Here we go, everyone! The long awaited finale!

. . . .

Hello, everyone! Since it is (was) Halloween, I was watching a few of my favorite flicks and of course on the op of that list is "The Corpse Bride" from Tim Burton. A thought occurred to me and as a lot of my other fan fictions come about it was also a dream I had: What if somethings were changed, such as the characters involved? Let's give it a try! I present to you: The Mummy Groom! I do not own rights to the characters of "The Corpse Bride" nor Yu-Gi-Oh!

I hope you enjoy!

Summary: To save their family from the poorhouse, the head of the Gardner family has arranged for his daughter to marry the wealthy Kaiba's heir. Neither of the involved young adults wish for the union but what are they to do? Tea, distraught, decides to run away…but maybe that is the wrong choice of words. A mysterious man appears and offers a solution when an accident occurs.

The Mummy Groom

Ma'a salaameh

Everything in Tea's body had frozen in shock when Bakura's lips roughly met hers and felt disgust fill her when something attempted to open her mouth. He was trying to make her drink it! Her hand desperately clung to the altar, attempting to pull away, but his hold on her was so tight that all her movements accomplished was the smallest of openings between her lips. The wine was bitter, drying out her entire mouth within seconds of his tongue prying it open, but it was the metallic taste of copper that threatened to choke her into swallowing. Maybe that wouldn't be the worse thing in the world though… No sooner had the thought crossed her mind that a few of the droplets trickled down her chin and her heart broke when she heard his cry from somewhere. Bakura withdrew slightly, one of his hands roughly covering her mouth as his attention turned to something over her shoulder. "You're far too late, pharaoh, your wench belongs to me now!"

"She is not an object!" Atem's voice came from between Yugi's lips, eyes flashing with anger. A grunt was heard as she spotted the nearby shadow had on grab hold of something she couldn't quite see. "You may have succeeded back then, but mark my words that you will meet your end!"

Bakura threw his head back and laughed. "You couldn't even protect your own life, what makes you think that you posses the power to overthrow me now? All you can do is sit there and watch as I consummate the claim I have made on her."

Anger filled her. The number one thing she despised most was being viewed as something for others to own and finding someone else that shared in her views was truly a miracle that she wanted to cling onto. The plan had succeeded, in a way, but she was a flexible woman, being an aspiring dancer had taught her plenty of coming up with solutions on the fly. Her lips parted widely, earning a surprised glance from her captor, and earned a howl of pain as her teeth buried into the flesh of his hand. He quickly released her, allowing Tea to fall backward but a pair of hands caught her readily, the impact causing her to cough as the liquid hit the back of her throat. "No one, and I mean no one, will have the right to say they own me!" She looked up in time to see what looked to be a relieved expression appear across their expression before the pharaoh's presence dissipated, leaving her to gaze up at her best friend. "Why did you come back?! I told you to go find the authorities!" He held up his hands as she practically exploded. "I was more than ready to sacrifice myself but no, you had to come back and stick your nose in it!"

Yugi ignored her words and simply collected her in his arms, bringing to her attention of how his figure was trembling. "I know you're angry but I couldn't just let you do that," he whispered, resting his forehead against her shoulder as he sniffled. "What kind of a friend would do that?"

"How touching," Bakura hissed, his tongue darting out across the wounds she had given. "But a man should never touch what isn't his." The shadows Yugi had managed to fight off returned full force, bending his body in an almost unnatural way before he disappeared into their darkness as another forced Tea to kneel before the grinning madman. "I will take enjoyment in what comes next!"

All eyes turned to the largest cluster of shadows on the opposite end of the church. There, in the shadows, stepped a figure decorated with gold and carried the presence that all present were familiar with and had unmistakable amethyst eyes that burned brilliantly. "You're power over the shadows is mighty, that I will confess, but you never considered my own. After death, though it took me awhile to understand, my own power has grown considerably. All pharaoh's were chosen by the Egyptian Gods to carry with them a power that cannot be equaled."

Tea's eyes grew wide as Atem glanced in their direction and with a flex of his eyebrow the shadows dissipated. How was he here?! She shook the question away as she stood and reached out for him but fell back with a cry as an invisible force caused her to slide across the floor until she was once again next to Bakura. Her struggles ceased when his had found the back of her neck, rendering her nearly as limp as a doll as his fingers found pressure points. The room swam as spots filled her vision and she would have fallen into unconsciousness if it weren't for the sudden release that sent her to the floor. Her fall was cushioned though by a shadow that carefully carried her back across the room until Atem could cocoon her in his newly manifested cape, drawing her frame flush against his own in protection when Bakura's shadows morphed into creatures that attempted to steal her back. His free hand gently cradled the back of her head as she buried her face within his tunic, softly whispering her name as he held her close. She clung to him as he withstood blow upon blow from the monsters, filling her with worry when his being became covered in lacerations that otherwise would have killed anyone alive. He fell to his knee as one managed to knick his wrapped leg, causing the limb to fall from sight. "Atem!"

