1"Ankh Of Despair"

- - -

Welcome to the authors note from hell. . . and this time I don't mean just because it's long. I was proud of this story for having never received a flame. . . and then what do I get? Flamed.

'HomoHater' wrote: "For the love of god! this one really pisses me the fuck off! PG 13! The fuck, I can't even let my son to read any stories even if their rated PG 13! God, at least rate it R for having faggots! Why you even write stories about a cartoon! At least make a more mature show, that kids wouldn't watch! God you faggots fucking ruin every goddamn thing, I doubt I could find a fucking story with straight couples! Fuck you and fuck all the faggots writing this gay stories!"

First of all, for someone angry about their son reading 'offensive' material, they sure do say 'fuck' a lot. Second of all, I would think that an adult would have more decency. . . sure proved me wrong. Third, they were so moved by that one chapter, that they felt the need to send this review three times in a row. . . it's almost a compliment. Fourth, they said fuck all the faggots that write gay stories. . . um, I'm kind of a chick, so I couldn't be a 'faggot.' I'm actually a straight female. . . how humorous. . . Yeah, I was kind of pissed at this review, but then realized 'hey! It's just a dumbass!' lol, they suck at writing too. . . all of the sentence fragments, incorrect word usage, etc. I almost feel sorry for her son. . . almost.

Then I got another review which I don't think was meant to be a flame. . . yet it pissed me off enough to make me write this long-ass chapter. 'tala' wrote:

"ok. i don't mean to insult you but you seem to have a really good plot but but you lack in the writing skills department...and some of the things are too cliché ( ex:"Seto, Seto, Seto..." The Pharaoh sat up as he waved a slender finger at the Priest. "Tell me. Isn't there something that you have longed to tell me, but have been afraid to do so? Anything at all?" He tilted his head like a curious puppy would.) and you're trying to make things go to fast..(relationship wise) let it evolve and grow subtly. did you get it beta read ?"

First of all, they tell me that I lack in the writing department, yet there are about a thousand grammatical mistakes in their review. Second, I don't see how on Earth it is cliche. . . I find that I put quite a strange twist on nearly everything. Third, moving the relationship too fast? Um, hello??? Aren't I not getting them together yet? I think that they, like the flamer, only read the first chapter, and went on that. . . such dumbasses.

There was also a strange IM on Yahoo for me. . . but we won't get into that. Anyways, both reviews were signed anonymous. . . lucky for them or they would get a "nice" e-mail from me letting them know how I felt. You can say I'm overreacting, or whatever you want. . . but I don't tolerate stupid shit like this. I'm sorry to delay the chapter with my rambling. . . as a thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers, I will write an extra-long chapter! Gomen to those that actually like my writing. . . and 'fuck you' to those who don't! -smiles-

- - -

Seto closed the open binder that lay before him and rubbed furiously at his eyes to rid of the tears that had betrayed him. In the binder were photos and drawings. . . more than half of them being of yami. . . but where had they come from? He didn't recall taking or drawing the pictures or even entering them into the makeshift album. His fingers raked through his hair. How long had it been since he had been confused like this? He wanted with all of his heart to believe that this wasn't real, but how could he ignore it when the evidence pointed to 'truth'? All of these visions, these dreams, these supposed 'memories'. . . and these feelings. . . feelings that Seto didn't recognize.

He leaned back in the chair, allowing for it to creak faintly under the shifting of his weight. He brought the album into his lap and opened it once more. It were as though he wanted to torture himself. . . he didn't know why, but he felt drawn to the book, to the images. . . and to the man depicted in them. His lower lip trembled at the thought of being drawn to Yami, and yet something seemed so natural about it.

Silently, Seto went through the pictures, page by page. There were probably well over one-hundred in total. . . and that didn't count the images in which the former Pharaoh was not present.

How had this all begun? He looked toward the ceiling. His eyes were blank, a sure sign that he were inside of himself and not with the real world. "The museum." The boys mind wandered back to Domino Museum. It was the Egypt exhibit that had started this mess. . . and Isis. . . with all of that talk about him being the priest and Yami being the Pharaoh. . . that's why he was suffering now. . . because of that old rock.

