The Boy and the Tiger


In which Seto shows his talents despite his young age


Sometime later, when Seto's health began improving, the Pharaoh of Egypt decided to go on a tour of his country yet again, this time, undercover. He figured to himself that if he didn't go then everything will be ' cleared out', and he will only see the best of even the worst places and conditions. He was certain that some leaders are corrupted and he wanted to know which ones.

As the Pharaoh prepared to leave, he took a good look at Seto and the tiger playing in the garden. It was a bright and sunny morning; a good omen, for Ra was blessing the trip. The Pharaoh motioned to his close noble friend, Nowaje.

" Is it not interesting?" He began, motioning towards the two. " The beast must be at least three times the size of that child, and yet, look how gentle it is."

Far away, Dima threw herself onto Seto's shoulders. The boy cried out, then his legs slipped and he fell. Dima thrusted herself away from him so as not to crush him.

Seto laughed. " Naughty, Dima! You're getting too heavy! You ought to lose weight!"

Dima growled, nuzzling her giant head against Seto's legs. Seto giggled, then did the unthinkable. He slid onto Dima's back.

The Pharaoh and his servant jerked their necks in surprise and wondered how the tiger would take it. Would a powerful creature as that let Seto do something like that to it?

The tiger growled and started trotting around the garden. Seto leaned forward, laughing, and kissed the tiger's beautiful head. The tiger began running back into the palace from the garden, with Seto still on her back, and the two of them disappeared.

" A marvel!" Nowaje cried. " How is this possible that a mere child can tame such a great beast?"



Seto looked around. It was a strange room, where they were. It was small, but there were inscriptions on the walls. Some Seto understood, but most he could not recognize, and so, finally bored of it all, he curled up beside Dima, who wrapped herself around him, and leaned into her soft and warm fur, closing his eyes.

Suddenly, the door opened. A tall man with blonde hair and brown eyes peeked in.
" Hey, what are ye doin here?"

Seto started up and Dima rolled to her feet in surprise. The man was dressed like a general, most likely because he is one. Frightened, he jumped to his feet and backed against the tiger.

The general scowled. " What's this? How'd you get in here? It's s'posed to be locked." He twisted the handle. " Well. I see. That's the tiger everyone was talking about, eh?"

Seto was silent.

The man smiled kindly. " My name's Jorak. You're Seto, yeah? Come on. This is no place to sleep in. This is holy ground. C'mon."

Seto blinked, a little bit unsure. The tiger nosed him towards the man, the animal having more sense then the child. Seto finally gave in and took Jorak's outstretched hand. They left the room together.



" Is everything prepared?" Kai asked his servants, looking around. " We will stay a while for lunch, and then we'll leave. Yugi? Promise me you'll take care of that poor boy and the tiger. I do wonder how we'll feed it. Where's Jorak? I have an errand for him. Send for him."

Kai thought for a while. " The next thing we must do is find something normal to wear."

Nowaje muttered something under his breath before hushing up and looking away.

" Where is Jorak?"
" We don't know, sire."
" That's odd." Jorak was a close friend of the Pharaoh's. " Where could he be?"



" That's funny. How did you get in here?" Jorak asked, again staring dumbly at the door that was supposed to be locked. " This kid can pick locks, good heavens! But wait...it's locked with magic. How the heck?"

Seto was already in the room. The white tiger nosed at several items, then stared at a short golden rod, only half made. She sniffed at it and growled.
" Hm?" Seto blinked. " Dima, don't touch!"

But the tiger already caught the rod into her mouth and she trotted over to Seto, who slapped the beast's nose lightly before taking the rod out.
" This does not belong to us, Dima." He scolded. He suddenly froze. The rod began to glow, lighting up the child's face. The child began to shudder, and the rod dropped out of his hands, clanging on the floor.



Kai went through the halls. " You say Jorak is in there?" He pointed, then froze.

The door was open.

No. Jorak will never betray him, and even if he tried he could never have opened the door!

" Come on Seto! Earth to Seto!" He heard Jorak say. " What the heck is this rod thing?"

Scared now, Kai looked in.

