Disclaimer: Nup.
Chapter 31: Last Kiss
* * *
Shizuka, Honda, Otogi and Jou sat together on the sofa, engaged in an obviously enthralling conversation. The topic (or part of) said conversation groggily stumbled out of his bedroom, buttoning a shirt, which was obviously not his by the size. The four hushed as he approached.
"Morning," said Yami, still rubbing sleep from ruby eyes. Those on the sofa exchanged glances. "What's wrong?"
"Do you think he knows?" hissed Otogi, sticking his foot right in it.
"Do I know what?"
"Stupid bastard arrogant Kaiba," snarled Jou, more to himself than anyone. Yami frowned.
"I'm well aware of what you think of Seto, Jou. What has he done now?" The four looked at each other again.
"Well... it's... it's about Kaiba," Shizuka started awkwardly. Yami, who was still half asleep until that point, panicked.
"Where is he? Is he okay?"
"He's just fine. Although he's probably bitten off more'n he can chew," Jou drawled sarkily. Alas that Mai was in the shower, and couldn't stop the stupid nitwits from saying it. But talk they did. Yami continued to frown.
"Seto is *gay*."
"Well, do you have a better explanation? He's been locked in there for hours."
Yami bit his lip. No, he didn't. "Stay there," he ordered, tiptoeing to the door, and sitting with his ear against the wood.
* * *
"The kingdom was in peril. Evil threatened to take Egypt, and the people looked to the Pharaoh. They were angry he had let a Shadow War come upon them, while he was up in his chamber shagging his priest day in day out. And you have to admit, they had a point."
"Armies of men and Shadow Monsters were unleashed, yet the enemy was too strong. At their head a great and evil sorceror lead the opposing monsters to victory after victory. The Shadow Realm was no longer under control, and a rift between it and our world was created. It was about this time the sorceror dropped by for a visit to the palace."
"He walked in, cloaked in black, power radiating off him in waves. The Pharaoh stood, as did the priest to his left. A host of Shadow Monsters flanked the sorceror, and they snapped and snarled at the servants as they passed. He marched towards the throne, where the couple stood. Seth, being Seth, stood between the Pharaoh and the sorceror."
" 'Out of my way, *priest*,' he hissed. Seth glared at him. 'Oh, but of course. You are the Pharaoh's lover. My mistake...' His dark eyes glinted beneath the cloak. 'Don't worry. I'm not going to molest him. I am going to kill him.'
'Just try it.' Seth snarled, pulling a dagger.
'Priest!' Yami warned. Seth turned, hurt in his blue eyes. 'Be careful.'
'Quiet, Pharaoh!' the sorceror snapped. His arm extended, and he muttered an incantation. Yami doubled up in pain. Seth lauched himself at the cloaked figure, dagger in hand. 'Stop!' commanded the sorceror, as Yami threw an arm up in defence. Everything was silent for a moment."
"The sorceror stepped away from Seth, who was frozen mid-strike. He touched his fingers to his neck, tips smeared with red. 'The priest was close. Not close enough, though. Fool.' The Pharaoh stood, eyes watering from the torture spell used against him. Yet there was more magic at work; the sorceror had used a spell to freeze time.
'Very good, Pharaoh. You shielded yourself from my Time Seal? Excellent. This way, you'll put up a fight,' he said in his cold voice, seeped in malice."
"The Pharaoh, too, knew how to play ice-person.
'You have come to claim the throne?'
'Why else would I be here? But Shadow Games are terribly troublesome. I'd rather you just *gave* me the kingdom.'
'And why would I do that?'
'Well, first I thought an all-out Shadow War might convince you. But apparently no; you are too concerned with your palace and your Priest to care about your people.' Dark eyes flashed beneath the cloak.
'What makes you think I will hand over my reign, sorceror?' asked Yami, ignoring the accusations.
The sorceror laughed. 'This...' "
"He pulled his own dagger; gold and silver and intricately beautiful. The Pharaoh sensed powerful magic bound to the object. The sorceror held it to the Priest's cheek. Yami shot out a hand, Shadow Power streaming out in a ball of energy. 'Don't be stupid, Pharaoh,' the sorceror taunted, deflecting the ball. 'Oh, dear, my hand slipped. If only I hadn't had to deflect that pitiful Shadow Magic.' There was a slice accross the Priest's cheek."
