Desert Rose

Lady Kaiba

AN/ I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. !_!

~*~*~*~

Chapter 3~ Young Beauty (^_^")

~*~*~*~

Saren climbed onto her camel, wrapped in her black Hiram robe and carrying a bag with the essentials. She then quickly left the palace and went into the desert. After hours in the desert, she came to a small oasis where she decided to spend the night. Her camel drank some water and laid down on the grass. She sat next to it and petted it, her eyes watching the rising moon reflect off of the water. "What could have happened to him?" she asked. The camel nudged her.

"Rasha, do you think he is okay?" she asked, resting a hand on his nose. He nodded his head, most likely wanting his head petted. She smiled at him. "You are a good friend." She said. She then curled up beside him and fell asleep, Rasha keeping an eye out before drifting off.

~*~*~*~

After two days, Saren came to the massacre. She got off of Rasha and walked around, looking through the people. She found the two Magi, but no Yami. "Could someone have found him?" she wondered aloud. She looked to her left, east, and watched the faint black smoke clouds. "He could be there." She said. She climbed back on Rasha and they headed east.

~*~*~*~

Yami smiled as he watched Yugi play with one of the young children. 'Perhaps he is who Saren was talking about. His eyes are the ones that I saw in my premonition, beautiful and full of innocents and purity.' Yami felt heat rise up into his cheeks as he watched Yugi. He began to notice more about him than his eyes. His eyes lingered about Yugi's body, going from his eyes to his beautiful and full lips, down his neck and continued, inspecting him from afar. The heat in his cheeks grew as he watched. Yugi suddenly looked over to Yami, as if feeling his eyes on him.

Yugi looked back down at the little girl. "Malla, go play with some of your other friends now." He said to her. She smiled at him and took off, tackling a young boy to the ground and laughing. Yugi smiled as he watched her and walked over to Yami. "Do you need something?" he asked. "Huh?" Yami looked at him confused. Yugi smiled. "You were staring at me." He said. Yami's blush deepened more.

"No, I was just watching you!" he said, trying to make up an excuse. Yugi laughed to himself and shook his head, then went into his house after waving at Ryou. Ryou smiled and walked over to Yami. "What was that about?" he asked, a smile plastered to his face. "Nothing!" Ryou shook his head. "You really were staring at him, you know." He said with a sly grin. Yami glared at Ryou and saw that look in his eye.

'You pay too damn much attention, you know that?' He said mentally. Ryou giggled. 'I know.' He replied. With a wave, Ryou walked away, giving Yami another sly grin. Yami glared at him until he left his sight and sighed. "He can be annoying some times." He mumbled. He then decided to join Yugi in the house, the sun was beginning to set anyway.

Inside, he found Yugi siting at the table, staring at him. "What?" he asked. "Nothing." Yugi replied. He continued looking at Yami. He noticed how the firelight made him look more golden. 'More handsome and . . .attractive.' A blush rose to his cheeks as he watched him. Yugi then looked up into Yami's face and saw that his mouth was practically on the ground. He giggled. A blush rose into his cheeks as he thought of what he could do to fix that little . . .problem.

He got up and walked over to Yami. Yami watched him 'Oh Ra. . .The firelight makes him so much more attractive.' He thought. Being bold, Yugi leaned up and kissed Yami. He was surprised when he felt Yami respond. Yugi then pulled away and made Yami sit down. Straddling his waist, Yugi wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed him again. Yami wrapped his arms around Yugi and ran his tongue over Yugi's lips, wanting to deepen the kiss.

Yugi gladly obliged and opened his mouth. Yami slipped his tongue in Yugi's mouth and moaned. Yugi's hands began to roam over Yami's shoulders and back and Yami moaned into his mouth again. They pulled away, finding that they needed air, and stared into the others eyes. Yami's dark ruby eyes took Yugi's breath away. "Your eyes are beautiful." He breathed. "So are yours." Yami smiled. Cheeks flushed, Yugi laid his head on Yami's shoulder and sighed. "I . . . I've never . . .felt this way before." Yugi whispered against his neck. "Neither have I, Yugi." Yami replied, holding him tightly.

~*~*~*~ Rasha trotted into the small village of Halay two days later. Saren pulled him to a stop in front of Talla's house and got off. Some people watched her as she entered town, and went back to what they were doing. As Saren was pulling a small bag from the ties, the door opened and someone walked out. Saren smiled at the young woman. "Hi." She said. "Hello. Is your mother around, Anzu?" Saren asked. "How did you know my name?" Anzu asked. "She is your aunt, Anzu." Talla answered.

"My aunt?" Saren nodded. "Yes. I am Saren, the Pharaoh's sorceress." She said. "What are you doing here?" Anzu asked. "Looking for a friend. He was suppose to return over a week ago." She said. "Who would your friend be?" Talla asked. "His name is Yami." Talla nodded. "Let's walk." She said. She and Saren walked slowly around the village. "Three of the scavengers came across the massacre. Yugi found two survivors, Yami and Ryou. Yami was injured, but luckily it wasn't life threatening." She explained. "How bad was it?"

