Disclaimer –"Yu-Gi-Oh!" and all related characters, events, and concepts belong to Takahashi Kazuki and any other related owners/distributors/producers. The world of Reirinsei and all related characters and concepts belong to Lunnaei. Dragon's just havin' fun. We get no monetary benefit from this. Our benefit is the enjoyment of dealing with beloved characters.

"Otherworld I: The Door"
by Lunnaei and DragonDancer5150

Chapter 10 – Destined

The voyage down the Nile was scenic and uneventful, the peace broken only by the retelling of the pharaoh's tale. Atemu took over their body to tell the story himself, and Malik could only shake his head in empathy and regret by the end. "And after all of that . . . I still wish there was something I could do to make up for all that I've done, Pharaoh Atemu." He bent his head in respect.

Atemu cupped his chin, gentle even as he guided the other with a firm hand to look up and meet his eye. "Live out under the sun as a free man, Malik Ishtahl, you and your people with you. That is all that I ask. That – " He paused with a shake of his head and a grin. " – and not to call me Pharaoh anymore. I am just Atemu."

"Yeah," Jonouchi laughed. "He won't let us call him that, either!"

"Not like you would anyway," Honda rejoined.

"Whatever!"

Malik gazed back for a moment in stunned silence, finally managing to nod. "You are too kind." Atemu only shrugged with a nod of his own, though he could feel a hint of self-consciousness color his cheeks.

Ishizu mulled the story over. "And so Zorc Necrophades has returned to Egypt – to go to this other land, you say?"

Malik shuddered, the reaction racking his frame to the core. "I was there yesterday morning when something vile swept through the passages of the pharaoh's tomb. I felt a terrible power and saw a flash of light from beyond the alter chamber, but when I went to investigate, it was gone."

"Yesterday 'morning'?" Honda startled. "We had to wait until after school to go to the museum. It was probably three in the afternoon."

Kaiba managed not to roll his eyes. "Differences in time zones, Honda."

"Remember, Egypt is seven hours behind Japan," Sugoroku commented.

At the same time, Rishid was shaking his head. "The scriptures don't speak of another land."

"Yes, actually, they do," Malik corrected softly. "There is a Place Beyond that is named but only in one passage. 'Upon the Pharaoh's sacrifice, the magical cobra who was his companion returned to the land of its fathers, the land of Reirinsei.' It's always been believed to be a section of the Underworld."

Sugoroku was shaking his head, but Atemu's deep gasp of shock interrupted him. "Nicodemus!" Ancient gods, how could he have forgotten?

Kaiba grunted, apparently remembering. "Yes, that was his name. That asp you carried around with you practically everywhere."

Anzu almost giggled. "You had a pet snake?"

"No, I did not." Atemu's voice was rough as he leaned forward, elbows propped on his thighs, staring with unseeing eyes at the carpet. "Nicodemus was no pet. He was . . . my friend, and one of my mentors as a child. He was of a race of creatures known as Inriomai."

Sugoroku laid a gentle hand on Atemu's arm. "He must have survived, then, if there is talk of his returning home." Atemu nodded mutely, and Sugoroku turned to Kaiba. "Do you remember the former pharaoh's falcon?"

"Balendin, yes. I remember him. When Pharaoh Akh-khnum-ka-nen passed beyond, his hunting falcon was slaughtered in place of one of the temple cats to be mummified and entombed with him as his guide to the Afterlife."

Sugoroku shook his head. "No, Seti. That was the explanation that was given, but in truth he was not killed by the priests. He suffered the same fate as many pharaohs' companions before him. Balendin died when the pharaoh did . . . because they shared a soul."

"The Inriomai were probably one of the best-kept secrets in all of Egypt, dating back through countless dynasties." Atemu sat back and ran a hand through his hair, trying to remember his lessons. "Originating from Reirinsei, Inriomai were fashioned by the gods to look like their 'dumb animal' brethren, but they possessed human intelligence and the capability for speech. Every Inriomai is destined to Impress to someone, to join with that person in body, mind, and spirit. It's something they're born longing for, like a child longing for its parents' affection and approval. Once Impressed, the two become inseparable, as one in every way imaginable without losing their sense of self."

