The Eternal Gem

Chapter 8: Unfulfilled Vengeance

Nubia, Africa (area of Sudan; across Nubian dessert from Egypt)

The climate of Nubia was dry and hot leaving most of the citizens exhausted from their day's work. Many strong dark-skinned men were working just outside of the beautiful mansion that stood in Sudan, just within the Nubian area. The sandy ground was course beneath their bare feet, but they showed no discomfort. They were used to their every day hardships, serving their new queen who had ruled over them for centuries. None of the citizens knew how she lived so long and didn't appear to age, but none would dare to ask her that question. She was a cruel ruler keeping them captive in their own state. Their neighboring state was Egypt and also Saudi Arabia just across the Red Sea. Egypt was the state that helped them remain stable with their economy since they weren't as rich and prosperous.

Ever since their queen had come to their country and taken over with her unusual abilities, all of them had become like slaves; if they had been able to fight her they wouldn't have lived so isolated, unable to speak or trade with their neighboring allies. No, she ruled over them all and had, for centuries, maintained power and control while building an army so vast. The population there wasn't incredibly large so she had had to sail to the other neighboring states such as Saudi Arabia and Libya and others around Egypt. Mysteriously, she never set foot in Egypt but rather seemed to go to all the other places of Africa in order to build her army. Already she had control over several states and no one really knew who she was or where she came from. She always kept herself hidden beneath veils and cloaks. Still, many wished to alert Egypt and ask the pharaoh for help, but those that tried were killed. And the rest didn't even dare to take that risk.

Inside the glorious mansion, the queen herself sat upon the throne decorated in jewels. She carried an unusual item around with her wherever she went and none could touch it but her. Those that tried to touch it burned and disintegrated until their bones turned to ashes and their blood spilt. The queen called herself Kanika, which in Egyptian meant "black". So she was often referred to as The Black Queen. She was known through all of the lands she had conquered over the centuries she had ruled, but she remained secret from the eyes of the pharaoh in Egypt. Sitting upon her throne, Kanika rose as several of her many, many servants entered and bowed.

"I hope you have good news for me," she said coldly, her eyes glaring at them through the veil covering her face.

"Yes my queen," one answered a bit unsteadily. "We have heard news that the pharaoh has gotten married."

Even through the veil, her wide smile shone and she leaned a hand on her cheek in amusement. "Really? How very interesting. And who is this lucky lady?"

"It's not a lady, your Highness," he said slowly. "It's a boy; one who is foreign to Egypt."

"A boy? Now that is surprising and very unusual. What do you know about this boy?"

The other servant slowly came forward, still bowing. "We…we snuck inside just the other day pretending to be salesmen and we asked about the wedding and the boy. They said the boy was the one from the prophecy who awakened the pharaoh ahead of schedule and helped him gain his power and his body back."

Kanika leaned back in her throne and folded her hands in thought. "The prophecy…that's right. I can't believe it's been this long that I have ruled over my lands. And as my lands grow and my army vastly expands, the pharaoh's remains the same. I believe it's about time to send the pharaoh a warning, but not just yet. I want you both to go back inside and make sure your cover isn't blown. I want them to know nothing about me!" she snapped angrily. "And I want you to get information about the prophecy. I only heard a rumor about it, but at the time I was too busy searching for a special Gem that has granted me my one true desire. That was more worth it than stopping the pharaoh from returning. For I have achieved greater accomplishments than he. And my powers are steadily growing."

"Yes my queen," they answered together.

"Now go and get that information! And find out more about this boy! I want a picture of him too."

The two servants nodded and bowed low before leaving the main room of the mansion. Tapping her fingers carelessly, Kanika stood up, finally having the room all to herself.