"Do not worry," a familiar growl filled the room, causing all the shadows to shriek and withdraw. The pharaoh drew his cloak closer around her figure as clouds of icy air billowed around them, causing her to tremble and shiver as the church's temperature dropped. "You forget he is already dead."

Bakura's eyes widened as the mighty Egyptian God Anubis materialized within the center of the room. The pitch black robes he wore blended with the darkness he commanded but it were his eyes that made every Egyptian fear for their life. It was said that when the moment Anubis came to collect ones life the last thing they would see was his blood red eyes."Well, isn't this a surprise! I'm quite popular today!" He attempted to summon the shadows again and his brow furrowed in frustration when they refused to answer his callings. "It's been quite a long time, hasn't it, Nameless Pharaoh? How is that fiancé of yours?"

The great ruler of the underworld unleashed a fierce howl, causing the white haired man to flinch. "You are speaking to me now! I will not be ignored nor will I allow for your heinous crimes to continue!" The shadows reappeared from around his feet, growing in size with each passing second until they had entwined themselves around Bakura's form. "For centuries, you have used your powers over darkness to escape my clutches but not today. You will finally cross the thin line you have been treading upon!"

"Now who is overstepping boundaries?" Bakura sneered, sweeping the shadows away with a nearly lazy blow. "Don't forget, you have no rule among the living." Anubis's gaze shifted to Tea, who held up the piece of paper he had slipped her. The spell would have removed all the protection Bakura had placed upon himself, including the one that prevented him from growing old, but it appeared that he was unaffected. She felt his unvoiced question and she carefully thought back to the contents of the cup. Her explanation was cutoff by the sudden maniacal laughter bursting from between Bakura's lips. "You have lost, you pitiful excuse for an Egyptian God! I am forever out of your reach and now so is she! I have cast upon her the same spell that made me the immortal that I am today!"

Her eyes spilled with tears when she realized that she had indeed swallowed less than a medicine teaspoon's worth. "It was the wine," she whispered, unable to meet Atem's questioning gaze. "There was nothing I could do to stop it, please believe me when I say I tried! He chanted something over the cup of wine and mixed his blood within it!"

Anubis seemed to grow taller, towering over them all, with each word she spoke. The anger that shone brightly in his eyes earned a satisfied smirk from Bakura. "Oh?"

Amethyst eyes flashed briefly with anger as his hold on Tea tightened slightly when she said that all the wine had been consumed but it was short lived, replaced by deep affection when his hand gently cupped her chin so that his gaze met her own. It was then that she witnessed his lips lift into a confident smirk as he drew her even closer and causing her heart to hammer within her chest as he whispered within her ear for a second, her cheeks dusting with pink at the bold confession of his affection that only she could hear, then he turned his attention back to the platinum haired man, internally swelling with pride at earning such a positive reaction from his bride. "Have you not realized it yet, Bakura?"

This earned a confused expression to flash across the man's face. Why had the pharaoh's demeanor suddenly changed? The mighty Anubis stood over him but he held no power in the living world so he wasn't a threat. Then there was the Nameless Pharaoh himself, who wasn't a worry since he was obviously dead. "You seem awfully confident all of a sudden, mind sharing with the class?"

A shadow slithered across the floor, bringing with it a familiar vial that caused Tea's tears to grow. "Allow me to shed some light on the situation." Atem lifted the glass bottle, showcasing the few lingering drops within it. "This here was emptied into the same wine that you sipped. Any idea of what was inside?"

"Even the strongest poison would do nothing to me!"

Anubis smirked when he heard the man's heart stall. "I had the woman cast my own spell over the goblet, one that removes all of the protective enchantments that you cast upon yourself that has prevented you from entering the underworld. The vial though was not my doing." He turned to Tea as he heard her heart stutter. "You tainted the wine with a potent poison, did you not? He used the same wine for his ritual to make you as he is, undying, and to perform the ceremony that would make you his." She nodded, earning a pained expression from Atem. He'd had a strong suspicion that she would resort to something drastic but he had hoped she wouldn't have had to sacrifice herself. "Wretched, foolish girl, the spell would have been enough. Without protection, his body will-"

All attention shifted to Bakura as he fell to his knees, a horrified expression across his features as his skin grew crusty. Alarm had filled him when he felt his heart stall since that had never happened before and felt himself grow cold when one of the clouds of icy air touched his skin. He had never been sensitive to the elements! Which meant that the words Anubis was speaking were true! A crazed expression warped his features as his figure began to turn to dust. "No matter, I will simply grown stronger as the great pharaoh had."

