Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Jounouchi's alarm was no less, as he actually 'saw' what Zorc did to Ancient Egypt when he entered the game. He wasn't stupid enough to believe that it was 'that' simple, he may have seen memories of the past, but those were 'people' at one time. It was easy to reassure himself that they hadn't been real, now, when he watched them being slaughtered. But at one time, they were living breathing humans being slaughtered out of hand. "So why give the book to Pandora? They already, from what you said, have the means to make the Items and call him. What's stopping them?"

"Think you can elaborate in a language that Jounouchi and I can both follow?" Malik added, holding his voice steady and calm in case Bakura went more emotionally irrational. It was worrisome that he had been raised to speak the ancient Egyptian yet he couldn't really follow what Bakura said. Even as he blazed through three different languages all at once. Indeed, even in the darkness with its distant spotlight, once Bakura turned around to face the pair, it was hard to believe this 'was' Ryou. The eyes were cold, calculating and wholly the Spirit of the Ring, and fixated on him.

It 'was' alarming for Jounouchi to see the visage of someone murderous they defeated and dead resurface so suddenly. More so, that it wasn't the 'Spirit' to their knowledge in as much it was just their Ryou in a particularly intense mood. Though between Bakura's 'Spirit' type expression and glancing at Maliks' own creepily recognized manipulative stare... Jounouchi was ready to tap out and start screaming for Yugi.

"You see it don't you, Jounouchi?" Bakura asked with a side ways glance at Jounouchi before resettling his own gaze onto Malik. "Their message was that they wanted a 'God' restored to them, but why? The original casting never required a God, regardless of a physically present one like the Pharaoh or a powerful entity. If you are setting up to unleash a powerful demon into the world why would you broadcast that knowledge to 'anyone'? They already had the Book at the time, clearly, so 'why' blow up the Game Shop? It was common knowledge that Yugi had been kidnapped by that time."

The question caught the Spirits traveling with them by surprise and even they began whispered discussions of 'why'. These people were clearly aware of Yugi's connection to the Items, that the Items were gone and they had the Book. After all they didn't demand the return of the Items, as though Yugi just stopped 'wearing' an over sized paperweight. So they had the Book, they had the resources to get what was needed to create the Sennen Items, and they had the sacrifices... So?

"The Book doesn't show anything, its blank on the inside and gives the ability to control Monsters like Mahaado. But how did they 'discover' that this was the Book necessary to create Zorc? There are no words in it, yet they knew that it takes human sacrifices, but why now a God?" Malik mused aloud at Bakura's suggestion.

"The Items serving as a type of archway to a magical portal that allowed Zorc out into the world... While the Book that gave the knowledge was untouched in this world," The Village leader mused aloud.

"The spirits have the idea." Bakura noted before running his fingers through his hair in a mad attempt to calm himself down. "The Items originally were physical anchors, their existence generating the energy to call Zorc forth into the world. But the 'Book' that had the instructions on how to make it, went unharmed, hidden from all our sights."

"I think we need Mahaado," Jounouchi finally stated shaking his head as he looked at the dark road at their feet. As though if he stared at it long enough he would the answers would reveal themselves to him. Somewhere lost amid the asphalt, paint and grass there would be answers to why this madness.

"Why not Yugi?" Malik asked, after all Yugi 'was' the Pharaoh, wouldn't the Pharaoh know more about the Books' creation?

"Because Yugi was either a baby or about to be born when the Items were created. I don't recall correctly. Remember, I was originally around the same age as your siblings, Kaiba and Mahaado, Yugi was to us what Mokuba is to Kaiba in age." Bakura reminded Malik.

"And while both Mahaado 'and' Kaiba were stationed in the royal palace, Kaiba became a General, but Mahaado's whole thing was being a bodyguard, captain 'and' High Magician. This Book is all about magic, who better to know anything about it, 'but' Mahaado." Jounouchi pointed out, once again showing that insight that often wasn't noticed due to the more flashy, quicker thinking members of the group.

"Yugi passed the throne to Kaiba, so its clear that divine powers don't have to be bestowed, it may have been viewed as 'if you're nobility you automatically have divine powers'. Because it was Yugi's uncle who learned how to read the Book, that it takes a member of divine nobility to actually read it." Bakura suggested as he turned around and resumed his walk towards the graveyard.

"They may not know Kaiba was related to Yugi and so they've been leaving him alone, but its a matter of time before they learn that I suspect." Malik agreed as he fell in step behind Bakura, "but what was up with that explosion of anger just now?"

"Isis had the Tauk because she was a Seeress by 'birth', the Tauk didn't give her 'visions' they just made her ability selective. The Ring originally 'was' the property of the High Magician, each Item was placed in accordance with people who would naturally resonate with it. It automatically makes their own inner defenses weaker. Kaiba came here and was repeatedly attacked-" Bakura paused in his march to take a deep breath and resumed without a glance back.

