Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Catechism ❯ Chapter 11

It is noble to die for one's country, says the old anti-war poem I learned in British American War Poetry class.

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*

WARNINGS: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS RAPE, HUMAN SACRIFICE, AND OTHER UNPLEASANT THINGS!

Chapter 11

 

“Mahaado!”

Yami's worried voice snapped the Magician out of his trance. A small smile played on lips as he cleared his throat.

“My friends, I have just heard something very interesting…”

The Ring glowed as he relayed their message.

“Princess Desert Rose is Thief King Bakura's lover!”

“It seems true.” Karim looked at his scales. They didn't move. “Mahaado isn't lying.” Not that the Elected Priest had a reason to lie…

“But why would he kidnap Princess Lily?”

 

“Perhaps ransom?” Aishizu closed her eyes, tried to channel the Tauk… and screamed in pain as lightning blasted down upon her form.

Laughter rang out above them, and as the Priests and Pharaoh looked up, there, sitting astride the winged beast Diabound was Thief King Bakura, holding Princess Lily in his arms. The Mother Goddess Kali materialized next to them.

There was laughter, and he was barely aware of some energy flying at them but he had to protect his Pharaoh… had to…

The spell words were blurred in his mind, what runes was he casting, was that even the right spell, but…

Save… him…

 

“Mahaado!”

“He won't wake up.”

Aishizu's face was grave as she summoned Mystical Elf to heal her fallen brother. Yami had been the first one to notice, a strange, subtle shimmer in the air around them, like a mirror...

And then the attacks sent their way suddenly reflected back upon their owners… destroying their Ka… and their Ba…

“I don't understand.” Akunadin said heavily. “I've never seen a spell like that…”

“He didn't summon his Ka, so why?” Set looked confused.

And that was when the Blue Eyes White Dragon burst out of the cloud layer, with Mana and Kisara riding on it.

 

“Kisara!”

“Mana, what are you doing here?” Aishizu scolded. “You were supposed to protect the Palace!”

“Kisara said that you were in danger!”

Set rolled his eyes. As much as he loved Kisara, she needed a good dose of common sense once in a while. Aishizu seemed to pick up on this wavelength, and her Spirit Supiera and Karim's Curse of Dragon sped towards the palace, just in case… not that Mahaado's Wall Shadows weren't keeping watch, but…

“I'm perfectly fine, Kisara.” Set told her, tousling her hair affectionately, “But unfortunately, I don't think Mahaado is.”

 

Yami frowned. Why wouldn't Mahaado wake up? Could it be?

It was worth a try. He could argue out the ethics later. Propping the unconscious Priest up, he kissed him, waiting…

There was a slight feeling of pain in his body - energy drain most likely, not that he could recognize it as Mahaado had never drained him, but Mahaado's eyes snapped open, exhausted green. “P-Pharaoh!”

Yami broke contact, feeling energy running down his blood like fire into Mahaado's body through their clasped hands. “You drained your own magic to put up that… didn't you? You used all of the magic you've been accumulating, for all this time…”

“I had to protect my Pharaoh.” Mahaado's voice was barely audible.

“It worked.” Yami sighed. “But you could have died…”

Something in Mahaado's eyes shifted, a whisper of dark magic, and Yami relaxed. Everything was fine now. Now, what to do with the two?

Mahaado wouldn't die on him that easily!

 

Princess Lily and Thief King Bakura were sealed with a set of binding spells and transported back to the palace on dragon back, though the White Dragon looked most unhappy. The rest of the priests and Pharaoh followed.

Perhaps thing would quiet down now.

But it was a futile hope.

First though, Desert Rose had to go. They knew enough. She was Thief King Bakura's lover? Even if she had been innocent, such filth in the Palace was unacceptable, especially as a potential concubine.

Yami was extremely grateful he had not slept with her.

 

Set did it, actually. Slit her throat with the Millennium Rod. No one even bothered to extract her Ka.

