Ever Snow
By Seena
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Ah, bad habit of mine... starting another fanfiction when I'm supposed to be working on others! I really DO need to update more often, but I've been needing to write this, too. ^_^ Holy Ra, I'm doing a romance... *grins* Bet you thought you'd never see the day, huh?
Before we go any further, yes, Mana is Black Magician Girl's real name. Mahaado is Black Magician's real name. Not MY names for them, but Kazuki Takahashi's. Okay? ^_^
I'm planning on using the names and original spellings for everything as they're written in the manga, even if it's not the most familiar spelling (such as for , Bakura's home town). The title of the fiction, Ever Snow, will make much more sense later in the story, too...
Let's see. Things will be, for the most part, true to the story line. ...Not Mana's whole romance that a good part of the story is based on, seeing as how the one she's in love with doesn't even exist in Kazuki Takahashi's version. ^_^ But just about everything will fit the story line as I know it. If not, I'll probably mention it. Just expect the timeline to be a little, maybe a lot off, because I'm not sure exactly when everything took place. Oh, and most of the story is set in Thebes, since that was Egypt's capitol.
This chapter is called Netek see?, because that's ancient Egyptian for, Who are you?. And YES, it's real ancient Egyptian, not just me making words up. I don't know much, but I do know some. I plan to put all of my chapter titles in ancient Egyptian, and I'll give you the translation in the chapter so it's not just complete gobbley-gook to you. And all the magic/spells that I can translate will be in ancient Egyptian too; the translations for those, I'll put at the end of the chapter. See, you might learn something! ^_^
Ah, and for religious fanatic people, a warning. I'm going to talk about the ancient Egyptian gods a bit. I know lots of legends, and I know lots of gods, and they're going to be involved a little. If you have a problem with that, it's not my fault. It's not what the story's all about, and I'm not poking at anyone's religion when I'm writing this, so don't take offense to anything. Religion was a way of life in ancient Egypt. Accept it and move on.
Oh! Dedication: To Indigo Tantarian. You are AMAZING, and you know I could never have done any of this without you. And not just because of Three-In-One Combo!. You're my inspiration and my friend. To anyone who reads this, go read everything she's ever written right now. ^_^ Or at least Three-In-One Combo! if you haven't, because it's the best fanfiction ever to grace the web, and because you won't know who Ankhkare and Senui are if you don't. ...And even if you do, you probably know them better as Ankh and Scale, but this takes place in ancient Egypt and they haven't been sealed yet, and I like their real names better anyway. ^_^
Disclaimer: *takes a deep breath* All right, let me see. Last I checked, I didn't own Yu-Gi-Oh!. And I'm very glad that I don't own the dubbed version right now, because I was about ready to die from horror when I heard Yami Mariku's voice. *shudders* ...I don't own any of Kazuki Takahashi's characters or items or... anything. I won't even bother pretending that I do.
I also don't own Ankhkare; he belongs to Indigo (and Shadi), and I give her much thanks for letting me use him in this. Just about everything I say will be true to her story line, too. Senui's not in this yet, though he'll probably come in a later chapter or two (yes, I do plan to write more!). ...The next chapter, actually. ^_^ He's not mine either. ...Well, at least not as far as fanfiction ownership goes. *grins slightly* I'll just leave you to decide what THAT means on your own...
Ever Snow
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Chapter 1: Netek see?
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Another cloudless morning dawned over the Nile. The gentle rays of the rising sun played across two figures meditating along the river's peaceful banks, promising another warm, dry day. While both master and apprentice sat calmly and serenely as they practiced breathing patterns, only one was truly focused.
Mana inwardly sighed. She didn't hate meditation - it was a nice break from regular training! - but it was so hard to clear her mind of all thought, when so much was going on around her... Bugs chirped along the riverbed, and sheep from a nearby flock cried to each other. The sunlight was warm on her face, and she could smell the sweet grass as a slight breeze tickled her nose. If only I could go play... just for a little while...
You're not focusing. Mahaado's voice broke through her thoughts.
The ten-year-old blinked as she realized how far off-count her breathing pattern had become. She bowed her head humbly. I'm sorry, Master Mahaado... It's just so hard to concentrate.
