Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

A/N: Ok well about to finish this song, but I think there's still several chapters more and I 'still' don't have a song for the KC Grand Prix arc... Drat...

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'So 'that' is the power of God...' he thought as he sat protected in his rental in the parking lot. 'The demon even saw it worth while to come here and try to deal with Yugi and failed. For all his 'power' even he is small potatoes to Mouto, Yugi... absolutely fascinating...' His hands drummed along the top of the steering wheel as he was left to ponder the implications of that. Obelisk was no longer visible, but his presence could only be from Yugi.

Though it 'was' always possible that it was Kaiba who summoned Obelisk, he certainly couldn't deny that possibility. 'Only Kaiba is such a showboat that Obelisk would have been the 'first' thing he summoned, not Blue Eyes.'

'What type of God will you choose to be, Yugi? We clearly validate the birth of a 'wraithful' God, but that goes against your very modern nature doesn't it?'

The phone in his chest pocket vibrated, and the few people who knew the number was the only reason he picked it up. "Yes?" He sat there and listened for a moment before giving a needless shrug. "He far surpasses our Demon, I can't see what's going on up there. I can, however; recognize the sight of the Blue Eyes White Dragon, meaning Kaiba's powers have really grown. Also the spirit that was originally sent is now locked into an apparent physical state and that is 'not' something Kaiba can do. Our demon wasn't summoned this go around with enough power or reason to do so..."

"That's right, I suspect Yugi is not just awake, but actively took the field. Now what that will involve? I still have no solid clue, but he's up."

"No. I don't see any further reason to be here either. Yeah I'll come back..."

There was a sturdy plastic snap from when he shut the flip phone. Sliding it back into its pocket with one hand while he turned on the car with the other. Soon he was driving out of the parking lot as Kaiba's limo driver bodyguard returned from his trip into the hospital.

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The next few days were gloriously quiet, Kaiba was staying well, 'Kaiba', as he went about his daily routines. Everyone was able to sleep, rest, the bruises were brilliant hues of blue and purples and greens. The sun rose, people went to work, the sun set and many people continued to work while some managed to go home and rest. A cycle that everyone was well acquainted with that helped settle the nerves of the group.

All they had to wait was for Yugi's bill of clear health and he could go back to leading them... At least that's what Ryou wanted and had no faith that it would happen. Simply because Yugi, refused to 'talk'. Sure he would answer yes or no, but an actual conversation?

'And he can't talk, because he's fully awaken and anything he can and will say, has the power to reshape reality itself to his 'Will'... But we can't explain that...' Ryou thought to himself as he made his way to the hospital. It was certainly frustrating, putting on the same friendly, happy, 'clueless' smile when he just wanted to scream. Yugi had his reasons for limiting his use of words and that's all it was, 'his reasons'.

But to the fairness of the doctors and staff, it made it appear as though Yugi was damaged some how. Was being shot a form of trauma? Was it because they wanted to keep Yugi and study what Kaiba had done to bring Yugi back? 'I wonder if its just Yugi humoring them? I can see why Mahaado was being called on to 'assist'.'

He lifted his gaze to the sky, and after the sudden storm that Kaiba had caused Ryou was taken by how beautiful the world looked. Clear skies, the fresh scent of the city now that the storm had washed away the dust. On the edges of his vision he could see the spirits, but also the Emperor was following him. Shadows stuck out in odd angles, man like shadows appeared where no man could cast such.

"The Pharaoh is quiet, often at the window and viewing the world when left to his own." The Village Elder noted with a faint thoughtful nod of her head. "He also has this small ball with him, I've seen him messing with it often. If he has to use his hands, he puts it in his mouth, if he has to talk he pulls it out. But he keeps it on him at all times."

'An orb?'

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"Lady Anzu..." Mahaados' voice was soft, unobtrusive as he spoke.

But Anzu couldn't see him, he was staying invisible, but she could feel his hands trying to keep her from moving about.

"I can pack the Pharaohs' belongings, you rest," the magician instructed while Yugi sat back with a small apologetic twist of his lips.

"How is your back Anzu?"

Anzu was too distracted for a moment to even notice that Yugi spoke. The bruises on her back had left sitting down a painful affair she avoided as much as possible. Opting to lay on her stomach at home rather than sit. Yet despite sitting in what 'appeared' to be a chair, Mahaado had guided her on what felt more like a cloud. 'Perhaps it is? I mean what can't Mahaado do?'

