Chapter 15:
What Lies Within the Heart
Téa walked slowly up to Yami and threw her arms around him. "I never thought I would see you again! How are you here?"
Yami frowned and looked over at Yugi. He sighed.
"Yami? What's wrong?" Téa faced him with deep concern.
He grabbed her arms and put them at her side. "It's a long story. I'll explain it later." He pushed her aside and walked up to Seto.
Téa went speechless for a second and then broke out a in a soft tone. "Yami?"
Ignoring her, he began to interrogate his former priest. "You…why are you here? I never thought I would see you again!"
Seto smirked. "So, the mighty Pharaoh, Bel um Fal is here as well. It's been a long time! How have you been?"
Yami scowled. "Better then you I'm sure!"
Seto glared and gripped his staff tighter. "I'd advise you watch yourself…Yami!" He spat bitterly. He opened the door to one of the rooms and stormed inside.
Mai sighed and followed, along with Bakura who had changed back to his less insane half. Yugi gave a dirty look to Yami from behind and walked inside along with Marik and Shadi. Yami looked to his side and saw Téa looking at a tapestry on the wall. He shook his head and walked inside. Téa walked over to the tapestry and touched it's silky material. On it was a picture of the 'Great Pyramid's' and on each side was a Pharaoh and his queen, with many people looking up at them, watching over their kingdom.
"So beautiful…" She whispered, gazing at the beaming sun shinning on its people in a burst of dazzling colours. She walked back inside the room and joined the group. Taking a seat next to Bakura, she kept her head down. Lost in her own thoughts, and trying to understand why Yami had tossed her aside like an old shoe. Didn't he even care that she was all right? Guess not…
Dark Bakura took control momentarily and approached Téa. "Téa?" He asked in a low whisper.
"Yes?" She answered, still looking downward.
"I…I didn't mean to…look…I'm…sorry…"
Téa looked up, slightly shocked at the spirit's sudden emotion. "It…it's alright. I'm really the one to blame. I refused to give up the ring, despite its powers…" She lifted her arms up awkwardly and gave him a lopsided smile. "Don't be mad at this…" She leaned over and gave him a gentle hug.
Dark Bakura stiffened but then lifted his hand up and patted her on the back. He gave her a little squeeze and pulled away. "I'll just have to take your soul now…" He smirked.
Téa gasped. "What?"
Dark Bakura laughed and turned back into Bakura. "Sorry about that…are you ok?"
Téa giggled. Dark Bakura was just teasing her. "Fine…" She looked over at Yami. "Just fine…" She bowed her head.
Bakura shook his head and glanced sadly over at the former Pharaoh.
"So…what's the plan?" Yugi asked anybody who was listening.
Everyone shrugged, moaning. It was obvious everyone was weak and tired mentally and physically.
"Um, aren't we missing somebody?" Téa asked, glancing around the room.
Yugi jumped out of his seat. "Joey and Tristan!" He took off out the door.
"Wait, Yugi! I'll come with you!" Téa cried, joining him half way down the hall.
Yami watched as Yugi and Téa ran out of the room and disappeared down the hall. He noticed Seto staring at him. "
What's wrong with you?"
Yami faced him. "Excuse me?"
Seto sighed and looked away. "You can't keep pretending you don't love her. So why did you push her away?"
Yami remained silent.
***
"Yugi! Wait!" Téa shouted, running as fast as her legs could carry her.
Yugi stopped and turned to face her. "Sorry, Téa."
Téa blinked and titled her head to the side. "Does this feel like Déjà vu to you?"
Yugi remained silent and in thought. Then nodded. "Yeah, this is kind of how it all began!" He paused and then continued.
"Téa?"
She looked down at him. "Hmm?"
He sighed and hugged her gently. "I'm glad you're ok. But…I need to know something…"
"What is it?" She asked, returning his gentle hug.
"Are you in love with Yami?"
Téa froze, unable to think of anything to say. "Uh…"
"I know you are. And I'm ok with it. I thought I was in love with you at first."
Téa gasped.
"But, in all honesty, you are just like a sister to me. You're too good a friend for it to be anything more. I wouldn't want to lose what we had for years."
"Yugi…"
He frowned slightly. "Téa, I'm sorry that he doesn't feel the same…"
Téa bowed her head. "It's ok, Yugi. I never really thought he even liked me. But at least I know we are good friends." She took Yugi's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "But not as good as you and I are." She winked.
Yugi chuckled. "True!" He said boasting.
This made Téa laugh and rough his hair up. "Don't ever change Yugi, don't ever change." She smiled. A sudden piercing scream broke them out of their moment. "Was that…?"
"Joey! Tristan!" Yugi cried.
"Wait, Yugi! It might be a trap!"
