Young Blood by Mooguri Klaine
Author's Notes: More sleepless nights! And more Herculean schoolwork to add to my growing pile of to-do list. sighs tiredly When will this all end? Anyhow, I'm thanking you, dear reader, for putting up with my rather deranged state XD… and this story as well!
Disclaimer: Let us all weep together in silence, to drown ourselves in the harsh reality that we do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. sniffs and brings out a candle Takahashi-sama, you are divine! XD And if you do recognize some plots associated with Anne Rice and her novels, I did not steal it! I just had one of those English classes with our professor drilling us constantly about intellectual property rights, and yes, I know not to mess with such beings. I'm just a person out of thousands of fanfiction writers, and I do not have enough resources to wield such big an income. (I'm just a meandering student ) Suing me will only be a futile attempt. Oh, do excuse my so-called rantings. Sleeplessness induces insanity. Oo
Warning: Yaoi fanfiction ahead. Stop, if you think this is not for you… Otherwise, by all means, ENJOY! I'll even love you more if you leave me a review! XD
Summary: A Prince. A lover. A past. A thirst for blood. Enter a new alternate reality where the fearsome Prince of the Night walks, and begins a search for the man he had left behind after a long slumber, and in turn, hurls himself in a conflict woven out of love, hate, passion, and death. Will all events lead him to his lost romance? Read and review! XD
Chapter Two: Culture Shock
Atem appeared a moment not too soon. His foot lightly grazed the ground. He strained his eyes to look through the dark. The place was devoid of light, but somewhere a bit further, he could make out a bit of light. He choked a bit as his nose picked up a foul and dank smell surrounding the unknown vicinity. So he decided to hold his breath and blindly wend his way to the light.
After a few minutes of grasping in the dark, he had finally reached the end, where he stood, facing the light. Yet Atem has yet to grasp with the situation he is now in.
Some time ago, he had left the only persons he knew in this time in a temper of an enraged obelisk and with a hurry of a falcon. Such was his anger and frustration that he did not pause to consider whatever circumstances he might be stumbling upon, nor the consequences of his rash actions. For a while he did not care about everything. He only cared about Sekheth. He only cared about looking for him in an unknown and uncharted territory, wrath of gods be damned. His rage fueled him further, forcing him to take leave under the wing of his priests.
Now the fury was gone. His heart had finally stopped beating wildly in his chest. After the flurry of events that had just transpired, something else had kicked in. Things began to slowly form around Atem, like a painter with his masterful strokes, filling the canvas with detail and a gush of color. Yet it was all too overwhelming. The prince's blood-red eyes raked through unknown pieces around him with an innocence of a child and a shock of a stranger in a foreign land. There was nothing familiar or even similar.
"You have woken up in a new era, a new age! You will not find sand nor wild animal nor oases once you step out of this threshold." Mahado's voice called out to him in his mind.
What age have I woken up in? True enough, what Mahado said was clear. Everywhere Atem turned, he could not see a long stretch of sand, let alone a grain of it. The very place was silent, no chirruping of crickets nor the hiss of a solitary snake. From where the young sovereign stood, he could not see a single entity other than himself. He gazed upward, to the heavens, and to his dismay, found neither a single star nor the mystical orb of the night. Clouds of gray and black floated eerily in the inky sky. Atem could not recognize anything at all. A soft draft blew around him, disrupting the silence with a feathery rustle. He held on to his frame, hugging himself, trying as he might to keep himself warm. Apparently he had hurriedly left Ishizu and the others with barely anything on, save for his wispy black robes and his golden trinkets and accessories.
Atem can only say this.
"Where am I?"
Seto was back to his job once more, after safely tucking Mokuba's box of books to a place where his younger sibling could not lay a hand on it. He squinted at the flat screen of his laptop, deciphering a bunch of numbers, as his fingers silently flew on the keyboard. Just some distance away from him was a wide flat-screen television, currently on and tuned in at the news channel.
"Meanwhile, multi-national corporate owner Maximillian Pegasus soars to even greater heights, accumulating more property assets over the course of two months, a great achievement for any company in the business," a redhead newscaster barked cheerily to the viewers.
