Author Note: Big thank you to my friend Light guardine35 from Quotev and AO3 who helped me when I got stuck. You rock my world, cupcake. :D Do me a favor and read her stories, all right? Now, I know people are reading this story, but I don't get enough reviews for it as it should be, so please, please, please give me a review. I'm open to criticism I'm not afraid, I just want some feedback. T^T Okay, I'm done whining. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 5: Off to Duelist Kingdom! Part II

All right, maybe choosing to wear a skirt wasn't that smart, thought Anzu as she and the others were sitting in their hidey-hole.

It got colder any minute and she wonder how Maja, who wore a mint green skirt with over-knee socks, could fair on this icy night.

She stood up and rubbed her arms.

"Hey, Anzu, stay down or we're busted.", reminded her Honda.

"But it's freezing out here. I can't sit still.", she said shivering.

"In another few hours, the sun will rise. Hah!", joked Honda.

Angry she turned to him and waved her fist around.

"That's not funny, Honda!"

"Will you guys zip it!", interfered Maja, and took something out of her backpack. "Take the blanket Anzu."

"What really? What about you?"

Maja waved a hand and cuddle Sadiye closer to herself who had already fallen asleep. Well, she was still a ten-year-old, it was probably past her bedtime.

"I have my personal heater, don't worry."

With a thank you Anzu wrapped herself up in the blanket and sit down again. She admitted she was a bit cross with Maja and Sadiye who had told her things she didn't want to hear, but…it was really nice of Maja to give her the blanket.

It was then that a door opened. They saw Ryou Bakura walk out of it and lean on the railing.

"Look, isn't that Ryou?", Anzu whisper-shouted to Honda. Maja also looked curious over.

"Ryou Bakura? You mean Ryou Bakura from school?", asked Honda.

"What do you think he's doing here?"

"Uhh. I guess he's in the tournament."

"Is he a friend of yours?", wanted Maja to know.

"A school friend, yes.", answerd Anzu.

Maja eyed him up and down and then grinned.

"He reminds me of a fluffy kitty…adorable!"

Anzu and Honda sweatdropped at it.

"I'm sooooo full.", whined Sehrazat holding her belly.

That was so not a good idea to eat all that food.

Kihana had to fight a burp. She was a bit green in the face.

"That's the first and last time we do this.", proclaimed Kihana. "My stomach hurts so much."

Sehrazat could only agree.

The two best friends were out of their room in search of Yuugi and Jonouchi. They together with Afya agreed that they needed to win the boy's trust first before they could tell them all about Afya and Yuugi's lodger in the Millennium Puzzle.

If he didn't know about the pharaoh already.

They would wing it as they go, was decided.

Kihana open a door that would lead them to the exterior of the ship since they hadn't found them inside.

Luck was on their side it seemed.

They did find the boys. Yuugi was sitting at one of the tables, while Joey was standing beside him.

"Hello again, Yuugi and Joey.", greeted Kihana for them as they walked up to the boys.

"Oh, hey, girls, how it's going?", greeted Joey smiling back.

Yuugi and Sehrazat looked shyly at each other, he turned red, while she was bashful.

"Aren't you two just adorable?", cooed Afya in their minds.

"Shut up, Gran-Gran!"

The ancient queen laughed just.

"All good, with you guys?", asked Kihana. Joey said same, so she asked another thing: "So what were you up to?"

"Nothing much, just enjoying the cruise, and you ladies?"

"We were actually looking for you guys. Sehra wants to know all about your Duel against Kaiba, Yuugi.", told them Kihana.

Not only the boys blinked, also Sehrazat. That wasn't really the reason, they searched for them, not that Sehrazat would mind hearing about it.

Sehrazat gave Kihana a look, but her best friend gripped just her shoulder and Yuugi ones and pushed them nearly to the rail.

"Why don't you two talk there and I will tell Joey about our adventure in the Europa Championship."

"You really will?"

"Of course, Joey!"

The blond boy blushed and couldn't help to celebrate internally. A pretty girl who was also a duelist wanted to talk with him and share her experience with him.

It was awesome!

Meanwhile, our two short duelists were clearly shy with each other. Sehrazat played with her fingers and Yuugi rubbed his neck nervously.

