A Past and Future Pharaoh
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Original Beta: White Swan
A/N: Some editing to fix a few things, found things I have to fix in later chapters. Wow 15 years of working on this is a thing.
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Have you ever notice how everyone has a mutual hate for alarm clocks?
Kaiba reached out a sleepy hand, slapping it down repeatedly on the nightstand, seeking out the annoying thing. His hand danced about clumsily like a poorly handled puppet until it knocked off a small glass of water. He turned on the light in his room, wincing at the brightness as he checked to find what he knocked over. The carpet was soaking up the spilled water greedily and two brightly colored pills rested scattered near by.
Getting up so that he could get ready for school and work, he tried to figure out what he did differently the day before. There had to be a reason why he didn't need to overindulge in wine and sleeping pills. Though Kaiba was pretty sure that not taking a suicide cocktail of sleeping methods was a positive. Mokuba wasn't going to believe that sleeping pills and wine taking together was fine forever after all. Either way he still had to get ready for school, work, and make sure his brother and the school lunch was up and actually getting ready.
Which meant leaving his room and knocking on both his little brothers' and Yugi's bedroom doors. Perhaps referring to Yugi as the school lunch was a bit cruel, "I got you the number for the Rape Crisis hotline just in case, so you better be getting ready in there."
The door was flung open revealing a miffed Yugi stuffing his shirt into his pants with an expression of complete sour annoyance.
The day never did get any better than that for Yugi… Or Bakura… or Malik…
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Bakura was called the 'Shy Silver Bunny' for a few reasons. First his hair was remarkably soft and white, though he had yet to figure out why he'd be silver in that case… He had a sweet, gentle disposition that screamed for soft petting, and he could run faster than members of the school track team when proper motivation was applied. "You know… the girls in my school could turn a straight boy gay in five seconds. Don't they understand that not all boys have a single setting for what they want in a girl? Not all boys want to see a girls' bare chest, or be told of all the uses tongues and hands have for female bodies… I don't care what American girls want!"
To an outsider it appeared as though Bakura was holding this conversation with himself. However if you were say… a reborn member of a long dead village of thieves, you'd see that lady back again, braving her son's potential wrath after that incident with the jewelry, finding her son curled up in a corner. A King of Thieves should not 'ever' cower! As Bakura rambled on, she began to realize that maybe he was getting propositioned by girls and wondered why her son was reacting like this. He should be out there checking the stock and finding one pleasing for the bedroom, not bemoaning it! Then again, maybe none of the stock was to his tastes, the girls 'were' rather outrageous… Maybe her son wanted something more fitting a pharaoh? That had to be it! Nothing but the best for her little thief!
"No, if you're plotting to find me a girl, don't. I don't want one now, not yet… and if things don't changed, I'll live happily asexual." Bakura turned his head to face the woman. When she looked a little confused at the last word he elaborated, "I won't ever be in a relationship, regardless of the gender."
Oh no! She couldn't have that! The return of their village to the living world depended on Bakura having children! The more the better!
"Hey Thumper open the door!" That uncouth announcement amid door knocking sent the ghost to the door and Bakura face down at the kitchen table he had been sitting at since he got home.
"…"
Malik strode into the room which made Bakura regret letting Isis have a spare to his apartment. Of course Malik would use it to walk in, when he knew Bakura was home, but the Egyptian must have avoided any potential fans chasing him around Domino to be acting like this. "Say how was school today?"
"Ok, save for this Bambi," Bakura replied pushing a single sheet of paper towards the blond.
"'Bambi,' you think I'm a deer?" Malik inquired in confusion.
"No, just its a girl name, and since you punch AND bitch like a girl!" Bakura explained without looking up.
"How would you like a tug on those bunny ears of yours?!" Malik countered, grabbing two handfuls of Bakura's bangs.
"About the same as you would me tugging on your antlers," Bakura shot back, grabbing one of Malik's earrings.
After a brief stare down the pair silently let go and settled back into their seats, where Malik realized it was another of those 'newspapers from hell' as he called them. "How bad are we talking about?" he asked, picking up the sheet where Bakura had left it.
"I'd suggest a sex change just for our own safety, however; I fear that the girls just might become lesbians to counter the effort…"
"Hey Bakura?"
"Yes?"
"What's a 'lesbian'?"
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"Are you sure you want to be in here?" Bakura asked in an almost whisper as he looked at Yugi.
Brown met lavender, watched lavender as it rolled in it's socket and then Yugi walked into the apartment like he wasn't putting his life in the hands of a very violent gang of blood thirsty thieves. If Bakura truly was a bunny this was where his bunny ears would droop with apprehension. He honestly didn't feel safe with Yugi being in his apartment with the ghosts, then again he couldn't go anywhere without them either. The gang had decided to meet at Bakura's, if for no other reason than to keep moving so the girls didn't have a target. Though what was stopping them from scouting each location?
