have?" he asked. "My daughter was just laying down to go to sleep."

"We have a warrant for your daughter's arrest for witchcraft. It seems some of the girl's saw her and the Atemu boy were in the woods together by a fire and speaking in an odd tongue. Not surprising since the boy and her were so keen to each other, he likely tempted her into it."

"My daughter is no witch." Mahado somewhat lied. She had magic but she was no agent of the devil. "We've done no wrongs and neither did Atemu."

"Are you challenging my authority?" the Marshall said. "Perhaps you would like to tell the judge he was wrong and that he has put innocent lives to death."

"I know innocent blood has been split and it will not continue with my daughter!" Mahado shouted. "You will not take her!"

"Father.." Mana whispered, her hands shaking. "I am no witch, Mister. I only loved Atemu and he did no wrong…the girls lie."

"Come with me." The Marshall said, grabbing Mana's wrist.

"No!" Mahado shouted pushing him away and wrapping Mana in his arms.

"Perhap Judge Bakura would like words with you, Mahado." The Marshall said.

"That man is the true agent of the devil here." Mahado shouted. "We are good people. He intends to condemn her life for his own selfish reasons."

"What reason's could that be?"

"You wouldn't understand." Mahado said, holding Mana to him who was equally confused as to why Bakura would want her dead. She knew the girls hated her for swaying over Atemu who had made all of the girl's in the village love him. But when he chose Mana they grew angry and accused him of witchcraft which Bakura announced him guilty barely without proof and now they are after Mana. What would Bakura want?

"I will take you both in!" the Marshall shouted, going to cuff Mahado. But he was pushed back by a force of magic coming from Mahado. When the Marshall recovered he began to shake and panic. "The devil! It's in Mahado! He is using magic and he forced me back! They are witches!"

People began to leave their homes.

"Get them!" he shouted. They began to corner them but another force of magic distracted them and they saw Isis standing over the hill pushing them away and created fire and spreading it.

"She is one too!"

Isis cut them off and Mahado got level with Mana's face. "Go with Atemu.." he said. "We'll come later."

"I can't leave you." Mana said. "Daddy.."

"Go…you must live. You both must live!" he said. "Go!"

Mana hesitated but ran for the woods and eventually maneuvered her way to the Proctors.

She saw Elizabeth Proctor run out to Mana shivering.

"We saw…your family really is-"

"We are no agents of the devil." Mana said, tears streaming down her face. "We were born with magic. Please..my parents sacrificed themselves…let me and Atemu live our lives."

"Alright…I believe you dear. John, Mana is here." Elizabeth said. John Proctor and Atemu ran out to Mana. She smiled staring into his deep crimson eyes.

"You are okay." He said tears forming in his eyes. They embraced each other and shared a kiss. "Where is Mahado and Isis?"

"The Marshall had a warrant for my arrest and they came for them. Mahado and Isis revealed their magic to protect me." She said.

"God bless them." He said. He held Mana tight. "Thank you Proctors…we wouldn't be alive without you."

"But of course.." John said. "So many are dying innocent and even though you have magic I don't believe your magic was given to you by the devil."

Mana nodded and then took off with Atemu into the woods. They found a clearing and sat down leaning against each other.

"Mahado and Isis didn't survive did they..?" Mana said.

"Likely not.." Atemu said.

Mana let her tears fall and she cried against Atemu's chest. "Why were born with these abilities if all it does is cause pain for the ones we love?"

"I do not know…but perhaps in the next life we live we'll find peace together." He said. Mana leaned up and looked at him cocking her head confused manner.

"The next life?" Mana repeated confused but she gasped feeling a sharp pain in her back. Atemu looked equally shocked and she felt blood dribbling out of her mouth.

"Looks like she died in this life too." A man said, it was hinted a with British accent and it was dark and sinister.

Mana realized she had been shot and fell against Atemu and couldn't move to see her attacker. She pressed her lips together and knew she had no chance to survive.