The young priest smiled slightly. Yes, I know. But you have to stop thinking about everything, and just let your mind go. Let go of everything. And focus...
Mana took a deep breath, then nodded, though part of her still knew that it was impossible. And slightly pointless; why concentrate on breathing, when it was already so natural a function?
Then, let's begin again... Mahaado said as he closed his eyes once more. Relax your mind, and your spirit... just breathe. Count to ten with me in your mind, then inhale... exhale... inhale... Good...
And so, the day began, just like any other day that had come before...
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Gobbling down the rest of her boiled lamb and steamed vegetables, Mana grinned. After lunch came her favourite part of the day - recess! Two entire hours of free time in which she could do whatever she wanted. Mahaado told her this was training too, in a way, where she could release negative emotions and extra energy holding her back - though he simply laughed when Mana asked if they could spend more time doing that kind of training. While she sometimes hung around the palace to pester the guards, she usually explored the town with Mokuba - the younger brother of a high-priest-to-be, Seto. While Mokuba was almost five full years younger than her, the two young magicians were best friends.
See you later, Master Mahaado! she cried, jumping up from the table and waving goodbye as she dashed towards the door. The older mage smiled slightly and gave a vague wave back before returning to his vegetables.
Giggling happily to herself in anticipation of adventure, the young girl dashed down the hallway to their usual meeting spot just inside the palace gates. Realizing that she was a couple of minutes early, she turned to talk to one of the nearby guards while she waited.
The guard slowly sighed, obviously having dealt with her on similar occasions before. Good afternoon, he responded in a tired voice, refusing to make eye contact.
Mana smiled brightly, unfazed. Isn't it so pretty out today? I love it just after the rainy season... everything feels so fresh and new!
Is that so. His response was more of a statement than a question.
she answered, still smiling as she watched him. Don't you think so?
He shrugged, doing all he could to ignore her.
Mana sighed, catching on that the man wanted her to leave him alone. Leaning against the wall, she looked up at the sky, wondering where Mokuba was.
After a good fifteen minutes of wondering, and deciding that when she saw Mokuba, she'd have to yell at him for being late and making her lose recess time, Mana sighed, then poked the guard. Hey, if Mokuba comes here, tell him I'm looking for him. Okay?
he replied, slight annoyance in his tone.
Sighing again, Mana ran off towards the royal class' section of the palace to go urge her friend to eat faster. He KNOWS that I only get two hours... and while it's not fair that he gets three, it's doubly not fair that I should have to waste my time and wait for him! But the last time I left without him, he got all upset and didn't even talk to me again for the rest of the week... though he was only four then...
Lost in her own thoughts, the young magician cut around the corner before crashing into something - or rather, SOMEONE.
Seto cried, falling to the floor in an undignified heap as Mana did the same. Hey, watch where you're going! he glared.
The girl sighed. she replied, standing up again and offering Seto her hand to help him up. He simply glared at it for a moment before getting to his feet himself, brushing off his robes and straightening his hat.
I was looking for your brother, Mana continued. Is he still eating?
Seto shook his head. No. He's not feeling well today.
Mana blinked. ...Oh. Is he okay...? Maybe he should see a healer... ... ...So he's not coming to town with me today?
The young priest rolled his eyes. He'll be fine. And no, he won't be.
she said again as Seto shrugged and walked past her down the hall. After hesitating for a moment, she added, Then will you come instead?
He froze dead in his tracks, then turned around slowly, managing to look surprised and disgusted at the same time. I have things to do. Even if you don't.
Mana frowned slightly crossed her arms. Well, sorry for asking!
Seto frowned and turned around again, continuing his ennobled strut cooly, not even bothering to reply.
Sighing to herself, the young magician slowly turned back the way she came, disheartened and following at a slower pace. Suddenly, he turned around again. Why should I go to town with you when you can just go for me?
Mana blinked. ...Come again?
Seto smirked slightly. I have a parcel to pick up. And you're going to run an errand to town to get it for me.
Opening her mouth to protest that no, in fact, she was NOT going to run errands for anybody and least of all him, he cut her off. You're going there anyway. And you don't have much to do without my brother tagging along, anyway.
