Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

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Morning was still a weird experience.

He didn't smell his mothers' cooking wafting on the air to mix compellingly with the light of Ra shining in the sky. The sounds were different and it took a moment before he could conclude that he wasn't dreaming still. So he opened a sleepy eye and found himself staring straight ahead at a large clean stone ceiling that wasn't his room.

It still took time to acclimate between what he expected to be his surroundings and the reality of what 'was' his surroundings. He had a small balcony facing the east, with a barren room with only a pair of sturdy tables and chairs coupled with a chest for his clothes. There was a basin for water to wash his face and a mirror so he could look at himself. If he were so vain as to need such a thing, but it mattered to be presentable he supposed. Never knew when the Pharaoh would appear in the room. Not that he had much, given that his village had been burned to the ground and he arrived with only the clothes on his back.

He laid there looking around trying to, again, absorb that he was in the palace of the Pharaoh, surrounded by his divine grace. The days before felt more like a dream, the slave traders, the blue eyed girl, that 'dragon', the power and radiance of such a beast was hypnotizing really. Just the mere memory of it was enough to capture his mental focus. Reconstructing the great beast in his mind, its massive wingspan that seemed to shelter the whole town under its length. The whiteness of its body gleaming in the light of the moon with not a speck of blemish on its flesh. Only its pure sky blue eyes providing any color to its existence...

Going back to that moment gave him a moment of peace and calm, what he sorely had been lacking since the destruction of his village. Helping deal with the guilt that came from knowing they wouldn't have come if he hadn't rescued the girl. Not that he wouldn't do it again, but if he would have planned things better than he had. Though he couldn't fathom a method or a stunt that wouldn't have cost someone something. Which made his gut twist with the question, 'who was more important; the girl or the village?'.

As his gut twisted in growing guilt he turned his thoughts towards those he met after that night. Even the Prince and his Maha seemed dream like in the morning light, that he carried the 'prince' on his hip. That in realization the prince was incredibly aware and considerate despite being so young, was amazing. Yet the one thing that brought him back to some semblance of reality was the whipping and scars. Slavery wasn't a big thing in his village and seeing a fellow boy lashed so badly? He felt too fine to assume himself a prisoner of fever. Yet that was the only thing that explain the shift from nightmare to dream back to nightmare.

Set laid in bed longer than he probably should have, waiting for reality to return to normal and have his mom come through the door. He kept waiting for her to chastise him for staying in bed for so long. But he couldn't just stare at the door waiting for her to arrive, since the door was different and it was a visual and tangible bit of evidence that he wasn't home. In the end he had to accept defeat as his stomach finally growled. Demanding that he break his fast or else the noises were going to get louder.

He treated every moment as though it was the second he was going to wake up. From washing up and putting on some clean attire before he stepped out of his room and into the hallway. There were guards posted for the protection of the royal family, that was to be expected. So he turned his steps towards the end of the hall in search of one of the servants. The light from outside the palace filtered its way inside brightening the walls and stories painted onto them. The air was filled with the fresh, sweet scents of lotus blossoms sitting in vases.

There was a servant with her arms laden with laundry laboring across from him in the hallway and turned towards his passage. So strange how even the servants were dressed respectively and yet that madman of a High Magician. Just the amount of blood on Set's hands from dealing with Mahaado's injuries made Set's skin crawl.

"Ah excuse me," he called out once he got in distance of the servant, the older woman turned her gaze from the hallway ahead of her and looked at him in curiosity.

"How would I find out my morning duties," he asked, unsure if it would be polite to just straight away ask about food before anything else.

The servants' nose scrunched up in confusion as she looked him over, "so you're the one who took care of the Princes' Maha? I don't know really, but I think if you go find the Prince you'll probably be told by one of his servants." She instructed jerking her head back to express the direction he would need to go to find said prince.

Set nodded, and turned his direction to find the young Prince not really needing help finding the child. He had a good enough mind to remember places he had been, and he knew that both the Prince and Maha had rooms pretty close to each other. Though given that the servant referred to the guy as 'the Princes' Maha' told Set all he needed to know.

He walked along the rows of brightly painted stories across the walls and pillars, wishing he had time to read it all. But, hopefully, he would have time to do so, though right now his duty was to find the Prince and hopefully break his fast. Though it occurred to him a question of his education, would he be given an education? Maha clearly had a teacher and that meant he had to take time from his day to learn. Or at least be given outlets for his abilities given what Set had overheard from the servants.

