Chapter 13

Yugi woke up alone in his bed. He lay for a moment without opening his eyes, not sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed by Yami's absence. Last night had been... wonderful, confusing, a little frightening. Yugi had never felt more alive than he had in Yami's arms. It hadn't all been about pleasure, either. When Yugi had needed simple comfort, Yami had given it to him without hesitation -- understanding, undemanding, as close to perfect as anything could have been.

With a sigh, Yugi rolled out of bed. After he'd dressed, he wandered to the window and peered at the scenery. They had reached Edfu while he slept. Along the riverbank, mudbrick houses -- some white-washed, some an earthy brown -- rose against a clear blue sky along with taller apartment blocks and the skinny minaret of a mosque. In the distance behind them, towered one of the huge, sandstone pylons of an ancient temple. Down on the shore, a cluster of women did their laundry the old-fashioned way: scrubbing and pounding the clothes on the rocks at the water's edge. Vendors lined the riverbank, ready to hawk their wares to disembarking tourists. He could see Weevil and Rex haggling with a merchant, and wondered if Yami, too, had already gone ashore.

He started toward the door, pausing when he heard voices raised in argument on the other side. It seemed Mahaad and Ryou had decided to start the day with a disagreement about Yugi's welfare.

"I assure you, sir, I am here merely to--"

Yugi yanked open the door, his sudden appearance stalling Mahaad mid-sentence. Mahaad turned his head and gave Yugi a polite nod. "Good morning, Yugi. Ryou has been inquiring after you."

"I wanted to reassure myself that you were all right." Ryou smiled. "You frightened us all terribly, you know. I'm very glad you weren't seriously injured. I would have offered to stay with you last night in case you needed assistance, but Bakura assured me you had sufficient company." A faint pink stained his cheeks. "All's well that ends well, I suppose... I'll save you a seat on the minibus for the trip to Edfu. We leave in ten minutes."

"I will make certain he is there on time."

Ryou cut a glance at him, his eyes serious for a moment. Then he smiled and was his usual cheerful self again. "Well, with you as his protector, I shan't worry. See you there, Yugi."

Mahaad had the grace to appear a bit chagrined.

"So, you're my bodyguard now?" Yugi fought the urge to not-pout, instead forcing a cheery note into his voice. "Any idea where Yami's gotten to?"

To Yugi's surprise -- and faint embarrassment -- Mahaad assayed a graceful bow. "As you have so astutely surmised, I am indeed guarding you until we join Yami at Edfu. He went ahead of us to forestall any interference from the tour group."

"Okay." Yugi squared his shoulders. "Let's go. I wouldn't want to hold up the tour schedule."

Mana was waiting for them at the foot of the gangplank. Everyone else had boarded the bus, and the guide was wringing her hands as she paced, her pretty face reflecting her worry. When they appeared, she smiled to rival the sun and bounced over to greet Yugi.

"I was just coming back to check on you, but Ryou said you'd be right along -- and here you are!" She beamed at him, then gave him a worried once-over. "You're really all right?"

"I'm fine. You don't have to worry so much about me, Mana--"

"I won't now. You look well, and I'm sure all there won't be any more incidents like the one at Karnak."

Yugi wished he could be as certain. "I'll try to stay out of trouble."

"And I am here to keep Mr. Mutou safe." Mahaad inclined his head in a polite gesture, then ushered Yugi onto the bus, Mana trailing behind them like the tail of an erratic kite.

The other members of the tour called out warm greetings as Yugi found his place beside Ryou, as promised. In the seat behind them, a smug Bakura sat next to Mai, whose huge designer sunglasses hid most of her face. Ryou's concern for Yugi's well-being had apparently, in some obscure way, been a boon to Bakura's love-life. Or had it? With a start, he remembered that any one of the people around him could be a cult member. Who, besides Mahaad, could he trust?

"I do hope Dr. Viridian will be joining us for the temple tour. He makes it all so fascinating, doesn't he?"

Ryou's casual remark sparked a memory of the night before. Yugi got a flash of Yami beneath him, above him. He could taste Yami's kiss, feel the warmth of those skilled hands on his skin. He shivered, stunned by the intensity of his emotions.

"I'm..." Yugi had to stop and clear his throat before trying again. "I'm sure he'll be waiting for... us." He turned his burning face to the window and pretended to watch the dusty scenery passing by.

