Candle light flickered dimly against the window in Reia's room, four of them gathered together by Yami to announce his decision. Reia leaned against the headboard of her bed, her doll, Cerasi resting in her arms. Joey and Tristan stood nearly in the shadows, barely seen to Reia's and Yami's eyes, and Yami sat at the end of her bed, cradling his puzzle in hand.

"So what's this big announcement, Yami? Its two o'clock in the mornin', you know." Joey said, stretching his arms above his had with an exhausted yawn.

Yami nodded in reply and looked to the pajama clad Reia, lazily dragging a finger over her bed spread, for she knew what was coming. She had known it since they left the temple. "I am sorry for waking you at this hour, Joey, but tomorrow...I may not come back."

Dead, unerring silence. Only shock, disbelief, and disappointment were evident on the others' faces. Reia hung her head even lower at his words, wishing he had never said them. "But...aren't you...?" Tristan started, pointing a trembling finger at Yami who raised his hand to speak.

"I know what you're trying to say, Tristan, and yes...I understand. Should something happen to me, Yugi could also too...never come back. But, I have to do this. It's my only chance." Yami replied, trying to sound a little bit more hopeful.

Again, there was nothing but silence. Only the little flame moved about, dancing in the shadows, and provided barely any light for the "council" meeting. Yami looked to Joey who was still beyond what words could describe and appeared as though his voice had departed for parts unknown. Tristan too was in a similar state, but searched for a proper response, coming up empty.

Then he looked to Reia, her blue curtains concealing her expression from his gaze, but he knew what was behind that thin wall of seclusion. He saw her grip around Cerasi tighten as she held it closer to her chest, clinging to its softness as if her own life was at risk. Sighing heavily, Yami spoke again.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll go back to the temple...and agree to the spirit's offer of joining with him. I only hope that he speaks the truth, and through this act, I will regain my memories and also that Yugi can be free again." He paused, taking one more look around at his companions who still said nothing, none even daring to interrupt him as he continued. "I do not ask that any of you come with me, for Reia knows firsthand of the many dangers that rest inside the temple, and I do not wish for her, or any of you to endure them for yourselves."

Faint sounds could barely be heard from across the room and Yami saw Joey's lips move slightly, but the sound was quickly gone. Then, there was another murmur that quietly rose up from the blonde's throat. "Joey...? What is it you're trying to say?" Yami asked curiously, stepping closer to his friend.

Joey looked up at him, his golden bangs shielding his eyes from Yami's own amethysts. Yami gestured once more for Joey to speak again when Joey's lips curved upwards into a smile. "You're not goin' alone, Yami. Any friend of Yugi's will always be a friend of mine."

Yami grinned and nodded humbly in reply. "Thank you, Joey. I appreciate your willingness to help me."

A heavy sigh then broke the tender moment and a groan of frustration followed as Yami and Joey looked Tristan's way. His fingers were rubbing meticulously over his forehead, and then exhaled deeply again. "Count me in too, I guess. Can't let Joey run off by himself in a rigged temple. He's liable to set off a trap and get you all killed before you even set foot inside." he added with a smirk as Joey shoved him slightly, a friendly glare evident in his eyes.

/Yami.../

//...//

/Don't make Reia go. She's been through too much. Encourage her to stay at home where its safe.//

"Reia..."Yami started immediately once Yugi was finished. "Though I know you have a will of your own, I want you to stay here in Cairo. You'll be safer here and I don't want you to go through any more pain or suffering, which you have had more than your fair share of."

She didn't reply and only held her doll closer, pulling her knees against her forehead to continue to hide herself from the other three in the room. Yami shared a glance with Joey and Tristan as he let a hand rest on Reia's shoulder, feeling her fearful tremors run through her body. Rising to his feet, he motioned to his friends to assist him in getting her underneath her blankets, at last to allow her rest.

