Chapter Five-Proper Rites for a Fallen Priestess
A day later, Victoria had calmed down enough to write out a full ritual for her late friend. The funeral was that afternoon, but that was only a formality. The final rites would be that night, in the play lot. She'd asked Yami Bakura how people in his time did funerals, but he wouldn't tell her. However, he did tell her to go with her instinct , and things would come out all right. Marik's health was greatly improved now too, so he was sitting with her in the kitchen, as she wrote up a list of supplies. She looked up at him several times, wondering if he thought she was doing something silly.
"I understand why." Marik told her softly, obviously reading her mind. "It's the way you girls always handled things." He had had the privilege of meeting Jennifer Monroe the night before. He had been taken quite by surprise by her appearance. The young girl bustled around in long dangling furs, and several other things. She even had a cellular phone. "Do you think Jenny should be there? You told me about how she treated Johanna..."
"She should be there. She is the Pharaoh's guardian." Victoria replied, without looking up. She had a most mechanical, ritualistic tone in her voice. "I doubt she will do much for it though."
"I see..." Marik sighed deeply. "It's almost time for the funeral. You should get ready to go."
"I don't want to go..." Victoria admitted. "Does that make me a bad person, Marik?"
"Of course not. No one ever wants to see their friends and loved ones laid to rest. But as a good friend to Jo, I think you should be there." Marik replied calmly. It wasn't going to be easy living with her for a while. He could sense it already.
With a sigh, Victoria closed her planning book and went upstairs to change, as Ishizu walked in. "Is she doing any better?" The young woman sat across from Marik, looking concerned.
"I don't know, honestly. She's become really withdrawn. I don't think anyone's going to be reaching her for quite a while." The young boy looked up at his sister. "Why do these things have to keep happening? It doesn't seem right!"
"You're right. It isn't right for one to go through as much as we have." Ishizu sighed deeply. "We should prepare for any rebellion she might wage. In a situation like hers, you just never know."
"I know." Marik looked towards the living room. Victoria was playing with her cat now, in her long black skirt and matching turtleneck. He shook his head, and went upstairs to change as well.
"Oh, Ishie.....I can't say goodbye to her this afternoon then do it again tonight. It's going to be too much." She snuggled her cat gently, and giggled a little when he licked her tears away. "She was wrong. You're way better than Oreo!" The cat meowed softly, beginning to purr. "I love you, Ishtar. You're the one and only constant in my life, and I'll kill anyone who attempts to take you away from me." There was more purring from the cat, before Rishid walked in.
"That's a pretty heavy threat, Victoria." Rishid spoke up softly.
"I know, Rishid, but I mean every word of it." The youngest Ishtar stared up at her eldest brother. "I do mean it, Rishid."
"I believe you do." Rishid patted her on the head. "Just don't follow up on it." He stood up, as Marik and Ishizu both came in. The other three Ishtars were all ready for the funeral. "Are you ready, Victoria?"
"I have to be...." The girl replied bravely, as Marik helped her to her feet. "Let's go."
The funeral was just a small gathering of people, since hardly anyone knew Johanna. Joey Wheeler, Duke Devlin, three of the five Robas and both Yami and Ryou Bakura were present. It seemed like it was a very fast service, then it was time to lay the body to rest. Tori went forward, with Jennifer. The two girls glanced at each other. Victoria nodded to Jenny. She would let the Pharaoh's pet speak first. It was expected.
"I...I really don't know what to say. Unlike Victoria, this is my first loss in my life. I...well, my first impression of Jo was that she was bossy, thieving know it all girl. As I played with her more and more, I began to see that Johanna Watson knew what she was talking about. She was wise beyond her years, even at a young age. The only mistake she ever made wasn't even hers. She was forced to take care of herself at such a young age, my kind, that is, the rich people, expected her to die in a year or two. But she didn't. She fought the cruelty of the streets, and it's various occupants. Not only that, Johanna fought other people's demons too. Whether she knew it or not, she helped me. See, I was one of "Pharoah's Pets"as her and Victoria were always reminding me. But, it wasn't my fault I couldn't help. My family, that is, the adults in it, refused to give handouts. I was helpless to stop it. Until Jo slapped me." Jenny paused, smiling a little at the memory of the encounter. "See,I had been picking on Victoria for how insane she'd been. Johanna backhanded me so hard, then just broke down. I found out that Tori hadn't said a word about my own encounters with Yami Bakura, Yami Marik or the Pharaoh himself. She very well could've, but she didn't. Then Jo accused me of being a hypocrite. She was right. While I was claiming to be on Pharoah Atemu's side, I was being opposite of him. For I had misread things. After that day, I began donating things behind my parents' backs. And now, I even help out in the streets, when I can. See, what I learned from Jo is...just because someone looks poor or rich on the outside, doesn't mean they are. It's what's inside that counts, and I believe Johanna proved that the night she fought not for her life, but for someone else's."
