The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, its bright golden rays slowly sinking beneath the desert sands as Reia and her travelling party started to get situated in their temporary house in Cairo. The house belonged to Reia's parents who were fairly wealthy, being able to provide accomodations for their guests. Joey and Tristan were bickering as usual who would get which bed in the room they shared, Solomon had no objections to his, and Yami hadn't even ventured into his stay room yet, choosing to visit with Reia's parents instead.

"Reia, darling..."her mother told her only child fragily, letting the blue haired beauty sink into her motherly embrace. "I'm so sorry about, Jayne. There was nothing you could have done."

"But that's just it...I couldn't do anything! I should've been there with her!"Reia shouted back, her rarely seen tears cascading down her cheeks. "I could've prevented it had I not been stuck with this stupid shoulder issue! If only I would have just been stupid that day and took the stupid street like a normal person!"

"Shh...Reia, you're shouting, dear."

"I don't care!!!"

Her mother sighed and stroked her hand down Reia's back, glancing over at Yami who was conversing silently with Reia's father. She grinned and spoke. "Well, darling...think of it this way. Had this not all happened, you would have never made such a good friend as Yami there. He's quite the gentleman, carrying you in like that. You two dating?"

Reia scoffed and wiped her face. "Not hardly we're just..."Yami caught her trailing gaze and tried to smile, but fell short miserably. "...He's umm...not my type, Mom. I'd rather we just stay friends."

Her mother shrugged and smiled again. "Well, that may be what you think now, but I have an inkling that you'll change your mind by the time your visit is over."

"Adelaide,"a male voice interrupted. "I think we should let Reia and her guests be getting to bed. They've had a long day."

"Yes of course, Jeremy."As Reia's mother rose regally from her seat on the couch, she embraced her child once more. "It's wonderful to have you back, Reia dear."

"Nice to be back at home for a change."With a soft kiss to her cheek, Reia pulled away and allowed her mother to share a soft hug with Yami.

"Again, Mr.Mouto, it's a pleasure as well as an honor to have you staying with us."Adelaide told him with her wittiest of smiles, almost urging for him to make a move on her daughter.

Yami held back a laugh and spoke. "The honor's all mine, Mrs.Landon. Thank you for having us." He looked to the other man in the room and shook his hand. "Good to meet you, Jeremy. I'd like to take you up on that duel offer sometime during our visit."

Jeremy smiled. "I look forward to it, Yami. Reia, rest well, dear, the same to you Yami."With that, the two elders strode up the stairs and left the two friends alone in the family room, silence making its presence known between them.

Reia walked towards the window that provided them with an excellent view of the desert in the distance, as Yami cautiously followed her as to not crowd her. He knew at a time like this she particularly liked her space and didn't want to be babied at all times.

"Sure is a beautiful night..."he commented quietly, her head shifting only a little at his words then turning back to continue gazing at the sight.

She choked a little as she searched for a reply appropriate in the situation, her eyes threatning to glaze over again for the millionth time that day. "As girls..."she croaked out finally. "Jayne and I would sit right here and just watch the sun set, saying how the sky was the best painter there ever was. Heh...its funny, she wanted to be a painter as a child and I wanted to be a sculptor because we always admired Egyptian art and architecture."

"Seems your destinies turned out a bit different, then."Yami said with a chuckle, she too doing the same. "I take it you've visited the Pyramids many a time during your youth?"

Reia nodded. "Yeah, but just once. You see, I was afraid of heights as a kid, and just looking up at them made me dizzy. I never wanted to go back, but Jayne loved to go. She must've visited them at least a dozen times..."

Silence again plagued the air among them, words not finding their way to their voices. Both were too caught up in the beauty of the colorfully painted sands and sky. Soft shades of violet, blue, red and orange meshed together to form a magnificent portrait that not even the best artist on earth could accomplish with a brush. Each color flowed perfectly with the next and stretched down to the horizon, the sun sending its last stunning rays of light across the land to touch the world beyond.

Yami was awed at the spectacular hues that adorned the atmosphere, their gentle tones reflecting off the sparkling emeralds of the beautiful and hurt woman standing next to him. He wanted to hold her like a man would to his lover the moment was so perfect, but something inside him urged him to keep his distance for her sake. She was still petrified over all the recent events, that much he could tell. Each was like a curve ball being thrown at her when she thought it was a simple pitch that she could score a run on. Why was cruel fate selecting her as the victim of the present?

"Hey Yami...I...I'm pretty tired. I think I should get to bed, you too."Reia said sweetly, adding a lovely smile that melted his heart.

He nodded and reached out his hand for her's to escort her up the steps, going slow for the sake of her weakened strength as they reached the top. They followed a long and dimly lit corridor until Reia stopped in front of an open door leading into a well-kept room that Yami assumed was Reia's before she left for Domino. She walked in and looked at the assortment of stuffed animals and other toys on her bed, a particular doll catching her eye.

"I see Cerasi's still here."she said, taking the doll into her hands and gazing into its smiling face.

