I won't ask for nothing more
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The second trail and the confession – watch out – the longest chapter ever folks!!!!!!!!
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
It is with our passion as it is with fire and water; they are good servants but bad masters...
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
I have few declarations to mention. The poems in this chapter do not belong to me. I only translated them from Croatian to English. I used them because I am not so good in describing emotions and because I loved those songs and they perfectly fit into this chapter. That's all folks.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
How to resist the wondering fingers,
While they caress the shivering strings.
How to stop loving when in your arms,
My body and soul get wings...
In that divine moment of lasting
Without an end to the beginning, or the beginning to the end.
You can see a never-ending illusion...
A never-ending illusion of forever being.
The present is called by infinity,
The musician is applauded.
Sand is no crystal, sand is just sand,
And the never-ending illusion reached its end...
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Damn it..." Yami hissed and threw the covers off of him. He got out of the bed and got dressed.
"Another sleepless night like this one and I'll go insane." He mumbled while going to his laboratory where the things he found in the Chamber lied on his working table.
'Might as well do something about those things.' He thought opening the doors only to find that he wasn't alone there. The laboratory was stationed in the highest tower of the manor and it was a planetary too. A large telescope was there and someone was sitting there, watching the stars. It didn't take him long to recognize the person that sat there and his heart skipped a beat.
"Tea? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" He asked trying to sound calm. His voice shivered slightly and he begged every God he knew she didn't notice it. She jumped slightly and looked at him. A small smile played upon her lips. Yami felt his heart sink.
"I couldn't sleep so I decided to come here and take a look at the stars. I calculated that we have around two more days until Jupiter gets lined up with Pluto, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. We'll have... well... I don't know how much exactly until the inner planets line up but we all know what will happen the moment they do."
"The last chamber will open... This is a race with time and I have a feeling we're the ones that are left behind." Yami said hoping that with talking to her the mad beating of his heart would slow down. Her presence did nothing good to him.
Tea observed the face she saw in her dreams every night. It has changed so much over the years. There was no sign of the boy she once new. Before her stood a man who lived threw many years, living a life of an adventurer. He turned his head from her. For a moment she thought she saw his hands shivering when he took the papyrus and the amulet from the table.
"What are those?" Tea asked.
"I have no idea..." Yami said while observing the artifacts, gently touching them. The papyrus was blank and the amulet was in a very strange shape.
Yami suddenly tensed. He felt Tea beside him. 'Damn it... so close...' His heart started to beat even faster. He hopped it would just explode and let him find peace.
"How are we supposed to find out anything with a blank papyrus and an... amulet!" She said. She stood right beside Yami leaning over the table her thigh barely brushing his.
"I have no idea..." Yami said and almost had to bit his tong to make himself be quiet. He was afraid to speak. He didn't trust his voice. 'Why does she have to be so God damn close!' He thought. He inched slowly away from her, his heart beating forcefully against his ribcage.
Tea felt him moving slightly away from her and the lack of his warm body beside her made her feel lonely again. Questions from earlier returned. She looked at his profile. His aristocrat chin, high cheekbones. He was such a handsome man, yet so distant and... cynical.
"Yami?" He stopped when he heard the soft sound that came from Tea. His hands shivered. Tea didn't see this because she faced his back.
"Why did you... why did you leave? Why did you leave us?" She whispered. Yami's face hardened. 'I can't tell her! I can't ask that from her!!' he gripped the papyrus even harder. His heart beat in his ears, blood pumping fiercely threw his veins.
"I told you why I left..." He started, his voice husky, but Tea interrupted him in the middle of the sentence.
"No... You told us only half of the reason why you left. Tell me the truth Yami. Why did you leave?" She looked at him but his back were turned to her. She saw slight shivers shake his shoulders.
"Yami..." She was about to touch his shoulder, to give him some comfort but then...
"You can't know... you could never understand... I could never..." He suddenly started walking and left. Tea was left there dumbfounded. It seamed Yami was fighting himself, in a breathless attempt to hold something hidden, and it was eating him alive. It pained her to see him like that but if only he would open himself to someone.
"I will find out what is it that is bothering you, Yami... Even if it will be the last thing I'll do."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Is love too much for me to ask?
When I know I will not find it,
For I'm always fighting someone stronger
Knowing I can no longer fight it.
Is love too much for me to ask?
In these sorrowful, lonely nights.
Your every step in my thoughts I follow
And see myself in your eyes...
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Yami rushed threw the hallways and to his room.
'I can't tell her I love her! In the end I would only hurt her! She has a daughter and I... I could never be the father she needs. Tea would end up hurt for that. The best thing for her is to not know... She is happy like this. Once all of this is over... She will leave. She will go back to her happy life with Annie and Yugi and everyone. I don't have a place in that world anymore... Not after the way I left...'
'That's not true and you know it!' A little voice from the back of his conscience yelled at him.
'I have nothing to give her!'
'You can give her your love! You already like Annie! You would be a good father! Look what you did for Rachel and the twins!'
'I can't!!' He got to his room and fell on the bed.
'Yes you can! Don't be so selfish!'
'I am selfish, and because of that I can't be with her... I don't want her to know how much I love her!!! She suffered threw so much... I...'
'You're afraid that you will hurt her... But isn't that what love is... Love is selfish... It is so selfish that it hurts. It hurts to be beside the person you love, but it hurts even more when you are not able to be with her. Even though you know you will hurt her eventually... even though you know nothing is ever perfect... To love means to suffer... but that suffer is so sweet you end up forgetting all that just to be able to fall asleep in her arms...'
'She doesn't need me...'
'But you need her...'
Yami was awoken from his reverie when someone called for him from the doors. He looked up and saw Rachel standing on the doors.
