Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

A/N: Thank you Red Wings! Fixed!

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Mai's plane did not arrive in the red eyed morning, nor did she have the luxury of a private plane. So she and Valon had the long process of waiting to get off the plane followed by waiting for their luggage. While Mai was an old hat at this, Valon merely followed in her wake, half awake as he walked.

"I've yet mastered sleeping sitting up," he grumbled as he walked along. He made some vain attempt at taking in the airport around him, the sea of people moving at this unspoken pace. But everything blurred with the sameness of it all, only the advertisements of each particular airlines' flight attendants stood out.

"Well don't worry, there's a taxi that drives us directly there, and we have lodging already so we can go take a much needed nap." Mai pointed out, a nice shower, bed, sleep... maybe a cuddle.. maybe...

Once they got their luggage and to the front of the airport, there was the taxi and the ride to the hotel. The taxi was a new business van and the seats felt the barely touched smoothness that would one day wear out. While moving along the road so smoothly that Mai and Valon both fell asleep.

Needless to say, by the time the pair arrived at the hotel, there wasn't much awareness between the two of them. They checked in, went to their room, Mai took her shower and then conked out in bed for a much needed sleep adjusted nap.

And that's just where they were when Anzu appeared with Ryou and Malik, rings between the three of them.

…

Malik started leaning his head to the side, got slapped in the head by Ryou, almost as a backhand. He turned the blond around and clamped his hand over the blonds' mouth before the pair made their way out of the room as quietly as Ryou could force it.

Anzu was just divorcing herself from this whole situation as she turned and began tip toeing out of the room. Her cheeks were red, and all in all she felt lightheaded as she moved through the, will notice later but not now, hotel room.

'Oh dear Kami. Ryou you said we would appear near 'Yugi'. She's not Yugi!' Anzu thought in mounting disbelief and shock. 'What if she had been busy...'

Anzu never felt like fainting like she did right at that moment...

The clean white walls with the light traces of silver detail wallpaper was not noticed by Anzu. The clean thick carpet with the dark material could have been 'any' color, Anzu did not care. All she saw was Ryou marching Malik out of the room, the blond resigning himself to turning around and walking on his own. The trio couldn't get out of the room fast enough if they had teleport...

"You said the rings would take us to Yugi!" Anzu blurted out in a mortified hissing whisper as the trio slipped out of the room. Shut the door with the utmost care and made about five steps away from 'the door'.

"Well this is bound to be the hotel if she's here..." Ryou pointed out defensively as he made a sweeping gesture of the hotel. "So he's here and he's a God so its not like he's going to let people just hop into his personal quarters without warning!"

"I mean he could have taken us with him," Malik pointed out with a shrug, his voice started out normal only to be glared into a whisper.

Anzu covered her face in mortification while Malik just...

"What? She's a woman big deal they weren't having sex, they were asleep they don't know we were in there. Stop being so... Bunny!" Malik gripped gesturing at Ryou for 'Bunny', as he crossed his arms. "Lets find Yugi and the others, it can't be that hard."

Anzu's dirty look of lacking amusement she tossed Malik was low, it spoke words that should never have been said by any lady.

"I don't know what its like in Egypt..." Anzu began.

"Nudity was nothing to be ashamed of," Malik began as Ryou's expression of long suffering pain was on full display as he reached up and grabbed the pair.

"We find Yugi, or Mokuba, that's 'it' because 'we' need rooms now or we're going to be teleporting back and forth each day." Ryou stated, his tone brooking no argument...

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Because this was Pre 9-11, it was still completely in play that more chaos could find its way to the lone airport. As a pair of well dressed business men arrived, just as trapped within the milling crowds of passengers.

The older mans' age was difficult to tell perhaps he was in his 40s, his years worn young as those of Asian blood tended to have. The other was American and wore his years more clearly, somewhere in his 30s. They moved about with the practiced ease of travelers with a working history, both wore expensive business suits, one of that appeared black with a deep purple sheen, the other the pale of white.

"I'll get you a coffee, sir," the white suit man offered promptly only to get a head shake from the Asian man. For the untrained, his Japanese sounded perfectly decent, yet he spoke in the purely subservient language of business.