"For the love of Hathor, child, Kihana gave you a chance to talk to your crush.", explained Afya in their minds. "Take it! Ask the boy about his duel and form a connection."

The blue-haired girl didn't know what to say and gulped nervously. After what happened with…HIM…she was insecure about boys. Yet, she didn't think Yuugi was like that…and if even Kihana played wingman for her…maybe she should give it a try.

So she took a big gulp of air and smiled at Yuugi. The boy blushed seing her pretty smile, wondering how a girl like her could have any interest in him. He may be taller than her, but he was short for a male and his baby face didn't make girls swoon over him.

"Would you like to tell me about your duel with Kaiba, Yuugi-Kun? I would like to hear it from you.", she said, batting her long eyelashes at him.

Yuugi just turned redder, nonetheless nodded rabidly. His heart was nearly leaping up from his chest.

He would do anything she asked if she keep looking at him like he was someone special to her.

Kihana and Joey grinned seeing how Yuugi started to tell Sehrazat in all the details about this duel with Kaiba and how she seemed to swoon harder after every sentence. Sehrazat asked him then to elaborate something more and Yuugi felt in heaven. No girl he know was that interested and know so much about Duel Monsters, that he could talk so freely with her like that.

After a few minutes, two of them stood really close to each other, looking unafraid into their eyes, laughing and talking about Duel Monsters' strategies and cards.

Both felt a connection forming, an understanding, that they had always longed for.

"Nice going, Hana-Chan.", complimented Joey. "This two would have never talked with each other if not for you."

"Why thank you Jonouchi-Kun.", grinned Kihana.

Already the designer in her imaged what Sehrazat's wedding dress should look like and what colors for his tuxedo would fit Yuugi best.

"Ahh, we meet again.", said suddenly, someone.

They turned and saw-

"Ah, Haga.", said Yuugi.

Kihana and Afya both felt annoyed that the boy showed up. It was going so well with Yuugi and Sehrazat! Sehrazat herself was a bit sad that her conversation with Yuugi stopped, hopeful they could talk more after Haga left.

"I see you found some new friends. Even famous ones.", continue the Insekt-Duelist. "A shame you couldn't participate at the world championships because of a technicality Faizan-San."

Sehrazat waved her hand.

"Well, at least Kihana and I could join Duelist Kingdom. This is more important than the world championship."

Haga nodded.

"Ahh, the evening wind sure feels nice. So, did you trade for any good cards, Yuugi?", he turned to the tri-colored-haired boy.

"Nah. I'm gonna duel with the cards I brought along with me.", answered Yuugi.

"I figured as much. You used the Exodia cards in your duel with Kaiba, right? Those are the strongest cards of them all."

"And really rare."

"Could I possibly see those legendary cards?"

"I don't see why not. Just be careful with them. Okay?"

Yuugi moved back to the table to get his cards, Haga following. Sehrazat crossed her arms and joined them. She mouth a thank you to Kihana for giving her a chance to talk with Yuugi and her best friend winks at her. Yuugi rummages through the golden box which holds once upon a time the pieces of the Millenium Puzzle.

"Here!"

With a smile, he hands Haga his five Exodia cards. That's the moment Sehrazat feels a tingle in her connection with Afya.

"What's up, Gran-Gran?"

"The Insect-Boy gives me some weird, as you call, vibes! Be careful!"

And Afya should have the right feeling. After admiring the Exodia cards and admitting that he couldn't find a strategy till now to defeat them, Hago throws the card overboard.

"I fucking knew it!"

Yuugi, Joey, Kihana, and Sehrazat look shocked at how the cards fall into the ocean below.

"No!", screams Yuugi, trying desperately to reach them.

Haga just laughs and walks away with the words: "Now there's no one who can challenge me."

"Why you-!", shouts Joey.

"What a cockroach!", hisses Kihana.

"My cards!", cries Yuugi. "Those were the Exodia cards that my grandpa gave me."

"I'll get 'em!"

With this Joey jumps over the railing and into the ocean. The three others are shocked.

"Joey, don't! Joey, where are you?!", calls Yuugi.

"Are you nuts?!", adds Kihana.

