Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

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Malik stared at the backpack wondering what was the point of it. If Bakura and Jounouchi were able to get a trio of teleporting rings, they would be back daily so there was no point in packing up supplies right? Besides it would look odd to look like they were on the road traveling when they were high school aged. He shook his head and left the bag on his bed and turned to look for his sister, leaving his room to search the boat. The gentle lull of the ocean rocked the boat in a peaceful rhythm that he had long since gotten used to. From the shifting of loose sand to the deeper shifting of the ocean waves, all the elements had this gentle state of going with the flow. One only had to look to see.

The theft of the book bothered the three of them disrupting their lives like a boulder dropped in a lake, and he knew it would bother the others. How were they supposed to find the book in such a large world? Even with the help of the Spirits there was a great deal of land for them to check and there was only 99 of them. Leaving Malik to put more and more thought into trying to narrow down their search. Like how did Pandora ever get a hold of the Book? It wasn't in his memories when Malik was looking through them, after all.

But it wasn't as though Malik was scanning 'that' deeply in Pandora's mind when he was using the Sennen Rod. He traveled those dark thoughts that led to the suicidal paths, so if the Book existed in Pandora's mind it would have been in parts undarken... Yet somehow Malik couldn't believe that the Book would stop Malik from sensing it. The very nature of said item would probably have wanted Malik's own rage and simmering madness coupled with the Rod wouldn't it?

Consumed by his own thoughts, Malik didn't remember to knock as he walked into his sisters' room in the boat. "Hey Sis-sss!" He stopped dead at the sight of a woman standing before him in the bedroom of said boat. Eyes framed by a light lapis lazuli face that bore a strange tiara of three long plumed feathers and slate blue long hair with a straight bang cut. The shock sent him stumbling back revealing that the 'woman' also bore bird like wings on her back unlike Mai's Harpies, and a black 'low' cut dress. She 'looked' like Isis, if Isis was able to make her natural skin color get muted completely by make up and decided on an outlandish headdress...

"Malik?" Isis popped back into view from where ever she had been in the room, her expression a mixture of concern and amusement. Standing side by side, both women could have been sisters or at least alternate universe versions of one person. Save his sister was in her causal robes and 'this' particular woman? Well she was dressed more like a 'low' cut gray black bathing suit with sixteen extra centimeters of material to cover her thighs. Beyond that was essentially a train that would have made sense if this woman wore more, and fancy draped belt of lavender. "Ahh you can see Spiria I take it? My Ka?"

The word 'Ka' triggered his memories of his training, painful as those were and what a Ka was. So this was his sisters' 'other self' as it were? It would be a lie to say that he couldn't but there was more important things to note. "You're not going to let her out are you?"

"Why not? I honestly doubt most people would be able to see her, and would attribute her presence to a hologram from a duel disk." She replied with a slight tilt to the head as she gazed at her younger brother's growing bluster. The outbursts were growing more infrequent, which was good since he was the next head of their clan, yet the rare outburst 'was' still a thing.

"She's not dressed! She's barely covered!" Was retorted so quickly that she had to turn and give her Ka a near condescending visual once over as though to give weight to Maliks' words. After all she was a grown woman with every right to make calls of her own on what her life was like.

"Is there a problem? She's just my Ka," Isis asked, wishing her brother wouldn't try to pull rank when he was so much younger than her. Considering one of them lead a gang in a murder mission she honestly didn't see herself as the one needing any supervision. He was perfectly aware of what Ka was, thanks to their fathers' rather strict teachings.

"Problem? 'Problem'?! Don't act innocent! I've seen how you look at Mahaado when he's not looking!"

"Honestly, Malik!" She was not a child, nor his 'younger' sister rather his elder! It wasn't his business how she looked at Mahaado or anyone! Even if he meant well, and she knew in his heart he was just trying to look out for her. But to make a blunt statement like that just forced her to remember how much of a child was still in Malik. Or perhaps his lack of outside experience made parts of his development more stunted. Still...

/Meanwhile in the galley of the Boat.../

Rashid could only shake his head, the arguing that erupted made it almost home like in terms of Ancient Egypt. He had long since learned the power of passive observation, sitting back and watching the little romantic squabble that would take place between Isis and Set. And while he didn't know what fell apart between Mahaado and Set, it didn't stop Isis from swooping in and snatching up Mahaado. Nope, Rashid was going to stand in the kitchen and make sandwiches like a good oldest brother who wanted to stay out of this mess. Because if Malik knew what Rashid knew the blond would undoubtedly strive to rekindle the rivalry just to keep Isis single.

