Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Catechism ❯ Chapter 5

Hehehe…

Yes, Yami learning dark magic from Mahaado. Or at least he's trying.

Disclaimer: Yu-gi-Oh! Belongs to Kazuki Takahashi. I make no profit off this fanfiction, and it belongs to me under international copyright laws. Don't steal and don't sue. Thank you, *Phantomness bows*

 

Chapter 5

 

The first time he tried dark magic, he didn't think it was different from light magic. It was still just using his magic, and the fiend he had summoned stared placidly at him. “Woo?”

Kuriboh.

Shadow magic? He'd done a summoning spell by mistake? Without a tablet? That was impossible! He hadn't even been able to summon the Ka in his heart yet!

Mahaado blinked at him, turned back to his scroll, and mentioned something about different magic types. That was when Yami figured it out.

He wasn't dark.

Even if he thought that his magic was dangerous, which it was, it was still shadow. He still had morals, still had honor.

Mahaado simply shook his head.

Yami was willing to give up his life for Egypt.

But Mahaado was willing to give up everything for his Pharaoh.

That was the difference.

 

Yami used to pride himself on being strong, because he had to be strong to be Pharaoh, but as the Kuriboh nuzzled into his arms, and Mahaado poured him tea with honey just the way he liked it, he felt himself bursting into tears.

Mahaado didn't shush him. He didn't say anything.

Yami wanted to cry. He wanted to grab Mahaado and haul him back, bring him back into the shadows where he belonged. But Mahaado had already been walking the dark paths for months.

Was it too late?

Mahaado handed him something to wipe his tears with, and he tried to stop crying. He really did. He'd been doing well with all the stress, but now… now…

He didn't want… he didn't want Mahaado to die!

Now he was just being irrational.

Mahaado wasn't going to die just because he practiced dark magic. It was the only magic he had left, after all, even if Yami didn't like a lot of the implications.

 

Mana came in and squealed upon the sight of the Kuriboh. Yami was more then happy to hand it off to her, and Kuriboh cooed at Mana happily.

Mahaado sighed, poured tea for Mana as well, and asked her if she had gotten the water spell right yet.

Mana turned bright red and fled, Kuriboh in tow. The two older … children of them exchanged glances. Minutes later, another explosion sounded in the palace.

Mahaado gave an exaggerated sigh, grabbed a jug of date wine, and stalked off to find his wayward apprentice.

Yami followed with a smile.

It was nice having a distraction around, to know he could still smile.

 

The next day, he was dolled up as Pharaoh, wearing slightly more extravagant clothing than usual. The normal white clothing and blue he wore had been replaced with an ominous red, black, and gold pattern. Perhaps it was to represent Ra and Horus and Osiris, instead of Obelisk, like his normal attire. In any case, he didn't fidget as the first of the dignitaries - barely concealed irritation at the rule's age in his eyes, kneeled down, followed by his retinue of servants.

Mahaado and Aishizu stood closest to his throne, though they were the youngest of the priests. In spite of his duties as the overseer of the Royal Tombs, Akunadin had decided to saddle Mahaado with the duties of Palace security as well.

Yami wondered why his uncle disliked Mahaado so much. Oh well.

There was a reason for the placement of the priests round the throne though. Mahaado had little power - he left that to Priest Donkor of the Rod, and Priest Shadah of the Ankh, but he had speed. Thus, if there was anything flying at Yami, Aishizu would shout and Mahaado would block it. It had already happened several times.

Yami privately wondered if Mahaado's cape was made out of steel disguised as linen, then shook the thought away. It couldn't be…

 

He listened as the Ethiopian delegate spent several hours praising Egypt's power and strength before he finally got to the point of his story. It was quite boring. Apparently the man had several daughters, and wished for one of them to become his queen. It would certainly help cement the alliance between the two kingdoms, but Yami wasn't sure.

He didn't want to get married yet!

Still, he did not flat out refuse. His lessons in diplomacy hadn't all gone over his head. He simply stated that he would speak with his Council and give an answer in a week.

That seemed to satisfy the man, and the meeting concluded swiftly after that.

 

That night, there was a long night of feasting and dancing. Yami felt on edge the entire time, though he could not precisely pinpoint the reason why…

Perhaps he was just being paranoid?

No, that sounded much too simple.

Mahaado gave him a brief smile and he felt slightly better, but even so, he was twitchy. It wasn't instinct that warned him. It was magic. Dark magic.

Actually, he expected it to hurt, but it didn't. He felt the magic wind about his shoulders in a caress and stay there. Interesting. It was probably a protection spell.

Something was wrong again.

But it felt nice, like Mahaado was protecting him.

 

The dancing girls shot him sultry glances, but the Pharaoh studiously ignored them. Aishizu and Karim were deep in conversation. That was interesting.

Were the two of them… together?

It was not exactly forbidden, but as long as they didn't shirk duty, he didn't mind.

Shadah joined their conversation, and that was probably why only Mahaado noticed the odd greenish tinge his bracelets were turning. Apprentice Priest Set and Priest Akunadin had retreated, ostensibly to work on some priest job, Priest Donkor was too busy cooing at the young woman in his lap, and Yami had been seriously falling asleep, almost in the food, because he was still a kid and being Pharaoh was tiring.

He knew what it meant though.

 

Yami was surprised when Mahaado made a flying leap across the banquet table and yanked him out of his seat right before a hail of poison darts thudded into the throne. Aishizu's eyes widened and she cursed the necklace for being unresponsive, and Karim hurriedly summoned a sand spider trap monster.

The assassin rather looked like a mummy by the time Karim and the royal guards - now more awake, and less occupied with the dancing girls - managed to yank him down. Shadah took one look at the man's Ka and shook his head.

Priest Donkor was summoned, and he gave an annoyed look before he sealed the man's Ka inside a convenient stone tablet that four men dragged inside. It was a tiny, twisted thing. No one would want to use it, but better safe than sorry.

The Ethiopian dignitaries looked somewhat shocked, but swallowed their questions and only gave polite nods.

The feasting resumed, though Yami decided that he'd just stay on a cushion next to Mahaado until they dug the darts out of his throne. There might be residual poison left there as well.

Still, he decided, as Mahaado fed him sweets and kept a wary eye out for danger and watched as his loyal Priest's bracelets returned to their normal poisoned - and pristine gold - state, he wasn't sure he wanted a Queen.

He wanted Mahaado instead.

 

End Chapter

Completed 4/8/06

Pulling teeth, I say, pulling teeth. I'm too lazy to write or something…

Phantomness: *Hunts for a plotbunny juicer* you inconsiderate bunny! I'll kill you! I have to suffer Writer's Block because of your inconsistency!

Plotbunny: O.O *Runs*

Mahaado: *sweatdrop*

Yami: *Snuggles Mahaado as Chibi! Yami*

 

I write fluffy angst. Or angsty fluff! ^^

 

Yay for random information on Egyptian colors!

Black = life, death, fertility

Green = life-bringing

Blue = phoenix and rebirth, sky, the Nile

Red = victory or evil, Ra's evil eye… ^^

 

Okay. Some people got confused about the difference between Shadow magic and Dark magic. I tend to think of it this way. Shadow Magic has more honor!

See, Mahaado sleeps with people to kill them. Yami wouldn't do that, at least not in this point in the fic. Mahaado is going totally Machiavellian - the ends justify the means. Yami may Penalty Game people, but they usually deserve it.

Then again, who's to say that Mahaado wiping out people trying to kill Yami isn't wrong? Ah, it's so confusing.