DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fanfiction produced for entertainment purposes only. Yu-Gi-Oh! and all related characters are the creations of Kazuki Takahashi.
A New Beginning
Chapter 4: The Judgement of Osiris
By Shadow's Mirror
"If those two children are not immediately returned to their other halves, and the Millennium Items with them, then the mortal world will soon descend into madness and chaos, the likes of which it has not known for aeons."
It was a measure of how silent the room had fallen that the soft words were heard clearly all the way to the back of the Hall of Judgement and even through the crack under the door that a stunned and very curious former Tombrobber was listening at. That silence also made the voices that rose in alarm following the startling announcement seem all the louder. Although most of them cut off again just as suddenly, Osiris obviously having raised his hand for silence, there were a few that continued.
"How, by all the stars, could you possibly know that? You have not even been in the mortal world for... how long has it been now? Three thousand years?"
The voice was reedy and thin with a slight sneer. Bakura's lip drew back in a silent snarl. It was one of the voices that had argued the loudest for judging the two yamis as normal and disregarding any potential danger to their lights. He'd disliked it before but that feeling was quickly growing.
"Indeed! Why even Isis does not have such knowledge and something like this is far more in her area than yours."
The second voice was high and scratchy and made Bakura's head hurt. He scowled. The speaker's attitude was just as unpleasant as her voice. Again, it was one of the voices that had been advocating normal judgement, earlier.
"Quite so, quite so. You were never particularly gifted in prophecy or seeing and to tell Lord Osiris what to do in such a bold way... you forget your place, Cousin."
This time the voice was deep and clear with careful enunciation and precisely clipped words. It also left a rather oily impression on Bakura, who scowled even more at the door. He had a sudden urge to open the door, march up to the speaker and confine his soul into something incredibly ugly. Only the knowledge that he no longer had access to the Shadow Magic stopped him.
Bakura had noticed it the moment he'd arrived in the black marble antechamber, but he'd ruthlessly shoved it to the back of his mind. Since then, he'd successfully distracted himself away from the thought, so the sudden reminder of his powerless state hit him hard. Fortunately, it was barely a moment before he was again distracted from such thoughts.
"It has been over five millennia since I walked the mortal Earth, and a few years more since I was last in the company of even one of you." The soft voice rose effortlessly over the low rumbling of whispers that followed that comment, to continue. "It is also true that my own gifts of prophecy and seeing are not strong and that others here, including Isis, have far more knowledge of such things than I. However..." The soft voice suddenly sharpened slightly, rising a little more to counter the louder surge of whispers and mumbling. "It is not my power that has shown me of what I warn and it is precisely because I have not been in the mortal world that I have seen it!"
As the Hall of Judgement again filled with the sounds of many disbelievers muttering and whispering, Bakura found it difficult to make out what any particular voice was saying. Then he heard two familiar voices. Apparently Anubis and Thoth were still standing just on the other side of the door from him.
"It seems that this situation is about to get considerably more complicated."
Anubis had just a touch of amusement in his voice when he replied. "Most situations do when she is involved in them. However, in this case, considering where she has been..."
There was a moment of silence before Thoth sighed softly. "I am no seer, but I foresee myself needing to do a lot of paperwork by the time this is all over."
"You believe she will get her way?"
"She is not the sort to be so dramatic without good cause." Now the scribe sounded rather worried. "I wonder if perhaps I missed something while researching this matter."
While they had been talking, the muttering in the rest of the room had begun to quieten, so Thoth's last comment was a little louder than it should have been.
"Ahem. Thoth. Is there something you wish to share with everyone?"
"What? Oh, er... no, Lord Osiris. It is nothing. Forgive me." Thoth sounded very embarrassed.
Bakura stared at the door in shock before biting back a grin. Yami leaned over his shoulder to whisper in his ear. "Something amuses you?"
"Just had a flashback to one of Ryou's classes a few months ago. I never knew Osiris was so like a teacher." Bakura somehow managed to keep from snickering, both at the thought of the dignified and powerful God saying almost the same thing as Ryou's fussy and mild-mannered math teacher and at the look of disbelief that crossed Yami's face at that reply. "Shh, they're quiet again." He returned to his task of eavesdropping on the Gods and Goddesses gathered in the next room.
"Now then... you were about to explain yourself, I believe." Osiris's voice made it clear that if she didn't, then she would regret it.
