Author's Note: Not updating a FanFiction story is a lot like not getting sufficient sleep; after two weeks, people start to wonder, "What the hell is her problem?" (Both of which, I'm guilty of.)

My map from last chapter didn't show up, did it? That's just fan-freaking-tastic. -_-

CLARIFICATION (PLEASE READ):

Yes, I know Alexandria did not exist in this time period. Like a certain reviewer (he-who-shall-not-be-named) pointed out, Alexandria was not established until Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world, (hence the city name: Alexandria.) I KNOW THIS. I did my research. I debated for a long time where Ryou should be from, and I finally decided to stick with Alexandria, because A. I don't expect my readers to know much about Egyptian geography, and I wanted to pick a place that most people have heard of. B. It's the perfect distance from the Valley of the Kings. And C. The city (that existed before it was named such, make no mistake) was always a bustling port city known for its scholars and trade. I would change the name, but I won't. Just deal with it.

We good? We good.

I lost the notebook I had started this chapter in, so I had to begin from scratch. I hope you appreciate the hard work I had to go through. I had to pull the words from my SOUL, let alone my memory. So, please, do me and favor and enjoy it.

Oh, and a shout-out to Annzy Bananzy. That's for motivating me. XD

Chapter 26

Ryou was filled in. He was silent the entire time the little tale was being recited, not a word or phrase interrupting the unique passage. His face, however, was an entirely different story. Whether he was amused or concerned or any other number of emotions, it was displayed on his features for anyone to easily read. And his expressions changed frequently, like summer to fall or winter to spring. When the account was told all the way through, Ryou was still quiet, pondering all he had just heard as he gazed down at his hands in his lap.

Yugi would have given anything at that moment to have the ability to read Ryou's thoughts. The very face that had given away so many details to his thinking was now blank, not a hint of anything infiltrating his visage. She figured this must be a talent of his that made him an acceptable spy- a fact that continued to keep Yugi in awe.

Ryou? A spy? Never! What kind of person would look at a person like Ryou and think: "He must be a spy"? It made no sense! Ryou seemed soft, even gentle. Those were not attributes of a spy.

Yugi zeroed-in at the young man as he remained settled. Yes, she'd admit he looked clever, clever enough to be anything he pleased, she assumed. So, why a spy?

"I have decided," Ryou suddenly announced.

"Decided what?" Atem questioned, narrowing his eyes at his friend.

"That I will help you with your problem," Ryou deemed. He stood, now eye-to-eye with the rest of the room. "This Yami is a crafty one; I'm sure. But I feel that I can overcome his cunning with some tricks of my own."

"So, you've become a magician since you've left, have you?" Mahad teased.

"Of sorts," Ryou replied cryptically. He ran a hand through his snow white hair and added as an afterthought, "I wanted to meet the Atem-look-alike anyway. I thought he looked like Yami Motou."

"You did?" Yugi's eyes widened. Who was this young man? And how did he know her brother?

Akunumkanon chuckled. "Lady Yugi, Ryou knows nearly everyone in Egypt. If I needed to get intelligence on a certain person, I'd go to Ryou before anyone else. That he knows of Yami doesn't surprise me."

"If you knew of Yami, why didn't you warn the court of him?" Atem questioned his friend, raising a careful eyebrow.

Ryou sighed, placing a pale, thin finger on his temple. "I knew of him, not about him. The Motou's are very much shrouded in darkness." He sent a shy smile to Yugi. "Even you, Lady Yugi. In fact, I wasn't even aware Yami had a younger sister. He has kept a very good watch on you, keeping you away from the public eye."

"Too good of a watch…" Yugi mumbled under her breath.

Ryou gave her an apologetic smile and cleared his throat before announcing, "Lady Yugi, I'd like to leave the room."

"What? Why?" Atem questioned, glaring at the spy suspiciously.

Ryou shook his hands in front of him wearily, clarifying, "Sorry, I should have explained why first."

"Then explain," Akunumkanon encouraged.

Ryou whipped his white locks to the side and stated, "I'm sorry, but I cannot until Lady Yugi leaves our presence."

Atem narrowed his eyes until they were only two flickering flames. "Ryou, I trust you, but—"

"No, it's all right," Yugi surprised everyone by intercepting. She turned towards the door, her eyes gently closing to think. "I'll wait outside then."

She disappeared out into the dark.

Before Atem even had a moment to think over what he'd say to this, Ryou immediately declared, "Prince Atem, my friend, your fiancée is not one to be underestimated." Everyone looked back at him as he said this, but his expression was no longer readable. If anything, it was less than ever before as he followed Yugi's receding footsteps with his warm amber eyes.