" Hey hey hey hey hey!" Jorak cried, as Seto bolted towards the door. The tiger took the rod into her mouth and followed, making a strange noise. Kai caught the terrified boy into his arms and the child whimpered.
" What happened here?" Kai asked.
" Kid opened the door, somehow." Jorak answered. " Tiger tried to eat the rod. Kid took it from him, and then all of the sudden it began glowin. Beats me what just happened."

Kai froze, and looked down at the boy in his arms. " Seto?" He lifted the child's face. " Seto, look at me."

The boy looked at him fearfully. " I was going to put it back." He mumbled.
" It's alright." Kai realized. " I'm not blaming you. I'm just going to ask you a question: what happened when you picked it up?"
" It started glowing..."
" And then?"
" It felt warm and I was suddenly in a very dark place..."
" And then?"
" I heard something speak to me."
" What did it say?"
" It wanted me to summon it...somehow."

Kai studied the child's face and sighed.
" What happened?" Nowaje asked. " It seems to me that he just went into the Shadow Realm."

Kai laughed and patted the child's head. " He has magical powers, my friend."

Seto blinked.

" The rod activated somehow," Kai held the rod in his hands and studied it carefully. " Look, it's complete."

Dima sniffed at the Pharaoh's hands before rubbing her back against Seto's legs so Seto was forced to sit down on her.

" Think he will make a good priest when he grows up?" Nowaje asked.
" Of course." Kai smiled fondly. Seto looked at him in confusion.
" The child will come with me on this tour." The Pharaoh announced. " I think he and the tiger will prove useful on this journey."



Seto shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't use to wearing good clothes and he was afraid he'll make himself look ridiculous by doing something ridiculous. He actually liked the good clothing, but somehow they restrained him. His rags allowed great freedom of movement and he didn't really care about them. These, on the other hand, also allow movement, but he wasn't quite as able to go through cracks and such, since these seem more delicate and he was afraid of sullying them too.

The Pharaoh had dressed him in gray blue for the journey. He was completely clothed, unlike the rest of the nobles, probably because he was a child, but Seto doubted it. It wasn't the Egyptian custom to cloth someone so entirely. The environment was too hot and dry for such. Only women did this. And even they wore as little as possible.

So in addition to wearing new clothes and constantly worrying about spoiling them, Seto was extremely hot. Although the Pharaoh's car was kept cool from the sun, it wasn't as cool as the night, and Seto was sweating. The Pharaoh seemed to notice his distress, but he didn't really do anything about it. Seto was now confused.

As for Dima, she was given a collar, something she did not like at all, even when Seto explained it to her. It was necessary for her safety, he said to her. But Dima wouldn't have it. She could take care of herself. She was not someone's pet. So she gave a great deal of trouble to both the guards and Seto-something she never did to the latter.

When they got it on, she must have figured it was no use trying to get it off, so she sulked outside the car in the heat. Seto almost wanted to get her in here, where it was cooler, but he was afraid of the Pharaoh. He knew he could only push his privileges for so far. It was kind enough of the Pharaoh to consider Seto's wish to be with his animal friend. To allow the animal in a place where only humans are allowed? Preposterous!

" You look uncomfortable. Perhaps you're bored?" Kai asked kindly.

Seto was uncomfortable but he was not bored. Nevertheless he decided that whatever the Pharaoh may suggest it will help with his unease. He looked down, a code that says, " Yes Pharaoh." in a polite way.

" Well," Kai was pleased for some reason. " I think it is fairly uneventful for now, where we're going, anyway. There is nothing to watch, because we're passing as aristocrats, with only a few of the priests dressed as we are. I can teach you a game, you know. It's only a small hint of it, the real one is too dangerous and cannot be played here."

Seto's eyes brightened up. He heard about the reputation of the Pharaoh. Pharaoh Kai was called the King of Games and he literally was the King of Games. There was never a game he lost and whenever one spoke of those games they were horrible and deadly. Seto knew he should feel scared, but by the way the Pharaoh spoke he knew this game was not one of those. It was, after all, ' only a small hint of it'.

Kai laughed. " You'd like to? Here." He took out some pieces of papyrus, with drawings on them. " These drawings are but copies, so we can play them in places like these. You can read a lot now, despite what you think, so I think you know what this is, for example?"

Seto stared. It was the Pharaoh Imp. Confused, he looked at the Pharaoh, then looked at the monster.
" It looks too stupid to be a Pharaoh." He blurted out, before having a chance to restrain himself.

