Yu-Gi-Oh -

White Flames

By: FireCross

Paring- Yami/Tea

Setting: White Flames takes place in present Egypt. Little Yugi has the millennium puzzle, but not the power to call Yami forth, this is necessary because I want Yugi and Yami to be two completely different persons.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. Thanks.

Chapter 1: The Discovery

The intense rays from the sun burned their skin, as their breath grew thicker by the minute. Their throat were dried of thirst, as they tried to drink as little water as possible, if they wanted to conserve some for later on. Their sweat was the only water supply, though salty, that the body transmitted as a way to cool the body down. But this never stopped them from digging. Never stopped them from discovering a whole new world that lied below the dry sand. Even though the wind blew the already excavated out dirt back where it was, making it even harder for the explores to dig deeper, they never stopped.

She raised her head up to the sky, as she breathed heavily. She took out a clean, white towel, which was weird for such thing to be hygienic, since being in such a place and doing such a work as digging, screamed dirty. She smiled lightly, clean the sweat that was so freely cascading down her forehead and along her flawless cheekbones and placed the towel back in her pocket. Deciding then that she had enough for the day, Tea gave her shovel to one of the rested excavators, and went to her cabin. Lots of scientists would of been unfair to their diggers and made them work the whole time without stopping, but she didn't want to be seen as a tyrant. She wanted workers, not slaves.

Taking a long tube from underneath her bed, Tea opened it up on top of her dim-lighted desk revealing some kind of map. She began to study it, and trace it with her fingers as if it was some kind of maze. By the way her eyebrow furrowed, you could of tell that she's been trying to figure out the obscurity behind that map for a while now, and she felt frustrated that she couldn't. But she knew that destiny and perseverance will someday make her uncover the secrets behind the tomb of the greatest and most mysterious king known to mankind as King Yami.

For years, scientist all over the world tried to unlock the truth behind King Yami and the supposed connection to the millennium items and the so popular duel monsters cards, but no explanation has confirm this hypothesis. That's why Tea has made her way from Japan to Egypt, to be the first scientist to discover the tomb of King Yami.

Placing her petite hands on her chest, Tea took out some kind of necklace that was hidden underneath her shirt. It was golden, and it took the shape of a pyramid. She toyed with it for a while, tracing her slender fingers and rubbing her hands around the object as if wanting to experiment it, to know what it was just by touching it, like if it was some kind of magical lamp like the one in Aladdin. According to her friend, Yugi, the object she carried around her neck most likely is one of the millennium items, and according to him, it was going to help her find the tomb. He also believed that it might bring her good luck in her expedition, so he lent it to her. Even though Yugi's reasoning was somewhat childish, that "Millennium Item" she held was the only lead she had. Besides, according to investigation most, if not all things that are related to King Yami has an eye graved on it, and this Millennium item had one.

Tea yawned, weariness finally overcoming her. She went to the bathroom and undressed from her filthy clothes. She was dirty beyond belief, but she was used to it by now. Having spent a whole year in Egypt made her adapt to the environment. She opened the shower and just let the hot shower smooth her silky skin. She love taking showers, for it was probably the only time of day she was able to relax. She raised her head towards the ceiling, and closed her eyes. She sighed. She's been digging ever since seven in the morning, and now at eight o'clock in the evening, nothing new has come up.

"Tea, open up, man! It's important." A loud knocking and some more yelling from behind the door took place.

"Joey, what is it?" I'm taking a bath, can't you tell?"

"Yo, we found somethin'."

And before her mind registered the given information, she got out of the shower, dried herself and got dressed. Outside, the man known as Joey tapped his foot impatiently. He yawned here and there and stretched a couple of time, as if trying to keep himself awake.

"What's taking you..."

"I'm done!" interrupted Tea, as she came from behind the doors.

"That took a while."

"Joey, it only took me two minutes, liar." she raised an eyebrow and asked, "So, what happened?"

"Oh, yeah!" said a cheerful Joey, "Hmm...guess..."

"Joey, I don't want to play guess, what happened?"

"Nope, that's not the answer. Guess again!"

"JOEY!" Tea's eyes were a crimson fire and her fists were ready to knock Joey down. She hated it when people kept things from her, and most, such important information as she knew Joey brought. Why else would he wanted to make her guess?

"Fine, you no fun." he murmured, "Come with me."

She nodded lightly, and taking the millennium item that was on top of her desk, she placed it around her neck and hid it underneath her shirt, like she had it before. Joey took the lantern he was using before he came to her cabin and lead the way.