"Pharaoh Yami…," she sneered, walking toward the window. "I bet you don't remember me. It's been so long…The last time we saw each other was when you were just five or six years old and your greedy father was planning an attack on my homeland where my husband was. Yes, that was so long ago…and your foolish father thought he could hide it from me!" she clenched her fists. "I knew about his plans to find that Eternal Gem and I pretended to be so infatuated with him; I pretended to be his loyal whore. Even when his dear wife was sick he bedded me behind her back and treated me with the utmost care; I was his servant and mistress but it was I who destroyed him! Ironic as it is that he trusted me and asked me my opinions on matters concerning the kingdom. He thought he had control over me, but it was the complete opposite! I had him in the palm of my hand!" she laughed coldly as her eyes narrowed.

"Yes, the pharaoh of Egypt then was mine. It was because of me that both he and my husband died. And with him out of the way, I could finally claim all his possessions and search for that Eternal Gem for myself. If only I had killed his son—the successor of the throne. I thought for sure the chaos was too great in Egypt that a seven year old boy couldn't possibly handle the responsibilities of a pharaoh! And then when I returned years later I heard about his generous sacrifice and how Egypt was protected by the magic of the Millennium Items, just waiting for their pharaoh's return. I've spent centuries building up my army; waiting for him to awaken so I can finally have my chance; so he can find out that it was I who was behind everything! That I am the one who controlled his father and achieved more power than any pharaoh! I want you to know, Yami," she whispered in a seductive tone, scraping the window with her long nails.

"Very soon, when you least expect it; when you think that your dear home is safe and that peace has been completely restored I will attack! And you will pay for what you did!" she snarled, clenching her hand into a fist and slamming it against the window. "You will pay for that blood you shed; my blood! And I will take away the most important person to you just like you did to me!"

Smirking wickedly, she let out a laugh that was cold and cruel. Her fingers scraped against the glass once more and her eyes—a deep maroon color—gleamed in the dim light, staring outside the window in the direction of the Nubian dessert where Egypt lie just on the other side.

XXXXXX

Luxor, Egypt

The train came to a stop in Luxor, a city quite a distance away from the palace. Isis got down and her eyes searched for anything that would help. She wasn't exactly sure where her brother was but after checking his old hide out she had found a clue: a torn map with a circle around the city. It was strange to not be able to use her powers. Even though she wished for them all to have immortality and the Items to combine so that they no longer caused problems, she was worried that what she had seen was true: that the Gem was a fake.

It was just approaching dawn and already Isis was exhausted from the journey. Where in the city would Marik hide? Without the power of her Millennium Tauk she couldn't see beyond what her eyes could. Worriedly, she hesitantly stepped toward a map of the city hoping to call upon her sixth sense to help her find him. She gently touched the map and closed her eyes, waiting for some sign. All she saw was darkness. Squeezing her eyes shut she concentrated harder. A flash of something came into her mind and instead of a vision a swearing pain took hold of her.

Isis cried out, falling to her knees and holding her head. The pain seemed so strong that she couldn't think or speak; confusion entered her mind and messed with her thoughts. Was she imagining the pain? Had she imagined everything? Shaking her head back and forth, she tried to shake it off. The pain was influencing her thoughts somehow, as if caused by magic. A suddenly hand touched her shoulder and her eyes snapped open. Looking up into the concerned face of an elderly woman, Isis slowly stood up.

"Are you alright Miss? I saw you collapse and wasn't sure if I should call an ambulance," the woman said.

"No, I'm alright. Thank you," Isis said, wiping sweat from her brow.

The woman nodded and went on her way, leaving Isis baffled and scared. Blinking dazedly, her eyes glanced at the map.

"What…what was I doing?" she wondered, staring blankly.

Isis' heart began to pound; she knew something was wrong, but she couldn't think. Her memory was beginning to become cloudy and as hard as she tried she couldn't remember what she had been doing. Panicking, she didn't know where she was going and suddenly began running away from the station. Her shoes echoed against the cement of the street and she didn't stop. Why was she so confused? She knew she was there for a reason, but why couldn't she think? As she rounded a corner she collided with someone causing both of them to topple over. Isis lay breathing heavily, not even trying to pick herself up.

"Excuse me, watch where you're…Isis?"

Lifting her head, Isis caught sight of a figure dressed in a dark purple cloak. The hood was pulled down and Mai stared at her curiously.

"What are you doing here? Have you come to see Marik?"