Kai laughed, understanding the comparison and feeling quite pleased and flattered by it. " It's probably not a real Pharaoh, just a name. It is quite useful though, when combined with other cards. This is a monster card. You fight with these. Look, see here?"

Seto read. It was Monster Reborn.
" That is a Magic card. These cards help the monsters fight. And finally, the last type."

Seto studied the card. It was Negate something, but he couldn't read the other word.
" This," Kai didn't notice, " Is a trap card. If your opponent somehow activates it, it can put your opponent in a disadvantage. Now, you put the cards over here, there is the graveyard, and you select..."



" Around the same weight, aah...same height, I think, so and so. Fine material. Look like some merchant. Ahh, I think he'll do."
" Go talk to him, then." Kai answered. " Ask if he is willing to change."

The servant went out and spoke with the unknown merchant for a few minutes. Soon he came back.
" He said yes."
" Seto wouldn't need to change, no doubt." Nowaje laughed. Jorak blinked in confusion.
" Is a guard nearby?" Kai asked as he put on the new clothes.
" No, we'll have to go further." Jorak answered. " People are cowering. Gosh, are they so afraid of a general?"
" They would if they knew anyone else other then you." Seto answered, who had gotten quite friendly with Jorak.
" What do you mean?"
" Generals and soldiers-they aren't exactly humane."
" Ah?"

Kai stepped out. Now he was fully clothed, like Seto. He scowled.
" No soldiers? This won't do. Jorak has to go as a normal soldier, not a royal general."

Jorak shrugged. " They say that soldier armor is lighter than the generals."

Seto blinked at him.

" Well?" Kai looked around. " There's one. See if he is your height."
" I'm taller than him." Jorak protested. " I'd look stupid. Ra, is that guy a midget or something?"

Kai looked at him. Seto looked at Kai.
" Oh..." Jorak laughed nervously, " I didn't mean to-"

Seto started giggling. Kai and Jorak stared at him in surprise. Seto started laughing harder. His laughter was joyful and sweet, like singing bells. Jorak stared at him horrified, Kai began laughing too.

" I guess he has a reason to laugh," Kai smiled at Seto, who tried in vain to get over his mirth, " A not so perfect Pharaoh can prove to be a source of good humor."
" Don't say that." Jorak said uncomfortably, glaring a warning towards Seto, who finally quieted.
" Seto, that was discourteous."
" Don't worry." Kai smiled, half conscious of his defect. He stroked the young child's hair. " Seto probably never realized that. Did you, Seto?"

Seto shook his head. He honestly never observed that.
" There." Kai laughed. " Now, let's look for your costume..."



Two hours after the time we already observed, five figures walked down together in a market. One was very tiny, a wearing gray blue tunic and long silver pants with silver sleeves through the tunic. One was slightly taller, with red and black hair with yellow bangs. He had a hat on, a red and black tunic with a golden belt, and long black pants. One was dressed in soft purple, a long robe of sorts with golden sleeves. Another was dressed in leather and metal, with a scowl on his face. His collar was a little tight and the pants were a little short, so the boots barely covered it. One was simply dressed with a white cloth around him and white pants.

These five interesting figures, of which none would have had a reason to think they would have anything to do with each other, walked down the avenue without ever separating. They looked at random stands, and the short man bought some food for the tinier figure, but otherwise they do not seem to have a reason to be in a market at all. The short man hesitated every time he saw a beggar, but he never gave any money. The tiny figure was very unhappy and always wore a scowl on his face, until the tall soldier decided to by him a fan. Afterwards he was always fanning and did not look at anything or do anything else.

The reader must excuse the following description of the market, since it is important to the rest of the story. There were, as said before, stands, some laid with various jewelry, cheap or expensive. There were stands laiden with pottery and cloth intricately embroidered. There were stands with various fruits, vegatables, meat and flowers. Some stands have instruments, some have fish, a lot have small miniature sculptures of gods and goddesses made of wood. On the street, a lot of dirt clouded the roads, along with dust and sand, as was in Egypt. Several men were sweeping with brooms made of reeds.

