The Weight of Fate

By Bester Death

Key

((Dreams))

/Light talking telepathy/

//Yami talking telepathy//

[Flash backs]

Notes: This chapter is placed the night before the episode "A Wicked Wind blows" Please note these episodes are my version of things, but I will try and keep it as close to the series as possible. I will also use lines from the show! Another small note for those who do not know Yugioh, Seto Kaiba is recantation of Seth the High Priest.

Also the first part of this story is based in the past, it's the story of how Max and Maxim met and fell in love and died! 

Disclaimers: I do not own anything here save the following: Bez, Bester, Maxim, The Millennium Pendent, The Millennium Collar, and The Millennium Lock Key.

Chapter Three

It had not bee long after the shadow realm had been sealed away did the bit beasts emerge from they realm and forming themselves in to weapons. These weapons could only be handled by the most skilled and loyalist of warriors. It was no surprise that Maxim, the guardian of the Millennium items should be the owner of such a beast. Night and day Maxim guarded The Millennium temple, guarding the items of power. One day Maxim was walking past the room were the Millennium items lay when he heard a sweet voice singing from within. Maxim looked in and gasped at the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his life. A short blond boy with large blue eyes wearing a simple robe that barely covered his flesh was standing before the Millennium pendent.  The boy was clearly a slave of the temple whose duty it was to keep the temple clean for the gods. The Boy was completely unaware of Maxim and Maxim decided to use this to his advantage.

"What are you doing?" he asked in a gentle but booming voice.

The boy jumped with fright and quickly fell to the floor in to a grovelling position, not once looking at Maxim as he entered the room.

"Sir, master I…I meant no harm! That is I…"

Maxim laughed at the blabbering slave who was glowing from embarrassment.

 "Its alright small one but I must ask again, what were you doing?"

"It is my duty to keep the temple clean my lord. This is my favourite room to clean because of the items. I have merely looked upon them I swear!" The Slave's eyes filled with tears and once again he bowed his head. The sight of those tears melt Maxim heart and Maxim lifted the boy's face up so he could see in to the Slave's lovely eyes.

"Come, we'll look at them together"

The slave got up and followed Maxim to were the items where standing. Each item shone brightly with magic and hummed with power.

"Witch is your favourite young one?" asked Maxim staring at the slave.

"I like The Millennium Pendent the best. It shines not with magic…but with love" The slave blushed slightly see the look Maxim was giving him "That is what I believe sir"

"And do you know how right you are little one? Not many know the true power of that item. Each item holds a purpose or a gift that is linked to the Shadow realm and the great Pharaoh Yami and his court!"

"You seem to know a lot about these items sir. What is your connection to them?"

"I am Maxim and I am the guardian of the items"

The slave was clearly shocked by this and went to go back on his knees but Maxim caught him before his knees even touched the floor. He smiled at the slave and stroked his hair.

"You don't need to bow to me little one. What is your name?"

The slave blushed "Max, Lord Maxim!"

Maxim smiled and rubbed his thumb against Max's bottom lip "Max"

From that day on Maxim walked and guarded the temple and the items but always kept an eye out for the beautiful golden haired boy. He would always see him on the floor scrubbing or polishing the walls. He would sometimes see the boy in the Millennium room cleaning the items, completely innocent to the power that each item possessed. Maxim slowly started to go out of his way in to finding the boy. He found out the boy slept near the entrance of the temple, on the floor in a small pile of hay. It was cold at night in Egypt and Maxim one night bought a blanket for Max and wrapped the small boy up in it and denied any knowledge of it when Max asked him about. Maxim was also aware of how little the boy ate, and found out it was not by choice either. So from then on Maxim would drop a small bag of food off where Max was sleeping and again deny any knowledge of how it happened. He found out about Max's past or what little there was of it. Max's parents were poor and starving and had sold there son to slavery at a young age. The priest of the Millennium temple had taken pity on Max and had bought him to be the slave of the temple. Maxim was not sure wither this was a kindness or not. He disapproved of slavery of every kind but knew Max was better off here in the temple then in other places. Slowly Maxim started to realized that he had feelings for the golden boy and try as he may he could not deny them.

Maxim found Max sat on the steps scrubbing them clean one day and decided to play a trick on him. He let lose his Beyblade that went spinning in Max direction scaring the boy for a moment before hitting the bucket next to Max sending it to the floor, the dirty water spilt over the stairs.

"Oh no!" cried Max as he tried to stop the water spilling.