"So now we're hanging out in the rabbit hole," Jounouchi joked as he followed Yugi with the gang behind him, Anzu at the rear checking… Just checking…
"It's a pity Malik can't come to school, at least then we could just holding these meetings in the school rather than pretend to be ninja," Yugi noted ruefully. Though the girls would then know Maliks' name, thus turning Malik into just as much a fugitive as himself and Bakura.
"So we now wait till Malik arrives, then we can discuss this weekend," Anzu pointed out while writing out the conversation for Honda.
Bakura finished fussing over the living room and giving occasional 'looks' at certain unseen beings, while the rest of the group found nice little spots to sit in the room, and watch Bakura fidget.
"Does anyone know when Malik will arrive?" It was a random question thrown out as a conversation starter, one that got Bakura up and out the door like someone had lit a match under his foot.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP
"OUCH, THE FUCK! I can't believe you tied me up and threw me in the closet Thumper!" Malik's outraged voice carried down the hall. Oh dear.
"Well you belong in a closet, now come on, everyone has arrived."
Malik had stormed into the room angry, as one would expect as he rubbed his mouth. Ok, Bakura tying someone up and shoving them into the closet was a new one.
"And on that happy note, what's the group agenda?" Yugi asked trying to sound like he didn't just witness such events.
"My sister," Malik began only to give Bakura a glare, "that really 'hurt' Thumper!" And then he managed to return his focus to the group, "finished translating those lines that we found in the Game Shop. But she's still uncertain about it," Malik informed the group, giving 'Thumper' the occasional nasty look.
"Why? Weren't your clan in charge of preserving the language?" Anzu asked from her seat, by Yugi of course.
"Well, yes, but it's just that we only preserved that one point in time, nothing afterwards save to be able to speak to the outside world," Malik explained. This was rather important since the gang didn't get full disclosure on what the Tomb Keepers Clan duties were. "The main problem about the message appears to be that this group doesn't have a solid grasp on Ancient Egyptian. They appeared to have 'some' idea, but the languages was mixed between the language we preserved and what came later. We just can't get to them on our own at least that's what the ghosts said when we used the Board."
"GHOSTS?!" Jounouchi was suddenly perched on the top of his seat like a scared cat.
"Yeah, Bakura's apartment is full of them," Malik said with a mischievous smirk on his face as Jounouchi began to look around.
"It's ok Jounouchi they won't bother you," Bakura tried to soothe Jounouchi while Yugi took over for Anzu in writing out the conversation for Honda.
"Wait, you're saying there's messages all over the store? But why didn't the cops see it when they checked out the store before?" Anzu asked carrying on the conversation with Malik.
"From what we can tell, it's because the message is only meant for those who have connections to Egypt. The cops shouldn't have even seen what they did, but there appears to be a force in the store that was trying to get that message out. Though given what we've seen so far I'm willing to bet it's Exodia that is trying to talk to us." Malik elaborated while Jounouchi edged towards sitting down again in his seat.
"But the store isn't stable to walk around in, remember? The second floor gave out right under Yugi and Bakura, they could have both been killed. How can we be sure that the ground floor is stable enough for us to have a walk around?" Honda asked as he finished reading the rest of what Malik explained.
"I'll go in by myself, I'll be ok," Bakura offered as Jounouchi jerked his head around at the sudden draft of cold air that glanced his cheek. "Won't I?" he added looking at the lady who was hovering over Jounouchi's shoulder, poking him.
"Uh who?" Jounouchi asked nervously looking about.
"The Lady ghost."
Bakura only had a second to think about how that was the wrong thing to say when Jounouchi pounced on him, sending him crashing backwards onto the coffee table. The table that rested in the way cracked slightly as the two teens landed in a heap on it.
"Bakura! Jounouchi!" Yugi stood up horrified, as was the rest of the group who rushed to their feet to help the pair. But the moment that Yugi's hands touched Bakura a terrible burning feeling raced along his nerves, angry red welts began to form on his arms and felt to be burning on his back and shoulders. "No, stop it! Bakura's my friend I'm worried that's all!" Yugi apparently had surmised the reason for the sudden attack as the welts raced up his arms and began to form around his neck as well.
"Stop it!" Bakura twisted around, damaging the table further as he rushed to Yugi, who was backing away from the group. Bakura wrapped his arms around Yugi and brought the teen to his knees, using his own body as a shield in an attempt to get the ghosts to back off.
"Pharaoh! What has happened why is Pharaoh hurt?" Mahaado's voice then his physical form suddenly manifested as the hovering soul of Dark Magician knelt before his ruler in deep concern.
