Huge change in PoV. I scrapped the 1st two drafts of this chapter because I just wasn't feeling it. This chapter officially introduces Imhotep. We're at the point in the story where things need to shift onto the next big plot. I realize to some people, they are going to be like "Noooo! It's only been a few in-story days!". Keep in mind that each season of the anime actually only takes place over a period of 2-3 days. Things moving at a relatively fast pace in-story is the norm. I like to think of each chapter as an episode, and we're starting to approach the end of the current season.
After this chapter I would super-very-much appreciate it if I could get a few reviews on how everyone is enjoying my fic. It appears that I have an average of 7-10 viewers that have hung in this far. Just a simple "Great job!" or "What the fuck, are you insane!?" would suffice lol
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Kat grabbed at her chest and fell to the ground on her knees.
The leaves of the eucalyptus and palms swayed to and fro lightly in the breeze of the early morning of her home located outside of Luxor. The garden was a near replica of the one from the palace that she and Atem had resided in. The one distinguishable difference between the two was the small apple orchard off to the side. The garden itself led to a modernized version of the palace. It was much smaller, with many of rooms that no longer served a purpose having been removed. The materials used to build it were fairly modern as well, holding up better than sun dried bricks made of mud and straw. It was the one place that, despite the modern changes, still felt like home. Between magic and technology, she had managed to keep this oasis hidden from the rest of the world.
Her head spun lightly. Today was a bad day for this to happen. She still needed to confront her little 'Shadow Walker' about the stunt he had pulled. Kat managed to pull herself upright, her eyes no longer their beautiful sapphire hue. Instead they had been replaced by deep crimson orbs that hungered. She walked towards her home, finding her way to the door of the one that had prompted her return. She opened it, finding a near exact replica of how Atem once looked sitting in front of a large TV screen. His blue eyes were the one thing that set him apart from his paternal predecessor, and marked him as a descendant of Anubis. He sat focused and frustrated, controller in hand.
As the avatar on the screen died of a fatal shot to the head, he stood up and screamed in frustration. "That's bullshit! If I can't shoot through a fuckin rock, they they shouldn't be able to either!" he shouted in his voice that was oh-so-close to Atem's host. With his appearance, Kat was extremely grateful he didn't share his patriarch's baritone voice as well.
A circle of light formed around the boy, runes and various symbols etching along the inside and outside edges, visible ley lines forming at certain points.
"Hey! What gives!?" Imhotep shouted towards the caster.
Kat looked at him bitterly with her crimson eyes. "You wanted to learn how to cast a containment circle, did you not? I thought maybe we could start with a little….demonstration….on how they worked."
The teen looked at her slyly, flashing a fanged grin in her direction. A rather unfortunate feature inherited from her. "What's the matter Shae? Mad that I stole your favored child from under your nose? How long did it take you exactly to realize he was missing?" he taunted.
"I don't have time for your bullshit and games Im. Pull another stunt like that and-"
"You'll what? What can you do, that I can't undo?" he interrupted. He pulled out a miniature replica of the Millennium Puzzle. "You gave me this to hold onto. It contains all of his memories. He needs to remember, right? I'm just doing my part in helping." the teen stated, feigning innocence.
"You know why I've been holding off. Do you really want to see your own brother being used as a mindless puppet to bring about the End?"
"So then take his place! You're the one Anubis originally wanted! You're strong enough to fight his control! Oh, I know why! You're too busy fucking my father's pretty slave boy!" Imhotep shouted angrily.
The the light of the circle intensified as the crimson in Kat's eyes glowed brightly, the circumference shrinking and pressing in dangerously close to the bitter teen's frame.
"Marik is no slave. You ever refer to him as one again, and you'll finally understand why even the gods fear me." Kat stated in an even, cold tone. "I may be strong, but as is evident by the temporary loss of my comrades nearly fifteen years ago, my mind is not. I am trying to correct that, but I can't do a damn thing when I have a petulant brat trying to jump the gun."
The sclera of her eyes began to vein matched crimson, making all but her pupils the color of blood. The pupils themselves began to constrict into narrowed slits.
Imhotep noted the change, holding his tongue from whatever bitter retort he had intended towards being called a 'petulant brat'. "Shae, when the last time you fed?" he asked in concern.
