Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

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If Malik had been taken aback by the sights of the city during 'pre' Halloween. It was 'nothing' compared to 'during' Halloween. Bakura and Jounouchi were free of school that day, allowing the trio to jump over to town in the early afternoon. So that Malik could behold even more decorations and people in and out of shops that were dressed up as anything. So far it was ghosts and zombies but he had seen people wearing animal ears and tails as well. So perhaps the rest of the costumes would appear that night?

There were themes of course, supposedly so one could recognize staff versus a regular, at least he could surmise. But at least now Malik understood what Bakura had meant when he said 'Treat it casually, dress as you would back home.' Even now he didn't stick out, he was casual in his attire, the robe open and over his regular street clothes. Mostly now that he knew it was going to get unpleasantly chilly when night approached. But he didn't hide his gold or hair, everything else that was naturally part of his attire was left to how it was.

It felt as though everybody seemed fascinated by how he looked, with more compliments on his hair and make up than he knew what to do with. 'Yes, my hair is naturally straight and blond' was met with disbelief, and eventually denial. Whatever else Bakura used to explain away further questions, Malik had no idea and decided he didn't really care.

Bakura didn't seem to put much effort into what he was wearing. He let his hair down, literally, he had just enough kohl to evoke protections without being overt about it. With the request of 'why don't you just dress as a tomb robber' from Jounouchi going over about as well as to be expected. Because Malik didn't know what Bakura wore, but apparently it was a thing.

"Skirt, and a long red coat thing... some necklaces that didn't make it around his neck cuz of his hair..." Jounouchi, who had opted to just go as himself seeing his blond hair as already good enough, mentioned.

"Kilt, not skirt, and no. I would freeze, and no again," was about all the answer Bakura gave on the matter. He already 'was' wearing a coat though, the black one from before and he had opted out of anything that resembled 'passive and friendly'. So a black t-shirt replaced the stripes and other bright colors he wore. It was almost comical how the teen struggled to not scare Jounouchi by being focused on anything. Simply by how much he looked like the Spirit of the Ring in his current get up, which to be fair. Malik recalled all of it save the shirt during the Battle City tournament that Kaiba hosted.

"So... hospital huh?" Jounouchi asked as he looked around.

Having gotten a mind blowing story from Josie the trio had left her and returned to Japan. With Jounouchi having to be informed of, not one, but two variations of what happened that night. But as with Anzu there really wasn't anything for him to add. The two of them were from the modern world, their knowledge of Ancient Egypt, or anything was next to non existent. The most he had been able to add was to pass along a message from Yugi.

"Kaiba said it's ok for Maha to go with you to America. He'll probably just follow you along since he doesn't speak English either. But if you want him to appear you're going to have to tell him to."

Which meant that Kaiba was spying on them... which had not made Bakura happy in the slightest. Even 'if' it saved them time trying to reason with the CEO about why they needed the magician in question. Also it meant that royal gossip night 'needed' to happen, because Kaiba give Yugi back his Maha you greedy CEO bastard. You're exploiting his good nature.

"So why won't you just make yourself visible? If Kaiba is still holding on to you, just pretend to be alive, it shouldn't matter." Malik had suggested when the Magician in question manifested in Bakura's apartment.

"The area is protected by a living soul forced into servitude, until I arrive and can see for myself what is going on. I could inadvertently cause more trouble than assist." Mahaado had explained while the group had gotten ready around him.

Which was true, and not something anyone had thought about when they had the Magician make his appearance in Bakura's apartment.

"Have you seen the hospital room?" Malik asked, not bothering to address Mahaado directly."If you're spying on us with Kaiba, I would imagine he would want to check in on the woman in question."

Mahaado blinked as he floated behind the trio, having not been given a method to communicate with them that wouldn't upset the delicate fabric of the place. A voice out of nowhere after all? More over now that he was here? The area 'was' in a delicate balance as well, so far John didn't sense him and wasn't approaching. But if the man was compelled to approach, well, a Reaper was nothing against the Priest... But harming an innocent wasn't something he wished to do.

But given the hawker boards, Mahaado was suddenly inspired with a method to communicate without using his voice. Projecting his answers over the marquees and signs of the town as words even as he heard the stuttering surprised sounds of the thief and tomb keeper.

"Well that's one way to get an answer..." Bakura noted ruefully.

'Kaiba decided that since you were being such busy bodies it could wait until you arrived.'

