Prince of Egypt, another YuGiOh! story by Tsunami Storm

Chapter 5: Moving On

"Today we bid goodbye to a dear friend, sister, cousin and daughter. Hana may not have been of royal birth, but she was a true princess at heart. She treated every single person she met with compassion and kindness. Even when things were chaotic around her, she always faced every day with a smile. She was a symbol of hope; a true friend, a miraculous magician- and she made something happen that I never thought possible: I fell in love. So it is with a heavy- and broken- heart that I say, for all of us gathered here: 'Farewell, beloved princess of Egypt'."

Seto replaced the microphone on its stand, then placed a bouquet of blue roses, fragrant cherry blossoms and rare blooms from the Dominion of the Beasts that smelled of the sea at the base of the headstone. Then he returned to his seat and stared at his shoes, trying desperately to keep his mask of composure from slipping. Everyone gathered at the funeral was staring at him in various states of surprise, bereavement, sympathy and gratitude at the beautiful eulogy.

-Three years later-

Joey heard the sirens far before two squad cars pulled into his driveway. He was surprised, to say the least. Ever since his father had gone back to work a few years ago, both Wheeler males had stayed squarely on the right side of the law, and Joey had even expressed some interest in law enforcement- helping out officers of the law whenever a situation presented itself. So- as one could imagine- he was quite shocked when the cruisers parked next to his garage.

He stood nervously on his porch as four officers climbed out of the two vehicles, but then smiled slightly in surprise when he recognized one of them. Seth Kaiba was among the four officers who approached, and the other three stayed a comfortable distance away as Seth ascended the steps and walked right up to Joey. The young man grinned and shook Seth's offered hand in greeting, then pulled the man into an impulsive hug and thumped him on the back.

"Good to see you too, Joseph." Seth laughed as he stepped back.

"Seth, how many times do I gotta tell ya ta call me 'Joey'?!" The other man chuckled exasperatedly. "Dat's wat all my friends call me, so call me 'Joey' already!" He mock-chided.

Seth laughed again and shook his head. "Very well. I shall try to remember that for next time." Then- abruptly- his expression turned somber. "I am afraid we are here on business, my friend." He frowned worriedly. "I have a- warrant to search the premises."

"Fer what? We didn' do nuttin'." Joey asked, now slightly nervous himself.

"Oh, I know. You are not in trouble. But we have reason to believe that our quarry is hiding out on your property. You may have heard of a murderer on the loose in the news lately." Seth hinted, and Joey nodded grimly and frowned. "Yeah. I used ta know da guy." He growled.

Seth gasped. "Really? You know him personally?"

Joey shrugged. "Used ta know 'im. It was back before high school. Before I was friends with Yugi, even. Hirutani was my gang leader. 'Boss Monkey' Hirutani,* dat's wat we called 'im. I'm not proud a' my past, an' I'm eternally grateful ta Yuge an' the guys fer turnin' my life around." He smiled half-heartedly as he stuck his hands in his pockets. Seth nodded, taking down pertinent notes on a regular notepad.

*[Hirutani's from Season 0, btw. I forget which episode. 9, maybe? It's the one with the yo-yos.]

"That explains why he may be hiding out here. Going to an old associate for help." He commented, glancing up at Joey with a wry smile.

"Too bad he ain't gonna find it." The blond growled, scowling in a random direction that just happened to point to the shed. "He mighta been an old friend in da past, but I don' make a point a' harborin' murderers."

"Good policy." Seth nodded with a grin.

Joey returned it, though there was a fiery determination accompanying it behind his dark eyes. "Yer welcome ta search da place. In fact, I'll help ya look." He offered, leading the way to the outbuilding.

After skirting the shed in which Joey liked to work on cars, the group decided it would be a good idea to split up. Seth and Joey would search the inside of the building, and the three other officers would cover the exits in case the convict escaped the two inside. Joey and Seth entered the modest shed with flashlights and tasers ready.

"You take left, I take right?" Joey whispered to his comrade, who nodded silently and turned in the proper direction. Joey took a few hesitant steps forward, keeping both eyes and ears open for any sign of foreign movement. Just in that moment, a thought occurred to him. "I jus' remembered, Seth. We've got a cat in 'ere. So if ya see sometin' small an' white, don' shoot." He warned telepathically. A grin was his answer. "I will keep an eye out." Seth replied mentally.

