Yami: Last time, we all went on a cruise to go to Luxor, formerly known as Thebes. Yugi, Mokuba, and I found a woman who may lead us to Isis and some sacred texts of Shukura!

Chapter 3: Yami's Jealousy, Nazo's Worshipers, and Yugi's Troubles

Kaiba Seto closed his laptop with a sigh. After a four hour meeting, then hours of work, he felt like his eyes were ready to melt in their sockets. He rubbed them with his thumb and forefinger, and checked the time. "Twelve thirty-seven a.m.," he said aloud. "That means it's only about six-thirty p.m. in New York." Time zone conversions never bothered him much, not with all of the traveling he had to do. But since Keiko wanted this trip to act as a vacation for her, him, and Mokuba, he had a lot of work to do in order to free up a few days for relaxation.

Still, nothing was too big a task for him when he set his mind to something. Nor was it too much if Keiko wanted it so badly. He smiled at the thought of her. She traveled more than he did, and her internal clock never stayed the same. He imagined her sleeping like a log in their bedroom, deaf and dumb to the world until she felt ready to wake. An atom bomb couldn't wake her!

Kaiba packed up his laptop and looked at his garment bag, which he'd brought along with him. No one in their right mind would be out in the pool this late. He may as well go for a short swim.

After dressing into his blue and white trunks, he put on a robe and made his way to the pool area. It glowed softly in the almost moonless night. As he unfastened the belt, he heard a whoop and cheering from behind him. Fearing the worst, he slowly turned around.

In the Jacuzzi were four very familiar girls: Misaki Anzu, Tanaka Nazo, Kujaku Mai, and his fiancé Keiko Crawford. Anzu had a lime green bikini, Mai a provocative black one-piece, Nazo a yellow flowered one-piece, and Keiko a black and red bikini. All four were making catcalls at the CEO, who sweat-dropped at first, and then regained his composure. "I knew no one in their right mind would be out this late," he called out.

Three of them laughed, and Keiko yelled to him, "We're having fun, Se-chan! Why don't you join us?"

"You've got to be kidding!"

Nazo gave Keiko a double-take, blushing. "Seriously?"

Mai beckoned him in mock seduction. "Aw, come now, Kaiba-kun! Don't be afraid of a bunch of girls in a hot tub! After all, one of them is your girlfriend!"

Keiko flashed her large, puppy dog eyes and held up her fists to her mouth in an innocent gesture. "Oh, please Se-chan," she whined.

Kaiba glared at her. He could never resist those darling eyes of hers. And as alluring as the prospect of getting into a hot tub with four barely dressed girls in the middle of the morning, he felt extremely embarrassed by the whole situation. He walked over to them, trying to ignore the giggles and comments like, "Aw, he's blushing," and "Goodness gracious, a man," or "I didn't think he'd look that good in swim trunks!"

Around the same time, Yugi opened the door to his and Ryou's luxury suite. It was nearly three times the size of Yugi's bedroom back in Domino, had two queen-sized, canopy beds, lush green carpeting, cable TV, mahogany desks, and a walk-in closet. "Wow," Yugi thought out loud, "the entire Kame Game Shop could fit in here!"

He yawned and took off his shirt. Since he only had his school uniform, he figured he'd just sleep in his pants. Ryou slept in what sounded like peaceful slumber, and Yugi checked his watch. "Seven-thirty a.m.? That can't be… Oh, yeah, there's a seven hour time difference between here and Domino." He yawned harder. "But no wonder I'm exhausted."

{After so many hours hanging out with Kaiba Mokuba in the casino, I'm not surprised!}

"Gimme a break, Yami," Yugi mumbled. "The kid hardly ever gets a break from work, and he's only, what, thirteen? Besides, I think he's cool." In fact the more Yugi hung out with the younger Kaiba brother, especially without Kaiba or Jonouchi, he liked him as a little bud.

He kicked off his boots, took off the Puzzle, and placed it on his table. Yami's transparent form appeared, sitting beside it. "Shouldn't the girls be back by now," he asked.