He had to get his mind back on track. He'd made one mistake; he couldn't risk another. At this point, all he could do was hope he and Yami could find Sugoroku. He'd been at Edfu before. He might even be here now, waiting for the exchange. Yugi focused on that hopeful thought as the bus pulled into the parking lot below the temple.

Inside the complex, Yami waited for them in a large courtyard between pylons, beside a black basalt statue of a falcon that guarded the entrance to a hypostyle hall.

"Welcome to the Temple of Horus of Edfu." Yami swept his arm in a dramatic gesture that took in the large statue. "This is Horus, in his guise as a falcon. He wears a form of the Double Crown, signifying his kingship of all of Egypt. The temple you see around you is a Ptolemaic construction built over the ruins of a New Kingdom temple. It was constructed over a period of 180 years, beginning with the reign of Ptolemy III and ending during that of Ptolemy XII. While it incorporates Greek elements, it is firmly based in the Egyptian style and is one of the best-preserved major temples in Egypt today."

"Thank you, Dr. Viridian." Mana smiled sunnily at him, then gathered the group around her like a hen with her chicks. "We have some time to explore this great monument. First, Mr. Crawford and I will take you through the inner hypostyle hall. Then, we will view the naos, or sanctuary, where the cult statue of the god Horus resided."

Yugi loitered in the courtyard, pretending to be fascinated by the statue. Although impressive, the statue didn't hold his attention for long. His gaze darted about, trying to spot anyone suspicious. Rex and Weevil stopped to take a few pictures beside the statue, although Weevil complained it wasn't as interesting as the giant scarab at Karnak. As the group wandered off to disappear into the shadows of the massive columns beyond the pylon, Mahaad slipped into step with Mana. Then, it was only Yugi and the two guys from California... and Yami.

Yugi listened as the Californians waylaid Yami, then harangued him into taking their photograph in front of the falcon statue. It seemed someone was always coming between Yugi and Yami. He waited a bit longer, then wandered over to the gateway, still looking for some sign of the cultists -- or his grandpa.

When Yami caught up with him a few minutes later, he took Yugi's hand and guided him around the pylon and outside the outer wall. Yugi jogged along beside him, almost running to keep up with Yami's longer strides. "Have they made contact?"

"No." Yami looked frustrated. "I've wandered all over this place, but I haven't seen anyone other than the guards." He glanced down at Yugi, and changed the subject. "You look tired."

"I'm fine." It was becoming a mantra. "Where are we going?"

"Just over here." Yami ushered him toward the structure in question. It was a birth house, similar to the ones at Dendera. "I think I found something."

The "something" was an obscure relief, carved near the base of the wall near the inside of the doorway. Yugi would never have noticed it if Yami hadn't pointed it out with the beam of the flashlight he took from his pocket. Surrounded by hieroglyphs was the carving of an upside-down pyramid shape with an udjat at its center. Yugi's eyes widened.

"On Grandpa's notes..." His voice was hushed as he crouched to get a closer look. "The Millennium Puzzle?"

"I think so."

"What does it say?"

"It's not very clear." Yami leaned over his shoulder, pointing at the ancient writings. "Some of the hieroglyphs are worn or missing, but I think it says something about the Temple of Isis at Philae."

"That's on the tour, right?"

"Yeah. We're heading there tomorrow." Yami straightened, and moved back toward the light from the entryway. "Of course, Isis' temple isn't where it was in ancient times. When the Aswan High Dam was built in the Sixties, a lot of archaeological sites were lost beneath the newly formed Lake Nasser. The Philae temple complex was one of those saved by UNESCO, which moved it to the nearby island of Agilkai."

"But, maybe whatever was there is still inside the temple. If it's another inscription or--"

"We'll just have to hope. Sugoroku was definitely headed upriver, and so will we." Yami turned as Yugi came up beside him. "As long as we work together, and don't lose faith, we'll find him. I know it." Then his fierce expression softened. "You haven't made a mistake, love."

"Yami--"

"No." Yami pressed a finger to Yugi's lips. "Don't. After we find Sugoroku... Then we'll talk."

"Yoo-hoo... Dr. Viridian?" Mai's blonde head appeared around the edge of the doorway. "There you are! Everyone's looking for you. We'd all love to hear your thoughts on some of the scenes on the temple walls."

