Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or anything dealing with Yu-Gi-Oh.
Guardian of the Gods
Chapter 11
And Again
Court Magician's Quarters, Ancient Egypt, Sometime at Night
Her necklace thrummed against her collarbone. Isis' hand reached for it instinctively, hoping to curb the vision until she and Set were a safe distance away from Mahad's quarters. They attempted to reorder his library to the state they found it in and retraced their steps to the entrance of his home. As soon as they had crossed the threshold into his courtyard the millennium item became a hot coal against her skin. Isis struggled against it, her surprise being fueled by the anxiety and haste that carried their legs on their mission that night. She immediately yanked it from her neck and tossed it to the ground with a force and speed that staggered her. The necklace felt like a hot iron sizzling her neck, the energy rebounding itself in an infinite loop. Instead of the metal clang and bounce she expected when it hit the ground, it fell as a rock would, landing soundly and permanently on the stone below.
Set looked back to see what kept Isis, but on his hip the rod resonated with bright energy and shook violently against his thigh. He did not have time to reach for it before it was sucked to the ground landing much like Isis' own millennium item. The two were planted where they fell and began emitting a grinding noise, much like a blade against a whetstone. The sound echoed between the two in unison and soon it was overwhelming to both of the Guardians.
"It is always the same choice, with the same ending, and the same bewildered looks of confusion. How many more times must we correct your path before you choose the right way?" Mahad stood five hundred feet in front of them, on the other side of the courtyard. His shadow creature stood beside him with palace guardsmen flanking him.
Mahad's own millennium item glowed fiercely, two of its pendulums pointed towards their own like dowsing rods. It too tremored with the same intensity.
"Secure the High Priest and Priestess. Bring them to the palace. Pharaoh awaits," Mahad waved his hand and sighed.
"Touch her-," Set started, still straining against the sound in his head.
"And you will make me regret it?" Mahad stole the words from his mouth, more exhausted than offended. "Make not idle threats Set, it was not the sentries to whom I spoke." The guards were mere pomp and circumstance, escorting Mahad to retrieve the Guardians.
Pillars of smoke shot up around the pair and formed into more shadow creatures. A look of shame was uniformly smeared on their faces. Isis started to fight against the creatures that took her roughly by the arm. Not to escape, but if only she could retain some dignity while being marched to her…punishment? Banishment? Death?
"Cooperate High Priestess, I tire of this conflict. I would no sooner see you hurt than the Pharaoh." Mahad gazed down at them both, his cold, indifferent stare turning to something like pity when it reached her eyes.
The piercing, grinding sound stopped.
The shadow creatures lurched her forward towards the palace and the Pharaoh. She kept tripping on her feet not only because of her reticence, but also because she was frightened of whatever managed to keep Mahad's voice calm and reserved despite how obviously irritated he was. 'Contained' was a better way to describe him. Isis wondered what could possibly keep him subdued.
"What are you hiding from the Pharaoh? What are those scrolls? What are you planning?!" Her voice wasn't as accusatory as she wanted it to sound. She still could not believe that Mahad held one iota of malevolence in his body. He was unflinchingly caring and a pillar of calm, logic, and rationality. Even now, Mahad did not seem antagonistic, just disappointed. As a parent would be to a child who disobeyed orders again and never learned their lesson.
"I am not the enemy Isis. I have devoted the entirety of my being to the Pharaoh. I serve him. But we have walked this path indefinitely, it is tiresome. You have done this to yourselves." He nodded to the shadow creatures and they continued their march to the Pharaoh.
"What do you want Mahad?!" Set managed to shout, his ears still ringing.
Mahad glared at him as he was dragged away.
Gods damn it. If Mahad was seeing to their imprisonment, to their death, Set would fight with every gods damn creature, man or monster. Mahad's pitying frown sobered him only a little as he did not see the look of a man bent on chaos, but one who was trying to save his friends.
But now they were being taken before Pharaoh. Again. Previous warnings rang loudly in his head. Continue down this path and you will both be responsible for the destruction of Egypt. Not even you will be spared and we will all perish from this land. You will sentence Priestess Isis to death. Neither of you can possibly fathom what your contraventions have wrought upon us.
He looked back to see Mahad emerging from his home, his fist clenched tightly around something, and picking up their millennium items with the other.