"Yeah, you can't do it alone!", say's Sehrazat.

Before Yuugi can ask what she means and Kihana screams no you don't, already Sehrazat jumps overboard to help Joey with the cards.

"That was heroic and dumb at the same time.", lectures her Afya, as Sehrazat shivers because of the cold ocean water.

"I know, but these cards seem important to Yuugi! What else could I have done?"

"You here to help Sehra?", ask Joey and swims over to her.

She nods determinedly.

"I promise you, We'll get them, Yuugi!", shouts Joey up to the ship.

"Joey, Sehrazat, they're not worth drowning over!", cries Yuugi shocked.

He can't believe that his best friend and his new friend have really done this. But why? He doesn't understand.

Kihana seems ready to jump herself down, as she screams at them: "Sehrazat Nefertiti Faizan and Katsuya Jonouchi, you both came this instant back onboard or so help you Ra, I will get you myself and it won't be pretty!"

"Not till we have all of Exodia!", contradicts Sehrazat and plucks a card from the ocean's surface. "I got one, Joey!"

"Me too!"

"Joey, Sehrazat swim back to the ship!", pleads Yuugi.

The two ignore him and pluck each other another one. Joey thinks about how he can help finally someone he cares about and Sehrazat how she is glad that she can give Yuugi back Exodia.

"That's the last one.", she yells cheerily. She has three and Joey has two. That are all pieces of Exodia!

"Now come back up, before I kick your ass!", growls Kihana angrily.

Sehrazat and Joey would like to do that, but that's when a strong current drags them both underwater

Yuugi and Kihana yell the name of their respective best friend and jump now into the ocean too. They each grab them.

"You are both crazy, you know that?!", yells Kihana.

Suddenly they hear voices calling out for them.

"Big sister, Sehrazat!"

"Yuugi, Jounouchi!"

Kihana thinks she is dreaming. On the ship is her little sister with Maja and an unknown boy and girl.

"Anzu!", calls Yuugi to the girl.

The unknown boy unrolls a ladder down to the water.

"Are you okay?"

"Grab ahold!", tells them this Anzu.

"Hurry!"

"Anzu, Honda.", say's Yuugi in disbelief.

After they swim back up to the ship and climb the ladder our four who took a dive have to catch their breath. Anzu, Honda, Maja, and Sadiye stand worried around them.

"That was close.", shudder Yuugi. "I'm sure glad you two guys showed up. Really glad."

"We're a team. We'll all stick together.", reminds him Anzu.

"We'll always watch your back.", adds Honda.

"Thanks a lot, you guys."

"Sadiye Kisara Schariq and Maja Sayuri Maamoun, what in the name of Isis and Osiris are you doing here?!", questions Kihana, and seems ready to explode.

"The same as our new friends, Anzu and Honda.", answers her sister nochchanlety. "We four are a team and we will help you."

"You will get so grounded when we get back home, Sadiye and I will not be sorry for you!"

"Big sister!"

"Why did you take the swan dive anyway, we just saw how one after the other jumped into the water.", ask Maja wondering.

Sehrazat holds her three cards up and Joey follows her example with his two.

"Because of the Exodia-Cards!", she says.

"We got them all, Yuugi!", tells Joey happy.

"You guys are crazy. Totally crazy. But thank you so much."

Yuugi takes the cards back from them. It is then that Joey turns sad and shakes his head.

"You should thank Sehra more, she found most of the cards. Alone I wouldn't have found them all.", gritted Joey his teeth in frustration.

"That's not true, Joey!", argues Sehrazat back.

The blond boy just shakes his head.

"It's always this way with me. I'm never able to help anybody. Not even my own sister, Shizuka."

This shocks Honda, Anzu, and Yuugi, while our four girls just look confused on.

"Shizuka?", repeats Yuugi.

"Really? You have a sister, Joey?", ask Anzu to be sure she heard right.

"You guys didn't know?", wonders Maja.

They shake their heads.

"That sounds straight out of a drama series.", mumbles Sehrazat and wrings her hair out.

"Our parents divorced years ago when we were kids.", explains Joey. "She lives far away with my mother. My sister's had really bad eyes since she was born. Eventually, she'll go blind."

