all disclaimers apply

Author's note: A reader mentioned in comments about the speech/thought dialogue of Yugi and Yami being a bit confusing in that conversation verses thought can't really be separated in how I make the symbols. I do that on purpose. In part because if Yugi and/or Yami is within the soul room, then regardless of if they are speaking or thinking, it is one and the same on the outside. Here's the symbols once again since I actually do separate thinking and conversations within the soul rooms and it's quite obvious. I always use an asterik (*) if someone is thinking rather than speaking. I denote dialogue within the symbols below:

These two can be reversed. I don't always keep track of which is which, but usually I try to keep it like this:

/ = Yugi speaking into soul room

//= Yami speaking into soul room

* =thoughts of a character

And, for those of you who are following the currently running and now ending Yugioh series from Japan...this fic is more of an alternate universe as we know High Priest Seto isn't all that bad in the ancient Egypt/Memory arc and the events that led Atemu to pass on his legacy to his high priest. Same goes for BEWD. We know the story behind that mighty dragon as well.

For those of you who haven't seen or are aware of the events in the latest (and final) arc of Yugioh in Japan...that above paragraph makes no sense. My apologies to you...all will make more sense in due time as the series progresses in dub form both in anime and manga.

Also, my apologies for the delays in my chapter updates for most of my fics. Real life is hectic for me and I have very little time to spend on writing. But rest assurred, I write when I can. I thank you in advance for your continued patience and willingness to hang in there as readers of my stories.

//Yugi, you're stir-crazy.// Yami muttered through their link as Yugi paced the corridors of the concourse only stopping to briefly window shop then resume pacing once again.

/I know. I don't know why. Guess I'm just anxious, that's all./

//Shouldn't it be I who is anxious?//

/Well are you?/

//Yes and no. I feel as though what we will be shown will be of great importance to my past, yet sorrowful and hard to accept.//

/Sounds like everything else we've discovered about you since I pieced the Puzzle together./

//I'm beginning to wonder if my life was more than just tragic...perhaps unhappy and unfulfilled?//

/You did lose your 'life' at a rather young age Yami. I dare say unfulfilled is an understatement, but unhappy? Guess we'll just have to learn that as we try to unlock your past memories./

//Why do I feel like a caged lion about to be set free?//

/Perhaps destiny has been directing you this way and that's why?/

//I hope so aibou. If this is the wrong path and I'm not supposed to learn of whatever it is the Ishtars are going to show us, then it could complicate matters.//

Before Yugi could answer, the call of first boarding for his flight was heard over the airport comm system. /Well, time to return to the gate and Grandpa. We can talk more on the long flight there Yami, okay?/

//Sure aibou.// Yami replied sullenly with a heavy sigh. Things were already complicated and without his memories, the former pharaoh was finding his existence to be all that more troublesome.

As the two Motous boarded the plane, Yugi took the window seat and gazed out at the activities below the wing. His grandfather simply continued to read on in his newspaper.

/Yami?/

//Yes?//

/Do you remember anything about Egypt?/

//An unforgiving desert. A large walled canyon. Unbearable heat. And a river of entrancing beauty and life, but deadlier than a cobra in one's bed. At least these are the settings I see within my dreams.//

/Sahara...Valley of the Kings...Nile River. Names to those settings of yours Yami. Do any sound familiar?/

//No aibou, but then those are the modern names for them. If they have names from my time, they would be in my ancient tongue of which I remember little of.//

/You have a point there Yami. Regardless, we will return to the sands you once walked upon./

//Apparently so. I am curious as to what tales the sands have to tell.//

Soon the plane began to move and taxi. /Rest now Yami. I'm sure we'll have restless nights ahead of us as we digest whatever news the Ishtars have to reveal to us./

//You don't have to tell me twice aibou. Have a pleasant flight.//

And with that, Yugi returned his focus outwardly. His grandfather was still reading the newspaper. As a veteran traveller, this old man treated flying like it was a natural part of life. Yugi however, though comfortable with flying, was always fascinated by the entire concept. A huge hulk of metal and wires, weighing as much as a whale somehow managed to become airborne with ease. He knew it was all technology and physics, two subjects that he had little interest in, but the entire concept in the big, general picture made flying a marvel of the modern world. As he noted inwardly, the former pharaoh had little interest in modern marvels. He simply allowed them to do whatever was necessary. But as Yugi developed interest and read of things of ancient Egypt, he guessed the pharaoh had experienced marvels in his own time...even if he couldn't remember them.

Yugi settled in and relaxed himself. It was a long flight afterall and there was nothing he could do but sit and wait it out. Like Yami, he'd likely have many a restless night in the days to come.

Ancient Egypt...

It was early morning when the bugle of the changing of the guard sounded. Anhur shot awake, startled and confused. He looked about and suddenly realized exactly where he was. He was still within the Palace walls! It was not a good thing for a creature of the night such as himself to be milling about in the light of day, especially in the lair of his enemies. He bolted out of the fine linens and supple bed and was about to leap out the window when he suddenly realized his nudeness. Backing up with a slight blush upon his cheeks, he proceeded to find the bits and pieces of his garments that were strewn all about the room.

Kashir slowly awoke to all the sounds of scampering within her chambers. With a yawn, her eyes opened to a comical sight, namely one nicely toned bronze behind as its owner bent here and there picking up articles of clothing. Kashir giggled softly.

"It's not funny! If the pharaoh or prince arrives in here I'm as good as roasted goose!"

"Roasted goose is very delightful though. Neither will enter. The only threat you have are my servants arriving to assist in my bathing and dressing for the day."

"That's bad enough. Now how did all these clothes get everywhere?! I thought we were in one spot!" Anhur muttered as he chased down his bits of clothing while at the same time tried to sort them out and put each on in the order required.

