A/N: I still don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Otherwise, there would be some MASSIVE YugixYami/Atem going on up in those episodes… :D I guess I own the idea of this fanfic though...?

Oh FYI- italicized wordsmean it's a different language and Yugi/Atem are not meant to understand it.

Sorry for this laggy update too! I was uninspired for a tic… a really long tic… but I got my groove back! For now… lulz!

I DON'T HAVE A BETA. So 95% of it you can figure out and make sense of it on your own. :D I do skim through it once or twice, but that's about it. Sorry about all the mistakes.

REMEMBER! I do First POV! There will be FRAGMENTS! People's thoughts are never formed like a novel where everything is jumbled up in complete sentences. I like to make this more fun than typical First POVs. I'm still getting some practice in. :D

Hope you enjoy and review at the end. No flames, but constructive feedback is fine as always. Just don't tell me about corrections. As stated, I do not have a beta. Let me know though if you do have questions/comments about he plot, flow of the story, etc.

333

Mid-Afternoon of Day Three…

I feel that I am getting so much closer to him. I have the best lead so far in the past couple of days and she's dragging me in between crowds and going through back alleyways and hiding behind walls and street objects such as merchant booths or barrels. I feel as though I might be reaching my limit because I'm so malnourished and exhausted from all the running and hiding. I barely have had anything to eat and I've had the worse sleep in my life. From all the little cuts and bruises I've gotten, I'm surprised I haven't gotten an infection from all this dirt and touch contact I've had from bumping into people.

You know, this could actually be a danger… what happens if I'm not used to any of the "past" diseases… Oh man! Too complicated…

I'm sorry Atem, but I need to sit down for a little while. Just a few minutes, and maybe some break just to feel functioning.

"Mana." I say aloud.

"Yugi?" We both stop and she turns around with a worried look. I think she caught onto my condition because I was trembling and I began to lean on a wall where we stopped. She put her hand to my forehead and her other hand on her forehead and she began to look panicked. Did I have a fever? I thought I was just warm and sweaty because of my bum robe and the heat of the sun. Then again, there was an Egyptian night that was pretty cold…

She took my hand and guided me to another alleyway where it seemed to be really empty. She sat me on a wooden crate and snuggled the robe on me a little closer to my skin. She used one hand to cup my face to make me look at her. I started to struggle with my eyes now and my head began to hurt. This is bad timing. I was feeling just fine earlier in the day.

Did the stress of all this finally catch up to me? Have I been ignoring a signal?

Jeeze… really bad timing… I don't want to see my handsome pharaoh when I look like crap! Well… er… nevermind… I already do. I'm dirty as Hell! And I bet I smell too. Bad. But now I'm sick to top it all off.

"Yugi." I heard my name and I opened my eyelids wider. She got my attention and I see her raise her hands and pushed air towards me to signify for me to stay here and she pointed to herself and pointed at a direction and signified for me to stay again. She jogged away and I leaned back into the shadow part of the wall and felt the coolness of it seep into my ragged robe and through my black shirt. My pants didn't feel so bad, at least the uniform was a breathable material and I felt a weird peaceful feeling as a breeze passed me by.

I listen intently on people talking that are passing by the alleyway. I don't understand the language, but I can tell some of the tones just by listening. I turn my head and I see the busybodies walking around, kids playing, bargaining with merchants, couples chatting…

I close my eyes and pretend that me and Atem are chatting away and shopping around the bazaar.

But I doubt that he can even just walk down the flea markets. He's Pharaoh after all. I wonder how big the palace is. Does he have a garden? How far is The Nile River from here? Would he let me hold his hand?

I start to smile. I wonder if he'll at least accept me into his life. Well, I mean after I tell him the reason why I went through the rift.

My Yami will say, 'Yugi! What are you doing here?' 'Oh well, you know Atem. I came to tell you something.'

But my dumbass or maybe the fever talking… or both, I said slowly and in a whisper:

"I came for you, Atem…"

I started to chuckle nervously because I whispered his name. I hope that no one heard it. That's a feverish accident not to be happening again.

"I heard it! He spoke the pharaoh's name! Arrest him!" Oh now there is some yelling, I open my eyes slowly and I see guards pointing their spears at me from the adjacent wall from where I was. Really, patrolling on this side of town!