The chance to learn from the most educated among the land, made his head nearly swim at the possibilities before him. While it was perfectly understandable that perhaps he was overstepping his possible future. Yet 'who' in their right hearts would 'not' salivate at the mere thought of such higher education?

Maha was the best indicator for that, given that the guy was born into slavery and yet was being taught by the High Magician. Set aside the abusive treatment that he was getting as part of his training. Maha was receiving an education while living in the Palace under the service of the Prince. So it was not far fetched to believe Set couldn't also receive such a thing.

Set took the final turn towards the Princes' royal bedchambers and found himself presented with a rather amusing sight. The prince, his cheeks puffed out in baby protest was in the arms of a woman, being carried towards his room and away from Maha's. Behind her was several other amused women in a small procession. Yet the second the prince's eyes settled on Set he stuck his arms out and began struggling to escape towards him.

"Ahh Lord Prince wants his new guard to hold him?" the woman holding him asked in kind hearted amusement. Instead of turning at the Princes' door she redirected her steps towards Set. Behind her two women stayed behind at the door while another broke away to follow the one carrying the royal prince.

For which he resumed walking so they could meet half way down said hallway and he could gather up the small child in his arms. The boy immediately scooted himself so he could wrap his little legs around Set's waist and clung to the boy's neck with a protesting type of assertiveness. The serving woman watched the prince and broke out in good natured laughter, "he's upset. Mahaado normally is by his side when he wakes in the morning. When he doesn't the Prince goes looking for him and when Mahaado has been punished. Well he's not to have the Prince as a visitor until he's able to take care of the Prince... and right now its time for the princes' royal bath," she informed the pair though she leaned in so she could be on eye level with the Prince and gently beeped his nose as well.

The Prince gave this small protesting puff of air before stating in his most stubborn voice, "no Maha no Bath." Then he turned his head sharply so he could look over Set's shoulder in his princely version of a protest. Now how the prince believed he could avoid a bath when he was so tiny compared to an older boy and a grown woman was probably something interesting.

But for Set it was amusing and he obediently followed the lady along as she guided him to the closest of the bathing rooms. Though Set wasn't heartless, and understanding the prince was missing his Maha, began to rub the princes' back in soothing little circles. As he did so he could hear the prince finally give in to a sniffle and tucked his head down so his forehead rested on Seto's shoulder.

"Me bad..."

And that did wonders on bringing Set down enough that he was no longer hungry. He really didn't know what to say to comfort the child. After all, it was the childs' father who had made that declaration. That the child was 'bad' and was too small to truly understand the reason why. The servants were gathering up a new clean outfit for the prince before they all left the royal princes' bedroom.

Which struck Set all over again how casual they were about this, that the prince being distraught didn't bother them. Which felt insane given what Set had learned about Maha's upbringing here. Perhaps everyone felt comfortable with it because the High Magician wasn't focused on 'them', yet it still ruffled Set's feathers.

They walked along until they reached the bathing room and Set was taken in, again, by the massive size of the room. There were a few lotus floating on the surface of the water, large jars off to the side and a lounging couch near by. Not to mention the large expansive windows covered only with a thin curtain. Allowing the light of the sun in, but also keeping anyone with any murderous intentions less likely to try anything.

The women placed the Princes' clothes and towel near the lounging chair before they disrobed and began slipping into the water. Keeping themselves pretty much in the way of the window, providing a human layer of protection for the prince. While the woman who had been initially carrying the prince tried to take the prince back.

'Try' being the word of choice, because the prince was not having any of it. His small hands gripped Set's shoulders harder and he began squeezing his legs as well. As clingy as a determined divine monkey really. "No Maha, no bath!" the prince protested in a loud wail.

The woman shook her head before she went about slipping the little tunic top that the prince wore over his head. It took a bit of time, and effort, but she managed to slide the princes night attire off him. "Are you going to need help getting undressed? I feel you may have to take a bath as well due to the Prince."

Set blinked and leaned his head back to get a good look at the prince, just to see those baby lavender eyes red with anger and wet with shed tears. He shook his head and confessed, "I can undress myself. Though I didn't bring anything to dry off with or such."

