A Past and Future Pharaoh

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

Original Beta: White Swan

A/N: Wow... just... the original version of this was rather subpar considering my standards as they are now. Guess that goes to show how much I've grown, huh?

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That.

That game was amazing.

Yugi only dealt with holograms when he was dueling with the duel disk system normally. So he felt it was reasonable to expect that he would be in a large room and the holograms would materialize in front of him like with the disks. But this? He had been directed to lay back in a pod, his limbs were held down lightly to avoid flailing. A headset was placed over his eyes and ears and the pod cover was lowered over him. The controllers were under his fingers, like mini controllers and for all of it the set up wasn't 'bad'. Though Yugi could see some people having claustrophobic reactions once the cover lowered into place.

The game itself was incredible, a high fantasy setting with Duel Monsters instead of the traditional fantasy creatures. With the looming threat of a large five headed dragon as the main 'villain' of the game. Which was a bit ironic considering Kaiba's love of dragons, but this wasn't intended to be his own personal game. The game did the typical 'rescue the princess' route though the 'princess' was a female version of Mokuba. And Yugi slipped up more than once with the name.

This game was something he could totally see Bakura enjoying with all its RPG elements. Maybe Seto would allow Yugi to bring Bakura, to play as well. Since this had been a sole adventure it had been rather isolating despite the detail that had been put in. Even though Yugi had brought the Other Yugis' deck, the NPCs were notably lacking of personality, just the static lines the NPCs were provided, a group would work better. Especially if someone disliked isolation, but if someone 'was' alone, Yugi had noted that there needed to be a few more flavor texts for a player to feel more immersed.

Thus with his list of suggestions on the environment, and the list of game glitches that Yugi had found. While surrounded by the 'people' of the kingdom he had rescued, Yugi had finally logged out for the last time that night.

The world cut out into darkness, the sounds of the cheering cut so fast that it left a ringing sound in Yugi's ears. After the first time when he tried to leave the game, he had learned to wait until he heard the releases from his wrists and ankles. Though he was hungry enough that it had to be around dinner time and he couldn't wait until he got home.

Home. A place that was once a game shop and now that was gone, yet despite that, it didn't feel as wrong as to think of the Kaiba Mansion. It wasn't 'home' at least he didn't feel as bonded to the location as he did the game shop. However; it felt more like a safe haven than it had when he first arrived. Perhaps he was settling down and accepting things as they were, but he felt like he was safe there.

He felt himself released from the game and he lifted up the head gear, before setting it aside while the pod mechanically shifted from its reclined position into an upright position. With the helmet off he looked about the room for signs of Mokuba or a lab technician to interact with. Yugi retrieved the Other Yugis' deck from its slot in the chair and tucked it at his side. He waited patiently in the room for a while, pulling the deck out finally and shuffling it idly as he stood around.

Granted the deck had been left untouched from the way the Other Yugi had designed it before their final duel. But would it be ok to adjust it? There were new cards that had been released that he knew would fit better with this deck, and a part of him had begun itching to adjust. Originally he was just going to make a copy of the deck and leave the original in his special box. But that would mean putting Maha's card aside as well and Yugi couldn't bring himself to 'put away' the Magician or even little Kuriboh. In fact, now knowing what he was 'actually' carrying, he had to wonder if the other cards would be offended if they were removed.

"Where is everybody?"

The silence of the place was the one thing that distracted Yugi from his thoughts as he looked about. Even if Mokuba had gone home if it was late enough, there 'should' have been a technician or even Isono in the room with him. Mokuba had said as much after Yugi's second break from the game. Frowning a bit, he finally opted to leave the room and look around for someone. Regretting that he never got a replacement for the cellphone he lost when he got kidnapped.

But a cellphone was a luxury that Yugi didn't feel entitled to, as he was walking around in clothes that Kaiba paid for, shoes that Kaiba paid for, and the list went on. So he was left looking around for 'someone', still shuffling his deck and wondering when Maha was going to reappear. The sensation of his hair brushing past his bare shoulder when he turned his head to look at a bulletin board was still something new to him.

He reached up and pulled his hair so it draped down his shoulder and he had to admire it, in a modest way. His hair had always been so spiky, for so long it had defied everything from water to gravity. Now suddenly he found it as loose and soft as anyone else's hair. While his bangs had never lost their unique shape, and his hair still stuck up just at the base to give him more of a mane hair style... it looked nice. And realistically as tall as he was now, if his hair kept its old style he would have been brushing against the bottom of door arches he felt.

Yugi recalled when he arrived, the soft hums of the computers and the air conditioning meant to keep the computer systems cool. Only it was silent now, he heard no footsteps, voices, everything was silent. Sound only came when he pushed open doors or turned knobs. He reached the reception area of the building and found it empty, with the lights still on.

