Just a quick note – sorry this took so long to get up. For this story I decided I wanted to do some research relating to love relationships in Ancient Egypt. So I guess you could label this as realistic fiction, I dunno. Again, sorry for the wait; hope you enjoy! --MnY
Disclaimer: I do not own YGO. All the information concerning Ancient Egypt in this story has been researched and is true as far as public knowledge extends; sources are listed at the bottom of this page. Rated PG-13 for all those who haven't taken Health Class in school (which, dear Ra, I hope you have by now if you're reading Yaoi). ^_^
This story dedicated to Wolfspeaker.
//blah blah blah// - Yami talking
/blah blah blah/ - Yugi talking
[blah blah blah] – thinking
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In Love's Own Way
If the wind comes, it blows
toward the sycamore tree.
If you come, you blow
on the wind toward me.
--Ancient Egyptian love poem
Yugi opened his bleary eyes as the sun's first rays shined through his bedroom skylight. Stretching, the figure climbed out of bed to look out the window, squinting as he adjusted to the brightness. Everything and everyone was bright and cheerful, as the cherry blossoms had decided to bloom only two days ago. Yugi smiled as he gazed on the tree that sat outside his window – it looked like a fairytale. [It's so beautiful outside - too bad we have to go to school today, and can't enjoy all this.] He sighed as he turned from the breathtaking scene, fetching his school uniform and getting his things in order. With the blooming of the cherry blossoms usually meant the beginning of a new school year as well – this was his second week as an 11th year student at Domino High. Once dressed and ready, Yugi took one more look outside, smiling sadly. [Of course, it would be even nicer to be able to spend such a special time with someone.] He shook his head as his thoughts turned to Yami. He loved him for sure, but did his protector feel the same way? Pushing the depressing feelings from his mind, Yugi pasted a smile to his face and made his way downstairs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ohayo, Grandpa! Have you seen Yami around?" he asked as he passed the old man, who was sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper.
"Well hello, Yugi! Not to worry, Yami's in the kitchen this morning," he said as he looked up at his grandson, gesturing towards the said room.
Yugi smiled and nodded his head, proceeding into the kitchen for some breakfast. Yami was standing there presently, peeling potatoes for supper. Yugi's smile turned into a grin as he watched his yami. "Whoa, Grandpa's got you working already?" he said teasingly to his guardian, who simply narrowed his eyes and muttered something along the line of "slave labor". Yugi chuckled at his yami's stubbornness in the morning. He was about to get something out to eat when Yami turned to stop him.
"Ne, Yugi," he started, taping a finger on his aibou's shoulder as the other whirled around. "I already made you breakfast, aibou. It's sitting on the table."
"Really? Wow, thanks Yami!" Yugi raced to the table before his protector could see the blush that had started to creep across his face. Smiling, he sat down to eat before noting something out of the ordinary.
"Say, Yami?"
"Hmm?"
"Uh, I hate to sound stupid-"
"Aibou, nothing you say is ever stupid. What is it?"
Another blush. "…well, I was wondering what this flower is that you have set in the middle of the table. It's been sitting here for a few days; what is it?"
Yami stopped peeling the vegetables suddenly, letting out a sigh before turning to meet Yugi's inquisitive eyes. He smiled sadly.
"It's a lotus flower, Yugi. It…it's a flower native to my own time."
"Oh. Ok, I understand!"
Yami did his best to tear his eyes away from his beautiful hikari to focus on the flower sitting nearby. It's amethyst petals reflected Yugi's eyes perfectly; the yellow center like his golden bangs. Yami felt his heart drop a little at his aibou's words, so naïve. [No Yugi, you don't understand. You don't understand at all.]
Caught up in his own thoughts, Yami was suddenly snapped back to reality as he realized Yugi was waving his hand in front of his face. "Ne, Yami, you in there?"
Shaking his head a little, Yami returned his attention to his charge. "Sorry Yugi. I was thinking."
"About?"
"Something…and someone."