Her brother's name finally struck something in her mind and her eyes widened in remembrance.

"Yes, Marik!" she jumped up, grabbing Mai's arm. "I have to see him! Where is he?"

"Calm down, he's right down that street," she pointed, helping Isis to her feet. "What's the rush?"

Isis didn't answer and instead pulled Mai in that direction. It took ten minutes before they arrived in front of a reasonably sized building. It was a condominium, surprisingly. Mai took her up to the door and unlocked it. Stepping inside, Isis saw that it was neatly furnished with a sitting room, dining room and such. It was more spacious inside than it seemed as well. She wondered what her brother was doing there. It wasn't like him to remain in one place for too long.

"Marik! Isis' here to see you!" Mai called out.

A noise in the back of the condominium sounded and Isis waited, trying to think of what she wanted to say to him. The door down the hall opened and Marik came walking forward with an irritated expression.

"Mai, what are you screaming about? I'm busy making plans for th…," he trailed off, spotting Isis. "Sister, why are you here?"

"Marik I think something terrible has happened," Isis said, holding back her tears.

Mai seated herself, content with listening as they spoke. Marik stared at Isis for a second before moving forward. "Don't tell me the pharaoh has gotten sick."

By the tone of his voice he seemed rather hopeful, but Isis shook her head desperately. "Marik, the Gem…it's…"

"Gone!" he exclaimed suddenly, his eyes widening. "I knew that tomb-robber would try something sooner or later!"

"No, Marik, please," Isis begged, holding her shaky hands together. "I think it was a fake."

Mai blinked in surprise, glancing at Marik who seemed just as taken aback.

"That's impossible," Marik said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the nearest wall. "We were the first people there. Yami's father was the only one who had records of it, he made sure of it."

"I know," she said quietly, glancing downward. "But…the other night I saw it shimmering and rusting, as if a spell had been placed upon it. And I knew it was impossible for the Gem to be affected by magic, unless…unless it wasn't the real Gem. If someone got to it before us, there's no telling what they wished for."

Mai leaned forward curiously. "But don't you think if someone got to it first we would've seen a drastic change in the world or something. I mean, with a Gem like that it's hard to hide."

Isis glanced down at her and nodded in agreement. "Yes, but…but I've recently had some strange symptoms. I've gotten confused and started forgetting things. I know you might tell me it's my own paranoia, but Marik I swear that I saw something unusual with that Gem. And I just knew I had to talk to someone and it was too late to wake up the pharaoh."

"So you came to me? And what can I do?" Marik asked doubtfully.

"You have many people at your disposal; many who can spy and find out information," Isis said, clasping her hands tighter together. "Please, Marik, I'm begging you."

Marik's eyes stayed locked into hers for a moment longer. "Isis, what if you are panicking over nothing? What if the real Gem is in the palace?"

"But what if it isn't? Don't you see, Marik, we can't take that risk. It could mean the end of our immortality and our lives! And that's what we worked so hard to get," she exclaimed, her eyes alight with fear. "I've always trusted my instincts and even without my Millennium Necklace I still do! I know my feelings are normally accurate, which means that the pharaoh and the rest of Egypt could be in danger again!"

"That's only if the Gem fell into the wrong hands," Mai piped in.

"I still don't see how that's possible being since Yami's father was the only one who knew about it," Marik added with a grim expression.

"But what if…what if his father entrusted someone else with the information? There's no telling who else in the palace during those years knew about it," Isis argued.

"So why come here instead of directly to the pharaoh?" Mai asked, glancing at Marik who exchanged a similar expression.

"I will tell the pharaoh when I head back to the palace tonight, but I want to be able to tell him that you'll help; that you've sent out some of your men to seek out information and see if any surges of power have been used," she explained, pleading with her eyes.

Marik stared at her uncertainly. "And why would I help the pharaoh?"

"Because your life might be on the line too, brother," Isis said. "I know you and the pharaoh have never gotten along, but please…you don't want to see your home destroyed do you?"

"That's exaggerating a little, especially when you're not even sure there's a threat," Marik countered doubtfully.

