The Lost Pharaoh
Chapter 8: A Small Surprise
Two weeks had passed since the incident at Domino High, in which reporters came and went but all ended with the same conclusion: it as a mystery. No one knew why the fire alarms went off when there was no fire, despite the fire alarms having been perfectly fine. No one knew how Yami had ended up with mild burns on his arms and legs, which also mysteriously vanished overnight. And no one knew how Yuugi had recovered so fast after his heart had stopped. Everything connected to the incident was a mystery so naturally was all over the papers.
Yuugi's grandfather had rushed to the hospital the moment he had found out. It seemed that his liking for Yami intensified to the fact that he practically wanted him to move in permanently. That fact only made Yuugi more happy. He and Yami had been spending time together all the time, mainly because Yami wouldn't leave Yuugi's side even in the game shop. At school Yami had become the center of attention and the "hero" of Domino High. Often times he got asked to sit at a lunch table full of giggly girls, or tables mixed with the well-known boys and girls that played in sports, but his choice was always the same: to sit with Yuugi and his friends.
Yami had begun to follow Yuugi wherever he went in the school as if afraid Yuugi would again disappear. Many rumors floated around that Yami was Yuugi's "guardian angel," but no matter how many people went up to Yami in the halls and asked him questions he would look at Yuugi and wait for him to speak for him. The teachers even had gotten adjusted to the strange fact that Yami would always be by Yuugi's side even when he left to go to the bathroom, in which Yami would be patiently waiting for him outside the stall.
Finally, the second week after the incident passed by and it was once again the weekend. Yuugi was thrilled when his grandpa told him Professor Hawkins wanted Yuugi to come along to see the museum that weekend, and Yami too was welcome. The last weekend Anzu wanted to take Yami to every event, including dance parties. Still, even there, Yami remained glued to Yuugi's side, ever watchful.
Yuugi was glad he'd get to spend another weekend alone with Yami instead of having people following them in the hallways so they couldn't talk about Egypt or their troubles, or even when Anzu invited them to her house, along with Honda, Jou, Shizuka (Serenity), Mai, Bakura and Otogi Ryuuji (Devlen). As much fun as it was with his friends, Yuugi couldn't say anything about Yami they didn't all ready know, and he couldn't ask Yami all sorts of questions about Kemet.
In the course of three weeks that Yami had been staying with Yuugi in the present century he had become much more adjusted to every day living. He still had a strange fascination for orange juice, putting it on anything set in front of him but for the most part he had begun to fit in. Around Yuugi though, he was allowed to be himself, which was the more curious, playful yet still wise and strong side of him. He was more serious and mature around other people.
Yuugi had woken up earlier than Yami or his grandpa, feeling in better spirits than he had the past two days. The strange serpent-like symbol that had been on his back had luckily vanished the day after he came back from the hospital. Yami had told him that he wanted his viziers to "cleanse" Yuugi's back just in case, when they finally went to Kemet. He couldn't wait to show Yami an ancient Egyptian museum and tell him about all the archaeological digs his grandpa took him to. Yuugi turned as he heard soft footsteps descending from the stairs. The spiky hair that was usually apparent was now in turmoil as Yami grudgingly came into the room and sat down, resting his head on the table. Yuugi couldn't help but smile at how Yami didn't appear to be a morning person.
"Your energy still hasn't come back?" Yuugi asked, closing the refrigerator to lean on the table across from him.
Gradually Yami's head lifted off the table as he blinked his half-lidded eyes.
"It's beginning to come back. I guess from sleeping for so long my body isn't used to healing quickly," Yami smiled softly.
Yuugi nodded in understanding, "Don't worry, this trip will make you feel better."
Yami's head tilted in curiosity, "Where are we going?"
"A museum that has everything you could possibly know about Egypt," Yuugi smiled, lifting his arms off the table.
A smile was returned in favor as Yami was too tired to say much. Another pair of footsteps was heard as Sugoroku entered the main room dressed and ready to go.
"You two better hurry, we have about a forty-minute drive," he said. "Oh, and don't worry about breakfast, we'll pick something up along the way."
forty minutes later
Towering over the other buildings beside it, a glamorously huge museum stood out in the complex. Yuugi stared out the car window staring at it with large eyes. He'd never dreamed Professor Hawkins would create something so extraordinarily big.
