Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Countdown to Armageddon ❯ Blue Eyes ( Chapter 6 )

As you will soon discover, I love to play on the idea of history repeating itself and I'll be jumping around, time-wise for the next few chapters.

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"words" - speech

'words' - thought

//words// - I'll explain later

/words/ - ditto

\lots of words\ - flashback/the past

Large gaps mean a scene or time change.

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is the intellectual property of Kazuki Takahashi, and is being used in this fan fiction for fan purposes only. All situations, opinions and characters not belonging to Kazuki Takahashi are the intellectual property of Blue September.

Warnings: This fic contains Yaoi and some amounts of graphic violence. You may also notice some OOCness in some of the characters.

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Chapter 6: Blue Eyes

The auburn-haired boy worked the wet rag in circles as he cleaned the smooth marble floors. His small frame was already finely sculpted from years of labour, despite his young age, which, by the way, was about nine. Though from his activities one might think him a servant, his attire said otherwise: simple yet elegant. He wore a plain white skirt, with the slightest hint of gold embroidered at the bottom. It normally fell just about his knees. Pure gold manacles fitted his, upper arms, wrists and ankles and he had no shoes on lest they dirty the floor he'd already cleaned. The mid-morning sun shone through the arches of the grand, palace hall and absently he cursed under his breath.

"Stupid what's-his-face. 'You need to learn the meaning of hard work,'" he mimicked. "Tch! My ass. How in the name of Geb[1] did I end up here in the first place?"

\Seth ran barefoot through the dusty streets, back to his home, where he would rest with the others. The others were children like him, children with no one to look after them, but themselves. They had all lost their parents in some way or another, or had simply been abandoned. Seth was however different from them in that respect, though. No one, including the little brown-haired boy himself, knew where Seth had come from. One day he was just there.

There had been a certain excitement in the air that day, for the queen was expecting. All prayed for a son, as the pharaoh had yet to produce a male heir. According to those who had been at the shores of the Nile, a little blue-eyed two-year old all of a sudden climbed out of the water as if he had just been swimming and was bored. There were no parents, or any other relatives, just the sopping wet child.

The queen bore a son.

After that Seth had been taken in by the rest of the parent-less children. Most of the adults were afraid of him, not because of his sudden appearance. No, that wasn't it at all. It was in his eyes.

Seth had the most piercing blue gaze they had ever seen. Their unusual colour was deep, powerful and over all frightening. So they stayed away, but not the orphans. Many of them knew what it was like to be alone and were sympathetic. They became his family and as he grew he learned their ways. They each found whatever work they could and shared what they earned. That way, no one would starve. They didn't have much, but it was enough.

Once in a while some unfortunately child-less couple would take one of them in[2]. Those were the lucky ones and Seth longed to be one of them, but that would never happen to him. The people of Thebes were very superstitious and they tended to fear what they didn't understand. Seth always tried to keep as far out of their ways as possible in case that fear somehow blossomed into hate as it has a tendency to do. Not to mention the fact that strange things seemed to happen around him. As he continued home, he recalled the night he had run into some trouble.

Three men had been chasing him. After the little food he'd been able to purchase for himself and the others. They had cornered him in an alley and he closed his eyes, preparing himself for whatever they were going to do. That's when he'd heard it, a strange growling sound, then screams and finally a bright flash of light. He heard the low growl - no, purring sound again and felt an unusually warm breeze brush against his neck. Startled, he spun around quickly… only to find himself standing right in front of the orphan house. How he had gotten there was yet another mystery, but at least he was safe.

The point, however, was that he was different. Different equals strange and strange does not equal good. So he had come to terms with the fact that he'd never be taken in. But that all changed a few years later…\

"Oh yeah… almost forgot about that." Seth sighed deeply and pushed the dirtied bowl of water over to a dry section of the floor preparing to clean again.

\"Seth! Seth! Wake UP!"

"Mmm… What?" he grumbled rolling over on his mat. He'd been working hard that morning and was taking a nap. He also didn't really feel like being disturbed.

"Get up or you'll miss it!" He cracked open an eye and saw a girl with two, black, braided pig-tails. She was very thin, but who there wasn't? He sadly realized that she wasn't going to stop bothering him until did what she said and got up.

"Miss what?"

"You haven't heard?"

"Would you please just tell me what you're talking about or I'm gonna go back to sleep." The girl who was by the way older and taller than Seth grabbed him by the arm and started pulling him out of their stuffy, one-room, mud-brick home. "Where are you taking me-ah!" Seth used his other hand to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight as he was dragged outside. The girl stopped. "What was that for?"

"Look," she said pointing down the road towards the inner parts of the bustling city. Seth once again did as told and was surprised at what he saw. A small group of royal soldiers and servants were marching towards them. The servants carried a heavy burden upon their shoulders.

"Is that… the king?"

"No, but close. It's the High Priest, Genubath."

"High Priest? But what is he doing down here?" They didn't exactly live in the most respectable part of town. In fact, their home was nothing more than an old abandoned building. Many questionable characters also roved these streets. His first thought was that perhaps they were there to arrest someone, but no. They hardly had enough soldiers for that, especially if it was someone important enough to bring the High Priest out. So then, what?