"It could be fun though," Mai grinned, winking toward him. "You haven't used your men for anything very big lately. I'm sure they'd be pleased to get such a mission."

Sending a glare toward her, Marik turned back to Isis and reluctantly nodded. "Fine, my men will search out and see if anything suspicious comes up, sister. And you can alert your precious pharaoh and tell him I'm helping for my own benefit. If I find anything I will let you know."

"Thank you, Marik," Isis smiled with relief. "Thank you."

Marik turned away, still not used to showing much emotion. Isis understood that he had wanted to help, but he didn't want to make it seem so easy. Her sixth sense was still working, though it was much weaker than before. She had to get back to the palace soon before anything bad happened, if she was right about the Gem. Glancing down at Mai in thanks, Isis left and headed back toward the station to catch the next ride. Hopefully, everything at the palace was peaceful.

XXXXX

Yuugi yawned, trying his best to hold it in. He and Yami had been up pretty late, being intimate, and now he was paying the price for that long, memorable night. Currently, being the prince and spouse of the pharaoh, he was being taught by Mahado what his duties were. He had gotten up at eight in the morning when Mahado had arrived and had reluctantly went with him for a walk around the area as he explained what Yami had been taught over the years.

Two hours had passed already since Mahado had begun to explain Yami's rule and what the power of the pharaoh did for the country. He basically overlooked the economy and held most of Egypt's wealth, but the people earned money just like every other modern society and had their own businesses. Plus they got a lot of money from tourists and trading with other countries. The pharaoh overlooked that as well. Yuugi's job was going to be to help Yami with anything he needed, such as taking over the trading papers and conversing with leaders of other countries plus a lot more.

Yuugi's stomach growled loudly and Mahado stopped, turning to face him with his intense eyes. Blushing shyly, Yuugi just gave him a small smile. The taller, exotic man nodded toward him and silently led him toward a small restaurant nearby the central plaza where the wedding had been. They passed by the gazebo and Yuugi saw that some men were beginning to move it away. One of them still had the hose and was washing it down, though Yuugi didn't remember it being dirty. All it had were flower petals on it.

The two of them entered the restaurant and since Yuugi was prince and Mahado was one of Yami's top advisors and friends they were seated instantly on the patio atop the roof where they could bask under the glorious sun while eating.

"Therefore," Mahado continued, seemingly oblivious to Yuugi's tired state, even as he began eating his food, "you will be required to attend some events separate from the pharaoh. If the pharaoh is required to be at two places, you, as the prince, can attend one of them for him and take matters into your own hands. This is why you must learn how to address others, such as leaders of other nations and how to go about making deals."

Yuugi blinked curiously and nodded. He still couldn't believe that he was going to help Yami care for the beautiful country. The most amazing thing to him that he supposed he'd never quite believe was that he had the power of immortality, but it wasn't permanent. He and Yami, or anyone who was affected by the Millennium Items, could choose to end their immortality at any time (by destroying the Gem), which would allow them to age in years. However, they would never age in appearance because of how the power of the Millenium Items affected their bodies. Yuugi didn't think that was a bad thing though. The only downside was that his grandpa would still age and die some years in the future as would his friends. That was the one thing Yuugi wasn't sure he'd be able to handle. He wished there was a way that the entire world would bask in the effects of the Gem and age ten times slowly than usual, which meant a year would change to something much longer. That way people would scarcely age in appearance and they would live ten times longer. That way their generation, which included him and Yami and others from Egypt plus his friends, would die in the same era. Would that even be right of them to change the world though?

"Yuugi, are you listening?" Mahado asked quietly, having been staring at him for some time.

Yuugi was currently staring down at his plate with furrowed eyebrows. Lifting up his head he sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I'm a little tired."

Mahado's eyes appeared to soften and he nodded. "We'll continue this tomorrow. I think you've had a long enough lecture for today. However, remember what I've told you and read this book," he said, handing it to him. "It will help you learn how to act as the prince."

"I will," Yuugi nodded politely, rising with him as they stood up from the table.

