Author's Note: First of all - to everyone who keeps begging for the Kaiba brothers: THEY WILL COME!! Please be patient. They're just not important to the story line so far. Don't worry - they will be!

[strictly from Invader Sam]: And second, the last half of this chapter is rated "R" for adult situations. I worked very hard to make sure it was tasteful, but in any case, if you don't want to read it, you don't have to. It's not VITAL to the story, but I wanted to put it in anyhow. If you don't read it, it will be explained in later chapters.

[Invader Shaun whacks Sam on the head with a stick!] Stop Talking!! Let them read!!

[Sam] Okay! Okay! Here - enjoy! ^_^

Chapter 12

"Memories Unlocked"

The trek back into town seemed longer than it had coming out, and the sun was beginning to set as they finally reached the street of Tournament-owned hotels. Once inside, they found Tristan, just hanging around the lobby looking preoccupied. Joey took great pleasure in snapping him out of it and proudly showing him his two new items.

"Oh yeah – speaking of items," Tristan said, reaching into his pocket, "That guy insisted that you keep this Yugi." He handed the chain to Yugi.

"Oh," the boy said, resignedly hooking the item to his own chain, "I really didn't deserve this…"

"What're you talking about?" Mai said, "You dueled perfectly. Of course you deserve it."

"Ya know what else we deserve?" Joey said, "Dinner! I'm starving!!"

The others all heartily agreed and hurried to the dining hall. The dinner meal was an enjoyable one, as Joey recounted his duel against Mako (whenever he wasn't stuffing his face that is), while the rest of the gang kept reminding him that he had been behind in LP almost the entire match.

At last, they finished their meal and were heading up the stairs to their rooms, when they spotted a familiar figure come through the front doors. It was Mako, but he had lost his confident stride and was trudging dejectedly towards the front desk.

"Mako!" Yugi said, darting back down the stairs, "What happened?"

Mako sighed deeply, "Perhaps I should have rested before dueling again…"

Joey almost choked on the extra-large amount of food that had still been in his mouth. Yugi gasped, "Don't tell me-"

Mako sullenly revealed his golden, tournament chain. It had no items left dangling from it! Joey stood up angrily, "That little worm! He must have cheated ya Mako! Did he pull that Parasite trick on you?"

The duelist of the deep looked up at Joey, who now had Tristan standing right next to him, the both of them up in arms, "No… but he did manage to strip my sea monsters of their pride in a different way…"

Mai, who was coming down the stairs as well, cast a quizzical eye at Mako, "What do mean by that?"

The water champion couldn't even bring himself to look at Mai, "He used a card called 'DNA Surgery' to alter the very heart and souls of every monster I used. Even the Legendary Fisherman was disgraced. Early in the game Weevil played a different card: Insect Barrier. I had scoffed at him at the time, but I should have known by that grin that he had something more planned," He smiled slightly, "Once I was unable to attack, his Great Moth decimated my monsters and my life points."

The gang didn't know what to say. For a short moment, they cast sad glances at each other in silence. Then Mai stepped forward. Mako still did not meet her gaze. "I know you must be angry with me," he said, "I have broken my word to you."

Mai shook her head, "No. That's not it at all. There'll be other times. I'm sure you did your best. Today just wasn't your day. So buck up, will you?" She leaned up and kissed his cheek, making him blush in surprise.

Joey felt his own cheeks redden with what he realized (with a little shock) was jealousy. Where had that feeling come from??

Mai stepped down and Mako put a hand to his cheek. He smiled, "I suppose you're right, Miss Valentine," he said, "And the day has not been a total loss –"

There was a scream from by the doors and they all turned. Mako's alligators were wandering around the entryway, frightening guests as they made their way over to him.

He leaned down to pat each one on the head. "It seems they have chosen to follow me home," he said, grinning, "And I dare not refuse them."

"I can see why…" Yugi said nervously, eyeing the large reptiles.

"You've certainly got odd taste in consolation prizes," Mai said, "But what the hell. Whatever makes you happy."

"And indeed it does," Mako said, "I just hope they will be comfortable on the flight home. Though I have never been fond of planes myself." He picked up the leashes that were around the gators necks and headed over to the front desk, "I shall be glad to get back to larger waters. Good bye, my friends!"

