Pairings: mention of Mariku (Yami no Malik) x Akeifa (King of Thieves Bakura), forthcoming friendship Atemu & Yuugi, Ryou & Akeifa (King of Thieves Bakura), Malik & Mariku (Yami no Malik).
Warnings: foul language (mainly on Mariku's/Bakura's part), shounen-ai.
Author's notes: I refer to King of Thieves Bakura in this fic as 'Akeifa' (yes I know it's fanon). I do not claim ownership of Yu-Gi-Oh! and associated characters, nor almighty wisdom or historical accuracy of Ancient Egypt. Gratuitously use of 'artistic license', tidbits from history books, and online dictionaries. Canon events are
Key: --------- = scene change
The young woman rose from her kneeled position, carefully balancing the reed basket of freshly washed linen on her head.
"Mnemorose! Come on, sweetheart. We're going home." She motioned the child, who had been playing on the river bank with some sticks and mud, to stand up and follow her.
"Mommy! Wait!"
She turned around to walk over to her youngest son, thoughts already with the chores that awaited her at home; fold the laundry, sweep the floor, prepare dinner. The sudden gurgling sounds made her look up and scream at the same time her son did. Two tentacles rose up from the river, stirring up a flood of water, and reaching for the child.
"Mnemorose!"
She hurried forward, reed basket forgotten. A nasty tentacle wrapped itself around the boy, water overflowing the dry land. The body of the creature in the river started to show itself, larger and more hideous than the woman could ever imagine; a mass of dark green scales and teeth. Her maternal instincts made her assault the monster head-on, but she was flung back by the other tentacle and landed meters away on the sand.
"No!"
A flash of blinding light tore through the sky, followed by a howl of pain. The sounds and lights were deafening and blinding her and she tried to get up, to search for her son. Something screamed- it must've been the monster, for the scream was nothing of this world. The howling send shivers running down her spine, and she was startled when her child was suddenly pressed to her chest. Quickly she embraced her son, sinking to her knees, uplifting her head to thank her rescuer.
Her watery eyes grew wide. In front of her stood a… man, holding an emerald staff with a jewel embedded in the top, clad in dark purple flowing robes, the robe of a wise man, a priest, a magician, power surging all around him. With her son firmly in her embrace, she threw herself onto the ground to bow for him. A swish of wind told her he was gone; but the fierce image of his slanted blue eyes and the determined look on his pale face, framed by lavender colored hair, would stay with her forever.
The streets of Thebes were crowded in the early morning and Ryou had to be careful, waving through the mass of vendors, slaves, commoners and farmers, clutching the fragile papyrus scrolls to his chest. He jumped aside to let a rather burly vendor with two camels pass, and excused himself when he almost tipped over a basket-maker, curled up in the corner with stacks of prepared reed.
Ryou was one of the very few apprentices of Azzamehmid, the old scribe who taught the art of reading and writing to those who were to be accepted in the clergy. Priesthood wasn't something the young man envisioned to be his life goal- he’d rather learned about the legislative culture to become a judge. It was, however, a privilege to learn how to write, and it was granted to him because of the last will of his father. Ryou missed him every day and even though it wasn't the Pharaoh’s fault that he disappeared on a field campaign, the young white haired man wished that his father wouldn’t have climbed the ladder of society- so he’d be still alive today.
He adjusted the hood of his misty gray cloak and checked the scrolls. People would still point and look at him when they saw his white hair and pale skin; quite an exclusive sight in the capital city, where the majority of the population was fairly tanned and black haired.
His Syrian ancestors were captured during a war, and lived for generations in slavery until Ryou's grandfather managed to buy himself and a few of his relatives free. His son, Ryou's father, even succeeded in gaining a certain social status; that's why Ryou now was on his way to become an educated man in service of the royal administration. Pharaoh Akunamukanon had been a man with a strict sense of fairness and justice; the same traits he passed on to his son, the current reigning Morning and Evening Star, Atemu.
"Wait up, Ryou! Ryou!"
Thoughts interrupted, he halted in mid-step and turned around, a surprised smile on his lips. He would recognize that voice anywhere.
"Yugi! What are you doing outside?"
The short young boy that ran up to him held a tight grip on his dark cloak and skidded to a halt in front of him, taking a minute to catch his breath.