"Indeed, Lord Osiris." There was a soft sound like the padding of four small paws approaching the dais and turning to face the others. "As most of you know, I have chosen to make my home in another land. There are some in that land with the gift of prophecy and others for whom seeing is as simple a matter as closing their eyes or looking into a mirror. I have spoken with them all and they have all told me the same thing. A time of great danger to the mortal world approaches, but it is not an unfamiliar threat. It is something we have all seen before. However, that was long ago and with nothing more occurring since, it appears that most of you have forgotten such a threat still exists."
There was no censor in her voice, she was simply stating what she perceived as a fact, but the low grumbling that followed her words showed that there were a few who had taken offence anyway.
She waited until the grumbling died down a little before continuing. "When it stirred before, the chaos that could have come from it was stopped only by great effort and sacrifice. However, there was something else it resulted in, at the time. A prophecy." Again she needed to wait while murmurs and whispers filled the hall, but this time Osiris called for silence almost immediately.
"The prophecy speaks of a time when the danger will rise up to again threaten the mortal world. It speaks also of the Shadow Magic and how a battle will be fought, not unlike the great battle that occurred last time." Someone in the room groaned loudly at that, but she continued to speak without interruption. "It offers hope, but it also tells of the fate that will befall the world if the events of the past are repeated."
Although the room was now as silent as the tombs the Egyptians were famous for, the speaker's words did not soften. Instead, her voice rose, her words ringing out throughout the room.
"The world will suffer as it never has before. All the chaos and pain of the past will be nothing compared to what will be, if the rising evil is not recognised and fought against. No one will be safe. The dark power will corrupt everything in its path. The mortal world will fall and our world will follow. Just as it almost did the last time."
While the last word echoed around the room, the silence remained. Moments after it faded away, the whispers and mutters and murmurs and grumbles began in earnest. But over them all, the deep voice that had raised the last major objection, the one calling the speaker 'cousin', rose again.
"Not all prophecies come to pass. These recent events have ensured that this one will not. You mentioned the use of 'Shadow Magic'," the speaker's disdain for it was clear in his voice, "Yet, is it not true that the Millennium Items vanished from the world at the same time as the two who await Judgement? You know as well as I that it was only their continued existence that allowed those items, and the magic itself, to remain at any real strength when all other magic has long since faded from the mortal world. Whatever small amount of power may remain in a handful of mortals, it is inconsequential. You speak of a threat where there is none. The magic is almost gone now. There can be no further threat from it. Certainly, there is no one on the mortal world now who could gather the sort of power needed for any sort of 'battle'!"
While he had been speaking, the other voices had grown silent, but at his triumphant conclusion they all began to talk again and it was clear from the cheerful tone of most of them that the majority were in agreement with the speaker.
"Quiet!"
Osiris's voice filled the room, commanding and powerful, and instantly there was silence.
Bakura trembled ever so slightly. His sharp ears had picked up on what, in all likelihood, most of those on the other side of the door had not. Osiris's voice had been so tightly controlled that only a thin note of his emotion had entered his voice.
Osiris was angry. Very angry.
"You arrogant and empty-headed fool! Have all your wits been addled by the passage of time? It was not the Millennium Items that caused all that trouble back then!" Filled with rage and a rather astonishing amount of power so tangible that it was almost a physical force, the young male voice rang out through the chamber.
Bakura almost fell over in shock. He honestly hadn't thought that the mild-mannered scribe had it in him to speak so forcefully.
"Thoth?" Judging by the surprise in Osiris's voice, Bakura wasn't the only one stunned by the outburst. Even the rest of the room remained silent... although the muffled thumps from the direction of the previous voice made it sound as if he was being forcibly restrained and muffled in order to keep the silence unbroken.
"Forgive me, my Lord Osiris." Thoth's voice was quiet again and Bakura could mentally see him bowing low in deference to the more powerful God. "But everyone was so convinced by his words and yet I know for a fact that they are... misleading."
"Really? I would have said that they are complete nonsense." Osiris's matter-of-fact condemnation of the other God's passionate speech caused more than a few shocked gasps from the assembled group. "I know, Thoth. Do not worry. His words did not stir me in the least. Unlike most here, so it would seem, I recall well the details of the time concerned. However, there is one point among all his nonsense that I would like clarified, if you please."
"Of course, my Lord."
Thoth sounded curious and he wasn't the only one. Bakura listened intently and waved off Yami when he tried to ask what was going on.
