Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Crimson Ruby Love ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5

When she calmed down, Shizuka told all there of her foreboding vision.

"As Father and Pharaoh of Egypt's people, I won't let this happen!!" Yami felt up ready to defend his people, even if it cost him is very life.

Seto saw in his almond shaped eyes an inner fire burning in their crimson pools. "That is the spirit which makes you pharaoh." Understood Seto, thinking silently to himself. He clasped the myrrh-oiled bronze hand of the pharaoh's in his own. "I will fight by your side and lay down my life if necessary for the very lord whom I serve."

"You can count me in!" Yugi placed his dark brown coffee hand over the high priest's olive one, that squeezed Yami's hand.

"Me too!" added Jounouchi, speaking in a strong warrior's voice behind the low table.

"I will also help." Said Shizuka softly, still shaken up by the vision she saw. She trembled, her head buried into her brother's strong arms. "Right now, we need more information to identify who this robed figure is."

The high priest sat cross-legged, staring at the crystal ball hoping for an answer.

"Perhaps .the answer lies in the Tarot." Shizuka lifted her sweet face from her brother's chest.

"Please, no. I don't wanna see ya hurt, Shiz." A dewdrop tear fell from Jounouchi's golden chocolate eyes, down his plum blossom cheeks onto Shizuka's porcelain face.

"I must." insisted Shizuka hugging her beloved brother tightly. "For the pharaoh, and to save all of Egypt."

"Alright, Shiz, I just don' wanna see ya hurt. Ya be careful, ok?" her brother made her promise.

She nodded, embracing him tenderly. "I promise, big brother."

She let go of him, sitting back on her cushion, to continue the reading. Everyone felt anxious. She told them the fate of Egypt lay in the Tarot. The next card she turned over was the Devil. On the card, everyone saw Sekhmet, the Egyptian sun goddess of destruction, with a lion's head. Sekhmet, the Eye of Ra, was part of the life giving sun, but Egyptians knew in the desert the sun could kill someone. By the bottom of her feet, two people sat bound by chains.

"The Devil means being shackled down by evil, but the evil can be overcome. The chains by her feet represent darkness, though the bonds of the chains aren't secure. I believe the two people chained are symbolic of Seto and his lordship," said Shizuka, interpreting the card.

"It's so clear." Realized Yami, glancing at the card. "Would the purple robed figure from your vision represent the goddess of destruction?" considered he.

"By Ra! I think you're right." Said Shizuka smiling, now able to piece this mystery together. "I feel you and Seto are the main ones to battle this force of evil. I think your relationship with Seto is connected to this too."

Two more face down cards remained. The atmosphere in the room grew tense, anticipating what the next card might reveal. Shizuka's delicate hand flipped over the Three of Swords, a big heart with two swords crisscrossed piercing it and a third sword.

"The Three of Swords shows a possible division between you two. What decides this, only the cosmos knows." The candle's wick, now very short barely burned above the hot wax. The tiny flame danced mysteriously in the emerald wells of Shizuka's eyes.

The astrologer turned over the last card, finally. "The Wheel of Fortune. It means your destinies are in your own hands, that your own actions will determine your future." Foretold she ending the reading.

"An enigmatic reading," thought Yami and Seto. At least they knew what issues each faced.

"Now I know for sure we are lovers. But, will the warrior in Seto's heart rest allowing the lover to awaken and love me?" contemplated Yami deep in thought watching the candle's dying flame.

"I've been a warrior for so long, my heart has grown cold and icy. Will the ice entrapping my heart melt, allowing the lover in me to love? I've never loved anyone before. I'm so scared, knowing only the shelter of the icy walls around me." Shivered Seto, his olive colored skin chilled slightly from the cool air in the brick building.

"What about the lavender robed one, the evil one?" asked Yugi to himself, truly scared for the first time. "Who is he? Why does he want to destroy us? And how can we stop him? Oh Great Ra, the Sun Father, if you can hear my words, please give me a sign." The youth's cherubic face buried under his marigold bangs faced down, towards his clasped hands.

No sooner than he prayed, a sign came immediately.

"Meowww," purred a soft pair of malachite eyes in the dark, through the slightly opened door from the dusty street. The outer layer of the feline's irises gleamed a golden yellow, fading into a light peridot, with the center of the eye, a deep malachite When the feline slid inside, a gentle wind pushed the door open a few inches more, so a few beams of sunlight lighted the darkened room.