Mana bit her lip. ...Why should I? There are lots of couriers...
Seto frowned slightly and glanced up and down the hallway almost nervously.
Something about his response caught Mana's interest, and she regarded the older boy with raised eyebrows. Because... why?
His frown deepened, and he lowered his voice. ...I don't trust the couriers. Besides, I ordered you to, and you have to do what I say anyway, according ot my rank and status.
This intrigued Mana even more, though Seto's tone indicated that there was to be no further discussion. She sighed in defeat and slowly nodded.
A smirk returned to the older black mage's face. Good. ...Now, YOU'D better not go poking into my order to see what it is. Trust me, I'll know if you do! Go and come back, and don't dilly-dally along the way. Be good, and I'll teach you a new spell to impress Mahaado with as payment, all right?
Mana smiled, eager at the chance to get ahead and impress her master - especially since she knew she had been falling behind lately. Really? Thank you, Seto!
The priest grinned slightly and turned away. Just see that you get it done...
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Walking through the sandy streets of Thebes, Mana studied the piece of papyrus Seto had given her carefully. Having only recently learned how to read, she could barely understand the directions he had written. She didn't dare ask any of the townspeople for help, seeing as most of the common people couldn't read anyway - and if they could, the instructions he had written might get her into trouble. Something about this whole business seemed odd... most packages were delivered straight to palace. Maybe the high priest was doing something illegal? A smile flashed across her face at the thought, then quickly turned into a frown. Seto didn't NEED to do anything illegally. And even if he did, he wouldn't ask HER to help and risk messing it up. Thinking about it made her even more curious, so she decided to just mind the directions... which were confusing enough on their own.
But after changing her mind for the third time and doubling back again the way she came, the young magician was beginning to wish that she hadn't agreed to running this errand. And not just because she was having trouble reading; she wanted to go have some fun. It was her time off, anyway... why couldn't she go romp around town? Go and talk to the merchants, maybe do a little shopping, or discover new passageways and hidden areas of town...
You're almost there... She mentally urged herself not to give up as she turned around a corner, still studying the papyrus and trying to recall what all of the symbols meant.
Finally reaching the last order on the scroll, she stopped between two large buildings, and looked down the alley that they created nervously. Supposedly, she was to wait between the two structures until a man came up to her with the parcel she was supposed to pick up. Taking the time to get re-aquatinted with some of the symbols on the scroll, Mana made a mental note to double her efforts on studying her scribing.
However, she didn't have to wait long. After only a couple of minutes, a heavily robed man with pale skin - obviously a foreigner - came up to her and asked, As of late, how many horses have been this way?
Mana smiled slightly. It was the opening sentence to a code that Seto had told her of - both parties were to say a series of lines that proved to the other that they were the other's contact, while not seeming suspicious to any passerby. It seems like half the stable rode this way maybe an hour or two ago.
The man nodded. Might you know where they were off to?
The little girl shrugged. Unfortunately, no. No one stopped to question the riders. Why?
He shrugged in return. No reason; I was only looking for my son.
Mana said. Well, then, I wish you luck in your search.
The foreign man nodded, obviously pleased and assured of her identity from her answers, though skeptical because of her age. After slightly hesitating, he quickly glanced around and lowered his voice. ...You are the one sent by Seto?
Mana smiled in response. I am.
He breathed out a sigh and nodded again, pulling something out between the folds of his long gown. ...Take this scroll to your master, and do not open it. Understand?
She nodded, taking the thin box the scroll was apparently in and wrapping it up in a purple cloth the older mage had given her. Deciding that she shouldn't argue with her contact about Seto being her master, she handed the man a golden pendant that she had been given to pay him with. They both smiled and bowed politely to each other before going their separate ways.
**********
Mana broke into a run as she glanced worriedly at the sun. Seto's going to murder me... I should have gotten back long before now!
Getting lost in the beginning hadn't helped, even though her contact had arrived after her. Tracing the route back to the palace was hard, though she knew that it was in the northeast. But what had REALLY killed her was that she had stopped at a merchant's booth along the way. The owner was a kind old man; a traveler selling such a strange, foreign cloth that she had seen only the high priests and the Pharaoh wear before. Silk, he had called it. And it was so soft and smooth, that she couldn't help but stay and admire it for a few minutes... and a few more... and then a few more...