"Rather like you and Yugi, eh?" Bakura put in.

"Actually, Aibou and I are almost the exact opposite, in that we are two souls in one body. The Inriomai and his Inrie, the one Impressed to him, come to share a single soul across two bodies, though they retain their mental independence from one another. My father was Impressed to Balendin and, when he died, so did the falcon." Atemu pulled a deep breath before continuing. "Nicodemus was an Inriomai in the form of an Egyptian cobra, and he recognized me as his Destined when I was still very small. We . . . never did get the chance to Impress. At first, I was too young. An Inrie goes through a period of severe disorientation as he tries to incorporate the senses, thoughts, the very mind of another being into and alongside his own. A wrong move mentally during the Impression itself can kill both Inriomai and Inrie, and my father felt I was not yet ready for such an undertaking, even in spite of the discipline demanded by my Mystic Arts training. In fact, it was partly too because I was only still in training. Then, Father died. I was barely twelve, and then . . . I had a whole new set of responsibilities to deal with. Nicodemus, Vizier Si-Amun – " He glanced at Sugoroku. " – and I decided to wait until things settled down a little."

Atemu shook his head in sorrow. "I made him wait. For four years, he waited patiently, but the time was never right. I . . . I suppose I was afraid. Should anything happen to me, I did not want him to pay as well. Then, one day, I sent him away. When that thief showed up and we started evacuating people from the palace and surrounding city, I ordered my mother's handmaiden to take him with her. I . . . don't know what would have happened to him if we had been Impressed when I cast the final spell that I did."

"Poor thing probably died of old age a million years ago, huh?" Jonouchi was trying to be sympathetic, so Anzu's elbow in his ribs surprised him. "Huh? What?"

"Idiot." Honda bopped the back of Jonouchi's head from where he stood behind the sofa.

Atemu shrugged. "Who knows? I seem to remember Nicodemus telling me once that an un-Impressed Inriomai could live to be three thousand to thirty-five hundred years old. He was only four or five decades old when – . . . mmm, back then."

"You really miss him, don't you?" Mokuba murmured. Atemu gave him a small smile. "I have a pet snake. He's not an In . . . In-reeoh-my, but he's really pretty, and friendly. Hey, when we get back to Japan, why don't you come over some time, and I'll show you!"

Atemu laughed softly. "I'd like that, Mokuba. Thank you."

Ishizu stood. "It has been a long journey for all of you. A table with food has been laid out on the upper deck, and rooms have been arranged should you wish to rest until we get there."

"What? Ho, now you're talkin' my language!"

"Not before me, you're not!"

"Hey, guys! Wait up!" Bakura darted after Jonouchi and Honda, not bothering to pull the door closed behind him.

"Like a pack of puppies at the dinner bell." Kaiba shook his head in annoyance.

"Well, actually, Big-Brother . . . I'm pretty hungry, too!" Mokuba flashed a big smile in pseudo-apology. "Catch you guys later!"

Ishizu turned soft eyes on Atemu. "And you?"

"Atemu?" Anzu started quietly.

Atemu had shifted forward again, half-lost in thought. He studied the floor for a moment longer, then stood with a smile of assurance that did not quite touch his eyes. A shadow of uncertainty darkened them instead as he met Ishizu's gaze. "You said that you had rooms available?"

Rishid stood, stepping toward the door. "I will take him, Ishizu. Come." Atemu nodded his gratitude and followed, not meeting the momentary questioning, concerned gazes of those he left behind. As the door closed behind him, he just caught Malik begging more information on ancient Egypt from the reincarnated adviser and priest, while Ishizu asked in a low chuckle how long it had been since Anzu had spent some "girl time" with anyone, away from "the boys."

Author's Notes: Please be sure to check my bio page for any updates, etc. Thanks!