"Wrong. Where you will be going is nothing but darkness with no end, devoid of warmth and company, with no one but yourself to curse as you spend all of eternity being my personal plaything. I have learned several new things over the past millennium that I have been dying to try." A cry leapt from Bakura's lips as he was snatched up within Anubis's grasp, eyes wide with fear as his body began to crumble to dust when his heart gave a final thump. "And now you are mine!" With one final scream, Bakura disappeared within the mighty jaws of the Egyptian God, Anubis.

The pharaoh felt the tendrils of confusion twist within his chest. If she passed, they would be together for all of eternity within the underworld. That thought however was tainted as he looked upon her pained expression. She was still young and had mentioned several times that she had wanted to pursue dancing. All of that was about to be taken away from her. His arms gently wrapped around her shoulders as she struggled for a breath. "If you had not met me, your life would not be slipping through your fingers like the desert sand."

"You saved me from marrying someone that didn't truly love or understand me." His eyes lit with surprise at her gentle words as she nestled into his chest. Tea's shoulders slumped as her heart gave another stutter and earned a glance from the towering ruler. Her suspicion of swallowing enough of the tainted wine was proven correct. She could practically feel the blood in her veins grow cold as her lungs protested when her breathing became labored. A shake of her head deterred Atem as he made to shield her from the mighty god's gaze. "I can't thank you enough," she whispered, lips lifting into a quivering smile as her vision grew hazy. "I didn't get the chance to realize my dream of becoming a dancer…but…at least I can say I found the love of my life…"

Before he had realized it, Atem had raised her growingly cold form and pressed his lips against her own, earning a surprised gasp. Her eyes drifted closed as the kiss caused the lightest of blushes to enter her cheeks and for one of her hands to cling to his tunic. Never before had she been kissed, yet her own lips moved with his own in an intricately delicate dance that conveyed many things that could not be spoken; devotion, admiration, an unfulfilled longing, and a deep sorrow that they shared. It was as he retreated slightly to give her space that he noticed something within her clothing pulsating as her head fell against his chest once more. Her skin was growing warmer with each deep breath she took and the strange light was growing to an almost blinding intensity as the scenery around them began to spin. He turned to question Anubis but found him missing and felt an intense heat penetrate his being as Tea called his name as they were suddenly caught up in the spiraling tornado.

She sat upright as her back met the cold floor, breaths coming in sharp gasps as her gaze darted over the destroyed church. All the pews had been knocked over, many of the stained glass windows shattered, but what was most shocking was that she was alone. "A-Atem?" Her legs wobbled dangerously as she stood and began to make her way towards the door. One of her fingers rose to brush against her tingling lips and found the barest hint of warmth lingering there. Worry that none of what had happened was real began to seep into her being, her heart twinging painfully when no answer to her callings came, and fell against the door as tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

The doors opened as she broke down crying and Yugi quickly collected her within his arm. He had regained consciousness when the shadows had released their hold on him and had found himself staring up into Kaiba's bored expression. There had been an unfamiliar woman with him but his focus had quickly shifted back to the church as an explosion sounded. His breath had caught when he heard Tea's soft calls and had hurried to the ruined church's doors to find her in a heap on the floor. His eyes scoured the rubble for any sign of Bakura but didn't find a trace of the madman.

"He's gone," she wailed, burying her face within his clothing as her heart broke clean in two. "Yugi, he's gone!" His hold tightened as her wails reverberated off the collapsed walls and quickly adjusted his hold on her as she slipped into unconsciousness.

. . . .

His knuckles tapped against the wood, earning a soft call to come inside, and his lips lifted into a smile. For weeks now she had not allowed him entrance since that night and he quickly shed his coat, taking care to hang it on a hook, before rushing to the parlor. With the death of her father she would have become homeless but Seto had stepped in by purchasing the run down house then had handed her the title. The only explanation he had given was that he was making up for something he had wronged and Yugi had heard of the mysterious woman residing somewhere within the Kaiba estate. That wasn't why he was there though. He found Tea wrapped in blankets sitting before the empty fireplace, her eyes deeply shadowed and showing signs of fatigue as she looked up. His greeting was silent, in the form of a quick embrace, then he settled in the seat across from her. "I'm glad to see you are awake. Do you feel up to eating anything?"

She shook her head. Tea had surprisingly been asleep for the last several days, as if her body was still recuperating from the shock of everything, and had woken in hopes that he was still there but had been alone every time she had regained consciousness. The sorrow within her heart reflected in her now dull cerulean eyes when their gazes met.

Yugi's hand gently reached up and cupped her hollowed cheek as a sigh slipped between his lips. "Your marriage contract to Kaiba has been dissolved. You are no longer tied to them and can do what you want now. He would want you to pursue your dream, Tea. Seeing you like this would break his heart just as much as it's breaking my own, if not more." His hands moved to her shoulders as he practically begged for a response from her.