A cinnamon colored strip, ran from between the feline's ears down her back to the end of her graceful tail. Her short patterned fur, alternated in stripes of brown and dark yellow, giving her a tiger's look. Her large inquisitive eyes glanced at Yugi thoughtfully. She arched her back, purring and rubbing against Yugi's dirty coffee leg warmly.

"What a sweet kitty!" Yugi leaned over to hold the gentle kitten in his arms.

"Meow." she purred again, rubbing her head into Yugi's suntanned chest.

Yugi felt something cold touching his skin around the cat's neck. He saw a collar on her, and the cool object he felt was a tag. "Bast," it read.

"So you're Bast? I'm Yugi!" grinned he cuddling the kitten tenderly. "Are you the one Ra sent to help us?"

"Meow! Meow!" she purred happily, nodding her tiny head.

"Hey, wait a sec Yug." Jounouchi knitted his golden brows together, his expression rather perplexed.

"Oh!" Yugi chuckled cheerfully, his boyish eyes pleasant. "I prayed to Ra before asking him to give us a sign.and well Bast came, so Ra sent Bast to help us!"

Jounouchi couldn't help but laugh. "But a cat.eh?"

"No, there's something different about this cat." Yami took a step towards Bast studying her aura carefully. He closed his eyes, to see what mental image he might receive. In his mind's eyes stood a lovely lady posed elegantly on a pink lotus flower. Her skin tone was ebony black, the dark color of Nubian peoples. Her slim physique seemed almost goddess like in its build like Isis herself. Around her goddess figure she wore a simple linen dress like Shizuka's. But, her head struck Yami as nonhuman, for it was a cat's! The same soft eyes, outlined by a yellow ring receded into a light peridot green, with the inner iris an emerald green. The same cinnamon stripe between her feline ears ran down behind her head.

"Son of Ra." she whispered, her divine voice echoing in Yami's mind.

Yami's eyes shot wide open, awestruck by the goddess like presence. "Oh goddess Bast! It's really YOU sent by the Divine Sun Father, to guide us through those troubled times!" cried Yami bowing before Bast in Yugi's arms.

Seto laughed so hard, his sides began to hurt. "Yami! Don't tell me you've lost it like this cat worshipping youth!"

"It's a cat man, a darn cat!" chucked Jounouchi, falling on the floor.

"No Brother, there's something special about Bast." Said Shizuka seriously. She held her hands in front of her heart, in the prayer position to honor Bast. "Bast, will you please guide us on our path to save Egypt?" she asked her angelic voice musical.

"Meow!" Bast leapt out of Yugi's arms unto the earthen floor. Everyone followed Bast out of the house to the topaz street outside. She ran so fast, everyone breathed heavily struggling to keep up. They headed down the main street, leaving the older part of town back to the bustling bazaar. Eager buyers haggled with the vendors, until each agreed to a set price.

"Check it out! They're racing a cat!!" pointed one vendor laughing at Bast's tired runners.

"I'm gonna punch ya, right where it COUNTS!!" hollered Jounouchi, irked at the stupid vendor.

"Heh, if you're even man enough to do that!" sneered Seto haughtily turning his nose up at Jounouchi, running ahead of him.

"Oooo! Now yer askin' fer it, ya pompous priest!" grumbled Jounouchi, sticking out a fist to scare Seto, a pace ahead. "I'm more than man enough to punch ya many times over, till ya cry like a school girl!!"

"Oh dear Ra! I'm sooooooooooo scarred!" cried Seto in a high pitch voice, mocking him back. "I doubt your aim is good enough to get my..!"

"Don't say it! You silly perv!" chuckled Yami over his shoulder at Seto. "You're supposed to be a proper priest!"

"Errrr.hahaha!" The High Priest's cheeks turned cherry red.

"I'm gonna getcha!!" muttered Jounouchi, under his breath.

Yugi and Shizuka being the fastest runners, followed just behind Bast, until they reached the outskirts of Tanis. There, Bast stopped by a large, enclosed honey colored wall, built of mud brick, about ten feet thick, laid over a framework of wooden beams and red mats. This massive wall enclosed an entire temple.

"Hey, we found a wall!" pointed out Yugi, tapping the honey colored mud brick wall.

