Hello hello! We're at Chapter 5, a little less than halfway through! In this chapter, I went back to Yugioh's roots so we're playing a game! I hope you all enjoy!

*I don't own Yugioh! I only own my OC, Christine, and her crazy kids. If you recognize anything, I don't own that either. I will also give the warning that no animals were harmed in the writing of this chapter.*

Exciting was exactly the word to use, but it wasn't the exciting I wanted.

After Mana finished her training the previous day, she left the alcove to return to wherever she called home. She would come back the next day after practicing a bit on her own, and I agreed. Teaching was one thing; she had to master it on her own. So I spent the rest of the day with Sati, watching as she demonstrated what she could do. For over an hour, we sat in the shade, crumbling and reassembling the assorted rocks we found. The little girl was still worried she'd done something wrong, but I soothed her; she had a gift. She was exhausted, though, from putting together the stele, so I let her nap for a while.

The rest of the day went by normally, with no news coming from the Valley. We'd gone to bed thinking everything was fine. It was still fine when, as we were seated at a table in the alcove for breakfast, I got the bright idea of wanting to play a game with my husband.

"A game, Mereret?" He asked, eyebrow lifted. "Right now?"

"Why not?" I retorted.

Yami gave me a look. I only kept smiling. "Come on. It'll be fun." My playful whining was successfully bringing all eyes to our 'argument'. Hepzefa and Khemu were flicking their eyes between us, wanting to keep us in their sight for when we said something. Kiya had looked up from her writing set, pen still pressed to her shard of pottery. Mery was next to her, smiling at our playful banter. Sati, still wrapped up in Yami's cape with her head freed, looked a tad concerned, but I booped her on the nose if only to show her our words were playful.

"I would love to, Mereret, but I have to go."

The boys, as usual, whined. "I'm sorry! You know how Shimon is." They did know as their whines quickly melted into mutters. Yami ruffled their hair, a soft smile lifting his face. "I'll be back; you know that." That may have settled the boys, but I still wanted to play.

"You're running away."

"I am not."

He was still getting out of his chair and readjusting his clothes and jewelry. "I simply am on a tight schedule."

"You're the Pharaoh! Can't you make the schedule?"

Yami rolled his eyes, but he didn't stop moving. Since the door was behind me, he had to walk past me to get to it. He stopped at my chair to gently play with Sati's hair while giving me a smile.

"I'll see you later, Mereret."

A kiss was pressed to my forehead, and he moved to leave. My pout must have been funny as there was a giggle from Sati at it when she peeked up. An idea then hit me, and a smile lifted my face. I booped Sati's nose again before speaking.

"Are you scared to play because you know I'll win?"

A scoffing laugh escaped Yami, and he stopped moving. He was probably halfway to the door now.

"Please. We all know I'd win."

Did we… I sent another smile to Sati, poking her nose again. Her face had scrunched up, but it only made me smile brighter. I then looked through the corner of my eye in the direction of Yami.

"Then why are you running away? If you know you'll win, then why not play with me? Could it be you're a chicken?"

There was an audible gasp from every child in the room, Sati included. I had just called the man these children had been taught was a god a chicken; they were probably horrified. I didn't look at their expressions; I kept my eyes looking as far backward as I could. I couldn't see Yami, but I did see that he'd stopped moving. Khemu managing words made me look away. His face was something akin to a scandalized Victorian.

"You-You can't say that, Lady Nefertari!" The boy gasped.

"Why not?"

"You… Y-you just can't!" Hepzefa jumped in when Khemu looked too scandalized to continue.

I gave as girlish of a giggle as I could, my eyes moving back to see if Yami had moved. He was still standing halfway to the door. His face was just out of eyesight.

"If he's so sure he'll win, then let's find out. But, if he wants to leave…."

I gave a one-armed shrug. "Then let him. Who am I to stop him?" There was only a second of silence before a sigh hit my ears. My smile turned evil. His sandals shifted, the sound of crunching sand and rock making it loud in my ears.

"Okay, Mereret." He replied, his tone so similar to the one I heard those first days of the puzzle's reassembling. "Let's play."

Got'em. Still smiling, I looked over to Kiya, still sitting at the corner of the room with her writing set.

"Will you get the Senet board for me, please?"

Kiya immediately jumped up, grabbed the thin box from one of the shelves against the wall, and raced over. She didn't return to her writing set like she usually did; she stayed at the edge of the table, watching as I pulled the board and pieces out. Yami walked past her, returning himself to his chair. The moment he was settled, the boys were on opposite sides of him, staring at the board. Mery was on the other side of me, eyes flicking between Yami and me. I was a tad concerned when I saw Yami's face - the ever-familiar expression he wore when playing a Shadow Game - but I kept myself steady. I managed to keep my own mischievous smile on my face, twisting to look down at the little girl in my lap. "Have you ever played Senet, Sati?" The little girl shook her head. "Well, we'll have to fix that, won't we?" Sati looked utterly excited now.