"What good is having freedom to pursue your dreams if you aren't able to share it with the person you love?" Her disheartened reply nearly made him weep. His lips parted but slid closed when no answer came. A single tear slipped down her cheek as they sat in silence, the fire casting shadows across the wooden floor.

Everything in him begged to allow the silence to continue but the weight of knowledge caused his throat to dry. He had to tell her, even. If it did cause her to suffer more. "I've held onto it for as long as I can, Tea, but the exhibit is going to be transferred soon." His sudden outburst caused her to jump slightly. He removed his hands from her as he stood. The firelight glinted off an object that he passed to her, his fingers gently curling her own around it. "It's heading to Europe tomorrow morning and I thought you would like to know, that you might want to go tell him goodbye." When he didn't receive an answer, he simply wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a brief hug then excused himself with promise to return to feed the fire.

Her head hung low as her broken heart wept, the large tears spilling down her cheeks growing as a hoarse cry slipped up her throat. The blanket she had managed to wrap around herself remained in the chair as she stood. She had been asleep for so long that she barely managed to make her way to the parlor without falling once but the telltale quake in her legs threatened to send her to the floor if she wasn't careful. Not bothering with shoes or coat, she ventured out into the coming night, taking care to keep to the shadows as she walked. The whole town had been alarmed when the church had been found nearly completely destroyed and most were ready to place the blame on her but it was Yugi and Kaiba's testimonials that prevented her from receiving any punishment. Her thoughts briefly drifted to the strange woman that she had seen with her once intended groom and couldn't suppress a weak chuckle. That girl was definitely going to have her hands full.

Hands shaking, she clumsily used the key that Yugi had given her and was plunged into silent darkness when the door had closed behind her. She couldn't help the sense of dejavu as her feet began taking slow steps along the same path that had begun the event that had changed her life. The marble floors had caused her to nearly slip several times, it was hard for her to recall since she had been nearly as distraught as she was now, and a choked sob rose up her throat as she entered the doorway of the exhibit she had come to see. There were large crates filled with straw that threatened to conceal the stone tablet from sight and her hands carefully brushed the stalks away so that his face was visible. She couldn't help but despise the carving for its crude portrayal of the Nameless Pharaoh. Almost hesitantly her gaze wandered to the other crate. The sarcophagus was slightly better, though not by much, but it was enough to make her heart weep nonetheless. From her pocket she pulled out the pendant that he had given his first bride that had somehow managed to find itself within her possession.

It had originally been an hourglass shape with a bead of gold in the top half and what she suspected to be a diamond within the bottom half, the most prized thing she had come to attach herself to not for its possible high value but for its beauty and that her mother had also treasured it as well. She had woken to find it nearly completely destroyed with the thin neck that had connected the two halves gone and the items inside missing. "I thought you would like to have this back," she whispered, voice thick with emotion. "It was yours, afterall, and you had originally given it to someone else, so it should be returned to its rightful owner."

It was as she draped it over the sarcophagus's cover than she felt the smallest amount of pressure gather around her hand, as if someone was holding it within their own, and of its own accord it rose high into the air. Another pressure gathered around her other hand as she took a step back. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks as she swore his voice whispered her name, causing her to whirl around, but found empty air. Her legs chose that moment to give out and she crashed to the floor, sobs shaking her body as she fought back the wails that her heart begged to release. The light pressures around her hands grew until she was standing once more with a strange music playing around her. Surely none of this was real…but she didn't care. With eyes clenched shut in attempts to stop the tears, her feet first went to the right where she bowed lowly at the waist until her forehead nearly reached the ground as the pressure shifted to help the other leg angle higher into the air and then she was twirling in a circle around the crates, uncaring to the way her skirt billowed or threatened to trip her. She mused that most people would draw or even write about their sorrows or pain but not her. Dancing was her nonverbal form of emotional release and it was her mother's encouragement to share her talent of dancing that planted the seed of her dream. Tea had not danced once since her father had discovered her secret and had received a thrashing that left her sore for several days, unless she counted the time when she had last been within the museum, and this dance portrayed all that she had been swallowing since her mother's passing. To and fro she danced, body bending and twisting in ways that nearly left her breathless when she finally came to a halt as a presence had growingly gathered behind her. She wasn't imagining the warmth behind her, nor the quick breaths that came from over her shoulder. One of the pressures brushed against her cheek, as if an invisible hand was wiping away the tears that had managed to slip between her clenched lids. Dare she look? Adrenaline had caused her system to jump start, she had honestly needed it, but was it causing her to lose her already fragile mind? Her eyes drifted to the fireplace that they were keeping a hold of, noting that it wasn't lit, and her heart gave a painful squeeze when she found nothing behind her. She approached the sarcophagus, nearly draping herself across it and debated on slipping within the crate itself to secretly journey with it across seas, but with one final whisper of his name she retreated from the coffin and turned away.

