Disclaimer: Between you and me, I own a huge YGO empire in Japan that's worth millions.
A/N(1): Merci beaucoup for the reviews: Aerin M, Black-wings91, Shining Friendship, Luthien-Anwaman, norestar-angel, eveeee90, Racegirl, Chibi Kitty Soceress, ShiningFriendshipII, Karania Avalon, Hysterik-Angel, inuzgirl!
A/N(2): Wow, last chapter was a cliffhanger? {shrugs} If you guys say so...hehehe. Anyway, I'm glad everyone liked the Honda/Shizuka pairing. It was just an idea that came to my head while writing the previous chapter. They may play a major role in later chapters, that is, if I...{truck passes by}...and..{another truck passes by}...doesn't that sound exciting? Hehehe. Don't worry, you won't be disappointed.
Title: Almost Royalty
Chapter VII: Cause to Be
"Shizuka," Honda addressed his servant, "do you know where Anzu ran off to in such a hurry?"
Sadly, she shook her head. "I know why she ran off though."
"Maybe we should--"
"It's no concern," Yami interrupted, his tone more annoyed than worried. "My guards are on watch."
Shizuka glanced at the Pharaoh, then looked down at her hands. "I don't understand. Anzu said that they were in love, and yet, he looks not even the least concerned about her well-being. Did something happen?"
"No matter," Honda started. Then, "I will search the palace."
Yami shook his head in disagreement. "My guards--"
"Your guards," he paused, stepping forward, "didn't even detect our presence in your garden." Turning around, he glanced at Shizuka, then created a path through the maze of plants and flowers. Once the rustle of the bushes subsided, a silence fell over the two figures.
"I suppose you want to look for her too," putting a hand to his forehead, Yami seated himself on the wooden bench. "Go, you are of no use standing here like that." He waved his hand in the air for her to be on her way.
She stayed, shaking her head. "I do not wish to look for her, Pharaoh. I only want to know why she was running away from you." As she expected, Yami's eyes quickly found hers for an answer. "Yes, Pharaoh. You are the reason she fled."
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During the day, the palace was easily recognizable by its appearance--Egyptian statues, fountains, and the garden. Now that it was dark, however, the once recognizable exterior of the palace was only a deceptive facade. The statues of the reigning Pharaohs of Egypt towered over the palace, almost protectively guarding the royal residence against intruders and thieves. The fountain, frequently used to cleanse the impurities of palace visitors, sung a quiet melody as its waters undulated back and forth in its stone bastille. The garden remained a familiar feature, but the shadows it created against the walls of the palace told otherwise.
As Anzu moved stealthily across the courtyard, her thoughts remained focus on one thing. "The millennium puzzle," she whispered, quickly lowering herself to the height of the fountain so she would not be seen.
Once sure that the premise was clear, she bolted toward another concealment, trying to avoid the guards that continued to conduct their nightly rounds. "This is useless," she lowered her head to avoid the gaze of a guard looking around in her direction. "There's no way I can go in the palace. It's too heavily guarded."
"You're correct," affirmed a voice behind her, "now, stand up and show yourself!"
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"I do not care why she left the grounds." She raised an eyebrow at his impassiveness. He continued, "as the Pharaoh of Egypt, it's not my concern to know the whereabouts of every servant commissioned. Her master shall handle her."
"She's not just a servant, Pharaoh." Shizuka breathed in deeply, trying to gently massage the subject of Anzu into their conversation. She was indebted to Anzu, and she knew this was the only way to requite her thankfulness. She had to bring Anzu and the Pharaoh back together, even though she knew not what separated them. Glancing down at the Pharaoh, she pressed onward, "she was your friend, a person you could talk to for comfort, trust, and most importantly, love--"
"No!" he yelled, standing up to face her. "She was nothing to me! Why can't you understand that?"
Shizuka grimaced, but threw back, "if she was nothing to you, what angers you?"
This made him turn away from her, obviously perceiving her words. "How.....did you know that we were in love?" Facing her again, she gasped to see that the Pharaoh was actually shedding tears for Anzu.
"Anzu told me," she folded her arms, sympathetic eyes landing on his hurt ones.
"She...told you?"
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"Isis....save me.." Slowly, Anzu stood, hands raised above her waist. "I need to do something--" Her thoughts were disrupted by the sound of footsteps behind her. Accompanying the footsteps was the clatter of metal. After years of serving in the palace, she could distinguish that the figure behind her was a guard....carrying a weapon. "Great.."
"Turn around!"
