(no subject)

[the_goldenpath]

Title: Trilogy of the Seven Holy Souls : Book 1 : Past (4/?)
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh!
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)
Genre: action, adventure
Summary: (Ancient Egypt) Yugi, Ryou and Malik are destined to fulfill a prophecy; they have to find their dark halves, the other sides of their soul, in order to save the world from total chaos and destruction, and before the Shadow Games are fully unleashed.
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! is copyrighted to Takahashi Kazuki.
Author’s notes: I refer to Yami no Bakura in this fic as “Akeifa” (fanon name by lack of his real, given name in the AE arc). Canon events are butchered and twisted to fit my evil plot. Main characters are around 18-20 years of age. Feedback is greatly appreciated.



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Atemu carefully rolled up the papyrus and put it back in its small, clay container. The last notes and diary entries of his father still puzzled him; he was sure that a lot of answers were hidden in Akunamukanon’s writings, but he just couldn’t find them, nor figure out the cryptic references. He refused to believe his father was insane or impaired in any other way when writing this down – Atemu had intensively studied the notes, comparing them to Akunadin’s writings and his own discoveries concerning the “Shadow Realm”, again and again. Someone coughing politely next to him interrupted his train of thoughts. It was a servant.
“Pharaoh, Shimon Muran and priest Mahaado are here to see you.”
“Finally!” Atemu almost spat into the face of the poor servant, who shrunk back from his Pharaoh. “Send them in!”
“We’re already here,” Shimon said and motioned the servant to leave. The elder advisor sat down in a teak chair, fanning himself, while the priest remained standing. Atemu wasn’t used to see a pained and distressed look on the face of his most loyal priest. Mahaado was, as one of a very select few, intensively trained and skilled in wielding magic; pure, unaltered magic- the same magic that enabled him to deal with the current influx of monsters. He was also very convinced of the existence of a Shadow Realm, as soon as he heard Shimon’s theories and speculations about it- Mahaado had always believed in the presence of multiple realms or ‘planes’, some visible and some invisible to the human eye. It was suffice to say that Seto wasn’t that fond of Mahaado and his realms either.

“You look tired, Mahaado,” Atemu tried to break the ice.
The Priest nodded. “My Pharaoh, sightings and reports of the monsters are increasing at an alarming rate. The streets are filled with more and more panicked rumors, upsetting and confusing the people. I can’t deal with all these monsters myself; it drains too much of my magic.”
“Shadi and Karim are assisting you wherever they can, aren’t they?” Atemy asked.
“Yes, my Pharaoh. Together with their Items, they’re of invaluable help,” Shimon answered. “With his Ankh, Shadi can stabilize the monster and with his Scales, Karim can determine whether it’s a good or a bad monster.”
Atemu snorted. It was only recently that Shimon had told him about his theory that, even in the ominous Shadow Realm, there were good monsters and bad monsters- Atemu had chosen not to react, as the idea of a war among those monsters was really too much for him to comprehend. Still, Shimon had been very adamant about it.
“Mahaado is the only one with effective power and magic to put a stop at these creatures. If only we had the other Items, or knew of a way to connect them…” Atemu mused.
“I’m sorry I can’t help you with that,” Shimon said, low in his throat.
“It’s not your fault, Shimon. My father didn’t involve you in the process, though I’d give up half of my Kingdom for the other Items, or at least for the proper knowledge how to stop this threat.”

“My Pharaoh, I’ve been sensing these strong currents lately,” Mahaado said, in his usual, calm voice. “Bad currents. Something is shifting in the magical plane, like the Scales going out of balance. There are so many powers in this world that we don’t understand, Pharaoh. Some of these powers are manifested in the monsters we’ve seen lately… and I think there’s more to come. Some of these powers is heading towards us, one way or the other.”
“Can you… probe or something, if this magic is good or bad?”
“From what I sense, my Pharaoh, this power is divided into multiple torrents. I can’t really express what I’m feeling. From what I’ve gathered, it feels like strong pride, determination and hatred; a very bizarre mix of emotions. All I know is that it doesn’t feel right.”
“Hatred? That reminds me of what Aishizu said: “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.”
“Blue skies, red blood and golden hate?” Mahaado repeated the words. “I don’t get it…” He shifted from one foot to the other. “Why would there be so much hate?”

