There was a long pause, during which everyone just stared at Yuugi. Then Marik let out a quiet curse and grabbed the shorter teen's arm. He pulled Yuugi into the nearest alleyway with the others following close behind.
Once they were in relative privacy, Marik studied Yuugi closely and asked, "Did you touch anything?" in Egyptian.
When Yuugi replied, "No" in the same language, Marik continued, "Did you hear anything that sounded like a spell?"
"No."
"Did anyone bump into you?"
"No."
They continued on in this manner for several more back and forth exchanges. Then Marik sighed and released his hold on Yuugi's arm. When he spoke again, it was in Japanese. "Well, you definitely understand Kemetic now. The question is how?"
"Kemetic?" Anzu asked, butting into the interrogation and earning a glare from Marik.
In spite of his annoyance, he quickly explained, "Kemet's the ancient name for the part of Egypt that's touched by the Nile, which is basically what the ancients considered their country. The modern borders are much larger than anyone from this period would have guessed. That means that the ancient language should arguably be called Kemetic, not Egyptian. That really doesn't matter right now, though."
He turned his gaze back on Yuugi and continued, "What matters is how the heck you suddenly became fluent. I need you to tell me everything that you can remember from right before you started being able to understand everyone. Anything that might tell us what's going on."
Yuugi nodded and thought back over the past few minutes. A frown soon tugged at the corners of his lips. "There's not much to tell. I was walking along behind you, looking around and thinking about how I wished that I could understand what everyone was saying. Next thing I knew, I could."
"Was that the first time you'd thought that?" Marik asked.
Yuugi shook his head. "Not even close. I'd been thinking it on and off ever since we came into town."
They both fell silent, clearly lost in thought. After a moment, Otogi raised a hand and hesitantly asked, "Any chance this has something to do with Pharaoh?"
This comment earned confused looks, so he added, "You know, Pharaoh learned Japanese from Yuugi, right? Any chance that goes both ways?"
"Gods, I don't know!" Marik cried, throwing his hands into the air. "Whatever weird bond those two have is unlike anything I've ever even heard of! I can't begin to guess at how it works!"
Yuugi, on the other hand, looked incredibly relieved. He raised his left hand to his chest, to the spot where his puzzle usually hung, only to lower it when he remembered that the golden artifact was missing. Though this reminder dampened his excitement, there was still a joyful light in his eyes when he said, "I hope you're right. It might mean that he's okay."
"And that he's hopefully found something," Marik muttered, crossing his arms and glaring at the world in general. Then he let out an annoyed groan and shook his head. "Alright, clearly we're not going to solve this one right now and standing around is getting us nowhere. Since there are apparently two of us that are fluent in the local language, we can potentially split into two groups. Given the lack of perceived danger so far, I think it's worth the risk. Thoughts?"
This suggestion led to a discussion on how to go about searching the city. Eventually, it was agreed that splitting up was the best way to go. Marik would lead one group, taking Honda and Otogi along as backup. Everyone else would make up a second group with Yuugi acting as the translator and his grandfather acting as the guide. Sugoroku's years of archaeological work having given him a decent working knowledge of the ancient city's layout.
Course decided, they parted ways, agreeing to meet up again around noon.
Marik, Otogi, and Honda had been walking for what felt like hours with nothing to show for it. All they'd encountered were endless NPCs. With a sigh, Marik turned to his companions, ready to suggest that they start heading towards the designated meeting spot. Before he could say anything, though, a distant sound caught his ear. A moment later, he was running with the other two following close behind.
They soon arrived at a section of the city whose central path was noticeably wider than the streets they'd been walking through. A main road of sorts. Coming down this road were several chariots pulled by fine stallions. Marik watched these approaching horses with clear excitement.
"What is it?" Honda asked.
"Not sure yet, but chariots means nobility, military, or even royalty!"
Seconds later, the chariots were upon them, racing by, moving so fast that the trio only caught a brief glimpse of their riders. It was mostly bare chested men armed with weapons of various sorts, but in the center was a rider unlike the others. Jewelry seemed to adorn every part of his body and his clothing spoke of wealth and status. One piece of jewelry stood out above all of the others. A golden, inverted pyramid hanging from the man's neck.
