Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

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The wash cloth that had been resting on his head finally slipped off from Ryou's head. The others had left him 'resting', with merely a quickly written note to call them if he needed anything. But the reality was that he hadn't fallen asleep. He just needed time to process everything really. Reclining on his couch he stared at the disc resting around his index finger. Finally free of looking after the group he sat alone in his apartment. His mind ping ponging between the memory of lifting the disc off Isis and everything that had happened in the past two days. Stealing the disc was almost an instinct when he was leaving after his nap at the Kaiba mansion.

'At least it wasn't something that belonged to Kaiba,' he thought ruefully before getting up. "I guess its time to see what was on this one," he told the spirits in his apartment before sighing. 'The last disc was about the attack and Yugi being incapacitated, what's this one going to be?'

The disc slid into the deck with a soft pull while Ryou turned on his television. He went back to his couch and flipped on the tv stations to the channel he needed to watch. Tracing the play button with his thumb as he settled his own nerves. It was one thing for Yugi to tell him to 'lead the group while he was gone', it was a completely different matter for Ryou to 'do' that.

Somehow looking after Malik and Jounouchi was going to feel like a cakewalk when compared to this...

He pushed 'play'...

At the moment Yugi appeared, Ryou could already see slight differences between the two videos. This one had less light from the window than the other, implying that he shot it after the other. There was a melancholy calm in his voice that was absent from the other one.

"So, this is a little awkward," Yugi began before a half smile crossed his face dripping with apologies. "So if you're watching this that means I died from an assassination plot against Kaiba. And yes, I knew this was going to happen and that you have a lot of questions so.." Straight off the bat it was clear this wasn't a copy of the other disc. "I'm going to try to help Isis out by explaining for her, and let me start by pointing out this was 'not' her fault. I made these choices on my own so don't take it out on her. I'm just sorry that you can't yell at me directly, because I know that I deserve it far more than her."

"Isis is fully capable of explaining how her visions work. But I can say that the shooting wasn't from the people who bombed my home. This involves the kidnapping that happened earlier this year," Yugi explained, Ryou recognizing the same posture that Yugi often held in their private talks while Ryou had been bouncing to California. "They were planning to assassinate Seto or failing that, Mokuba, at the press conference, and because of the style of Visions Isis has. Well, we couldn't find a better solution than for me to take the bullet."

Again despite being a recording Yugi already had his hands raised as though to appease Jounouchis' aggressive response. Only Jounouchi wasn't here, and while the Yugi on the tv was aware that he was dead. The real Yugi was now in a coma at the hospital. As Ryou sat there the shear degree of macabre fascination could not be denied. Yugi didn't just plan for a stint in a coma, he planned his own death...

"I know, Jounouchi I know," Yugi began, amazingly enough addressing the very person who 'did' end up jumping up for the other video. "We tried everyone, I had Isis go down every possible path, look at every possible outcome and..." Yugi shook his head, his lips thinning as though holding words in. Because 'this' Yugi was recognizing that he was dead when everyone else would see it. He also was completely omitting the fact that there 'was' another possible outcome. That Kaiba could have, but didn't, save him. "Because this is dealing with corporations we're not going to be able to hide this under magical methods. Keeping Mokuba home forced them to stay on Seto," Yugi continued methodically.

"I suppose you want the list of possibilities. Well, we call the police the shooter was going to split and the attempts would be at the Grand Prix and it wouldn't be just the pair. It would be a massacre, because it would be the audience as well. If I wore a bullet proof vest, they were going to raise 'concerns' about how I could be already prepped for the shooting. If I wasn't part of it. Having Mahaado get involved would mean that these 'business men' would be free to continue unabated."

Yugi closed his eyes and steeled himself, there were no tears in this video, his resolve still firm on what he was explaining. "Let you guys know and you would have broken in and died... No matter the options one of us at the 'least' was going to die. I'm too dangerous to live, I've had thoughts about the Other Me's abilities. Concerns about what I am set to 'inherit', so perhaps this is for the best in the end. At this point, I can only hope that you'll not have their full intense focus. It might help you out trying to act against them."

Ryou leaned forward, spellbound at the differences, the recognition of Yugi's own abilities. The Mind Games and Penalty Games of the Sennen Items, were they products of the Items or of Yugi 'himself'...

"You remember when I put the Puzzle together the first time, in those days shortly after when the Other Me was rather... Wild, for lack of better word. Its for the best if I... I know its weird I don't want to think that its best that I'm dead. That somehow my death is going to make things easier, it sounds like I'm suicidal and I'm not. But I'm aware, I'm 'too' aware of the stakes and maybe, what you need is to not hold on to me to fix this. But find the strength within yourselves to solve this." Yugi began before an internal anguish began to slip to the front." Yugi shook his head, "I know I told you that you could scold me when I got back... But..." Yugi gave a slight shrug as though it would serve to appease someone. Though Ryou didn't know 'who' scolded Yugi.