The lowest of the low.

Death would have been kind to her, but now, they left her body unburied. She would not find a place to dwell in the land of the dead. Her soul would wander forever.

Fitting punishment for her traitorous actions.

 

“I wonder what happened to the real princess - or was it princesses? If one was a fake, than the other cannot be real.” Karim asked.

Aishizu frowned. “The Tauk refuses to show me. I do wish I knew as well…”

“It is all right. And how is Mahaado?”

“He is recuperating surprisingly fast… and he says that he is watching Princess Lily. Such blatant lies to the Pharaoh though, pretending to be a virgin, would already garner harsh punishment. If we found anything on top of that… well…”

“Good. Even if she has not betrayed us to Thief King Bakura, she is still dangerous.” Shadah intoned.

“I understand.”

Karim and Shadah smiled.

 

“What are you doing down here? Keh. Fool.” Bakura laughed as the High Priest opened the door to his cell. Checking on the prisoners, eh? Well, he'd take advantage of it! In an instant, his Ka had appeared, and the man was lying dazed against the wall, blood running down his face. Hm. He was rather attractive, and he had time… idiot hadn't even brought any guards.

After the deed was done, he slit the man's throat and reached for the Sennen Ring, preparing to make his escape.

Only to scream in agony as the ring blazed red-hot. After that, everything was darkness, and a whisper.

Son…

 

Mahaado sat up, giving the Sennen Ring a pet. Its pendants jingled, but they weren't angry.

“You're happy to have your child back, aren't you?” He asked. The Ring seemed to pulse in agreement. The mother wanted her child inside of her, where she could protect him and guard him and keep him.

It was quite like what he was to his Pharaoh.

He brushed a hand across his throat in irritation as the blood vanished. It had been merely illusion, if a messy one to pull off. Still…

“One word of warning, my dear Thief King… you can't kill what's already dead.”

His laughter rang out through the damp walls, and in her cell several doors down, Princess Lily shivered.

 

Yami stood before Mahaado as he traced the gleaming black armor his lover was encased in. “It fits you.” He said softly. “It fits very well.”

“I am glad you approve, my Pharaoh.”

“When my time comes…you will lead me home, right?”

“Of course, my Pharaoh.”

The Black Magician smiled as the Pharaoh pulled him into a kiss.

 

“What has he done?” Akunadin gasped. “Why would he…?”

“It worked, didn't it?” Set said coldly. “Mahaado always did put the country first. Pity he went about it in such an underhanded fashion.”

“My brother is not dead.” Aishizu said calmly. “His Ka lives on. That is all I ask.”

Karim and Shadah comforted her, and the Pharaoh simply smiled at the tablet.

Disturbing…

But if it worked, well, they wouldn't fault it.

Besides, even if Akunadin and Shimon were of the older generation and did not approve, the younger Priests knew that sometimes…

Sacrifices needed to be made.

Akunadin seemed to have forgotten the history of the Sennen Items. Either that, or he had blocked the memory.

It was a rather horrifying one.

 

It had hurt! Set and Karim and Shadah had had a hard time holding the Priest of the Ring down as his Pharaoh drew the ceremonial golden blades down his body, tracing out ancient symbols of magic that glittered red.

However, Mahaado had never uttered a sound, not even as Yami gave him an apologetic look and made the first horrible incisions in his chest. Set had winced in sympathy as the light faded from Mahaado's eyes and a chill wind sent all of the candles in the chamber flickering out.

When the flames were rekindled, moments later, there was no body. But floating above the table, wrapped in night-black armor, was a very familiar visage.

He had regretfully used the Sennen Rod to seal the former priest - now only a soul monster, into a tablet. And the day after, Yami and Mahaado had put their plan into action.

Now, Thief King Bakura was just a disembodied spirit inside the Sennen Ring.

Perfect.

 

End Chapter

Completed 4/9/06