Bedouin II

He thinks it's because the sun left a peach afterthought of a glow on the horizon sky, that the world looks so soft and so simple,

but it's also because everything looks pretty after the sun goes down.

She might have always been pretty, too, although he cannot tell for sure. Back then he didn't worry about such trivialities, he wonders if he does now. She's studying him more deliberately than he studies her, sees her struggling.

"It has been a while, hasn't it, Isis?"

He's meant to say sister. He's new to not being able to predict himself.

"Why are you here?" she asks with much insolence and much vexed, too, "Rishid told me my brother waited for me. Why you?... Why here?"

"Aren't I your brother too? You hurt me," he says, and something of his old self stirs beneath all this weighing layers of humanity. The thrill. He's always loved it.

She's guarded.

"Malik doesn't know you're here, does he," she whispers, but it's not a question but a statement, and he shrugs.

"I don't care what he knows," he answers and he is truthful.

"Only Rishid?"

He may have nodded at the sun that's setting, not meeting her eyes. Serious.

Guarded.

And she knows, then, like that, that things have changed. In the most whimsical way that destiny could have ever fathomed.

"…then come inside. And we can drink tea… brother."


A/N: It's cute, in a dusty, Egyptian kind of way.

Thanks for bearing with me so long! I have a couple next chapters almost done, too. They focus mostly on Ryou. Ideas for Yuugi and company will be welcome.

I love you guys =) Thanks for being there!