Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
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"Yugi!" the pair of teens hopped up and rushed Yugi. He watched them completely unfazed as they latched on to him his orb rolling between his fingers. Momentarily forgetting what he was, their tones were a mixture of angry and confused.
"How can you be so indifferent? You were all about saving the world from this kind of shit before!" Jounouchi demanded his voice rough enough that he went and grabbed his drink. A deep pull of the warm tea actually did his throat a world of good.
He had wanted a cold soda, only Isis had given tea and it was a blessing considering his earlier scream.
Yugi shrugged easily enough, "choices are difficult." Then he shook his head with a sigh as he heard the usual replies. It was irritating as he sat there, being berated by teenagers who were still off balanced on if it was cool to have 'God' as their friend. Because they could get whatever they wanted, or terrified that 'God' would get bored and find someone cooler.
It was a childs' mentality and it fit with the Shinto and Buddhist teachings they grasped. Gods in their eyes were more forces of nature than 'people'. They were to be appeased to placated and preserve the physical world otherwise they would become destructive. While Buddhist mentality was more of the 'patient, all loving parent' who was there to comfort the follower as they struggled through life.
Only Yugi wasn't his kids or grandkids.
Annoyance pooled into his head until he was thinking 'can we just move on?'
"So about the tribes? I mean tablets and a whole... Actually Yugi how does Egypt not sink under the weight of the sand on top and the tunnels below? It sounds like the whole space is one underground bunker?" Honda asked, his tirade evaporating as autumn smoke. While Isis and Rashid both blinked and show Yugi startled expressions.
"They're deep enough, and protected by Seto's own magics, the chaos of the ever shifting sands serves to balance the stability of the tunnels..." Yugi answered smoothly enough despite the feeling of internal horror.
"Pharaoh, what would you advise about our Tribes," Isis began, gentle and formal. "There is no land for us to claim as our own."
"You are right about the danger, you'd be forced to tap into the Tablets to even try to level the playing field." Yugi agreed quietly. "I can present a clear and present 'divine sign' of your right to a land, and terraform it to something where you can live. But we all know how the rest of the world would react."
"Or maybe make the world think the tribes were 'always' here? Couldn't you like... I hate to say 'make a fake identity' but its kind of like that," Honda suggested as he grabbed another rice ball. Isis had made them and while the seasoning wasn't what he was used to... They were pretty damn good!
"That's also an option. Granted the tribes are not under my direct responsibility, and this 'is' Maliks' duty. So you might want to remember that when you can bring it up as options to him." Yugi pointed out as he sat there. "Though the concern for the Tablets is also important. They house the sleeping souls of a good many people after all."
"Yeah, hey Yugi, was Egypt the 'only' place that learned to do this Ka summoning thing? Or are there other places with tablets?" Honda asked thoughtfully before taking a sip of tea.
"Tablets no, but the ability predates my time yes," Yugi answered easily enough while watching eyebrows rise up. "But they did not commit the souls to tablets, and there are multiple worlds where they use a version of Ka summoning. Variations due to what type of life forms they are..." Yugi amended easily enough.
"So people here and in space can summon duel spirits," Jounouchi gave a low impressed whistle as he sat back. "But if Money Bags sealed the spirits back in Egypt, how could it affect people who had the ability outside of Egypt? I mean is he strong enough to seal the planet all at once?"
"Yes, he was in enough grief to pull it off back then. We had all died, and only Mana was left of our original circle. Alone and feeling incredibly guilty about how everything went down, it over charged his ability when he performed the sealing."
"Survivors guilt is a thing," Honda agreed with a small sigh. "I kinda want to know what he was like before everything went to hell in a hand basket."
"You'll see..." Yugi answered with an Other Yugi wink and a smirk.
"As for the Tablets..." Rashid pulled the conversation back to the second topic. "Malik hasn't been able to think of any other solution save keeping them where they are. Merely sealing the tunnels 'would be enough' given the alternative would be to dig up a desert."
Shaking his multi-colored locks of hair, Yugi spun the little orb in his hand and watched it as he looked beyond it. "It would work for a time, but Seto made the protections function with the tribes being underground. If they return to the surface the protections will dissolve and the tunnels will be far easier to find and get into."
