Summary: When gods still ruled the world, humans played as puppets and life was a game. But as the cruelest creature is betrayed by all the gods, life is no longer a game but a destiny in which one boy lives to save humanity or his own soul mate. SxJ AU
The Forbidden
"The boy is too young," many whispered. "He cannot decipher the gods, let alone understand them."
"But he is Chosen! He must know the secrets we could not possibly fathom."
"All he has is Solomon's blood in his veins! Nothing more!"
"Yes, but we all know that blood is thicker than water."
Conversations, arguments, hearsay and rumors began to gather in the temple. As the sea of faces grew unanimously, the poor boy felt smaller and finite by the hour.
All was happening too soon.
Without a warning the gods punished them with disasters. Without further a due his one and only flesh and blood was gone from his sight. He was only seventeen.
Before Solomon was the Head Priest of Greece, before he was the most honored man of this country, before he was a sacrifice of this ground, before he was the dignity of humankind-
He was simply his grandfather.
His funeral was announced to begin as soon as the sun set. In the time being Yugi remained in the uttermost darkest corner in the temple, and wept.
"Here you are child," a foreign yet familiar voice was heard. "here you are again."
Yugi lifted his head slowly to a feminine voice that seemed to defy every nature of man. A tone so sweet yet so daunting it caused him to shake.
In a quick shock of light a figure was shown- a silhouette of a woman, thin yet perfect.
"You would always hide here in the darkness." She spoke slowly. "But you would always find shelter within my shadows. You were the only one, my child, the only one to find comfort in my night."
It was then it hit him all too quickly. He fell to his knees and began to cry harder.
"My H-Holiness," He whimpered. "S-Sophia!"
"Yes, Yugi, I am who I am. Your goddess of wisdom and assurance- and I am here to prove my powers to you."
"M-My goddess, why would y-you prove yourself to m-me? Is my f-faith unwilling?" He whispered in agony, never leaving his eyes from the floor in humility.
She shushed Yugi in a melody she hummed. He stood quiet and listened.
"You are now chosen, as my new Priest. With you we will communicate to the rest of the world. With you we will release our emotions and thoughts and with you the world will believe.
So first, I must show you I am real."
"M-My goddess."
"Three nights ago a man began to travel in search for his identity. His constant nightmares seem to reveal the answers he's looking for but he cannot decipher them. He will come to you and you, with the powers I rightfully give you, will help him understand his existence and his reason being.
His first dream will be described with blood and pain. His second dream will reveal a strange mark on his back and his third dream will expose all the lies he's been living in.
If I am wrong, you, Yugi, as the next Head Priest, can render all of me and my kind as blasphemy. Is that understood?"
"Sophia, you're true and I know it!"
"Yes, my dear, but now it is your life's purpose to trust and only trust in me."
"Sophia," He spoke her name in understanding.
She began to walk closer and he slowly lifted his head to meet his only goddess.
Her hair was like the rich sands of the dessert only after it rained. When the rare and precious water drops soaked the sands, a mixture of dark and sunburned soil covered the lands and some say only a few come to live to witness such material. In the exact shade, her dark hair fell to her waist. It was heavy and thick, intangible and desirable all ways in one. As his violet eyes lifted to meet her emerald pair, she slightly smiled as if to comfort. Her perfect skin looked almost marbled in the setting sun and she finally reached Yugi to hold his hands.
"Solomon had your eyes." She whispered. "You are the youngest Priest I will ever tame, but you may be the most special." She smiled as she planted a light kiss on his forehead.
"You will be my instrument, my vessel and my jar. Let the humans know you have the authority directly through me. Your age will not stop you.
Come back to me once you met the foreigner. He will be significant to you."
He bowed as he firmly held on to her hands.
"Sophia, just one more-"
"Yes my dear," She whispered. "Anything."
"Will my grandfather be alright?"
She didn't cease to smile as she stood amused at the boy's generous heart.
"Safe and sound." She laughed a whimsical tone and turned to leave.
It was then a figure from the other side of the room came running from behind. He fell to his knees beside Yugi and began to cry.
"There you are! There you are Yugi! I've been looking all over for you! I've been so sick and worried, I've been on my feet for the last countless hours and here you are!"
He sobbed as Yugi held him within his arms, shushing him lightly and kissing him altogether.