"Have a safe trip home!" Tea told him.

"We'll probably be joining you soon enough," Yugi said, as the gang began their ascension up the stairs again, leaving Mako to his travel plans.

* * * (Small Children - Stop Reading!)

That night, everyone drifted off to sleep rather quickly, weary from the events of the day. All accept one that is. Yami was restless, lying next to Yugi in his translucent form. There was something that was tearing at him; it had been the same the night before. His heart was egging him on…but to do what? That part he couldn't understand…

For what seemed like an eternity, he lay there, fretting over it. Then he heard it. Soft – so soft he had to shake his head to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

Yami…

A voice was calling him.

Yami…

It was a voice he knew, but did not recognize.

Yami…come to me…

Come to whom? Yami wondered. The voice was louder now, inside him. No, not inside him, beyond him. The Shadow Realm. That was where the voice was coming from. He shut his eyes and vanished, setting his spirit free to wander the eternal darkness.

Once there, he thought he was alone. He could see nothing, save blackness on all sides.

"You heard me," said a voice and another spirit materialized in front of him. It was the woman who resided in Tsuki's Millennium Scale. The one who had caused stirrings in him that he'd never felt before. He felt his body reacting again as it had when he'd first laid eyes on her. And it angered him – this not understanding.

"Who are you?" he demanded. What power did she have over him that made him feel this way?

She cocked her head to one side, gold hair bands swaying, her brown eyes quizzical. "Hmm? Oh…I forgot…you don't remember me," she said sadly.

"What?" he said. Was this woman someone from his past – his ancient past?

"Yami…darling," she said softly, "Let me help you remember…"

Before he could say anything else, the blackness vanished and they were suddenly in the temple that was his mind. "Wha-?" he stammered, "How were you able to get into my mind?"

"I've always been here," she said, "My name is Dedi…your Queen, Yami."

Queen?! Yami's eyes widened. "Surely I would remember something as important as that."

"Yet you forgot yourself for a time, didn't you?" she asked.

It was true, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it.

"If you don't believe me, let me prove it to you," she said, and began walking into the depths of his mind, her soft-soled shoes making barley a sound on the stone floor.

"Wait!" Yami cried, running after her, "The mental defenses! They'll destroy you!"

Though she did not run, Dedi moved swiftly and came to her destination very quickly. Yami stopped a few feet behind her. This door was one of the most heavily guarded! Surely she didn't think to enter it?

But she did, and as he watched with anxious anticipation, her hand touched the stone and the door slid open slowly. He held his breath. Any second now the fires would come up and engulf her.

She stepped into the room. And the lights came up. She glanced around, and called back, "It's perfectly safe. You can come in and see for yourself."

Amazed, and very curious, Yami stepped into the room. It was decorated sparingly with a few long curtains here and there, but other than that, empty. "What is this place?" he mused.

"You used to keep me here," she said, "when we couldn't be together. My memory stayed with you always." She turned to face him, smiling, "I was never much for material things – probably why the room is so empty. Do you remember?"

Yami stood perfectly still, frozen. Images were flooding his mind, much too quickly for anyone but him to process. He saw it all. She had been a girl of the Tribes, brought to the palace to serve him. And…and they had fallen in love…

The memories kept coming. Year after year rolled over in his mind until his fell to his knees, overwhelmed. She had been his queen…it was all as clear as if it had never been forgotten. He felt someone touch his arm and looked up, the images fading quickly away as the real thing knelt before him.

"I have missed you…" Dedi said quietly, "I am sorry I have not revealed myself sooner – but I never had the opportunity."

"Dedi…" he spoke her name as a man awakening from a dream. He reached out and touched her face. She was soft, and very real. "I…I had no idea…"

Tears welled in her beautiful eyes, "Yami…"

Not another word was spoken between them. They knelt for a long while in silence, taking in everything. Then she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. The chill that ran through his body was one he had never thought he could feel. She wrapped her arms around him and he felt more complete than he had in ages.

For a while it was only kissing. The past was still distant, dream-like to him, and for that reason, he found himself feeling more than a little unsure of himself. He kissed her back, but his arms were like lead and he could not lift them to hold her.

