Chapter Three "The Mutt and the God"
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Jou screamed as he fell into a cold pond. 'What the fruitcake!' Jou was currently spitting out some of the papyrus reed, he swallowed the rest by accident. "Ew, that tasted so nasty." Jou nearly gagged. He coughed a bit then looked around to see his surroundings. 'Weird. This isn't the museum. Wonder if that tablet thing had anything to do with it.' The surroundings held the small pond he was still sitting in, some stone paths, flowers, and sand. Jou got up slowly, and wobbled out of the water. "Dang these were my only clothes!" Jou shouted to no one in particular, but it seemed someone did hear him.
"You there! Boy! What are you doing?" Jou looked up at a arched bridge to see a little boy with midnight black hair staring at him. The little kid came over to Jou, "You wear strange clothing boy. Where are you from?" The kid asked, curiosity in his eyes.
"Um… Japan. Where would this place be?" Jou asked. The boy just kept on smiling.
"We're in the royal garden silly. Surly you knew that, or are people from your Ja-pan stupid." The kid looked up into Jou's eyes and flinched. In Jou's eyes showed a flash of anger.
'No one insults my intelligence.' "Hey! I am not stupid! Neither are people from Japan! Now where am I!" Jou yelled. The kid flinched again, tears brimming his eyes. This didn't go unnoticed by Jou. "Hey," he said softer, "I am sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I'm just frustrated, one minute I am in Japan, and next thing I know I'm here. Wherever 'here' is." Jou said patting the little kid on the head.
The kid brighten up at this, "You are in Egypt." the boy put simply. "I am Mokuba, by the way." Mokuba smiled. Jou was thinking about something though.
'If I'm in Egypt that must mean that tablet was a time machine, or something.' Jou was more confused now. He didn't know what was going on. He had so many questions: What happened, why am I here, and most importantly; what happened to Malik, Ryou, and Yuugi?
Jou was pulled out of his thoughts when Mokuba pulled on his clothes. "So what are you doing in Egypt?" He asked.
"Well, first I think I should find my friends. Then figure out how to leave." Jou responded. "Oh! I am Jou, Mokuba. Nice to meet you." Jou added his formality on.
"'Jou', what a weird name. Anyway do you know what happened to your friends?" Mokuba asked Jou.
"No." Jou stated simply. "We were in the museum, then we heard a voice call out to us, touched this ancient tablet thing, got separated, and ended up here." Jou said to Mokuba, who looked confused.
"Oh. Well I am sorry I can't help because I haven't seen anyone who dresses like you around here." Mokuba had a sad look in his eyes.
Jou saw this and just patted Mokuba's head. "It's okay kiddo. I could use your help though. If you can escort me around this place maybe we can find them. What do you say?" Mokuba's face brightened immensely after hearing that.
He replied with a cheery, "Okay!" and he led Jou to what Mokuba said was a temple of prayer.
They only got so far into the temple when Jou got lost. He strayed from Mokuba because of his curiosity. They say that curiosity killed the cat, but for Jou, curiosity almost killed the dog.
"Just my luck. I get sent back to ancient Egypt with no knowledge of how to return, and now I am lost." Jou said sighed. He stopped to look around. He noticed that the walls were covered in hieroglyphics. Jou could also smell incense burning. It had a spicy smell to it, but at the same time some elegance.
Then Jou heard soft, but harsh foot steps coming his way. Jou quickly looked for a place to hide but there was none. The foot steps were approaching quickly, so he took drastic measure. He hid alongside the wall. (A/N: Jou! You should've ran! Oh, wait I am the one writing this. sweat drop)
Out of the shadows of the hallway, came two sandal covered feet. A brunet man, about nineteen, wore silky garments of clothing. He had a long, blue dress robe, and a tall, blue, weird-looking hat. His arms were crossed at his chest, and in one hand he held a golden rod with a eye engraved on it. The man had a light tan, and cold icy eyes. When the man spotted Jou he froze. All Jou could do was gulp.
"Who are you? This temple is forbidden to commoners!" The man stated. Jou looked up into the man's handsome face. 'That's the guy from the tablet!' Jou thought.
He was suddenly pushed up against the hieroglyphic-covered wall, the man's hands on both sides of his head. He looked directly into Jou's honey colored eyes. "I asked you a question mutt! Now answer it!" The man shouted.
