Greetings and welcome to another chapter of this here story! I know I left
you all in a bad place last time, and I apologize for that. Hopefully this
chapter will explain some more, though I doubt it will. Hell, I'm not even
sure I know what I'm doing, so if I confuse anyone, please let me know.
Don't get me wrong, I know where I want the story to go, it's the how to
get there that's eluding me.
I need your help! I'm writing a songfic for Chibizoo's fanfic contest, and I would really like to have a beta for it. The fic is told entirely from Kaiba's point of view, and is slightly Kaiba/Yugi. It's not a happy story, but if you're reading this, you probably know that none of my stories are. If you have absolutely no problem with either of those things and wouldn't mind helping me out, please email me: amunraprincess@yahoo.com I'll be forever grateful.
Also, please read the note at the end of the chapter. There are some memories in this chapter and the credit for them is at the bottom.
Reviews:
Ginger Ninja: Thanks! I'm glad that you liked the twist. Now let's see if I can do anything with it.
Dee: Why would you assume that something is going to go wrong next? (Maybe because you've been reading the story so far? ^_^) We'll have to wait and see.
Kael Kalespel: Oh, wow. . . thank you very much! Your kind words made my day!
Miss Lous: Yeah, I'm talking about the Egyptian Arc of the manga at Jennaiya's page. Have you read all of it? Janime has summaries for the newer chapters, and it just keeps getting better. I can't wait to see it in the anime. I just couldn't resist the allure of their past lives. . . so interesting. I'm glad you're enjoying what's going on. No, Gozaburo had nothing to do with it. This time, it really was a stupid mistake.
Mittens no Hikari: Thank you very much! I'm glad you're enjoying the fic!
Ieyre: Thanks! Hopefully this update wasn't too long in coming.
Moonlight Shadow: Jenniyah's page has translations and scans (scanlations) of most of the Battle City/Battle Ship and almost the entire Egyptian Memory World arc. There's a link to it on my bio page if you're interested in checking it out. I watched The Mummy and the sequel and loved both of them. They're not historically accurate (Imhotep was an architect, designer of the first pyramid, not a priest) but they were entertaining nonetheless. The scenes with the scarabs were freaky, though. Thanks for the review!
Osiris: Welcome to another Kaiba fan! Thanks for the encouragement. I really appreciate it!
Deranged black kitten of doom: Interesting name ^_^ Yes, there's definitely lots more to write, so I hope you keep enjoying the fic.
Joeyz girl: I'm glad to hear that this is one of your faves *blushing*. Yup, Yami's spell definitely went wrong. They're really in Ancient Egypt, so it's not a flashback. More will be explained as the fic continues.
Adrienne: Question: Did you want me to write a Malik/Serenity fic, or did I dream that up? I just remembered that the other day. You don't like Yugi/Seto? *sniffles*. I love Seto/Jou too, but have more of a soft spot for Yugi/Seto. Is this going to be a Yugi/Seto? I have no clue. I haven't thought that far ahead yet. You'd be surprised when you do get to the states. We don't get much anime over here, and what we do get is watered down. I download the Japanese episodes and watch those. Thanks for the rod *rubs hands in anticipation and ponders who she's going to control first*
MillenniumDreamer: Yup, time travel is definitely fun. Thanks for the review!
Starheart: Thank you very much ^__^!
Solitaire and Xpyne: I'm so on the edge of whether to leap into yaoi or stay where I am. I read a lot of it but have never written it. I'm fascinated with the interaction between Yugi, Yami, and Seto, which is why I keep writing them. I'm glad that you like what I've written so far!
Mutou Yasu: The manga is so entertaining, and so unlike anything else I've been exposed to in the US, which is why I'm so fascinated by it. I keep reading more and more of it. Thanks for reviewing!
Crystal Hikari: Thanks! I do like to keep things interesting.
Sunrise: I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Be careful with that yami, though ^_^
Callisto Firestarted: Wow! Thank you so much! It's always good to hear that the fic is being enjoyed.
Silver Dragon Golden Dragon: The spell was not deflected. . . it was more like it had the wrong effect. It will be explained in more detail in a future chapter (I'm not sure which one at this point, but soon!)
Rogue: Was that good laughter or bad laughter? ^_^ I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
Amiasha Ruri: Don't worry about it! It's always great to hear from you. Fireworks is putting it lightly if Gozabaka ever got a hold of the puzzle. Hmm. . . I'll ponder that further, it may have possibilities. They're definitely back in Ancient Egypt. Sorting it all out is going to be the fun part.
Hobbit13: Yup, Yami screwed up. You're not brainless; I just skipped over Yugi actually doing the spell. I had Yami note that he'd done it, and I think Yugi mentioned it too. Sorry if it was a bit confusing.
Happy: Yup, I got the message. It worked eventually. Thank you!
Lightning Sage (Destiny): Thank you very much! I'm very happy that you liked the story!
Write Already/Write More Already: That was just too funny!! I'm usually notified of any reviews I get, but I wasn't notified about yours. It wasn't until I was reading them to reply to them that I saw it. Ask and ye shall receive, eh, since it's only been two days since you posted? Nope, I'm not dead, just busy with school and all the other stuff. I don't usually take this long to update, but this chapter just wouldn't get written. I was going to hold off and post the chapter tomorrow, until I read your review so asking does work. Thanks for the review!
You all rock! Thank you so very much. Now on with the story.
**~~**
Part 10: Home Sweet Home
Ryou was the first to react when Yami screamed and fell to the ground.
He was on his feet and heading towards the fallen pharaoh before he even realized it. In the back of his mind, he could hear Bakura laughing his head off. The spirit was laughing so hard that he was having difficulty drawing breath, but he kept doing it. In between the laughter, Bakura kept murmuring. Ryou couldn't decipher everything the spirit was saying, but he did manage to catch a few 'stupid pharaoh', 'mindless spell caster', and 'a child could have done it better' comments. Ryou ignored the spirit and dropped to his knees beside Yugi. He frowned. When had Yugi taken over the body?
"Woah, what the hell just happened?"
Joey's voice was edged with panic, and Ryou couldn't blame him. Yami had closed his eyes and begun to chant the spell. Ryou hadn't understood what was said, but he knew that Bakura had. The spirit had shut himself in his soul room as soon as Yami had begun to chant, which had made Ryou suspicious. He'd been telling himself that he'd talk to the spirit later when Yami had screamed, clutched at his head and then fainted.
"Is he alive?"
Ryou resisted the urge to throw something at Tristan. Why would he ask something like that?
*The idiot is right you know* Bakura said. He'd finally stopped laughing. *You should check to see if he's still breathing*
Tentatively, Ryou checked Yugi for a pulse, and sighed in relief when he found one. "He's got a pulse, so he's alive."
Ryou picked up Yugi's head and placed it in his lap, while Yugi's grandfather walked over to them and began to fuss over his grandson.
"Yugi, can you hear me?" Mr. Moto asked. "Yami? Kaiba?"
There was no response from the unconscious teen.
**Bakura, do you know what happened?**
Bakura did not reply. The spirit was mulling something over, his attention no longer on what was going on.
**Bakura!**
*Damn it, don't do that!* the spirit replied, annoyed. *What do you want?*
**Do you know what happened?**
Bakura shrugged. *Of course, I know. The pharaoh messed up the spell. Ra only knows where he and the others ended up*
Ryou frowned. **What do you mean where they ended up? Yugi's body is right here. Where else would they be?**
Bakura sighed in exasperation. When he spoke, his voice was condescending, as if speaking to a child.