For those who have never played or even know what Senet is, it is one of the oldest games in the world. Its history spanned at least 5000 years. It was so important to ancient Egyptians that a game was even played as the soul traversed to the afterlife. Each player has five pieces that they have to move over 30 squares and off the board; if they succeed, they win. To move, players threw four sticks, and, depending on how they landed, you moved that many spaces and had the chance to roll again. To help them along, there were two portal squares that, if landed on, could 'teleport' that piece further up the board. Beware, though, if you landed on the one further up, and no one was on the previous portal square, you got sent backward. There were also ways that you could protect your pieces and move your opponent's, so it was an all-around fun time. I knew that as Meg and I had played a round or two when we visited an exhibit that taught visitors how to play. I had won against Meg, so I was excited to see how I'd do against Yami.

"Ladies first."

"How kind of you."

The first few turns were just getting pieces out from their beginning squares. Yami, of course, was lucky in having his sticks all land face down, meaning he could move six squares and roll again. It gave him the biggest head, as was obvious by the smile growing on his face. I didn't let it get to me; I'd use the slow and steady route to get him. It helped as I was able to create a blockade, stopping his onslaught of moving pieces. Yami stared at my three pieces, knowing he couldn't pass or attack them, but he still gave me a smile.

"Playing awfully defensively, aren't you, Mereret?"

I smiled in return. I would have leaned on the table to do the whole playful eyelash batting, but with Sati still in my lap, I couldn't move. Instead, I entwined my fingers together over my legs.

"Why would I have to be defensive? I consider that a perfectly good strategy."

"Then what are you doing making that blockade?"

"Teaching."

Sure enough, Sati was staring wide-eyed at the board. Her eyes had been flicking to each piece that moved. With the others - mainly the boys - narrating and complimenting each move, she was probably getting a whirlwind of information. She must have been confused as she looked up, eyes filled with curiosity. I would have said something to explain, but Yami jumped in.

"She's stopped me from moving some of my pieces, Sati. See these three?"

Sati nodded when Yami gestured to the blockade I had created. "With them all bunched up like that, I can neither pass them nor attack them." The girl nodded again. "If it was just two pieces, they would be protected, but I still wouldn't be able to pass or attack them."

"What's attacking?" Sati asked.

Yami thought about it for a moment, then lifted up the set of sticks, dropping them onto the table. A quick look showed one of them face down while three were face up; he could move three spaces but had to end his turn. A sudden smile made me concerned.

"This is attacking."

He picked up one of his pieces, one in front of my blockade, and began to move it. I counted three spaces in front of it and gave a silent curse. Three spaces in front of that square was one of my pieces; since two pieces couldn't share a square, his piece could stay there while mine was sent to where Yami's had been. There were giggles at my annoyed expression.

"Why would you do that?" I asked.

"I'm teaching."

I gave a huff, leading to more giggles. Yami now looked so pleased with himself. "Your turn, Mereret." Without thanking him, I picked up the sticks and dropped them onto the table. One down and three up. Karma's a jerk, Yami. I gave him a smile as I moved the piece that had been so rudely moved and put it back where it had been, moving Yami's back where it belonged. "Really?" The children were all laughing, trying to muffle themselves behind hands and arms. Sati, from a quick glance, looked bemused.

"Does this happen often?" Sati asked, tilting her head towards Kiya.

"Yep." Kiya replied.

Sati gave a sigh but began to giggle as well. In playful revenge, I booped her on the nose again, receiving a huff in reply. The sight of Sati's scrunched-up face made Yami laugh.

For the next half hour, we sat there moving our pieces across the small board. For each time one of us passed or attacked, the other would do it back; I was amazed we moved at all. The first piece across the finish line was mine, and I got a large cheer from the girls. Yami's first piece wasn't far behind, earning a similar amount of cheers from the boys. Sati cheered for both of us; she was honestly having a grand time just watching. Piece after piece managed to escape the board, making it harder and harder to stop Yami's advance. Sadly for me, my last piece landed on the portal square.

And nothing was blocking the one two rows behind.

"Oh no!" Mery squeaked. "Anything but this!"

"What happened?!" Sati gasped.

I sighed, wordlessly moving my piece back to the other portal. "Why'd you have to do that?" I peeked down at her.

"Those are the rules." I told her. "I landed on the portal square, so I have to go to the other one."

Sati thought about it, then sighed.

"You were so close, though…."

I gave a soft laugh, moving to wrap my arms around her in a hug. Sati giggled at the display of affection.

"I know, but I'll get him next time."

I looked up, seeing the sticks reading for two squares - the exact number he needed to win. My Pharaoh pulled his piece off the board, smiling at me.

"Well played, Mereret." He complimented. "That was fun."

I gave him a teasing smile.

"And you didn't want to play."

Yami rolled his eyes, but he kept smiling. It was nice seeing him so happy. His eyes then moved to Sati.

