Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or its characters. I do own my OCs, Akunriou / Tory and Kishtoh / Lucca, plus the storyline.

Read the notices!

MidnightBallad: I just hit fifty reviews! YAY! –cries with joy- Aha, whoo... Anyway:

Slades Daughter: Yes, this does mean you have to post another chapter!! Gertrude, eh? You poor thing, I pray that your cheeks come back in good health!

Sylvia Viridian: Thanks for the info on Marik, this will help me a lot for future stuff. This memory is my favourite, apart from The Song I Wrote. But it's not the last ;)

To Everyone: I honestly don't know how I update so fast. I guess it's because – I'll be honest – I am a very fast typer. And as soon as I've finished the story (which can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour) I log onto the Internet and add the chapter.I also write as a hobby (I'm currently writing a novel, which has gone over 160 pages), which helps too, I guess. And if I tend to get a lot of reviews, then it simply makes me want to write more.

Past: Two as one, now be None

The palace was bathed in a bright orange glow as the sun fell below the horizon in a matter of seconds. The world seemed to hold its breath, only to release it and paint the sky with stars.

Walking calmly through the palace, Akunriou felt very alone, even though she walked side-by-side with the Pharaoh. The palace was completely silent...waiting for something. The only person in site was a man who guarded the stairwell that led down into the secret chambers beneath the palace, the chambers that beared the ancient scriptures that none but the Pharaoh and the priests could see. Of course, Atemu had broken this tradition and let Akunriou see it.

Thinking this, Akunriou looked sideways at Atemu. She dare not believe what he had said earlier. Did Atemu really love her, or was he just playing with her?

He does love me, Akunriou said to herself. He would not lie. I do not know how I know that, but there is something about the Pharaoh...it makes me believe him.

Akunriou bowed her head low and threw up her dress' hood as she and Atemu approached the guard. He moved aside for the Pharaoh without question, but attempted to stop Akunriou as she followed Atemu downstairs. With a shake of his head, Atemu warned the guard not to lay a hand on Akunriou.

'Will he speak the secret to the other priests?' Akunriou asked in a low voice. Atemu came to the end of the stairs where a large stone door sat, and murmured, 'Not unless he wants to keep his head.' He reached forward and took the thick golden door handle, dragging the stone open. The sound was very loud, and Akunriou's eyes wandered back up the staircase to the guard. Somehow, she did not trust him.

'There is nothing to worry about,' Atemu said with an air of authority in his voice. 'He will not say a word. Come, you should not be seen lingering down here.'

Akunriou stepped in after the Pharaoh, who closed the door. It made a loud boom as it came to a stop in its stone frame. Atemu took a flaming torch from the wall; the light danced eerily around the chamber, and bounced around with the shadows in an out of chiselled hieroglyphs. Even though Akunriou had been below the palace twice, she still found it scary, as if the Gods were angry with her for being down here.

Atemu went forward silently, his shoes tapping stridently against the stone floor, and the sound only seemed to grow when Akunriou fell into step beside him. She scanned the hieroglyphs as she walked, yet could not read them fast enough to interpret them properly.

'How many chambers are below the palace?' Akunriou asked in a timid voice. 'Dozens?'

'Hundreds,' Atemu responded. 'Although most of them are very small and of diminutive importance.'

'Are they tombs?' Akunriou wondered aloud. Atemu shook his head and said, 'No, my forebears are buried in another place, a little way from here.'

'The Valley of the Kings...' Akunriou mouthed, supposing that this was the location that Atemu spoke of.

Finally, the two stopped at the door of the main chamber, the one that held the verse of the Griffin of Horus within it, and the one that was banned to Akunriou. Atemu took the ring that made the door's handle, and gave one strong tug. Akunriou supposed that this chamber was not opened often, as a great deal of dust had formed around the edges of the door.

Atemu raised his torch higher in the air, lighting up the room. He uttered to Akunriou, 'After you.'

Akunriou strode boldly into the room, as if speaking out against all that resided within it. Atemu followed, closing the door behind him.

Akunriou stood in the centre of the room as the torches lit themselves, bringing a light to the chamber that none others could achieve. Atemu blew out his torch and placed it in an empty case on the wall. Then he walked straight up to Akunriou, placing a hand on her back, leading her to the rear of the chamber where the ancient verse was written. She stared at this for a moment, before she noticed Atemu bend down and open a beautiful golden casket at her feet, which was also carved with rubies and had wonderful Egyptian symbols chiselled into it.

'This is what I wanted to show you,' Atemu said, opening the casket, the rubies sparkling in the light. 'Karim supposed it was a gift for the royals who visited the other night, but it is much more than that.'

He picked up a strikingly simply, yet beautiful necklace and pendant. Akunriou knew it was the greatest gift she had ever received. The chain of the necklace was fine gold and quite long, so that the pendant would hang below the neckline. The pendant itself was a brass plate, the size of the regular coin, and clasped a precious stone that Akunriou did not know of; its surface changed colour every time it shifted in the light, and every piece of it glistened with the colours of the rainbow. It looked as though it were from another world.

'It is amazing...' Akunriou breathed, feeling her cheeks go pink. Atemu flipped it over, and Akunriou saw her name carved into the back of it. To her surprise, it was even spelt right.

'Karim and I made sure it is not too heavy,' Atemu said, slipping the necklace around Akunriou's neck. 'Let me explain to you what it does.'

'What is does?' Akunriou repeated, gazing awkwardly at the stone around her neck. 'Is it not a simple stone?'

