All right some things I would like to address from reviews, nothing bad or anything. Neither of these shows are strongly rooted in realistic worlds, I will give examples for both. M.A. first, Nefertina being female is shocking. Now let me clarify, while alive she hid this so we'll let that go since it is a show, her dead not so much. In the first episode they transform and if you look at her armor her chest is clearly not like the male's, nor should it be. Now Armon is not bright, and Ja'kal is not the type to stare at someone's chest, but Rath is a scholarly type. The fact her armor does nothing to hide the fact she is female is bad enough but Nefer? Nefertiti means something like 'Beautiful one', unless the titi means beautiful the name she used was a duh. Now Nerfer could mean more then one thing, or may have been considered a nickname like Pretty Boy but not buying it.
Now for Y.G.O., this covers all versions so no worries, a card game can save/destroy the world. I am well aware of how the card game came to be, and how the tablets and such worked in the past, but the fact this is just accepted is funny. The fact all the other insane magic related stuff is ignored as well is very TV, all the dead people in Buffy for example, and happens in both shows. The fact Kaiba is not out of high school but is running a company and raising his little brother are also strange, however you try taking Mokuba away and see what he does. Now why Kaiba was using magic and not summoning cards is simple and 2 part. Part 1 only the Ring can summon monsters without an ancient duledisk like thing, forget the name off the top of my head, these are shown in the last arch of the show. Kaiba had neither the Ring nor the other ancient item needed, fan art aside they cannot summon beast at will. Part 2 the monsters summoned in duels are holograms, that is how duledisks work, and neither had those on. Now in many fics monsters can be summoned without the needed item, but I went with simple challenged energy.
The last thing I want to cover is the lack of reaction to other strange people, both shows have a few. Y.G.O. has so many dead people in various forms mummies would not phase them, Hell half the main cast is reborn, or a ghost possessing someone all the time. Now M.A. has plenty of dead people as well, a bit more dead then Y.G.O., but they care more about their prince then anything else. More on how they react to each other appears in this chapter, the last was save kid, fight, worry about Kaiba. Simple but first chapters of mine tend to be. I do not normally do such long intro's but these issues need to be addressed, hopefully any others this chapter will clear up.
WarNinGs: Gets into the back stories of the Mummies, Yami, the wars both groups fought, Kaiba and the others who were reborn. Uses the Japanese version of Kaiba's life not the nicer Dubbed one, Yami channeling his inner Kaiba, Rath Bashing, why Yugi's Gumi is in town is covered…should be everything important.
Dedicated to Red for their kind words, glad you like Snarky Kaiba because he shows up again, and letting me know I had a few past/present tense goofs.
Aishi Say
"I died so many years ago…"
From the song 'Rest in Peace' used by Spike in that Buffy musical episode, not a bad little song and fitting since everyone in the first part of this chapter died a long time ago.
2Click Click vs. Hiss Hiss2
Kaiba sighed opening his eyes when a purring feline brushed his cheek, "hm…Yami?" Dark eyes blinked at the strange stone room before glancing down at the cat. "Why are you all wrapped up hm?"
"She's a mummy too," Nefertina answered from the shadows, "She is choosy but she likes you. Seto is an odd name, I am Nefertina."
"It's Kaiba. Why am I here?" Kaiba frowned at the faceless voice but kept his temper in check, the girl had only tried to hold him.
"Rath felt bad about attacking you, and he should since you saved our master. Ja'kal was a little worried he had hurt you," Nefertina smiled a little, he worried so, it was what made him a good leader.
Kaiba got to his feet, stretching as he skimmed the writing on the wall, "And you?"
"The others are talking with your master so I came to see if you had recovered, you seem to." Nefertina tried picturing the youth as Yami had described him and smiled. The form fitting black covered everything but his hands and face pretty much, sliver cuffs looked like the would hurt.
"Yami is not my…oh never mind, that is too long a story." Kaiba muttered as he frowned down at his scratched and dirtied duster, "I really should stop wearing white when I fight."
Nefertina walked slowly into the light, "Kaiba, please do not be afraid?"
