Welcome back to another shockingly fast update. Don't get used to it, they'll probably slow down again soon. Hope you're ready for more adventures in Ancient Egypt!

Enjoy!

Yami thanked Ra, not for the first time since he woke up here, that he had visited the ruins of the palace before and that Bakura had taken him around. It had already been three days here and so far he hadn't had any time to himself and he really needed a place to think. He was done with his tutors for the day, had managed to slip away from his guards, and was now making his way to a garden he knew existed nearby.

"-acting strange?"

Yami stopped as he caught the tail end of what sounded like a demand. He knew he should keep walking and ignore it, after all, it was likely matters of state that he should not be involved in yet. However, something pulled at him, saying that this conversation concerned him and he should stay and listen.

"Yes, Great One." Yami recognized the voice as belonging to the same person who woke him up every morning and escorted him everywhere. He still hadn't learned his name, but there wasn't really a good time to ask about it. "He has been very quiet over the past few days, as if he were analyzing everything around him, trying to figure out where he was. I first noticed when I had to call him three times one morning before he would respond to me, and even then it was after I called him 'prince'. He still doesn't react when I call his name."

When had his name been said? Yami racked his brain, thinking back over the past few days. He couldn't think of a single time when anybody had actually addressed him by name, only by his title.

"Was there anything that happened that day?" a third voice asked.

There was a small pause where Yami imagined his escort shaking his head. "Nothing. We went to wake him up as usual. The only excuse he gave for his behavior was that he had had a strange dream."

"Dreams can be disorienting," the first voice replied. The deep baritone was somehow familiar...soothing even. "Perhaps it was just a dream."

"My lord, there is more. When I offered to fetch a wiseman for the dream, he dismissed it with the skill of an experienced negotiator. While the servants were dressing him, he seemed… stiff and unsure about his own actions, like he was unfamiliar with the routine he has performed for his near thirteen years."

Well that answered at least one question floating around in Yami's mind. No wonder he was so small...he was just a child! It also seemed that he was approaching his birthday. It would be nice to be able to celebrate on the actual day and not just the random day he had picked.

"How long have you noticed these behaviors, Mahaddo?" the third voice asked.

"Over the past three days," Mahaddo answered confidently.

"Could it be that you are overreacting to this? Perhaps the prince simply has a lot on his mind."

When Mahaddo replied, it was almost desperate, "He does not seem to recognize who I am, just that I am supposed to be around him. He barely speaks in the mornings, and he will usually hold a conversation with me. I performed a small spell in front of him yesterday, one he's seen me do countless times, but he looked as though he had witnessed the impossible. He doesn't seem to recognize Mana either, and they have been friends their entire lives! I fear there is something not right with the prince."

The other voices were silent as the owners contemplated a response. Yami, on the other hand, cringed. He hadn't even been here a week and his entire time here he was acting out of character! It really couldn't be his fault though, he had the knowledge and experiences of nearly fifty years crammed into the mind and body of a preteen.

"I must admit," the third voice finally said, "With so many facts gathered by someone who is almost always with the prince, this is concerning."

Yami could almost hear the sigh of relief from Mahaddo at the words, but his own breath caught on the next words uttered.

"Do you believe my son is sick? Or do you believe there are other forces at work here?"

Son? That first voice was his father's voice? All he knew was a name for his father: Pharaoh Aknamkanon. There had not been time yet to actually sit down and eat with his father, as routine usually dictated, and as eager as he was to finally meet his father, he was suddenly very apprehensive. He knew nothing of his father; he didn't know how to act around a father or how to be a son. The closest thing he knew was Yugi's grandfather, and that hardly counted.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," the third voice said, "While it is good to remain cautious, I think it would be beneficial for you to observe him yourself before we make any decisions."

Yami turned and walked away briskly, having no desire to hear any more. He did not run, he never ran away from his problems, but he needed to be alone, now more than ever.