"It.. it's important. Grandfather needs some more senetjer (1) and you already left…"
"More? You're sure?" Ryou smiled fondly at his friend. Because of his uncanny resemblance to the almighty Pharaoh, the ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt, Yugi had to be careful when he was outside. There was no telling what could happen if a royal guard caught him and imprisoned him for 'impersonating the Pharaoh'.
Yugi was aware of these rumors of the alikeness, but he couldn’t tell if it was true because he had never met the Pharaoh. The mere thought of a commoner like him meeting the Almighty Sun and Star would be preposterous. They often mused about how it even was possible for two people to look alike, certainly with Yugi’s distinctive traits. His black spiked hair held crimson red tips, and the few bangs framing his face were of a sun golden color. It was even more conspicuous than Ryou’s hair.
"Yes, please. Make sure you get the eucalypt kind, his coughing is getting worse." Yugi fumbled in the pockets of his cloak to dig out some coins. Ryou's heart pained when he saw the worried look on the face of his friend; Yugi's grandfather was exceptional old for Egyptian standards, and the man was getting weaker and sicker by the day.
He sincerely hoped Solomon wouldn't die on a short term; he was all Yugi had. Ryou shared his tragedy of not having a family; his own mother and younger sister when he was just a little kid himself. Yugi lost his parents also at a very young age, and their bond even strengthened when they discovered they shared another native country than Egypt and their descent from slaves.
Yugi still panted, renewing his iron grip on the cloak. Even though he 'only' resembled the Pharaoh in facial features, he covered up his entire body to make sure nothing was visible to the public. His shenti (2) came to his ankles, while Ryou's reached mid calf. Ryou held up the cloth with an embroidered girdle his sister had made for him, a few weeks before she died; even though it was worn and a bit torn, he’d rather die than to replace it.
"I'll make sure to stop by the vendor," Ryou said, relieved when he saw Yugi's face lit up.
"Thank you! He needs it so bad."
"I'm stopping at Malik's today, do you need something from him too?"
Yugi smiled at the thought of the blonde Egyptian, currently an apprentice of a goldsmith. In contrary to Yugi and Ryou, Malik was a born and bred Egyptian, with his extremely sun bleached blond hair as a striking feature. He derived from an old, extensive family that held up ancient rituals and traditions, reveling in their past and current positions as guards of the Pharaoh's tombs for centuries.
Malik and his elder adoptive brother Riishid were, as far as he knew, the only ones to break free from the smothering obligations of the family, but it wasn’t something Malik talked often or too fond about.
"No, but give my regards to him when you see him. Ryou..."
Yugi eyed the papyrus scrolls Ryou was holding and sighed. "It's just that... never mind."
Ryou put his hand on his shoulder. "I'll teach you everything I learn, Yugi."
"I know, I know, it wasn't meant to hurt you. I'm sorry, Ryou. I want to live so badly, and not to be locked up inside, being afraid that someone would see me. What's the chance of being born exactly resembling the Pharaoh?" He dimmed his voice when he spoke the last sentence.
"You know, Yugi, some people believe that every person has someone exactly looking like him or her walking around."
"You're sure? You mean… that someone with the same face as you is around here somewhere?" He quickly looked to the left or right. Ryou laughed heartily.
"Not here- somewhere. You know… somewhere. Never mind, don't give it a second thought, Yugi."
"I don't mind that I look like someone- it shouldn't have been the Pharaoh."
"Fate," Ryou answered and patted his friend at the shoulder again. "I have to go now. The scribe won't appreciate it if I'm late."
"Just imagine, someone resembling yourself. Do you suppose there would be someone looking like Malik, too?"
"Let's hope not, he's vain enough as it is," Ryou joked.
"I'll tell him you said that."
"Get back to the house."
"Have fun at the scribe," Yugi said. He winked. "And don't forget about the incense."
Ryou watched his friend backtracking to their house, the dwelling they shared with Yugi's grandfather. He shook his head in sadness; Yugi wasn't the kind of person to be locked up in a cage; his friend deserved to live his life to the fullest.
His bright eyes, his never wavering hope and optimism were a great contribution to Ryou's own life. He looked over his shoulder. The royal palace dominated the view; the huge pillars reaching towards heaven, the long sphinx avenue compassing several miles, with the proud statues guarding the gates of the palace. There lived the personification of the Sun of God Dragon, Ra (3). How would life be if you were a man, ruler and god in one? Ryou pressed the papyrus closer to him. He really had to hurry. He ignored the shiver running down his spine, and he wrestled himself through the morning crowds.
