Greetings, one and all! It is I, Suntory Angel, with a special little announcement:

This here will be a collection of oneshots relaying to my fanfic known at "The Mummy Groom"!

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They will be labeled accordingly with rating, theme, and inspiration!

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As always, I do not own rights to YGO or any other references that I might make!

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Happy Reading!

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Theme: Longing

Rating: K+ (to be safe)

Inspiration: Yuna's Longing, Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale

Longing

The youngest Ishtar fell back as the shadow before him grew taller. He should have listened to his elder siblings when they told him not to tread upon the ancient grounds! His breath caught when a low dry voice asked for water but the question itself wasn't what raised the hairs on his skin. No, it was the fact that the unknown person before him had used the tongue known in the old ancient scriptures that his family protected. Marik stuttered slightly as he used what he had learned to tell the person to identify themselves and that he didn't have any water. He stiffened as the shadow suddenly fell forward, causing a dust cloud to surround them momentarily before it finally cleared. Thanks to the sun peeking over the horizon he was able to distinguish the figure of a man in his late teens possibly early twenties unconscious on the ground. The clothing he wore was minimal and his figure was covered with dirt and sand. The Ishtar glanced every which way before moving forward and kneeling next to the unconscious man. Their features were oddly familiar, though he didn't understand why since he had never seen this man before, and quickly ruled out that this unfortunate man might be a tourist since their skin tones nearly matched. Neither were strangers to the sun and the clothing they both wore, or the remaining clothing that the man wore, seemed distantly related. The call of his name caused Marik to turn in time to see Odion hurry to the man's other side. "He came out of nowhere and collapsed, what should we do?"

"We shall take him with us." The much darker middle sibling quickly wrapped the stranger in the outer shirt he quickly shed and they each took hold of an arm. It took them a while but they managed to make their way back to the museum before the morning markets had opened. The strange man had gained consciousness as they passed the kitchen, once again asking for water, and nearly caused Odion to loosen his grip. He himself had studied the ancient texts more than any of the other siblings so his fluent answer earned a grateful exclamation. A glass of water was carefully placed within his hands as the two brothers turned to each other. "I feel no ill-will nor do I sense anything that would suggest he is untrustworthy." Their gazes snapped back to the man as his lips moved in a mumble.

The man's hands placed the now empty glass upon the countertop and raised his head high enough that they could see his amethyst eyes that followed something they couldn't see. "…I…" His breath caught as a twinge of pain seared through his head, causing the room to sway dangerously as a blurry figure bowed before him. "…I must…find…" Marik and Odion quickly caught him as he lost consciousness.

"What on earth!" The pair looked up to find Ishizu, the eldest sibling, standing within the doorway with a shocked expression on her face. "Brothers, what has happened?!"

. . . .

It had taken a while, but under the Ishtar's care the man slowly regained health as time passed. During the brief moments of him awake they had discovered that he had no memory of who he was nor where he had come from. The only thing he could tell them was that he had to find someone. Ishizu had placed him within one of the vacated storage rooms once her brothers had managed to setup a bed and some furnishings since they weren't certain of how long he would stay with them and that it would be safer for him to until he had regained what he had lost. It was one particular evening that she found him gazing up at the night sky while leaning against the balcony railings attached to the room with the most stoic expression she had ever seen. "I apologize for disturbing you," she bowed her head as she placed the tray of supper upon the beside table. "It is dinner time." She was about to turn and leave when his lips finally moved.