"Are you all right?" She asked. Yami pulled on his best smile though his eyes were still hollow.
"I'm fine, Rachel, don't worry." She bowed her head slightly.
"You're laying." She whispered. Yami saw the hurt in her eyes. It pained him to see her like that.
"Come here." He called for her and she practically ran to him. She kneeled before him and placed her head in his lap. This is how they would sit very often together. Her head in his lap, his hand patting her head gently. Mostly they would sit like that downstairs, before the fireplace. John and Jeremy sat on the sofa and all of them would listen to Yami tell stories about so many things. Rachel would eventually fall asleep like that, listening to Yami's deep and gentle voice.
Yami wasn't conscious how much he meant to them. He could be their older brother but he was like a father to the three of them. He was there for her when she needed a second opinion. He was wise, perceptive, astute... She knew, if she was ever going to marry anyone, that man must be similar to Yami. Gentle, loving, strong... everything Yami was. With his flaws and with his good sides. She loved him just like that. She felt Yami's hand on her head patting her like he did so many times before. This made her feel so safe and loved.
"You know... Sometimes I wish you were actually my father, but then I realize... it doesn't matter. You already are my father. No matter how young we both are. I love you like a father... and I envy the child that will have you. It will be the happiest child in the whole wide world." She said. Yami's heart filled with warmth.
"I love you as if you were my own daughter, Rachel. Noting could or ever will change that..." He said. The girl looked up and met with two deep, loving, violet eyes. She smiled and nodded her head her eyes filling with tears. Yami smiled.
"Now... how come you came here?" He asked gently. "Is there something wrong?" She got up and sat beside him on the bed.
"I was thinking about yesterday and the two men that came here to talk to you. I have a really bad feeling about them. Could it be they were sent by that Kaiba – person?" She asked. Yami looked out the window.
"I thought about that too and I believe that could be possible. Seto will try everything, especially if he knows that we have the second trail. The only problem is that that trail seams useless... It's nothing but a blank papyrus and an amulet of..." Yami suddenly fell silent.
"Yami? Are you..." In the next moment Yami's jaw hanged. Rachel wanted to call for him when he suddenly jumped.
"I can't believe I didn't remember this before!!!!" He said pacing over the room.
"Yami? What's going on?" Rachel asked him. He stopped and looked at her.
"Fire... The key to the second trail is fire..." He whispered, his voice husky, and ran out of the room.
"And here I thought he wasn't so energetic." She said and got up. She guessed where he ran of so she started to run to the lab. When she got out of the room she bumped into Joey and Tristen.
"What the..." Joey was about to curse when Rachel interrupted him, while running down the hallway.
"Later! Get everyone and tell them to get in the lab! Yami remembered something!!!" She yelled while running off. Joey sat on the floor all confused while Tristen got up.
"Here I thought we'll be able to sit and talk for a while." He said.
"I'll go and tell everyone. You go to the lab." Joey said.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Everyone was gathered in the laboratory. Yami was on the high ladders searching for a book.
"Yo, Yami! Need any help!" Joey yelled.
"What are you looking for, anyway!" Jean yelled. Yami just jumped off the latter and ran to the other shelf.
"I remembered something while talking to Rachel. The amulet shows the sign of fire. I know I read somewhere about the secret of Egyptian magic, and I know just what kind of flame is needed to start the magic. It's complicated and dangerous but it's the only thing I have right now." He spoke while searching threw different books.
"Isn't there another way to see what the parchment holds?" Jean asked.
"Egyptian's never left two ways. It was no other way but the first one." Ryu said. Jeremy huffed.
"And I hopped..."
"...this time..."
"...we'll have..."
"...less problems..."
"... solving another puzzle..."
"... of the old Egyptians." John and Jeremy exchanged a sentence after sentence. Everyone just followed the exchange.
"That's just plain weird." Marik said. Odion and Isis nodded their heads.
"I found it!" They all turned to Yami when they saw him holding a very old looking book.
"I knew it was something old. I bought this 5 years ago on one of the auctions. It coasted me 230 000,00 dollars. I never thought it will serve for something more then an easy literature." He said biting his bottom lip. 'This is tricky... Thank God I have all I need here...' He thought, walking to one of the shelves.
"Don't you think it's risky? What if we burn the papyrus and don't find anything out?" Jean asked. Yami hummed and continued working.
"I don't know... I'm sure this will work. The only problem is that I don't know on which language it will be written... The Prophet used many languages and I don't think I know every single one of the ancient languages. The only thing I am afraid of right now is that the script will disappear before I have the chance to translate everything..." He said while mixing something on a small plate.
"I guess we will have to take the risk." Yugi asked. Yami nodded his head carefully slipping few drops of a silver liquid on the plate. Tea watched him worked. She didn't see Yami the archeologist anymore. She saw one of the ancient alchemists working on discovering the mystery of the Philosopher stone...
"Let's just pray we're able to translate everything." Yami said.
"I agree with that." Tea said. Yami's hand shivered on the sound of her voice and he stopped. No one noticed it but Jean and one very astute person.
"Just be careful you don't blow every one of us in thin smoke." Duke said. Joey smacked him in the back of his head.
"He's not as stupid as you are, Devlin." He growled. Duke huffed and crossed his hands over his chest turning away from Joey.
"Let's pray this works." Yami whispered taking the last bottle. He took the papyrus and placed on the little plate over the rest of the ingredients.
"Everyone... stop breathing..." He whispered and turned the bottle slightly over. A colorless liquid spilled slightly and the moment the drops touched the papyrus the light went off.
"What the hell is going on!!" Tristen yelled.
"Who turned off the lights!!!" Duke shouted.
"Be silent!" Yugi yelled. Suddenly something appeared in the air.