*Look at the puzzle, Ryou, it no longer glows. The spirits inside it are no longer there, which means that the pharaoh, the little runt, and Kaiba are no longer there*
**How can you be so sure?**
*Here, I'll show you*
Before he could give his agreement, he felt himself being pulled out of his body. His surroundings became dark, before he found himself dropping towards a bright light. Bakura was falling beside him, but unlike Ryou, Bakura's face was calm and devoid of panic. They came to a stop right before they reached the bright light. Ryou looked down and saw nothing but an empty room.
*The puzzle is empty, Ryou* Bakura said, pointing at the empty room.
**If they're not in the puzzle, where are they? Why is Yugi's body still alive if his soul is no longer there?**
Bakura shrugged. *The little runt's body does not need the soul to survive*
**Where are they?**
Bakura shrugged again, and a grin split his face.
*I don't have the faintest idea. They're wherever the pharaoh sent them*
"Ryou? Are you okay?"
Ryou came back to his body to find Joey shaking him. He pushed the taller teen away from him.
"I'm fine, Joey, I was just talking to Bakura. He seems to think that Yami messed up the spell and sent them somewhere else."
"Are they okay?"
Ryou turned in the direction of the timid voice and found Mokuba Kaiba sitting on the couch, his eyes full of tears.
"They should be fine, wherever they are. I'm not sure how they're supposed to come back, though. I don't think Bakura does either."
"So what do we do now?" Mr. Moto asked.
Ryou looked down at his friend's peaceful face. Yugi looked as if he was just sleeping, but Ryou was worried about where he and his two companions had ended up.
"Make him comfortable and wait for them to get back, I guess. I don't know what else to do."
**~~**
Yugi opened his eyes, only to close them again when the bright sunlight assaulted them. When had he gotten outside? He opened his eyes again, slower to let them adjust to the brightness, and looked around to find that sand surrounded him in all directions. The hot wind was strong, blowing the tiny grains on him. He was already half covered with the stuff, which made him wonder how long he'd been unconscious. His head began to ache, and that alone told him that he'd been out in the sun longer than he should have been.
For lack of anything else to do, he began walking. He was very sure that Ryou did not live next to a desert, but at the moment, he was more concerned with getting out of the sun than with figuring out why he wasn't at Kaiba's mansion where he was supposed to be. Yugi didn't know where to go, so he picked a direction at random. His throat ached, and his lips were parched. He had been out in the sun long enough to have reached the first stages of heat stroke. If he didn't get to shade and got some water in him soon, he was going to be in very serious trouble.
Had Yami's spell gone wrong? If it had, why was he in a desert? Shouldn't he be back at Ryou's house or in the puzzle? That thought brought a hint of panic with it. He was in control of the body, so Yami and Kaiba should be in the puzzle, right? He concentrated, trying to reach the link he shared with each of them, but found nothing but emptiness. He couldn't feel them in the puzzle either; it felt hollow and empty. Yugi cradled it in his hands and shivered when he touched the cool metal. The puzzle was usually warm, which indicated Yami's presence. Now, it felt as if he'd just taken it out of the refrigerator. For the first time in a long while, Yugi was truly alone.
Yugi had been walking for a while when he heard the sound of horses. It was coming from behind him, and he turned to see a small disturbance in the scene behind him. The waves of heat blurred the scene, making it look as if he were seeing it through a glass of water. He would have chalked it up to a heat induced mirage, except that he could hear the sound of the horses as they moved through the sand. It was a small caravan, no more than a couple of wagons. It took Yugi a few moments to realize that he was looking at something out of a history book, at the very least, something he had never been exposed to at home. He stopped walking, awestruck at the sight.
As the caravan got closer, a couple of men dismounted from the second wagon and began to run towards Yugi. They were covered only in a white cloth wrapped around their waist. They carried spears, and something in the back of Yugi's mind told him that he was looking at a couple of Egyptian guards. Yugi began to run away, but then stopped. He had nowhere to go, and would probably not outrun the two guards. Instead, he stood his ground and watched as they approached him.
When they reached him, they came to a dead stop in front of him. Their eyes widened, and then they dropped to their knees in front of him, their heads bowed.
"My pharaoh, we thought you were at the palace. It is unsafe for you to wander the desert on your own."
Yugi's mouth dropped open. He wasn't the pharaoh, so why would the guards think he was. Unless. . . it couldn't be. He couldn't have been thrown back in time to Egypt during Yami's rule, could he have?
"Is this how you protect me, by bowing before our enemies?"
Yugi turned to see that the first wagon had come to a stop in front of him. A man that looked and sounded exactly like Kaiba had poked his head out of the covered wagon. All Yugi could see was the man's purple and gold headdress, but there was no mistaking the blue eyes and regal set to the face. He was looking at Kaiba, and yet the man was not Kaiba. He had to be the high priest depicted on the stone tablet Ishizu had shown them at the Domino museum.
"There is no enemy here, only our pharaoh," one of the guards said.
Yugi turned back to the men to see that they were still kneeling. Confused, Yugi turned to the priest, who motioned with his head, telling Yugi to do something.
"You may rise," Yugi said, unsure if he was doing the right thing. "We should get on our way."
The two guards got to their feet and mounted their horses. Yugi stood on the sand, not sure if he was supposed to go with them or not.
"Well, Pharaoh," the priest said, emphasizing the title sarcastically, "are you coming?" He motioned for Yugi to get on the wagon, and he complied.
Once Yugi was settled on the rich cushions of the wagon, and they were on their way again, the priest spoke.
"Who are you? Where are you from?"
Yugi stared at the man. The blue eyes examined him, unflinching, the face impassive. Lying to the priest would be useless, yet he couldn't tell him the truth. He wasn't even sure he knew what the truth was.
"The guards seem to think that I'm the pharaoh."
"You may look like Yami, but you're not. You wear the Millennium Puzzle, but it is most likely a fake. Your clothing is of a strange design, the cloth foreign. That garment was not made in Egypt."
Yugi schooled his features into an emotionless mask. Inside, he was trembling with apprehension, his mind whirling to cope with everything it was being presented with. Instinctively, he knew that it'd be deadly to let the priest know of his fear, and hoped that his features did not give him away.
"How would you know?"
The priest did not reply. Instead, he shifted in his seat, his rich robes swirling around him. He leaned over and when he straightened, the Millennium Rod was in his hand.
"Yami and I grew up in the palace together. I know him better than anyone else." The priest smiled then, a dark and dangerous thing. "I have ways of finding out what I want to know."
Before Yugi could react, the priest was upon him. Effortlessly, the taller man pinned Yugi against the cushions. Yugi began to struggle, until the priest unsheathed the blade at the end of the Millennium Rod and pressed it against the soft flesh of his throat.
"I wouldn't struggle, if I were you. I keep this blade very sharp."
Yugi froze, staring into the cold, blue depths of the priest's eyes. The priest meant what he said. As if to prove his point, the priest jabbed the blade lightly into Yugi's throat, making it bleed slightly.
"Who are you?"
Yugi said nothing. What could he say?
The priest narrowed his eyes, anger flaring through them like a storm cloud.
