Finding Serenity in the Flowers

Ramses talked with one of his personal servants as he walked through the grounds of the palace. "We will have our celebration at some point..." He said, before pausing in his step as he glanced into the gardens.

Serenity was a beautiful woman... and exotic looking as well. Ramses waved his servant off, before walking into the garden.

"Beautiful sunset... I've traveled far and haven't seen one that compares to the one of Egypt." He said, looking at the sunset as she did.

Serenity took in a breath and glanced over at Ramses with a small smile, "The sunsets here are lovely...you are right I haven't seen one that compares." She said after a beat. "I used to be unable to see things like this." She said thoughtfully. Her gaze turned back towards the sunset once again, "So each time I see sunsets like this, I remember what I almost lost." She said quietly. There was a pause and she let out a little laugh, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up." She apologized.

"Don't apologize for that... It had to truly been a miracle by the gods for your sight to return." He said, feeling almost in awe that he was speaking with someone touched by the gods.

He moved to sit beside her on the fountain's edge. "Tell me... how did you come to know our Pharaoh?" He asked, having been curious. Tea had told him things, but he wasn't sure about her word on the subjects.

Serenity had to think about how to explain things in a way that he would understand. "Well he became friends with my brother Joey. When I was twelve I started to go blind but I wanted to see my brother one last time before I lost total sight. When my brother found out I was going to go blind he discovered an operation that could restore it. The operation was expensive though and we didn't have enough money to pay for it, so Joey decided to enter a tournament that could pay for the operation. Atem entered the tournament alongside him, they both got to the finals. When they had to fight each other Joey lost but Atem gave him the money to pay for my operation." She said and trailed a hand through the water in the fountain as she thought about it. "After that I had the operation and regained my sight. I got to meet Atem a year later and we've been friends ever since." She said with a little laugh. "When I was going blind I could only make out shadows. I couldn't see the colors or the patterns in anything, but now that I can...I'm always grateful." She explained.

Ramses listened to her story and once she was done, he finally spoke. "The Pharaoh has always been known for his giving heart..." He said, before giving her a soft smile. "It would seem you and your friends are part of the reason that our Pharaoh and Priest have returned." He said, before taking her hand and pressing it to his lips. "This kingdom is indebted to you."

Serenity felt her face heat up at his words, "Oh I don't know if that's true." She said as she pulled her hand free. Feeling his eyes on her she turned away and stared at the now dimming night sky. "Atem is a good man....just knowing him is...amazing. He's sweet and kind and just, I'm starting to understand why he is Pharaoh." She said eventually. She gave him a radiant smile, "From what you did in his absence I know he'll be indebted to you." She said gently.

"I have always heard that he was a good man... I did not get the chance to meet him before his disappearance... My family was next in line after Priest Seto's family... I did what I had to do to give the people peace when the Pharaoh they loved had vanished... Some of the Priests around here believed the gods took the Pharaoh away to test him of his strengths and right to rule... And that Priest Seto went with him as a guide..." Ramses told her, while looking at the sky.

He turned and looked at her again. "If I have done well in his absence to satisfy him, then that is all I need." He admitted, giving her a soft smile.

He bowed his head to her. "Thank you, Lady Serenity... Your words mean a great deal." He said, smiling at her again.

"Tell me, what is it like where you are from? I've always been one who would have liked to travel, but with being a royal, they don't let you get out much." He said, with a light hearted tone.

Yami found his feet leading him back to the garden he and Serenity woke up in earlier. He looked up and paused a little when he saw Serenity and Ramses talking.

Ramses placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be able to go back some day..." He told her, honestly.

Ramses smiled softly at her before standing and offering his hand to her. "I'd be honored if you allowed me to show you to your room tonight." He said, bowing a little to her.

Yami watched, still unnoticed in the background as Serenity took Ramses' hand. "Am I interrupting something?" He asked, stepping further into the garden. He wasn't sure what possessed him to do that, but he honestly didn't like the way that Ramses was looking at Serenity nor the fact that she gave him her hand.

He could almost hear Yugi saying, "You're jealous, Yami." before laughing behind his hand at him.

Needless to say that didn't make him feel any better...