"I remember the sounds of instruments…" His speaking in the modern language was quickly developed much to their surprise and it certainly made it easier for them to understand one another. She encouraged him to continue by taking a seat at the desk, her eyes calm and voice low so as not to disrupt the train of thought he had as his eyes closed. "…a man wearing robes that all would bow to when he passed…" A hand rose to bury in his hair as he struggled to bring the man's face into focus as he smiled. There was a sudden clenching in his heart when the man's voice reached his ears as a golden Eye of Horus glistened from beneath the headdress he wore and felt a tear trickle down his cheek as the vision faded. "Father…that man was my father…he wore a golden eye upon his head…"

Ishizu stood in shock and crossed the room to grasp one of the old books that she had placed within the room recently, her fingers deftly flipping through the pages as he questioned her actions. Her answer though was an expression of awe before she deeply bowed her head and offered him the book in her hands. "By the Egyptian Gods, I don't know how you have come to this time but you were once prince of Egypt, the sole heir of the great pharaoh Akhenamkhanen." She called for her brothers as the man before her buckled.

His hands shook slightly as he accepted the offered book and fell heavily to his knees as the words on the pages seemed to penetrate his being. People's faces and places swam before his wide eyes until the smile of a girl caused everything to screech to halt. A pressure gathered within his chest, threatening to crush his hammering heart as her cobalt eyes threatened to drown him. Her skin was much fairer than his own and the chocolate hair that tickled her jawline shone brightly with honey highlights. She dissipated like smoke as he reached out to touch her cheek and he startled as the room came back into focus with a flash of lightning down his spine.

The Ishtar brothers released their hold once the stranger had relaxed, allowing him to lay flat on the floor as he caught his breath. Marik sat cross legged next to the man and picked up the fallen book. "Sister, do you really think that he is the Nameless Pharaoh?" His eyes combed over the stranger and the picture. The siblings made to intervene when he suddenly began to ruffle the man's hair but fell silent as they noticed the lack of reaction from their strange visitor. It was for several minutes that the young Ishtar worked, occasionally asking for his elder siblings to find him something and then he rose to his feet as he placed the finishing touches. "Okay, now I see it."

As the stoic man stood, it was as if a mighty pressure filled the room. His seemingly black hair now stood upright in a crown-like fashion, showcasing that there was actually some red and gold mixed in that accentuated the amethyst gems that were his eyes. The intricate jewelry that had been selected glittered brightly as the man looked from one Ishtar to the other but what had caught their attention more were his features. Bloodline traits were something that they had studied as part of their roles of Egyptologists and what they saw as he caught sight of his reflection was nothing short than royal. There was no mistaking it: there was an ancient pharaoh standing before them, the Nameless Pharaoh himself!

"Was the eyeliner and makeup really necessary?" Ishizu sighed, shoulders slumping as she examined the used products. "These were expensive."

The pharaoh made to apologize when a searing pain threatened to split his mind in two. He could have sworn that something cold and stiff slipped between his ribs as he clutched his chest. Spots. Filled his vision as they moved him to the bed and felt ice seep into his skin when he caught sight of white hair before he fell into water. Darkness began to crowd his vision but not before he spotting a pair of cobalt eyes gazing up at him from the depths of the water. Crushing sorrow and a budding seed of anger caused adrenaline to clear his vision, his nearly blazing eyes threatening to burn as he made to stand. "What does history say about what happened to me?"

Odion stepped forward, unwavering even when they heard the hidden anger in his tone. "They say that you passed shortly after your rise to the throne, my great king. You were found next to the Nile and it was presumed that you had been kidnapped from the palace then killed there."

"Kidnap it was not, I went willingly. I was looking for a girl with fair skin and blue eyes when someone with white hair came from behind." His eyes scrunched slightly as he recalled the flash of cobalt he had seen. Lifting his shirt, he revealed the pale scar near the top of his rib cage that corresponded with the memory he had just regained. "I was killed there, with a blade between my ribs."

Ishizu's eyes widened, the makeup products in her hands forgotten as she knelt before him. "My pharaoh, I do not doubt your words, but do you believe that you have returned simply for revenge?"

The anger that had been welling up inside his chest simmered at her words but it seemed to wither the more he searched his mind. A foreign feeling took its place, one that left him feeling hollow and cold. "No, I do not believe so." His eyes met her own as the sadness grew. "I truly wish I knew."