"Wha..." Ryu started but was shushed by Yami. Hieroglyphs started to form out of fire and they were able to see each other. Yami's eyes followed the letters appearing in the air.
"Mortal be careful,
for you do not know what lies ahead.
What you seek will be revealed,
Once you fulfill what will now be said.
In the depths of Kul Elna,
lies one part of the sacred key.
Find the lead which is hidden there,
and where you must go, you will see.
Though you think you might have time,
this proves that you are mistaken.
For when the light of the third day dies,
Your last chance will be forsaken..." Yami translated the scripts as they appeared.
"Fascinating." Odion said.
"I'm fascinated Yami here was able to read all of that. How many languages do you know?" Jeremy said. In that moment everything disappeared and light shined again.
"What the hell was that!" Duke gasped. Yami took a peace of paper and wrote everything down as quickly as he could.
"That, my friend... Is where we must next go. And as it seams... we have to hurry."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Prepare the helicopter! Call O'Connell and tell him I need him! He was the only one who found, and came back alive, from the Oasis of Kul Elna! Call the Cairo Science Institute and tell them I will not be available for at least the remaining of this month. I want everything prepared and set in the next two hours, so hurry up." Yami spoke in the speaker while everyone stared at him. He was just doing three jobs at the same time, getting ready for the trip, talking with someone over the phone and writing something down. Everyone was gathered in his room with the smallest amount of property they could bring waiting for him to get everything ready.
"No matter how many times I see him do this I end up fascinated every time." Jean said.
"Is he always like this?" Marik asked bewildered.
"Oh no. I saw him like this maybe... two... three times, when it concerned his job, but sometimes I would see him talk about something with someone on the phone and write something completely unconnected to the things he was talking about. One time he was salving a riddle, talking with me about my latest job for the British museum, and with all of that he managed to think of a present for one of his colleagues. She celebrated her 25 birthday at that time." She said spacing out.
"Jean, did you talk with Scot?" Yami's voice suddenly interrupted everyone and they returned their attention to him. He just gathered all the papers and closed his backpack.
"Y-Yeah... He greets you and said to take care of yourself. You know how it is in this time of year. Did you call the museum in Cairo?
"I asked Sara to do that. I think they will leave me alone for the remaining of the month. I didn't go on a vacation for almost three years now and I really think they will have some understanding. There is absolutely no way I am telling them anything about this. O'Connell will wait for us in the temple of Karnack. He will be our guide from there on. We have two and a half days to get to the oasis of Kul Elna. Let's go."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
I wish I could stop the time,
Minutes, years and hours.
Stop them... for a kiss, a caress...
A moment of mad sadness...
I wish to give you all my poems and note's.
Words and gazes.
Everything...
For our walks, warm beds
And the moon over the clouds.
I want to get back those autumn days
When we were still in love.
Autumn days in the park,
On the bench...
In our lives...
I wish for you to return,
For a mere moment
I wish to love, to be one with you.
For a mere moment...
One moment for eternity...
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Mr. Kaiba?" The said man never turned from the window he stood by.
"The agents failed." He said. The other one didn't dare to say anything. He was too afraid.
"It seams it is true what they say. If you want something done... do it yourself." He said and walked beside the man.
"You do know where they're going?" Kaiba asked, his voice cold and poisonous.
"Yes. They will meet someone who will lead them on. Do you want us to set a trap?" Kaiba was silent for a moment.
"No... We will let them lead us to the second trail... and when they find out what there is to do next... we will kill them... Every. Single. One..."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Yami sat in his place on the large jet and watched the scenario change below them. Tea was far from him but he still felt her presence. It was as if she was sitting right there beside him.
"Yami, stop shaking. Is something wrong?" Jean's voice woke him from his daydreaming.
"I'm sorry... I can't help myself."
"I know you must be exited about the discovery but please... This is doing nothing good to you." She said. A deep sigh came from his chest and he leaned in deeper in the comfortable chair.
"If only that was what is bothering me..." He said. He heard her laugh and his face cringed in a painful expression. Jean frowned.
"Why don't you go to her?" Yami's heart stopped.
"What are you t..."
"Don't play dumb with me, Yami I know who makes your nights restless." Jean said sounding strict. "First, she is as lonely as you are, second I know she loves you, third you are just afraid of your own emotions and fourth why the hell do you think you aren't good enough for her!" Although he knew no one heard her he couldn't help a slight blush adorn his features. He looked away from Jean.
"I can't explain why I feel how I feel. I just... I couldn't stand seeing Tea get hurt because of me." He said.
"Can't you see you are hurting her by hiding the truth from her!" Jean whispered.
"Jean! I can't ask of her to stay here with me! I can't ask of her to stay here and bring Annie with her because you know I am hardly ever home. She would be lonely and... they have all they need there... in Domino. With Yugi and everyone." He said sounding as if he was trying to convince himself what he said was true.
"For God's sake Yami be selfish for the first time in your life and do something for yourself!!!!" Jean yelled. there was silence in the jet for a moment. Yami sighed got up and left.
"Damn it!" Jean yelled and slammed her fist in the hand holster.
"What happened?" She heard someone call for her. She looked up and saw Tea stand above her.
"I'm sorry. Yami and I... We had a fight..." Tea looked at the woman's face.
"Is something wrong?" Tea sat beside the older woman. Jean sighed. She could say everything to Tea right now, but she knew Yami had to come to the safe terms with himself first..
"Yami... He is so stubborn! He thinks that if he had someone who would be there beside him all the time, that he would turn them soon away because he thinks he is too selfish. He wants a family. He wants someone to love and yet... he doesn't want that person to give up things for him." Jean spoke. Tea watched Jean. Something played in her heart but she didn't know what.
