-room deathly quiet-
Dragon: Umm Desidera?
Desidera -stumbles in and throws her schoolbag into some corner- I'm so sorry. Sorry sorry....
-starts typing something, then notices she hasn't even turned on the PC- Aaaargh!!!
Dragon: -chuckles- bad day huh?
Desidera: - smiles at her - You have no idea...– turns on PC and starts typing in earnest –
--------------
Seto entered the royal stables just as Atemu mounted a raven colored Arabian stallion. The magnificent beast's muscles quivered in anticipation, sensing its riders fear and urgency of the situation.
Powerful crimson eyes took notice of the man as gathered up the decorated reigns. "Seto what are you doing here?"
"You are going to fight are you not?" he said as he stepped towards a sleek bay gelding.
"Yes, I am but you are not. It's too dangerous out there."
Seto paused in his tracks, looking back at the Pharaoh. "I can fight. You don't have to worry if I can hold my own or not."
Atemu nudged his horse forward, placing it between the bay and his priest's look-a-like. "I have no doubt that you take care of your self, that is if this was a normal battle. But this is a magical one with Ka monsters involved. You do now know how to summon yours on your own and I can't spare the energy to help you. I will need all my strength if I am to keep my people safe."
The reincarnate growled, "Damnit Pharaoh! I will not just stand by and hide behind your palace walls while you and my other are out there fighting!"
A warm smile graced the Pharaoh's face before he bent down gave Seto a chaste kiss on the lips. Pulling back he took in the stunned look on the other's face before he turned to Jahi, "Take Seto to the towers if he wishes to see."
Jahi nodded his head and handed the sovereign his sword. "May the gods be with you my Pharaoh."
Seto's body was betraying him as he heard hoof beats leave the stables only to be joined up by hundreds more as they left the safety of the palace walls. 'He…kissed me. He KISSED me. He kissed ME!' played out in is head over and over again. Never had anyone ever been so bold with him before. Everyone but his brother ran from him, not wanting to anger the teen. But this person had went beyond just talking and looking to actual physical contact.
He didn't know whether to be angry or happy, for right now he was just to damn confused. Didn't the Priest and the Pharaoh have something going on? He was pretty sure they did, but if that was the case then why had the crimson eyed royal kissed him?
Seto groaned while shaking his head to clear it. That's when he realized that he was standing there in the stables with only the Priest's mutt for company and that person was currently glaring at him. "WHAT?!"
"I don't know why the Pharaoh did that, but if you interfere with him and my Master I will personally rip your head off," Jahi growled out.
Icy blue eyes returned the glare. "What's it to you? It's not like you cared before about…"
'I almost said my happiness. What the hell is wrong with me? This is not Joey, Seth is not me and I most certainly do NOT have any feelings for that annoying Pharaoh!'
Jahi was not deterred by this person's anger, "I've seen the way they look at each other. I've also seen the change in my Master. Some how he has gotten beneath the walls the Priest has built around his heart and soul and the Pharaoh banished the shadows that threatened to consume it. He is the light to my Master's darkness and I will not have you endangering that!"
Those words sent a flood of memories and emotions coursing threw him. He remembered his soul being shattered by the 'other' Yugi, only for him to be left to piece it back together. He gave him a second chance when he didn't deserve it. Seth's soul was shadowed as his own was once the same.
'He is the light to my Master's darkness'
The Master was Seth. Seto was Seth. Darkness in both of them. One and the same.
The light was the Pharaoh and Seth needed the light.
Did he too need the light?
-----------
Atemu was riding as fast as possible. The horse's hooves whirled up the sand and enveloped the following troops of the pharaoh in a thick cloud.
"This way, my pharaoh!", one of the guards shouted and they made a sharp turn to the right, the way leading towards the middle of the city.
There, above the roofs a desperate Blue Eyes White Dragon roared, shattering a dozen of its enemies with one deadly blast.
The pharaoh saw this and realized he had to be quick, even if it was only in drawing the enemy's attention towards him.
He brought his horse from breakneck speed to a sudden stop, rising in the saddle and starting to chant softly. The Sennen eye appeared on his forehead and started to glow, along with the Puzzle, while his body was once more engulfed in living crimson shadows, swirling around him. Suddenly, clouds drew together in the sky as the shadows crept towards them, mingling with the Sennen eyes golden glow. The clouds were now glowing a red so deep they were almost black. Rays of bright light broke through, like they would after a terrible storm. The guards shielded their eyes.
When the brightness faded and they opened them again, the foot guards instantly fell to their knees. Above them hovered the mightiest of the gods, Ra. The golden dragon roared a battle cry that promised death to all those that stood in its way.
Atemu drew his sword holding it high in the air, as his steed reared on its hind legs. With a command to his soldiers, he kicked his horse and led them into the battle.