"Two arrows. One embedded in his chest, the other in his side. Yugi nursed him back to health and he is now up and about. Has been for about five days now."

"And Ryou?"

"His injuries were more serious. The arrow he was hit with made its way deep into his side. It also became infected, but it healed fast." They stopped walking and she turned to her sister. "Who is Ryou? I don't think he is a normal person." Saren smiled. "He isn't." she said simply. She then turned and they walked back to Rasha. Saren spotted Ryou standing by Rasha, petting him, and she smiled. "Rasha missed you." She said. Ryou, smiling, turned to her. "I can tell. I missed him also." He said. "I'll see you both later. Why don't you stay here a while?" Talla asked her sister. "I'll think about it." Talla smiled and walked into her house. "How are you?" Saren asked.

"I'm doing fine. I have healed fine. Yami is doing a lot better, also. You really should stay a while, Saren. You need a break as much as Yami does." Saren nodded. "You talked me into it. Seto can sit and worry for a month." She laughed. Ryou smiled. "Poor Seto." He said. "Yami is staying in that house." He said, pointing to a small house diagonal from them. The door opened and a laughing Yugi and Yami came out. Saren's eyes widened when she saw him. "Attractive little thing, isn't he?" Ryou said. "Yami seems to think so." He added quietly. "What is his name?"

"Yugi." Saren smiled and began to walk over to them. 'He's the one.' She thought, delighted.

~*~*~*~

Yami was too busy laughing with Yugi to notice the woman that walked up to them. She cleared her throat. "You must be Yugi." She said, smiling down at the surprised boy. "Yes. Who are you?" Yugi asked. Saren looked up at Yami and smiled wider. "Saren." Yami said. Yugi looked between Yami and Saren. "Oh, so you are Talla's sister?" Saren nodded. "Her younger sister." She said, looking down at him. "How did you know my name?" Yugi asked. "Ryou told me. He was petting Rasha when Talla and I returned from our walk." She said.

"Rasha?" Saren nodded and Yugi looked over at Ryou. He was once again at Rasha, smiling and petting him. "Oh, Rasha is your camel!" he said. "What are you doing here, Saren." Yami asked. "A Magi made it back to the palace and told us about the attack." She said. "So he survived then?!" He asked, hopeful for his Magi. Saren shook her head. "No. I healed his wound, but it had done too much damage. He died after telling us. Seto is greatly worried." She smiled. "And he shall continue to worry. I told him I would not return without the survivors. So he will be waiting anxiously for the next month." She said.

"Sometimes I think you are evil." Yami said, shaking his head. "Not evil, just . . ." she thought for a moment. "A lover of trouble." Ryou said for her. "Yes, thank you, Ryou. I love you too." She said in monotone, glaring playfully. "I never said that I don't love you. It's hard for anyone to not love you." He said. "Thank you, dear Ryou. Your father will be glad to know of your sucking up." Ryou looked insulted. "I am not!" Saren laughed. "Cant you tell when someone is messing with you? Come on. I want to help you both. Can we go in?" she asked Yugi. He nodded and they went into his house.

"How are you going to help them?" he asked. "I will heal their wounds. They both have had enough time to start the healing process, so I shall finish it." She answered. "That way there will be no visible scars." Yami said. The bandages around him were removed and Saren put her hand to the wound on his chest, first. Her hand glowed and when she pulled away, the wound was gone, completely healed. She then moved to his side, then on to Ryou. Yugi touched where the wound on Yami's chest had been, eyes wide. "It's completely healed!" he said.

"OF course, I said I was going to heal it. Haven't you ever seen magic before?" Saren asked. "Well . . .sort of. Talla always does something like that when she's working with people, but nothing really happens." He said. "Oh, I see. She uses hidden magic." She nodded to herself. "Oh! I almost forgot about Rasha!" she suddenly said. She rushed out and found Rasha in front of the house. She smiled at him as he nudged her. "Yami," Yugi, Yami, and Ryou had followed her out and were standing behind her.

"What?" Saren turned to face them. "Do you really want to stay out here in the desert? The people who attacked you could attach this village searching for you." Yugi's eyes widened. "Would the really attack my village?" he asked. "If they know I'm here, they will. There is a reason the caravan was attacked. Whoever did it wants me dead." Yami said. Saren nodded. "And they won't stop until they find your corpse." She said. Saren noticed the look on Yugi's face and smiled gently down at him. She put a gentle hand on his head. "You don't have to worry, Yugi. If Yami were to come home, he would be protected." She said.

Yugi wrapped his arms around Yami's waist and buried his face in his chest. "Yami, you have to go." His muffled voice said. Yami looked down at Yugi's head and held him tight. He felt hot tears dampening his shirt, and his eyes widened as he looked at Yugi. "Yugi." He whispered. "I don't want you to be killed Yami, please . . .go home!!" Yugi said, crying harder into Yami's chest. Saren looked to Ryou and they made eye contact. He nodded in a silent answer to her silent question. She looked back at the two, eyes soft.

