Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
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Morning arrived in Florida in much the same way as it did in Japan. The first blush of dawn happened, casting the first hints of light against the buildings through out the city. With all the artificial lighting there was no chance that a true night ever fell. So there was already bits of shadow pushed to the side in favor of bright, sexy colors of various 'industries' and night clubs.
After all the big tourist attractions were all family focused and sometimes the parents just wanted time for themselves as well. But now dawn had broken, children would be waking up, some excitedly, some needing time to get their engines started. People would be getting ready soon, then they would travel to the park.
"Maha, I know that you haven't seen much of the world, but I'm curious about your opinion on that." Yugi gave a sweeping gesture outward as he laid there. The bed was comfortably firm, or maybe he was adjusting it, he wasn't sure yet.
Mahaado wasn't in his tablet or visible though Yugi could sense his presence, almost a mist that hovered through out the room. Endearing in its own way given Yugi no longer had a need for a body guard save for presentation. But you knew that already.
"The park that Seto has built?" Mahaado asked as he began to materialize in the room by Yugi's bedside. "It is meant for the children without their own families, correct?" When Yugi nodded he looked back at the wall and thought about what he had seen. The tall trees, the grass, still things he was unused to even after being stationed in Japan since the Pharaoh woke him up. The buildings were brightly colored, with many spots for food and shelter from the elements.
Mokuba had explained that children stuff tended to be brightly colored, outside of uniforms of course. Still...
"Pharaoh I do not understand, these children who have no families... orphans, is it? How are they to come here? How are they to play the games that Seto has set up if they do not have families to provide them the cards or the means of travel?"
"Well its not exclusive to orphans, however; the money that is generated goes to afford allowing children to make the trip. This hotel is for families and such, but the other hotel across the way is for the orphans. Have you gone to see it?"
"I have, yet I do not see any differences," Mahaado answered as he thought back on the building in question.
"You shouldn't. It has extra protections for children, since they don't have parents overseeing them. Security to ensure they're not in danger of predators stalking them, numbers are listed for children who may need a therapist. Doctors to look after medical needs that a child may have are also tapped to come in and check. Not that they stay all the time, Seto isn't 'that' cruel. When a child sets up a trip those professionals are alerted so they know they may need to make a visit here."
"Seto seems to have..." Mahaados' head tilted to the side as he thought about it, "ahh like a chocolate with a cream center? Hmmmm," he mused aloud as Yugi began snickering.
'Its funny, because Mahaado has no sense of taste anymore and is trying to use modern terms,' Yugi thought though he nodded. "Yes, he's surprisingly compassionate when left to his own devices, and plenty of money."
"Pharaoh, I do not understand how this event is to take place. While I was posing as him while he recovered, I learned a bit of how the set up was intended. That you were part of the original seed. But you are now here... Will you not be joining the tournament?"
Yugi opened his eyes and sat up before looking at the orb in his hands. "No, because of how Seto brought me back, there's a lot of pressure on him right now. They want to get a good look at me, figure out if I was shot or if it was set up. So I need to pose as though I'm still recovering," Yugi explained. Then he leveled a look at Mahaado. "So don't worry if I stumble or fall, its part of the act and people might have a reaction if they see you. Just 'you' acting on your own right off the field after the finals."
Mahaado nodded easily, "than I shall be as I was before, subtle."
"Now, the set up is different. They get to wander the park and take a tour of it themselves, partly so if they have fans they can do a meet and greet. Don't worry everyone has a guard with them to make sure their safety." Yugi began.
"Will it be like the semi finales of the Battle City tournament that Seto held?" Mahaado asked as he thought about it.
"Yes, but not yet, they will only have access to three zones now. A person arrives, and should stay there waiting until someone else arrives to duel them. Its risky to leave because the winners of those duels get a prize for the that lone victory. While the day time duels will see six different duels take place." Yugi explained as thoughts drifted into the back of his mind. "Six people will be eliminated, and tonight another set of duels will take place. Again with only three new zones in the park opened up to the remaining members. The day time winners will, with those who couldn't find stations, result in another six duels and leave only six more people. Tomorrow, those six will have another duel that will lead to a three way dance at noon and the winner faces me the next day in the morning."