"Tell me! If you have plans to infiltrate the palace and kill the pharaoh for a foreign government, you will not succeed. I won't let you."
Was that loyalty Yugi heard in the priest's voice? Was the man actually worried that he was here to harm the pharaoh? Suddenly, Yugi forgot his current predicament and thought about Yami. Where was he? Were he and Kaiba thrown back in time with him, or was he here alone? If he was here, would he take the place of the Yami of this time? Yugi tried to shake his head to clear the thoughts, but the pain of the blade cutting into his neck stopped him. He hissed and moved his head as far as he could the other way to alleviate the pain.
"You won't talk, then," the priest stated. "Very well, I have ways of making you talk."
He flipped the rod, bringing the top of it to hover directly in front of Yugi's face. The item began to glow, slightly at first, and then gaining intensity, until all Yugi could see was the golden eye in the center of it. Yugi felt a pressure at the back of his mind. It was pushing at it, attempting to gain access to his memories. Yugi fought it as best he could, and felt the powers of his puzzle fighting with him. Was this how Joey had felt during Battle City when Malik had taken over his mind? The gentle push against his mind suddenly became much stronger, making him cry out in surprise and pain. The push broke through, and Yugi was thrust into a world of memory.
****
"Kaiba, you jerk! Come back and take it like a man."
Yugi held tightly to Joey's arms, desperate to keep him from provoking Kaiba more than he already had. Joey pushed Yugi aside and stood toe to toe with Kaiba.
"You don't know the meaning of the word, you dog," Kaiba said. "You should stay in the dog house where you belong."
"How would you know about that? You spend all of your time with your machines that you've forgotten how to talk to people."
Yugi stepped in between them and looked up at them. He put one hand on each of their chests and pushed them apart.
"Don't do this, guys. It's not worth it."
Kaiba chuckled. "Listen to your little friend, Wheeler. He's right, you don't want me to break your jaw."
Kaiba walked away, leaving a very angry Joey behind.
"Why'd you do that, Yugi? Why'd you interfere?"
"Kaiba's not worth it, Joey. He's not worth you getting expelled from school."
****
"Grandpa, grandpa, are you okay?"
His grandfather, who was lying on the floor, weakly lifted his head to look at him.
"Yugi, I failed. I wanted to teach that boy, Kaiba, a lesson about the heart of the cards, but I lost." He groaned, and lowered his head.
"How's the old man feeling, huh?"
Kaiba stood a few feet away from them, looking pleased.
"Kaiba, you sleaze, what have you done to him?" Joey asked.
"We had a duel, that's all, with each one of us putting up our most valuable card, but I guess playing against a champion like myself was just too much stimulation for the old fool."
"Kaiba, you should be ashamed of yourself," Tea yelled.
Kaiba laughed. "It was fair, and look at the sweet prize I won."
Kaiba held up the Blue Eyes White Dragon card, smiling in satisfaction, before he tore it in two.
"Grandpa's most precious card," Yugi said, horrified.
His grandfather and the others gasped in surprise, but no one could do anything.
"Yes, the Blue Eyes White Dragon is a rare and powerful card, and this one will never be used against me.
"Ah, my Blue Eyes White Dragon, my treasure," his grandfather said, his voice weak. He groaned and looked away.
"Grandpa, hold on," Yugi said. He looked up at Kaiba, his eyes filling with tears. "How could you do such a thing?"
Before Kaiba could reply, his grandfather was holding out his deck of cards. "Yugi, here, take this," he said, his voice breaking with both pain and emotion. "I built this deck, I put my soul in these cards, and I taught you everything I know, Yugi. Take them. Take my cards and teach him respect. Teach Kaiba respect for the heart of the cards, Yugi."
"But grandpa," Yugi countered, his voice breaking as well, "you need help. I need to get you to a doctor."
Suddenly, Kaiba spoke up. "It sounds like an excuse. Your friends can care for your grandfather, while you and I duel. Unless you're afraid."
Kaiba's words made Yugi's anger rise, setting aside his fear and worry for the moment.
"Take him, Yugi," Joey encouraged. "We can take care of your grandpa while you take care of creepy Kaiba. Teach that rich, spoiled brat what a real duel is all about."
"For your grandpa, Yugi," Tea added.
Yugi turned to his friends, surprised and touched at their encouragement.
"I don't know."
"Trust me," Joey said. "You're like the best player I've ever seen and you've got the Millennium Puzzle. You can do this, Yugi, I know you can."
"We all do," Tea added.
Yugi thought it over for a moment, before making a decision. He took his grandfather's deck from the elder man's hand.
"Okay, Grandpa, I'll do it."
"I know you will my boy."
****
Wrenched out of the memory, Yugi found himself once again staring at the priest. The priest's eyes were glassy, unfocused. Had the priest seen his memories? What would he make out of them if he had? Yugi used the opportunity to grab the hand holding his throat. He pushed it away from his heck, and then used his other arm to push the priest away. The priest fell and landrd on a mound of cushions. He remained there for a few more moments. Yugi contemplated jumping out of the wagon, but decided against it. He'd have nowhere else to go.
The priest suddenly shook his head and sat up. He seemed confused, and Yugi knew then that the man had seen his memories, had seen Yugi's memory of Kaiba, his double. He straightened himself up but made no motion to come closer to Yugi.
"That was not what I expected, Yugi, but it will have to suffice," the priest said.
Yugi had heard Kaiba say his name many times, but it had never sounded so much like a curse as it did at that moment.
"I may find a use for you after all."
**~~**
"Are you out of your mind? If the palace guards come in here and find him, they're going to execute us."
The woman's voice was frantic. Yami didn't have to see her to tell that much. He was on his back on something soft, his eyes closed. He decided to remain that way, so that he could hear the rest of the conversation, even though he didn't recognize the woman's voice.
"What was I supposed to do, mother? Leave him out there to dehydrate and die in the desert?"
That voice Yami definitely recognized, it was Mokuba Kaiba's voice.
"You shouldn't have brought him here, Yuya? Did anyone see you when you brought him inside our house?"
The boy sighed dramatically. "Nait was with me, she helped."
There was silence, until another voice Yami recognized reached his ears.
"We couldn't leave him there. He would have died if we'd walked away."
The girl, whom Yami knew as Rebecca Hawkins, was not going to be persuaded. The children's names were Egyptian, which led Yami to wonder where he was. He should be at Kaiba's mansion right now, but he doubted that Kaiba had hired Egyptian housekeepers.
*Hey, Kaiba, have you changed your staff lately?* Yami asked.
He was greeted with silence.
*Kaiba?*
Nothing.
Concentrating, Yami reached out to the link he shared with Yugi, and through that link, he attempted to reach Kaiba. He was unsuccessful at reaching either one of his companions. He could no longer feel Yugi, and Kaiba's spirit was gone as well. Yami began to panic. What had happened? How had the spell gone wrong? Where were Yugi and Kaiba? Had something happened to them? The woman's voice drew him out of his own morbid thoughts.
"You kids have no idea what you're getting into. We do not keep the pharaoh in our house. If his guards find him here, they will assume that we were the ones that harmed him and will execute us. If he wakes up here, he will assume that we were the ones that harmed him and have us executed."