As the chariots sped by, Marik let out a low curse, furious that he was too slow to follow. Then the chariots stopped. The well dressed man turned and stared down the street, his gaze clearly falling on the trio. He said something to one of the armed men. This man nodded and dismounted his chariot, marching back down the street, coming to stand before Marik and the others.
"The great pharaoh, Horus incarnate, ruler of Upper and Lower Kemet, demands that you present yourself to him!" the man decreed in Kemetic.
Marik nodded and hurried forward, following the guard back towards the waiting chariots. After exchanging confused looks, Honda and Otogi came, too.
They soon arrived before the well-armed caravan and Marik threw himself on the ground, prostrating himself before the pharaoh. Honda and Otogi stared down at him, stunned, as Marik hissed, "Bow you idiots!"
As they reluctantly obeyed, Pharaoh spoke, "You with the light colored hair. Are you not the son of Sunu Ahmose? He who loyally served the army in my fathers campaigns against the hated Nubians?"
Marik bit his lip, holding back a smile as he dutifully replied, "It is as you say, great pharaoh."
Pharaoh nodded regally, face expressionless as he removed a ring from his finger, turned to one of his guards, and handed the man the ring. "See to it that this man and his companions are provided with rights to enter my court. Send word that they shall be joining me for my afternoon meal. I will hear tell of his travels and news of his father."
With that, Pharaoh turned his back on Marik and called for his escort to move out. They did so immediately, leaving the bowing trio and the single guard behind.
As the chariots disappeared into the distance, the guard studied the ring and then handed it to Marik. "You have heard the commands given by our great pharaoh. Take this ring and present yourself at the palace as soon as possible. Word will be given to allow you and your companions inside. Do not keep his highness waiting. Should you fail to arrive, the consequences will not be kind."
Marik rose to his knees and took the ring with feigned awe, thanking the guard profusely. The man nodded dismissively and then took his spot on his chariot once more. Instead of following after the others, he turned around and headed back in the direction that they'd originally come from, likely off to inform someone about their impending lunch guests.
Once the guard and his chariot had vanished from view, Marik turned to his wide-eyed companions and grinned. "Good news: I think we found Pharaoh."
Yuugi leaned against the building's mud brick wall and let out a shaky sigh of relief. "He's really okay?"
"As far as I could tell," Marik replied with a kind smile. "We didn't exactly get to talk much."
"Dude barely said five words to us and we couldn't understand any of it," Honda grumbled. "Not exactly how I pictured meeting him."
"So does this mean that we're all heading to the palace?" Anzu asked curiously, ignoring Honda's pouting.
Marik grew pensive, considering, then he frowned. "We can technically all go, but I don't know what the risks will be. We're not exactly a small group and you guys don't blend in with the locals. That hasn't been an issue out here since everyone we've met is a mindless nobody, but those guards had a lot more personality. I'm assuming that's going to be true for most of the people in the palace. That means we'll be drawing a lot of attention that we don't necessarily want."
The others exchanged looks, then Otogi asked, "How many people would you consider safe, then?"
"Me and two other at most, since that's how many of us the guards saw."
"Why not play it extra safe and just have it be you and Yuugi?" Sugoroku suggested, surprising everyone.
"But that would mean that you'd be left without a translator!" Yuugi fretted, glancing around the group with a concerned frown.
"It would," Sugoroku agreed, "But we've all seen how worried you are. I think it's important for you to see that Pharaoh's okay with your own eyes."
The others murmured their agreement as Marik slowly nodded. "It would make things a lot easier if everyone going to the palace is able to talk with the staff. Foreign emissaries are far from unheard of, so there are likely to be translators and polyglots around. People who would notice if we were speaking an unknown language. That being said, where would you guys wait while we're gone? I don't like the idea of you being out where anyone could come across you."
"We could just go into one of the houses," Jounouchi suggested, earning confused stares from Marik's group.
"I take it none of you were foolhardy enough to just wander into someone's house?" Anzu asked, giving Jounouchi a pointed glare.
"It didn't hurt anything," he muttered, pouting while Marik exclaimed, "He did what?"
