Welcome back! Happy (belated) New Year!
I hope all of my Texas readers are warm and safe!
Is it just me, or did these two months feel more like six months? I'll be honest, I was hoping to write another chapter before this one, but I really could not think of anything, so here we are.
Enjoy!
Ever since the Mages had appeared three years ago, Yami had been constantly busy, whether it was meeting secretly with his Court, or dealing with his still ongoing duties as prince. With his attention divided between the two parties, days, weeks, and months seemed to just blend together. Time seemed to be divided by the missions and projects he'd been involved with rather than by the passing of the sun.
As time went by, however, Yami grew increasingly apprehensive about the future. Each passing day became another reminder that he still wasn't Pharaoh, still didn't have his name, and the threat of Zorc was still on the horizon. The fact his father continued to be in perfect health did nothing to ease his nervousness as that only meant his death would be tragic and untimely.
Lately, however, Yami noticed his father looked more tired than usual. Worse than that, he looked like he had aged ten years over the past couple of days. It had started when Aknamkanon had taken a sudden trip, not telling Yami where he was going or why. When he returned, he immediately retreated to his chambers, leaving Yami to take over as regent.
Yami frowned to himself, but bore with it. This behavior was not normal, so clearly something had happened on Aknamkanon's trip.
After a few days of this, Isis approached him and told him the Pharaoh had taken ill. Definitely worrisome, but not surprising. If anything, it provided a tangible reason for his father's out of character behavior.
What was surprising was when the physicians and magicians in the palace couldn't identify what was making the king so sick and his condition continued to worsen quickly over the next few days. Within a week, the mysterious illness had taken so much of his strength, that the Pharaoh was unable to get out of bed. Egypt was in a state of mourning as news spread of the Pharaoh's condition.
"Isis! Please tell me he'll be alright!" Yami begged the seer, following her down the hall. He felt like a small child rather than the 20-year-old he was, but he didn't care.
"I wish I could, but the Necklace won't show me this future," she replied. Yami could hear the frustration about the uncertainty in her voice.
"You must be able to see something," he pressed. He knew better than to press his luck, but he had to know. "Something about me or you or any of the other Bearers. There must be a clue!"
Isis' steps faltered. Yami stopped right beside her, looking up earnestly as she turned to him somberly, "I can see you sitting on the throne as pharaoh sometime soon, but I don't know when. Whether this the result of your father's death or if he simply abdicates his throne is still unseen."
"And how many pharaohs have actually abdicated their throne?" Yami challenged, knowing full well what she would say.
"None," came the quiet answer, "But is it so wrong to hold out hope?"
"Only when it ignores reality."
Yami whirled around and marched back to his father's room. It was clear now that his father was dying and wouldn't be getting better; he intended to spend as much time with him as he could.
Yami sat next to his father's bed, praying to every god he could think of to spare his father's life, even though he knew it was an ultimately fruitless effort. If he was to take his place as Pharaoh and claim the Millennium Puzzle, the current pharaoh would have to die. His time to sit on the throne was approaching, a day he had been looking forward to, but now he wasn't sure how ready he was. He'd finally gotten to learn what it meant to have a father and be a son. He learned what it was like to not have the safety of the world constantly sitting on his shoulders because of the power he wielded.
Maybe he was being selfish not wanting this to end. Great evil was on the horizon, even if no one else but his fellow Mages knew, and Yami would have to sit on the throne as Pharaoh in order to defeat it.
"Yami?" a quiet voice whispered.
"What are you doing here?" Yami hissed at his hikari, "Someone will see you!"
Yugi only shrugged nonchalantly. Even if someone who could see him saw him, his face was concealed by the hood on his cloak and he was under Yami's protection if anyone tried to force him to take it off. Besides, it was the dead of night; no one that would be able to see him would be around. All of the Item Bearer's had retired for the night hours ago.
"I came to check on you," Yugi answered quietly, advancing further into the room to stand next to Yami, "I wanted to make sure you were alright. It can't be easy…"
"Would you think of me as a coward if I said I wish that things could stay the way they were? I miss our connection, I miss my Court, and I miss the Shadows. But I finally got to know my father and I'm not sure I want to give that up."
"Yami, this is your father! It's not cowardly to want to keep your family close to you. I felt the same way when Grandpa was dying..."
Aknamkanon stirred and weakly opened his eyes.
"Stay close," Yami muttered quickly to Yugi, who moved quickly out of the line of Aknamkanon's vision, before giving his full attention to his father. While he wished they could actually have their mental bond back, Yugi's physical presence still brought him some comfort.
"*****? Why are you not asleep in your own room?"
"I wanted to keep an eye on you," Yami answered honestly.