As the Pharaoh and the troops came closer, the Blue Eyes roared again, plunging down to attack on the monsters waiting on the ground with bared teeth. Behind it, on a white steed, the High Priest aimed his sword at the bandits that controlled the dark creatures. Swift and deadly, his strikes found their targets, effectively ending their lives. Seth's eyes glanced up at his Ka monster just in time to see a black snake-like monster rise behind it from the shadows of the nearby buildings. He was so in tuned to his monster that he failed to notice its owner drawing back an arrow, aiming for his heart.
The black monster hissed dangerously, and the Blue Eyes swerved just in time to avoid the deadly fangs. Suddenly a loud roar behind the snake was heard just moments before it let out a painful scream and fell to the ground engulfed in flames, shaking the earth below it. Just as the ground stopped trembling, Seth heard his name being called out in warning. Turning around in his saddle, he saw a hooded bandit, aiming at him with a bow and arrow. He had no time to defend himself so he waited for death to greet him with open arms.
But to his amazement, it never came. Instead he watched as the Pharaoh charged up to the man, sword raised, and dealt the bandit a deadly blow, thus saving him from his untimely end.
Ra flew hovered protectively above the man that summoned it, it's deadly flames matching the one's in the Pharaoh's blood colored eyes. Seth could feel the anger and power emanating off both of them as he and Atemu locked eyes, making them forget about the rest of the battle raging on around them.
Atemu walked his horse up beside the Priest's looking over him in careful observation. "You are wounded," he said with slight worry and fear in his voice.
"It is nothing," Seth answered, even as he looked at the blood running down his left arm.
"It is enough still," Atemu hissed. "They will pay." He raised his arm towards the dragon Ra, and signaled for it to bring death it all of those that dared harm his people and the one he loved.
And with a mighty roar Ra soared upwards again, glowing with fury, and the battle was as good as decided.
------------
Seto and Jahi watched the battle from atop the tower just as the Pharaoh had suggested. Below him was a sight he never would have imaged could have existed. Many troops, both riding and walking, were led by the Pharaoh, riding tall and proud on his steed.
Beyond them, Seth's Blue Eyes fought with a deadly fury. It awed him to watch as the dragon attacked creatures that were real and not holograms with preprogrammed moves. This mighty creature flew on it's own accord, it thought out it's own attacks and defense and never left it's Master's side. This was what a Blue Eyes White Dragon was supposed to be like. Now more than ever he wished that he could have this same dragon playing for him in the duels instead of the computerized ones.
Seto had to stop watching the beautiful but deadly scene when a blinding light flooded the whole area. He quickly closed his eyes wondering what was causing it. But then he got his answer.
"The Pharaoh has summoned Ra." Jahi murmured beside him.
Blinking, he opened his eyes and saw the magnificent creature hovering above the Pharaoh. Flashes of Battle City came to mind as he witnessed it change to its Phoenix form. He had been amazed by it's power then and he was even more amazed by it now. He glanced down and saw the Pharaoh, in all his glory, command his troops to attack. Power radiated off of him, and Seto couldn't help but notice how his lean but well-built body flowed with the animal below him. His swordsmanship was amazing and the CEO found himself admiring him even more.
Seto and Jahi both took notice of the bandit that had his bow aimed at Seth. For some reason he actually found himself worrying about the High Priest along with Jahi. But it chalked it up to being concerned about how the Pharaoh would feel if he lost someone important to him.
Then again why would he worry about the Pharaoh? Had he really come to care, somewhat, about the man?
His thoughts shifted back to the times he dueled Yugi. Granted he had always respected the shrimp. He was, after all, the only person worthy of his time and gaming skills. But didn't he only respect that part of him, the personality that showed up every time he strapped on a duel disk? Whoever this 'other' Yugi was that was the one he admired. He could see that now. That person was powerful, strong, a strategic genesis, and a confident person. The 'normal' Yugi was a kind-hearted soul that valued friendship above anything else.
That Yugi was not his type. But the other one….
So could what was said to him be true? Was that 'other' Yugi the same person that was right now, protecting his supposed past self? The same one that had called upon the god Ra and so easily commanded it when others had trouble during the Battle City Finals?
Maybe.
But if he believed that then he had to reexamine his whole outlook on everything. Cause that would mean that Seth and him were one and the same. That gaudy trinket did house the spirit of an ancient Pharaoh and that was the same one down there holding a bloody sword, the same substance that matched color of his eyes.
And that also meant that magic was real, the shadow realm was real, and he really did have a close past with the same spirit that shared Yugi's body.
They were cousins, lovers, rivals, and friends.
So what was there between the 'other' Yugi and himself?
Rivals and…nothing more. But did he want more? He had money, power, fame, and Mokuba. Could he, did he need anything else?
He watched as the Pharaoh and High Priest turned their horses around and headed back towards the palace. Both looked exhausted but there was also something else there. It radiated from them both as they stared into each other's eyes. To all others it must have looked as if they were just weary from the battle but to him, and more than likely Jahi, it was the look of love and happiness that they both came out alive.