I get up in a rush and I was all wobbly. My legs felt like jelly. My headache became worse, but my first instinct was to run. Too bad I didn't have the instinct to run to a different direction. I ran deeper into the alleyway and I looked behind me and the guards had to file in one by one to fit into the narrow space.

"Use the powder when you have the chance!" I heard a yelling, but I don't know what it means. This language barrier is getting really annoying!

"This is really annoying!" I shout out. I back into a wall. "MANA! Where are you? MANA!" I yell out her name! I hope she is still close by to hear me. I think I'm really screwed right now.

A guard that's facing me drops his spear and digs into a pouch. "Stop whatever you're doing!" I raise my hands and I try to make an angry face, but I just hear an "hmph" sound from him. Guess my nineteen year old baby-face isn't exactly threatening.

I see that he is holding in his hand like a fist. I didn't know what to do at this moment, so in an impulse, like an idiot that I am, I dove for his spear hoping I can get to it in time to have some kind of defense.

"Do it now!" I heard more of their foreign language and just as I was about to make the leap of faith, the guard closest to me opens the palm of this hand to reveal a white powder and just as quickly that I had seen it in his hand, the guard blew it into my face.

"AH! What the-!" I was shocked of what just happened and surprised! I coughed and waved my hands in the air to scatter the powder as much as I could, but despite all that effort, it had still touched my face. My skin doesn't feel any irritation, but my eyes are itchy with a slight burning!

"Oh my God! What the Hell did you guys do to my eyes!" I started to rub them frantically. Out of instinct, I took off my robe and held it to my face to remove as much of this burning powder from my eyes as possible.

"It is the doppelganger of Great Pharaoh! Detain him and we'll bring him to our majesty!" Oh no! Did they figure me out!

I stopped rubbing my face and I looked up to see them…

When did it get dark? I tried to open my eyes wider, but I feel my eyes getting itchier as I try to open them wider, but the air around me is what irritated my eyes. I tried to look down with my eyes to see my hands but all I saw was black…

BLACK!

"I'M BLIND! YOU MADE ME BLIND! MANA!" I kept backing up until I hit the wall. I want to escape!

I started to have dizzy spells… no not now! "Please not now…" I feel the room spinning, but I keep fighting for consciousness. I feel an aggressive hand grab onto mine and dragging me to what I think is out in the open. I hear people walking around and I think some whispers too.

"Guards! Please stop this at once! He is ill!" I hear a female voice.

"Mana! We are detaining the doppelganger! What are you doing here outside of the palace?"

"Um… I was sent here to let you know to be careful with him. Pharaoh doesn't want us to harm him for he… uh… wants us to… question him! Yes! And he looks ill!" That sounds like its Mana!

"Mana? Mana?" I pry myself away from the guard's wrist and reach out to Mana, but I don't know where she is! I feel a more delicate wrist hold onto my hand and I hear a whisper. "Yugi." Oh good it is her.

"Mana, why does this boy seek you out?"

"I was tending to the boy. He has meant no harm to me, and I was going to bring him food. I was sent out by Pharaoh to find you, but I found him first. We must be careful with him for that is Great Pharaoh's wish."

"If that is Great Pharaoh's wish, then his wish is law. I shall escort you and the doppelganger to the palace. My subordinates shall keep patrolling as usual."

Man I wish I knew what was going on. This is really frustrating. I take a deep breath and let it out. I feel trembling again and I was about to just fall, but Mana was holding me steady and I had my other arm outstretched for balance.

I turned to try to face Mana. I pointed to my eyes and I waved my hand back towards me and moving it side to side of my face, then I shake my head. I hope that's the sign she can figure out to let her know I'm blind. I lost my bum robe so I can't even show her. I have no idea what's going on.

I could tell she was moving around by the sounds of the dirt under her feet and the difference in the feeling of her grip on me. I think she's moving around. She then put something against me and I used my free hand to grab onto it. I recognize the material as the robe. She then took my hand that she was holding and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"You used the powder on him?"

"It couldn't be helped Mana. He didn't surrender and he was after my spear. We needed him to sit still and the opportunity arose. Other than that, he has no injuries that we have caused."

"Alright. He doesn't seem to be in any pain than he has been since I first found him, so I believe you. Let us escort him to the palace. Tis for the pharaoh."

"Alright. Men, continue with surveying the city."

"Sir!" I heard footsteps going off into the distance. I guess the guards left.