Blue eyes opened wide, "Wait. . . the Ra card. . ." He quickly recalled the most powerful God card, "I could read the ancient text on the card. . ." He cringed at the fact that this was further evidence against his disbelief, "If I could read that text, then shouldn't I be able to read the text on that stone tablet?" His heart beat wildly in his chest and he half-expected it to burst.

In a rush, Seto was downstairs inside his home office, fingers flying across the keyboard on his personal computer. The museum's website was quick to load. Blue eyes darted across the screen looking for any sign as to what link the Egypt exhibit would be located under. . . if it were still there. A steady hand lead the cursor to hover over a link entitled "Egypt Exhibit" and, with a small hint of hesitation, he double clicked, blinking once as the screen changed.

There was only one photo of the tablet and it was no where near big enough for him to decipher the ancient text. It was still inside the museum, which was good. . . he would just pay it a little visit tomorrow.

- - -

Mokuba's door stood open, which told Seto that the younger Kaiba had already gone to bed. It reminded him that he should be doing the same, but before that, he would check on his brother. Without a sound, the brunette was by his brother's bedside, stroking his long, black hair lovingly.

- - -

"Seto, please tell me why you did that to Yami!"

"Because I don't like him Mokuba!"

"Yes you do!"

"No I don't!"

"But you do, Seto! I know you do!"

"Oh? And how do you 'know' that I do?"

"Because you have a photo album with a whole section just for Yami! I've seen it!"

- - -

He jerked his hand back from the boys head suddenly, as though some invisible creature had taken a snap at it. Mokuba had always known about the album. . . and somehow things were beginning to make sense. Perhaps it was Mokuba that had put the whole thing together to throw him off! With such high intelligence, how had he not figured this out before? Seto shook the smaller boy from his slumber.

"Wha. . .? Seto?" He rubbed at his tired eyes and squinted as though it would help him focus on the tall figure that stood before him, "Is that you big brother?"

"Yeah. . . and I figured out your little game."

"Game?

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You are the one that put those photos into that binder, just to make me think. . . and for awhile it worked, but you've been caught, little brother."

"I didn't make that Seto. . ."

"Liar."

"Would I lie to you?"

"Yes."

"Well I'm not. . . you just can't face the fact that maybe there's a whole 'nother life inside of you. . . a whole 'nother brain in your brain. . . you can call it bullshit all you want, but that doesn't change the truth. . . you're just running from your past, Seto." With that, the raven-haired boy fell back to his pillow, wrapping up tightly in the bed sheets. He had gotten the last word.

- - -

It was morning now. The fresh smell of home-cooked bacon and eggs floated throughout every room in the game shop. The delicious scent lingered just below Yami's nose, yet it did not appeal to him. His mind was too busy to think about filling his stomach. The Pharaoh was still in debate as to whether or not he should return the rod to Seto and have the brunette's full memories returned, or allow nature to take its course and risk never being with Seto as his lover again.

He glanced over the Millennium Rod, which lay mock-innocently on his bed.

The solitary, golden eye seemed to be watching him, reading his each and every thought. . . and perhaps it was. With all that he had seen the Millennium Items accomplish, who was he to judge their abilities? Judge. . . perhaps that was what the Rod was doing, judging his thoughts and ideas. . . and final decision, that is, if he ever came to one.

The golden relic gleamed almost threateningly at the crimson-eyed spirit. . . yes, he had his own body now, but he truly was still a spirit. . . the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle, which he would forever be. Perhaps it was right for things to be the way they were. This wasn't Yami's true time, so he shouldn't take the love of anyone. . . yes, that sounded right, even though his heart wanted to convince his mind otherwise.

He sighed in a defeated manner, "I should just. . . give up on him. . ."

"Give up?!" Yugi bounded into the room, arms flailing wildly as he did so. He wrapped his arms around his yami's waist, squeezing the taller boy tightly, "How can you possibly give up?! Ever since I met you, you have given me the courage to fight on, even when the odds are against me!" Their eyes locked, and for the first time, Yugi looked stronger than the Pharaoh, "Remember in your first duel against Kaiba? How he had out all three Blue Eyes White Dragons? You were going to give up on that duel Yami! Do you remember?"

"I. . . yes Yugi, I remember, but-"

"But then you remembered that your friends are all right behind you to back you up! You didn't give up then! You got the courage that you needed to go on! You defeated Kaiba in that duel because you didn't give up!" He folded his arms triumphantly, "So Yami, what do you say to that?!"