Among the many stands with every type of product imaginable, there were beggars. Children, thin to the bone, with huge bursting bellies, ran around begging for food. Some children lie dead with their stomachs bleeding. Others sat on the dirty ground without moving, having no more strength. Several cried as guards picked them up roughly and beated them for stealing, whether or not they did.

Then there were the outcasts. Women with one leg. Blind men, with trembling hands and long, dirty and tangled hair, crawled on their knees and clung to the sleeves of people more fortunate than they. Some were pitiful, and gave them a quarter or so, for which those people were truly thankful. Others, they waved them off, even kicked them away, then continued on their stroll without remorse.

Old women and men, their clothing completely in shreds, sat on the ground with a rag in front of them with some money. Some were stolen by the ragamuffins. Others were taken by the guards. Most of these elderly victims were bruised and beaten and completely dispirited. Some went mad, snatching the food from the selling stands, only to be beaten by guards. Others lie dead, and were cleared away like one does to a dead squirrel. Few paid any attention to them.

One can imagine the distress Kai was in! He, a Pharaoh, ruler of the peoples, protector of Egypt, had neglected so many unfortunates! Yet the Pharaoh felt that it would be suspicious if he paid attention to any of the beggars. So many people were ignoring them. Deep in his heart he felt at loss and wondered if there was anything he could have done.

" Poverty exists everywhere." He suddenly heard a merchant say to another.
" ' Tis sad." The other agreed. " And to think, this Pharaoh was better than the last one, but it didn't do much good."

Kai sighed in defeat. They were right. There was nothing he could have done. Unless he could change the hearts of all the people here so that they were able to sympathize with these poor individuals. It wasn't the Pharaoh. It was the people.



Seto had separated from the Pharaoh with Nowaje. He fanned himself while looking at some tortoises.
" Nice, eh?" Nowaje laughed. He was a good natured man. Very little vice in him, honest and truthful-very bad for politics, but a good companion to the Pharaoh.
" Yeah, but not as good as Dima." Seto laughed. " Dima would eat them. Poor turtles!"

Nowaje laughed uneasily. He was wondering why the tiger never attacked them yet. It almost seemed that the creature actually understood who they were.

Good heavens!

Seto jumped as a large hand clamped down his shoulder and he was forcefully turned around. Seto stared right into dark green eyes. He looked around. Where did Nowaje go?

" Well, here's a good lookin kid for ya, Bakura!" Said the blonde, laughing maliciously. " Lookie here, eyes like the sky, skin like yer hair. 'Ts a marvel!"

Seto gulped silently. He noticed another man with eyes like the Pharaoh's and hair white like clouds.
" Malik, quit that nonsense." He said, equally roughly. " We're not here to examine kids, much as that one looks gird."
" This one will sell for a good sum." ' Malik' took his wrist roughly. Seto looked around. Nowaje was on the other side, with his back facing him. He started to call, but a rough hand clamped over his mouth. He wriggled, but was lost. How come no one noticed? But the man selling tortoises was not facing him and the man was deaf. The other shopkeepers were surrounded by consumers.

Seto struggled and wished desperately that Nowaje would just turn around. That is all it will take! But the noble did not turn around. He examined the papyrus scrolls, but that was it.

Suddenly, Malik let go of him. Seto heard a familiar growl, and suddenly he was elated.
" Dima!"

The white tiger growled fiercely at the two men, baring her huge and sharp teeth. Nowaje had finally turned around and everyone was backing away from the fearsome beast. The white tiger growled again, glaring, and slowly stalked over to the two men. Seto rushed forward and Malik let him. They gasped as the child wrapped his arms around the tiger's neck, while all the attention of the beast was focused on the two of them.

Is the child a mage? A devil? A god? Is the tiger a devil or a god? They do not know. They knew only that the tiger was angry, that they were a source, and if they remain here any longer, they may end up as someone else's product instead of selling others products.

So they ran.

Seto hugged the creature tightly, not letting him go. Around him, a crowd was standing and murmuring in curiosity and fear. Nowaje stood in the crowd, wondering how the tiger knew to come and when the tiger had appeared. It just seemed so unreal.

It must be that child... He thought to himself. Then he looked at the bit of gold in Seto's belt. The sennen rod.

Of course. It must be the child. He concluded, wondering if the Pharaoh should be told about this.