"Afraid of what?" Kaiba asked not turning to face her as he tossed his duster to the bed, he could blast them so why fear them?
Nefertina laid a hand on his shoulder, "Because I am dead and yet not."
Dark eyes looked down when he felt something touch his shoulder before turning, "How?" The gray skin was enough to make her look inhuman, though not nastily bad. Her hair was as long and white as Bakura's, but much straighter. Tan bandages covered her arms except her elbows, chest covered like a turtle neck until about half way down her stomach. He did not notice much else since a talking corpse was strange even for his recent life.
"A spell. Yami tells us his protectors are like you, reborn, not like us…it must be nice fitting in." Nefertina had never really fit in, but in this world she would have had a chance.
"You think we fit in?" Kaiba laughed coldly, she had no idea how damaged they were, "I see Yami has left out a lot. You have no idea what I am, if you did…if you did you would not envy me at all." Sighing softly Kaiba walked past her not in the mood to talk to the dead about merely existing in the living world.
2Click Click vs. Hiss Hiss2
"That man is hardly a priest, I should know." Rath scoffed at the idea of the touchy youth being of equal or even higher rank then himself.
"I'm not one anymore. So Yami learn anything useful?" Kaiba crossed his arms leaning in the doorway eyeing Rath. The gold and green headpiece he wore reminded him a bit of the one he had worn once, minus the winged cobra of course.
"A little. We cannot allow Scarab to get his hands on the Items, or the God Cards." Yami frowned at the idea, he did not like it. "How do you feel?" Kaiba was the most stubborn person he knew, often refusing help even now.
Kaiba shrugged, Yami didn't sound as worried as he figured he would, he must be learning, "A little stiff but all right. Just how many dead people are running around anyway?" The others were similarly covered to Nefertina, though only the tallest had his face covered, the largest was missing an arm he had not been when they fought.
"Just our two groups…I think." Yami had never thought to ask Ishizu if there were others like them walking around. "They are fascinating."
"I am sorry if I hurt you Seto Kaiba, I meant you no harm." Ja'kal bowed to the youth with dark alert eyes; he had no doubt of his rank unlike Rath.
"It's fine really. So avatar magic, why not? How's the kid?" Kaiba glanced at the prince, he seemed all right.
"Presley, and I'm fine, thanks Kaiba," Presley knew all about Kaiba's temper, but he seemed like a decent enough guy.
Kaiba smirked, he was not such a bad kid, "It was different. So we going, or do you want to keep talking to your relative here?"
Yami sighed, Kaiba was tried and so a little moody, but he wanted to stay. "I would like to stay, you can…"
"Like Hell I'm going without you, do you pay attention to our lives at all?" Kaiba sighed closing his eyes, "It's fine Yami."
"Are you sure? You still look a little beaten up," Yami knew he was pushing it, but Kaiba still looked like he should be lying down, or at least sitting.
"Yami really, I'm not dying, you worry too much," Kaiba shook his head use to the 'twins' worrying, turning when he felt something against his leg. "Well hello there," lifting the cat he scratched dark ears, smiling at the purr, "Nice dead kitty."
Yami smiled at the gentle teasing before turning to the cat, it too was a mummy but seemed sweet. "Very well, you are fine. It is all right we are here isn't it Ja'kal?" The leader of the mummies had been quick to make himself useful, but he still felt as if he was intruding by being there.
"You are no threat to our prince so yes. Can we be of any further assistance to you Pharaoh?" Ja'kal rather liked this other reborn royal youth; he hoped their strange magic could help deal with Scarab. Neither stranger had seemed pleased with Scarab, Kaiba quick to take up the attack, a reaction he learned was common.
"No, we are here to duel, not something you all can help with. Scarab will likely come after us again, Kaiba thoughts?" Yami turned to his former priest who looked up at his name, his current name. It had been his duty to protect, and Kaiba was not the kind to allow some old man with strange powers endanger innocents during a duel, or anywhere else.