Yugi had told him that the pharaohs ceased to rule Egypt about 2400 years before his time, when the Romans had invaded. Yami had been heartbroken to hear that, and had asked Yugi to get him a history book so he could read about the demise of his country. Yugi had pointed out that Yami would not be able to read the book, since it wasn't written in Hieroglyphs, but had promised to tell him more about the history of Egypt. He'd never gotten around to it and now Yami wish he had. Wherever he was, he was no longer in Yugi's time.
Suddenly, he felt something wet against his palm. Without realizing he'd done it, Yami opened his eyes and sat up, pushing the animal away from him. Astonished gasps from the three other people in the room drew his attention to them, and he was surprised by the woman's look of horror.
"I will not hurt you," he said to her, but his promise did nothing to calm her.
He looked at the boy, who looked exactly like Mokuba Kaiba, wild black hair and all, and the girl, who looked exactly like Rebecca Hawkins. The children stared back at him, but they were not afraid. They were curious.
"My Pharaoh, I apologize for my children's indiscretion. They should not have touched you."
Yami got up and went to the woman.
"They saved my life, and for that I am grateful," he said and looked around the modest room.
The house was small, with a thick cloth serving as a door. Outside, Yami could hear the bustle of activity as the other residents went about their business. It was daytime, and Yami found himself unsure of what to do.
"Here, Pharaoh."
Yami looked up to see that Yuya was holding out a bowl to him. He took it and found it filled with water. He realized at that moment that he was thirsty, and drank the water quickly.
"Not so fast or you'll choke," the woman warned.
Yami took her advice and sipped the cool liquid gently.
"Thank you," he said to the boy, and then to her when he'd finished the water. "I am grateful to you and your children for saving my life."
He didn't correct them, since he wasn't exactly sure that he wasn't the pharaoh. If he'd been thrown back into Ancient Egypt, it was likely that he had taken the place of his counterpart. For all intents and purposes, he was the pharaoh. Since that was the case, he should probably get back to the palace.
The woman bowed respectfully. "We're at your service, my Pharaoh. You should probably rest for a while longer and regain your strength. Yuya and Neit can get you whatever you need."
Yami nodded, and she retreated into another room of the house. Yami went back to the bed and lay down, feeling dizzy all of a sudden. He looked at the children, who now seemed afraid of him. He smiled at them, and motioned for them to get closer. Since he was here, he might as well find out a little more about what he'd gotten himself into.
**~~**
"Yami, what the hell are you wearing? You look ridiculous."
Yami's eyes narrowed slightly. "You should look at yourself, Seto. It is you who looks ridiculous in those clothes. Where did you get them? They do not look as if they were made in Egypt." Yami made his way to Kaiba. "What are you doing here? I thought you had gone on a pilgrimage?"
Kaiba's stomach did a small flip. Since when had Yami started calling him by his first name? Why were the two other people in the room still on the floor? Why did Yami think he was on a pilgrimage? More importantly, how had he gotten his body back? Didn't Yami remember what had happened at Ryou's house?
"Pharaoh, I came as soon as I could. I am sorry for my delay."
The man who addressed Yami bowed, but Yami waved him off. "It does not matter, Kamoses. Attend to the High Priest at once."
The man neared Kaiba, and he would have backed away if his head hadn't hurt so much. Instead, he let the man take a look at his eyes, using some weird light thing that he shone in them. What was going on?
Suddenly, he had a vision of the person who looked like him, standing in this same room, addressing the Pharaoh Yami. It was then that it dawned on Kaiba that he was no longer in Yugi's puzzle. Somehow, he was in Ancient Egypt. If he was here, then Yami and Yugi should be as well, right? Yami was here, but not the Yami that he knew. What had happened to the other one?
The man who Kaiba supposed was a healer, put a hand on the back of his head, which made Kaiba hiss in pain.
"Watch it," he growled.
The man jerked away from him, his head bowed. "I am sorry, Priest Seto. You have sustained an injury to the back of your head. If you will return to your room, I will put a healing salve on it to diminish the pain and the nausea."
"Who did this?" Yami suddenly asked.
The woman on the floor whimpered slightly, and the man next to her shushed her.
"Mayet meant no harm, Pharaoh," the man explained. "Tell him, Mayet."
The woman sniffled. She looked at Kaiba, tears running down her face, before she addressed Pharaoh Yami.
"I did not expect to see him in the kitchen, Pharaoh. I thought he was a burglar and I hit him in the head. I am sorry. I'm very sorry," she repeated and bowed her head until her forehead was touching the ground.
Kaiba felt uncharacteristic pity towards her. He clumsily got to his feet, and almost toppled down again when the room began to spin wildly. Only Pharaoh Yami's arm around his waist kept him from falling over.
"It's just a bump to the head, no big deal," Kaiba said. "Don't worry about it."
Pharaoh Yami turned to him, his face a mask of surprise. The man and woman, along with the healer, all sported similar expressions of surprise on their faces.
"You are injured more than you are letting on, Seto. Let us get you to your room so the healer can work his magic."
Without another word, Pharaoh Yami led Kaiba towards another part of the palace. Kaiba would have paid attention to where he was going, except that his vision was blurry and he couldn't really see. It became too much of an effort, so he simply let Pharaoh Yami guide him.
After what seemed like forever, they entered a spacious room. Kaiba looked around, astounded. The room was as big as the one in his mansion, but unlike his own room, this one was furnished in lavish, gold trimmed furniture that was upholstered with purple and gold cloth. The room exuded royalty and power, which Kaiba supposed made sense. Pharaoh Yami led him to the bed and gently laid him down.
"Prepare your salve, healer. I will take care of the rest."
The healer did as instructed as Kaiba lay down on the bed. The mattress was comfortable, as were the huge pillows. Kaiba sighed in relief as the cool material hit his face.
"I am finished, my Pharaoh. If you have further need of me, I will be in my rooms."
Pharaoh Yami did not say anything. Kaiba wasn't sure what the man was doing, until he felt the pharaoh sit down behind him and begin to caress his hair.
Kaiba tensed. "What are you doing?"
Pharaoh Yami chuckled. "I am looking for the injury, Seto. I need to apply the salve."
He continued to caress his hair and scalp, until Kaiba hissed in pain again.
"Found it," the pharaoh said. "Relax, Seto. You are never this tense around me."
Kaiba took a deep breath. Relax? How could he possibly relax? He'd never seen Yami act this nice, this caring, and Kaiba didn't know what to make of it. Unlike the other Yami, who was constantly in a confrontational state whenever Kaiba saw him, this Yami was calm, relaxed, and seemed very sure of himself.
"We've grown up together, Seto. You are the closest thing to a brother I have ever had, so there is no reason for you to be tense around me. You should know by now that I will not harm you, nor will I let harm come to you," Pharaoh Yami said as he applied a cool balm to the back of his head.
Brothers? He and Yami? Kaiba pictured the relationship he had with Mokuba, and then tried to picture that same relationship with Yami. It didn't add up in his head at all. He didn't see how it was possible.
"There, I'm all done. I will cast a spell so you can sleep without pain until the healer's balm begins to work," Pharaoh Yami said as he got up from the bed. "I will see you when you awaken."
Kaiba suddenly felt sleepy. He tried to fight the feeling as he'd done so many times when he had deadlines to meet, but was unable to keep sleep at bay. He closed his eyes and succumbed to slumber.
**~~**
Ta da! That's another boring chapter for ya! Well, I hope it wasn't too boring.
Note: Yugi's first memory came from my demented imagination. The second one came from the first episode of the English dubbed series.