Yugi replied something like "Nnmm." He crashed down face first into the soft, goose down pillows. The cool satin sheets felt good against his hot, bare chest, and he rubbed his face in the pillow. "Mmmm," he said. "Nice…"

Yami paid no attention. He'd been worrying about Nazo all day. Her emotions were a bit… odd. He felt that she had not been her normal, cautious self lately. And keeping one's guard down in times of peril, which he thought this could be, was dangerous. Yugi had an excuse; he had Yami to be on guard for him. But Nazo could not control her Item very well, making her vulnerable to any attack. What if the people who captured Malik or Shadi tracked them down? Or worse yet, what if Minkabh kidnapped her? At least she wasn't dead. He'd have felt that. Wouldn't he?

{Your thoughts are too loud,} Yugi grumbled telepathically.

{Then will you go and find her to quiet me?}

Yami's answer came in the form of the bedside alarm clock being thrown at his head. Yami forgot he was not solid at that moment and ducked. {Okay! I get the message!}

But the spirit could not sleep. Every time he turned over in his sarcophagus, he thought of all of the things that might have happened to his beloved queen. [1] 'I have to find her,' he decided.

The Puzzle glowed softly, and Yami took over. His ruby eyes snapped open, and he jumped out of bed, ignoring the body's screaming opposition. It was a classic example of the "spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." [2] 'Sorry, Aibou. I promised not to take over without your permission, but this is too important to me!'

Kaiba stayed still, staring at the water, sitting as far away from the girls as humanly possible in the small Jacuzzi. He thought of someone saying somewhere on American television, "Don't make any sudden movements, or they will pounce. They smell fear." Whoever said that most likely was not thinking about women, but Kaiba thought it fit quite well. All four were high on sugar and caffeine; two substances he wished would be illegal in any country he vacationed with Keiko. He also suspected that Mai had bought them a few drinks; he could definitely detect the smell of margarita on someone's breath.

They were talking about whatever came to mind, occasionally stopping to torture him further. Mai told them about some of the places she had visited since Doom. When she mentioned Ireland, she noticed Keiko's spirit darken slightly and Anzu's glance at her. "Something I miss?"

Keiko told them in sparse detail about how, years ago when she was an exchange student, she lost four friends in the horrible massacre in Northern Ireland. By the end, a couple tears lined the bottom of her blue-green eyes. [3] Seto wanted to hold her, but his muscles were still frozen in the hope that they would still forget about him and just leave.

Nazo listened carefully to her story, and her heart bled for her young friend. Keiko obviously held some of the more gory details back, but Nazo's keen sense of perception picked up everybody motion, every change in pitch, and every word she chose to use. Nazo scooted closer to her, at finally put a comforting arm over her shoulders and rubbed her cheek against Keiko's. "We're here for you, Imoto," she said.

Anzu put a hand on Keiko. "All of us are here! For each other!"

Mai gave a small smile. Only a few months back she'd have thought this sap as foolish, fake, and unnecessary. Now, however, she felt far differently about it. Her presence among her old companions only proved there was a strong bond between them. She put her hand on Anzu's. "It puts 'Girl Power' to a whole new level!"

Kaiba listened only in the back of his mind. Stupid women,' he dismissed it as. He looked up to check on Keiko, and saw Nazo holding her in a loose but intimate embrace. His cheeks flared with further embarrassment, and he snapped his head back down.

Mai noticed this and laughed. "Getting to hot for you, Kaiba-kun?" All of the girls laughed, relieved for the break in tension. Mai took a deep breath and ducked into the water. Anzu splashed Kaiba playfully. "So you aren't made of stone after all!"

Keiko's eyes sparkled. "Oh, I wouldn't say that!"

Seto's eyes went back up. "Keiko!! Quit being so vulgar! This i-" He cried out as Mai pulled his legs from underwater. "GET OFFA ME, YOU BITCH!!!"

Mai gave Kaiba's trunks a soft tug before emerging. "You didn't have to kick me," she pouted.

Anzu splashed him again. "C'mon, Kaiba! Don't be so self-conscious! It's just not like you!"