"Would you like to play, Sati?"

The girl nodded her head wildly. "Then why don't… we…" He trailed off, eyes suddenly on something happening behind me. I turned my head around to see a guard had walked into the room. He gave a bow of his head when both of our eyes were on him.

"I apologize for intruding, Great Pharaoh." The guard breathed gently. "I have a message from Lord Shimon."

"Which is?"

"There's something you must see in the throne room."

That was very vague… I turned my head back to Yami, seeing his eyes flick towards me. The red eyes were filled with concern. What had happened? Yami got to his feet, the concern hardening into determination.

"I see. Then I shall be on my way. Mereret?"

I didn't know if he was asking me to come or stay, but I wasn't going to let him walk off on his own. Without any argument, Sati was settled onto her feet, and I got to mine. We said goodbye, breathing promises to be back, then walked as quickly as possible to the throne room.

What greeted us was worse than we could imagine.

Propped up in front of Yami's throne was another stone tablet. Based on the angle we were walking in on, I couldn't see what it was depicting, but… The moment we walked around to its face, my heart dropped into my stomach.

It was the Dark Magician… Mahad's mission had failed…

Yami's grip on my hand kept me standing, but I could feel him shaking as well. "Mahad…" Tears welled up in my eyes.

What was I going to tell the boys?

My former mistress' hands quickly took my shoulders, helping me to stay on my feet. It allowed Yami to pull away and step closer. I felt steady enough to follow, feeling Lady Isis' hands remain on my skin. Everything was silent except for a few tears from the Medjay standing behind the slab. They must have been devastated to see their leader fallen like this; I know I would have been. Seto's barking took my attention off of them.

"The most important thing is whether or not he killed Bakura!" Seto snapped. "If that thief escaped, there's a chance he's stolen the Millennium Ring! We should search the tomb and find Bakura's body immediately!"

"No…" Kalim breathed gently. "It's too soon… If he's alive, then he might be hiding within the tomb, waiting for the chance to escape."

"What if he's already out?" Master Aknadin suggested darkly. "If the Millennium Ring has fallen into his hands, it will lead to disaster…."

"Priestess Isis…" Shimon called then. "Can you see Bakura's future with the Millennium Necklace?"

Lady Isis was silent for a long moment before I heard her sigh.

"No." She replied. "I can see nothing."

That didn't bode well. My eyes went back to Seto when he gave a loud scoff.

"This is because of Mahad's incompetence…." Seto huffed, turning his eyes to my former mistress. "Isis! Why didn't you foresee the effects of Mahad's actions before they happened?!"

My eyes narrowed at the priest. I took great offense at his anger towards the woman who had been a sister to me. He didn't take back the accusation; he pointedly kept his eyes on Lady Isis.

"I cannot see the futures of those who hold the Millennium Items. You know that, Seto."

"Therefore…" Shimon jumped in. "The fact that you can't read Bakura's future means he's dead or he's taken the Millennium Ring."

"Yes…"

I was released for a moment, but one hand quickly returned. A small burst of wind made me look up. Floating above us was a monster I'd never seen before. It had wings and a flowy dress; I couldn't see more because of my angle. "I'll send my Ka, Spiria, to the Valley of the Kings and use her clairvoyance to search while I stay here."

"I leave it to you, Isis." Yami breathed.

Yami's hand moved, and I recognized the gesture. I freed myself from my former mistress and walked back to Yami, taking his hand. His grip was tight, but it was comforting.

"What do I tell the boys?" I quietly asked him. "They'll be devastated…."

Yami took a breath. I wasn't sure if he was getting ready to speak or was just making the noise to break the silence.

"Great Pharaoh…" Seto suddenly jumped in. "If Bakura is alive, he may be hiding in the city… I would like to send my troops there to scour the city for him. It's urgent, Great Pharaoh…."

Why was Seto suggesting this? Putting soldiers out in the town? Sure, they'd have a better chance of finding Bakura, but at the risk of harming civilians? Out of the corner of my eye, I could have sworn I saw Master Aknadin's face widen in shock. From what I remembered, he had always been the type to protect the people; maybe they had had an argument about it before? Yami didn't reply immediately either; I turned back to him, seeing his eyes slightly narrowed. I would have asked him to voice his opinion on the subject but was stopped when shouts appeared.

"Hey, you!" One man snapped.

"You can't come in here!" Another shouted.

"Master Mahad!" Mana's shout echoed in my ears.

"Get back! This is sacred ground!"

"I have to see my master!"

Uh oh… My heart dropped even further. Having Mana see this was heart-wrenching.

"What is this?!" Seto barked. "Throw that girl out!"

I muffled a growl at the priest; he didn't think of anyone else besides himself and Yami. Mana had every right to see her Master! I flipped my head towards Yami, quietly begging for what I wanted. He agreed as he raised his voice.

"It's alright!" Yami called, stopping every bit of movement. "Let her through!"