Yuugi gives him an empathic look.

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks, Yug'. She sent me a message. The doctors told her that the time has come. Soon her eyes will be impossible to repair, even with surgery. But there are specialists who could perform an operation now before it's too late. They could save her eyesight. But... there's no way I can pay for the operation. I have to win. For her! Winning in the Duelist Kingdom, and getting the prize money, is the only way I can help Shizuka!"

"We'll both do our best, Joey!", promises Yuugi. "You, for your sister. And me, for my grandpa."

"It seems we all here are fighting for someone precious.", musses Sehrazat with a sad look and grips her Millenium Item.

"Did Pegasus take someone from you too, Sehrazat?", asks Yuugi carefully.

He knows this look. It's the same when he thinks about how his grandfather lost his soul to Pegasus.

It's Kihana who answers him.

"Pegasus wants all the Millenium Items it seems. With his he took Sehrazat mother's soul and we both are here to get it back. That's why we searched for you two in the first place. We had a feeling you would be in the same situation and become our allies. All because of your Millenium Puzzle."

The Puzzle and the Fragment seem to glint at the same moment.

"Allies, I think we should be friends.", says Anzu passionately. "We all are here to fight against Pegasus. With friends on our sides, it will be better."

"Nice said, Anzu.", praises Honda.

The four girls look at each other and then nod.

"Then how about we go to my and Kihana's cabin? We need to dry and you guys need a place to sleep."

Jonouchi you have your own cabin could be heard from kilometers.

Afya had a small smile as she looked around the cabin.

Sehrazat, Kihana, and Sadiye were sleeping peacefully in one bed, while Maja and this new girl Anzu shared the other. Jounouchi and Honda had each taken one of the couches for themselves and were having a snoring contest it seems and little Yuugi was curled up in the armchair.

It looked like "her kids" and the new ones felt comfortable with each other. She was happy that they made friends fast.

Softly humming she stroked Sehrazat's blue locks.

Maybe with their new friends, they would have even more of a chance not only to get Amira's soul back, also little Yuugi's grandfather's soul and the price money Jounouchi needed for his little sister's operation.

That's when she felt how the air was humming with energy. With old ancient magic. The kind she used herself.

She closed her eyes, yet didn't stop her humming.

The once queen of all Egypt had wondered when the spirit of the Millenium Puzzle would talk to her.

They both had sensed each other when Yuugi and Sehrazat first met.

"So you decide finally to show yourself?", she couldn't help but use a huffy tone. She had tried early to talk to him, but he had refused to answer her. How rude! "I wondern for a second if you would stay in the puzzle for all the journey."

The spirit of the Millenium Puzzle or as he called himself Yami admitted he did feel a bit bad that he hadn't talked to his follow spirit early. He was just so surprised to encounter another soul like him, that he needed to think for a while. It didn't help that the presence of the spirit of the Millenium Fragment was so…so familiar to him, even if it didn't make any sense!

He had needed time for himself.

Yami had his hands in his pant pockets and looked at how the female spirit seemed to check on the new friends of Yuugi and also Yuugi and his friends too.

She seemed like a mother, looking after her flesh and blood to make sure they were all right.

Something deep in him twisted painfully, and a feeling of bittersweetness washed over him.

He wonders why?

That's when his fellow spirit turned to him, fixing him with a regal expression, fitting for a great queen and orange eyes so sharp, that he had a feeling she could look right through him.

She was really beautiful.

Her long dark blue hair reminds him of the night sky and her unique orange eyes were not from this world. She had more womanly curves than her young partner, yet he could make out the muscles she had.

This was someone who could fight physically with any man and he had a feeling she would end up victorious.

Meanwhile, Afya had similar thoughts running through her head.

Little Yuugi's darker half, was taller than him, his hair a bit wilder, and his eyes the color of the most beautiful amethyst. His face was serious, sharper, but oh so handsome.

Like the gods had sculpted it.

If she were a young girl she would have probably swooned, but she was an ancient spirit, a queen nonetheless, she swooned because of no one!

Even if such a fine specimen was before her.