. . . . .

She stepped out of the theatre, blinking as several light flashed blindingly with the telltale sounds of shutters, her lips lifting into a smile as she was helped down the stairs. Several people were asking her questions but she honestly could not understand a word any of them said as she was hurried to the waiting carriage. It wasn't until she was safely tucked inside that she released the breath she wasn't aware of holding and rested her head against the glass. Tea was still coming to terms of how she had found herself where she was. She barely remembered her father's funeral, which had been little to no concern of hers if she was honest. Then there was the extravagant wedding between Seto and the girl named Kisara that she had recently met. She had been truly surprised but happy to see the pair interact during the festivities. If she remembered correctly, it was shortly after they had departed for their honeymoon that she had received a letter from an unknown sender that contained a ticket to New York, along with an address and a person's name. Tea knew that she couldn't let her broken heart keep her from living, that nothing could be done to bring him back to her, and so she had hopped on that train with Yugi waving her off with a wide yet sad smile on his face. She would have never guessed that the person she was meeting with was none other than the head of the New York City Ballet! They had been noted by an anonymous tipper that her dancing may be unrefined due to living circumstances but that she held talent that went beyond what they had ever seen. A sneaking suspicion had her focus on Yugi, since he would never give her a straight answer, and then there was bellmen who had happened upon the time she had been dancing for her mother in the town's park. Whoever it was, and she will find out, she was fully prepared to express her gratitude in as many ways as possible.

"That was a fine performance, Tea, well done indeed." The ballet's head manager, Mai Valentine, praised as their carriage began to move. She had left the theatre back in New York in the care of her cousin, Vivian, so that she could personally oversee the young dancer's introductory tour. They had traveled throughout Europe and most of China already so they were circling back around to return home. Tonight's performance was their last one in Budapest and were currently on their way to the train station so as to arrive within Cairo by tomorrow afternoon. The blonde's small talk drifted into silence when she noticed that Tea's attention was fixated on the left hand she always wore a glove over no matter the temperature. Mai had yet to see a true smile upon the young woman's face and the smallest of them were visible whenever Tea was gazing down at her gloved hand. "It still hurts, doesn't it, doll?"

Her answer was the smallest of nods. "But I know he would be glad I am doing something."

It wasn't long until they found themselves within the bustling city of Cairo and settling into the suite that had been prepared for them. The performance wasn't for another day or so but they preferred to arrive early so that she could familiarize herself with the stage she would be performing upon. Though Mai quickly found sleep, Tea couldn't find a position that would give her the sweet release of sleep. She finally gave up when the little clock struck two and glanced to the blonde who rested in the bed next to her own and carefully made her way to the next room while grabbing a change of clothes. Ballet wasn't the biggest forms of entertainment in this part of the world, due to the cultural differences, but she had insisted on making Egypt a part of the tour. It felt right since he had crossed the sea to meet her so this helped her feel as though she was returning the favor. The streets were still bustling with lights and music from the street performers, the fire dancers in particular catching her attention and fighting the urge to dance with them. Talk about an accident waiting to happen! She continued on her way, careful to keep her face hidden so as not to draw attention, and came to a sudden stop when she spotted a building that rested far enough away from the street to be noticeable and yet camouflaged at the same time.

It was white with large decorated columns that bore familiar resemblances to the two gods she had encountered, earning a soft smile as she passed between them. They were oddly comforting. A man with hieroglyphs tattooed across his face welcomed her, asking if she needed their guidance, but she deterred him with a shake of her head. The inside was practically covered in marble that held ribbons of gold that glittered subtly in the dim lights that were integrated every few feet. The exhibits contained multiple statues and artifacts that piqued her interest and her feet came to a halt before a roped off section that was hidden behind a large black curtain. Curiosity aside, she made to continue but found her feet rooted to the floor as the softest of tugs came on her hand. Tea took a deep breath and after ensuring that the man at the desk wasn't looking, she slipped inside. A staircase lead downward into what she assumed was the basement and was about to turn back if it weren't for the softest of sounds followed by the light at the bottom of the stairs flickering for a second. Now she had to know what was down there. More sounds came as she quietly made her way down and patiently waited for the telltale sounds of a door closing before she peeked around the corner.

Tea's eyes widened as she hurried across the large room, nearly sliding to a stop before the large stone tablet that bore the Nameless Pharaoh's image. It looked a little more cracked then when she had last seen it but she was beyond happy to lay eyes on it once more. "Surprise," she whispered, extending her arms outward as she twirled before it. "I came to visit you this time. A lot has happened, why don't I fill you in." She would have seated herself if it weren't the change in music that was playing over the museum's intercoms. It was incredibly similar to the music she had heard all those years ago and felt a shift within her being as the notes played across her skin. Finding time to practice and perfect her routine was hard to come by, not to mention the lack of privacy, but now was as good as any. "Shall I dance for you once more, my pharaoh?" With a deep bow, she rose to the balls of her feet and allowed herself to be swept away by the music.