Looking out the front window showed an empty street, with no sign of Isono or the limo. Which caused Yugi to shiver unconsciously, Kaiba and Mokuba didn't play games like this. They weren't the type to just abandon someone alone in a building and leave them there. So with mounting concern Yugi went to the phone at the desk and picked it up to call the mansion. Maybe Isono was in transit having been called away by one of the Kaiba brothers? But he couldn't figure out how to make it work, there was no dial tone, regardless of the buttons he pressed.

Sighing, he walked to the front and tested the door, finding that it was unlocked he was about to go outside. Checking to find if the limo was just out of sight when he stopped himself long enough to grab a door jam. Keeping the door open, as he stepped out into a surprisingly dark night, he didn't 'think' he had been playing for that long. But with his longer legs it took less time for him to check the only places he could think the limo 'might' be. Resigning him to his fate that he was alone in the city, and having to think around this.

Anzu lived close by and to be honest, he had yet grown comfortable being alone thus the notion of going to her place was born. Turning back to the reception area, he went back to the front doors, went inside and began looking for some paper and tape. Which allowed him to write out 'Went to wait at Anzus' place please call her,' leaving a copy on the desk and one taped to the door to the hallway. With that he he turned off the light and left the office building all together.

It was a clear night, the sky a dark blue with a few stars shining in the sky with the full moon hanging over head like a jewel in the Imperial crown. A light breeze filtered through city playing with the tips of Yugi's bangs and hair like a lover. Yet… yet Yugi could recall in his memories of Egyptian nights, with a sky that flickered with infinitely more stars and a moon that was much clearer. Everything was cleaner then, everything more pure and real then this city, Yugi stopped, his eyes closed as he let those memories come over him.

His mother's warm voice humming a lullaby, as he was held safe and warm in her arms while his father's proud, strong voice softened for Atem's benefit so he could sleep. He could remember a little more now, the day to day life, the servants who attended to his every want and need. Not the easiest of tasks when the person you were taking orders from was a baby who couldn't speak a word. Then again maybe that's what made it so easy? With a few well-placed soft tickles Atem became a very happy prince so long as his diaper was clean and he had a satisfied tummy.

For all that Yugi still didn't understand how he could have such a weird hair color, his parents in both lifetimes had normal hair color for their countries of origin. Though he found the color of his eyes dated back to the Pharaoh. But his hair well, it used to be the only thing that would get him noticed before he got ran over by some older/taller person. Now he was the taller person with only Kaiba and a few others who could match him, man this was a switch.

He felt almost dizzy to look at his own shadows at this point. Though right now the temperature was low enough to make him see a fog whenever he exhaled, making him even more grateful he bought the leather coat. He slipped his hands into his pants pockets and hunched down a bit to protect himself from the late night chill. It was very quiet that time of night, which struck him as a bit odd; normally at any time of the night there was at least a single car that was on the road. But he was chilly and really wanted nothing more than a nice warm blanket to snuggle into.

He didn't realize how long he had been walking till he saw the first signs of the apartment complex that Anzu lived at. Relieved at the sight of the apartment before him he hurried his steps with warm thoughts of food and rest floating through his head. But there was a nagging in the back of his mind about something odd going on around him, so instead of continuing he stopped and studied the building. It was tall, though nowhere near Kaiba Corp HQ, he knew a great deal about the building from his years visiting Anzu. Even if the hour was late, there should have been a few lights on at the apartment complex, not everyone followed the same sleep schedule.

Growing worried Yugi began to speed up his steps so that he got to the front of the complex all the faster, yet the front lights were off. The complex always had a few set lights on at the front, so that people coming home late would not be cursed with trying to walk in complete darkness. The power couldn't be out if the street lamps were still lit, after all weren't they running on the same power source? Yugi didn't know for sure, but the parking lot was eerily empty of any cars, and Yugi had yet to find a single light in the building from outside. He rushed to the small intercom system rapidly pressing the keypad to Anzu's apartment before desperately calling out, "Anzu? Are you there? It's me Yugi!" In the stillness of the night, during a time when all sound was seemingly absent a lone distant, yet dull sound could be heard as Yugi desperately called Anzu's name. As the sound grew louder, he begged for someone to answer the speaker even if it was in anger. 'Maybe they went out for the night?' his mind desperately suggested as an attempt to tame the growing fear that had taken hold of his stomach. Overhead a helicopter flew through the night; in the bright light of the moon he could see the 'KC' logo that marked it as Kaiba's personal item. For a moment Yugi watched as it flew, noting how there was no response from Anzu's parents or herself. Caught in a moment of indecision he turned and began following the helicopter back, right to where he had spent the day by the looks of things.