"I think you've been hanging around Tea too much. . ."

"Yami, I'm being serious!"

"So am I."

Yugi grunted, "Listen, pretend that this is a duel. . . you've got to win Kaiba over, just like in a duel! Sure, it'll take some fancy combo's, but you're the game king! You can't lose Yami!" He bounced up and down three times, "Now get your ass downstairs and eat breakfast!"

A faint voice came from downstairs, "Yugi?!?!"

"Uh, yeah mom?"

"What did I tell you about bad language?!?!"

"Sorry mom!" He turned back to Yami and blushed at the smirk he was greeted with, "Just think about what I said, okay?"

"About breakfast?"

"No! About Kaiba!"

"Oh, right, yes. . . I will."

- - -

It was a fine building, with elegant marble columns to decorate the front, just as the Kaiba mansion was built. Seto slightly wondered if it had been the same builder. How old was the Kaiba mansion, anyway?

That didn't matter now. This was the Domino Museum. Inside, he would find the ancient item which he searched for. . . the stone tablet. He silently recalled his past visit as he ventured inside.

Isis had been there. That pesky woman wouldn't leave him alone, even if it had meant her life. All she could think to talk about was the Pharaoh and the battle against 'some great evil' and how the evil was here again. . . he hadn't really paid much attention to it, and her endless babble didn't make the story any more appealing. Her constant lectures about this so-called past were soporific, and it was a wonder that Seto hadn't tossed her overboard while on the blimp. . . in fact, he really wished he had. . . especially now, as he approached a woman in a long, white gown.

"Long time no see, Seto Kaiba." Her all-too-familiar blue eyes smiled back at him, a hint of mischief within their cerulean depths.

"Spare me the formalities, Isis. I'm here for one thing, and one thing only. Not to chit-chat with you, not to be lectured on the past. . . just to see one piece of one exhibit." He was clearly irritable and Isis only pursed her lips at him, trying to remain as composed as possible.

"Well then, allow for me to point you in the right direction. What is it that you are here to see?"

Seto hesitated. He just knew that if he told her what he was truthfully looking for, then she would think that he believed this bullshit! But. . . what if he did? Even so, that would be giving in. . . admitting that she was right all along. . . she was wrong! There was no other option. He couldn't tell the truth. . .

"The stone tablet."

. . . and yet he did.

"Ah, so I see you are finally understanding. Well then, just down that hall. The Egypt exhibit will be on your first left. The stone tablet is on the far wall. . . there's no way you could miss it." With that, she stepped aside, granting him passage. . . that was it. No long lectures, no taunting, nothing.

"Uh, yeah, thanks. . ." Seto entered. It was silent, not a soul in the room other than himself. . . but that was a good thing. This way, he wouldn't have to worry about looking like a complete fool.

There is was, on the far wall of the dimly-lit room. It was no longer in the basement of the museum. It sat on display just as the rest of the ancient-Egyptian relics. How long ago had it been since he had scene such a large collection as this? He never really was interested in the past. . . other than when he was a young child. . . but that interest had faded along with any dream that he had once he and Mokuba were adopted by the tyrant known as Gozaburo Kaiba. . . he shuddered, shaking that name from his mind.

His footsteps rang through his ears as though they were his last. . . the sounded throughout the room like the footsteps of a deadman walking to the guillotine. . . why did this feel as though he were heading towards his own demise? There was a slight tingling all the way up and down his spine, with a flutter or two in his stomach to match. Nervousness, something he hadn't felt since. . . no, it hadn't been so long. . . why, it were only yesterday that he was nervous as he kissed the Pharaoh. . . Yami.

Now was not the time to be thinking of such things. . . he was here for one reason, and one reason only: to try and read the text that was engraved in the stone tablet. This was it. This is what it all came down to.

His eyes remained at his feet, his breathing became more and more difficult to accomplish and the world seemed to stop just for him. He clenched his eyes shut and took in one last breath of air. . . what if he couldn't read it? Would he just be confused forever. . . perhaps that wouldn't be so bad but. . . what if he could read it? What would it say? Would it describe a battle, or would it describe love? All he had to do now was look up. . .just look up. . .

