So I lied slightly about the number of chapters left to do. I've got seven more chapters listed until Death-T. I was originally planning to do only three more but decided since I wasn't going to go any further than season 0 that I might as well do more to make the most of it. ^^'

Anyway, here is the next chapter.

~§~

Chapter 9: Fated Meeting

~§~

"Would it be alright for me… to ask about your life before you agreed to live here?" **** asked as both he and Rania sat on the steps that led to the royal gardens. From their space on the steps, they could overlook the entire greenery and the colourful plants that lived there.

Occasionally they spotted a few gardeners pottering about, looking after the flora that lived there.

Rania hummed, tilting her head as she closed her eyes. "Well… I haven't lived the truest life. I lost my family when I was just six summers old. Although a kind older woman took me and my friend in, she was nearing her time so my friend and I were forced to steal what we needed."

**** blinked several times in surprise. "Really? But why save my life? If Father found out-."

"He's aware." Rania cut in, lids opening partly to look at him from the corner of her eyes. "I made it one of my first tasks here after accepting my new position within the Palace, Your Highness."

"But why though?" He frowned. "And what did you get out of it by actually telling him?"

Rania sighed. "Better to tell the truth now then have it used against me in the future by someone that might want me removed from the Palace. But why not?" She turned her charcoal eyes to meet his ruby reds head on. "From what I'd heard of you, you are just like your father- kind and caring. So it would have been a waste to lose someone like that who would go on to become Pharaoh."

****'s cheeks flared red at her words, he beamed. "Thanks, Rania."

"No thanks necessary." She responded. "Just stating facts, is all."

~§~

That morning, Lailat knew, something was going to happen. It had been nearly a week since the previous 'situation' and the ravenette knew something else was bound to happen. So when she arrived that morning to a large wrapped present on Miho's desk, her thoughts were, ah, wonder what it is this time.

Lailat had become so used to the happenings that she'd come to expect them and she wasn't sure if that was good or not.

"What is it?" Anzu questioned as they all crowded around her desk in confusion. Well the others did, Lailat was sat at the desk adjacent, reading a book.

"It's a present. It just arrived." Miho answered, her voice a coo as she stared at the green with purple stars wrapping paper that was held together by a pink ribbon.

The present was quite large and rectangular in shape, looking extremely out of place in the classroom. Miho reached forwards to start unwrapping them.

"W-wait, Miho-chan!" Honda panicked, Miho blinked up at him. "It might be a bomb!"

No, no it wasn't, Lailat sighed.

"No way." Jounouchi deadpanned.

Miho plucked the ribbon undone and pulled the wrapping paper away to reveal a toy vending machine full of white egg-shaped objects with all different numbers ranging from one to six. The entire group stared at the box in confusion.

"This is a Gacha box, isn't it?" Anzu questioned.

Yugi nodded. "Yeah. A capsule monster one."

"Capsule monster?" Jounouchi questioned.

Yugi nodded and went onto explain, "Also known as Capumon. They're popular with elementary school kids right now. in the capsule is a monster. You use it in a game like chess. The one who defeats all his enemies wins. What's interesting is until the games begin, all you know is your opponent's monster level."

Yugi laughed sheepishly. "To be honest, right now I'm really into it too!"

"But there's no way this would make Miho happy." Jounouchi pointed out. "Might as well be a trash can-"

Miho screamed in excitement making the entire group look back at her to see what she's screamed about.

"A closed heart necklace and earrings from Tiffany's!" She giggled. "It's all the stuff I wanted!"

"W-wow." Jounouchi murmured.

"Miho-chan…"

Lailat sighed heavily, oh boy. She processed to ignore the rest of the conversation. She didn't exactly like talking about this kind of stuff. Crushes and someone's love life were things she strayed from (apart from the whole Mayumi situation, she'd had three girls gang up on her) but she'd prefer not to think about that.

Although she did hear that it was sent by a college student and then Yugi nervously chuckled. She paused at that and decided he knows something but no, Lailat was adamant about staying away this time.