“May I remind you that Aishizu’s Tauk has always worked perfectly, and that we have to take this vision of her very seriously?” Shimon mentioned. As the eldest advisor, his word held much power, much to Seto’s infuriation. The tall High Priest had an unhealthy dose of aversion to anything the elder man said, certainly if it pertained to the monster sightings and the Shadow Realm.
“How serious can we take a vision of blue skies, red blood and golden hate, and feelings of anxiety and danger? There’s something coming our way, and there’s nothing we can do! I want to protect my people, and I don’t know what from! From those monsters, that keep appearing and disappearing, from that Shadow Realm of yours that somehow seems to exist. How serious do you want me to be when talking about beating something that I can’t see?”
Shimon looked defeated. Mahaado clenched his fists.
“My Pharaoh, you have my word that I’ll do everything in my power to help you and to put an end to this!”

Atemu pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know, Mahaado, I know. It’s not your fault- it’s not anyone’s fault.” He looked up. “Shimon, you must tell me everything that you can remember from what my father told you about the Items.”
“I already told you everything I know, my Pharaoh. Your father mostly spoke with priest Akunadin- I was only an advisor, and my advice wasn’t requested for this issue. He took this matter in his own hand, decreasing the number of people involved; probably to prevent the news from leaking out or arousing panic or suspicion. I don’t even know where the rest of the Items are and how they work. We miss the Rod, the Ring, and the Eye- the most powerful ones, besides the Puzzle -, and we haven’t succeeded in tracking them down, even with the help of Aishizu’s Tauk. It really is a shame. I’m sorry Pharaoh, but-“
“’I’m sorry’ doesn’t help me!” Atemu raised his voice. “Call the Priests together. We’re going to look for those Items and figure out how they work ourselves. If need be, we test them out and learn from our mistakes. If this Shadow Realm needs to be contained, than contain it we will.”
Mahaado looked shocked at the outburst, but changed his expression to one of determination. “I will warn the others.”

“Aishizu is not here at the moment,” Shimon said tentatively, eyeing Atemu. “She went out… to…”
“Visit her younger brother,” the Pharaoh filled in. He knew about the unwritten tradition of severing family ties after the initial vocation, and couldn’t blame his only female advisor to get family sick. He decided to let it slide. It was a dumb tradition to him anyway; one of the many he wanted to adjust or abolish. It were moments like these he wished he wasn’t surrounded by elder advisors or priests, but with friends he could count on no matter what, or a younger brother himself, for talking to. If only father and mother hadn’t died so young and left him with this nation to reign- he put an end to these thoughts and shifted in his chair.
“You’re excused, Mahaado. Shimon, stay a while.”
The priest took a bow, his headpiece slightly revealing some strands of his long, chestnut hair, and turned around to leave the room. Shimon made himself comfortable in the chair, digging up papers from his robe and putting them on the desk. Atemu bit his lip, took a deep sigh, and helped the elder man spreading out the papers.

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It was silent in the bedroom. Akeifa traced lazily circles on Mariku’s chest. Even in sleep, his Egyptian friend seemed tensed and plagued by the anger and hate he’d felt his entire life; Akeifa couldn’t remember for the life of him if he’d ever seen Mariku really relaxed or free from any worries.
The cotton curtains moved in the faint early evening breeze, filtering the setting sunlight to an impressive palette of golden and orange colors. Clothing was strewn all over the marble floor, and one particular item caught a glimpse of the golden light. The peculiar rod with the sphere and the tipped wing blades caught the thief’s attention. This item was a part of the infamous Millennium Items. Seven Items, and he already had one- the Ring. The thief wondered what was so important about the Items. Mariku’s had mentioned opening the Gates of Hell, and that something called the Shadow Realm didn’t settle with him well either.