"No, I am going to that hotel, we can get the coffee there."

"But sir, the itinerary for the event is that the dinner is this evening which is still several hours away. We won't have access to anyone until then, given that we are... well 'crashing' this event. If I may," the white suited man pointed out. He flipped open the binder that held a list of addresses, phone numbers, and the information regarding the KaibaCorp GrandPrix dinner.

A social mingling event that would lead to dinner. Intended to let multiple news media outlets be able to meet the soon to be duelists of the tournament. As well as getting to meet with Kaiba, something that had been outright impossible since the hospital event. In fact he was grateful that he got a means to get the tickets when he did. Once the 'event' happened, all further ticket purchases were shut down and now it was impossible to get to the man.

Especially since the main event was being able to see the Duel King be seeded in his first tournament since Battle City. That was the biggest draw now. Questions on if it 'was' Yugi who was shot, made it an interesting take on who would be here. Was it Yugi? Regardless Kaiba 'saved' someone at the hospital. That person was released having recovered and in theory was here in Florida.

Online information had changed, stating that the King of Games would be the final opponent now. His name was removed from the list of people who would be dueling, but he was still part of the tournament. Though it would still be possible to meet with Kaiba at the dinner.

The older man frowned, there was a low grumble in the back of his throat, almost a growl. But it was as much an answer as a voiced one. "I'll get you a cup of coffee sir, as you don't seem to be in the mood to have a restive nap before then."

"Fine, I suppose..."

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'I'd think 'God damn it' if I didn't know the answering God is currently in another room sleeping...'

It was a soured thought that Kaiba had as he looked down at the security cameras and saw the trio. Recognizing them even from a distance as they came spilling out of Kujaku's room. His whole body tingled with the desire to strangle someone for this. Of course some of them would show up, of COURSE. 'They have no reason to be here, but they would come out of what? Protectiveness of Yugi? Anzu would come just to spend time with a conscious Yugi, which I accept is understandable. But the Tomb Robber AND Tomb Keeper? As though I have nothing more important to do than have Mayhem and Mischief running loose.'

"Mr. Kaiba?"

Russell, the 32 year old security guard, sat stiff backed as he waited for their boss to say or do something other than glare at the screen. 'Kaiba' was actually younger than 'him' and having to call him 'Mr' had already been a bit jarring to the man. He had actually been unsure of what to expect of the teenager, expecting more of the typical American teenager.

He had actually been at home and seeing a rebroadcast of the shooting in Japan and had been taken aback how 'young' his new boss was.

Then the gun went off, Kaiba had been shot 'at' and the World Champion had taken the bullet instead. After that the American staff didn't know what to expect. Shootings were so common place that they thought nothing of it. But being from a country where they didn't even 'have' guns? Russell honestly expected Kaiba to be cowed and afraid.

Kaiba wasn't. Instead Kaiba was standing there as straight backed as a wall, this strangely competent young man in a custom tailored suit. While bearing this intensely focused gaze fixated on the tv.

"They're friends of the Champion, I'm going to go and kill the four of them now." Turning on his heel Kaiba left the room.

How was Kaiba 18 going on 67? Russell didn't know, but did exchange a look with his fellow security guard.

"How 'did' those three end up in that room? I didn't notice them anywhere on the grounds and I would have been told when I came in if they were here." Jake noted, leaning back in his seat letting his own round belly back out. Just having their 'boss' storm into the room had made him suck in his gut on instinct. And that was where it had stayed until Kaiba left...

"Think the boss will kill them? They look young enough to be friends of his..." Russell asked as he went checking the cameras for said boss.

"I don't know if he has friends, as tense as he is. But try to remember he just spoke to us in English. Kids' got brains and he cuts our checks."

"How can I forget? I thought Japanese people were supposed to be really reserved and polite... Oh, there they are..." Russell pointed to a camera on the right.

On it were said trio, seemingly hanging out in a hallway right at the intersection that lead to 'the' special guest suite. There were two tiers of such suites in the hotel, one for the rich or who were celebrity status. This was where the pair with the surprised guests were located. 'The' special guest in this case was on the floor where Kaiba and his brother had their rooms.

