(Sorry for the looong update! n.n;; Hmmm… Wow. Suu, what happened? Find out n.n BTW, I don't own Switchfoot or their aweomse song "Dare You To Move", which is now the page breaks. Why? Because I finished the other song and this song is cool. So there xP )

Light the Flame

Chapter Nine

The Little Gift

"Hhhnn…" was the soft moan that escaped his lips. Opening his eyes, Yami saw a bright blue sky before his eyes, with clouds gently dotting his vision.

Blinking, he stared at it momentarily, and then sat up, leaning forwards. He was sitting on a wall of sorts, made of cool, hard stone.

He swung his legs to in front of his body and let them hang. It was strange, the place he was in; he could see the sky, and the wall, but… all around was darkness.

"Where…." He whispered. But his mind was too tired to focus on how odd the situation seemed to be.

"Yami?" a voice called. It hit Yami hard in the side of his head. He turned, seeing Teana walk forwards. Her eyes were darting around, her limbs visibly shaking. Her attire had changed; she was now wearing what looked like a white jacket, a red shirt and a white skirt. Boots that reached her knees were on her legs, and she had bracelets on each arm. Yami blinked.

…He had never seen someone dress like that before… It didn't dawn on him he was also dressed oddly until Teana pointed it out to him.

"What's… going on?" Teana asked. Her skirt was short, barely reaching her knees. She sat down beside Yami, blushing and looking around.

Slowly, with swirls of light, the scene took place around them. Trees appeared, sidewalks and tall, glimmering buildings. People were walking by, cars zoomed around, people chatting and laughing, going into the huge buildings.

This was, of course, before their time. Thousands, to thousands of years, before their time.

They glanced at each other, and then looked around. Beneath their stone perch was a little area made of cobblestones where someone was standing. A young women, probably no older then twenty or so, was standing in the center, wearing all black clothing. She was whistling sharply on two fingers, calling to something. What was it…?

"…Where… are we?" Teana breathed, her voice filled with fear. Yami shook his head.

"…I don't know, Teana… I…" he sighed. "I think… we're in one of Asenath's dreams."

"W-what?" Teana gasped, swinging around to face him. "We're what!"

"I think so," Yami said slowly. "She has dreams of places and things… way after our time. She told me. Thousands and thousands of years… Somehow… we're witnessing it." Teana blinked, and then looked down into the little yard of cobblestones. The woman was still standing there, calling something. She continued to let out a sharp whistle, as if calling a bird.

"Horussssssss!" she called. Yami blinked. That voice….

Teana looked behind her, and then ducked forward with a loud screech.

"Teana! What the - Oh my God!"

A white falcon, with red-tipped feathers, had narrowly avoided checking the sides of their heads. And flying so fast, his feathers would have sliced their skin.

The couple sat, stunned, then looked at each other. They had narrowly escaped a slicing.

The bird landed on an outstretched arm. The arm of the young woman, no doubt. She was very beautiful, with dark skin and black hair that was braided right down her back…

Yami felt his heart stop.

"…Atem?" Teana whispered, leaning forwards. Yami stared at the woman in horror in surprise.

"That… that woman… It's Asenath," he said, his voice barely audible.

It was.

It was the same young woman they knew. The one related to Yami. Only… She was wearing a black tank top with black pants, and tall, black boots. Her silver ankh around her neck, she was smiling and talking to the white bird. The bird clucked his beak in response.

"I can hear her," Teana said after a time, glancing nervously at Yami. "Can you?"

"Yes… let's listen." They both leaned forward a bit, eager to hear what she had to say.

"Don't worry, Horus, they'll be back soon… School lets out in a few minutes, don't—"

She was cut off by a sharp ringing.

"Ahh… See? School's out." The bird clucked his beak happily and hopped down her arm. Asenath giggled and kissed the top of his head.

"What a good bird…"

"I don't get it," Teana whispered. Yami shushed her.