"Let us be on our way, Mana."

"Alright. Yugi." I feel her gently bringing towards her and tugging me.

This is so crazy. I've literally been in the dark about this whole situation. I don't know what they are talking about, except that I think… I think two guards left, but then one is still here? I'm so lost and I have no idea what is going on. I can't believe that throughout this whole ordeal I've been scared out of my wits in a land unknown to me in the afterlife.

As we were moving along, I feel Mana using the rag robe to cover my head and arms. Does it even matter? After the fiasco of my second day here that the Egyptians thought I was their pharaoh, I'm sure the public themselves is searching out where the imposter is. I'm the imposter to everyone here in this city, but I think I have finally two people on my side.

The love of my life, and his sidekick. That makes me smile. Tea was right I guess with all of her friendship speeches. They actually kinda stick to you and you remember them when you need it most.

But of course, everything is a lot harder if you're in my shoes. Stuck in the afterlife, in Egypt, where I don't even know the language- no speaking, reading, or writing at all-, no money so I have to result to thievery or not eat or drink at all, and to top it all off, the city is looking for me because they think I'm the pharaoh's imposter.

Mana is being my eyes right now and my walking stick. I'm really feeling exhausted right now.

Eff. My. Life.

Seriously, I have more respect for the homeless now. People shouldn't always think that they are crazy drug addicts. If they can do this on an everyday basis, they have some balls to just wing it in life.

I hold onto Mana's shoulders for a better grip. I think she sensed it that I might pass out soon. I really do feel like it though, but I shake my head whenever I feel like I'm gonna fall asleep. If I trust Mana and this guard, at least I hear another pair of feet in the dirt road, I should be led to the palace now. She's helping me stay up. She puts a tighter grip on my hand that's around her shoulders and her other hand to keep me up right. I hope I'm not too heavy for her.

And we're walking… been walking for… I have no idea. I lost all sense of time since I first got here. I just know when its morning, noon, evening, and night. No exact hour. What the heck is going on… I really want to know…

How do the blind go through this everyday?

You really start to think what you have been taking advantage for. I wonder how Yami felt (better use that name for a while before I feverishly blurt out his real name again like dumbass)? Coming into a different country, a completely different time period, and learning to adapt. At least he knew my…language…

Oh my God… He knew my language… was it because we were sharing the mind link?

Are we going to not understand each other now that since we don't have it anymore?

"Damn!" I whispered. I hold onto Mana's shoulder just a little tighter. "Yugi?" I nod my head toward her signaling that I was okay. Crap! This is insane. I won't be able to understand him, let alone proclaim my love for him!

What kind of afterlife is this! Seriously! This is going to be a really big disaster. I start tearing up, letting out a drop or two. I think Mana couldn't tell because it's probably mixed in with my feverish sweat.

This is getting way too hard, but I can't turn back. I'm so close to seeing him now. I feel like it has been years already and it's only been days. I'm really tired.

We came to a halt and I hear a more low tone of footsteps. Sounds like people are climbing stairs. Mana lets go of my waist and picks up a slack of my pants that's on my knees and places my leg on a step.

Oh! We reached the stairs!

I begin to start going up the stairs with her and she pats my back. I guess to say 'good job!" I snort and smile and I hear a giggle from her. Body language is certainly wonderful.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourt-oooff! Okay, that was a flat surface. Hm…

I'm sensing that we are here…

My heart is racing…

My breathing gets heavier and quicker…

I'm going to see him! Er… I can't.

He's going to see me though!

I'm not ready! I'm not ready! I smell, I'm ugly, I'm sweating, I'm dirty and- ohh….

Another dizzy spell…

I can't make it.

I can't.

My eyes get heavier, I start to feel hotter, my body is aching…

My anxiety just made everything worse for me.

I feel Mana has a tighter grip on me. I must've been tipping over at some point without knowing.

I hear whispers and I hear more conversations that I just cannot understand worth the life of me.

Mana tightens her grip and pulls on my waist and we hold still. I hear doors opening.

We walked in slowly and after about ten or fifteen steps, we stopped and I felt the gentle motions of Mana lowering me to ground on all fours and putting me into a kneeling position. Oh God, this is it, isn't it?