"I'm sorry Max," said Maxim as he ran over to help him

"What was that Lord Maxim?" asked Max looking up at the guard.

"It was my Beyblade. It's a new form of weapon," explained Maxim as the spinning blade returned to his hand. Max peered down at the strange object and saw the horse like beast seal on it.

"Lord Maxim…is that…is that a shadow monster?" he asked in wonder.

"Shush little one! You know that it is forbidden to speak aloud about the shadow realm and its beasts. Yet to answer you question, no Amalthea is not. She is what we call a bit beast. When the Pharaoh Yami sealed the shadow realm, it had a knock on effect and opened something else. These powerful beasts were drawn to objects that were strong, fast with strong and loyal owners. Pharaoh Naroon ordered his army to train with these objects so that we maybe chosen by the beasts to be their owners, so we will become the most powerful army in the world."

"You must be very strong Lord Maxim to have such a beast" gasped Max as he continued to stare at the blade.

"Amalthea did not choose me for strength Max. She chose me because I have a good heart and a strong soul"

"I think…you have a beautiful heart" whispered Max blushing deeply

Maxim blinked and stared at Max hard for a moment before leaning in closer.

"Do you honestly believe that Max?" he whispered in to his ear, making Max shiver.

"Yes my lord. Your heart is beautiful because of your great kindness to everyone, even to poor slaves"

"Beautiful creatures such as your self should not be slaves Max. And alas I am simply a guard of this temple and do not have the power to free you. May I ask something of you Max?"

"Anything" 

"Can I kiss you?"

Max answered by pressing his lips gently against the soft one's of Maxim's. Maxim moaned sweetly as he caressed one of Max's cheeks and pulled him closer deepening their first kiss. It was their first kiss but it certainly was not they last. A wonderful sensation flooded his body and he felt as if he was drowning in some wonderful light. He pulled Max closer to him so that they bodies were completely press against one another. He fingers went deeper in to Max's gentle skin as he deepened the kiss pushing his tongue in to Max's waiting mouth.

/I have waited for you. I have wanted you/ he could hear a soft happy voice ringing in his mind but he did not care, he was here with Max.

Maxim hated Cairo for lots of reasons. It was dirty, crowded, filled with beggars and thieves but most importantly now, was that it was taking him away from Max. But it was for Max he was going. Usually when he had to make a report, he would usually send a piece of parchment to Seth, the high priest, but this was too important to send. He entered the temple of Ra where Seth was sitting on a throne yelling at a couple of novice priests.  The two priests quickly left and Maxim stepped forward.

"Maxim? Why are you here?" asked Seth as he stood up from his chair.

"That's a nice welcome I must say Seth" smirked Maxim as he embraced the high priest.

"I did not mean to seem harsh Maxim; it's just that you're not meant to leave the temple."

"Seth, no one can find the temple unless they know the exact place, if they did not they could search the desert for years and still not find it. I'm here to give my report"

"Couldn't you just simply send it like you usually do?"

"I could have done! But there is something I want to talk to you about"

"About what? The items?"

"No about a slave in the temple"

"A slave?"  

Seth growled under his breath as he continued to walk down the stone path of a very familiar temple that he tried to avoid at all costs. It bought to many memories back, memories when he was one of the most feared men in Egypt, when a mere woman was chosen over him to be encased with in one of the Millennium Items. Yami had made his reasons well known for why he had chosen Bez over him, but still he felt that choice had discredited him. No wonder Pharaoh Naroon looked down on him, to be passed over for a woman. He looked over to his companion Maxim who had asked him to come to this damned place. Maxim, like himself, had been ordered to remain behind to guard the Items of power. Though Maxim was a good companion and friend, he was younger then himself and was known for his child like behaviour and beliefs. Maxim had searched him out for this very reason, to confirm one of his beliefs for him. He had tried to shake the annoying guard off but Maxim was very persistent and finally Seth gave in.

"I don't think this is a good idea Maxim. You're going to get hurt"

"I just desire you too meet him Seth and tell me whither I am right or wrong"

"What do I look like a fortune teller? I can not simply talk with him and tell whither or not he is your soul mate!"

"I think you will. I have great faith in your powers Seth"

"My powers have weakened greatly since the shadow realm was closed. I have enough power in me to keep my good looks and summon minor spirits"

"Then what's with the grey hair?" Maxim asked innocently seeing the grey steaks in Seth's brown hair.