"Uh.maybe this wall can save Egypt?" wondered Shizuka puzzled, pacing beside Yugi.

"You idiots." Remarked a conceited voice.

Yugi and Shizuka turned around to see the High Priest, his arms crossed, standing erect as he grinned at them. "I believe this wall surrounds a temple, unless, your intelligence is too low to comprehend that."

"How dare ya insult my sis'!" barked Jounouchi, ready to pounce on Seto.

"Behave yourself, even if he annoys you." Yami laid a firm hand on Jounouchi's tensely muscled shoulder. "According to my divine logic, there should be an entrance."

"Right, an entrance!" babbled Seto to himself, aggravated that he wasted his time following Bast in the first place. "I suppose that damn cat knows where the entrance is."

"Meow!!" purred Bast softly, answering him. She brushed herself against his kilt-covered leg.

"Great, follow kitty again." Seto sighed, rolling his eyes back.

Everyone excited, except Seto, walked behind Bast who led them the entrance, a fortified gateway to keep out thieves, set between two high pylons. In front of the two high pylons, sat marble statues of Ra.

"How odd." observed Seto. ".That even the Outer Court, usually accessible to the general public is closed today."

"YO! OPEN UP!!" demanded Jounouchi loudly, rattling the iron gateway.

"Shouting on the temple grounds is an offence to Ra!!" shouted back the voice of an irritated lass, rushing to the gate.

"GOOD!! Then Ra can come down from his celestial throne and kick my ass, cause I HATE WAITIN'!!!" yelled Jounouchi at her. He rattled at the gateway even harder.

"So impatient!!" remarked she, stopping in front of the gateway. The lass, from her soft round face, appeared young between the age of Yugi and Yami in her early twenties. Her skin complexion, an exotic rich honey beige, was close to Jounouchi's mocha tone in color. Her undertones glowed a light caramel yellow, matching the honey colored wall. Her little brownish cheeks, popped out like red cherries when she smiled. Her delicate purple, plum blossom lips curved up into her cute cherry cheeks. Her eyes large vivid eyes, captured everyone's gaze. The outer area of the iris, a crystal- clear, like the tropical waters of the sea near the shore, faded gradually into a bright blue green aqua deeper into her eyes. In the very center of her pools, the beautiful aqua blended into an even deeper shade of cobalt blue, dark like the open blue sea. The sun's light sparkled in her eyes, as though, it played on the surface of gentle waves.

Her short copper hair cut, neatly below her ears shined a reddish gold in the sun's rays, sinking in the sky. The sinking sun, positioned just behind her head, made the outer edges of her hair glimmer a soft yellow, giving the effect of a halo encircling her head. It reminded Yami of meditating on Ra's image, while watching the rising sun in his spiritual practices.

While he thought about the sun, he saw across her forehead a thin golden circlet. In the middle of it, enameled just above her eyes was a golden sun. Facetted in its middle, glittered a sunstone, its golden sparkles catching everyone's eye. This piece of jewelry identified her as a priestess of Ra, just like the snake on Yami's circlet marked him as the pharaoh.

Around her shapely figure, she wore a pleaded white linen dress exposing her bare shoulders and a small area around the graceful neckline. The dress gathered on the ground over her papyrus sandals and tiny toes. Hiding her body from her hips to her knees, a beautiful golden cloth was worn as an overdress, over the main linen one. On her breast hung a golden talisman, with her name engraved on it. The talisman was believed to magically empower and protect its wearer.

"Greetings Hem Netjer," spoke Seto in his rich priestly voice. Stepping forward he pushed Jounouchi out of the way. Hem Netjer was the title of Egyptian Priests meaning, "Servant of the god."

"I truly apologize for the actions and words of this low commoner." Bowed Seto pretending to act humble, by placing his hand over his heart as he bowed slightly.

Steam clouds blew from the ever so angry Jounouchi's head. He opened his mouth, ready to shout at the high priest. Yami put a hand over his mouth. He pulled him back from the gate where they could have some privacy.

"I know you're irked." began Yami smiling nervously, hoping Jounouchi wouldn't react. ".But, this is a case of class differences."

"WHAT!?" hissed Jounouchi under his breath, into Yami's ear. "Stop defendin' the stuck up Hem Netjer. He's got a DAMN ATTITUDE PROBLEM, THAT'S WHAT!!!" Jounouchi raised his intonation loudly, grinning as Seto heard every word.