"That smug..." Malik shook his head as his eyes drifted from one sign to another. "Does he have any suspicions?"

'Josie's story is very compelling, however; that she doesn't speak the Mother Language to repeat what she heard. Well he has his suspicions on the nature of the spirit protecting the book, that it could be one of his priests.'

"Its so cool to see the words appear on signs," Malik confessed in Egyptian, earning a nod from Bakura.

"Wait... what's appearing on the signs...?" Jounouchi asked looking about at all the signs and unable to see anything that he could read.

'My apologies... oh...'

"He doesn't write in Japanese, he can barely speak it so it makes sense he can't write in it. At least not well. So please be patient Jounouchi, we'll explain once we're not near a crowd." Bakura replied, a sympathetic half smile on his face for the linguistic problem now presented. "But why was Josie immune? That is what I'm curious about, if the twins are related related to one of Set's Priests, why didn't it protect them like Josie was?" Bakura asked as his eyes scanned the afternoon crowds with church groups having their meals. 'Heh, and they think they know 'demons'.'

"Well clearly they broke one of the rules so they would be in trouble," Malik pointed out.

'Oh, Josie is an easy enough answer. She's my apprentices' descendant.'

"Full stop. Wait, Josie is descended from the Dark Magician Girl?" Malik sputtered and sent Jounouchi into a lamppost from the distracting comment.

Which was a shame because Jounouchi was doing a bang up job avoiding it until he heard 'that'.

'Is he alright?'

Bakura winced as Jounouchi reeled back from the blow even as he reached towards the poor blond. "Are you ok Jounouchi?"

"Wh... how..." Jounouchi muttered as his collision earned him concern from more than just Bakura and Malik. As the strangers stopped and glanced at him in concern, with a few voicing said concern.

"He'll be ok," Bakura answered in English with an polite, apologetic bow to the startled passerby's.

Indeed Jounouchi had taken enough knocks to the head that he just rubbed his poor cheek and gave a lame grin. Rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment Jounouchi waved with his free hand, causing the concerned to nod and return to their original paths. "So uh... Dark Magician Girl had kids huh?"

"Yes, and that would explain why Josie could see what she could. Even if she doesn't use magic herself, she is related by magic... in fact that 'would' explain Set's sudden change of behavior when confronted by Josie." Bakura commented as the piece slid into place, 'she survived the final battle, and served as Set's High Magician. Even if one of the priests passed the Book along to protect it, it doesn't stand to reason that she didn't do something herself.'

'Yes, he calmed down immensely once I pointed that out.'

'Why would he get angry? Because of the mention of a blood soaked Set?' Malik wondered, a shared thought with Bakura actually... save the added.

'Royal Gossip Night, happens or I rob the mansion,' from Bakura.

"You ok 'Kura, you look like you're thinking something..." Jounouchi noted casually, glancing at the reincarnated thief and noting the almost devious expression.

"Oh... just... thinking..." Bakura blithely answered, not really wanting to embarrass anyone by talking about what was going on in his head.

Thankfully they had finally reached the end of the street and the crossroads were useful in helping direct their focus.

"So less traffic here?" Jounouchi asked, while looking at all the decorations now that they were finished. A couple were passing them on the other side of the street, dressed in tattered Western wedding clothes, hand in hand. "The only time of the year where I'm ok with seeing ghosts... Rest in peace..."

'It wouldn't really matter, John has already been active through out the town. If I bring my presence more fully into the area he's going to be alerted.'

"Mahaado is using magic to change the words on the signs into our language so we can read it," Malik quickly explained in a soft voice.

"Wait... so he's already active?" Bakura repeated for Jounouchi's sake as they walked.

'Yes, he's marking targets at the moment. He's not strong enough to go after anything at the moment, so he's preparing for tonight.'

"Would he try to go after you? Since clearly he couldn't win," Bakura asked, clarification over that fact would be valuable. 'If we go to the hospital and Mahaado has to do anything there, would John be compelled to try and stop it? Would he even be able to recognize a threat? Mahaado slept for the most part clearly, it was only when Yugi was in danger that Mahaado showed awareness in duels. And realistically how he acted in duels are the only model we have to go off on regarding this.'

'Its possible and while I am not forced to destroy him even if I'm in what could be seen as an attack mode. He won't be someone you can talk to, I suspect he won't be a rational person anywhere save the graveyard. Since it serves as a type of hand using your modern terms.'