By the time Jenny finished up her talk, Victoria found herself in tears again. So many of the things Jenny had said were true. She moved forward now, clearing her throat. She looked towards the closed casket, with a shiver. "I knew Johanna before either of us could talk. She was immediately protective of me. As we got older, our personal home situations got worse. Therefore, we hid away from them we could. We built a private world, where pharaohs still ruled, and gods and goddesses held the future at their fingertips. Johanna's fascination with grave robbing, and stealing was an early one. Her mother had often told her stories of their ancestors whom had been tomb raiders. Whether those stories were true or not, we're not sure. But Jo's imagination was captivated plenty. When Yami Bakura made his first appearance to her, I knew the stories were about to be modernized. There was one major difference that I didn't count on. Jo wound up having to steal to live. It turns out her mother and father both abandoned her, flying to Cairo late one night without their four-year-old daughter. This sent Jo on a downward spiral she never quite got off of. As insane as she might seem, Johanna was far from it. She had a heart of gold, in most cases. Only when Yami Marik and Yami Bakura brought us here, to our mind's reality, did she reveal her anger and hurt. Yet, she remained true to me, in her own way. The night Johanna died, she and I had gotten into a big argument about her rebellious nature. I assured her it would be the end of her, but she never took the hint. I guess I should be glad she didn't. Without her interference, I would not be here." Victoria paused, turning to the casket once more. In a shaky voice, she spoke again. "T-thank you, Johanna..........f-for all th-that you ever d-did for me." At length, Victoria managed to stumble her way back to her seat, as Tristan and Joey lowered the casket into the ground. She cried softly, as Christien rubbed her back. They sang one final song before the small gathering broke up. Marik led the way back to their car.
"Victoria! Wait." It was Duke who spoke up as the youngest Ishtar was about to climb in back next to her sister.
"Duke?" Victoria hadn't really had much contact with the dice master since her arrival a year ago.
"I'm really sorry about your friend." He bowed his head in respect. "I...I was wondering if you'd be interested in a summer job...you know...after everything's died down."
"A summer job?" Victoria looked up at him. "Working for you?" This was a bit of a surprise.
"Yeah. I mean, all my usual workers are going to be going on vacation,and I'm really going to need help." Duke explained.
"I'll let you know." Victoria replied uneasily. It wasn't really like Duke to just ask anyone to work with him. Normally, they offered other opportunities for him as well. She got into the car, and closed the door.
Later in the evening, Christien knocked on the Ishtars' door. It was time for the main ritual for Jenny and Victoria to do. The idea of an actual ritual from the time of the pharaohs spooked him. But he'd promised to be there for Victoria no matter what. He'd dropped the littles off at Joey's already, and he was ready to help her. He smiled when Mokuba answered the door. "Are you going to the ritual?"
"I am. And so is Marik." Mokuba let him in, calling out to Victoria. "Christien's here!"
Victoria appeared at the bottom of the stairs, looking gorgeous, despite the tear stains on her cheeks. Christien wondered if they'd be a permanent part of her features. "Hey..."
"Hi, Chris." Victoria hugged him tightly. "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." Christien smiled gently, hugging her back. "We should get going, right? You still have to set up." Christien walked with her over to her scooter. "Are you going to ride over alone?"
"I probably should. You can come though. Everyone else will be there in about thirty minutes."
"Okay." Christien patted her shoulder gently. "I'm not gonna leave you, Victoria. I promise."
"Th-thank you, Christien...." Victoria replied, getting on her scooter and kicking off towards the lot. Christien followed her, with Mokuba behind him.
Once in the lot, things moved a lot faster than Victoria thought. Jenny had been there since after the funeral, setting everything up. She looked up at Victoria when she entered. "Did you bring a box for her afterlife things?"
"Yeah...." Victoria still found Jenny's presence surreal. "Did you bring the beef sticks and god guide?" Those two things were left over from their other Egypt lot.
"Yep." Jenny gazed over at the building that was Seth's temple. "Are you going to give all of this up when we're done? This is much nicer than the one you two had back home."
"The Kaibas gave me the land, then Mokuba helped me build everything. The fountain is an actual fountain." Victoria smiled lightly. "I don't know yet ,actually. Probably won't ever play another game, but I want to keep the lot." She placed the box on the makeshift altar.
"And it's your perfect right to do whatever you want with it." Christien encouraged. He wasn't sure, but he thought he detected a drastic change in Victoria already. "Can I help with anything, Tori?"
"No....everything is almost ready. We're just waiting for Bakura,Yami Bakura and my siblings." She looked at Jenny. "Do you think Yami will come?"
"I don't know..." Jenny sighed. "I've been here for two days, and I haven't had the courage to go and see him." The truth was, Jenny knew the pharaoh wouldn't be happy with her, and she wasn't sure of how she'd handle things with him.
"You should reall y go see him after we're done." Victoria told her. "He asked about you last week."
"Okay.....maybe I will." Jenny smiled at Victoria a little, then they turned, hearing a noise in the gate. "I think they're here."