"Are you going to frown if I vote blast him? I'll look into it, an old former priest with freaky powers can't be too hard to find." Kaiba smirked at the feline, "Moki would love you." The black cat may be wrapped up like a car accident victim but other then that and the odd gold inner ears, and stripes on its cheeks looked normal enough.
"Oh you're brother! He must be worried about you by now, we should go back." Yami had completely forgotten they had not come alone. His wanting to talk to Kaiba without half a dozen people watching, and waiting for a verbal match to start, had gotten them were they were now.
"Will you relax? I told Mokuba we would be gone for a while, I'll just call. He can tell your cheerleaders if you want?" Kaiba tapped the KC pendent at his collar, "Mokuba?"
"Niisama? You two having fun doing…whatever?" Mokuba asked smirking at the computer screen, kids did like to tease. His brother's voice was calm so he was not going to worry, Yami was with him, and those two could get out of any mess they got into.
"Yeah. Are the cheerleaders behaving?" Kaiba glanced at Yami, who frowned at him but said nothing.
"I think they raided the mini bars in their rooms but yes. Should I tell them you two are still playing nice?" Mokuba had checked on the gumi a few times, they were only a little worried since public duels in the past had brought all sorts of strange problems with them.
"Please tell them your brother is behaving yes. Thank you Mokuba." Yami knew Kaiba could be nice as long as no one tried to force him to be, other than Mokuba.
Mokuba chuckled, "I will, and they will be pleased to hear that. I won't wait up either. Ja ne."
"Arigato. There all better," Kaiba smirked tapping the com off, "Stop smiling."
Yami frowned for a moment before smiling when Kaiba rolled his eyes, "Whatever you say Seto."
Kaiba mockingly glared, he knew Yami was only teasing him a little, "Don't call me Seto."
"And why should he not address you by name? You are a subject after all," Rath frowned not sure why this Pharaoh gave his protector so much freedom. He did not seem to be a very obedient subject, often acting as if he was the one in charge.
"You see Rath where they are from addressing someone by their first name is a sign of closeness, it is not done without permission. Like how you all call me Prince and not Presley," Presley could guess why Yugi/Yami was so tolerant, but he was not going to say anything.
"He calls him Yami?" Rath protested frowning, silver stare narrowed in thought and some annoyance. "Why allow him to call you by your name when he does not?" He wanted to ask why he called him Yami at all when the other was named Yugi Moto but let it go, for all he knew that was a title.
"Because I know why he does not like being called Seto, and I accept it. He is my friend, and how I address him, or what I let him say to me is my concern." Yami frowned at Rath, "I dislike treating others as if they are below me." It did not matter if Seto had been his subject he had been his friend, he wanted Kaiba to retake that role along with fighting at his side.
"You're no good at it anyway, I, however, am. Listen haje boy, you shut your mouth, or I'll shut it for you." Kaiba glared more than ready to pound the smug mummy into the ground, dark blue had changed little from life to the other.
Rath turned his nose up, "Much too crude to have been a priest, let alone worthy of such rank. Your Item is a coward's weapon, hiding a blade. Set…" The tall mummy fell to the floor, rubbing his chin as he turned around, "How dare you!"
"I warned you. Now are you going to shut up, or do I blast you next time?" Kaiba pulled the Rod free before just standing there arms crossed holding it.
"Enough! Rath you will show respect to my former high priest, or I will allow him to hurt you. Kaiba you are in no condition to go around blasting everyone who annoys you." Yami frowned at them both his own arms crossed, "priests."
"Rath we are not all noble born, keep that in mind." Ja'kal eyed the scepter all but feeling the priest's desire to use it.
"You two have been butting heads since you met," Nefertina chided before placing a hand on Kaiba's arm, "Come, you need rest, and both our masters are safe."
Kaiba sneered at Rath before turning to Yami, "Don't stay up all night talking to the dead."
"I will not, go get some sleep I'll be fine," Yami relaxed when Kaiba nodded walking away with the female who had been dressed like a cat.
"He sure is fast huh Rath?" Armon asked watching the new guy go, he was feisty and their Prince liked him so he did.
Rath got to his feet frowning after the pair, he did not like Seto Kaiba at all, "That child is a..."