Not wanting to fight the word of a god, the Medjay let Mana pass. She slowly approached the slab; I had only seen her look so serious when we had been sparring yesterday. I quickly saw the tears race down her cheeks and dashed to her side as she fell to her knees.

"Master!" Mana screamed in her grief.

I gripped her shoulder, trying to be some form of comfort, but she didn't look up. Yami stepped to her other side, kneeling down to grip her free shoulder.

"Mana…"

Mana's head quickly lifted at his voice. Her tears were streaming down her cheeks, but her voice managed to be clear.

"Your highness… You can call the spirits from the stone slabs, can't you? Please… Let me see my Master again…."

Yami didn't reply. He only looked mournfully back at Mana. I couldn't tell what was going on in his brain, but I could tell he was overcome with emotion.

"Mana, Mahad's soul was wounded in the battle." My mistress breathed, getting Mana's attention. "Let him rest for now."

She then glanced at the stone slab. After a moment, she looked back. "Besides, your heka isn't great enough for you to see spirits yet. You still don't house a spirit Ka in your soul, do you?" Mana looked down, looking slightly ashamed. She was already powerful and yet didn't have a Ka like Lady Isis or I did? That seemed odd. "You must train harder. Then you can follow in Mahad's footsteps…" There was a hiccup, making me look back to Mana. Tears were still falling, but her eyes had hardened with determination.

"I… I'll become a great sorcerer…."

I quietly promised myself that I'd help her however I could. Wordlessly, I tightened my grip on her shoulder. It gave her a bit more resolve as she fought to compose herself.

"Agh!" Seto then growled. "I've had enough! This just proves my point! Shall we continue to let our tears of sadness flow into the Nile?!"

Yami had gotten to his feet by that point, so I watched as Seto turned towards him. "We must act, Great Pharaoh! Let me send troops into the city at once! Let me save the people from Bakura's threat!" Once again, Yami didn't reply immediately. Shimon, however, stepped towards him and mumbled something. I watched as Yami's eyes flittered from Shimon to Seto and back again. Then, after a deep breath, he finally looked back to Seto.

"I will allow you to station troops." Yami breathed. "But, whatever you do, you must not threaten the people! Your target is Bakura!"

Seto gave a deep bow.

"Yes, my king!"

It was a tough choice, but if Yami believed it to be right, I wouldn't argue with him. I trusted his judgment. My attention was brought back to Mana when she took a shaky breath.

"Will…" Mana began shakily. "Will you practice with me, Great Lady?"

I nodded without hesitation.

"Of course." I replied.

I practiced with Mana for an hour or so before sending her to rest. In her grief, she was being reckless and actively trying to pull off spells she wasn't ready for yet. I understood her desire, but she needed to slowly work up to it. Mana, of course, obeyed, but her leaving left me with far more energy than I wanted. Yami had stayed with Shimon and the rest of the priests, listening to the concerns of the people, while I had gone back to my alcove. Many of my kids must have seen my pacing and looked at each other nervously.

The boys had taken Mahad's death far better than I expected. They did look overwhelmed, but they simply replied that they believed he died protecting his king and country. It was a far more mature answer than I expected from them, but I didn't pester them about it.

My pacing was stopped by Kiya as she took my hand. She had spent the hour trying to write, but her stylus hardly moved across the shards she had been using. She must have been just as frustrated as I was. When I looked down at her, her hazel eyes were filled with a soft light.

"Why don't you go for a ride, Lady Nefertari?" She suggested. "It's been a while."

A ride? I had a horse?

"With that no good thief out there?" Hepzefa jumped in. "It's not safe!"

Kiya flipped around me to give Hepzefa a dirty look. The boy didn't take back his concern, only keeping his eyes on her.

"Like that no good thief could keep up with Shetan! He's the fastest horse I've ever seen!"

Ah, then I did. I fought to keep my amazed expression off my face as I flipped my eyes back and forth between my two kids. Kiya's huff had placated Hepzefa for a fraction of a second, and then he was back to arguing.

"I'll give you that, but I doubt his majesty or any of the priests will let her go just like that!"

"And who are they to stop her?!"

"His majesty is the Pharaoh?"

Okay, I had to laugh at that one. The bluntness of Hepzefa's words combined with Kiya's voice rising in pitch was very funny. The two looked at me expectantly; I suddenly felt like the Inquisitor in Dragon Age when pressed into a difficult situation. I gave a sigh; what did I want to do? As much as I loved these kids, I think I needed a moment alone. Riding a horse, though, sounded a little scary; would I remember how to do it?

Only one way to find out.

"I think a ride will do me some good." I breathed.

Kiya squeaked with happiness while Hepzefa deflated. Khemu tapped his shoulder reassuringly, but it didn't seem to lift his mood. I smiled, freeing myself from Kiya, and walked over to him. He looked up, letting me press a kiss to his head. "Thank you for looking out for me, Hepzefa. I'll be back in a little bit." With obvious reluctance, he nodded. I sent him another smile. "Keep everyone in line, okay?" That he happily nodded to. It made me chuckle and kiss his head again. I pulled away and moved to the entrance of the room.