"Say that again and I will throw your worthless behind into the Never lands"

Maxim laughed as he and the high priest entered the room where the Millennium Items where being held. The room shined with splendour with the gold statues of Ra, Isis, Anubis and Bes stood proudly in the four corners looking in to the centre of the room. There on a high platform laid the items. Max sat on the floor washing, unaware of the two men.

"I'll say this for the slave; at least he keeps the place clean. Now who is it that you want me to see?"

"You're looking at him" said Maxim as he started to walk over to Max leaving a speechless Seth behind. A familiar shadow fell over Max and he quickly got to his feet.

"Maxim! Your back from Cairo" smiled Max as he wrapped his arms around the guard. Seth stared in disbelief at the two boys. He now could see why Maxim asked him to confirm his suspicions. The inner light that was coming from them was blinding. They were clearly soul mates but the younger boy was a slave of the temple. They were never sold and they were never taken as bed mates. They were the property of the gods and they were not to be touched sexually. This was certainly not good! Seth walked in to the room and glared at the statue of Bes, the god of Chance and Trickery, Bez's god. He had a feeling this was all her idea and now she had dragged her god in to it. He so hated that women!! 

"Seth I would like you to met Max" said Maxim.

"No thanks Maxim, I can see him very well from here"

"You don't think he is…do you?"

"I did not say that! If you believe that he is your soul mate then that is your choice. But be careful Maxim you do not have to be with him in this life time."

"What are you on about Seth?"

"Slaves of the temple belong to the gods Maxim. They can not be touched and they certainly can not become bed mates. I fear this love is doomed"

Max continued to clean the floor of the corridor as Maxim talked to Seth. As Max hammered under his breath a shadow came up to him. A tall elderly man in dark purple robes wrapped around his body. His old face crabbed with aged and lots of white hair sported from his chin.

"Do you not think I can not see slave?" he growled

Max jumped and turned around to face the priest "Priest Tannier, I do not understand"

"Oh you do! You have been seducing and flirting with the lord Maxim in to your clutches. You are a slut Max and sluts are to be punished!"

He grabbed Max arm and dragged him along the hard stone floor. Max tried to pull away from the priest.

"Please let me go! I don't understand!" Max cried

Tannier threw the blonde haired boy to the floor and ripped his clothes away revealing his naked back. He then quickly grabbed some rope and wrapped Max's arms up. Tannier placed his hood on to cover his face as he pulled out a wipe from his robe.

Max laid on the hard cold stone floor, his hands tied and his face red and tears stained. A tall man covered in purple robes towered over him, creaking a whip on to Max's delicate skin.

"Why are you hitting me?" Max cried

The robed hooded fried laughed and continued to hit Max hard. Max screamed from the pain and begged the man to stop. Suddenly a Beyblade shot out of the darkness and knocked the wipe out of the hooded man's hand. Max turned his head and looked up with a gasp. Maxim stood there glowing with light his eyes were as hard stone as they shone with hate.

"How dare you hurt this boy? He's mine!" Maxim growled

Tannier bowed his head and left as the Maxim freed Max from his bonds. Max trembled and cried in Maxim's arms, he felt so safe and secure there.

"It's alright now little one, your safe now"

Max curled up closer to the Maxim who placing a kiss on his neck. Maxim picked Max up in his arms and nuzzled his neck.

"Come now Max, let's get you some clothes and some food"

It when then Max realized he was naked and blushed brightly. Maxim laughed and kissed Max's cheek.

"It's alright Max"

Max looked up at the dark blue eyes and leaned in and kissed Maxim passionately. Maxim groaned and returned the kiss with a great heated passion. Max's gasped as he became hard under the heat and skill of Maxim.

"Maxim…" he gasped

"It's alright little one; let us go somewhere where we can deal with this"

Maxim carried Max to his private rooms unaware of Tannier's evil gaze.

"Just one more step and you will fall Maxim. And when you are gone the items of power are mine"

Maxim lay on his back as Max was sprawled over his chest asleep. Maxim gently pulled the boy off his chest and got dressed. He picked up his Amalthea and smiled down at the black unicorn. For the first time he honestly felt that things were going right in his life. He started to walk around the temple ground, the hot sand rubbed against his feet. Even though he was feet away from Max he could still feel the warm skin of Max against him. Still see the sweating and panting boy beneath him as he gave him immense pleasure.  Suddenly something stuck his heart and he clutched his chest in pain. Something was wrong! Something was wrong with Max! Maxim ran in to the temple and back to his room. Max was lying on his bed, blood pouring out of a wound that had been made on his small chest.