Little did she know that a pair of curious eyes was watching and taking in great interest with how she gracefully moved about the room. His brown eyes had lit with curiosity when she had addressed the tablet. A tap from over his shoulder turned his attention to his sister as she came up next to him. Her own eyes widened as she too watched the unfamiliar woman dance and her breath caught when the girl's glove slipped off and revealed a thin infinity loop around her ring finger. The Egyptian woman stepped out from behind the door they had been using to conceal their presence, nearly causing the girl to jump out of her skin, and offered her a soft smile as she called out to her in English. "Apologies, we weren't aware that any visitors had entered the museum."

"No, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have come down here." Tea quickly retrieved the lost glove, practically shoving her hand inside as she embarrassingly hurried towards the staircase. How much had they seen? Did they know who she was? Panic was beginning to fill her chest as she turned away, glancing up at the tablet one last time before darting up the stairs. "Please forgive me, I'll be going now."

The siblings looked to one another with wide eyes and they hurried after her. They were far too slow though and lost sight of her when they came to a screeching halt between the great pillars. It was clear to them that the girl was foreign, with her incredibly fair skin and large eyes, but it wasn't until Ishizu has spotted the dark ring on her finger that her suspicions were proven correct. There was no doubt in her mind that the girl was indeed who she thought. "We must go, brother, there is no time to waste."

Tea had sprinted all the way back to her suite, chest heaving as she pressed herself against the door. Her skin prickled as she spotted an awake Mai waiting for her. "I can explain…"

. . . .

She found herself paying for her late night excursion by the near ruthless preparations and warmups that Mai had instructed her to do but the manager couldn't bring herself to punish her any more severely. There had been few instances where she had gotten Tea to tell her about the man responsible for the young girl's broken heart yet understood that something had happened to him that caused it. The blonde mused that he must have passed away, it was the most logical explanation and would be the most painful for one to endure. Her hands came together in a few claps as Tea finished. "Okay, doll, that's enough for now. Don't want you too tired to perform. Why don't you return to the suite and rest up until tonight, I'll be sure to remind room service to bring you a light lunch later on."

Tea quickly slipped into the change of clothes she had brought with her, taking care to hand her practice clothing to Mai before hurrying to answer the call of a hot bath. The bustling streets made her trek a bit more tedious than last night but she managed to slip back into the hotel without drawing too much attention. There was one instance though where she had accidentally knocked into someone, causing her to nearly stumble if it weren't for their quick catch and she bowed her head deeply in apology so that her face was hidden behind her hood, but otherwise uneventful. A sigh slipped between her lips when she slipped within the steaming water of the oversized bath that had been thankfully included within their suite. She had never understood how most cultures thought open public baths or even mixed bathing as a normalcy. The oils that had been provided soothed her aching joints and racing mind as her thoughts turned back to the tablet as the warm clouds threatened to lull her to sleep if it weren't for the painfully familiar scents of sandalwood and water lily.

. . . .

The performance had gone without a hitch and had been requested to perform once more, despite their departure the day after tomorrow, and had offered to pay for their replacement tickets. Mai had caught glimpses of a smile on Tea's face, though at first she had thought the girl had snuck a sip of her special bottle given as a gift from the hotel's owner, but dismissed it when she recalled that her pupil didn't have a taste for the stuff. "Throw in the costume and you have yourself a deal." The blonde's lips lifted into a satisfied smirk as the venue head agreed. "Excellent." She hurried to the dressing room so as to tell the young girl the news of their extended stay only to find the room empty.

Tea had been lead away from the bright lights by a gentle hand, thinking that it was one of the many women charged with assisting the performers, and blinked in surprise when she found herself alone with the woman from the other night. "Please do not be alarmed," Ishizu introduced herself, keeping her hands neatly placed before her in a non-offensive manner. "I simply wished to speak with you."

She was about to turn away but the sincere curiosity and dare she suppose a spark of hope glittered from within the Egyptian woman's eyes, silence weighing heavily between them. A sigh slipped between her lips as she heard her name being called and slipped the woman a card. "This is where I am staying. I'm not supposed to do this so make sure you don't tell anyone, okay?" Tea made to answer the call that had come again when she found the woman's hands cupping her cheeks. Their gazes were locked for several seconds as Ishizu's cool fingers gently brushed across Tea's fair skin, nearly causing goosebumps, then was released with a small smile before she turned and disappeared into the stage's shadows. "Well that was interesting…" Tea whispered, shaking her head as Mai appeared on her right.