Tears formed in Atemu's eyes and as he held Mana, who was hanging onto dear life.

"Bakura…I will kill you yet! You've taken her from me again!" he shouted. "Have you no heart?!"

'Again?' Mana thought.

"You took that from me.." Bakura said pointing the gun at Atemu. "..we'll meet again and perhaps there will be no handicap on our battle."

Mana's life was draining away and she was conscious enough to hear the shot fired.

Mana's eyes snapped open and she began to pant confused. Another dream…it all felt real. She had felt the pain of the bullet and felt the emotions of leaving Mahado and Isis behind. The pain as she died knowing Atemu had been killed by Bakura, whoever he was. She never saw his face. What was it talking about magic? The next life?

She tried to move but found her wrists were bound by rope above her head. She looked around and saw she was in a magnificent room and she was in the center. It was decorated by Egyptian treasures. And in front of her were seven pedestals. Five of them held an item. There was a rod, scale, eye, key, and a triangle that Mana recognized as an Egyptian puzzle.

"Beautiful aren't they?"

That voice..the one from her dream. Mana's head snapped behind her and she gasped.

It was Ryou.

"Ryou! Help, someone kidnapped me and Yami!" she said. "You have to help me."

He let out a maniacal laugh. "You still think I am Ryou?" he said. "I inhabit Ryou's body and he is my reincarnation but I am far from who he is." Mana looked in shock. "My name is Bakura, the thief king."

Bakura? Ryou was possessed? No wonder his personality seemed to change suddenly. He was the one form her dreams…the one who shot her.

"So, you are the one who ordered this?" Mana asked in a strong voice.

"Yes, my beautiful magician." He said.

"Where is Yami?" she asked harshly.

"Yami is alive." He said with a sinister tone. "He isn't in the best shape….but alive."

Mana narrowed her eyes. "Please. It's obvious I'm the one you were after, Yami was just trying to protect me."

"And that is why I must make an example of him." Bakura said. "You see Yami's job was to protect you until I said to bring you here and he went against those orders and tried to stop Seto and Karim from taking you."

"Why would he work for you in the first place?" Mana asked.

"For you!" he said, acting like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "The love of his life and the only thing he cares for!"

"What?" Mana said confused. Bakura leaned closer to her.

"Did you ever wonder why Ishizu doesn't look like you? It was just a happy accident that Mahado looked like you. They are not your real parents." He said. "Your real parents died when you were a baby and Mahado saved you before you could be taken."

Mana looked horror stricken at the news. "You are lying!"

"Am I?" he said gripping her chin. "Listen to this story."

"Once upon a time, there was a king. He was pharaoh in fact, of Ancient Egypt. He was an intimidating man who was loved and feared by his people. No one was able to crack his heart of stone..except for one girl, a beautiful and powerful girl, the apprentice of the pharaoh's head magician and the pharaoh's childhood friend. He fell in love with her and she returned the feelings. But he could never marry her for she was not of his bloodline and she would be scorned and cursed by the gods. Then, the thief king came and attacked the pharaoh. The struggle between the two was long. Every one of pharaoh's followers fought including the girl. She saved his life and he saved hers. Until one day she died and that was the day he ended it. The thief kidnapped the girl and killed her slowly and sent the pharaoh her body. The pharaoh cried over his loss and then and there he sacrificed his own life to take the thief's with it and trapped them both to be reincarnated through the years like the girl but he thief's true soul remained intact and he waited for each time the girl and pharaoh were reincarnated and destroyed their happiness…

"What does that have to do with anything?" she asked, clueless.

"Isn't it obvious?" he said releasing her chin. "I am the thief king, Yami is the pharaoh, and you are the magician girl and love of Yami's life. You and he have been reincarnated throughout the ages. First in medieval times where Yami was a knight and you a maid. Then, the Salem witch trial where you and he were accused as witches and the civil war, she was on the confederacy and you on the northern side. And now you are here and my soul has finally found my reincarnation."