From time to time, workers stopped Tea and Joey to greet them and tell them what the have found so far. Tea listened with interest, knowing full well that any clue can help on knowing more about kind Yami, and she was right. Every piece of information that these people gave her helped understand a bit more about the famous king and made her yearn to know more. Finally they arrived. A mass of people surrounded what seemed to Tea like a tomb. Her eyes glittered and she rushed to the scene. Unconsciously, she held the millennium item tight and prayed that this was the tomb of Yami. She didn't know why, but she had this premonition and this anxiety.

"Tea, you are finally here."

"Hi, Tristen, wassup?" the man named Tristen only smiled.

"Always to the point, heh?"

"You know me."

He laughed wholeheartedly then, and Tea couldn't help it but to join. Joey just looked from Tea to Tristen and back again, but found no humor, so he just shrugged it off. Slowly the laughter died off. Tristen uttered some words in the Egyptian language, and nodding, the workers opened up the sealed tomb. Tea held her Millennium puzzle tighter and when the tomb was finally opened, she let out the breath she was unconsciously holding.

"Tea...we have found King Yami's tomb"

But Tea wasn't listening to Tristen. In her heart she already knew that the tomb belonged to the so famous King Yami. Finally, all her hard work and perseverance has paid off. But why was she so nervous? Why this instinct that something will happen that was going to change her life forever? She didn't understand, nor she took the time to ponder these thoughts out. She leaned forward lightly and reached out to touch him. Her hands trembled in fear . She closed her eyes tightly and finally touched him.

Her eyes snapped open as she quickly lifted her hands out. She breathed heavily, trying to control her heartbeat. Tristen and Joey looked at her and then at each other. What did Tea saw that made her so jumpy was beyond them, but they were determine to find out. Coming closer to the mummy, they took a peek inside. A small gasp escape from them as they also were covered in fear. Before their eyes laid a 5,000 years old mummy that could of passed for being just buried. Kind Yami still retained his blond, spike hair and his eyes, even though close, were still there.

"Oh...god..."

"Oh man...this is getting too creepy." murmured a quite shaken Joey.

"Should we return his body back where it was?" asked Tristen.

"No" answered Tea, "I want to investigate him further. Please take him to my cabin."

"But Te..."

"I have spoken"

"...Alright...hope you know what you are doing. Remember that some things are best left unknown."

Raising his lantern, Tristen asked the diggers to take the mummy to Tea's cabin. The workers seemed a bit baffled and disturbed at the idea of the mummy still be kept in the surface, but made no attempt to protest. After all, this was their job.

The trip to her cabin seemed longer than she wanted it to be. She was very anxious to get to her lab and study him. Tonight, Tea thought, was going to be a restless night. She wasn't going to stop until she found out everything about his life, the duelist game and the Millennium item.

"Okay, we're here" announced Joey.

"Yeah...are you sure you want to keep on with this?" asked a concerned Tristen. Tea just smiled and answered:

"Yes. I don't understand why, but I have this strange feeling about it. Like I was destined to find him and research him...like I knew him from sometime before..."

"I just hope this premonition won't get you into any trouble." Tristen confessed.

"It won't, don't worry." and waving their good-byes, Tristen, Joey and the rest of the crew left. Tea sighed in relief, happy to finally be in her cabin alone with the mummy. She moved towards him and traced her fingers around his covered face. He must of been really handsome when he was alive.

She shook her head hard and snapped her mind back to reality. What was she thinking? How could she think such things about a mummy? Besides, if she was alive when he ruled 5,000 years ago, what made her think that she was ever going to get a chance with him? In school she was one of the smartest and youngest scientist to ever graduate, but she was the most inexperience person when it came to love. She never had a boyfriend, nor kissed before. But who can blame her? She was always too busy suck in her books and studies that she hardly had time to go out and have a life. She was lucky to have such friends as Yugi, Joey and Tristen. Without them, she didn't know what was to become of her social life. She felt attached to them, but never as much more than friends.

Tea took a chair, placed it beside the mummy and sat down. Maybe she would of never had the chance to date this pharaoh if she lived back when he ruled, but it never killed to dream, now did it? Weariness finally overpowered her as she began to fall asleep when she could of swore she saw the mummy breathe. Probably the exhaustion and the joy of finally finding him was getting to her. She yawned lightly, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.

AN: Wow, this was longer than I anticipated. But, oh well. I really hope you enjoyed it. It took several days to write, since I'm suffering of writer's block at the moment ^-^. Anyways, thanks for taking your time to read and please review. It will give me great confident and the boost I need for my new chapter. If you would like to be placed in my chapter alert mailing list, please leave your e-mail with your comment. I will try to give previews of chapters to come. Again, Arigatou!

Preview -

Next Chapter: Sad Requiem

She's remembering...

...Impossible...

...She's recalling the past...

...You mean her past life...

...Doesn't matter. History will repeat itself...

...History can't repeat itself...

...And why not?...

...Because we will be doomed...