A PHARAOH'S PAIN

Foreword: I know, I know. Another story, Zero? After being practically dead for two months? And having another story in the works, as well? I know, and I'm sorry. That other story is going to be on hiatus for now. In the meantime, hopefully this will milk the creative juices from my brain. This is an extremely AU story and the characters will be a bit out of canon, though I will try my hardest to keep them as in-character as I can. It will involve the Millennium Items but their wielders will be totally different than in the anime and manga. There will be romance but it is not a central theme to this tale. Speaking of romance, all my characters are heterosexual (and, if you are familiar with my words, you should know the main pairing here). Not that I have anything against homosexuals (my best friend happens to be gay) but I prefer to write only heterosexual pairings. So if you're looking for male/male couples, then this isn't for you. However, there will be action, some humor, drama, angst, and more! Please, enjoy.

Summary: This is an alternate spin on the tale of the Millennium Items. A story woven from love, regret, revenge, anger, sadness, happiness, and hidden secrets. This is the chronicle of the last Egyptian Pharaoh and the burden he had to bear for the last 3000 years. Based loosely off of "The Record of a Fallen Vampire," by Kyo Shirodaira.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, nor do I own "The Record of a Fallen Vampire."

The Crimson-Eyed King and the White Dragon

Atop his balcony, a young man stood, glaring at the glowing moon. Adorned in the royal cloth that once proudly spoke of his title, he bore only hatred for the kingdom he was supposed to lead and protect.

"What farce," he whispered, clutching the golden pendant he wore around his neck. The Millennium Puzzle, at it was called, was his birthright and symbol of the Pharaoh. It hung from his neck as an inverted pyramid, the Eye of Horus engraved on its front. Never would he have thought he would have to use its powers against his own people.

"Pharaoh," a hoarse, bitter voice called to him. The young man need not turn around to know that the person who had called him was dying. He had heard the blood gurgle in his throat as he spoke his former title.

"You have… no hope left," he wheezed. "You will… fall…" At this, said Pharaoh turned around and faced the bloodshed he had caused. Broken bodies piled around what used to be his royal chambers, blood of the fallen soaked his carpet. What was once his haven now served as a horrifying nightmare of a massacre. The ex-king's crimson eyes laid upon the soldier who was addressing him.

"Doesn't matter… how strong you are," he continued. "The ones… with the powers of the Shadows… the people you betrayed… are after you. They have the strength to fight…" Red eyes narrowed dangerously as he clutched his Millennium Puzzle harder.

"And even… if you killed them…" he laughed, with no regard to how the former Pharaoh's Shadow magic crackled around him, "there's still… the White Dragon…! You will… be pursued to the… end of time!" Lightning streaks of Shadow magic quickly engulfed the doomed soldier, destroying him from the inside out. And yet, in the midst of his organs slowly melting, he was still able to shout, "You will… never see… the corrosive moon again!" At that moment, his heart had completely liquefied, finally silencing the man.

Turning his back away from the carnage, former Pharaoh Atemu once again glanced at the moon. "I will get her back," he declared to the night sky, fists clenched in sheer determination. "No matter who tries to stop me, no matter how long it takes." Reaching into his pockets, he pulled out a necklace slightly smaller than his Millennium Puzzle It was a beautiful sapphire blue gemstone shaped like a crescent moon. "No matter what I have to sacrifice," he whispered, as images of soft blue eyes flitted through his mind, "I will see my Queen Mana again!"

And time did pass…

It was a beautiful night, the moon illuminating the still ocean waters. The sand was a pearl white color, disrupted only by the scattered glittering seashells. In the distance, tall trees lined the horizon, green leaves slightly swaying in the cool breeze. The ocean waves rhythmically crashing against the shore was nearly therapeutic.

"I will destroy you, Pharaoh!" Atemu faced his opponent, a tall graceful man with piercing blue eyes, almost as fierce as his own ruby ones. Unkempt brown hair danced in the wind. "To me, swords!"

"Your arrogance has not changed over the years, I'm surprised your twin swords can handle an ego the size of yours," Atemu nonchalantly remarked.

"I'm surprised you can still manage to evade us with that unruly hairstyle of yours," he sneered.

Atemu frowned, albeit slightly. His hair stood up in sharp spikes, giving his head the appearance of a cartoon caricatured sun, though this was not his most unusual feature. His hair was jet black, but the tips of the spikes were a deep red, while golden bangs framed his face.

"Enough talk!" Atemu's thoughts were interrupted, as a pair of swords swung towards him. Effortlessly, he parried both attacks, sending a burst of Shadow magic towards his foe. Just as effortlessly, it was deflected with no damage to his enemy's weapons.

"Swords that can withstand my Shadow magic?" Atemu raised an eyebrow. "When did you obtain those, Seto Kaiba?"

"Did you think the 200 year break I gave you was spent idling about?" Kaiba smirked. "These swords will not break so easily, even to your magic, Atemu!"

"My skills still vastly surpass yours, Kaiba," he replied. "You can improve your weapons all you like. You will never defeat me."

"SILENCE!" Kaiba yelled, streaking towards him, swords poised to kill. "I have trained for nearly 1000 years, just to defeat you! That time was not in vain!" His swords clanged against Atemu's and it was then that Atemu noticed something strange.