"Cerasi?"Yami repeated, curiously amused that Reia named her toys.

"Jayne gave her to me several years ago. She was my favorite doll....still is."Yami smiled and watched her hug the tiny rendition of a girl in her arms until she looked up at him again. "Good night, Yami."

He carefully kissed her forehead and hugged her once more, pulling away reluctantly. "Sweet dreams, Reia. I'll see you in the morning." After a brief stare, he shut the door and left her to herself, as he tried to remember which room was his. He shook his head and decided to check every room he came to, finally finding it three doors down from Reia's. At least he knew he was somewhat close to her in case she needed him in the morning.

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

"...It all happened so suddenly. Her wine must have been poisoned."Yami told the Priest of the Dead beneath the glorious hall of his palace and in the darkest chambers he never imagined anyone could grow fond of. Death was surrounding them. Sarcophogus' lining the walls and other compartments in which to place the dead to rest for eternity. Yami had ventured once into this eerie place, but that was years ago, so the forboding masks and idols around him made him shiver.

"Understood, my Pharaoh."the priest replied, snapping his fingers for his lower priests to prepare the burial ceremony for the young warrior who had fallen not by the sword, but by the glass. "We will honor her as a true warrior."

Yami nodded and smiled grimly. "Thank you, Theshth. I'll send someone to bring Jade here-" Before he could finish, his eyes caught Reia carrying the lifeless body in her arms, the cold gleam in her orbs clearly the remains of her tears. She strode past him without a word and laid Jade's still form on the stone table, then drew the girl's sword.

Yami began to fear the worst as she lifted the blade high, then swinging it down to be vertical against the sacred chamber of her heart. He gulped down his pride and reached out to stop her, but when she placed the sword's hilt in her dead friend's grip, he sighed in relief, recalling that this was a traditional ritual among warriors - to place the fallen's weapon in hand so they could be laid to rest with honor.

Reia then spoke silently in the tongue, praying for her comrade's safe journey into the next life, and then simply pivoted around and exited the haunting chamber. Yami watched her go then directed his attention back to the priest. "You may begin the ceremony whenever you are ready." And with that, Yami too made his exit, catching up to his guardian quickly as she almost literally dragged herself up the stone steps. "Reia...I can't say how sorry I am about her. I just hope you can forgive me for her death."

She said nothing, she just continued to trudge up further, each step like a shooting pain up her legs and to her lungs. Reia had never felt so winded in all her life, as if her body was tiring after fighting an endless battle in the hot desert. But she had been fighting a battle, not on the desert sands, but in her own mind. For so long she had shut herself away from the world and concentrated only on her duty, not the people whom she served and served with. Finally when she had begun to open herself to the most innocent of girls, that precious life was taken in a breath and spoke the word "friend" with her last bit of life she barely posessed.

But the Pharaoh-...Yami was sorry. Was he truly? Did he care as much as he said he did? Did he really understand what it was like to lose someone you had at last grown to love?

The silence had lasted long enough to lead them to the main hall which was silent as well, with the exception of a servant here and there cleaning a corner they had checked yesterday. Night had fallen upon them and their need for rest had grown, warning them to drift off in dreamland. Remembering her new routine, Reia motioned that they go to the Pharaoh's chamber so he could turn in for the evening, while she'd stand watch until another "hardly qualified" soldier would relieve her until daybreak.

Once inside the massive chamber, it too lavishly decorated in hues of scarlet and deep blue, Yami caught a glimpse of Reia taking her position just outside the door, her lance in hand. "Reia, I believe I would like it if you came inside tonight." Her response was nothing but a simple nod and followed him into his hallowed room, but she was too distracted to realize his invitation, much less any of the decorations.

Her mute replies had now begun to worry him, fearing that her mind was swimming in all her regrets and sorrows. The visions of Jade lying lifeless in her teacher's arms must have been too painful for even Reia to bear, let alone him. If only he could help her in some way, anything that would relieve her of this terrible loss. Silently, he shut the heavy doors and stared at her, her eyes focused on her feet and the floor. Was it really this hard for her?

With the utmost caution and gentleness, he reached for her lance and pulled it away from her grasp, surprised that she didn't fight back, but only instead...

"Reia, are you....trembling?"

It was true. She was shaking like mad, her body not stilling for anything, and her legs were about to give way, but she maintained her stance somehow. Pushing aside the thoughts of her shoving him away and saying his actions dishonored her duty as a guardian, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her to bring her close. Again, she didn't struggle and accepted his embrace, now almost clinging to him.

Yami grimaced as he felt her fingernails dig into the bare skin over his chest, sensing her anger and frustration in the pain she was causing him. Yet he didn't care. He had an inkling this "dishonorable action" was helping to release her anguish and some of his as well. Since the day she first opened up to him, if even slightly, he had longed to hold her in his arms, to console her about her lonely life that she had endured. Orphaned at a young and fragile age, raised by total strangers who gave her no welcome into their society except to teach her fighting skills, then sworn into his service when she was a young teenager. Now this fearless warrior who had just lost possibly her only friend she ever knew to have was receiving waves of affection from the one whom she never would have suspected.