"That's not your concern." She constricted the circle yet again, making it press in on the teen.
He showed his discomfort, but pressed on. "Seriously, I think you should consider going out for a hunt. You're not looking too well right now."
The circle constricted yet again. It became evident to the teen at this point that his mother was losing control over herself.
"Mkhai!" he shouted, hoping his uncle was awake.
Seconds later Kat grabbed the sides of her head, the circle vanishing from around Imhotep. Her eyes widened excitedly, her fangs flashed in a sadistic grin. Mkhai's usual method of placating his sister was apparently not working.
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Where is the boy with the golden hair and pretty eyes? He smells so wonderful. I want to taste the sweet nectar beneath his flesh. I want to see how beautiful crimson looks on his golden body. Where is my gami-
Kat paused. The look of excitement she possessed being replaced by confusion. What was she doing? What was she thinking? She tried to focus, but the pulse in her head was too loud. There was a boy with blue eyes, dark skin, and tri-colored hair trying to talk to her. What was he saying? His lips were moving, and his brow was furled in concern, but the pulsing…..why won't it stop!? Wait...what is that boy doing? Why does he have that blade pressed to the vein of his wrist? Crimson. Sweet crimson. Why do you allow it to stream down like that!? YOU'RE WASTING IT!
She lunged forward, taking the wrist that was offered, sinking her fangs in deeply. Imhotep flinched at the roughness of the bite, but otherwise remained still. He stroked her hair as she had done many times to him over the years. He understood the hunger. No...it was more than hunger. It was an intense thirst that consumed you, body and mind. He wiped away the tears that fell as she slowly began to regain control over her actions.
If he had still been mortal, the intense loss of blood would have killed him. But he wasn't. Having been born with his magic already in effect, he had always known that he would end up like his mother and uncle. He had taken control and decided several months ago to stop his aging. Aside from his newfound immortality, his Awakening had only strengthened his ability to control the Shadows.
Kat released her grip on Imhotep's wrist, tears falling as she tried to hide her face in her hands. She had nearly released the creature that she tried so hard to keep hidden. The one that Anubis had hoped would help in razing the world so that it could start anew. Imhotep had learned control over his beast, having to master it when he was still a toddler. It could not be controlled by another, especially Anubis. His twin, however, was another story. His beast lay dormant. It could easily be controlled upon his Awakening. This made taking his brother the most logical approach in the eyes of the death god.
Imhotep embraced the woman that had brought him into this world, attempting to comfort her. They often fought, usually due to his jealousy over her spending so much of her focus on his father's host. In the end she was still his mother, and she was all he had ever known apart from Mkhai. He didn't have any actual friends. There were those he had met online, but they were nothing more than avatars on a screen with voices attached. There were a few immortals, like Ahneket, but they weren't what he really considered 'friends'. To him, the idea of a friend is what Yugi had. He would occasionally tag along in his brother's shadow, pretending that he was a part of his little group. They went all over. They went to malls together, joined in epic battles of good versus evil, even went to an actual school. They laughed, shared pizza, even comforted one another when they were sad. All he had ever known was the world within the hidden oasis, and his view of the rest of the world as he leapt from shadow to shadow. Until his father's return, he was forbidden from interacting with anything that the light was able to touch outside of the oasis. Was it really that bad to want to be able to finally be a part of all of that? But bringing back his father meant Awakening his brother. That in turn lead to Anubis being able to claim what was promised, which led to the End of this world.
"I'm sorry Shae. You were right. I was acting selfishly." he said quietly.
Kat had stopped crying, and was silently contemplating. "It's my fault. I ask too much of you. Of the both of you. I'm so tired of trying keep so much hidden. It was difficult before, but now…..now it feels impossible." She released herself from the teen's embrace. She gently stroked the cheek of the boy that looked nearly identical to the one she tried so hard to protect. "Maybe we should stop hiding? Lay it all out in the open? It seems inevitable after all."
Imhotep looked at his mother in surprise. "But what about Anubis? And the End?"