"I can 'feel' this evil. Its like millions of hands on me trying to hold me still, I can shake them off, without trouble, but its still 'there'. I still 'feel' this evil, like oil on the skin and I want to be clean of it. Now take someone like Kaiba, who had also been possessed by one of Zorcs' followers in his past life, who had 'used' the Rod and has become a God of sorts. He returned from America suffering from physical attacks, loss of blood and releasing his original seal on Ka forms."

"Wait... Go back.. the 'Ka forms'?" Jounouchi asked, recalling Mana and her Dark Magician Girl. "He released, sealed..."

"We always thought that it was Yugi that sealed everything away, but after Kaiba's return. Well it became clear to my siblings and I that Yugi only sealed away Zorc. Perhaps he didn't think he needed to seal away the Ka, or maybe he didn't have enough power to do that because of the power Zorc had. Personally we want it to be for Yugi not thinking about it, especially now, thinking that Zorc is that strong... But in the aftermath of the Pharaoh's death, it appears that it was actually 'Kaiba' who created the seal on the Ka form. Kaiba having done it, well it would have made more sense. Partially mad from his exposure to the demon's touch and the loss of all those who he knew personally, back then. Kaiba probably 'would' have sealed the Ka. Which means anyone with the knowledge of 'how' would be able to summon their Ka now that the seal is gone." Malik explained, though he didn't take his eyes off of Bakura's bright white hair. It was a pity that Jounouchi didn't have the insight to the past that they did, yet there was a value in being able to talk these things aloud. Giving them voice helped strengthen or weaken an idea. Rather than letting it fall into the echo chambers of ones' own thoughts.

"Its possible that Kaiba was attacked the same way as I am, that its trying to hook into him and he resisted. The other possibility is that whatever part of him is a God is acting up in an attempt to stop this group himself." Bakura blinked at the on coming headlights and forced his posture to shift from angry, stalking predator to a more 'late night walk'. He really didn't want to deal with the police and wasn't well interested in someone stopping to 'help them out'. Silently willing the car to pass without stopping and watched as the Spirits recognized his wish. Moving towards the car quickly, doing whatever the Spirits did when messing with the living.

"We're doing it again, the whole 'Yugi and Kaiba are Gods' thing. Ok, I get that Ka come from people and that the game was based on the Ka's of the living as a source. But just because a Ka could be considered 'God like' doesn't make them so. Its not like the Ancient Egyptians had tanks or guns back then to deal with Zorc, so yeah, it could have just 'appeared' that these Ka's are gods." Jounouchi argued, fearing and hating the situation he was in. 'Gods' were nebulous, distant beings that looked down upon the earth from a vast difference. All this talk created a knot in the blonds' stomach that when everything was said and done, Yugi would go away as well. That's how it always happened in shows after all, anyone who gained so much 'enlightenment' or power always ended up leaving. Already there was a strange divide happening in the group, with Yugi spending, by force, time with the Kaibas and Mahaado, while Jounouchi was either with Honda and Anzu, or here. Just, 'here' with a reincarnated Tomb Robber and a Tomb Keeper with a serious mental issue.

It wasn't that they were cutting each other out of their lives, yet their lives were putting increasing distance between them. The closer to graduation they got, the harder the rest of the world was beating down on them about their 'adult lives' and futures. As though there wasn't a demon trying to get loose and wipe them all out in hellfire. Yet what did the world know to begin with? It wasn't like any of them could just go on the world news and warn them that this was happening. What happened to them? What...

Happened...

His mind replayed what he had seen in the memories, how Mahaado had already been killed when they got there, how Yugi's Inner Circle was increasingly fractured as time wore on. Could that demon... His steps picked up in speed, ignoring the car that blissfully drove past them without a thought, only wincing at the bright headlights in his eyes as he approached Bakura, as something warned him in the back of his mind. "The Items could compel us to leave couldn't it? That's what it did in the past right? Drove the Priests apart so that Yugi was easier to attack, I'm right aren't I?" he demanded as he grabbed Bakuras' arm and spun the teen around to look at him.

He watched as Bakura looked at him concerned for a moment, then the thiefs' focus drifted inward towards ancient memories. Jounochi could hear the rustle of Maliks' foot steps as the blond Egyptian approached, his increased foot steps hinting at his interest growing as well. But he felt the knot in his stomach tighten as he saw the look in Bakuras' eyes. There was something about that thoughtful awareness, not alarm or indifference just acknowledgment.

"Yes, Isis was shown only futures where Mahaado would die, so she didn't know he could have survived with proper back up. Kaibas' obsession with the Blue Eyes White Dragon led him far from the capital in its time of need, stripping Yugi of his General." Bakura answered, remembering all those dark terrible deeds that Zorc 'parted him' with.

"What? No, Kaiba was there," Jounouchi argued remembering distinctly the Blue Eyes' presence during the battles.

