1"Ankh Of Despair"
Hey! Sorry that I haven't updated in so long! Has it been a month?? I don't really know. I somewhat have an excuse for taking so long! I started school not too long ago and I just got the first five Yu-Gi-Oh graphic novels in English! I HIGHLY recommend them! They have all of the original names and original content! A pure translation! On with chapter seven!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the show Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters. I only own the plot of this story.
The Pharaoh's thin, black eyebrows turned up to the sky in confusion. The priests and priestess had taken small steps back as though their comrade were possessed by some kind of evil spirit. . . and in a sense he was. Seto was being controlled by the demon called jealousy.
"I'm not going back with you Yami." Seto's eyes narrowed further, a smirk creeping to his lips.
Yami's lips parted in surprise, "What? Seto?"
"The only I shall return to the palace is with myself as Pharaoh!" He clenched his teeth, placing curled-up fists on his hips, "Do you understand now, Yami?? You are going to DIE, right here, right now, and since I am the only one left of royal blood, I will take your place as Pharaoh!!!" He threw his head back as his deep laughter echoed off of remaining walls.
Pharaoh Yami's eye twitched in both confusion and fear at his cousin's sudden change in heart, 'This couldn't be possible! Seto was always so loyal to the kingdom. The only way he could have changed so suddenly would be if someone had brainwashed him or. . . that's it!' He blinked, releasing himself from his thoughts, and turned toward Bakura, "BAKURA!! YOU are controlling him! Release him this instant!!"
Bakura chuckled, "Oh my Pharaoh, I'm not controlling your priest at all!" He casually pointed to Seto, "As you can see, he HAS his rod. . . there is no possible way for me to control him." He grinned, folding his arms back across his chest, watching approvingly as the Pharaoh began to sweat.
Yami snapped his head back to Seto, "Seto! I know that he has done something to make you deny me! I know that this isn't your fault!"
"Save it for Hell, Yami!" Seto cut into the Pharaoh's pleads, his anger dripping thickly from his voice, "He may be an insane, sick, thief," With each description, Yami Bakura's smile melted into a frown, Seto took no notice, "But he helped me to realize that I don't get the respect that I deserve! I'm stronger than you, taller than you, smarter than you, and quite honestly more like Pharaoh material than you!" He pulled out the Millennium Rod.
The other priests stepped forward to protect their Pharaoh, but Yami held out his left arm, "No. This is between my cousin and I. Do not interfere, no matter what." The others backed off, worry written across their faces. Dropping his arm back to his side lazily, Yami approached his much-taller cousin.
When they were almost touching, Yami stopped. Like many times that day, Ruby met Sapphire, both in an intense glare, "Seto," His voice nothing but serious now, "Perhaps you are taller and perhaps you are stronger. . . but a good Pharaoh does not know the meaning of jealousy."
Seto pursed his lips, "I'm not jealous. . . I'm angry! My father had to live in your father's shadow! Now our fathers are dead. . ." Akunadin flinched, but no one saw, "and here we are, repeating the actions of them. You as Pharaoh and I as your shadow! You view me as an underling!"
Yami's lips trembled, "No Seto!! I don't see you in that way!" His voice was a pleading cry, "You are my cousin, Seto! You're an excellent priest! You're tall and handsome and. . ." He looked to t he flattened sand beneath his feet, sighed loudly, and look up to Seto, a confident glint in his eyes, "Seto, no matter what you do, no matter what you say, I will always love you. I don't mean as a cousin. . . I mean as a partner. You are MY priest. . . forever. . . but if you wish to do away with me, than so be it. I will wait for you in the afterlife. I will be with you, even if I have to wait an eternity." He stared into his cousins eyes, his voice had been laced with an unmatchable sincerity.
During this speech, Seto's jaw had dropped, parting his lips ever so slightly. He stepped back, creating a gap between he and his cousin. Yami looked bigger now than he had ever looked before. The priest lowered his eyes to the ground and shut them.
Akunadin's sweat began to bead on his forehead. All his life, he had wanted for his son to be the Pharaoh. He had made a wish on the Millennium Eye for Seto to rule Egypt. So why was this happening? He could kill the Pharaoh! He could control the most powerful empire in all of the land!
"Yami. . . I knew that you. . . liked me. . ."
"No Seto, I don't like you."
Seto's head shot up, devastation in his blue orbs.
Yami's eyes shone of amusement, "I love you."
Tears spilled over from both sets of eyes, each edging towards the other, ending in an embrace that seemed eternal.