"Why do you need me?" Mana asked still very frightened and confused.

"For your power darling." He said with chuckle. "The Dark Magician Girl's power. You see, the day the girl died the priest sealed her very powerful Ka in the stone tablets that held your master..Mahado." Mana's eyes widened. "I need a magician's power to create my own body and once I have that I finish what I started in Ancient Egypt."

"And what is that?" Mana asked.

"Revenge and destruction. The lord of the dark Zorc was to destroy the world and in exchange for revenge I give him my body. Our thoughts are the same and our goals are the same and we also lust after the same thing." He said running his thumb over Mana's lips and running the other one down her waist. She tried to kick him away but it only made him chuckle. "Just like the first time I killed you….you fought hard against me but I still I ravished and tortured you..you have the most beautiful screams…scream for me again."

Mana landed a kick in his chest and sent him away, he wasn't trying hard. It was like dangling a treat in front of a puppy, he was giving her false hope of fighting him away and then breaking her.

"How did you get Yami to work for you?" she asked.

"The same way I did everyone. I threatened to kill you. I told Yami I'd let you go if I drained your magic but it seems he saw through the plan. He has none of his Egyptian magic so he is no match for me without his puzzle." He said tapping on the pedestal holding the puzzle.

"Karim was holding the scale before and it emitted magic. How?" she asked.

"These are cursed items created from the bodies of a slaughtered village." He said looking into her eyes. "My village."

Her heart ached for him when he said that. "I am sorry but that is so reason to destroy to world."

"You don't know anything!" he shouted. "Now pipe down or I'll kill Yami, Marik, and your Kisara friend."

"That's how you keep Seto on your side. Why do you need him or Karim?" she asked.

"He is the reincarnation of the prest who wielded to Rod. Karim wielded the scale. A man named Aknadin wielded the eye but his soul was destroyed and it has been passed on to Maxamillion Pegasus. Shada, your history teacher I believe, wielded the key. Ishizu, in ancient times her name was Isis, wielded the necklace. Mahado the ring, and Yami the puzzle giving them power." He said. "Now I will drain your magic and your will."

"My will?" Mana asked.

"Yes, you'll become pretty much my servant. What better revenge against Yami? The love of his life serving me hand and foot and joining me in my bed." He said laughing.

Mana's eyes lit up in anger and a flash of light filled the air and spark flew from her hands. She yelped and looked in surprise.

"That would be your magic coming through." Bakura said. "But those ropes diffuse magic making you helpless. Now let's begin."

Bakura picked up the rod and held it to Mana's chest. "This will tear your magic from you and your will."

"No!" Mana screamed. "Help! Someone!" she yelped pulling against the roped making her wrists raw and begin to bleed. "Yami! Ishizu! Mahado!"

The door flew open and Bakura and Mana looked in surprise to see who was there.

"Get your hands off her!" Mahado shouted.

"Dad!" Mana exclaimed.

A ring around his neck began to glow and a man wearing a purple robe and hat appeared behind him and blasted Bakura making him fly back into the wall.

"Hold on Mana." He said untying her and helping her down. "We must leave."

"Wait we have to find Yami, he is being held prisoner here." She said.

"I'm sorry Mana. Yami wouldn't want us to risk getting you captured." Mahado said grabbing her wrist and speaking an ancient spell. Mana tried to protest but when she saw she couldn't stop Mahado she turned and when she and Bakura made eye-contact, she flipped him off.

Then they disappeared. Mana gasped as she was suddenly inside her home. Ishizu lay on the couch panting and bandaged up. Marik was there tending to her.

"What is going on?" Mana exclaimed. "Mom?!" she ran to her side, worried over her.

"Mana!" Marik said running and embracing her in his arms. "I was so scared…I thought Bakura had gotten you."

"But you were friends with Bakura." Mana said confused.