"Ahem!" Seto cleared his throat, glancing at Jounouchi, his stormy eyes cold and angry. "You stupid commoner, you're the one.!"

"Both of you, SILENCE or face my wrath!!" yelled Yami loosing his royal temper. He jumped between the bickering young men. Surprised, everyone gawked at the fuming pharaoh. No one EVER saw the pharaoh display his anger openly.

"Meow! Meow!" purred Bast against Yami's leg hoping for some attention.

Fuming, the pharaoh ignored her. He lectured Seto and Jounouchi.

Bast left him, crawling under the barred gate. She jumped into the priestess's arms. She knelt over, kissing Bast on the nose.

"Aww, did you leave girl just to bring back those quarreling men?" said she scratching the feline behind her ears. "Oh, really? You want me to let them in?"

Bast nodded leaping out of the priestess's arms. She took out a key turning it in rusty lock of the gate. It creeked opening slowly.

The five outside the gate came in only to be awestruck by the temple's beauty. The fine sand of the Outer Court was made of tawny gold, each grain dazzling like a nugget of pure gold itself. The sun's beams played on the luminous sea of gold capturing the breath of those who entered. Even the garnets embedded in the cobblestone walkway glowed like rubies upon the sea of gold. The grains of the cobblestone rocks too glistened as if pure silver, polished by the gods.

On the branches of the twining trees, the temple workers adorned each branch with garnets of every color. Blue, green, red, yellow, and orange garnets glittered in a myriad of rainbow lights as the branches swayed in the gentle wind. A slight breeze stroked the bejeweled trees giving off a melody of tones carried on the breeze. The sweet tones melded together in a celestial song sung by the angels praising Ra. Their hearts stirred by the heavenly melody, the various temple birds chirped harmoniously, their sweet songs blending with the melody echoed in the breeze.

"The birds of the land, they praise our Sun Father who warms us with his light!" whispered the priestess softly, the halo around her hair illuminated gently.

The peacocks opened their dark green fantails to the sun, the blue, violent and golden eyes reflecting the light of the sinking sun. Orioles, mynas and other birds spread their wings out bowing on the sea of gold to honor the sun father above.

"So beautiful." said Shizuka's angelic voice into her brother's ear.

He smiled to her. The soft golden light glinted in his honey, chocolate eyes.

"This celebration of Ra you see here pales in comparison to our exquisite evening service." The lovely priestess grinned, her hands upon her swaggering hips. "I'll ask the Kher Heb, the lector priest if you may join us tonight, but first purify yourselves in the Sacred Lake."

"Ah, the Sacred Lake. I'll explain to the others it's meaning. I'm a Hem Netjer as well." bowed Seto politely to her.

She bowed back leaving the Outer Court with Bast passing another pair of pylons to the Inner Court.

Seto led the others down the silver cobblestone path unto the tawny sands to a pond sheltered under a grove of Plumeria trees. The water of the pond, crystal clear like the pools of the priestess's eyes, reflected clearly the image of those who gazed into it. In the pond pure golden sand lined the pool's bottom. A few scented plumeria blossoms, yellow, pink and white floated on the pond's mirror surface scenting the sweet water.

"This pond called the Sacred Lake exists on the premises of every Egyptian Temple." Explained Seto pointing to it. "The Sacred Lake symbolizes Nu, the Primeval Waters from which all Creation was birthed. Priests entering the temple must purify themselves in the Sacred Lake before entering the Inner Court. A priest on temple duty purifies himself three to four times a day if he is to perform rituals for the god. The water of the Sacred Lake is mixed with natron to help with the purification. This water not only rinses off dirt but gives to us energy, rejuvenating us as the water has absorbed the sun's heat. Even after bathing we rinse our mouths with a natron-water mixture to ensure the utmost purification before entering the presence of the god."

"Wow, I didn't know this little pond held so much meaning." Yugi knelt by the pond's bank studying his reflection in the pool.

"Once we're purified we can only wear white linen and sandals in the temple for all animal products are considered unclean." Explained Seto further.

"Hey, you're really an Einstein when it comes to this stuff!" teased Jounouchi leaning an elbow on Seto's shoulder.

