The intense heat burned torrentially upon the two weary souls who rode back into Cairo almost dismally the citizens noted, as if the riders had returned with a burden too great for any person on earth to bear, yet they were chosen for such a task. When the two parted ways, unnoticed by the male of the duo, the azure haired woman dismounted from her horse and strode off into an alley, out of sight, and away from any trace of cheerfulness.

No longer did she feel the desire to be with anyone anymore. After all she had undergone, the painful scar she bore on her shoulder, her misguided passions, and these elusive dreams that now plagued her every thought. She had begun to understand just why this solitary warrior sought solitude and seclusion, to be apart from all the world and to only focus on the task given to oneself. Such a simple life to live by - rules and regulations, not confused emotions and fear. Yes, a simple life indeed.

Pushing open a creaky door, Reia stepped into a musty and old building that rested in the dark streets of Cairo, traces of light through the windows barely noticeable to her eyes for her hair was draped over her face. The shadows cascaded all around her, encasing her in a dark prison of memories that had lingered for what seemed to be an eternity. Through so much turmoil, heartache, and despair, where now could she find peace, if there was such a thing...

He trudged up the stairs slowly and walked into his room without saying a word to anyone throughout the house, not desiring to share what things he had seen and heard. Those very memories would now haunt him the rest of his days which would be forever, and in that time there would be no hope in forgetting them.

Another presence could feel all these dreads pour through their partner's soul, an almost forbidding pit of darkness that was waiting to ensnare him for eternity should he say something wrong. Through violet eyes, he stared at his darker half, wishing...longing to console his beloved and confused friend. The little one knew that more than just this spirit's ancient secrets distressed him, but so many other fears as well.

Yugi tried to take control for at least a moment, but his shadow resisted, not wishing to return to the solitude of his own maze of forbidden memories. "Yami,"

"Don't, Yugi." the shadow interrupted. "I don't wish to discuss what happened. You were there, figure it out for yourself and leave me alone."

What? Leave ... alone? This truly wasn't his yami speaking, was it? His other self would never say such a thing to him. "Yami, I know to respect your privacy and other things of that nature, but when it concerns my feelings and the bond I share with you, these worries you carry become my own burden. Please...tell me what you're feeling."

"Yugi! You will never understand what it truly means to carry such a burden as I do as life is entirely locked away from your memory, yet memories you wish to forget over recent events linger and will not diminish!"Yami shouted back angrily, a never before seen rage burning in his eyes. "I know pain, Yugi, and you do not. I have experienced it time and again, meanwhile your life is perfect! Without blemish or darkness, nor does any trace of evil flow in your veins. But then I came into your life and at last you had a shadow that would show you darkness and despair beyond your innocent mind's imagination."

He couldn't possibly be saying this...not to him! "Yami! What's the matter with you?!" Yugi yelled back desperately, tears ready to roll down his face. "This isn't like you!"

Yami chuckled, almost malevolently and grinned down at Yugi who stood his ground despite every urge inside his little body that told him to run and scream for his life. But if Yugi truly knew Yami and understood what his darkness needed, Yami would never harm him.

"But it is me, Yugi...the real me. You cannot escape the evil that surrounds you now, no matter how much you scream..." Darkness then began to enshroud the two, Yugi's eyes widening in terror as the forboding clouds took shape around the room. "No matter how much you beg for mercy and deliverance..." Yugi nervously started to back away as Yami slowly pursued him, his eyes beginning to glow red like a fiery flame that burns in the night. "No matter how much you squeal and fight to get away...you will never escape me for I am darkness, and darkness never leaves."

The flames that shot about in Yami's eyes could tear through flesh and melt the strongest steel known to man as he raged on with the blazing evil inside his very soul. Yugi struggled to maintain eye contact with his partner for fear of those flames being thrown at him and destroying all hope he had in saving his friend from all this torment. Taking on a burst of courage, Yugi stood firmly in front of the advancing Yami as the fire now surrounded him and he strode towards the smaller of the two with a misguided confidence.

"Yami...!"Yugi said loudly, with a heavy breath to follow. "I know this isn't you! You are not total darkness...You say you know nothing of yourself, but there's something I DO know! I know that you were once Pharaoh - a good and just Pharaoh who ruled over his people with kindness and even love. It is this Pharaoh that I have sworn to stand by for as long as my life allows, and you are not that man! Come back, Yami! I know you can hear me!"