He must have a lot of items.
That thought alone intrigued Yuugi. He knew Professor Hawkins was a famous archaeologist, but he never knew exactly what he found that made him so famous. They made their way from the car to the museum and was granted entrance by what looked like a business man of some sort who was walking out. He didn't even appear to notice them as he made his way back to his car. Inside the main entrance there were marble stairs to their left that led to a second floor. The space was huge and even in the main room there were sculptures and objects Yuugi had never seen before. Some of them dated back close to the beginning of the dynasty age and had little to do with the people of Egypt but rather Egypt itself at that time.
The floor was polished marble like the stairs and glistened in the rays that shown through the large windows. If Yuugi didn't know better he'd think it was a mansion.
"Welcome to my museum!" a cheerful voice brought them to turn around to see Professor Hawkins walking in with a large smile.
"Arthur," Sugoroku nodded politely. "I believe you've never met our exchange student, Yami."
Professor Hawkins approached them and turned his attention to Yami, who was currently wearing slim jeans and a black shirt much liked Yuugi's. Sugoroku had insisted they buy Yami some more casual clothes, along with Yuugi, in case leather wasn't appropriate for certain occasions. He smiled big and stuck out his hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, Yami," he said as Yami shook his hand. "I heard about your heroic efforts. It's a good thing Yuugi has you by his side."
He then turned and smiled toward Yuugi, bending down slightly.
"And Yuugi, it's wonderful to see you again too!"
Yuugi smiled back, "Yeah, you too."
"Well, if you kids don't mind I'd like to show Sugoroku something special. You are welcome to explore yourselves," he winked.
"Don't wander for too long," Sugoroku said waving them off.
Professor Hawkins waited to let them go then he turned to the grandfather, "Have you started on the Orb yet?"
Sugoroku nodded with a sigh, "Yes Arthur, but as I feared it's incredibly tricky. The inscriptions are hard to understand. It seems that it has a very valuable use to the Egyptians but for what purpose I don't know. It doesn't appear to do anything in particular, it just seems like a...decoration of some sort."
Arthur frowned in response, "I'm sure there's something unique about it. After all, why would it have been buried so deep?"
Sugoroku shook his head, "I'm not sure."
Arthur smiled, "Well come, I have lots to show you. I'm sure Yuugi and his friend er..."
"Yami," Sugoroku filled in.
"Yes, Yami. They will be fine together. It'll only be for a little bit."
As he led Sugoroku away into another room, Yuugi and Yami were looking at the mummy coffins two rooms away.
"I can't believe they've survived this long," Yuugi said with a slight shudder.
Yami, who was reading the hieroglyphics on the coffin instead of the sign right by it, looked up.
"Yes, that's why usually the wealthy get that method. I was an exception. Instead of mummifying me to go onto the land of the dead, they made it so my soul would only sleep until awoken again. To do that they had to place a ritual upon my body," Yami explained.
Yuugi leaned on his arm, "What ritual?"
Yami's eyes dimmed slightly as his eyebrows narrowed in thought.
"I can't remember. I know that it was a very sacred ritual that had only been performed once before and failed. I can't recall anything about it now," Yami said, looking at Yuugi.
"You could always ask your viziers," Yuugi suggested.
"They wouldn't know," Yami said. "It was a particular priest or priestess that performed it and only he or she knows how to do it."
"I wonder if, whoever it was, that person is still alive," Yuugi wondered aloud.
Yami's eyes softened, "They are said to be immortal, forever bound to the pharaoh."
Yuugi's eyes widened with awe, "Really? Maybe they'll be there in Egypt!"
Yami chuckled lightly. "Yes. Shall we explore more?"
Yuugi nodded enthusiastically as they continued onto the next room.
XXXXX
Wisps of smoke floated by the strange concoction brewing. The odor was that of spices and unusual herbs, filling the small cavern. In the center of the small space was a large ancient pot that sat above a fire cooking the unknown liquid. A figure stood above it dressed in a long cloak muttering things now and then as she continued to add more ingredients.
Finally, she took a pinch of salt and watched the concoction change colors. The hue was a maroon color after the bubbles died down.
"Strange, very strange," she murmured. "And to think that was my best one yet and it gives me nothing," she folded her hands on her hips.
"Perhaps you're losing your touch."