"Can I walk with you, Lady Nefertari?" Kiya asked, jumping to my side.

"Of course, Kiya, but promise to come straight back?"

"Yes!"

I smiled at her, let her take my hand, and we were off. I was grateful I let Kiya come along as I had no idea how to get to the stables. Without even realizing my lack of knowledge, Kiya walked with me, happily talking about what she was working on and the compliments she'd gotten from the scribes. Even though she was a girl, the scribes said they would have been more than happy to let her in their ranks when she got older. It was an ego boost for my inner mom.

When we arrived at the stables, a loud whinny echoed through the halls. Kiya immediately turned towards it with a huff. "Shut up, you!" There was another whinny, and Kiya sighed. "I applaud your skill, and this is how you treat me?" There was another noise, and Kiya sighed, looking up to me. "He's so mean, Lady Nefertari." I felt bad for laughing, but it was funny. We walked further into the stable and eventually came across the horse that had whinnied at Kiya. He was dark brown, maybe even black with nary a white spot in sight; I bet he got hot in the Egyptian sun. He was considerably shorter than other horses I had seen before, but I figured that was because he was an ancient horse rather than built and bred for work like modern horses. A quick glance at the plaque next to the stall told me that his name was Shetan.

This was my horse.

Kiya freed herself from my hand and dashed forward. She stopped at his nose, putting her hands on her hips. "I convinced her to go for a ride; you should be thanking me." Shetan let a snort escape his nose, but he bent his head low and playfully nibbled at her nose. Kiya giggled loudly at the touch, making me smile. When he pulled away, Kiya quickly gathered herself. "You're welcome!" She then flipped back to me, smiling brightly.

She helped me get Shetan out of his stall and tacked up. It wasn't as much gear as modern horse gear, so I made a mental note to not do anything insane. I had never seen a more compliant horse; he wasn't even held to the walls, and he wasn't even moving. Well trained? I wasn't sure. Once I was on his back, Kiya backed up. "You'll be back, right?" I smiled at her, hearing the nervous tone in her voice.

"I will. I promise."

That placated her, and she dashed back into the palace, completing her promise. I smiled after her then looked toward the door. "Okay, Shetan. Kiya called you fast; let's see how fast." There was a soft snort, and we took off.

I lost track of how long Shetan and I raced through the desert. Just as Kiya said, Shetan was fast! He dashed through the sand with such speed that I was surprised. With just the wind and the sound of hooves through the sand, I was happy to spend as much time as I needed. It gave me time to think. It gave me time to grieve. When I was sure my nervousness was gone, I slowed Shetan and let him breathe. I breathed myself, taking in the sand-filled air - I only coughed a little bit, but I did laugh. "Well, that was exciting, wasn't it, Shetan?" I was given a snort, and I laughed. If Kiya were here, I could have gotten an exact translation, but, alas. I figured he'd said something along the lines of 'Well if you rode me more often, you wouldn't get like this.' "Fair enough. I'll see what I can do. But let's go home." I was given no argument, so I turned my head from side to side, trying to see the best way back. The palace town was only a few hundred yards away; how convenient. "Perfect. Let's go through the shortcut." With no argument, I directed Shetan towards the village, and we raced towards it.

I was only faintly recognized as I let Shetan meander his way towards the palace. I smiled at those who bowed toward me, not stopping for pleasantries. As I continued down the main street, I quickly saw the large number of guards, Seto's men most likely. I prayed that he was keeping to his word and not harming the people here. I was shaken from my prayers when I heard the priest himself.

"You think you can throw stones at someone just because their skin is different…?" The priest hissed loudly.

I flipped my head around, trying to find him. He must have been further down the street. "Do you not realize that the Great Royal Wife also has fairer skin?" Huh? What was he doing? Was there someone else who was pale like me? "I'll cut the true meaning of different status into your skin!" Now that was a threat! I bade Shetan go faster, and we trotted down the street.

After a few minutes, I eventually found him. The priest was standing next to Shada, who looked pale. Had he seen something? Soldiers were milling about; some headed back towards the palace. I quickly cleared my throat of sand before lifting it in a call.

"Priest Seto!"

The priest turned immediately, his eyes widening. The guards around him immediately bowed, but I kept my eyes on Seto. "What seems to be going on here? I heard you shouting all the way down the street." Seto gave a soft bow of his head.

"A few of our people needed to be reminded of a simple truth. They were not harmed, I assure you."

He bowed again. I flipped my eyes about, seeing shy people milling about. I didn't see any wounds on them, so I believed him. "What are you doing outside of the palace, Great Wife? It is not safe with the possibility of Bakura being here." I gave a soft sigh, rolling my eyes.

"You sound like Hepzefa."

