Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh, Blade, the movie Vampires, Buffy the vampire slayer, or anything else that this story may seem to have, and any song as well.
/Yami's thoughts/
[ Pharaoh's thoughts]
Chapter Ten"Come with me," insisted Seto as he gently took his cousins wrist and led him out of their joint bedroom with Joey. The young vampire growled and ripped his wrist away from Seto's grasp, "what has gotten into you," Seto asked, "Why don't you suddenly want me around". Sighing Yami shook his head and averting himself strode back to their room, "you would call me foolish," he said simply.
"Come here Yami," Seto insisted, the boy only stopped in his tracks and kept his gaze upon the mahogany door, "tell me why you suddenly don't want me around you, ever since you had the strength to argue back and pushed you've been nothing but willing to do so to me, to everyone. Why Yami, why are you pushing everyone away from you".
Yami shoulders collapsed suddenly as if the weight of the world was just placed on his shoulders, "as I said before Seto, you would call me foolish, besides right now I do not have the will nor the right sense of mind to go in front of the council, I have too much on my mind and I must study Mr. Wheeler is making me do my final exam for being a Junior slayer on Friday. Please, just leave me be, tell them that I am ill," he insisted and was about to open the bedroom door
Springing forward Seto cut his cousin off from entering the room, the boy's eyes met him defiantly and almost angrily, "leave me alone Seto, I cannot talk to them now". The slayer shook his head and crossed his arms firmly, "you have to Yami, when they ask of something you must immediately comply, and right now their word is law, now come".
"No," Yami snapped pushing Seto's outstretched hand, "don't even try to make me go, all I am to them is a vampire that should be squashed if I was not that boy from the prophecy".
Shaking his head Seto took a step towards, "that's not true, who told you that," Yami's face remained placid and he sighed, "Yami what is wrong".
"Do you honestly want to know what's wrong, everything about me is wrong," he bellowed, "I am a monster Seto, look at what I am, I am a vampire, a walker of the night, a taker of lives, and a fiend that walks this earth without a soul and without a true reason to live. This monstrosity that I have become has killed so many people that I myself cannot count. I have become nothing but a fucking bloodsucker that kills to live a meaningless life. I am a MONSTER.
"I don't deserve life after everything I have done, especially what happened the other night. I almost lost you and Blade, Joey and West, and Mahado. I can't do anything right, I never have been able to. I was selfish that night, I could have surrendered and you would have been freed and your stomach would not be bruised. That's what's wrong Seto," he expounded tears coming to his cheeks.
Seto stared in utter disbelief at his cousins face, "how can you say that, everything you have done, everything you have been forced to become, you've never had the choice. Valick ripped your innocence from your grasp that night just over a year ago, and I couldn't stop it, if Blade and I had been there sooner that would not have happened. But you know what, I got over it as soon as I saw you that night on the rooftop, I knew that there was still hope left for the humans.
"Your fear of Valick and your want to fulfill the prophecy was what made you not want to give up. But you still struggled, you still protested against them hurting me. And this bruise Yami is nothing compared to some of the wounds that I have had, and I am glade that you did not surrender, because I know that you would have no hope of getting back out as a half vampire.
"I admire you Yami, you lasted one year under the torture that Valick put you through. I would not have been able to I would have committed suicide. But you didn't you fought on in hopes that someday you would be able to find your way here. You never gave up, none of us here would have been able to live through what you have," he expounded as he stared deep into Yami's crimson eyes.
Yami sucked in a shaky breath as the tears in his eyes increased, he understood Seto, he understood that he survived through beating after beating, through killing countless people both innocent and not. He survived looking at himself in the mirror and seeing what he had become. He had kept his sanity with that one thought in his head day and night, 'I will destroy Valick, I will fulfill the prophecy, I will see my parents faces again'.
Gentle arms wrapped around him and he felt as if a dam had broke loose within him, the hot tears in his eyes fell and he clung to his cousins frame. Seto stroked circles on his back, "Seto," he muttered, "I want to see my parents again". The slayer sighed, "I'll ask them at the meeting that we must go to for permission to take you for an overnight stay at your parents home in Thebes".
His tears slowly subsided and he stared up into his cousin's face, "thank you," he muttered, "I think I am ready to face them now". Seto smiled down at him and pulling away wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders and led him away to the Ministries Council Chamber.
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He was instantly met with stern cold faces as he strode through the double doorway along side Seto. The room was lit with faint white lights from the ceiling above making the room eerie and dark. The twelve members of the council sat around the table, each of their dark eyes upon him save two, his uncle Akunadin, and Master Khepre. He shuddered at the almost appalled look he received from each of those dark eyes. Remembering that he had to be brave and that they would not hurt him he straightened out and pushed his fears out of his head and stared at them all with respect and an almost defiant attitude that he was known for.
"I am here at your request Masters and Ladies of the Ministry," he said politely bowing his head. A few shifted in their seats and a few low growls were heard before Akunadin spoke, "raise your head child," he said, "you bow not to us". Obediently he rose his head and gazed at the rest of the council.
Master Fukayna scowled firmly, "your late".