"Wow, must have really been SOME person, huh?" Yugi replied weakly, trying his best not to let his insecurity show.
"Yes."
There was a slight pause in the conversation, neither of the two teens wanting to leave, nor brave enough to break the silence. Before the situation could turn awkward, however, Yugi's ears perked as the clock chimed, signaling that he was late for class.
"Oh! Gomen ne, I've got to go. See you later, Grandpa! Bye Yami!"
"Hey, Yugi, wait."
"Huh?" Just as Yugi was about to step out the door, he turned to intercept a piece of flying fruit. He looked it over – he had never seen an apple this strange looking before.
"Nande?"
The sad smile returned as Yami explained. "It's a mandrake fruit. Again, something from my time. …Just in case you get hungry during the day, perhaps."
"Sugoi! Thanks, Yami!"
Yami continued to stare out the open doorway which Yugi had left wide open, watching the retreating form of his aibou as he raced to school.
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Take dandruff from the scalp of a dead person, who was murdered, and seven grains of barley, buried in the grave of a dead man, and crush it with 10 oipe of apple pips. Add the blood of a tick from a black dog, a drop of blood from the ring finger of your left hand and your semen. Crush it to a compact mass, place it in a cup of wine and add 3 outeh mut which you have not yet tasted and which has not yet been used for offering. Recite the said formula over it seven times and let your beloved drink it. Tie the skin of the tick in a piece of linen and tie it in a knot around your left arm.
[…OK, I realize things were a little different back then, but that is downright disgusting! There's no way I could make my Aibou drink that! What in Ra's name were we thinking?] Yami sighed, closing the book and laying it aside as he leaned back in his chair, his hands placed behind his head.
[Oh well. That's that. Besides, I wouldn't want to receive Yugi's love with him under the influence of some potion. It would have to be from the bottom of his heart, or not at all. Though, the latter is more likely,] he thought gloomily. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out what looked like a small, carved stone. Taking the amulet between both his hands, Yami leaned forward as he began reciting the prayer he had learned so many years ago.
"Celtatalbabal. Karashneife. Nnas'knekie, by the power of Yao Sabaoth, Rous rous rous rous rous rous rous.
I adjure you by your powers and your amulets and
places where you dwell and your names, that just as I take you
and put you at the door and the pathway of Yugi, grandson of Solomon,
you must take his heart and his mind; you must dominate
his entire body.
When he tries to stand, you must not allow him to stand.
When he tries to sit, you must not allow him to sit.
When he lies down to sleep, you must not allow him to sleep.
He must seek me from town to town, from city to city,
from field to field, from region to region,
until he comes to me and subjects himself under my feet-
me, Yami son of Ra-
while his hand is full of all goodness,
until I satisfy with him the desire of my heart
and the demand of my soul,
with pleasant desire and love unending,
right now, right now, at once! Do my work."
Yami opened his eyes, looking upwards. [Though this love may not always have been accepted in my time, please, Hathor, show me your kindness.]
Somewhere, a figure smiled from above the clouds.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Aw man! We just got here, an' there already makin' us do all dis research! We should be doin' this later in tha year; right, Yug?"
Yugi smiled as he looked up at his blonde friend. "Come on, Jounouchi. It could be interesting! Don't you want to learn?"
Jou waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, I guess. Heh! Who needs ta learn? I, Jounouchi Katsuya, know all!" The tall teen laughed as he struck an overdramatic pose, causing Yugi and several others to sweat drop nervously. [Well, at least Kaiba isn't here – who knows what could happen,] Yugi reflected. Ignoring Jou's upset, the shorter teen walked over to a bookcase, looking for some materials to help him with his project.
"Hmm…looking for something on Rome…Rome…hm? What's this doing here?" he asked himself as he pulled down an old, red book. Printed along the binding it read, 'Customs of Ancient Egypt'.
[Someone must have misshelved this. Still, it looks interesting….] His mind wandered off as he opened the book to a random page to read part of it. Amethyst orbs began scanning the text, when suddenly he stopped at a certain passage, stunned.