Smiling at the taller man, Yuugi watched him leave and then sighed with exhaustion. If only he hadn't been required to get up early he'd have more energy. Perking up, he realized that now his tutoring was over with he could go see Yami once again. He left the restaurant, having trouble leaving as he was approached by citizens wanting to shake his hand, and headed back toward the palace. While he was busy hurrying along the street, passing by sellers, stores and people bustling about, he was suddenly approached by two very dark-skinned men. They were much darker than even Yami was and their faces seemed unfamiliar to him, though he still hadn't met half of Egypt.

"Excuse me, young man," one of them said, coming closer. "Are you the prince? The boy married to the pharaoh?"

Blinking, Yuugi nodded, smiling. "Yes, I am."

The two men exchanged unreadable looks and nodded. One of them pulled out what appeared to be a camera and gestured to it.

"Can we please take your picture? We believe…that it is good luck to hang pictures of the leaders up in our house."

"Oh, sure," Yuugi said, tilting his head as he smiled softly at the lens.

The camera flashed and the two men nodded in thanks. "Excuse me young pharaoh, but what is your name?" one of them asked tentatively.

The question was a little surprising to him, though he didn't show it. Yuugi didn't want to be even a little bit arrogant and assume that everyone knew who he was. It was possible that not everyone knew his name but they just knew that Yami had gotten married. Or it could be that these men weren't from around there. From their really dark complexion they could've been from a much hotter climate.

"Um…Pri—Yuugi. Yuugi Mutoh," he smiled.

The two men nodded and bowed toward him in thanks. Then they were off, hurrying in the opposite direction. Yuugi watched them go wondering why they seemed to flee from him. Was the crown too intimidating? He couldn't imagine so with Yami being such a good ruler. Perhaps they were foreign to the country entirely. It was possible they were tourists who weren't from Africa. Shrugging it off, Yuugi turned back around then stopped suddenly. His eyes took in all the people and the path in front of him, but he couldn't remember where he was going.

"What was I…doing?" Yuugi whispered, searching around him.

He suddenly felt lost like he had been sleep walking and had just awoken. A feeling of panic settled in the pit of his stomach as he tried his best to remember what he had been doing. He remembered getting his picture taken, but suddenly everything else was fuzzy. Wheeling around, Yuugi stared all around him, a frightened expression on his face. His robe swished around his body, blowing in the warm breeze and he took several steps backward, wondering what he should do.

"Excuse me…prince?"

Yuugi jumped and turned, facing a young woman carrying her baby in his arms. She bowed her head instantly and smiled while concern was etched into her features.

"Prince, do you need help? Can you not find your way back to the palace?"

Yuugi's eyes widened in remembrance: the palace! That was it; he was going to the palace to see Yami. How could he forget that? Smiling in thanks, Yuugi took her hand gently.

"I'm sorry if I frightened you. I'm alright; I was just too lost in thought," he said, giving the baby a bright smile as well. "Your baby is lovely. What is her name?"

The woman blushed in gratitude and wonder. "Why thank you prince. Her name is Isabella."

"Hello there," Yuugi gushed, brushing his hand across the baby's cheek.

The baby gave him a small smile while sticking her fingers in her mouth. Yuugi then said goodbye to the young woman and went on his way toward the palace, feeling much less disoriented than before. As he reached the front gates he was let in and aided by the guards.

"Excuse me?" he directed toward the guard as he turned around. "Do you know where the pharaoh, I mean Yami, is?"

"Yes, I believe he is in a meeting with Isis, Shadi and—"

"A meeting?" Yuugi interrupted. "And Shadi's there? Has something happened?"

The guard shrugged. "I'm not sure prince Yuugi. You can go in and find out. It's in the large meeting room on the second floor; fourth room down the hallway."

"Thank you," he said, hurrying up the stairs.

He raced down the hallway and knocked on the door. When it opened, Yuugi saw Mahado's face glancing down at him. Without a word he opened it all the way and Yuugi hesitantly walked inside. Yami rose from the table and gave him a small smile to welcome him. Gesturing for him to sit down, Yuugi returned the smile and sat down next to Shadi.

