Hi, minna! I'm back with another story to share with you... even though the one I've been working on isn't even near completion yet. It's a side-story that Youlan wrote as a companion piece to Past Memory and it stars Atem as a young ten year-old boy who dresses up a girl on his mother's orders. Why, some might ask?
I don't want to start giving away plot lines but ... it's one that is the reason why this fanfic was even written in the first place. In the main story, Atem was supposed to be sacrificed as part of a plot by a very ambitious man who wanted the throne of Egypt for himself. But to save him, his mother secretly exchanged him with his twin sister. Now, because everyone thought it was he who had died, Atem had to dress up as a girl and pretend he was his sister. This story is to explain how he eventually revealed his true identity as a man and stop his 'crossdressing' days. o
I'm posting this 'junk' here only once and for reference purposes.
Title: Past Memory -- OVA
Author: Youlan
Translator: Rika (Me)
Summary: This is a story of a ten year-old Egyptian prince who is tired of his life, feeling that he has no control of it. Follow the adventures of said Prince as he gets a chance to see the world in which he was born into and will one day rule over.
Pairings: None
Rating: PG
Genres: General, Adventure
Warnings: Ancient Egypt AU, crossdressing men
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is the property of Takahashi Kazuki, Shonen Jump, TV Tokyo, Konami, 4Kids Entertainment and a bunch of other companies.
Please check out my bio for links to the original chapters in Chinese if you are interested in reading them. But first, enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 1
I do not want to conceal myself anymore! I really wish I could take off that false mask. I truly wish that I can live on this world with my own true position and appearance ...
From the moment I could remember, I had been treated and raised like a girl, even though I did not know why that was so. I once tried to resist it, but all I got in return was my mother's tears. I've always thought that I was truly similar to a puppet controlled by other people, with no freedom of my own.
Until that day came ... and that person ... changed my life ...
On this year, I was ten but was about to be eleven years old. Why? Because in five days, it would be my birthday. The entire country were looking forward to that day's approach. All except me. When I think of having to attend the celebration as a girl for this year's birthday, I couldn't bring myself to be happy. How vexing!
{In the Palace}
"Mother! Why must I dress like a girl again this year?!" I angrily shout at her.
"Uro [1], you know the reason why ..." My mother lowered her head while tears began to form at the corners of her eyes.
"I don't want to! I absolutely will not do it!" I roared the final part at her and promptly ran out of her room. I end up hiding in my room. I feel so resentful!
Even a criminal could live with their true identity. What about me? A prince of Egypt, the heir to the throne of Egypt, reduced to dressing up as a girl every day. Thinking about it now, it is rather laughable. When I think about this, the corners of my mouth unconsciously curled up into a slight smile.
"Prince Atem [2]." My mother's personal maid, Sala, comes to stand next to me. "Please try to understand ... after all, the Queen is doing this for your own good. Besides ..." She looks at me. "Your Highness, when you dress as a female, it doesn't look all that funny. On the contrary, it looks quite natural." She smiles.
It seems she only said that to console me but when I heard it, I become enraged!
"That's enough! Be quiet!" I furiously shout and stood up. "I am a man! I do not want to dress as a gentle and fragile girl any more! I hate it so much!" I bark out.
"Your Highness ..." Apparently, she wanted to say something else but I didn't give her the time to.
"Get out! Don't come here any more!" I point towards the door.
In the evening, I honestly didn't want to stay in the palace so I quietly changed clothes. Unfortunately no matter what I changed into, it was still feminine costumes. Oh well ... I was forced to change into the most plain outfit. I wear a hooded black cloak and after leaving behind a note with a few simple sentences on the table, I slip out of the palace through a hidden door when the guards weren't paying attention.
Author's Corner:
Youlan: This "Extra Story" was typed up purely for explaining how the Pharaoh changed back into dressing in male attire. Because when I was typing the chapters for Past Memory, I forgot to consider this point. Now I hastily bring to you ...
Through a reader who called attention to this, I became aware that the story lacked this part. I wish to ask for everyone's forgiveness. (kowtows)
Final Words from Rika:
People who have read the other story that this is based from (namely Past Memory), you don't have to read these notes. It's just for the readers who haven't seen the other story.
[1] This wasn't what Youlan (the author) used. She had made up a nickname that was based on the name she used for the main character. Since I didn't use the name she chosen, it wouldn't make sense to keep the nickname the same as well since no one would understand the connection or meaning of the word. I used the name 'Uro' which means 'king' in Egyptian in its stead.
[2] Like I mentioned in the first footnote, I changed the main character's name here. Why? I didn't like the original name used and it would have sounded strange to people who don't speak/understand Chinese. In it's place, I am using the name that Takahashi-sensei had used for Yami no Yuugi, Atem/Atemu. It just seemed better that way.
Before I stop typing, I just want to add that all reviews are always welcome. And a big thanks to the people who read this story. It's for you people that I am even going through all this trouble to translating this fanfic into English.
Uploaded to Fanfiction.net on May 14, 2004.