"He has you doesn't he? Isn't it enough?" Jean huffed.
"I am married and I'll have a child soon and Yami would never ask of me to stay here, because he knows I hate deserts and because he would never permit me to be unhappy. He knows that Scot and I would move in that mansion of his the next day if he asked. But he doesn't want people do sacrifices for him. He hates that. It's like... He is permitted to suffer a loneliness so difficult to bare and give everything he has to someone... and that someone doesn't have the right to do the same." Jean said. Tea was about to say something when something hit her.
"Wait a second... You and Yami... The two of you aren't married?" Jean almost fell of he chair.
"NO!!! For God's sake no!! That would be like... like marring my older brother!!!!!!" Jean said. Tea's heart started to beat faster against her ribcage.
"The baby..."
"Is from my husband... Scot Gray." Jean said staring at Tea completely confused. Tea suddenly flushed, but then her face lost color and then changed to totally depressed.
"Is something wrong, Tea?" Tea looked up and met with her.
"But... I thought... You two are so close! I thought you two were together..." Tea said all confused.
"No way! I mean... We were together before I met Scot... That one night... I never regretted it. Neither did Yami, but... I guess we were just too close. A week later Yami got so sick I didn't know wetter he will survive or not. I forgot everything about that. I prayed to every God I knew for him to wake up. I didn't talk to him that week and I would never forgive myself if something happened to him and I didn't talk to him, and tell him that everything is alright... that it doesn't matter what happened, that I still loved him more then I will love anyone in the world... In the hospital I met Scot. He helped Yami and the two of us decided to start seeing each other. Yami and I never again spoke of that night. It was there but instead of braking us apart in only made our connection stronger. He helped Scot and me get together and he has been there for us, never asking anything in return. He got sick so many times while I was somewhere with Scot and we would find out about that weeks maybe months later. He is a perfect actor." She spoke her face looking dreamingly.
"So.. there is nothing between you and Yami?" Tea asked her voice shivering. Jean smiled to her.
"Yami and I are just friends, Tea. No, we are like... like a brother and a sister only a little bit closer. I know him probably better then he knows himself." She said. 'And that is why he is with her, here... and not with us...' Jean watched Tea's saddened expression.
"Honey? What's wrong?" She asked.
"I'm just guessing... That must have been the real reason why he left. After he separated from Yugi, for us... he was just a former Pharaoh... We never actually tried to get to know him. The person he was then... the person he is now." Jean listened to Tea speak. 'Far from that, darling... I'm afraid you are the real reason...' She thought.
Tea sighed and got up.
"I'm going to get something to eat. I will return soon." She whispered and left. Jean sighed and looked out the window. 'The two will never get it.' She thought. No one noticed that someone else listened to the conversation. Ryu sighed and looked out the window.
'I never thought something like this could happen in the real world. Both Yami and Tea don't realize the pain they are inflicting to themselves. I don't think there is anything I could do for them... This is just so complicated...' He thought while watching the clouds dance around the jet...
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
What is so cold and bitter and gray
That grows in the soul smothering light?
Is it the sunset? Already the sunset?
Or just a shadow of the upcoming night...
What now? To chatter cheerful words?
To hide wounds behind joy and laughter?
As if something is healed by hiding...
Pain is pain, getting darker and darker...
My love! You who follow so close behind,
To lit the world with your heart; so beautifully...
Don't get fooled by that beautiful light,
Cut your wings... you're not meant to be free...
On the fest are strange joys,
and drunken men sing and cry...
Faith that gives us a way to run,
never gives a way to fly...
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Motou!!!!!" Someone called for Yami when they landed before the Temple of Karnack. Everyone followed from where the sound of the voice came and saw a young man, not older then 22 running to them.
"Alex!" Yami spoke. The man stopped before Yami and smiled to him brightly.
"I thought you might have stuck in one of the storms! I heard there was a really nasty one few miles away from here." He said.
"We're fine and we're in a hurry. We have to get to the ruins of Kul Elna as quickly as possible. I think we have one day and 12 hours to reach it and find out the next lead." Yami spoke. Alex nodded.
"Those are your friends?" He asked. Yami turned and nodded his head.
"I don't think you ever met Jean Grey but I'm sure you heard about her. Beside her are Joseph Wheeler and his partner Tristen Taylor. You know all about them considering you follow their careers. Then there is Duke Devlin the owner of a Game Shop and the inventor of Monster Dice. Beside him Tea Gardner and Yugi Motou of whom I think you know everything. Then there is Ryu Bakura, Odion, Marik and Isis Ishtar and behind them are the twins, I know you remember them, and the only person you know nothing about is Rachel, she is John's and Remy's little sister." Yami finished. Alex' eyes lingered on Rachel for a second and she bushed looking away. He was one handsome man. Alex couldn't take his eyes of Rachel. He was enchanted by hear beautiful eyes and face and... everything.
"Alex I do think we should make way." Yami said smirking. Alex jumped and looked at him.
"Y-yes... let's go. We don't have much time." He said.
"How will we get there?" Marik asked.
"The fastest way there is." Alex said leading them behind a giant rock. There floated something that highly exampled a zeppelin.
"This is... a flying balloon." Joey said. Alex laughed.
"This is the safest, fastest and with all that very silent, way to get to Kul Elna. Nothing can detect it in the air. We should reach the Oasis of Kul Elna safe, and leave it like that too." He said. Yami nodded.