Turning his back on the apartment he stuck his hands in his pockets as he thought back to when this eeriness began when a thought hit. If Mokuba or whoever came to pick him up, didn't find him, then what would happen? Would they wait there for Yugi's return or would they leave? As Yugi decided to stay and try to wake up someone a sudden dull boom jerked his attention up towards the upper level of the apartment. A large blossom of fiery light erupted into the air horrifying Yugi at the thought of some innocent person possibly being trapped somewhere in the apartment.

Sheltered from the falling glass and concrete that fell from the explosion he felt the door give way, as the security system went offline. A failsafe Anzu had once explained in case something happened and people needed to get out fast. But as Yugi rushed in through the now unlocked doors and into the stairwell, after two floors of running he expected to hear confused people rush into the stairwell to escape the explosion. Yet no one appeared, floor after floor, even after Yugi got winded and had to stop he never ran into a single person trying to get out of the building.

Yet his fear for Anzu and her family was the only thing driving him to get up the flights of stairs, even as his legs and lungs began burning. When he finally reached the floor that Anzu lived at he looked about in concern, a concern that was magnified by the sight of the door to that apartment blasted off its hinges.

"Anzu!" Yugi rushed down the hall towards where Anzu lived with her parents, his voice a cry of fear. A fear that was more then just the alarm of seeing the door blasted open like that, a fear that was born from the sheer emptiness of the building. Where were the people who lived here? Several doors were left open, showing what eerily appeared to be abandoned apartments. But that was insane, why would a 'whole floor' be abandoned?

Why couldn't he hear the sound of the sirens outside as police and firefighters came to check on everyone? "Mr. Mazaki? Mrs. Mazaki? Anzu!" Yugi could barely get the words out as he nearly tumbled into the doorway of the Mazaki residence. The room looked to be almost completely abandoned, with only a single singed futon on the floor, some papers and a book. Yugi stood there frozen with shock as he tried to figure out if he got the wrong apartment. The windows had been blown out, and still no sound of police or life itself for that matter making Yugi concern grow.

Terror motivated his worn out legs as he stumbled to the blasted window and still couldn't find anyone coming to the apartment. Exhaustion and fear caused Yugi to finally collapse giving only the sound of broken glass breaking further. Next to Yugi was the book he rushed by, it had been knocked open and over with the cover only lightly burned. He picked it up, recognizing Anzu's handwriting immediately; he flipped through the pages noting writing and blank pages. 'This must be her diary,' he thought, but the apartment wouldn't have power now after that explosion, he had to get down to the street lamps to be able to read any of it.

Legs burning with the stiffness of his mad run protested as loudly as his lungs as they still struggled to catch a single breath. The air smelled of fire and ash, burned paints and woods that made breathing painful as well. Reducing Yugi into harsh coughs as he tried to get his nerves and body back under control. He had to find Anzu, Jounouchi, anyone, and given the state of the apartment he knew there would be no phone for him to use.

Getting up hurt, yet the sound of his pants and shoes scraping against the ground at least gave him 'something' to listen to. The soft fall of sand and shattered glass became the background noise that the world itself seemed to have decided to deny him. Yugi painfully, and slowly, stumbled his way out of the apartment and had to wonder what would cause the Mazaki family to leave their apartment like this. She would have told him, there would have been signs. The family was an honest one with no reason to vacate in such a manner.

He had to get outside, the smell was getting to him as a thought suddenly wormed its way up into his mind. 'At least if no one was here they didn't die like Gramps and Mom.'

The moment that thought broke into his awareness he stumbled into a wall as he began shaking. A bomb, another 'bomb'. His hands began shaking while his vision tunneled towards any escape route he could find. It pushed him further as he staggered out of the apartment with the book tucked under an arm while he braced himself with the wall. 'Get out' beat itself into his brain, any productive reasoning regarding the current situation was lost as he began to pick up speed.

There was no sound save his foot steps as he rushed out of the apartment complex, his breathing heavy. The world was developing this dark glittering tone as he struggled to keep moving. Every moment that he wanted to collapse the thought of a bomb pushed him further.

The emptiness of the town, coupled with the bomb began gnawing into Yugi's mind he could tell they were pieces, to something, but his mind wouldn't connect them. 'Come on Yugi, you put the Sennen Puzzle together! You can do this!' Yugi fought against his terror as he reached the front entrance walking down the steps even faster. His mind refused to focus on anything save the bomb and in a last ditch effort to get his mind settled he grasped the diary in his hands.