Jou glared at him, "I am not a mutt, you bastard!" Jou shouted in the man's face. The man just smirked at Jou.
"Never have I heard a lowly mutt, call me, High Priest Seto, a bastard. You are a fighter boy. I like that." The man, now known as Seto, said. He brought his hand up an gripped Jou's chin, forcing him to look into Seto's ice cold eyes. "Your name slave?" Seto asked in a demanding voice. (1)
Jou growled in the back of his throat, "I am not a slave! My name is Jounouchi, Jou for short, but to you I am your Hell bringer!" Jou poking Seto in the chest. (A/N: Poking people is fun!)
Seto just stared laughing, grabbing Jou's hand that was currently going to poke him again. He brought the hand to his mouth and kissed the back of his hand. "I like you Jou," Seto's Egyptian accent didn't help him pronounce Jou's name any better, "You will be my new slave. You are to refer to me as 'Master', and be by my side unless I say otherwise." Seto smirked at Jou's bewildered look. He leaned down and pressed his lips to Jou's. Jou was taken aback, so he jumped but messed it up, and ended up falling on his butt. Seto chuckled, "Come Jou. I need to have you more proper. I can't let you be seen wearing those clothing articles." Jou, who was still blushing and bewildered, allowed himself to be dragged along by Seto.
They reached Seto's chamber, some other servants gave a reluctant Jou a bath, and then dressed him in new clothes. Which they had difficulty doing considering Jou was struggling to get out of their grasp. He was wearing a silk, gold colored kilt, that stopped above his knees. He had gold leg bands on each leg, gold armbands. He was shirtless, so you could see his well-toned chest, and ugly bruises. These didn't go unnoticed by Seto.
"Who?" Seto asked simply pointing to Jou's bruises.
Jou flinched. Normally he wouldn't answer, but this Seto guy was different than anyone else, besides his friends. "My father." he replied, his head downcast.
Seto lifted Jou's chin and looked in his eyes. Jou had sorrow, mixed with humiliation and a little bit of anger. Seto did not like that look in his slaves eyes, so he took action. He suddenly put a sapphire collar around Jou's neck and said, "Be a good dog, I have a sacrifice to attend to. Mokuba will keep you company, he's been worried about you. Remember, behave mutt!" Seto smirked and walked out his door. He laughed when he heard the faint yells of Jou screaming that he wasn't a dog.
'That was fun' Seto thought to himself has he entered the ritual grounds. He suddenly saw the pharaoh and walked over to him. He stopped in his tracks when the prisoner was hauled out. 'He also wears strange clothes! What's going on here?' Seto turned to the pharaoh. "Pharaoh Atemu. That boy has strange clothes, I also found one that was strangely clothed." the pharaoh turned to Seto.
"Really." Atemu smirk. "I'm surprised you're not late then, usually when you get a new slave you…" Atemu was cut off by the speech that was being read off. When he took his seat he finally got a good at the boy going to be executed. 'Him!' A shocked look came over Atemu's face, but then replaced by determination, and playfulness. 'This will be fun' he thought to himself, as he watched the ax drop.
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Groggy periwinkle opened slowly, sleepiness still in them. Malik looked around at his surroundings, and noticed he was in a cell. His neck was chained to a wall, as were his legs and arms. His throat was parched, and lips chapped. His head was also throbbing in pain. He didn't remember to well of what happened, but he must have certainly have gotten hit on the head.
'Ow. I can't remember anything, I just remember getting teleported, and landing in Egypt. Never mind thinking makes my head hurt worse.' Malik cursed silently to himself in Arabic. He then heard loud footsteps approaching.
The screech of the cell door caught Malik's attention. He looked up to find two buff, tanned, armored men looking at him. Malik didn't like that look, he knew what it usually meant, he saw the lust in their eyes. Malik despised that look, he hated it, yet he was also scared of it. These thoughts shattered, but the fear grew, when one of the men lifted his face up. Malik saw the smirks, he was more scared now than ever, he was bound and tied, that made it scarier.
"Too bad General Mariku wants to see this one immediately. I would've had fun with him too." the other man just laughed, and nodded his head in agreement. They unshackled Malik, but as soon as they got him standing, they shackled his ankles and wrist. Then one of the men lifted him over his shoulder and carried him off to only God knows where.