"Keep your friends close.." he said pulling back and pushing a piece of hair back from her face. "..and your enemies closer."

"What is wrong with mom?" Mana exclaimed. Marik sighed.

"I informed Mahado and Ishizu that you had been kidnapped. Ishizu was injured in fighting Bakura's men and the guardians under his control." Marik said, rubbing his forehead. He looked stricken with worry.

"Mana.." Ishizu said reaching to her.

"Mom.." she said going to her and clutching her hand.

"Whatever happens and whatever anyone tells you…you'll always be my baby girl.." Ishizu fell asleep. Mana couldn't stop the tear from rolling down her cheek.

"Mana..we should talk." Mahado said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

Mana and Mahado sat on her bed up in her room. Mana clutched her pillow while Mahado sat on the end of the bed.

"Are you my real dad?" Mana asked.

"No." Mahado said, sadly. "I hoped you'd never find out." Mana's heart ached at the news. "When you were born, Bakura's followers tried to take you then and keep you until their master returned to perform the ritual. But we saved you before they could kidnap you but we were not in time to save your true parents."

"The story about the magician girl and the pharaoh being in love..is it true?" Mana said.

"In ancient times it was..whether it is true now is up to you." Mahado said smiling. Mana blushed.

"What about what he said about other lives?" she said. "I've been having dreams of me and Atemu being in the Salem Witch Trials…Bakura said we've been reincarnated throughout the ages and in my dream..I was killed."

"You have…you see years ago, you were killed and he pharaoh sacrificed his life to kill the thief king. But I knew that Bakura's soul had survived and in my state as the Dark Magician I used my magic to secure that yours and the pharaoh's souls would be reincarnated to defeat him. I'm not human…I'm a spiritual being.."

"What?" Mana said.

"I am the Dark Magician in the game Duel Monsters. I was able to create my own body and all these years, every time you were reincarnated I came and took you in and found a way to make you and Atemu meet. That's why I went to Egypt, to retrieve Atemu or as you call him Yami because I knew Bakura was coming soon but I just didn't know he was this close. I expected Marik to protect you well but Yami seemed to already be here and as I feared Bakura had located you and threatened you." He said. "For whatever reason's Yami's power has weakened in this life so…he can't beat Bakura on his own again."

"What about Marik?" she asked.

"Marik is actually Ishizu's younger brother..he was ordered to protect you and always keep a close eye on you. Become your friend."

Mana smiled but then remembered one more thing. Something that made hot tear run down her cheeks.

"We abandoned Yami.." she said.

"I've been his servant for a long time and he gave me an order a long time ago. It was in ancient Egypt and you were sick. He ordered me to never let you be hurt and always put you first. It was my duty to follow his orders and also..you had grown on me..like you really were my daughter. I never want to stop being your dad. I cried every time I failed to protect you in your other lives." He said. "He wants it this way and if Bakura drained your magic, it will be the end of everything."

Mana looked up at him with tear filled eyes. "But dad..I love him too and I…I don't want him to get hurt."

"I know Mana.." Mahado said embracing her and letting her cry into his shoulder. "You should sleep.."

Mana nodded and laid down on her bed and went to sleep. Mahado noticed she had began to twitch and concluded she was having another dream.

Mana looked up into the eyes of a man dressed in clad black surrounded by other men dressed in armor. She was tied to a pole and also another girl was passed out on the floor near her with her wrists tied together.

"Who are you?" Mana asked, up at the man in black with silver hair.

"I am Bakura, a conqueror and I've conquered this land. I've kidnapped your princess.." he motioned to the girl.

Mana's eyes widened. Princess?

She then realized she was having one of her past life vision except in this one she was aware of the fact that she was her. It was like being actually there and now she is once again Bakura's captive.

She'd have to play the part but she knew how this would end….Bakura would kill her when Atemu came to save her and then Atemu and Bakura would die also.

"Why would you do this?" she said. "Go to all this trouble to get back at him…destroy lives and cause him so much pain."