"Let's go. We have no time to spare. Guys we'll have to help the girls climb up. Everyone get up and two will stay down to help, alright?" Yami asked, though his voice didn't leave place for questions or objections. He and Alex remained on the ground while Jeremy and John helped to grab the girls up. Isis left first and helped Marik and Odion make place on the deck. Everyone found a place and sat peaceful while the four helped Jean up on the deck. Next came Rachel. Alex smiled to her charmingly and the girl was so confused and baffled she forgot what she had to do what resulted her falling directly in his arms. She smiled sheepishly and Alex grinned, blushing. Yami sighed.
"Children, we don't have time for flirting." He said and the two woke up. Rachel was instantly up and the only one left was Tea. Yami felt his heart start racing when she gripped his hand. Goosebumps ran down his spine and he found it hard to breathe. Tea in the other hand felt as if her whole world is turning dark. The moment she touched Yami's hand she felt such warmth pass threw her world. She remembered how beautiful it felt to be comforted by Yami or how he knew just the right thing to say every time they talked. No matter how much he worried of other things or what bothered him at that time. 'He never asks anything in return...' She remembered Jean say. She was up before she knew it and the next thing she saw was Alex climbing up and Yami behind him.
"I suggest no one tries anything stupid. Playing Titanic is out of question." Alex said sounding both serious and jokingly. Yami hummed and left below deck. No one followed him for they didn't know what was bothering him. Jean sighed and shook her head.
"Let's go. We're loosing time." She said. Tea sighed from her place. She looked at the sunset. the sun shone its last rays. 'Is that why you left, Yami? Because we didn't understand. Because I didn't understand...'
- - - - - - - - - - - -
I lie on the ground,
and stare into space,
the stars start to move,
into the shape of your face.
I see you there now,
looking down at me,
with that cute little smile,
that I like to see.
You say "close your eyes",
tell me what you see",
I see only two people,
just you and me.
We're walking the shoreline,
with our feet getting wet,
the horizon turns pink,
as the sun starts to set.Oh I wish I could be,
in that one special place,
as I lie on the ground,
and I stare into space...
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Sir, we have them located!" Someone yelled from behind while Seto watched the scenery change below him.
"Follow them. We have to get there no later then them but we must not be noticed by them." Seto said.
"Don't you think it would be easier to just kill them and solve everything, sir?" One of the mercenaries asked. Seto humphed.
"I don't think you can read or write any of the ancient languages, and I sincerely doubt that you are as smart as Yami Motou. I admit that I need him. He is useful for now, and with him... It will be so much easier to torture Tea, considering my dear brother has such good protection over the damn brat. I guess I taught him too well for my own good." Seto spoke smirking.
"We're maintaining the course, sir. They will never know we're following them." An evil grin appeared on his face.
"Good."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Yami?" Tea called for him as she entered below the deck. She found him asleep his head on his hands over large papers and books. He looked so peaceful, asleep like that. She knew he must be cold so she looked around. She found a blanket and took it covering his shoulders with it so he wouldn't be cold. She was careful not to wake him as she felt her heart beat harder and harder. He looked so handsome, so relaxed and at peace. She was tempted to touch his soft looking hair and move the bangs from his face just to feel the softness. 'I am so sorry, Yami. I am so sorry I didn't see it before.' She thought. She turned and left for the upper deck stopping again in the bottom of the stairs. She looked at him for one last time. 'You will open up to me Yami... You'll see...' She turned and left. When she came up she saw that everyone was asleep. Almost everyone that is. She noticed that Rachel was awake and chatting with Alex and she saw Yugi stare into space on the other end of the deck. She walked to him and saw him notice her. He smiled and patted the place beside him.
"How is he?" He asked. She knew he would guess where she was without asking.
"He is asleep. I can't believe how people change when they think no one was watching. " Yugi chuckled.
"I don't think Yami is someone who would fall asleep in front of everyone. But I think it happened on accident."
"I agree. He was working and just fell asleep." Tea said a chuckle escaping her lips.
"That sounds like Yami." Yugi sighed. Tea only then noticed how lost Yugi looked.
"Is something wrong , Yugi?" She asked. Yugi looked at her confused.
"Don't try to foul me, Yugi. You know you can't." She said. Yugi sighed.
"I'm just wondering how Rebecca's doing now. I didn't have a chance to call her from the day we left Domino." He said. Tea smiled.
"Don't worry. She's fine. I'm sure she's eagerly waiting for you." Yugi smiled a small blush painting his cheeks.
"Yeah.. I'm sure. You should get some sleep. It will take us a while to reach Kul Elna." Tea nodded.
"That's a smart idea. Take your own advice." She said, taking a blanket from the box on which they sat and lying on the pile of ropes.
"I will, don't worry. Good night."
"Good night." Tea said and merely moments later she was asleep...
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
When Yami woke up, judging by the light that came to the bottom deck, he knew it was daylight. When he got up he felt something fall down his back. He looked down and saw a blanket folded on the chair.
"Who..."
"Yo Yami!!!! Come here!!! You gotta see this!!!!!" Alex shouted from the upper deck. Yami walked up slowly still confused with what happened after he fell asleep last night. All his thoughts disappeared when he came on the upper deck and saw what was before them. A beautiful oasis with a ruined pyramid in the centre It didn't look as magnificent as he was sure it looked centuries ago but it was still a site to behold.
"May the Gods have mercy on my soul." He murmured. "This is beautiful." He walked closer to fence.
"How long until we're able to land?" Jean asked. Alex shrugged his shoulders.
"We'll land beside the pyramid around afternoon. Now it's a good time to have breakfast. I'm starving." He said. Rachel laughed and they all sat down to have breakfast. Yami looked around. He had a really bad feeling about something and it didn't leave him be at peace. Something in his gut just screamed something was wrong. Yugi called for him to join them when he felt something press his heart. Suddenly the wind got stronger and he looked at the sky.