He jerked his head up to face the massive rock. Sapphire orbs opened wide and his mind and heart both raced one another, and he felt that his head or chest or both would burst.

- - -

The doorbell must have rang fifty-thousand times. . . within the past ten seconds. That wretched chime continued to sound, bringing out the Kaiba side of little Mokuba. The raven haired boy bolted down corridor after corridor and down a couple flights of stairs, finally coming to a halt at the double doors in the front-center of the house (mansion). Catching his breath - and preparing to professionally kick someone's ass for the constant ringing - he yanked open both doors, nearly tearing them from their hinges.

That terrible ringing had ceased, but what he found on the other side of the door gave him the urge to slam it shut again. He had been greeted by the infamous Sennen Rod, which had been shoved in his face. Behind the item was its current holder, Yugi Muto. . . or his yami, the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh. . . with the item thrust out in front of him, crimson eyes clenched tightly shut as though he were sacrificing the rod and himself to some terrible god.

"HereSetotakethisit'syours!" Yami blurted out, not budging from his current position or even bothering to check that it were truly Seto who had answered the door.

"Slow down when you're talking, I can't understand you." Mokuba stated, matter-of-factly.

"I said, here S-" He opened his eyes, a warm feeling of relief sweeping over him, "Mokuba?"

"Thaaaaaaaaaaat's meeeeeeeee!" The smaller boy chirped, "Seto went out about half an hour ago. Said he had somethin' to take care of. You can come in if you want to."

"Um. . . well you see. . . I kind of need to give this to him. . . but. . . I suppose it can wait. . ." He turned away, biting his bottom lip in disappointment.

"The Millennium Rod? Why would y- ohhhh! 'Cause the rod belonged to my brother when he was a priest. Awesome!"

- - -

". . . perhaps you should give the rod to Seto."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because back in Egypt, the Millennium Rod belonged to the most gorgeous priest in the Kingdom."

"The priest Seto. . ."

"Exactly."

- - -

"Wait! Yami, you wouldn't just be giving him the rod so that he'll fall in love with you again, are you?!?!"

"Mokuba. . ."

"Are you?!?!"

". . ."

"Yami, I can't believe you'd do that! Why?!"

"Because I don't know what else to do!"

"You could start by pretending you're over it and not try to molest him every time he's in the same vicinity with you. . . and that includes undressing him with your eyes." The tomb robber approached them, "I knew you'd be here Pharaoh."

Yami growled, "If I recall correctly, it was you that told me to give him the Millennium Rod."

"Hm. . . did I? Hmmm. . . so I did. . . well then in that case, give it to him! Force him into your little love affa-ugh!" He cluched at his stomach, which had been elbowed by the latest arriver, Bakura.

"We're here to fix things, not mess them up again!" He faced Yami, who was half surprised and half confused, "Pharaoh, don't give him the rod until he wants to remember. . . if you really love him, you won't force him into loving you. Maybe he'll ask for the rod. . . then again, maybe the two of you will never share that love again. . . you can decide your future, but I'll be damned if I'll let you decide someone elses." He folded his arms, claiming victory over that little duel of words. . .

. . . and it was then that the Pharaoh opened his eyes. This wasn't his life. . . and Seto wasn't his for the taking. . . Seto clearly hated him. . . with a passion. That was it. . . there was no going back to Egypt to do things all over again. . . it was over. . . it was time to give up.

- - -

Ooooh. . . VERY evil cliffie, if I do say so myself! Three weeks since my last update. . . geez! I'm getting horrible! By the way, I was going to have the actual translation of the stone tablet, but I couldn't find it. . . so if anyone could find it for me and e-mail it to me at , that would be greatly appreciated and I'll give you full credit for finding it! Anyways, the fic is winding down, and I am still trying to decide how it is going to end. . . I have a feeling that it is going to be very cliche. . . then I was thinking of sort of a cheesy ending. . . kind of like a certain movie (which shall remain unnamed unless I decide not to use it). Happily-ever-after stories get old. . . you know? But then again, wouldn't it piss you off if I didn't make them get together? I would probably piss myself off, lol! Anyways, shutting up now! Hope you like this chapter! Rate and review! Flames will be used to fuel my fingers for long-ass authors' notes!