Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
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Rashid was officially too much a regular at the Domino Hospital by this point. He had forgotten to pull up his hood, and no one batted an eyelash at him. Towering, dark skin, bald, stern expression, scars in a distinct pattern along his face. Amid a sea of shorter, not bald, pale Asian people...
"Good afternoon Mr. Ishtar, Ms. Ishtar!"
"Ohhh good afternoon Mr. Ishar, Ms. Ishar!" look she was 'trying'.
"Oh little Rashid and Little Isis! Hello!" ok no one knew where grandma came from she wasn't a patient?
While new patients had a tendency to double take, the staff by now was rather comfortable with the presence of the Ishtars. Which helped when they found Honda's mother sitting in a waiting room huddled on herself. Isis looked about for a nurse instead of directly approaching Honda's mother. Given everything the woman had gone through, having strangers approach her about her son felt off.
Jounouchi saved her from her search as he walked around the corner and caught sight of her at the same time.
"Yo! Sis!" the teen called out cheerfully, his shoulders dropping into relief that she could see from the waiting room doorway.
He looked well, but with a tilt of the head he walked in and Isis backed up to allow him.
Information was all well and good, but Hondas' mother needed reassurance and the Ishtars were not above that awareness.
"Hey Auntie," Jounouchi began as Honda's mother rushed him.
"Katsuya! How is Hiroto?" She demanded, her eyes red with tears.
"He's ok Auntie! He had a flashback that's all! They gave him some meds to help relax him and he's napping right now." Jounouchi offered, before clumsily petting the woman's shoulders. "The nurses said I can bring you to see him, just let him sleep though ok?"
Honda's mom nodded as she wiped away tears. "Flashback? I won't let him go there anymore if that's what happens," she began.
"No no no... it wasn't the location, Auntie," Jounouchi began in concern. "Come on Auntie," he offered and guided the woman out of the room.
Leaving the pair with an apologetic glance that Isis waved away before moving to the seats.
She picked up a magazine with a picture of a vast deep forest on it as Rashid joined her.
"A flashback..." he rumbled out in quiet concern. "I suspect that was the only way he could explain the situation to her."
"Probably, a mercy given how the truth could turn out to be so much worse." Isis agreed as she began flipping through the pages.
"This person wasn't from our tribe," Rashid noted, his tone turning dark as he looked down at the tiled floor under his feet. "Our tribe would not cause such a reaction, while the Ghouls did what we did. Shimon would not have done this..."
Reality hung in the air between them, and informing Jounouchi here at the hospital didn't feel like a great idea. It got filtered with the intercom calling for doctors, a cart rattling by.
"That he would come back to the scene of his evil," Isis noted aloud in irritation, though she spoke in their native language.
"Both the Pharaoh and Set are not here, unlike before where the departures were quick, now they are gone for several days." Rashid theorized as he sat back, arms crossed as he pondered about the situation himself.
"I should check, but the idea of what he has done and then actively seeking him in my visions has a sickening quality to it." Isis acknowledged, thus finding comfort in the beautiful, glossy images of a forest with its rich emerald green leaves. The play of shadow cast by massive trees and the dappled sunlight that peeked through from above.
"It is understandable, especially after having spent such time seeking out the whole shooting." Rashid agreed steadily.
Conversation faded from there, absorbed into the casual comings and goings of the hospital. People walked into the room, took one look at Rashid and moved further to the sides, eyeing him from the side. Curiosity was an ever powerful thing to experience.
"I suspect that his mother wishes for Jounouchi to stay with her," Rashid noted ruefully as the minutes began to stretch unnaturally.
Nodding in agreement, it took no real meditation for her to look to such a short future event. "Another fifteen minutes before he will be free to rejoin us," she agreed. "Oh..."
"Sister?"
"She..." Isis blinked the vision away and turned to give Rashid her full attention. "Honda never spoke of this," she began her tone a little surprised. "Apparently Honda had a nurse here that he grew attached to, who was apparently American. She disappeared and he saw someone who 'looked' like her?"
Rashid was quiet, waiting patiently for Isis to continue only for her to shrug. "She can say what he told her, but I suspect we need to talk to him directly. What she described sounds as though-," Isis explained.
"He had been concerned for a while now. He told me that he saw a woman who reminded him of the aide at the hospital who looked after him." Honda's mother explained as she stood by Honda, holding his hand, with maybe a little more intensity than she needed.