"Now, where… ahh," Asenath said, looking at the break in the trees behind her. A teenaged boy, no older then sixteen, came bounding through the trees. Adorned in a Domino High uniform, his bag over his shoulder, he greeted Asenath.

"Asenath! And… Horus," he said, the bird flittering happily. The boy was tall, with lighter skin then Asenath's, although still dark. His dark brown hair was long and swept back, and his piercing, amethyst eyes were kind and warm.

"Where are the others? Aren't they coming?" Asenath asked. Teana cocked her head to the side.

"He looks familiar… Doesn't he?" she asked. Yami nodded in reply.

"Yes…"

"They're coming," The boy responded, kicking at a rock. He looked up. "They're slow. Hey…" he said, his face becoming contemplative, "What if you actually let us get that—"

"Zvallah-Atemu, how many times must I shoot you down!" Asenath cried, laughing and putting a hand on his shoulder. Both Teana and Yami gasped, looked at each other, then back again.

That boy was their son!

Zvallah!

"You're last name is the name of your father…" Yami whispered. The tall boy, or Zvallah, was laughing as well. He smiled at Asenath and rolled up the sleeves to his jacket.

"God, it's hot…" he sighed. Asenath rolled her eyes.

"Where's your sister?"

"What?" Yami and Teana said to each other. "Sister?" Was this a sign that they have another child?

"Who the hell cares?" Zvallah asked. "Nepthys is a living nightmare." Asenath sighed.

"You always say that…"

"It's the damn truth so help me—Hey!" he said, waving to someone neither Yami nor Teana could see beyond the trees. "Heeeeeey! Minnnnna! Over heeeeeere!"

"Must be calling someone…" Teana whispered. She was still temporarily in shock at seeing Zvallah like this… Why was he here, with Asenath in this 'future'? Why was she here? Does something happen?

Voices could be heard beyond the trees. It sounded like an argument.

"Oh, c'mon, you know I'm right—"

"Jonouchi, you are going to fail if you don't get this one right!"

"Anzu, give it up. He's a moron."

"C'mon, just get this one right! Now—"

"Anzu, how about we wait until we get to the Museum?"

"Ryou, if I wanted you're opinion, I'd frickin' ask—"

"Anzu, Jonouchi, calm down. Where's Zvallah?"

"Who cares?"

"Nepthys, know where he is?"

"Noooope."

"You suck."

The owner of the loud, arguing voices eventually became known. A group of teenagers walked into the little cobblestone area, Zvallah rushing over and grabbing something from the first person to walk in.

When they saw them, both Yami and Teana nearly had heart attacks.

Teana gasped and slapped both hands over her mouth, eyes wide. And Yami just stared, his mouth hanging open.

They were seeing themselves.

"Zvallah, give me that!" Jonouci Katsuya cried, running after Zvallah. Honda Hiroto and Bakura Ryou were right behind him. Laughing silently at Jonouchi's slowly failing attempts to retrieve his bag.

"You fucking deserve it," Mazaki Anzu muttered, still steamed. Mutou Yugi rolled his eyes and searched his own bag for his own books, the Puzzle glinting around his neck.

The couple on the wall both nearly collapsed at the sight they saw. Teana was shaking, her eyes wide and in shock.

What was going on!

Asenath clucked her tongue and shook her head.

"Oi, minna, did you get lost?" she asked to Yugi. Yugi shook his head.

"No, Jonouchi ran after some pigeons and we got sidetracked…"

"It's not my fault!"

"Hell if it isn't, Jonouchi-kun." Jonouchi, standing next to Zvallah, holding onto his bag, just suck out his tongue in a juvenile attempt at back lashing at Anzu's harsh words.

"Wha… what is this?" Teana managed to say in a hoarse whisper, finally. "What's going on? Who are these people?"

"I… I don't know, Teana," Yami said, sighing loudly. He couldn't take his eyes off Yugi.

Why was that boy wearing the Puzzle? Yami thought. He didn't understand.