"Don't worry," Yuugi reassured the distressed Egyptian. "Jou's right, it actually didn't hurt anything and we gained some useful intel. If the people are like NPCs, then the houses are like video game scenery: all visual aesthetic, not meant to actually be entered. Jou ducked his head into one he thought was empty and it turned out that he was more than right. The owner wasn't just out, there was no owner! It was just an empty floor and walls. We checked a few to be sure and it looks like they're all like that. We even ducked our heads into one after a person entered and found that they'd just vanished!"
"Which means that we can play squatters while you guys go dine with the royals," Jounouchi explained with a grin, clearly pleased with himself.
Marik sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with the fingers of his left hand. "Okay, that's great and all, but please try to stay out of trouble while we're gone. No more wandering into potentially occupied buildings!"
"Sure thing!" Jounouchi agreed, giving a sloppy salute while Otogi mused, "I wonder if we could put him on a leash. The Egyptians had pet dogs, right? There's gotta be a ye old pet store or the like around here."
"Okay, listen here wise guy," Jounouchi began, but Anzu cut him off, stepping between the duo and decreeing. "You two can bicker all you want while we wait. Right now, we need to get Yuugi and Marik on their way so that they're not late."
This earned begrudging nods from both boys and the conversation turned to the details of their plan. Soon enough, the main group had picked a nearby house to wait in while Marik and Yuugi took off towards the palace.
The palace was the most breathtaking building that Yuugi had ever entered. From the multi-color artwork on the walls to the grandeur of the architecture itself, every inch of the building screamed wealth. The entire complex was a monument to a culture two-thousand years gone. No living human had ever had a chance to see Egypt like this and yet Yuugi couldn't appreciate any of it. He should have been staring in awe, yet all he could do was pace the room they'd been left in. Even the servants' shocking state of undress failed to phase him as he waited for the one person who mattered most.
Marik lounged on fine pillows, sipping at a glass of wine and snacking on fruit while he watched Yuugi fretting. Eventually, he said, "You know, pacing isn't going to speed this up. Why don't you sit down and eat something. I know archaeologists who would kill to spend a single minute at this table."
Yuugi sighed, pausing and rubbing at his forehead. "I know, but I can't help it. I've been a ball of anxiety ever since we got here and I just... I just need to see him."
"And you will," Marik assured kindly. "But don't let me stop you. If pacing helps, then pace away!"
Yuugi nodded and resumed moving, only stopping when the sound of approaching footsteps reached their ears. A moment later, guards entered the room followed by Pharaoh himself.
Though he desperately wanted to just stand there and drink in the sight of his partner, Yuugi knew that such behavior would be worthy of strict punishment. He allowed himself a single glance and then lowered himself to the floor, prostrating himself before this god on earth. Marik did the same and then they waited.
Though they couldn't see what was going on, they could hear Pharaoh dismissing the guards, ordering them to wait outside the room. He gave similar commands to the servants. Soon enough, the sound of feet leaving the room echoed off the high ceiling. Eventually, those faded away and all that remained was silence.
Into that silence, a deep voice spoke a single word: "Yuugi."
The teen looked up, seeing his partner standing there, draped in the glory of Egypt. It was an image he'd remember for the rest of his life, but in that moment, he didn't care if Pharaoh was dressed in rags or riches. All he knew was that hours of anxiety were fading away, replaced by all encompassing joy. He didn't think, he just moved, jumping to his feet and rushing into his partner's waiting arms.
"Hey Honda, come here," Jounouchi said in a low voice, drawing everyone's attention. The blond had been leaning against the wall, casually gazing at the world outside through the building's doorway. Now his posture was rigid and he was clearly watching something intently.
Honda responded instantly, moving silently to stand by his friend's side, matching Jounouchi's quiet tone as he asked, "What's wrong?"
"Look down the street, but don't make it obvious."
"What am I looking for?"
"Guy with white hair. About our age? Why do I feel like I know him?"
Honda studied the person in question, a dark-skinned teen who was walking down the street, gaze focused on the ground. "He kind-of looks like the tour guide from the museum. Ry-something?"
"Ryou?" Anzu asked, standing up and joining the duo at the door as Honda grinned and said, "Yeah, that's it! Dude looks like Ryou's Egyptian twin or something."
The teen was drawing close now, so they all moved away from the door, making sure that they wouldn't be spotted when he passed. As they did so, Jounouchi whispered, "What the heck is his look-a-like doing here?"