Kat allowed herself to smirk. "I don't recall Anubis ever saying that he would claim your brother immediately upon your father's resurrection. He only said that Yugi belonged to him upon his Awakening. I was trying to prolong that, since I need a small fraction of his blood while he is still mortal for the ritual. By prolonging the ritual, Anubis couldn't force the Awakening. I guess it just means we'll have to work harder at making sure he stays un-Awakened for a bit longer."
"My old man will remember everything, including the reason he wanted to forget. Are you certain you are ready for that? And what about your new boyfriend? I'm certain what he said earlier about not stopping the two of you from being together is going to change drastically. I've looked at the memories. I know what kind of person my father was."
"As do I. But I'm starting to think that maybe he's changed a bit. No doubt it's due to your brother's influence. If he returns to his usual demeanor, I'll just have to pull out my hidden Ace." Kat stated calmly. She then looked at the boy in front of her questioningly. "Are you ready to join the rest of the world? To be a part of it, and not just it's shadow?"
Imhotep's eyes lit up in excitement, the sapphires within shining brightly. "I...I get to come with you?"
Kat nodded. "I think it's time everyone officially meets one another."
Bakura looked at the text he had received, confusion written across his face. Kat wanted him to bring both Yugi and Marik to her place after school. The text also said that he had better be prepared, just in case. Just in case of what? What the hell was he supposed to prepare for?
He and the two teens approached the address that luckily the Tomb Keeper still had saved on his phone. Kat rushed from the front door to embrace Marik, who was obviously happy to see her as well.
"So what the hell is this all about?" Bakura questioned in his usual tone that made him sound as though everything was an annoyance.
"First things first, I need your help in reinforcing the barrier. Don't want any uninvited guests." Kat replied with a smile. She was a bit more chipper than usual.
Bakura raised a brow in curiosity, then shrugged and wandered over towards where he sensed a ley line.
"You two, go wait inside. Help yourself to whatever. I made sure there is more than beer in the fridge this time." she chuckled, motioning for Yugi and Marik to enter the house. After they had entered, she walked towards another section of the property to help in reinforcing the ward.
Marik was obviously familiar with the home's layout, and wasn't surprised to see that the computer setup had been moved to make way for more seating around the low table. What did surprise him was the placement of five cushions.
"Huh, I wonder if Malik is going to be here too?" he questioned aloud to himself.
"What was that?" Yugi asked, still taking in the room.
Before Marik could reiterate himself, the door to the kitchen swung open. An Egyptian-bronzed version of Yugi stood surprised in the doorway, a sandwich held mid-air towards his mouth. Yugi's eyes bulged, and he looked like he was about to freak out.
"NONONO! Don't freak out! I can explain! Kinda…" the look-alike said, dropping the sandwich and trying to keep the other from going into a full on panic.
Marik was a bit surprised too, but after hearing the voice from the doppelganger, realized exactly who it was. "You're Imhotep, aren't you?" he stated rather casually.
Imhotep eyed him suspiciously. "Um...yeah?"
The Tomb Keeper had an expression of unamusement across his face. "I have to admit, after hearing your voice and learning about Kat's possible relationship with the Pharaoh, I had my suspicions." He looked back and forth between Imhotep and Yugi a few times, then returned his focus to the former. "Please tell me magic was involved?"
Imhotep looked at Marik in confusion for a moment before he realized what the Tomb Keeper was insinuating. "Hey, my Shae might have some freaky fetishes, but that is not one of them. She has Meskhenet to thank."
Marik released a sigh. "That's a relief."
Yugi, who was very shaken, was beyond confused. "Someone care to explain things to me? Because there is another me in front of my face….and it isn't Atem."
Imhotep leaned in close, as if inspecting the look-alike. "I don't see it."
"Huh? See what?" Yugi questioned, still super confused.
The darker skinned teen stood straight and grinned. "She's always commenting how we look the same. That is a complete lie. I'm waaay better looking." he chuckled. He leaned in again, getting close to Yugi's face. "So…." he said with narrowed eyes. His expression quickly shifted to excitement. "….what's it like having our old man in your head all the time? Does it get annoying? Can you block him out? Can he block you out? How does the shared body thing work exactly? Do you share senses? Like if he's in control can you feel what he touches? What about taste and smell?" Imhotep rambled quickly, bombarding Yugi with the long string of questions.
