Chapter 6

The muezzin's call to prayer echoed through the city streets from the loudspeakers in the minaret of a nearby mosque. It woke Yami near dawn. He rolled, pulling the pillow over his head and fully intending to go back to sleep. But something prickled at the edge of his awareness. Something out of place...

The french doors leading out onto the balcony creaked. Yami bolted upright, sleep forgotten.

A man stood on the balcony, a silhouette against the gray sky.

Shit. Yami flung himself out of bed. The sheet tangled around his legs, dumping him to the floor. He crashed into the nightstand on the way down, taking the lamp with him. By the time he had freed himself and dashed to the balcony, the intruder had jumped to the neighboring balcony.

"Hold it right there!" Yami shouted. The man ignored him, making his escape into the room next door.

A startled cry came from the other room, even as Yami leaped across the gap between the balconies. He dove through the open french doors -- and collided with a smaller body. They went down in a heap of flailing limbs and muttered curses.

Ow, Yami thought as he lay on his back on the hardwood floor and waited for the pretty stars circling his head to dissipate. Then he remembered the intruder and tried to sit up. There was a thud as the two of them tumbled over in the opposite direction. This time, Yami wound up on top.

"Ow," said a familiar voice, with a faint Japanese accent, from beneath him.

Yami looked down and found Yugi more or less wrapped around his waist. Yugi's nose scrunched adorably where his face squashed against Yami's chest, and his wildly colored hair fell loosely about his shoulders.

He tilted his head to squint blearily at Yami. "Why're you in my room?"

Rude awakenings made Yugi petulant, Yami noted. Which reminded him-- The intruder! Gently, Yami shifted Yugi to one side and scrambled to his feet. He couldn't let the stranger get away. He might have a message about, or even from, Sugoroku. But when he ran to the door and peered into the hallway, the mysterious man was long gone.

"...Yami?"

He turned to find Yugi still sitting on the floor amid a scattering of debris from the overturned nightstand. The expression in those amethyst eyes made Yami want to take him in his arms and never let go. He had taken a step toward Yugi before he even realized what he was doing. What was he thinking? It wasn't his place to offer that kind of comfort. But if Yugi gave him the slightest encouragement, Yami would--

--duck! Because Yugi had thrown a tube of hair gel at him. "Hey!"

"You weren't listening," Yugi said reasonably. He groaned as he used one of the bedposts to haul himself to his feet, then spent a few seconds blinking slowly and yawning. "Who was that masked man, an' why're you chasing him through my bedroom at too damn early in the mornin'?"

"He wasn't wearing a mask."

"Focus, Yami." Yugi scrubbed both hands over his face, yawned again, and squinted at him. At least, Yami thought with a mixture of relief and amusement, Yugi couldn't use 'The Eyes', since he couldn't seem to keep them open. "You. Man. Chasing. Why?"

"He broke into my room. He ran this way. I pursued him." Yami's mouth quirked fondly as he watched Yugi attempting to wake up enough to process Yami's answer, then berate him for it. All available evidence suggested Yugi was not a morning person. Yami filed that away for future reference, too.

Yugi tried to glare at him, then gave it up as too much effort and flopped sideways onto the bed. "Go 'way now," he grumbled into the mattress. "Wanna sleeeeep..."

"All right, love." Yami grinned to himself when Yugi mumbled, "...dun call m' that," and attempted to burrow under his pillows like a hibernating animal retreating to its den.

Still grinning, Yami let himself out, closing the door behind him and making sure it locked. He grinned all the way back to his own room, and his own bed. He dropped onto the mattress -- and froze when something crackled beneath his outflung hand. A piece of papyrus? He turned it over and found writing on the other side, though thankfully the note was printed in English letters rather than hieroglyphs.

Tomorrow. The Osiris sanctuary at the Temple of Hathor.

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The ringing of the telephone woke Yugi out of a vivid dream of Yami as a pharaoh and Yugi as some sort of companion or concubine or... Whatever he was, it appeared to involve wearing gauzy robes and peeling grapes. He was pretty sure lettuce came into it at some point, although why eluded him. They'd exchanged heated looks and -- after more grapes and, yes, he was almost certain that was lettuce -- even-more-heated kisses. Kisses led to caresses, which led to Yugi waking up panting and flushed -- and needing to shower off the sticky evidence of just how much he'd enjoyed dream-Yami's touch. He barely heard the voice on the phone telling him to be downstairs in thirty minutes and to leave his luggage outside his door so it could be taken to the River Horse.