"I apologize.", he addressed her with a sinful-sounding voice, which made her shiver lightly. Since Sehrazat awoke her soul from her deep slumber, no one had gotten such a reaction out of her. What was happening? "I should have talked to you before, but I admit. I was quite in shock meeting someone in the same situation I'm in."

Afya put a hand on her hip, fully aware of how the other spirit seemed to check her shapely body up thanks to her movement as she had intended.

Was she flirting?

Yes.

She couldn't resist.

"You mean trapped in a Millenium Item, bonded to a young teenager and with no memory?", she nearly purred.

Yami balled the hands in his pockets into fists. Her honeyed voice got to him and was it his imagination or was the room filled with energy?

Sinful, erotic, energy.

Well, he wouldn't complain.

You didn't meet such a beautiful woman any day.

"So you are just like me, what is your name?", he asked her, making his voice drop more, delightful in seeing her shiver a bit and batting her long eyelashes at him.

"Afya was the name my descendant gave me. You may call me so…?"

"Yami."

"Yami.", she repeated purring like a cat and now he had to control his shivers.

By Afya triumphed glint in her outwordly eyes, he failed miserably. Well, two could play this game.

He gave her a smirk, which clearly affected Afya, and asked: "Descendant? Do you mean the young girl who wears the Millenium Fragment? I thought you don't remember anything."

"Apparently I was once a powerful queen of Egpyt.", she started to explain, playing with a lock of her hair. Yami got the desire to run his finger into these dark blue locks. "Before I died, my soul was put into my Millenium Item and one of my daughters became its keeper. For thousands of years, her bloodline kept it safe, till it was Sehrazat's turn. When she put it on, my soul awoke and here I am now."

"I slept for such as long too.", Yami's eyes wander over the sleeping Yugi, and a little smile forms. "When Yugi solved the puzzle, it was like a was reborn into this world. I know my roots lay in Egypt too. Probably all Millenium Items are from there."

He heard how Afya hummed, then the other spirit walked closer to him. Now they stood before each other.

She cocked her head in a flirty fashion, showing him her long elegant neck, and reached with one hand out to him.

Afya rubbed his shoulder and then slide with her hand his arm up and down.

If he was a weaker man, he would have gulped and turned red, but he wasn't so he raised an eyebrow at her and wrapped one lock of her hair around his finger.

It was really soft and smooth.

"I have a feeling you want to make a point, beautiful Afya.", know he was the one purring and Afya felt her knees going weak.

She licked her lips and had to keep a winning smile from her face as she saw how Yami followed hungrily this motion with his eyes.

"Mmh, we both are from Egypt, I was a queen once and we both feel the connection that the Puzzle and Fragment have with each other."

"If you are pointing out the obvious that I was the pharaoh to your queen, my dear, then you don't need to waste your breath. I already suspected it, when you told me your story."

Afya narrow her eyes at him and stopped rubbing his arm. She came really close to his face, their nose barely touching.

"Then why didn't you say so before and play dumb?", she hissed offended. Was he only playing with her? "We may have been married once, but I am no one's plaything."

"I didn't think that and for making you feel this way I am sorry.", he apologized sincerely and put a bit of hair behind her ear. "I admit, this is new and exciting. I thought we would keep on flirting. I greatly enjoyed our banter."

Yami had to fight the smirk at her bashful expression.

His queen was tough, he felt it in his bones, yet she was with him like a freshly fallen-in-love girl.

Mmh, his queen…

He indeed liked the sound of it.

Before she could answer him, they both heard a sleepy voice calling for her. It was her young host and descendant…which meant she was also his? Did he and Afya have children? He needed to ask her the next time they were alone.

"Gran-Gran? What are you doing?"

Seems like Sehrazat, that was her name if Yami remembered right, couldn't see him.

Afya gave him such a hot look, that he felt his knees go weak. That look promised more than delightful banter…he couldn't wait.

"Nothing, child of mine. Do you want me to sing you a lullaby to fall back asleep?", Afya asked her.

Something like a yes came from Sehrazat. Afya squeeze his hand, till she walked and sat then down beside her hikari, to sing her to sleep.

Yami decides to go back into his puzzle.

He wouldn't disturb the two ladies with his presence.

Also, he had a lot to think about.