Keiko laughed harder. "New game, girls! First one to submerge Seto's head gets a $1000 shopping spree, compliments of yours truly!"

Kaiba grabbed hold of the edge of the Jacuzzi so hard, his knuckles turned white. "Don't even joke!"

"Who's joking," said Keiko, slinking around like a cat about to pounce.

"I'll take his legs," Nazo announced, and she ducked under.

"I got his head," added Keiko.

"We got the arms," said Anzu and Mai.

Seto's pupils turned to pinpricks in terror. "No! No no no NNOOO!!!" He let out a scream as the remaining three ambushed him.

Yami, sick with worry, had been searching for Nazo on every level of the ship, when he heard Kaiba's first scream at Mai. Curious, he rushed out onto the deck to see what the commotion was all about, and if Nazo was a part of it. He found Mai, Anzu, and Keiko on top of a struggling Kaiba, who splashed and called out as best he could.

When Kaiba caught sight of Yami, he cried out, "YUGI!! HELP ME!! THESE CRAZY GIRLS ARE TRYING TO DROWN ME!!!"

The pharaoh had absolutely no idea how to react to this! (Except to mentally congratulate Kaiba on fulfilling one of every teenage boy's fantasies.) All he could do was stare dumbfounded in the doorframe and try not to laugh.

Keiko looked over and called, "Hey! It's another party member!"

"Huh?"

Nazo broke through the surface, and straightened her swimsuit. "What happened? What stopped the fun?"

Anzu giggled. "Not stopping yet! Just adding more!"

Nazo noticed Yami, who had frozen at the sight of her. "Yami-sa! You want to play, too?"

Seto's eyes grew wider than before. "OVER MY DEAD BODY!!" Taking advantage of the distraction, he jumped out to the pool and put half a football field's distance between him and the psychotic, giggling girls.

Nazo laughed harder. "Oh Yami-sa, I've had the most wonderful night! First we went gambling, and then we shopped for… Yami-sa," she said, realizing her lover's stunned expression. "What's the matter?"

As soon as he recognized Nazo coming out from the water, Yami's patience and reasoning shut down. A dagger had pierced through his heart. Most sound blocked from his brain, except for Nazo's taunting laughter. Shock, betrayal, and finally anger filled every bit of his conscious like a dark cloud. His eyes glowed with fury, and the Eye of Horus symbol shone on his head, as if he were preparing to send Nazo to the Shadow Realm. "Slut," he growled.

Anzu was the first to realize just how bad the situation looked from Yami's eyes. Kaiba, Yami's long-time rival, was in a hot tub with four women, one being his (Yami's) wife. Nazo came up from underwater doing who-knows what to Kaiba (which Anzu did not want to picture), straightening her swimsuit, laughing, and carrying on. And Nazo's comments like "You want to play too?" and "I've had the most wonderful night!" only strengthened the idea that…

"Yami," said Anzu in a would-be-calm voice, "nothing happened! We -"

But Yami turned on his heel and marched back into the main ship. "What's wrong," Nazo asked innocently to Anzu.

Anzu slapped her forehead. "Oh no! Now Yami thinks Nazo's cheating on him with Kaiba! Things have just taken a turn for the worst!'

The pharaoh no longer thought in logical words and sentences, as he normally did. Everything within his head jumbled together, mixing with the cloud of negative emotions. 'This whole time… so worried … and she's been … with all the men in … how could she … my wife … my queen … touched by another … she's mine … how can … all my trust … all my heart…'

Yami entered the large suite and slammed the door shut. He did not care that he woke Ryou up from a deep sleep. He did not care that the furniture and paintings nearby were starting to levitate slightly from his excess energy. He just paced around the room for over an hour, seething with suppressed rage.

Three times there came a knock at the door, each time being one of the girls to talk to him. First had been Anzu, The Negotiator, trying to reason with him. Next was Nazo, The Accused, begging to speak to him face to face. Last was Keiko, The Pissed-As-Hell-Girl-Friend, berating Yami for being so insensitive in not listening to Nazo's side of the story and making her cry. To each he replied with silence.