She leaned her head back and felt something gently cradle her neck and head, everything was a soothing warmth. "Oh this feels divine, what am I sitting on?" She pondered and it didn't even strike her that she spoke aloud at first.

About her the sounds of the hospital were louder, Yugi no longer in the ICU and having been moved to a private room. Here the outside world was a little more intrusive, she could hear the nurses station with more clarity. Family and friends walked the halls with increased frequency, while the halls were 'watched' by security and police. Two at the doors and two more stationed at every elevator and emergency exit.

Because of this Mahaados' voice was incredibly quiet...

"They would be alarmed if they heard me speaking, and while I 'can' deafen the room so they can not hear anything.. It would be more disrespectful to undermine their efforts when it is for the sake of protecting the Pharaoh."

As it was explained.

"You are merely floating on air, just above the chair so if someone walks in, it won't be obvious you are floating. But you also will not be inconvenienced if you must stand."

"Thank you..." She murmured as she let her eyes slide closed for a moment in blissful indulgence. "I'll be fine Yugi, don't worry about me."

Yugi blinked and looked down to the floor as he tried to think of a way to answer that. Phrases that translated to 'tell me' would force her to speak regardless if she wanted to or not. 'And as much as she's being silly, I need to respect her wishes...'

Frustration started to bubble up into him as more and more sentences were discarded for that very reason. 'I don't need to ask, I know the answer, its more beneficial if you tell me on your own... But I can't... I can't force you that isn't 'me'... and I can't ask you because that 'is' me...' Yugi dropped his head into his hands, a sigh of frustration escaping his lips.

It was the same with the doctors and police, well intention all of them.

"Did you know Lord Kaiba could bring you back?"

Such a loaded question. Yes Yugi 'knew' Seto could, but 'would' he was the question. Yugi was aware of what he had been risking before the shooting. But now... there was a terrible risk of fracturing reality if he spoke lies, even little ones. 'Words of Power that shape reality' that would turn what was intended as 'lies' into truths merely because Yugi spoke them...

"Yugi?"

'I could try to talk like the Other Me and use his manner of speaking as my 'Divine Voice'. But his style of speaking was proud, self assured and arrogant... I don't want my 'higher' voice to be associated with 'that'. I won't be 'that' type of God for people when they need me...'

"Yugi?"

He clamped his eyes shut as he thought about those experiences, so many wonderful moments out of balanced by so many horrible ones.

"Yugi?" A pair of slender hands grabbed and held his own, causing him to look up and into Anzu's kind and caring eyes. The hint of pain was there still, only it was framed in the pain that came from standing up and walking a step from the chair she had been in. "Is something the matter?"

Verbal milometers from retorting with 'you first' Yugi remembered that 'those two words' could be considered a command. Souring even his potential amused remark into letting his head sink into his hands. "Maha?" He whimpered as the tears started to overwhelm him.

Mahaado, eternally patient stepped in unseen and unheard. Lowering himself to bended knee so he was close enough for Anzu to hear him. "He dares not risk a careless word, thus he can not speak.. this weighs heavy on his heart. His silence could easily be viewed as ambivalence or insensitivity though we know nothing to be further from the truth. He 'is' aware of your situation after all, but any method he could use to ask would take away your right to choose. Forcing you to answer is not in his nature. As such it is the silence that he is forced to reside in that pains his heart."

Anzu blinked as she looked about uselessly for Mahaado before focusing again on Yugi. Her gaze filled with his thick mane of hair, now loose and draped down over his neck and down his back. "Yugi... can't you just ask it yourself? Is... is it really going to be a problem for you to talk now?"

Her heart burned when he looked up at her, as she watched the way he sucked in his lips so they pressed more tightly against his teeth. A guilt in his eyes so filled with apologies and remorse, so much so that she found herself blurting out, "What did Kaiba do to you?"

Yugi shook his head, he shoved that ball he had been holding into his mouth so he could wave with both open palms.

"Seto broke the natural order that Pharaoh created long before he created the worlds. By causing the Pharaoh to reincarnate he has brought the Living God to walk among mortals." Mahaados' voice was low, respectful with a hint of sadness. "The way you can clean or rearrange your room on the whim so too can the Pharaoh with all of existence. But he is straining to stay mindful, to not warp the very fabric of reality to suit his whims and thoughts. When he asks a question, it is because he is giving you the choice to answer him. Fine for a being that exists outside of reality, only..." Mahaado let his words grow silent.