They were before the Pharaoh in a matter of moments. The look their sovereign and friend gave made his stomach churn and twist. If ever before in his life Set felt so isolated and regretful, he couldn't recall it. Under that disenchanted gaze, he felt like he betrayed his country and the Pharaoh's trust. Self-righteous he had felt in the throes of love for the woman kneeling beside him that he could not imagine feeling wrong for having acted on it. Now it felt like he had compromised his very being, the core of who he was. The awareness that he acted selfishly and had to suffer the consequences for it felt foreign.
These were not his feelings.
These were not his thoughts.
The ringing had only slightly dissipated when he was forced to his knees before the Pharaoh. Not that he would not have shown his reverence, but he wasn't given the chance to do so once the thrown came into view.
Pharaoh waved his hand and the shadow creatures disappeared. Mahad approached slowly and stood behind Set and Isis. The latter kept her gaze to the floor and hung her head in shame. Set figured she must feel as he did, those emotions exerted upon her by some external force. Isis was more attuned to the etiquettes of the court. She was perhaps more empathetic and so was crushed by these feelings that were not her own. The stone floor swallowed the soft patter of tears streaming steadily from her eyes to the ground.
The throne room was silent save the quick breaths of the Guardians. Not quite frightened, but certainly panicked as they awaited their fate. Isis' breath hitched in her throat as she tried, and failed, to calm the bolus of emotion surging inside her having since seen the Pharaoh's face.
"Like an ox tethered to a single pole, you both continue to circle around and around, trudging deeper the path you've carved out time and time again." Pharaoh's voice was as unsettling as his glare. Any words they would have used to describe his ire would have fallen short. He shook with an unquiet rage that didn't quite seem focused on them. Not entirely.
"I have afforded you both all the mercy I am capable of within the boundaries of keeping Egypt safe. I have warned you that your cavorting will see us ripped asunder. Whether you did not listen or did not heed my words is of no matter. You have forced my hand to render suffering unto you both. I love you and I have been derelict to teach you properly. I was willing to compromise propriety and time to give you a sliver of happiness and each time you take more than I offer and asked more of this nation than it can give. You continued down the path that meant certain destruction. You were meant to save Egypt, not deliver the wrath of the gods to her on the back of your disobedience. You have greatly offended Egypt and my trust."
The Pharaoh's eyes flicked up to Mahad's and gave him a light nod. "Now, before my conviction wavers."
Mahad stepped between both of the Guardians and returned their items. He placed Isis' back on her neck and tucked the millennium rod back on Set's hip. Isis chanced a quick gaze up and saw a scroll in Mahad's robes.
He slid behind them again and raised his hands over their heads. The unnerving sound returned and this time their vision blurred. Awareness slipped from both of the Guardians as their world went dark. One by one their senses failed them as they lost connection with the world around them.
"I have summoned both of you for one distinct purpose. You are not to discuss this with anyone other than your Pharaoh and yourselves." The Pharaoh sat perched on his throne. His voice carried throughout the hall and overwhelmed the Priestess and servant knelt before him. He clenched the scepter in his hands tighter before adjusting his regal headdress. Behind them stood the court's magician, silent and observant. Slight sorrow marring his features.
"Yes, my Pharaoh," echoed the two subjects.
"The Gods have chosen through me, new hosts to house their souls. Isis," he turned to the Guardian kneeling on his right. "Your whole life has been dedicated to serving the Gods. But now you have the power and soul of one at your disposal. The Gods have chosen you because you are the most trustworthy of all the priestesses in my court. I know that you will not abuse this power and protect the soul of our deity with your life," the Pharaoh held her gaze unnervingly. She quickly bowed her head to avert his sharp, powerful eyes.
"Yes, my Pharaoh," Isis spoke softly.
"The God that has chosen you is the Saint Dragon, the God of Osiris," the Pharaoh said in a surprisingly subdued voice.
The woman kept her eyes down and bowed lower to the Pharaoh.
"Rise Isis. We are equals now. Set," the Pharaoh pointed to the man kneeling on his left. "I cannot believe a God has chosen you," his jaw stiffened imperceptibly. "Regardless, I cannot deny the Gods what they wish. You are not a priest. You have not been tutored in the ways of accepting and catering to our deities. But you will learn," the Pharaoh paused. "Isis will instruct you."
The woman restrained herself from opening her mouth and refuting. She instead looked away from the other two men.
This felt wrong.
