Something Real
Authoress' Notes: First and foremost I would like to say that I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, nor do I own Ancient Egypt. I simply use both for my own evil yet non-profitable purposes. So I don't want to hear about any suing.
Secondly, this fic is in response to a challenge that was given to me a long time ago by Eden "Kitten" Franks. So therefore, Kitty Kat, this one goes out to you.
Lastly, I quickly ran out of female characters, which is why we have a few originals running around. For crying out loud, there was only five female Yu-Gi-Oh characters ever, unless you're counting the nurse Jounouchi had a crush on and his mom.
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The sand swirled through the streets, dancing around the bare feet of little children who spent their afternoons playing. Workers rested inside their homes, avoiding the midday sun, unaware of the changes that were about to occur in their lives. The walls of the houses in the city were yellow and dull; but the palace that could just be seen from the life-giving river was a dazzling white, gleaming from the light of the sun. After a six week journey on the river, the woman on the boat took little notice of her present surroundings; however, those who were with her stood in awe, gazing wonderingly upon the capital. "Miss Ishizu, we are here," one of the guardsmen told her, extending his hand to help her up.
The woman on the boat took one look at the proffered hand before standing up without aid. Embarrassed, the guardsman put his hands at his side. "Shall I fetch the litter for you, miss?"
The woman turned towards the palace, making the guard uneasy. She had been veiled for the entire duration of the journey, so no one on board knew what she looked like, except for the sea-green eyes, her only visible feature. Furthermore, she had rarely spoken, so few knew her personality, making her a mystery to all that were with her. In a way, it was disturbing, and many of them would be glad to be rid of her. "No, it does not seem that far. I think I shall walk."
The guard nodded, signaling for others in his command to join them. "Very well, my lady. We shall escort you to the palace." He led the way on to the shore, the woman following him with three more guards trailing closely behind her. They were not taking any chances with her.
The woman remained silent and veiled as the processional made its way through town. Children stopped playing their games long enough to move out of the way, staring openmouthed as the entourage traveled past. Little did they realize how much their lives were going to change by the time they were adults.
The gates to the palace were open, obviously awaiting her arrival. One man stood alone in the door, tall and proud, unaffected by the summer heat. The woman kept her eyes focused on him as they came nearer. Cold, blue eyes stared straight back into hers with a look that would have sent shivers down any young girl's spine. To the young woman, those eyes were heartless, containing only a cold, lonely emptiness. She wondered if perhaps her eyes ever looked like that.
Despite the chill in his eyes, she noticed his clothes indicated he was a priest of some sort, ironically enough. "Gracious Kaiba," the guard at the head of the group greeted him, clapping a hand to his chest and falling down on one knee. "We have delivered the priestess safely to your keeping."
"Kaiba," if that was even his real name, glanced down at the guard, and then once again captured the woman's eyes. She held his gaze unflinchingly; what more could those bastards do to her? They had already ruined everything for her. "Thank you. I shall guide her to the Pharaoh. The rest of you may leave. Now."
The guard stood, bowing to the woman and the priest in turn before gesturing for his soldiers to follow him. Making their way back to the river, the left the young woman alone with the priest. They were gone and the only thing left for her was her future. "If my lady will follow me," Kaiba said, indicating the way inside with a wave of his hand. She noticed the extreme contempt in his voice, the sarcastic way in which he had said "my lady," and for the first time in a long while, she actually cared. For once, she was actually angry about what they had done to her. It wasn't like she had chosen this life; she had been quite content where she was before. She unhappily followed him inside the palace, glaring daggers at his back when she was sure no one was there. "What is your name?"
Why the hell should she tell him? He was arrogant, rude, and besides, he hadn't said please. However, she would have to be introduced and that wouldn't happen if no one knew her name. Why couldn't he have asked the guards when they were there? It couldn't be helped, she supposed, and she would have to talk to him. "Ishizu," she told him, following him through the columned hallway. It was a bit cooler inside in the shade than it had been outside.
He laughed, stopping and turning around to face her. Once again, she felt a deep anger and resentment towards him. Who the hell did he think he was? "That's not the name of a queen," he told her. He appeared thoughtful for a moment, though she highly doubted that he was thinking about anything important. "From now on, your name shall be Isis."
