Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
"Its not my place to tell you what to do," Bakura began, his voice low as he turned towards the others in hopes no one would question him talking to seeming 'open air'. "But you 'must' know you can't hurt these 'men' here on the grounds. The liability against Kaiba would be enormous especially on opening day."
"Yes, Mokuba explained something along those lines when I was being prepared to go to the school and office." Mahaado agreed, as the pair of men walked out as the rain finally eased up.
"How can they be so calm?" Malik asked finally, "Given what 'Kura is describing shouldn't they be screaming in terror?"
"This is normal movie fare in the western world..." Bakura began then stopped as it hit him. "You've only watched Japanese horror, not western horror..."
"Horror is horror..." Malik began, but it was Anzu who spoke up.
"No, its actually different, we like psychological thrillers the kind that get into your mind, stuff like that. Western like visual horror, so there's probably nothing Mahaado could do that they haven't seen before. The problem is if he starts physically 'hurting' them."
"Oooh, I see... that explains a few things," Mahaado began thrumming his fingers along his staff as he thought about it. "Well, that's fine, I can find them whenever I want and once they're home... I could use a few play things..."
"Mahaado," Anzu began only for the magician to cut her off.
"The Pharaoh said I could."
And that was that.
Mahaado only did what pleased Yugi, Anzu knew that and while she knew of the stunts that he had pulled off at school. Nothing seemed to come up from his time at KaibaCorp offices, she suddenly began to worry what he 'would' do. Killing the students would have been a no brainer in terms of off the table. But these guys?
'Was it this? Was this why you've always been so protective of him Yugi?' Bakura found himself wondering. 'You were a child compared to us, even by modern standards, you wouldn't have a full grasp of the world. Especially through the eyes of a protected, royal, so you had to have known on some leve-."
'No, back then I understood only that he was nice to me and so I just assumed he was my property. The way I saw the rest of the palace.' Yugi's voice broke into Bakura's thoughts startling the thief. 'What mine is mine and should be treated well. My desire to 'treat my things well' was a call back to this nature of mine. I didn't understand choice or freedom, back then that was beyond me given my limited freedom due to my status.'
'What makes him lash out like this? He's been on pins and needles since he got here. Yugi who is here? Who has shown up here to make him run from terrified to lashing out at anything that would bring down your ire?'
Bakura waited with baited breath for an answer from Yugi. Waiting until his lungs burned and Malik must have noticed and shook him into releasing it.
"What's wrong?" Malik asked, his brows already furrowed with concern by what mahaado could do to these guys. Then worsening as it now seemed to affect Bakura.
"Yugi... just.." Bakura shook his head as he gulped down the air he had denied himself. "Let's just go, there are duels to watch and Mahaado doesn't need a baby sitter."
"What?" Anzu blurted out wishing she knew where to aim her desire to point. "You can't be serious?"
"I am. Look, we can't judge his life or death or this, let him have his fun Yugi knows what he's doing. Even if you're alarmed, and you have every right to be, Yugi has this covered. The way he has the whole of reality covered... Lets just..." Bakura replied in quiet focus.
"Thank you," a mother speaking to her child's offer of her ice cream suddenly caught Bakura's attention at how it was suddenly louder than the other conversations to his ears. He watched as the pair walked off the little girls' hair in pigtails, the cone shared between the two... and Yugi's words echoing indirectly in Bakura's ears.
While Mahaado stood there watching as the trio started to walk away, the water splashing from the puddles as they walked. The way it sparkled as jewels sliding off various tree leaves and coverings so much rain... Japan was like that and if he wasn't busy playing he would have stayed to enjoy it. But the quartet...
'I seem to have upset them...' Mahaado thought to himself as he stood alone, surrounded by yet another land different from his home. He released his grip on his staff to slide his hand up the side of his face. A sensation he couldn't feel as he leaned against his head against his palm as he tried to force those memories out of his head.
What had they 'done' to him?
Oh... the stories he could have told them...
Even after all this time he could have told them...
'I'm here Maha. I'm here... shhhhh, I know and I won't let it happen again...' the Pharoah's voice echoed down their bond. Solid and kind, his master was, as ever, thoughtful, and just that bond was allowing him to feel his hand against his face. Allowing him to pretend for a moment he was alive and not... not...