Next up: Mokuba decides to help out in the only way he can. Priest Akunadin has plans for Yugi. Yami goes to the palace. Kaiba tries to deal with a nice Yami. Until next time!
I need your help! I'm writing a songfic for Chibizoo's fanfic contest, and I would really like to have a beta for it. The fic is told entirely from Kaiba's point of view, and is slightly Kaiba/Yugi. It's not a happy story, but if you're reading this, you probably know that none of my stories are. If you have absolutely no problem with either of those things and wouldn't mind helping me out, please email me: amunraprincess@yahoo.com I'll be forever grateful.
Also, please read the note at the end of the chapter. There are some memories in this chapter and the credit for them is at the bottom.
Reviews:
Ginger Ninja: Thanks! I'm glad that you liked the twist. Now let's see if I can do anything with it.
Dee: Why would you assume that something is going to go wrong next? (Maybe because you've been reading the story so far? ^_^) We'll have to wait and see.
Kael Kalespel: Oh, wow. . . thank you very much! Your kind words made my day!
Miss Lous: Yeah, I'm talking about the Egyptian Arc of the manga at Jennaiya's page. Have you read all of it? Janime has summaries for the newer chapters, and it just keeps getting better. I can't wait to see it in the anime. I just couldn't resist the allure of their past lives. . . so interesting. I'm glad you're enjoying what's going on. No, Gozaburo had nothing to do with it. This time, it really was a stupid mistake.
Mittens no Hikari: Thank you very much! I'm glad you're enjoying the fic!
Ieyre: Thanks! Hopefully this update wasn't too long in coming.
Moonlight Shadow: Jenniyah's page has translations and scans (scanlations) of most of the Battle City/Battle Ship and almost the entire Egyptian Memory World arc. There's a link to it on my bio page if you're interested in checking it out. I watched The Mummy and the sequel and loved both of them. They're not historically accurate (Imhotep was an architect, designer of the first pyramid, not a priest) but they were entertaining nonetheless. The scenes with the scarabs were freaky, though. Thanks for the review!
Osiris: Welcome to another Kaiba fan! Thanks for the encouragement. I really appreciate it!
Deranged black kitten of doom: Interesting name ^_^ Yes, there's definitely lots more to write, so I hope you keep enjoying the fic.
Joeyz girl: I'm glad to hear that this is one of your faves *blushing*. Yup, Yami's spell definitely went wrong. They're really in Ancient Egypt, so it's not a flashback. More will be explained as the fic continues.
Adrienne: Question: Did you want me to write a Malik/Serenity fic, or did I dream that up? I just remembered that the other day. You don't like Yugi/Seto? *sniffles*. I love Seto/Jou too, but have more of a soft spot for Yugi/Seto. Is this going to be a Yugi/Seto? I have no clue. I haven't thought that far ahead yet. You'd be surprised when you do get to the states. We don't get much anime over here, and what we do get is watered down. I download the Japanese episodes and watch those. Thanks for the rod *rubs hands in anticipation and ponders who she's going to control first*
MillenniumDreamer: Yup, time travel is definitely fun. Thanks for the review!
Starheart: Thank you very much ^__^!
Solitaire and Xpyne: I'm so on the edge of whether to leap into yaoi or stay where I am. I read a lot of it but have never written it. I'm fascinated with the interaction between Yugi, Yami, and Seto, which is why I keep writing them. I'm glad that you like what I've written so far!
Mutou Yasu: The manga is so entertaining, and so unlike anything else I've been exposed to in the US, which is why I'm so fascinated by it. I keep reading more and more of it. Thanks for reviewing!
Crystal Hikari: Thanks! I do like to keep things interesting.
Sunrise: I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Be careful with that yami, though ^_^
Callisto Firestarted: Wow! Thank you so much! It's always good to hear that the fic is being enjoyed.
Silver Dragon Golden Dragon: The spell was not deflected. . . it was more like it had the wrong effect. It will be explained in more detail in a future chapter (I'm not sure which one at this point, but soon!)
Rogue: Was that good laughter or bad laughter? ^_^ I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
Amiasha Ruri: Don't worry about it! It's always great to hear from you. Fireworks is putting it lightly if Gozabaka ever got a hold of the puzzle. Hmm. . . I'll ponder that further, it may have possibilities. They're definitely back in Ancient Egypt. Sorting it all out is going to be the fun part.
Hobbit13: Yup, Yami screwed up. You're not brainless; I just skipped over Yugi actually doing the spell. I had Yami note that he'd done it, and I think Yugi mentioned it too. Sorry if it was a bit confusing.
Happy: Yup, I got the message. It worked eventually. Thank you!
Lightning Sage (Destiny): Thank you very much! I'm very happy that you liked the story!
Write Already/Write More Already: That was just too funny!! I'm usually notified of any reviews I get, but I wasn't notified about yours. It wasn't until I was reading them to reply to them that I saw it. Ask and ye shall receive, eh, since it's only been two days since you posted? Nope, I'm not dead, just busy with school and all the other stuff. I don't usually take this long to update, but this chapter just wouldn't get written. I was going to hold off and post the chapter tomorrow, until I read your review so asking does work. Thanks for the review!
You all rock! Thank you so very much. Now on with the story.
**~~**
Part 10: Home Sweet Home
Ryou was the first to react when Yami screamed and fell to the ground.
He was on his feet and heading towards the fallen pharaoh before he even realized it. In the back of his mind, he could hear Bakura laughing his head off. The spirit was laughing so hard that he was having difficulty drawing breath, but he kept doing it. In between the laughter, Bakura kept murmuring. Ryou couldn't decipher everything the spirit was saying, but he did manage to catch a few 'stupid pharaoh', 'mindless spell caster', and 'a child could have done it better' comments. Ryou ignored the spirit and dropped to his knees beside Yugi. He frowned. When had Yugi taken over the body?
"Woah, what the hell just happened?"
Joey's voice was edged with panic, and Ryou couldn't blame him. Yami had closed his eyes and begun to chant the spell. Ryou hadn't understood what was said, but he knew that Bakura had. The spirit had shut himself in his soul room as soon as Yami had begun to chant, which had made Ryou suspicious. He'd been telling himself that he'd talk to the spirit later when Yami had screamed, clutched at his head and then fainted.
"Is he alive?"
Ryou resisted the urge to throw something at Tristan. Why would he ask something like that?
*The idiot is right you know* Bakura said. He'd finally stopped laughing. *You should check to see if he's still breathing*
Tentatively, Ryou checked Yugi for a pulse, and sighed in relief when he found one. "He's got a pulse, so he's alive."
Ryou picked up Yugi's head and placed it in his lap, while Yugi's grandfather walked over to them and began to fuss over his grandson.
"Yugi, can you hear me?" Mr. Moto asked. "Yami? Kaiba?"
There was no response from the unconscious teen.
**Bakura, do you know what happened?**
Bakura did not reply. The spirit was mulling something over, his attention no longer on what was going on.
**Bakura!**
*Damn it, don't do that!* the spirit replied, annoyed. *What do you want?*
**Do you know what happened?**
Bakura shrugged. *Of course, I know. The pharaoh messed up the spell. Ra only knows where he and the others ended up*
Ryou frowned. **What do you mean where they ended up? Yugi's body is right here. Where else would they be?**
Bakura sighed in exasperation. When he spoke, his voice was condescending, as if speaking to a child.