They nodded and Tristan lifted her up into his arms for a moment as Joey and Yami pulled the covers back, the tallest of the three then laying her back down onto the soft matress. Joey then pulled the sheet over her first, and Yami followed with the comforter, smoothing its gentleness over her tear tainted cheeks. He could tell just how fearful she had become over the past few days as he beheld her shaking form still keep a firm grip on her beloved Cerasi. Trying to smile in encouragement, he stroked a lazy finger down her face and to her chin. He leaned down and kissed her cheek softly, at last hearing her exhale in relief as if the tenderness he displayed had lifted a heavy burden from her heart.

"Thank you..."she whispered quietly, her eyes lazily closing to leave the other three at peace.

Yami rose up once more and looked to his friends with a grin. "We'll leave at sunrise to avoid attention from early morning merchants. Be ready and get some rest."

"What about you, Yami? Are you going to sleep?" Tristan asked as he and Joey began to make way for the door to leave.

Yami glanced back down at a peacefully slumbering Reia, her breathing calm and deep as she dreamed on. "I'll be fine."

Chapter 26 - We're back!

"I still can't believe I'm actually going through with this..."Yami said with a groan as he and his two companions dismounted from their horses near the temple entrance.

Joey shrugged and walked up a little farther from Yami's and Tristan's positions. "Well, at least we got free transportation for what it's all worth."he tried to say with a smile, making Yami do the same. Though he tried to conceal his fear, Joey could clearly see the distress and defeat in Yami's eyes which gazed hopelessly into the threatning halls that awaited them.

Joey wasn't the only one aware of his friend's dilemma, but Tristan had already caught on the night before when Yami told him that 'he would be fine'. There was more on the line than Yami wanted to admit, and no one could beat it out of him. Yet there was no need to even delve that deep as it was there plain as day, written all over his features - an unmistakable agony and torturous despair that lingered and followed him without end.

"Free parking too."Tristan mused aloud, a chuckle following from the three of them.

Yami took in a deep breath and began to march forward, then turned to face his friends who had accompanied him this far. "My friends, I will not ask you to go any further on this already dangerous enough trek. I have to do this, you both do not, so if you wish to back out now, I promise not to haunt you in your dreams if something goes wrong."

Two smiles beamed across their faces, unshaken and unwilling to be removed. "We've come this far, why back out now when we're about to see the unseen, eh?"Tristan spoke up, a bit of pride ringing in his voice.

Yami nodded in gratitude then looked to the blonde who seemed impatient. "Joey...?"

"What?"Joey said, turning his head sharply towards Yami as if disturbed from something more interesting. "You both gonna hang out here all day or are we gonna go get Yami's memory back?"

"Sorry for the wait, Joey. Let's go."

//Yugi, you and I both know of the dangers we both may now face. Do you have any second thoughts?//

/...No. Not when you finally have a chance to get your own life back. I won't take that away from you./

//Thank you, Yugi. I promise that if it seems too dangerous that I will do my best to get you out of harm's way.//

It was all so familiar, just as Yami and Reia had left it yesterday. The boulder that suddenly appeared out of no where rested undisturbed near the walk way, the slightly raised stone was also left untouched, but Yami did have to guide Joey and Tristan away from the traps he knew existed within the walls of that sacred and haunting place.

His thoughts then drifted back to Reia, most likely still lying in bed, dreaming peacefully without intervention from annoying company. He did admit, he would much rather have her company than Joey or Tristan's, but he did have to once again take into account everything she had endured over the past several days. More than her fair share of horror and adventure had done her in and neither Yami, nor Reia were prepared to let her into the open again to only be crushed emotionally for a sixth time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pale bronze laden eyelids twitched slightly and motion stirred, sending a soft white sheet tumbling to the floor, a small hand-crafted doll accompanying it. A shiver then radiated from the sleeping body atop the simple bed, and sharp eyes opened, squinting in the bright sunlight peeking through the window over the horizon. Reaching down to grab the sheet and return it to its original place, her hand brushed over something else that was familiar to her fingers' sensations.

Hesitantly, she pulled the sheets covering the object away and beheld the doll staring back up at her with emotionless beads for eyes and an unshaken smile. She took the doll in her hand's grasp and lifted it up into her arms, gazing down at the features, reminding her so much of someone else she knew. Yellow yarn-like strands hung down over its face, small black beads with a hint of hazel in them, and that childish crooked smile stretching from cheek to cheek...