Seto's hands stopped typing, as his blue eyes momentarily left the monitor and instead fixed his gaze on the television.
"And just tonight, Pegasus' Industrial Illusions Company had finally added the Devlin Technologies Incorporated to his growing list of company merges," the news anchor disappeared from view and was replaced by a video footage, her voice over the ensuing scene. Seto readjusted his glasses and saw silver-haired Pegasus shaking hands with the black-haired corporate Duke Devlin, as lights from the cameras flashed onto them, clicking madly away.
"I am happy with the pace my corporation is going," came the languid voice of Pegasus, a serene smile pasted on his face. "The company tie-ups will not just be to my advantage, but to my other business partners as well."
"And despite all efforts purged by the corporate, Industrial Illusions still has a bit more to catch up to match another business giant and tycoon, Kaiba Corporation and its consortium of companies," the anchor woman spoke up again. This time, Seto's picture grazed the screen. "The multi-national corporation still hovers at the top spot in the business competition, an astounding feat for the newcomer president, son of the deceased Gozaburo Kaiba, Seto Kaiba."
Seto snorted at the passing comment, not knowing whether he should feel flattered or insulted.
"When asked of the said businessman, Pegasus says," the redhead reporter started. Pegasus once again dominated the scene, microphones all delegated under his chin as reporters crowded around him.
"Seto Kaiba is doing one hell of a job, so I reach out my kudos to him," he said to the press. "I'll be looking forward for a chance to meet him personally." The newscaster takes center stage again.
"And on other news, action star Tristan Taylor marries…"
Seto tore away from the screen and went back to his laptop. He knows Maximillian Pegasus just as the latter knows him, yet frankly, he hadn't meet the other businessman personally. Not that he didn't want to, but it's just that Seto's platter was still full of business deals and merges to attend to. And he was not too hell-bent for any big propositions coming his way; Kaiba Corporation can still survive rather well without major tie-ups. Plus, Seto was confident that his company could still stay afloat, despite all odds. Yet judging by Pegasus' rather…cryptic message, Seto believes that one day, they will eventually cross each other's path.
But right now, he has work to do.
Atem gazed at the light above him. He had never seen such a thing like such before. It glowed in a color of white, and to Atem, it looked like a miniature moon, though not that splendid nor as extravagant.
"What could this be?" he asked aloud, just for the sake of breaking the unearthly silence. He wasn't expecting for an answer anyway. He looked to both directions and saw identical lights casting eerily on the quiet place. He stared at other things he has seen so far. He noticed a brick wall littered with what seem to be like paper with unrecognizable symbols. Then, his eyes rested on a cylindrical container with other unknown objects jammed inside it. Atem knew not to touch anything at first, until he has sufficient knowledge about it. Maybe, it might have been an unknown monster.
It was then he decided to stop skulking under the "little moon", as he called it, and instead start walking and get a move on somewhere.
Atem drew his robe together and walked slowly and uncertainly, at the same time, alert and on guard. His long sleep did not dull his senses, for they were still as sharp as ever. At the moment, he could not sense any human lurking around somewhere.
Then suddenly, one of those cylindrical containers toppled and fell with a loud clang, definitely surprising the prince. With a sudden shout, he held out his right hand, and from it came a black orb of concentrated energy, hurtling towards the strange object. The energy collided with it, and in turn, burst with an unbelievable surge, the thing practically reduced to bits.
Atem's breathing went ragged; every sound seems like an enemy to him. Squinting his eyes to where the cylinder once stood, he could sense a small presence somewhere near it. He readied himself for the worst.
"Meow."
"What?" Atem started.
"Meow."
Atem merely stood and waited. He knew that sound, of course. And it wasn't a human.
A cat slinked out from the shadows, its wide eyes staring unblinkingly at the prince.
"Bastet," murmured Atem, as he proceeded to kneel down in front of the cat. "The goddess Bastet [1]" The creature eyed him still, and then approached the sovereign.
Atem reached out his hand to pat the cat. It purred indulgently.