The very same Sun of God Dragon Ra, the almighty Pharaoh, was cranky- very cranky. In the wee hours of the morning he had already thrown half his breakfast plates to his servants, ripped a few pillows and bed sheets and impatiently called out for his High Priest.
"Seto! Seto, where are you?"
"I'm right here," the immensely tall priest answered, swaying into the room as if he had all the time in the world. He was the cousin of the Pharaoh and the only one who got away with his fairly informal attitude towards the most powerful man of Egypt.
Pharaoh Atemu had already been dressed in his usual attire; a shenti reaching a little below the knee, held up with a blue and white striped loin pendant, a sleeveless shirt, and a dark purple cloak flowing around his shoulders, completed with the appropriate jewelry. Atemu was wearing a golden headpiece with the Eye of Horus in the middle, golden filigree earrings, and golden bracelets on his upper and lower arms, even his ankles were donned with jewelry. Out of all this gold, there was one piece that stood out significantly; an upside-down pyramid, also sporting the Eye of Horus, dangling from a golden chain on his neck.
"What's with the tardiness?" Atemu fidgeted with the -again, golden- piece of jewelry that upheld the purple cloak.
"New sightings of monsters, my Pharaoh. It's getting severely out of hand." Seto made his voice sound as he was announcing tea time. The High Priest was fond of his own theory that the display of emotions was highly overrated; he himself had almost perfected a stony, placid expression on his face. Despite these efforts, Atemu usually needed only one look at his deep blue eyes to determine the mood of his tall cousin. Seto was dressed in his official priest robes; a shenti that almost reached the floor and was held in place with a loin pendant similar to Atemu's, in the colors of the Pharaoh; light blue with a white, embroidered border. He wore the same sleeveless shirt with an embrodered, golden ankh and a woolen cloak in the same, beige color as his shenti. His outfit was completed with a light blue cap, completely covering his hair, adorned with golden decorations. Atemu sighed.
"Where?"
"Left bank of the Nile. The monster almost got a child."
"What kind of monster? Who took care of it?"
"It had tentacles and was green colored. The woman was too distressed to get a good description." Seto snorted. Atemu often wondered why Seto insisted on his stony, unmoving attitude- he knew his cousin was concerned about these increasing monster sighting reports.
"Mahaado send his magician after it."
"Good, good."
The servants had cleared out of the room when the High Priest, one of the most valued counselors, had barged in, leaving a decanter filled with diluted sweet wine on the mahogany desk. Atemu picked it up and poured himself some in a goblet, ignoring his cousin. He rubbed his temples.
"There's a heavy storm coming."
"We're not in the rain season yet," Seto remarked dryly. Atemu glared at him.
"You know what I mean. This is the twenty-third reporting and we're not halfway the season yet. The reports are becoming more frequent, and those monsters seem to be more and more on the aggressive side. I haven't heard of any monster taking a child before."
"We don't know what causes these monsters to appear and why they appear. Atemu…"
The Pharaoh stared at him. Seto might be his cousin, but there were boundaries. He cleared his throat.
"Pharaoh, we do what we can to find out more about the monsters and their sightings. I still think…"
"I know what you think and I think," Atemu interrupted him, crimson eyes glaring, "that we don't need our nation to be in panic. We need to suppress the rumors, assure everyone that everything is under control, and meanwhile getting to the bottom of this. If the nation is in unrest, our enemies will see the perfect opportunity to attack us. I don't wish for a war with Syria or Nubia. Again."
"My Pharaoh, it's obvious that we can't solve this on our own. We need help from outsiders, though I loathe to admit it."
"We'll handle this on our own. There's no need for our neighbors to know that a nation like Egypt can't handle their problems. Who were you to suggest anyway? I haven't heard of any other nations reporting about threatening monsters."
"There must be someone behind it," Seto growled, ignoring Atemu's question. "These monsters don't appear on their own."
After a short silence, Atemu rubbed his temples again.
"When is Shimon ready?"
"Another hour, or so. I don't believe he bears more news about the monsters. I'm very curious if he has proof of the existence of this so-called Shadow Realm, though."
Atemu took a sip of the wine. "Aishizu was very adamant about its existence. I trust her and her foretelling powers enough to believe in this Shadow Realm." Absentmindedly, his fingers trailed down towards the heavy golden pyramid and clenched the object.
