I hope that you all had a merry Christmas or other appropriate holiday and
thankyou for all ur reviews! And a special thankyou to HyperPegasus and
Sparky16 who have reviewed nearly every chapter I have put up! ^___^
O yes - what Shadi meant is between him and me ha ha ha. But it is a major plot point so remember it well! Here is a new chappy dedicated to you guys! Gomen that it is so late - the busy holiday season, yeah?
Chapter 7
Yugi awoke with a yawn. As usual when Yami went on one of his 'walks', Yugi's mind was awake but his body was still tired. Still, there was no choice but to get up - he had to help our Professor Hawkins today, and he had come to the decision to show Yami the carving that looked like him. Although he knew that Yami had no memories of his past, the likeness was too good to be a coincidence. Maybe it would jog something.
He finished dressing and, placing the millennium puzzle around his neck, left his room and walked down the corridor and stairs. He was last down, as usual, and the others were engrossed in some kind of dispute.
He approached Tea, who turned when she saw him.
'What's going on?'
She sighed. 'Kaiba's just announced that he's flying back today. He says that he can't spare any more time away... which means that we either fly back with him now, or find our own way back.'
'Yeah,' growled Joey, seeing Yugi behind Tea. 'The sleeze knows that we can't afford our own tickets. We've got no choice.'
'But.. we agreed to help Professor Hawkins with his work!' exclaimed Yugi, worriedly. 'He'll never get it done on his own!'
'It wasn't I who made that agreement,' interrupted Kaiba, overhearing the side conversation. 'I have a company to manage.'
He unfolded his arms and picked up the briefcase that never seemed to leave his side.
' I will be going out to the site today because there are some questions I wish to ask Professor Hawkins. However, I will be flying back at ten fifteen precisely. You have until then to decide whether you will accompany me or not.'
He strode out the door, ignoring the stream of objections. Yugi's Grandpa sighed and shook his head.
'Well, that,' he said sadly, 'appears to be that.'
Yugi stared at the ground in disappointment. Was it all going to be over so soon?
---------------------------------------------
Following breakfast, the ride over to the site was dismal. After fruitlessly trying to convince Kaiba to stay, a grim acceptance had settled over the group. There was nothing left to do but watch the sand dunes go by and, particularly in Joey's case, sulk.
Professor Hawkins had been out at the site since the early morning, and despite being extremely dusty greeted them with an excited smile. Once their situation had been explained, however, he too assumed a resigned yet disappointed attitude.
'Well, if you must go..'
'We're so sorry, Arthur.'
Grandpa was very apologetic. No one was talking to Kaiba, who did not seem to care at all.
Arthur smiled. 'Well, you've got a bit of time. I just started cataloguing the inscriptions on the left wall, if you want to see.'
He gestured to the open door of the entrance. Everyone was eager to have another look at the chamber, and leave the issue that it would also be their last behind them, so they all descended the stairs into the room. Inside, it was just as awe-inspiring and mysterious as before, only there were now piled of papers, books, a small fold up chair and a camera indicating where the Professor had started his work.
'Apparently these are records of the duels played between the leading powers of Egypt,' explained Arthur, showing the lines of writing he had started on.
'It's very interesting, but there is a lot which I can't translate. This, for instance...' He traced his fingers over a section of writing. 'This bit means 'darkness' or 'night', and this means 'land' or something like that. Perhaps it was the name of a duelling arena...'
He launched into an explanation of what the various glyphs meant, and showed them how he was cataloguing the translations. While the others were absorbed, Yugi edged away to where he had seen the carving of the Pharaoh before.
/ Yami? /
// Yes? //
/ There's something I want to show you. /
He felt Yami's presence in his mind become stronger, and knew that the spirit saw what he saw.
/ Well? /
// It's a carving of an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh. //
/ I know that. Don't you think that it looks a bit like you? //
Yugi approached the situation carefully. He didn't know how Yami would react to the subject of his lost memories. He certainly didn't expect what came next.
// Is _is_ me. //
'What?!'
With a shock, Yugi realised that he had spoken out loud. The others were looking over at him with odd expressions, and he felt his face heat up in embarrassment.
