Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Awakening ❯ Return of the Pharaoh ( Chapter 2 )

—I accept anonymous reviews now. I swear I thought I had that feature checked when I first came to Mediaminer. Oo; Weird…anyways, here we have a new chapter of Awakening. So far not much has happened, except for Yuugi finding the Restorative Scroll. I realize that this Yuugi doesn't really seem like the adorable, little Yuugi we know and drool over, but…people change as they get older. It's a sad, but true fact.

 

*Author's Note: Similar to my Model Romance fanfic, there will be a pet cat. The cat from Model Romance was an Egyptian Mau. The cat in this story is a Burmese.

 

Chapter 2 - Return of the Pharaoh

 

“Foxie! I'm home!” Yuugi called as he walked into his low-rent house. The house Yuugi shared with Foxie had been his home for five years now. Yuugi checked his phone messages and was surprised to hear that one of them was from his old girlfriend, Tea Gardener. He and Tea had broken up before graduating high school, because it would be impossible for them to cope with a long-distance relationship.

 

Yuugi felt something furry brush against his calves. “Last I heard form Tea, Foxie, she was going to Paris for a big performance. Now she says that she might try acting!” Yuugi had broken up with Tea for another reason. He didn't want her to find out he was bisexual.

 

Foxie looked up at Yuugi with her sweet blue-green eyes and mewed softly. Yuugi knelt down and stroked Foxie's red-gray-brown fur. Yuugi had bought Foxie at a local animal shelter as a kitten. Now Foxie was almost out of her kitten years, but she was still a bit clumsy like a kitten. But she was good company and never complained about what shape the house was in.

 

Yuugi sighed. His house was still the same. His next-door neighbor had obviously been here, because the place looked clean. I made sure she fed Foxie too, Yuugi thought. The house stood like a huge, brick box amidst a very small yard with a few potted flowers sitting on the front porch. The flowers were dying, because Yuugi had forgotten to tell his neighbor to water the flowers.

 

Yuugi's house was just one story, not counting the attic. He rarely had guests over, except for the neighborhood children who came to play with Foxie after school. Yuugi didn't date. Hell, he hadn't had a date since he was with Tea in high school. After high school, Yuugi buried himself in his books and went into a studying frenzy when he ended up in the Domino University of Archeology and History.

 

Picking up Foxie and stroking her fur, Yuugi walked into his living room and sat on the soft, dark green couch. Across from the couch was a big-screen TV that would make Grandpa Mutou weep with joy. Yuugi sighed heavily. “Ever since I got out of high school and my friends and I went separate ways, I've always felt like…like I'm missing something. It's almost as though I'm only a half of one whole person.”

 

Foxie purred and sat on Yuugi's lap as he continued to pet her. At least she's a good listener, thought Yuugi, but her advice sucks. He chuckled and scratched Foxie behind one ear. “Maybe I should start dating again, Foxie.” Yuugi said. “I could set up a blind date…” Foxie mewed and Yuugi shrugged. Blind dates were kind of risky. There was a fifty-fifty chance that his blind date would like him or dislike him.

 

Suddenly, for some reason, Yuugi remember the Restorative Scroll. He stood—much to Foxie's annoyance at loosing her comfy lap—and walked over to the case where he'd put the Scroll. Pulling it out, Yuugi decided to read it out of good humor.

 

He sat down on the couch with Foxie at his side. “Foxie, listen to this.

 

`From the depths of the Underworld

Let thy soul come forth into the next life

Come forward O soul and let thyself be known

Take strength from Anubis

Let Ma'at judge thee worthy

Come forward O soul and let thyself be known

Fly on thy own wings back to this life

Hear these words and be restored

In flesh, bones, and blood'.”

 

Once Yuugi had finished reading the Scroll, the ancient text began to glow and Foxie jumped under the couch to hide. Yuugi dropped the Scroll and ran to the hallway that separated the living room from the kitchen. Yuugi peered in as the Scroll gave off a powerful light and a shimmering sound that burned in Yuugi's ears.

 

Something was taking shape in the light. Yuugi squinted and held up an arm to shed his eyes from a good bit of the Scroll's brilliant glow. The shape looked like a human, but Yuugi couldn't get a good look. He wished the Scroll would stop glowing so brightly. As if hearing his wish, the Scroll's light faded and Yuugi's jaw dropped.

 

There was a human lying on his couch! But he looked so familiar. Yuugi took a couple steps into the living room. The human was male and quite attractive. He had Yuugi's spiky red, black and blonde hair with blonde lightning-shaped streaks entwined in his red and black locks. His bangs were also blonde and shaped like lightning bolts. His skin looked so smooth and tanned to perfection. He wore an ancient Egyptian shenti connected to his waist by a golden belt with a sleeveless shirt clinging to his upper body. Around his wrists were golden bracelets with golden bands on his muscular upper arms. Attached to his shoulders was a deep purple cape and on his forehead was a golden circlet with a strange eye-like symbol on the front. On his ears were beautiful, golden, ankh-shaped earrings.

