(A/N)Well, here's the battle scene… I worked forever on it, and I hope it's not too lame… I went back and fixed a few things in the last chapter, like the translation of Bakura's name. It's a more accurate translation that I got help with from lucidscreamer (great writer w/ a mass amount of knowledge on AE) Big thanks to her!
Also, I wanted to try something a little different with my sentence structure. I'm hoping to expand sentences, making them longer, without making them run-ons. If they seem wrong, please let me know!
Warning: I'm using Yami no Yuugi's real name in this story, so if you don't know it already (an unlikely chance if you frequent ffn) it will be a spoiler… Shonen-ai ness. Also, this is definitely AU 'cause in the manga/anime, Yuugi was never pharaoh! BTW: I will try to keep stuff historically correct when I can, however, I am not an Egyptologist and I will probably make mistakes. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
This is the space where I come up with a clever phrase that states that I do not own Yuugiou.
Don't Call Me Pharaoh!
By Hales731
Chapter 7: Your God Against Mine…
Atemu stared at the thief, registering the magnitude of what he had said. 'Oh, Ra!' he thought. 'Yuugi's father… Yuugi will be heartbroken if he finds out! This bastard will pay for ever hurting those who Yuugi loves dearly!'
"You arrogant bastard! What gives you the right to disturb the grave of my father?! What makes you think that you can commit such a crime without facing the wrath of him who wields the power of the gods?! Do you think you are strong enough to face me? Justice will be brought upon you!" Atemu shouted at Bakura, as a dark aura, the hue of the indigo night sky, began to manifest itself around Atemu. Yuugi's puzzle, from its place around Atemu's neck, began to shimmer and glow in response to Atemu's growing anger. With a burst of dark violet light, the eye of Horus appeared on his forehead.
Then, the ever-so-profound speech and revenge seeking thoughts of the pharaoh's lover were derailed as a dark laughter escaped the Thief King's lips. The laugh started as a dark chuckle, but swelled into maniacal hysterics. Any hopes for Atemu to appear brave were destroyed.
"Justice?!" Bakura snorted. "The ideal that determines right from wrong, sin from righteousness, good from evil; the concept of who deserves either punishment or reward, mercy or cruelty, life or death; the thought that everybody deserves something, even if it may be nothing; the idea that is supposed to be carried out in an unbiased manner; I don't believe in it; I prefer revenge.
"And here you are, a puny, spoiled brat that believes he comprehends justice. You think you are the one to administer justice; that you are the most knowledgeable on this, that the golden toy around your neck gives you the right to determine right from wrong?"
Bakura's eyes narrowed, a glimmer of pure hatred and loathing flashing with their chilly, crimson depths. "You know nothing of justice," he hissed. "You deserve nothing more than to have your kaa ripped from your body, and your ba shattered! Neither you nor you father deserve to rest in the peaceful fields of the next life!
"I will kill you and your priests, and take your precious Items! When your bodies and hearts are broken, you will have no use for them. But I do, for I am the Baku-Ra, and the King of Thieves. I will be the man to deal out justice!"
Atemu growled. Sure, he did not fully understand what the thief was saying, but he knew a challenge when he heard one.
"Fine! Then you shall meet a friend of mine! Meet Osiris, God of the Dead!"
He concentrated on the power within his heart, determined to bring forth the force that Yuugi claimed he could control. This time the summoning was different from his practice sessions with Seto. If he didn't keep his raging emotions under control, he would not be capable of directing his will through Osiris.
A flash of gold and crimson blinded those who remained in the throne room, alerting them to what was to come. Realizing that the emergence of a god was imminent, many fled, seeking safety. Soon, all who remained were Atemu, the six priests, and Bakura.
Crimson scales wound themselves around Atemu, filing much of the room, and a menacing growl erupted from deep within the chest of the beast. Atemu shot a nervous glance at it.
"So the pharaoh has decided to bring out his god already?" sneered Bakura. "Fine, this battle shall be your god against mine. We shall see who the gods have ordained to be victor!"