"Punk," Presley finished nodding, "Yeah he is but I like him."
Yami smiled at the dark skinned youth, "So do I."
2Click Click vs. Hiss Hiss2
"I told you to get some sleep baka, don't bitch at me if you're tired," Kaiba muttered tightening the straps on his upper arm, white now navy blue similar to the violet he had worn for a little while. Blue had been his color as Scared Guardian and he saw no reason not to don it again, he might as well look good saving the world…again.
Yami yawned, frowning at the cell phone as if Kaiba could see him, "I am just glad this duel has nothing to do with saving the world." In every duel before that had souls had been removed from bodies, painful pasts forcibly relived and twisted, lives threatened, minds broken, so much darkness and pain.
"That gets old after a while. Relax Yami it will be over soon enough, and then we can go track down the kid." Kaiba flexed fingerless gloves; he was looking forward to teaching Rath a thing or two.
"He is a fan so he is likely here already," Yami knew they were just here to show off for the masses, but it was what famous duelists did. Kaiba would have fun reminding up and coming duelist of his power, and he was just there to have a little fun.
"Oh I'm counting on it. I'll meet you backstage once your little friends are done with the sappy good luck's." Kaiba turned at a knock, "Yes?"
"You talking to Yugi?" Mokuba asked walking up to his brother grinning; he loved watching his brother duel.
"Yes I am, you know how he worries," Kaiba answered ruffling his brother's wild black hair, "Like some other people I know."
Mokuba giggled before hugging his brother's arm, "Hey Yugi. Try not to get crushed too badly alright?"
Yami chuckled at the teasing knowing Mokuba happy meant his brother was as well, maybe even smiling, "I will try to lose with grace. I will see you both soon."
"Say Hi for me. He sounds a little tried, late night talking?" Mokuba knew Seto was warming up to Yami's advances; they were a good team once they stopped fighting it. Taking the Rod back had been a huge step forward but fangs and claws still came out.
"Thinking, you know Yugi." Kaiba frowned as he walked up to his laptop typing in the search parameters he wanted before starting it. While they were dueling he would be searching for their new ugly friend, with any luck he would get a few leads before the match was over. "All right let's see what happens when the world is not at stake."
2Click Click vs. Hiss Hiss2
"I fail to see the appeal of these cards. Ugly beast," Rath frowned at the monsters roaring and turning into sparkles as they fell. Long coats were luckily in fashion at this gathering so the mummies did not stand out as much as they normally did when they ventured into public.
"It looks fun to me, well not losing," Nefertina saw a lot of Egyptian influence in the monsters and it made her smile.
"All this excitement is making me hungry again," Armon rubbed his belly, a lot made him hungry.
"What doesn't?" Nefertina teased getting a grin from Presley, he was a good guy but he always seemed to need to eat or hit something.
"My Prince what magic are they using? No one is getting hurt by the attacks," Ja'kal found the contest intriguing. Weapons, fire, magic, nothing seemed to do more the blow hair and rustle clothing.
"It's called holographic imagining, or holograms, or holos for short. Think live TV, really cool. Kaiba corp. designed the technology they are using." Presley had never thought he'd be able to personally meet the top duelist, let alone find out they were reborn ancient Egyptians as well.
"Kaiba? You mean that punk created this spectacle?" Rath should have known such destruction was his doing.
"No, the cards were invented by another guy. Kaiba was the best around, but Yugi defeated him and so took the title of Yugioh, or King of Games. Since then Kaiba and Yugi have battled for the title while facing all sorts of nasty things. I always thought Scarab was the worst around, but he's nothing compared to some of those guys." Presley knew Rath had tuned most of what was said out last night, he had little interest in the Items other than to study.
"They are not our concern, if that Pharaoh's Ka is so powerful why not go after him and not you my Prince?" Rath frowned when Yami and Kaiba stepped onto the stage; it seemed their turn was up. Yugi once again in black pants, sleeveless black shirt, and two studded belts. Kaiba was now in a dark blue coat, cuffs and studs gold, the rest still black.