"Well, this is a world created from Pharaoh's memories. Maybe that means that the NPCs are all based on random people he's met? Like how dreams are supposedly populated by people you've really seen," Anzu suggested, but Jounouchi shook his head.
"Maybe, but I don't think so. The NPCs have all looked, I don't know, generic? Similar?" He paused, let out an annoyed sigh and then continued, "What I'm trying to say is that they don't stand out. Ryou's different. I was able to spot him as soon as he turned the corner."
"You think we should follow him?" Honda asked and Jounouchi nodded.
Otogi rose to his feet and said, "I agree. This sounds too weird to let it just pass by."
"You four go," Sugoroku ordered, pointing to the door. "I'll stay here in case Yuugi and Marik return before you do."
"Are you sure?" Anzu asked.
The old man nodded. "Speed may be needed here and someone should stay behind. I'm man enough to admit that I'm slower than I once was, so it might as well be me. Now go before you lose sight of him!"
The teens exchanged looks and then nodded in agreement before hurrying out the door.
Pharaoh couldn't help but smile as Yuugi practically fell into his arms. Gods, he had missed his partner these past few hours. Being without him had felt like missing a limb. Having him here released a tension that Pharaoh hadn't even realized he'd been holding.
As he gazed down at the teen currently clinging to him, Pharaoh felt a familiar rush of adoration. What was not familiar was the physical reaction that came with it. His heart began to race and heat painted his cheeks the faintest trace of red. Armed with these sensations and a lifetime's worth of fragmented memories, Pharaoh realized that he'd been missing something obvious for months.
It took all of his newly remembered training to keep his shock hidden as he thought, By the gods, how could I have been so blind? How long has my heart been his?
As Pharaoh's mind raced, Yuugi pulled back ever so slightly, just enough to turn his face upwards so that their eyes met. For the first time, Pharaoh truly appreciated just how stunning his partner's eyes were. Wide amethyst orbs so full of light and joy that they stole his breath away.
"Hi," Yuugi whispered in Japanese, smiling up at Pharaoh who couldn't help but smile back and return the greeting with a soft, "Hello."
Neither one seemed to know what to say after that. They just stood there, staring into each other's eyes, grinning helplessly at each other. Eventually, Marik rolled his eyes and cleared his throat, breaking the couple from their love-struck stupor as they both turned to look at him. When he had their attention, he smiled and waved. "Hi! Are we gonna catch up on the mission now or would you two like me to go take a stroll about the palace so you can be alone?"
At this, they exchanged looks. Then they both flushed crimson as they stepped apart, moving to take seats on opposite sides of the table. Once they were seated, Yuugi stared down at his hands and muttered, "Sorry. We've never been able to really hug before."
"Yes," Pharaoh agreed immediately, latching onto the excuse like a lifeline. "The experience was a welcome one, but I believe that it left us both a little dazed."
Yuugi smiled shyly, looking over at Pharaoh who gazed back fondly. Before they could once again become lost in each other's eyes, Marik clapped his hands and said, "Well, Pharaoh, why don't you-"
"Tem," Pharaoh interrupted, startling Marik. As both of his companions gave him odd looks, Pharaoh explained, "You should call me 'Tem'."
"You remembered your name!" Yuugi cried, eyes bright with excitement.
Instead of sharing in his partner's delight, Tem shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. I believe that 'Tem' is some sort of nickname. Likely a diminutive of my real name, similar to how Jou calls you 'Yuug'. Still, it is mine and I find that I enjoy hearing it used."
With that, Tem launched into a quick recounting of his arrival in the memory world. He didn't go into detail about his breakdown, but he did emphasize that only part of his memories had returned and none of them contained that which they were seeking. When he was done, Marik and Yuugi exchanged looks of understanding. Then Marik asked, "When did this happen?"
"I am uncertain of the exact time, but it would have been several hours ago. Why do you ask?"
"Because I think that you might have inadvertently shared some of your newfound knowledge," Yuugi replied in Kemetic, earning a shocked look from his partner.
Then Tem grinned and switched to Kemetic, too. "I suppose that I did owe you a language and I am pleased to finally be giving instead of taking. I am curious as to how this happened, though. We have never been able to communicate over such a large distance. Even now, with you sitting right across from me, I cannot sense our bond."