'Sorry! Just.. thinking out loud!' he said quickly, which was technically the truth. He prayed that no one would pursue the issue, but before anyone could a noise was heard in the silence. It cam from above ground, a severely muffled but unmistakable ringing.
'That's my phone.' Kaiba's crisp tone broke the silence, and he headed up the stairs.
'Who could be calling him all the way out here?' wondered Tea.
Tristan scowled. 'Who cares? Probably someone from his precious company which is falling apart without him.'
They could hear Kaiba up near the entrance, speaking to whoever was on the other end. He did not sound pleased.
'...What? .. no.. fine. Inform me as soon as conditions change.'
There was a sound indicating that he had hung up, and then they heard his footsteps on the stairs again.
'That was the airport,' he announced angrily. 'Due to strong winds and possible sandstorms, all flights have been cancelled.'
'Oh, really?' said Joey, not bothering to hide his grin. This only served to further infuriate Kaiba.
'Laugh now, Wheeler. The minute the warning is lifted, I'm flying out of here, with or without you,' he growled.
Joey's grin didn't shift.
'I don't care if we only get a few extra hours - it's still good to see Kaiba not get his own way for a change,' he whispered to Tristan, who nodded in agreement.
Arthur was overjoyed. He immediately showed the others the various small tasks which needed doing, including dusting the walls with special archaeologists' brushes and looking up hieroglyphs in huge volumes dedicated to the subject. Though it was far from glamorous work, they all helped out - all except Kaiba, who sat straight-backed and cross-legged on the floor and typed at a laptop that had appeared from his briefcase. No one even tried to approach _him_ with a brush.
After a while, Arthur straightened up and put down the papers he was holding.
'Well, since Mr Kaiba hasn't received any calls yet.. I suppose you all will be wanting lunch?'
Everyone's eyes lit up, and Joey practically cheered at the mention of food. Arthur laughed.
'All right... I'll head back to town and see what I can find for you all. You'll be fine here, right?'
There was a chorus of agreement. Grandpa stood up and stretched.
'I'll come with you, Arthur - I think that my back needs a rest.'
The two climbed up the stairs and left, leaving the others to their tasks. It wasn't long though, before the tranquillity was disturbed.
'Man, this is boring. How does the Professor do it all day?' Joey complained after finishing dusting a section of wall.
'He has an attention span of more than 5 mins,' answered Tristan, who was working on a nearby section.
Joey growled, then shoved his dusty brush under Tristan's nose. Tristan failed to hold back the sneeze and it echoed around the room.
'Whoops, clumsy me,' said Joey innocently. 'My brush must have slipped, there.'
It was Tristan's turn to growl, and to cast Joey a look that basically told him to move. Fast.
Tea put down her book and sighed. 'You guys are the limit. If you break the Professor's brushes, he'll be really mad.'
'His brushes?!' yelled Joey as he ran from a fuming Tristan, who was hurling various objects, including brushes, after him. 'What about me?!'
Tea ignored him. 'I do agree with you about this, though. All these facts are making me tired. I can't believe that I flew all this way just to do school work.'
She looked over at Yugi, who seemed engrossed in whatever he was reading.
'Aren't you tired, Yugi?'
Yugi didn't answer. He wasn't even seeing what was in front of him; he was having a conversation with Yami and was oblivious to everything else.
/ I don't believe it! This is great - you really remember? /
// Yes. //
/ Since when? /
// A couple of nights ago. //
Yami knew that he hadn't broken the news very tactfully, but after talking to Shadi he had come to the conclusion that Yugi would really have to know. He hadn't, however, expected such a positive and excited reaction. Yugi had completely overlooked the fact that Yami had kept this from him until now, and was only happy for him.
/ Wow! An Egyptian Pharaoh... how did you end up in the Puzzle? /
// I was the Pharaoh who sealed away the ancient magic of Duel Monsters and the Shadow Realm. My memories were lost when my soul was also sealed away in the process. //
/ So then it's true, all the stuff that Professor Hawkins has been saying.. but how do you remember now? /
// I.. don't know. //
/ Oh. Still, this is so exciting! There's so much I want to ask you about Duel Monsters and Ancient Egypt and.. /
Just then, a hand waved in front of Yugi's face and he lost his train of thought. He looked up from the book to see Tea, smiling at him.