He made it to the garden and immediately paused. Bakura's words really could not do it justice. The garden was in full bloom, lush and green. There was a fountain in the middle with a wide foundation for people to sit. Overall, it was very peaceful and his anxieties were calmed the moment he took his first step. Slowly, he made his way to the center, enjoying the serenity that surrounded this place and wishing he could share this feeling with his hikari.

His father would probably be looking for him soon, and he needed to have an answer ready. Preferably one that didn't make his father think he was under some maligned influence.

How long was he expected to go on in this time? He knew he was pharaoh when he lost his memories, but when did he become pharaoh? How long after he became pharaoh did he have until that happened?

Gods how he missed his friends. He could talk about this with them. Yugi would offer words of comfort and support, Ishizu would be able to give some kind of reassurance, Seto and Bakura might offer to manipulate anyone to have Yami appear less awkward. He let out a heavy sigh. He was already homesick, what a pathetic king he was.

A terrifying thought entered his mind: what if what he thought he remembered was nothing more than a dream? Could Yugi and Seto and everyone else simply be figments of his imagination? He knew that somewhere around here were people who looked like most of his current court, could he have just imagined them in a different role?

No! He couldn't think that! His friends were real! Everything he had experienced, everything he remembered was real! If he lost hold of that, then he would slip into madness.

"Your mind is heavy, son. Might I share your burden?"

Yami's head snapped up and his breath hitched at the intruding voice. Not ten feet to his right stood his father, Pharaoh Aknamkanon, dressed in fine tunics and a beautiful purple coat. His face was firm, but kind. Yami could read the underlying concern written in his expression.

The king took a step forward, drawing Yami's attention to something else: the Millenium Puzzle. Yami instinctively put a hand to his neck to feel for the chain, but of course it wasn't there. The Eye of Horus seemed to captivate him, and he felt a faint nudge from the Shadows, something he had not felt since he got here, and something he didn't realize how much he missed, telling him to be patient. The Puzzle would be passed into his ownership in due time.

Yami nearly breathed a sigh of relief as he sensed the Shadows, as faint and fleeting as it was. Everything he remembered was real and this really was the past.

The feeling left as the pharaoh took another step towards him. Yami shifted uncomfortably and began looking for a way out. Not running, never running, simply delaying this meeting until he was ready for it.

Unfortunately, there were now guards posted at the garden entrance, and unless Yami was to try to pull an acrobatic stunt he wasn't sure he could pull off in this body, that was the only means of escape. However, if he tried to run past the guards and somehow made it past them, his father would surely put the palace on lockdown until he was found. It really would not help his case if he were to do that.

He also caught sight of another figure, almost hidden beyond the foliage. Maybe if he hadn't had Bakura's training, he might have missed him, but Yami's eyes were sharp and he caught the familiar shape of the Millenium Ring, though he did not recognize the person. Before he could look harder, his father was sitting right next to him, his posture relaxed and comfortable around his son. Yami wished he could return the sentiment.

"I know you heard what we were discussing, son," the pharaoh said, "Ahmed sense your presence and told me when you left."

Yami remained silent, not looking at his father. He felt like a rebuked child, and to be fair, he technically was. Ahmed must have been the third voice he heard, and was likely a close confident of his father. He probably also had a Millenium Item.

"Mahaddo's concerns were valid, and your behaviors cause me great concern."

"I'm sorry to worry you," Yami finally said, still not looking over. He was feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything and really just wanted to be alone. The proximity to the Puzzle, and the familiarity it promised, hanging innocently less than an arm's length away was not helping. "I feel a bit off-balance. That is all."

"Off-balance might be an understatement. You looked ready to run the moment you saw me."

It was most certainly an understatement, but it was the best explanation that Yami could come up with that wouldn't cause people to think he was unfit to rule when the time came. Yami focused on his hands in his lap.

"Look at me, *****."

Yami's head snapped up at the command. He was sure his father had just used his name, but he couldn't hear it. Where his name should have been, was nothing but loud static. That's what that buzzing noise he kept hearing was! With one mystery solved, frustration quickly moved in its place. He needed his name! That was the whole point of this wasn't it? The concern on the Pharaoh's face grew at the frustration that appeared on Yami's.