Bakura's draw might as well have fell to the sand, he was in utter shock at this display! How had the Pharaoh done that? He growled angrily and was about to advance towards the two, when he caught a glimpse of the look on Akunadin's face. They locked eyes and the thief smiled, his violet orbs drifting towards the Pharaoh and his priest.
Seto fell to his knees, kissing Yami's feet, "I'm sorry, my Pharaoh, for turning against you in such a manner. I hope that you can find it within your loving heart to forgive me."
Yami's eyebrows turned upward in sorrow and pity, "Seto," he knelt in front of the kneeling cleric, "There is no need to be formal or ask for my forgiveness. I care about you very much. This is the fault of that thief. . ." He stood quickly, looking into the direction in which the bandit kind stood. The eyes of each of his clerics followed, all widening in shock.
Bakura had slipped away.
Isis, Mahaado, Karim, and Shaada all clenched their fists, eyes darting about, tension rising. They surrounded Yami and Seto, their backs towards them protectively.
Akunadin stood away from them. The hood of his garment shadowed his eyes, a smile that matched Bakura's was plastered across his lips.
"Akunadin! Come quickly! We must protect the Pharaoh!" Isis scolded the elder priest, though she spoke with a certain confusion that was shared by the other five.
"I don't think so Isis," Akunadin sneered, taking Isis aback, "This is your chance, Seto. . . your chance to become the almighty Pharaoh. Come on now, my son, fulfill your destiny!" He outstretched a hand, but did not expect it to be taken.
Seto, who had gotten to his feet, was now clutching at his heart, "Your son?!?! How can you say such a thing when you know that my father passed away! In fact, he was killed in this very village. . ." he strained to hide the emotions felt by his resurfacing memories. Yami held his hand, giving it a loving squeeze every few seconds.
Akunadin tilted his head up, showing his eyes. Those eyes which were no longer so soft and kind, "No Seto. When I received the Millennium Eye, you looked upon me as though I were a monster. I told your mother to tell you that I had been killed. I didn't want you to have a monster as a father, Seto. It was best for you as a child to go fatherless than to have me." A single silver tear fell from his cheek, but it was quickly wiped away, "This is why you must do what I wished for you to do! Kill your cousin and control the throne! It is what you are destined to do!"
The four remaining priests turned to Seto, the urgency of the missing thief no longer remembered.
"What will you do Seto?" Mahaado's eyes studied the younger boy intently.
Seto took one hesitant step forward and Akunadin grinned like a madman. . . then the youngest of the priests stepped back, earning a frustrated look from his father, "No. Here is someone who cares about me enough to not worry about my rebellion." He said confidently, referring to Yami, who smiled, "And you. . . you are a man that faked his death so that his son would not have a 'monster' as a father. You never were a monster, Akunadin. . . you always had such a kind heart. . . but perhaps that was all an act as well." Seto smiled a genuine smile.
Isis smiled softly, "I believe that a return to the palace is in order."
"Yes," Yami agreed, "We should get going, the sun has begun to set. Akunadin. A punishment is in store for your rebellion. Seto has been forgiven, but you are another story. Seto, do you accept my decision?"
Seto blinked his eyes in confusion and shock. Was Yami asking for HIS approval? "You are the Pharaoh. . . do as you wish." The look on Yami's face told him that his answer had not been good enough, "He is a cruel man and deserves any punishment that he may receive."
Yami smiled, "Well then, let's get going! I'm starving!"
Each mounted his own horse, except Akunadin, who had to ride with Mahaado so he wouldn't try to escape. Seto mounted the horse with Yami, wrapping his arms around the smaller boy, bringing their bodies together.
They rode off towards the palace. . .
IMPORTANT: I have a few ideas for this story, help me pick one! My first idea was for this to be the very last chapter. My other idea (which I happen to like more) would be to tie this into the present-day characters (my exact idea was to have this be a dream that ALL of the main characters experience. It would be kind of like a memory dream for Seto and Yami. . . wouldn't that be neat?). If you all have any other ideas, either e-mail them to me or post them in your review. Please give details on your ideas though so that I can work with them! If you would like one of MY ideas, please tell me, I can't decide!
Sorry that it took me so long to update! I have had a TON of homework and have been reading my manga and playing with my Yu-Gi-Oh SIMS!! (to get them, go to google and type in Jackass SIMS. You should get a website that has the Yu-Gi-Oh skins. . . it will tell you how to get them into your SIMS game.) I've also had severe writer's block on both of my stories!
I hope that I will update again very soon (if you all want this story to continue) but I will not make any guarantees. Rate and review! Ja ne!