Yugi paled and his head spun trying to comprehend everything the other him had just asked. The other teen was jerked back away from his face by the collar of his tee-shirt.
"Im, we talked about this. It's called 'personal space'. And how can you expect him to answer anything? He's obviously overwhelmed." Kat chastised towards the darker skinned youth.
Imhotep shrunk sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I've just never been able to get that close before. Or talk to him for that matter. I still can't believe he's right here in front of me!" the boy bubbled excitedly.
"Yugi, you might want to sit." Kat said towards the baffled teen while motioning towards one of the cushions.
He sat on the nearest cushion. Kat sat next to him, Marik behind her as he had during the chess game. Bakura sat on his other side to create space between him and the overly excited Imhotep.
"Atem, you too." she added.
The spirit of the Pharaoh coalesced beside his host, causing Imhotep to squirm anxiously in excitement.
Kat took a steadying breath, then looked towards Yugi and Atem. "I would like to formally introduce the 'Shadow Walker'. This is Imhotep….my son."
Imhotep bounced eagerly, ready to burst.
"He's also your twin brother." she added.
Imhotep couldn't contain his excitement any longer and lunged across the table to grasp his sibling's hands in his own. "Isn't it great! Now that we know about each other, we can hang out together! I don't have to pretend to be with you and your friends anymore!"
Yugi was in shock. There was too much happening at once. He had a twin? What did he mean by 'pretend'? Wait, his twin was the Shadow Walker? The one that had locked him in the Puzzle earlier and had been showing Atem his memories? And his twin was Kat's son?…...Kat's….son….as in….she was Imhotep's mother….his twin brother's mother…she was….is…..
The gears in Yugi's mind came to a halt as he remembered a conversation that had taken place when he was little. It was just before he started grade school. There had been a meet-n-greet with the incoming students, their immediate families, and the teachers. Yugi had only known his Grandpa Solomon, so when he saw all the other kids with other adults beside them he asked about it.
"Grandpa, why do all the other kids have other grown-ups with them? Where are their Grandpas?"
Solomon had looked down at him, slightly confused. He then knelt down and smiled at his grandson. "Those other grown-ups are their moms and dads. Most families have them, but some are like ours."
This had set Yugi to thinking. "Grandpa, how come I don't have a mom or dad?"
He remembered Solomon looking as though he wanted to cry, but instead had embraced him tightly. "I'm sorry Yugi. Your dad died before you were born, and being with your mom was dangerous. She did what she had to do to keep you safe, so she left you with me."
This had saddened Yugi, and he began to cry. Solomon had pulled him back to look him in the eye. "Don't cry. Just because your mom isn't here, doesn't mean she doesn't think of you. How do you think it would make her feel if she knew you were crying? It would make her very sad. You wouldn't want that, now would you?"
Yugi had tried to dry his tears as he shook his head. "No Grandpa. I'll try my very best to always be happy, so that she'll be happy too!" he said trying to smile.
A few years later he discovered the box that held the Millennium Puzzle. Even in his frustration of trying to complete the Puzzle, he tried to be happy. He remembered what he had originally intended to wish for upon completing the relic. He wanted his mom to be happy….and to come home. As the years went by though, he forgot about wanting that. He wanted friends. He wanted to be truly happy and to have friends. That wish had come true. He was indeed very happy, and he had the greatest friends anyone could ask for. And now he had….
Yugi looked towards the flame elemental. He felt faint. He managed to release a hand from his twin's firm grasp, and pointed a shaky finger in Kat's direction. "You're…...my….." he couldn't form the word.
Kat looked at him apologetically, understanding his hesitation, and nodded.
Yugi continued to stare, his mind still trying to wrap around the idea that his roommate was dating his mom. His mom who was married to Atem….who was a spirit living in the Puzzle around his neck.
Bakura looked at the catatonic teen, waving a hand in front of his face. "I think you broke him..." he commented towards the other elemental.
Atem looked down at his host in concern. He understood Yugi's reaction. He was having a difficult time wrapping his mind around it as well. He looked towards Yugi's twin. It was strange to think there were two people in this era that looked like him. He suddenly remembered the barrage of questions Imhotep had asked. "….what's it like having our old man in your head all the time?" Atem paled.