The cloaked figure jumped and wheeled around, almost knocking into her pot. There standing in the doorway of the cavern, located underground, was a young woman dressed in what appeared to be fine white silk. Her nose and mouth was covered by it attached to the hood that held back most of her long brown hair.
"Who are you?" the cloaked figure asked, gaining back her focus as she began stirring the liquid.
"That's not important," the woman answered from behind her veil. "I know what you are trying to do and I am warning you now it will not work."
"Excuse me?"
The veiled woman emerged inside with ease, "The man you're doing your bidding for will betray you. I have seen it."
"Seen it, eh? You some kind of seer, my dear?" the cloaked figure cackled.
The veiled woman's eyes narrowed. She reached her hands up and removed her veil from covering her neck.
"No, I have seen it with my millennium item," she said as a golden necklace appeared once the veil was removed.
The witch gasped, dropping her stirring utensil and stared at her with wide eyes.
"You're...you...how did you get such an item? Who are you?" the figure asked nervously.
"My name will remain unknown for my own safety, but I will tell you that I have seen the future. Your curse failed, hasn't it? It is because he is unreachable," the veiled woman said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that your curse won't find him for you. It will only find the one that holds his life, but he is untraceable," she explained.
The witch's eyes narrowed in confusion, "The one who holds his life?"
"There is no time for questions. The man you are working for is seeking to destroy and only destroy. He will betray whomever trusts him. For your own safety you will head my words."
"And why should I listen to you?" the witch scoffed.
" He told you to send that curse out in order to find out if the pharaoh has been reincarnated, but I assure you he hasn't. In fact, if you don't destroy your spell your own curse will fall upon you," the veiled woman answered plainly.
"What? Why...how could that happen?"
"I cannot answer that, but I will tell you that this is far more dangerous than it appears to be. The prophecy has been tampered with and therefore nothing is the same. You have been warned," the veiled woman closed her eyes, bowing her head slightly and turned to leave.
"Wait! Who are you and how do you know all this? Was this all from seeing the future? I have heard that not all things predicted come true," the witch questioned desperately.
The veiled woman did not turn around but she hesitated by the entrance.
"Yes I know this from seeing the future, but you're correct. Even my predictions have begun to come less frequent. I fear this is the cause because of the interference that was never prophesized to come. Even I never saw this was going to happen. But I know this because I was the priestess to complete the ritual in the first place," she said confidently, and walked out leaving the witch kneeling on the ground in shock.
XXXXX
Yuugi and Yami had explored most of the rooms by the time they met back at the entrance to see Sugoroku and Professor Hawkins talking casually. The whole time Yami had explained to Yuugi the customs and some of the rituals done in his past. The two of them approached quietly so as not to disturb the conversation.
"I will try Arthur, but I'm not making any promises," Sugoroku said, before turning to Yuugi and Yami. "Are you two ready?"
Yuugi nodded and politely smiled to Professor Hawkins for inviting them.
"Your museum looks great so far," Yuugi smiled.
"Thank you Yuugi. You may come any time, my treat," Professor Hawkins winked.
Yami shook his hand one last time as they departed. Once in the car, Yuugi looked at his grandfather expectantly.
"What were you and Professor Hawkins talking about?" he asked curiously, while helping Yami buckle his seatbelt.
Sugoroku sighed, "He gave me a project to work on and it's not coming along so good. It's something I have never seen before in my entire life and he wants me to decode everything to find out what importance it played to the Egyptians."
Yami lifted his head in wonder and glanced at Yuugi who shrugged in return.
"Is it another artifact?"
Sugoroku shook his head slowly, "I don't think so. I really don't think I'll get much progress done on it though."
Yuugi nodded his head in response and leaned back in his seat. The ride home felt longer than driving there, but once they reached the game shop Sugoroku informed them that he had to run a couple blocks down to pick up some groceries. Yuugi stood in the kitchen making dinner while Yami tried to help. At the moment he was staring at a measuring cup, trying to understand the numbers on it.
"I wonder what my grandpa is working on that's so important to Professor Hawkins," Yuugi said aloud.
Yami handed Yuugi some cheese for their omelets.
"Is that what your grandfather does, Yuugi?"