"Because..that is how deep my hatred has gone. It has consumed me and its all I think of…and all I can think of is how I'll kill you again once you are reborn. Last time I ravished you…this time..I'll make you beg for mercy again..but not in the same way." He said, gripping her chin. "I want you to be willing when we do it again.."

"I never will." She said, shuddering realizing what he did to her in her past life.

"We'll see…" he chuckled. Bakura's eyes widened, hearing the men fighting. "Guess he has arrived early..how rude. I didn't even get to have my fun."

Bakura swiftly grabbed her hair and held a knife to her throat. Mana gulped.

Atemu dressed in armor like a knight burst into the tent. "Mana!"

"Hello pharaoh…" Bakura said. "Seem familiar? Except last time I killed your girlfriend all she wanted was the sweet release of death to free her of the agony I placed on her."

"Let her go or you'll regret it." Atemu said.

"Kill me if you wish, all you'll do is kill my innocent reincarnation and my spirit will remain alive. I'll wait and then repeat this again. This is the first time you and Mana have been reincarnated and now that you have it will be an endless cycle of misery for you two…" he said. "You'll remember everything but she wont and once you've almost got her back..I'll swoop in and steal her from you. One day she'll join me…and on that day her soul will be tainted and the Gods won't allow her to live anymore.."

"She'll never join you!" Atemu shouted.

"Not maybe on her own…not in this life..but I have all the time in the world to cause you unimaginable pain." He laughed and Mana felt a sharp deep pain in her throat and a choking feeling.

Bakura had slit her throat.

"No!" Atemu shouted catching her. She chocked on her own blood and Mana began to panic. It was painful. This was only a dream..It was only a dream…Why does it feel so real?!

"Mana.." Atemu cried. "I failed you again."

Atemu knew she was gone ,Mana knew it too and she was suffering. Atemu, shaking, raised a knife and stabbed her chest to put her out of her misery.

"Mana! Mana! Mana!"

Her eyes flew open to see Marik shaking her awake. Her hands went to her throat that was intact and not cut open. Her breaths came fast making Marik grip her shoulder and try to calm her down.

"What happened?" he asked.

"A..vision. A vision of one of mine and Yami's past lives…it felt so real. Bakura..he slit my throat…just like he shot me…and now he is going to-"

Marik embraced her in a hug. "I'm sorry you went through all of that…I'd take it for you." He took her cheeks in his hands. "I wish we could have met first…"

"What are you talkin-"

Marik suddenly gently placed his lips on Mana's. Her eyes widened but something didn't feel right. She felt dirty, like a nagging at her heart was telling her pull away. She loved Marik like a brother…why was he kissing her?

Marik pulled back leaving a blushing and stunned Mana. "Wha-"

"I'm no reincarnation..this is my first life but…I wish I could have taken all of the pain you went through. Ever since the day I met you I knew I loved you. But…I knew the pharaoh would come. He'd sweep you off your feet…" he said.

"Marik.."

"I was told to never fall in love with anyone…certainly not the one I was supposed to protect. My adoptive older brother Rishid took me in while Ishizu, my real sister, watched over you with her husband Mahado….Ishizu told me that I would only cause someone pain if I fell in love and our family had a duty to the pharaoh. But my heart betrayed me…I fell in love with your kind words, selfless heart, and beautiful smile. I love you Mana.." he said. "I was angry the day I saw him…I knew it was the pharaoh and he had come for you. I was so angry and I was getting close to Ryou waiting for him to turn into Bakura and I couldn't stop you two from becoming friends and certainly not true love."

"Marik…the truth is that I think of you only as a friend." Mana said. Marik's head lowered covering his watering eyes. "I'm sorry and I wish I could return your feelings but-"

"Your heart is chained to him.." Marik said. "There will be no one else I'll ever love but…I understand you can't love me back and with the high chances I won't survive much longer I needed to tell you."

