She stood alone outside the palace, watching the sun set slowly in the west as it painted the sky in an array of radiant
colors and caused the pyramids in the distance to cast deep shadows along the desert sand. The long, blue wisps of her hair
brushed up against the trio of blades forming her lance's edge, almost dividing the strands in half as they blew. She was
dressed in golden colored linens around her chest and waist, the rest of her skin bare with the exception of two solid gold
braces on her arms and a necklace to match which covered her neck entirely.
Delighting in the peacefulness of dusk, she sighed and leaned against her lance, content with the quiet ambience that surrounded
her. "Reia!" she heard a female voice call, interrupting her tranquil silence. Slowly she turned and saw a young woman dressed
similar to her, except in silver and carried a long sword next to her waist.
"What is it, Jade?" the blue haired woman replied.
"The Pharaoh asks for you, Reia. It seems he wants to spend 'quality time' with you." Jade replied with a giggle, her blonde
hair spilling over shoulders.
Reia quirked an eyebrow, curious of why the Pharaoh requested an audience with her when she was an ordinary warrior, nothing
special that could spark his interests. Yet she obeyed humbly and turned around to step through the palace entrance.
Soundlessly, she made her way through the long and seemingly endless corridors, rounding corners in swift smooth motions
when she finally arrived in the master hall where the Pharaoh sat on his throne, scribes, servants and guards surrounding
him. Calmly, she approached him and then knelt in respect.
"You asked to see me, Great One?" she said simply, rising to her feet and holding her lance upright.
She saw the Pharaoh smile and dismiss the others with a simple motion of his hand, then stood up to show his supremacy
over her, yet kept his sincere grin. "Yes I did." he replied, beginning to walk down the steps of his throne to be nearer
to her.
Reia was quiet and had great difficulty fighting the slight wobbling of her legs due to his strikingly beautiful eyes that
seemed to probe her endlessly. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she finally found her voice again. "What can I do for you,
my Pharaoh?"
Again, he maintained his smile and stood directly opposite of her, his arms folded in front of his chest. "According to
what I've been told..." he began, almost thoughtfully. "...You've already done a great deal for me. Fighting with the strength
of ten men and refusing to retreat even when the army had abandoned the battle ground."
"Just doing my duty, Great One." she said abruptly. "But it is an honor to serve and protect you."
To her surprise he chuckled and turned his face away to hide his laughter. "You're a terrible liar, Reia." he said, unable
to hold in his giggles when he finally set them free.
Reia shot him a confused glance. "Great One, I gave you an honest answer."
"Terribly sorry, Reia. I couldn't resist." the Pharaoh corrected himself, adding a more serious smile than his previous
goofy grin which she had not expected. "But I can tell that your heart seeks more than serving me. Tell me, do you have family?"
"No." she replied sternly. "My blood relatives were all killed when I was an infant, and I was raised among strangers until
I was brought into your service."
"I'm sorry to hear that." he said in return, hanging his head slightly. Turning around, he walked back up the steps to
his throne and sat down almost gracefully, yet with pride. Reia couldn't help but admire his stature and the authority he
showed, even when he wasn't acting as a Pharaoh should. Caught off balance once more by his sudden smile, he spoke again.
"Then if the fearless Reia has no family of which to be with, what can a Pharaoh do for Khemet's greatest warrior?"
She could feel the urge to blush dash for her cheeks at his words, but fought the desire and instead knelt humbly before
him. "Just allow me to serve you always, Great One."
He let his grin widen as he extended his hand out to touch her shoulder warmly, sending a chill rush through her body.
Slowly, she raised her eyes up to meet his, seeing her reflection inside the deep red-violet orbs that made her heart skip
a beat. "Wish granted, Reia." With that, he dismissed her and she again strode out into the night air, being welcomed by no
one except her duty.
Taking her place firmly next to the palace entrance, she positioned her lance to her right and then let her gaze probe
the courtyard and palace grounds. The sky was now a dark blue, giving it the appearance of a soft velvet, and the stars that
were scattered all over the night time canopy twinkled like the sparkle she saw in his eyes when she stared at him...