That was something he didn't have in his life. Sure he had Mokuba and wouldn't trade that for all the money in the world, but who was there when he came home from a long day at work? Who was there to worry about him and put their life above their own? Where was the warmth that only a lover could fill in his icy heart? Where was the person that would lead him from the shadows and darkness to a beautiful light filled safe world?
'He is the light to my Master's darkness'
Lucky bastard.
---------
The day had been exhausting to say the least. As soon as the pharaoh had returned to the throne room he had been surrounded by his counselors, all of who had demanded answers and decisions, telling him that a solution had to be found because the monsters got stronger with every attack.
As if he didn't know for himself. As if they had been the ones to cut those monsters' necks. As if!
No, it was he, his troops and his faithful priests, most of all Seth, fighting the shadow creatures. But no, it wasn't enough. Not one minute of peace was granted to him the whole daylong. And, damn it, his people could be persistent. Not even Seth's threats could make them back away.
Now, finally they were gone. Sighing, Atemu let himself sink to the floor, being weak for just one moment, being normal for just one second.
Ra, he really couldn't blame them. They were desperate and scared. They all feared for their children and wives, for their loved ones. No, he couldn't blame them now that he understood himself so well what it was like to worry for a lover. He knew Seth would choose death rather than see him hurt. His priest had promised that many times, and every time he had told him to forget about such nonsense. But now...they had come pretty close today to losing both their lives, especially Seth. And they had lost soldiers in the battle.
A stabbing pain settled in Atemu's heart when he imagined the mournful cries down in the city. Should he ever lose Seth....
He shook his head and bit his lip.
He had to end it now, before it was too late.
----------
After the battle was over, Seto had returned to his chambers, while Jahi had gone to look for his master.
Strangely, today had made him miss the duels with Yugi, or rather, Yugi's other. Those ingenious battles, and those crimson eyes smirking at him. Why had winning mattered so much to him? Wasn't it just that smirk he had been looking for? Hadn't he wanted to prove himself to the other rather than to the rest of the world?
The sound of the door opening snapped him out of his musings.
"May I come in?", a deep voice asked, causing chills to run up and down his spine, causing the memory of sweet lips on his to reemerge.
"Of course", he answered, clearing his throat.
When the ruler of Egypt stepped into the room, Seto noticed instantly that something was wrong. This wasn't what a victor looked like.
"What is it?", he asked, never one to beat about the bush.
The pharaoh stared at him, then, with careful, shaky steps, he walked over to him.
"I have to do it", he whispered, deathly pale.
"You have to do what?", Seto gently demanded.
"I have to end it"
Seto sighed, taking other's hand, not caring about Egyptian conventions now that the pharaoh was standing in front of him like a distressed boy. "End what?"
The young ruler looked away, lips moving soundlessly for a second. Then he took a deep breath, and still avoiding Seto's eyes, he explained, "I have to seal myself inside of the puzzle to seal the shadow realm away."
'Oh crap', Seto thought, scenes from the future suddenly coming to life again inside of his head. Shadow duels and that pendant Yugi called his 'puzzle', Isis' eyes staring up at him, telling him about the Pharaoh and the High Priest and their eternal duel. Should this really be true? How could he believe in all of this when he had convinced himself for so long that it couldn't exist? How could he of all people believe in magic? He, Seto Kaiba the perfect businessman and the technology genius?
Yet, he believed in Yugi's other, that much he had to admit now. And perhaps.... perhaps both could exist, technology and magic. Perhaps it depended on what you were prepared to see.
And if all of this was indeed true and real, he could slowly understand this pharaoh's dilemma, because sealing yourself away from the world for 3000 years is no small thing.
"Oh", he whispered, not knowing what to say.
They were quiet for a second, doom lying heavily on both of them.
"It's so hard", the pharaoh mumbled, "It's so hard to leave him behind. I don't know how to do it, yet I know I must." Then he buried his face in his free hand, trying to hold back his pain and tears.
Seto bit his lip. He certainly wasn't much of a comforter, having no experience in it. Yet, perhaps, he himself could console this young man.
"Pharaoh," he said softly, "I am real. And apparently I am your High Priest's reincarnation. I want nothing more than to stay with you, like you want to stay with him.
But we both can't do that, because it's not meant for us to be. Still, for both of us a future is waiting. And it's waiting with new chances, new challenges, and new adventures. This is the only thing I can give you, the certainty of a new life for you, because I know that my greatest rival in the future can be no one else but you. He has your eyes, your hair, your smile, your character, your power, your skills, your confident appearance, your fierce nature, your fighter's soul and your heart."
The pharaoh stared at him, clearly amazed at his words and Seto couldn't help himself. He just had to get up and take the other in his arms, hold him for long minutes, waiting for his tears to stop flowing.
After a long while the pharaoh pulled back, wiping the remaining tears away. "I have to go now, Seth awaits me", he mumbled. Seto nodded.
The small ruler managed a weak smile and stood on his tiptoes to plant another gentle, but chaste kiss on Seto's lips.
Then with a quiet "Thank you for everything", he left the room, while Seto slowly touched his fingers to his lips, then closed his eyes with a small smile.