"Damn it!! A storm is coming!" Alex yelled and was at the vessel a moment later. The wind started to blow stronger and Yami felt as if he was kicked by a train. He fell and hit the fence almost falling out.
"Yami!" He heard Jean call for him.
"Everyone sit down and hold tightly!!! We'll have to land immediately!" Yami yelled. Alex wielded the zeppelin trying to safely land them. Yami looked around checking if everyone was safe when his eyes met with Tea's. For a moment everything was alright when suddenly wind got stronger and they were blown into the side. All Yami needed was a heart piercing scream to confirm his fears. He looked up and saw Tea falling. He didn't even think twice for he was already there holding her close. Both were thrown by the blow and Yami took a fall in the fence. Tea fell on him with a frightened scream. In the next moment the fence broke and both of them fell out. Tea felt her breath leave her knowing what will come next but the deathly fall never came and she realized someone was holding her tightly against him. She looked up and saw Yami's hurting face. She looked up and saw he gripped the edge of the broken fence holding them both up. Suddenly the wind started to soften. For a moment Tea though she heard someone whisper something but when she looked around she found no one.
"Call for them." Tea heard someone tell and looked at Yami.
"Please... I-I can't hold on much longer." He said. Tea looked up and saw his hands bleeding. She looked up.
"Yugi! Guys!! Help us!!!" She yelled when suddenly she screamed in surprise when they slipped. Yami's grip was weakening. She looked at him and saw he was in pain.
"I'm sorry..." He whispered and suddenly his grip on the edge broke and Tea was sure that this time they would fall. The emotions that passed threw her heart were so strong and Yami's grip around her waist was so warm and tight she thought the time has stopped and that everything is happening in a slow motion. For a second she felt as if they were falling but then something stopped them and she heard Yami's painful shout. She looked up and saw Joey and Tristen holding Yami's hand. Blood tackled down his wrist and in his shirt. Few drops were on his face which frowned in pain.
"Hold on!" Joey yelled. Yami nodded his head.
"Take Tea up first. I don't know for how long I can stand this." He said. He was in such pain right now. Something must have been broken because the hand that held Tea shivered fiercely and the pain in his shoulder was huge. Joey was still holding his hand and Tristen called for Ryu to help him get Tea up. When she was safe Tristen and Ryu came to help Joey lift Yami up.
"Give me your other hand!" Tristen called for Yami.
"I don't think I can, sorry!" He answered. It was true. He couldn't move his right arm.
"We'll just have to work with what we have, then." Joey said. And the three started to pull Yami up. At the time they made it all four of them were tired.
"Get us down. We'll walk to the pyramid." Yami said. Jean was by his side already.
"Not until I look at your shoulder. It doesn't look good. And your hand requires bandaging. " She said seeing the blood. Yami didn't have any strength to argue with her so he just nodded.
"Move the jacket." Jean ordered. Yami obeyed but found it very hard to do so.
"It's out. Completely." Jean said observing his shoulder.
"We're landing people. Hold on!" Alex yelled and indeed a second later they landed with a thud.
"How long will it take we can move on?" Marik asked. Yami got up and sat on a box Jean following him.
"Just let Jean relocate my shoulder and bandage my hand and we can move on. In the meantime, Alex would you please find out where we are and how long do we have til the pyramid?" Alex nodded and went bellow deck, Rachel following him. Tea watched as Jean observed Yami's shoulder. It looked bad, but his left hand looked worse. It was all bloody and the palm was scratched. She was sure Yami won't grip anything so very soon.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. Yami looked at her.
"Never mind. It was a normal thing to do." Yami said. In his heart he was happy to have saved her but the moment he looked in her eyes he felt an incredible pain. He was so focused to get rid of that feeling he didn't hear when Jean warned him that what she was about to do might hurt very much so when she relocated his shoulder the pain left him breathless.
"ouch... That must have hurt." Joey said.
"I'm so sorry." Tea whispered. She watched Yami take deep breaths trying to erase the memory of the pain which was caused by Jean. Jean went for her bag and took a vile of something and white bandages. As she treated him and everyone waited for Alex and Rachel to find out where they were Tea took a moment to think about the recent situation. She remembered the second she thought she would fall and get killed. The moment she was thrown away she was ready to say her last prayer when she hit something soft. She didn't understand, nor remember, what happened next. She realized Yami was there only when they were hanging on the edge, Yami holding her against him. In that comment of fear and horror she felt something more. As insane as it may sound... she felt safe... She only just now realized that Yami saved her life not even caring for his own. He jumped to save her not even thinking about his own security. If there wasn't for Joey and everyone, both of them would be dead or dieing right now. Tea looked at him. He looked so calm while watching around as Jean finished treating his hand.
"Stop staring." Someone whispered in her ear. She jumped slightly until she saw who it was.
"Ryu! What are you talking about?" She asked. Ryu chuckled.
"You are staring at Yami openly. For someone who wishes her emotions to be held hidden, you are quite openly showing you are in love with him." Tea blushed bright red.
"Why don't you go to him?" Ryu asked. Tea sighed.
"It's too complicated." She said. Ryu nodded.
"Love happens to be this way." He said. Suddenly Alex and Rachel came up.
"We have ten hours of constant walking until we reach the pyramid. And if we'll be counting by the time we all have left we have... around 20 hours to get to the pyramid, find out the second trail and get the hell out of here." He said. Rachel nodded.
"Then we better start walking. We don't stop unless it's an emergency. Alex do you have a weapon?" Yami asked flexing his shoulder He nodded to Jean in thanks and she just smiled.
"I think I have few daggers, knifes and short swards downstairs. That will be useful in getting threw the jungle, here." He answered. Yami nodded.
"Get ready people, we have to go."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"They have landed, sir! Do you wish to land too?" A man asked Sato while they floated over the large canyon.