"No!" she silently commanded herself, now finding it impossible for her to keep her mind on her duty but only those eyes,
and maybe even him too. The way he said her name seemed so affectionate and deep, almost as if he was attracted to her, but
that was very un-likely. The Pharaoh had no time for affection and companionship, and nor did she as she finally maintained
her piercing stare on the slowly dimming palace grounds, but still with much difficulty.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beep...
...Beep
Beep...
What was that annoying sound?
...Beep
Beep...
...Beep
Finally, her eyes managed to flicker open and she saw several blurry figures tower above her, and to her surprise, noticed
that she was hooked up to some kind of machine...the one that was beeping.
"Wh-where am I?" she said, struggling to keep her eyes open.
"Domino Hospital, Reia." a female voice replied.
"Jayne?"
"Yeah, you had a bad encounter in the alley earlier and you blacked out. Those three guys from the game brought you here."
Jayne said, taking her injured friend's hand. "The team and I came to see you, and your hero is waiting outside."
"My hero?" Reia repeated, a little confused.
"That Yami guy. He said he wanted to see you after we were finished, and I do believe we're done, right ladies?" Jayne
said, turning to look at the rest of the girls who nodded, each placing a hand over Reia's bed.
"Thank you, guys...it means a lot to me." Reia said with a smile, she too placing her hand on top of the rest, the group
of young women shouting 'team' in unison like always.
With a gentle squeeze to Reia's free hand, Jayne grinned and made her exit, the other girls following. After they had left,
the door opened again and there was Yami, in his oh-so-humble glory.
"Hey there...I was hoping I would see you again, but this isn't exactly what I had in mind." Reia said with a chuckle as
she struggled with much difficulty to sit up, Yami immediately rushing over to help her.
"You know, you really should be lying down." Yami teased, propping up her pillow for her as a kind gesture. "But I guess
it is rather dull to just lie there and do nothing."
Reia chuckled again and nodded. "Yeah, I havn't been awake for five minutes yet, and I'm already bored out of my mind."
They laughed, Reia blushing madly as she found her next choice of words. "Umm...thank you for getting me out of that mess
earlier. I don't think I would've gotten out of that alive had it not been for you. I owe you big time."
Yami shrugged and looked away from her mesmorizing emeralds for eyes. "Just glad I could help, Reia. But I can't take all
the credit...Joey and Tristan helped out in a big way too."
"Yes, and will you be sure to thank them for me?" Reia asked, Yami nodding in reply. She was silent for a moment, staring
at his features. They seemed so...vaguely familiar, but why? She had never met him before until after the game. Surely with
that kind of hair, you wouldn't forget someone that easily. But still, she couldn't come to any logical conclusion of why
she felt she knew him prior to their 'meeting'. Brushing it off, she prepared to speak again, until he broke the silence.
"Well, since you won't be able to play basketball too much in the near future, you're more than welcome to stop by the
game shop and visit." he said simply, adding his famous smile.
"That would be great. But, can I ask you a question first?" she spoke up, wincing a little bit at her wound. Yami nodded
and urged her on. "Why did you help me?"
Yami seemed rather surprised by her question when it was pretty obvious that it's what any decent person would've done.
Why would she ask something like that? Or maybe...she was meaning something else by the inquiry. "Because...I couldn't let
someone that I somehow felt connected to lose their life when we have so much to learn about one another."
His words were so wise and clearly chosen carefully, Reia could point out with ease. Somehow, she knew he was right and
they had much to discuss about eachother, because like they said at the game, they both felt that they already knew one another,
but were unsure how.
Taking her hand in his gentle grasp, Yami smiled radiantly at her once more. "As much as you hate to, you need to get your
rest. So I will leave and see you at the game shop sometime soon."
Groaning in displeasure, Reia nodded regretfully and allowed him to help her lie back down, appreciating his desire to
aid her when she really didn't need it, but didn't mind just the same. Giving his hand one final shake, she spoke. "Thank
you, Yami. See you later."
"Get well soon, Reia." And with that, Yami exited and dimmed the lights for her, along the way grinning like never before.
/Yami?/ he heard little Yugi call through his mind link.
//Hmm? What is it, Yugi?// Yami replied.