Yami pulled Yugi back and gently lifted his chin. He looked deeply into Yugi's purple eyes, seeing the love Yugi held for him. Without caring, Yami leaned down and gently kissed Yugi. "I would only leave for your safety." He said. "Yami," Yami looked at Saren. "I am sure that Yugi would be safer with you. I am sure that if he is left here, he will be used as a way of getting to you. He could even be killed. I say this for your own safety . . .Yugi should come with us." Yami looked down at Yugi. "Would you want to come with us?" he asked. Yugi jumped into his arms, burying his face in Yami's chest again. "What kind of a question is that?" he asked, smiling up at Yami.

Saren smiled. "Then I guess it is settled. Yugi shall accompany us to Cairo." She said. Ryou nodded as he watched the two embrace.

~*~*~*~

Yugi and Yami walked back into his little house to pack things. "What will I need?" Yugi asked. "Well, the essential." Yugi turned around. "And what would that be?" Yami smiled mischievously and wrapped his arms around Yugi. He leaned down and nibbled on Yugi's ear lob. "I wouldn't mind if you brought only yourself." He whispered in his ear. Yugi's cheeks flushed deep red and Yami chuckled, satisfied. Yugi glared. "You did that on purpose, Yami!"

"Hahah!! You caught me. I did." He smiled at Yugi. "Clothes, some food, water, your basic essentials." He said. As Yugi packed the essentials, Yami removed the piece of floor and pulled out the scroll. (A/N: ^-^; I made a small mistake in the last chapter, so please ignore the papyrus thing. I meant to say parchment.) Yugi walked over with his leather bag and Yami placed it safely inside. "How long will it take us to Cairo?" Yugi asked.

"It should take us two or three days if we don't stop to much." Senra answered from the doorway. "Are you ready?" she asked. Yugi looked around. "Yup. I just need to say bye to my friends." Jou popped his head inside the door. "Ya me us?" he asked. Yugi nodded and Jou was suddenly pushed flat on his face. "No need, we're comin' with ya!" Honda said, smiling. Jou glared at him as he rubbed his nose. "Ya didn't have to push me." He grumbled. Saren giggled and rolled her eyes at them. "I'd like to bring Anzu and my sister, but she refused saying that she'd rather stay and help the people here." She said, frowning.

She then smiled. "Are you ready? Ryou already has the camels and he's ready to leave." Yami nodded and they all exited the house. Ryou was out with Rasha and three other camels, Yugi's, Honda's, and Jou's. They climbed up, Yami behind Yugi, Ryou behind Jou, Saren and Honda on their own, and wrapped cloaks around themselves. They made their way over to the entrance where the villagers were waiting. "Are you all going to be okay without us here?" Yugi asked Mali. She nodded. "Yes, of course. You three take care." Yugi nodded, tears coming to his eyes. "Yugi, take care of Yami." Talla said with a smile.

Yugi nodded and smiled. 'Wait . . .that isn't her normal smile!' Yugi's eyes widened and he blushed. Her sly smile grew when she saw the blush. "Mission accomplished." She muttered to herself. Saren giggled. 'You are such a mean person.' She joked mentally. Talla looked up at her little sister. "I know." She said smiling. The group proceeded out of the village, waving back to the village people.

~*~*~*~

Back in Cairo, Seto paced back and forth, staring at the floor. "How long can it really take for those morons to assemble a decent search party?" he growled. "Sir, they are working on it and will be leaving shortly!" a man said. Seto glared at him and continued pacing. "At least Saren went. SHE can be relied on. Yami trusts her more than anyone in the entire kingdom!" he said. He sighed heavily. "Really, she will be coming back before the stupid search party is assembled. Caleb, it has been three days since Saren left." Caleb nodded. "Yes, is there something wrong with it?" he asked.

Seto glared up at him. "Think, you moron." He groaned. "I have a headache now." He mumbled. "Please, report to me if you have any information." Caleb nodded and Seto left.

'How does Yami put up with their arrogance?' he asked himself as he walked down the halls to his quarters.

~*~*~*~

LK: ^-^" Late, but at least I finished it!!

Yami: **sarcastically** I'm so proud of you.

Yugi: Sarcasm doesn't really fit you . . .

LK: Well, it fits me!! ^-^ Sarcasm is a part of my daily life!!!

Yami & Yugi: We know . . .

LK: I have a writing . . .policy that I am trying to follow . . .each chapter will be two pages more than the last . . .This chapter is a little longer than the last, but it is still only 7 pages, gomen.

Yugi: I'm sure you'll make up for it in the next chapter!! ^-^

LK: ^_____^ But of course!! Heheh!! I think I've stalled long enough . . . **wink wink**

Yami: . . .**blushes many shades of red**

Yugi: **sees Yami blushing many shades of red and understands her meaning** Um . . . **blush**

LK: ^___________^ Heheh! **glomps both Yugi and Yami** I love you two!!! **sees a randomly-passing-by Ryou and lets go of Y/Y**

Yami: Poor Ryou . . .

Yugi: **watches Ryou glomped by LK** Yup . . .

Ryou: Um . . .**blush** R+R? *-*''