She pulled her phone out, so adamant that she's gonna make plans with Ryou so she can ignore this entire thing.

[Do you want to meet up tomorrow?]

[Sure, normal café and time?]

Lailat smiled. [If that's alright with you.]

[Of cause ]

Lailat chuckled quietly.

~§~

Jounouchi laughed and Lailat sighed heavily. She'd been doing a lot of that the last few days.

"I can't believe there's a guy who would use an old trick like pretending to save a girl!"

Lailat glanced over her shoulder at Yugi. "I feel sorry for you."

Well, she's pretty sure she did if she was identifying the feeling correctly- she could be wrong, she had been before.

"That must have been terrible for you, Yugi." Anzu added.

Yugi shook his head with his own sigh. "More importantly, I'm sorry, Miho-chan. I just couldn't refuse but… Warashibe-kun really isn't a bad guy."

Trying to defend him? Lailat squinted her eyes over her shoulder Yugi, feeling… perhaps annoyed- it was an odd kind of annoyed, possibly about why Yugi was trying to defend his actions when Warashibe could just man up and talk to Miho normally face-to-face.

"No, he is!" Honda cut in and Lailat bit her tongue to stop the groan, Gods damn lovesick puppy. "He shouldn't even write letters with Miho-chan! No, no, no!"

"What's with him? Just yesterday he was in such pain he acted like he was dead." Jounouchi pointed out, also more than likely annoyed at Honda.

Lailat twitched. "The one at fault here is Miho-chan." Her voice might have been a little bit too cold but she didn't care. The four are silent as Lailat turned to look at the purplette. "If you had no intention of actually meeting with him, you should have sent just a letter telling him that you were thankful for the gifts but you have no feelings for him."

"But Miho thought we could just be pen friends." She stated sadly, no doubt trying to manipulate her.

"Are you really that bloody stupid?" Lailat snapped and she flinched.

"Lailat-chan." Yugi voiced hesitantly. She glanced down at him.

"Yes!" Honda butt in. "Miho-chan isn't at fault, Lailat!"

She gritted her teeth, clenching her eyes closed. "Then you're an idiot too if you think that."

"Whatever! But Miho-chan, I won't let that Capumon man near you again!"

She wanted to smack her tray against her face. She's pretty sure she's past the point of annoyance and she hates herself for her lack of ability to name her fucking emotions because she is so fucking done.

"Thanks! Honda-kun sure is reliable!" Miho cheered and this time Lailat wanted to smack Miho with her tray.

Yugi tugged at her sleeve slightly, seeing the expression on her face. Her eyes shot open and turned to Yugi in a glare, he flinched.

"Please try and calm down, Lailat-chan." He whispered, watching as she sighed, shoulders slumping.

She was silent as she collected her lunch and sat down, not bothering to pay any attention to the conversation between Jounouchi and Anzu, only blinking when a glass of water was placed on her tray.

She sighed and continued to eat, taking sips of her water occasionally.

~§~

Lailat felt her stomach churn in the I'm-gonna-be-sick way only ten minutes into her next lesson. She felt warm to the point of sweating and she could feel the colour drain from her face.

I'm gonna be sick.

She'd only partly been aware of a teacher holding a bucket up for her as she puked into it. Then with the help of two other students, had been transported to the Nurses Office.

Out of the four of them, her, Jounouchi, Anzu, and Honda, she had it the worst. She'd non-stop puked until there was nothing left and was now running a fever making it to the point she was given P.E clothes from lost properly to help keep her cooler than her uniform.

Yet despite the heat, she shivered, falling into a restless sleep.

~§~

Rania, who couldn't have been any older than six years of age, slowly trailed after Akefia. The blistering sun felt even hotter than normal against her tanned skin. Her insides churned uncomfortably and she didn't understand. She knew it wasn't hunger- she knew what hunger pains felt like. It was her stomach clenching painfully and rumbling in demand of food.

A quiet whimper escaped her throat as she snagged Akefia's robe, tugging at it. she whined: "Fia."