'Earth to Yugi! Is that book really so fascinating?'
He smiled back, excited. 'No, it's not that... Yami remembers who he is!' he said in a hushed voice, to avoid Kaiba overhearing.
Tea gaped in astonishment. 'No way! Really?'
She grabbed Joey by the back of his shirt as he ran by, interrupting his strangled cry of protest by hissing the news in his ear. Joey's eyes grew wide.
'Ya gotta be kiddin' me. Really?' he questioned Yugi, who nodded happily.
'Wow... that's, um, great! ...isn't it?'
'What's great?'
Tristan had abandoned his quest to inflict bodily harm on Joey, and now wanted in on the conversation. He, too, was surprised.
'So.. ?' he asked. 'Who is he? Or.. was he.. or whatever?'
Yugi grinned.
'I'll show you.'
He got up and led the others over to the carving. Kaiba watched them cross the room, but obviously didn't think it was anything of interest and so returned to his computer.
Yugi crouched in front of the picture.
'That's him.'
In the flickering firelight, the image of a young man dressed in Pharaoh's robes could be seen. His hair was hidden by the tall Egyptian equivalent of a crown, and one hand held a staff while the other held what looked like cards. Even in an ancient carving, a proud and confident demeanour was apparent. Tea was the first to break the silence.
'... it does look a bit like him. I mean, in the eyes.'
Joey gaped. 'All right... Yuge has the spirit of an incredibly old foreign king living in his head? Am I the only one who thinks that this is really freaky?'
'I don't think anything that happens to us would surprise me anymore,' said Tristan quietly.
Just then, a new thought hit Yugi.
/ Yami, did you used to live around here? /
// I think so. Why do you ask? //
Yugi turned to look at the dark, blank wall looming at the far end of the chamber.
/ Because... you can probably read what's on that. /
Another long chappie! I hope that makes up for taking so long. Writing this is getting hard. Next time: The mystery of the wall revealed! Make sure to stay tuned! (rubs hands together with evil glee) I have plans.. hee hee! Including a nasty shock for Kaiba! ^__^ Anyway, please review!!!
O yes - what Shadi meant is between him and me ha ha ha. But it is a major plot point so remember it well! Here is a new chappy dedicated to you guys! Gomen that it is so late - the busy holiday season, yeah?
Chapter 7
Yugi awoke with a yawn. As usual when Yami went on one of his 'walks', Yugi's mind was awake but his body was still tired. Still, there was no choice but to get up - he had to help our Professor Hawkins today, and he had come to the decision to show Yami the carving that looked like him. Although he knew that Yami had no memories of his past, the likeness was too good to be a coincidence. Maybe it would jog something.
He finished dressing and, placing the millennium puzzle around his neck, left his room and walked down the corridor and stairs. He was last down, as usual, and the others were engrossed in some kind of dispute.
He approached Tea, who turned when she saw him.
'What's going on?'
She sighed. 'Kaiba's just announced that he's flying back today. He says that he can't spare any more time away... which means that we either fly back with him now, or find our own way back.'
'Yeah,' growled Joey, seeing Yugi behind Tea. 'The sleeze knows that we can't afford our own tickets. We've got no choice.'
'But.. we agreed to help Professor Hawkins with his work!' exclaimed Yugi, worriedly. 'He'll never get it done on his own!'
'It wasn't I who made that agreement,' interrupted Kaiba, overhearing the side conversation. 'I have a company to manage.'
He unfolded his arms and picked up the briefcase that never seemed to leave his side.
' I will be going out to the site today because there are some questions I wish to ask Professor Hawkins. However, I will be flying back at ten fifteen precisely. You have until then to decide whether you will accompany me or not.'
He strode out the door, ignoring the stream of objections. Yugi's Grandpa sighed and shook his head.
'Well, that,' he said sadly, 'appears to be that.'
Yugi stared at the ground in disappointment. Was it all going to be over so soon?
---------------------------------------------
Following breakfast, the ride over to the site was dismal. After fruitlessly trying to convince Kaiba to stay, a grim acceptance had settled over the group. There was nothing left to do but watch the sand dunes go by and, particularly in Joey's case, sulk.