"Please, I'm not trying--"
"Not a word," he yelled, anger in his voice. "Turn around!"
She obeyed and quietly turned around to face the guard. It was to her shock, and sanction, that the guard was none other than Jou. She opened her mouth, but words could not even begin to describe what she was feeling. Holding her chest, she glared at him.
His lips curved into an amused smirk. "I had you going..."
"Yeah," she spoke dryly, "to Osiris." He laughed at her mention of the God of the Afterlife. She only shifted, looking around uneasily. It was not in her best interest to be caught, especially when she had only a limited amount of time to bring the puzzle to Seth.
"What brings you to the palace?"
She looked back at Jou. "I was looking for Seth," she lied. From the look in his eyes, she could tell Jou was not convinced. "I can't tell him.." Sighing, she tilted her head. "All right, I came back to see the Pharaoh."
Jou's smile brightened. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" His question was sarcastic.
"Jou," she sighed, "you can make a person turn into.."
"Seth?"
She stifled a laugh. "I refuse to answer that."
"Only because you know it's true," he said, shrugging his shoulders. He continued, "by any means, I do believe you will find the Pharaoh in the garden." His finger lingered in the direction of Izur's garden.
She grimaced. "Do you mind if I stop at his chamber for a moment?"
"Come," he waved his hand, signaling for her to follow, "Intruder."
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"She saved me, Pharaoh," she answered the Pharaoh indirectly. Then, "this evening, I was sentenced to a public stoning. I...thought I was going to die..." Yami could feel the pang of truth in her words. She continued, "Anzu confused the crowd into thinking she was to be stoned, but in that instance of confusion, she pulled me out of the crowd and brought me to your garden." Her bottom lip trembled, but she managed to smile. "I hope you don't mind, Pharaoh." He shook his head.
There was something she didn't mention, and it was bothering Yami terribly. "Why were you to be stoned?"
"Honda and I," she sniffed, "we were in love."
Yami stepped back, stunned. "Prince Honda? And..." She nodded slowly, making his eyes suddenly widen. "Why did...?" His shock wouldn't make his words come together. He sat down, putting some of his shock at ease.
"I never met anyone like Anzu," Shizuka admitted, "she didn't even know me...and she rescued me." Sitting next to him, she proceeded, "though she told me that she in the same situation as me, I know now that she saved me because....that's the person she is." She made Yami look at her. "The person you fell in love with."
Yami tilted his head toward the sky, letting out a sigh. "She's...amazing." Lowering his head, he returned back to reality. "Did she...say anything...about me?" Shizuka was about to open her mouth, when Yami shook his head. "Don't answer that." Fingers trembling, he cupped his face with his hands. "It doesn't matter, we're not together anymore. She told me herself that we were not in love.." His words came out muffled, but Shizuka knew what he was talking about.
"If it helps," she put a hand on his shoulder, "when we were talking, all she could talk about was...you."
Yami looked up. "If that's true, then why did she leave?"
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As they entered the palace, they were surrounded by lit torches and candles that did little to illuminate the room. Once inside, Jou stopped and peered into the darkness of the hallway ahead. Anzu, however, looked around the room. The entrance contained a set of two stairways and a fountain that was set in the middle of the room. Hieroglyphics and notations filled the walls, telling stories of past Pharaohs and their accomplishments. The floor was fit with brick tiles that led a visitor on a narrow path to the two stairways. "Come," Jou whispered as he walked ahead again. Passing down the hallway, the only sound heard was their footsteps.
"Here it is," Jou pointed to his chamber, "I'll wait outside."
Anzu nodded as she stepped into his chamber. A chill cascaded down her spine as she walked around the room. "I can't back down now," she whispered. Images of Shizuka and Honda haunted her mind. "I saw the look on Honda's face when she was about to be stoned. I can't see that same look on Yami. I just...can't.." She clenched her teeth to stop herself from crying. A tear escaped despite her efforts. It landed on his dresser, where the millennium puzzle rest.
She stared at the necklace. "Yami.." Her thoughts loomed over the scene in the garden.
"Yami.." She whispered, hands leaving Honda's.
Once called upon, he stepped out of the shrubbery. "Prince Honda."
She watched as his eyes set on Honda, not even a glance in her direction. Her heart ached to see such hurt in his eyes, but she knew she had done the right thing. "Did I?" She thought, eyes now staring at Shizuka. "Even though the law does not want them together, Shizuka still finds a way to be with him." Sighing, she heard more thoughts enter her mind. "Am I pushing him away because I'm afraid to be too close to him?" This thought lingered in her mind. "No, I wouldn't have admitted my feelings for him if I was. Then, what?" Honda's hurt face blurred her vision. "Am...I afraid of hurting Yami if the public finds out about our relationship?"