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Yuugi sighed, shifting in his place on the floor. He was not used to having to sit on the ground. In fact, he couldn't think of time he ever had. He had spent much of his life either in the arms of many of the palace wet-nurses, or in all manners of uncomfortable, straight backed chairs. He exhaled again, figuring that his position could be worse…
He turned his attention to the game in front of him. It was fairly simple. The goal was to place the ball, which was attached to a string, into the cup, to which the string was attached. The young pharaoh fiddled with the string, glaring at it slightly. He had easily mastered the game. Besides the ball and cup game, he had mastered a game involving the moving of stones from small niches in a wooden board to the larger niches at the end(1).
There was not much else in the room and he was willing to move on to something a tad bit more challenging. But, no. His pseudo-grandfather was out trading again, and Yuugi was forbidden to leave his, ahem, Atemu's room under pain of grounding (something that he was not familiar with, but wasn't willing to find out). He couldn't seek out any new toys or games. It seemed the old man was still a slight bit peeved at the pharaoh for 'holding his grandson hostage.'
If only he knew who was holding hostage at the moment...
"Atemu! Come down here and help me situate the new games in the shop. Afterwards, we shall have our evening meal."
"Great… more fun…" the diminutive pharaoh muttered, before heading towards the direction from which his lover's grandfather's voice had been come. "I bet Atemu's having fun. Probably having the time of his life, crushing Seto in senet. As much as I love him, he's a lucky bastard…."
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Atemu grunted, faltering in his steps, as he tried to take hold of the situation. The battle was difficult and wearing on Atemu. He needed to overcome Bakura quickly, before anymore damage was done to either his people of the palace. He figured Yuugi wouldn't want to come home to his palace in ruins…
After Atemu had released Osiris, Bakura had released his own soul beast. The creature was hideous, comprised of a man's body, a snake for a tail, and wings. If the kaa had been controlled by someone else, Atemu suspected that it would not be as evil as it was(2).
So far, every time his priests had attacked Bakura's kaa, which he had named Diabound, the attacks would be blocked. Two of his priests were already out cold. He tried to get into the battle, but was rebounded each time by Seto, who insisted that he stay out of the way.
The last blast from the creature shook the building again. Atemu had had enough. He pushed past Seto and the priest's protest to fight Bakura himself.
"So the wimpy pharaoh has finally decided to join us, instead of allowing his pathetic priests to do his work for him?" the Thief King sneered.
Atemu merely glared at the thief, turning his attention to Osiris, who had been growling from behind him and the priests. Focusing again on the force in his heart, Atemu called out a command.
"Thunder Force!"
The mighty dragon, perched behind Atemu, widened his jaws. From within the depths of his mouth, crimson light emerged. The light shot towards Bakura and his Diabound, knocking the thief back.
Bakura sat up dazed, realizing his immanent danger and defeat, and fled. But not before shouting a warning to Atemu.
"Don't delude yourself into believing you have won. This was merely one battle, and soon I and my darkness will destroy you all!"
And he was gone.
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Ryou wandered the halls of the palace, a bored look gracing his gentle features. Since Yuugi was out visiting his look-alike lover's grandfather, the chief healer did not have much by way of things to do. So, he had taken up meandering the halls, hoping to find someone who might have need of assistance. He would not be put off by servants and slaves hurrying out of his way, avoiding the healer's tendency to molly-coddle anyone who might have had so little as a papyrus cut.
The healer sighed. Without those with health issues, the palace was just no fun.
Previously, he had heard some loud shouting and a series of bangs, like those from explosions, and had started heading in the direction of the noises. He was rounding a corner, when a flash of white caught his eye.
Someone had just limped around the corner, out of his eyesight. They were obviously in need of medical attention… Ryou rubbed his hands together. Maybe the day wouldn't be so bad after all….
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'That fucking pharaoh! Destroying my life, killing my loved ones! He will pay. That overly pompous midget may have defeated me today, but his time will come….' Bakura mused to himself. 'Wait… midget… didn't I meet that same midget in the market? No. There couldn't be anyone else with hair as ugly as that…'
"Hey! Are you alright? Do you need some assistance?" a soft voice floated to the thief's ears.
"No, I fucking don't," he growled in response, without looking behind him to see who it was. If they were a threat, he could just kill them.