"Me either," Yuugi admitted, bringing his left hand up to rest where the puzzle would normally hang.
"Remember, this is all in our heads. That distance you're talking about is all just perceived. In reality, you're still side-by-side, so to speak. That might mean that your bond's always there, just artificially repressed," Marik mused. "After all, your memories might be affecting things. Warping our perceived reality. For example, that pendant around your neck is clearly not shattered like it should be. In fact..."
Marik paused, leaned forwards, and grabbed a bowl of figs. He took one of the fruits and popped it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully as the two puzzle-bearers looked on in confusion. Once he'd swallowed the fruit, Marik said, "These are your favorites, aren't they?"
"How did you-"
"What do you hate or even just kind-of dislike?" Marik interrupted, glancing around the table with a gleam in his eyes.
Tem gave Marik a concerned look, but dutifully pointed to a bowl of small, brownish-red berries. "I have always disliked nabk berries."
"Great! I've had those. I think they're fine," Marik replied, grabbing one and popping it into his mouth. He instantly grimaced, swallowing the berry and then taking a large sip of wine to wash it down. Once he was done, he grinned and said, "Yep, that was disgusting!"
"And you are pleased by this?" Tem asked, baffled.
"I'm thrilled!" Marik replied. "I couldn't figure out why I kept munching on figs because I normally only sort-of like them, but today they tasted like candy. Now it all makes sense! I'm not tasting a fig, I'm tasting your perception of a fig."
Tem considered this and then looked around the table with interest. He pointed out a few more favorites and his companions dutifully tried each one. It quickly became clear that anything Tem liked was a delicacy, no matter the personal tastes of the one actually eating the food.
After a few minutes of experimentation, Marik leaned back and said, "As fun as this is, we really should get back to the topic at hand. Your lunch hour isn't a long one, is it?"
"No, it is not," Tem agreed. "I will have to depart soon if we wish to continue playing our various roles. There is much that I would like to discuss before then. I told you that I regained fragments of my memories, but I have not yet told you my theory as to why.
"I had to think on it for a while, because my memories from the moment that it happened are something of a blur. Without that context to start from, I instead began to search for a theme to that which I had regained. I soon realized that they were all memories of my family and those close to me. Memories of my childhood. Memories of people who had once called me 'Tem'. I now believe that Mana used this name and that hearing it unlocked something within me. I know that my name is not 'Tem', yet that is the only name that I can ever remember being called.
"I have tried to trick those around me into using my real name, but no one will. In fact, I do not believe that they can. Something is blocking it from their lips. There is only one conclusion that I can draw from this: the key to unlocking my memories lies with my ren."
Marik let out a stunned, "oh" while Yuugi frowned and said, "I don't think I understand that word. I know it sort-of means 'name', but it's not just your name, is it?"
"Now you know how I felt when you would casually throw out terms such as 'video game' or 'email'," Tem teased. "A mental definition cannot compare to the context gained from a life lived.
"You are not wrong, though. The ren is the part of your soul held within the name given you at birth. As long as that name endures, so too does your soul. It can not be replaced by a nickname or name of your own choosing. Only that which was given you by your mother holds this power. It is a great source of magic. To know someone's ren is to have complete power over them."
"Of course," Marik murmured. "That makes sense. If you want to lock something away, destroying all physical and mental records of its ren is a great place to start."
Tem nodded. "Though I cannot remember the spell that I created, I am beginning to understand how I might have crafted it. We know that the puzzle holds my ka, ba, ib, and now, ren. This gives credence to your earlier theory, Marik. I must have used these things to lock the corresponding parts of the enemy away. Finding my complete ren should, at the very least, unlock my memories. However, we must proceed with caution, for it may also unlock the prison.
"I believe the fact that a piece of my ren survived is little more than a happy accident. I would likely have focused my spell on my ren and only my ren. No part of Egyptian beliefs warned that a fragment of the ren held power."
"I guess that means that we better start checking out places where your ren might have been recorded," Marik said. "I can think of a few, but if you can't get people to say it-"
"-then it is likely not going to be on those monuments," Tem agreed. "It is still an idea worth pursuing though, as I have no better one to offer."