They dashed off to see if they could find the source of the scream. They shot down another twisted corridor and came to a room that was in shambles.
"Ok, it was definitely not either of them…" Téa said, glancing at Pegasus's body on the floor. His silver hair was stained with crimson blood, flowing underneath him in a pool.
"I think we should leave, Téa!"
She nodded and they headed back to the room the group was hiding in. Along the way, they bumped into Joey and Tristan. Téa, still shaken from the sight she had just witnessed, gave a shrill scream and fell to the floor. Yami jumped up and ran out of the room. He stopped when he saw Yugi helping Téa up, who was glaring at a cowering Joey and Tristan.
"You jerks! You almost killed me by pure fright!"
Joey laughed. "Sorry, Téa! We didn't know you and Yugi were there. What's got you so riled up anyways?" Joey asked, rubbing his ears from her ear-splitting scream.
Yugi spoke up. "It's Pegasus…he's been murdered…"
Everyone gasped.
Yami made his presence known by shouting at the group. "In here! Quick!"
Everyone scrambled to their feet and followed Yami inside.
"Ok, what happened?"
Yugi and Téa explained everything from the dead Pegasus to running into Joey and Tristan.
Shadi stood up. "I fear that the worse is still to come. Whatever did this to him might still be in this castle. Everyone looked at each other nervously. "I suggest you all rest for now. I will go and see what happened.
"No!" Marik shouted. "Shadi, you rest too. Later, we'll all go and check out what happened. We can't afford to lose anyone else."
Shadi nodded. "Very well."
***
As the hours ticked by, everyone was growing more and more restless. Seto was seated rather stiffly on the couch, next to a nervous Serenity, who kept edging her way towards Tristan. Joey was slung back in a velvet chair, twirling his duelling cards around. Bakura was snoozing on the loveseat next to the couch, with Marik on the floor beside him. Ishizu, who was carried back by Shadi, was now resting on the bed in one of the guest rooms of the large chambers where the groups had slept during their visit. Shadi was by her beside, watching over her. Mokuba was sitting on the floor, keeping a close eye on Seto, while Mai sat next to him, filing her nails. Yugi, Yami and Téa were nowhere to be seen at the moment. Afraid, hungry and tired, everyone waited in silence. Wondering what would happen next.
***
Yami, who was in one of the bedrooms changing clothes, heard a loud knock on the door. "Yes?"
A small muffled voice came from the other side. "It's me! Yugi!"
Yami walked over to the door and opened it. He was only wearing a pair of pants; his shirt was slung over his shoulder.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were still changing. I'll come back later…"
Yami sighed. It's ok, Yugi. I'm almost done."
Yugi nodded and walked inside, taking a seat on the bed. "Yami, I'll get right to the point. You are obviously in love with her, so why don't just admit it and spare her some grief!"
Yami was to say the least, shocked at his partner. "I…"
Yugi walked up to him and continued his speech. "She loves you and you know it! Why are you doing this?" He gave a frustrated sigh and threw himself back on the bed.
Yami slipped on the pale blue T-shirt he was carrying and leaned against the door, his arms crossed. "Yugi…"
"And don't lie! We can all see through you!"
Yami put his head down. "I wanted more then anything to…" He clenched his fists together and put them at his side. "To hold her and tell her how I felt. But…"
Yugi interrupted. "You still love Téana?"
Yami shook his head. "No, I mean I do, but I've learned to move on. I don't feel guilty about loving another. It's just that I haven't felt any feelings for 5000 years. After I lost Téana, I grew cold. After my sealing, I became lonely and afraid to get close to anyone. Then I met you and knew how much I was beginning to love and care for you. I was so afraid to lose you just like her and all my other friends. I decided that I would only care for you and push everyone else away. It wasn't easy with Joey, next thing I knew he was my best friend, next to you of course. I thought my loneliness was getting the better of me, but…then I met Téa, when you set us up on that date. I couldn't believe how good she was making me feel. How happy and confident I was becoming through her encouraging words. I felt I could do anything with her by my side! Next thing I knew, I was falling for her, yet…I saw how close you two were and I refused to interfere."
Yugi held his hand up to stop him. "Yami…I don't love her that way. I thought I did, but I could never jeopardize the friendship we've had since childhood. Besides, even if I did love her that way, she would only be with me if she needed company. I know her heart doesn't hold anything more then a brotherly love. Whenever she would blush when she was near me, it was all because of you. I noticed her change after she met you. And I am perfectly fine with her feelings. And it makes me happy to see her happy, but not like this. And you, someone I love more then anyone I know. You are miserable and lonely. She would be good for you. She wouldn't hurt you or leave you. She's the best person you could ever meet and fall for. Stop denying your feelings Yami, go to her. She's in the other room. Let it all out…before it's too late and she moves on. I know you wouldn't be able to stand seeing her in the arms of another guy. I saw your face when Seto kissed her." He smirked slyly. "I wouldn't have chosen her to get you out of that depression if I didn't think she would be able to open you up! If it were just for fun, I would have even set you up with Bakura or someone like that! She's your soul mate…"
Yami felt tears begin to well up his eyes, but he nodded and left the room.