"You're giving me a new name?" she asked, appalled that this boy could just give her a new name without a second thought. She now saw through the disguise he wore, he really was no more than a boy whose power had gone to his head. Though he tried to make himself sound older, she could see that he was at least a few years younger than she was.
He laughed again, the sound only serving to irritate her more. "Of course. If you are going to be Queen, you must have the name of one," he told her smugly, turning his back to her. "They changed my name," she heard him mumbling as he started off again.
She fell in step behind him, trying not to think too much about her future. If the priest introduced her to the Pharaoh as Isis, Isis she would have to stay. Whether she liked it or not. She could not help but wonder why his name had been changed and what it had been changed from. Furthermore, if he didn't like it why would he force his pain onto someone else?
The hallway opened up into a grand room, decorated by elegant gold statues. At the other end of the room sitting on a throne that rested on a platform was a young man who Isis presumed to be the Pharaoh. The man she would be spending the rest of her life with, away from her home and family. All because she had to be born of "noble" blood. The boy lifted his head as they approached, and what struck Isis first were the startling violet eyes that were lifted to hers. "My king," Kaiba said, bowing slightly before him. Remembering her manners, Isis curtseyed, avoiding his eyes. "I bring you your wife, the beautiful Lady Isis."
Was he trying to be sarcastic, or did he just have something stuck down his throat? "Thank you, Kaiba," the Pharaoh said, standing up. "It is good to meet you, Isis. I am the Pharaoh, though I am sure you will be calling me Yuugi from now on. You'll only be the third." The last part was added softly, almost wistfully. Well, she was his first wife, which made her wonder who the other two were. Perhaps some close friends, which in his high rank would be highly unusual. However, she did have the rest of her life to find out. "Kaiba, please show her to her room," Yuugi said, sitting back down.
"Yes, sir," the priest responded with a barely perceptible nod. "Yuugi, there is something I must discuss with you first." At least she had discovered the first of the two people who called the Pharaoh Yuugi. Though whether it was from friendship or a complete lack of disrespect she couldn't tell. Kaiba stood next to Yuugi, leaning down to whisper in his ear. Isis couldn't hear all of the conversation, though the snatches she heard contained words such as "incompetent," "disrespectful," and "ill-mannered bitch." Throughout the conversation, Yuugi kept shaking his head in a vehement protest against what the priest was saying.
"That's enough, Kaiba!" he exclaimed, slapping his fist down. "I won't hear anymore of it." Isis smiled behind her veil as a flustered Kaiba took a few steps backwards. "Take her to her room," the Pharaoh ordered.
Kaiba looked like he was about to reply, but obviously thought better of it, coming to stand by Isis' side. "If you will follow me," he said, quickly glancing in her direction.
Isis took a deep breath as she followed him out of the room, unaware that the Pharaoh was watching them carefully. Something Kaiba had said about whoever had really set him off. She would just have to find out who so she wouldn't end up making the same mistake. She did not need to bring the wrath of the Pharaoh down upon her. "Excuse me, but what were talking about with the Pharaoh?"
The priest stayed silent for a moment, finally responding in a light whisper. "Nothing of importance. You will be meeting him soon enough I suppose."
Meeting who? She had already met the Pharaoh; who else could there possibly be that was of more importance? She had more questions no than she had before she left home. Was it really only a few weeks ago?
The priest had lengthened his stride and Isis was struggling to keep up with him, still pondering her questions. Would she ever be able to get a straight answer out of anyone here? Kaiba stopped suddenly, turning around to face her. For the first time, she was actually frightened of him, staring up into those heartless blue eyes. "Listen to me, Isis. I don't want you here and this was certainly not my idea. Things were going just fine, but with you arrival things are going to change around here and not for the better." He glared down at her and Isis unconsciously took a step backwards. "So if you stay out of my way, I'll stay out of yours. Now, if my lady will follow me," he snarled, turning on his heel and walking away.
For a moment Isis was tempted to say damn them all and run far away. The only thing that kept her there was the sight of her younger brother who would be so disappointed in her if she backed out not. It was for him she would carry on; it was because of him that she forced herself to follow that damn priest. Following him to her doom more than likely. She fervently hoped she would not be being much of the arrogant boy, though she had a feeling the gods would be working against her in that instance. Just one of those feelings that people get at times.
