Disclaimer: I don't own Yugi-Oh.
---Rating: PG13---
"" is talking
~ ~ is for thinking and reminiscing
** is for coughs or sighs
--- --- is for mental conversations or mental voices
--"( )"- Sacred Ancient language used by Shadi
--( )-Same as language except in mental conversation.
"+++++++++++" - Usually a language that is spoken by someone but the
person listening doesn't understand.
---MAJOR WARNINGS---
Yaoi - As in homosexuality - gay
Cursing
CHAPTER TWENTY - The Pharaoh?!
"I think he's warming up to me…" Yugi said conversationally to Ai who was tidying the room in a slow, steady pace.
Ai paused and gave Yugi a curious look, as if encouraging him to continue.
Yugi stood up, smiling goofily. "He hugged me…he actually hugged me back…"
Ai nodded. "I saw." His voice gave no inclination of what he was thinking.
"Do you think…" Yugi said hopefully, coming up to stand beside Ai. "That maybe… he likes me now?" He had no idea why he was asking the old man such a question, he barely knew Ai, but so far, Ai was the closest thing to a friend that he and Yami had in the Shadow Realm.
Ai turned slowly, he had been patting some pillows but now that Yugi was openly asking him a question he put them down and faced the boy. Glancing at the door to see that it was closed, he sighed and sat down, making himself more comfortable. Yami was not there. Shortly after they had eaten, the older teen had gotten up, declared he was going to go find something and had left without another word.
"Stupid Look-a-like might be… he worried about small look-a-like in the cavern when Blue Eyes came out…" Ai offered in his broken Japanese. "I not know him well, taller look-a-like is stupid and stubborn."
Yugi allowed himself a grin. Ai was very blunt and he liked him for it. However…
His smile faded slightly at a dark thought.
~ I have to be careful though, Ai isn't really a friend… just someone assigned to us by Malik. For all I know, he could be taking news back to him…~
This thought dragging his heart down, Yugi stepped back and he went to the other side of the room. "I'm sorry Ai, I shouldn't have bothered you."
Ai gave a grumpy smile. "Little Look-a-like thinks Ai is going to take news back to master Malik…"
Yugi froze in the process of picking up the Black Magician card Yami had left on a table. He could still remember when the Black Magician had come out of the card the first time and attacked him. But the second time…
The second time he had saved Yami and him. He could not understand why he had done so but he was nevertheless grateful towards him. Slowly slipping the card in his pocket he turned to face Ai, his countenance was stony.
"Yes I do, you've really helped us a lot Ai, I'm grateful beyond words, but if your trying to be our friend purely for the sake of getting information on us to tell Malik, then I'm afraid that I won't be able to talk to you anymore."
He turned once more to the table and attempted to look busy doing something. His hands found the food tray and he began stacking the dishes.
"Little look-a-like is truly Chosen One." Ai said softly behind him and Yugi jumped mentally five feet in the air and spun around to face Ai who was now standing and gazing serenely down at him.
"H…how do you know what I am!?" Yugi whispered.
-------------------------
"How did you summon the Dark Magician?" Malik asked quietly, gazing at Yami with intense curiosity.
Yami glared at the white robed figure who was glowering down at him, hand clenching his shoulder tightly in case he should choose to suddenly stand. Yami decided that the next time he caught this guy alone he was going to do something remarkably NASTY to him, something that had to do with bleeding.
Yami smiled darkly.
Malik raised an eyebrow and focused his attention to the robed figure holding Yami's shoulder. "He's planning to maim you for what you're doing right now…" he said sadistically. "…Care to tell him what you think of that?"
The punch came so suddenly Yami hardly had time to register it before he found himself doubled over in the chair, clenching his stomach. The robed figure continued to glower down at him, nursing his bruised knuckles.
~Fucking bastard…~ Yami thought, spitting blood from a bitten lip.
Then Malik was there, sadistic smile gone, eyes dark and cold. He used the end of the millennium rod to lift Yami's chin up to look at him. "You have the ever annoying habit of forgetting that I read every thought that passes through your head Yami…"
Yami glared back at him with slitted lids and did not reply, the blood running down his lip tickled his chin and he longed to rub it away but he would rather die first than show Malik that it bothered him. "Who's forgetting?" he said coldly.
Malik stood there, gazing down at Yami, studying his face before pulling the rod away and letting Yami's head drop. "How did you summon the Dark Magician?"
"I thought you could read every thought that went through my head…" Yami spat sarcastically, propping himself up with an elbow on the arm of the chair and shooting a look of pure loathing at the robed figure that had punched him.