Seto didn't respond to my tease, so I sighed again. "I needed some time to think, so I'm taking a ride." I bent over to brush a hand over Shetan's neck. "I'd like to see Bakura try to keep up with Shetan and me." With perfect timing, Shetan gave a snort just then, making Seto's eyes flip to him for a second then back to me. The split-second action made me smile. "I'm on my way back to the Palace now; have no fear." Seto still didn't look pleased, but he gave a nod. I gave a gentle chuckle, happy I had gotten my way. A familiar call then hit my ears, and I felt my heart both lift and sink.

"You tell him, Christine!" Jounouchi's voice called.

"Don't let him tell you what to do!" Honda then called out.

I sat there frozen for a minute. What? I tried to turn my head as subtly as I could. Then, just out of my field of view, I saw them. My friends were all standing there, almost translucent like ghosts. Bobasa was there as well, bowing his head gently once my eyes were on him. They were looking happy to see me, but my face only dropped into despair.

What were they doing here?!

"Are you well, Great Wife?" Shada quickly asked. "You are looking ill."

I shook my head, looking back to the priests. Their faces had dropped into an expression of worry. I fought through my panic, forcing a smile.

"I'm fine." I lied. "I think I've been out in the sun for too long."

I prayed the priests accepted my lousy excuse. They must have as they nodded, now gesturing their arms further down the road.

"Let us escort you back to the palace."

I agreed without argument but flipped my head back towards the gang. My glare and head gesture were enough to make them understand what I wanted. Once the priests were back in their litters, I followed after them. Thankfully, the gang moved to walk beside me.

"Alright, you lot, talk. What the hell are you all doing here?"

"What do you mean?" Jounouchi huffed. "We're here to be with you and Yugi!"

I gave a quiet sigh, looking away for half a second, then back when Jounouchi started again. "And what's up with Rich Boy here? He actually part of Yugi's court?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yes! And contrary to what Kaiba is, Seto is actually very loyal to him!"

Jounouchi and Honda sent looks at each other. They were obviously surprised at my words. "Give me a better answer as to why you all are here!"

"We need to find the Other Me's name." Yugi replied.

My eyes flipped to him. "His name is the key to finding his memories." I blinked, and Yugi took it as my agreement to keep talking. "So, while you two are here reliving your memories, we're here trying to find his name."

"Our only problem is that we can't touch anything, nor can anyone see us!" Anzu jumped in. "We're essentially ghosts here!"

"But thankfully, you can see us!" Honda sighed dramatically. "I've had at least four people walk through me since we got here!"

I had to fight off a laugh. If there was one thing I missed about hanging out with my friends, it was their boundless energy. "And, if I may say, Yugi is a very lucky man." Yugi's immediate blush made me laugh. Wow… Way to embarrass Yugi like that, Honda. I had to muffle it quickly because guards, and even Seto, turned to look at me. I tried to make it look like a cough and apparently fooled some. Finally, when all eyes were back on the road, I glanced back at my friends.

"You all are going to get me in a lot of trouble." I whispered.

Yugi was still blushing, but the others were laughing. I'd missed the sound of them laughing. I then sighed. Being here, even while invisible, was dangerous. With Bakura still out there… I had a terrible feeling. I looked back at them. "Is there anything I can do to convince you all to go back?" Yugi forced his blush away and looked up at me with determined eyes.

"No." He replied. "I have to do this; this is my job as the one who assembled the puzzle."

I gave another sigh but nodded. Yugi was like Grandpa; once he had his mind made up, it took a bulldozer to get him off of it.

"Alright. But don't do anything stupid."

"Same to you."

I smiled. Everyone knew about my promise; I intended to keep it.

"Great Wife." Seto called, making me look at him.

We had made it to the entrance of the palace. The gates were open, but the guards had halted. "After you." I smiled at the priest; his mood swings were so weird. I sent one last look to Yugi and the others before gently tapping Shetan to begin a gallop.

No one stopped me on my way back to the stable. The palace seemed calm, which was good. Nothing had happened while I was gone. Once there, a few handlers helped me down.

"Did you have a good ride, Great Wife?" One handler asked.

"Yes." I replied. "It fulfilled its purpose."

The handler nodded with a smile. "Shetan worked hard this afternoon. Please see to it that he has a relaxing evening."

"Of course, Great Wife. We're putting the horses out to the paddock for the night, but if you find need of him, your whistle has always proven to call Shetan faster than any other method."

Huh… that was cool! And good to know! I sent the handler a smile before turning back to Shetan. I kissed his nose and smiled when I heard a soft whinny.

"Be good."

Shetan gave me a huff, to which I laughed. That was no doubt a 'whatever.' I kissed his nose again before turning to head off.

My first task was to wash up. After so long in the sun and sand, I felt absolutely disgusting! I quickly went back to my chambers, not seeing Yami taking a nap like he did once or twice; he must have still been with the priests. Poor guy. I took a long bath, scrubbing the sand off my skin and combing my hair free of tangles. Only when my comb stopped making the terrible sandy crunching sound did I begin to feel human again. I had just climbed into clean clothes and walked back into our room when I heard a sigh of relief.