Servants rushed by them in the halls, avoiding their gaze as they scrambled past them. She heard the priest mumble something under his breath, although she couldn't be certain of what is was. Of course, it sounded something along the lines of disrespectful and disobedient. Being a priest didn't give him the excuse to be the bastard at the center of creation.
He turned and led her into a lavish room decorated extravagantly in lush colors. Several doors led off to other rooms, which she suspected, were the bedrooms. Kaiba moved over to lounge casually on the couch. "He probably wants me to stay with you until he gets here. It seems I'll have to endure your company a bit longer," he complained.
She glared at him, eyes darkening as she saw down on a chair that was as far away from him as possible. It wasn't like she was looking forward to staying with him and that know-it-all attitude. "If you want to leave you can. I certainly don't need you watching over me."
He laughed, the sound echoing loudly throughout the room. "I don't think so." He looked directly at her, eyes intense. "If I leave do you promise to run away to whatever hole it is you came from?"
There was a moment of stunned silence when Isis tried to look at anything but that stupid, arrogant bastard of a priest. Whoever had let him into a holy order was probably dying and well out of their mind. Still, it was hard to believe that he wanted to get rid of her after all the fuss there had been to get her there. Then again, he was merely a priest and not the Pharaoh. "I didn't have any intention of-"
"I can't let you leave anyway." Her eyes fixed back on him, not bothering to hide her anger. Of all the nerve, interrupting her like that. Wasn't she higher in rank than him anyway? "If you left they would blame it on me. The other priests would probably kill me. After all, it was their idea to bring you up here; I wanted to go with the princess from the north."
Things were starting to make sense. A little bit. They sat there in silence, the room darkening as the sun began to set. Servants came in, lighting lamps around the room one by one. The shadows flickered across their faces, dancing in the firelight. Isis sat staring at the floor as the servants left, placing her in the lonely company of the priest, Kaiba. Every once in a while, she would look over at him, wondering who or what had condemned her to this life. For the most part, he ignored her, choosing instead to stare at the door. She wished the Pharaoh would come soon; it was much better than being alone with Kaiba. Something wasn't right.
The Pharaoh finally made his appearance, flanked by two guards who avoided looking at Isis but kept giving Kaiba wary glances. It seemed she wasn't the only one who didn't trust the priest. He stood up, bowing slightly. Isis stayed where she was, content to simply watch the scene unfold without her being a part of it. "As you can see, your Majesty, I have taken well care of your bride."
"Thank you, Kaiba." Isis noticed a difference between the two of them; there was not as much tension as there had been in the throne room. Perhaps it had something to do with the "him" Kaiba supposed she would be meeting soon enough. Here, they almost seemed like they were friends without some major issue hanging over their heads. "You are dismissed. I'm sure they have something waiting for you over at the temple."
"Most likely," Kaiba agreed. He bowed his head to the King before making his way around the guards. Isis was only too glad to see him go.
He was almost at the door when the Pharaoh stopped him with a question. "How is your project coming along?"
Isis paid attention intently now, not wanting to miss a thing. It could make a huge difference in her future. The damn priest had frozen when the Pharaoh mentioned something. He hesitated, which Isis did not take as a very good sign at all. She looked from Yuugi, who was standing perfectly still waiting patiently for his answer, to Kaiba, who for a few moments looked scared of something. No, scared wasn't the word. Terrified was more like it. The moment lasted only briefly, and Isis wondered whether or not she had been seeing things. "Just fine. We should be finished within the next couple of years."
"Will the high priest make it that long?"
Her eyes shifted from the priest to the Pharaoh silently question both of them though neither one was paying any attention to her. "I don't know," Kaiba stated flatly, walking out of the room. Interesting how he had changed from "we" to "I," but it was probably a minor, insignificant point.
Yuugi waved his guards away, who bowed nervously as they backed out of the room. Great, she went from being left alone with the annoying priest to being left alone with the Pharaoh. She suddenly realized that she was not ready for this. "Was somebody else in here besides him?"
My, my, he was getting possessive already, which only made her more nervous. "No, my lord. Only the servants came in to light the lamps."
"Good," he responded, sitting in the spot the priest had just vacated. "If they would have brought him while Kaiba was here, I would never see him again."
