Sands Of Time

By: Neko-chan

A/N: *winces* Yes...I know that I haven't been updating in a LOOOOOOONG time. But I've been getting death threats to update some of my other fan fics...(90+ so far! Whoo-hoo!)...and so I've been working on those. But I promise that I'll try and write chapters for this particular fic more often. Deal? ^_^

Disclaimer: Neko-chan no own. ;_; --------depressed cat-girl.....



Chapter Two

"Kaibi," Yuugioh began as he meandered through the palace. He looked behind a thin shoulder at his advisor, who was following several footsteps behind. "Have you ever wondered _why_ I am called the King of Games?"

The taller man looked puzzled. "No, Sire. Your subjects have often wondered the answer to that particular question...but no one knows for sure. Are you going to tell me, my Pharaoh?"

Yuugioh laughed. "Guess! What fun is life without a little...game?" He once again looked over his shoulder and his eyes darkened in wicked amusement. "After all, life IS a game. A game that the winners control and the losers...well, loose. Which side are you going to side with, Kaiba? Which side?"

"Whatever side you're on, my King," Kaiba replied promptly, allowing some strands of dark brown hair to fall into his eyes. He shot a glance at Yuugioh under his bangs, his eyes expressionless. "I serve only you; and I will remain at your side always."

The young Pharaoh snorted. "Don't play games that you aren't good at, Kaiba," he retorted. "You and I both know that you'll side with whoever is going to win in a game. Smart...conniving...and so very typical of you. The answer to my first question, Kaiba, is that I'm called the King of Games because I win in everything I do...I've never lost. And I won't lose now. After all...I _am_ the King of Games."

He walked deeper into the palace, his laughter echoing off of the stone walls.

* * *

~~ "Your move," the older Pharaoh told his son as they faced off against each other from across a chess board. "Remember all that I taught you. How will you ever achieve greatness if you can't even beat an old man like myself?"

"But, Father..." Yuugioh began, absently studying the board as he spoke his sire. "You know as well as I that I'll never be able to beat you. You're the kingdom's best chess player. You beat the best players that Rome, Greece, Arabia, and the Far East had to offer."

The old man chuckled. "And what happened to them?" he asked in reply.

Yuuigoh moved a chess piece forward. "They lost their heads."

"Good, very good. At least you're finally learning."

"I wouldn't be your son if I'm not able to learn," Yuugioh retorted, smirking a bit as he moved his queen across the chess board. "And now, Father, I have you in checkmate. Care for another game? Maybe this time you'll win."

The Pharaoh studied the chessboard intently. A pause... "Wonderful!! Stupendous!! Bravo!! You _are_ my son after all, Yuugioh. Good, very very good. Maybe...given time...you _will_ become the King of Games...the strongest Pharaoh Egypt...and the World...has ever seen..."

The young Prince didn't answer. He just watched his Father with dark crimson eyes that never blinked--he _was_ the King of Games, after all. His Father just didn't realize that he was the King of Games _now_, not later. Oh, well. Even an old man learns eventually...~~

* * *

"GENERAL!!!"

An old man quickly stood up from his table, spilling his food and drink onto the floor. He was very old--ancient. He had been the old Pharaoh's general, and now he was Yuugioh's general...though Yuugioh didn't use him often. After all, if all of life was a game, wouldn't War and Death be the Ultimate Game of All?

"Yes, Pharaoh? What would the Morning and Evening Star wish of my humble self?" he asked, bowing low to the ground, his forehead touching the black-veined marble floor beneath their feet.

Yuugioh grinned. "Gather the Egyptian army. We march onto Alexandria!!"

"And then, Sire?" the old man ventured questioningly.

The Pharaoh's grin darkened. "Then we wait for the enemy to make his move across the chess board..."