"You are to be home to the soul of the God Warrior of the Obelisk. I do not question the Gods, but be aware of the consequences of disobeying and displeasing them. I urge you with haste. This duty I place upon the both of you is a priority higher than that of serving me. We are all equal snow. I am host to the Dragon God of the Sun. We are the three points of the pyramid that make up the creation of light. Earth," he pointed to Isis. "Water," he pointed to Set. "And Fire. Set stand."
Set rose and looked at Isis, who avoided his eyes.
"We must stay in tune with each other in order to create the sides of this pyramid. Should Egypt ever need defense from a great evil, we are her last resort," the Pharaoh raised his arms, putting his scepter in the air.
"So it was written, so shall it be done."
Isis and Set exited the room after the few required moments for reverence of the Pharaoh and the throne, leaving in different directions.
"The Pyramid has a fourth point. You never tell them that." The Court Magician ascended the steps in front of the Pharaoh and kneeled so close his bowed head nearly touched the throne.
The Pharaoh did not acknowledge Mahad's words, he wasn't quite sure if the Pharaoh had heard him. But Mahad knew it did not matter this time. And like all the other times before, he was a tool of Egypt and Pharaoh's will. Ever the faithful servant, he would obey until the end of his time. No matter how many times this scene played out.
"We will bond Isis to you immediately. I no longer have the energy nor the will to continuously reset this folly. I will save Egypt."
Mahad raised his hand out toward the Pharaoh's head.
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Kaibacraft, Battle City Finals, 8:31 am
Something nagged at Kaiba early the next morning. Something distracting enough to acknowledge its existence but not so invasive as to interrupt his train of thought. Nothing could keep his mind away long enough from his next duel in the tournament.
And how could it? His next opponent was his arch nemesis. Truly this was the duel he has been waiting for.
But there was something that keep calling to him. It burrowed into the base of his brain and whenever he managed to ignore the sensation, it came back like a snoozed alarm. Like an annoying reminder on your phone, like an all-important thing you swore not to forget.
The hallucinations he experienced while dueling Ishizu jostled him to his very core. Was he actually in Egypt? Who was that woman? Why did it feel so real?
Why couldn't he stop thinking about Ishizu? She wasn't anything special, a little dissociated though Kaiba wasn't a professional. Ishizu was intelligent, but stubborn with clouded judgment. Wasn't she? And what about all she had done since he started this tournament. At her request. His life the past few months. At her request. Not being as annoyed with her presence as he tried his hardest to have her believe. Did she know? Somehow assess this at their every interaction. What could last night have been if he didn't wash down his overclocked brain and brought up touchy topics?
Déjà vu and enigmas warred in his mind. How could you be familiar with something that was never known to you?
Enough.
Symptoms of his insomnia had been consistent since he was a child. It seemed unlikely his usual three or four hours of sleep could have brought on this change. Kaiba had more pertinent troubles to consider.
Marik's Egyptian god.
When he defeated Yūgi, there was still the matter of beating the final Egyptian god. And he had yet to see it used properly. An abominable duplicate, sure, but not the actual card itself.
Something kept nagging him in the back of his mind.
"You're awfully quiet Seto, the translations are almost complete, take a look," a mane of black hair shifted in his view.
Mokuba had created a program that could scavenge for translations of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs available on the net. But instead of a simple, literal transcript of the card, it also collected every reference to the Egyptian god cards and any recorded exposure with them. If it had been transcribed to a website or photographed, Mokuba has access to it. Even folklore and eye-witness accounts (for all good those were, having been word of mouth typed out for some sensationalist conspiracy theory website) were available through his program. He was able to retrieve images of Egypt, the approximate location they were buried and Pegasus' involvement in attempting to replicate Duel Monsters for modern consumption in the form of an adolescent's trading card game.
Kaiba didn't immediately respond.
Mokuba had been concerned for his brother's health. He was certain getting abducted did nothing to assuage the weight on Seto's shoulders. He wasn't strong physically, not yet, but to combat the feeling of uselessness and frailty, he knew he could exercise the muscle within his skull to be smart enough for there not to be a next time. He had several projects that he wanted to show Seto, but he would wait until he was done with his tournament, when his brother's attentions wouldn't wane. The promise of the theme park wasn't that far away and since Seto had encouraged and fostered his curiosity after the suggestion, Mokuba sought to make him proud again.