"Yeah, I remember her, Misty I think. American lady bad Japanese but she did her best for Honda... Did he say what happened?" Jounouchi asked.
The woman shook her head with a sigh, "it sounded strange to me. He said the woman looked like this 'Misty' woman, but she was far too fat to be her..."
'Such a strange thing to note, physical weight. But I have seen the news about the disappearances and we know that these people are being used to summon Zorc...' Isis pondered as she sat there. "I am worried, I fear that they may have taken Honda's friend."
"'They' as in..." Rashid began before giving a soft sigh. "Its certainly possible, the poor woman gives her time to aide others though. A lot of the cases have been runaways, people who had fallen out of 'civilized' society."
"The easiest to grab, yes, but why her?" Isis pondered aloud. "So we wait I guess."
Rashid nodded and soon the pair were just back to magazine picture viewing until a casual "Hi guys," interrupted them.
Jounouchi stood in the door way before sauntering over to the pair. He moved to sit next to Isis and shrugged. "She's going to stay with Honda for a while longer, which is fine. I did what I could to reassure her."
"Should we go out to get something to eat? It must have been some time since you ate," Isis offered and caught the instant light of excitement in the teens eyes.
"That would be great!" He replied, jumping back to his feet while the elder two stood up. He began to speak when some newly developed part of his brain suddenly said. 'In private, you don't speak Egyptian and this might be sensitive...' It sounded so much like his mom that he clamped his mouth shut as they walked by the people waiting in the room.
It was actually a surgery waiting room, and suddenly talking about disappearances and possible death made him realize. Mom knows best! So Jounouchi walked along with the Ishtars, and suddenly found a better 'chewing the fat' conversation to fill the time with.
"So any news from Malik about what's going on at the tournament?"
"Ah yes, there was some word about the mischief Mahaado got into," Rashid agreed.
"Though it would be rather off putting to some I believe, he was being particularly vicious it appears. Its strange to think a person who gets invited to an event should be treated so badly by people. Given how it was explained, these 'gentlemen' don't think women should have a place at a tournament like this." Isis added coolly, the pair were well acquainted with what Mahaado could do from their past. Yugi was too old to distract from the Mahaado's more vicious stunts and Set never really got the worst of what Mahaado could do...
"Given that Mai's involved there I can't help but think she's coming back here," Jounouchi noted casually. "Seems everyone is slowly reuniting over this, but uhh... Mai has no magic or talent. What's she supposed to do here?" he asked as they approached the elevator.
"Well, that's a good question," Rashid rumbled out, the woman had no magic true. "But the same could be said for you, Honda and Anzu, as all of you lack any form of protection from the demon."
"Hey I have my luck!" Jounouchi began but both adults turned to look at him and he wilted a touch. Good luck, bad luck, Lady Luck was ever a fickle mistress...
"Well there 'is' a method to obtain a form of magic," Isis hedged. 'oh Great Isis, I pray that he doesn't try for it though.'
"Oh? What type?" Jounouchi asked, curiosity coloring his voice. 'Wait why didn't anyone mention 'another' type of mag...' "Hold up, I don't sell my soul for it do I?"
"Not exactly, but in a way yes." Rashid answered slowly. "In short, you become a priest or priestess to a God. So you're selling your soul yes, but to a higher power not a lower one. As you've realized I have no magics of my own and can only summon my Ka. While Isis and Mahaado both have unique magical abilities that are born from within themselves."
Jounouchi made a couple of sounds as though he was processing the idea and after a few muted sputters tried for a sentence. "So like it works? I mean I was getting used to the notion that just praying to Kaiba got results and hmmmm."
"Well anyone can pray to a God," Isis agreed with a nod. "From there it is at the Gods' discretion if they wish to or not, answer the prayer. As well as figure out just how they want to express their answer. A priest or priestess is more than likely going to receive the help or answer they ask for. But that is because by becoming clergy, we are required to obey rules set upon us by our deity of choice."
"Sooo kinda like Mahaado's inability to wear or pretend to wear cow skin. Or eating cow stuff if he were alive cuz..." With that Jounouchi began pointing to the sky, "that Isis loves cows and its a big no no."