*Look at the puzzle, Ryou, it no longer glows. The spirits inside it are no longer there, which means that the pharaoh, the little runt, and Kaiba are no longer there*
**How can you be so sure?**
*Here, I'll show you*
Before he could give his agreement, he felt himself being pulled out of his body. His surroundings became dark, before he found himself dropping towards a bright light. Bakura was falling beside him, but unlike Ryou, Bakura's face was calm and devoid of panic. They came to a stop right before they reached the bright light. Ryou looked down and saw nothing but an empty room.
*The puzzle is empty, Ryou* Bakura said, pointing at the empty room.
**If they're not in the puzzle, where are they? Why is Yugi's body still alive if his soul is no longer there?**
Bakura shrugged. *The little runt's body does not need the soul to survive*
**Where are they?**
Bakura shrugged again, and a grin split his face.
*I don't have the faintest idea. They're wherever the pharaoh sent them*
"Ryou? Are you okay?"
Ryou came back to his body to find Joey shaking him. He pushed the taller teen away from him.
"I'm fine, Joey, I was just talking to Bakura. He seems to think that Yami messed up the spell and sent them somewhere else."
"Are they okay?"
Ryou turned in the direction of the timid voice and found Mokuba Kaiba sitting on the couch, his eyes full of tears.
"They should be fine, wherever they are. I'm not sure how they're supposed to come back, though. I don't think Bakura does either."
"So what do we do now?" Mr. Moto asked.
Ryou looked down at his friend's peaceful face. Yugi looked as if he was just sleeping, but Ryou was worried about where he and his two companions had ended up.
"Make him comfortable and wait for them to get back, I guess. I don't know what else to do."
**~~**
Yugi opened his eyes, only to close them again when the bright sunlight assaulted them. When had he gotten outside? He opened his eyes again, slower to let them adjust to the brightness, and looked around to find that sand surrounded him in all directions. The hot wind was strong, blowing the tiny grains on him. He was already half covered with the stuff, which made him wonder how long he'd been unconscious. His head began to ache, and that alone told him that he'd been out in the sun longer than he should have been.
For lack of anything else to do, he began walking. He was very sure that Ryou did not live next to a desert, but at the moment, he was more concerned with getting out of the sun than with figuring out why he wasn't at Kaiba's mansion where he was supposed to be. Yugi didn't know where to go, so he picked a direction at random. His throat ached, and his lips were parched. He had been out in the sun long enough to have reached the first stages of heat stroke. If he didn't get to shade and got some water in him soon, he was going to be in very serious trouble.
Had Yami's spell gone wrong? If it had, why was he in a desert? Shouldn't he be back at Ryou's house or in the puzzle? That thought brought a hint of panic with it. He was in control of the body, so Yami and Kaiba should be in the puzzle, right? He concentrated, trying to reach the link he shared with each of them, but found nothing but emptiness. He couldn't feel them in the puzzle either; it felt hollow and empty. Yugi cradled it in his hands and shivered when he touched the cool metal. The puzzle was usually warm, which indicated Yami's presence. Now, it felt as if he'd just taken it out of the refrigerator. For the first time in a long while, Yugi was truly alone.
Yugi had been walking for a while when he heard the sound of horses. It was coming from behind him, and he turned to see a small disturbance in the scene behind him. The waves of heat blurred the scene, making it look as if he were seeing it through a glass of water. He would have chalked it up to a heat induced mirage, except that he could hear the sound of the horses as they moved through the sand. It was a small caravan, no more than a couple of wagons. It took Yugi a few moments to realize that he was looking at something out of a history book, at the very least, something he had never been exposed to at home. He stopped walking, awestruck at the sight.
As the caravan got closer, a couple of men dismounted from the second wagon and began to run towards Yugi. They were covered only in a white cloth wrapped around their waist. They carried spears, and something in the back of Yugi's mind told him that he was looking at a couple of Egyptian guards. Yugi began to run away, but then stopped. He had nowhere to go, and would probably not outrun the two guards. Instead, he stood his ground and watched as they approached him.
When they reached him, they came to a dead stop in front of him. Their eyes widened, and then they dropped to their knees in front of him, their heads bowed.
"My pharaoh, we thought you were at the palace. It is unsafe for you to wander the desert on your own."
Yugi's mouth dropped open. He wasn't the pharaoh, so why would the guards think he was. Unless. . . it couldn't be. He couldn't have been thrown back in time to Egypt during Yami's rule, could he have?
"Is this how you protect me, by bowing before our enemies?"
Yugi turned to see that the first wagon had come to a stop in front of him. A man that looked and sounded exactly like Kaiba had poked his head out of the covered wagon. All Yugi could see was the man's purple and gold headdress, but there was no mistaking the blue eyes and regal set to the face. He was looking at Kaiba, and yet the man was not Kaiba. He had to be the high priest depicted on the stone tablet Ishizu had shown them at the Domino museum.
"There is no enemy here, only our pharaoh," one of the guards said.
Yugi turned back to the men to see that they were still kneeling. Confused, Yugi turned to the priest, who motioned with his head, telling Yugi to do something.
"You may rise," Yugi said, unsure if he was doing the right thing. "We should get on our way."
The two guards got to their feet and mounted their horses. Yugi stood on the sand, not sure if he was supposed to go with them or not.
"Well, Pharaoh," the priest said, emphasizing the title sarcastically, "are you coming?" He motioned for Yugi to get on the wagon, and he complied.
Once Yugi was settled on the rich cushions of the wagon, and they were on their way again, the priest spoke.
"Who are you? Where are you from?"
Yugi stared at the man. The blue eyes examined him, unflinching, the face impassive. Lying to the priest would be useless, yet he couldn't tell him the truth. He wasn't even sure he knew what the truth was.
"The guards seem to think that I'm the pharaoh."
"You may look like Yami, but you're not. You wear the Millennium Puzzle, but it is most likely a fake. Your clothing is of a strange design, the cloth foreign. That garment was not made in Egypt."
Yugi schooled his features into an emotionless mask. Inside, he was trembling with apprehension, his mind whirling to cope with everything it was being presented with. Instinctively, he knew that it'd be deadly to let the priest know of his fear, and hoped that his features did not give him away.
"How would you know?"
The priest did not reply. Instead, he shifted in his seat, his rich robes swirling around him. He leaned over and when he straightened, the Millennium Rod was in his hand.
"Yami and I grew up in the palace together. I know him better than anyone else." The priest smiled then, a dark and dangerous thing. "I have ways of finding out what I want to know."
Before Yugi could react, the priest was upon him. Effortlessly, the taller man pinned Yugi against the cushions. Yugi began to struggle, until the priest unsheathed the blade at the end of the Millennium Rod and pressed it against the soft flesh of his throat.
"I wouldn't struggle, if I were you. I keep this blade very sharp."
Yugi froze, staring into the cold, blue depths of the priest's eyes. The priest meant what he said. As if to prove his point, the priest jabbed the blade lightly into Yugi's throat, making it bleed slightly.
"Who are you?"
Yugi said nothing. What could he say?
The priest narrowed his eyes, anger flaring through them like a storm cloud.
"Tell me! If you have plans to infiltrate the palace and kill the pharaoh for a foreign government, you will not succeed. I won't let you."