Ishizu hurried through the streets until she had entered the museum, barely paying any mind to the passerby's looks of curiosity when she would brush past, and she closed the giant doors behind her. "Brothers, gather quickly!" Marik and Odion quickly answered her callings, each wearing a curious expression on their faces.

. . . .

Tea had been filled with a sense of familiarity when they had finished dressing her in the costume she was meant to perform in and even now within the confines of their suite she still refused to take it off. Despite the little differences, such as in the jewelry and colors, the outfit nearly matched what she had been wearing when in the underworld. She was surprised at how at home she had become during their short stay in Egypt and had been filled with joy when Mai informed her of their extended stay. It was as if she had found the place she had heard most call their soul home. Her head rose when a knock sounded and she quickly moved across the suite to answer.

"Apologies for bothering you at such a late hour," Ishizu bowed, introducing the two men with her and assuring the young girl that she was in no danger. "It would be easier to explain if you come with us."

This caused Tea to absentmindedly rub her ring finger. "I think I already know what this is about but please don't make me relive what had happened." Her shoulders sagged with a sigh when she saw their conviction remain. "Yes, I am aware of my resemblance to the Nameless Pharaoh's lost bride, but I am my own person."

Marik's eyes widened. "I knew it was true!"

"There was an incident when the great pharaoh's sarcophagus had traveled to your friend's museum, am I correct?" Ishizu bowed her head, closely followed by her brothers. "I'm sorry for your loss, but this is important. Please come with us. We only wish to assist in your healing."

A hand came down on Tea's shoulder, earning a small jump, and she turned to find Mai's worried gaze. "I think you should go." The trust they had built in one another was strong so if the blonde was suggesting she go then go she would. "Just try not to stay out too late, okay?"

With one last nod, Tea allowed herself to be lead from the suite. Odion, the man she had seen at the museum with tattoos on his face, took the lead while the siblings trailed behind her. It was if she had her own personal escort. The crowd easily parted as they walked through the streets but she was surprised when they turned away from the magnificent building that was the museum. She made to ask but was interrupted by hushed whispers.

"It's rude to stare, Marik, mind your manners!"

"Sister, I can't help it!" Their gazes met her own as she giggled softly, both their cheeks dusting pink with embarrassment. Marik, the younger brother, sheepishly offered her a smile. "I'm a huge fan of yours so I guess I'm a little starstruck with everything going on."

Tea raised a hand while rising to the tops of her toes and gently patted him atop of the head with an amused expression on her face. His hair wasn't incredibly soft, a bit coarse to be honest, and the wild way that it stuck up had at first made her weary of the young man but now she was able to see the kind of person he was. "I'm so glad you like my dancing, perhaps you can come to my next showing. We are actually staying a little longer, so can I count on you being there?"

His eyes lit up like stars as she removed her hand, nodding vigorously. "A-Absolutely! I'll be there!"

"Brother…" Tea turned her attention to Ishizu at the warning in her tone. "Apologies, we three run the museum here in Cairo and very rarely do we ever manage a night off." Her hard expression wavered when she caught sight of both of her brothers's crestfallen faces. Odion had never shown an interest in much besides the relics and family business so this was an extremely rare occurrence. "Oh, fine, I suppose we can close the museum for one night." The brother's expressions lit with excitement as they thanked their sister in unison.

What a happy little family they are, Tea couldn't help but think as she watched them. She had no siblings but Yugi had been the closest person that she felt would qualify to be her own brother. Her attention shifted upward when they finally came to a halt. Far enough from the bustling city, she could now see the star filled night sky that twinkled like the jewels that she wore but nothing could compare to the gems that had been his eyes when she had caught him looking her way.

They had come to a stop in the center of what she had thought to be land formations but were actually ruins. "A long time ago, our family was charged with the role of tombkeepers. It was our duty to protect and ensure the secrecy of where the great pharaohs were laid to rest. It goes without saying that most of our ancestors perished thanks to tomb raiders and treasure hunters and those who were left shamefully went into hiding in order to self preserve the family line in case they were needed at a future time." Ishizu gestured to the rubble around them. "This one here I think you would find most interesting."

Her breath caught as her gaze swept across the remaining formations and felt her heart give a painful squeeze. The layout was exactly the same as what she remembered from the palace within the underworld. She hadn't even heard the trio depart until she had found herself sitting atop of a long dried up well. Tea's hands rose to her face and blinked in surprise when she found her cheeks wet. When had she started crying? Without a care in the world, she threw her arms out and stepped lightly up onto the stone of the well. She would have to make it up to them tomorrow but for now she was focused on the sight before her. "So this is where you grew up. I can only imagine how magnificent it had looked in your time!" Her lips lifted into a wistful smile as her voice was carried out across the sand. There would be no answer, she knew that of course, but it helped her fell much less lonely. "I can't believe the size of this place, your bedroom must have been larger that my hometown. That would be expected, I mean you were pharaoh after all. The king would have the biggest room in the palace so I'm guessing," she quickly moved to the widest space she could spot entrance. "That was here."