"Blah blah blah," Seto answered bluntly. "Nobody ever heard of this Shadow Realm, and nobody knows what to do about it. They're all-"
"Enough," Atemu interrupted him. He put the goblet down. Seto had a major distrust towards anything that he couldn't see or touch; it had taken all the Pharaoh's and the rest of his advisors' willpower to convince the High Priest that these sighted monsters were very real to begin with.
"Any news on the desecrators of my father's tomb yet?"
Seto cringed. Atemu wouldn't be happy.
"Rumors have it that it was the King of Thieves."
Atemu almost crushed the goblet. "Well, of course it was the King of Thieves! There isn't a single theft or robbery in this city that won't be attributed to him!" He took a deep breath.
"It bothers me that we don't have any information about him. No one knows how he looks like. That bastard robbed my father's tomb blind and we don't even know how he looks like!"
"My apologies, Morning and Evening Star," Seto responded. "We have increased our efforts, but if the King of Thieves doesn't want to be found.."
"He won't be found. Sharmute (4)!" Seto only raised his left eyebrow when hearing the curse word.
"He's long gone." Atemu waved with his hand. "Keep your eye on the black market. Distribute a list with a description of the artifacts. If there's something on the market that matches a description, we can possibly trace it back to him."
"What about the monsters?"
"Have Aishizu report to me, maybe she's foreseen something. Gather the other priests as well, except for Mahaado, he'll be tired. I'll talk to him later." Atemu sighed.
Seto stood in the room, unmoving, arms crossed in front of his chest.
"Well?"
"Well what? I gave you orders..."
"What aren't you telling me?"
Despite everything, Atemu chuckled. "Nothing escapes you, does it?"
The High Priest motioned to the decanter with wine and Atemu proceeded to fill two goblets. Without further words, Seto went to sit on the other reed chair.
They sat in comfortable silence, sipping the diluted wine. Atemu picked at the bowl of fruit and ate some of the grapes. He normally was never this agitated."It's just too much. Sometimes it's really too much."
Seto remained silent, patiently waiting for his next words. Atemu was thankful that he could speak up freely in his cousin's presence. His face softened, showing the true features of the hardly eighteen year old boy… no, young man, he really was. So young and already burdened with this great responsibility of ruling one of the world's most important nations- Atemu knew he wasn’t an exception.
He had studied the history of his ancestors very thoroughly and he knew everything about the previous Pharaohs, sometimes gaining a throne at mere child's age. At times like this he severely missed his father. He touched the golden pyramid shaped object again. Its familiar weight soothed him; it was from his father, who insisted that he wore it every day, as the token of the Pharaoh’s power.
Seto still didn't speak; his thoughts were with his own father, Akunadin. The man had been mad in his attempt to overthrow the Pharaoh in favor of his son, paying the ultimate price- his life. It was no secret that Akunadin had great knowledge of dark magic and he had played a significant part in the creation of certain Items, including Atemu's golden pyramid, that held supernatural powers.
Seto didn't believe in those powers, of course- not even when his father was alive and continued babbling and bragging about it. The man himself also held a magical Item; a golden eye, but it had disappeared after his death. No one knew where it was and Seto didn't care; he never agreed with his father's plans anyway. He'd rather be a High Priest and an advisor than on the run for the royal guards. It didn't bother him that it could've been him, wearing all the Pharaoh's attributes and titles.
"How come it bothers you today?"
"I...I don't know, really. I have faced worse problems, wars even- and yet..." Atemu sighed again. "Shimon talks about something he calls the Shadow Realm, about God Monsters... roaming the world as we know it. It feels like I'm walking on a very thin line, and smacking right into a wall."
"Shimon is getting old," Seto said, derisively.
"Do you doubt our most experienced advisor?"
"I'm starting to. Admit it, Atem- Pharaoh. The things he claims are really to fantastic to be true."
"That's the same thing you said when the first sightings of monsters were reported," Atemu answered, chuckling. "Do you want to take back your words once again, High Priest?"
Seto snorted, but didn't answer. He took a sip of the wine and reclined in the chair. The sun had set and a golden ray shone into the room, flashing over the pyramid.
"The Millennium Puzzle." Atemu looked down on the puzzle dangling from the golden chain on his neck- the absolute proof of his power. Akunamukanon had given it to him with the strict order not to break it, no matter what. He didn't know why.