"High Preist Seth, it is an honor to be in your presence. We request an immediate audience with Great Pharaoh. We have brought the doppelganger. We had to use the blind powder on him for he did not surrender to us." Hm, the guard spoke. Seth… I recognize that name… I can't seem to remember right now… My head feels so hazy right now.

"Tis true?" I hear a raspy voice that reminds me a lot of Seto Kaiba.

"Yes. Mana, remove the robe." The guard spoke and- ah! Mana took off my robe! I wasn't prepared for this! I instinctively put my hands on my head to try to flatten my hair and hide its style and colors. I have no idea if it's working. Mana patted my back and I just took it as a signal to rise. I slowly did, but my breathing was getting slower now and my head was pulsing.

I feel a hand on my chin and moving my head from side to side.

"I see. So it is all very true. Pharaoh's word is absolute truth. This is the boy. I will fetch Son of Ra and I shall return with him very shortly. This is a private matter. Guards! You are to exit this throne room at once and stand by the doors outside."

"Yes High Priest Seth. It shall be done." More footsteps leave.

"Mana, you may put the robe back on him. He seems to be very feverish. I have noticed he has bruises on his arms and some small open injuries that have not been attended too. Not to worry, he will be taken care of and the powder seems to be wearing off. It seems his pupils are returning to normal." I heard a soothing ending at that last part of when the Seto-voice was talking. It's kinda relaxing. The robe is back on me, but not covering my hair anymore.

I hear footsteps leaving and getting softer as it gets farther away. What's going on?

I start to see light… and blurry shapes.

Oh! My vision is coming back!

"Mana." I turn to face her and I can start to see her face again. I rub my eyes and it sort of helped. I can see her facial features again, vaguely, but again!

"Yugi?" She cocked her neck to the side out questioning me calling her name. I used my eyes to look around and back at her and smiled. She smiled back at me. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My eyes are feeling more relaxed no longer do I feel that background irritation feeling that I had since when the powder was first used onto me.

I started to get up to stretch my body and legs, but then I started to tip over again, and I lost my balance. I heard footsteps coming, sounds of two people, but then one pair was rushing. It was happening so fast and yet in slow motion. I tried to look toward where the footsteps are coming from and I see a familiar figure rushing toward me. It still seemed blurry from a distance, and then I was noticing that the scenery is moving sideways. I'm falling… and I blinked.

I landed to what felt like a warm embrace.

"Yugi!" I felt a slight shake from the embrace. That voice…

I kept my eyes closed as I was trying to regain my composure. Then I coughed and opened my eyes slightly. My eyes were trying to adjust to my new level of horizon that was close to the floor.

It was a familiar star-shaped head that I can see.

"Yugi! Can you hear me?" I can't understand him. It's just my name I know. I'm starting to see colors… face shape, ears, yellow bangs and some were standing up. A red tint at the end of the star and black color filling. His face is very handsome and elegant. So sophisticated… and tanned…and those eyes… worried, crimson-violet eyes….

Atem!

"Atem! I finally found you!" I smiled and I brought my hand to his cheek. I think he smiled back at me and I'm not sure if he took my hand, but things are starting to go black. No… I just got to him… "Sorry Atem… I'm sick…" I wasn't sure if I grinned or was still smiling, but then I passed out. The last words I heard were:

"Yugi! What did you say? I don't understand! Yugi! Quickly! To the infirmary ward"

Nope. I still don't get it…

My Ra! Yugi is in my arms this very second!

"Yugi! Yugi!" I shake him a little, but he is not waking up.

"It's okay, Pharaoh. I'm sure he is just ill and has fainted. Let's take him to the infirmary." My High Priest said.

"Yes you are right. I'm just so. Surprised. He's here. He's actually here."

I'm lift Yugi and carry him bridal style directly the infirmary ward.

I cannot believe it! Yugi is here in my kingdom! He's here!

I turn to Mana as the three of us are walking in a fast pace.

"What has happened to Yugi?"

"Oh Pharaoh so much as happened! His crime is saying your name and the guards used the blinding powder on him when he didn't surrender! He's sick Pharaoh." She breathes. "He has a fever and possibly infections from his injuries. It seemed like he hasn't eaten for days and hasn't had a proper bath. I found him in the most under-privileged streets in the kingdom. He'll be fine I'm sure of it!" I can tell she is trying to catch up to my speed in walking. She puts her hand on my shoulder and we slow down. We get to the infirmary and I pushed the doors open very hard.