He didn't need to go further, Anzu began to understand. 'He can ask because I'm free to decline answering. But that's not 'Yugi', he'd want to help, and that would mean asking and trying to get me to explain. But..."

"That's not 'fair' Yugi," she argued, feeling tears beginning to prick at the corners of her eyes. "We don't want you to die... but this... this..."

"Its not Kaiba's fault either, this is... The two of you are so kind, so generous and warm, and here you are, unable to talk. While Mahaado is stuck a slave in a rock..." She ignored Mahaado's throat clearing or his quiet attempt to correct her. It wasn't a 'rock' it was a 'stone tablet' and he 'chose' that fate and 'do not worry so about me'... "You both are the kindest people in the world doomed to be slapped with the absolute worst that existence has to offer?"

It was meant as a whine, a question unintended for an answer. Because of course not, what god would create a world like that? Only Yugis' eyes shot wide open, the alarm and out right panic made her wonder... "No! I don't want you to answer that!"

Yugis' sigh fairly came from the tips of his toes, so deep and relieved that it scared Anzu. If he had... he could have made that reality? "Oh Yugi... what have we done to you..."

He sank back in his seat, his hands still in hers, but his head resting completely back so she could only see the bottom of his chin and his pale throat.

"All we have to do is figure out a way that you can speak without messing with reality." Anzu finally stated with dogged determination. "A puppet or some... can you write it out? We'll think of something Yugi. You don't have to go this alone!"

"... Are my explanations lacking? Forgive me..." Mahaado murmured...

"Your explanations are fine! And you've been super helpful Mahaado. But you are not a slave, you're a person and its unsettling to have you talk about yourself like that." Anzu argued with stubborn empathy that was supported by Yugi raising his hand and pointing at her.

"However; in my state I 'am' currently the best to translate the Pharaohs' Will into words. As his summoned servant his wishes compel my actions..."

Yugi reached up to his mouth though he had yet to resume sitting properly. Pulling out that small orb. "Back in Kemet... Egypt, his master stripped him of his original Ka," Yugi quietly began to speak again. "Normally when I summon a Ka like him, my personality shifts to adjust to more inline with the summons. Basically you can't summon a Ka that you can't relate to, its a matter of trust really. So there's a lot you can learn by what a person can summon. But lacking his original Ka means that Mahaado is missing that part of him that would shift my personality. Thus Kuriboh's influence tends to stick out when I summon him."

"I guess you're free to tell me because that happened in the past, huh?" Anzu asked when a knock on the door distracted the trio.

"Yes?" Anzu started to move only to whimper in pain, her hands going to her back as her face screwed up in response.

"Its just me," Ryou's voice cheerfully called out from the other side.

"Well come on in!" She called out, her voice tight as Yugi got up and escorted her back to her seat.

Meanwhile the door opened allowing in their white haired classmate, out of school uniform and as bright and cheery as a noon sun. Which could mean anything given it 'could' be an act or he 'could' be in an actual good mood.

"I'm not interrupting anything I hope?" Ryou asked as he stepped in and shut the door behind him. Obelisk was still there, hanging on the door as a coat with this very unsubtle sense of presence. It was strange how it could hang there like some regular coat and 'not' have people get antsy around it. Making it now another thing for Ryou to inquire about.

"No, how are you today?" Yugi asked, sterile politeness that didn't surprise Ryou at all as he walked into the room.

There were several vases with flowers, gifts that seemed out of place of the guys and unnecessary from Anzu. One would have been fine, but this was over much, several cards were visible below them, folded with watercolor images.

"I'm as fine as can be expected... And it would appear that several of our classmates have rallied around you now that word has spread that you're awake." Ryou answered even as he breathed in the sweet scent of flowers. The muted sounds of the hospital in the background, the masked scent of antiseptics that the flowers covered... and the hospital bed that had a microphone that made him 'this' side of unwilling to talk shop in the hospital.

At least about the phone, now the Emperor who had been following him? "So about my guest... I would suspect he needs a card?" Ryou asked with an almost mockingly flippant smirk on his face his he let his gaze turning to the door, or rather 'beyond' it. Since the Emperor wasn't just going to try to slip into the room when Obelisk was guarding the door.

Yugi nodded, "I'm sorry, I didn't get a chance to finish out my plan. I wanted to give you the choice on whether or not you wanted him following you around."

"Well if you can stop intimidating him, we can get him in here and," Ryou lifted his hands in this half hearted attempt at invitation. 'I'm so tired...' he thought.