"He died long before me. It's hard to believe people use to do this with real monsters. Those two must have been terrifying; Kaiba still is with his Blue Eyes." Presley hopped he would call them; if Scarab was around he would get a taste of what he was up against.
"What does the color of his eyes have to do with anything? My eyes are also blue," Ja'kal did not understand what was so scary about his eye color.
Presley chuckled; he sometimes forgot his friends were not into everything he was, "His Blue Eyes White Dragons, very scary. He's the only one who has them, all three. Yami said he could call real ones to defend in the past."
"Real dragons? No wondered they locked such powers away," Nefertina shivered, "Scarab would love to get his claws on that kind of thing."
"Well they can't call them anymore, I think, except Bakura. It's too bad you guys had to sleep." Presley had learned a lot about a time in which his guardian's powers would have done them little good against the darkness.
"And who is this Bakura?" Rath did not like the sound of anyone who could summon these odd things into the real world.
"A former tomb robber who's Ba is trapped in a Ring, like their Items. He's not a very nice guy, but Yugi is sure with time he will wear him down like he did Kaiba." Presley frowned as Yami and Kaiba blasted away at each other like there true masters they were. Monster after monster dying in a showering of sparkles and a cry. "Kaiba was not happy about losing, and there was this whole evil thing that was trying to control him that Yami blasted out of him, long story there."
"Ah, I see their foe was able to control Seto and so they are not very close now," Rath frowned rubbing his chin, "Should he trust him now?"
Presley sighed, Rath was not the most trusting of people, "Yes Rath, he is fine. He had a bad childhood and that is why he is so snappish now. Look there's one!"
The four mummies stared at the silvery beast as it roared, "That would make a sweet ride." Nefertina purred as the large metallic looking beast turned into dark blue eyes on Yami, a ball of lighting forming in its mouth.
"Really Nefertina, a dragon is not for riding. Ra…it has that much power?" Rath could feel the shockwave through the crowd.
"That's just one, when the three merge it is insane, that has to be what he used to help crush the Dark Being guy." Presley had not liked the sound of the monster, but luckily it was still locked away, far away from them all.
"I think it looks a little sad, just like her master," Nefertina knew a thing or two about hiding who you were to fit in.
"And what makes you thing that thing is a she?" Rath asked wanting to know what insight she might have.
"A lady just knows," Nefertina retorted, crossing her arms turning at a roar, "that is a big dragon." The three headed dragon was truly something she would never want to face with her whip and claws alone.
"Ultimate is not an understatement, Ouch," Parsley winced at the thunder clap before the three headed dragon roared in triumph. "Yeah!"
"So that means Kaiba is Yugioh again?" Ja'kal asked, he was sure that was what had just happened, but sometimes modern contests had rounds.
"No, this is an expo, a show, not an official tournament. A new collection of cards and new dueling tech is coming out this month and this duel was just for fun. Cool huh?" Presley smiled as Yami playfully shoved the smirking Kaiba getting a laugh, "See fun."
"They do seem happy. You think I could try?" Nefertina asked, girls had done just as well and her Prince really seemed to like it.
"Sure, they sell all kinds of stuff here. Come on, let's see if we can catch them!" Presley moved back out of the crown before heading for the stage.
"Wait! That boy can be so impatient sometimes," Ja'kal shook his head with a smile as he took off after his Prince.
2Click Click vs. Hiss Hiss2
"That was refreshing," Kaiba stretched, knuckles cracking over his head before turning at a shout, "Hey! What's with all the yelling?"
"Kaiba-san this little punk tried to sneak in. Those four…I don't know what they are." The guard answered the others restraining the five.
Kaiba shook his head, "Let them go and leave us, the kid's with us and those four are with the kid."
"Kaiba-san," The guards said before walking off.
"Hello, did you need something?" Yami asked frowning slightly; they could just be here for the show.
"Well Nefertina here would like to learn to duel. Kaiba that was wicked!" Presley grinned, "Thanks by the way."
"They do what I tell them to, perks of power. So another undead duelist, sure why not?" Kaiba smirked as he walked towards his room, "You any good?"