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'Water! I need water!' Malik cried in his head. He felt himself tossed on something soft. He had passed out while the men were carrying him, due to the lack of hydration. He felt something above his face, then whatever it was crashed down, but Malik didn't care, there was water. He grabbed whatever the thing was that was now on his face, trying to get more water. When he opened his eyes he gasped, for the thing that was on his mouth was another man's mouth. Quickly, he pushed the man away from him and backed up into a corner. He realized he was on a bed, no good thoughts came to his mind at this point. 'That man gave me water through his mouth!' Malik heard chuckling he turned and looked at the man.
Malik couldn't help but gasp again, this man looked almost like him. Only his eyes were more narrow, and a deeper blue/purple color. The man's hair was also spiky and wild, but it was sandy blond, like Malik's. The man continued to chuckle at Malik's face. Malik just glared at him, then he remembered the tablet. 'This man! He's the general! That must mean I traveled back in time! Damn!' Before Malik knew, the man was right in front of him, smirking sadistically at him. He gripped Malik's chin and lifted it up, his smirk growing wider seeing Malik's fear.
"You're a pretty one." The man chuckled. "Your name, pretty-one?" Malik was scared to answer, but this man was en times stringer than him, probably more, he wanted to lie and tell him a different name. He couldn't something made him tell his real name, and before Malik knew it he said…
"Malik…. Malik Ishtar." Malik saw the other man's eyes widen. Why? He did not know.
"Ishtar! This is very fortunate! Come Ishtar! There is much to celebrate!" The man grabbed a confused Malik by the wrist and dragged him out of the room. He pulled Malik into a area where tents where pitched, battle weapons, and horses. Malik bumped into his look-alike when he stopped in the middle of the clearing. He suddenly called out, "Men! Get off your lazy asses and over here now!" With that commanding shout hundreds of men were out standing in a circle around the man and Malik. "Men today is a great day! For this battle will soon come to an end, with the Pharaoh's victory assured! For here I have a gift of the gods! He is the enemy's god of war, Ishtar!" The men all cheered after the man's speech.
Ishtar, is a god of war. H is one of the gods the Pharaoh's enemy believes in. "He will surly bring us victory in this battle! We will use the enemy's own god against them." The man shouted back at the cheering crowd. Not all men were cheering though, one stepped forward. (2)
"General Mariku sir, how can we be sure if he isn't lying. He could just be a spy from the enemy's." The man, now revealed as Mariku, was about to retort when other men in the circle started to agree with the one man.
Mariku started to think, "We'll put him in a battle." All eyes turned to Mariku. "We'll let him fight one of the rouged prisoners. If he wins, he is Ishtar; if he loses he will be severely punished." Mariku looked back at Malik, who had a terrified look on his face.
'Rouged! This can't be good. Usually I like blood and stuff, but not when it could be mine.' "Um… excuse me Mariku sir, but I don't think this is such a good…mphh!" Mariku kissed Malik, who fought back. "Don't ever do that again you bastard!" Malik punched Mariku's arm, but Mariku didn't even flinch.
Mariku looked at Malik in a confused manner, then grinned, "Come Malik Ishtar, god of war. You are to choose your weapon." Mariku grabbed Malik's wrist and dragged him of to a big tent.
Once inside Malik saw what this tent held. It had spears, armor, bows and arrows, swords, and daggers. Malik walked into the room, he knew there was no point in backing out now. He was still scared though because he knew he was going to die either way. If he chose to fight he would die, even though he was a good fighter. He would also die if he told them he wasn't a god. Malik continued to walk into the tent, looking all around him until he stepped on something. Looking down he saw a rusty old-looking dagger.
'What's this doing here? It's so out of place. It feels right in my hand though.' Malik thought as he picked it up, and unsheathed it. "I choose this one." Malik said turning to Mariku. Mariku just smirked and nodded.
After leaving the tent Mariku instructed a man to bring Malik to the training clearing. After they left Mariku just laughed and said, "He already has this battle won." Knowing Mariku was referring to Malik, a soldier asked him,
"Sir how do you know?" Mariku looked at the soldier.