Malik smiled down at Yami, it wasn't a very nice smile. "Well yes, except in this case…that information is jumbled. You DO know… but…"
Yami waited for him to continue, rubbing his stomach gingerly.
"…it's somehow gotten into that section of your brain that I can't get into hasn't it?" Malik whispered, running a hand through Yami's hair and seizing a fistful in a tight grip. Yami winced, feeling his arms turn to putty thanks to a mind tap Malik played at that moment.
"Your…" Malik's grip tightened, painfully.
"…DEFIANCE…" he pulled Yami's face an inch away from his
"…is getting annoying."
Yami smiled bitterly. "Oh, is it now? Pity." He whispered back sarcastically.
Malik shoved Yami's head back so hard that Yami toppled over the back of the chair and lay there; his arms still not released. The puncher snickered and Yami hated him more.
Malik walked around the chair and stepped on Yami's neck with the heel of his shoe, pressing just hard enough to make Yami choke. "There are a LOT of things that Yugi is doing to you right now that I don't agree on. Push my patience any further and I will kill him, understood? Now ANSWER MY QUESTION!!" He released his foot enough to hear Yami's answer.
"I don't know…" Yami replied. It was partly the truth, he knew Yugi had something to do with it but he didn't want Malik knowing that.
"You're lying." Malik snapped.
Yami did not reply, but only gave him a bored, defiant stare.
Malik stared angrily down at the teen and then glared up at the guard who was chortling silently, Malik's rage cut short his silent laugh. "Bring the other boy! Maybe that will loosen this fool's tongue."
Yami's blood ran cold.
The guard jumped to attention and hurried out of the room.
~Yugi…no!~
-----------------------
"How do you know who I am?" Yugi whispered, oh god, if Malik knew about him being the chosen one then…
How much else did he know?
He scampered back into the cushions, gripping the Black Magician card. His fear leaked into the card and it began to glow.
A flash of light and the Black Magician was standing there, pushing Yugi behind him, a worried look on his face. "What now?" His eyes feel on Ai and fire crackled within them.
Ai did not even look startled. "Ai know lot of things little-look-a-like …after all …"
Yugi's eyes widened as Ai's voice became clipped and concise.
"I am Shadi."
And Ai was gone, standing there, instead was the robed priest, his millennium key glowing around his neck as if it were on fire.
"Sh...Shadi!?" Yugi yelped, and pushing past the Black Magician attacked the priest with a hug. "You…were here the whole time! That's why you looked after Yami and me!"
Shadi, startled by the hug, only gazed down at the little Chosen One with a surprised smile on his face. "I have been by your side from the moment Malik captured you."
Yugi sniffled, wiping a tear from his face. All this time he had thought he and Yami were facing this torment alone. But now…
"I'm so glad…" he said, choking back his tears. "I'm glad it was you."
Shadi stepped back from Yugi's hug and gazed up at the Black Magician who rather than looking confused, looked very bored. "Humans…" he growled to himself and fixed his attention on a wall hanging.
"Your Pharaoh was a human if you so remember Magician." Shadi reminded him. "And you have done well protecting the Chosen One."
"You said to protect the Chosen One, the millennium puzzle told me to protect both him and that other look-a-like of the Pharaoh. Why are there two of them and why did the puzzle tell me to do so?"
Shadi gave Yugi a curious look. "What are your feelings toward Yami, Yugi?"
Yugi went red immediately. "F…feelings?"
Shadi's expression went serious. "Yes."
Yugi looked away blushing. "I…I…"
"Love him?" Shadi said softly.
Yugi stood there for ten seconds, unable to move and then slowly he nodded.
A heavy sigh made Yugi turn in surprise to gaze at Shadi. Shadi looked suddenly very tired. "What's wrong?" he asked, scared.
"I feared this…" Shadi said, in a low voice.
"Feared?" Yugi whispered. Was Shadi against him loving Yami? He hoped not.
---------------
"Cairo!" Triston breathed out in amazement. All around them were the ancient buildings, palm trees and sandy walkways. It was really beautiful.
"This way please." Isis said quickly, walking up a stairwell. "We haven't much time."
Startled out of his reverie, he glanced behind him at Tea and Joey who were squabbling again.
"Why can't you carry your own damn bag!?" Joey yelled.
"Are you a gentleman or a hog, you pig!??" Tea yelled back. "I just asked you to carry it because it's too heavy for me!"
"Well then next time, don't carry so much damn stuff-!" Joey huffed, grabbing Tea's bag and scowling at her.
"Fine, carry it for me and I'll buy lunch for you, okay!?" Tea pleaded.
