Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Duel of Love ❯ Memory ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh

A/N: Alright, so I'm really gonna add fantasy with this chapter, in a bit of flashback…as to why Seto claims the things he does and if you don't like it tell me, but I can't guarantee I'll change it. I've been tossing this idea around for weeks now (I'll have to write separate one-shots just to show all the ideas I had going around my head) and I finally landed on this one…well, not really landed but saw it as the most reasonable.

Duel of Love

Chapter 12: Memory

High Priest Seto

I returned to the room only to find Katiana awake and her head was shifting around, taking in everything! Ra, she was okay!

"Katiana?" I asked cautiously, sitting beside her, holding onto the few pieces of soul I found last night, "Are you alright?"
"W…Who are you?" she asked, staring at me with blank eyes.

"Don't you know who I am?" I asked slowly.

"No," she said simply, "I don't k…know…"

"By Ra," I said, "It's because your memories were lost along with your soul…"

"Huh?" she asked me and I looked at her, she had this immense look of confusion on her face.

"Nothing," I said quickly, "Then allow me to introduce myself. My name is High Priest Seto, although you may just refer to me as Seto. Do you know who you are?"

"No, w…who am I?" she asked. In her eyes, they looked at me with such trust. She never looked at me like that before.

"You are Priestess Katiana; you are a priestess in my temple here. We are in your room currently and the reason you are bandaged up was because you were injured a little while ago," I explained, "I suppose this doesn't make sense though…I don't think you'll be able to connect with everything yet…" I was confused as well; I didn't exactly know what to say. I remembered the shards I had found and I placed them on top of her and they melted into her body as I focused them in.

"What w…was that?" she asked.

"Those were shards of your soul," I said, "You aren't yourself because your soul shattered…and you can't remember anything for that same reason."

"Oh…" she said, and looked away from me. I wasn't doing anything wrong, and yet in some ways I still felt guilty…like in a way I was taking advantage of her…I wasn't though, but it still felt like I was. Even if she didn't remember, I did…Every time we spent together…

Flashback

"Who's with you father?" I asked as the High Priest, my father entered the temple.

"This child, this girl my son?" he asked and I nodded.

"Is she a new priestess for the temple?" I asked.

"She has that potential, and for so young too," he said, "But this child would also be a suitable wife for you as well…"

"She isn't pretty at all…" I said, looking at her as she slowly tiptoed around my father and stood in front of him, looking down at the floor.

"She's still young son," he said, "Her name is Katiana, she is only five years old, two years younger than you are…I am leaving her in your care."

"Why me?" I asked, "She isn't a pet…"

"You need a lesson in how to look out for others. As you will be High Priest one day, you will have to watch over all your priests and priestesses," he said, "Her powers sincerely need to be watched over…she doesn't even know what she has…"

"Why can't we just…" I began.

"Kill her and drain her of her powers? Her particular ability doesn't allow for that… she isn't even aware of it," he said.

"So how did you see it father?" I asked.

"I killed her parents," he replied simply, "I shall address you later my son…" He walked away and the small girl approached me slowly.

"So, your parents are dead?" I asked and she nodded.

"They n…never liked me much…though…" she said. Wait, did she just stammer?

"Didn't you cry for them?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Petit Dragon w…wouldn't let me…and I d…didn't want to," she said, "They b…beat me because they t…thought it would g…get rid of the way I t…talk…"
"So you've had this stammer all your life?" I asked and she nodded, "What is your name?"

"I'm Katiana, and I'm f…five," she said, holding out a hand to show her five fingers.

"Not a fool, are you?" I asked and she weakly grinned at me, "My name is Seto, I guess I have to look out for you…are you sure you won't be crying on me?"

"I'm s…strong…Petit Dragon said I w…was strong…" she said with a nod, looking at me with huge eyes.

"Follow me, I'll show you where you sleep, and explain the rules here…" I said, and she followed me loyally, she had no where else to go, did she?

End Flashback

Things had been easier then, because she was a child, her stutter was regarded as a thing of growing up. She didn't complain at all about anything, and worked very hard. It was only when she turned 12 and had to start training in the shadow realm when I realized her power…

Flashback

"Seto, what type of t…training is this?" she asked me, looking around the training center, noticing all the eyes that were watching her, including those of my father.

"You're going to learn how to fight," I said. I was 14, tall for my age. She had yet to grow, if at all. She was as short as the Prince…

"Uh-huh," she said.

"Are we all ready to begin?" my father asked the trainees and me. We nodded, and Katiana even had a determined look set upon her face.

"Stay close," I told Katiana. She had begun to learn the art of healing and she was quite apt at it, so I wanted her nearby in case I got hurt. She nodded and inched a little closer to me as the shadows began to enclose us. I looked over at her to see how she was adjusting and she was frozen in place.

"…" she didn't say anything; she was merely frozen in her spot, her eyes wide.

"Katiana, are you alright?" I asked and she slowly shook her head, "What's wrong?"
"I f…feel sick," she said after a moment.

"What?" I asked, staring at her.

"I f…feel sick…I don't f…feel good…" she said and as the shadows continued to fill the room she fell to the ground on her hands and knees. I knelt beside her and tried to give her some support…or something.

"Father, stop this now, I have to get Katiana out of here," I said after realizing she wasn't going to be getting any better.

"Why my son, everyone has to learn to be in the shadows, it's her own fault if it makes her sick…" he said.

"No father, she's…oh Ra, she's coughing up blood!" I exclaimed, "I have to get her out of here!" The shadows faded from the room, causing the other students to either groan in disappointment or sigh in relief.

"Why protect the weak?" he asked, "If she can't handle it, she's not meant to be here…I shall get rid of her myself…"

"Don't touch her!" I exclaimed, "You put her in my care, I'm only taking care of her!"

