Take a breath. That's good, now hold it... Good, now let it out...

This is how you breathe? I doubt it. I sighed, letting a shallow gush of air erupt from my lungs. Gods, but I feel weak... Jii-chan comes in with that worried, worn old face. I think these last few months, I've given him twice as many wrinkles as he ever had in his lifetime. "Yugi, are you going to be well enough to do this?" he asks worriedly. I have insisted on coming with him to Egypt. It will let me be as close to Atemu as I can possibly can.

My Pharaoh...

I smiled weakly at Jii-chan, and pushed myself forward in my wheel-chair. "I'll be fine, Jii-chan. I really want to do this." My voice comes out in something akin to a loud whisper. But I'm determined. I want to see Egypt once more, to see Atemu's homeland. Jii-chan sighed, seeing the determination in my eyes.

"It'll be hard to get around in that, what with all the sand." he says. I smiled again.

"I'll push myself, Jii-chan. Don't worry so much. I'm not going to break at the slightest little touch of exertion." That was a lie, I could really weaken my chances of survival by doing this, but I really had to do this. I didn't care if I died. I really needed to do this. For Atemu. And for me.

Jii-chan sighed. "Yugi... I'll ask if Seto and Mokuba can watch you. When you get tired, Seto will push you, okay?" I blinked, and shook my head, laughing.

"Jii-chan, that really isn't necessary! Seto Kaiba wouldn't agree to that!" I said, laughing a little at the thought. Jii-chan smiled. But there was pain in his eyes as he watched me try to regain my breath. Just this little bit of exertion left me dizzy from lack of air.

"Who said I wouldn't?" Came a voice from behind Jii-chan. I turned to look at Kaiba. Ever since I'd gotten sick, Kaiba had been helping me a lot. More then likely it was because of Mokuba. Seto hadn't ever really liked me. I blinked now, and frowned a little. "I'll help the little sickling." He said, smirking. I sighed, closing my eyes in relief. There was the Kaiba I knew. Mokuba came in next and smiled at me.

"How ya doin' Yugi?" he asked. I grinned at him.

"I'm fine. A little impatient to get going, but I'm fine." I replied. Mokuba grinned back. But everyone seemed really quiet today. And, for lack of better words... silently sad? What was wrong. I looked at Jii-chan. "Can I go now?" I asked. I saw him chuckle very slightly.

"You haven't eaten yet, and we still have to put your I.V. Fluids in place." Jii-chan answered. I flinched at the I.V. part. I hated I.V.'s. Seto laughed, saying he would get me something to eat. Mokuba went to help Jii-chan get the I.V. Fluids, and I sat alone once more in this little hotel room. Soon I'd be able to see Egypt again. Soon I'd be able to see Atemu's home. Soon...

Jii-chan and Mokuba were the first ones back inside the room. They finished hooking my up to the I.V. and placed the machine used to dispense the medicine onto the back of my wheelchair. Seto came in with food. I knew immediately I wouldn't be able to eat much today. There were times when my stomach wouldn't hold much. I would eat two or three bites, and be full enough to throw up. It was a side-effect of the medicine. I smiled in thanks and took a few bites of toast, and a quick sip of orange juice. Setting that back on the tray, I smiled at Jii-chan.

"All done. Now can I go?" I asked a little impatiently, while trying to appear to be readying for Sainthood. And really, I deserved it. I couldn't tolerate a whole bunch of food today! Seto glared at me.

"You have to eat more then that! After all the trouble I go through to bring that up here!" He crossed his arms and looked at me with a very cold glare. I bit my lip. I couldn't force anymore food into my body without throwing it all up. Jii-chan, seeing this, smiled.

"Seto, he can't eat anymore. The medicine is working." He tried to explain as patiently as possible to the brunette. Seto glared at the I.V. bags and took the tray of food away without a word. I sighed, and waited. 'Soon. Outside in Egypt soon...'

We'll be together...

