Past is Past - Chapter 6: The Beggar
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh…
Yami woke up, he looked around his chambers blearily, there were still a few more hours until dawn. He remembered last night, his eyes scoured the banquet chamber. His target was one specific blue eyed brunette woman. The sneaky conniving, gah! He was better off not thinking ill thoughts of her. Recently he had been seeing her more infrequently than ever, he had even cancelled councils so he could catch a glimpse of the beautiful Téa.
It didn't matter, he never saw her anyway. Leaving the Pharaoh depressed and grumpy for the rest of the day. Many of the palace inhabitants fled when they saw the Pharaoh approach. He was brooding and many believed that he had finally broke down, and was insane. He didn't even summon concubines anymore, when one showed up one evening he threw a tantrum, scaring the poor girl out of her mind.
Even the Pharaoh's council avoided him, and warned others he was ill, as an excuse for his behavior. Some believed the Pharaoh was poisoned one night, others believed it was an omen for the late High Priest. Only a few knew that it was because of the Pharaoh's sick infatuation with the High Priest's lover, Téa.
The entire palace was in turmoil with the king in such a distraught state. It was so difficult to get anything done, without seeking his council, which would eventually end in mental scarring and fear. All of the members of his council had given up hope, including Ishizu, who always believed he would recover.
The answer was clear, they needed to find Téa, and fast before it was too late.
It was time for the breakfast feast at the palace, promptly held at dawn everyday. Yami scanned the room for Téa, he scowled when he realized she was not there. The pharaoh sauntered over to the head of the table where his council sat, Ishizu watched him worriedly. This could not continue, it wasn't healthy for the ruler of the country to be mentally ill.
As Yami began to eat his meal, everyone in the room glanced at him and each other, wondering who would be the victim of the pharaoh's tantrum today. Yami was about to take his first bite when the doors suddenly were opened, everyone looked up startled.
The guard apologized for the intrusion, "My king, sincere apologies, but we have guests. They would not leave until they spoke."
Yami raised a brow, with curiosity he responded, "Let them enter…"
Téa entered, walking along side of her was Mokubah, they sat at their usual seats at the far end of the table. Behind them not five feet was a scraggly dressed man, hunched over, to match his crooked back he had a crooked smile.
Yami stood rage flared in his violet irises, "Téa what is the meaning of allowing a beggar sit at my table! This is an insult!"
Téa narrowed her eyes, "It is more insulting to have the ruler of this kingdom, deprive a citizen a chance to speak, even more insulting not allowing him to have a small morsel of your more than adequate enough meal!"
Yami was surprised at her outburst, along with everyone else. He was about to grab her hair and pull her to his chambers to be punished, but the beggar stood.
He held up his hand, "Now please, I did not come here for trouble," he gave the pharaoh a disbelieving smile, "I came here to help."
Yami scoffed, yet was intrigued, "Help?"
The beggar's smile turned into a tight thin line, "Of course, the great king hasn't seen his beloved city dissolve into crime and disgusting filth. He was more focused on eating more bread than he can chew."
Yami slammed his fist on the table, everyone jumped along with the food on his plate, "That is quite enough! You come into my house,"
The beggar corrected, "Palace."
Yami gritted his teeth, "Palace, and you decide to insult me! And eat my food? How dare you! Guards!"
The beggar interrupted, "Pharaoh! Have you not heard what I said? I came here to help! HELP! Kicking me back to the curb is not going to help you put Egypt back on its feet!"
Yami paused, "…Well then. What should I do?"
The beggar sat down and began to fill his plate with food, "First eat breakfast, it is the most important meal of the day."
Yami grumbled at the grimy man sitting at the opposite end of the table, eating his food, and talking back to him.
After breakfast was over, the Pharaoh escorted his council, the beggar, Téa, and Mokubah to the council chambers.
The Pharaoh stood at his throne with his arms crossed, as he glared and flared his nostrils at Téa, Mokubah, and the beggar.
The council muttered amongst themselves, but quieted when the Pharaoh yelled.
"What is the meaning of this! Why have you brought this beggar here! What could he possibly do to help the Egyptian Empire!" he aimed his angry outburst more towards Téa, but also Mokubah.
"WHAT COULD HE POSSIBLY DO? WHAT COULD HE POSSIBLY DO? What could he do? Oh I am not sure, you know it is not like he lives outside of the palace walls, he doesn't know what life is like for the poor, what kind of crime there is on the streets, but you do! Of course you do! You are the Pharaoh!"
Téa seemed to hurl this argument out of thin air. Yami gritted his teeth in frustration, she did have a point.
Yami turned to the beggar, who apparently had been smirking the entire time stopped.
"What help do you plan on offering?"
The beggar brushed his scraggly clothes, "Just some suggestions you may find pleasing for your situations."
The pharaoh held his chin with his forefinger and thumb, obviously intrigued, "Go on…"
The beggar began to pace and spoke in a more business like tone, "For starters, you might want to bring back your old guards."
"What's wrong with the guards?" Yami asked this even though he already knew the answer.
"You haven't seen the increased crime like I have, you can't go down a single block where there isn't a pick pocket at least. The occasional murderer, and rapist."
"Disgusting!"
"It is, I hate to say it, but I must. Your old guards were better, but now they are off fighting in foreign countries. Bring them back! These new guards seem less satisfactorily trained to handle crimes. Who trained the old guards, did you fire them?"
Yami sighed, "The late High Priest was the one who trained them."
"I see…so who trained the new ones?"
Yami glared, "I did! Do you think I am that incompetent to train my own soldiers?"