The diary, Anzus' diary though unwilling to read all of it, he decided he had to read the last entry first. It was another piece of the puzzle, and even if it couldn't explain everything it explain what had been happening. Yugi didn't want to invade Anzu's privacy 'that' badly so the last entry would be a solid start. At least it would still be enough to give him at least a direction to find the next piece. So when Yugi reached outside it was still a bit of walking before he found a lamppost that was working, with a good enough light to help him read the text in the book. He quickly flipped to the last written page, his eyes scanning the first paragraph and feel as though his heart had stopped. The diary fell from his now numb fingers and even though his brain said to make a grab for the book he couldn't seem to get his body to move. He dropped to his knees as everything that kept him going seemingly melted away while his trembling fingers reached for the book once more.

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Dear Diary,

It's been five days now since Yugi went into the VR pod, test running that game for Kaiba. It's so hard, I'm so scared that we're going to lose him; so many of his vital signs have dipped down dangerously low. Yesterday Kaiba had come up with a program that should find Yugi's information in the computer and re-download his mind back into his body. I'm meeting Mokuba tonight at the school and we're taking the helicopter to the building to try this out. I contacted Jounouchi today through his sister; he's trying to get away from his mom to get back into Domino. But apparently there's some type of blockade around the city making it harder to enter. He doesn't want to tell me how he's going to try to come in, just in case the lines are being monitored, I guess I should be happy that I managed to sneak in. Yugi! Please, you have to wake up! We need you! If for nothing else so what's left of us can leave the city together alive!

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"Five days?" The words danced around his mind like falling shards of glass, his mind struggled to comprehend how it could have been five days since he entered the VR world. It wasn't like he didn't check the time each time he left the game to take a break from the mentally exhaustive effort of gaming and researching, so how could he have gone from reentering the game at 3:08pm and wake up five days later? "It can't be Wednesday, this has to be some joke!" But the apartment was destroyed, the journal was with him, and there was no signs of life other then the helicopter that had flown overhead.

The helicopter; Anzu wrote that she was meeting Mokuba at the school and would be riding it back to where he had been with the game. Yugi lifted up his head and stared off towards the building, maybe if he ran he could still meet up with them? He got to his feet while clutching the diary to his chest, his destination already clear in his mind, while hoping that he could reach them in time. In the back of his mind he kept trying to piece together what had happened. Maybe in the rest of the Diary there was information about what had taken place, but for now all Yugi could think to do was run towards the VR building.

Running like the hounds of hell were chasing him, Yugi tore down the deathly quiet street his eyes darting about constantly seeking some sign of life around. He passed another block when a new light illuminated the darkness that exceeded the streetlamps, but it was a flickering light that wavered and threw shadows against walls like Shadow Ghouls. The light spurned him forward, ignoring the electricity that shot through his legs, or the fire that consumed his lungs; he 'hurt' from the sudden running. Having spent the day sitting in a pod, then running up stairs and through the streets was taking a toll on his body. Stopping for a break somewhere closer to the building, over the sound of his own rapid breathes and the pounding of his heart in his chest, Yugi heard something that made him feel like he had ice for blood. The faint crackles and snaps, the faint hint of smoke that warned of a fire, Yugi stumbled back into a run, his heart now in his throat.

"Anzu! Anzu can you hear me?!" He called out, enemies near by be damned! The last building was finally out of his way when his eyes caught the sight of the source for the fire. The helicopter was in flames, the glass shattered outward; whatever had caused the explosion had taken out the helicopter in a big way as well. The explosion had been enough to take out the fence around the building giving Yugi more time to get to the building now that he didn't have to worry about a passcard. His quick steps over the fallen chain link fence punctured the crackle of the fire with a distracting jangle, while the smoke punched the air out of Yugi's lungs. Making the teen cough as he breathed in the smoke while he frantically went around the wrecked machine.

Only to face a twisted body that was lying on the steps to the building, facing the other way, she was wearing a warm looking pair of pants, a long sleeved top, with a light jacket against the evening chill. But the short brown hair, the size of the body, seemed to reach out and crush Yugi's heart in the palm of it's hand. He didn't know what compelled him to walk towards the body, a part of him whispering he knew who it would be.

Anzu was facing away, a few shards of glass had struck her pretty face, but the blood had already dried. She must have turned around to face the copter before whatever happened to make it explode. Her soft hair was a bit hard on the back, where her head had cracked fatally open onto the steps, the blood having dried in the elevated heat. But he lifted her up all the same, holding her close to him like the dear friend she had been since they were young.

Even with the burning wreckage so close Yugi couldn't find any warmth in the world. He was alone, no fire trucks were coming nor police there was no one to lend help and it was too late to save Anzu anyway. The world felt cold, stiff like the body in his trembling arms and as still as the heart in the chest of the first friend he had ever made in his life. He couldn't think of anything as he knelt there, Anzu's corpse in his arms, while voices whispered that it was his fault. Something happened, and instead of being safe outside the city Anzu had come back to try and help him. Sobbing with no ability to stop, Yugi sat outside warmed by a burning helicopter, frozen by who was in his arms, grief the only emotion he could register.