"That's why I dragged you out here! He's looking for a boy to become his heir. I heard his wife couldn't have any children, so he's here looking for one to take in."

"Oh. Is that it? I'm going back inside."

"WHAT!? What do you mean 'is that it?'" the girl screamed, momentarily catching the attention of the other gathered children. "For all you know he could wind up choosing you-"

"HA! Rai, you have to be kidding, right?" said another boy laughing. He looked to be around Rai's age with short, nappy hair.

"Shut up Iry!" she shouted back. "Seth has just as good a chance as you."

"Yeah right! Not little demon-boy over there."

"SHUT UP! And don't call me that!" yelled Seth. He never really liked Iry, because quite frankly he was a jerk. He used every opportunity he could find to put him down. He figured that it was because he liked Rai and she always spent so much time with Seth, but he couldn't help it if she preferred his winning personality, over Iry's bastardly one.

"What are you gonna do about it demon-boy?" he taunted.

"Don't."

"Demon-boy…"

"I said, 'Stop!'"

"Demon-boy…"

"STOP IT!" That was it. He'd gone too far. Seth launched himself right at the other boy sending them both crashing to the ground in a heap. They rolled and rolled both trying to get the upper hand. They other children screamed and cheered around them, some chanting Iry's name and others his. Eventually, Seth managed to pin the other beneath him and proceeded to pummel him into the dirt with tiny, but powerful fists. Iry tried to fight the smaller boy off, but only ended up with a bleeding lip and nose. Finally, he realized that Seth really meant business and that he had no chance.

"Stop!" he cried. "You win! YOU WIN!" But Seth wasn't listening. He was sick of it, all the teasing and taunting. Well enough was enough. He was going to teach him not to mess with him. Iry, by now was doing everything he could to cover his head. "Get him off me!"

Seth suddenly felt himself being hoisted off the other boy. Some of the other kids, Iry's friends, had decided to help him out, but they found the task harder than expected. He almost broke free a couple of times before he started to calm down. None of them had known he was that strong, including Seth. Iry wiped some of the blood from his face and gazed at his dirtied hand in mild horror.

"What are you, crazy kid?"

His anger slowly ebbing away, Seth noticed the other children were all quiet and staring at him as if he really was a… a…

"You there."

Everyone turned to see who had called out. Forgotten by all the High Priest and his entourage had actually reached them. He was a well-built man with a heavy, dark moustache and eyebrows. He was well dressed, wearing ridiculously, tall hat signifying his position, a lot of fine, gold jewellery, fancy-looking sandals and what-not. What caught Seth's eye, though, was the strange golden trinket he held tightly in his hand. It looked like some sort of miniature staff; a thin, round handle and a large bulbous end with a strange symbol he recognised as the left eye of Horus, and it was pointed straight at him.

"Who…" wondered Seth, looking around, "me?"

"Yes you. Come here." Seth gulped nervously, but made his way over the man. He towered a few good feet above the eight year old. "What is your name?"

"I don't really have one sir, but the people around here call me Seth," he said, staring at the ground and doing his best not to appear frightened.

"Seth? Why is that?"

"I guess they think that I'm some kind of evil spirit or something[3]," he said shrugging. "I don't know why though."

"That's not true," someone shouted. Iry. Oh, how Seth wanted to punch his face in, again. "He's a little demon, that one. He'll bring you bad-"

"I don't recall ever giving you permission to speak, urchin," said Genubath, sneering at the other boy. "Do so again and you'll lose your tongue." Iry suddenly had nothing else to say.

The priest turned back to Seth crossing his arms. He stared at him for a long time saying nothing, but making the boy extremely anxious all the same. "Do you know who I am?" he finally asked.

"Yes sir. You're the Lord High Priest Genubath." Genubath smirked a little at the boy's rigid posture and formality.

"Good. And do you know why it is that I'm here?"

"I believe so sir. I heard… that you were looking for a child, but it was only gossip sir. People here will believe anything," he said joking slightly trying to loosen himself up and maybe priest as well.

"True. Very True." The priest paused again as if thinking how to continue the conversation. "Look at me," he ordered.

'Damn,' thought Seth. He really didn't want to. At this range the High Priest would undoubtedly be able to tell why they called him a demon and maybe he'd be afraid too, only being a priest instead of a commoner the consequences could be worse. He could almost feel Iry smirking behind him. "Lord Genubath I don't think someone like myself is worthy of such an honour." He felt like gagging inwardly. He sounded like such an arse-kisser, it almost made him sick.

"Are you disobeying me?" asked the man coldly.

'Oh great.' Now he really had no choice, for the priest was obviously losing his patience. He looked up.

The priest's own coal, black eyes widened minutely in surprise, before the stoic expression on his face was replaced.

"Interesting. Turn around," he ordered and Seth complied. He stood silently as he was slowly appraised. "A little on the scrawny side, but you'll do."

"D-do?" 'Is he saying what I think he's saying?'