"But what happens later when we go to the hospital?" Malik asked while Bakura alerted Jounouchi to the message.

"Oh! I know!" Jounouchi blurted out startling everyone. "If he's marking targets 'now' while in the graveyard, once night hits the attacks happen. If we go to the hospital now, he could mark Mahaado and spend the whole night trying to overpower the impossible. He may not be able to talk. But if we to the graveyard there 'now' he can know not to mark Mahaado, we'd be free to talk to him now and left unbothered at the hospital."

'That's a very good assessment on his part. For one not trained in magic or priestly duties its very good reasoning!'

"He's impressed by you Jounouchi, though I'm curious why he makes mention of 'priestly' as though its different." Malik commented, as his eyes followed the last of the sign he read down to the fashion mannequins under it.

'Because magic and priestly magic are not one in the same. Magic as what I use comes from either ones self or a different source like a spellbook. Priestly magic, comes from... well a contract with the Divine. Since John has a link to a Pharaoh it means he has links to a divine source that may alter what he's doing or can do. So study would be the wiser portion of caution on my part.'

"Since we don't know if he is or isn't... Josie made it clear that Set isn't well given how he appeared... if John is serving 'him'. Who knows what got altered to the Reaper of Cards," Bakura finished thoughtfully as he began walking towards the graveyard.

'Indeed.'

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"Just as you start to think magic is so useful. You remember you're dealing with demons," Jounouchi sighed as he released the triple ring he and the others used.

"I'm glad you recognize the danger along with the uses of magic. Not everyone seems to be capable of recognizing that fact. Even back in my time," Mahaado answered simply. Not pausing as Jounouchi gave a yelp and a lunging scream at the sudden new voice. Even though he knew what Mahaado sounded like.

On the plus side, both Malik and Bakura side stepped on instinct to avoid Jounouchi's auto leap response. Without missing a beat no less. Though to be fair to Jounouchi, he 'did' get over it fairly quickly, even as he huddled he seemed to realize the voice. So he 'did' get up and turn around...

"Nice clothes, not quite business, but it doesn't look like anything living had to die to make it," Bakura noted.

Mahaado was wearing a pair of slacks and a button on shirt, with his hair clipped back by something at the base. Making only his eye liner the only thing that really stuck out, despite the fact that his normal priest robes could get mistaken for a dress. At least if it was stripped down of ornate gold that went with it. In fact it was 'very' good, as Bakura thought back on it, form fitting enough and even the socks and shoes were on point. As though he picked clothes that reflected a pretty successful career and he was dressing down from that.

"Ah," Mahaado shrugged and as hard as it was to say to the thief who brought about his Pharaohs' death... "My thanks. Seto insisted that I pick out clothes and after some pointers I picked out this... But he wouldn't tell me if it was correct."

"Why not? Eh I'm no expert but you look ok. But why not do something a bit more flashy?" Malik asked as he walked around Mahaado to check from different angles.

"He has Yugi, in all that leather, he doesn't need anything more," Jounouchi pointed out with a grin.

"True, and right now you have us so you're the most responsible looking out of us all." Malik noted with a faint nod, "course you're the priest to a Pharaoh. So 'responsibility' is the name of the game."

"But that you've willingly manifested, does that mean John is approaching?" Bakura asked, politely tugging everyone back onto business. Thus rewarded by Mahaado's slight nod of acknowledgment.

"He floats in the distance, I believe he had recognized your presence from before as he hasn't approached." Mahaado answered gesturing with a slight nod towards where he saw the hovering robes.

The hood was drawn back showing the man that everyone had been looking for, though the scythe was already present in his hands. That the others couldn't see him was interesting to a degree as Bakura 'could' see spirits yet he couldn't see this one. 'The only thing that stands out is that I'm a priest and they're not. So this does confirm that whoever was sealed into the book 'had' to be a priest with proper ordained powers.'

"This is a priest thing you mentioned I guess?" Jounouchi asked finally as he looked about the empty graveyard. "But can't Josie see him? She's related after all."

"No. Just being related to a priest by blood isn't enough to give her that type of sight. I would suspect that Mana did something to protect her line. However; this is similar to the 'Sages Stone' I believe you call it. The spell that allows Dark Magician Girl to summon me. Only instead of summoning Dark Magician Girl, it summons Mana in some form or another."