all disclaimers apply

Author's note: A reader mentioned in comments/reviews area that symbols such as those I use when Yami & Yugi are talking via soul room can't be seen. I've noticed that in the latest couple of chapters myself. The previous older chapters do have it. I'm not sure what is going on. I haven't changed programs. It is probably a fanfictiondotnet issue with all their upgrades,etc. I apologize, but there isn't much I can do about it. I can't go through and re-edit what doesn't show...I simply don't have time to do so. Usually as you read along you can figure out who's talking,etc. and where they're talking. If Yugi & Yami are talking together they're usually in the soul rooms or via mind link. And if you don't see quotes, then the character is usually thinking to oneself or its a narrative. For reading chapters that contain the proper punctuation, etc. feel free to visit my site at flamindragondotnet ( I have to spell out the urls because fanfictiondotnet doesn't seem to allow even that punctuation! UGH!).

As the plane winged on towards Egypt, Yugi rapidly fell from his hyperactive bout earlier. He now dozed peacefully with his head leaning against his grandfather's arm. Within his soul room, Yami too was resting. With Yugi's mind at rest, so could the pharaoh's...at least he hoped.

White wings...blue eyes. A new creature of his high priest's. It rode upon a shimmering almost blinding light that rivaled the Winged dragon of Ra...the most powerful of Egyptian god beasts. The pharaoh smirked. The greater the challenge, the higher the anticipation of victory over this new foe. But things weren't always as they seemed. His high priest's latest kaa acquisition felt different from the other kaa beasts they normally summoned. Granted, the Black Magician wasn't a normal kaa beast either, having become part Mahaado after his death, but this dragon...was even different from that. The young king feared no beast, but seemed guarded around this new dragon.

"It's an amazing beast isn't it?" the high priest asked, a smirk of pride displaying upon his lips.

"Where did you find this kaa?" Atemu asked. No mere native being held such a powerful kaa aside from the Thief King Bakura and his Diabound. But the power of Bakura's beast was fueled from hatred. This white dragon was fueled by something else. Atemu focused inwardly, using his own magical powers to try and sift through the powers of essence and being. All he could feel was the dragon's purity...light...and was it...life?

"It happened upon me one day. A blast from my past so to speak." Set cockily replied, chuckling slightly at his own hidden joke.

Atemu raised a brow inquisitively but said nothing. Something just didn't seem right and nothing fell in place. Set's story was short and vague. But the creature was of goodness. Atemu could feel it. Set, however, was determined to utilize the beast's power to finally emerge victorious in a duel over his pharaoh...to hand his king the first ever defeat.

"So, are you going to summon a beast in this duel or are you simply going to allow my victory in forfeit?" Set challenged. While he was loyal to his king and did not wish harm upon him, a duel was a duel.

Atemu sighed in frustration. There was no reasoning with his thick-skulled priest! "Fine then, if you MUST have a duel, then so be it." Atemu replied seriously as he focused inwardly.

"Show me king...summon a mighty god!" Set taunted.

Atemu thought about giving in for a moment...the gods would surely...or would they? And yet, something told him that it was unwise to beat this beast...that if the white dragon was hurt...a soul and a life would hurt as well. "No Set. A god will not be required." Atemu replied calmly as he summoned his most trusted creature...the Black Magician.

"Mahaado." Set replied aloud as the apparition of the Black Magician took form. "Pharaoh, do you seriously think you and Mahaado can defeat a beast that rivals the gods themselves?"

"Set, your arrogance and conceit will one day be your undoing. Please understand..."

"Do not worry pharaoh...you will not harm me. My dragon will see to that. Besides, this is a 'friendly' duel is it not?"

*No this is a show of bragging for you Set...a game of show and tell. But, a lesson does need to be taught in this duel. I just hope you realize it before it's too late.* Atemu thought to himself before he spoke aloud. "Set, I--"

"PREPARE PHARAOH! WHITE LIGHTNING ATTACK!" Set bellowed as the white dragon opened it's large maw and released a blinding blast.

Yami jolted awake...sweating and gasping for air. Yet another nightmare. Yugi also awoke though not entirely. He kept his eyes closed as he focused inwardly...towards the reason for his waking.