Triston rolled his eyes and tightening his grip on his own bag, hurried his pace to catch up with Solomon and Isis who were at the summit of the steps and rapidly disappearing into the market. The others seeing that he was leaving them, stopped arguing and followed him.
~Hold on Yugi, we're comin'~
----------------------
"I something wrong, Shadi?" Yugi asked, shakily watching Shadi sit down, worry in his eyes.
"Little Chosen One, do you know HOW you are going to find the Pharaoh?" Shadi asked.
Yugi shook his head slowly. "You never did tell me that."
"Because it wasn't necessary, your heart would find the person. You would love the person the moment you saw them." Shadi said softly.
"The moment…I saw them?" Yugi whispered.
"The Chosen One can only love one person. The Pharaoh. Any other love is false." Shadi continued. "And in this life, because you the Chosen One, was born a male, then the Pharaoh should have come back as female."
"Are…are you saying…I can't be love in Yami?" Yugi whispered, sinking to the floor and looking up at Shadi.
Shadi did not respond but gazed down at him, studying him with a severe expression. Finlly he spoke. "You can only love the Pharaoh, Yugi."
"THEN I DON'T WANT TO LOVE THE PHARAOH!!" Yugi cried out, angry and furious all in one. "I LOVE YAMI!"
Yugi blushed furiously when he realised what he had just proclaimed on top of his lungs. Clenching his fists so hard that they hurt, he breathed deeply and continued in a restrained tone. "I'm not going to be of any use Shadi, I… I already love Yami and… I can't… I won't …I don't want to stop loving him to find the Pharaoh - you can't…you can't…ask me…to." He slowly trailed off, head hanging low. "I'm sorry, I know I promised but…"
Then Shadi's arm was on his shoulder and looking up, tears running down his face he realised Shadi was smiling.
"I needed to hear that from you…We assumed many things when we were preparing for the Pharaoh, one that you would be female, the Pharaoh male. Then I saw you and you were male. I assumed then that the Pharaoh - as strange as this might have been, would be female. And now you proclaim you love Yami, another male. I am truly surprised but I suppose that fate has meant it to be this way." Shadi said softly.
"I suppose then, that Yami is, in fact, the Pharaoh, reborn." (AN: dillydally winces as everyone goes DUH!! ^_^ this is what ya call Dramatic irony dudes and dudettes!)
The Black Magician inhaled sharply.
~Yami's the Pharaoh?~ Yugi thought in surprise. ~How!?~
Yugi's numb mind then tried to shuffle through the details. "But…Shadi… you said I would love the Pharaoh the moment I saw him, I DIDN'T love Yami the moment I saw him, he… hurt me… I …"
Shadi smiled again. "Do you believe that Yugi?"
Yugi paused in mid babble. Had…Had he loved Yami? His mind spun back to the school, all the horrible things Yami had done to him, the threats, the pain. During all those things… had… he…he…
Hated him?
No.
Not once had the concept come to him that he hated Yami. There was just this desperate need to help Yami, even at risk to himself.
Realization dawning on him, he looked back at Shadi, a soft embarrassed smile on his face. "No…no I don't."
Shadi nodded. "I was curious as to how Yami had come to be in the picture but now I see. The moment you came into contact with him, your souls linked and now nothing can tear you apart."
Gazing down at the puzzle, Yugi stroked it ponderously. "So, now that I've found him. Do I give him this?"
Shadi shook his head. "I would advise against that at the moment. Yes, we have established that he is the Pharaoh - but if he does not love you back…"
Yugi's eyes widened in fear.
"You will not be able to give him the puzzle."
"Why not…?" Yugi asked. "I thought…"
Shadi's brow wrinkled. "Please understand that the Pharaoh and the Chosen One are linked. If he regains the power of the Pharaoh without caring for you or your well-being, the balance will be thrown out and he will become corrupted. The Puzzle understands this and will not surrender itself until it feels that the Pharaoh will protect you. You are as just as important as the Pharaoh is, in this quest to save the world."
"How will I know … he loves me?" Yugi asked in a small voice. "I don't think he hates me anymore but I hardly think that he loves me."
"I doubt he ever hated you, Chosen One. He will tell you that he loves you, of course, whether by words or actions. He is stubborn, Chosen One. It may take him time. I just pray that he does so soon before Malik forces you to use the puzzle one more time." Shadi explained.
"Once Yami regains the puzzle I will step in and protect you both long enough for you both to get away."
"Get away how?" Yugi asked. He found it strangely amusing that they were planning so far ahead in the future. He doubted Yami would ever declare his undying love for him anytime soon.