Her...king?

"All I have...?"

"She...I...swore to stand by him..." She searched for words and a reason to believe that these images that seemed like memories coursed through her mind were true, again turning her gaze out through her window to stare towards the desert where her emeralds caught the high peaks of the Pyramids not far off. "What am I doing here?!"she suddenly exclaimed, shooting up out of her bed and throwing on a quick change of attire, suitable for horseback travel early on an Egyptian morning.

"I'll make sure that leaving me behind again is your last mistake, Yami."she told herself with a smirk, running out into the streets to find her mount and make haste for yesterday's unintended venue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time slowly crept past as the three edged their way along the trap smothered path to the main chamber where Yami's "body" apparently rested. One false move could mean death for them all, so by volunteering, Joey walked in front of the other two, testing each step as they continued. Sweat was dripping from his golden strands, falling onto his already glazed neck and his breathing was barely steady thanks to his racing heart that paced maniacally against his chest.

Yami could sense Joey's tension building and stopped Joey for a moment, gently kneading his knuckle's into the tight muscles of the blonde's back, massaging away the nervousness and barely manageable balance between control and a total loss of composure. Joey exhaled deeply in relief, shutting his eyes for a moment so he could savor the the short amount of time before he'd have to continue.

"I'll take the lead, Joey. Take a break."Yami soothed, gently pulling Joey behind him beside Tristan. "We're almost there, and don't be afraid. I remember what to do now."

With a reassuring nod to his companions, Yami looked ahead and searched for the rope that had caused him a serious back spasm the day before, that of course cause for his unfaltering ego and pride. Tucking away a chuckle in defeat as he recalled Reia's 'words of wisdom', his eyes caught the rope dangling just feet away and motioned for them to take the last steps towards it. Joey and Tristan slowly followed, completely unaware what was about to happen next.

Once in the center of the stone "tile" right on the edge of the gaping gap, Yami tugged on the rope as Joey and Tristan shielded themselves, a rumbling sound echoing in their ears. "What the heck are ya doin', Yami?!"Tristan yelled as loud as he could above the roars of some mechanism below as the floor began to move to the center of the gap, just like Yami had anticipated.

"Yeah, ya tryin' to get rid of us or somethin'?"Joey joined in with equal volume as Yami laughed, though barely audible to the duo who looked on at their present predicament with horror stricken eyes.

"You'll see. It won't be long now..."Yami replied as the floor lurched upwards and Joey and Tristan clung to eachother in chaotic fear, the ceiling drawing closer and closer with each second that went by. Yami grinned as the opening above appeared and they arrived in the hall right before the main chamber, the door that led inside still open.

Joey and Tristan screeched again in terror as the corpse that rested inside the room, which resembled Yami to the precise detail, stared at them from afar with fiery yellow eyes - blank and unreadable.

"I see you have returned, Pharaoh..."the voice bellowed at the trio, two of which were still shaken, and the other barely maintained his composure as he approached the chamber with caution, his company slowly following suit.

"Yes...I have come back, but I want some answers first before I go through with this."Yami shot back, just as coldly.

"There are no answers, Pharaoh...only questions that need answering."the spirit replied, almost sinisterly as to intimidate the visitors even more.

Joey now began to tremble erratically, the golden eyes piercing through his very soul as he spoke. "Y-Yami...I h-hear voices....b-but I don't see the mouth movin'! What's up with th-th-th-that?"

The spirit scoffed and laughed wickedly, the hollow echoes bouncing off the chambers' walls. "Pitiful mortal...you have no idea of just what you see, or do your eyes deceive you?"

"Enough!"Yami interrupted angrily. "You have done enough mental harm. Just answer my one question before I agree to join with you...How do I know you're not trying to deceive me into believing that this is where my answers lie? What proof do you have to show that this is the only way to recover my past?"

Tension again was building between the three living friends, awaiting the spirit's answer when it came, unexpectedly lifting its arm to point down the walkway. "Look behind you, Pharaoh, and you will believe..."

"...My Pharaoh!"