/Yami?/

//Aibou? I'm sorry to have awakened you. Just another dream.//

/But it wasn't just another dream was it? It rattled you, whatever it was. Care to share?/

//I saw the Blue Eyes White Dragon...in the past.//

/That's a given according to the tablet at the museum. What about the dragon?/

//I think my high priest betrayed me...well, not exactly betrayed, but rather became intoxicated with power.//

/Go on./

//There isn't much more to it aibou. We were dueling. I awoke as the Blue Eyes released its attack towards me.//

/Yami, are you aware that your dreams are making no sense between them whatsoever!?/ Yugi teased through their mind-link.

//Just another maze of doors like my soul room I guess. At least this one wasn't related to sex right? I mean, in this crowded plane and all...// Yami trailed with a hint of a chuckle.

Yugi blushed. /Thanks a lot for the reminder Yami! Now I can't go to sleep until after we land for fear of you dreaming again and embarrassing me! Well, hopefully some light can be shed in Egypt and we can open some doors and straighten out some of that maze both in your heart and mind./

//I hope so aibou. I really do.//

Moments later the pilot announced over the plane's intercom system that they were in a gentle descent and would arrive in Egypt in a few hours. The long flight was nearly over and a new journey soon to commence.

/Next stop, Egypt Yami!/ Yugi replied over the mind-link excitedly.

//Apparently so aibou.//

/Are you always beaming with so much excitement or am I just imagining it?/ Yugi teased back mocking the pharaoh's lack of enthusiasm.

//Careful Yugi. That sounds like a challenge.//

/Aww, but most of the time you're all bark and no bite Yami./

//You calling me a dog aibou!?//

/Oh, finally...there's some emotion out of you. No, I'm not calling you a dog. I was merely stating that well...nevermind, I need to use the bathroom!/ Yugi said as he interrupted himself, closed the mindlink, and suddenly realized that the extra large soda he had gulped down at the airport finally caught up to him.

Within his soulroom, Yami was finally having a rare chuckle.

Ancient Egypt...

Anhur awoke with blurred vision and a throbbing head. He had no idea where he was other than the fact that his wrists ached and felt numb at the same time, much like the rest of his body. As he gave his body a little longer to awaken, his vision cleared somewhat though his head still trobbed in obvious pain. Slowly moving his eyes, Anhur noted he was in mostly darkness. The walls were bare. And to his right were bars. When his arms refused his request to lower, he realized they were shackled above him. His ankles were also shackled. He was bound to a wall. His garments were stripped of him, leaving him only in an undercloth about his groin. Crusty dried blood tickled the side of his face as it began to peel off. He closed his eyes again, hoping that when they opened again, it would be revealed that all was just a dream.

But it wasn't. The noise of metal and footsteps could be heard drawing ever nearer. The sound of his cell being opened then shut again forced the son of Atemu to partially open his heavy-lidded eyes. A cold metallic item lifted his chin, forcing him to open his eyes further.

"Well Jackal, how does it feel to be caged?" the Prince jeered as he held Anhur's face up with the Millenium Rod.

"No smart-alec response Jackal? A pity. I told you I'd best you...pathetic street rat."

When Anhur continued his silence, Prince Sethos removed the Rod from Anhur's chin and grabbed a wad of Anhur's spikey blonde mane. " I will have my way with you Anhur. I will break you. The bloodline of Atemu will cease to exist with you. You have embarrassed and humiliated my bloodline long enough. It is time you felt a taste of your own medicine. Death would be an easy out for you. It will not be such. You will live...for a while anyway. An example must be made from you as a message to others who would dare to even think of challenging the throne." Sethos seethed as he released Anhur's hair with a rough jolt. It caused Anhur to nearly blackout from the pain within his head. A concussion was obvious. He didn't remember much, but he remembered a white light then a falling sensation. He must have banged his head at some point after. Until his internal head wound healed, Anhur was at the mercy of the prince and king. He said nothing and his vision was useless, so he remained expressionless and calm, just hoping the noise of the prince's voice would go away and leave his throbbing head alone.