"Shadow magic?!" He leaped away, narrowing his eyes. It's pretty strong, as well. But how?, he thought. Unless…

"You caught me," Kaiba smugly replied. "I obtained this during my travels." With a flourish, he brandished the Millennium Rod. "I admit, it took me a few hundred years to fully wield its power but with the help of our leader," he smirked as he saw Atemu cringe, "I was able to properly control the magic."

"Your ego never ceases to amaze me, Kaiba," Atemu commented. I guess that was how he managed to live this long. I assumed it was her Shadow powers assisting him but it seems that she also has some tricks up her sleeve.

"Kaiba, I became Pharaoh when I was only 50 years old. By the time I was 200, I was feared by all." Atemu parried another attack and used the opening to deliver a powerful kick, knocking Kaiba aside. "Do you think I can be defeated so easily?" This time, Atemu ran towards Kaiba, hand outstretched, Shadow magic flowing from his fingers. Kaiba saw this and smirked.

"What of it? I can counter your pathetic parlor tricks!" The icy blue eyed swordsman powered up his twin swords with his own Shadow magic. He released them and with a mighty cry, sent them blazing towards his enemy. "Pierce him, my swords!" But Atemu was far too quick and far too clever for the young Kaiba, as he nimbly dodged both blades.

"Futile," he sighed, darting towards Kaiba once more.

"Today is your end! Swords," he commanded, "turn around and carve his--"

"That won't work, Kaiba." Crimson eyes locked with ocean blue ones for a split second before Atemu pivoted so that he was behind Kaiba. Suddenly, a powerful burst of Shadow magic burst through his body. His own twin swords then pierced him, one through his abdomen and the other through his right shoulder.

"C-curse you," he spat, blood flowing from his mouth. Focusing on his Shadow powers within, he broke free of Atemu's attack and sped away into the surrounding forest, swords and all.

Sighing, the victor dissipated his own sword into the Shadows. "That man always manages to survive." He walked along the beach, listening to the waves and the faint call of seagulls, blond bangs tickling his face as the ocean breeze blew through them.

Kaiba and the others are getting stronger, he pondered. The sudden appearance of a Millennium Item is alarming as well. And then there's the White Dragon. How long will I be able to stop her? Atemu then halted at the sight of a lone figure. Upon closer inspection, he saw that this person was female, with long silvery blue flowing hair. She was slender, young, a mere slip of a girl, really. She seemed harmless enough, sporting a simple white denim jacket covering a pink top, blue jeans, and black sneakers. More intrigued than suspicious, he strode over to her.

"Got a light?" she asked as he approached.

"A light?" he raised an eyebrow in confusion. Noting the cigarette she held, he understood. "No…"

"Ah, well…" Dejected, she fumbled in her pockets for her lighter. He caught sight of a silver dragon insignia as she lit her cigarette. "I'm almost out of oil," she said, catching his curious gaze. "There's nowhere around to get more so I thought I'd try to save it." Atemu nodded in response. He watched her as she took a puff and blew the smoke in front of her. She couldn't have been older than 20.

First I face Kaiba and now this girl shows up, he thought. This cannot be a mere coincidence.

"What brings you here?" she inquired, interrupting his thoughts.

"I might ask you the same," he retorted.

"Business," she said simply. "There's a big island about three kilometers out to sea. Rumor has it that a powerful ancient Egyptian queen has been sealed away there." Silver blue hair caressed his skin, almost taunting him. He raised his eyebrows at her, willing her to continue.

"Apparently," she obliged him, "the queen's magic went out of control and she almost annihilated the world. So the people rebelled, attempting to kill her but she was far too strong. They sealed her away instead." Unbidden memories of that horrid night flashed through his mind. Inwardly, he cringed but he kept his outer appearances under control. Still, silence seemed to be the best response.

"And they say that when the people have the power to kill her, the seal will break and they can finish her off." She took another puff of her cigarette and narrowed her blue eyes -- just like her -- at him. "But there are over a thousand places all over the world where the queen is supposed to be sealed. Her king, the Pharaoh, is trying to find her before she is destroyed."

Another puff and cobalt met with ruby once more. Atemu had a horrible feeling about this girl. Perhaps she was not a mere slip of a girl as he thought.

"Actually," she continued, shrugging off the increasing tension, "there were at least a thousand seals made to fool the king and keep him away from her. It has long been forgotten where the real one is. The king is breaking the seals, one by one, endlessly searching for her even though she'll try to destroy the world again." Swiftly, she tied her hair into a neat ponytail and began taking off her jacket. At this point, Atemu had no doubt on the identity of his companion.

"Almost three thousand years have passed and still the queen is sealed. Still, the king searches for her, fighting anyone that would kill him and his queen." Discarding her jacket to the sand dunes, she boldly faced him. "Aren't you getting tired, Pharaoh Atemu? Allow me to ease your pain!"

"So you're the new White Dragon?" he fiercely stated.

"Did I not introduce myself?" she took another puff of her cigarette and grinned. "I'm the 149th White Dragon, Kisara Hayakawa. Mortal enemy of you and the queen."

Afterword: See? Kisara is already extremely out of character. I apologize for making her seem so… aggressive. Oh, and smoking is bad, kids. Don't do it. Next chapter will be up in 3-5 days. Do you think this is something I should continue doing? Or is it too close for comfort to the original plot? Constructive criticism only. Thank you.