Yami almost jumped in surprise when a large hand gently rested on his shoulder. "My son, something is not right, and I think you know it. Please tell me so I can help you."

Yami wanted to. Desperately. But how could he possibly tell his father that he had lost his memories after using them to lock away the greatest evil and subsequently been trapped in eternal darkness for five millennia while half of his soul went on to be reincarnated? How could he say that that reincarnation solved the broken Puzzle, releasing him from his hell, and became his best friend and guiding light that kept him on the path of good? How could he explain that he, his light, and five others were chosen to keep and protect the Items and rule the Shadows for eternity? How could he explain that the reason he was acting so strangely was because he had traveled from that time, apparently because of the gods, and had no idea even what his name was?

"I do not know," Yami finally answered honestly. Well, it was a half-truth, but a truth nonetheless.

The Pharaoh bowed his head in defeat. Yami felt horrible. His father was clearly a caring man, taking the time to hunt down his son and try to coax him into sharing his troubles. He wanted nothing more than to comply. Yami wondered when it was he decided that he needed to lie about his lack of memories and try to pretend that everything was normal.

"Let's take a walk, son," Aknamkanon said, rising in one fluid motion.

He rose with his father and followed him out of the garden. The guards immediately fell into step behind them and Yami wondered vaguely if his father had mentioned something about making sure he didn't run off.

They walked in silence. Aknamkanon appeared completely at ease and Yami tried to do the same, but there was no denying the tension he held in his shoulders. Then something caught his eye. He gravitated towards the window, eyes locked on the sky. How on earth had he not seen this before now?

His father noticed and came to stand behind him, his eyes searching for whatever Yami saw. "What do you see, *****?"

"I'm not sure," Yami admitted. It seemed utterly absurd, but there it was in plain sight for all to see. "It looks like a pyramid coming out of the sky."

"A pyramid in the sky?" Yami didn't have to turn around to know his father's eyebrows had disappeared with incredulity at his statement. It was more than obvious in his voice.

"Yes, do you not see it?" he asked, though he knew the answer.

"I see nothing unusual," Aknamkanon answered carefully.

As they stood there, a man approached them, the Millennium Eye having replaced one of his own. Several of Bakura's favorite curses ran through Yami's mind at the sight and immediately checked his mental shields. He mentally breathed a sigh of relief; they were still in place and as strong as ever. The Eye could read minds and the last thing he wanted was for people to start thinking he was some kind of imposter or something.

While he was doing his mental check, he missed the meaningful look between the two men. What he did notice though, was that the man in front of him looked familiar. He ran through his memories, trying to place him. Then it hit him. This man was the spitting image of Malik and Ishizu's father. Malik had shared images and stories of his father, and Yami could only hope that this version wasn't as insane. The good news was that it appeared that the Ishtars had a direct link with the Pharaoh's Court like the rest of them after all.

"Is something wrong?" the man asked.

"Nothing, Lord Akhenaden," the pharaoh replied, "My son thought he saw something strange is all."

"Strange?"

Yami did his best not to glare at his father. He didn't need the entire court thinking he had lost his mind.

"My mind must have been playing tricks on me," Yami said, "I think I have not drunk enough water today."

The man, Akhenaden, chuckled, "Make sure you do so, Prince."

Yami decided he didn't like the focus from Akhenaden. The intense stare was making him think that the man was trying to probe his thoughts. Yami had a slight victory when Akhenaden was the first to look away with a barely discernible frown of frustration.

"I have some business to discuss with you, Akhenaden," the pharaoh intervened, "I will call for you later."

Akhenaden bowed low as Aknamkanon continued on his way, leaving Yami to catch up. Yami continued to follow his father, carrying on a polite conversation with him. Aknamkanon probed gently for information, as a parent would when they were concerned for their child, but Yami managed to stick with half-truth answers that seemed to satisfy him.

As they walked, Yami met Isis, the original Necklace Bearer. He had to stop himself from calling Ishizu's name in relief. The woman would easily pass for her twin, so this was Ishizu's clear connection to the court. Akhenaden must be only Malik's connection and the fact that they were siblings was a coincidence.