"My Pharaoh..."she choked out. "This...this is dishonorable for us both. The code of the guardian states-"

"I don't care what it states, Reia."Yami halted her."If me holding you like this makes you feel better about everything, then the code can be cast aside for such an occasion. I'm the Pharaoh - what I say goes." She saw him smirk rather sadly, realizing how much he did care about all this, perhaps even more than she did. She felt her fists balling up against his chest, this sudden urge to pound with all her might creeping up into her muscles, but she held back and nearly collapsed, yet his grip held her against him.

"Why couldn't that have been me!?"she almost yelled, but was muffled against his body. "Jade never deserved to die! All she wanted was to serve you! Why!?"

"I don't know, Reia. Life isn't fair, truly it isn't. But in a way, it is my fault. I should have been aware that poison could have been..."What was that peculiar sound? A faint...whimper? "Oh, Reia...cry those tears now. Do not hide them any longer. Shed them, my lovely guardian." And so she did, fits of warm tears melting into the cool texture of his skin.

Never had she cried quite like this in her life, not ever she didn't think. Was Jade's death really affecting her this badly to the extent that she'd mourn endlessly, or was there another possibility that caused her tears to flow?

For several more long moments she cried against him, all the while his long fingers were combing through her blue strands and down her back, a soft and quiet lullaby in the tongue being sung into her ear. The sounds were mystifying and calming, if not slightly alluring and inviting. "Jade's death was not in vain, Reia, you and I both know that." Yami said deeply, still holding her with all the gentleness he could muster.

Reia nodded, wiping away her tears with pride glimmering in her green eyes when she rested her head on his shoulder, giving in to her desires for rest. "Yes, I will avenge her death and protect your life before my own, my Pharaoh. I swear it." After her brief speech, she slumped over and now had totally collapsed in his arms, clearly lost in sleep. Yami smiled and carried her over to his bed, pulling a warm satin cover over her dreaming form as he quickly called for another guard and laid down on his couch, he then drifting off into a peaceful slumber as well.

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

His mouth curved upwards into a smile - a 'way to go, you did it!' smile. "Yami...Yami, wake up, Yami..."he heard a voice call.

He mumbled something out loud, but barely understandable. " Ehh...just five more minutes, Solomon...ZzzzZzzz."

"Yami, it's me! Yugi!"

"Huh?" Yami blinked and stared up into the eyes of his pajama clad aibou. "Oh, hi Yugi. What brings you here?"

Yugi couldn't help but laugh at Yami and how he looked when he was just waking up. His hair was a ruffled mess, (A/N:Musta misplaced the hair gel while he was sleepwalking ^_^)his eyes barely open, and his blanket was a tangled mess of knots and fuzzies. "Yami, don't take this personally, but you look like you got run over by a truck!"

Yami grinned and chuckled with his partner. "I bet I do. Who knows, maybe I had a dream I was being chased by one."

"Which uhh...brings me here, actually. Well, kind of."Yugi said timidly as he sat next to Yami who was still too lazy to get up. "After all this going on with Reia, I don't think it's a good idea to ask her about the dreams, but more importantly, I'm concerned about her."

"I understand, Yugi. I am too. These dreams keep getting more complex for the Reia we may believe to be the one we know."Yami replied, finally sitting up, however getting tangled again in his blanket.

"Yeah, and doesn't it seem a little strange that the Reia from this dream just lost a close friend too like ours?" Yugi pointed out, Yami nodding. "Yami, I'm so worried about her. What if these dreams are meant to be some kind of warning? That...something even worse could happen!?"

"Calm down, little Yugi."Yami cooed quietly, brushing his aibou's cheek with his fingers as the young one shivered in fear for their new friend. "I promise I won't let anything happen to Reia."

Yugi then stopped and looked at his beloved partner through clouded eyes, a small smile creeping upon the young one's features. "I knew you'd say that, Yami! Admit it, you like her!"

"Yugi, not like that. I am concerned too. She of course doesn't deserve what she's going through, which is why I will protect her to the best of my abilities."That smile his aibou was brandishing refused to fade, and again Yami had to continue with his speech so he could clear himself.

"When I have an opportunity to help someone in need, I want to do so. Reia is struggling with something down deep, just like I am. I don't want her to suffer as I have for the past several centuries."

That's what broke Yugi's smile and made him jump forward to embrace his darkness, a burst of compassion and understanding flowing from his heart to Yami's. He now understood Yami perfectly. Every aspect of his shadow he could detect, solve, and conclude on in a second, except of course the mysteries of Yami's past. Those were even uncovered by the spirit himself. But little did Yugi know, that somehow, some way, those answers would return to his other self and remind him of his glory he once held centuries ago.

"But Yami...honestly, do you think the Reia from these dreams is the one we know?"

"I'm not sure, Yugi, but I have reason to believe she is...the one."

Chapter 16 - While at Market