Atemu shook his head. 'We called it the Crest of Evergiving. It was created especially for you – it holds powers that are greater than that of the Shadow Realm's, and does the exact opposite to everything bad the Shadow Realm brings. If the Realm casts darkness, then the Crest of Evergiving casts light. If the Realm sends beasts to kill, then the Crest of Evergiving protects the wearer and anyone they touch.'

Akunriou held the stone tightly in her fist. 'It is warm...'

'It's the magic within it,' Atemu explained. 'There is a great concoction of it waiting to be used.'

Akunriou went very quiet. Eventually, she took the Crest of Evergiving off and placed it back in Atemu's hand. 'I cannot accept this gift. I am no one, my Pharaoh. This is a gift created by the Gods for...a magician. A royal, someone very important –'

'You are important,' Atemu said, pressing the Crest into the girl's hands. 'To me, and to Egypt.' He placed the necklace back around her neck. 'I wish for you to have it.'

Akunriou sighed, giving in. Atemu ran a hand down her face, stopping at her cheek and rubbing unwashed make-up from the edges of Akunriou's eye. Then he said, 'Akunriou...there's something I've been needing to ask you –'

The stone doors simply burst open without warning. To the Pharaoh's surprise, five of his six priests came striding into the room, each dressed in burgundy robes and each holding a long, golden rod, ribbed with blue and white lines and topped with a tiny golden statue of Osiris, the God of death.

The High Priest stood before the others, a very dark expression on his face. And he said nothing; just watched Akunriou with eyes of resent. Akunriou began to shake: she could tell something serious was going on.

'Good evening, Pharaoh.' Seto said malevolently. 'Good evening, Akunriou.'

Atemu could hear that Akunriou was breathing shakily. She was so scared, and he could tell. He gave her one of those 'don't be afraid' looks, and came forward a few paces. 'Yes, Seto?'

'We have come to make a bargain,' Akunadin, bearer of the Millennium Eye said. 'Your reverence and Egypt's safety...' He paused. 'For Akunriou's life.'

Atemu almost laughed, but then he felt it: the seriousness that hovered around both Seto and Akunadin. They were not lying. Instantly, Atemu began to fear for Akunriou's future. For a full minute, he forgot that Akunriou could save Egypt – all he knew was that he loved her, and was not willing to give her up.

'What is the meaning of this?' Atemu scowled. 'You have no right to order me around, Akunadin!'

But his threats were pointless. There were five priests – Akunadin, Shaada, Karim, Seto and Isis. There was only one of him, and Akunriou was fairly defenceless. She did not know enough about magic to fight back. There was only one way this could go. He began to back away towards Akunriou. 'You would be a fool to deny Egypt of its safety, Akunadin, because killing Akunriou would be doing just that!'

'I do not care!' Akunadin roared, raising the rod he held. The Osiris statue on the end erupted in flames. 'Move, Pharaoh!'

Every other priest rose their rods too, and each little statue burnt angrily. Atemu twisted round to face Akunriou, who had glistening tears rolling down her face. She was pressed up against the stone wall, her fingernails driving themselves into the hard stone. And she saw Atemu mouth two unmistakable words:

'I'm sorry.'

Akunriou rushed forward and flung her arms around Atemu's neck, tears flying down her face and onto Atemu's shoulders. Atemu felt as though she were going to crush his ribs, but he buried his face into her shoulder and held onto her tight. His Millennium Puzzle touched Akunriou's Crest of Evergiving. They shone together in a veil of golden light.

'Take our memories with you...' Atemu whispered. 'Into the next life. For when we meet again, I promise I will do everything in my power to protect you.' He drew back and kissed her gently on the lips, images flashing through his mind...

Seeing Akunriou at the Nile –

Speaking to her about her family –

The tears she shed before him on the night her mother died –

The night she sang the most beautiful song he had ever heard to him –

And the night when he had truly fallen for her.

The fire from the rods erupted forward, curving around the walls of the chamber, racing in on Akunriou –

'I love you.' She whispered.

And then the fire struck. It ripped apart every fragment of her soul that held her to life, and Akunriou screamed. If only for a second. Her entire body flashed blue, she gave her last breath, and went limp in Atemu's arms.

Akunriou was dead.

- -

The entire ordeal was over in seconds. The priests left the chamber without another word – Isis was in tears, sobbing terribly. Yet no one else said anything.

Atemu had fallen to the floor, holding Akunriou close to him. Her dress trailed across the floor, glistening with wonderful golden light; her head hung back, but her eyes were still partly open. One was green, one was brown. And the Crest of Evergiving hung loosely around her neck, so bright that it made Atemu's eyes water.

Or maybe he was crying.

'Akunriou...' Atemu whispered. 'My Ra, I am sorry.' It was all he could say. Every other phrase had left him. Slowly, Atemu ran a palm over Akunriou's eyes and closed them. She was white, but the tears still stained her face. She was gone forever, and Atemu couldn't save her. Now he didn't care what happened to Egypt...all he wanted was to see Akunriou smiling back at him.

All he wanted was for one more minute.

One more second...

-End Chapter 18-

MidnightBallad: OMG, I almost cried then. I was listening to "Suteki Da Ne", a very beautiful Japanese song, whilst writing this. Review, but please don't abuse me cause I killed off Akunriou.

By the way, this isn't the last memory of Tory's. There is one more left, but it's a very special one that you won't read till later.

As of Tory and Yami's situation in the present: you'll have to wait until the next update.

I'd also like to take this chance to say that, in the very last chapter of this story, there will be a short excerpt from the second 'instalment' of this story.

Happy Holidays!