"MAX" shouted Maxim as he ran over to his smaller lover. Max was barely breathing when Maxim pulled him in to his arms.

"Please Max! Please do not die!"  

"I love you Maxim!" Max panted as blood started to pour form his mouth.

"I love you too, my little one!" cried Maxim as he kissed Max on the lips which tasted salty from blood. Maxim felt a cold breeze blow up his back and he quickly rolled off the bed with Max as Tannier dropped his sword down on the bed.

"Damn you! Hold still!" Tannier roared

Maxim grabbed his own sword and started to battle as hard as he could but Tannier over powered him and stabbed him in the chest. Maxim fell to the ground with Max still in his arms.

"I would have fought the very gods for you Max" panted Maxim as blood started to leave his body.

Everyone looked at Maxim in amazement both Max and Judy in tears and was trying not to look at the ancient guard. The other Yamis looked at him with great respect, knowing that Maxim would be willing to lay down his life again for Max if he had too.

"What happened to Tannier and the temple?" asked Ray who was looking at Maxim suspiciously.

"I had summoned Seth, who used the last of his powers to seal my soul in to The Millennium Pendent and then buried the entire temple and the priests inside under mountains of sand. They all died."

"If you are really Max's soul Mate then where have you been? Where have you been when Max needed you? Where were you?"    

"Ray please!" whispered Max as he wiped his tears.

"You were supposed to be with him and you haven't been there!"

"I…" started a startled Maxim "I tried"  

Maxim was horrified…guilt-stricken. He knew he had not been there, and he had searched the world over to find Max.

"Trying isn't…wasn't good enough!" shouted Ray as he stood up to face the ancient guard.  "You failed Max!"

"It wasn't Maxim fault! It wasn't anyone's fault!" shouted Yugi as he too stood up.

"Yugi's right! We are all duellists we knew nothing of beyblading until we met Maxim. Trying to find Max was hard even more so when you decided to travel thought Europe instead of going straight to Russia." said Bester "Besides Maxim has been trapped inside the Millennium Collar for over five thousand years. He floated in the coldness of limbo waiting for Max to be reborn"

"I don't care! You can't expect Max to simply take you back just because you finally came out of some ancient artefact!"  Shouted Ray

"RAY!" shouted Max as he got to his feet.

"I think we better leave" smiled Sugoroku as he started to walk to the door. Maxim stared at Ray for a moment and then turned to Max. "I will see you tomorrow Max"

He whispered as he followed Sugoroku to the door. Yami went over and picked Yugi up in his arms and followed them. Bez looked up at Kai and walked over to him.

"When you realize who much your soul mate means to you, perhaps you can teacher your friend to have some courtesy for others feelings." She turned then and picked up her own light Bester.

"A word of warning kid, Maxim may only have a stupid Beyblade like you! But we're his friends and our powers known no equal! Hurt him and you won't live to regret it" said Ishtar as he and Bakura left with they lights.  Everyone looked at Ray with either anger or confusion. Ray looked at them all unbelieving.

"You guys can't possibly believe him! All that soul mate rubbish! Waiting for five thousand years! It's nonsense!"

"IT'S NOT NONSENSE!" yelled Max as he ran in to his room and locked the door.

"Max!" cried Ray as he ran to the door and started to knock on it "Max! I'm sorry!"

"Hello everyone! Its time for the second match of the world finals! The home favourites The Demolition boys vs. the upstart Bladebreakers and that's what they need guys a big break to win this match" said Jazzman

"Does that Baka ever shut up?" moaned Bakura

"His voice reminds me of the people I put to death by a thousand cuts" said Ishtar "And they sound like a choir compared to this guys voice!"

"I take it you guys don't like him?" smiled Bez

"What gave it away?"

"Are you aright Maxim?" asked Bester looking up at the blond Yami. The blond guard had cried silently in the night away from the others, not wanting to make a fool out of himself in fount of the Pharaoh and his court. Luckily the Pharaoh's light Yugi and Bester had followed him and sat with him during the night and allowed him to cry. He returned in the morning and was surprised when Bakura and Ishtar said nothing about him crying, but he suspected it had something to do with Bez and Yami threatening to send them to the shadow realm if they did.  Now he sat in his seat in the stadium ready to match his Soul mate's new lover fight.

Ray walked up to Max slowly hiding his gift behind his back. His golden angel's eyes were red and puffy from crying and he still looked terribly sad.

"Max?"

Max looked at Ray were huge blue eyes and then turned away "What do you want Ray?"