She seemed not to mind. Perhaps he had always been shy with her. He felt her hands leave his back and travel up to his throat, where they found the collar he was wearing. She fingered it, and then broke the kiss suddenly.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Such a strange thing…" she said, tugging gently at the collar, "Why do you where a belt around your neck?"

It took Yami a second to find the words to answer, "It's…more of a collar really," he muttered, embarrassed. Yugi's fashion sense had always been foreign to him.

"A collar?" she echoed, "Does your host hold you prisoner?"

"No, nothing like that," Yami shook his head quickly, "It's just a style…it doesn't mean anything."

"Oh…" she nodded, "How does it come off?"

Off? Yami fiddled with the collar and tossed it on the stone floor, wondering with growing curiosity just what else she might want him to take off.

She smiled and stroked his cheek. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this day."

He gulped, "And what…particularly have you been waiting for…?"

She kissed him again and he felt her un-tuck his shirt. Her hands slipped under the fabric and he felt himself shiver as they touched his skin. She pulled away from him and lifted the shirt up over his head. He found himself raising his arms up willingly, and felt the damp air of the chamber close down on his bare chest and back.

She placed her hands on his chest and he shivered again. "Now you," she said, grinning.

"…Me…?" he said, feeling his cheeks burn.

"Yes," she said, nodding, and took his hand in hers. She moved to bring his hand to her top, but he pulled back. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"This isn't right," he said, "This isn't even my true mind, Dedi. It would be dishonoring to my host."

She lowered her eyes to the floor, "I understand…" She sighed, and then looked up, eyes bright, "A different location then."

"Huh?" Yami said, but already the walls around them were dissolving, and soon they were seated on the black floor of the Shadow Realm. A large bed, styled in Egyptian fashion stood next to them and he knew all too well what it was meant for. Needless to say, the reddening in his cheeks did not subside.

"You were always so shy," she said and all at once, his attention was on her, "That was probably what surprised me most about you."

He cocked an eyebrow. Apparently it was not just his unfamiliarity with the situation that was making him nervous. She was reaching for his hands again, leading them around behind her. "Go ahead," she said, "Find the clasps and unhook them."

Nervously, he fumbled with the hooks that held her top on. He let the cloth fall off of her and stared, dumbstruck. It was the first time in a millennia that he had looked upon a woman in this way. He felt the arousal stirring in him again and was suddenly conscious of how perverted he must look to her. He turned his eyes to the floor.

She took his chin in her hands and tilted his head towards her again. "Yami…am I not beautiful to you anymore?" she asked, and he saw worry in her eyes.

"No, it's not that at all," he said, "I just thought –" But he didn't get to finish his sentence, because as he reached out to her, his hand landed on her naked breast and he felt his whole body turn an embarrassed beet red.

He looked up at her guiltily, but she was grinning. He noticed a bit of color had come to her cheeks as well. "You are much more forward than I remember, Yami," she said.

"I – I didn't mean to – I'm sorry," he stuttered, pulling his hand away quickly.

"It's okay," she said with a small laugh, "I've missed you're touch."

She put a hand on his thigh and he felt himself do the opposite of what he expected – he relaxed. The burning in his cheeks resided. He met her eyes and smiled. She took his arms in her hands and stood up, bringing him to his feet as well. "I think that's it's only fair," she said quietly, "That this last part is done at the same time.

He was confused for only a brief moment, until she started unlatching his belt. He reached behind her finding latches on her skirt that had matched the ones on her top. She unzipped his pants as he unhooked the first clasp. The second clasp and his pants were down around his ankles. He stepped out of them, the boots getting kicked off as well. The last clasp was unhooked and as her skirt fell loosely off of her, so his boxers did off of him.

They stood there for a moment, Yami wondering if he was going to have to make the first move. Then Dedi wrapped her arms around him, kissing him and pulling him down onto the bed. She swung one leg over him and he felt a new sensation sweep over him. It all became familiar to him – the taste of her kiss, the warmth of her body pressed against his, the smell of her hair as it brushed against his forehead.

And he knew what to do. It was all coming back to him there in the heat of the moment. He ran one hand down her back and she pulled him closer to her. And in that moment, they became one.

A few intoxicating moments later, the two of them crawled under the cool cotton sheets and fell asleep in each others arms.