Together, the three of them walked back to the rest of the group. Mai stuck next to Yami, flirting outrageously. He answered her questions politely, shooting the occasional amused glance at Yugi, who couldn't quite suppress a surge of jealousy even though he could tell Yami wasn't interested in returning Mai's attentions. Yugi hung back as they entered the hypostyle hall, watching as Yami's confident stride carried him ahead. Sure enough, everyone was gathered near one of the walls, peering up at the enormous reliefs carved into the stone. Mana pointed out things here and there, but she was clearly waiting for the real expert to arrive. Mai's "I found him!" brought the others crowding in -- Siegfried and Vivian flanking Mai, followed by Ryou and Bakura. Something curdled in the pit of Yugi's stomach. Behind at least one of those eager smiles, an enemy lurked.

Spotting Mahaad lingering near the entrance, Yugi moved toward him. He didn't notice Weevil until the guy spoke up beside him.

"Fascinating place, isn't it? And the shopping's not bad, either." Weevil ran a finger over the gold chain dangling around his neck. From it depended several large gold flies that, Weevil told him (with an almost scary enthusiasm), were replicas of the Flies of Valor handed out by the pharaohs as rewards for bravery in battle. "Everything's dirt-cheap compared to back home. And the Egyptians had the good sense to use insect motifs fairly often."

Yugi blinked at him. "That's... nice."

"Have you done much souvenir shopping? I could point you to some nice scarab jewelry. Or some birds... if you like that sort of thing." Weevil's grimace made his stance on the subject clear.

"I, uh, really haven't had time to shop. Thanks, anyway."

Weevil shoved his heavy frames back up on his nose. For the first time, Yugi noticed that the bridge piece was fashioned as a beetle. "When we get to Aswan tomorrow, we'll have all morning to shop. It'll be great. If you stick with me, I'll point out some good deals for you."

"Um... Okay." Looking around for rescue, Yugi spotted Yami leading the group past the doorway. The shaft of sunlight streaming through the opening outlined him in gold and made his hair, usually so dark it was almost black, flame as red as the dyed tips on Yugi's spikes. Yami glanced back at him and smiled. Yugi suddenly found it hard to breathe.

He shook himself. He had to concentrate on rescuing his grandpa, not drool over the handsome Egyptologist who had agreed to help him search.

For the rest of the tour, the group surrounded Yami liked moons orbiting a planet. There was no way for anyone to make private contact with him. Mai practically hung off Yami's arm. Whenever Yugi got too close, she glared coldly at him until he backed off. Mahaad found every possible reason to linger near Mana, who looked flustered but pleased by his attentions. Discouraged, Yugi trudged along at the back of the group, only half-listening to Yami explain the functions of the rooms and structures they passed.

It was a very long, hot day.

--

Yami stood at the window in his cabin aboard the River Horse and watched the last, spectcular rays of the sunset slip away. He had always been fascinated by the Egyptian night. As Ré departed the world of the living for the underworld, long shadows swallowed the land. The darkness hid everything: the gleaming waters of the great river, the fragile stretch of green along its banks, and the encroaching chaos of the desert. In the fall of twilight, Egypt became a realm of shadows.

And in that vast darkness, Yugi's grandfather could be anywhere. Yami knew he had to find Sugoroku, and fast. He could feel time slipping away like sand trickling through his fingers. The cult had chosen not to approach him today, but he knew they wanted the necklace. They would have to come to him eventually. Hopefully, it would not be too late for Sugoroku.

Guilt weighed him down. Would Sugoroku have come to Yami for help if he hadn't been so adamant that the Millennium Items were nothing but a nonsensical myth? If only... But he didn't have time to second-guess himself. He had to find Mahaad and make practical plans for tomorrow.

A tap at the door brought him up short, a flutter of anticipation stirring his heart to beat faster. Yugi?

But when he flung open the door, Isis Ishtar stood there. Her gaze swept past his shoulder, taking in the empty room with a faint smile. "Forgive me for barging in like this, Dr. Viridian, but after I spied the ever-diligent Lieutenant Bahur guarding Mr. Mutou's door, I hoped to find you alone. May I come in? I wish to speak with you in private."

"All right." He stepped back to let her enter, and waved at the pair of chairs in front of the windows. "Have a seat."

"No, thank you. Dinner will be served shortly and I don't wish to draw unnecessary attention to myself." She closed the door behind her. "I have been informed yet again that Interpol will soon be in contact with me. Therefore, there is a matter I wish to clarify before I speak with them."