Professor Hawkins had been out at the site since the early morning, and despite being extremely dusty greeted them with an excited smile. Once their situation had been explained, however, he too assumed a resigned yet disappointed attitude.
'Well, if you must go..'
'We're so sorry, Arthur.'
Grandpa was very apologetic. No one was talking to Kaiba, who did not seem to care at all.
Arthur smiled. 'Well, you've got a bit of time. I just started cataloguing the inscriptions on the left wall, if you want to see.'
He gestured to the open door of the entrance. Everyone was eager to have another look at the chamber, and leave the issue that it would also be their last behind them, so they all descended the stairs into the room. Inside, it was just as awe-inspiring and mysterious as before, only there were now piled of papers, books, a small fold up chair and a camera indicating where the Professor had started his work.
'Apparently these are records of the duels played between the leading powers of Egypt,' explained Arthur, showing the lines of writing he had started on.
'It's very interesting, but there is a lot which I can't translate. This, for instance...' He traced his fingers over a section of writing. 'This bit means 'darkness' or 'night', and this means 'land' or something like that. Perhaps it was the name of a duelling arena...'
He launched into an explanation of what the various glyphs meant, and showed them how he was cataloguing the translations. While the others were absorbed, Yugi edged away to where he had seen the carving of the Pharaoh before.
/ Yami? /
// Yes? //
/ There's something I want to show you. /
He felt Yami's presence in his mind become stronger, and knew that the spirit saw what he saw.
/ Well? /
// It's a carving of an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh. //
/ I know that. Don't you think that it looks a bit like you? //
Yugi approached the situation carefully. He didn't know how Yami would react to the subject of his lost memories. He certainly didn't expect what came next.
// Is _is_ me. //
'What?!'
With a shock, Yugi realised that he had spoken out loud. The others were looking over at him with odd expressions, and he felt his face heat up in embarrassment.
'Sorry! Just.. thinking out loud!' he said quickly, which was technically the truth. He prayed that no one would pursue the issue, but before anyone could a noise was heard in the silence. It cam from above ground, a severely muffled but unmistakable ringing.
'That's my phone.' Kaiba's crisp tone broke the silence, and he headed up the stairs.
'Who could be calling him all the way out here?' wondered Tea.
Tristan scowled. 'Who cares? Probably someone from his precious company which is falling apart without him.'
They could hear Kaiba up near the entrance, speaking to whoever was on the other end. He did not sound pleased.
'...What? .. no.. fine. Inform me as soon as conditions change.'
There was a sound indicating that he had hung up, and then they heard his footsteps on the stairs again.
'That was the airport,' he announced angrily. 'Due to strong winds and possible sandstorms, all flights have been cancelled.'
'Oh, really?' said Joey, not bothering to hide his grin. This only served to further infuriate Kaiba.
'Laugh now, Wheeler. The minute the warning is lifted, I'm flying out of here, with or without you,' he growled.
Joey's grin didn't shift.
'I don't care if we only get a few extra hours - it's still good to see Kaiba not get his own way for a change,' he whispered to Tristan, who nodded in agreement.
Arthur was overjoyed. He immediately showed the others the various small tasks which needed doing, including dusting the walls with special archaeologists' brushes and looking up hieroglyphs in huge volumes dedicated to the subject. Though it was far from glamorous work, they all helped out - all except Kaiba, who sat straight-backed and cross-legged on the floor and typed at a laptop that had appeared from his briefcase. No one even tried to approach _him_ with a brush.
After a while, Arthur straightened up and put down the papers he was holding.
'Well, since Mr Kaiba hasn't received any calls yet.. I suppose you all will be wanting lunch?'
Everyone's eyes lit up, and Joey practically cheered at the mention of food. Arthur laughed.
'All right... I'll head back to town and see what I can find for you all. You'll be fine here, right?'
There was a chorus of agreement. Grandpa stood up and stretched.
'I'll come with you, Arthur - I think that my back needs a rest.'
The two climbed up the stairs and left, leaving the others to their tasks. It wasn't long though, before the tranquillity was disturbed.