-transition-

Yugi couldn't believe how oblivious everyone was being. Ryou obviously already had a plan in mind that he was more than eager to put into action, and no one was trying to help him! Was she the only one who could tell that Ryou was acting rushed? That he needed immediate action for his plan to work? Apparently so…

She knew at the end of her little walk, she'd find her room, because she had the entire palace memorized if she simply closed her eyes, but Yugi wished to get lost, perhaps kill some time before someone would be sent after her.

The only thing that confused her was the most evident question: What was Ryou's plan?

Yugi kicked a rock out of her way and mumbled something so incoherent, even she couldn't remember what she had been trying to say.

Why did everything have to be so complicated? Could it even get worse? Yugi doubted it. Yes, her eyesight had been given to her- or restored- she still wasn't sure. But Atem and her future still were not secure. Ryou was still a mystery. Things between her and Isis were oddly delicate. She was a little weary of Mahad since her eyesight had been returned to her. Mana was… Well, Mana was Mana. And Seto—

There was a hitch in Yugi's stride.

Priest Seto! He never arrived at the meeting! And after… I never saw him!

Yugi made a U-turn and headed the opposite direction, more specifically in the direction of the palace temple.

Perhaps he's just doing his job. Yugi attempted to calm her nerves. He is a priest after all…

Yugi turned into the temple within a few minutes, a strong smell of incense and an undertone of alcohol reaching her nose immediately.

"Priest Seto?" she called in.

An echo returned to her, but Seto's voice did not follow.

Then, I'll check his chambers, Yugi decided, taking a shortcut through the middle of the sanctuary. She let her fingers linger over the carvings in the walls as she did, nonchalantly wondering what the characters were trying to communicate to the masses- or maybe- just to her.

-transition-

"Everyone is clear with what the plan is, yes?" Ryou inquired, giving each person in the room an individual moment of eye contact before he moved on to the next.

"I'm nervous about how Yugi will feel about this…" Isis trailed off, a hand resting on her chin as he thought deeper about the little Yugi, wandering outside their makeshift meeting room, alone.

Ryou promised, "No harm will come to her, Priestess Isis, this I swear. I would dare risk a life, especially the life of such an acceptable young woman."

Atem beamed with pride at this but also added, "Your plan is a slightly questionable, but I trust when you say Yugi will not be harmed." The entire room took a mutual nod at this.

"Then we must act immediately," Mahad declared.

"Indeed." Ryou pointed at Karim, Shada, and Isis, saying, "You three will take the north end of the palace." His focus moved to another group. "Mana, Shimon, and Pharaoh, you will take the west." He continued, "The royal spies will guard the entrance, the south." He smiled. "And his majesty, Atem, Mahad, and myself will go east. Any questions?"

Nothing but the sound of apprehensive breathing reached his ears.

Ryou's expression turned solemn, which made everyone jump. "We only have a few minutes before Yami strikes. We leave… now."

-transition-

By the time Yugi made it to Seto's rooms, she was out of breath. She had tried to calm herself during the walk to it, but walking turned into running, and running turned into sprinting. With one more hallway conquered, she could feel the pulse in her neck quickening with her anxiety. But, as soon as she halted in front of the wide open door of Seto's chambers, all that fear left her in a single swoop, like an apparition being driven out of her body. A strange calm intoxicated her.

Something was wrong. Yugi knew that room wasn't as innocent as it appeared to be. But she had to enter anyway. She had to know if Seto was safe. Because it was the truth when she said she would never forgive herself if something happened to one of her friends on account of her.

"Priest Se-?"

Before even his entire name could ring through the palace, two hands fell onto Yugi's shoulders.

"Yugi-"

Yugi's eyes closed.

"-Seto's gone."

Yugi's knees shook violently until she was kneeling on the floor, the cold hands still clenching her shoulders. "Y- Yami, why?" Her voice was almost inaudible. "How- how could you?"

"Yugi…" Yugi winced at her own name. "… We're going to leave and forget this ever happened."

"False."

A dagger was skillfully held to Yami's throat within a matter of seconds.

"You will take Lady Yugi nowhere."

Yugi hesitantly looked up at her savior and found it to be Ryou, wielding the dagger. Atem and Mahad were both behind him, each holding one of Yami's arms behind his back.

Yami's hands left Yugi and his back straightened, but he kept silent, not a word of confutation escaping his lips.

Ryou didn't move an inch from the older Motou as he stated evenly, "Yami Motou, for the two attempted kidnappings of his majesty's fiancée, theft of the mystical Millennium Items, and numerous other charges, I hereby pronounce you under arrest in the name of the Pharaoh."

Author's Note: *cues the CSI: Miami "YEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"*

Oh, that felt great. I was trying for the longest time how to get from point A to point B, and hallelujah!, I found a way!

I'm so sorry for the wait. Last week was my birthday, so I was really caught up in everything. (Yes, that is a ruse to get you to review.)

Reviews for the birthday girl, please! ^^