The albino stopped abruptly at her whine, turning with scrunched brows of concern. "Nia?"

His eyes scanned her warm face with worry, raising a hand to her forehead.

"I don't feel good." Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill as, despite the unbearable heat that encased her body, she shivered. Her body ached down to her bones and all she wanted to do was sleep; lay down and curl into a ball in hopes that the pain would disappear.

"Nia." Akefia bit his lip and immediately scooped the six-year-old into his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist and buried her face into his neck. "We've only got a little ways to go, okay? Try and sleep."

Rania moaned, muttering incoherently in his shoulder. Akefia's grip tightened and he started walking again.

~§~

"Here." Akefia handed the fever-ridden girl a piece of bread that he had stolen only minutes prior to returning to her.

Rania's face scrunched up in distaste as she shook her head "M'not hungry."

Akefia hissed lowly under his breath, licking his lips and scooted closer to lean against the wall too. "It might help make you feel better, Nia. Do it for me?"

Rania blinked her eyes open, glazed over charcoal eyes sliding to meet his stormy purple ones.

"Please?"

She looked to the bread again and with shaky hands, grabbed the piece to bring it to her lips and nibbled on the piece. Once she'd taken a bit, her stomach rumbled for more and so she took another bit and another until she'd eaten the entire piece of bread.

Akefia sighed in relief.

It was only an hour later that Rania was bringing up the bread she'd eaten. She cried, clutching her stomach as she puked.

Akefia was shakily humming a lullaby he'd learned from his mother in hopes to sooth the ill and fever-ridden girl.

~§~

She sat hidden by serval barrels, back up against the pale sandy walls of some home in a back alley of the town they were in, her body arching, cheeks burning with an only worsening fever. She had no strength or voice to cry out, her throat burning as she even inhaled for a breath. Her breaths were dry strangled gasps, painful to her lungs as she inhaled to hot and stale air.

Her shaking had only gotten worse, she couldn't stop it no matter what she did. Sometimes it was only a slight quiver while others it would jar her entire body. It was impossible for her to sleep for long periods of time and Akefia was forced to leave her while he searched the village to find something that could help her.

He returned her to with only food and water again. He had no knowledge of healing and medicate so he had no idea what to do and he was forced to sit and watch as his best friend's state dwindled and diminished.

She wasn't going to live much longer without help and with the memories of their home still so fresh… he couldn't, he just couldn't lose her too.

Rania watched as Akefia silently cried, shoulders jerking as he tried to hide it and sniffled. "M' sorry, Nia."

She blinked slowly. "S'kay."

His head shot up, glaring. "No, it's not!" He smacked his head, pulling at his hair. "I can't do anything to fucking help you!"

"Oh? And what seems to be the problem?" An old and wised voice asked.

Akefia's breath hitched and he was on his feet in an instant, glaring and pointing his knife in the direction the voice had come from. "Show yourself!"

An older woman, having to be nearing her seventies stepped forwards. She had her hands clasped in front of her holding a basket of herbs. "Please calm yourself young one, I mean no harm."

"Why are you here then!" Akefia hissed.

"I was simply passing through this alleyway." She answered and her eyes moved to Rania, who gave a sluggish blink of her eyes. "I can help her."

Akefia's eyes widened, his head snapping to Rania and back to her. He shifted his weight. "How?"

"I work with herbs to make medicine." She responded, voice soft and reinsuring. "I have something that can make her better."

Akefia stared at the woman for several long seconds then clenched his eyes closed, lowering the knife and pleaded: "Please."

"Come with me then." She said. Akefia bent down and lifted Rania into his arms, following the woman.

~§~

The doorbell of the Myers-Antar's household rang. Watari blinked in surprise, not expecting anyone. He quickly placed the newly rewet flannel back onto his daughter's warm forehead before making his way to the dark wooden door.

Pulling it open revealed Ryou Bakura standing on the opposite side. He gave a sheepish wave. "Is Lailat okay? We were meant to meet up half an hour ago and she hasn't returned any texts."