"I think you do," said the voice in a stern tone. "You're limping, and you're bleeding. If you're not hurt, then my name isn't Ryou." Bakura's attention peaked at the mention of that name. "Now turn around so I can get a better look at you."
Bakura smirked. He reflected that even if he hadn't destroyed the whiney pharaoh, then he'd be able to kill his mocker. Maybe the day wouldn't turn out so bad after all…
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Ryou tapped his left foot impatiently, waiting for the man in front of him to turn around. He knew an injured man when he saw one, and he wasn't about to allow a potential patient escape his grasp.
The man in front of him slowly turned around, until he was completely facing Ryou. The healer gasped, seeing what could've been his evil twin.
"So you are the man who dares to mock the great Baku-Ra?" the man hissed. "Shall I kill you now, or take you with me for a little fun, and then kill you?"
Ryou tried to pull his reeling senses together. His eyes wandered over the thief's well-built and tanned chest, down to the linen kilt the other was wearing. He gulped, trying to keep down a blush that was threatening to color his pale cheeks. Overcoming his shock, he realized that despite the man's threat, he was severely wounded.
"Ahem… You are not taking me anywhere, and you will not be killing me. That is until I get you patched up. Look at yourself! You're covered in bruises, cuts, and blood!" Ryou said in the most authoritative tone he could muster.
Bakura looked the healer over, almost in an appraising manner. His gaze paused on Ryou's pale and lightly built chest. Healers could never be completely weaklings, after all. Besides, a healer might come in handy, and by the way this man was well dressed and actually had hair(3), he was most likely the chief or favorite of the pharaoh's healers. Perfect for ransom…
"Hmph! I do not require your help! And if you won't let me kill you now, then you will be coming with me!" And he grabbed the protesting Ryou by the wrist, pulling him to an exit from the palace.
"I don't think so, sir! You will wait one moment. My healing room is just down this corridor, and I, being the most adept in my field, will be able to provide for your medical needs in no time. And then, if you insist, you can drag me to whatever cave you desire. But know this: I am the personalhealer of the pharaoh, and when he finds out I'm gone, he won't be too happy!"
Bakura snorted in disgust, but allowed himself to be directed to the healer's room. 'Who knows?' he thought. 'Maybe I might be able to bed this healer before then…'
And with a cheeky grin, he kept his gaze on Ryou's backside, as Ryou grabbed his hand with a firm grip and followed him into the healer's room.
(1) Mancala. I'm not sure it exsisted in Ancient Egypt, but I am assuming it did because the game's orgin in Africa. During Atemu's supposed time of the New Kingdom(1550-1075 bc), there was much trade, especially with Nubia (Southern Egypt; in, what is today, the Sudan). I love this game!
(2) According to janime. net, that "although he Diabound is the god of darkness, he is a good ka, but used for anevil purpose byBakura."
(3)In Ancient Egypt, the priests associated with healing had to be completely clean shaven.
Review Responses:
Xamosy-- Thanks! I had a great holiday! How was your's? And I hope that you like this chappie!
Hikari's-dark-side-08-- I'm glad you liked it! I hope you liked this one too!
Soul Dreamer-- Thanks! And I hope this was soon enough!
Citrusluver-- Well, I had to change the name, because there was a better (and what I believe to be the actual) translation. To see it, you'll have to see the last chapter! And there's more Ryou/Bakura hijinks here! I hoped you liked! And update your stories! I've been hoping to read them!
Lady Shinigami-- Well, thank you! I also have read many of the AE stories (some of which are terrible and completely historically inaccurate…) and wanted to do something a little different, along as use a medium to demonstrate more historically accurate Egypt. (Mind, my story isn't completely accurate… But, I'm trying) And thanks for the tip on Maahado. I've seen picture, but they have all depicted him as blonde/blue eyed. Plus, I've only read the manga, which isn't in color, so there was no way of telling what he looked like. Comments like yours are very helpful! Thanks again!
YamiShadowcat22-- Thanks!
Spica P.I.-- (glomps you) 'Allo there! Thanks for stopping by! I'm sorry I confused you…>. As I told Lady S. I wanted something different… But maybe I wasn't clear enough… (blush) Here's the next chappie, and I hoped you liked it! See you on LJ!