"Christine." Yami huffed, immediately making me look up.

My Pharaoh wasn't angry, but he looked mad. Oh boy… "Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" A sigh escaped me. The overprotective tendencies were back. I gave him a smile.

"I went for a ride."

"A ride with the chance of Bakura still out there? Mereret…"

He stepped towards me, cradling my head in his hands. It wasn't a tight hold, just enough to hold me in place. "It's not safe!" I rolled my eyes.

"You sound like Seto and Hepzefa."

"They have sense! And I thought you did too!"

"I do! I know that Bakura couldn't even catch me when I'm with Shetan."

"And how do you know that?"

I gave a sigh. I couldn't pull my head away from Yami's grip, so I lowered my eyes. Yami didn't force me to answer, waiting for me to gather my thoughts.

I suddenly had the impression that Yami didn't trust me. I'd already promised to not do anything stupid. I've broken that promise, yes, but I always did it with the intention that I was doing the right thing. Did he really think that I was better off sitting in a palace while others fought for the safety of the country that I now called home? I hated it, but I felt tears in my eyes. I didn't like thinking of this… I wanted Yami to trust me… "Mereret…" I looked up, seeing Yami's harsh expression fading into one of shock and sadness. When I managed to reply, my voice was choked through held back tears.

"Do you not trust me?"

Yami gave a sigh. The sound made me angry. "Yami, I'm not a porcelain doll that needs to be put onto a high shelf and protected."

"I'm not saying that you are…."

"Then what are you saying? Because, to me, it sounds like you think I can't take care of myself."

Yami gave another, louder sigh, and he moved to press our foreheads together. It hurt slightly because of his crown, but I didn't stop him. His grip on my head tightened slightly, now becoming a tad painful.

"I know you can handle anything thrown your way. If the past year has shown me anything, it's that you are a devastating force and not to be challenged."

"Then why…"

"Because I cannot lose you!"

I stopped dead. My thoughts tore off their tracks. The tears that had escaped ran down my cheeks. Yami's breaths had turned shaky, his eyes just out of sight. "I don't know what I'd do if you were here one day and then gone the next! Every time I think about that duel with Kaiba, hearing the phrase 'The Queen is dead' over and over again, my heart shatters in my chest." I was pulled closer. "I know you can't stand it when I'm overprotective, but…" He gave a shuddering breath, and his words trailed away into a whisper. "I can't… I just can't…" His words faded away, and we were left in silence.

I blinked up at what little face I could see. I knew Yami cared, but he really cared that much? My heart dropped when I saw a tear race down his cheek. I didn't remember the last time or if I ever saw Yami cry. And it was over me…

I understood where he was coming from; I had been there myself. I understood that he only wanted to protect me, and I appreciated that. He had such a big heart, and I loved that about him. I lifted my hands to wrap them around his wrists. I didn't pull them off my face, only touching him.

"Yami…"

There was a flinch, but I knew he was listening. "Thank you for being honest; I appreciate that." Yami gave a shaky breath, and I tightened my grip. "Yes, it pisses me off when you get overprotective like this. Yes, you drive me bonkers with all your antics." I tightened my grip on his wrists. I was really about to say it. Could I actually say it? Did I have the guts to admit it? I took a deep breath. Yes, I did. I'd be brave. "But I am a girl who's bonkers about you." There was another flinch, and Yami pulled away from my head. His eyes were wide, staring at my face. I responded with a smile. "What?"

"You… you…"

I didn't put any words into his mouth. I only waited until he managed to find the words he wanted. He eventually found them after his eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare do any of that coy shit with me. Say what you mean to say." I rolled my eyes. Was he really thinking I would do the same coy thing I had done when I asked him out in the Kaiba Land elevator? Please, I was a whole year older now.

"I love you, Yami."

Yami blinked. Was he stunned into silence that I was actually honest? I opened my mouth to tease him but was stopped when he kissed me. It was a punishing kiss, one that made me grip onto him as tightly as possible. When he pulled away, I was gasping for breath.

"Say it again?"

I looked up at him, seeing his eyes closed. He kept them closed; it was like he was waiting. I took a deep breath then repeated myself.

"I love you."

Yami's breath hitched, and I was pulled into another kiss. When he pulled away, he was practically shaking.

"You mean it?"

I nodded, hearing Yami give another shaky breath. He then gave a soft laugh. "I can be so angry with you, but then you say something like that, and I…" My Pharaoh gave a sigh, making me giggle.

"Sorry."

"No, you're not."

I giggled. He was right there; with the smile on my face, I probably looked pleased as punch. I took a moment to look up at him. While Yami had a soft smile on his face, he looked nervous. I didn't like seeing it. It didn't take much coercion to get him back against my forehead.

"Trust me, Yami."