"You don't want to let me go," Aknamkanon read between the lines. Tears began to pool in Yami's eyes as he shook his head. "My son, death is a part of life. All things must come to an end for life to continue, and my time is no different."
"This isn't your time," Yami denied, "They'll find a cure for whatever's wrong."
Aknamkanon laughed weakly. "How blessed am I that I have a son that does not envy my throne! The truth is, *****, there is no cure for my affliction. I learned a terrible truth about the Millennium Items, one I cannot live with knowing I was a part of it."
That threw Yami for a loop. A secret about the Millennium Items so horrible that it was literally causing his father's death.
"What?" Yami whispered hoarsely.
"I have asked the gods to spare you the burdens of my sins," Aknamkanon continued, not elaborating further, "Soon you will accept the Millennium Puzzle, knowing that it's dark secret does not rest on your shoulders. You will take this instrument born of darkness and evil, and you will use it for good."
"Of course," Yami agreed tearfully.
"You are more than ready to take your place as Pharaoh. You have been for some time now," Aknamkanon raised a weak hand to rest on Yami's shoulder. Yami's own hand came up to grasp it desperately, "You hold wisdom far beyond your years and command respect from even your greatest enemies."
Yami could only nod. His instincts told him this was his father's final good-bye. Yugi must have sensed the same thing because he moved to place a comforting hand on his other shoulder. Yami understood the silent message: Yami had offered emotional support when Yugi's grandfather had died and now Yugi was returning the favor.
Aknamkanon looked up at the shrouded figure briefly before turning his attention back to his son. "You have chosen your court well," he smiled, "I cannot be more proud of you. May the gods smile on you."
The last of Aknamkanon's breath left him and the hand Yami was holding went completely slack. Yami bowed his head, accepting the final blessing from his father. He gently laid his father's hand back on the bed, but made no move to get up. Part of him never wanted to move from this spot, but another part of him knew there were things that needed to be done.
Yugi silently moved so he had wrapped an arm around Yami's shoulders. He didn't say anything as tears rolled down Yami's face, but stood with him in solidarity. Eventually, Yami wiped the tears from his face, a determined look taking the place of sorrow, and returned his hikari's hug as he stood up.
He needed to know what caused his father's death and there was one person who he was certain would hold the answers.
Even without their bond, Yugi could still read him like a book. "The others are already waiting in our room," he said quietly, "I sent for them before I came here. I had a feeling you'd need all of us tonight."
Yami lightly squeezed his hikari in gratitude. "I appreciate it," he whispered, "I don't know how I got by for seven years without you."
The two walked out together, letting go of each other long enough for the guards outside the room did not see their new Pharaoh embracing empty air.
"The Pharaoh is dead," Yami announced to the guards hollowly as he passed, "Alert the Priests."
If the guards had any questions, Yami paid them no mind. As soon as he rounded the corner, his pace picked up. He needed answers.
"What do you know about the Millennium Items?" Yami demanded.
The other Mages in the room quickly backed away at the fury and anguish on Yami's face. Bakura did a better job of hiding his fear as he responded, "What do you mean?"
"My father's death was caused by a secret he discovered about the Millennium Items! You are the only one here who would know what that might be. I want to know!"
A range of emotions flickered across Bakura's face. Somewhere in the mix was realization, rage, and sympathy. Eventually, regret settled as the prominent emotion. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?"
"I thought your father knew… I thought he issued the command…"
"What command?"
"...nevermind…"
"No!" Yami growled, "Whatever this is, just caused the death of my father. I think I have a right to know. If you won't tell me, I will force the answer out of Akhenaden."
Bakura's murderous glare at the man's name told Yami he'd certainly found his bargaining chip. The thief hated Akhenaden and Yami had a feeling he was about to learn why.
"Fine," Bakura snapped, "I'll tell you what I know...I'll tell you about the hellstorm that's coming your way. Sit down."
Yami glared at the order, but complied anyway. The Mages joined him at the table, all eyes on Bakura. Yugi scooted his chair up against Yami's. Yami appreciated the physical closeness of his light, it would help keep him grounded.
"It must have been around the time of your birth," Bakura began, visibly trying to calm himself. Ryou shifted his chair closer in an attempt to help. "Egypt was being threatened by darkness. The Pharaoh and his Court were at a loss as to what to do to stop it. Then, Akhenaden managed to find a translation for the Millennium Spellbook–"
"Millennium Spellbook?" Ishizu interrupted, "There's an eighth Item?"