"The Shadow Magic is weakened, yet remains in the mortal world. It is true, however, that the Millennium Items do not and those who were their bearers are powerless now. Thoth, in your estimation, if the event foretold was to occur now... what would be the outcome?"
"Widespread chaos, destruction and likely the fall of the mortal world."
For some reason, when Thoth said it in his quiet, scholarly voice, it made the words seem far more oppressive; the danger far more real. Or perhaps that was caused by how prompt his response had been. As if the answer was so obvious that it had required no thought at all.
"For the sake of everyone here... would you kindly explain why that is." Osiris spoke very quietly.
"Of course, my Lord. It is because of the nature of prophecies. They only ever reveal one potential future, however it is always the one that Fate is leading towards. Although there remains, on the mortal world, those with the strength to fight against anything that might occur, the only ones capable of changing or reversing the course of Fate... are the bearers of the Millennium Items."
The muttering rose again in the room but Bakura realised that this time it was different. This time, the assembled Gods and Goddesses were not merely arguing among themselves or voicing their opinions to their neighbours, they were seriously confirming what they all seemed to know as fact.
Bakura felt his hand touch his chest and realised he'd unconsciously moved to clasp the Ring he was used to having there. Not for the first time since his arrival in the antechamber to the Hall of Judgement, the ex-Tombrobber wished for its reassuring presence. His other hand rose to clutch the hand already on his chest and he bowed his head slightly, resting his chin on his tightly clasped hands.
He wasn't praying, he told himself. He was only hoping that the Gods and Goddesses would see that the Millennium Items were still needed on the mortal world.
Ever since the unknown Goddess had first mentioned that the world was facing some sort of threat, Bakura had been conscious of a fear deep in his belly. It would have overwhelmed him if his eavesdropping hadn't distracted him. It wasn't that he really cared what happened to the mortal world. He was no longer a part of it, so it didn't concern him at all. But...
Ryou was still there.
Bakura forced down the fear that rose within him as an image of Ryou's frightened face came into his mind. He had seen that look on his Light's face so many times... Mostly put there by things he himself had done. But that was a different matter.
Ryou was his Light. His!
No one else was allowed to mess with his Light!
That he was now powerless to protect the boy was not a pleasant realisation.
But if the Gods and Goddesses knew that only the bearers of the Millennium Items could affect destiny, then there was a chance. Even if he and Yami weren't sent back, if the Items were restored then Ryou would be safe. He couldn't use the Ring, but that was because Bakura had never let him realise there was power in it. Without him there, Ryou would surely be able to learn enough to at least protect himself. Surely.
"Thoth..."
At the sound of Osiris's voice within the Hall of Judgement, Bakura emptied his mind as best he could and focused once again on his eavesdropping.
"Your words now seem at odds with what you said earlier. Why did you make no mention of this aspect of the matter until now?" Osiris did not sound angry, merely curious.
"Ah... well..."
Was it Bakura's imagination or did the Ibis-headed scribe sound rather embarrassed?
"That would be because that particular prophecy had... er... slipped my mind, my Lord."
No, he was definitely embarrassed.
"It is oddly reassuring to me that even your incredible memory is unable to keep track of every single detail of an event that occurred so long ago." There was a hint of a smile in the Death God's voice. "I must confess, it had slipped my mind, also." The smile was gone as quickly as it had come. "This... is most troubling. It cannot be left unconsidered."
Silence descended on the room as if the assembled Gods and Goddesses were unwilling to disturb Osiris as he pondered this new information.
Out in the antechamber, Bakura did his best not to fidget in his impatience. To his mind, the course of action was obvious. Restore the Millennium Items to their bearers. Along with the spirits of the Puzzle and the Ring, naturally. Then they could stop whatever was going to happen. After all, saving the world from weirdos, himself excepted of course, was pretty much Yami's hobby.
As for himself... Well, if it meant keeping Ryou safe... er... getting out of here and back to the mortal world... then Bakura supposed that he could help too. Just this once.
Unconsciously, Bakura's hands rose to clasp each other in front of his chest again as he wished that they would decide to send both Items and Spirits back to where they belonged.
It was just a wish. A wish from the deepest recesses of his heart. It definitely wasn't a prayer.
Considering how many times he'd sworn or raged against the Gods, Bakura doubted that any of his prayers would ever be answered, anyway.