And they were. After everyone was settled down in a special place she'd made for the occasion, she cleared her throat, and began to explain things. "What you're about to see is a demonstration. One final episode we must play out." She spoke in well tr ained priestess voice. It was as if she was Ra's priestess Saria. Saria was her Egypt character. Jenny nodded,and took up her own " pharonic " voice.
"Thousands of years ago, important people to the pharaoh were buried in royal ceremony,as if they too were the pharaohs of the land. Even though her role to the pharaoh was small, Jo's loyalty the Seth speaks for itself. "
"And so, we now return Seth's servant to him. " Victoria broke in, sprinkling water on the marked box. "People were often buried with their favorite possessions, so that they could use them once more in the afterlife." She picked up a couple of beef sticks. "These were the food of choice for Johanna. Just a little nip of these, and Johanna claimed to be full." She placed them in box. She turned to Jenny, who had moved to Seth's temple to get Jo's deck.
"And this was her one and only success to some. She managed to collect an entire collection of cards dedicated to Yami Bakura. She'll want these." Jenny added the cards to Jo's box, before turning to the spectators. "Does anyone else have anything else they'd like to add to the afterlife box?"
"I do." Victoria slowly lowered her copy of Evil Spirit of the Ring into the box. "This was our first episode of Yu gi oh ever. It just so happens Jo was taken by Yami Bakura from the start, so this is very appropriate." Victoria wiped her misty eyes, choking back sobs.
"And this is the cat toy that she bought for Oreo a month ago." Yami Bakura surprised everyone including himself by stepping forward. "They played with this for hours on end." He laid the toy in the box. He nodded to Victoria, a silent message that she was doing just fine.
Victoria mouthed thank you to Yami Bakura before sobering again. "Last call..." She closed the box a few minutes later. She went to stand beside Jenny who took her hand. In unison, the two girls spoke a prayer in the old Egyptian. It was a prayer for the dead that Johanna had taught them for one of their games a few years back. When they wrapped up, she dropped to her knees dramatically, and bowed her head. "Lord Seth, the priestess of Ra pleas for you to reclaim your daughter once more. Take her in your arms, and cradle her with your love."
"The spirits of the pharaohs in the past guide and take care of those she leaves behind. Let them not grieve a loss, but celebrate a better life for their friend." Jenny chimed in, and for a while they continued to petition for Johanna's journey. At length, Jenny stood, and helped Victoria up.
Victoria wondered if Anubis would judge Jo for her wrong doings or for her heroics. She called out in a final plea. "May Anubis not judge her too harshly for her past deeds."
"And he will not." There was a stronger, yet quiet voice that responded. Victoria felt the eyes of Pharaoh Atemu u pon her, and she turned, in silent disbelief.
"Pharaoh?" She asked in a hushe d voice. "How...?"
"A friend told me. I am sorry, Victoria." He bowed his head briefly. "You have done well with this. Jo would've been proud." He hugged her gently. "I'm also sorry I cannot seem to contain that foul being."
"It's going to be all right..." Victoria replied, hugging him back. She straightened a minute later. "And now, it is with a joyous heart we bid a final farewell to Johanna Watson. Friend,Protector and Priestess." She glanced again at the box, before nodding to Jenny, who put it away in Seth's temple. Jennifer used masking tape to seal the entire entrance off. No one would ever use that temple again.
She stood with her family, and Christien several minutes after wrapping up the ritual, listening to all the idle chatter. Christien was telling Mokuba abou t the play they were going to do for the summer theater group. "It's going to be huge! Tori, you should get in on this, you know."
"I can't even think of plays right now." Victoria replied. "Maybe ask me again in a day or two." She smiled sadly at Christien. "We're still going to the pool fiesta if you want to though. I can't sit around and wait for her to come back. She's not going to."
"I would love to go. But only if you're up to it." Christien told her softly, putting her hand in his. "I should head home now though. If you need me, page me. Espa's letting me borrow his pager for a while."
"Thanks, Chris..." She hugged him tightly. "I'll talk to you later." She was admittedly very tired. She looked around for Jenny, and spotted her in the corner of the lot, talking to Pharaoh Atemu. "Jenny! I'm going to head hom e now..."
"Right. Talk to you soon." Jenny replied, all the emotion from the ritual out of her voice.
She leaned on Marik as the two friends exited the lot. "I'm sorry to say it, but I'm glad this is all over...all I want to do now is move on."
"That is t he best thing you can do, my friend. And we are all here to help you." Marik told her, as he led her to their car ,where Ishizu and Rishid were now waiting. "For now, you should just worry about resting."
"You're probably right." Victoria said softly. "I'm so very tired now..." She wasn't even in the car five seconds before she dropped off on Marik's shoulder.
Marik smiled, smoothing her hair. "You're going to be all right.....I promise you." He held her gently, as Rishid turned the car to their house. And somehow, I will make that murderous demon pay for everything he's done to her!