Finally, around 2am, Yami's internal ranting awoke his hikari. Yugi sleepily stumbled over into his yami's soul room. "Yami-kun, what…" He instantly awoke when he realized that the Eye of Horus was glowing on the ancient spirit's forehead. "My God, what happened?"

Yami continued his pacing, hardly noticing his hikari had entered. "My wife, that's what happened! I give her everything I possibly can, and she throws it all away for her own lustful philandering!"

Yugi blinked. "Okay, maybe it's the sleep deprivation, but I didn't follow a damn word you just said."

"That whore of a queen was bathing with Kaiba!"

"WHAT!?!"

"I caught them myself! He and the three other women were bathing in the public bath out on the deck of the ship! Disgusting! Have they no shame!? And of all men-"

"Yami," said Yugi, "they were not 'bathing.' They were only out for a sw-"

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN," Yami roared. "I may not remember what it feels like, but I sure as Hell know what it looks like! What is Pharaoh's is Pharaoh's! She is my woman! How dare she run into the arms of another man! Just because I have less than adequate means to fulfill her passions does not give her permission to go to my rival's bed!"

"Excuse me, but 'less than adequate,'" Yugi asked, rather insulted. "My body has damn near impressive 'means' for a man of my height! You just can't use it in such a way without my permission!"

Yami wheeled around, the symbol glowing brighter, his crimson eyes burning towards Yugi, and the room shaking. The teen cringed back in fright as Yami spoke in a dangerously calm but chilling voice. "Never tell a pharaoh what he can or cannot do, mortal! Who the fuck are you to do so?"

Yugi trembled. "I… I…"

"Get – out – NOW!!"

Yugi sprang through the door and shut it with a loud bang. He found himself standing in the suite shaking like an autumn leaf. "I… I'm your Aibou, Mou Hitori no Boku," he muttered.

.
Yugi awoke later that morning around 10am. He rubbed his eyes, and felt a crusty discoloration on his pillow. 'Was I crying all night,' he wondered. He sat up in bed, thinking carefully about the night before. 'Yami's never called me 'mortal' before. That sort of thing was always a trait of Bakura's. "What is Pharaoh's is Pharaoh's"? That's never mattered! He must feel terrible about what he thought he saw last night. Bet Nazo's so confused! She doesn't understand Ancient Egyptian social customs."

He threw off the covers and let his bare feet rub against the carpeting. 'Still, why made Yami burst out like that without any explanation? His temper is getting out of control! Wait a sec!'

[Flashback]

"Those eyes were so demonic! They weren't the eyes of the man I fell in love with! But I just couldn't strike back, because I knew in my heart that it really was Yami."

[End Flashback]

Yugi unconsciously rubbed his sore shoulder. "Could this be the way Yami was like as Pharaoh? Was he an evil person? It can't be!" He shut his eyes and grit his teeth. "No! I can't allow myself to even consider that! This is my best friend! My partner! My… other self…" His mind drifted to memories of the way Yami acted when they first met. He certainly did have a lack-of-conscience complex.

He glanced at the bed opposite him, where Ryou slept. 'I need someone to talk to. And when it come to out of control yamis that act like maniacs, Bakura takes the cake!' "Ryou-kun," he said. "We're meeting the others for breakfast. Let's get going."

The sleeper let out a soft moan and turned over in his bed. Yugi slid out of bed, walked over, and pulled the sheets away. The other pulled them back, but Yugi saw the albino teen's face was hot and sweaty. "Go away," he mumbled.

"Ryou-kun! You're burning up! What should I do? Do you want me to get you a doctor? A glass of water? Turn on an air conditioner? Anything?"

"No, no, 'sokay," he mumbled. "You go off with the others. Jus' make sure I'm awake when we dock."

"But…" Even Yugi's spiky hair drooped with concern and helplessness. "If you're sick…"

"Don't worry, Yugi-kun. This has been goin' on for months, ne?" The chocolate eyes opened slightly. "But thanks for caring."

"Un," said Yugi nodding. "I'll send something down for you to eat later. You just rest up." Yugi put on his shirt, the blue hat, the Puzzle (with hesitation), and ran out the door.