As the eldest of the trio, he had regained a great many memories of his past life, and had been patiently waiting for Isis catch up to him. Thus, while he remembered the Ka and how they used to be, he didn't discuss them due to Isis not remembering. Her feelings were already in place, her old loyalty was showing itself in her regular calls to Kaiba's to touch base with Yugi. As well as the aforementioned feelings for a certain magician.

So when he woke to find Bastet staring down at him with gleaming white eyes through the darkness he welcomed it. It didn't inspire fear or shock, rather he had glanced at it before rolling over in bed and welcoming it back home into himself. Clearly Isis didn't take that route.

But it would take time to find out if she remembered when and how the Ka were sealed, or if it happened after she died. Regardless of that though, the Ka's had been unsealed, and that would lead to its own set of problems he could tell. He didn't remember them every being sealed during his life, so when the memories started rolling back in. It was only natural to him that he try to resummon Bastet, only to be met with repeated failure. Whatever happened to cause the release meant that everyone would be able to summon their Ka if they were taught how. Which summoning their own Ka might not occur to people and if they were under enough due stress to accomplish it. There was a serious concern how that Ka might manifest.

Creating a wave of 'supernatural' events that could see people, many who could be victims at the time of manifestation be treated as pariahs. These people would deserve to be taught about what they were now going to be able to do. But would the world still accept these people, even if they were properly trained?

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"Oh! Isn't that darling?" Miho skipped ahead in eager glee towards a stuffed bear sitting in the window of a shop. She eyed the bear sitting at a table as part of a tea party setting, looking for a possible price tag. It was 'just' this side of out of place that made Miho doubt that the bear was part of the set, but she just knew her neighbors' newborn would 'love' the bear. Even if said new born was technically too young to understand what a teddy bear was.

But any excuse to go shopping right?

She was a swirl of bright yellow skirt and maroon top, turning to view her friends' agreement, only to see said friend three shops back and looking deep in thought. Miho could only shake her head in disbelief, before reminding herself that this was to be expected. Anzu had a 'lot' on her plate and just assuming that Anzu would drop the emotional baggage just for a shopping trip before a study session was unrealistic. Yet at the same time Miho wished there was there some type of magic cure for her friends' dark cloud.

So Miho took charge and walked back towards Anzu, and waving her hand in Anzu's face, hoping to get the girls' attention. "Hey! Earth to Anzu! Come in Anzu!"

Anzu snapped back from her little world, to see Miho and her ribbon taking up most of her point of view. "Oh? Oh! I'm sorry Miho, what were you saying?" she winced from her error and pasted the fake enthusiastic smile on her face again. Which didn't work this time apparently, because she could see the 'no sell' sign hanging in Mihos' eyes.

"Do you want to get something to eat? Maybe that will make you feel better?" Miho suggested, watching the listless shrug of her friend and deciding to take charge by dragging Anzu behind her. She passed by various ice cream parlors and looked for something a little more substantial for a food source before reaching Burger World.

At this point she didn't really care, since this area was known for its good food and she managed to time their arrival perfectly. No one at the register, an empty booth with their name on it, and she knew Anzu well enough to order for the girl. Soon enough she was seated and waiting for their food with Anzu sitting across from her, and during her first sip of her drink it seemed Anzu snapped out of her moody state.

"I see they replaced the booth..." Anzu noted distractedly causing Miho to raise an eyebrow that Anzu noticed. "I got fired for punching a customer for touching my butt, but this particular booth hadn't been replaced yet." She explained before following Miho's example and taking a sip of her drink.

"Really? Oooh yeah, I remember some criminal broke into here and held someone hostage," Miho replied, thinking back to that bit of news.

"Yeah, he covered my eyes, but Yugi saved me," Anzu gave a rueful smile before adding, "by tricking the guy into setting himself on fire." Who knew she could possibly miss those days? When all it took was a simple game to solve such dangerous situations. When the most difficult choice she could have was trying to figure out how to get Yugi to act as an adult. Perhaps that was it, Atem was a mature adult, while Yugi was always innocent and child like in personality. Seeing Atem at first made her think that this was who Yugi 'could' be if he just acted his age. Finding out they were two separate people put that thought in question.