"No... Go to the pyramid. We will wait for them there. We have a business meeting to set." He said and started to laugh and laughter that would freeze the very essence of your being...
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"God damn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Joey's should resonated threw the forest, when everyone turned and shushed him.
"Don't you shush me! I hate snakes and this freaking forest is filled with them!!!!" He yelled.
"Joey... there are no snakes in here. Now move on." Duke said. Suddenly a loud hiss sounded itself behind him and everyone jumped. Jeremy stood there holding a black snake in his hands.
"This is a Black Mamba, one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. If this little thing bit you, you would be dead before you'd know it." He said as in a matter of facts. Duke gulped.
"Everyone stop fouling around. We're lacking time for that. " Yami said and they walked on cutting threw bushes, avoiding places that seamed a little bit dangerous. Noon passed and they were able to see the pyramid towering before them.
"Just a little while more." Isis said. Everyone became extra careful. They all had this gut feeling something was extremely wrong, but no one knew what exactly.
"Is it just me, or does everyone feel like something's wrong?" Yugi asked. He received nothing but silent humms from everyone. Yami suddenly stopped.
"Yami?" Odion asked.
"There is something foul in the air." Marik whispered.
"Be careful..." Yami said and led on. Suddenly a silent thud came from the bushes. The sound repeated few times in a row.
"Damn it... we're surrounded." Tristen asked.
"But by what?" Duke asked.
"Yami... what's the plan..." Ryu asked. Suddenly a small dart flew beside Joey's head.
"Run!!" Yami yelled. He didn't need to repeat twice. Everyone started to run as fast as they could towards the pyramid. They heard someone chasing behind them.
"Guys!!!" Yugi yelled.
"Just keep running." Joey answered.
"What is that!!!" Duke yelled.
"Shut up and run!!!!!!!!!" Tristen yelled.
"They're catching up with us!!" Marik yelled.
"Forget that and run!!!" Rachel shouted running faster and faster.
"Where the hell is that pyramid!!!!" Jeremy yelled.
"Shut up!!" Alex yelled.
"We're here!! Duck!!!!" Yami yelled. No one objected when they saw Yami turn swiftly his hands forming something they recognized as seals.. He shouted something and the amulet in his hands glowed and fire flew over everyone's heads. No one dared to look up until there was silence. When they dared to lift their heads they saw Yami leaning heavily on a tree, the bandage on his left hand burned together with the half of his sleeves.
"What the hell just happened..." John asked. Yami sighed.
"Let's get into the pyramid, get this over with and then... I'll tell you what I just did." He said turning and walking to the entrance. They all stopped before the large pyramid not believing what they saw. Yami tried to stand steadily on his feet but he suddenly tripped and caught to the three to maintain his balance.
"Damn it... this is exhausting..." He whispered. 'I haven't done this in years...' He thought while trying to stop the mad spinning of the world.
"Yami are you alright?" Rachel asked coming to his side. He looked at her and a faint smile came to his lips.
"I'm fine. Just give me a second." He straightened and took few deep breaths.
"Alex, please lead on. I'll go last in case they return." Yami said.
"You aren't strong enough to do that again, Yami."
"In case you still remember the wards I'll gladly give the amulet to you and let you go last." Alex blushed under Yami's gaze and mumbled something. Yami sighed.
"Let's go, we don't have time to spare." He said and they made they way on. Tea took a look at Yami. It seamed he was sleepwalking. She wondered what it was what he did. Her eyes fell on his right hand and she saw he still held the amulet. She made herself return her attention to the pathway and maybe half an hour later they were standing before the entrance to the pyramid.
"God help us..." Joey whispered. Everyone stood there, their faces all holding wowed expressions. Yami walked between them to the entrance. He looked all over the doors and they heard him mumble something they didn't understand. He turned and looked around.
"What are you looking for. We found the entrance." Duke said. Yami passed beside him.
"Yami..." Jean started but was interrupted by Yami.
"That is not the entrance." Yami said. He came to one place before a tall pillar and looked down. He walked around it and stopped on the first place he stood on. He turned and looked at the sun.
"This is it." He whispered.
"Yami? What will you do?" Tristen asked. Yami looked at him lifting his eyebrow. He suddenly leaned on the pillar and everything started to shake. Before they knew it... Yami disappeared.
"Yami!!!!! Were are you!!!" Jean called.
"Yami!!!"
"I'm down here!!!!!" He called for them. They came to the pillar and saw a bottomless hole.
"Yami?" Rachel called.
"Just jump in and..." Yami's voice disappeared.
"Yami?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" Jean called for him.
"Just... come down..." They heard him say. One by one they came down Tea being the last one. When she joined everyone her eyes almost fell out. They were in a beautiful room covered in gold. The walls were covered in hieroglyphs. Before them was something like a throne, and before it a large bowl of... something. Yami walked slowly to it and touched a symbol in the front.
"The Eye of Horus... The protector..." He whispered and moved away. He looked around and then returned to the bowl.
"This is it." He whispered.
"Yami? What's going on?" Yugi asked coming to him. Yami's lips moved soundlessly. He moved away for a moment and looked up at the roof.
"You'll have to move away... as fare as you can." He said.
"What about you?" Jeremy asked.
"I'll be fine." Yami answered. His voice didn't leave place for compromises. Everyone moved away carefully watching Yami circling the bowl. They watched him play with the amulet in his hands. It looked as if he calculated something. He stopped on his start position and sighed.
"Let's just hope I'm right." He whispered and placed the amulet in the centre of the Eye. It seamed everything stopped for a moment when suddenly a strong earthquake shook everything and long sticks fell off the roof, surrounding him.