"No, you remember a game field created for Yugi to deal with, not all the events were correct. Set left the Palace shortly before Zorc arrived, some believed in rebellion against the Pharaoh to pursue the Blue Eyes White Dragon. When he caught up with them the Dragon's holder was killed. So after the Dragon was sealed Set killed his father and Zorc took Set over as his puppet. Set returned to the palace with the Blue Eyes in tow and beat Yugi to near death. Yugi was dying from his injuries, doomed to die, he lived as long as he did out of sheer will to beat Zorc." Bakura explained, and the darkness did a good job of hiding most of the confusion on Jounouchis' face.

"Yes, the records of his funeral pointed out to ribs that had stabbed into his lung, and an eye was outright missing," Malik acknowledged patiently, nodding as he thought back to those many hours he spent reading. "But we had no clue that it was 'Set' that did that damage."

"And what's happening now? We're here, Yugi and the Kaibas are in an isolated mansion, Honda's in no condition to do anything, Anzu who knows... fuck then there's Mai, and Otogi..."

Bakura watched Jounouchi wind himself up before placing his hand on the teens' shoulder. Once the blond was looking at him again Bakura gave a very calm, "there 'is' a difference though. If we sit around Yugi and let them make the Items, we'll have to deal with Zorc. But stop the creation of more Items and destroy the Book? Then this group will not be anywhere on the level a threat that Zorc is. No matter how big an organization they may be."

"But what makes you so sure 'this' land would be influenced by the Rod?" Malik asked as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned back to study his fellows. It was a bit chilly and he was starting to regret not having warmer clothes rather quickly.

"History. I think that the Puzzle is probably in Africa because Egypt is there and Egypt is the cradle of both Yugi and all this madness. Asia has the Ankh because It looked into peoples' minds and souls, much like Eastern magic and spiritual systems. I suspect the Scales are in Australia because of how Britain used it as a debtors prison, therefore justice. I can imagine the Eye would find its place in Europe through its Nordic traditions and also how its become a type of 'eye watching over the world' with the colonial occupations they held for ages. But that leaves the Tauk, the Ring, and the Rod, yet the way Kaiba returned to Japan? Even now, I see a malicious form of thinking in your eyes, one I doubt you even realized you were using. Just in the change of posture that you have now, going back to what I faintly recall during Battle City." Bakura explained, ticking off each of the major continents while aiming the last comment at Malik.

It caused the Egyptian to blink in surprise, dropping the suspect posture for one of pure more Malik, style shock. As they had only to remember that Malik was linked to Set by the use of the Rod. He didn't know enough about the history of the world around him to decide if Bakura was right, but was he actually starting to get corrupted? 'That' was scary, he didn't want that horrible side of him to be restored under any circumstances.

Jounouchi, on the other hand, openly shuddered as he thought about it, trying to establish in his own mind what pieces would go where. He began to reluctantly nod as his mental map spread open and he saw each piece. "I guess it makes Kaiba Land being in America make sense."

It was a throw away line, one that seemed to be a bit of fluff going between Jounouchis' ears, but the two guys with him both blinked at each other. Before turning to look at him in a bit of confusion and vague interest. With Malik taking lead to ask, "what makes sense?"

"Huh? Oh, Yugi told me that Kaiba's been building a type of Disney world here in America. Supposed to be a type of place for orphans to come and enjoy for free, which is nice and all don't get me wrong. Though I never could figure out how an orphanage would get the funds to travel to Florida in the first place. But what 'did' always strike me as odd was that he was building it 'here' in America. I mean, the home country of Disney? Is he honestly expecting to make a place that he wants to compete against them, here in spitting distance of one of those resorts?"

Malik looked lost, which was expected of one who didn't know of the Disney Empire of resorts, animation and movie studios. But Bakura could see what Jounouchi was vaguely touching on and found himself both impressed and concerned. "I never heard of anything called 'Kaiba Land'?"

"Yeah, and you won't really; MoneyBags has been keeping it under wraps while he's been working on it. But Yugi said that's why Kaiba came here when all that crazy stuff happened to him. He needed some peace and quiet to work on something that involves this resort he's building." Jounouchi explained with a faint shrug. "He can't talk much about it since it's Kaiba we're talking about. But even he sounded a bit involved in the place now."

"Of all the places in the world, he chooses to run here for some peace and quiet? Ok, so this place could be seen as under the control of the Rod. What next? My brother wanting to go to this Australia place you mentioned?" Malik commented as his mind started making connections in an attempt to understand Kaiba's reasoning when he left.

"Maybe, but we won't know for sure until Kaiba wakes up and is willing to talk to us at all about what happened. Which could be a while, between his blood loss, injuries, and we're hunting a book down in America to keep Pandora's brother from being possible murdered." Bakura agreed with a thoughtful nod.