Tea's eyes grew clouded as she lost herself within the mental image of the palace's layout, eyes drifting closed as she allowed it to fill her senses. Elegant curtains faintly billowed as they hung from the sandstone pillars in the cool night breeze and the torchlight flicked when she entered the chamber. Her feet quietly carried her to where she spotted him leaning against the window. His eyes sparkled brilliantly when he spotted her and hummed softly when she rested her head against his shoulder. "Your journey must have been long, are you sure that you would not rather rest?" She shook her head and sighed when he rested his head atop of her own. "It pleases me that you are here."

Her hands gently gathered his as she stepped backward into the room, a mischievous smile lifting her lips. "Come, pharaoh, dance with me this night."

Panic filled his amethyst eyes at her words. "You know that I cannot."

"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, causing a tingling to travel down her spine as his whispered lowly in her ear. She was caught by surprised when he twirled her so that they were face to face. "I shall grant your request."

The warmth of his hands were what caused her 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. She had never noticed it before but his figure wasn't bulky or flabby as one would assume would befit a king. No, the man who held her heart was lean with muscles that moved fluidly underneath his tanned skin when he moved. If it were possible she felt her admiration of him grow when he lifted her high enough so that she could wrap her arms around his neck as they spun. She would never tire of the way his eyes would make her chest warm and the way he held her made the world fade away until they were the only ones who mattered. 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 around her. There was no mistaking the arms that were holding her and Tea's body stiffened in alarm when a shadowed face replaced his, causing her to shriek in surprise and shimmy from their hold. They had released their hold on her just as suddenly as she had, both falling to the sand with unified grunts. Her shock was quickly replaced by anger as she stood. "What on earth do you think you're doing?!"

"Forgive me, I did not wish to disturb you," a masculine voice called out to her as the figure sat upright. "But I could not help but be enchanted by your dancing."

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

His gaze was full of confusion as a hand rose to his hair. "Apologies, I truly meant no disrespect."

"Who are you?" The question slipped from between her lips before she had realized but she didn't care in that moment. "Is this some sort of joke?"

The man hung his head. "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." Tea couldn't believe what she was hearing and fell to her knees before him, causing him to tense at her close proximity. None of this was making sense but the feeling within her chest wasn't just wasted hope. She studied his eyes, the same ones that had haunted her all these years, and she couldn't contain the longing to reach out to him. He could see her hand rising in his peripheral vision but made no move to interject it. "I saw you dancing and I had the strangest feeling of dejavu, as if…"

"As if you had watched me before." Her voice cracked as she 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. The man's 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 then felt her being burn as he leaned closer, their breaths beginning to mingle as they gazed within each other's eyes. "A church…battle of shadows...a wandering hand…"

Tea 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. "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. "Tea…Tea is your name…"

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 broke lay sobbed into his chest. "It must have been hard for you, all of this time." She shook her head and drowned his apology for upsetting her with a searing kiss that was tainted with their shared tears. Neither cared of how or why, they only needed to feel the other and know that everything was right.

. . . .

Yugi grinned and swept her up in an embrace as she stepped off the train, beyond happy to see her smile again when he finally placed her on her feet. He had sent word to her about his accepted proposal to Rebecca Hawkins and had been surprised by her swift response that she would return in time for the wedding. "Tea, I'm so glad you're here! I've missed you so much, how have you been?" If he didn't know any better he thought she was going to pop as she practically danced about the train platform, saying that she had news of her own to share. He blinked as what looked to be his reflection step off the train while their gaze was fondly following the dancing girl.

She laughed as he reached out and snaked an arm around her shoulders, effectively bringing her back to his side as she rose upon her tiptoes to whisper into his ear. The regally dressed man's attention shifted what manner passerby's assumed was his twin and extended a hand in greeting. "You must be Yugi. I have heard much about you."

Understanding and awe filled young Mutou and he quickly accepted the greeting. "Pleasure to meet you, Nameless Pharaoh. I can't thank you enough for what you've done for Tea."

"No, it is I who cannot thank you enough." Amethyst fell to meet her glittering cobalts as she entwined their fingers. "I would not have met her nor would I have found peace if it weren't for your family. I am truly lucky that it was your grandfather who had found my tomb and brought me here. I wish to meet him and express my thanks, if at all possible." His chest rumbled with a chuckle. "Forgive me, I have not properly introduced myself. Please, call me by my name: Atem"

. . . . FIN . . . .

And that's a wrap! Big thanks to everyone who had tagged alone for the ride! If you liked this fic I suggest checking out some of my others!

Hope to see you!

Xxxooooxoxoxoxoxoxo

Suntory Angel