'Man, this is boring. How does the Professor do it all day?' Joey complained after finishing dusting a section of wall.
'He has an attention span of more than 5 mins,' answered Tristan, who was working on a nearby section.
Joey growled, then shoved his dusty brush under Tristan's nose. Tristan failed to hold back the sneeze and it echoed around the room.
'Whoops, clumsy me,' said Joey innocently. 'My brush must have slipped, there.'
It was Tristan's turn to growl, and to cast Joey a look that basically told him to move. Fast.
Tea put down her book and sighed. 'You guys are the limit. If you break the Professor's brushes, he'll be really mad.'
'His brushes?!' yelled Joey as he ran from a fuming Tristan, who was hurling various objects, including brushes, after him. 'What about me?!'
Tea ignored him. 'I do agree with you about this, though. All these facts are making me tired. I can't believe that I flew all this way just to do school work.'
She looked over at Yugi, who seemed engrossed in whatever he was reading.
'Aren't you tired, Yugi?'
Yugi didn't answer. He wasn't even seeing what was in front of him; he was having a conversation with Yami and was oblivious to everything else.
/ I don't believe it! This is great - you really remember? /
// Yes. //
/ Since when? /
// A couple of nights ago. //
Yami knew that he hadn't broken the news very tactfully, but after talking to Shadi he had come to the conclusion that Yugi would really have to know. He hadn't, however, expected such a positive and excited reaction. Yugi had completely overlooked the fact that Yami had kept this from him until now, and was only happy for him.
/ Wow! An Egyptian Pharaoh... how did you end up in the Puzzle? /
// I was the Pharaoh who sealed away the ancient magic of Duel Monsters and the Shadow Realm. My memories were lost when my soul was also sealed away in the process. //
/ So then it's true, all the stuff that Professor Hawkins has been saying.. but how do you remember now? /
// I.. don't know. //
/ Oh. Still, this is so exciting! There's so much I want to ask you about Duel Monsters and Ancient Egypt and.. /
Just then, a hand waved in front of Yugi's face and he lost his train of thought. He looked up from the book to see Tea, smiling at him.
'Earth to Yugi! Is that book really so fascinating?'
He smiled back, excited. 'No, it's not that... Yami remembers who he is!' he said in a hushed voice, to avoid Kaiba overhearing.
Tea gaped in astonishment. 'No way! Really?'
She grabbed Joey by the back of his shirt as he ran by, interrupting his strangled cry of protest by hissing the news in his ear. Joey's eyes grew wide.
'Ya gotta be kiddin' me. Really?' he questioned Yugi, who nodded happily.
'Wow... that's, um, great! ...isn't it?'
'What's great?'
Tristan had abandoned his quest to inflict bodily harm on Joey, and now wanted in on the conversation. He, too, was surprised.
'So.. ?' he asked. 'Who is he? Or.. was he.. or whatever?'
Yugi grinned.
'I'll show you.'
He got up and led the others over to the carving. Kaiba watched them cross the room, but obviously didn't think it was anything of interest and so returned to his computer.
Yugi crouched in front of the picture.
'That's him.'
In the flickering firelight, the image of a young man dressed in Pharaoh's robes could be seen. His hair was hidden by the tall Egyptian equivalent of a crown, and one hand held a staff while the other held what looked like cards. Even in an ancient carving, a proud and confident demeanour was apparent. Tea was the first to break the silence.
'... it does look a bit like him. I mean, in the eyes.'
Joey gaped. 'All right... Yuge has the spirit of an incredibly old foreign king living in his head? Am I the only one who thinks that this is really freaky?'
'I don't think anything that happens to us would surprise me anymore,' said Tristan quietly.
Just then, a new thought hit Yugi.
/ Yami, did you used to live around here? /
// I think so. Why do you ask? //
Yugi turned to look at the dark, blank wall looming at the far end of the chamber.
/ Because... you can probably read what's on that. /
Another long chappie! I hope that makes up for taking so long. Writing this is getting hard. Next time: The mystery of the wall revealed! Make sure to stay tuned! (rubs hands together with evil glee) I have plans.. hee hee! Including a nasty shock for Kaiba! ^__^ Anyway, please review!!!