Watari blinked and sighed. "Unfortunately, Lailat took ill at school today and has hardly been coherent since."

Ryou's brows scrunched in worry. "I hope it's nothing serious?"

The older man shook his head. "No, she, along with a with others, somehow managed to ingest raw water."

Ryou's brow shot up. "Raw water?"

Watari glanced over his shoulder to see the end of the settee that Lailat was laying on. He pursed his lips and glanced back to Ryou. "Would you mind doing me a favour?"

"F-a-vour?" Ryou repeated, drawing out the word as he blinked owlishly.

"Yes, I have to make a run to the store to get more medicine and food. Would you be willing to watch over Lailat until my return?" Watari asked and Ryou nodded eagerly.

"Of cause, more than willing!" He smiled and stepped into the home as the older man made room for him to do so.

"Thank you." Watari led Ryou into the living room to reveal the sleeping Lailat who had taken residence on the settee rather than her own bed. She'd fallen on the furniture at her return home and Watari didn't have the heart to wake the ravenette to move her.

"If she wakes up, could you get her to drink something for me too?" Watari asked as he collected his bags and keys.

Ryou nodded, mock saluting. "Will do, Mr Myers."

Watari chuckled, patting the albino's shoulder lightly. "Watari is just fine, Ryou."

Ryou laughed sheepishly. "Bit of a habit but I'll try and remember!"

Watari left the house softly chuckling.

Ryou perched on the edge of the single seat by Lailat's head. He watched for a moment, as she breathed through parted lips, her cheeks flushed red and her lashes fluttered and eyes moved under the lids like she was dreaming.

~§~

"Fia!" Rania beamed up at Akefia, feeling the familiar bubbly feeling that her Mama had used to tell her meant she was happy, as he entered the room. He dropped the bag he'd be carrying, moving to the ravenette, dropping to his knees and pulled her into a hug, muttering about how happy he was that she was better.

Rania sighed into his embrace, her own arms wrapping around his waist. They stayed like the for a while, enjoying the fact that Akefia could hug her again without risking getting ill himself.

~§~

Ryou had only been sitting beside Lailat for what felt like several minutes before she began to mumble incoherently, her words slowly becoming clear and clear as she spoke.

"…don't think so…" Was the first thing he caught, Ryou blinked and tilted his head as he forced on hearing more. "Said… was all better…. Like her…. Fia."

He blinked and spoke aloud. "Fia? Wonder who that is."

He was swallowed by a darkness that he'd long since gotten used to and felt fear and worry for Lailat creep into his being as he knew what had happened.

~§~

Akefia snorted, smirking. "I don't doubt it, Nia."

The ravenette squinted at him which just made him laugh.

~§~

"Three millennia." The spirit that resided within the Millennium Ring murmured, reaching out to brush stray black strains of hair from Lailat's face. "It's been far too long."

When he'd been reawakened by the most recent barer of his Ring, Akefia knew that everything was starting to play out. It was the first thing he'd noted- his new host's resemblance to his own appearance.

After that, he'd known that the Pharaoh's own reincarnation would also be present somewhere within the world… and so would Rania's.

He had little knowledge on her after he had been sealed within the Ring so the first thing he'd done upon gaining control of Ryou was do research and what he stumbled upon had made him smile non-maliciouslly for the first time since being awakened again.

It greatly satisfied him when he learned about the fact the Pharaoh's name had been removed. He'd laughed in fact, feeling extremely gleeful.

But the one thing that ate away at his conscious was: would Rania's new self remember anything or would she be not know anything? Would she be different? Normal and boring or would she retain her infamous inability to process emotions which he had always found adorable.

But he'd finally gotten his answer… sort of. He had no knowledge if she'd remember when she was awake but she definitely dreamt of her time in Egypt.

His heart pounded with curiosity, excitement but also nervousness and fear- what would she remember if she did recall when awake?

If there was one thing he wanted more than revenge on the Pharaoh, it was Rania's trust and love. Even if that love was platonic because the idea of her hating him would… might be enough to kill his spirit form.

