Shadows of the Past, Mirror in the Present

By Winnie Tong

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh!

Chapter 2

It was the season of winter in Egypt. Though no snow ever fell, the temperature was considerably colder than it had been in the summer. Anzu was awakened by her father's coughs. She padded to her father's bedside: "Are you alright Father? Should I make you some herb tea?" Her father turned towards her and smiled: "No, it's alright". Suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. "Father!" Horrified, Anzu ran to get towels and the pillow from her bed.

She propped her father up and wiped his mouth tenderly. This cough had started about a month ago, getting progressively worse. Slowly, Anzu's father leaned back and closed his eyes wearily: "Go to sleep Anzu, I'll be fine." Anzu waited until her father slept, and then tiptoed back to her bed.

At the crack of dawn, Anzu went to the apothecary for honey, chamomile and lavender. On her way home, she encountered Honda, whose family had recovered from the sickness. :"How is everything going, Anzu?" asked Honda. Anzu looked downcast: "I am fine, but Father coughed up blood last night." Honda frowned: "do you mind if I pay a visit right now?" "Of course not, Let's go!"

"Father!" Anzu called as she entered her home. Turning to Honda, she invited him iinto the main room. Seeing it was empty, Anzu walked into her father's room. Anzu's purchases clattered to the floor as she screamed: "Father!". Honda ran in. What he saw was not pleasant.

Anzu's father was lying on the bed with blood oozing out of his mouth. Anzu was kneeling beside him, crying. Honda felt the pulse of the man. "He's still alive, but his pulse is weak." Anzu looked up at Honda with a question in her eyes. Honda sighed "He might not make it". Upon hearing this, Anzu burst out in tears again. Hugging her father, she cried "Father wake up, wake up!"

After a long moment, Anzu's father opened his eyes: "Don't worry Anzu. Today I go to join your mother. Be a good girl!" Anzu started to sob, while Honda leaned forward and clasped his old friend's hand: "I am here. Do not lose hope, my friend." Anzu's father shook his head: "I will not last long. My good companion, please carry out my dying wish. Make sure my precious daughter stays safe. Please take care of her. Do you promise?" Honda nodded earnestly: "I promise you that I will help and protect Anzu. If I do not, may Ra punish me."

Anzu's father relaxed: "Thank you with all my heart." Turning to Anzu, he said: "My beloved, when you get older, find a good man and marry him. But, beware of handsome men- they only care for themselves and will only harm you. Stay safe and out of trouble. Remember that your mother and I will be watching over you. May Ra light your steps, Isis protect you and Ma'at give you a fair lot in life." Then, he motioned Anzu closer and whispered the amount of gold left and it's secret location. He kissed Anzu's forehead for the last time and smiled at Honda. Suddenly twisting in pain, Anzu's father cried out, but then stopped short. He had left this world.

"No!" Anzu cried, throwing herself onto her father's body. Honda heaved a sigh, and shed a few tears in sorrow. Then, he straightened his shoulders and patted Anzu on the back. Finally, Anzu's sobs died down. Honda said: "Anzu, I promised your father that I would take good care of you. Would you rather stay with my family than here?" Anzu considered then shook her head: "Thank you anyways, Honda."

Together, they brought the body to a small temple and paid the priests to mummify and then bury it. Since Anzu was not exactly affluent, she could only leave a gold necklace with her father with her name engraved in it. Hopefully, her father and her would be reunited in their next lives.

Anzu thanked Honda for his help and walked back home, feeing empty. She walked into her father's bedroom. There was not much- only the bed, a table, several scrolls on medicine, a chair, and on the wall, a leather belt that held lethal throwing knives that had been her mother's.

Anzu felt fat tears drip down her cheeks. She sniffed, but then decided that no matter what happened, she would live! Her blue eyes blazed with hope, willpower and life! Anzu rolled up her sleeves and proceeded to gather up the blankets her father had used. These had to be burned- not just because of their memories, but to prevent any remnants of the disease from spreading. Anzu aired out the room by pushing aside the camel skin that served as a window shutter.

Anzu took the rest of the day for Anzu to clean up the room. Anzu collapsed onto her bed after bathing- too tired to think. Suddenly, her father's words sounded in her head: "Anzu, beloved, when you get older, find a good man and marry him." He told me to be cautious around handsome men, Anzu mused. How strange, since there are no men I want to marry. I want to be smart, successful and maybe I'll start my own shop and become a wealthy merchant! Anzu smiled, and yawned. Before she drifted off to sleep though, a pair of crimson eyes flashed in her head.

Anzu passed a year peacefully. She made exquisitely patterned reed baskets and sold them in the bazaar next to Honda's stall. She made enough money to food and cloth herself. Moreover, Honda checked up on her every two weeks and Anzu became fast friends with Miho, Honda's daughter. When Kajuki Mai learned of Mazaki-san's death, she comforted Anzu as best she could. Mai and Miho also became friends.

One day, Mai introduced Katsuya Jou and his sister, Shizuka. Jou lived in Anzu's village as a royal guard. Jou was Mai's lover-a brawny, kind but often vocal man of twenty-five. He had blonde hair and dark brown eyes. Shizuka was a petite, pretty, hazel-eyed girl of sixteen, with lovely auburn hair.

Surprisingly, Honda and Jou hit off well- though they fought occasionally. Shizuka and Jou also became god friends with Anzu, Mai and the Hondas. With this group of friends, Anz was able to cope better with her loss. Another activity Anzu did to get rid of stress was learning how to hand fight and throw projectiles. She had asked Jou and Honda (who had served in the royal army until he was too old) to teach her. Since Anzu was a quick and willing learner, and Jou and Honda were good teachers, Anzu mastered bare-handed fighting in one summer. Throwing her mother's lethal blades proved more challenging. Dragonstar, as Anzu named these weapons, was quite hard to master. Every time Anzu threw a makeshift dart, it would zoom upwards or to the left. She finally corrected her swing, and was able to squish a fly with her blade from at least 10 strides away.

After seeing Anzu's health improve, Honda thought it would be a good idea for all of them to learn a little fighting. Thus, Mai, Miho, Shizuka, Mokuba and Mrs. Hiroto joined in and al of them learned self-defense techniques.