[What? No way….]
Symbols of Love
Contrary to popular belief, the Ancient Egyptian people were in no way the gloomy, death-obsessed culture that so many have come to believe. Love and marriage played a very important part in Egyptian society; it was widely celebrated, and many customs were associated with the pursuit of love. For example, the lotus flower symbolized life, love, and desire, much like the red rose does for Americans. The fruit of the mandrake plant was also known to symbolize love.
[Lotus flowers…and mandrake fruit…could this mean?]
Many of those who wished for blessing in love would carve amulets and pray to Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love and music. …The lute and lyre were played to invoke feelings of desire and possibly to woo one's love. Orchestras were common at all Egyptian banquets for this reason.
[…not many people play lute or lyre anymore…but wait! Yami suddenly took up guitar a little while ago! The fruit, the flower, the music – everything leads back to these Egyptian customs of love!] Yugi's heart sped up quickly, beating excitedly within his chest as he realized what this meant. [Yami…Yami loves me!] His eyes shined with tears of happiness as he closed the book, holding it tight. Letting out a small laugh, he ran from the room.
Jou looked up, about to ask something, but Yugi was already gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami sat, strumming his guitar lightly under the cool shade of the cherry tree. The gentle breeze passed him, caressing his hair as pink blossoms fell all around. It was a sharp contrast to see; the dark, leather-clad figure in such a light and cheerful place, especially when he felt no such happiness in his heart. Yami sighed, sick with love. He had tried to court Yugi for the past few days – but, not understanding the modern ways of doing so, had to refer back to what little he knew from his own time and culture. Despite his efforts, Yugi either didn't understand or didn't care, which only depressed Yami further. If his aibou didn't understand, then how was he to explain it? And if Yugi just didn't care…. He looked up sadly into the branches of the tree he sat against, closing his eyes as he continued to finger the strings of his guitar, never noticing two amethyst orbs as they peeked around the side of the house.
Yugi waited a few moments before stepping out, making sure that he remembered the words and that Yami wouldn't notice him until he started speaking. Softly and carefully he tread forward, his heart beating rapidly as he began his poem-song.
[Huh? What's that sound?] Yami thought to himself. [Someone's…speaking Ancient Egyptian? But wh-] All of the past-pharaoh's thoughts came to a halt as he opened his eyes to see who was speaking. He stared as his aibou walked forward, reciting a poem as if he had lived in Ancient Egypt himself. The sweetness of the words which he spoke made him start even further as he listened to Yugi's melodic voice.
My heart has a portion of yours.
I do its will for you
when I am in your arms.
My prayer is the paint of my eyes.
The sight of you makes bright
my eyes. I come close
to see your love for me.
Beloved lord of my heart!
How lovely my hour with you!
It flows forever for me
since first I lay with you.
Whether in sorrow or joy,
you have exalted my heart.
Never leave me, I beg.
"Y-Yugi…."
"Hello Yami," he replied, smiling.
Yami blinked, then shook his head to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. But it was real – he was real, as were the words he had uttered. He stared at his charge, unknowingly causing the other to blush as Yami's eyes perused his thin form. Yugi no longer wore his school outfit; instead, he had donned a light, white shirt and kilt, both of which were slightly see-through, reminiscent of the clothing style of Ancient Egypt. His hair shone radiantly as he shifted his sandaled feet nervously, waiting for Yami's further reaction.
//You look beautiful, // Yami stated, having forgotten all of his usual checks and pretenses as he simply gawked at his hikari.
Yugi blushed further at the comment as he moved forward, removing the guitar from Yami's lap and sitting in its place. He laughed a little as Yami's face now went red, confirming Yugi's earlier conclusion. Without saying a word, he projected his discovery of the book into his protector's mind, silently showing that he now understood Yami's customs.
/Yami…. / Yugi started, soon after the mental images had faded.