"There is something else that the scripts say." She stood and opened the book once more as her brothers looked to one another. "It was never proven but there was a theory that the Nameless Pharaoh once had a lover."

All jumped as a ringing shattered the air, all eyes turning to Marik as he hastily left the room. The phone at the end of the hall was the source and he answered as the fifth ring sounded. "Yes, hello?" His eyes narrowed as the voice on the the other end requested to speak to the head of the museum. "I am one of them, is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes, I wanted to make sure you received the shipment the other day. This is Yugi Mutou, I believe we spoke briefly when my grandfather was there to oversee the packing?"

"Oh, yes, I do recall speaking with you. The shipment arrived later than anticipated but in excellent condition. I hope that the exhibit was well received?" His eyes widened when the fellow museum owner revealed that his dear friend, a girl with blue eyes, had found great interest in it. Marik quickly retrieved a notepad from the cabinet nearby and wrote down the young man's name. His eyebrow rose as he was requested to keep an eye out for a missing trinket, possibly something that had hitched a ride during the packing that was very important to the friend. "Very good. If you are in need of anything, please don't hesitate to give us a call." And with a shared promise to converse again soon the call ended. His feet seemed too slow as he took the stairs two at a time to the basement. They had yet to finish unpacking the shipment they had received recently and came to a halt next to the still boxed sarcophagus. He quickly opened the top with a few hefty hits to the crowbar and wiped the sweat beading on his brow as he stared down at the empty sarcophagus. Well, it wasn't fully empty. There was a broken hourglass half within it. It looked just like what the Mutou had described he had discovered as he was packaging it.

The sharp sound of an inhale caused him to turn around, his siblings in the doorway as the former pharaoh approached. His expression was one of deep sadness and confusion as he carefully accepted the piece of broken jewelry into his own hands. The sadness morphed into gut wrenching sorrow as another tear slid down his cheek. He recalled that when he was first alive he had shed little to no tears whatsoever. That did little though to stem the salty water from cascading down his face as he heart cracked from the nearly overwhelming pressure in his chest.

"I spoke with a young man just now, he is the grandson of the man who discovered your tomb." Marik spoke softly, surprising his siblings with how gentle he was being to someone outside of the family. He was normally reserved and somewhat harsh to those who weren't family acquaintances or members but considering the situation they were almost impressed by how well he was handling it. "The young man's name was Yugi Mutou and he mentioned that his friend grew attached to you while you were visiting."

It was as if a gate had opened and the pharaoh's head fell back as he recalled the name. "That name, it sounds familiar but I do not understand why."

"When we brought you here, you kept repeating that you were looking for someone. Perhaps you are looking for him?" This earned a shake of his head. Marik's eyes widened as an idea came to her and rummaged in his pocket as his siblings watched in curiosity. A smile lifted his lips as he held up a card. "I have a theory of who you might be looking for, but it might take a while for us to find out." Leaving the three to converse, he once again ran to the phone and quickly dialed a number.

. . . .

Marik couldn't wait to tear into the package that he picked up from the mailbox one evening. He could barely contain his excitement as he called for their visitor as he made his way to his personal office quarters. "Pharaoh, are you here?"

"There is no need to shout," a deep chuckle came from behind him, nearly causing the young Ishtar to jump. Amethyst eyes sparkled mischievously when he took note of Marik's glee. "What has happened that has made you so joyous?"

Marik pulled him inside his office, ensuring that the door had closed behind them before making a showcase of the package he held. "This, mighty pharaoh, is something that I think you will find a great interest in." He opened the bubble mailing and revealed a cassette tape, which he slipped inside its respective player. "TVs are still relatively new but its already gaining a lot of popularity." His hand found the remote within one of his desk drawers, had the pharaoh take a seat then pressed a few buttons.