He turned slowly, and for a split second, the corridor seemed new, shining bright and beautiful as a familiar azure haired woman stood in the doorway. She was dressed not as he knew her to, but in golden linens around her chest and waist, and a sleek trio bladed lance at her side. This was not the one he knew in the present...but the one from the past. Then, the image of an Egyptian warrior was then and gone in an instant, and instead a determined young woman he knew from the present stood tall in pride.

"...Reia."he smiled, and reached out a hand for her as she walked towards him, she too brandishing a grin to match his. "Glad you could make it."he said with a laugh.

She giggled and flipped her hair behind her shoulder, clearing her throat to speak. "You've made your last mistake, mister." she teased, catching a weird glance from Yami.

"What do you mean?"he asked huskily.

"By going on another adventure without me. A Pharaoh should know better." Reia perched her hands on her hips and shifted her unwavering gaze towards the corpse staring at them all blankly. "And I'm not afraid of you anymore, tough guy. You may have gotten the better of me yesterday, but you ain't got nothin' on me today."

If the spirit could've smirked, he would've, but apparently lacked the option and spoke again. "Now, Pharaoh...since you have been convinced are you ready to begin?"

Yami glanced around a bit, then let his gaze fall down to his puzzle, smoothly dragging a finger over its golden surface. "Before we start...may I say my last farewell to my hikari and to my friends?"

"You may, Pharaoh. Whisper goodbyes to your heart's content..."the spirit replied, more soft and understanding this time.

With a simple nod, Yami allowed his and Yugi's minds to become one and join, and there Yugi waited with tear glazed amethysts. "I guess...this is it, eh Yami?"the little one choked out.

Yami then knelt down to be eye level with this young boy who had been his window to the world, his light in darkness, and his living proof that there were good and honest people in the world. Sighing, he entangled his fingers in Yugi's hair, savoring the mental feeling one last time and then pressed Yugi against him in a warm, tearful hug. Honestly, he didn't want to separate from this perfect boy, afraid to no longer feel whole and complete like he did when they were together.

But ignorance was bliss. This had all been long sought after, and now all of the sudden he wasn't ready and feared for his light's safety. True, he knew that Yugi was strong in heart, soul, and mind, but there were other areas he...lacked in, so to speak.

Yugi however understood perfectly what Yami was feeling, sensing the anxiousness pour through Yami's soul and seep out in tears. At first, it would be difficult, being without his shadow in his mind, in his life...in his heart. After you become joined with someone special, you never want to break apart, just like a love-driven couple, suddenly torn apart by cruel fate. But this was no longer a game of fate or destiny. It was Yami's time to go and recover that which was his from the beginning.

"I'll be all right, Yami. I'll...umm...call you."he tried to say cheerfully, wiping away the last of Yami's glistening tears.

Though he still shook madly, Yami slowly withdrew from this boy who was so much like a little brother to him, and smiled fragily. "No matter what happens, Yugi, you will always be my hikari, and...I will always love you as though you were of my own flesh and blood. Being a part of you and your life has been more than a privilege, it has been an honor that I have never deserved. Thank you for giving me a chance and this opportunity, Yugi."

With one last tender hug, Yami returned his attention to the outside world and looked to the other three people who stood on either side of him. First he looked to Tristan and Joey who didn't seem quite as afraid as before and grinned in reassurance. "I promise that if this works, I won't be nearly as mean." The two chuckled somewhat in relief, but immediately tensed up again when the spirit's gaze seemed to drift towards them, as if to intimidate them more.

Yami shook his head with a smile and turned to Reia, her face surprisingly stern and no tears rolled down her cheeks for once. This was the strong woman he knew, not that he didn't mind the sensitive one, but this was the image of determination he admired - even loved. "Don't bother giving me the 'thanks for being my friend' speech, Yami."she spoke up before he even had a chance. "I know you'll come back, so you can save it for when you're on your next deathbed."

"You're right...it'll have to wait, huh?"he replied, kissing her cheek, as if to tease her lips into desiring a real kiss for a change, but he resisted and pulled back with that stunning smile of his.

Sighing deeply, he looked the spirit dead in the eye and spoke. "Let's get this over with."