It is a shame that he didn't pull the sheets back a little farther. He may have seen what the 'sickly' teen wore around his neck. His eyes opened completely, and a sinister glow emitted from them. These eyes contained none of the compassion Bakura Ryou normally possessed. "The foolish mortal has no idea," the spirit chuckled.

"Hey, Yug," called Jonouchi once Yugi appeared on the lobby floor. "'Smatter? Didja sleep in the closet or somethin'?"

"Even if he did, he'd've slept like a baby," said Honda. "Man, those things were the size of my garage!"

"You probably don't own a car then, do you," teased Mokuba.

"So what if I don't? My bike's more than enough for me!"

Yugi gave a weak smile. "Bet you guys spent the night making good use of the cable TV!"

Jonouchi grinned. "Yup! Too bad we ain't stayin' here a few more days! We didn't even go this posh at Duelist Kingdom!"

"That's because only third rate duelists like you were expected to be there," said Mai, walking up past the elevator followed by Nazo. The latter had her face downcast and looked as tired as Yugi felt. Although her connection with Yami was not as intimate as Yugi's, she still sensed his anger and betrayal the night before.

"Oy! Where's Keiko and Anzu," asked Jonouchi.

"Keiko's still asleep, most likely," said Mai. "Anzu just woke up, so she'll be a little late."

Yugi took the opportunity to bow to Nazo, and said quietly, "I'm really sorry about what happened last night. I tried to explain to Yami that it was just a harmless swim, but he wouldn't listen! I should have been there to control him! I'm so, so sorry!"

Nazo looked up. Her eyes were a little pink from crying, but they smiled gently. "Yugi-kun," said replied, "it is not your fault. Don't feel bad about it. This is between me and Yami."

"I just feel like I shoulda done something!"

"You did. You warned me he had a temper, and I didn't consider it."

Mai waved her hand callously. "Ah, should-a, could-a, would-a's don't help in marital fights! If he doesn't get over it, dump him! You're better off without a jealous husband!"

"Are you crazy," they both exclaimed.

"Uh," asked Honda, "did we miss something?"

"Never mind that," said Mokuba suddenly. "Yugi, Nazo-san, you'd better freshen up! You're meeting with that dancer-lady at eleven, remember?"

"Kuso, you're right!" Yugi explained to them what he and Mokuba had found out in the women's dressing room. "I promised I'd introduce you to her later this morning over lunch!"

Nazo looked down at her many-buckled boots, black jeans, gold shirt, blue arm warmers, and her usual trench coat with bottomless pockets. She also wore four earrings on each ear and a thick black choker with a gold ankh in the center. "I'm dressed comfortably. You, on the other hand, look like you haven't changed clothes since we left Japan a week ago!"

"I was gonna buy some when we reached Luxor."

"There are loads of stores here! Why don't you buy something now?"

Yugi looked over at Mai's new top, which featured the silhouette of a naked woman blowing a kiss against a pyramid background with the caption "Cleopatra, Comin' At'cha!" "I'd rather not. But I'll need to get a razor and toothbrush, since I forgot mine on the plane. And some ICYHOT, maybe." [4]

Jonouchi looked down concerned. "Somethin' wrong, buddy?"

"It's nothing. My muscles have been sore lately, that's all."

"That normally happens when you get a growth spurt," said Mai matter-of-factly.

They all stared at her. "What," she asked. "You guys haven't noticed? Maybe it's because I haven't seen Yugi in a few months, but I definitely remember him being shorter than he is now."

All eyes turned to Yugi. Jonouchi said, "C'mere," and grabbed Yugi into a headlock. Yugi gave a whine of protest, but Jonouchi seemed too preoccupied to listen. "Hey, yer right! It's easier ta grab him!"

Jonouchi let go, and Yugi gasped for breath. But not before Mokuba stood him up and considered him. "Let's see… his eyes used to be here…" Mokuba held out his hand palm down level with his own mouth. "now they're here…" He raised his hand to a point at his forehead. "Hey! He's taller than me now!"

"Sonofabitch," said Honda. "'Bout time, ne, Yugi?"

