Chapter Eight

A smile came to his lips as he watched the newly married couple as they joined in the celebrations. The looks and touches they shared reminded him so much of his own marriage celebrations that had taken place on a night like this many years ago. His eyes watched as Yami leaned over and whispered something only Tiri could hear which caused her to laugh and smile. They had been like this for most of the celebration, just keeping to themselves, smiling at anyone who congratulated them. He watched as a servant came over to the young couple, offering them drinks, which they took and immediately went back to their own little world.

"You know, you should not keep staring at them."

Ahknemkhanen turned to find Djau and Pashedu standing next to him. "He has that look in his eyes that is exactly like his mother when she smiled."

"I do not think I have ever seen my daughter happier," spoke Pashedu as his wife joined him, a smile on her face. "Would you not agree?"

His wife nodded.

Yami could sense he was being watched, though the thought did not surprise him, nearly everyone in this room was. "I think we should go for a walk."

Tiri turned to him and a thought crossed his mind. She was his wife. Even though this celebration was for his marriage, it had not sunk in properly until just now. She was his wife, friend and confidante.

"Yami," she whispered, although no one would hear her over the music playing. "Why do you want to go for a walk?"

"I want to spend time with you, alone, without everyone watching us." He took hold of her hand tenderly, his thumb moving across the back of her hand. Tiri smiled and let him lead her from the celebrations, under the watchful eye of their parents.

He didn't know for how long they had walked the gardens or how long ago they had stopped and started to watch the night sky. The sky was clear, with no clouds in sight, allowing the millions of little stars that were scattered across the midnight to be seen. His eyes scanned the stars quietly, his mind a million miles away.

"What are you thinking about?" spoke Tiri softly, her eyes watching him.

Yami tore his eyes away from the stars back to Tiri. "Not much, I was just wondering if my mother and little brother are as happy as my father is at this moment."

Tiri smiled, her eyes going to the night sky above them as the stars continued to twinkle. "Are you happy?"

"More then I could ever imagine," he whispered.

"Then they are happy as long as you are." Tiri wrapped her arms around her body as a chilly wind blew through the gardens, Yami immediately moving closer to her, raising his arms.

Tiri looked up at him as he wrapped his arms, along with his cloak, around her, creating a little cocoon for them. Her arms wrapped around his middle as she gave him a soft smile.

"We should go inside if you are getting cold," he whispered gently, his eyes never leaving her face as he found himself drawn towards her.

"If we go back inside I do not wish to return to the celebrations," her whisper was just as quiet, her breath caressing his lips gently as they drew closer.

"Then I guess… we will have to go somewhere else, my beloved."

Their kiss was gentle, only to grow in passion as the night drew on. They held each other close as they made their way to their chambers.

He drew in a shaky breath as her hands travelled up his arms and carefully removed his cloak, letting it fall to the floor.

Her eyes followed his movements as he raised a hand and gently brushed her hair away from her face, before leaning down and resting his lips on hers in a kiss that left them breathless.

Slowly they made their way towards the bed, Yami falling onto the edge and pulling Tiri into his lap, facing him. His hand rested on the small of her back, keeping her where she was as his other hand slowly moved up her arm to her neck, before cupping her cheek.

She closed her eyes and leaned into the touch, her hand coming and resting against his.

They stayed like that for moment, relishing the simple touch between them, Yami's mind wondering how he had got to this moment, fearing that he would open his eyes and find it all to be a dream.

Tiri removed her hand from his and moved them to his crown; his eyes closing as she carefully removed the jewellery, her fingers running along the skin lightly.

He didn't open his eyes as he felt her lean forward, didn't open them when he felt her lips against his skin in a lingering movement. He shivered when he felt her breath against his ear.

"I love you, my beloved Yami."

Yami pulled back, kissing her tenderly as he guided her onto the pillows and covers of the bed. The kiss broke and he rested his forehead against hers lightly as they both tried to catch their breaths. His hand took hold of hers tightly, entwining their fingers together. "And I love you, my beloved Tiri," he whispered against her lips before taking them in a passionate kiss.


Her tiny fingers wrapped tightly around his as she made quiet cooing noises. Her eyes blinked up at him lazily as she started to fall back to sleep.

He leaned in closer, his other hand coming up and running over her head and down her arm. He frowned when his fingers came to a stop at a scar lying across her forearm, rubbing it slowly.

"Yami."

Immediately Yami straightened up, his finger still in the baby's grasp as Yugi came over to him.

"You need to sleep, Yami. You can't stay with her all night." Yugi smiled, his own hand going out and taking her little hand carefully.

"It is just… I am afraid to go to sleep in case this is not real." Yami's eyes went back to his daughter, leaning in a little closer. "I never thought I would have this."

