Disclaimer. I do not Yu-Gi-Oh! It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi and crew.

Yami's POV

Yami sneezed as dust flew into his nose. He bounced around haphazardly on the back of the horse. The sound of it's thundering hooves rung in his ears. "Where are we going?" He shouted over the noise.

The tall man did not look back. "Hold your tongue scum. You will speak only when you are permitted to." Yami froze as two words rolled off his tongue. "Keshi Fuul."

(Donkey Shit. But Yami doesn't know. By the way this is my own made up language. You saw it in the previous Chapter no? If you read He Who Once Reigned As King, You will recognize this made up language. If not, I hope you like it! It's not in any way supposed to represent any real ancient language. So please do not get offended.)

The horse reared and whinnied and the man pulled the reins. He leapt off and slapped Yami across the face. Yami glared silently at the man. The slap smarted, but he ignored it.

"How dare you to talk to a High Priest like that! I should kill you where you lie!" He sighed through his nose. "But no. Only the Pharaoh may pass Judgment. And he is more unpredictable than me. He may kill you, he may not. Hmph. We shall see soon enough. Agul." (Fool)

He got back on the horse and flicked the reins. With a snort, the horse started galloping again, heading towards a huge palace, rimmed with gold. A large stone gate blocked the way, guarded by two stone Sphinxes. But the horse charged on.

Yami scowled to himself. 'Dammit. What was that that I just said? It sounded...ancient.' He smirked. 'And it definitely sounded like an insult.'

He closed his eyes, deflating a bit. 'Still no sign of Yugi. I hope he's safe. This man said something about a Pharaoh. That means we're most likely in Ancient Egypt. The clues of my past are here.

But if that means discovering them without Yugi, then I'd rather not learn them. I can't get killed though. I refuse to be. I'll stay alive. And he better do the same thing. Or I'll never forgive myself.

I wonder though...what happened to that bastard Bakura. He better not come back and touch Yugi's friends. He was banished but still, there's something about that guy. Maybe he's related to the-'

He was thrown out of his thoughts as the man pulled the reins, the horse cantering to a stop in front of the gate. Sitting up straight, the High Priest or whatever he called himself called out loudly. "Que Em High Priest Seto! Que Gorgi Xula!" (I am High Priest Seto! I demand passage!) There was silence, and then the sound of many men shouting in union was heard.

"Heave ho! Heave ho! Heave ho!" The gate opened inward into two different sides, revealing the sandy stone path leading into the Palace.

Twenty men in nothing more than white linen kilts stood to both sides of the path, holding large reed ropes that were tied to metal rings high up on the two stone doors.

Shrubbery lined both sides of the path, and cats darted to and fro, hissing or sunning themselves or just plain being cats. The man named Seto got off the horse, and dragged Yami off, throwing him to the sandy stone ground. "Get up Agul. The judgement awaits." (Fool)

Yami got up, and brushed himself off. "You know..." He remarked, without turning to look at Seto. "I find you to be insufferable. Wouldn't you agree?" Seto smirked. "Aka." (Agreed) But the smirk was lost in an instance. "Get moving, or I'll drag you there myself."

He pointed at one man that was petting a cat. "You! Lead the way!" The servant jumped up. "Of course High Priest. Follow me." He started off down the path, Yami following and Seto bringing up the rear, holding one of the golden rod's side blades threateningly against Yami's nape. (It means the back of the neck)

The pathway faded off, and ahead was a huge golden set of stairs, with even huger golden doors at the top. Without hesitation, the servant climbed the stairs, looking back to see if Yami was following.

After an agonizingly long climb, they reached the doors. Yami expected the servants to open these doors too, but the single servant simply pushed a door. It slid open a bit. A sharp pain in the neck reminded Yami to keep moving. They walked into the cold front area of the palace. The place was empty.

But tall green palm trees lined the edges of the walls. A smaller set of stairs lay before them, with two doors at the top. A single stone sphinx laid in front of it. That is until Yami noticed the sides of the Sphinx moving in rhythm to breathing. Yami gasped.

The grey colored Sphinx's head shot up, and emerald green eyes blinked at Yami, before closing in slumber once again. The head lowered to the floor. Yami assumed it went back to sleeping. 'That's a real Sphinx. Oh my gods. They're real!' Two hallways lay on either side of the walls next to the entrance.

The servant took the left hallway, and Yami was forced to stop gawking at the Sphinx and follow. The hallway went on for a long time, windows letting in sunlight. Finally the hall turned sharply and ended. The servant bowed and ran back down the hallway. Seto pushed his way past Yami and walked into the open room.

Yami could not believe what he was seeing. The room was huge, rugs and plush couches and pillows lay everywhere. The room was full of greenery, palm trees and ferns and flowering cacti.

Five other people that looked like High Priests stood in a v-shape near a golden and mahogany throne. A sixth elderly one stood by the throne. But what was most surprising of all was the young man sitting on the throne. His regal aura flowed around the room.

He was similar in appearance to Yami, but was tanned and had rougher hair. Two heavy gold earrings dangled from his ears. Gold bangles hung from his wrists. And gold bands encircled his arms. His eyes were blood red, but calm. He wore a white and gold linen kilt, with a blue sash hanging from the waist.

Seto went and stood next to the other Priests. The Pharaoh stared at Yami for a long time. Finally, he spoke. "Come forth, Iguo, and explain yourself." (Stranger)

Yami strode forward confidently. Stopping in the middle of the room, not to keen to get near the Priests. "Hello your Majesty. I am afraid I do not know how I got here. I have no memories of who I am, nor why I look like you. I assure you, I have no intention of imitating you. I was born this way."

The Pharaoh sat forwards thoughtfully. "What about the pendant you wear? It is similar to mine. Surely you weren't born with it." A few small smiles from some of the Priests.

Yami shook his head. "No your Majesty. It's been with me as long as I can remember. My soul resides in it. Speaking of which, I am connected to this young boy who has gone missing. I am terribly worried about him and miss him. Perhaps I could look for him?"

The Pharaoh was silent, pondering this question. "Well, I'm not sure." He turned towards the elderly man beside him, who looked a lot like Sugouroku. Hushed whispering, before the Pharaoh faced Yami again.

"We cannot let you leave yet. These recent events are confusing. We will allow you to stay within a room, with a guard outside, while we find this boy of yours. Perhaps we will find our answers from him." Yami was about to protest but the Pharaoh held up a hand.

"It is decided. You say you are bound to that pendant?" Yami nodded. "Then we shall not take it away...yet. Isis. Lead this man to his room yes?"

The woman named Isis bowed. She had long black hair and a golden necklace with an eye carved in the middle. Her eyes scanned Yami. Her face and smile were gentle, but her eyes were suspicious.

She gestured for Yami to follow her, and he did. He glanced back one last time, to find that Seto glaring at him. Frowning, Yami mouthed the words, "Keshi Fuul." And didn't look back. (Donkey Shit)

End Of Chapter Thirty One