Several apologies. First, this is short and took forever to come out. I had written the first section the night I posted chapter three and then, well, life.
Second, this story is going on hiatus. I know, I know, I took off for a year and a half and now I'm taking off again. But this time it's for a good reason. Why? Well, I thought about the plot of the story and what would happen in the later chapters and I realized that there was no way I was going to get around writing the first story. So I'm taking a pause to do that. The prologue and first chapter are already done, hurray for that, and I intend to update it every week. Every Thursday, actually. Check my profile for the link.
Trust me, you want me to do that. Or else you'll run into some characters in later chapters of this and go 'who the fuck is that?'
Third, I also want to go back and do a little rewriting and editing of the chapters. Little things like changing Hana to Hannah ( cause I'm strange ) and making sure there are no typos.
Bonus points if you figure out who Cassandra is.
Chapter Four – I Shot the Pharaoh ( But I Did Not Shoot The Duel Master )
"All my thoughts
are with you forever
Until the day we'll be back together
I will be waiting for you."
- Chorus, Bittersweet ( Within Temptation )
It was almost suffocatingly hot inside the stone temple but Mana knew better than to fidget or complain. She swept the dusty floor clean with her foot and sat down, legs crossed and hands placed on her knees. The older man across from her smiled and did the same. His long robes billowed around him and Mana mentally shook her head; if she could barely stand the heat with her garment then she could hardly imagine how he was dealing with it.
And that's what I want to learn. I want to learn to transcend everything to be a great mage like him.
"Mana, what are our duties?"
"It is our duty to protect the Pharaoh." Mahaado sighed and she frowned, thinking harder. "It… it is more than just to protect, to serve… we must think as if we were the Pharaoh to predict his moves. We must make his duties easier because he is more than Pharaoh; he is Ra himself and has the responsibilities of a God."
Mahaado eyed her thoughtfully for a moment before nodding. "Yes… I wouldn't have worded it that way but you are correct. Our duties lie in making sure the trials of the mundane world are kept to a minimum for the Pharaoh so that he can focus on the trials of being a God." Mana struggled to keep her pride from getting the better of her but she couldn't help it when she straightened, arching her back to sit more attentively. "But our duty lies to the Pharaoh above all. Tell me Mana, what would you do if you discovered a plot to end the Pharaoh's life?"
The magician in training resisted the urge to shrug. That was so easy. "I would inform you and the High Priest along with any other council members that I felt was necessary. I would not inform the Pharaoh; he has too much to worry about already. And if necessary, I would take care of the threat myself."
"Even if it meant killing?"
Here Mana hesitated and finally gave into her urge to fidget. Plucking the fabric of her short skirt, she glanced down and nodded shortly. "Y-yes… I would kill to protect Pharaoh's life."
"Even if it meant killing the Pharaoh himself?"
-7-
Maxamillion Pegasus sighed as he watched the sunset, the glorious rays of purples and oranges blending together doing nothing to soothe him. He really shouldn't be depressed; after all, he was one of the richest and most powerful people in the world. Creator of the wondrous game of Duel Monsters. Host of the (in)famous Duelist Kingdom Tournament. Founder and funder of several various wildlife preserves. Protector and keeper of the sacred Millennium Eye.
And yet nothing felt complete to him. Maybe it was the fact that everything he started was finished by someone else. Maybe it was the fact that he had receded to being nearly a nobody in the public's eye ( something that at one point he had thought he wanted; it was only now he realized it wasn't ). Or maybe it was that he was nearing sixty and had no one special in his life.
"I could help fix that." Bemused, Pegasus arched an eyebrow and twisted around to look behind him. A woman stepped out of the archway from his mansion, arms crossed in front of her chest. Tall and slender with light blond hair that swirled about her shoulders, she gave him a quirked smile and walked closer. "Of course, you'd have to win first." At that he noticed the Duel Disk on her arm, a standard blue and silver.
"Help fix what, Lady?" Pegasus asked, looking around to see where his guards were at. Any self respecting millionaire just wasn't complete without them – Kaiba certainly went crazy, especially when it came to dear little Mokuba – and now, after all their training and pay, they were no where to be found. Quite a waste in his opinion, although this woman… "I'm afraid I can't follow when you start in the middle of a conversation."
"Don't play the fool with me, Pegasus." She moved faster, faster than he thought possible, and suddenly he found himself pressed back against the balcony. She smelled faintly of lavender, stronger still of waxed paper, and Pegasus couldn't help but noticed the way her white shirt clung to the curves of her breasts. "You want companionship. I want something that you have. Either way, one of us wins." The momentary lapse in composure disappeared and she stepped back, crossing her arms again. "I just need to know if you're going to be man enough to try and take it."
"And if wishes were horses than fools would ride," Pegasus retorted, tearing his eyes from her chest to her face. She smirked and traced one manicured finger along her arm. "I've had more than enough of my share of ancient magic in my life and I have no doubt that you'll be dragging more in. As much as it pains me to say this I must ask of your leave, Lady."