Yami nodded noncommittally, his expression giving away nothing.

"Dr. Viridian... Does Dr. Mutou's disappearance have any bearing on Interpol's investigation? Surely, you are aware of the many rumors surrounding Dr. Mutou and the missing papyri of the Book of the Nameless Pharaoh. The timing could not be closer -- nor more incriminating."

Although he had harbored similar suspicions, hearing the accusation from Isis made him angry on Yugi's behalf. "Sugoroku didn't steal the blasted papyri. He's a scholar, and a damn good one."

A startled blink, then Isis dipped her head in a shallow bow. "My apologies. I meant no offense." She lifted her hands in an elegant shrug. "You understand that I had to ask, yes? When I speak to Interpol, I must be certain of my answers."

Reluctantly, he nodded. She smiled. "I must assess the earthquake damage at the Philae temple complex tomorrow. I would like for you to accompany me, as you did at Karnak. Your presence seems to have a greater effect on the engineers than that of a 'mere woman.'" She turned back to the door, hesitating only to add, "As for the rest, we can only be patient. Interpol moves in mysterious ways -- or so I am told."

Patience had never been one of his virtues, as Mahaad frequently reminded him. His lack of it ate at him all through dinner, like a persistent itch he couldn't scratch. It was all he could do to politely answer the numerous questions about ancient Egyptian life with which the ladies from New York, who surrounded him at the table, plied him. Then Arthur, seated beside his precocious granddaughter, began asking about Yami's specific research. At any other time, he might have been flattered by all the attention. Now, he couldn't help questioning their motives.

He couldn't understand why the cult hadn't made contact by now. First the missed chance at Dendera, now an appointment ignored at Edfu. Did they suspect a trap or were they changing the bargain? Perhaps they thought to take the necklace without freeing Sugoroku. With that in mind, Yami had hidden the piece of jewelry so that no one could find it. He glanced at each face around the table. They all looked like innocent tourists. Yet, someone among them was not what they seemed. Interpol or cultist, neither had shown their true faces.

He was beginning to feel like a tasty morsel trapped between two lions licking their chops in anticipation of a treat. Too bad he wasn't backed into his corner alone. He could handle threats to his own safety. But Yugi was there with him, and threats to Yugi were unacceptable on any level.

Yugi's place was at the opposite end of the long dining table, so conversation between them was impossible. Yami couldn't even see more than the occasional glimpse of a bright gold bang or red-tipped spike of black hair. The forced separation didn't do anything to improve his disposition. Neither did after-dinner drinks in the salon, where Ryou kept Yugi busy chatting in a corner while Vivian and Mai cornered Yami for more questions about the Nameless Pharaoh.

The unending stream of inquiries made him suspicious, and that was making him antsy. It went beyond simple curiosity and into the region of scary obsession, especially when everyone in the group -- right down to teenaged Rebecca -- seemed so knowledgeable about such an obscure subject. They were too knowledgeable. And damned nosy.

When Pegasus and Isis invited him to share coffee with them at their small table near the bar, he leaped at the chance to escape the inquisition. He would've rather gone to Yugi, but he couldn't think of a believable excuse -- and "Sorry, I'm an Evil Noodle Overlord, and I have to go plot the Ravioli Revolution with my trusted lieutenant," probably wouldn't cut it. He chalked up it up to general paranoia created by all the uncertainty he was dealing with, but he couldn't help suspecting the entire group of conspiring to keep him away from Yugi.

Glancing around the room, he saw that Mahaad was haunting Mana's footsteps, lounging oh-so-casually against the wall near the table where she was speaking with Bakura, Rex, and Weevil. Yami rolled his eyes, then made faces at Mahaad until his friend hid a laugh and finally strolled over to join the group at the other table. Even across the room, Yami could see the delighted flush on Mana's cheeks when Mahaad sat down beside her. Good deed for the day accomplished, Yami smiled to himself.

After about a million years, Yugi bid Ryou goodnight, and rose to make his way across the salon. Watching him, Yami automatically got to his feet. Their eyes met and an unspoken message passed between them. By silent accord, they met at the top of the stairs at the back of the salon and made their way down to Yugi's cabin. At the door, Yugi hesitated with the key in his hand. His shoulders braced, then he turned to Yami with a look of resolve in his eyes.