To both the boys' surprise, it was the cat who found the felon first. She knocked over a few cans of spray paint on him, eliciting a curse from his lips and giving him away.

Putting on an ignorance act, Joey calmly approached his former leader as a friend- stowing his borrowed taser in his back pocket.

"Joey!" Hirutani gasped, relieved. "I thought dose cops'd get me fer sure! Ya gotta help me, man! Fer old times' sake?" He pleaded, but Joey just frowned.

"How could ya do it, Hirutani? An innocent li'l girl, prolly on 'er way ta kindergarten? I always knew ya were a thug, but come on! Have ya really sunk so low as ta murder kids? I thought ya had more empathy dan dat!" Joey spat, disgusted at the man he'd once called 'friend'.

Hirutani merely shrugged, not caring in the slightest. "Brat got in my way. So I removed da obstacle. Simple azzat."

Horror and outright fury flashed across Joey's face, but he somehow managed to keep himself from strangling or tasering the monster right then and there. Instead he masked his emotions- not unlike a certain CEO often did- and calmly strode over to his erstwhile friend and gang boss.

Catching the larger man off-guard, Joey expertly drove his fist into the man's stomach, then- while the murderer was doubled over- pulled his arm behind his back and pinned him to the ground. He'd been taking a few Judo classes for self-defense and defense of others, and the black belt who'd showed him that technique was none other than Seto Kaiba himself. Pulling his thoughts out of the past and back to reality, Joey sent a strained and hurried mental message to Seth. "I got 'im." was all it said, but that was all that was needed to alert his comrade and send him running over.

Seth grinned a fierce smile of thanks and triumph at Joey as he cuffed the man's hands behind his back and led him out of the shed, reciting his rights along the way. Once Hirutani was safely secured in the back of the squad car, Seth turned to his associate.

"Probably could not have done it without you, Jos- Joey." Seth corrected himself as he grinned again. "Thank you for your help. And the city thanks you too." He clapped a friendly hand on the blond's shoulder. "You ever thought about a career in the force? You would be pretty good at it." He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nyeh, maybe. Prolly pays better dan a mechanic, dat's fer sure." He joked, shrugging his shoulders to emphasize his indecision.

"I'll get'chu fer dis, Wheeler! Yer gonna pay!" Hirutani yelled back out the window as one of the cars drove away. As expected, his threat went completely ignored by the remaining 'heroes'.

"Well, thanks again." Seth smiled, offering a hand to Joey, who shook it gladly. "Anytime, buddy." He grinned back.

-After a minute-

"Hey, now dat I'm thinkin' 'bout it, how's da li'l tyke doin'?" Joey asked, and Seth looked up from getting into the passenger side of the remaining squad car. "Ramses? He is doing just fine. And so is his dragon, or so Reseph-Ari tells me. He is actually about to start preschool in a few months. My son, I mean, not his dragon." He added with a small smirk.

"Heh. Just about da whole family's got dragon Ka. On'y Mokuba an' Noah 're diff'rent." Joey chuckled, and Seth smiled.

"Well a person can have more than one Ka, Joey." Seth reminded him. "And you are a classic example. It is true that you were merged with 'Hono no Kenshi' in Atem's duel with Bakura* and in the 'Empire of Shadows', but the Red-Eyes Black Dragon has sworn eternal allegiance to your family through your ancestors. You have a dragon Ka as well." He reminded him.

*[S1E13]

"Oh yeah. Heh. Whaddya know." Joey laughed sheepishly, having forgotten all about that fact.

"Noah has that 'Spirit' dragon, 'Yamada Dragon', and Mokuba often uses 'Horus' Black Flame Dragon'. So- in a way- we all have dragons as our respective Ka." Seth added with another grin.

"Did- she?" Joey asked quietly, but Seth still caught it. "Who?"

"Y'know. Yer daughter. Nefertiri." Joey elaborated, feeling uncomfortable bringing up the subject. He shouldn't have asked, but he couldn't take his words back. Seth looked up sharply, then turned his gaze downward. It still hurt, even after all these years. "I- I do not know." He admitted. "By the time she was born, the Shadow Games were gone from the human world for at least five years already. And her mother was a foreign princess, not of Egypt." Seth explained. "And yet- Nefertiri always had a fiery spirit. I would not be the least bit surprised if her Ka was also a dragon." He smiled sadly.