"I'll explain later when he wins." Mariku smirked and began walking over to the fighting arena.
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The fighting arena was just another clearing in the army camp. On one side of the arena was a cage. In that cage was a big, really buff man, who was rattling the cage fiercely to get out. On the other side stood Malik, small, slight build, and scared. Even though he faced stronger men then himself before, this guy in the cage, was rouge. He was out of control, and Malik had to fight him. 'Uh oh. I am in way over my head here.'
He didn't have time to think anymore when the soldiers released the rouged giant. The big man took a look around, and then his eyes caught sight of Malik. Before Malik knew, the man was running straight at him. Malik screamed, when the man was too close, Malik jumped over the giants head, and heard the man yell. He had no time to figure out what he was yelling because he had to run.
It was when Malik was running, that he saw the cage the man came out of. It was a fairly tall cage, considering the giant man was in there, but it was even taller then the massive giant. Malik, with the dagger still in his hand, climbed the cage with difficulty. While he was climbing, he tore his pants, "Damn it!" He yelled. 'My favorite pants!'
Then something grabbed his leg. He looked behind him, to see that the ugly giant grabbed his leg. The man's tight grip started to rip the seams on Malik's pants. This got Malik angry. "Hey, bastard! No one rips my favorite pants!" Malik yelled, swinging his other foot around, and kicking the man in the face. The man didn't really look hurt, but his grip loosened enough for Malik to get his leg back. So there, on top of a all cage, stood Malik and the giant man advancing on him.
The man, now directly in front of Malik, was snarling. Malik wondered how the cage was withstanding both their weights combined. Again, he didn't have time to think, because the man lashed out at him. Malik ducked out of the way, then he unsheathed his dagger, closing his eyes, swung at the guy. Before he opened his eyes to see if he hit, Malik heard a bone crunching sound, that sent shivers down his spine.
He opened his eyes, crawled over to the side of the cage, and looked over the edge. There on the ground was the rouged man, his head bleeding, and his eyes empty. Malik did it! He won! Apparently the man had fallen over the edge trying to dodge Malik's swing. Malik just fell back on his butt, and sighed.
He heard cheers of the soldiers, and saw Mariku running towards the cage, he was currently sitting on. He climbed up the cage grabbed Malik, and hoisted him up on his shoulders. "Behold, the god Ishtar!" Mariku yelled. "He has won the fight. My soldiers, only the real Ishtar could've unsheathed this dagger." Mariku took the dagger out of Malik's slightly shake-y hand. "For this dagger," Mariku continued, "Is the dagger of Ishtar himself. Our former Pharaoh had won a long time ago. He thought it was a piece of shit, but now Ishtar has returned to reclaim it, and help us win this battle!" Mariku finished, and cheers could be heard form miles away.
Mariku let Malik down off his shoulder. When Malik gained his balance, Mariku grabbed him, and kissed him. "Come Ishtar! It's getting late, time to rest." Mariku said as he helped Malik down the cage.
'Oh boy! What am I in for?' Malik asked himself. 'But, hmm… he kissed me.' Malik sighed and allowed himself to be pulled by Mariku to his tent.
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Wow! Sorry it took me so long I hope this is long enough. I had writer's block for this chapter. Luckily, I do know what's going to happen in chapter four.
Thanks to:
1)Christina
2)HellsEnternalFlame
3)GaaraPanda
4)Ilikeyaoi
5)Atemu Yugi Lover34
6)Jak4snape
7)Wongergal Jubilee and Virgo
8)Ryuujitsu (Update "Faust" real soon! I also recommend "Faust" for all you Tender shippers. (Bakura/Ryou fans))
9)Hikari Skysong
10)Kat1132
11)insanechildfanfic
12)Malik the Psycho
13)MysticMaiden 18
Thank you! I love all you guys! #Kisses#
Side Notes:
1) This paragraph, and the one were Seto pins Jou to the wall; I actually got this from a picture. Just go to under images; then under fanart.
2)Ishtar, is actually a girl, but Malik's a boy so I had to change that.
Next Chapter: Yuugi's back in the picture. Will he die or survive? If he doesn't die, how will he survive with a very playful Pharaoh?
P.S.: The next chapter to my story "Where Do I Belong?" will be there shortly. Bye!