He wouldn't be able to stand the thought of his Nia hating him.

He watched as Nia's reincarnation hummed, squirming in her place. She groaned as she rolled onto her side.

~§~

Rania giggled as Akefia poked her side. She yelped as he caught a spot that made her reflexes act out and she kicked his shin.

Akefia grunted and groaned which made her giggle again, her insides feeling even bubblier and lighter than before. "Sorry."

He mock pouted at her as he rolled back onto his side so they face each other. He smiled. "I'm glad you're better, Nia."

Rania blinked several times, her stomach churned with… guilt? She wasn't too sure but she believed it to be, when she used to mess around and get into trouble she would always feel that way afterwards. "M'sorry." She shuffled closer and curled into his side. He wrapped an arm around her. "I could have left you on your own."

Akefia sharply exhaled, clenching his eyes as he buried his nose into Nia's hair. "Just don't do it again. Got it?"

Rania peered up at his through her long lashes. "Promise!"

She closed her eyes and allowed herself to follow the pull of sleep.

~§~

"Promise…" She mumbled.

Akefia smiled but tilted his head curiously as her lids fluttered again but this time revealed her charcoal orbs behind them.

She was waking up; Akefia's heart pounded.

Lailat lay still for a moment, her lids opening halfway before she reached up to rub them of sleep. She dropped her arms and her glazed eyes moved up to him. Her brows scrunched.

"Hello." His voice was noticeably different from his host's, deeper. Lailat would notice the difference and know, if she remembered.

She squinted up at him, raising a hand and he sat still to allow her fingers to brush against the right cheek- where his large scar would have resided had he still had his original body.

"Where's your scar, Fia?"

Akefia leaned into the hand that cupped his cheek, it was warm and sweaty from her fever but he didn't care, all he did care about was the fact that Lailat was touching him, asking about his scar and she was remembering.

His own hand reached up and gently wrapped around the hand that cupped his cheek, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. "My scar doesn't matter. What does matter is you, how are you feeling?"

She blinked and pulled her hand back so that she could push herself into a sitting position. Akefia, having been watching while Ryou had been in control, plucked the glass of water from the coffee table and handed it to Lailat.

She murmured a hardly coherent thank you. However, as she went to take a drink she paused. Akefia grinned as her eyes flickered to him, she was far more aware now. Her mind working better than moments before.

"Hello." He repeated. Her breath lodged in her throat and Akefia quickly grabbed the cup as it slid from her hand.

Her lips parted then closed, pursed as she turned her head to face him head on. "A-Akefia?" Her expression was apathetic but her voice cracked.

"That is the name I went by, yes."

She reached out again, poking is cheek as if to see if he was really, actually, truthfully there. "You're…"

He gently grabbed the hand that poked his face. "Yes… I'm here, Nia."

Her eyes widened, stinging with tears as her lips quivered. Her chest was tight, yet loose. Her stomach churned and bubbled in unison. She didn't know the emotions but she didn't care as she allowed Akefia to pull her into a hug. Her breath hitched every time she tried to take one.

The sight of seeing Akefia again filled Lailat with so many emotions that she couldn't define them but maybe relief was one. She'd spent so many years dreaming of him that she'd never thought she'd ever get to meet him again and yet here he was.

Akefia ran a hand through her hair, humming quietly as Lailat cried to the point of her exhaustion carrying her back to sleep.

Akefia quietly snickered as he lay her back down on the settee, brushing her fringe from her face as she slept. "No doubt you've already met the Pharaoh." He started, eyes hardening. "Let's just hope I can get to you first this time. He stole you last time but I won't let him do it this time. I promise."

~§~

So Y-Bakura might be out of character, however, I would like to point out that he and Rania were life-long friends and he does love her so he'd no doubt express a softer side to her, especially since she was ill and he had no idea if she remembered him at all (which obviously she does, lol).

Also, young Akefia hadn't had time for his hatred to fester and again because its Ranis, someone he'd know since her birth, he was going to be emotional.