Realizing that he was getting nowhere with the injured captive, Sethos spun and departed. A part of him didn't want to treat his most challenging opponent in this manner. Part of him had respect for him, as a fellow duelist. But, rules had to be followed just as they were broken. Trespassing within the Palace and challenging the current reigning bloodline were serious charges. Luckily for Anhur, neither the prince nor pharaoh knew of the deadliest rule that was broken. Anhur had bedded the future queen of Egypt...the prince's mate. And if the gods were with him and Atemu, an heir to Atemu's and Anhur's legacy was created. It would be a lethal, no a fatal stroke to the bloodline of Set and Akunadin. But Anhur had to live, he knew he had to. If he didn't, the child and Kashir would be in serious danger. Kashir could be executed if she was pregnant and the father was revealed. If she died, the unborn child would die as well.

Anhur breathed in deeply and tried to relax and rest as best he could. He had to heal quickly and escape before more damage was done to his body. Though inwardly, Anhur knew that his body could be broken, but his spirit and heart would remain unblemished. He did not want to ponder the prince's words, but the manner they were spoken, revealed foresight as to what forms of torture would be forthcoming. Prince Sethos was far worse than his father. He was more like the tales of the Dark Priest Akunadin, his grandfather. And apparently, Pharaoh Set had given his son full power over this prisoner and his torture and interrogation.

Hours turned into days as Anhur remained shackled in darkness. Apparently the first form of torture was to be ignored. Deprived of food and water, the shackles keeping him locked in a standing position, and rodents and insects nibbling away at the wounded flesh about his legs, Anhur was fighting within himself. He wanted death to take him, but he remembered the prince's words. Death wasn't going to be allowed. So, nourishment of some kind was going to be given to him at some point soon.

He did not know how many days had passed. He'd stopped counting the rise and fall of the Aten when lack of nourishment caused his brain to refuse to ponder things. He wasn't even sure how long a human could go without lack of water, but egyptians were a hearty bunch, their bodies adapted to endurance of heat and very little water and Anhur knew his bloodline could endure beyond the normal egyptian. Their bodies were no different from any other egyptian, but the spirit and heart of Atemu's blood was fueled by pride, justice, and devotion to good.

Anhur wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not when he heard voices. Too weak to even lift his eyelids, he simply remained in his fever induced stupor.

"It's infection sire. The wounds around his legs have not been treated. He is burning up."

"Remove him then. I want him alive! Take him to the medical ward and have him cleaned and treated. Give him water and bread if he can eat. If not, force some water down him. Have the medics prepare a suitable clean lion's cage for him. He will have to remain in their care until his health improves."

"As you wish sire!" the burly guard replied as he departed to carry out his orders.

Prince Sethos stepped closer and peered within the bars. He had not expected to leave his prisoner this many days without proper nourishment or care. But, the pharaoh had sent him on a mission of utmost importance. The prince raced back as fast as his steed could muster out of its strong legs. He did not want death to claim his most prized and competitive prisoner.

"Aren't you a sorry sight! But, a strong one aren't you? You're not dead yet. Why is that? Very few humans can survive as many days without water. Why would you want to live? Do you have a reason beyond your own pathetic existence? You intrigue me Jackal. Stay alive then. Suffer. You had an unexpected opportunity to die and rid yourself of all this, but you failed to take it. Do you fear not joining the Afterlife with your father, Atemu and that is why you live...for a proper burial to assure your ascension? You're such a fool Jackal! You can mark my words on that!" the prince spoke. Though his captive seemed unconscious, something told the prince that Anhur could still hear him. With one final glance at the shackled Anhur, the prince gracefully departed just as the medics and guards were arriving to transport the captive to the medical wing of the palace.

In another area of the palace, Kashir was well aware of her lover becoming the captive of the prince. In secret, she planned for Anhur's rescue and release. As much as she wanted to see him, to bring him nourishment and words of encouragement and hope, she could not risk being seen in the dungeons around him. Nobody knew they were lovers nor that there was a chance she had conceived a child with the blood of Atemu. She had to be discreet and careful. One slip and she could be executed and the hope of Atemu's bloodline continuing would be extinguished forever.

to be continued...