Was that loyalty Yugi heard in the priest's voice? Was the man actually worried that he was here to harm the pharaoh? Suddenly, Yugi forgot his current predicament and thought about Yami. Where was he? Were he and Kaiba thrown back in time with him, or was he here alone? If he was here, would he take the place of the Yami of this time? Yugi tried to shake his head to clear the thoughts, but the pain of the blade cutting into his neck stopped him. He hissed and moved his head as far as he could the other way to alleviate the pain.
"You won't talk, then," the priest stated. "Very well, I have ways of making you talk."
He flipped the rod, bringing the top of it to hover directly in front of Yugi's face. The item began to glow, slightly at first, and then gaining intensity, until all Yugi could see was the golden eye in the center of it. Yugi felt a pressure at the back of his mind. It was pushing at it, attempting to gain access to his memories. Yugi fought it as best he could, and felt the powers of his puzzle fighting with him. Was this how Joey had felt during Battle City when Malik had taken over his mind? The gentle push against his mind suddenly became much stronger, making him cry out in surprise and pain. The push broke through, and Yugi was thrust into a world of memory.
****
"Kaiba, you jerk! Come back and take it like a man."
Yugi held tightly to Joey's arms, desperate to keep him from provoking Kaiba more than he already had. Joey pushed Yugi aside and stood toe to toe with Kaiba.
"You don't know the meaning of the word, you dog," Kaiba said. "You should stay in the dog house where you belong."
"How would you know about that? You spend all of your time with your machines that you've forgotten how to talk to people."
Yugi stepped in between them and looked up at them. He put one hand on each of their chests and pushed them apart.
"Don't do this, guys. It's not worth it."
Kaiba chuckled. "Listen to your little friend, Wheeler. He's right, you don't want me to break your jaw."
Kaiba walked away, leaving a very angry Joey behind.
"Why'd you do that, Yugi? Why'd you interfere?"
"Kaiba's not worth it, Joey. He's not worth you getting expelled from school."
****
"Grandpa, grandpa, are you okay?"
His grandfather, who was lying on the floor, weakly lifted his head to look at him.
"Yugi, I failed. I wanted to teach that boy, Kaiba, a lesson about the heart of the cards, but I lost." He groaned, and lowered his head.
"How's the old man feeling, huh?"
Kaiba stood a few feet away from them, looking pleased.
"Kaiba, you sleaze, what have you done to him?" Joey asked.
"We had a duel, that's all, with each one of us putting up our most valuable card, but I guess playing against a champion like myself was just too much stimulation for the old fool."
"Kaiba, you should be ashamed of yourself," Tea yelled.
Kaiba laughed. "It was fair, and look at the sweet prize I won."
Kaiba held up the Blue Eyes White Dragon card, smiling in satisfaction, before he tore it in two.
"Grandpa's most precious card," Yugi said, horrified.
His grandfather and the others gasped in surprise, but no one could do anything.
"Yes, the Blue Eyes White Dragon is a rare and powerful card, and this one will never be used against me.
"Ah, my Blue Eyes White Dragon, my treasure," his grandfather said, his voice weak. He groaned and looked away.
"Grandpa, hold on," Yugi said. He looked up at Kaiba, his eyes filling with tears. "How could you do such a thing?"
Before Kaiba could reply, his grandfather was holding out his deck of cards. "Yugi, here, take this," he said, his voice breaking with both pain and emotion. "I built this deck, I put my soul in these cards, and I taught you everything I know, Yugi. Take them. Take my cards and teach him respect. Teach Kaiba respect for the heart of the cards, Yugi."
"But grandpa," Yugi countered, his voice breaking as well, "you need help. I need to get you to a doctor."
Suddenly, Kaiba spoke up. "It sounds like an excuse. Your friends can care for your grandfather, while you and I duel. Unless you're afraid."
Kaiba's words made Yugi's anger rise, setting aside his fear and worry for the moment.
"Take him, Yugi," Joey encouraged. "We can take care of your grandpa while you take care of creepy Kaiba. Teach that rich, spoiled brat what a real duel is all about."
"For your grandpa, Yugi," Tea added.
Yugi turned to his friends, surprised and touched at their encouragement.
"I don't know."
"Trust me," Joey said. "You're like the best player I've ever seen and you've got the Millennium Puzzle. You can do this, Yugi, I know you can."
"We all do," Tea added.
Yugi thought it over for a moment, before making a decision. He took his grandfather's deck from the elder man's hand.
"Okay, Grandpa, I'll do it."
"I know you will my boy."
****
Wrenched out of the memory, Yugi found himself once again staring at the priest. The priest's eyes were glassy, unfocused. Had the priest seen his memories? What would he make out of them if he had? Yugi used the opportunity to grab the hand holding his throat. He pushed it away from his heck, and then used his other arm to push the priest away. The priest fell and landrd on a mound of cushions. He remained there for a few more moments. Yugi contemplated jumping out of the wagon, but decided against it. He'd have nowhere else to go.
The priest suddenly shook his head and sat up. He seemed confused, and Yugi knew then that the man had seen his memories, had seen Yugi's memory of Kaiba, his double. He straightened himself up but made no motion to come closer to Yugi.
"That was not what I expected, Yugi, but it will have to suffice," the priest said.
Yugi had heard Kaiba say his name many times, but it had never sounded so much like a curse as it did at that moment.
"I may find a use for you after all."
**~~**
"Are you out of your mind? If the palace guards come in here and find him, they're going to execute us."
The woman's voice was frantic. Yami didn't have to see her to tell that much. He was on his back on something soft, his eyes closed. He decided to remain that way, so that he could hear the rest of the conversation, even though he didn't recognize the woman's voice.
"What was I supposed to do, mother? Leave him out there to dehydrate and die in the desert?"
That voice Yami definitely recognized, it was Mokuba Kaiba's voice.
"You shouldn't have brought him here, Yuya? Did anyone see you when you brought him inside our house?"
The boy sighed dramatically. "Nait was with me, she helped."
There was silence, until another voice Yami recognized reached his ears.
"We couldn't leave him there. He would have died if we'd walked away."
The girl, whom Yami knew as Rebecca Hawkins, was not going to be persuaded. The children's names were Egyptian, which led Yami to wonder where he was. He should be at Kaiba's mansion right now, but he doubted that Kaiba had hired Egyptian housekeepers.
*Hey, Kaiba, have you changed your staff lately?* Yami asked.
He was greeted with silence.
*Kaiba?*
Nothing.
Concentrating, Yami reached out to the link he shared with Yugi, and through that link, he attempted to reach Kaiba. He was unsuccessful at reaching either one of his companions. He could no longer feel Yugi, and Kaiba's spirit was gone as well. Yami began to panic. What had happened? How had the spell gone wrong? Where were Yugi and Kaiba? Had something happened to them? The woman's voice drew him out of his own morbid thoughts.
"You kids have no idea what you're getting into. We do not keep the pharaoh in our house. If his guards find him here, they will assume that we were the ones that harmed him and will execute us. If he wakes up here, he will assume that we were the ones that harmed him and have us executed."
Yugi had told him that the pharaohs ceased to rule Egypt about 2400 years before his time, when the Romans had invaded. Yami had been heartbroken to hear that, and had asked Yugi to get him a history book so he could read about the demise of his country. Yugi had pointed out that Yami would not be able to read the book, since it wasn't written in Hieroglyphs, but had promised to tell him more about the history of Egypt. He'd never gotten around to it and now Yami wish he had. Wherever he was, he was no longer in Yugi's time.