He raised his hands in an effort to ward off the incoming questions before resuming. "As I said, Seto created the protections and tribes with the intention of communicating to me and restoring me to power. As I am right now, I am back to Power, but I am still physically here, and its causing the protections to continue. He didn't intend for them to stay there for eternity, just until I returned, but that leaves the Tablets. Seto, for some reason that involves my loyalty to Maha, figured that once I regained Power. I would return to outside the universe and take the tablets with me. That's the issue, I'm here and so remain the tablets. So long as the tablets are here, they're serving as a type of touch stone to his own protections. Take the tablets everything resolves, keep them here and if the tribes go above ground its 'viewed' as abandonment of their duties and the protections fail."
"Well this sucks," Jounouchi grumbled. "But you can take them over right? You're stronger than Kaiba and it can't be 'that' hard to just... I don't know... change the set up?"
"True, I can, but they have to want and ask me to perform such a task. This world is new to a lot of the tribes, they're proud of their service to me and Seto... So proud in fact, that they view admitting their fear of the outside world as shameful."
For Isis and Rashid the explanations were already there, but for Jounouchi and Honda. Watching as they pondered through Yugi's words was cause for sympathy. Their thoughts started on the 'wonders' of the modern world, the tvs, and video games, music and bikes, the towering structures of buildings and the list was going on and on. Yet to their credit he saw them try to view things from the 'other side'. The area the Tribes lived in was hostile of all not of the same faith, violently and some times murderously so.
So their thoughts turned to 'other lands that might welcome them'... But Honda pushed the thought aside on how cruel it was. That people who gave generations of their lives would be forced to leave the lands of their birth because their duty was complete. While no one wanted them there forcing them to some place new. While Jounouchi had a more jaded view of how no other nation would want them and they would be just outsiders forever.
"I wanna say 'just build an invisible city! You can make one and just make it so no one can enter it... But somehow I feel that wouldn't work, it'd just trade out one underground cage for a new above ground cage.." Jounouchi confessed as his face contorted in ways as he tried to puzzle this out.
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Mahaado looked up as Kuriboh continued studying each page when the Pharaoh gave a displeased sigh. "Is something the matter?" He stood up and dismissed his book while Kuriboh gave an incredibly sour 'kuuuuuuuur' in reaction. Thoughtlessly Mahaado began scratching Kuriboh's chin as they approached Yugi.
"Oh just... grinding a meteor into less than space dust," Yugi answered with a hint of tightness to his otherwise relaxed voice.
Which was true, the meteor had been traveling in a trajectory that was going to obliterate a planet in the coming century... But just the sound of Jounouchi and Honda berating him for being... well 'Him'... Better to take his anger out on that, then on someone. But it didn't take the sting out of the situation.
"Someone has offended you? Shall I deal with them?" Mahaado offered, only to get the offer quickly brushed aside with a wave of Yugi's hand.
"No old friend, I'm a Pharaoh now I can do it myself," Yugi offered with a faint smile. "Though I think I should warn you about this tournament..."
Mahaado, and even Kuriboh, bore expressions of polite confusion as Yugi sat there looking up at them.
"So you know how you react when I'm dueling, despite it being a 'hologram' of you, you both tend to take over?" As both nodded Yugi gave a faint chuckle. "Well, just be prepared for the types of women that Mai or Vivian work with in their decks."
Kuribohs' reaction was simplistic, a soft kurr, the tilt of the whole body and a paw to the face in pondering.
Mahaado looked ready to jump off the building and let gravity do its thing.
"The tablets are starting to wake up, and they have begun to rouse up around their partners so... you've seen the ladies in question. I just felt I needed to warn you... In case Seto or Isis get upset. At least you'll know why."
"You have my gratitude Pharaoh," Mahaado replied with his best professional tone. He had no idea that Seto's effort to 'help him dress properly in the modern age' was also to be attractive. Mahaado hadn't really 'gone out' much at least as himself. Seto's reputation kept most people away from him, but the park... There 'were' a number of small children who recognized who he was, if only in the idea he was a model and not the real person, who had older siblings. Affectionate older siblings.
Touchy ones too...
"I can talk to Isis and Seto if you would like... I'm in a conversation with both of them after all," Yugi offered because Isis could see the future. Yugi could too..
Wow those ladies could get touchy...
"Oh I couldn't ask you..." Mahaado paused as he tried to figure out what was being offered. "Talk about what, may I ask?" He finally asked because nothing made sense. Why would Isis or Seto get upset if the women started getting aggressive with their flirting?