"Ha!" mocked Seto haughtily, titling his noise into the air. "You think empty headed airheads like you become priests?" He grinned taking delight in aggravating the honey haired man.

"ARGGG!!!" muttered Jounouchi.

"Catch me if ya can!" winked Seto prancing off with Jounouchi in tow.

"They're so silly!" giggled Shizuka girlishly watching them chase each other across the golden sea of sand.

She left Yami and Yugi to visit the other shrines in the Outer Court, which housed statues of other gods. Visitors often honored the gods there by leaving offerings and praying.

The pharaoh relaxed alone at last. Hidden in the grove Yugi watched Yami undress. The pharaoh raised an arm to his head. He took off his formal headdress. His raven black hair shot up in the air. The magenta highlights made his hair look wilder like Yugi's. His free golden locks tumbled over his face.

"Your crown is really nice." Said Yugi at a loss of words. He gazed the diamonds sparkling on the circlet inlaid with gold and silver. The jeweled snake in the crown's middle gleamed so brightly, it almost hypnotized him.

Yami knelt on his knees. He let Yugi run his fingers over each diamond tracing their shapes.

The pharaoh smiled seeing the jeweled snake's glimmer reflected in the large boyish, bloody magenta pools of the fascinated youth.

"He really likes my crown." Mused Yami.

Pressing his fingers to the back of the Yugi's neck, Yami leaned forward. He felt Yugi's breath hit his lips. He pressed his lips to Yugi's tasting their sweet flavor. Yugi never kissed anyone. The longer this first kiss lasted, the quicker beat his heart. He thought it'd burst out of his very chest.

Yami's tongue slid deep into Yugi's mouth caressing its roof. Yugi paused feeling a wave of desire flood through him. The desire made him crave more.

"He hasn't refused me at all. Maybe this is his first time making out?" thought Yami wondering. "I think it is. I sense he's not ready." He broke away from the kiss.

"I don't think you're ready for this." Yami addressed him bluntly. "When I was your age I slept with someone. Afterwards I realized I wasn't ready. I don't want you to make the same mistake."

"What are you talking about? I feel ready, Yami." Insisted Yugi overpowered by lust. He was driven by his body, unable to think with his mind. "You want this just as much as I do."

Yugi was right. Yami's body desired sex and now, especially his slightly erect member. Noticing it, he felt ashamed. He let go of Yugi. He turned away sitting on the grass. He crossed his legs, wrapping his arms around them to hide his source of shame. "This isn't right." he mumbled.

"Even if it isn't, you can't always fight your sexual desires." Answered Yugi back truthfully. He rested his back against the gnarled tree that the Millennium Puzzle hung from.

"You got a point," realized Yami still crunched over. "As Pharaoh I've lived only a life of restraint. I don't even have a harem for Ra's sake. Almost all previous Pharaohs had large harems they visited frequently. My court says I deprive myself."

"I totally agree with them. You can only control your body for so long until it overpowers you." Raised on the street, Yugi treated Yami like an ordinary person. A priest or courtier never dared to address Yami directly.

Yugi was the first person to speak to Yami honestly. Controlled by a life of rigid formalities, it never dawned on Yami how phony his life had been, until he met Yugi. He liked the way Yugi spoke to him, honest and truthfully. "You're right, Yugi. I feel I can't fight my sexual desires any longer." Admitted he. His ardent member made it clear.

"Then make love to me," whimpered Yugi lustfully. He crawled over on the grass over to Yami.

The pharaoh looked at him over his shoulder sharply. "What our bodies want, and what is morally right differs." He pointed out wisely. "How would Seto and Jounouchi feel if they found out we got laid with each other?"

"Pretty shitty, and pissed too." muttered Yugi crudely. He hated morals and ethics. Living on the street morals meant nothing. He stole because he needed to eat. He needed to eat to live. Living was all that mattered. That was all the body wanted. Yugi lived by the dictates of his body. Yami lived by the morals of his mind. That frustrated Yugi.

"Get out of your head and listen to your body!" snapped Yugi loosing his patience. He sat up, sitting back to back against Yami.

Yami closed his eyes. He felt the body heat between their backs growing hotter. The heat penetrated his skin causing passion to overtake him. Yami couldn't fight his desire anymore, especially his persistent member. ^_^

The pharaoh finally listened to him. Yugi's slips curled up, forming a cute boyish smile.