"You dunno fer sure?" Joey asked.

Seth shook his head. "She may not even have had a manifested Ka. Some do not, and they live perfectly normal lives. It is just that- as Bearers, we were-"

"Abnormal?" Joey supplied with a grin, receiving a half-hearted glare from the reborn pharaoh. "Unique. Thus, we were set apart."

Joey nodded. He knew that Seth knew that he'd only been teasing.

"While we are on the subject of children, how is your son?" Seth asked, now catching the blond off-guard.

Joey laughed. "Y'know Jonothan. As much of a hassle as ever. 'Least he's past 'is 'terrible twos' stage."

Seth laughed too, remembering his past life when Nefertiri was that young. Thankfully he hadn't had to repeat that ordeal with Ramses. That boy was almost the complete opposite of his half-sister, except for their eyes. Their eyes were both copied from their father's sapphire orbs.

"Mrs. Wheeler must be at her wit's end." Seth chuckled sympathetically, and Joey rolled his eyes. "Nah. Mai's got 'er reckless moments too. Jon got dat from both of us, I guess." He laughed as he stuck his hands in his pockets.

Just then the officer driving the car cleared his throat loudly, causing the friends to jump slightly. "Dat reminds me. I'm s'posed ta pick up da squirt from Daycare today. Mai's workin' late." He ran off to his own truck that was parked in the driveway- waving a hasty goodbye to Seth- who saluted. Then both cars left the Wheeler residence and sped off to downtown Domino.

"Hey, kids! Guess who's here!" Joey announced as he stepped into the play area of the daycare center.

"Daddy!" Jon cried happily as the other children squealed and laughed. "Mister Joey! Mister Joey!" They all called out as they crowded around his legs, almost making him topple over.

"Ack! Okay! London Bridge is fallin' down, guys! An' it's not really s'posed to! Whoa!" Joey laughed as he flailed his arms comically and theatrically, trying to maintain his balance. Which he did. Barely. This made the children laugh all the harder.

"A'ight, now where's my li'l scamp?" Joey asked rhetorically as he scanned the area. He'd already spotted the mop of light blond hair when he walked into the room. He made a beeline for his son- who was over by the building blocks- then snatched him into the air and turned him into an airplane. "Dere he is! Comin' in fer a landin'!" He called, dipping his son low to the ground before scooping him back up and blowing a raspberry on his belly. The three-year-old squealed with mirth and delight.

At the door, the caretaker was also laughing. "You're so good with kids, Joey! You should be a teacher or something!" Miho Taylor giggled at the blond and winked one of her dark blue eyes at him.

"Nah. I'd go crazy-er- in a month." Joey laughed. "Jus' dis li'l monster takes all I got in like a week. Thank goodness Mai handles 'im at home on da weekends." He supported his son's weight in one arm as he put his other hand to the doorknob. "See ya, Miho. Say 'hi' ta Tristan fer me." He grinned as he walked out the door.

"Will do, Joey." Miho smiled as one of her best friends from grade school disappeared around the corner of the building. She'd really missed them when she'd moved away with her parents. But Domino had just been too dangerous back then- with the Kaiba heir being how he was back then, and Ryou's dark side. It was no wonder her parents were too scared. She finally moved back here when she turned eighteen, and was overjoyed that she got to see most of her old friends again. She was saddened to learn that she'd just missed Yugi and Téa, as they had left Domino for America only a month previously.

It's been eleven years since I've seen them. Miho sighed to herself. I heard they got married and had a daughter, but I've never seen her. I couldn't go to their wedding either. Something always comes up. At least I got my 'happily ever after' with Tristan. And I've always been good with kids, so this Daycare job is a breeze. It feels like just yesterday that we were all in eighth grade, hanging out and palling around at Burger World with not a care to worry about. And yet here I am, helping to raise and look after the next generation! Time sure flies.

Groan. "Ow. My head." I groaned as I sat up and surveyed my surroundings, putting a hand to the source of my discomfort in a vain attempt to lessen the pain. Slowly, I sat up, surveying my surroundings with a look of confusion. "Where am I?" I asked myself, soon realizing that looking around was pointless. There was so much fog everywhere that it looked like pea soup.

"What happened?" I asked, not really having an answer. "I remember going back to Rome when that stupid curse activated, creating a new vessel for myself to use, and then- it's all a blur. I remember that Josephus was assassinated and that Rome has a just ruler now, but Jono's all the way in Egypt in the past with Nefertiri. Guess they found a suitable replacement."