"Pharaoh," Honda nodded, "always a pleasure to see you."
Anzu watched as the Pharaoh and Honda greeted each other. Her eyes found his again. "He's already hurt," she thought, "maybe I should take the chance to be with him." She closed her eyes, hearing her conversation with Seth fill her mind. "I have to give the puzzle to Seth....I can't see Yami hurt like this again."
Yami gave an exhausted smile. "What brings you to my garden?" His question was laced with curiosity.
Glancing at the two royals, she backed away quietly and walked into the shrubbery.
Anzu shook her head, ridding the images. "Yami, I'm sorry.." She pulled the puzzle to her heart, feeling a tinge of guilt within her heart. "I promise this will all be over soon." She nodded for reassurance.
"What will be over?"
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"You weren't actually happy to see her," Shizuka responded honestly. "I saw the look in your eyes when you came into the garden....they were full of hurt and ache." She stood up, arms wrapped around her waist. "It was the same look I saw in her eyes." She paced around the garden. "What happened?"
"Anzu...doesn't want to be with me." He swallowed hard, forcing himself to continue, "she thinks that when I turn eighteen....I will forget about her. I won't.." His hands tightened. "She's the only person I want to be with."
"Yami," she looked at him, "she's right. You will forget about her." His mouth opened to protest, but she shook her head. "The law is the law. Not even you can change that. But, you can love her until the time comes to let her go."
Yami shook his head furiously. "No, that's something I can't do."
"Do you want to be with her?" She waited for him to nod. He did. "Then, enjoy the time you have with her. It may hurt when you have to leave her, but it's better to have loved her than to have not and do what you are doing now."
"You're right," he whispered. She smiled.
"Not me," her eyes looked to the sky, "Honda. He told me that after he told me that he loved me."
Yami nodded. "Tell him what I told you then."
"I will." They both looked at each other and smiled.
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Hiding the puzzle behind her back, she turned around to see Honda, who was shrouded by the darkness of the night. "Prince Honda, I thought you were in the garden with Shizuka and Ya--the Pharaoh." She chuckled to conceal her mistake.
He didn't look amused. "You left without a word, I came to look for you."
"I apologize," she whispered, tightening her grip on the puzzle. "I...had to...get something from the Pharaoh's chamber." Honda's face took on a confused expression as she spoke. She only smiled, moving closer to the doorway.
"As long as you are safe." He paused, now noticing something behind her back. "What did you--"
"Where's Jou?"
Honda grew suspicious at her sudden interruption. "I...told him to leave.."
"Really?" She continued hastily, "I have to find him, he told me that he needed to talk to me.." Smiling, she bowed quickly and moved quickly toward the passage. Honda tried to catch her arm, but she was already out of the chamber.
He folded his arms, eyeing the doorway. "What are you hiding, Anzu?"
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"This can't be seen by anyone else," looking down at the puzzle, she continued to run through the corridors of the palace. Finding coverage behind a corner, Anzu steadied herself against the wall, listening for guards. "I need to cover this," she thought, as she looked down at her uniform. "That's it," she mistakenly said aloud. Hearing the last of her voice echo throughout the room, she looked around cautiously for any sign of a guard. Seeing none, she quickly placed the puzzle on the ground.
"I need to use my skirt," grasping a thick piece of the cloth in her hand, she ripped it until there was enough to cover the puzzle. "That's good." Stretching the piece tightly with her two hands, she tied it around the puzzle, concealing all the edges.
She looked at the bound necklace. "I need to hurry.." Putting it under her arm for extra concealment, she checked around the corner for guards, then followed the brick path out of the palace.
Unknowingly, however, someone was lurking in the shadows, watching her every action. "I'm sure the Pharaoh will find this very interesting," she whispered, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Goodbye Anzu."
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"Maybe Shizuka is right," looking at the stars, he sighed quietly, "but, I can't see life without Anzu." The sandstorm of emotions inside his heart was pulling down his better judgment. "I don't want to be Pharaoh.."
As he closed his eyes, it was then he remembered the unknown truth of his words. "I'm not Bel Saf's son.." Eyes snapping open, he looked around to see Seth and Anzu. Running toward them, he was halted by Seth, who laughed menacingly, "who are you to come in here?" Before he knew it, the scenary changed from the garden to the palace.
