Matchmaker 1
By Utsukushii Ryu

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Yu-Gi-Oh! characters, except for Rayah, Mayah, and Krizt. Maybe Varey, I'm not so sure. So everyone knows, 'Varey' is actually Valon from the "Waking the Dragons" series of the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, and he wasn't in ancient Egypt in his past life, nor did he have a past life, but I'm making him one anyway…so would 'Varey' be mine…or not?? Oh well. Whatever, you get the point…

Hey everyone. Sorry you haven't heard from me. I haven't been able to get my hands on a computer for a while. Thanks to someone—clicks tongue in slight annoyance—my computer's been contaminated by a virus, and the computers at school are strictly for school use only.

During this period, I've been getting new ideas for unwritten chapters for my fics, and new fics, this one in particular. This fic will be part of a long series, ranging from different anime and books, but with one same character—mine. I'm not sure how many there will be, but there will be plenty, believe me. This series will be called the Matchmaker Series, so if there is a fic titled "Matchmaker (whatever number)" and the author is me, then it's part of the series, and you're bound to see my made-up character causing mayhem and matchmaking everyone (hence the title). The number next to "Matchmaker" tells you which part of the series it's in. It would be less confusing for you if you read it in order from 1 to...eh, whatever number I get to.

I hope you enjoy the first of the series.

Chapter One: First Encounters

Rayah looked up at the scorching sun, his hand shading his silver-blue orbs. Ra's light was shining brightly down upon the barren land, increasing the already unbearable temperature. He looked back down and began to study his surroundings with careful eyes. He could see the heat rising from the horizon, and his mouth lowered in a slight frown.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and sighed, running a tanned hand through his dark locks. He reopened them again, this time taking a closer look. Something shimmering in the distance immediately caught his attention, and he instantly smiled.

Finally! he thought, remounting his camel and steering the animal in that direction. I have reached the Nile! Thank the gods! He urged his camel faster, and, before long, reached the green shores of the Nile River.

Rayah gracefully dismounted his camel, untied the water bag from his sack, uncorked it, and knelt down at the bank, filling it up. After he corked the bag, he laid it next to him, and cupped his hands into the cool stream. His smile widened slightly, and he brought up the small amount of water to his face, washing out almost all of the sand that had gathered there, revealing how handsome he really was.

With the irritating sand gone, he finally took a drink, sighing as the cool water not only slid down his hot throat but his neck as well, entering his cotton clothing. He couldn't suppress a small gasp of surprise and a slight chuckle at the sensation.

Thoroughly satisfied, he picked up his water bag and headed back to his camel, petting her long neck affectionately as she, too, took a long drink. He retied the now full water bottle to his sack, and shook his head slightly to get rid of the excess water from his tresses. He ran a hand through his hair, and looked back at the river.

The scene was peaceful, and the soft breeze was calming, a lot better then the desert he had just been in. Rayah found himself relaxing against his better judgment, but he smiled serenely anyway. He turned back to his camel, and continued to pet her neck.

"Are you done, Mayah?" he asked. Mayah gulped down some more water, before picking her snout out from the cool stream. Just when he thought they were ready to go, Mayah turned to the grass beside the shore, and began to eat. Rayah sighed, but smiled affectionately at her.

He turned back to the river just in time to see something peculiar roll by them. His silver-blue orbs widened slightly when he recognized the 'thing' as a person. He immediately ran into the stream, and picked up the other, before dragging him back to the shore. The person was incredibly light, and very skinny. He must be a slave, Rayah thought to himself as he gently laid the other boy down. Mayah looked up only long enough to make sure her owner was still there, before going back to her dining.

Rayah brushed the wet hair out of the other boy's face, and almost couldn't suppress a gasp. The other boy was very attractive, and somewhat cute-looking. On closer inspection, Rayah could guess he was around his own age, albeit a few years younger, eleven or twelve maybe. The boy had dark auburn hair, a peculiar shade for an Egyptian. His skin wasn't tanned, either. It was the palest shade of skin Rayah had ever seen in his thirteen years of living. His clothes were peculiar too.

Rayah's eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion as he continued to stare at the other boy's face. It was a short moment before he snapped himself out of his stupor. His eyes left the handsome face to trail down the body to check for injuries. Not a scratch. Rayah sat back on his heels, crossing his arms.

He's not a slave, he thought, his eyes returning to the other's face. His breathing's normal…and there isn't a single scratch on him… Rayah closed his eyes once he realized he was still admiring the other boy. Maybe he's just skinny because he hasn't eaten in a while…

Rayah reopened his eyes; this time to look down the stream in the direction the boy had come. That direction led to the sea. His parents could be looking for him… Rayah looked back down at the dozing boy. On the other hand…his parents could've died or been killed…

He sighed as he leaned back on his palms. Either way, I can't just leave him here if he wakes up soon… He looked at his content camel, oblivious to her master's troubles. A small moment passed, and a weak smile developed on his tanned face. Master isn't going to like this…

Decision made, Rayah stood up and took a towel from his sack. He walked back to the boy, and proceeded to dry him off. He paused when the boy groaned lightly in his sleep, and waited. The boy didn't wake up, and he continued to dry him. Once done, he was left with a sopping wet towel and a semi-dry kid.