A short time later, a freshly-showered and dressed Yugi tiptoed down the hall to press his ear to Yami's door. He could hear the shower running. He spent a precious few seconds wrestling with his conscience, but in the end the need to do all he could to help his grandpa won. He gave the knob an experimental twist. Yami had left the door unlocked. On tip-toe, Yugi crept into the room and glanced around.

A change of clothes -- black jeans and a casual shirt -- lay on the unmade bed. The shower sounds were clearer now: running water and a baritone voice attempting to sing a popular song. "'...it's all a clever disguise. On this mighty throne sits a king who slowly dies.'"

Yugi couldn't help it. He grinned. Yami had a great voice, but he couldn't carry a tune to save his life. Shaking his head, he forced his mind back to the reason he was here. He eyed the leather tote at the foot of the bed, then sighed as he realized he had no idea what he was looking for. And that he would make a lousy burglar, because he felt guilty even though he hadn't even touched anything yet.

He reminded himself that this was for Sugoroku. There might be a clue to his whereabouts here somewhere, or at least a clue to what Yami was up to. And if Yami caught him going through his things, he'd...

Well, first, he'd spontaneously combust with embarrassment. But after that, he'd... think of something. Had he only dreamed that Yami chased some weirdo through his bedroom earlier? Maybe he could use that as an excuse.

The singing stopped and Yugi panicked. His gaze darted frantically around the room -- and landed on a scrap of hitherto unnoticed papyrus lying next to the tote. That was odd. He didn't think even dedicated Egyptologists kept their notes on actual papyrus. Cat-footing over to the bed, he snatched up the note and read it.

The pipes squealed as the shower stopped. Yugi dropped the papyrus and sprinted for the hall.

He didn't stop until he was safely in his room. Panting, he collapsed against the connecting wall between their rooms. Over the pounding of his heart, he could just hear Yami moving about on the other side. He didn't seem to have noticed anything amiss. In fact... Yep. The man was singing again, a different song this time. It was still bad.

'Tomorrow. The Osiris sanctuary at the Temple of Hathor.'

He wondered at that. Did Yami plan to meet someone there? Who -- and why? Memory flashed a file card at him, and Yugi pulled out the itinerary he'd stuck in his pocket earlier. Just as he'd thought, the River Horse was sailing to Hathor's temple at Dendera today.

Was that the reason Yami was on the cruise -- to get to the temple without raising suspicion? Whatever the reason, Yugi wasn't letting him out of his sight. Not until Sugoroku was safe.

When Yugi arrived downstairs, he found the rest of the tour group already gathered around a table having breakfast. The buffet consisted of a variety of foods, some typically European, some local. He tentatively sampled a bean dish Mana called ful medames, and some fresh-baked bread. A waiter poured him a cup of the strong, bitter coffee.

"Could I please have some tea?" he asked. The waiter nodded, and returned a moment later with a cup of black tea, fragrant with bergamot. Not his usual drink, but Yugi sipped it gratefully.

"I prefer tea, as well," Ryou said, smiling shyly over the rim of his cup. "The Earl Grey is quite good. Don't you agree?"

"It's...nice." To be honest, Yugi preferred green tea for breakfast -- and maybe a bowl of miso soup -- but he wasn't picky. The bean dish was filling, if a little heavy, and he figured he'd need all the energy he could get if he was going to keep up with Yami today. Speaking of the elusive Dr. Viridian, why hadn't he joined the group yet?

"Bakura and I would be pleased if you joined us at meals for the duration of the trip." Beside Ryou, Bakura snorted, picked up his fork, and stabbed a sausage as if it had personally offended him. Ryou swatted him amiably with his teaspoon before turning soulful eyes on Yugi. "It would be nice to have some civilized company for a change. Please say yes."

"Uh..." Yugi hesitated. He wasn't sure it was a good idea, but he couldn't rudely reject the overture. Not in the face of Ryou's hopeful expression. "Okay. Thanks. It's kind of you to offer."

"Wonderful! That's settled then." Ryou gave him a pleased smile. Then his gaze shifted to something over Yugi's shoulder. "Oh! Mana appears to be ready for us."

Yugi turned to look. Mana waved at them from the doorway. To Yugi's surprise, Pegasus Crawford, clad in a blinding white linen suit, stood beside her.