"Healer! Healer!" I yelled and I quickly put Yugi onto a bed in the middle of the room.

"Son of Ra I'm here." I see my physician, a middle aged woman came rushing through. She looks at me then at Yugi on the bed.

"Oh my! It is the doppelganger! He is injured!" She gasped and rushed to the other side of the bed. She quickly put a hand to his forehead and checked his wrist. She lets out a sigh and turns to me again.

"Great Pharaoh, the doppelganger will be fine. He has a fever and he has a steady pulse. I believe he may have a minor infection because of his open injuries."

"He is not a doppelganger, Woserit. He is my… friend. He is his own person." I looked at her as I said this. She smiled. "Yes Great Pharaoh understood. What is his name?"

I heard her, but I didn't answer for some reason. I just kept staring at the beautiful human being that is in this bed.

I saw Mana at the corner of my and she walked with Woserit. "Come Woserit. We should get the herbs and bandages. Oh and his name is Yugi."

"Yes Mana you are quite right. Yugi hmm? Odd name for a man. Also his skin is so white. Where did he come from?" I overheard them. I noticed them reaching for things on a shelf that wasn't too far away from where Yugi and I are.

They came walking back with clean sheets, a bowl of water, and a mortar and pestle with some leaves already in it plus a salve.

"Pharaoh, where did this boy come from?" My healer asked me again.

"He comes from a faraway place. Extremely far from here." I never took my eyes off of Yugi. I used my peripheral vision to grab a small sheet from Woserit's hand and wiped excess dirt that was on his cheek. Slowly but surely it's taking a lot off…

His skin is a pearly white… it will be sensitive to our Egyptian sun.

"My my Son of Ra. You are very kind to this young boy." Woserit turns to me and smiles. This is the only woman that isn't a part of my court to speak to me so informal.

"Yes. This friend is very dear to me. We have been through so many adventures together while I was in my astral state. It may have been two days for you, but it was a very very long time for me." I smiled at her. I turn to Mana and she is using the mortar and pestle to grind the herbs into the salve. "He'll be fine Pharaoh, just like Woserit said. He just needs time to heal."

"Pharaoh, we will take care of things here. I know you want to be here for the boy, but you must attend to your other chosen duties." I see her move toward Yugi and lift him up bridal style.

"Where are you taking him?" I just got him with me. I don't want to be a part from him so soon. I must have looked panicked as Woserit gave a light laugh and Mana a soft giggle.

"Pharaoh, Yugi has been through a lot and his injuries are minor, but this boy is very dirty and he needs to be cleaned up before we apply the medicines. In fact, we can use one of our special medicinal baths to help the process quicker."

"But-" I was interrupted with Mana's voice.

"No buts Your Highness! You still have a few things to do such as judgments and all that. I will fetch you once we have cleaned him up so that way you can be the first person he sees when he wakes up." Mana reassured me. She took my hand and guided me toward the doors to the hallway.

"Pharaoh, I know you love him, and I'm sure he has some sort of affection towards you because you have been together for such a long time. I know that he followed you here. I can feel it that it is Fate having a hand in this for the both of you. For now though, you still have to do your duties. We should be done by the time you are done with your evening agenda, right around after dinner when we have already cleaned him and he has rested some. Come check on him then." She winks at me and smiled.

"Alright you win." I sighed but I give her a stern yet playful look. "But first thing after he gets his bath and is decent, you come straight to me. Do you understand?" She bows and says, "As the Pharaoh wishes, it shall be done." She stands up straight again. "Bye now!" And swiftly closes the doors.

I sigh and turn to start walking toward the direction needed. To the throne room I suppose. I am scheduled for judgments and requests.

I smell a strong odor around me. I look around and start sniffing my hand and robes. Oh, must've been Yugi. He has a strong smell of sweat and sands. That robe he was wearing was Ra awful ugly and uncomfortable. I better change to remove this smell…

Smell huh… I wonder how Yugi lived since he arrived. I don't know how long he has been here. We were quite lucky to have found him so soon after I heard he was here. I start to head over to my chambers.

He was so angelic even in his "homeless" state. I wonder what he has been through. Come to think of it…

When I had him in my arms. I heard my name, but I couldn't understand anything else he was saying. Could it have been the fever that he was incoherent… surely it had to be that… then again…

I grip the puzzle…

Did I just not understand him?