"Yes you'll do," said Genubath climbing back into his lift. He motioned to the empty space beside him. "Get on."

Seth was unable to move for a moment, but when he was he climbed on as well. He couldn't believe it. Rai was right. He was… wanted.\

Sighing discontentedly Seth through the wet cloth into the bowl of water and decided to take a rest. He had been doing this for most of the morning and his hands and knees were close to being rubbed raw. He stood and intertwined his fingers pushing them towards the sky to stretch his sore muscles. After earning a few good cracks, he dropped himself heavily onto the floor, resting his arms behind his head, knees pulled up, praying that Genubath wouldn't find him dawdling. Then again he was a bit too tired to care right now.

"Besides, what am I anyway, a servant?" He closed his eyes allowing his thoughts to drift. "Humph! I liked it better at the orphan house. At least there I had a choice…" 'At least there… it was like family. I thought that's what was getting coming here.' He absently ran his finger along an old scar on his left shoulder. "Boy was I wrong."

\For the first few weeks Seth was the happiest he had ever been. Servants attended to his every whim. He was well clothed, cleaned and fed. His life was perfect. It didn't, however, last very long. Eventually the training began.

As Genubath's new son, he would one day be expected to take on the role of High Priest; therefore he had to be prepared. He was taught and tutored by some of the finest minds in the Egyptian palace and all of Egypt for that matter. It was soon discovered that Seth was quite talented. Within a few months he was able to read a write a few simple things so Genubath decided to start him early on some lower level magic, which he would teach Seth himself.\

Seth shivered slightly as he thought of those nights, one in particular.

\Light magic, simple or complicated, was not easy. Seth had been practicing for days and had still not been able to light the oil lamp with his magic. This would be his fifth attempt that night.

He held his palms outwards and concentrated on the shiny metal lamp, then further onto the oil inside, carefully willing the heat to rise. Softly he chanted the spell over and over, praying that it would work. Genubath looked as if he was growing impatient. Afraid of what might happen, he accidentally sent a strong pulse of magic into the lamp causing it to explode and hot oil to go flying. Luckily it missed him, but a loud wail alerted him to the fact that Genubath had not been so lucky. Hurried over to inspect the damage, but was caught off guard when the golden item came down across his left shoulder, one of two sharp wing-like pieces attached to the orb, jabbing into his flesh.

"AAH!"

"You foolish brat," spat Genubath, as Seth lay on the ground clutching his bleeding shoulder. "Haven't you learned a thing?" he screamed, now giving the boy a good kick to the gut. "Get up and damn-it, do it right this time!"\

'And it only got worse after that.' "Bastard," he grumbled. "I can never do anything right to him. I bet if he told me to jump off the roof and die, he'd complain I didn't jump far enough, or that I fell too quickly." He snorted.

"Why would anyone do a stupid thing like that?" someone asked. Seth eyes jolted open, at the sound, and he realised that someone was leaning over him. He found himself staring into a pair of unfamiliar red eyes. "Um… Hi."

Pale, but muscular, arms loosely wrapped themselves around an almost equally pale neck. Gold mingled with lilac as the fairer of the two rested his chin atop his lovers head. He inhaled the sweet sent of the light-purple hair lovingly, his pointed ears twitching ever so slightly with delight.

"Dreams again love?" he questioned. His only reply was a loud sigh and he pulled the other sitting at the edge of their bed closer, closing is golden-orange eyes. "Are you sure there is nothing I can do? Is there anything different about them?"

"A bit. It's only happened recently though."

"Care to share?" asked the blonde, as he brushed the other's long hair aside. Sliding his hands to the other's bare shoulders he began to massage the muscles lightly, slowly easing away the tension.

"Mmm… I used to see the red-eyed shadow and another one, but never together at the same time."

"And now?"

"Now they are; the red one and the other hovering close by. And I can feel them drawing nearer somehow. If I could only figure out what it's supposed to mean."

"I'm sure you will Caligo, just give it some more time and I'll be there for you when you do." The shorter, short-haired man was pulled into the other's lap where he gazed into his lovers blue depths.

"Thank you Cyric, my love." said the blue-eyed man, smiling and kissed him deeply.

To Be Continued…

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Authoress' Notes:

[1] My own Egyptian version of 'how on Earth…'

[2] I'm not sure as to how the adoption process worked in Ancient Egypt. I just know that it was done.

[3] There was a time when Seth wasn't a very well liked god.

Wow! That took forever. I think this has been the longest chapter so far.

VIH: Yeah! Maybe you should go do your homework now…

Both: …BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

HAHA! That's a good one. *wipes tear from eye* Yeah… So could you tell who the two guys at the end were? PLEASE leave us a REVIEW and take a guess! It would be greatly appreciated.

VIH: There is also one more important note. VOTE to decide whether or not the gang (i.e. Jou, Anzu and Honda) should be in this fic too. We need to know so we can write the next chapter.

I hadn't originally planned on it, but I kind of like the idea. Depending on what you guys decide I'll see. Ja!

P.S. Don't worry if you're an Anzu lover I won't be bashing her (intentionally).