There he went again, talking about something she had absolutely no clue about. Did they purposely keep her in the dark, or did they just not bother to think that she would have no clue as to what was going on? Little did she know she was going to find out very soon, and she wasn't going to like it. Two guards entered the room, dragging something between them. On closer inspection she saw that it was a young boy, blindfolded, gagged, and his wrists were tied behind his back. The guards dragging the poor boy threw him roughly to the floor before retreating from the room. The Pharaoh was by the boy's side in an instant, removing the rope and cloth that bound him. "Are you alright?" he asked, helping the other boy sit up.
Isis watched the scene unfolding before her in disbelief. It was…. "Dirty, rotten bastards," the bow growled, throwing the rope that had bound his wrists across the room.
"Quiet, or someone will send you back again," the Pharaoh told him, glancing in Isis' direction. She suddenly felt like an intruder, wondering who the hell the boy was while at the same time pulling back in her seat to become less obtrusive. He did not want her there at the moment and she knew it. The boy looked in her direction, taking her breath away. Everybody else had avoided her because she was the King's new bride and here was this boy looking her directly in the eye with no fear. "Isis, I would like you to meet Jounouchi. He's my best friend."
That made perfect sense. It also explained why the Pharaoh had positively lit up when the boy had been dragged into the room. So why did the guards have him tied up in the first place. "What does he do?" If she was going to be spending the rest of her life here, she might as well learn her surroundings.
The two exchanged glances, and Yuugi laughed. Funny, it didn't seem strange to hear him laugh. "Technically, he's my slave."
Isis tired to hide her shock at that statement though she did almost choke. "I hate that term," the boy muttered under his breath.
"So do I," the Pharaoh readily agreed, placing his hand on the slave's back.
Now Isis really felt like an intruder, though she was unfortunately beginning to understand some of the things Kaiba had said about him, provided this was the same "him." "Excuse me, but where is he from?" The blonde hair and brown eyes were typical of only one region she knew of and if he even came from there…
"Umm…" Yuugi looked questioningly over at Jounouchi. "Asia, I think." Jounouchi shrugged and Yuugi launched into a quick explanation. "You see, my father gave me Jounouchi when I was five years old. I think it was supposed to teach me how to rule other people's lives." He shrugged as if it were no great importance to him. "He's always been more a friend than anything else."
Isis had only barely been paying attention to what the Pharaoh was saying, the priest's words coming back to her. Incompetent, disrespectful, and ill-mannered bitch. Something along those lines. Things were beginning to make sense as she sat there watching them. Yuugi was still talking but not to her; he was giving his full attention to the slave. But if Kaiba really disliked the boy that much, maybe that was all the more reason she should get to know him better. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Jounouchi," she said after Yuugi had stopped talking for a few moments.
He bowed towards her, eyes closed. "The honor was truly mine, my lady. Surely I have been blessed by the gods in order to have been graced by your lovely presence." When he lifted his eyes to her, they were shining and he was grinning.
Isis couldn't help but smile back, and she was starting to see why the arrogant priest didn't like him. They had clashing personalities, and the priest was probably jealous of the slave's natural charisma. Even if he was faking it, he was a hell of a good actor. Actually, being around the Pharaoh and his slave nullified the leftover feelings from being around Kaiba. For the first time, this did not seem like such a terrible idea. Being here for the rest of her life actually seemed tolerable. The Pharaoh smiled, glancing outside where the stars could be seen dancing in the heavens. "I think it's time we got some sleep," he suggested, standing up. "Isis, you're room is right through there," he told her, gesturing towards the center doorway. "Come on, Jounouchi," he said, heading in the direction of the doorway off to the right. Jounouchi obediently followed him, leaving Isis alone.
For a few moments, she sat in the center room alone, turning the day's events over in her mind. First she met an arrogant priest who thought he was a god instead of just a servant to one, then she met the young Pharaoh, her new husband who was actually more humble than the priest, and finally when night came her new husband went off to his own bed with a slave following behind him. In a way, she was a bit relieved, but she was also somewhat offended. He hadn't even seen her yet. She side as she made her way into her room, unwrapping her veil and head wrap as she went. Her room here was much more lavish than her room at home. She lay down on her bed, thinking of her family back home. She hoped they were happy with the life they had chosen for her; she knew she wasn't.