"The Pharaoh is and was very protective. And, needless to say, this pissed him off. Yet he waited, considering his options. 'He's a pretty one, isn't he, Pharaoh?' the cloaked man whispered slyly, while Yami trembled with anger. 'Very nice. Such devotion. I wonder, is he as... appetising as he looks?' The dagger still in place, he nipped the priest behind the ear, eyes watching the Pharaoh intently. Images of previous nights flashed before the ruler's eyes. A deep, rolling boom echoed through the halls, of pure, uncontrolled Shadow Magic. Pillars cracked, furniture flew through the air, swirling fifty metres above the scene. The Pharaoh struggled to control the burning anger inside, as it tore down the palace stone by stone."
"The blade suddenly shone bright white, and the sorceror dropped it in surprise. It hovered for a moment, and drips of gold and silver slowly fell to the floor, the knofe melting under the force of Yami's now somewhat controlled powers. The sorceror, distracted, was flung against a stone tablet, and the Pharaoh advanced upon him, the Shadow Realm at his mercy."
"Blood trickled from the sorceror's now visible mouth. He smirked. 'Impressive. A little too late to save your priest, though.' Yami span, confused. Seth looked fine; even his cheek wasn't bleeding. Then it occured to him. His High Priest wasn't bleeding *yet*. But if time were to once again affect him..."
"The sorceror flicked his wrist, lifting the spell. Yami ran towards his priest, who had collapsed to the floor. A large slit in his stomach gushed warm blood over the Pharaoh's robes. Seth's unfocused blue eyes slowly lifted to Yami's tear-soaked own, as he spoke his final words..."
" 'Peraa, desi neb her ib. I love you.' Yami's hand smeared across his priest's now red cheek, as he clasped his mouth in a final goodbye. Seth died in the Pharaoh's arms, as Yami's own heart broke in two. He clutched his beloved and wept, no longer aware of anything but the figure he held to his chest, as his other half was torn away from him. He summoned his remaining strength, and faced the sorceror; his final battle to avenge the one he loved."
"He could barely stand; yet he fought, and banished the sorceror, but at great cost. His body was broken; while his spirit was intact yet devestated. It was locked inside the Puzzle, and 5000 years of idleness has left him with no memory of the past. Seth's reincarnation again walks the Earth, and the priest and Pharaoh are united once again."
They sat together in silence. Presently, Seto spoke. "But that still doesn't explain Yami's loss of power."
"Hmm? Oh! That is due to the blade the priest was murdered with. I have in my posession a stone tablet, on which the actual spell upon it was recorded. It was written in the ancient Language of the Gods, but I eventually deciphered it. It went something like this;
Through Shadow Magic and Ancient Art,
In loving soul and loving heart
Through joy let sorrow now be wrung,
Until the end of both hath come.
And when again they walk the Earth
And love again returns to both,
Unleash once more the Realm of Shadow...
With this spell, may it be so."
"What does that mean?"
"That means, Kaiba, that while we sit comfortably in this penthouse in Japan, getting plastered, somewhere in the desert a rift between our world and the Shadow has opened. And it is using Yami as its power source."
* * *
Mai shouted at Jou. "You TWAT! Of course it isn't Kaiba's damn baby! And YOU, Shizuka! How stupid do you want to be? Call the authorities; I've found the missing link - it's the Jounouchis."
"Well who *is* the father?" queried Otogi.
"It's... none of your business, dice boy." She rounded on Jou again, seemingly forgetting their kiss the night before. "And you told *Yami*? Where is he?" They pointed towards the girls' bedroom, where he was still sitting, listening through the door. His eyes were out of focus.
"Fuck..." he murmered to himself. He remembered. He remembered *EVERYTHING* "Holy fucking Ra..."
"Yami, are you okay?" asked Mai, now very worried.
"I think so."
"Yami, Seto isn't the father of..."
"I know." He stood, still in a daze. He could remember his mother. His father. And... and Seth. It was truly... overwhelming. "Ra..."
* * *
Seto thanked the Egyptian woman. "I owe you, Isis. I had to hear it, eventually."
"You don't owe me anything; it is your story." He nodded, and took leave.
* * *
*points to purple button*
*wink, wink*