 

Yuugi blinked and stared at this young man who looked to be about the same age he was. Oh shit, he thought, no way this could be…t-the…

 

Before Yuugi could finish his thought, the young man stirred and awoke. He sat up looking very confused. He looked at Yuugi with crimson eyes and Yuugi turned bright red.

 

“Wh-where am I?” asked the young man in a deep, but soothing voice. “You there, what place is this?”

 

“Uh…m-my house.” Yuugi answered.

 

“Your house? How did I come to be here? If you have kidnapped me, you will be punished severely.” A dagger made of gold had somehow appeared in the young man's hand.

 

Yuugi took a step back. “No, no! I…I read this Scroll, see….and—”

 

“What scroll?”

 

The Restorative Scroll was lying innocently on the floor and Yuugi gestured to it. “That one.”

 

The young man picked it up and his eyes widened. “The Scroll! I told my mages to bury this Scroll in my tomb! How did you get hold of it?! Are you a tomb robber?!”

 

“No!” Yuugi said. “I'm an archeologist and—”

 

“Ar-what? What is that? Tell me!”

 

“Hey, watch it! You're in my house. Don't order me around in my own house! Who the hell do you think you are?!”

 

The young man laughed. “Is that anyway to speak to your king?”

 

“I don't have a k…” Yuugi's voice trailed away. “Are you Pharaoh Atemu?”

 

“So glad you know who I am.” Pharaoh Atemu stood up with his dagger in one hand and the Scroll in the other. “Now, answer my question. How did you get hold of my Scroll?”

 

“Your Scroll? Hell, I was the one who braved the traps in your tomb to get it. It's mine now.” Yuugi snapped.

 

“So you are a tomb robber! I shall have you dealt with swiftly once we return to my palace.”

 

Now it was Yuugi's turn to laugh. “Hate to break it to you, Pharaoh, but your palace is nothing but ruins now.”

 

Pharaoh Atemu blinked in surprise. “What? I don't understand.”

 

“You've been dead for five thousand years. I restored you back to life when I read the Scroll.” Yuugi explained.

 

The Pharaoh sat back down on the couch and stared at the Scroll. “It can't be…all my friends…my loyal servants…are they…”

 

“They're all long dead.” Yuugi softened a little. He did pity Atemu. This young man had once been the greatest Pharaoh in all of Egyptian history…now he was just a strange dude in funny clothes.

 

Pharaoh Atemu looked up at Yuugi with a cloak of sadness over his eyes. “I'm…sorry I was so rude. Forgive me, I…I had no idea…”

 

“It's okay. My name is Yuugi Mutou, by the way. Can I just call you by your name, instead of `your Majesty' or `your Highness'?”

 

“What will I do now? This world must have changed so much in five thousand years.”

 

“Yeah it has.” Yuugi felt a lump of guilt in his throat. By reading that Scroll, he'd brought the Pharaoh back into a world that was bizarre and unfamiliar to him. It was his fault that Atemu was all alone now. “Hey, uh, Atemu? Do you want to stay here with me?”

 

Atemu looked back at him. “What? Live here?”

 

“Sure. I've got a spare bedroom and I live alone except for Foxie.”

 

“Who is…Foxie?”

 

Yuugi whistled softly and Foxie came out from under the couch. She sniffed at Atemu and rubbed against his leg. “This is Foxie. She's my cat.”

 

Atemu reached down and stroked Foxie's head. The young cat purred and mewed quietly. Atemu turned to look at Yuugi again. “You really would let me stay here?”

 

“If you don't mind…”

 

“Not really. You're the only one I know in this new life of mine. Will you help me?”

 

Yuugi nodded. “I promise, Atemu.” He turned to leave. “I'll show you your room.” He turned back and saw Atemu inspecting the big screen.

 

“This device…” Atemu said touched the TV screen. “A giant box with some kind of window into darkness? What purpose does it serve?”

 

“Entertainment.”

 

Atemu cocked an eyebrow. “Entertainment? How?”

 

“I'll show you.” Yuugi grabbed the TV remote off a table and pressed the on button. The TV tuned into the Discovery Channel.

 

Atemu let out a yelp and fell backwards, scaring Foxie and making the cat drive under the couch again. Atemu sat up and stared in wonder at the TV. “It's…magic...”

 

“Uh, well…not exactly.” Yuugi showed Atemu the remote. “This controls the TV.”

 

“Tee Vee? Is that what this device is called?” Atemu held up the remote.

 

“No. That's the remote.” Yuugi pointed to the big-screen. “That's the TV.”

 

Atemu pointed the remote at the TV and, mimicking what Yuugi had done, pressed the ON button. The TV turned off. Atemu's eyes widened in horror. “What did I do?! I'm sorry I didn't mean to make your entertainment go away, I,” he was interrupted by Yuugi's laughter, “what's so funny?”

 

Yuugi stopped laughing and wiped a tear form his eye. “It's okay. You just turned the TV off. Press that same button and it'll turn back on again.”

 

Atemu pressed the ON button again and the TV turned on. He repeated this action over and over, turning the TV on and off, saying, “I've conquered the magic of Tee Vee!”