Kat noticed Atem's reaction. "I take it you've already realized the next bit of information I have to share."
"……but….how?"
"The goddess Meskhenet. I assure you, the conception was entirely through her magic alone." she replied nonchalantly.
Atem appeared to be just as relieved as the Tomb Keeper had been at hearing that bit of information.
Yugi fell over backwards, having lost consciousness from the influx of information.
"Yup. Completely short-circuited." Bakura commented towards Yugi's reaction. He rushed off to grab some water from the kitchen for when the teen came to.
Imhotep looked down at his sibling in confusion. "But we haven't even told him the best part." he stated, showing no concern at the fact that the information overload had caused his twin to pass out.
"Best part?" Marik asked, casually watching everything unfold. Having already pieced together most of the bombshell ahead of time made it easier to accept on his part.
Imhotep looked casually towards the Tomb Keeper, smiling slyly. "My old mad is going to be resurrected." He held up the mini replica of the Puzzle that dangled around his neck. "And he'll remember everything too. Have fun competing with your Pharaoh for my Shae's affections."
Kat glared at the goading teen. "Knock it off."
"What? If you think I'm going to go around calling a Tomb Keeper 'step-daddy', think again." he said bitterly towards the matriarch.
Marik wasn't sure which direction the blood had gone in his face.
Kat rolled her eyes at the overly dramatic statement. "We've barely started dating. And I have zero interest in being with Atem again. So get over it."
Imhotep fell back into his cushion, crossing his arms and pouting, glaring bitterly towards the Tomb Keeper the entire time.
Marik leaned in close to Kat. "I take it I'm not liked?" he said quietly near her ear.
"Im's always had this idea that once Atem came back we would be one, big, happy family. He's always known it wasn't going to happen, but that hasn't kept him from hoping. You're a wrench in his plans to try and help me and Atem reconcile our differences." she replied.
Yugi slowly roused from his unconscious state.
"Stay laying down for a few minutes. Give yourself time to recover." Kat said, trying to keep Yugi from sitting up too fast.
Yugi turned his head back and forth slowly, trying to gather his bearings. "I had the weirdest dream." he said with a halfhearted laugh. "This is going to sound funny. So in my dream, I had a twin brother….and….this is the real funny part….you told me you were my mother….." Yugi continued to laugh at the strangeness of the idea.
Kat didn't get a chance to speak, as Imhotep popped up excitedly next to Yugi and interrupted her. "It wasn't a dream!" he said with and excited smile. "It's all true! And you passed out before we could tell you that the Pharaoh in the Puzzle is our dad! And that we're going to be resurrecting him soon! And look, he'll remember everything too!" he continued to babble excitedly while showing Yugi his Puzzle replica.
Bakura returned with the glass of water for Yugi and a cool rag for his forehead, helping the teen with both. "I think you need to back the fuck off and give the kid some space." he said towards Imhotep.
"I don't take orders from you." the bronzed teen fired back bitterly.
Kat gave him a look of disapproval. "Actually, you do. Bakura is one of my Lieutenants. You will treat him with respect."
"Oh please. Prince outranks Lieutenant."
"And Queen outranks Prince. You'll do as I say."
Imhotep looked to Atem, as if hoping for back-up on the matter. "Don't look at me. I don't have any say in this." he stated, trying to back away from the sudden awkwardness.
Imhotep looked at the spirit, unimpressed, then retreated back to his seat to sulk.
Kat pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "I swear, he gets it from you." she stated irritably towards Atem.
Yugi managed to finally sit upright. "Thanks." he said towards Bakura, for the drink...and for helping create some space. "So let me make sure I have this all straight: Kat and Atem were, are?, married. Somehow Kat gets pregnant by him millennia later, and Imhotep and I are the result? Or did I miss something in there?" he asked, extremely perplexed.
"You were kind of brain-fried when I explained Meskhenet's involvement. I assure you, I am not a necrophiliac." Kat stated boredly.
"Who's Meskhenet?"
"Oh! I know this one!" Imhotep said excitedly. "Meskhenet is the Goddess of Childbirth. She creates one's Ka and breathes it into their body. She pretty much just took a bit of essence from both our old man and Shae and combined them, then placed us inside of Shae."