The music that filled the room caused an almost immediate reaction from the man, his eyes widening as a single figure took to the stage. Though the quality was poor and the view from a distance, there was no mistaking the cobalt eyes that shyly glanced their way before she was swept away by the music. He felt the room disappear and become replaced with towering sandstone as she gracefully moved with the notes and instruments. The girl paused as he held out his hand to her, quickly moving to grasp his hand as her lips lifted into a nearly blinding smile. There, on her ring finger, was an infinity band that was reflected upon his own when she rose on her toes to press her lips to his cheek, her heat nearly catching him off guard. The breath he wasn't aware of holding nearly hissed from between his lips as the room came back into focus and his gaze locked with Marik's. "Tell me, what is her name?"

"She's a dancer from overseas that will be performing here in Cairo soon." The youngest Ishtar held up a pair of tickets. "Guess who managed to cash in a favor and get their hands on some sold house tickets?"

. . . .

Getting his brother to cover for him had been a slight challenge, being as Odion had also wanted to attend one of the showings, but he finally relented to Marik when he was promised to give him every detail and to purchase one of her photos for him. The brothers couldn't help but slightly envy the pharaoh when he emerged from his room dressed in slightly more fashionable clothing then they. "Wish sister would spoil us a little bit too." Marik pouted, noting the designer logos on the the light jacket and slightly flashy shoes. A chime from the nearby clock caused him to forget his momentary jealousy and turned it into excitement. "We're going to be late!"

"No later than-"

"Yes, yes, no later than midnight! I won't be late, Cinderella!" Marik teased, taking off at a brisk pace and leaving the pharaoh to trail behind. He was a quick one though and it wasn't long before their strides matched. The streets were incredibly crowded tonight, making it incredibly difficult for them to maneuver without bumping into too many people and there was a point when the pharaoh had to quickly pull him out of the way of a cart before he was smashed. They managed though to make it to the theatre entrance in one piece each and were quickly ushered to their seats. Marik was pleased that they were up high in one of the side balconies but he quickly refocused on his silent companion.

He had yet to say a word and had grown slightly pale as his eyes combed their surroundings. Most of his previous life had been within the confines of the palace, from what he remembered, so he had to ask the young Ishtar to tell him what the main purpose of a theatre was. His amethyst eyes narrowed, smile tugging the corners of his mouth, as the lights briefly dimmed and a hushed excited "eeee" came from the man next to him. "Exactly how many times have you watched that tape, Marik, possibly a dozen?" This earned a hushed reprimand but their attention shifted to the stage as the lights disappeared and the curtains parted. The pharaoh felt his heart stall as she took the stage, the spotlight illuminating her figure doing little showcase the beauty he saw.

Though it was gathered into a classy bun and decorated with a glittering diadem covered in sapphires, it was clear to see that her chocolate tresses held glittering hints of honey and copper as she twirled across the stage. Her skin was a beautiful fair tone that made the ivory and porcelain relics back in the museum seem faded and the glittering pools that were her eyes made the jewels she wore seem lackluster. Maybe it was the spotlight, or perhaps the outfit she wore, but there was no denying the feeling within his chest.

Brown eyes slipped from the stage to his companion and Marik felt his being warm. Never had he seen such an expression on a man before. Underneath the veil of confusion was an undeniable sadness that was nearly overshadowed by the even brighter affection that shone in the pharaoh's eyes as he watched the girl. The Ishtar tapped his shoulder, gesturing for him to lean closer so as to better hear his whisper. "You are here looking for your other half, pharaoh, I am certain of it now. The story she has been telling is about a stranger that had stolen the lives of two lovers but tonight it is rumored that she will add the finishing piece that will showcase the conclusion of the story."