"The Pharaoh will know." Shadi said confidently.
"Are you telling me that…THAT boy was my Pharaoh?!" the Black Magician said suddenly, interrupting the moment.
Shadi nodded. "Once he regains the puzzle, he will remember who is he is Magician."
Black Magician scowled. "I don't believe it. That boy is shallow and petty." And turning, he disappeared into the card.
Yugi smiled at the Black Magicians disbelief. He didn't blame him, he hardly believed it himself. Yami? The Pharaoh? All this time, he had been under their nose and he had not suspected it. He always assumed that he had to get away from Malik, so he could BEGIN searching for the Pharaoh. And then…Yami.
~I don't think he'll ever love me…but at least…I can love him~ he smiled sadly. ~Maybe… maybe we can just be friends…Maybe the puzzle will allow me to give it to him then.~
A thought occurred to him.
"Shadi, if I give Yami the puzzle will Malik's mind control break?" Yugi asked.
Shadi nodded, marveling at Yugi's selflessness. He doubted it had even crossed Yugi's mind that if Yugi himself lost the puzzle, then he would be wide open to Malik's mind control.
Yugi beamed. "Well, I'm just going to have to work on Yami's love then! I want him out of Malik's grasp."
"But what about you, little one?" Shadi asked gently.
Yugi looked at him in confusion. "What about me?"
"Malik may control you if you loose the puzzle." Shadi continued.
Yugi was quiet and then said softly. "I don't matter Shadi…I can't stand seeing what Malik does to Yami's proud spirit. Let Malik so what he wants with me. I'm setting Yami free."
Shadi's heart softened at those words. Yugi truly was the Chosen One.
Then without warning the door slammed back and the robed figure that had punched Yami stood there, glaring at Yugi. "YOU ARE WANTED." He bellowed.
Yugi whirled around, to warn Shadi to run but standing there once more was Ai, only looking slightly startled. Turning again, he stared wide-eyed at the man. "W…wanted?"
The robed figure leered at Yugi who shrank back against Ai. "By Master Malik." He gestured to Ai. "Bring him old man."
Yugi felt his shoulders gripped and was pushed forward gently after the robed figure who had flounced out of the room.
"Shadi…." Yugi whispered in fear.
"Is only Ai little look-a-like, be brave. Your Pharaoh needs your help."'
---------------
To be continued
AN: I AM SO SORRY ABOUT HOW LONG THIS TOOK GUYS (bows profusely). I ran into a SEVERE block right after the last chapter due to a review that put me in a depression. It's taken me this long to get back my courage and confidence, so again I apologise. I'll try not to make people's negative comments pull me down again.
---------------
I have a new story up ^^!! ( I started writing it to take small rest from Alternate World) It's a Jou/Seto romance fic called Blind Love. Check my story section ^^. There's even art for it!
----------------
On to the competition details (yeah, remember that? ^_^):-
Yay congrats to Seventh Sage for winning the competition ^_^. Her's was the most accurate and followed runner up by afan (eleifa) who had the same idea but said it too late) and Moonlitspire she stated that the robed figures were the people in the shadow realm who took care of the Monsters and the items. Rather simple wasn't it ^_^? I hope everyone's clear on their role in the story.
Some pretty good guess were given by Alea Ishikawa.
Seventh Sage please drop a review stating who you want as a chibi please ^_^!!!
Just to be very clear - the white robed figures are both guardians of the monsters AND magic cards ^_^. (well the shadow realm version of magic cards anyway)
-----------------
About the Yami and Yugi pic that I promised. I'll try to have it up soon. I've been really busy with school and haven't much time to draw anything.
--------------------
To XYZ: your comment has been noted. It grieves my heart that Yami's personality hasn't changed fast enough for you. I am just trying to be as realistic as possible, dislike or hate does not become love overnight. If you want a quick fix story where Yami and Yugi are in love with each other by the second chapter, I am sure there are lovely ones out there on fanfiction.net which you can find easily, there are even a few in my favourite list that I would highly recommend.
I did warn all my readers that this was going to be a bumpy ride. No one is forcing you to read this story so by all means, stop reading it if it annoys you so much. But please, here's some advice, next time you leave a comment, do so in manner that displays common curtsey and manners. Also, give some thought to the person's feelings. I am sorry but I will not change the pace of my writing or how I display Yami until I am ready and when I think it suits the story. Good day.
P.S. Oh and about the coward comment, try reading the story over again to see why he hasn't gone against Malik yet; sometimes reading ongoing stories makes you miss some of the subtle points.