'Shhhhh, let me give you more power so you can fully manifest, then you will be able to sense things better,' Yugi offered though Mahaado shook his head.
'Pharaoh is too kind, but this is time for you to relax and enjoy yourself...'
'I don't mind, I enjoy myself by being surrounded by my friends, and right now I'm surrounded by the whole Kuriboh tribe. Its fine.'
'Thankfully they do not shed, or else the staff of that hotel would have words I fear,' Mahaado noted distantly earning himself and amused chuckle from Yugi.
'True, or they could just use little kuriboh sized vacuums...' Yugi noted warmly.
Lady Anzu's clear shock and displeasure played back in the back of Mahaado's mind. Making him finally ponder and ask, 'Pharaoh, do I... Do I have permission to play with these particular people?'
What if she convinced the Pharaoh that it was wrong? Wouldn't he...
'Yes, you have my permission to play with them. As for Anzu, she is entitled to her feelings, but it is me you serve not her. So do not worry, I would have said something about this if it bothered me.' Yugi answered reassuringly while Mokuba rode a golf cart through the grounds looking for Mahaado.
'Mokuba is looking for you Mahaado, I told him you would be with the trio, if you want to go that's up to you.'
'Pharaoh...' with that the feeling thinned out again, as his Pharaoh pulled away to let Mahaado wander loose. 'I'm scared...'
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
"Ryou... you mean you don't know 'anything'?" Anzu pleaded as they walked, her voice almost choked with fear and worry. Not for these pigs who wanted to hurt Mai, but for Mahaado. That he had been hurt so badly that he saw this as 'fun'?
"Anzu, I was a thief, a murderer, I 'murdered' him." Ryou began before his face twisted into an expression of regret. "You must remember that he lived three thousand years ago, there were no child protection laws back then. Beyond the Prince declaring ownership over another person, that someone, or a 'lot' of someones got their hands on Mahaado. Anzu that stuff happens in this day and age even..."
"I know but... gods Yugi adores Mahaado, to think he was hurt so badly. It just..." Anzu's head sank into her hands. Ryou was right of course, there were 'tons' of things people could have done to him. Things that she knew and her mind shrank away from being forced to think about. Human trafficking... Hell where were the people being sacrificed to summon Zorc being kidnapped from?! "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Good thing you have short hair," Malik blithely answered as he rested a hand on her shoulder so she had something stable to lean against. His fingers gripped her shoulder belying his words while they walked along with the crowd.
"That's why... it makes sense." Anzu's words came out thick, she was holding back that was clear. "Yugi is confident that those people after him won't interfere with this tournament. But that makes no sense, this is 'perfect' the security is limited to what the average person can do. Imagine killing the whole audience to use as a sacrifice to summon the demon!" She looked at the guys who were observing her with this thoughtful expression. Awareness, akin to a newly lit bonfire small and unsure, began to grow.
"He may be about our right to 'choose' but he's pulled his divine might for a reason. There's something here he wants dealt with. Clearly its about Mahaado." Malik gave voice to the thoughts that began to grow in his mind as he then exchanged glances with the pair.
Bakura was nodding as well though his voice was more introspective, "more than just him. Yugi gave people intentionally going after 'Mai' to him. Jounouchi and Honda were left in Japan without a thought, yet Mai and her new boyfriend are here."
"Jounouchi would... no 'will' have a fit when he finds out Mai's got a boyfriend. Sure he's too young for her, but she's beautiful and saying she's attached to him is an ego boost..." Anzu agreed as she thought of the guy. "Being his friend, Honda would be forced to be a little cold to Valon too... So this could be another thing, Yugi wants Valon to meet the more... 'friendly' members of his social circle... He's bringing them into this?"
"He has his reasons, but this would be a smoother transition given all the things that have to be dumped on them. He's already started even, but agreed, having Jounouchi around could make it messier..." Bakura agreed quietly. "That said let's just enjoy the food, the atmosphere and try to let the days flow as they will. We'll be in the thick of an issue soon enough," Bakura suggested finally as he looked about at the area.
They could all hear the cheers of a crowd, sizable by his estimations and that meant one of the 'big' duels.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
"Soo Mai, is this rain an American thing? Or just a Florida thing?" Valon asked as he walked several steps behind the blond. His boots were stomping up enough water from the puddles that it was possible he would splash her feet. Given she was wearing boots, and her focus on looking attractive, getting mud on those boots wouldn't work well.
