Chapter 8:

The Promise

Large golden doors slid open as two familiar faces peered inside.

"Where do you think this room leads too, Bakura?" Asked Téa.

"I don't know…but anything is better then being stuck in that dinning hall with those guards."

They pushed the doors all the way open and walked into a very dark room. Only the silver moon cast any light.

"I can't see…where are we?"

Bakura walked towards the window, trying to get an idea of their present location. He didn't see the desk in front of him though and went flying over it, landing on the floor.

"Are you ok?" Téa questioned, leaning over the side of the desk.

"I'm fine…but…" His eyes grew wide and his mouth hung open.

"What's wrong?" Téa cocked her head to the side curiously.

"B…Behind…y…you…" He managed to say, pointing a shaking finger at a tall lurking shadow behind an unsuspecting Téa.

"Behind me?" She asked. Turning around, her eyes also grew wide, but she screamed at the top of her lungs and made a run for the door.

"Wait for me!!!" Bakura cried, running after the retreating girl.

Outside, they leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.

"Was that what I thought it was?" Téa panted.

"I think so…" A loud banging noise caused the duo to freeze up.

"It's coming after us!" Téa squeaked, grabbing Bakura tightly.

The doors slammed open and a 'Summon Skull' loomed over the two frightened teens.

"RUN!!!" They shouted.

Without looking back, they ran crazily through the halls, finding a door that appeared to lead outside.

"Wrong door! That was definitely the wrong door!" Bakura cried out, running at top speed.

"You think?" Téa shot back sarcastically.

"Let's find Yugi and the others!" Bakura suggested.

Low growling noises made them run even faster.

"Oh no! It's still coming!"

Bakura grabbed Téa's hand and dragged her away from the door and outside of the crazy palace.

***

Inside the hall, the group was trying to come up with a plan.

"I think we should first make sure Téa and Bakura are safe before we try anything against this Amons guy. "Joey stated, sitting back in a large plush red chair.

Yami paced the room, his arms crossed and his brows knitted together in worry. "True, but we don't even know where to look. I think I should try and see what this…" He took the key Mai gave him out of his pocket and flipped it in the air. "Key leads too." He caught it and held it out to the group.

The doors opened suddenly and the group looked on as Isis entered the room.

"Isis!" Yami walked up to her. "I thought that was you I saw on the roof."

Isis smiled. "Hello, Yami. I see we meet again." She took a seat next to Joey. "Shadi informed me on your presence and I thought I would see how you were all doing. I spotted Téa and Bakura on the roof and tried to help them. Sadly they fell before I had a chance to reach them. Are they ok?"

Once again the doors opened and to every ones' surprise, Bakura rushed in screaming… "It's going to eat us!!!"

Tristan caught him by the shoulders. "Bakura! Whoa, calm down, man!"

Bakura gasped and noticed everyone looking at him. "Oh, hi guys!" He said shyly, scratching his head. Yami walked towards him. "What happened? And, where's…"

Before he could finish, Téa ran in yelling at Bakura.

"Hey, it's not nice to leave a lady like…" She paused before she ran into Yami. "Yami…?" She asked in disbelief.

"Téa…" He said in a gentle and slightly shocked tone. Even though he had witnessed her earlier, nothing compared to seeing her right in front of him at this moment. He swallowed, a deep lump forming in his throat. He wasn't going to cry, was he? He sure hoped not. This didn't stop Téa however. She sighed and smiled with tears brimming her eyes.

"Oh, Yami…you're really here!  And…Yugi too!"

Yami nodded. "Yes…and so are you…"

Téa wasn't sure weather to hug him or kiss him. She was so shaken, but her thoughts were soon interrupted. Yami had wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him.

"Yugi?" She gasped.

Yami allowed a few tears to fall, landing on the younger girls shoulder. "I'm so glad you're alive…"

He said, his voice cracking slightly.

Téa leaned her head on his shoulder. Tears flowed from her eyes as well. Wrapping her arms around him, she whispered… "Same for you…"

Everyone stood in silence, watching the young couple embrace. Joey and Mai smiled. Yami gently pushed away but kept his hands on Téa shoulders.

"How did you survive?"

Téa looked down at him and sighed. "After I fell…"

"Hey, wake up!"  A small man wrapped in white cloths poked a stick at her side. Téa moaned and opened her eyes. "You ok, girl?" He asked, helping her sit up.

"Uh, what happened?"

The man leaned on the stick. "I should ask you that! You fell out of nowhere landing on my sack of goods. I was more then surprised.

"I survived?" She asked in shock. She stood up. "Where am I?"

The guy titled his head to the side. "Egypt, girlie."

Téa looked up at the sky, covering her eyes from the blinding sun, she tried to spot the plane she was in earlier. "How long have I been out?"

The man walked around her, looking her up and down. "Hmm, I'd say about six hours." He sat down with a grunt.

"What!!!" She shrieked. Her cries were interrupted by a couple of guards approaching her.

"Miss, you are not allowed here! You must come with us!" They grabbed Téa by the wrist, pulling her towards them.

"Hey, let go!" She demanded.

The man stood up. "She means no harm! Don't you hurt her!"  He waved his stick furiously.

"Shut up old man!" A guard snapped, knocking the man down.

"Hey! That was uncalled for!" Téa spat.

"Do as we say and no more harm will come to anybody."

Téa glared at them but allowed them to help her onto a camel.

"The master will like this!"

Téa shivered. What are they going to do to me?