"It is useless, little one. Darkness pays no heed to light and it never will! Ahahahahaha!!"

As this menace continued to laugh maliciously, Yugi drew in one more breath so he could scream out once again to his friend. "Think of those that care about you, Yami! Think of Joey, Tristan, Grandpa, Tea, and even Reia! Think of them, Yami! They love you, and so do I! I'm your hikari! Your light!! Come back to us, Yami, please!!!"

Light engulfed the room and shot out through every crack, window, and anything else that could allow light to escape as Yugi embraced his flaming Yami in a tearful hug. Other, now more fond memories began to replay in his mind, putting out each burning flame one by one.

"I...I'd like to think so..."

"...Yami? Is that you?"

The red flames at last subsided and softened into the gentle red violet in his eyes as he looked down to the small bundle in his arms, tiny tear drops slipping past the small one's cheeks. "Oh...my hikari. Bless your gentle soul." Yami finally choked out as he too cried, holding Yugi closer and tighter. Yugi responded equally and clung to the black fabric of Yami's jacket, his fingernails nearly digging into the skin over Yami's back he was so glad he had the real one with him to stay.

"I'm just glad you're okay, Yami. You really had me worried. But may I ask...what got into you there? That was not one of your typical fits." Yugi replied, with a slight chuckle to end his sentence.

Yami smiled and ran his long fingers through Yugi's hair, the smooth strands cooling the burning sensation of his skin. "You are right, Yugi. That was not my anger being unleashed, but something else had overpowered me, tricking my emotions into thinking I was full of rage, when in fact I was not. Only unanswered questions are what fill my mind."

Silence was all that could be spoken during those moments as they deliberated on what the cause could be, when Yugi suddenly had a thought. "Remember...the curse the spirit back at the temple mentioned...? Think that could be it?"

"It has to be because I would never do such a thing, especially to you, Yugi. I was afraid it was true, just like the spirit had said, and it is a frightening thing as you have witnessed. He said it would follow me and...oh, God. Reia!"

"Yami...Reia didn't follow you back to the house!" Yugi's voice rang in fear as Yami searched endlessly throughout the massive house, receiving shouts of curiosity from Joey and Tristan. (A/N: Who were again in the process of getting dressed, hehe, goofy me).

Yami growled under his breath at losing this girl again when he had promised to protect her time and again. "Where else could she have gone? I don't know anything about Cairo!"

"Think, Yami. Try to remember what she loves and think of a place that she may want to be right now."Yugi replied, trying to reassure his other half.

Quickly, he ran over various venues in his mind, each of his ideas giving him no clues until one other came up as he ran down the stairs to where Mister and Misses Landon sat talking over dinner. "Please excuse me, but where's the nearest basketball court or gymnasium?"

Chapter 24 - Decisive Saviour

Why did it all have to happen to her? Why this wound that ruined her career? Why her best friend who was murdered for no reason? Why everything?!

Hissing in frustration, Reia kicked in the glass of the fallen backboard, the pieces shattering like ash in fire. Her emeralds for eyes glowed fiercely, piercing through the darkness and reflecting off the mirrored glass that shot the same image back at her which snapped her attention for a moment. But nevertheless, she drew her gaze away immediately and continued to breathe heavier than normal, and nearly growl as if she was an untamed beast that could have no master.

"Why did you kill her!?!?" she shouted furiously up to the ceiling, her echoes bouncing off the hollow walls around her. "Why!? Because you like to dish out pain!? Is that it?? Well try me! I know pain! Just try...I dare you!"

"Reia! Stop!"

She turned her gaze downward and sneered at this person who dared to disturb her. Again, she hissed and glared at her company. "You..."

"Now, Reia...listen to me." Yami pleaded as he stood his ground even though she had started an advance towards him - fueled by hatred and anger. "I know what's causing this, but you have to stop before it's too late. I can help you, if you'll let me."

"Ha!"she scoffed."You can't help me, and you never have! You've been against me all along and are only trying to hurt me! Well, let me tell you something. I'm not afraid of you, but you should be afraid of me..." She licked her lips as she continued to walk towards his unshaking form, which stood in the lone beam of light that entered through the skylight above him.