His therapist advised that if in the meantime he couldn't take time away from his brother's demanding presence and seriousness, to at least distract himself and be productive in other ways if Mokuba felt that keeping busy was the best way to cope. He wasn't the best that money could buy but Mokuba liked him because he was the most honest. He also didn't try to flatter him due to his surname.
"Alert me when the translations are finished," Kaiba dramatically turned on his heel and exited the command room.
He was pulled from his own thoughts at the sound of Ishizu's voice in the hallway around the corner. Kaiba slowed his walking and briefly considered returning to Mokuba.
"How is Mai?" Her back was to him Kaiba realized when he did a quick glance around the corner.
"Alive Ishizu, that's the best any of us could know right now. Despite Kaiba's wealth and arrogance, the medical facilities aren't enough to help her. Serenity is keeping an eye on her and will let us know when her condition changes. I reassured her that Mai is going to be okay, but the truth is that I just don't know. Joey's torn up about it too," Yūgi stood in front of her leaning against the wall on his right shoulder.
"I am profoundly repentant of the tragedies that have poisoned your life and the lives of your friends. I swear to you it was not my intention when this had started. Regardless, I am responsible. Tell me what to do to make it right with you Yūgi," Ishizu bowed slightly and held her hands out to him, palms up in a gesture of reverence and sincerity.
"Honestly I don't know Ishizu. I don't hate you, the gang doesn't hate you. We just…this is a lot and I'm not sure how much we can handle. When the Pharaoh came to me from the Puzzle, I thought it was a godsend. I wasn't alone anymore, I made friends. I belonged somewhere. But now I am losing the very thing that the Puzzle gave me. I don't regret meeting the Pharaoh, and I will do as I promised him to recover his memories. I just want to know how much more I'm going to lose in the process. How many more people are going to get hurt? Marik is your brother and he is dealing with his own demons, but he's sucking all of us into that. You included Ishizu. And if it turns out he won't listen to you…that he won't give up the power he's stolen and own up to what he's done…well, I don't know how much longer I can continue to have civil conversations with you." Yūgi sighed wearily and shifted on to his other foot.
"I understand Yūgi. Please forgive me and my family."
"Your brother put my friend into a coma. What do you mean forgive?"
"I will heal this hurt and make sure Mai is alright. I promise you." Standing straight once again, Ishizu kept her head slightly bowed to avoid making eye contact.
"As such, I can no longer wield this. It is time I let go of what could have been and make things happen of my own will. I lost that duel to Kaiba and I never would have imagined that I would have been wrong about that. The future the necklace shows me can yet be changed. I am going to make that happen." Ishizu unclasped the millennium necklace and let its weight sit in her hand. The necklace had been in her family for generations, ever since the first tombkeepers swore to restore the Pharaoh's spirit and memories when the time came. Her mother held it and her mother before her. So many hands this necklace had been through, and now Ishizu was the last of the Ishtars to hand it off to where it belonged. Back with the Pharaoh so that she may finally fulfill this damned destiny her family had been charged with thousands of years ago. The moment was bittersweet for her, the necklace had provided so much insight and direction yet had led to her dependency and complacency with the futures it had shown.
Yūgi closed his eyes and exhaled. He accepted the item and clasped a fist around it. "I don't want any more of my friends hurt. I don't want anyone else hurt. We need to stop your brother and banish the evil inside him. Don't you need your necklace to do that?"
"It is best kept with you and the Pharaoh. And Yūgi, it's hollow right now but – thank you for being such a great friend. My life has been better for having known you and your kindness. Good luck on your duel with Kaiba."
"Thank you Ishizu. I will do my best to defeat Marik and restore things as they should be. I'm sorry we're both caught up in this."
"Me too." Ishizu placed a slightly trembling hand on his shoulder and walked past him.
Kaiba swung back against the wall he had been peering around when he saw Yūgi head in his direction. He held his breath and hoped he would turn down the hallway in the opposite direction. He got lucky.
Once Yūgi was out of earshot, he rounded the corner and headed in the direction Ishizu had left. The Medical Wing.
Kaiba caught up when he saw her quietly enter Mai's room. He could hear the beeping of the monitors attached to the unconscious duelist. His medical team told him that Mai's physical examination was unremarkable for any signs of trauma or internal bleeding. An MRI and subsequent EEG revealed contradictory activity in her brain. The posterior cortical zone, responsible for conscious experiences while sleeping, was most active. Mai was just dreaming according to science. On the outside however, it seemed she was in a deep coma. Though her mind was obviously experiencing something intense. The doctor's were baffled.