Yugi gaped at them. "I… I grew?"

"Seems to be," said Nazo grinning from ear to ear.

Yugi let out a loud laugh, and he began jumping around the lobby, screaming, "I grew! I grew! I actually grew! I don't look so stupid anymore! There's hope for me yet! Yattaze!!" He even did a cartwheel! "I gotta tell Anzu!" He raced to the stairway and disappeared.

All of the others had anime sweat drops gliding down their faces. "He still looks like a kid," stated Mokuba.

"It was only about three or four inches," muttered Mai.

"I guess when you haven't even hit five-feet-tall yet," said Honda, "every inch counts!"

Anzu was in the shower, trying to think of anything else other then last night. But the sight of Yami's eyes, filled with so much sadness and betrayal, and then Nazo's tears kept turning through her mind. Each time she tried to find fault in one, she found some in the other also. No one was to blame, she decided. Each had their respective reasoning. But that didn't stop the fact that the couple, whose love lasted over three millennia, could break up over such a silly misunderstanding.

She stepped out of the shower, dried herself off, and put on a silky robe (compliments of the cruiseline). 'I hope it doesn't lead to that. They mean so much to each other. Everyone needs a love that strong in their lives.'

She wandered out into the large room to get her clothes, but paused once she passed by the full-length mirror. Anzu was no narcissist, but she got very insulted when Mai gave her a medium-sized bikini when they went shopping. She opened her robe to examine at her body. She could still hear Mai saying, "What's wrong? This looks like your size." And then, "Sorry, it's just that you pale in comparison to the rest of us. Its no wonder that you haven't gotten a boyfriend yet."

"Humph," said Anzu. "I may not have a nice round butt like hers, but that's because I'm a dancer! I've had dozens of guys grabbing my butt and stare at me!" She posed. "And my top is a healthy 87cm!" [5]

She stopped. 'Yugi and I haven't talked much since we went to the movies last week. [6] We've been friends forever. Is he serious about us getting together? How long has he felt this way, if he does? Why didn't he say anything before? And if he did, why didn't he kiss her at the end of our date? He never even really touches me, except when we dance, which was super romantic, but…' All were questions she'd thought of several times since White Day. 'Well, at least he's not a pervert like the others!'

Meanwhile, Yugi came barreling down the hallway. He found Anzu and Nazo's room and, without thinking, turned the handle. "Anzu! Guess what! I…"

It was only a total of 2.58 seconds between the time Yugi opened the door to the time he closed it. In that time, which may seem so short under normal circumstances, but so long in such a situation as this, not a word was spoken. Yugi saw Anzu in both the mirror and as herself as she turned slightly. His eyes rounded, pupils shrank, hair shot up, and spine straightened. Anzu had no time to close her robe. She gasped, gripped it tighter, and froze solid. A drop of blood slid down from Yugi's nose, and rose pink spread across Anzu's cheeks. Stiff as a soldier, Yugi closed the door with a soft click. [7]

All in 2.58 seconds. Barely even two heartbeats.

As a dancer, Anzu was used to being seen naked by other people in dressing rooms. She was torn between extreme embarrassment at being seen posed in front of a mirror and uproarious laughter at Yugi's completely off-guard expression. "Oh my God…"

Nazo gasped. "Oh shit! I think I forgot to lock the door to the room!"

"So?"

"What if Anzu isn't dressed yet?"

"She's a dancer, so she's used to dressing quickly! What are the odds of that happening?"

Apparently very good! Yugi, still acting as if his joints were not fully functional, marched right past the group without blinking or acknowledging them. They followed him out onto the deck and saw him walk, and fall, right into the cold pool.

Jonouchi and Honda burst out laughing. Mai covered her giggles by faking a cough. Mokuba and Nazo started calling out to see if Yugi was alright.

But it was Yami who broke through the surface of the water. He started coughing and swam back to the edge of the pool. "What the Hell – !?!" Once there, he saw Nazo and Mokuba at the edge. He took Mokuba's hand for help out of the pool. "What gasp the Hell happened?!"

"Uh, Yugi just walked into the pool," said Mokuba, also fighting laughter.