'So was Kaiba supposed to be in the room with us when we saw this video? Then it was expected that Kaiba wouldn't be as affected by this? No, Isis couldn't see past the shooting, perhaps he was expecting Kaiba to be in the room, but it was possible that he wasn't.' Ryou thought to himself as he sat there. He paused the video before closing his eyes and letting the words wash over him. 'Kaiba is a god as well, though likely no where on Yugi's level. The storm in Colorado is proof enough of that, but there had to be something... Why would Yugi view his removal from the board as ok, but make no mention...'

Ryou shook his head as though to drive away the useless thoughts and let all the air in him escape in one long drawn out sigh. 'I'm getting ahead of myself, there was more to the other video and likely this one as well... Maybe he has something regarding Kaiba...' Grabbing the remote he hit play again, and braced himself for whatever Yugi felt he should tell them. After all, this was going to be the last time he 'ever' spoke to them again.

"About Kaiba and what he is... He's not inclined to talk about it, and I think its because he shouldn't 'be' a god of sorts. If divinity is passed through the crown, he became a God because I died and he inherited my throne. Mind you I'm speculating about this, he was my General, but you know about that. I'm sorry, when Maha taught Set how to use the healing arts, his methods were extreme. Meaning now Kaiba is stubborn against using it, so Kaiba's abilities can be a bit unreliable at this point." Yugi continued and Ryou stopped the video once more.

Yugi was sitting in that chair, fairly leaning against the backrest and his expression frozen in a fairly neutral one. One arm was resting on the armrest, the other was raised and making a faint motion, but... "Unreliable, he calls it 'unreliable..." Ryou grumbled for a brief moment before realizing what Yugi was saying... "He's only talking about Kaiba's ability to heal, not bring back the dead. So its an ability Kaiba developed after Yugi died and Kaiba ascended, Yugi knew it might not work. So if Dark Magician doesn't have a spell of resurrection on him, or if Kaiba could just never use it before to start with... That can't be right though, Monster Reborn exists and if all spell cards are based on spells Mahaado could cast..." But could he cast it as a duel spirit?

The weight was telling, Kaiba was taught to heal, but clearly at the time was not considered or known to be part of the royal family. 'So Kaiba can heal all manner of injuries and illness but he possible couldn't bring back the dead...' Ryou pondered. 'Could it be that Kaiba didn't have the power 'bring Yugi back from the dead' back then. Only now that he's a God he 'has' that power? A spell that he 'should' have learned from Mahaado but failed to due to the method of teaching?'

Ryou pushed himself from his seat with a slight groan. His body felt fine as he stood up, yet his spirit felt like it had been frozen to the couch for at least a month. Dropping the remote control on the couch cushion he decided on a cup of tea to help calm his nerves and settle himself down for the rest of the disc.

"I don't understand... He made this?" The Village Elder asked confused as she stood by the couch while staring at the screen. "He made two?"

"Yes, it would seem so," Ryou replied with a sigh. "I suspect that he wasn't sure if he would be able to get Kaiba to pull off his little miracle. So he made two and Isis was meant to give us the one according to how Kaiba reacted."

The Elder followed Ryou into the kitchen where he began preparing to brew himself another cup of those teas he so fancied. She recalled how he looked in their lives, back when his hair was brown and his skin tanned, now he looked more like a spirit or ghost than she herself. Stark white hair, pale skin with an expression that seemed painfully mature for how old he appeared.

"But he lived so why are you going over information given under the assumption that he died?" She asked as he finished putting the kettle to the stove and turned on the heat.

"Because he put me in charge and if I'm supposed to 'look after' everyone I need a full idea of what I'm going to be dealing with. Not that you're wrong I should have stopped the moment I realized what it was." Ryou shook his head, "however; I already see that there was valuable information skipped from the other disc. Since clearly Yugi is going to live to tell us about it, this disc is more a confessional hint of what he thinks might help."

"Of course, so he was not confidently going into a situation knowing he would live. Rather willing to face death to protect his General."

"Yes, and not because of the bigger threat that group is, but because this one was targeting Kaiba. Which is strange, Isis couldn't see past the shooting, and..." Ryou began counting imaginary thoughts with his tea spoon as he stared at the stove. Pondering at the appliance with the type of focus he normally gave his Monster World board. "So lets remove Yugi from the equation, the 'threat' was only targeting Kaiba, what does Yugi lose? Because he was putting his life on the line for a person being targeted in a side quest, not the main one..."

The Village Elder grew thoughtful as she stood there, after all what use was the General when he hobbled himself like a blinded horse? "He's a priest, he currently shuns his past as a priest... But a Priest has duties and abilities that tie to their god..."

"Right, he's, well a D&D Cleric..." Ryou began before he began chewing that thought a little more. "He's a 'cleric' who became a God. So he's below as a servant God to Yugi's own Godhood... Meaning that he should be able to call down Yugi's own power at will so long as he continues following Yugi's doctrines... But does Yugi 'have' a doctrine..."