 

Yuugi took the remote from his hands and turned the TV off. “Okay, that's enough. I'll show you your room and the bathroom.”

 

“Bathroom? Oh, yes, the room where servants bathe you.”

 

Yuugi chuckled. “Sorry, I don't have any servants.”

 

“Are you a commoner?”

 

“Well…I guess you could say that I'm a step above the commoner level. I don't make much money, but it's enough to get me by.” Yuugi said.

 

“So who bathes you?”

 

“I bathe myself.” Yuugi led Atemu down the little hallway and opened the first door on the left. It was a rather large bathroom with a tub big enough for two people. The floor was covered with blue and white tiles and the walls were a periwinkle blue color. There was a sink with a silver-colored faucet and assorted toilettes lined the sink neatly. The toilet sat against the wall between the sink and the bathtub.

 

Atemu took a step inside and sniffed the air. “It smells nice.” He fidgeted a little. “Mind if I use this before we continue?”

 

Yuugi held back another fit of laughter. “Sure.” He closed the door and let the Pharaoh have some privacy.

 

After almost ten minutes, Atemu emerged and said, “What do I do now?”

 

Yuugi went back in and tired not to look at the piss filled toilet. He pressed the handle and the toilet flushed. Atemu was fascinated by this as well.

 

“Where does it go after you do that?”

 

“The sewers.” Yuugi replied. He led Atemu out of the bathroom and across the hall to the first door on the right. He opened it and Atemu stepped inside.

 

It was a small room with lots of books piled and crammed into big shelves. Next to the bookshelves was a computer desk missing its laptop. Papers were pushed into impatient piles on the corners of the desk and the desk chair was topped with a worn-out cushion.

 

The bed looked very inviting. Its sheets were a dark blue color with a white pillow placed carefully at the head, just waiting for someone to lie down. The walls around the bed were plastered with posters of Egypt, ancient Greece and ancient Rome, and so many unknown historical sites.

 

“Yes I like this room.” Atemu sat on the bed and lay down with a sigh.

 

“Hey! What are you doing?!” Yuugi exclaimed.

 

Atemu removed his cape and crown and said, “Getting settled into my new room.”

 

Yuugi sighed with annoyance. “This isn't your room. It's my room.”

 

“Yours? But then why did you show it to me?”

 

“Well, if this is going to be our house, then I have to let you know where and what every room is. Your room is next to mine.”

 

“But I like this room. I'll trade you rooms.”

 

“You haven't even seen your room!”

 

“Yes, but I like this one. I command you to give it to me!” Atemu protested.

 

Yuugi frowned hard. “No! My house means my rules! You can't command me. You're not a king anymore, remember?”

 

Atemu's face fell. “I…forgot…” He looked at a poster of the Sphinx and touched it delicately. “Everything has changed…”

 

Yuugi softened again and smacked himself on the forehead. “It's okay. I'm sorry. I forgot how hard this is for you. Look, come and see your room. If you don't like it, then we can always fix it up. Y'know, make it look the way you want it to look.”

 

Atemu turned and nodded without saying a word. He followed Yuugi to the second door on the right. It opened up into a room the same size as Yuugi's room. The only furniture was a desk similar to Yuugi's, but without the mess. Beside the desk was a bed with a patchwork quilt and a pillow inside a light blue pillowcase.

 

“So…this is my room?”

 

“If you want it to be.” Yuugi said.

 

I think I prefer Yuugi's room, thought Atemu. But then, this is his house, his palace. I certainly wouldn't want a stranger to claim my old bed chambers as their own. Atemu nodded. “This will do. Could I have posters of ancient civilizations too? Like those in your room?”

 

Yuugi nodded. “Of course. I'll give some of the posters I haven't put up yet. And we can buy you some new clothes and—”

 

“What's wrong with the clothes I'm wearing?! I'll have you know that my clothes were the height of Egyptian fashion.”

 

“This isn't Egypt, Atemu.” Yuugi stressed the word isn't. “In today's world, your clothes are just plain strange.”

 

Atemu looked at Yuugi's outfit. A simple white, T-shirt with brown khakis and silver-stunned, black leather shoes. “So is your outfit the height of your modern fashion?”

 

Yuugi blushed a little. “Well not exactly, but it's my body. I'll wear the clothes I want.”

 

“So will I!”

 

“Yeah, but do you really want people poking around in your business? If they find out how you came back to life, people will start nosing around my house and they might even take you away and cut you open and…” Yuugi shivered.

 

“Never mind. I get the point. Can we look for new clothes now?”

 

Yuugi nodded. “Okay. Let me make sure Foxie has fresh food and water.”

 

“Where does she sleep?”

 

“Anywhere she wants. Usually it's in my room though. But now that she has two humans, she might come into your room, so keep the door open. She likes that.”

 

Atemu nodded and Yuugi left to find Foxie. The Pharaoh turned and stared at his new room. It was like the window into his new, second life. He stepped inside and accepted his position in this new age.

 

—Another chapter has come to an end! Let me know what you think…'course you'll do that anyway, but I still wanted to say that. Clothes shopping with a five thousand year old Egyptian king…that should be an adventure xD