The pharaoh's gaze went back to the girl as the music changed into slow and suspenseful, the air in the theatre drastically becoming heavy with anticipation as her dance threatened to enchant all who was present. He felt his blood turn cold when her eyes seemed to meet his own and he saw the sorrow within their depths as one of the backup dancers approached her with a drastic thrust of their arm. Her head fell back as she sprawled across the floor, her hand slowly expanding from her body that was now trailing ribbons of crimson. His hands clutched the armrests of his seat as she was swept away by the backup dancers, the lights and music climbing the scales with rising tension then silence fell as she reappeared under a spotlight as the shadows of Anubis and Horus appeared behind her. This caused the pharaoh to stifle a soft hiss as pain pierced through his temple but he refused to look away as she knelt before each as though she was begging. The lights flashed brightly as a loud thunderclap-like sound pierced the air and then she was gone. Sweat covered his being but he cared little as he stood when applause roared through the theatre. He had to find her.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Marik's eyes widened in alarm as he hurried to follow. He quickly caught hold of his wrist and pulled him to a halt. "You can't go backstage, they will throw us out!"

"I will take that risk!" The desperation in the pharaoh's voice nearly caused those within earshot to cast them disapproving looks and Marik pulled him into a vacated hallway while casting them an apologetic bow of his head. Pulling free, his fisted hand met the wall as the feelings within his chest swelled. "I cannot continue like this, Marik, I want to understand who I am and why I am here." He shook his head when the young Ishtar mentioned that they had made good progress in his memory so far and pointed out that he had yet to recall anything of this life. "I will forever be thankful for what you have done for me, you and your siblings, but perhaps it is time that I venture from here. Return to the museum, I will return before morning but I wish to be left alone for a while." Before Marik could comprehend the words, he had slipped back out to the theatre and disappeared into the exiting crowd.

His head remained downward as he walked, not caring where he was going, but it was as he entered the city's outskirts that he came to a pause near some ruins. This was the place that they had found him, according to what Ishizu had told him. The pharaoh's gaze lifted to the sky as he felt his heart crack with longing. In the ancient language he whispered a prayer of guidance that would hopefully reach any higher power that would possibly be listening. Silence reigned as he moved to one of the larger areas that still had a few walls intact, lightly leaning against the sandstone as his eyes closed. The ruins still remaining nearly matched the perfect image in his mind of the palace he once resided within but it brought him little comfort as he allowed a distant memory to surface. Flickering torchlight caused shadows to dance across the towering walls as a gentle breeze swept by, the clothing he was wearing becoming light and breathable as his figure slowly relaxed. A soft sound came from behind him that was followed by something soft and warm resting against him. He didn't care if this was memory, he still relished the feeling of his once beloved near him.

She pulled him towards the center of the room, asking for him to dance with her, but he deterred her with a soft tone. "The mighty pharaoh does not to wish to dance with me?" She feinted shock and disappointment while releasing his hands so that she could place distance between them. His expression was conflicted as she turned away, one hand raised in an attempt to stop her as she glanced his way. The playful smile lifting her lips never wavered as he came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"You are a vixen this night," he whispered lowly in her ear and twirled her so they were facing one another. "I shall grant your request." The warmth of her hands were what caused his heart to hammer, not the surprisingly intricate dance that they were creating. He would gently pull her back to him when she drifted too far and the low dips would send her to new heights. Her figure wasn't stiff or overly cushioned, no, the woman who held his heart was lean with muscles that moved fluidly underneath fair skin when she moved. If it were possible he felt the admiration for her grow when he lifted her high enough so that she could wrap her arms around his neck as they spun. He would never tire of the way her glittering eyes would make his chest warm. Her hand rose and cupped his cheek as he asked if her request had been fulfilled and her answer was the softest brushes of her lips against his own.

That was what shattered the vision. There was no mistaking the woman he held and the pharaoh's body stiffened in alarm when a shadowed face replaced hers. They had released their hold on her as she shrieked shrilly, both falling to the sand with unified grunts. "What on earth do you think you're doing?!" The anger in her tone was enough to burn as she sat up and wrapped her arms around herself protectively.

"Forgive me, I did not wish to disturb you," he called out to her, sitting upright. His voice dropped lowly in volume with embarrassment but it grew louder when he referred to her dancing. "I was lost within my own world and was not aware of what was happening. I could not help but be enchanted by your dancing."