Mana's voice held a note of awe as she said, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's my honor to introduce Mr. Pegasus J. Crawford, president of Pegasus Tours. He will be joining us on our journey up the Nile."

"I do hope all your memories of Luxor will be happy ones," Pegasus crooned, throwing his arms wide to take in the entire group. "Now, if you'll all accompany me down to the Corniche el-Nil, we shall board the River Horse and begin our glorious expedition together."

As they all filed out of the room, Pegasus added, "I have an unexpected bonus waiting for you all on board the River Horse. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised."

Yugi had a feeling he know exactly what -- or, rather, who -- the surprise was. He wondered what Yami's reaction would be when he realized Yugi had followed him.

-------------------------

Anchored at the dock, the River Horse gleamed bright white in the morning sun, which reflected off the long row of windows running the length of each of her three passenger decks. She was only one of many Nile cruisers, also known as floating hotels, crowding the east bank of the river.

Once on board, Yugi took in the elegant interior at a glance. He didn't know much about such things, but he'd spent enough time at the Kaiba mansion to recognize expensive wood paneling, parquet floors, antique furnishings, and Oriental carpets when he saw them. Obviously, Pegasus Tours spared no effort in creating a luxurious atmosphere for its customers.

Pegasus clapped his hands once to gain the group's attention, and announced, "Welcome aboard your home for the next few days and nights. Mana will give you your cabin assignments and keys, as well as a pass that will allow you to reboard the River Horse after shore excursions. Once you've visited your accommodations, I would ask you all to please join us in the main salon on the uppermost interior deck."

Yugi found his cabin on the lower deck small but comfortable, with a single bed and a private bath barely the size of a closet. He made use of the facilities before touching up his hair (the heat was murder on his spikes -- he swore it actually melted the styling gel right out of them), then heading up a polished wooden staircase to the salon.

The salon proved to be a large, open space with an ornate bar at one end and a tiled dance floor at the other. In between, overstuffed couches and chairs provided seating in conversational groupings. The four New Yorkers were settled on a green sofa, chatting excitedly. Across from them, Bakura and Mai had cornered a dark gold loveseat; they were seated close enough together that no one could come between them, yet not so near that they had to actually speak to each other. Both wore identical expressions of ennui.

"I can't wait to find out what the surprise is," a bug-eyed-with-anticipation Weevil informed the room at large. He nudged his partner with an elbow. "Maybe they've hired an entomologist to come along and point out all the interesting insect species we'll be seeing."

Rex rolled his eyes. "Yeah. That'd be exciting."

Weevil ignored the less than enthusiastic response and turned to Yugi. "What do you think it is?"

Before Yugi could even open his mouth to reply, Pegasus swept into the salon. As usual, he moved with the grand gestures of a born showman, but it was the man behind him who drew Yugi's attention. Yami. Even though Pegasus was the taller of the two, Yami's unconsciously regal bearing gave him a presence that overshadowed even Pegasus' flamboyant personality.

The room hummed with quiet activity. Yugi was distantly aware of the other people in the salon -- the Italians clustered at the bar; the French tourists arguing with their guide over by the staircase; waiters passing around coffee and tea; and his own group, with Mana hovering over them like an anxious mother hen. But it all faded when his gaze settled on Yami. He remembered the spicy scent of the other's cologne and the way Yami's body had felt pressed against his. He remembered his dream image of Yami in pharaonic regalia and shivered, unable to control the reaction that made him flush hot and cold in the same breath.

Yami's gaze met his. Shock flashed in Yami's brown eyes, followed quickly by bemused resignation. There would be no sending Yugi back to the Old Winter Palace; the ship had quite literally sailed on that option. A tiny smile curved his mouth as he nodded once, as if acknowledging something shared between them. Fighting back the blush that wanted to set his face on fire, Yugi couldn't help but return the smile.

"My dear guests," Pegasus called, sweeping out his arms to garner their attention. "It is my great pleasure to introduce renowned Egyptologist, and my esteemed friend, Dr. Daniel 'Yami' Viridian. Dr. Viridian has generously agreed to share with us his expertise on the ancient temples we are about to visit. This is an occasion of great honor for us all."

"I give you... Dr. Viridian!" With another broad gesture, Pegasus turned the floor over to Yami, who appeared startled at suddenly being put on the spot.

"Hello," Yami intoned in his deep voice. He assayed a charming smile that, Yugi noted with narrowed eyes, made every woman in the room (and a couple of the men) sit up and take notice.