If this is the somewhat far future, shouldn't the Puzzle be somewhere else? Is it here because of Asenath?

What is it?

"Ohh…" Teana whispered. "Look at that girl. She seems to be the youngest of them all." Yami peered in the direction Teana had pointed.

A young girl of maybe fifteen, she was standing a bit away from the others, next to Asenath. Her hair was just as dark as Zvallah's, pulled into a high ponytail. The ends of her hair were crimson red, nearly a deep violet. Her bangs, which partially covered her face, were also this dark red, and she kept pushing them back to reveal striking golden eyes. Her school uniform was different, almost more impressive then the others.

"Asenath," the girl said to Asenath, "When are we gonna leave here?" She said it softly, almost as if she didn't want the others to hear.

"In due time, Nephthys. Let Zvallah have friends for a change."

After that, all was darkness.


"Ohh, I think he's coming to…"

"Finally. I was getting so worried…"

"Hey, Yami, are you with us? Hey? You there?" Yami could hear the voices around him. What happened? Was he back in… his own time?

What had he seen?

Was it a dream?

Yami's eyes snapped open. He was lying on his side on a pile of blankets, sweating profusely. His entire body was shaking. His head was pounding. And all he could think about was Teana.

"Wow, he doesn't look so good…"

"Teh… Teana," he breathed, sitting up. "My Teana. How… how is she…?"

"Calm yourself, Yami," Kenneth said, pushing him back down gently. "She's fine, I'm sure."

"What… what happened?" Yami asked, his eyelids slowly drooping. Kenneth smiled warmly.

"Somehow… your soul decided to temporarily separate itself from your body… Are you tired?" Yami was about to nod, but instead sat up. He pushed his blanket back and, slightly wobbly, grabbed hold of Kenneth's arm. He managed to take a few steps before Kenneth registered that he was out of bed when he wasn't supposed to be.

"Whoa, Yami, you should get back into bed—"

"No," Yami said sternly, a new life evolving inside of him. "I want to see my wife." Kenneth stopped for a moment, then let go of his arm. Yami pushed back the flap to the tent he was in and bounded over to the one he was sure Teana would be in.

He pushed back the curtain and stepped inside. Flame lamps were lit softly and a group of women were crowded around Teana's bed. Annuay was sitting off to the side, cuddling baby Zvallah. She seemed to be giving him a bath.

"Shh, shh, baby," she whispered, seeing Yami walk in. "Atem, come here." Yami glanced her way, and then walked over to her. He crouched down beside her as she put the baby into his arms.

"He should be held by someone who will raise him," Annuay said, smiling. Yami took him and held him gently in his arms. He glanced over at Teana, who was smiling weakly at the people around her. Yami went over to her and knelt down beside her bed, some of the women moving out of his way. Teana glanced at him and smiled. Yami handed his son over to it's mother, who cuddled him.

"My… Zvallah," she said in a low voice so no one else besides Yami could hear, "You grow up to be very… tall." Zvallah just cooed gently, his large eyes glinting.

"Was that her dream we were seeing?" Teana whispered to Yami. Yami shrugged.

"I suppose it was, Teana," he said, smiling. Teana smiled back and leaned in, kissing his lips gently. It came as a surprise to him, since she was obviously as weak and as tired as she was, but it didn't matter. He placed his hand on her cheek and closed his eyes. For some reason, that kiss was very soothing and healing. He knew that, no matter what happened, whether it had to do with himself or her, or what was going on in Kemet, or the craziness that seemed to find him everywhere, one thing was certain.

Teana loved him. And he loved her.

And that's all he needed. Forevermore.


(Hehe… Sorry for the looooong update, I just never had time to write it. Finished it with… twelve minutes to spare:Victory dance: Okey whatever. :D Uhh… Heh. Well, the next chap should be more promising. It's called "Passages". Some familiar faces accidentally discover that Yami isn't dead… Hehe! Another chapter that skips a huge amount of time. Wow, this story's already covered roughly two years. xD;;)

Shibby-One