"Could you be a blessing from the gods?" Atem asked the cat.
"Meow," it replied.
Atem shook his head. "No, it cannot be," he said as he continue to pat the little animal. "I am cursed being, for I dwell in the Shadow. You cannot be Bastet. The gods hate me, and they will never help me."
The cat looked at him with those round eyes. "Meow," it said again.
And for the second time that night, Atem sensed another presence. This time, it seemed human. A group of five, perhaps. The cat snarled, its fur raising up as it arched up, its claws bared and ready.
"Could it be human?" Atem asked. He paused. He could tell there was a human, all right, but there was something else. An aura not different from his own. He could never be wrong.
There were people just like him.
Then there was a loud, piercing shriek.
Atem felt himself moving, almost gliding to source of the said scream. He rounded around a corner and stopped to look at five individuals, four of them are circling a woman like a pack of hungry wolves.
"I'm starving," said one of them.
"Famished, if you ask me," cried another. He approached the woman almost hurriedly, licking his lips appreciatively.
"No, please…" the helpless woman sobbed. "Please, I beg you…"
All of them laughed mischievously, howling madly with glee.
One of them cracked his knuckles eagerly. "Sorry lady, but a vampire's got to do what a vampire's got to do," he said.
The small group closed in on the woman, who was at the moment whimpering and pleading relentlessly. Atem saw fangs bared out from the supposed leader, a blond youth, as he approached ominously. The sandy-haired man took firm hold on the victim's shoulders.
Others cheered and hooted greatly, the lady's cries almost unheard and unnoticed. Slowly, easily, the pleas and the futile struggle ceased, until there was no more.
The leader pushed the lifeless form away from him. The rest of the group jumped in and cleaned off the rest. Atem watched this silently from a distance, his eyes wide with repressed shock. The sound of slaughter and appalling murder was much too much. Atem felt everything stood stock-still, like a nonchalant audience undeterred yet terrified all the same. He almost cried out in surprise when he felt something brushing past his leg.
"Bastet, no!" he called out to the sleek black cat in a hushed voice as it drifted away from him, and into the group of killers. The animal growled dangerously as it drew near. Atem held his breath. It is no good to barge in at a situation like this, especially at an unknown territory.
"Wait, there's someone out there"
"Finally," Seto yawned, and heaved out a tired yet contented sigh. He lifted his glasses off and laid it down on his desk as he proceeded to rub his eyes. He then saved his work and closed the laptop, standing up as he did so.
"Water," he croaked dryly, reaching out to his personal fridge, pulling it open, and fishing out a cold bottle. The cool, soothing liquid was a welcoming feeling to Seto's exhausted form. In less than an instant, he had emptied the plastic container. A slow breeze drifted lazily in the air, lifting the fine linen curtains as it passed. This caught Seto's attention. He walked to his room's balcony and gazed outward.
"Looks like rain," he murmured. Swirling clouds of gray and black covered the myriad of stars. The moon, which he saw several hours ago, was nowhere to be seen. Seto took a while to pause for a moment. He rarely did something like this; he usually falls asleep immediately after his extra work was done, and worse, even before that. Seldom did he unwind and check out the scenery around him. He never used to look at the plants, the trees, and the roses in his garden. So he decided that it is high time for a little nature appreciation hour. Thus, he decided to laze around his terrace, as he settled his head on the back of a comfy chair.
"I didn't know I had roses in my garden."
"What's that?"
"I said, there's something out there."
Atem did not do a slightest thing to induce movement. He stood, as still as a statue. He wasn't afraid at all, truth be told. But right now, he felt that he is not at an advantage. Prompting a preemptive strike would be highly unlikely, and would be a foolish decision. He decided to wait and weigh his possibilities for the meantime.
If anything, he was afraid for the cat more than himself.
"Meow."
Ringing laughter.
"It's a cat, you dumb ass," one said.
"I swear man, it's not just a cat," came a reply. "I felt something…different."
"Human?"
"I don't think so."
"Vampire?"
"Could be."