Inside the palace a tall man in purple stood above Téa.

"So, you are one of the duellists?" He asked, leaning down.

"No…but I'm friends with one of them. His name is Yugi Muto!"

The man gasped. "Yugi?" He smirked and called over a man dressed in red robes. He whispered into the other mans' ear and he nodded. He handed him a golden box with the eye of Horus on it. He took out a small ring and reached for Téa's hand. Téa jumped back, but a guard held her arms down. The man placed the ring on her finger and her eyes turned solid blue.

"And, then I saw Bakura and it went on from there…" She said, ending her story.

"So, you don't know if this ring is a millennium item?" Yami asked, removing his hands from her shoulders.

She shook her head. "Nope! Sorry, Yami…" Her eyes suddenly lit up. "But we do have the ring! Right Bakura?"

Bakura nodded and pulled the ring out of his pocket. "Yes, it's right here!"

Téa sighed and walked over to him. "If it's alright with you guys, I think I'll hold onto it. At least we know I wont go insane or anything." She laughed, placing the ring on the chain on her necklace.

Yami was hesitant but agreed in the end. "Alright, but if you start to act strange or put it on, we get rid of it!"

Téa agreed.

"Great! Now that this is all settled, can we get some rest?" Asked a tired Joey.

Yami nodded. "Yes, we all need to be rested for tomorrow. Who knows what will happen…"

Everyone nodded and went off their separate ways.

***

A little later on in the night, Téa heard a knock on her door.

"Who could that be?" She asked wiping some sleep out of her eyes. Opening the door, she was greeted by Yami. "Yugi! What's up?" She yawned.

"I'm sorry to bother you…but I was wondering if you would join me for a quick night walk?"

Téa smiled. "Of course!" She slipped her shoes on and joined him at the door. "So, what's up?"

Yami remained silent for a moment. "Téa there is more to the story…then I told you back on the plane."

She blinked. "Like what?"

Yami bowed his head. "Téana was more then a friend…she was my…lover."

Téa stared in shock. "What? Really?" She stuttered.

"Yes…and I gave her that ring…"

Téa lifted the ring up and gently stroked it with her fingers. "What was it for?"

They had arrived at a small fountain. The stars were twinkling in the sky. Téa looked up and smiled at the beautiful sight. It was so magical looking. She took a seat by the fountain and soon Yami joined her.

"It was a promise ring. A promise to wed one day…even though she was a common person, she was also my childhood friend. She looked just like you, Téa. But, I don't want you thinking that because you look like her, that's the only reason, I care about you. You may have her looks, but your personality is very different."

Téa smiled inwardly. So he likes me for me…that's such a relief…

Yami sighed deeply. "I'm sorry you have to go through this…I never thought in my life time that I would meet my lovers reincarnation or see that ring ever again...but I'm happy to know you aren't alone in this life. When I saw you with Yugi, I knew that fate had brought you two a happy life."

Téa moved closer. "Yami…what about you?" She put a hand on his shoulder.

He leaned into her touch. "I'm just so sorry…" He stood up to leave, but Téa held a firm grip on his shoulder and pulled him back down. He faced her hesitantly. "I'm sorry I lied, sorry I gave her that ring, sorry I bothered you so late and sorry I even exist…"

Téa started to get angry. "What's with you? This isn't the Yami I know! The Yami I know is confident and would never let something like this get to him! Remember what I told you back at the coffee shop? I said that we have to face the path we choose and see it as an adventure, not run from it!"

Yami was taken aback by her sudden outburst. "I remember Téa…" He brushed her hand away from his shoulder. "But I can't do it!" He stood up again, this time Téa grabbed his wrist.

"Then let's make a promise!"

He stood their, silent. Her eyes showed she wasn't going to give up.

"Like what?" He asked.

"Let's promise to go through this together! No matter what happens, we will survive it together! And to make it official…" She took off a small silver ring from her finger and handed it over to Yami. "We'll each hold onto something that was given to us by the other person! Here! I give you my ring; it is a ring that has always brought me luck. My mother gave it to me a long time ago, it means everything to me."

He took the ring, starring at it.

"What do I give you?" She smiled and blushed slightly.

"In a way, you have already given me something." She yanked on the chain around her neck. "Here, let me help you put it on…" She slid the ring onto his little finger. "Now whenever we are apart, we'll have these rings to remind us that the other person is always with us! No matter what!"

Yami stared at the ring on his finger. "Téa…I…can't…"

She grabbed his hand. "Don't worry, I want you to have this ring. I know it's in good hands. This is a promise that means as much to me as that ring does."

He smiled and nodded. "Very well, this is a promise between friends then…"

Téa nodded. "Yep! Even though we don't know how long you'll be with us…you'll always be here." She pointed to her heart. "I'm not doing this because you inhabit Yugi's body either. I'm doing this for you…the spirit within the millennium puzzle."

Yami gasped. How could she just accept him like that? He had to admit; he did think she was doing this because of Yugi at first. But, now he knows differently. "Téa…" He said, unable to speak anymore.

"It's ok, Yami. You don't have to say anything." She gave him a gentle hug. "I'll always be here for you, so will Yugi and so will everyone else. You may have been alone for 5000 years, but you aren't anymore. So stop hiding yourself from us. There's no need to... We all know and care about you."

Yami hugged her back. "Thank you, Téa."

A small star shone brightly in the sky.

"This is a promise that will be kept…forever…"

To be continued…