"You died as Isis' husband," Yugi pointed out easily, "and Seto 'is' the jealous type."
"My relationships from the past should have no barring, I'm dead and Isis is free to find herself a husband among the living who makes her happy. As for Seto... I... am not entirely sure why he matters..."
"Just don't say that to his face, or in his proximity, or you know what? Just never say that in a manner that might get back to him. I understand, but him..." Yugis' mood began to lift as he started chuckling. "Lets just say Seto has been alone for obviously a long time and he misses you."
"Ahh well I don't see how the ladies could bother him... I think I'll get more bothered. There are to be children after all and this age expends far more energy on protecting them from adult 'content'." Mahaado pointed out as he stood there, he had been flirted with by enough people to grasp some of the more common forms of flirting... A good number of girls wanting his 'number'... Which he could give them the number to Seto's office or home...
But he was very aware of how that would end and no.
"If I may?" Mahaado gestured slightly towards the door as a sign he wished the leave and was granted an amused nod from Yugi.
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Florida heat was so different from Australia heat, yet at the same time maybe it had prepped him for that? But for now it was morning, breakfast was on the list and Mai was with her little group of friends. Valon was too, but with three teenagers, one a girl for Mai to really focus on, Valon was kind of... Free. Just to sit back and enjoy watching Mai be her most animated, relaxed and happy since they met.
Ryou and Malik were interesting, talking to Anzu he felt like he was talking to the average girl, though Anzu was incredibly polite. Mai saying that's how the Japanese talk. Malik was ok, the kid had this casual laid back, uppity 'better than you' attitude. Though he wasn't a jerk about it or anything, but the moment Valon proved open to talking about bikes? Malik turned into the most excited little kid. Which was fine, it was cool how excited he was... It was just how little Malik seemed to know or understand that was questionable.
"What is 'Tokyo Tower?" Valon asked in confusion and causing Ryou to look up from his eggs.
"Its a radio tower in, well, Tokyo Japan. But many people confuse it with the Eiffel Tower when they don't see the surrounding area. They look very much alike at the right angles." The snow white haired teen, old man, answered before returning to his meal.
"So what's so special about the the one in Paris?" Malik asked, leaving Valon a little floored. After all, even though he was an orphan, he had been taught about some of the more popular national monuments.
"Its just a major monument, you can even go up the tower however; if you get the idea to see it. Don't take a picture, its against the law under certain circumstances," Ryou answered easily enough.
Thus leaving Valon to look between the trio and no one seemed phased that Malik... didn't know?
So Mai was sitting at the table, with both her decks spread out on the table, with the Cyber Sisters and Amazoness side by side. Leaving Valon at loose ends... Asking would have been nice, but Mai was prepping her deck for her duel against Wong. Leaving wouldn't do any good because that silence that bothered her so much would start up again.
There was a slight knock at the door, quiet enough that Valon wasn't sure if he heard it at first before going to check. Through the peep hole he saw Ryou and Malik standing there patiently waiting, 'well that's a right sight unnerving...'
Opening the door he leaned out a bit, "right what can I do for you?"
"Yugi said you probably wanted to know more about Malik, since you're going to be stuck with us for a while..." Ryou replied 'sweetly'. It was that sweetness that made Valon think of an older man because while Ryou 'could' sound like a regular, overly polite British kid... When he was with his little group he just came off as so much older. Sighing or rolling his head a bit when something particularly childish happened. 'I feel like I'm dealing with a man older than me actually.'
"He uh, I am?" Valon asked as he stepped back to allow the pair in.
"Yeah, Anzu's enjoying a super girly spa day and while we suggested dragging you out... Yugi said it would hurt Mai if we took you away so here we are." Malik explained patiently enough while Ryou nodded. "Once Mai's done with her deck we can all go out and get you both some 'much required socializing'... Yugi's words not mine."
"Right then, right fine of him to think of us," Valon began before gesturing to the kitchenette. As large as the suite 'was' Mai wasn't in the bedroom, and bringing the boys 'there' felt a bit like a violation given all of Mai's clothes and stuff.
"So what do you want to know about us, or well, me?" Malik offered as Ryou leaned against the small counter.
"I can't believe God is upstairs and I met him," Valon blurted out not the least bit quietly and earned a pair of sympathetic expressions.
"What?" Mai asked confused while turning from her cards.
"Nothing..." Three male voices sang out in answer...