Atem strained his ears for any word that is recognizable to his tongue. He couldn't understand a word the strangers were all uttering. He had not just woken up in a new time and age; he was trapped in a world with a totally different language. He gulped silently. More problems.
"Vam…pires…?" he echoed a word he had caught from what the group said, his voice not very far from confusion.
"Well, well, well… What do we have here?"
Atem inwardly gasped as he saw a shadow cast over him. It was the blond leader. True, he may not know what the man was talking about, but it was certain he was in trouble now.
"Jewelry," the man happily said as he lifted his hands to Atem's long earrings.
"Don't touch me!" Atem swatted the intruder's hands away from him. "You dare touch a Pharaoh without proper permission!"
A perplexed look grazed the ruffian features of the blond. "What are you talking about, man?" he asked. "I can't understand you. Are you a foreigner or something?"
Atem again heard a string of nonsensical blather. There was no point in this conversation. He chose not to speak anything. He shot the blond a threatening glare, supposedly meant to ward him off. But apparently, the man took no hint and sneered devilishly at him.
The yellow-haired man reached out his hand once more and touched Atem's neck. "Exotic. This is a foreigner, all right."
Suddenly, the man's foot left the ground as he was lifted without any sign of physical maneuver, and was instantly pushed roughly away, toppling one of the trash bins that littered the place. The other three gasped in surprise and gaped at Atem.
Atem had his right hand outstretched in a menacing stance. "Such insolence!" he cried in a commanding voice. "I will not tolerate such from the likes of you!"
Another member, who was observing the scene from afar, almost fell in utter shock. "Look at his forehead!" he cried, pointing at Atem as he did so. Others turned to look, and beheld an unbelievable sight.
The strange person seemed to be bathed in an aura of interchanging hues of gold, black, and deep violet. It was then they saw the livid crimson, blood-red eyes that shimmered with immense and immeasurable strength, ageless and knowing. Up on his forehead was a glowing symbol of what looked like an eye, glowing iridescently. Streaks of blond, black, red and purple littered the proud youth's face as it caught wind, swaying precariously and ominously at them.
"The Eye of Ra!" Atem heard one exclaimed fearfully. Only now, he understood what the person was saying. The said man knelt down respectfully before the prince.
Atem spoke to the trembling youth, his blazing aura still dancing around him. "You speak of my language?" he asked.
"Yes, my Lord," replied the man, head bowed low on the earth. He beckoned the others in a hurried voice. "Bow down to him!" he ordered harshly, reverting to the tongue Atem was not familiar.
"What the hell – "
"Shut up and do as I say!"
All followed suit, except the blond. He stared malevolently at Atem instead.
"Forgive us, forgive us!" screamed the man.
"What is it that you call yourselves?" Atem gazed downward at the heap. "I have not a name for what I call myself. Tell me who you are."
"Vampires, my Lord," was the shuddering reply.
"Vampires," Atem echoed. He allowed himself to gaze at the carcass behind that was the woman they killed moments before. It was a horrible; a bloodied mass that soiled the ground with the thick red liquid, the body smashed so bad it was beyond recognition. Atem found himself feeling appalled at it.
"You thirst for blood as well?" he asked.
The man nodded fervently. "I have felt your presence, and you are same as us," he answered, never leaving his eyes on the ground.
This angered the prince greatly.
"How dare you brand me on the same level as you spineless vermin!" spat Atem. He felt the people before him won't even come close to humans. Atem knew they were something foul. And judging by the state of the lifeless woman, only something despicable and heartless can do such.
They are monsters.
"Leave," Atem whispered, his hands curled in a ball of fist, slightly trembling, knuckles white and forbidding. "Leave and never show yourself to me again!"
The man heard and understood it quickly and refrained himself from asking anything. "Let's get out of here," he called out. They got up to their feet and fled from the scene. The blond man gave him one last long look, and soared away.
Atem breathed, as he felt his anger slowly leaving him. The surge of power he felt silently went back inside him. The stray cat approached the dead body and meowed in a mournful tone.