"I'm fine Mahaado," Yugi whispered out as his voice ached from the burning.
"No, Pharaoh is hurt," Mahaado sounded so devastated.
"I told you before they arrived to leave Yugi alone!" Bakura rested both hands on Yugi's shoulders and glared at beings no one could see in the room.
"Yugi!" Anzu was at Yugi's side quickly pulling up his coat sleeves, unbuttoning his sleeves and rolling them up revealing the welts. Stunned, Jounouchi forced Yugi up so that he could get Yugi's coat and shirt off while Malik removed the choker that Yugi always wore, revealing long thin scratches that were rising up on Yugi's skin, all the way up his arms and down his back and chest.
"Malik you know where I keep the towels could you go and get one wet please?" Bakura asked the blond as he began to fuss over Yugi, since he couldn't leave the teen without protection from the ghosts. Malik left without a word, grabbing Honda's wrist and towing the teen along; someone had to grab the ice after all.
Malik was gone for only a few moments it seemed before he returned with a pair of washcloths before disappearing back into the kitchen. Honda then emerged with a bundled up towel in his hand.
"Ice," he informed the gang before handing it to Anzu, figuring she would know best.
"You should go," Bakura quietly urged as he knelt down before Yugi.
"No, I'm not letting them chase me away," Yugi retorted as Jounouchi tried to pat down some of the welts.
"Yugi I can't reason with them," Bakura tried feeling frustrated as Malik returned with another towel and went to resoak the one that Jounouchi had.
"I'm not scared of them and I'm not letting them chase me away, that's final Bakura," Yugi stated as though that would be the end of the argument and indeed it was… he looked so much like the other Yugi with that serious expression.
Anzu guided Yugi back to the couch while Jounouchi continued helping Anzu, leaving Malik to dictation for Honda as he returned to his seat, while Bakura tried to settle down.
"Mahaado what's wrong? They're just welts," Yugi noticed how his Magician didn't seem to move from the spot he had appeared at.
"How did Pharaoh get hurt?"
Yugi forgot about the welts as he looked into Mahaado's sad, forlorn eyes; the spirit couldn't be taking this 'that' personally could he? Then again… "Mahaado can't you see the ghosts?"
"Ghosts?" Mahaado looked about curious, but he couldn't see any ghosts.
"That's odd since Mahaado and the ghosts aren't living beings," Anzu noted as she rubbed down Yugi's shoulder and began to blush as her eyes went on their own accord to his back. 'Brain get back here right this second!'
"Yes, but then again Mahaado is the soul of Dark Magician and the ghosts are the souls of Kul Elna village. The ghosts returned to this world to watch over Bakura and it's his blood that ties him to them and allows him to see them. Mahaado is a different story, my sister said that he was forced awake by some group, but didn't explain it fully," Malik added as he leaned back in his seat.
All eyes turned towards Mahaado, Yugi and Jounouchi recalling how Mahaado had said Yugi had woken him up.
"Originally there was only one of me, however whoever this person was that brought back the Shadow Games in this card way made many copies of my soul, sometimes altering it. Indeed I do not even have a card that properly reflects the colors of my appearance, but as the heart of a duelist touches each card, a copy of myself awakens as well." Mahaado had his now typical expression of distress that came when he tried to find the words to say in Japanese. "There are people who have been, trying to bring out Ka monsters from people. One small part of these people turned their… changed their focus to us who lived in the tablets. They gave Pandora the book he used on me, though I do not know who they are directly, and only know Pandora did not create the book himself because he mentioned it once. I would travel from time to time in my service to Pandora and see the places where these people are being studied. More so, I can tap into my copies and learn what is going on around them, but it is difficult at best. They are as loyal to their owner as I am to Pharaoh, besting their spirits for information is difficult."
"I still don't like it," Yugi muttered around a sore throat as he sat there looking at the ground. "You don't deserve all the hardships they put you through, and just as bad is that they are putting other people into this horrible situation as well."
"Hey what if one of these members has a Dark Magician card? What if you tapped into that?" Honda asked, looking over his notebook.
"I… tried that, they no longer carry any Dark Magician cards for that reason and the one that they did was burned…" though a ghost with no ability to feel the outside world, it was clear to the others that he had felt something from that experience as he shivered.
"Do you share their experiences?" Bakura asked gently as he sat there keeping an eye out for the ghosts.
"Yes, when they burned that card I could not just abandon it, as it was my fault that it was being destroyed so I stayed with it."
"Yet for now there's nothing we can do," Malik nodded sounding rather calm. "We still don't know anything about this group that kidnapped the Kaiba brothers and that was simply a company. How are we going to handle the mystical side of our problems when we're still stuck with this?" he waved a hand indicating the group.