Téa whispered something that made Serenity clap a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. Mai leaned forward in her seat, her violet eyes trained unwaveringly on Yami. Beside her, Bakura frowned.

"There is no place on earth quite like Egypt," Yami said, falling easily into the role of orator. "Western civilization was, in a very real sense, born here, and ancient Egypt continues to capture our imaginations and influence our lives even today." He grinned at Yugi. "There are even best-selling games that owe their inspiration to the Egypt of the pharaohs."

Yugi's face heated at the reference to Duel Monsters. He hadn't expected Yami to know the game or that Yugi was its inventor. He ducked his head, listening with half an ear as Yami continued speaking, giving them background information on the first stop on their Nile cruise -- Dendera, a small village sixty kilometers north of Luxor, home to the famous Temple of Hathor.

Yugi lost the thread of the lecture there, as his mind connected the dots. The Temple of Hathor, just like in the note he'd found. Did that mean it was just Yami's reminder to himself about his talk to the tour group? He groaned inwardly. Why did the man have to be so damn confusing?

He tuned back in to Yami's voice in time to hear him mention the god Horus, whose temple at Edfu they would also visit.

"...Horus was a god closely associated with kingship. At his coronation, the ruling pharaoh became the Living Horus." Yami continued, relating the myth of the Contendings of Horus and Set -- a contest that lasted eighty years, but eventually proved Horus fit to assume the role of King of the Two Lands. He didn't simply relate the tale, but dramatized it with deft gestures and changes of his surpisingly versatile voice that had his audience on the edge of its collective seat. When he concluded his talk, they burst into spontaneous applause.

Yami smiled. "It is a fascinating subject, isn't it? Are there any questions so far?"

Rebecca's hand shot up. She adjusted her trendy half-glasses. "Wasn't there a cult devoted to one of the pharaohs after he died?"

"There were mortuary cults devoted to all the pharaohs. They provided offerings for the king's ka so that--"

"No, I mean one specific pharaoh." The smirk looked out of place on her freckled face. "The so-called Nameless Pharaoh."

Yami frowned. "The Nameless Pharaoh is a myth."

"What about the Book of the Nameless Pharaoh?" she persisted. Despite her youth, and the blonde pigtails that made her appear even younger, the teenager was as tenacious as a bulldog. "I saw it at the Cairo Museum of Antiquities before it was stolen. Why would there be an entire book about him if he's only a myth?"

"There are a lot of books about Santa Claus," Bakura sneered. "Do you believe in him, too?"

Rebecca ignored him, her bright gaze focused intently on Yami. "Well? What about it?"

"Some people believe the Nameless Pharaoh existed," Yami said, his voice revealing his irritation. "I am not one of them."

But Sugoroku was. Yugi thought back to his grandpa's letters, filled with enthusiastic ramblings about the Nameless Pharaoh and the Millennium Items that he had supposedly possessed. According to the ancient writings in the Book of the Nameless Pharaoh, the Items gave their owner incredible power -- control over life and death, the ability to crush minds or mend them. With the Items, a man could rule the world.

Sugoroku wasn't out to conquer the world. He just wanted the respect of his colleagues. Proving the Millennium Items -- and the Nameless Pharaoh -- had existed would give him that and more. Was he really off on nothing more dangerous than a treasure hunt? Had Yugi raced halfway around the globe for no reason? He'd been so sure his grandpa needed him. Of course, none of that explained Yami's secretive behavior or why he'd stolen that necklace. Unless... Was he taking advantage of Sugoroku's absence to cast suspicion on him? Did he want Sugoroku discredited that badly?

Absorbed in his ruminations, Yugi missed the rest of the group's comments. The next thing he knew, Mana was herding them all toward the dining room one level down.

Yugi barely noticed the luxurious décor or the murmur of conversation around him. Yami had pulled his disappearing act again, and Yugi found himself seated at an enormous oval table with no real awareness of how he'd gotten there. He chewed a bite of chicken without tasting it. The meal passed in a blur. As soon as he could, he slipped away from the group. When a search of the public areas of the cruiser failed to turn up the elusive Dr. Viridian, inspiration prompted Yugi to ask one of the uniformed crew about the Egyptologist's location.

"Dr. Viridian is staying in the owner's suite," the crewman told him. "However, he has already gone ashore."

Yugi hadn't even realized the River Horse had docked. He had just enough time for a quick stop in his cabin before rejoining the tour group as they disembarked.