Ishizu sat on the edge of the bed and squeezed Mai's hand. She whispered words in her ear and stared out the window for several long minutes.
After a while she stood back up, glanced once more at Mai and walked out of the room to head back down the hallway.
She had not been paying attention to what was in front of her and just as Kaiba had thought to dodge out of her way, she collided with him none too gently.
"S-Sorry," she blurted out before she raised her head.
Kaiba saw the tears blotting her lower lashes and wished he had just minded his own business.
"Watch where you're going," he attempted to come off as annoyed. He wasn't sure if he was successful, but anything to distract her from realizing he may have eavesdropped on her conversations.
Ishizu nodded numbly but didn't make an attempt to move around him to continue walking. She stood slightly shaking from trying to contain her emotion. It was a feat not to let this harsh stick in the mud use her tears against her.
"Ishizu?"
Everything was her fault. If she could have just predicted what would have happened to Marik topside. If she could have just forced him back underground against her own urges to keep him happy. If she could have just mustered the strength to face him head on. If she had just held onto the other Egyptian God Cards. If she had just devised a better plan. If she had just been able to save her mom. If she was just a better, stronger person. If she had just ever been born. If her father hadn't been so cruel and bitter. If the Pharaoh had just kept his memories to his Ra-damned self.
She wrapped her hands around herself and leaned into Kaiba's chest not caring how he judged her. Her last thought broke her, she felt so low. She just didn't care anymore. It was all too much.
She was going to fail.
She was failing.
She had failed.
The tears wouldn't stop coming and her body wouldn't stop shaking. She felt powerless and inept. What did it take? What could she do? How could she promise Yūgi to protect and save his friends when she couldn't even keep her own brothers safe? Or keep herself safe?
And what did Marik have planned? Could it be anything worse than what was happening now? Would he even hear her anymore? Did he truly think she was disposable? Did he love her anymore?
All Ishizu had were questions. Questions and no answers. Never answers, just more pain and excuses for whomever was in the path of her destiny and those around her. She had killed a man. Killed a human being, took someone's life! That man would never go home, couldn't stand trial for anything he'd done, wouldn't get fair and impartial judgment. Because of her, countless lives were affected for better or worse. She wasn't ready for that magnitude of responsibility.
"I will have one of my staff escort you to your room."
"I'm sorry Kaiba."
"I never apologize. It makes you look weak and at fault," his voice was dry and righteous.
"A little humility goes a long way," she countered weakly.
He sighed. "Is that the reason for all your waterworks?" His words didn't sting as sharply as they could have.
"No, I...am genuinely sorrowful that events over the past few months have lead us here."
"I'm not." Kaiba brushed past her and started towards one of the observation decks. "I bet if you came outside and got yourself together, you could avoid a lot of questions from whomever you saw on your way to your room," he offered.
"I wasn't aware you had called anyone yet." Ishizu started walking towards him.
"I haven't."
That seemed like the most civil, empathetic invitation Kaiba could extend to her. So unraveling her arms from around herself, Ishizu wiped her face with the back of her hand and continued following him.
"I'm afraid I'm going to fail," she looked up at him as she crossed the threshold to the outside. His eyes were cool but not harsh as they connected with hers. He opened his mouth to say something and instead held his hand out for her to lead the way.
She waited for him to clear the door and looked back to see he was pulling a card out of this coat pocket. She followed him to another door that went back inside the blimp. After her eyes adjusted to the low light, Ishizu noticed they were near her door.
Kaiba presented the card to the door sensor. It slid open and Ishizu stepped inside. She stayed in the path of the door to stop it from so rudely closing in his face. Looking for any indication of what to do next, she held her head high to keep his gaze.
Both blinked a few times in quiet contemplation.
Ishizu fixed her mouth to thank Kaiba for escorting her and showing her a shortcut to her room, but he had spoke into the silence first.
"Failure is unacceptable. We better make sure it doesn't happen again."
AN: Wow that was some fierce time-fuckery...I always wondered how the past and present occurred in relation to each other in this universe. It was also an interesting challenge to have the two time periods match up with the lore (mostly). I want Kaiba and Ishizu to finally, ugh, do something - but they're literally two positive ends of a magnet resisting each other (for now). Just fuck already LOL. Thanks for sticking it out! I'll try my best not to disappoint. Please review :3