A few moments later, Bakura's attention was distracted away from his not-prayer as Osiris's solemn voice broke the silence inside the Hall of Judgement.
"I stand in judgement over the souls of the dead. It is not my place to decide the fate of the living. You are the ones who preside over the mortals as they live their lives. For countless ages you have watched over them. For that reason, I gathered you all here and I thank you all for your assistance. I have listened to you all and I have done what I do best. I have made my judgement."
Although his words were quietly spoken, they carried a weight that was felt by all who heard them. Bakura couldn't help the slight shudder that ran through his body at the sense of power he got from those last few words alone. He had trouble swallowing and he closed his eyes to try and block out any unwanted distractions, so he could focus solely on the God of the Dead's voice.
"I have heard all of your words and I realise now that the matter is really far more simple than I had thought. Prophecies and the restoration of the Millennium Items to the mortal world... Such matters are not my concern. To influence the living in any way is beyond my jurisdiction. I judge the souls of the dead. No more, no less." Surprised murmurs rose throughout the hall, but Osiris continued to talk and the voices silenced instantly, as if in fear of missing a single word of his decision.
"Everyone is judged once for each life they live. That is the rule. These two half-souls that have now come for Judgement... When the other halves of their souls came before me, I judged them as if they were whole. Furthermore, these two have been spirits, not living mortal lives. Therefore, I deem that the judgements made at that time cover these two, also. There will be no further judgement made on them. Again, I thank all of you for your assistance."
Once more, there was an outbreak of murmurs, but this time they seemed more satisfied. They also seemed to be moving. Apparently, the gathering in the Hall of Judgement was over.
When there was complete silence again, Osiris sighed heavily. "Of course, having said that, it leaves the question of what to do with them. We really cannot have two souls wandering around here. They make the place look untidy. Let me see... Ah yes, that will do quite nicely, I believe." There was a note of satisfaction in his voice that had not been there earlier.
"Anubis, you will enter the dreams of the two who bore the Millennium Puzzle and the Millennium Ring. You will ask both mortals if they wish the return of the other half of their soul. If one or both agrees, see it gets done. If not, then send the soul concerned to... oh, I think Limbo should suffice."
"Yes, my Lord Osiris. It shall be done."
"Good. So that just leaves... Thoth! Whatever the outcome of Anubis's visits, petition the appropriate God to rejoin both sets of half-souls upon the deaths of the two mortals concerned. That should take care of this divided soul business once and for all."
"As you wish, my Lord Osiris. I shall make a start on the paperwork immediately."
"Excellent. Well then, off you both go. No, Thoth, I think perhaps the other exit would be best. No sense in getting their hopes up."
"Of course, my Lord."
As silence fell one last time in the Hall of Judgement, out in the antechamber Bakura slowly sat up and turned wide, stunned eyes to Yami. For a long moment, he could do nothing but stare at his old nemesis, until Yami finally grabbed hold of his upper arms and gently shook him.
"For goodness sake, Bakura, snap out of it! What is it? What did you hear?" He frowned deeply. "Has Osiris made his decision?"
Bakura tried to speak, swallowed hard when his voice came out as nothing more than a squeak, then tried again. "He has."
Seeing Yami's impatience in his flashing eyes, Bakura managed to gather his thoughts a little more. "He told Anubis to go and talk to our lights in their dreams. He's to ask them if they want us back and return us to them if they say yes. If they say no... we're to be sent to Limbo."
He felt so numb that he couldn't even work up any satisfaction at seeing Yami's stunned reaction to his words. Leaning his head back against the wall, he waited for the news to sink in.
"Bakura! We are going back!" Yami beamed at the other dark spirit, his smile quickly fading when he noticed the resigned expression on the white-haired boy's face. "You are not happy about it?"
"After everything I did... everything I said... what makes you think Ryou would ever want me back? He's finally free of me." Bakura moved, lifting his knees to his chest and hugging them tightly as he bowed his head. His voice was so soft that the tremble in it was barely noticeable, he assured himself. He had no doubt the infernal Pharaoh would still notice it, though.
Yami moved so he was sitting beside Bakura, his back also against the wall. When he spoke, his voice was quiet, but without any trace of the pity that Bakura had been expecting to hear. "Perhaps, but then again... Ryou was never asked if he wished you to go. He may surprise you."
Bakura's soft chuckle was empty of mirth and held more self-pity than he would ever admit to feeling. "Somehow, Yami, I doubt that."
To be continued...