Ramses turned when he heard Atemu speak and when Serenity spoke, he looked back at her. He found to look adorable as she stammered and blushed when the Pharaoh was around. I wonder if I can make her do that one day... He thought, before looking back at Atemu.

"Of course not, My Pharaoh. I was just offering to show Lady Serenity to her room for the evening..." He said, with a small bow.

Yami glanced at Ramses, before looking back at Serenity. He actually felt a little pride in making her blush like she was... and all he did was make his presence known...

"I was actually hoping to speak with Lady Serenity before she went to bed..." He said, looking at her as he spoke, before glancing back at Ramses.

Ramses bowed. "Of course... I bid you goodnight, Lady Serenity." He said, before taking her hand again and kissing the back of it. He stood back up straight and bid Yami goodnight, before leaving the gardens.

Serenity blushed again as both men looked at her with amusement. She felt an odd sense of relief as Yami mentioned he had wanted to talk to her. "Oh yes of course." She said and then stared up at Ramses with a gentle smile. "Thank you, it was nice getting to know you." She said, her face darkening as he took her hand and pressed a kiss along the back of it. She watched as he left before looking back at Yami, "So what did you want to talk to me about?" She asked curiously, her head tilted to one side as she stared up at him. He wasn't that much taller then her, something she was silently grateful for.

Yami watched as Ramses left, before turning back to Serenity. "...Seto's gone after Bakura... Not sure if he's just Thief King here or if he's the one we knew from... before coming here..." He said, hesitating to say from our time... If he was honest with himself, he didn't actually belong in her time...

"Also... I want you to be careful..." He said, looking her in the eyes as he spoke. "We don't know who we can trust here..." He told her, thinking about how Chione had been taken advantage of by Bakura... and how he didn't want that to happen to Serenity...

She tensed, "Thief King Bakura? Like Bakura who used to have the Millenium Ring?" She asked curiously at his other words she nodded, "All right I'll be on my guard." She said carefully. She wasn't a fighter though...Mai had taught her a few moves in self-defense but Serenity had always silently hoped she'd never have to use it. "Is there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?" She asked as she studied him from under her lashes.

Yami nodded. "Yes... He's done something unspeakable to Yugi's new friend, Chione..." He told her, keeping to himself what Chione had told him and Seto in confidence. "I suggest sleeping with a knife under your pillow..." He added, noticing her uneasiness.

He looked at her gaze and his mind was blank for a moment when he saw her look. He mentally shook himself, before offering his arm. "Actually, I was wondering if I might have the honor of showing you your room." He said, with an almost playful smile.

Was he flirting with her? Or was she imagining things? She laughed and accepted his arm, "Well then lead the way." She said as she looked up at him with a shy smile on her face. Hearing him say that about getting a knife made her worry. "You think I would be in danger then?" She asked curiously. Not that she didn't believe him, she did she just didn't believe anyone would want to bother with her.

He smiled at her laugh before giving her a wink as he escorted her out of the gardens and back into the palace. He sighed a little at her question. "I honestly don't know... That's the problem... I am not sure who I can trust here... And I don't want you or any of the others getting hurt because of that..." He told her, pausing in his step to look her in the eyes.

She smiled sadly up at him, "Well then I'll be extra careful. I don't know who to trust either....and Tea she seems really off. If I'm going to be careful then I think you should be too." She said quietly before ducking her head, she slid one hand up and cupped his face. "On the other hand...I think its great you're finally home. You deserve a happy ending...after everything you've done." She said gently.

Yami agreed with her about Tea... It seemed like something drove Tea off the deep end...

He had been surprised by Serenity cupping his cheek with her hand. His eyes softened though, before he placed a hand over the hand that was covering his cheek. "I will..." He told her, promising to be careful also.

He smiled a little at her comment about him deserving a happy ending. "I don't know about that..." He said, as he looked off to the side a little. After a moment his eyes saddened some. "...If all of it is true... we need to focus on finding away to get you and the others home..." He said, his face growing stern.

Serenity sighed out as she looked up at him and then looked down at his words. "Maybe so...but ir feels right to be here." She said after a moment as she looked back up at him. "However I know its important that we find out what happened after we fell down." She added as she remembered how they had fallen down the floor.