Crimson eyes snapped in her direction, "forgive me Ma'am but I was already in bed preparing for another day of training," he expounded remaining as polite as he could.
"Hmm," grunted Master Al Thor, "I would expect a vampire to be more awake in the night then in the day," his nearly black eyes scanning Yami's face as if trying to find something amiss with him.
"Well sir thanks to your wonderfully talented scientists I am more accustomed to moving around in the day. Lurking in the shadows is not something I would rather be doing," Yami stated putting his hands behind his back.
"That's surprising to hear," said the youngest seemingly of the council.
Seto coughed, "Master Jodelle, as with the rest of the council, I would have hoped that by now you would have put your childish grudges aside and accepted that he is a half vampire, one with his souls and he makes his own decisions and thinks in the same manner as we do. May I remind you he is the reincarnation of our great king, the Pharaoh Yami-Atemu, you would do well as to respect him and not anger the Pharaoh's spirit".
The young man received heated glares but within seconds all the sharp dark eyes turned back onto him, "I suppose," snapped Master Al Thor, "but he is still a vampire, they are not supposed to be in this building. Especially when all he is doing is brining the enemy here and risking the lives of our best slayers".
Yami winced at the memory, immediately Seto placed a reassuring hand gently on his back, "it is not his fault that we were so stupid as to have him raised away from proper protection. Have him live somewhere that the Slayers could not reach him fast enough. It is not his fault that he was bitten, nor is it his fault that he was born the reincarnation of our good Pharaoh".
"You are out of line Seto," snapped Master Banki standing up.
"Am I, please tell me Master Banki how I am as such, I am pointing out the faults that we have done that we are placing on his shoulders. We are blaming him. Do we have a right to do that when we were the ones who should have been protecting him all these years to make sure that the vampires never got to him. It was our responsibility to watch him, but no we thrust him and his parents away to the most exposed out of the small villages and expect him to be fine.
"Bullshit," he snapped, "we needed to be there the entire time. We are blaming him for our fault and you are acting as if he should be killed on the spot because of what he is. We let him become what he is.
"That night over a year ago we should have dispatched more than two people when we figured out that it was Valick there. Sending two guaranteed Yami's being bitten, or at least his capture.
"Need I also remind you that he has provided every break through on the cure. Also he has so far willingly given us Intel about Valick and his vampires. He has done nothing but behave and cooperate and all you are doing is stabbing him in the back. You have been taught by your parents and your elders that whether the reincarnation be half-vampire or pure human that we are to protect him.
"The twenty priests three thousand years ago made that promise over their kings body that they would live for the day that his reincarnation would come. And that no matter what they would protect him. From the day those priests started the civilizations of the Slayers that has been our solemn vow, not to push him away and hurt him," he expounded heatedly as he gazed around at the council members.
Each one had bowed their heads in deep though and partially in shame. A nineteen-year-old was acting more mature than they were, and more intelligently. How could they have done this? As they lifted their heads they turned their gazes to the boy only to see his head bowed and an aura of white light around him playing with his golden bangs and the loose sleeves of his kaftan.
Then the boy lifted his head, as he did so the normal clothing upon his faded into near nothing an was replaced with the ancient attire seen upon the ancient king on the statue in the entrance area. Wine red eyes darker than any red blazed through darkly compared to the angelic glowing skin. A scowl was upon his stern face as he gazed heatedly at the council.
Master Tanu gasped, "great sweet Anubis, the Pharaoh".
Sharp eyes snapped in his direction vicious anger flooding from the dark orbs, "I expected better of the Council that would be around my reincarnation, the boy who would have been the child that would have been born from my wife if I had lived to protect her. He is your future king I demand that he be treated with reverence as I was. Just because he is a boy of fifteen does not mean that he is lacking of intelligence. And just because he is half vampire, does not mean that he is not honourable and ingenuous. Think better of him, or you will not wake from your sleep".
"Pharaoh," muttered Seto, the kings eyes turned up to him and an immediate softness appeared in the icy depths, "are you living within him".
"Yes I am, I have always been within him, talking to him and encouraging him not to given up, not to loose hope that he can continue what I had started. I guide him with all my knowledge on the cure. I have tried to protect him, though only once did it work. His powers activated because of me and because of his want to save you. Now, I can save him as best as I can, but your help is needed.
"No hope or trust in him will only tare his young mind to shreds. He is fragile as any adolescence and needs the support of others. I hope that the council learns to trust him as you have," he stated.
Nodding Seto bowed his head, "I would trust him with my life Pharaoh," he stated.
The king smiled, "I know," he said placing a cold hand upon Seto's bowed head, "I ask of you to protect him when I cannot," nodding Seto rose to his feet and stared down into the Pharaoh's eyes, the king blinked once sent a warning glare at the council gave a warm smile to Akunadin, Seto, and Master Khepre before bowing his graceful head.
The room was silent as the aura dissipated around the body and revealed the young half-vampire boy standing on unsteady feet in naught but a thin pair of pyjamas and a silk kaftan. Crimson eyes more innocent than the kings lifted and gazed first at Seto, then towards the council. He was shock, gentle smiles reached him before each member rose then swiftly bowed down upon one knee, "we ask of your forgiveness young prince for we have treated you unfairly and allowed our judgment on you kind to pass over who you are," said Master Fukayna.