/You seem...extrordinarily happy. Is there something you're not telling me?/
//No, Yugi. Just glad I could help someone in need is all//
/Yami, you're a bad liar./ Yugi teased, Yami too chuckling a bit. /She's pretty, isn't she?/
//Yes Yugi...very beautiful indeed. But I feel that...maybe there's something else that's even more admirable than that
quite noticeable feature. Like...there's a connection.//
/Someone's got a crush, someone's got a crush! Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah!!/ Yugi teased again, Yami mind shoving him
playfully.
//Five thousand year old spirits don't have crushes, Yugi.//
/Then if it's not a crush, maybe a certain five thousand year old spirit is confusing himself more and more each day about
his past, hmm?/
Yami laughed. //I think you're right, Yugi. My mind is again boggled with my ancient secrets. There's still so much that
I don't know, yet I'm not sure of where else to go to find the answers I seek.//
/Well, don't think too much, Yami. In time the answers will reveal themselves to you, but for now, let's concentrate on
watching where we walk. You nearly ran into the door just now./
//Heh heh...thanks, Hikari. I would be so lost without you.//
Chapter 4 - Becoming Acquainted
The nurse tugged carefully on the tubes that were attatched to the young woman's arms, being as gentle as possible so she
wouldn't disturb the blue-haired athlete from her much needed rest. Yet despite the nurse's feeble attempts of being quiet,
Reia opened her eyes and saw the raven haired lady dressed in light blue scrubs tower above her with a smile.
"Good morning, miss."the nurse said sweetly."Did you rest well?"
Reia grimaced when she noticed the blood stained bandage around her shoulder. "Considering this, yeah I guess so." Reia
replied.
"Yeah, you had a pretty nasty stab wound there, miss, but you'll be fine in a few days. No basketball for a week though."the
nurse teased, Reia chuckling a little. "As soon as I can get all these tubes detatched, you can go home. Oh, and that reminds
me..."she stopped, pulling out a small paper from her pocket. "A young man wanted me to give you this before you left."
Taking the slip of paper politely, Reia opened it as the nurse continued. Inside was the address to the game shop and Yami's
signature, which had been scribbled out several times, obvious that he was trying to make his handwriting perfect without
any luck. Smiling, she folded the paper again and held it in the tight grip of her hand for sake keeping.
After a few more minutes of simple chatter with the nurse, Reia changed back into her casual clothes that Jayne kindly
brought for her the previous night, and exited the hospital. Once out in the brisk morning air, she again pulled out the paper
and read the address carefully. The game shop was a few blocks away, but she wasn't sure where to look for it. Reia was only
into sports, not into card games like she assumed Yami was. Shrugging painfully, she started down the street and weaved her
way through the morning crowd, avoiding lamp posts and stop signs along the way.
Finally, she arrived at the address, but looked around confusedly, seeing nothing of indication as to where the game shop
was, until she heard a familiar voice call from behind her. "Reia!"
Swerving around suddenly, she met Yami's eyes once again, nearly falling backwards at how surprisingly close he was to
her. "Hey Yami!" she said, almost nervously. He was dressed now in much more attractive attire; black pants, tank top, and
a long, sleek jacket to match that reached down a few inches below his waist. Reia couldn't help but fight the urge to drool
slightly, but maintained her desire when he spoke. (A/N: I've BEEN drooling! ^_^)
"I see you had a little bit of trouble finding the game shop..."Yami said with a grin, gesturing behind him at the sign
that read 'Game Shop'. Blushing sheepishly, Reia could only sigh heavily in embarressment.
"I never have been good with directions." Reia admitted. "Thanks for helping me out."
Yami nodded and motioned for her to step in through the door which he opened for her. Stepping inside, Reia glanced around
at all the gaming wonders before her. At the far end was an old man behind a counter, a glass case below it. Glancing up at
the duo, the old man smiled.
"Are you Reia Landon? The spectacular female basketball player?" he said excitedly, stretching out his hand for hers.
Nodding in reply, Reia reached out her hand as well. "Yep, that's me, but I wouldn't quite say 'spectacular'. I just have
a gift for the game is all."
"Ahh yes, it's the humble athletes that are indeed the best in the world." he said, adding a smile that made Reia blush
again.
Yami grinned and spoke. "Reia, this is Solomon Mouto, my uhh...Grandfather."