"Reia, you know I would never hurt you and I have never meant to do such a thing. I understand that you are upset over Jayne's death, but that is not the cause for your anger now. Listen to me, Reia...I know you can hear my voice."

"She's gone, fool! Only her anger controls her now..."

"Keep listening to my voice, sweet Reia. I have created many a memory with you in this life...and a previous one. I would very much like to discuss those memories with you, but you have to fight against this darkness that has overpowered you. Yet I know, that the real you is there, fighting for control again." Yami told her, as her footsteps slowed, but still continued. "Reia, if there is nothing more I can say that will not awaken you from this dark sleep, let these words try. Remember me and those who remember you."

Suddenly, her footsteps halted and she gasped for air as something unseen escaped her body and hid in the shadows of the gymnasium. "Reia! Are you all right?"Yami asked as he ran to her side while she continued to breathe desperately.

"I don't understand what happened. It just...came upon me and I couldn't control it. Like...an evil spirit. A demon, even."Reia replied, at last regaining a normal breathing pattern.

"A demon...an evil spirit...that's what you call me...?"a voice said out of the darkness. (A/N: Think of Sauron's voice from LOTR, y'all) "I am more than what you know...I am your past coming to haunt you and never subside until you face your true realities. I will follow you the rest of your days and terrify all those you care about, leaving you in misery and despair and rage. There is nothing you can do that will stop me, Pharaoh!!"

A roar then ensued and echoed throughout the gym, its eeriness sending chills down Reia's spine as she barely maintained her place next to Yami. She fought hard to show no fear against this unfriendly creature that she had finally determined to be that curse the spirit at the temple spoke of. Even still though, this thing was all together evil and could do almost anything unnatural to them in a matter of seconds.

"Yami..."she spoke into his ear. "If you have any bright ideas, now is the time to use them."

He smiled and closed his eyes, preparing to shout out at the dark shadow that continued to roar maliciously. "There is one thing I can do that can stop you permanently, and I will call upon this great power now!"

"You lie!!!"

Yami chuckled and replied,"I never lie."

//Yugi!//he called through their link.//I need your light!//

/Comin' right up!/Yugi replied cheerfully.

The puzzle that hung from Yami's neck then began to glow immensely and rose up from its resting place against Yami's torso. He removed the chain from his neck and allowed the puzzle to continue to rise upwards into the center of the gym, the eye on its surface still glimmering brightly. Then beams shot out of the tiny cracks, creating cascades of warming light around the area and the dark spirit was revealed, screeching in agony.

"It's one weakness is light..."Reia spoke up with a nervous smile. "The light will destroy it!"

"Yugi will destroy it...he has never let me down, and he won't now." Yami replied as they continued to watch Yugi work through the small puzzle, the light still radiating out into the open world and making the demon evaporate bit by bit.

"I can never truly be destroyed, Pharaoh. I am darkness and only in the presence of light can I not exist, and no where you go will there be infinite light."the darkness spoke one last time before finally disappearing and the puzzle lowered back down into Yami's hands.

Sighing in relief but also in slight anxiety, Yami pulled the chain back over his head and allowed the puzzle to fall into place. Smiling, he stroked its surface, whispering a silent thank you to Yugi who rested inside.

"Is that...really Yugi inside your puzzle?"Reia asked timidly as Yami nodded.

"Yes, when one of us is in control of the body, the other spirit rests inside its corridors. There are two halves, and technically, the puzzle is like our minds. One half is Yugi's innocent ways, the other is my mysterious chasm that is yet to be fully navigated."Yami said in response as Reia's eyes glittered in amazement. "Your eyes are beautiful when you do that."

She giggled and spoke. "When I do what?"

"When you act surprised or amazed. I see it all the time in Yugi's eyes too."

Reia grinned once more and bent down slightly to be next to the puzzle so she could speak. "Thank you, Yugi. We owe our lives to you."

"He says you're welcome...and you're embarassing him."Yami said with a laugh, Reia doing the same as she rose back up to her original position.

"Let's head home. I've had enough evil for one day."

"My thoughts exactly. Besides, we'll need our rest. We have a big day tomorrow."Yami replied, wrapping an arm around Reia to lead her outside and back to the house. They did indeed have a big day tomorrow and it was one that could not be prevented. Both Yami and Yugi knew that the spirit would make this decision sooner than originally anticipated, so his time had come. The time was now.