"Yuugi," Yami said quietly, as his eyes dimmed, "it has come to my attention, from Isis, that the Gem might be a fake."

Immediately, Yuugi's heart felt like it had dropped into his stomach. It couldn't be…after everything they had been through already. He thought they would finally get to live happily ever after and in peace and now…

"Yami, how…how is that possible?" Yuugi asked, glancing from one face to another, finally landing on Isis'. "I mean…we have immortality; that's what you wished for, isn't it?"

"Yes, Yuugi, but it could be that this Gem we possess is a clone created from a powerful source of magic. It might have been created to act, temporarily, like it was the real Gem, but then…I'm not sure what will happen."

"But who else could've gotten it?" Yuugi asked desperately. "I thought the records were sealed away."

"They were," Yami answered softly with a nod. "My father kept them, but Isis has told me that perhaps he entrusted this secret with another person. And maybe this person used my father to get to this Gem. That is always possible."

Yuugi shook his head in disbelief, trying to hide his tears. "But, Yami…I mean, pharaoh," he said formally, glancing at Mahado who nodded approvingly, "if this person lived in your father's time they would've had to live and not age these past thousands of years. Is it possible they found the Gem before you sacrificed yourself and maybe wished for immortality?"

"That is very possible, Yuugi and a great theory," Yami smiled sadly. "I am not sure what this person would have wished for. If this Gem is a fake that doesn't necessarily mean that this person is still alive, it just means they used the Gem. They could've wished for anything…money, gold, jewels…they could have already died having used up the Gem's wish."

"I don't understand," Yuugi whispered shakily. "Does this mean we don't have immortality?"

The room was silent and Yami sighed heavily and rose up out of his seat. He came over to Yuugi and bent down, turning him to face him. Sadly, he brushed Yuugi's bangs out of his face.

"Yes, that means we don't have immortality, but Isis says that because we were still all affected by the power of the Millennium Items that we will age much slower than anyone else and our appearances still won't change."

Yuugi's eyes brightened a little and he smiled. "Well that doesn't sound too bad. I guess at least I'll die in the same era as my friends, right?"

Nodding, Yami gave him a much fuller smile and cupped his cheek lovingly. "Yes, however immortality for us isn't my concern. It is what this person wished for."

"It could jeopardize the peace we've finally achieved," Isis said quietly, glancing downward. "Marik has sent out his men to search for clues so I hope he will contact me soon. In the meantime, what should be do pharaoh?"

With one last smile, Yami rose away from Yuugi and went back to his seat. Glancing at Isis his expression became more serious. "If you can, try to run some tests on the Gem we possess and see if you can be sure it's a fake. That's all we can do for now until we have a lead. There were too many people working with my father in the palace and I was so young it would take years to figure out who it could be if we started from scratch. Hopefully they have long since passed away, which means the Gem has been used up but it poses no threat. However, keep your eyes open for anything suspicious," he said, glancing around at all the faces.

Shadi nodded in agreement, still situated with his arms folded tensely across his chest. Mahado was across from him staring out in front of him with a grim expression, matching Isis'. Marik, Bakura and the man named Pegasus (who apparently was the same man who created duel monsters) weren't present, but Yuugi assumed they had been contacted about the dilemma. Those around him began silently rising and exiting from the meeting room. Yuugi remained seated waiting until they all cleared out except for Yami. Slowly, he rose out of his seat and approached the taller man. At first his expression remained neutral, but then he couldn't hold back his tears any longer, now that he was out of the sight of the others. He threw his arms tightly around Yami's chest and buried his face against his silk robe, finally letting his tears fall.

Yami stroked his hair gently, leaning his cheek on top of his head while he did it. "It'll be alright, Yuugi. For now it doesn't seem like there's a threat, but if there is," he said, hesitating as he pulled back and lifted Yuugi's chin so their eyes were level, "we will handle it together just like we've done in the past. We're not alone. Isis, Shadi, Mahado and even Marik and Bakura are willing to help."

