Sands Of Time
By: Neko-chan
A/N: Let's see... I've been threatened, cajoled, and pleaded with... I finally decided to update! I'm REALLY sorry that it took so long to do so. One, I've been super busy. (I actually got a job. Blech...) And I've also started a couple other stories, too. (I actually started an angst ongoing yaoi and a romantic comedy shounen-ai! *cheers* If you like yaoi and shounen-ai, please check 'em out! Romantic comedy--"Youth of the Nation." Dramatic angst--"What Is Forever?" Random Fluff--"Eternity." If not, then this story is for you. ^_~) Soooo...I've also been fine-tuning a lot of plot details for this story. From now on, I will TRY to update this story more. 'Kay? 'Kay. *nods* Anyway, enjoy! ^_^
Disclaimer: If Neko-chan owned Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yami would be hers and hers alone, but to the threats and attempted murders from other Yami fangirls. So since Neko-chan has only gotten death threats on updating her stories, this means that she does NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh!. Puuu.
Chapter Four
"Good. You're here. I can gather that your mission was a success. You know as well as I how I deal with failure."
"Yes, my lord. I do realize. And the mission was successful."
"Is everything in place?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Are all of the key players ready and becoming close to them?"
"Just as you ordered, my lord."
"Neither expects a thing?"
"No, my lord."
"Has the trap been set?"
"As you wished it to be so, my lord. All are awaiting your signal before they strike."
"Good; very good. When both are vulnerable, we'll kill them. THEN we will finally see who deserves the title of 'Yuugioh.' Stupid fools. Soon they will learn!"
Darkness... Only darkness all around. There WAS no light. Hearing and touch was heightened. Both lord and servant were located deep underground. A secret place. A forgotten place. ...a _damned_ place. So many deaths filled the air and the servant practically choked on the sensation. Death, death all around. There was no escaping it.
Air? Air?? Where was the _air_??? He couldn't breathe! He couldn't draw breath! Why couldn't he breathe? What was wrong with him? His life force felt as if it was being drained in cords from him...thick, coiling cords. Dragging further and further away from him... It was getting dark. Dark? It was already dark. Finally, a thud of a lifeless body hitting the dirt floor with nothing to break its fall.
A hoarse, deep chuckle. A cruel sound. A dark sound, emitted from an equally dark figure. Hidden within shadows, no light ever touching his face. He was only seen in profile. And, even then, it was blurred. No facial features were seen. In a way, he was a shadow man. And that WAS what his servants--though servants, he treated them like slaves--called him. The Shadow Man.
And still the Shadow Man laughed.
* * *
The harsh sun beat down upon the heads of many Egyptians. Though it was noon and thus, the hottest part of the day, no one wanted to stop. All wanted to go on, to do their Pharaoh proud. To make him proud of _them._ They would not give up--ever--until words of praise spilled forth from his mouth. Those words mattered more to the armies than piles of gold. After all, their _Morning Sun_ would be proud of them.
"Pharaoh, please! Please slow down, my Pharaoh! The men are having trouble keeping up! If we continue at this pace all the way to Alexandria, then we will have lost more men than we can afford! We're already losing too many at this point of time!"
Yuugioh never paused in his headlong rush at the front of his expansive army. He shot a look over at the younger courtier, but never said a word. 'I REALIZE that we're losing men right now!' Yuugioh thought, snarling silently at the young pup of a lord. 'Don't you know that I REALIZE THAT?! Even more so than you, you fool. But time and swiftness is much more important than size right now. If we can't be swift, then we lose much more than several men. Yes, their families will grieve, but they will remember that their loved ones died for the sake of their Pharaoh. THEY will understand what you do NOT.'
"My Pharaoh, PLEASE!"
'Annoying little lapdog. By Ra, I wish I could have some way to shut him up...' Yuugioh frowned, then suddenly smiled when an idea came to him. Why NOT find a way to shut up the annoying young courtier? A snap of his fingers and a Man-Eater Bug appeared right by the lord's horse. A single, piercing scream...and no more complaints.
"How far are we from Alexandria's port?" the young Pharaoh finally called out to his advisor, Kaiba, and his army general. Both Kaiba and the general shot each other looks. They wouldn't be arriving at the port of Alexandria for another two or three days. And their Pharaoh wouldn't be happy when he heard that. More men would be lost. And that had to be avoided. It _had_ to be.
"We...We're not exactly sure, my Morning Star," the army general muttered, avoiding Yuugioh's eyes. Like before, he and Kaiba would do anything to keep more men from dying. And the only way to do that was to lie...to their Pharaoh.
Yuugioh scowled. "PICK UP THE PACE!" he yelled.
And so the Egyptian army did, running faster than ever before, ignoring the blistering hot sand sifting from under their feet. More men fell and more men died. But still...they marched on. Their Pharaoh commanded them to do so. And so they would. Slowly...ever so slowly...the sun passed across the sky.
* * *
"Are you sure that this is such a good idea, lord?" Jou asked as he boarded the ship after his ruler. They were both leaving Greece on a ship--and not just any ship. Jou had wanted Yuugi to travel on his personal vessel, but Yuugi believed that it would draw too much attention. So the two, ruler and general, were traveling to Egypt on a merchant vessel. "Wouldn't you like to rethink this again, Highness?"
A sigh and a soft smile. "No, Jou. My mind is made up. We have to travel fast but still remain inconspicious. And this is the best way. Besides, you can be honest with me. I know that you get sea sick."
Jou stepped onto the deck of the ship and immediately turned green. "Yes, my lord, I do...but that's not what I'm afraid of."