Vampires. Atem held a pitiful gaze at the body. So that was the name branded to people like him. In his time, no one could even give someone like him a proper term. Beings like Atem are feared and respected at the same time, with more inclination towards the former. Atem dwells in the night, away from the rays of Ra. He stalks the still and empty city in search for blood in the darkness.
Yes, the unquenchable and the inevitable thirst for blood. It was this blood, the only source of nourishment and sustenance for him that drove him to perform such acts. There was nothing he can do about it. To the eyes of all he was a killer, but what can he do to stop his very nature and instinct?
Yet, Atem could not help thinking…
The way they claimed her life…Atem sorrowfully sighed. A low murmur of incantations flowed from the prince's mouth, as a black orb enveloped the limp form.
But we are the same! So alike! And yet… He shook his head in confusion, the big wave of change that he was so certain to rip him from inside out. He had landed in a very different world, and he was in a state of shock. Culture shock. They were so different.
They are monsters.
"Rest in peace," Atem watched the orb slowly decreasing in size, and finally into a solitary speck of dust floating in the night air. The cat beside him finally gave one last cry, as if delivering a final dirge to the heavens.
Then, as if on cue, the sky mourned with the feline, as crystalline drops of water cascaded down to the earth.
A smile played on his lips. The door swung open, admitting him in the magnificent house of the First Brood, the Brethren. But is he not also a part of it? Well, he used to. Perhaps, but he had deserted them a long time ago. Will anyone even recognize him after so long? It did not matter. He was here to pay a visit to an old companion. And he was counting three thousand years of neither direct nor indirect contact. Ra knows how much he missed him.
"Anybody home?"
To Be Continued
Footnotes: [1] Bastet: Well, in case you don't know about it (which I highly doubt), she is one of the lesser gods of Ancient Egyptian mythology, a cat-goddess to be exact. Atem did came from Ancient Egypt and he still carried all his 'obsolete' beliefs even after his awakening three thousand years later. And with that long a time, old habits die REALLY HARD! XD
Author's Notes: Yahoo! Done with chapter two! celebrates But wait, there's still chapter three, and chapter four… AAARRGGH!! tears everything apart (voice inside my head: Don't forget your other stories…) WAAAAH! I'm calling all the gods – whoever is listening, I don't care - to give me strength to go on! kneels down and worships various idols I implore you, give me reviews to spice up my fics looks at reader so he/she can take a hint Eherm… Okay, I won't pretend. I NEED YOUR REVIEWS LIKE A VAMPIRE NEEDS BLOOD TO KEEP HIM ALIVE! Oo They will be my source of life! Pump me up, dear reader! (whoa, that sounds green!)
More talkies! I need a whole deal of suggestions and comments from all of you, especially how my story will go. Believe it or not, I don't have a plot. Honestly. I'm just writing what I feel like writing, so I hope I won't screw up. Life's hard as it is XD So if you have something on your mind, crack it open and never hesitate to tell me about it! A review will always brighten up any cloudy day… a sentence or two will do. No matter how crazy it would be, it's totally fine by me. I won't mind 0 v
I'm getting increasingly repetitive, so I must be getting senile now… and I'm less than twenty! Maybe I should have my brains checked. But anyhow, if you have more time to spare, do take a peek at my other two stories – all under YGO and Seto/Yami – Merry-Go-Round and The Unfaithful. It's not yet finished though so I apologize for that.
Want to see crazy artworks and drawings? Then my DeviantArt page is most welcome to accommodate you all! I'm still looking for some hostings, so I have to settle with that one for the meantime. It's It's not much; I don't do kick-ass art yet… Give me a few more years to hone my crafts XD
Even more rantings! Just want to thank another author here, silver dragongurl for all help – from plot brainstorming, technical and grammatical editing and most especially, moral support! Thanks a lot! There will be no Mooguri Klaine without her tutelage. (She was the one who uploads my stories online) Check out her stuff too… she's a Honda/Jounouchi writer and a yaoi lover by nature!
Thanks for keeping up with me! Still, continue to stick with me like glue! I'll never let you go! XD I'll update soon! blows a kiss
For private stuffs and whatnots, email me and I'll make you happy:
That's it! I'm beat! I'll go to sleep! XD