On the other hand, that much money would settle him for the rest of his life, a comfortable, luxurious life. Akeifa had been fleeing and running his entire life, and a mansion and settling down sounded nice to him. If he asked Mariku for advice, maybe he could set up a business like him. The idea of the King of Thieves becoming a ‘honest’ tradesman made him snort. So many gold for the Items. They were obviously important, not to mention the Gates of Hell and that Shadow Realm thing... Akeifa grinned. Maybe he could use the Items for himself. Knowledge was power, and half of Mariku’s empire was built on exclusive knowledge, available to the highest bidder.
Mariku shifted and moved his head a bit to the left. Absent mindedly, Akeifa played with the long strands of sun bleached hair. For some reason, Mariku’s thick hair never felt smooth, but always coarse and unkempt, even more so than his own. Akeifa buried his hands in the hair and tugged a little, but didn’t get a reaction.

The one thing Akeifa appreciated most about Mariku was that he never asked questions, never whined and never moped about being alone or being left out. Akeifa knew that they didn’t share much but the occasional night together and he sure as hell didn’t feel anything for Mariku in terms of love or commitment. Still, he owed the Egyptian much. After the destruction of his birth village Kuru Eruna, and walking around with much hate and anger on his own, Akeifa had nowhere to go and nothing to eat or to live for until Mariku found him and took him to his own house, underground.
“You know, I can hear you think.”
“At least I’m thinking.”
“Ha ha.” Mariku turned around to face him. Bland violet eyes rested upon the King of Thieves. “Something the matter? You look worried.”
“No, not worried.” Akeifa forced himself to look Mariku straight in the eyes. That was the one thing he appreciated the least about him- his eyes. Mariku’s lavender eyes bore no pupils, and always wore the same lifeless expression. It made it very difficult to read his expression, and dangerous to boot for the thief, who judged his predicament by the look of one another’s eyes. He believed that anger and pain had burned out every single emotion in Mariku’s eyes, about the same time the young Egyptian had to undergo his Tomb Keeper initiation.
“Not worried,” Mariku repeated. He darted with his tongue over his lips. “Why the worried look, then?”
“Those Items… they weren’t forged from only gold, now were they?”
“No. They needed another sacrifice to make them work. The same sacrifice that’s going to work against them.”
Kuru Eruna. A whole village was slaughtered and sacrificed to forge golden Items no one knew even the purpose of. Akeifa looked at Mariku, who just stared back at him.
“The bastards.”
A small smile showed itself on Mariku’s face, before he promptly got up and moved so quickly out of the bed he matched Akeifa’s speedy skills. He picked up a robe from the floor and threw it around him. No matter what position, Mariku never showed anyone his back or allowed touching it. Akeifa was aware of the heavy scars, carved into the tender flesh at a young age. He moved out of the bed on his own, looking for his sandals.
“Your father was really weird, you know that?”
“I’m well aware of that. Why else did you think I killed him?”
Mariku’s smile was nothing short of outright creepy. Akeifa shuddered. He prided himself in being one of the greatest thieves- he didn’t wear the title of King of Thieves for nothing- but he never killed before. Threatened to kill, knocked some people unconscious, broke a few limbs of those standing in his way- but never killed in cold blood.

“I’ll do it.”
“I knew you’d do it.”
“One gold bag per item, one extra for the Pharaoh’s Item.”
“Deal,” Mariku said. Akeifa grimaced. His suspicions were confirmed. If even Mariku agreed with the insane amount of gold for those Items, there was much more going on than he imagined. The thief started to dress himself- skirt, hooded robe, maroon cloak, and sandals- and started donning his jewelry.
“I need some time to prepare. One does not walk into the Royal Palace at night.”
“Ask Bobasa for supplies. We have everything you need, and if we don’t, I’ll make sure we get it.”
“I’ll see him right away.”
“Won’t you join me for dinner?”
“Sure.” Akeifa turned around. Mariku only wore the robe, hardly covering his body. “Dinner and more.”
The satisfactory smile on Mariku’s face pleased him somehow and he left the room in search for Bobasa. He felt those violet eyes bore into his back, for a long time to come.

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