/Nice cover up, Yami/ he heard his hikari say through their mind link.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Solomon. This is quite a nice game shop you have here. I'm sorry I've never stopped by to
take a look around." Reia said sweetly, her eyes glancing around at all the assortments of different card games and other
hobby games. "Being as I am an athlete, I've never been very interested in other games, but now that I'm in a game store,
I think I'd like to take up another activity."
With a laugh, Solomon stepped away from the counter and began showing her the several different games he kept in his store,
Yami commenting on each one until they came to the Duel Monsters section. "And of course...heh heh...this is my best section."
Solomon said with yet another grin.
"I wish I knew how to play...I've watched the tournaments on TV a few times, but not enough to understand the game completely."
Reia replied, examining a package containing a starter deck.
"Oh don't worry about that, there are several people out there that can teach you! Like my grandson for instance." Solomon
said proudly when he noticed Yami only stood there and actually, when the old man said 'grandson', he was referring to him.
"Huh? Oh oh yeah! I can help you learn how to duel, Reia. In fact, it would be my pleasure." Yami said, correcting himself
quickly.
After a few moments, Reia looked back at him with a smile. "Agreed."
"Excellent! We'll start building you an excellent deck right away!" Solomon beamed, heading back behind his counter to
pull out a box of untouched cards. "You do know that my grandson is the King of Games, right Reia?"
"You're the King of Games, Yami? I thought Yugi was...hmm, maybe I got my information mixed up." Reia said with a shrug
as Yami only scratched the back of his head as a signal to Solomon that he was going to regret that. "Well, while Mr.Mouto
here looks through his box, why doesn't the King of Games show me his all-star deck, hmm?"
Yami couldn't help but smile rather pridefully as he pulled the deck out of the case that was attatched to his waist. Before
giving it to her, he shuffled the cards in a teasing way, then handed her the precious stack of cards.
Reia smirked and decided to play his game. "I see what you're getting at, Mr.Know-it-all. All right, I'll draw a card from
the deck, and if you guess what it is, I'll give you a kiss."
Both Solomon and Yami blushed a bright pink at Reia's suggestion, the older man having trouble stifling his laughter as
the apparently younger of the two only froze. Instead, he smiled and nodded, watching her pull out a card from the center
of the deck. "Dark Magician."
Her eyes widened as she turned the card around, revealing that it was Yami's favorite card, the Dark Magician. "I'll just
umm...leave you two alone." Solomon said with a chuckle, scurrying off to the back room.
As she slowly put the card back into the deck, Reia looked away, clearly embarressed. "I really didn't expect you to get
that." she blurted, followed by an uncontrollable giggle.
Yami too laughed and instead hugged her. "I'll settle for this." Reia couldn't help but let herself melt under his soft
embrace, feeling the gentleness of his fingers lightly dance up her spine. At last, he pulled away and motioned back down
at the deck, seeing her skim through the cards and ask different questions about certain ones.
After an hour, Reia had a deck assembled and a brief beginner's lesson in dueling. Deciding that she should head for home,
she told the two men she'd return tomorrow for her next lesson and then bid them farewell for the day.
"Nice girl, Yami...about time you fell for one." Solomon teased, the ancient spirit blushing madly. Turning to the old
man with an almost harsh stare, Solomon saw what Yami meant and spoke again. "So Yugi's been telling me you're still quite
curious about your past. It's beginning to worry him."
With a heavy sigh, Yami leaned against the counter, his hand propped up for catching his chin. "Yes. I still have many
things I wish to know, but I don't know where else to look. I've tried seeking Ishizu's help, but there was nothing more she
could tell me that I didn't already know."
Solomon watched the ancient spirit thoughtfully, obviously concerned for his true grandson's darker half and reached out
gently to touch Yami's shoulder. "Well, there's nothing I can do at this exact moment, but I'll be thinking. In the meantime
though...my grandson has chores to do, unless you'd like to do them for him."
Yami laughed and pretended to cringe in fear as he allowed himself to transform into his light. "Aww, dang it. Yami, why
can't you do my chores for a change?!" Yugi said with a whine.
//Because I'm not you, that's why.//Yami teased through their mind link.