Then there was the whole fake engagement thing which given the number of reporters who had approached her. It just made better sense to keep space between them for appearances.
'Don't anger God, he's having fun and if he smites you...' was the prevailing thought as Valon walked through out the park.
"Eh, I think Florida," Mai answered, sympathetic to the poor guy and annoyed by the situation. It was better when he was closer, but for the sake of appearances she was being forced to be on her own and it suuuuuuuucckked.
'I hope I find Anzu though, girl time for the win and Valon could hang out with the guys so its less suspicious.' Mai thought to herself for which the heavens seemed to answer her.
Off in a short distance she could see the very trio walking along, clearly in the middle of deep conversation with the way they were huddled together!
"ANZU!" Mai called out and waved, catching the trios attention and greeted with a returned wave.
Everyone met up roughly in the middle, exchanging greetings and word about the duels currently going on.
"So how have you been enjoying your visit to Kaibaland?" Ryou asked politely, looking to pull Valon into the conversation.
"Its been nice, food is great, the rain was a surprise, lots of kids and the place just seems ok."
The answer was reassuring to Bakura, given the threat to Mai and the pair couldn't be really 'near' each other cuz. Thank you Yugi, you better not reply. Those men who wanted to mess with Mai and were getting messed by Mahaado in return. They hadn't crossed paths, meaning Mahaado was doing his job well. Or playing with his toys well... whatever.
"So what do you plan to do after this tournament?" Anzu asked Mai as they walked.
"I... do need a break... maybe drag Valon to Japan and let him see Domino?" She suggested thoughtfully. "Just... there's only you guys there, do you want to help me lead this poor non Japanese speaking guy through Japan?"
"Well, don't worry about it. We're helping Mahaado as well and we'd be more than happy to have the both of you along!" Anzu replied cheerfully. 'But won't that be expensive if they just hang out?' she suddenly pondered and Mai noticed the frown forming on the girls' face.
"Something wrong?"
"Well, just where are you both going to stay?" Anzu asked, "hotels get pricey after all."
"And its more expensive when you've got someone with you. Valon's been working at local garages to help pay his way..." Mai agreed thoughtfully while Anzu's brain went over time.
'Oh wait, what will Jounouchi think meeting Valon?' Anzu pondered. 'Would they be ok being dragged into this though? I mean we've begun explaining things to Mai, and she's seen things, but she's known us longer, what about Valon?'
"I'd offer my boat, but given what I've put Mai through, and well I have no right to rent out 'kura's apartment."
"Thank you, Malik." Bakura deadpanned from his spot on Anzu's left.
"That's 'thank you' right? What are you people talking about?" Valon asked looking among all the Japanese speaking teens in confusion.
"Oh, we're sorry. We're trying to figure out a way that you can have an extended stay in Domino and get to know all of us," Anzu explained turning to address Valon directly.
"Oh, can't just pull a few strings at a hotel in Japan?" Valon asked tilting his head towards where the hotel the group was staying at stood. Towering over all of them in this stone white beacon with a bright blue sky as a backdrop.
"Well Kaiba doesn't run hotels as well. This was just for the park, he doesn't have any in Japan..." Bakura pointed out, even as he thought about the numerous rooms in the mansion. 'But he's not going to just allow people to move in. Yugi was a special case.'
"The game shop..." Anzu suddenly blurted out quietly. "If it got rebuilt to where it can house people again. There would be room, and I can't imagine Yugi would want to take over his parents or grandfather's bedroom..."
"That... that is an idea," Malik agreed while Mai looked between them.
"So staying in English so Valon can follow along," she began before turning to address Valon. "So Yugi's family ran a gaming store in Domino, but that was the place that got blown up and..." With that she turned her attention back to the others. "How is it? Has Yugi even begun trying to repair it given everything?"
"No idea... we've been so busy with school and the current state of affairs. We just trusted Yugis' grandfather was still watching it as a ghost." Bakura explained turning Valon white in shock in doing so.
"Ghosts?"
"You're not scared are you?" Malik pondered aloud as he looked up at the man.
"So long as they're not murderous..." Valon replied worriedly.