//What is it, little one?//
/I'm sorry that I didn't understand what you've been trying to tell me for so long. Really. Yami, I love you. /
He held up a beautiful white lotus blossom, which he had been hiding behind his back, offering it to Yami. The protector took it quickly, never letting his eyes leave the sight of his aibou. Seeing as how he was still in half-shock, Yugi leaned against his guardian and nuzzled his cheek. Yami blinked at the touch, then closed his eyes as he wrapped his strong arms around his aibou, burrowing his face in Yugi's soft, fragrant hair.
//I love you too, Yugi. I always have. // Pulling slightly back, he looked into his charge's amethyst eyes once again. //But, aibou…why didn't you say anything?// Yami had never told Yugi outright about his love, but he had left as many hints as he could. Why didn't his aibou do the same? Yami suddenly regretted asking the question as he felt his hikari's emotions sink, eyes averted.
/A…Ano…I never thought you could love me. Yami, you're perfect – you could have anyone you wanted…I just never believed that I could ever be good enough for you…you…you deserve better. Really. I'm such a loser – I just don't understand why you would pick me over someone else, like Kaiba or Joey or-/
Yugi was suddenly taken aback, feeling Yami's panic briefly before the teen grabbed him in a tight embrace, swiftly lowering his head to catch Yugi's lips in a deep, desperate kiss. Moaning slightly, he quickly submitted to his guardian, clutching at Yami shirt tightly as the past-pharaoh continued to kiss him fiercely.
//Nonononodon'tgosweethikaristaylovekindgentlesweetcaringaibouyoucannotleaveIneedyoustayyoubelongtomedon'tgo-//
/Y-yami?/ The words, the kiss, the embrace – Yami seemed so desperate, almost scared. [Baka, what did I do?] he thought frantically. /Yami, what's wrong? Tell me, please! I'm right here, it's ok!/ he continued, moving his hand to stroke the other teen as Yugi gently broke apart the kiss to look up at him worriedly. He reached up to touch Yami's handsome face, another hand soon covering his own to keep it there as Yami sighed.
//Yugi…how could you ever think such things? I don't care what others think, even if you yourself say you're not worthy. That is not true – it never can be. You are my Light, my star to follow when all else is lost. By Ra, you're my other half! Yugi, I can't LIVE without you. Not that I'd ever want to; but even if you weren't, I still could not choose anyone better than you to love. Kaiba, Joey – neither of them could ever be as sweet or kind or gentle or beautiful as you are to me, Hikari.//
/Yami…. /
//Yugi, whatever happens…please promise me you'll never think such thoughts ever again. You're precious to me, no matter what; I love you. //
Eyes shimmering with happiness and tears, Yugi practically smothered his guardian in a loving hug. /I promise Yami-chan! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to get you upset!/ He tried to burrow his head into Yami's chest, wanting to get as close as possible to his koi. /Will you forgive me?/
//Of course, aibou, // he said as he moved to tilt Yugi's chin up gently with a hand. The cherry blossoms had dropped a few of their petals onto Yugi's head; smiling, Yami brushed them away as he enjoyed the feel of his hikari's soft, feathery hair. Dropping his head down to meet Yugi's, they kissed again in what was this time a gentle, loving embrace.
The puzzle was now complete.
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Sources:
*Coptic Spell: Spell for a Man to Obtain a Male Lover. http:// www.fordham.edu / halsall / pwh / copticspell.html .
Fowler, Barbara. Love Lyrics of Ancient Egypt. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1994. pp. 25, 79.
**Hayes, Michael. The Egyptians. New York, New York: Rizzoli, 1998.
***Manniche, Lise. Sexual life in ancient Egypt. New York: Distributed by Columbia University Press, 1997. (pages not remembered)
* - Spaces not included in web address.
**- This is an EXCELLENT book if you are at all interested in the culture and history of Ancient Egypt. I highly recommend reading this book.
*** - This book is graphic, and should be rated something like PG-17. Anyone who has taken health class and is comfortable with "the birds and the bees" should be fine. But you have been warned!