-1Chapter 4: Heartsong

She fights with me….

Yami's words stayed with Lapis for days. She couldn't believe the Pharaoh thought of her as a friend. All through her training, she was taught that the Pharaoh was her superior, not her equal. She was to serve and protect, not befriend. Her place was behind, not at his side. Yet Yami was going against the rules. Lapis stood outside the Mutou home, waiting as she had done for the past few weeks. Yugi had been startled the first day to see the young girl so early, but he enjoyed Lapis' company once they began to talk. Lapis thought Yugi adorable and had begun to teaching bits and pieces of Arabic.

"Marhaban, Lapis!," called out Yugi as he bounded out of the house followed by a softly smiling Yami.

Lapis smiled at the energetic boy as he ran towards her. "Marhaban, Yugi. Ra shines on you today."

Yugi liked that expression as he turned a beaming grin on Yami. "Ra shines on me!," he exclaimed.

Yami chuckled as he patted the younger one's head. "So I see," he said pleasantly. He looked over at Lapis, watching her as she took her accustomed stance of obedience and cast her eyes down. She was careful not to betray her actual relationship to others lest they start asking questions. Yami moved closer to the girl, wanted to take her in his arms, fighting feelings that had been rising since the first day of meeting her. Instead he slid his hands into his pockets. "May Ra shine on us all."

Lapis silently nodded. The three walked off towards school, Yugi chattering away happily to his two friends while Lapis listened politely. Yami covertly made sure she was always at his side, no longer behind. After the run-in with Kaiba, he took a deeper liking to Lapis and was glad that she was around. Of course, ever since, she was always there, watching over him whether at school or at home. Once, while Yami was looking out of the window of his home, he was startled to by the unexpected glimpse of Lapis within the leaves of a nearby tree blending in neatly as she surveyed the area. He didn't know what she was looking for, probably thinking Kaiba was around to stir up trouble, but he didn't mind. It comforted him to see her and realized that he had been thinking about her. Lapis didn't just play sentry. Those who approached Yami in anything less than friendliness or respect received the brunt of her anger. A group of bullies walking the streets one afternoon knew never to sneer at Yami again. She is an extraordinary woman, thought Yami, stealing glances now and then. I've never known anyone like her.

The day passed uneventfully, but Yami found himself yawning by day's end, Yugi still possessed much energy as that morning. He bounced all around Yami, talking excitedly.

"Jonouchi's going to his house after he picks up Serenity from her school, but then we're going to KaibaLand! Come on, Yami, you have to come! I'm sure you want to duel, don't cha, don't cha? Huh?"

"Yugi, I'm sorry, but I'm exhausted." Yami could barely move out of his seat much less dule.

"Aww, but Yami-"

"Yugi." Lapis rose from her seat and walked over, smiling gently. She bent over, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Your brother is tired. Go with Jonouchi and Anzu and have a great time. When you come back, you can regale him with stories of who you defeated." Yami watched quietly, silently praising Lapis for saving him yet again. Head resting on one hand, he watched them talk. Involuntarily, his eyes swept over Lapis' body, the slender arms, straight back, tapered waist, lean legs….He blushed furiously and turned away to look out the window. Images danced in his head and he shut his eyes against them. No, he shouldn't think of her like that when she was so much more.

"My Pharaoh?"

His eyes opened and he turned to look at her. She stood, hands folded in front, eyes down. "Shall we go?"

She waited, then heard him rise. His shoes came into her downcast view, but her head did not rise. She didn't dare. A protector…no, a woman may love a man more than her own life, but a woman in her position didn't have the freedom to let that man, that kind, know. A protector and a Pharaoh? No. It wasn't in the gods' designs. It was tried once and only once. She could only be grateful for his closeness, the ability to hear his voice, the opportunity to know and love although nothing could come of it. All in the name of service.

"Lapis, I-" Yami stood in front of the young woman, suddenly unsure of himself, unsure of what to do. He couldn't deny that she was beautiful and who wouldn't give all the glories of Nut to have such a goddess by his side? She was intelligent, devoted, loyal, committed 100 to him and yet….there was something missing.

"Yes. Let us go."