"WHY," he asked incredulously.

"I don't know," said Mai, fox ears sprouting from her head. "Perhaps he saw something forbidden that made him grow even taller!"

Jonouchi fell to the floor, clutching his stomach from laughing. Honda leaned against Mokuba, who had joined in the laughter by now. Yami stood there, dripping wet, and very confused. Nazo made to touch his shoulder. "Yami-"

Yami pulled away. "Yugi fell on his own free will, then?"

Nazo pulled her hand back. "Are you not speaking to me or Yugi?"

"If he is not in danger," said Yami, his eyes shadowed by his bangs, "then there is no need of me. Good day." With a flash, Yugi took over. He looked down at his clothes and checked his watch. "I'd better go borrow some of Ryou's clothes quick!" He ran off again.

"Hold up, Yug," called Jonouchi. "I want details about everything you saw!!"

Yugi and Nazo arrived in the main deck about ten minutes late. "Hope she didn't forget," Yugi said. He felt awkward in Ryou's jeans and T-shirt, which were still two sizes too long.

"Me too," said Nazo. "But if she is from a family of tomb protectors, it's probably her duty not to upset the reincarnation of her queen." She sighed and looked around. "I wonder why she's working here."

"Tomb guarding doesn't exactly pay the bills, and the men are forbidden to leave the site. Isis-san works in a museum and for the FBA. Depending on how large a family she has, they must pay decent wages to dancers." On the word 'dancers.' Yugi blushed. "Um, how much longer until we dock?"

"Around noon, I think," replied Nazo. "There's not much point to this meeting. If she-"

"Great Mother Isis!" Calpurnia popped out of nowhere in front of the duo. She wore a traditional dark red Egyptian dress with a veil and gold jewelry. Her eyes sparkled, and she fell to her knees and bowed. "Oh, to think that I am lucky enough to see the reincarnation of Queen Shukura! Oh, blessed day! Praise Khnum, creator of men, for deeming me worthy!"

Yugi and Nazo tensed and scanned the area nervously. "Um, Miss. Ayaat," said Yugi in English (as best he could), "we are trying to not be very much seen by many, so please stand up and talk quieter."

Calpurnia lifted her head. "Ah! I understand! I am sorry, Mr. Moto." She stood up, her hands shaking with excitement. "I am just… well, I mean… I have studied the texts of the queen my entire life, and to meet her in person…"

"Well, kind of. Nazo does not remember anything of her past life."

"Yes, of course, but still!"

"Can we take this inside," whispered Nazo to Yugi. Her English was not good at all, and being so self-conscious, she preferred talking through her friend. "People are actually starting to stare! It's making me nervous!"

"Right." He turned to Calpurnia. "Um, where do you suggest we eat our lunch, ma'am?"

"There is a nice restaurant nearby. I have made the proper reservations." She lead them to a small but cozy, American family restaurant nearby and were seated right away. The staff seemed to know the dancer, and the waiter gave them complimentary drinks. "What is the special, Albert," she asked the waiter.

"Chicken Breast Fillet."

Yugi put his menu up to hide his face.

"Hmmm, I'm not in the mood for white meat. How about nice, juicy thighs?"

Yugi's grip tightened on the menu.

"Very well, Miss. Ayaat. And for the other young lady?"

Nazo studied her menu. "This food looks good, please."

"Freshly skinned fruit for the nice young lady." [8]

Yugi slid down in his seat. He really wanted to leave now. Surly there had to be something on the menu that did not remind him of Anzu! "Ano… I'll just have a hamburger, with nothing on it." 'Crap!'

"Would you like toasted buns?"

'Double crap!' "Yes, please."

"Anything else?"

"How about two jugs of milk," whispered Nazo teasing Yugi.

The waiter left, and Calpurnia continued to stare at Nazo. "Yugi, tell her I'll break her arm if she keeps staring at me."

"Miss. Ayaat, Nazo doesn't like it when people stare at her."

Calpurnia looked down. "Again, it is rather difficult not to. Every member of my family has dedicated our lives to Queen Shukura, ever since the ancient times. In fact, I am a descendent of one of the priests who watched over the Millennium Scales. This is why most of the men are named 'Karim', such as my father."