Bakura shook his head. "No, the Spellbook is merely a collection of spells, not an Item. The Spellbook was famously untranslatable until Akhenaden came along. In the Spellbook, were instructions on how to make the Millennium Items. Akhenaden approached Aknamkanon for permission to make the Items, but he must have never divulged the process, or I am sure at this point Aknamkanon would have refused."
"Why do I suddenly feel like throwing up?" Malik asked, holding his stomach and looking queasy.
"Because you know about ancient spells and what they usually require," Bakura answered soberly.
Yami felt like a rock had settled in his stomach as Malik's face paled considerably. He knew the story wouldn't end well, but nothing could stop the sudden wave of foreboding from washing over him. The rest of the Court looked the same.
"How were the Items made?" he croaked, dreading the answer but having to know.
Bakura averted his gaze, but his voice didn't waver even as bitterness invaded, "Akhenaden needed 99 living souls and he chose one of the darkest places in Egypt to draw them from, increasing the Items' power. He could have chosen any number of people held in prison, but instead, he chose a place called Kul Elna… a village of thieves and criminals."
"You took me to Kul Elna once," Ryou whispered, his face tinged green, "You said it was your home."
Yami suddenly joined Malik in his desire to throw up. Was it any wonder that Bakura had initially hated him so much?
Bakura nodded solemnly, allowing the hikari to worm his way under his arm. Returning Ryou's hug, he continued his story, "I alone was able to escape. I watched as my entire village, my friends, my family, were hunted down and sacrificed in the name of Egypt. I swore that day to take revenge on the Pharaoh for what he had done, pinning the sins of the father on the son, never realizing I sought out the wrong man until it was too late."
It was so much worse than he could have ever imagined. Yami had thought he would be prepared for any answer, but this...this was awful. How could he stand to accept the Millennium Puzzle now? He didn't think he'd be able to stomach it knowing what he did now. This was the knowledge that ultimately led to his father's death. How did Bakura cope with knowing the Item he wielded was powered by the souls of his slaughtered village?
"That day, Zorc Necrophades was born," Bakura continued, "The me in this time, Akefia, will eventually come to be possessed by him, drawn in by the hatred in his heart. Before that though, Akefia will seek his revenge against the Pharaoh, starting the most dangerous Yami no Game of your life."
"Akefia?" Seto asked.
"My name before my soul split." At their curious looks, Bakura rolled his eyes, "None of you found it strange that I happened to share a name with my hikari?"
"Seto shares a name with his ancient counterpart," Malik pointed out, "It's not unheard of."
For a brief moment, the mood lightened but immediately darkened again at Yami's next question.
"How can I possibly accept, let alone use, the Millennium Puzzle knowing how the Items were made? That lives were unjustly taken to make them stronger?"
"Those were probably the same questions your father asked himself," Bakura answered soberly, "He came to the conclusion that he could not live with that burden, and so he didn't."
"You are stronger than that, Yami," Yugi said softly, "The Items have accepted us as their Bearers, that must mean that past sins are forgiven, right?"
Bakura shook his head, "I will never forgive Akhenaden for his crime, but I have come to realize that only those who took part in and had knowledge of the ritual should be held responsible. Everybody else is innocent in the slaughter that took place and should accept the gifts they have been given."
"The Shadows would revolt if we denied them now," Ishizu muttered, "You won't be able to defeat Zorc without the Shadows."
"I will accept the Millennium Puzzle before my coronation," Yami said, "I might feel better about those events if I can hear the Shadows again."
Bakura nodded in agreement. "Most likely. Just remember, I do not blame you for Akhenaden's actions. He, and he alone, must face judgement. I reserve the right to that."
"No one here will deny you," Yami assured, "I only ask that you wait. You'll get your chance, but as of right now, the Millennium Eye seems to accept Akhenaden as its Bearer. I'm not sure why, but there must be a reason. It would be too dangerous for you to approach him as things stand right now."
"*****! There you are!"
The Mages turned to see Mahaddo in the doorway, panting. He was still dressed in his night clothes, the Ring swinging wildly from his neck as he caught his breath. Clearly he had rushed here straight from bed. The magician ran his eyes over the gathering inquisitive, but refrained from asking any questions.
"Isis sent me to find you," he said breathlessly. He fell to one knee, hand over his heart, "Pharaoh, we need to start preparing the funeral rites as well as getting you ready for your coronation."
Yami stared at his friend. For the first time, this world acknowledged him as the Pharaoh. Without being able to really place it, he got the sense that the gears of fate had now been put into motion. Things were going to start happening very soon.
We are almost into familiar territory as far as canon material goes...not that it will look to much like canon when I'm through with it. Yami's coronation is next, and we all know that that means! Ancient Bakura (Akefia) will be showing up and Yami gets some seriously badass moments!
Please review :)