"But what if this is worse than when we fought Kontar? What if more people die or Egypt is sucked into chaos? What if…what if history repeats itself?" he uttered shakily, letting more tears fall. "What if you have to sacrifice yourself again to save us all? I couldn't…I couldn't live with that, Yami," Yuugi just barely whispered.

Stroking his cheek gently, Yami sadly nodded and kissed his forehead. "I couldn't live with that either, Yuugi. Hopefully all that it will turn out to be is that we just didn't get to have our wish. Even without immortality we will live a long life together and because of that Love Ritual in our wedding we will be bonded even after death," he smiled. "So no matter what we'll have each other."

"I want us all to live in peace and be happy," Yuugi sniffled, clutching Yami's robe tightly. "After all we've been through, why does there have to be more? Maybe…Maybe we're not meant…not meant to be…," he trailed off sobbing.

Yami jerked his chin up gently and leaned down to press his lips softly over his. Tears were still falling, but Yuugi responded. Pulling away, he felt the warm hand cup his cheeks.

"We were meant to be together, Yuugi. Don't think anything less," his crimson eyes shone with compassion. "Sometimes, one must be patient and fight hardships to win their heart's desire in the end. We've passed trials before this and our bond has strengthened because of it. The same thing will happen. And I won't let you get hurt," he said, leaning down to kiss him again.

Yuugi closed his eyes and tilted his head up so their lips met against in a passionate and almost desperate kiss. Yami began to pull away but Yuugi wound his arms tightly around his neck and continued with the kiss, gently allowing his lips to part and deepen their intimate moment. They broke away, breathless, and Yuugi leaned his forehead against Yami's chest, sighing deeply.

"I hope you're right. I want us to be together and I want Egypt to live in peace."

"Shh," Yami soothed him, gently rubbing his back. "Try not to think about it. Come on, I'll take you out to a late lunch."

Nodding, Yuugi broke away and took his hand in his as they walked out the door. He tried to place the fear of losing Yami out of his mind, but he knew it was there even subconsciously. If Yami was right about fighting for love then perhaps they would have to battle one last time before they could finally be together forever.

TO BE CONTINUED…

To Reviewers:

Yana5: I know, more suspense! Lol! The plot is finally coming around.

Flame-Chan: Awww, thanks so much for that:-) I'm sorry it took a little while to update. I'm glad the lemons were sufficient enough. I may add a couple more by the end, we'll see. Yes, the plot is finally thickening. YAY! More suspense. I'll update asap!

Shadowdancer: Lol! I know, I make you think everyone's going to live happily ever after…yes, I can be cruel. But I promise it'll be worth it by the end. :-)

Kari-sama: Thank you! I'm glad I surprised you. That was the idea. Fear not there will be more fluffy romantic moments especially by the end, but bear with me while the suspense kicks in. :-)

Celeste-the-Hikari: lol! Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed them. I hopefully will be adding a couple more lemons by the end. :-) So then you can look forward to that. But first, as always, the suspense must come!

Sansi: :-) I like surprises! And plus there's no way the story could just end there. It wasn't suspenseful enough, you know? Anyway, bear with me. There will be more romance too!

Atemu Yugi lover34: Yes, I suppose there was a lot of graphic content. Lol! But I did post a warning. And I guess some sites just can't read what's in the writing so they can't block it. Anyway, I shall update asap!

Kingleby: Thanks! I'm so glad you liked the wedding. I had a hard time figuring out where they should be married, but I'm glad you like the idea I chose. Too bad the story doesn't end here with a happily ever after. :-)

Yamiyugifanadic: Lol! Yay, I'm glad the chapter was sufficient enough with the lemons. I'm hoping to add a couple more by the end. Yes, I know, I keep making it seem like it's the end, right? That's why this is the third installment. But this is the last story, it just isn't going to end this early. I promise the suspense will be worth it in the end though, k:-)

Russa: :-) I'm glad you're liking it. Thanks for not giving up on me. I know it's been a little while since I last updated. Yes, Isis is very concerned about this Gem now. And as you can now see, for a good reason. I will update asap!