"And I'm afraid I must refuse, Pegasus." The edges of her mouth pulled up in a faint snarl, her nails digging into her arm. He shivered at the implied threat. "We're going to duel. Better get your Duel Disk ready."
Pegasus nodded thoughtfully and stood after a moment. "I must regretfully inform you that I lack a Duel Disk in my possession but there is an old holo arena downstairs that we could use for our pleasure." She licked her lips and smirked and he felt the start of a blush burn up from his neck and checks. "If I should lose, what is it that my lady desires?"
"Your eye. The Millennium eye." The woman lowered her arms, hands on her hips, and cocked her head to the side.
Pegasus hesitated for a moment, his body autopiloting both of them through his mansion. It really wasn't much of a decision; if he refused, the woman would more than likely take the item by means of force. "Acceptable terms… but I want to know the name of the one I'm going to lose to." At this she smiled, a true one not meant to confuse his mind with thoughts of sex.
"Cassandra."
-7-
"Hey, um…"
"Yeah Anzu?"
The brunette girl paused, back pack hanging haphazardly against her back while being held in one hand. Honda paused, cocking his head to the side. Even though Anzu normally rode the bus with Jou and Shizuka ( and Yugi but Yugi wasn't in school lately ) she had decided to walk home with him. Maybe, just maybe this meant… "Well, Hana. She said something weird today."
"Yeah? What?"
"Well, she said she was here because a family member was sick and… and cause her family was out here to help take care of them."
Honda rolled his eyes, impatient to get moving. Even though she was wearing a skirt with no leggings Anzu didn't seem to notice the weather and it was cold. "Yeah, and how is that so unusual?"
"Well she's an exchange student and she's living with Otogi. Why would she have come out here with her family if she's staying with him?"
-7-
Marik stared at Isis for a moment before enveloping her in his arms, stroking his black hair as she broke down in jerky tears. He cooed and made soft, comforting noises as she clung to the fabric of his thin cotton shirt. "Shh, Isis…"
It didn't make sense to him, though. Why would Mana want to steal the Millennium Necklace from his sister? Better yet, how? Mana was dead and even though a form of her still existed in the Black Magician Girl they still weren't the same person ( unlike Mahaado and the Black Magician ). And while Bakura and the Pharaoh were resurrected from three thousand years ago she wasn't. Her soul had gone on to rest.
Even better question – how could Mana be stealing anything if Isis saw her being murdered? "Isis… are you sure it was Mana?"
Isis twisted and hesitated in his arms before shaking her head. She slowly peeled away from him, tear tracks streaking her cheeks and adding to her disheveled look. "The girl in my vision was the Black Magician Girl, I have no doubt about that, but the one that attack me… She looked nearly identical to Mana."
"The way that Yugi and Ryou look like Atemu and Bakura?" Her eyes widened and she nodded rapidly, hands fisting his shirt. Marik winced and gently pushed his sister away. "Then maybe… honestly, I have no idea what that would mean. Maybe the Pharaoh would know."
"Maybe the Pharaoh would know what?" Both Ishtar siblings turned, startled, when Rishid walked into the kitchen, a paper bag of groceries held in one arm. Neither had heard the front door open and the tomb keeper's guardian looked at the two guiltily. He hadn't intended on scaring them…
Marik and Isis exchanged a glance. True, Rishid had stuck by their side through all the horrible things that had happened when the power of the Millennium Rod had taken over Marik and true he had nearly sacrificed his own life for theirs… Dragging him into yet another mess seemed cruel and unfair. "It's…" Isis nodded as Marik stumbled with words. "It's nothing, really. Just, um-"
"Don't." He smiled, placing the bag onto the counter. "I believe I'm as much of a part of this family as either of you now. Don't try to protect me. I can make my own decisions."
"And maybe it is Fate," Isis mumbled quietly, "that the three Tomb Keepers be the ones to warn and protect the Pharaoh."
-7-
Please… Master…
Yugi groaned and slowly fluttered his eyes open. It hurt. Breathing hurt. Moving hurt. Fuck, er, well, everything hurt. "W-what? Who's there?"
Master… He was floating in a pool of darkness and something swirled and coalesced in front of him. Peach and tan and purple and pink and he raised a hand, shielding his eyes from the light. Master, I need your help. We need your help.
"We?"
Yes, oh great and mighty King Of Games. Next to the pink and the purple swirled silver and blue; next to that red and black. Shapes and form were solidifying, awkward angles poking out from a sea of mist. Yugi felt ill watching, felt something pounding into the back of his skull but looking away was out of the question.
His poison is seeping into you. You must let your other self know not to fight. This voice, unlike the other two, was male. All three sounded familiar and ached, sweet and red like biting on tinfoil. The Pharaoh is confused and apt to act on false information.
Yugi stretched one hand out, brushing the mists. "Who are you?"
The pink and blue solidified first and he screamed. He never knew it was possible for there to be so much blood.