Marik nodded and they began to discuss what places would be worth exploring. This topic held their attention until a woman entered the room. She was tall with long, black hair that draped down almost to her waist. It made for a striking figure, but even more striking was her face and the familiar golden, eye-shaped necklace that she wore around her neck. As they looked up at her, Marik noticeably blanched and murmured, "Ishizu?"
Luckily, the woman didn't appear to hear him. Instead, her gaze was focused on Tem. When she spoke, her words were respectful, yet there was a tense undercurrent in her voice. "Great Pharaoh, I came to remind you of the hour ."
To Yuugi and Marik's surprise, Tem grinned sheepishly and replied, "My dearest sister, how kind of you to seek me out. We were just finishing our meal and then I was going to come and find you."
He turned to his stunned companions and gave Yuugi a considering look. Then he shrugged and said, "Marik, Heba, allow me to introduce my sister Isis, priestess of Renenutet and bearer of the sacred necklace that connects us to the protectors of Kemet. Isis, these two are Heba and Marik. You might remember Marik's father, Sunu Ahmose who faithfully served our father's forces during his last several campaigns."
Isis briefly glanced over the duo and gave them a quick greeting before turning her gaze back to her brother. "Might I serve as an escort for you, great pharaoh? This way you shall not have to seek out either Seti or myself, for I know precisely where my husband waits."
Tem rose to his feet and nodded solemnly, returning to his regal persona. "I will indeed follow you, but first I shall bid goodbye to my guests. Wait for me in the corridor."
Isis nodded and departed, leaving her brother to sigh and mutter, "Well this is going to be fun."
Before Tem could say anything else, Marik hissed, "What the hell was that? She looks like my sister!"
Tem stared at Marik for a moment and then let out a little "oh". He glanced between the doorway where Isis had departed and then looked back at Marik, considering. "Who founded your order? Are you and your family of my bloodline?"
"Yeah, I guess we are," Marik said, sounding stunned. "I never really thought about it, but the gatekeepers were founded by Seti III. He entrusted the remaining items and tablets to his own son, a child he fathered by his Great Royal Wife, who was herself a daughter of the pharaoh Akhenamkhanen."
"And Seti became pharaoh," Tem murmured.
"Is that a bad thing?" Yuugi asked.
Tem shook his head. "The opposite, in fact. My cousin lives for duty to Kemet and reverence to the gods. He is, in many ways, more suited to the position than I am. I have no doubt that his rule was an excellent one. It is merely strange to know the fates of those that I love when they themselves do not."
Then he glanced at the doorway and frowned. "I really must be off. I am already late and Isis will soon return to see what is keeping me."
With that, he strode around the table to where Yuugi was sitting. The smaller teen rose to meet him and then they were embracing once more. Tem closed his eyes, buried his face against Yuugi's wig, and tried to memorize the feeling of actually holding his partner in his arms. The warmth of their bodies. The way Yuugi clung to him. It was all so much better than the phantom hugs that had been all they'd once had.
All too soon, he forced himself to pull away. Then he said, "Be outside the palace around dusk. I will do all that I can to meet you or send someone to bring you inside. At the very least, I will send a messenger with word of what I have found."
Yuugi nodded and then Tem was off, striding from the room, bracing himself for the lecture on punctuality and duty that was doubtless waiting for him.
"Damn it," Jounouchi swore, watching as Ryou's boat docked on the far shore of the Nile. Then its sole occupant disembarked and walked off towards the distant cliffs.
"I don't think we can follow him anymore," Honda said with a sigh.
He was right. None of them knew how to go about crossing the river. Even if they did, the far shore of the Nile was far less occupied than the side holding the city. Ryou would doubtless notice if they followed him further.
"Well that was a waste of time," Jounouchi groaned, kicking a nearby pebble into the Nile.
"I don't think it was," Anzu mused, earning confused looks from both Honda and Jounouchi.
Otogi, on the other hand, nodded and said, "Yeah, at the very least, we confirmed Jou's theory. Ryou's no NPC. That's the first bit of useful intel we've managed to find so far."
"I guess. I just really wanted to have something big when Yuug and Marik got back," Jounouchi admitted as they all turned around and began to trek back to their 'safe house'.
Honda threw an arm over his friend's shoulder and assured him, "Don't sell yourself short, man. This could be something big. We just have no way to know."