MODERN DAY

Chapter Two

"Unwashed and somewhat slightly dazed..."

/Yami, I don't think this is your standard case of monsters run amok/ Yugi's mind voice wavered slightly as they passed through yet another gate deeper into the Shadows. /These attacks aren't random./

(I know, partner,) Yami's deep, rumbling baritone seemed to echo in the overwhelming silence, even within the confines of Yugi's mind. (I think we're in for something far, far different from 'standard'.)

The gloom before them did little to mask the carnage that had drawn them here. Bodies were scattered across the ravine floor in various states of dismemberment, the remains of minor monsters who had been unable to defend themselves from attack. The grass of the nodes, created to house the more timid Shadows, was stained vividly red with blood; slick and syrupy underfoot as Yugi picked his way down into the village.

The Shadow realm had long since ceased, in Yugi's mind, to be a place of darkness and fear. The Shadows weren't necessarily evil, in fact, the monsters who made their home here were often tame and eager to meet their masters face to face. He should have always known; after all, wasn't Yami supposed to be Dark?

Yami walked behind his soul partner as a physical manifestation, his long legs carrying him easily over the worst of the damage. This place was his kingdom now and he would be damned if he watched it fall apart because he wasn't fast enough to catch a single minor sorcerer. Nothing that had been done was irreparable, in fact it wasn't even Big Magic. It made the ancient spirit curious... Who would dare brave the Shadows and then wreck havoc on their inhabitants knowing he was no match for their guardian? Perhaps they didn't know.

(Yugi, don't go any nearer,) the once-Pharaoh pushed passed his partner carefully as Yugi obediently froze in place. Yami peered down at the suspicious looking black mass blocking their path into the valley, probing it with his own magics. (I do not know this substance... but it feels familiar...)

/Probably something you saw in Egypt./ Yugi offered helpfully, watching his darkness pick his way closer to the black stuff.

(Mmm...) He was lost in thought.

/Be careful, please, Yami. I don't want to have to drag you back./ Yugi remembered that his little 'house guest' was as real and tangible as anything here in this realm. And that he was heavy.

Yami glared at the teenager over his shoulder, (No concern for my well-being, that's nice.)

/I am the nice one./ Yugi grinned.

The conversation was cut short by a shrill scream from the other side of the valley and a second female shriek followed by ruthless laughter and unpleasent slurping noises.

(/He's still here!)/ Both light and dark mentally shouted, quickly merging and using Yami's cat-like agility to practically fly down the steep hillside. Conserving magical energy for the battle they knew would follow.

He panted for breath as he stared up from the cobblestone street of the monster village at the two silhouettes on the cliff above him, "Show yourself, sorcerer! Unhand those shadow creatures!"

A figure in a black cowl strode to the edge of the cliff haugtily, fearing no danger, a struggling Witty Phantom held securely in its claws. His voice- identifying him as a 'he' of some description- oozed and patronized, his tone sounding almost conversation, "Why should I? Oh, because these beasts are yours?" he pointed from Yugi to the Phantom exaggeratedly, his voice rising effeminately.

"I don't think so, I think I'll kill it and put it to some use." The figure turned away, back to his grisly work.

/Yami.../

(A necromancer, a Shadow necromancer. This may be more difficult than I anticipated, small one.) The spirit frowned in dissatisfaction, not liking the way this was turning out. A good fight he adored, a situation in which his partner might possibly be hurt- Yami didn't like showing that side of himself much anymore. It always seemed like... overkill. Besides, something different was afoot here, something he hadn't felt... since another lifetime. Why did he know what a Shadow Necromancer was and why did the thought send uncomfortable apprehension down his spine?

/Now I know it's bad, you haven't called me that since you broke the TV./ Yugi's irrepressable cheerfulness dragged his thoughts back to the matter at hand.

Yami cursed.

"All right, Dark Wizard, you didn't seem to realize that wasn't a request! I will give you one chance to surrender, release your prisoners and come down peacefully." Yami's brilliant ruby eyes flashed dangerously as he readied himself for an attack, glowing with inner power.

"So you can kill me? Forgive me if I refuse," the necromancer laughed uproariously, "You know, my dear Pharaoh, you really have become quite ridiculous in your stay away from all the stress of the real world. In the old days it would have been decimate first ask questions later, wouldn't it? Especially when I would do something like-" another screech ripped through the silence, before dwindling into a sickening gurgle and a steady, even more stomach-turning dripping as the Witty Phantom had his throat torn out with a golden scythe.

"a Ausar!" Yami whispered in oath, shocked, before growling in rage; "Murderous bastard, you'll pay for each drop of his blood with a gallon of your own!" His fingers curled, as if ready to claw the Wizard to death, instead balls of Shadow magic forming in his palms. Yami was about to throw pure power at his tenacious enemy.