Seto came back in and sighed. "Ready to go?" Ever hear someone ask you a really stupid question? That's just what happened. I nodded eagerly, and rolled myself out of the room.

"See you soon, Jii-chan!" I called over my shoulder. Jii-chan sat down on my bed and smiled.

"See you soon, Yugi." he replied in an almost tear-filled glance. Why did he seem so sad? The elevator was waiting. I rolled onto it and pressed my hand flat against the door to hold it from closing on Seto and Mokuba. Once all of us were on, I let go of the door, which slid shut and pressed the button for the first floor. The moment the elevator began it's descent, I felt my heart rising. Soon.

The doors opened, and I wheeled myself out quickly, narrowly avoiding people who were waiting for the elevator. Seto let out a grunt of surprise as I sped off, and I could hear him shouting at me. "GET BACK HERE MOTOU!!!" I didn't listen. The doors were ahead of me. Someone had seen me coming and politely opened to door for me. I laughed joyfully, seeing the Egyptian sand ahead of me.

"Thanks!" I called over my shoulder to the stranger, and immediately burst out into the open air.

Finally! I laughed even more so as I gazed around me. I could see the Pyramids in the distance, the Nile was nearby, I could hear it. I could see people looking at me, native Egyptians who were staring at the pale stranger in a wheelchair, laughing and looking around as though he were in a candy store. I had missed this. When we flew in, I was under sedation, to help me sleep, and had only woken up yesterday. I was glad to see this. I could look at it through a window, and see the vast Egyptian land, but it would only depress me until I went outside to see it without glass.

Mokuba and Seto had now caught up with me. But there were no reprimands this time. Why? They just seemed glad to see me laugh. I calmed myself down so I could breathe properly, and then looked at Seto. "Can we go see the Nile?" I asked. Seto shrugged.

"Like I care. You're the one in charge. I just push you when you get tired." he replied in a bored tone. I nodded, and wheeled myself to where I heard the Nile running. The sand was hard to push through, and sapped my energy quickly, but I refused to stop. I was caught by surprised when I felt myself move when I had stopped for a quick rest. I turned to see Seto pushing me.

He pointed suddenly. "The Nile River." He said simply, ignoring my staring. I turned to look, and gasped. The Nile. The sight took my breath away. The reeds stood tall, lifting up towards the sun, the water's edge glinting in the sun, the reflection on the water of the Pyramids, gleaming brightly, golden in the bright sun. Wind stirred the calm waters just a little, brushing my face gently, sending the reeds into a graceful dance, the soft sound of their tiny pipe-like bodies moving against each other, rustling like that of leaves made me smile again. Drained of energy, weak, and sick as I was, I could still enjoy this.

Seto had obviously seen enough. He walked over to where Mokuba, who was bent over something on the ground, trying to find out what it was. I felt sleepy suddenly. A nap wouldn't hurt. I sighed, smiling still to myself, and let my eyes start to close. The last thing I remember seeing was Seto and Mokuba running over to me, faces distressed. And then, nothing... Voices...?

"Pharaoh..."

"That is enough, Theoris. I will hear no more protests against my actions. If you really do not wish to wait for the boy to wake up, go to the palace ahead of me. I will follow when the boy awakens."

"But, Pharaoh... You know I am bound to stay by your side..."

"I am quite capable of handling myself, Theoris. I will not hold anything against you if you go ahead. I, on the other hand, am staying right here."

Yugi woke to voices. One he don't know, and one he almost recognised. Who...? Yugi opened his eyes slowly to see a face looking off into the distance. He cannot see it clearly. The sun was behind it, making only a simple silhouette, but it reminded him of someone... He decided to survey his surroundings. The Nile is near, he noted. Very near. He heard the waters running. He heard the reeds rustle in the wind that brushed gently against his face. Yugi smiled, and sat up slowly, rubbing the sand from his face. Had he fallen asleep here? Where was Seto and Mokuba?