Silence filled the room before Yugi took a deep breath. "Have you thought of a name yet?"

Yami shook his head.

"Do you remember if you had any names picked out, five thousand years ago?"

"We had a name for a son, for obvious reasons." Yami looked down at his daughter quietly. "I never thought I would have a daughter first, because I am one of three sons and my father was one of two sons, so it was believed that would insure a son would be born first and take the throne." Carefully Yami picked up the little girl and held her in his arms gently as she closed her eyes completely. Slowly he began to walk a short distance away from Yugi and then back again, his eyes never leaving his sleeping daughter as he repeated the movement a couple of times.

Yugi watched him quietly and for a moment his vision changed. No longer was Yami standing in front of him alone, but Tiri was standing next to him, smiling, her hand resting lightly on the one holding their daughter, both looking as they did in the ancient past. He blinked slowly and she was gone.

"You are so beautiful. Nothing and no one will bring harm to you, my little one; I will use all my power to make sure of that."

"Then you would be willing to do anything to stop your brother."

Yami and Yugi turned to the doorway as Dar and Niama walked in. "He seeks your power as well as the power of the triad Protectors, and he will no doubt use your daughter as a bargaining chip in order to get it."

Yami looked down at her as Dar's words echoed in his mind. "What do you have planned?"

"That we strike before he knows of the existence of the child. There is to be a celebration held to in honour of his upcoming coronation. That would be the perfect time to enter the city, because no one will be looking for you there. We must disable him when he appears on the balcony to address the crowd."

Yugi stepped forward. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, when you say disable, what do you mean?"

"Atem must be dead," spoke Dar calmly.

"Yami, this is your family, you cannot hurt him like that."

Yami frowned. "Atem is no longer my family, he lost that long ago. I will do what I can to stop people from suffering due to his actions."

"But Yami…"

"But nothing, Yugi. If I do nothing he will hurt you, he will hurt my daughter, and that is something I will not allow."

Yugi knew he couldn't talk Yami out of this. "I will come with you then."

"No, Yugi."

"If you are going to take on Atem, I will be right by your side. It would be safer for the baby, because the puzzle will only draw him here."

Yami nodded, turning away from the group and heading over to the Moses basket, tenderly placing his daughter down.

"You need not worry about her well-being, Pharaoh. The wards and spells make this temple virtually undetectable. Your daughter will be safe," spoke Niama softly.

Yami kept his hand on her blanket-covered body, feeling the steady rise and fall of her chest.

"Ameena," he smiled as he leaned down placing a kiss on her forehead. "That will be your name, Ameena."

"We must rest before we leave for Mosel," spoke Dar as he turned and left the room, Niama following close behind.

Yugi looked at Yami as he left the baby's side and headed over to him. "Are you sure about this, Yami? There has to be another way."

"There isn't."

Yugi sighed and lowered his head slightly. "Ameena is a pretty name," he whispered before leaving the room to try and get a little bit of sleep.


Atem sighed while he held his arms out as the servant pulled the thick belt tightly around his waist.

"That is too tight, you fool," he spat, as guard entered the room. "What is it now?"

"As you requested we have posted guards at all the gates to the city and have disguised about half the men to walk in the crowds. If your brother and his friends enter the city they will be captured straight away."

Atem frowned and turned to the guard. "No, not straight away. Wait until they plan to make their move, which will most likely be when I appear on the balcony to speak to the crowds and to make my upcoming joyous announcement."

The servant dressing Atem stepped to one side as Atem turned to the mirror.

"What do you think too ancient Egyptian?"

"You look marvellous, my King."

The frown didn't leave Atem's features as he pulled on the belt, then the cloak. "I do not like it, looks too much like what my brother wore during his reign as Great Pharaoh," Atem spoke the latter two words mockingly. "But it is what I need for my deception to work properly." He adjusted the gold crown on his head, his blue eyes taking in every detail of his outfit. "Speaking of which, how is my ward?"

"Well, and in the gardens with that thief."

"Now, now, now, there is no need to be jealous."

"My King, he has shown no loyalty to you and I do believe it is not the right decision for him to be guarding your ward."

"I do not need his loyalty. Bakura is my brother's enemy and as the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Bakura's loyalty lies with his friend, my ward, and that is all that matters." Atem turned away from the mirror. "The plan I have for my brother will see him break piece by piece and Bakura will be by my side, taking part in my brother's fall."

Atem walked away from the guard, dismissing him with a wave of his hand as he headed out onto the balcony. His blue eyes watched the morning sky briefly before going to the gardens below, a smile coming to his face when he saw his ward and Bakura by the fountain. In only a few more hours he would have all he needed. He turned to look out at the city, a smirk coming to his face.

"He is here," he whispered.

Maybe he would get what he needed sooner than he thought.