He laughed again, "you were the Pharaoh."
"What?" His eyes widened from the news.
"Yes, your puzzle was no match for my millennium rod." Seth proclaimed, running his hand along the scepter.
"You.." Yami's bottom lip trembled with fear, "have a millennium item?"
"Has my rod damaged your mind as well? Yes, and now I have yours too."
"I....don't believe it." Yami looked down at his palms, "it's not possible."
Seth smiled, "nothing is impossible, Yami." He lifted his millennium rod, "don't you see yet? What was yours is mine and what was mine is...well...still mine." Seth knew he was adding more wood to the fire, but he didn't care. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have an important country to take over."
"Stand down!" Yami yelled, making Seth look him in the eyes. "You can't-"
"Correction again, my Pharaoh. I can do whatever I want. I am Pharaoh, and the gods are under my control."
"No.." He whispered, holding his chest tightly. "STOP!" He closed his eyes again.
"Yami?" He heard a warm voice break through the burning sensation in his chest. Scared, he opened his eyes to see Shizuka. "What...happened?" He looked around, "where's Anzu?"
She was about to answer his question when Honda appeared through the shrubbery.
"You didn't find Anzu?" Her question was a mere whisper.
"Yes," he answered. "She told me she left to look for Priest Seth." His eyes never met hers as he spoke. He hated lying to Shizuka. Instead, his eyes landed on Yami, who looked deaf to the conversation. "Pharaoh?"
Dazed, Yami slowly turned to look at Honda. "Excuse me, Honda." Before Honda could say something, Yami was already out of the garden. Honda looked back at Shizuka. She only returned a confused look.
"He has many things to settle," Shizuka finally said, wrapping an arm around Honda's waist. "Maybe it's time to settle our own problems in Simbel." Smiling, Honda kissed her on the forehead.
"Don't worry, love. Simbel can wait for the return of their Prince in a couple of days." With that said, he kissed her passionately on the lips, while holding her close to him. She only melted in his embrace as they stood, lost in the moment.
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Climbing up the stairs to Seth's chamber, Anzu clutched the puzzle closer to her heart."Is this right?" Her thoughts kept asking her as she reached the top of the stone steps. She shook her head, "it's not right, but it needs to be done."
Once convinced, she stood quietly in front of his chamber. "Master?" She walked in, looking around for the royal. The room was quiet, maybe too quiet for Anzu's liking. Walking further into the room, she called into the darkness again. "Master?"
After a pause, she heard the rustle of papyrus. Then, "where have you been?" came from the other side of the room. Before she could squint her eyes to make out the figure coming closer to her, he lit a candle, which shaped his face and hands.
"Priest Seth," she swallowed hard, "I brought you what you wanted." She raised the bound necklace.
"What? I never asked you--ah!" Anzu watched as her master fell to his knees in pain.
"Master?!" She walked closer to him, but he put a hand up for her to stop. "Wha--"
Suddenly, he started laughing. "You have brought me great happiness, Anzu." Raising his head to meet her eyes, Anzu felt a chill rise up her spine as she looked into his coarse eyes. He only smiled, bringing himself to his feet. "Bring the puzzle to me."
Anzu looked down at the puzzle, then back at Seth. "Will....you keep your end of the deal?"
"Let me see the puzzle," the priest challenged, outstretching his arms.
She obeyed. "Here it is," she unraveled the cloth. The puzzle gleamed freely in the candlelight.
"Yes," he smiled. Then, "now, hand me the puzzle."
"You didn't answer my question." She pulled the puzzle back, banishing it from the light. "Will you forget about the incident?" As she repeated the question, she could see some movement beyond the shadows. "Priest Seth?"
"I have not forgotten, Anzu." He continued, "I will forget about the incident."
She stared him down. Silence.
"Take it," placing the puzzle on the floor, she turned away from him. "I leave here with only your word." Walking out the chamber, Marik gave a victorious smile and walked toward the puzzle.
Closer. Closer. Closer.
A fire grew in his eyes. Desperation. He needed the puzzle--to live.
Closer. Closer. Closer.
The fire ignited. Dominance. He wanted the puzzle--for power.
Marik knelt. "The puzzle is mine." Grasping the puzzle with his two hands, he felt overwhelmed.
For, within his hands, rest....the world.
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"REIRA!" Seth yelled, banging on the door of his soul room. "You will free me at once!" After hearing no response, he hit his fist against the door harder. "REIRA!" His voice boomed, almost shaking the foundation of his soul room.