"But the Pharaoh has many... OH!" The Elders' voice tugged Ryou's attention back onto her. "I think I see. The Pharaoh has several of his High Priests who are here and should be able to do as these... 'clerics'? However; as a god in his own right, or with just the power of one. Perhaps the General has a faster access to the Pharaoh's divine strength? The other priests lack spell books to wield magic, all they have is their Ka's, so their access would be through ritual magics yes?"

Ryou listened and saw the board starting to shape up in his own mind with the Elders' speculation giving him ideas. "You could be on to something, we know our group wants to bring back the demon. Right now the 'only' people who have true power who could be relied on by Yugi is Mahaado because he's the only true magician we have and Kaiba. Everyone would be restricted to Ka beasts or Isis' visions. He can't afford to lose Kaiba because Kaiba 'clearly' has powers now of his own, so he needs Kaiba to stay on the board, even if it means he has to leave it."

It hit then. A thought so obvious and terrible yet incredibly, insanely brilliant that Ryou was struck momentarily dumb by the realization.

"He needs Kaiba to summon 'him'... Kaiba could call down 'Yugi', not a Ka beast, or one of the Egyptian Gods, but 'Yugi'." It felt right. "It would be the perfect ace in the hole, Kaiba could summon Yugi as a God that no one would have access to. Because he wouldn't be sealed in a Tablet or a fractured identity. He'd be a 'God' that only his priests could summon and it takes strength to call down a Power. Isis and Rashid are mortal, human, they can't do it and Mahaado can't if he's sealed up in his Tablet but 'Kaiba can'!"

Steam rose from the kettle spout as Ryou stood there his expression one of awe. "Its not like the demons' servants can hope to offer something to Yugi to make him Answer. They killed his grandfather and who knows who else... Yugi can reject a summons or offering from lesser beings. But Kaiba wouldn't do it unless it was a last resort..."

"And now we have the larger problem..." The Elder replied thoughtfully pulling Ryou only half way from his thoughts. Once he was looking at her she continued, "he lived. Speculation on what could have been is all well and good, however in the end, its not what 'is'."

Shrieking for attention, the kettle snatched Ryou's attention as a wave of cold shock and a flood of thoughts crashed over him. The Village Elder was right Yugi didn't die, was still a God, now in a coma to reclaim his past life memories. A living... "I guess I should get back to watching the rest of the message. The version I already saw had him explain about Isis and Rashid's duties and that he had alerted his father..."

Obviously there would be no mention or less mention of Isis or Rashid, however Yugi had mentioned a form of communication with his father. Suggesting he must have sent a message that would imply that he had lived... 'I can't see him sending two letters and a message instructing the man on which one to read. No, he must have sent one letter probably framing it as he did in the other video. Isis must have had a follow up letter that she was intended to send off if Yugi had died. But why ponder when I can find out for myself?'

Somehow making chamomile tea felt both prophetic and absurd at the same time. But he prepared his tray, allowing the process to be the safe calm act of repetition he needed. Leaving the kitchen with tea set in hands and bracing for not just a video but a length of ceiling staring... Ryou returned to his self assigned task.

"Dad's not going to be happy, by now he may have heard I had been shot and he's going to be furious with Seto and I. I sent a letter telling him that I was safe but that the phone lines aren't. He's under the impression this is a.. a... covert? Operation to capture the people who kidnapped the Kaibas. I sent him an invitation to the Grand Prix, in the letter I told him that the shooting was real, but that I was wearing a vest. That we faked it to lure out would be killers. Because of that I'm in hiding for my own safety and as proof I'm using the Grand Prix as my grand coming out... Seeing that I'm now so much taller than I was last year."

Yugi took a deep, seemingly cleansing breath as he straightened up, "but I'm dead. Isis is going to send a follow up letter that is going to tell him the truth. Expect an angry dad... Dad..." Yugi floundered for a bit as though he was still trying to settle on something before sighing. "He's Japanese but he was my Father back then too... In retrospect I can see some of his 'Pharaoh' qualities in how he conducts business and such. So, uh... brace yourselves... Angry Pharaoh in coming but its not me, you've been the..." Yugi's voice broke at that moment.

Allowing Ryou to understand the subdued nature of Yugi's voice in the second video and now understanding.

Yugi tried several times, his eyes glistened and his lips were pinched at the corners as he tried to find the strength to speak. "You guys mean so much to me. Even if the only reason we ever became friends in a lot of cases was because of the Sennen Puzzle. You've given me so much courage to face the things, from duels to demons to my death. And I'm going to miss you so very much, but I love you all... and if dying and taking this path keeps you safe even slightly... Then know that I'm going happy, that I could give you back something that you gave me. A reason to fight for a better future than one of the eternal victim." His voice kept tripping and cracking as the tears began to glisten on the tracks down his face.

"Good bye everyone."