The beggar held his hands up in surrender, "I never said that. I just suggested that you bring back your old guards, or train your new guards better. Why are the old ones fighting elsewhere anyway?"
"They were needed to fight our enemies. It is for a noble cause."
"That cause is as noble as my -"
"There is no need to speak in such way around royalty!" Téa insisted.
"Of course, my lady. My apologies, pharaoh. If it wouldn't bother you too much, I would gladly train your guards, well enough that they can control the chaos and crime of our city."
"That sounds like an interesting offer but how can I be sure you can train them properly?"
The beggar crossed his arms, and smirked, "Pharaoh, are you trained to fight?"
"Indeed."
"Would you mind if I demonstrated my skills, with you?"
"…not at all."
Within seconds the beggar had the pharaoh pinned underneath him in a headlock.
While he was still pinned, the pharaoh responded, "I see- erm…perhaps you could train them now?"
After releasing the pharaoh, the beggar made a weak bow, "Of course my pharaoh. Best to get rid of the crime as soon as possible!"
The pharaoh grunted weakly, "Yes."
The pharaoh led the three to the barracks, the beggar announced that he would be training them.
Many laughed, one stood, "You must be joking! You are nothing but a pathetic beggar! What military training could you possibly have?"
The beggar countered, with a smirk, "You are a pathetic soldier, who does not know how to detain the crime and chaos of us pathetic beggars. Save your insults for someone who is less skilled than something like you."
The soldier sat down, his face becoming redder by the second. He received laughs and hoots from his friends.
"The pharaoh himself finds my skills worthy enough to train you morons properly, make the best of it. One day of training and no rest might make you tougher."
There was a chorus of groans, "Now that's what I love hearing."
The pharaoh along with the other two left the barracks, and headed towards the garden.
"Where did you find that man?"
Mokubah leaned up casually against a pillar, "Why do you care, soon enough our lovely kingdom will get back in order. And my brother will come back, and we'll all live in peace."
Téa nodded in agreement, while Yami chuckled, "You believe your brother will return? No one has heard from him for over two months!"
Téa's eyes filled with rage, "And within those two months, what has happened? The guards go to fight in another country, they are replaced with new guards who cannot contain the crime and seem to not care what happens, just as long as they get paid! Egypt, believe it or not, is deteriorating in your hands! Without Seto here to play maid, cleaning up all your messes, we have chaos and turmoil in the city!"
Yami was taken back from her response, yet persisted, "What if Seto does not return? Such hard times for you, and what a harsh way to leave his one true love! Surely a man willing to ditch before he's hitched is not worthy of your hand Téa, I'd hate to see you heartbroken."
Téa crossed her arms and raised her chin into the air, "Unlike you, I still believe Seto will come. When he does you will be sorry."
Téa turned on her heel, and Mokubah followed her, both of their chins high in the air full of defiance. Yami sighed and sat in the grass thinking of what to do next.
The next day the beggar returned with the retrained guards, they seemed more threatening. They practiced their new found skills to the pharaoh and his council, proving that they were taught more amply to stop crime on the streets.
The pharaoh nodded in approval, the council smiled. Within the week the crime rates lowered greatly, and all it took was more proper training. These newer guards were almost as skilled as their predecessors, almost.
After the dinner feast, the pharaoh asked to speak to the beggar, who obliged.
"Is there something I can help you with, Pharaoh?"
The pharaoh grimaced, "Yes….what-er….what is our next move?"
Yami didn't like the idea of turning to a lesser, a beggar really, for any sort of advice. At this point though, he was becoming desperate.
The beggar smirked, "Aren't questions like these, used for your council? That's their whole purpose, right?"
"…Perhaps. I usually went to my High Priest for advice, this is ridiculous! You said you would help, well you have, so I'd like to hear more of your ideas."
"You want my opinion? My advice?" he asked disbelievingly.
Yami sighed, "Yes…I do."
"Wow…well, I was thinking that we could bring back our soldiers from the foreign countries. It is pointless to let them be slaughtered for no real or good enough reason."
"I'm sure I can handle that."
"Excellent, the only other thing I ask of you is..."
The beggar paused for a moment, Yami stamped his foot in impatience, "Is what?"
The beggar sighed, "Is that you make an announcement to the whole city, who helped you."
"Wh-WHAT?" the pharaoh stammered.
"You heard me." The beggar crossed his arms.
Yami laughed, "You must be joking! That is the most absurd thing I've ever heard! No way am I doing that! To diminish my image to the people!"
The beggar asked blackly, "Why not? After all I've done for you! You choose to be selfish with achievements that aren't yours to begin with!"
The pharaoh scoffed, "You expect me to address the entire kingdom to say, "The man who has helped me rid of the crime and scum of the city is…a beggar!"
The beggar uncrossed his arms, clenched his left fist and jabbed the king in the chest with his right hand, "Indeed I do. It is the least you could do, actually admitting you didn't train your guards."
Yami glared at the finger piercing his chest, "Fine. I will address your achievements to the kingdom tomorrow. Prepare yourself to be seen by anyone and everyone you have and ever will meet."
The beggar nodded with a grunt and left the pharaoh. Yami sighed at the thought him embarrassing himself in front of the entire kingdom. As the beggar walked away, a smirk was plastered on his face.
Seto's plan was about to unfold, for all to see...
A/N: Hey guys! I'm sorry about the long wait, but this story is about to come to an end. Finally! I've already finished over half of the next chapter, so hopefully I'll have that up before 2012. It feels weird to think it is the end of the year already, well anyway I hope to wrap up this fic before the end of the year. You could wish me luck by giving me some feedback and tell me what would be a great way to end this story. Thanks for sticking around!