Mahaado thought about it, and Yugi let him puzzle through it. The magician wasn't just a caster of spells, he had also served as captain of the guard and the guardian of the royal graves. It was in his nature to ponder and study such plans.
"That sounds acceptable," he finally began slowly... "But why wait three days? Why not use four stations instead?"
"Japan, and Asia in general has an aversion to the number four." He explained then blinked as he realized using Ancient Egyptian to talk to Mahaado might have been the right call to start with. "Ichi, ni, san, shi, go." And as Yugi counted in Japanese he held up his fingers to indicate which number he was on. "Shi is the number four, but it sounds like another 'Shi' that is the word for 'death', so Asians don't really like the number. In much the same way the western world has superstitions about the number 13."
"So its a means to ward away bad luck?" Mahaado asked, recognizing Mokuba's own efforts to teach him Japanese.
"Yeah," Yugi nodded with a smile before flomping back onto his back. "Though there might be some annoyances regardless..."
"Pharaoh?"
"There are people not thrilled with Mai being in the tournament, they want to try to stop her..." Yugi reported as he shut his eyes and let his thumb rub lightly against the orb.
"For what reason? Has she not earned her place here?" Mahaado asked glancing at the wall as though he could see these would be door crashers...
That's what Mokuba called them right?
And no, he called them 'gate' crashers but good on you for trying Maha.
"Because they think the game is too smart for women, that she needs to be a 'good girl' and just stay home."
Mahaado sat there for a moment, thinking on how bright Isis, or how sincere Anzu was and just felt this wave of irritation. "Pharaoh if I might..."
"You have my absolute blessing to do whatever, this park can be your playground with these idiots. And if Seto gets jealous of you not doing anything to him. Well its about time he started courting you properly."
"Courting? Me? Why?"
Yugi grabbed his pillow and shoved it into his face before he rolled over and fairly screamed into it.
Yes he is this oblivious.
And yes, I would have had to spell it out for him with images back when he was alive had I lived longer. Thank you for asking. Let's resume.
"Pharaoh...?"
"Yes, Maha?"
"Can we not just inform Seto that there are people wishing to interrupt his tournament?"
Yugi didn't need to turn his head, he knew what Mahaado would look like asking a thoughtful question like that. So he just laid there and shrugged into the pillow. "Yes, but where's the fun in that? Technically, I'm viewed as just another human and you're not considered 'real'. It would look beyond weird for Seto to just cast random people out of the park for doing nothing wrong." He lifted up the hand holding the orb, extending a finger to empathize his point.
"People are free to make their own choices, and they 'could' choose not to do anything for the rest of the day. Some possible futures are just that, others they do something, and even then that 'something' varies from timeline to timeline. So while I will point out who they are to you, I'll leave it to your discretion on what to do about it."
Mahaado blinked as he observed his master, even as he nodded. "Pharaoh? Are spas... 'nice'?"
Yugi turned to look at Mahaado for a moment before giving a faint smile. "If you're asking Yugi, no, because I've never been to one. If you're talking to my higher self, then yes, going to a proper one can be quite a treat."
"Ah, well, I noticed the Tomb Robber talking about Anzu's health and thought perhaps you would be willing to join her on her excursion this afternoon?" Mahaado suggested, "Though I confess I don't know what 'spas' do... Just that its relaxing..."
"Its a great idea, however; I don't think my presence would help her relax..." Yugi pointed out before he gave a faint smile. "Though if you opted to teach me a spell or two might encourage me..."
Mahaado blinked confused, after all the Pharaoh was God, what measly spell could Mahaado teach the Pharaoh? "Pharaoh? You know all, can do anything, what can I possibly offer you?"
Yugi answered with a faint smile, bringing Mahaado's thoughts back to the day the Pharaoh's father died. The Pharaoh had smiled in much the same way, weakly, with a hint of anguish in the corner of his eyes. "I want to live that's all. All my powers, means I can't enjoy things as a normal person would, there is no struggle, or effort. Meaning there's no sense of pleasure, excitement or pride upon success. I've been given the chance to interact with the world again as I did before I got shot. So while yes I know the spells I want you to teach me. I won't 'use' them unless you teach them to me to start with," Yugi explained.
"Pharaoh..." Mahaado could only stare for a moment. "Why did you not summon me? I could have protected you, saved you from this respons-," he was cut off as Yugi sat up from the bed and turned to look at the magician, a stern expression on his face.
