Disclaimer: Yuugiou (Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters) is the property of Takahashi Kazuki and respective publishers, including Shueisha, Studio Gallop, Nihon Ad Systems, Toei Animation, 4Kids, and others. I would never claim to own it or attempt to make money off of it- just think of this as a written, free doujinshi and hopefully we'll get along fine ;)
Notes: Written for the 23rd challenge, Binding, of the Livejournal community YGO Drabble (ygodrabble).
Usurper
-o-
She came here with a purpose.
The Nameless Pharaoh will be reviving soon…
She came here with her duty in mind, heart bent to serving her family and king.
My Sennen Tauk is not your enemy…
That purpose has been stripped from her now.
As she stands before her brother, Ishizu's demeanor is calm, and she watches him with cool eyes. He watches her in return, apparently examining her, as if she were a stranger he needs to test and watch for threats from. Rishid, when his eyes meet hers, appears torn, so she nods to him lightly, hoping that her own eyes can convey her message.
I will never blame you for standing by him, not when he has such need of your protection.
Malik is dressed in robes again, the hood pulled back, allowing the circlet on his forehead to glint in the torchlight. The Sennen Rod is held in his hand, and she is sure that those cards are somewhere just out of sight. But where is…?
"You left Japan very quickly," she says. "Why is that?"
"I had nothing left there to accomplish, sister." A hand comes out, waving idly at their surroundings. "And with my task complete, what else would I do but return to our clan's home?"
Breathe, remain calm… "Complete?"
"Of course, it won't be our home for much longer. Finally, our people will be free to live in the light."
Another breath, this one jagged. "Malik, what have you done with the Puzzle?"
Malik's expression is remorseless. "What I set out to do. I removed an unworthy king, and set up a new one in his place."
"It was your duty to serve the Pharaoh, Malik!" She steps forward, imploring, aware that there is a note of desperation in her voice. He cannot have succeeded, he cannot. For all that she saw with the Tauk's power, somehow she had never expected this…
"My duty? So it was my duty to remain within this tomb for all of my days, and to force my people to do the same? My duty to deny them medicine to live longer, a chance at seeking lives of their own?"
"Malik, that is not-"
But he continues, voice storming over hers, "And it was also my duty to carve open my own child's back, all for a dead man with no concern for our fates? I rejected that duty years ago, sister. I will not serve one unworthy of it. When a king is unworthy, one replaces him. So I have done."
"You have killed a man, and doubly so. Now the Pharaoh's soul will never move on."
"That is of no concern to me." Now Malik is the one to step forward, imploring. "Sister… Doesn't it matter to you that you are free now? You no longer need devote your life to his service. I did this for you as well, sister, so that we could finally be a family again and live in the light together."
Ishizu looks on her brother, and, for the first time, it is truly impressed upon her how different they are. Did they ever know each other, truly?
Sadness welling in her, Ishizu bows her head a fraction. "Then you misjudged me, Malik. This duty is one that I chose to honor, and the death of my king does not change that. Somewhere, he still lives, and I will find him.
"You may have stolen a throne, brother, but you are not Pharaoh."
She looks to both of them, steel underneath her. "Farewell, brothers."