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"You probably think I'm really weird, don't you?" Yuugi asked as Jounouchi made himself comfortable at the bottom of the Yuugi's bed. He had always slept there, ever since the night Yuugi got him. He just didn't have it in him to make Jounouchi sleep on the cold floor, especially when they had only been five years old. Ten years later and he still couldn't do it.
At the moment, Jounouchi was lying on his back, absentmindedly staring at the ceiling with his hands under his head. It had been so long and they had experienced so much together, yet still… "Why would I think that?"
Yuugi sighed, changing his position so his head was resting on Jounouchi's stomach, looking up at the ceiling and trying to discover what Jounouchi found so interesting up there. Then again, it was dark so he really didn't see much of anything. "Because I just got married and instead of being with my new wife I'm in here with you trying to discover what's so interesting on my ceiling."
"Umm…" Jounouchi shifted uncomfortably beneath him.
"I mean, if you were me and I was you where would you be right now?"
Jounouchi froze and hesitantly asked, "If you were me?"
"Yes, and you were me." Yuugi let out an exasperated sigh. Honestly, Jounouchi could be so dense at times.
"I can't honestly say because I would never be Pharaoh," he eventually said, hoping to end the conversation. He was beginning to sweat and it wasn't from the cold air.
"I suppose you're right," Yuugi agreed. The statement was followed by a peaceful silence, one that soothed and took you're breath away. Jounouchi hesitantly draped his arm across the Pharaoh's waist. Yuugi was soon asleep, safe and where he belonged.
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Kaiba ended up spending most of his time by the High Priest's side, though secretly he hated the job. Taking care of a dying old man was not his idea of a good time. One didn't need special abilities to tell the old man was dying. It was clearly visible in his sunken cheeks and eyes, and all the priests knew that he had developed breathing problems. There was only so much more they could for him to ease the pain.
"Kaiba." His voice was barely a raspy whisper, hardly heard above the faint wind. "Bring me Lulu," he commanded.
Kaiba nodded. Lulu, the High Priestess, should not be difficult to find at this time of night. The priestesses seemed to thrive in the moonlight. He found Lulu easily enough, meditating at the edge of the Sacred Lake. She seemed so peaceful, he didn't want to disturb her, but she could hardly blame him it the High Priest had summoned her. "Forgive me, Lulu, but the High Priest wishes your presence."
If looks could kill, gods she got angry at times. Some of the other priests were absolutely terrified of her. Maybe because he was younger and perhaps a bit rash at times, she didn't affect him. Maybe because he was one of the few who were actually taller than her, he didn't have any reason to be afraid of her. Still, when she got angry, even he wanted to get out of the way. "Take me to him."
"If my lady will follow me," he said, leading her across the temple grounds. Gods, he hated saying that. They passed small groups of priestesses along the way, all bowing respectfully to Lulu as she passed. It really wasn't that much different from the priests, really. Except the priestesses' leader wasn't in danger of dying any time soon.
"Lulu, I'm so glad you came." Kaiba disappeared into the shadows, waiting until he was needed again. Hopefully it wouldn't be that long.
"Did you really think I wouldn't?" It was amazing the difference there was in Lulu whenever she was talking to the High Priest.
She almost seemed….nice…
"I wasn't sure… if I sent Kaiba to get you…" Lulu glanced over at him; glaring was a much more appropriate word. "How is Mai coming along?"
"Just fine. You need your rest. I should leave." He nodded as the High Priestesses swept out of the room. She glared at Kaiba again as she left the room, and not for the first time, he received the vague impression that she wanted him dead.
Well, if she wanted to be like that then… He thought about it for a moment but couldn't come up with any way to end that threat. At least not one that wouldn't get him killed or horribly maimed. All he could do was glare after her in frustration. "Kaiba, it has been a long day. I would be wise of you to retire now."
"Yes, sir," Kaiba agreed, bowing before the High Priest. The Priest managed a weak smile as Kaiba turned to leave the room.
"And, Seto. I'm sorry I changed your name, but at least I gave you a chance." The priest stood frozen in the doorway, staring at the cold stone floor of the temple. It had been so long since that name was mentioned. The name that caused Lulu to both hate and fear him.
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