Yuugi shook his head, "No, he and Professor Hawkins have been friends for a long time. And whenever Professor Hawkins needs help on something he calls my grandpa...it's just that he hasn't needed any help because he has many other archaeological helpers with him now, what with his museum. It just doesn't make sense that he would give it to my grandpa instead of someone else, unless he just trusts my grandpa more."
"Perhaps because they're friends," Yami said, watching Yuugi stir the eggs.
Yuugi nodded, "Yeah, I'm sure that's it. I just wish I could help him, he seems so stressed."
Violet eyes dimmed as Yuugi put the stirring utensil on the counter. He quickly blinked tears away, hoping Yami wouldn't realize he was upset. A friendly hand was placed on his and Yuugi glanced up to see Yami's eyes had softened in understanding. Yami gently squeezed his hand.
"Don't worry Yuugi, perhaps I could help."
Yuugi wiped at his eyes and nodded, smiling down at Yami.
"You're so nice to me, Yami...thank you," Yuugi's lips curled into a soft smile.
Yami smiled back graciously, then he tilted his head slightly.
"Yuugi, is it supposed to do that?"
Yuugi turned to see the omelet bubbling with steam and yelped, quickly turning down the flame and pushing it onto a plate.
After a couple more omelets were made, Yuugi turned off the stove and they sat down to eat. Only a little while later Sugoroku came in from shopping and sat down to finish eating with them as well.
"Well, I suppose it's time to get some sleep," Surogoku yawned and nodded to them. "Don't stay up too late."
"We won't grandpa," Yuugi smiled sincerely, watching his grandpa disappear up the stairs. "Shall we?" Yuugi turned to Yami, who nodded in response.
They climbed the stairs and proceeded into the main hallway.
"Good night Yami," Yuugi said as he opened his bedroom door.
"Good night," Yami stifled a yawn, entering into his own room.
The bedroom door closed softly as Yuugi sat down on his bed to change into his pajamas. He unbuttoned his shirt, letting it fall carelessly to the floor as he searched for his night shirt. He found it under his covers and slipped it on.
"I hope Yami can help with grandpa's project," he muttered to himself.
He hesitated as he caught a glance of himself in the mirror, remembering back to the night when he had entered Yami's room to soothe him...
"Was that real," he whispered, soft fingers brushing across his forehead.
Yuugi hadn't told Yami in case it was his own imagination. He had been scared that night and might have fallen asleep in his bed and had a nightmare. But it had felt so real. Sighing heavily, Yuugi slipped on his pajama pants and proceeded to fix his bed so he could sleep in it. Yuugi froze as his eyes caught sight of something moving outside his window. He could only make out an object a short distance away that appeared to be floating, possibly from the wind, but it was too dark to make out any details. Yuugi's feet barely brushed against the carpet as he tip-toed toward his window, trying to see out into the darkness.
It's just my imagination again.
The light flickered off as Yuugi reached up to pull the string. With the light off it was a little clearer outside and Yuugi was positive now that there was something outside his window, and it looked like it was closer than it had been a minute ago. Yuugi's breath caught in his throat as he stood paralyzed, unable to move away or even to open his mouth. A dark looming figure was drawing closer, tiny but becoming bigger as he drew within five feet of his window. Yuugi finally stumbled backward gasping as his heel stepped on the bottom of his pajama pants causing him to trip and fall backward onto the carpet.
Yuugi looked up just in time to see the object near to colliding with his window. Yuugi threw his hands up in front of his face, too scared to utter a sound just waiting for the glass to come piling on top of him. He waited for the sound of shattering glass but it never came. Yuugi opened one eye before both of them and slowly put his hands down. His window was perfectly in place, the only difference was that a large eagle was sitting atop his bureau, ruffling the golden feathers.
"H-horus?" Yuugi's eyes widened.
The eagle screeched in reply and fluttered down to Yuugi's knee. It was then Yuugi realized he was carrying a letter tied to his leg. Careful to not startle the bird in case he still didn't fully trust Yuugi, he gently untied it and inspected it. On the front of the letter it read: Pharaoh Yami.
Yuugi stumbled into a sitting position, blinking to make sure he read it correctly.
"This...it's...only Yami's viziers call him pharaoh. Then that means...," Yuugi's violet eyes widened as he stared at the eagle, who tilted its head as it watched him, "this is the letter from Egypt."
TO BE CONTINUED...