Yugi sat there, staring at the opened door "Good luck…Yami."
***
Téa paced around the room, wondering what the heck she should do next. "It's all too much. I was just a simple teenage girl in high school, now I am in Egypt with crazed killers on the loose. Why did my life have to become so complicated? If it wasn't for my friends…I don't know what I would do." She smiled fondly at the thought of all the wonderful friends she had made over the few years she was a high school student. "I'm a very luck girl…so what's missing in my life?"
The door suddenly burst open. Téa jumped, her chestnut hair swaying from the sudden motion of her head. There at the door stood a very shaken Yami.
"A…are you ok?" She asked, reaching out to him. He walked in and closed the door behind him.
"I am now…" He breathed.
Yami walked over to her and pulled her into a deep passionate kiss. Téa was beyond shock, but soon she felt herself melting into the kiss and returned it with equal passion. He pulled back and she saw tears streaming down his face.
"Y…Yami?" She asked in a panicked tone.
He leaned his forehead against hers and stroked a few strands of her silky hair. "For so long… Téa…I…I'm sorry."
Téa was still breathing heavily. "For what?"
He pulled her into a warm hug. "For everything! For hurting you, for hiding the truth from you and for not telling you how much…I love you."
Téa gasped and covered her mouth. She felt tears sting her eyes.
"I know you love me, so you don't have to force yourself to say it." He assured her.
"Yami…h…how?"
He sighed. "Yugi…told me."
Téa pulled herself out of the hug. "Was I that obvious?" She felt her face burning. She bowed her head, concealing her eyes with her bangs.
"A bit" He smirked, titling his head to the side, trying to see her eyes.
"Sorry…I should have…"
He kissed her on her forehead gently. "Téa…it's my fault. I never let you into my heart…till it was a little too late." He felt more tears falling from his cheeks. "I was afraid…I still am. I don't really show myself to anyone…except Yugi."
"5000 years…I guess it would make anyone emotionless." Téa said in a whisper. "Why are you crying so much?" She asked, wiping some tears away from his cheeks.
"I don't know…I can't stop them." He smiled sadly.
"Maybe this will help?" She teased.
Before he had a chance to say anything else, she leaned in and kissed him. He gasped slightly, but returned the kiss, pulling her in closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Now everything felt complete…for both of them.
***
Yugi, wondering what had happened, opened the door slightly. The site before him made him smiled broadly. Finally Yami wasn't alone anymore. Finally Téa was happy. He closed the door, allowing them some privacy. Deciding that this was a day of rest, he didn't interrupt or call them to the main room. He walked back to the couch and sat down, glancing down at the puzzle. It felt so strange that Yami wasn't going to be there anymore, but maybe it was even better that he would be in the flesh from now on. Maybe they could really be brothers now. Like he had always wanted. But, what will happen when it's time to return all of the items? Will Yami leave? Or stay with him? What if it was a mistake for them to get together? Would Téa be hurt? Probably more then before… Now wasn't the time to think of that though. Right now, they had to plan for what was to come in the castle, not the future.
***
In dark hallway, a shadow loomed overhead. It's claws dripping with blood and it's wings brushing against the stone walls of the corridor. It advanced at the room ahead of it. Before it could enter, a voice stopped it in its tracks.
"I wouldn't go in just yet. We need to leave more clues behind for the little brats. Starting with…him." The voice said in a dull tone, pointing at the man the monster held in its giant hands.
The monster nodded and dropped the lifeless body onto the floor. It rolled over, revealing a wide-eyed man, with his jaw locked in a scream. He was covered in his own blood with broken bones everywhere on his body. It wasn't just any man though; it was Pegasus's main guard, Kemo.
"Now the slaughter begins!" The sun streamed in on the disembodied voice. It was a tall man with long sliver hair, just passing his chest. One eye with a gold patch concealing it, while the other shone with a brilliant red. His skin was tanned and his body was very slender. He wore an old Egyptian style cape, with a loincloth and a scarf wrapped over one side of his chest and shoulder. He held a staff with a shrunken head on it. "Now that Pegasus is dead, I can now roam free! It's good to be home! And now, Yugi and friends will have the honour of meeting the man who created the shadow games! Maxellus!"
The monster roared as if it was cheering.
"Now let the fun begin!!!"
With a bright flash, he was gone along with the enormous creature he appeared to have summoned.
To be continued…