"True," Anzu nodded before turning her attention to Honda. "Honda, what did the doctors say?"
"They said this wasn't nerve damage so my parents have opted to have a type of reconstructive surgery done on my ears so I should get my hearing back. Maybe not a hundred percent back, but it's better then having next to nothing." Honda replied, thoughtful about the coming operation.
"Really man?! Alright!" Jounouchi bounced to his feet in excitement pumping the air with a fist.
"That's wonderful!" Anzu and Yugi both cheered, even with Yugi's voice scratchy.
"That's great! Now Jounouchi can stop having to learn how to write!" Malik cheered and dove behind Bakura as Jounouchi lunged for him.
"When will the surgery take place?" Bakura asked politely while Malik peered out behind the white drift of hair. Then checked himself as Malik had the notebook, took it, then proceeded to write out the question for Honda and hold it out for him.
"This Saturday at 10:00 am." While the rest of the group cheered at the thought Yugi frowned.
"I wish I could be there to wait for you, but I promised Kaiba that I would test out his new simulation role playing game Saturday." Writing it out as he spoke, he missed the look of disbelief on Jounouchi's face and the mildly disapproving frown from Mahaado to Jounouchi for the expression.
"How can you skip such an event for Money Bags?"
"Jounouchi!" Anzu hissed as Yugi looked dispirited, while Mahaado placed himself between Yugi and Jounouchi.
"Because he's doing so much for me, he took me in when he could have just left me out in the rain."
"It's ok Yugi, I know how it goes, but you will visit me after you're done with what Kaiba has set up for you right?" Honda asked leaning back from over Malik's writing.
"Of course!"
"What type of game is Kaiba creating?" Bakura asked his ears still a tingle from the words 'role playing game'.
"I don't know, just that it's a role playing game that requires me to bring my deck," Yugi admitted, while Jounouchi tried to look around Mahaado's ghostly form.
"Say Mahaado move will you?"
"Not if you're going to insult my Pharaoh's choices."
Yugi blinked at that remark, looked over at Mahaado and then around Mahaado so he could look at Jounouchi; as Jounouchi had been sitting right beside him the notion that Mahaado got between them made things rather strange. It was what Yugi never had experienced before, but found a warm happy spot inside as Mahaado kinda just hovered there. Which was probably why he suddenly blurted out "big brother, it's ok."
Malik began chuckling at the mage's confused expression before he switched to the Ancient Egyptian he learned growing up, "hey Mahaado, Yugi just called you big brother. That's what oni-san means."
Mahaado whirled about stunned as he looked down at where Yugi was sitting, blinking his dark blue eyes in amazement. "But I am not your brother, I am, but a slave granted my status by your father… I have no right to such a title!"
"But you look after me so well, how can I think of you as anything less?" Yugi replied in such a sweet tone Anzu melted and Mahaado stood there stunned.
"Pharoah must not call me that… the gods…" Mahaado appeared strangely worried, almost panicked.
"But how can I see you as anything else but that?" Yugi then went for the kill, pure, sad, don't-betray-my-innocent-eyed stare.
"Pharaoh… does he not understand…" Mahaado sounded so miserable as he spoke.
"Don't understand what?" Bakura asked gently, though he wasn't part of this conversation he felt bad for Mahaado.
"Pharaoh should not call one as weak as I by such a high title, Set I can understand but," Mahaado looked down ashamed of himself before suddenly disappearing. "I exist to serve Pharaoh, that is all I can do, but please I am not worthy of such high notice. The gods have forever been displeased with my presence in the palace, to call me by such, no doubt their wrath will be felt again."
"Mahaado," Yugi's voice carried his disbelief as he heard that explanation. He didn't recall much yet, but the Dark Magician always carried an expression of strength and confidence, even mischief. For that to suddenly shift to panic, guilt or shame just seemed so wrong, and for it to be spoken in a tone with an undercurrent of something darker. It made Yugi hang his head in sadness, wondering what happened all those ages ago that broke his Magician.
"It'll be nice won't it?" Anzu rested her hand on Yugi's shoulder and leaned over enough to look at him. "We just need to teach him not to call you 'Pharaoh' any more and that there is nothing for him to be afraid of."
He smiled up at her, but the buzzer suddenly broke in on everyone as Mokuba's voice was projected into the room. "Hey everyone! Yugi! Big Brother is ready to go home now so you have to come down."
"Did it get so late?" Yugi murmured as he sought out the clock on the TV. He grabbed his shirt, collar and coat, putting them on in a hurry as he bid a good night to the gang. Then hurried out to meet the Kaiba's. What was rapidly becoming a ritual in his life, but it was something stable something that Yugi may not have admitted, but something he desperately needed.