The necromancer laughed again, bordering on hysteria, "Were you not paying attention O great Heru-Xuti? Have you forgotten so much that you cannot recognize a little sacrifice for power? All those years of instruction and you're forgetting these things? I'm afraid you'll have to play the game with more skill if you want to survive! Hah!" He threw a hand out in front of him, blue lightning crackling between his fingers.

A shrill howling of wind seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once, Yugi's already wild hair swirling madly as the soft breeze became a violent, storming torrent. Yami fought to keep his feet on the ground, shielding his eyes to look up at the necromancer. No matter his efforts he soon felt himself sweapt into the upward air jet. He landed hard on the cliff, knuckles slammed into the rocks, his own blood seeping into the ground, mere steps away from the man in the cowl.

(Yugi?)

/I'm fine./

"I rather thought you'd present me a challenge after all these years, but it seems I'm to be disappointed again." The necromancer stroked his chin in contemplation, "Do you suppose the rest of the world will put up much of a fight? No, you're quite right, not when the Shadows are free again." He grinned idiotically at Yami, carrying on his own one-sided conversation.

He was standing in a circle inside a hexagram, drawn in blood that had thickened to enamel-like hardness and dried to the grass and dirt. Fallen monsters lay sprawled over the lines, their bodies mutilated and broken, hearts piled in the center of the ring, covered in a blue powder and staked with a short broad sword.

(He meant to resurrect something very old,) Yami stood calmly, brushing himself off, (Something so old he's having trouble finding it. The wind was just an outlet for the power, he didn't want to do that. Amateur.)

/Just be careful, please, Yami... nothing is ever what it seems./ Yugi's voice was pleading from his soul room. He didn't want to put lives in jeopardy because they underestimated their opponent.

"I think you'll find me more formidable than you were expecting," Yami looked up at his prey with gleaming crimson eyes, letting the Shadows run freely through him. "You seem to know my name, but I have yet to learn yours, you are...?"

The necromancer grinned, tossing back his cowl to reveal a face so repulsive, Yami felt his- by no means weak- stomach lurch. All his flesh was horribly burned, peeling back from his features and revealing tacky layers of tissue beyond, his eyes were sunken, but nonetheless lucid. Gray, lifeless eyes, dull and absorbing all light that hit them instead of reflecting it. A generous mouth- without the benefit of lips- was creased into a malevolent smirk, the horror completed by a singed splotch where hair should have been. He was painted, as if he had put on cosmetics without knowing how.

"My name would make no difference, Pharaoh, for I can see you don't remember. How ironically quaint that you should have forgotten how great you were only to lose your current- considerably lesser- greatness to me." He grinned, disgusting maw twisting unnaturally.

"I don't need to know you to defeat you." Yami growled, hating to be reminded of his hole-ridden memory.

"Ah, but you would lose everything you might have learned from me." He grinned again, making Yugi squirm with discomfort even in the protection of his soul room. "And don't be so silly, Pharaoh, I wouldn't let you kill me before we've even warmed up."

With a final smirk, he completely vanished.

"Nnn!" Yami lurched forward, but it was too late.

Yugi's hand fell on his shoulder, "We will meet him again."

The spirit nodded, "That's what I don't like."

FINFINFINFINFIFNIFNIFNFINFINFIFNIFNIFNIFNIFINFIN!

Sorry about the shortness and the suck.

Notes: Ancient Egyptian: Yami said, 'Hail Osiris' meant as an oath, sort of like 'Oh God' would be to us.
The necromancer gave Yami a divine title: 'Horus of the two horizons' Egyptian Pharaohs were considered gods on earth, but the necromancer isn't giving the correct title, he's mocking Yami.
I didn't use 'aibou' because I am not Japanese, I don't speak Japanese and inserting random Japanese words into the story won't change that. No offense to people who do, I don't have a problem with it, I'm just not kidding myself. The English 'partner' probably doesn't capture the complete meaning of the word, but there's nothing I can really do.

Notes Important to the Whole Story: All the Ancient Egyptian stuff will be as historically accurate as possible because I have always had a big passion for it and I hate reading all the fanfiction that treats it as though it were fantasy or medieval England. This was a real place and a real culture, some common beliefs are true, some aren't. Polygamy for example wasn't widely accepted, only the Pharaoh had a lot of wives. Tons of stuff like that. (Amen-Ra or Amun-Re or whatever you prefer is actually a hybrid of two gods).

The modern day part will be as show-accurate as possible considering how few Japanese episodes I've been able to see and how I'm inserting a story line that wasn't in the show. I will be skipping the Memory arc later, just to warn people. And I may mess with the show itself. I suppose it's sort of semi-AU, but not really. I will correct the show on its Egyptian history (Seth's outfit is ridiculous, Yami's crown, etc).

Finally the Egypt part will be hardcore, definite YYY, the modern part… well, that's a secret.