He also met Shimon, the original Key Bearer. Shimon was quite a shock to his system. Yami had been expecting somebody like Shadi, not like Yugi's grandfather! It was overwhelming seeing people he recognized and lived with It brought up some kind of weird fight or flight instinct to see someone he knew had died 50 years ago. He fought to keep himself polite and not give away just how much he needed to find a quiet place and process everything.

Finally, Yami was able to retire to his room, which was probably where he should have gone in the first place. Behind closed doors, he didn't have to pretend or worry about being seen. He sank down, head in his hands, trying to file away all of the information he gathered today.

The moon was high in the sky before Yami stood back up and realized just how late it had gotten. Sighing, he stood up and faced a window, allowing the cool desert breeze to blow over him. He had to approach this like a game...a dangerous game. If he said or did the wrong thing, it could mean his end, and possibly, the end of the world.

Strong hands fell on his shoulders. Yami whipped around, tensing to fight until he recognized the uniform of the palace guards. He relaxed slightly, but what were they doing in his room so late at night?

"Prince *****, by order of the Pharaoh, you are to come with us."

Pharaoh Aknamkanon sat on his throne surrounded by his six most trusted advisors. Each one of them had had a brief chance to examine his son without his knowledge over the course of the day. The more time he spent talking with his son today, the more his son's behaviors worried him and he had to wonder if perhaps his son was being controlled somehow or was somehow kidnapped and replaced without any alarm being raised.

"Your son has impressive mental shields, as expected as a son of the gods," Akhenaden started, "I could not read any of his thoughts or look anywhere in his mind without risking him noticing my presence."

"The Ring sensed new darkness in him," Ahmed said, "But it is the same darkness that is in all of us from the experiences of life. His soul has been through trials and sorrow and come out victorious every time."

"Perhaps that is why the Scales have shown his soul is unbalanced," Kalim turned to him, "It was almost as if his soul was incomplete."

"Incomplete?" Aknamkanon demanded of his priest.

"I don't know how or why, but I will keep an eye on his soul to make sure that it does not get worse," Kalim assured, "In the meantime, I will search for an answer. Perhaps we can rectify it."

"Shimon, what about you?"

"I was able to get past his defenses without alerting him to my presence," Shimon started, "I must agree with Akhenaden. Your son's mental shields are very strong."

"Did you find anything?"

"I was not able to identify a Ka beast nor a foreign presence. I was able to tell that this is indeed your son, but that was it. His soul room was nothing but an endless maze of corridors filled with doors and traps. I have never seen nor felt anything like it."

"Is it possible," the youngest of them, Seto, asked, "that the maze itself is a Ka beast and has simply disguised itself to appear that way?"

"Is that even possible?" Isis gasped.

"Ka monsters can take any shape and form, as we've seen," Aknamkanon reluctantly agreed. "And if it is, it must be powerful to have grown so large to make Shimon believe it was nothing more than his soul room. I do not think we should leave this alone."

"My lord, surely you are not suggesting…"

Aknamkanon looked over to the young Rod Bearer. Seto had been chosen by the Rod just after its creation, despite being only sixteen years of age. He played a key role in the extraction of Ka and knew better than just about anyone how horrible they could be.

"I will not allow my son to be destroyed by a Ka beast," Aknamkanon said, "Better to take care of it now before it has any more time to tighten its grip on my son's soul."

"This decision cannot leave this room," Akhenaden cautioned, "If the people got wind of what we fear…"

"Then we take care of it tonight," Isis said, "In one of the lowest levels of the palace. Only a few select guards will know what is happening."

So I've decided that since Mahaddo is only a few years older than Yami, he probably wouldn't be in possession of the Ring just yet, so his father has it. Not to mention the wiki says there was a predecessor, so there's that. Also, his father is entirely made up for my purposes since there is absolutely nothing in canon about him.

We'll catch up with the rest of the Mages eventually. I have plans for them, don't worry.

In the meantime, please review!