Ray pulled out his bouquet of white lilies and handed them to Max "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings Max. I'm sorry I did not take your beliefs into account of what happened last night and…I'm sorry"

Max looked at Ray's sorrowful face and then at the lilies. White lilies had always been his favourite flower. He took them and smiled at Ray.

"I love you Ray Kon!"

"I love you too Max and no matter what happens I will love you no matter what! And I am going to win this battle for you!"

Ray steps up to the dish that same time Brain did as Jazzman explained the new dish.

"This is called the R.P.M dish! The bottom spins faster then a dentist drill"

They battle soon got on the way, and Brain soon showed his evil side when his blade broke a piece of the dish off and fired it at Ray. Ray lost that match and was badly injured. The second match was just as bad, as Brain used the very air to attack Ray. Ray held out long enough to pull a win, but it came with a price, Ray had given it all he had and now had nothing left. The bladebreakers took Ray to the backroom.

"I hate to admit it, but Ray has used up all his energy in that battle" said Tyson Dad.

"That victory was not worth the price he had to pay" said Mr Dickinson as he wiped away a tear.

"Don't give up yet Mr Dickinson. Ray tried but he's ok!" said Tyson

Ray groaned and got to his feet and headed to the door.

"Ray! Stop! Please, don't go out there again! Who knows what stunt Brain will pull next! It's not safe for you" Max cried as he clung on to Ray. Ray embraced Max and kissed his forehead.

"I promised I'd win this battle for you Max. And a promise is a promise!"

Ray began his third round with Brain; Brain's blade was close on Ray's tail.

"I don't get emotional very often Ray, but you stole that victory from me and it made me angry; and now for a little payback!"

Brain used his wind attack to hit Ray straight in the face, breaking his bandana.

"Please Ray fall back, all we care about is your safety" cried Lee from his seat.

"Ray I love you please fall back" cried Max sliver tears fell down his cheeks.

"He will not survive much longer" said Maxim "I can not allow this to end this way"

He sat back in his seat and placed his hand over the Millennium pendent as it started to glow. Ray fell back from one of Brain's attacks and flashes of his friends flooded in to him mind, all of them encouraging him to fight.

Suddenly he hit a stone cold black floor; he looked around him and realized he was no longer in the stadium.

"Where am I?" he asked in to the nothingness.

"You're in Limbo Ray Kon. This is where I have been for the last five thousand years" said Maxim as he came out of the dark.

"What do you want?" asked Ray

"To help you I guess. Do you know that you're dieing Ray? Did you know if you get hit again Brain will kill you?"

"What do you care?"

"I care because he does"

"Max?"

"I am truly his soul mate Ray. All I want is for Max to be happy. I am even prepared to return to the darkness of this place until Max is reborn again in the future allowing you to have him now"

"Why? Why would you do this?"

"Because for the last five thousand years all I have done is sleep Max, eat Max, thought about Max, talked about Max and drink about Max. If I can do that for five thousand years I can do it for a few more" 

"You were one of the ordinal beybladers weren't you?"

"I am"

"Then if I live thought this, I want to battle you…for Max"

"Very well Ray Kon. But first you must defeat Brain to do so and you are weak."

"Well you truly help me?"

"Yes"

Ray suddenly awoke from his dream and saw Drigger in all his glory standing above him.

"Drigger"

"Drigger is rising" said Robert as he watched the great tiger bit beast.

"Drigger is shielding Ray form Brain's attack" cheered Mariah.

Maxim's Millennium pendent shone brightly as he transferred his energy to Drigger, allowing the beast to defend his master.

"Tiger claw attack" shouted Ray as Drigger gave his last attack and finished the battle.

"How? How could I have lost?" shouted Brain as he shook with rage.

Maxim got to his feet his item and his eyes a blaze "Brain!"

The pale purple haired boy turned to Maxim and for once in his life he felt fear as he looked in to Maxim's eyes.

"HEART CRUSH!" shouted Maxim as he pointed to Brain. Brain felt his heart explode with the emotions he had locked away coming out in full force. Brain fainted due to the shock of his weeping heart. Maxim was tried having never used the power of his item; quickly fell in to the arms of Bez and Yami.

"Easy Maxim, you have done a courageous thing. You need to rest" said Yami

"Come on Maxim lets get you out of here" said Bez as she lifted him up.

Maxim gazed over to where Max was and saw his little weeping over the sleeping Ray. 

"Max…"

To be continued…

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