Oh, curse it all to Anubis... she inwardly grumbled. I shouldn't have to run errands for the egotistical fool, anyway, even if he IS my best friend's brother...
Mana sighed to herself as she ran past a couple of guards mounted on camels. Her mind wandered back to her previous thoughts on Seto's behaviour. I wonder why he wanted me to do this anyway? Something that couldn't just be delivered to the palace? And that a regular courier couldn't handle? What if it IS something illegal...? Perhaps I should turn this in, and catch Little Mister Perfect at doing breaking the rules... But, no. Mokuba would be angry at me. Besides, how am I ever going to win his respect if I rat him out? He... trusted me enough with this, when he couldn't trust anyone else. So I can't go and betray him... And I don't have any real proof he's doing anything wrong anyway. Still, I wonder what this scroll is for... A prototype spell, or an experiment? Maybe an advanced lesson he's practicing on his own. Or it could be just some personal letter from someone that he doesn't want-
Her thoughts were interrupted by an impact as she turned around a corner. For the second time that day, she hadn't been paying attention to what was going on around her, and had crashed into someone because of it.
As she shook her head at her own inattentiveness, mentally scolding herself for being so careless, Mana picked up her parcel and got back to her feet. Her apology caught in her throat, however, as her eyes met those of the young man that she had knocked down.
He was maybe five years older than her; a couple of years older than Seto, at least. His beautiful, deep lime-green eyes and hair contrasted with his blue journeyman's school robes, making his smooth features stand out even more. His pale skin, marking him as foreign or of foreign descent, was smooth and soft, like the full moon at night. A very aura of goodness and purity seemed to radiate from deep within him.
Feeling dizzy and clear-headed all at once, Mana almost dropped her scroll again. After blinking slowly a couple of times, she dumbly offered him her hand, though he had already partially gotten up. Smiling slightly, he took it and pulled himself up the rest of the way as shivers of warmth ran up and down her spine. Thanks. Are you hurt? he asked.
Mana blinked again, and she realized after a second that he had asked her a question. She stammered a soft squeak before finally finding her voice once more. ...N-no... I'm fine... Inwardly, she shook her head, wondering why her brain was suddenly so slow and her heart was beating so fast. ...Oh! ...And are you okay, too...?
The young man nodded, dusting off his robes. I'm all right, thank you. Just his simple actions seemed to put her in a trance as she watched.
Picking up his hat and brushing away the dirt from the golden snake embroidered on it, his smile turned to one of slight nervousness as he noticed her staring. Is... something the matter...?
The young black mage shook her head, hypnotized. She managed to smile back faintly, somehow unable to do much more.
The youth nodded slightly as he put his hat back on his head, then straightened it. That's good. Well, then... if you'll excuse me, I have to study... and get back to work.
Mana nodded too, though she didn't really understand. All right. ...Sorry to interrupt whatever you were doing... I didn't mean to run into you...
It's okay. Don't worry about it. He grinned a little as he turned to resume walking. I didn't think you did it on purpose! A smile, strangely natural, crossed Mana's face, and they both laughed.
With that, he nodded to her, still smiling as he left. She stood still, watching him walk - his steps hurried, yet smooth and gentle; his long, silky hair swish slightly behind him, gleaming in the sunlight; his footsteps in the sand disappearing as other townspeople walked over them... Until he was gone, the masses of villagers having completely blocked off her gaze.
...And once again, she realized how late she was. But this time, she didn't care how angry Seto would be at her slowness in picking up his scroll. Smiling slightly as she skipped back towards the palace, her heart light and her eyes sparkling, she laughed happily. After all, she thought, how often does one run into a god walking down the street?
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Well... what do you think? I'll probably keep writing even if you all hate it, because Mana won't leave the story alone. ^_^ All comments are welcome, except for flames. I don't mind constructive criticism at all, but flames are just nasty and rude.
Oh, and updates for this story will be pretty far apart. I've had a LOT to do lately, both in school and other writing, not to mention life in general. Not all of it bad, but just very time consuming. That, and I don't have constant internet access. I'm posting this from my public library, so... ^_^