"Yes, precisely," Isis, the mortal not the Goddess, beamed in approval. "In exchange he would be able to use stronger spells because he would have Her blessings."
"Oh ok, so I guess that could work on how Mai joins us. When we first met her she pretended to... well do what you do Isis." Jounouchi explained as the elevator doors pulled open allowing them to step out.
"Oh? A priestess?" Isis asked only for the blond to shake his head.
"No, she spritz different perfumes on her cards and pretend she could see the future of her deck," Jounouchi replied. Then went on to further explain the gangs' experience on Pegasus' island.
"I see," Isis answered...
"Jounouchi, did Honda ever tell you about Misty? After she left here to return home?" Rashid asked quietly as he could.
Startled Jounouchi opened his mouth, glanced at Isis then shut it. Then got inspired as though the front doors of the hospital pulled back the curtain of ideas for him!
"Hey yeah he did, but actually Isis hey can you find her? He said her husband had been taken and she was forced to leave here." He began and earned himself a pair of stunned and worried expressions from the older adults. "Thing is he saw someone who looked like her on tv only she was really fat. He said he didn't understand it either, the name was wrong. Only when he saw Misty for the last time in person she dropped a picture of the same woman on it."
"He thinks Misty dropped the picture? Perhaps a sister or a close family member?" Rashid suggested, for which Jounouchi nodded.
"Unfortunately its not easy for me to focus on someone I have never met..." Isis began gently. "If he has the picture I might get an image or something, but to trace her line? It might not be possible."
"But if you can see anyone's future..." Jounouchi began when Isis began nodding.
"Yes, and there in lies the rub." Isis began. "For example, I was just in a building full of people, with so many possible futures there's no way for me to randomly pluck one and search out their future. I need to be in the presence of that person to see."
"Oh... and she's go-" Jounouchi began when he cut himself off. "Hey wait but you saw Yugi!"
"He is God, he is everywhere," Rashid pointed out with a good nature rumble of a laugh in the base of his chest.
Jounouchi flinched as he deflated as they walked in the Japanese sunlight.
"Also I have been in His service for a very long time," Isis added out of sympathy at the poor teens clear frustration.
"Well ok, so no seeing the past or future but what do you make of it?" Jounouchi finally asked with a glance at the pair.
"Well, as Rashid suggested the picture could have been a family member." Isis began and let the sentence hang as she thought further on it.
"The kidnappings are concerning though, unfortunately neither of us are in positions where we could do a deeper investigation on those victims..." Rashid noted as Isis nodded.
"We could ask Yugi," Isis began when Jounouchi jumped into that same line of thought.
The 'Since Yugi is the God of all Creation he can answer this right?' line of thought that just oh so conveniently forgot a few things.
"Jounouchi," Isis cut him off with a firm, yet gentle, tone. "Please try to understand, Yugi should not be interacting with us anymore. He's more like your Kami in that He is more a force of the universe, not a teenager. We should not be trying to always out think Him or manipulate Him, at least not if we care about mortal Yugi."
"There are very few of us after all, if our enemies pray against Him helping us we will lose a powerful ally."
"But he's our friend!"
Isis' heart melted at that blustered, frustrated voice Jounouchi spoke with, for under all that was the sound of an almost plain wail of frustration. 'It must be too much like his parents divorce,' she realized.
How else could it be accepted that a friend could be just a phone call away and unable to do anything? It wasn't as though she didn't know what Jounouchi went through, there was always hints dropped when they spent time together. 'Only unlike his mother who left and took his sister, Yugi could very well spell out the end of all things.'
"And he has a responsibility to not only us, but to the whole universe." She replied gently, giving Rashid a discreet shake of the head. Sure he could point out that they had this conversation already. But Jounouchi didn't need that. He needed comfort and reassurance, the way Malik at times did. So while the Ishtars weren't blood family. "Remember that He is trying to accommodate a whole world while sadly a group is aware of what He is. He has fought for us time and again, it is time we fight for Him."
Jounouchi's lips pursed into a disgruntled line before he begrudgingly agreed. "I guess we wait until they get back then..."
"That He is awake, means we need to figure out how to broach multiple topics, once we know we will have an easier time asking him questions." Rashid offered in an effort to reassure the teen.
"But the longer we wait the more people the demon can turn into Pandora." Jounouchi pointed out disgruntled.
"True, but such is life."