"Oh that's fine, I'll get you a towel, just undress and join the girls." She instructed and left him standing there. Though given how little in terms of actual 'clothes' he had at the moment he found himself wondering where she would get even an extra towel. Unless it was one of her own, but that was merely idle thoughts distracting him from what he was supposed to be doing.

He undid the shenti and left it with the other clothes before he slipped into the chill morning water of the bath. Still with the child in his arms, he stepped down and was soon sitting comfortably among the women when the prince slowly loosened his grip on Set. Thus he lowered his legs so the prince could sit on his lap properly.

The prince looked baffled and began kicking the water with his feet before looking up at Set and then back at the water. His confusion was clear in his eyes before he finally said, "Set bath? Maha no bath why Set?"

The sentence confused Set and another of the servants gave a soft rueful chuckle, "the Princes' Maha never takes a bath in the presence of the Prince. I guess the Prince assumed all older boys don't bathe either."

"Why not?" Set asked as he realized that apparently Maha was present even when the Prince bathed. So when 'did' Maha study magic? It was sounding almost like the prince never let the guy out of his sight. 'Please let that not be the case', was all he could think as he sat there.

"Probably because of the whiplashes," she said nonchalantly which made him instantly decide he didn't like her. The guy was whipped to the state he was in and no one seemed to mind, and to be nonchalant?

Splash, splash, splash.

Now that the Prince was in the water he began smacking his hands on the surface of the water, "me bad."

The prince kept smacking the water as he repeated the small sentence until Set pulled the prince away from the water. Mildly frustrated that he didn't know exactly how to convey to the prince what had happened. The women closed in on the pair and soon the prince was a disgruntled little prince getting his vivid hair washed as well as everything else. It was actually entertaining and soon he was just free enough to give himself a quick bath.

When his stomach reminded him about fast breaking, preferably before it decided his spine was a suitable chew bone. The sound actually distracted the prince from his squirming protest of getting his toes washed. It made him giggle and he was trying to be a serious little prince.

"? Set tummy talk!" The prince announced in surprise.

"Well... I haven't broken fast sooo..." Set began when one of the serving girls chuckled and made her way to a bowl of fruit that had been brought to the bath during the princes' squirmy wash.

"Oh... These good!" The prince pointed out before reaching his tiny hand out and patted the nearest serving womans' breast. "Yummy milk!"

"Well yes, I'm sure it is, but I'm not interested in baby food." Set answered as his eyes rolled to the ceiling of the room as he pondered what the prince just suggested. While the serving girl proceeded to hand him a slice of melon.

SPLASH!

"Not baby food! Yummy!"

"Aww young Prince he's right, he's too old to eat the same things as ones young as your highness drinks." The serving girls began cooing and explaining to the prince while the protesting splashes continued until Set looked back down at the Prince.

The prince had this decidedly defiant look on his face as he struggled to get someone to put him back on Sets' lap. Giving his version of an intimidating expression on the princes lavender colored eyes before Set took another bite. The serving girls finally did as wished, returning the now washed little Prince to Set. Yet the moment Set put the melon to his lips the prince struck, and attempted to take a bite of his own.

'Attempted' being the optimal word because despite his success on getting his mouth on said fruit. The little ones' mouth could do no more than scrape a thin layer of the melon and squeeze out a little of the sweet juices. While Set raised a lone eyebrow in surprise at the boy's bold confidence when bereft of his Maha.

The prince sat back and seemed to be taking in the sweetness of the snack, he was able to bite and drink. His tiny tongue poked out of his mouth and he began to lick his lips in excitement. Then those little grabby baby hands reached for the melon amid the serving womens' giggles. Before they took the baby out of the bath and next to the bowl of fruit waiting for all of them.

Set settled against the bath and ate his way through the fruit before climbing out of the bath himself. The nice clear water, the warm air, he couldn't tell if this was a dream and the horrors of the last few days were his reality, or if this was reality and all that had been a nightmare. Though his mother wasn't a nightmare, so this had to be the dream.

Right?

Across the water on the corner of his vision he could see a room reflected in the water, filled with strangers. They were busy, hunched over a table, and the only real color in the room was the red blood on their hands. Some distant thought whispered along the breeze that he was supposed to protect the little Prince for ever.

"Lord Kaiba? I await your orders."

Kaiba blinked at the glass reflection of the hospital window before his eyes settled fully back on Fugata.

"Where is Isono?"