Could Yugi just not grow up 'unless' Atem was around? Or when the world was in danger? Sure his innocence was endearing, but since knowing him, it only made her feel more motherly than think of him as a boyfriend or anything. It took meeting Atem and seeing what Yugi could look like when he took charge or stood up for himself, for her to see the potential. Starting off thinking that Yugi was just being brave, to Yugi having an attractive split personality, to Yugi being a type of container for another person all together, only to find out it was Yugi's past self. Sure, all that proved was that Yugi could be quite appealing when motivated, but the personality differences were hard to reconcile.

"Not easy looking at a guy who goes from 10 year old appearance to sex god in less than a year huh?" Miho asked, a sly look in her eye as she picked up the burger that she ordered that Anzu hadn't noticed arrived.

"Huh? Oh yeah..." Anzu snapped out of her mindset to look at Miho and then down at her burger. If only Miho knew the extent of that 'difference'. "I don't know if he knows how many times he just unconsciously strikes a pose and I'm just floored with how he looks. Then the world refocuses and I remember that he has lost family and I just feel dirty for even thinking those things. I knew his grandpa and mom, Miho. I just..."

Miho's sly look shifted into a guilty type of sympathy, as she listened to Anzu's point of view. Indeed, for her and the majority of girls who had taken recent notice of Yugi, it was easy to just think of how sexy he had become, pity his loss and go on with their day. They didn't have the day to day interaction with the guy to feel a reason to go beyond that. "That's why you're hanging out with me today Anzu, so you don't get drowned by all that pain. Yugi's loss, Honda in the hospital, you needed a day out and I am going to get you out of that absorbed sadness!"

Anzu looked at the determination in Miho's face and found herself smiling despite herself. "Yeah, lets beat this sadness!" she replied, straightening her posture and putting more force in her voice. But in a way in was just an act, because no matter how one looked at it, she really didn't have a purpose anymore. It was bad enough when everything was solved with a deck of dueling cards, even if she wasn't great she could moderately hold her own. But now?

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Anzu remembered being happy about the day out she had finally shaken off the gloom she had been walking around with. They had finished shopping, snacking, and the moment they had gotten back to her place her mom had shooed them out the door again to deliver a meal to another resident of the apartment complex that they lived in. In doing so they had discovered that Mr. Mori had agreed to take care of a friend's black and white pet cat and tripped over said cat. In doing so he had sprained his wrist so the pair helped him with his meal and cleaning up a bit for the poor man.

They had walked back to her home chatting happily about how cute that cat was, white and black striped, fluffy as crazy and large. He didn't look all that 'cute' but more majestic and regal as he sat on a couch like he owned it. Moving only once to sit pressed against Mr. Mori as though he was comforting the poor gentleman.

"Its such a shame so few apartments allow for pets," Miho sighed in wistful longing for a long furred friend.

"There are a lot in America!" Anzu pointed out with subdued glee, her lips curled in fond memories. As she opened the door to the apartment and let Miho in first before shedding her shoes, as did Miho. "Want to look at cat pictures?"

"Anzu?"

The teens' head tilted to the side as she heard her mom call her name, the pair looked at each other since it didn't sound good. In fact, Anzu's mom sounded worried.

"Yes?" The girl's headed towards the office area where the computer was where they found Anzu's mom sitting at the computer and looking pointedly at the pair.

Wait... why could they hear purring?

The pair noted they were 'both' getting a stink eyed look from Anzu's mother, and this wasn't looking good for the pair. So they approached the woman and the computer that was clearly making the purring sounds.

Oh... Hey there Yugi...

…

YUGI!?

Yugi with prominent cat ears on the top of his head.

Yugi shirtless with a oversized cat bell hanging off his collar.

Yugi wearing leather pants with a long fluffy cat tail of black, red and a hint of gold dusting it.

Yugi who was chasing the pointer of the mouse as her mother moved it back and forward.

Yugi with a surprisingly well toned body on display when he would try to reach the mouse when it was above his head.

Yugi with little kitty fangs you could see when he gave a yawn...

And Anzu couldn't remember anything that happened after that except that it got dark really fast and Miho's voice in the distance saying, "I have no idea where that came from... but I want that screen saver, can you share it with me?"