"The diaries and the notes my father left me aren't very helpful. All I know is that the first monster sightings happened during his reign, and that he and Akunadin had some golden Items forged. All of his and my priests and advisors - you, Shimon, Aishizu, Mahaado, Karim, and Shaadi-" Atemu paused before he continued, "don't know a thing either. Nobody knows why he had seven golden Items made, why Akunamukanon took the Puzzle and your father the Eye. Nobody knows where three of the remaining other five are, or even what the Items do."
"The Tomb Keepers might know. They have guarded the Pharaoh's tombs for centuries!"
Atemu shook his head. "The Ishtars are divided in their own family, and you know I don't want to ask their eldest son."
"The murderer," Seto whispered, but quickly composed himself. "There must be another Ishtar who might know.."
"Unfortunately, he's the only one with the extensive knowledge about the Items. I'm not going to fall on my knees for him."
"My father's notes are a madman's folly," Seto returned to the subject at hand. "I can't make heads nor tails out of it. The only thing I can distinct is that the Items can be combined or need to be combined to face the monsters or to seal this Shadow Realm."
"I really wish they left us more directions," Atemu said dejectedly, fondling the pyramid again. "We know our fathers worked together on solving this whole Shadow Realm problem, but something must've happened..."
"My Pharaoh," a soft, but determined woman's voice floated through the room.
Atemu smiled.
"Aishizu." He knew better than to ask her why she was in his room without being properly announced. Her personal servant, a young girl with dark brown hair and blue eyes, Teana, held up her robes. Aishizu was the keeper of the Millennium Tauk, one of the few Items where the location was known of and worked in the favor of its holder.
Atemu appraised her. "You look upset, Aishizu. Is there something you want to tell me? Something you saw? Tell me, Aishizu."
Without answering, the Priestess lifted up her hands at the same level as the Tauk, which shimmered slightly.
"I've seen death and destruction, my Pharaoh. It's time for the Seven Holy Souls to come together, otherwise the world will die as we know it."
"What?" Even Seto raised his eyebrows. Aishizu, the epitome of calm and composed behavior, started talking frantically.
"A course of events has been set in motion since you accepted the Millennium Puzzle," she said and she shook her head. Teana touched the upper arm of her mistress, confused by her behavior.
Aishizu looked up, with tear in her eyes. "We're in for a very tough time, Pharaoh. A tough time that's going to demand sacrifices from us, and giving nothing but sadness and torture in return. I've seen blue skies, red blood and golden hate. I'm sorry, so sorry." She turned around and ran away.
Teana stood dumbfounded- she had never seen the Priestess act like this before.
Atemu's mouth had fallen open when he saw her ran away. He stole a quick look at Seto- the tall Priest snorted, as always the last one to believe in predictions or legends.
"My apologies, my Pharaoh," Teana said when she gathered her wits. Atemu shook his head.
"It's not your fault, Teana. I can clearly see you're not used to this behavior either."
Teana fumbled with the sleeves of her shirt. "My Pharaoh, forgive me for speaking so freely. I noticed that the High Priestess has been a little bit absent as of lately. She was a bit distressed the last few days, but never… never like this."
"I guess she has seen something with the Tauk that's indeed very shocking. I'll talk to her later, Teana. Why don't you go after her, to see if she needs anything. Report to me if she's no longer upset."
The girl bowed for him and went away.
"What do you think?" Atemu addressed his cousin. Seto stood up from the chair and cleared his throat.
"I have to go back to my duties."
"Go ahead." Atemu knew that this was Seto's way of saying that he needed some time to think. He didn't misinterpret the determined look on Seto's face. No matter how much the High Priest ridiculed or belittled the powers of his fellow advisor, there was still a hint of fear and respect on his face.
Footnotes:
1) Senetjer : incense
2) Shenti : the type of dress most of the people wore in the New Kingdom. It's mostly used to indicate the loincloths, resembling kilts, they wore. The length of these kilts varied from short (above knee) to long (calves or ankle height), and were wrapped around the waist and held in place by a belt or girdle. Often supplemented with a sleeveless shirt or a long robe.
3) Sun of God Dragon Ra : I know that's not the official name of the God, but the name of the Egyptian God Card in the anime (Japanese version). I just liked it this way and the God monsters will come to play a part in the fic as well.
4) Sharmute : very crude word, meaning "bastard".
Chapter 2