"Jono- I'm sorry, I won't run away again, I promise."
Sophia quickly turned to face the fateful servant. It couldn't be…
She tried to remember everything Tamesis spoke of last night.
'A runaway slave in Greece. A daily worshipper of you Athena.'
"Jono?" She spoke.
The blond lifted his head in response and she met his warm, auburn eyes.
'He would die for you.'
It had to be this boy. His shade of hair was so rare. It was so fair, like pure and precious gold. His skin so pale it made him look fragile. Yet it was those eyes that made it so clear he had the urge to live. He was living to fight a never ending war. In the end he was beautiful. Beautifully torn and beautifully made.
He was the only way for her revenge.
"Come." She demanded and without hesitation he crawled up to her as Yugi watched in confusion.
"Athena- what are you d-doing?" He dared to ask.
"If I don't protect him, this boy will die Yugi."
Yugi stumbled and began to grow furious.
"What is happening? Why isn't the world safe anymore?" He began to truly speak like the Head Priest.
It was the first time tonight Sophia revealed another emotion than love-
Hate.
"Seth." She replied with burning hatred in her eyes.
"The God of Destruction." Jono suddenly whispered and both pair of eyes quickly turned to face him.
"What do you know of him?" Sophia suddenly demanded and Yugi narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"I keep having these dreams," Jono spoke as he swallowed slowly. "Dreams, my Holiness, of myself drowning in a pit of fire. I tried to understand so I spoke to Yugi's grandpa about it and he told me it was somehow related to Seth, the God of Death."
It was confirmed. This child truly was Seth's daresay soul mate.
"My child, come closer." She whispered. He followed her footsteps and Yugi watched intently.
She caught his hand and placed a small stone in his palm.
He has never seen anything like it before. A crystal so light yet so bright in colors-
"Why are you giving this to me?" He questioned.
"This will protect you, boy. Present the stone to the uttermost danger you face- use it only when you're hopeless and all is on your lips are ways to say goodbye.
Yugi will protect you and I will be here to guide you."
Just then the last candle blew out from the darkness of the setting sun.
The funeral was ready to begin.
In the complete darkness Yugi and Jono held hands as they both heard Athena leave with a farewell.
Yugi then remembered quietly as he hid away from Jono-
The God of Death will appear to collect Solomon's soul.
"I don't understand Yugi- What does Seth have anything to do with me?" Jono spoke fast as they both kept a faster pace to reach the funeral in time.
"I'm not quite sure yet Jono, but you heard Athena, we're safe. She's on our side." Yugi whispered as he reassured his best friend.
"What else did she tell you before I came?"
"Something about a foreigner coming to ask for help- If what she says is true, I've been given the divine right to preach."
"T-That's big. That's huge Yugi!"
"I know, I know- I wish she didn't show up so last minute, then we wouldn't be late and we'd actually have time to talk about everything and just think for a minute!"
The boys ran as they held each other's hands, laughing at the situation they're in.
"Grandpa would be proud, eh?" Jono laughed.
"Yeah- he would be." Yugi smiled back.
When they finally reached the temple's main gate, all Greeks were already praying to Sophia's monument. Animal sacrifices were started and some were mourning out loud.
Yugi only smiled, knowing that Solomon will be safe with Athena in a matter of time.
Solomon's body was finally brought out to be cremated and Jono could not control his tears any longer. More of the faces began to weep and helped fan the fire to be a faster process.
Will he appear now? Yugi thought calmly, trying to focus away from the crowd. Jono was still in his hand and no matter what happened, Athena was on his side.
It was then in the corner of his left eye he saw a growing crack from the floor. People began to scream and shout in fear and some people watched in awe.
A beautiful creature arose from underground and a poisonous aura surrounded him. He rode a horse with a flaming tail and with deftness he reached over to Solomon's dead heart.
It all happened too quickly then.
A purple gas like substance was sucked into Hades's palm and everyone witnessed the striking smirk on his face. Yet in a quick second his joy turned to an inexplicable emotion when he witnessed something he shouldn't have.
His fate was too cruel.
Just as cruel as he has been.
Author's Note: I feel like everything's happening way too fast. But as one of the world's most impatient persons in the world, I just want the character to collide as soon as possible. Thank you for reviewing and I'd much appreciate questions/comments/concerns. I hope you enjoyed.