"Shh." Yami stopped him with a fingertip to his lips, a half-smile curving his own. "I'll be right here, outside your door, if you need me."

Something in Yugi's expression melted before Yami's eyes. Yugi pulled in a deep breath, then tilted his head to look up at him through his bangs. He was smiling softly. "That offer means a lot to me, Yami, but... You need your rest. Mahaad, too. I'll be all right."

Yami bit back the instinctive protest. He knew Yugi could take care of himself. He just didn't want him to have to. "At least take the spare key to my suite. That way, you can get to me if you happen to need me." He held out the key and, when Yugi hesitated, added, "Please. It would make me feel better."

"Well..." Yugi took the key and toyed with it uncertainly. "If it's a matter of your peace of mind..."

"Thanks." Yami curled a finger under Yugi's chin, tipped his head up, and kissed the end of his nose. "Good night, love. Sleep well."

He enjoyed the memory of Yugi's blush all the way back to the stairs, where he found Mahaad waiting for him.

"You are leaving him on his own tonight?" Mahaad frowned at this obvious dereliction of duty.

"His choice. I have to honor it." Yami sighed and ruffled his hair as he shoved his bangs back from his face. "I'm going to go up on the outer deck. Maybe something will happen tonight."

"I will go with you."

"No, they might see you. I'm sick of all this 'hurry up and wait' bullshit. Maybe if I'm up there alone, my contacts -- Interpol and/or cult -- will finally make themselves known."

"I do not like it, but you may be right." Mahaad left him at the entrance to the salon. "Good night, my friend. I will follow my own lead and speak with you in the morning."

Alone, Yami wandered around the ship for a while, making certain he was noticed. After visiting every space open to passengers, and a few that were not, he climbed to the upper deck. White upholstered lounge furniture surrounded a small swimming pool. Wearily, he dropped onto one of the chairs to wait.

Above all else, he had to protect Yugi. Finding Sugoroku was important, but Yami was beginning to fear it was too late for his colleague. He'd followed every instruction the cult had given him, yet they stayed away. It might mean they were being cautious, suspecting he was under surveillance by the police. Or it could mean that Sugoroku was dead.

If that were true, how could he face Yugi with the news? Tomorrow, he would go to Philae with Isis. It was his last chance to pick up Sugoroku's trail. If he failed again...

Yami sighed, tipping his head back so that he could see the stars sprinkled across the firmament. The ancient Egyptians had looked at the night sky and seen the goddess Nut, arching her starry body from horizon to horizon above her husband Geb. The sounds of the river surrounded him: the lapping of the water against the hull, the thrum of the River Horse's engine, the faint cries of some nocturnal bird. A breeze carried with it the cool, green scent of water and vegetation, and a whiff of smoke from the distant shore.

Eventually, the stillness lulled him to sleep.

He dreamed of shadows, and a room with walls of solid gold. Gold rested against his skin -- at wrist and ankle, wrapped about his arms, and heavy on his brow. In his cupped hands, he held the Millennium Puzzle. He raised it above his head, then flung it down with all his might.

The Puzzle shattered.

Golden light, more blinding than the sun at mid-day, flared. His body arched in agony as his soul was torn from it, ripped apart as surely as he had sundered the Puzzle.

His ba lingered long enough to see the pieces scatter across the stone floor. His kau -- one mortal, one divine -- hovered above the glittering pieces of the Puzzle. The kingly ka could not be trapped, for it belonged to the Great God Horus and was too powerful, but the mortal ka was drawn into the scattered pieces with a shriek of torment.

Then the gold room faded, as did his ba, until only the shadows remained.

--

Yami awoke with his heart pounding against his ribs, and a terrible conviction he needed to get to Yugi. He flung himself from his chair, stumbling over its mate in his haste, and practically fell down the stairs to the lower deck. He pressed his ear to Yugi's door, but heard nothing.

He stood for a long moment, his hands flat against the wood of the door, willing his heart rate to return to normal. Yugi was fine. He was fine. He had not ripped his own soul apart and sealed part of it in a piece of tacky gold jewelry. It was just a dream.

Berating himself for his foolishness, he headed back upstairs. An hour later, as the sky came alive with the rebirth of the sun, Mahaad joined him. His friend settled neatly onto the lounge chair beside his, crossed his ankles, and said, "All is well?"

Yami honestly didn't know how to answer him.