The champion hadn't stepped out of his room, only receiving room service for his meal and no one could see what was going on in the room. He had arrived with a personal assistant who was going to be using the spare bedroom in the suite from what they heard.

From Mokuba.

Because the 11 year old 'also' spoke English remarkably well, and had been up there to let them know about that. And that the champion was the one dressed as the limo driver, not the guy in the suit...

There were a pair of guards at the elevators to ensure his protection. Especially given the news about what happened after the shooting. So seeing the trio manage to get to the floor and the hallway unimpeded?

"This 'Yuge' guy could get them permission to be up there. But if he did why are they just waiting in the hallway? Shouldn't they be in his suite?" Jake asked leaning over a bit to study the screen.

"Maybe they're going to go out and look around?" Russell asked, though even he sounded a bit confused by that as well.

And then the camera went down.

"Damn it... Boss isn't going to like this if the camera is down..." Jake grumbled as he hefted himself to his feet and moved over to the security monitors.

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The rest of the day was proving to be perfectly normal.

An array of invited duelists made their way, via plane or over roads, there were a number of reporters who were distinctly 'not' allowed to stay at the central hotel. The day was bright and beautiful, save the 15 minute sudden downpour that left everyone who was unprepared to be drenched in a suddenly humid day.

Sprawling grounds with everything that could be typically found by any other amusement park. There was no 'shows' in the typical sense, instead there appeared to be video feeds of duels that would be taking place in the buildings. Security was also on the grounds even though the first group of attendees hadn't yet arrived. The duelists 'had' and it was important to make sure no one got any idea of trying to cheat.

While Mokuba enjoyed an energy restoring nap that allowed him to wake up, get ready and go check on his brothers.

And Anzu.

Oh and Bakura...

Annnd Malik...

"Hi Big Brother, hi everyone! Did you bring Jounouchi and Honda as well?" he asked once he reached the group. Cuz it wasn't hard, his brother wasn't exactly trying to be quiet after all. They were found pretty close to Yugi's room, with the trio not quite sure if they should look like passive employees, Anzu and Bakura. Or just waiting for the reel to end, that was Malik.

"I will burn this hotel to the ground if they're here," Kaiba retorted even as he turned to glance at his little brother.

The boy wasn't in his suit yet, still traveling in his casual clothes which was fine. Mokuba deserved to be able to walk around and enjoy the grounds. He was able to give a better assessment on how things looked to Kaiba than the mewling yesmen Kaiba was often stuck with.

"Hi Mokuba!" the other three greeted him, with cheery waves and mildly embarrassed looks.

"So how did you get here? I'm sure Security would have caught you and told us if you came unannounced..." Mokuba began only to see how everyone stopped looking at him... Just watched as their gazes wandered away. "What did you do?"

"We tried to arrive in Yugi's suite so we wouldn't cause trouble," Anzu confessed, her cheeks turning red.

"But he may have a 'No surprise guests' field for all we know, we got dumped into Mai's room and uh... that's rude. She was sleeping," Ryou added.

"Should have brought Jounouchi, Mai's got a man and he's in bed with...merf..." Malik was suddenly cut off as both Anzu 'and' Ryou tackled him as one and clamped their hands over his mouth.

"Oh well its nice she's got a travel bu... wait..." Mokuba's gaze suddenly got about ten times more shrewd. "They weren't 'busy' were they?"

"MOKUBA?!" there were now three highly scandalized teens in the hallway. One wasn't Malik.

"What?" Mokuba looked between them, "you guys didn't tell Mai about magic, so I doubt she told her boyfriend. If you three just popped up in their room while they were eating or something you probably scared the... Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I can't. I just can't. I want to think I can relax being here but that clearly will not be the case..." Ryou fairly whimpered.

"You're absolutely right Mokuba, and it wasn't our intention, but well you know Yugi's safety and all. It was an accident and they were asleep so its not like we made any noise..." Anzu answered hurriedly.

While Kaiba mentally rebooted from that 30 second faint he had.