Presley looked down, brown bangs shifting, "I could use some work. Where are we going?"
Kaiba nodded, the kid was honest at least, "I am going to my room to check on something, you are just following me, smart move."
Yami chuckled use to Kaiba's ego, both mocking and serious, "Ignore him. My friends and I would love teaching you how to duel; two of them have competed before."
"NIISAMA!" Mokuba cried glomping his brother out of the blue almost knocking him over, "That was sweet!" Dark and light blue stripped shirt, jeans, and yellow vest far more normal looking then what his brother was wearing.
Kaiba chuckled stoking dark hair, "Glad you enjoyed it Akei" Pulling his brother into a hug he entered his room.
"It was a good move, without the world being at stake I can't seem to always beat you," Yami was fine with that really, all he wanted was for his friends to be happy.
"Please, you were tired," Kaiba dismissed typing for a moment before sneering, "I love computers."
"I would hope so considering how fast you can type," Yami teased walking up to his other side, "What have you found?"
"Some back history on them and their prince. Bakura could crush Scarab without ever having to summon a pet." Kaiba frowned typing again, "This guy I don't like."
"An old rich guy? Is he a friend of your stepfather?" Yami hated that man, but at least something good had come out of it, he had failed.
"Nope, killed them all," Came the absent answer, dark blue never leaving the screen. "He shows up about the same time they were delivered here, I believe in coincidences, but I don't trust them. Scarab can change forms so it figures he can look normal, and face it money can buy just about anything, information included." Kaiba frowned; he looked like someone Gosabroa would have been friends with.
"Killed? Ra I knew…" Rath trailed off when Mokuba hugged his brother's neck, "Why?"
"They tried to kill all of us first," Yami answered not wishing to hear someone call Kaiba a murder, he had never taken a life in cold blood. That man had been evil, Kaiba was hurt and bitter but he was no monster.
"Ah," Rath glanced at the screen, "So you think that is our foe?" Kaiba's logic was sound, a wielder of such power would be able to hide in plain sight far easier then they could.
"That or he knows where to find him, either way I say we should go say hello." Kaiba shut down the machine, "I'll ask, we can't have you getting your hands dirty."
"Kaiba," Yami soothed touching his arm, "Come, you can met him and see what he know, or is, then we can attack if need be."
"I can go alone, face it Yami outside of the gaming world you have no power, I still do." Kaiba frowned hugging his brother before setting him down, "I'll call you."
"Kaiba I am going with you," Yami informed him standing between him and the door, "You do know our lives." The shorter youth knew Kaiba could defend himself just fine but he still worried for him, he worried for all he called friend.
Kaiba smirked at the bold move, it was very Yugi, "True. Very well then Little Pharaoh you may come."
Rath frowned as the pair walked out, "He should not talk to his Pharaoh like that."
Mokuba frowned at the tall mummy, not even finding them strange after the so many other odd things he as seen, "I hope he floors you."
"He already has," Presley assured him, the kid was cute but he saw a very protective will under the cuteness.
Mokuba smirked just like his older brother, arms crossed, "Good."
2Click Click vs. Hiss Hiss2
Haje = means viper/snake in Egyptian and is a reference to the cobra armor Rath wears in the show. As Yugioh fans know Seto/Seth wore a winged cobra so snake is not an insult he would likely use.
Akei = is my dear brother, not used in the Anime or Manga but I use it in place of the Dub's Moki sometimes. Seto is very affectionate towards his little brother so it is not unreasonable to use this now and then.
For those who have never seen either show Google Images is your friend, M.A. was on forever and a half ago. Chapter 3 is typed up but I am not planning on posting it until September, might near the end of August. Hope this chapter helped clear up a bit of the confusion from chapter 1, minus any those who never saw the original Y.G.O. might still have. Yugi and Kaiba could talk to each other, and did, a feat onto itself in the Dubbed. He's so cute when he goes Kaiba-kun all happy to see him. YouTube people, never trust Kids WB to show you the real show, Cardcaptor Sakura has a gay pairing in it for another example.