"Yami!!!" Everyone called for him. When the dust came down they saw him kneeling with something in his hands. It shined and it seamed Yami was in some kind of a trance. He didn't answer on their calls, he didn't move or anything. No sounds came to them but the echo of the desperate shouts of everyone. Suddenly Yami shook his head. He stood up slowly. He looked around himself and then at them. He smiled slightly and nodded his head. Suddenly everything started to shake.
"We have to get out of there." He yelled and somehow managed to come out from between the sticks. Everyone understood there wasn't time for chit-chat and ran towards the exit. Nobody knew how long it took for them to get out but when they came out they were thankful to see the burning sun.
"Uh... guys..." Yugi's voice came to them. They looked up and their breath caught up in their throat. They were surrounded by men with guns. Suddenly someone started to clap and their heads turned in the direction the sound came from. When they saw who stood there their heart stopped beating. Tea fell on her knees her eyes wide open. Yami was tempted to kill him then and there but sustained himself putting his stoic face back on.
"Congratulations everyone. That was very good." Seto Kaiba said, the cruel smirk never leaving his face.
"What do you want Kaiba..." Yami spoke.
"Doesn't matter what he wants!! I'll kill you, you fucking..." Joey stared to walk at Kaiba but Tristen and Duke sustained him.
"Don't be an idiot and get killed." Duke said, looking at the circle of very heavy armed men.
"You know what I want, Yami. The second trail. Give it to me and no one gets hurt." He said. Yami hummed.
"You know that won't happen, and you are smart enough not to kill us. If something happened to any of us it would lead straight to you. I think that is the last thing you want, Kaiba." Yami said. Seto humphed.
"You always knew what to say, at what time, pharaoh. You think you can control everything, because you are almighty and everything. But in the end I won, didn't I? I got the one thing you could have never had. The one person who could have never been yours."
"What the hell are you talkin' about Kaiba!!!" Joey yelled. Kaiba laughed shortly.
"So it is true... You didn't tell them, did you... Yami? I can't even imagine what you said to them about why you left... You were always a good liar, pharaoh. I guess it was for the best."
"Yami? What is he talking about?" Duke asked. Tea got up.
"Shut up, Seto. Yami left because we didn't even bother to get to know him. He needed a chance to live on his own. To fit in to this world." Yami heard her stand up for him and his heart ached. Seto laughed a maniacal laughter.
"So this is what he told you, is it?" His laughter continued. Everyone's eyes were on Yami but he seamed calm.
"Seto... what do you want..." The laughter died down when Yami spoke. His voice was low and threatening.
"We'll do it like this, Yami. You have 48 hours to think. In 48 hours, if I don't get the second trail, I will find and kill both the idiot of my brother and the little brat. Is that clear."
"No!" Tea yelled and was about to run at Seto when Jean caught her and stopped her from doing something stupid. Seto stared to laugh again and turned his back to them.
"Oh and Yami, I think your so called friends will require some answers once we're gone... will you tell them the truth now?" He said and soon they left. Everyone's eyes were on Yami.
"Yami? What was he talking about?" Yugi asked. Jean approached him ad placed her hand on his shoulder.
"We should return to the zeppelin." Yami said.
"Not until we talk, mister!!" Duke said but Tea stopped him.
"Yami... tell us the truth... why did you leave?"
"Why does it matter so much!" He yelled and turned to Tea. Tea never saw such anger in his eyes. It seamed he desperately wanted to end this conversation and seeing him like that almost made her give up, but the need to know the truth was stronger.
"It matters to us!" Tea said. It seamed this will be between the two of them.
"What happened, happened! The past is the one thing I don't want or need to linger on!!" Yami said.
"What is it that Seto took from you!! What is the one thing you could have never had!!"
"Why do you want to know Tea!!! It doesn't matter anymore!!!" Yami said.
"Yami just tell us the truth!" Yugi said.
"I don't want to tell you the truth because it won't change a thing, all right!!" Yami said. Jean took a step from him. He was shaking strongly and she never saw him so vivid.
"Yami please!!! It matters to us to know why you left!" Tea said.
"And it's important to me, to keep it for myself!!"
"Stop being so selfish!!!!"
"Just because I don't want to be selfish, I don't want you to know!!!"
"You are selfish!! You are selfish because the only thing you care about is your own peace!!"
"Like it would change something if you knew!"
"It would, God damn it!!"
"What difference would it make!!!"
"I would feel better!!"
"So I am the selfish one!!!!"
"Stop being so cynical and tell me why the hell did you..."
"It doesn't matter!!" Yami felt his heart rip to shreds. He couldn't stand it for another second. Tea growled almost. It was something in-between a growl and an angry shout.
"We loved you Yami! You could have stayed there and be with us! Everything would be all right, but noooo!! You had to leave and fuck everything up!!! We have every right to know!!!" Tea felt hot tears start stinging her eyes.
"So what if I fucked up everything. My life was fucked up the moment I accepted my destiny!!! I have every bit of the right to be selfish and want some peace!!!" He yelled back. He prayed to every God he knew that the words that lied on the tip of his tong won't escape him because he was afraid of what will happen next, but as seconds passed he knew he couldn't hold on any longer.
"I just want to know!"
"And I don't want you to know!!!"
"Yami, just tell me the truth!
"What use is there!"
"Just tell me what the fuck did Kaiba take from you!!"
"YOU COULD NEVER UNDERTSTAND!!"
"WHY DID YOU LEAVE!!"
"I LEFT BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, GOD DAMN IT!!!!!!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Can't do it any more... can't write... have to rest... Leave a review... I don't have any strength to do anything more... You know the rule... 4 reviews at least. Thanks to everyone who reviewed... have... to... sleep...