"You say something about 'texts,'" said Yugi, wanting to jump right to the point. "What is written in these? Does it say the Pharaoh's name?"

"No. I am sorry, but they were written by Queen Shukura herself only months after his death, and she only referred to him as 'Dearest' or 'Honored Husband.'"

"Does it talk about the Puzzle at all?"

Calpurnia looked very nervous. "Not very much. You see, the Queen only learned how to write very quickly, so it is difficult to read. Her scrolls were also lost for a time to nomads, who delivered it back to Egypt in very poor condition."

"Back to Egypt? Where was Shukura at the time of the Pharaoh's death?"

She fidgeted again. The young woman definitely was revealing things she should not. "The Queen and her faithful guard, Lady Kei, were in a country across the Mediterranean Sea as ambassadors to promote foreign relations."

Yugi repeated all of this to Nazo. "Kei," Nazo asked. "I wonder if that was Keiko's double. In my vision on the plane, I saw Keiko talking to your grandpa."

"But I didn't know Keiko even had a past life," Yugi thought aloud. "She'd have told us about it."

"Most people do not remember their past lives," said Calpurnia. "You see, when one dies, their souls are separated into the Baa and Kaa. The Kaa holds the shape of the dead, and remains beside the body, holding onto the memories and accepting the gifts of the loved ones. The Baa, which holds the personality and truest part of the soul, sprouts wings and flies off into paradise, occasionally returning to run errands for the Kaa. If there is no mummification, or the body is not given a proper burial, the Kaa and the Baa do not separate, and the damned soul is doomed to wander in limbo forever. But if the Baa is reborn, it becomes a complete soul on its own, and the Kaa remains separate so that the memory of the dead can live on."

Nazo listened with rapt attention. Yugi, on the other hand, let his mind wander. He knew all of this already after studying Egyptology from his grandfather's notes. Ever since he started building the Puzzle nine years ago, he tried to learn as much as he could about Ancient Egypt to figure out its secrets. He had come to the conclusion long ago that Yami was one of those unfortunate souls whose memories were simply trapped within the chambers of the Puzzle, and soul trapped on Earth. With these special circumstances, Yami's soul never separated. If it had, his Kaa would have lived in the stone mural Isis had shown them, and his memories easier to find. As for Kaiba, the mural and the Items triggered his memories of the past. And Nazo's visions began when she received the piece of the Puzzle called the Bracelet.

So, where was Shukura's Kaa? In the Bracelet? It hardly seemed possible, since there was no physical likeness. And how was Yami's brother connected to all of this? Or "where" was the better question. And what did the texts say about what kind of person Yami was? Internally, Yugi hoped the so-called texts would give them a clue to these questions. 'But it doesn't look like Ayaat-san wants to tell us a lot. She must have been taught never to reveal the secrets of the sacred texts to anyone. I'm not very good at reading hieroglyphs, but translating it directly is the only way to get the information it can give us!'

[1] Yami's sarcophogus - In my short story, "Dance With My Father Again", I give Yami a sarcophogus-shaped bed. Terrible joke, I know, but I still think it's funny!

[2] "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Mark 14, verse 38 I believe. Don't quote me on that, though. I don't have my bible with me!

[3] Read Keiko's story.

[4] ICYHOT - an ointment for sore muscles that uses cold and heat to soothe the pain away. My brother uses it all the time.

[5] 87cm - around 32 inches. No, I'm not a pervert, it's in the manga!

[6] Yugi and Anzu's date - Don't remember? It's worth another read!

[7] Yugi's big surprise - I'm thinking of drawing this scene out (censored, for course). Should I?

[8] Skinned fruit - Let's just assume it was peaches. Anzu's name means "peach."

Yugi: Yo minna-san! We're finally in Luxor, the capital of Egypt! After a quick rest, we all go to meet the Ayaats. But Karim-san won't let us down to read them! Doesn't he trust us? We need to read what it says! Next time, The Tragic Fate of Queen Shukura