"Not a comfortable experience, I assure you." Kat said dryly.
Yugi looked towards his twin (a notion he was slowly coming to terms with). "I'm going to guess you don't get out and around other people a lot."
Imhotep perked up, happy to be spoken to directly by his sibling. "Not really. I mean, I talk to people online, and I follow around in your shadow, but that's the extent of my interactions with the outside world. Other than that, it's just been Mkhai and Shae."
"Why do you keep calling Kat 'Shae'? Is that the ancient Egyptian word for mother?" Yugi questioned.
"No. That would be Mut. My mother wasn't from Kemet. She raised me to call her Ama-shae. Shae is just a shortened version." Kat answered.
"Yeah. I tried calling her 'mom' once, but it was weird. I have no problem saying that she's my mom to someone else, but calling her that is just….wrong." Imhotep added.
Yugi chuckled. "I think I understand. It would be like walking up to my Grandpa and calling him Solomon." A look of realization crossed his face. "Wait….does that mean Grandpa isn't actually my grandpa at all?"
Kat hung her head a little. "No. Bakura and I have known Solomon since long before your creation. He's the reincarnation of the one member of Atem's court that I trust wholeheartedly, Shimon. He was a young archaeologist when we first met. He also shares a bloodline with one of Atem's former hosts, who in turn was descended from one of Atem's cousins. So, there's still relation….just extremely diluted and not in the way you have always thought."
"Does he know about all of….this?" Yugi questioned while gesturing towards everyone in the room.
Kat nodded. "Yes. Making a late night purchase wasn't my only reason for coming inside the other night. I was also informing him of what had happened at the park."
"So that's why he wasn't surprised to see Bakura being….well...not Ryou."
"Exactly. Solomon doesn't question. When I first met him, I gave him an advantage in the field of Egyptology by restoring his memories from his time as Shimon. When I came to him with you one night, he didn't ask why. He just took you and promised me he would do his best." She had begun to reach out to brush aside one of the blonde locks away from Yugi's eye, but quickly thought better of it and pulled her hand back. "I suppose remembering his time as Atem's closest mentor might have had something to do with it." she said quietly while looking away.
Yugi sat quietly, slowly trying to accept everything he had been told. "Can I...can I have a minute?" he asked, standing.
Kat nodded. He walked towards the door and stepped outside, then sat on the stoop to think.
"Do you want me to leave as well?" Atem questioned, having followed him.
"No. I'm guessing this is a lot for you to take in too." he replied.
Atem looked across the yard, taking note of the field of magic that surrounded the perimeter that he was certain few could actually see. "Yes it is. I was still trying to accept that I was once married. Now I find that I have two children….you being one of them."
"That is surprising. I guess considering what we know of Bakura and Ryou though, maybe it shouldn't be."
Atem chuckled. "I have to admit, thinking of how different those two are, it's an odder notion than our own situation."
Yugi dropped his head a little, smiling slightly. "It's funny to think that at one time I had actually wished for this. I should have figured that my whole life, even before the Puzzle, was somehow tied to ancient Egypt and magic."
"It does appear to be an unavoidable theme for us." Atem commented in amusement.
Yugi stood, ready to head back inside. "Imhotep mentioned that they were planning on restoring your memories and resurrecting you. We should see when they plan on doing this."
Atem nodded. "I must admit I'm pretty excited! The way things were going, I was starting to think it might not happen at all!"
"You and me both!" Yugi said with a chuckle, opening the door.
Imhotep's reaction to dying in-game is a direct reference to one of my Halo Reach playthrough's a few years back when I was laid up with a busted ankle. I was hidden behind a rock and got sniped by a Jackal. Seriously though, if I can't shoot through the freaking rock, then why can the NPC?
So, for any Puzzleshippers out there...sorry. Not gonna happen in this AU. There will be a ship for at least Atem, just haven't wholeheartedly decided which one I'm choosing (not an OC ship either). It's probably obvious by now Marik is shipped with Kat. Bakura I am still playing around with the idea of a certain ship, but Atem's ship will determine his.
*Holds bag of yellow citrus* These are for next chapter...which I am in the middle of writing...*looks around nervously*
You have been warned :D