Suddenly, he felt something wet against his palm. Without realizing he'd done it, Yami opened his eyes and sat up, pushing the animal away from him. Astonished gasps from the three other people in the room drew his attention to them, and he was surprised by the woman's look of horror.
"I will not hurt you," he said to her, but his promise did nothing to calm her.
He looked at the boy, who looked exactly like Mokuba Kaiba, wild black hair and all, and the girl, who looked exactly like Rebecca Hawkins. The children stared back at him, but they were not afraid. They were curious.
"My Pharaoh, I apologize for my children's indiscretion. They should not have touched you."
Yami got up and went to the woman.
"They saved my life, and for that I am grateful," he said and looked around the modest room.
The house was small, with a thick cloth serving as a door. Outside, Yami could hear the bustle of activity as the other residents went about their business. It was daytime, and Yami found himself unsure of what to do.
"Here, Pharaoh."
Yami looked up to see that Yuya was holding out a bowl to him. He took it and found it filled with water. He realized at that moment that he was thirsty, and drank the water quickly.
"Not so fast or you'll choke," the woman warned.
Yami took her advice and sipped the cool liquid gently.
"Thank you," he said to the boy, and then to her when he'd finished the water. "I am grateful to you and your children for saving my life."
He didn't correct them, since he wasn't exactly sure that he wasn't the pharaoh. If he'd been thrown back into Ancient Egypt, it was likely that he had taken the place of his counterpart. For all intents and purposes, he was the pharaoh. Since that was the case, he should probably get back to the palace.
The woman bowed respectfully. "We're at your service, my Pharaoh. You should probably rest for a while longer and regain your strength. Yuya and Neit can get you whatever you need."
Yami nodded, and she retreated into another room of the house. Yami went back to the bed and lay down, feeling dizzy all of a sudden. He looked at the children, who now seemed afraid of him. He smiled at them, and motioned for them to get closer. Since he was here, he might as well find out a little more about what he'd gotten himself into.
**~~**
"Yami, what the hell are you wearing? You look ridiculous."
Yami's eyes narrowed slightly. "You should look at yourself, Seto. It is you who looks ridiculous in those clothes. Where did you get them? They do not look as if they were made in Egypt." Yami made his way to Kaiba. "What are you doing here? I thought you had gone on a pilgrimage?"
Kaiba's stomach did a small flip. Since when had Yami started calling him by his first name? Why were the two other people in the room still on the floor? Why did Yami think he was on a pilgrimage? More importantly, how had he gotten his body back? Didn't Yami remember what had happened at Ryou's house?
"Pharaoh, I came as soon as I could. I am sorry for my delay."
The man who addressed Yami bowed, but Yami waved him off. "It does not matter, Kamoses. Attend to the High Priest at once."
The man neared Kaiba, and he would have backed away if his head hadn't hurt so much. Instead, he let the man take a look at his eyes, using some weird light thing that he shone in them. What was going on?
Suddenly, he had a vision of the person who looked like him, standing in this same room, addressing the Pharaoh Yami. It was then that it dawned on Kaiba that he was no longer in Yugi's puzzle. Somehow, he was in Ancient Egypt. If he was here, then Yami and Yugi should be as well, right? Yami was here, but not the Yami that he knew. What had happened to the other one?
The man who Kaiba supposed was a healer, put a hand on the back of his head, which made Kaiba hiss in pain.
"Watch it," he growled.
The man jerked away from him, his head bowed. "I am sorry, Priest Seto. You have sustained an injury to the back of your head. If you will return to your room, I will put a healing salve on it to diminish the pain and the nausea."
"Who did this?" Yami suddenly asked.
The woman on the floor whimpered slightly, and the man next to her shushed her.
"Mayet meant no harm, Pharaoh," the man explained. "Tell him, Mayet."
The woman sniffled. She looked at Kaiba, tears running down her face, before she addressed Pharaoh Yami.
"I did not expect to see him in the kitchen, Pharaoh. I thought he was a burglar and I hit him in the head. I am sorry. I'm very sorry," she repeated and bowed her head until her forehead was touching the ground.
Kaiba felt uncharacteristic pity towards her. He clumsily got to his feet, and almost toppled down again when the room began to spin wildly. Only Pharaoh Yami's arm around his waist kept him from falling over.
"It's just a bump to the head, no big deal," Kaiba said. "Don't worry about it."
Pharaoh Yami turned to him, his face a mask of surprise. The man and woman, along with the healer, all sported similar expressions of surprise on their faces.
"You are injured more than you are letting on, Seto. Let us get you to your room so the healer can work his magic."
Without another word, Pharaoh Yami led Kaiba towards another part of the palace. Kaiba would have paid attention to where he was going, except that his vision was blurry and he couldn't really see. It became too much of an effort, so he simply let Pharaoh Yami guide him.
After what seemed like forever, they entered a spacious room. Kaiba looked around, astounded. The room was as big as the one in his mansion, but unlike his own room, this one was furnished in lavish, gold trimmed furniture that was upholstered with purple and gold cloth. The room exuded royalty and power, which Kaiba supposed made sense. Pharaoh Yami led him to the bed and gently laid him down.
"Prepare your salve, healer. I will take care of the rest."
The healer did as instructed as Kaiba lay down on the bed. The mattress was comfortable, as were the huge pillows. Kaiba sighed in relief as the cool material hit his face.
"I am finished, my Pharaoh. If you have further need of me, I will be in my rooms."
Pharaoh Yami did not say anything. Kaiba wasn't sure what the man was doing, until he felt the pharaoh sit down behind him and begin to caress his hair.
Kaiba tensed. "What are you doing?"
Pharaoh Yami chuckled. "I am looking for the injury, Seto. I need to apply the salve."
He continued to caress his hair and scalp, until Kaiba hissed in pain again.
"Found it," the pharaoh said. "Relax, Seto. You are never this tense around me."
Kaiba took a deep breath. Relax? How could he possibly relax? He'd never seen Yami act this nice, this caring, and Kaiba didn't know what to make of it. Unlike the other Yami, who was constantly in a confrontational state whenever Kaiba saw him, this Yami was calm, relaxed, and seemed very sure of himself.
"We've grown up together, Seto. You are the closest thing to a brother I have ever had, so there is no reason for you to be tense around me. You should know by now that I will not harm you, nor will I let harm come to you," Pharaoh Yami said as he applied a cool balm to the back of his head.
Brothers? He and Yami? Kaiba pictured the relationship he had with Mokuba, and then tried to picture that same relationship with Yami. It didn't add up in his head at all. He didn't see how it was possible.
"There, I'm all done. I will cast a spell so you can sleep without pain until the healer's balm begins to work," Pharaoh Yami said as he got up from the bed. "I will see you when you awaken."
Kaiba suddenly felt sleepy. He tried to fight the feeling as he'd done so many times when he had deadlines to meet, but was unable to keep sleep at bay. He closed his eyes and succumbed to slumber.
**~~**
Ta da! That's another boring chapter for ya! Well, I hope it wasn't too boring.
Note: Yugi's first memory came from my demented imagination. The second one came from the first episode of the English dubbed series.
Next up: Mokuba decides to help out in the only way he can. Priest Akunadin has plans for Yugi. Yami goes to the palace. Kaiba tries to deal with a nice Yami. Until next time!