"Maha, I chose this." Yugi answered firmly.
"The world has been without you for so long, I can only imagine the pain and suffering that... Pharaoh?"
"Would you like to be alive again?" Yugi asked suddenly, tears glistened on the edges of his vision.
Mahaado was honestly thinking of that, while Seto had said much the same words and they spoke much on the topic. Seto lived his life, Mahaado wasn't even thinking of himself. Wasn't thinking about the day he died, and was cut into pieces, or the numerous whippings he got... Bringing Mahaado back among the living was a simple affair. He could do it through a multitude of ways and yet Mahaado wasn't even thinking it.
Choosing eternal servitude...
"Live? No, if I were alive once more, I would be prone to death and what good would I be then? I would prefer a thousands deaths if I could be brought back with a simple word."
'But you would be alive...' Yugi thought in anguish as he lowered his eyes, Mahaado's hands were visible and still as young as the 17 year old he was. "Are you ok, with seeing everyone age while you are frozen to that appearance?"
"Well there is always using spells to advance myself to the age of the Dark Sage," Mahaado pointed out thoughtfully.
'All the powers of creation and yet I...' Yugi shook his head. "About that spell?"
Mahaado gave what amounted to as his version of a resigned sigh, before answering, "which spell my Pharaoh?"
"A spell of transformation, so I can change my clothes and appearance to my whim. You know, the spell you used when we were at the airport."
"... Pharaoh does not like his pale skin?" Mahaado asked even as he summoned his spell book. It materialized hovering between them before lowering itself into Mahaado's waiting hands.
"Oh my skin is fine, and it would go back to Kemet tones naturally depending on what I'm doing. But I mean my clothes and hair style, so I can play dress up from time to time if you will." Yugi offered, the pained smile was still there but he tried to shove it away.
"You realize I would know its you if you tried to hide?" Mahaado asked as he began flipping pages.
For which Yugi's smile gained more life.
After all as Yugi's personal body guard Mahaado had always been by Yugi's side. So much so that Yugi never really thought of trying to get 'away' from Mahaado that day when he met Seto. He just wanted to get out of the palace and Mahaado was just...
Well I expected him to come along because he's my Maha.
"Maha I wouldn't try to sneak past you, especially after we met Seto..." Yugi's lips curled down as those memories came back. "I had no idea that leaving the palace would get you punished like that. The fear from seeing you hung up like that with your back bleeding and strips of your flesh hanging down. I wouldn't want anyone I cared about to go through that and knowing just my curiosity did that to you... People would always bow to me, I was starting to get the idea that, like father, my wishes were just what everyone did... Then that day happened."
"I knew the consequences of my actions Pharaoh, there was never a need to be concerned. Although I suppose by these modern standards would you have been too young to understand." Mahaado began only to get this look from Yugi.
"Maha I was still breast feeding... 'anyone' that age would be too young."
"But I've seen grown adults in this age..." Mahaado began and stammered to a halt when Yugi dropped his head into his hands with a sigh. One of those deep sighs that told Mahaado he had seen something that he apparently shouldn't have. "Right, little ones newly born are too young."
Yugi just sighed again, "yes Mahaado, they are too young."
"Regardless, I apologize for causing you such distress, and Seto did take good care of me once he was given access to my rooms. Even if he kept trying to steal my bed after that," Mahaado finally offered earning a faint shrug from Yugi.
"I thought it was funny that he wanted your bed," Yugi admitted. "But after that first storm and he was in my spot I stopped caring. I remember now though, he liked it since it was more comfortable than what he had growing up. That's what he told himself, but actually initially he just wanted you in bed with him."
Yugi looked up from his hands with this faint smile of regret on his face. "Your presence was a comfort for him as he internally processed his mothers' death and his involvement. He wouldn't say it out loud. Though back then would anyone even understand his reasoning to start with? It wasn't like we had mental health professionals back then."
Set had needed someone to look after, and in doing so found a way to look after himself and heal. But the wound healed ugly, and when we died, he couldn't handle that loss, everyone he cared about had died on his watch. Even if no one said anything to his face, he said it to himself and that was all that was necessary. Grief does that. Accountability and responsibility crashing and burning in a horrible war.