"Mmmmmm...." was Kashir's only response as she watched the lithe, muscular form of her lover dash about.

It did not go unnoticed by Anhur. He briefly ceased his clothing hunt to gaze upon Kashir's half closed content eyes. She was watching him with an elbow upon the bed and a hand supporting her head. The sheets barely covered her smooth succulent curvacous body. Her eyes filled with passion and desire, beckoned the male to come to her.

"N-not now...I..." Anhur stammered as his mind was being clouded by the sight before him. His hormones were taking over in lustful desire and need once again."WHERE IS THAT LOINCLOTH!" he shouted to himself as he could feel the rise of a certain part of his body. He needed to restrain that if he was going to leave the palace in one piece.

Kashir chuckled. "Oh Anhur darling..." she sang as she held up the triangular piece of cloth. Anhur spun around and realized that the item was seeking was in his lover's hands. He approached her and reached for the cloth just as she tucked it away from his grasp.

"Kashir, I don't have time for games!"

Kashir softly moaned as she gazed at Anhur's lower areas. "I beg to differ as does a part of you. Gaming is in your blood just as it was in your father's. You can't resist a challenge...of any form."

Anhur growled at the lack of control he had over himself. Wasn't that the area of his body his mother had warned him about in the first place? There was no way he could tightly scale walls or slink around corners with a part of him standing out straighter than an obelisk in the sunlight. Reluctantly, he gave in. "This had better be quick. Every second is precious in my escaping with my life."

"It's what you make of it my sleek bronzen leopard." Kashir purred as she tossed aside the loincloth to envelop her lover in a passionate embrace once again.

A little while later, Anhur was stumbling on numb legs as he dressed himself and all to the sublime amusement of his newly quenched lover. "It's still not funny Kashir!" Anhur replied as seriously as he could, but broke into a laugh himself. Yes, it was funny. Here he was, the master of stealth...scampering about like a kid about to be busted for stealing from a merchant. But Anhur knew better...his stole something much more valuable and not from a merchant but from the future ruler of the entire kingdom! Unsure of his wobbly legs, Anhur opted not to scale the palace walls. His black cloak would make him a beacon in daylight for the royal archers anyway. He'd have to take the alternate route...right through the main corridors. With a brief kiss and a gesture of thanks, Anhur bid Kashir goodbye and casually departed out the front door of her chambers and into the main corridors. If he acted like he belonged, nobody would question him...at least he hoped as much.

Seeking a side exit out of the palace so as to escape the checkpoints, Anhur made a series of turns in some corridors that weren't as familiar as he'd hoped. He wasn't sure exactly what wing of the palace he was now in. But, he had to continue onward as if he knew exactly where he was and where he was headed.

With his head down and his eyes cast upon the pathway just ahead of him, he did not see the being whom he slammed a shoulder into, sending said being into a wall.

"EXCUSE YOURSELF FOR YOUR IMPUDENCE TO THE ROYAL PRINCE, COMMONER!" the being lashed outward verbally.

Anhur's eyes quickly glanced sidewards at the being as he halted mid-stride.

"YOU!" the Prince seethed as he recognized the eyes upon him.

Anhur's lips formed into a challenging smirk. He grabbed a sprig of grapes the prince was carrying and popped a couple into his mouth. "Thanks prince...in more ways than one." Anhur cockily replied as he broke into an immediate run. He silently prayed to Ra that his legs would not give out from the waves of pleasure and contentment that his body had felt just moments before.

He could hear the prince barking orders to nearby guards. The corridors would be filled with guards and other loyal servants to the royal house soon. Seeing a palm tree from a window opening, he slid to a halt and backed up. Without a thought of calculations in distance, he lept out of the window for the palm tree.

Perhaps he was a cat in a previous life for the tree's trunk was much farther than it had appeared from the window. But, his nimble leap had nearly taken him past it. He grabbed the tree trunk with his hands just as his body tried to fly past it. With all the strength he could muster, he yanked his flying body back from the inertia of the leap and smacked it onto the tree trunk. He was thankful certain parts of himself were still numbfeeling as his legs wrapped around the trunks and spun his body around the tree using the trunk as a shield just as an archer shot arrows from the window he had just left.

Bugles of alarm sounded through the entire palace and outward to its perimeters. Shouts between archers and guards as well as pointings of fingers revealed his current location.

*What a fine mess you got yourself into mighty son of the King of Games! Dare I remind myself that mother was right all along? Damn thing between my legs got me into more trouble than I've ever been in! My father is probably watching from the afterlife and getting a fine laugh out of this one. Then he'll probably strike me down with a lightening bolt out of punishment for being so stupid!* Anhur thought to himself as he scanned the area, pondering any possibility of escape.

Meanwhile, Kashir had heard all the commotion outside her chambers and knew it had to be Anhur stirring everybody about. Still bearing the rosy flush of earlier activities, she quickly dressed and dashed out of her chambers to see if she could be of assistance to her newfound lover.

As Anhur discovered a possible escape, his world suddenly went all white than solidly black as he was sent careening towards the ground below. His last vision and sound were the smoldering bits of tree, a shiny white wing, and the victory sounding of one powerful, mighty dragon before he lost complete consciousness.

From the heights of the palace walls, Kashir gasped as she saw the form of the pharaoh's most powerful beast. She feared the worst for Anhur for no mortal walked away from the direct blast of the mighty blue-eyed white dragon.

In another section of the palace, but facing the same awesome spectacle, Prince Sethos gazed at the dragon with a prideful smirk. His father must've heard the commotion and responded accordingly. The pharaoh put an end to the incident with one powerful blast of his most prized beast. One day, the prince hoped the godlike white dragon would accept him when the time came for him to take the throne.

tbc...