"Of course you'll survive Marik." Mana said. "He is after me isn't he?"

Marik smiled and patted Mana's head. "I'll protect you to the end. The only way he'll ever touch you is over my dead body."

Mana tried to protest but Mairk had already stood up and began walking away.

Mahado walked in and saw Mana sitting there twiddling her thumbs.

"Bad dream?" he asked.

"A vision of the past…mine and Yami's first time being reborn..I was a maid to a princess in medieval times and Yami, a knight…Bakura slit my throat. It all felt so real." She said.

"Now that you've tapped into your powers they will likely keep coming until you've seen all of your past. I've tried to keep the pain from you but you always seem to fight through it." Mahado said.

"Once this is over..if I'm alive…could you erase them?" Mana asked. Mahado eyes widened.

"You'd forget Atemu.." Mahado said.

"I seem to cause him pain…maybe there someone better for him." Mana cried. "I love him but I'm causing so much trouble…all I want to do is go back to if I'll ever get a boyfriend being my only problem."

"Oh baby.." Mahado said, he pulled her against him. "Trust me when I say this…Atemu needs you. He isn't the best at not giving into the dark path….you keep him on the good path. Trust me..at full power he'd bode a frightening enemy. When it comes to you he'll do anything to save you."

"He'd be furious if I erased your memories of him."

Mana sighed and cried into Mahado chest.

/

Mana screamed waking up from yet another terrible nightmare. In this one, Atemu and she were in the time of the American Civil War and she was a confederate and he a northerner.

"Another dream?" Mahado asked, bringing in a tray of pancakes and orange juice for Mana. "I made your favorite."

Mana sighed. "Not hungry.."

Mahado set down the tray and patted her head. "Someone wants to see you."

Ishizu walked in with her arm hanging in a sling and a bandage around her head.

"Mom..I mean..Ishizu." Mana said.

Ishizu sighed and sat down on the bed. "I may not be your real mom but, I still consider you my daughter..I'd very much like to remain your mother. Not everyone has the privilege to raise such a beautiful and kind girl."

Mana smiled and hugged her. "Good!"

Ishizu smiled and held her to her tightly. "I love you, Mana…"

"I love you too, Mom.." Mana said and suddenly pulled back. "But you were homecoming queen and you met father at a football game in college."

"Made up stories…I've spent my whole life preparing for this time as did Marik, but its fate that me and Mahado fell in love since…my past life as High Priestess Isis, we were in love then too."

Mana smiled thinking about her parent's deep love for each other. It was beautiful. Then you had Atemu and Mana, who could never be happy as long as Bakura endured.

"Mana, I know your father won't let you leave the house and Atemu wouldn't want you to but…with a few lessons with me on how to use your magic.. Ishizu said, like she was forcing herself.

"What are you saying?" Man asked, getting excited.

"Don't tell your father but…I'm in no condition to succeed. I know it's against your father's wishes but I know I'd do anything if it were you or him in the situation and I very much love our king so…after you've got your basic magic skills to defend yourself and Marik will accompany you..I want you to go and save Yami"

/

Okay, if you are still confused listen up.

Mana, Atemu, and Bakura were all their normal people in Egypt and Mana was killed and Atemu did the whole sacrificing both of them thing but intead of them being trapped inside items, Atemu was cursed to be reincarnated with memory of each of his lives. Bakura spirit was free and possessed people until he found his own reincarnation and took control.

So, until Bakura can create his own body he destroys Mana and Atemu's happiness through all of their lives until now that Mana's magic is more powerful than it has ever been in any life he needs her magic to create a body and of course, make the pharaoh suffer by draining her will.

So yea, I apologize if it was too confusing but I really just wanted to get this whole mysterious plot out and answer the questions and if there still are questions, ask me in the reviews and please don't be anonymous. I won't answer in the next chapter, I'll only answer if I can private message you and I like talking with my reviewers anyway and seeing what they like to read and how I can improve. I love you guys!