"That doesn't give you the right to…" Her words faded to silence as her outline came closer. The light of the full moon above them seemed to grow brighter as she stood, taking steps towards him slowly as their eyes was no mistaking who it was but it wasn't possible for the dancer he had watched perform to be there.

His confusion manifested by the raising of his hand rose to his hair. How had this happened?! He was not one to randomly dance let alone embrace a woman he didn't know! "Apologies, I truly meant no disrespect."

"Who are you?" The question caused his heart to stall. He had searched for that answer for weeks, months, even years now, and still had no answer to it. Pressure began to build within him as she repeated the question but his answer was silence. "Is this some sort of joke?"

He hung his head at her tense tone. "I truly do not know who I am, so I cannot know the answer to your questions. I was found here several years ago by a trio of siblings and they were kind enough to take care of me. The woman, Ishizu I believe her name was, had nursed me back to health. I have yet to recall my name or where I came from." She fell to her knees before him, causing him to tense at her close proximity. None of this was making sense but he held perfectly still as she studied his eyes, the cobalt pools that had haunted his all these years peering closely into his own threatening to drown him the longer their gazes held. He could see her hand rising in his peripheral vision but made no move to interject it. "I saw you dancing, back in the theatre, and I had the strangest feeling of dejavu, as if…"

"As if you had watched me before." Her voice cracked as he nodded. "A very long time ago, when the empire of Egypt was glittered and decorated with gold, there was once lived a pharaoh whose path crossed with that of a lowly peasant girl…"

His breath caught at her words. Ever since he had gained consciousness, his dreams had been filled with visions of gold and of a girl who danced upon air. He had speculated that she was a figment of his imagination or that he had suffered a head injury but those had been put to rest when he had spotted her dancing tonight. His hands rose to cup her cheeks, marveling at how fair her skin was compared to his, and felt the heart within his chest warm when her hand made contact with his own cheek. A flash of an pendant caused him to blink. "An hourglass…a bead of gold…a diamond droplet…" She nodded as he leaned closer, their breaths beginning to mingle as they gazed within each other's eyes. Flashes of someone who looked like him and a man that resembled his closest advisor from his previous life made his breath catch but he leveled his breathing to bring the flooding images into focus. "A church…battle of shadows...a wandering hand…"

She bit her lip as a snort nearly choked her. "I had almost jumped out of my skin when that had happened."

"Almost as if it had a mind of it's own, yes?" One of his hands moved to grasp her left hand, raising it to his lips as he came closer yet when he glanced down towards his own hand. "An infinity ring…written within is the name of the intended…" She thought desperation had filled his voice when he held up his own hand, revealing the infinity band around his ring finger. It felt as though the final piece of the puzzle slipped into place when her free hand rested against his chest. "Tea…Tea is your name…" Relief flooded him as her smile grew.

She nodded, tears trickling down her cheeks as a true smile lifted her lips. "You are the man I had to travel to the underworld to meet."

"Please." His whisper caused a shiver to slip down her spine as their noses brushed, their eyes becoming hooded. "My name…you know it…"

"My once and forever pharaoh…Atem…"

Their lips finally met, shyly at first then slowly grew in passion as they clung to the other. Behind his closed eyelids was a showcase of the memories he had forgotten and he pulled away with his chest heaving after several seconds of him pouring his apology into the kiss then wrapped his arms around her shoulders as she began to openly weep. "Tea, oh, Tea, I cannot express how happy I am," he tightened his hold as she brokenly sobbed into his chest. "It must have been hard for you, all of this time." She shook her head and drowned his apology with a searing kiss that was tainted with their shared tears. The longing he had been swallowing lessened its hold on his heart as each second passed between them and for the first time since reawakening the tension and pressure within his being released in the form of a sigh.

That was quite a long one!

See you next time!