It was then he heard a muffled sound from the other side of the wall. The Gods.
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"It's time to reclaim my body."
Drawing a circle around himself with the millennium rod, he stood, holding the millennium rod and puzzle above his head. "Now, Ra, I shall join these two items to perform the Separation Ritual." Kneeling down, he recalled a time when he had first learned how to use this ritual.
"There are many rituals you can perform with the seven millennium items. Some rituals, however, need to be done by combining two or more millennium items. The most common are the Rebirth Ritual, the Healing Ritual, and the Separation Ritual."
Marik,a ten-year-old boy with blonde hair, rolled his eyes, apparently uninterested in what his father was explaining to him. It was never his dream to protect and guard the Pharaoh and his millennium items. It also never was a dream of his to live in a world shrouded by darkness. He wanted to explore, see what the outside world was like. But, his family was cursed to live under the streets of Cairo. His father saw it as a blessing. Marik saw it as a burden.
"What's a Separation Ritual?" Marik looked over his shoulder to see his older sister, Isis, who was also being tortured by his father's teachings. She, however, embraced his knowledge. She was to become a future priestess.
"It's quite difficult to explain," his father answered. His hand stroked his chin for a couple of moments before answering with, "do you remember in our last lesson how I talked about the shadow realm?" She nodded. "Well, some spirits can escape the shadow realm and live within a millennium item. They then can become part of the possessor of the item, or the host." He paused, drawing a much needed breath. "With the Separation Ritual, the two minds can become two bodies again if the ritual is done properly."
"How...is that done?"
He looked at his daughter. "To perform the ritual, you must first draw..."
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Seth swallowed hard. "I need to find a way out."
It was too late. The three Gods reared their heads through the wall, now materializing the rest of their body into the soul room. Seth knelt in fear as the gods of abeyance angrily stood before him, almost waiting for him to make the first move. He did. "REIRA!" It was then the three Gods clawed their way toward him. He backed into the wall, eyes pleading to find a way out. Nothing.
This was it. He was going to die.
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Marik's mind soon returned to Seth's room, where he was repeating some words his father had taught him. "Maka...Yughta..Kuolu.." His voice was a mere whisper as he removed the necklace that imprisoned the puzzle.
"The puzzle was never meant to be a necklace. The hole beneath the pyramid was actually created to combine the puzzle with the millennium rod. With these two powers combined, the Separation Ritual will be complete." His father's words echoed in Marik's mind.
He drove the rod into the puzzle. This caused the eye of the Horus to flicker to life on both items.
"Just as father said," Marik whispered, eyes watching the items in wonder.
Then, without warning, he felt something pull under his skin. "Maka....Yughta...Kuolu..." he repeated slowly, now hearing his father's words in his mind again. "Maka, Yughta, Kuolu. These words are used to control the body during the separation."
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Seth stared up in terror at the three Gods. His mind was telling him to act, but his voice was lost in his throat. "ROAR!" Obelisk bellowed, moving ahead of the other two. Without thinking, Seth threw his hands up defensively.
Obelisk stopped, glaring at its prey. Slither and Ra soon followed.
"What stopped them?" Seth thought, now feeling something sear into his forehead. "What?" He touched his forehead, but felt nothing. "Are the Gods doing that?" There was a hiss of broiling flesh now. "Ahh!"
"BACK!" he yelled, rubbing his forehead of the pain. "That's really going to wor--"
To his shock, they obeyed.
"Stop!" The Gods stopped on command. "Come to me!" They came.
"I can control the Gods," he whispered. But, before he could test his powers, a sudden darkness appeared throughout the room. "What?" Before he could do anything, the darkness swallowed him.
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"Maka...Yug..ta.." He found it hard to concentrate now. Even his vision was betraying him. "..Kuolo.." Fingers trembling, he felt his grip start to slip on the items. "Ma..ka.." His whole body ached now. Marik fought to keep his senses, but the darkness was closing in on him. "Yug.." He strained himself to continue the incantation. It was the only way the ritual could be completed. "Kuolo.." His eyelids grew heavy. His body was giving out.
"..Maka...Yughta.." He started to sway. His body couldn't endure the pain anymore.
This was the end.
Falling to the floor, his body went rigid. As his eyes started to close, Marik saw a vision. Perhaps it was the imminence of death, but in that moment, his vision became clear. Smiling, he closed his eyes, the pain replaced with comfort.
....the comfort in knowing he was sleeping in his own body.
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To be continued...
What a bad chapter. Please forgive me!!