Rayah turned to the riverbed, and wringed out the excess water. He shook the towel slightly in the breeze to dry it further, and placed it back in his sack. He took out some more dry towels, folded them, and placed them under the foreign boy's head. He straightened to find Mayah staring curiously at him. He gave her a half-hearted glare.

"What?" he asked in a slightly irritated tone. "I can be nice…when I want to be…" Mayah continued to stare at him, and he could almost hear her say, "Well, this is a first. I certainly hope it's not your last."

He turned his head so he wouldn't have to look at her, and she also looked away. Rayah continued to his sack, muttering incoherently under his breath about 'stupid, annoying camels'. He took out a slightly smaller sack, and proceeded to do what he had come there for: to collect healing plants and herbs found only at the Nile for his master. He decided to leave Mayah behind; some time away from the annoying creature would do him some good.

When he finished, the sun was touching the horizon, turning from a bright, almost neon, yellow to a beautiful orange-red. He walked back with a bulging sack hanging on his shoulder, and a few fruit in his arms. Mayah was no longer eating, but she was lying contentedly on the soft grass, awaiting his return. During his time away, he had forgotten his annoyance, but then it came back with a vengeance.

He suppressed it as best he could, and continued to retie the small sack of plants and herbs to the bigger sack. Mayah whined slightly at the added weight, but that was all. Rayah couldn't suppress a smirk, and a "Well, you deserved that!", before he sat down against her, and began to eat some of the fruit he had gathered.

He was on his third one when the other boy began to groan. He stopped, and turned his attention to the waking boy. The boy opened his eyes to reveal twin orbs of chocolate brown, and sat up. He stared at his surroundings in confusion, his bottom lip sticking out slightly. The boy hadn't realized he was no longer alone, and Rayah smiled slightly, lowering the arm holding the pear he was about to eat.

"You had me worried there," he said, startling the other boy. The younger jerked his head at Rayah's direction, his eyes widening as he stared at the handsome Egyptian.

"Who…who are you…?" asked the foreign boy, his voice slightly hoarse. Rayah tilted his head slightly as he also noted a small accent. His Egyptian was good, but not quite good enough.

"I'm Rayah," he answered. "And you are?" The boy gulped slightly, as if deciding whether or not to tell the other boy.

"I…"

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." The boy gulped again, but sat up straighter.

"M…my name is…Varey…" Rayah was silent for a moment, his silver-blue orbs slightly wide as he stared at the newcomer.

"…Varey…" he said softly, as if toying with it to become accustomed with it. He looked up, and noticed a slight shiver wrack Varey's lithe body. "Cold?" Varey's shoulders tensed slightly, but he nodded. Rayah looked up, pulled loose a large blanket, and tossed it over. The boy caught it easily. "It may be scorching hot in the morning, but it gets abnormally cold at night."

"T…thank you…" He wrapped the blanket around his small frame, and pulled it close . Rayah studied his slightly slouched position, before also tossing him a couple fruit, which he also caught easily, though with surprise. Chocolate orbs looked up in slight confusion, but Rayah avoided eye contact.

"What? Did you expect me to let you starve?" Varey shook his head, and began to eat. Rayah watched him for a moment, before finishing his own fruit.

When Varey finished his share, he suddenly felt very tired, and fell onto the soft grass, scaring Rayah half to death in the process. He hurried to the foreign boy's side, his eyes wide with concern.

"Varey?" he asked, shaking his shoulder. "Varey! Are you okay?!" A small groan, and a muttered, "M…tired…" was his answer. Rayah blinked, and mentally cursed his reaction. He could tell Mayah was staring at his back in amusement. He headed back to his seat, and ungracefully plopped down. "Damn kid," he muttered, ignoring the fact that said 'kid' was only a year or two younger then he was.

When Mayah finally fell asleep, he finally relaxed against her shaggy body and let his thoughts loose.

What is with that kid…? He's making me act totally different then I used to! And where did he learn Egyptian, and from whom? Speaking of which, where the hell did he come from, anyway? I can tell he's not Egyptian, but his name surely is.

And here's another thought: does he have a girlfriend?

Rayah's eyes widened at that thought. What the…? Where did that come from…?!

Right here. And you've got to admit, he's really cute. Rayah almost choked as that thought crossed his mind. Admit it! You think he's cute!

I do not! he replied indignantly.

Yes you do.

And how would you know? He winced; he knew he was going crazy if he was questioning and answering his own subconscious, a very confident one might he add.

I'm you, lover boy. Well, part of you, anyway… There was a small pause. Wait, strike what I said earlier; you don't think he's cute, after all. My bad! Rayah almost sighed in relief, but then his subconscious added, You think he's hot!! Heheh!

Rayah growled lowly in his throat, though his cheeks were slightly red. He wasn't sure with what, but strike whatever he had thought earlier about his subconscious; he had a very self-assured, persistent, and annoying subconscious, which also didn't sound a thing like him. At all. He glanced over at Varey's sleeping form, and his blush darkened slightly. He looked away angrily.

See? I told you so!! Heheh!

Rayah growled lowly once again, with more malice this time. His subconscious was enjoying teasing him way too much for his liking and comfort. A thought struck him, and he smirked slightly, before settling into a comfortable position and closing his eyes, ignoring his subconscious's indignant protests and demands for attention.

Hey, hope you liked the first chapter. I know it seems to have nothing to do with Yu-Gi-Oh!, but it will--soon. You'll see. Just wait.

Well, see you next chapter (when I can actually type it).