Yami heaved a heavy sigh, and I tightened my grip on his wrists. "I'm here until the end." There was another sigh, but Yami nodded.

"I trust you."

I sent him a smile. Yami still looked nervous, so I finally took his hands, pulling them off my face.

"Come on. You've been trapped in the throne room most of the day; let's get you something to eat."

It took a minute, but Yami eventually smiled and nodded. He let me tug at him out of our room and down the hall.

For the rest of the evening, I stuck to Yami's hip; it was the least I could do after scaring him that afternoon. I think he appreciated it as he sent me sweet smiles over our meal. I wonder how I got so lucky to have him in my life. We eventually settled at a table where Yami was reading over a scroll. He eventually lowered it, and I saw the expression on his face. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"I have a really bad feeling, and I do not like it."

I lowered my perfume wand, giving him my undivided attention. "Before you got back, I thought I heard a voice come from the pendant. And now… I feel like it is trying to warn me of something." I didn't like the sound of that. I wanted to say something to calm him, but a set of guards dashed into the room.

"Great Pharaoh!" The guard in front gasped. "Terrible news!"

Yami and I both looked up. "We found some corpses in a tavern ripped to shreds! The blood is still warm!" My stomach churned at the details, but I kept my face still.

"We think Bakura did it!" The second guard jumped in.

Now I let my anger through. Bakura was still alive… Mahad's sacrifice hadn't even slowed him down. Yami quickly got to his feet, and I followed after him. I followed him through the halls until he reached a balcony; shouts and screams led him to the place. Nearly flinging himself off, Yami flipped his head back and forth for a few seconds. When I reached him, he had frozen stiff. I quickly followed his eyes and hissed. Bakura was racing along the top of a colonnade towards the gate. My heart dropped when I saw blood on his hand. He'd attacked someone! Almost like he could see us, he sent a winning smile.

"Damn it!" Yami cursed. "I…"

He looked at me. "I need to go after him." As much as I hated it, I knew that it was the right thing to do. I nodded but didn't let him leave the balcony without me.

We had to run into the courtyard we had seen Bakura; that was the best place to follow after him. Guards were all over the place, shouting orders to protect the palace; one guard called that they needed to pull back some from the town to assist. "I need a horse… I need to catch up…" A horse… A horse… Surely one of the guards would let him use one, but my brain suggested one horse in particular. I brought a hand to my lips and whistled. Everyone within a few feet of me jumped, including Yami. "Ow! Mereret!" I gave no excuse. I only waited.

Sure enough, it barely took half a minute for Shetan to come racing into the courtyard we were in. He was barely out of breath despite running from the other side of the palace. My horse snorted loudly, stomping his hooves on the ground; he was rearing to go. I sent Yami a smile.

"Yami, meet Shetan. Shetan, I'm sure you know who this is."

Shetan gave another snort, obviously answering. Yami blinked then looked back at me.

"I hope he's as fast as you say."

"All that and more."

That was enough to convince Yami. He called for a guard to help him get tacked up. While our makeshift saddle was settled into place, I brushed my hands over Shetan's nose and whispered softly enough for only him to hear. "Bring him home." There was another snort; I took it as Shetan agreeing. Comforted, I pulled away and looked up as Yami slid into the saddle. Shetan did a little dance, getting used to the difference in weight, then straightened.

"I will come back."

I looked up at him; his determined expression was enough to make me nod. He better come back. I watched as he gently kicked Shetan and disappeared into the night. Slifer's familiar roar followed after him. I only needed to glance up to see the god chasing after him. Please protect him…

The next hour was insanity. As Bakura fled, he had Diabound attack the city, endangering the people that lived there. With how much destruction the attacks caused, the palace was opened for refugees. I jumped between the many moving parts, doing my best to help as many as possible and not stay still for too long. I was only distracted once when the sky lit up like the sun had just come out. But the sun set hours ago! I couldn't see what was going on because of the high walls. I just hoped Yami was okay.

And then the strangest thing happened. I was sure I had just finished helping someone, but then I was helping them again? What just happened? I was so confused, but I helped them anyway, knowing I had to.

When I pulled away from another family, more noises appeared in the courtyard. Guards were shouting again, so I moved to try and alleviate some of the stress. Instead of more refugees, I was met with Shetan slowly walking back into the courtyard. His legs were bleeding, and there was a cut on his head.

Yami wasn't with him, though. The saddle was ripped to shreds, and the bridle had been torn off his head.

Everything went cold. My heart shattered in my chest. Yami… Yami was… My vision was going dark again. It was just like that day on Domino Pier, except I wasn't angry this time. No…. No! My world was falling down around me.

Screams reached my ears, and I soon realized that they were mine.

Yeah!

Yami Bakura: *Obviously shocked* Yeah?! You're happy that the Pharaoh is gone?!

No! I'm excited that we're almost halfway through!

Yami Bakura: *Raises an eyebrow in disbelief.*

I'm telling the truth!

Yami Bakura: Sure...