Suddenly, something shifted to my left, and I turned to see that I was not alone in this mysterious, foggy place. My companion was attired as a warrior, with a strange buckler-like device strapped to their arm that resembled a Duel Disk. In addition, two others were present, one an old man who quite resembled master Shimon or Solomon Mutou, and the other was a knight clad in what appeared to be silvery-white dragon armor.

"Mine heavens!" The older gentleman breathed, gripping his staff like a walking cane and leaning heavily upon it. "I hadst been told that this sorcery wouldst summon only one soul to this age, one that wouldst join to be known as the 'Duelist of the Roses', but it seemest that two souls hast appeared at yon sacred ritual site! Mysteries abound!"

The dragon-knight merely frowned and studied me with an odd expression, as if he were debating whether to help me to my feet or not. Fortunately for him, I solved that conundrum by standing on my own. With all the chivalry expected of his station- and while the second figure was speaking with the old man- the knight held out his hand for me to grasp in greeting and said, "Well met, stranger. What art thou bid?"

I smiled slowly, somehow knowing that I could trust this White Knight. "I've been called many things throughout my life, spanning more years than you or anyone would believe. I don't know how I ended up here, but I know that I can't go home. At least, not by myself. With your permission, may I live in the town you call home?"

The knight smiled kindly, his sapphire eyes sparkling. This new arrival seemed trustworthy enough. "Of course. Join with me." And with that, he made his way off the summit of the hill of stones that would come to be known as Stonehenge and walked briskly to the town he hailed from. His strides were quite a bit longer than those of his new companion, and I had to practically jog to keep up.

"Thou ne'er answered mine question." The knight growled sometime later, though there was no malice in his voice. In fact, his statement sounded almost playful. "What is thy name, newcomer?"

I smiled. "It's Hana."

-several months later-

"Safe travels to your family on your way home, kind sir and gentle lady. These are dangerous times we live in." Hana smiled as the group bowed in unison as low as they could comfortably manage in thanks for her service. The man had been suffering terrible burns from an accident on his farm, and Hana was rumored to be a skilled physician and Healer that charged next to nothing for her services- a rare commodity in this medieval age. There were also rumors that she practiced magic to heal her visitors- but none ever corroborated this speculation, as they did not want the kind Healer to be arrested and/or killed for practicing witchcraft. The people were understandably wary of all those rumored to practice magic, and were very suspicious of foreigners. But Hana had earned their trust through hard work and patience. Now she was known throughout most of the countryside for both her knowledge of medicine and 'miracle' cures, as well as her unparalleled kindness. She would treat injuries from the smallest splinter to entire lost limbs from a wound or infection. She was even known among the womenfolk of the country for being a skilled midwife, and had helped deliver quite a few children for families in the area.

As happy as she seemed in her new home, however, Hana was homesick. She missed her friends and family in twenty-first century Japan, and she seriously doubted that she'd ever see them again- not in this life, anyway. She sniffled audibly when she recalled the fate of her closest friend from Egypt, brave Akhen, who had fallen ill of a mysterious, incurable sickness- one that even Hana couldn't heal with her magic- when he was struck with a strange blade while defending her. His last signed words to her were ones of love, that he'd always be with her, and watching over her. As proof of his love and eternal devotion, he summoned the creature that embodied his spirit- his own Ka, Silent Swordsman- and tasked him with protecting the princess he'd loved with his entire existence. The Ka agreed with a simple nod, and Akhen smiled as he closed his eyes for the last time, no longer possessing the strength to keep his illness at bay.

Hana sighed as she mixed some of her dried herbs together in a mortar to crush for a poultice, humming to herself as she worked. As her hands moved of their own accord, practicing their craft, the princess' mind wandered. She recalled the faces of all her friends from the modern world, all of them wearing gentle smiles of greeting and filled with warmth and the light of love. Joey was standing next to Mai with an arm around her shoulders, holding her close, and Seth had his arms around Kisara, embracing her from the back as they both smiled at their friend. Close to them stood Mahaad and Isis, who were holding hands, and Mana stood in front of her beloved master and older brother, magic staff clutched loosely in her hand as she held the other up in a friendly wave.