Blinking Yami glanced at Seto questionly, the slayer smiled at him, turning back he nodded, "I have no need to forgive, you have been raised to despise vampires, you could not stop your judgment to pass before you knew me," he said shakily. They nodded in acceptance and re-took their seats.
"Now," started Akunadin, "back to what we had summoned you here for, we find that it is necessary that since your powers activated that one we start training you how to use it. Two, we give you an item that will help control it".
Yami blinked and crossed his arms, "when do I start," he asked.
Sighing Master Tanu scratched his neck, "as soon as possible, tomorrow if you allow it". The vampire nodded nervously as Akunadin rose from his seat a golden box in his hand, the same box Master Khepre had had in the infirmary.
Biting his lip he glanced at it questionly, "what's in there," he asked.
"The Millennium Puzzle, the item created to control the Pharaoh's powers three thousand years ago. I warn you, a strong voice will talk to you, encourage you and what not. Do not be afraid, that voice is the Pharaoh. He has been with you all along, but with the puzzle you will actually hear him. He will not harm you. Seto please hold him," he stated and gently opened the box.
Yami's face was awestruck as he watched a pyramid shaped item of solid gold being pulled out of the box. The millennium eye was upon it sparkling in all its glory. His eyes were fixed upon it like a child in a candy store. Gingerly he reached out and ran a digit gently over the puzzles smooth surface, a small smile spread across his face at the familiar feeling of the cold gold under his fingertips.
Akunadin smiled at him as Seto grasped his elbows, "be warned little one, this may send a wave of energy through your body, if that happens you will become exhausted and will not be able to attend school tomorrow," he explained and draped the thick silver chain over the boys head. Letting it go Yami watched as it dropped and stopped just at the bottom of his rib cage. Then it glowed, faint at first then steadily it became brighter and brighter.
Yami stared down at it in disbelief until a wave of cold energy surged through his body, he flung his head back and gave a strangled cry of both surprise and weakness as he dropped to his knees Seto going down with him. Panting stared at the polished tile floor as the light disappeared and the cool feeling of the energy left his body. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, exhaustion over taking him as a voice similar to his own but deeper and wise rang in his head, "sleep little one, I'll watch over you".
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A/N:MYA, this is just for u, so pay attention
[You should wake up soon little one; you cannot stay asleep for the entire day]
Yami's eyes snapped open, that voice, sitting straight up he nearly cried out in surprise when he saw a nearly translucent figure sitting on the edge of the bed. The man looked like him, though taller, stronger slightly in build, and was dressed in ancient attire. The man smiled at him and showed him his hands.
[I wont hurt you, I promise]
Yami whimpered and back into the corner of the bed. The man gave him a slightly worried expression.
[I promise little one, I am simply a spirit living within you, I am Pharaoh Yami-Atemu, your former self]
Blinking Yami gazed at him not sure whether to trust him or not /promise/ he asked. The spirit nodded and slowly reached out a hand to him. Sighing Yami moved forward on the bed and sat beside the former king /why are you within me/.
[Because, I made a vow to protect you in my head when I died. I have resided in you since you were created, I thought you things as an infant and tried encouraged you through what Valick put you through. I was that voice you heard in your dreams. Besides, you are like the son I never had, my wife was killed after I was and he died in her womb. You as a child looked just like him]
/Pharaoh/
[Yes]
/How could you have seen him/
[My spirit watched as he was taken out of her womb, they tired to get him breathing but he was long gone. That is how I know]
/Did you go by Yami when you were alive/
[Not very often; Atemu, Pharaoh, or Prince where my main names. My mother was the only one that called me Yami, and she died when I was young. At ceremonies also Yami would be mentioned, but that was it, never more]
/Thank you/
[For what]
/Helping me/ Yami lifted his gazed to the questioning king /your voice in my dreams kept me sane, I would have lost my mind there if you did not keep reminding me of my purpose here. Thank you/
[Your welcome little one, now, hurry and get ready I can sense Joey with a girl and I am sure that you will not want for her to see you in naught but your undergarments]
Yami blinked and glanced at the door as the Pharaoh's silhouette disappeared, panicking he rose to his feet and quickly pulled on his school outfit and adjusted the millennium puzzle around his neck.
Then the door opened and turning he found himself gazing at Joey and Lostris. The two smiled at him, "trainings starting, Mahado wants you there, come," said Lostris in a gentle voice reaching out her hand to him. Willingly he took it and allowed her to led him out the door.
Joey chuckled earning a look from both Yami and Lostris he winked before running away. Blinking Yami and Lostris gazed at each other, she blushed slightly and rubbed her cheek, "lets go before we are late," she suggested. Nodding Yami walked alongside her towards the stairs.
A/N: Yes like Yami and Yugi, our Yami has a spirit living within him that he can see and talk to, I liked the little touch, please review, I am sorry for the extremely long wait, I had a bad writers block. Oh, and something else is happening, lol, signalling to two ppl hand in hand. LOL Ja ne. - review.