Everyone from the modern era and ancient Egypt was gathered there, silently greeting their long-lost cousin, daughter, friend and sister they loved so dearly. A tear came to the young woman's eye as she pictured all of her loved ones' smiling faces, knowing that she- in all likelihood- would never see any of them alive again.

Just then, a small 'doorbell'-like device that Hana had rigged over her door clanged, and she knew that another 'patient' had come to her humble abode to ask for aid. She put down the herbs she'd been grinding, washed her hands in a basin of clean water from the well outside, then opened her door to greet her newest guest.

To her surprise, a small army had assembled on the snowy path that led to her small hut. The group of at least fifty men was fully outfitted for battle, complete with full sets of armor, shields, and drawn swords. Some had even drawn their bows and were pointing arrows at her. Hana sighed heavily. She knew this day would come sooner or later. Someone had blabbed about who- or, more accurately, what- she was.

A middle-aged man that was attired differently from the soldiers appeared from somewhere within the gathering and held a scroll in front of his face as Hana put a hand on her hip, signaling she was willing to listen.

"Thou art the witch bid 'Hana'?" The man glared at her, and Hana cracked her neck out of habit. "No. My name is Hana, but I'm not a witch. I'm a Healer. There's a difference."

"Insolence!" One of the soldiers growled over the sound of the blowing, freezing wind. "Thou darest speak thus to the King's counselor?"

Hana folded her arms and glared at the speaker. "Well, how would you feel if some random person accused you of practicing dark magic? Wouldn't you be offended? I've done nothing wrong since coming to this land."

"Nevertheless, thou art the 'Healer' bid Hana. Correct?" The counselor prompted, and Hana nodded. "We arriveth concerning a sad matter. Our beloved king hath commanded thy presence at the castle. The good queen hath fallen gravely ill, and none of our court physicians hast the skill to heal her infirmity. 'i addition to this, she is round with child, the heir to the throne of our great kingdom. Should she is not cured, then the kingdom shall surely fall to wrack with no heir. Our physicians hast tried all's, to no avail. The king is desperate. Hence desperate that he hath considered the dark arts of magicks to heal his beloved and their unborn child."

"That does sound serious." Hana mused, her face thoughtful. But then she frowned. "I know your people are very suspicious of magic, and all who practice it- with good reason. There are a lot of wicked practitioners of the mystical arts in the world. But not all magic is dark and evil. Magic- in and of itself- is neutral. It's just another expression of energy in the body, just like physical labor, emotions or thought. It can be used for either light or darkness. And that's how I use it. To heal. Whether the wound be a broken fingernail or a broken heart."

The man seemed shocked, but pleased. "Wondrous! From thy descriptions of thine abilities, it seemest that thou art the best physician to heal our queen and save our kingdom from certain ruination. Thou wilt come to yon palace posthaste. Gather thine necessary materials and magicks and follow our company. Under strict guard, of course, lest you try anything."

Hana rolled her eyes at the man's paranoia, but then nodded. "I understand. But you can rest assured, I won't do anything to harm anyone. I'd never do that."

The man did something unexpected just then. He smiled. "Thine eyes hold both truth and innocence in their depths. I believe thy words. Hadst thou meant harm to our company, thou wouldst surely have attacked by now. Accompany us to the castle whence thou art fully prepared." He ordered, and Hana smiled back, surprised at the man's perception and trust.

…

Hana hummed a tune to herself as she worked, knowing that music could produce soothing and healing effects in its listeners. The song in her heart was one she'd heard years ago from her young hikari's memories. Unbeknownst to her, hundreds of years in the future and thousands of miles away, a very familiar friend echoed her song as he pored over ancient records in the Domino Public Library, searching for any clue to the former princess' whereabouts.

"I know there's someone- somewhere- someone,

Who's sure to find her soon.

After the rain goes, there are rainbows.

She'll find her rainbow soon.

Soon my breaking heart will mend,

Soon a happy ending.

Troubles behind her,

I will find her-

Homeward bound, safe and sound-

And soon."

"I promise you, Hana. Wherever you are, I'll find you. I'll bring you home." Seto vowed.

End of Chapter 5

Next Chapter Teaser: By The Power of Ra

Holey Cheese, that took forever! Why do I always get Writer's Block when I have a free moment from my job?! Gah! At this rate, this story will never get finished.

That's all I can think of at the moment for these ANs, but I may add more as time goes on.

God Bless!

Tsunami Storm