"Move away boy, you may be my son, but you better not do what I think you are doing…" my father warned and I moved to stand in front of her. I knew she was looking at me at this time, probably wondering why now out of all the times I could have protected her I was protecting her now.

"I won't let you hurt her," I said solidly and a hand flew to my face and a hard slap sent me reeling and landing on my bottom a short distance from Katiana.

"Are you or are you not learning to be a Priestess?" he asked Katiana, forcing her to her feet.

"I am…its w…what Seto's been t…telling me," she said, looking over at me. My father grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.

"All Priestesses have to do this, and no one has had any trouble before, so why you? Why do you have trouble with it?" he asked.

"I d…don't know!" she exclaimed, her eyes full of fear.

"It's because you are weak, a weakling I should never have brought to this temple. Your potential is wasted because you're a stupid, idiotic girl," he said and I started to rise. He didn't know, he hadn't spent time with her like I had…she was smart, she really was! The only thing that stopped people from taking her seriously was her stutter. She was sweet, innocent, and happy…when she kept on smiling, it always made me feel better…I didn't want to loose that… My father raised his hand to hit her and I ran into him, slamming against his body and though I wasn't as strong as he was but I still made him fly slightly back. I went to Katiana and shoved her behind me protectively. I don't think the other students knew what to make of this.

"My only son, protecting the weak," my father said, "Then you are no son of mine!" He came at me and slammed me back away from Katiana once again.

"S…Seto!" I heard Katiana exclaim and I raised my head weakly as I saw her facing my father, as she raised her head to look at him, tears in her eyes, "You h…hurt Seto… he's your s…son!"

"NO son of mine would protect a weakling little Priestess who can't handle the shadows…it's about time I got rid of you…your stutter was beginning to annoy me…" he said, smirking as he raised his hand, preparing to summon his beast.

"You h…hurt Seto," she muttered, "You h…hurt Seto…" Doesn't she care that she's about to be hurt, killed? Why does she only think of others? All her time at the temple, she's always wanted to help others, but when she is stuck with something difficult, she chooses to do it alone, not even accepting help from me unless I force her too… She's going to die and I can't move!

"What's this nonsense?" my father asked as his beast appeared before him. Petit Dragon appeared before her, trying to protect his mistress…but he faded away, unable to stay out because of the powers my father was using to block him. The next thing I knew was I felt a surge of power vibrate off the walls of the training room…the next thing I heard were the screams of my father…the next thing I saw and smelled…was blood…and it covered the walls…

"Katiana!" I cried out, "Father!" Trainees ran out of the room and I looked about, trying to find my father, all I saw was blood, he had been completely destroyed. I looked towards Katiana, and she was there…and I saw…she was covered in my father's blood, breathing heavily…what had just happened? What did she just do? She looked over at me; her eyes glowing blood red and fell to the ground. I picked myself up and made my way over to her…she had done whatever she just did to protect me…she didn't think of protecting herself, she was protecting me! Was this the power my father saw the day he killed her parents?

"Uhh…" she moaned and I took her into my arms, "…"

"Katiana, what just happened? You just killed my father!" I exclaimed, even though…I wasn't angry, I wasn't upset…he had tried to hurt her, he had hurt me. He had NEVER hurt me before.

"What?" she asked, opening her eyes and looking at me weakly, "W…Why do I smell blood? What j…just happened?"

"Don't you even know what you just did?" I asked, "You just…" She didn't realize it…'wasted potential' was what my father had said. She didn't realize her power; she didn't realize her strength, did she? Did whatever possessed her even let her remember?

"He h…hurt you…I remember t…that…and then I saw n…nothing…" she said, "What ha…happened?"

"Nothing Katiana," I said slowly. She doesn't need to know, she doesn't need to know! I couldn't tell her, it would kill her to know she was inhabited by something she couldn't control…but why had it only appeared when she saw me get hurt?

"I r…remember, I w…wanted to protect you," she said. She didn't care about her own pain, she had just wanted to stop mine, and that had triggered it, hadn't it?

"I'm alright Katiana," I said, "Thank you…"

"Where's your f…father?" she asked.

"Something emerged from the shadows and took him…" I lied, hoping she would accept it as truth. I would never let her realize what she did…she could never leave my side now…her power was a fearful one and she was mine, she was mine by all rights…

"Oh…d…does that make you H…High Priest?" she asked.

"I…I inherit it, don't I?" I asked, "But I'm only 14!"

"Oh…" she said, and picked herself up and knelt in front of me…I felt calm around her…I didn't care about what had just happened…it happened…Will of the Gods… Father always told me never to look back or mourn death, partially because he killed so often it was second nature…and so I wouldn't look back, not even for a moment on this…

End Flashback

I became the High Priest from that moment on, and I kept her in the lower ranks, never letting her or her spirit move to higher ranks, and she never went to the shadow realm…I couldn't have her fall ill…not like that at least. I never wanted her to feel she had to protect me, or anyone…to unleash that power again was frightening, I feared it…as I grew up, I changed, and so did she, only a little. She used to follow me around everywhere…but when I became High Priest, and stated my claim to her, she resented me, tried to avoid me, and began to almost hate me. She still remained sweet and kind, even though I had changed. How could she do that? How was she able to remain the same, even as I became hard of heart and turned away from some of the good beliefs I had as a child, turning to a few of the bad ones? Beliefs my father had taught me, no less… I loved her…

"S…Seto?" Katiana asked, yanking me out of my thoughts, she must have been watching me for some time now.

"I'll get your memory back," I said, "And then I won't waste any more time…shortly afterwards, you will be mine…"

"Huh?" she asked, a blank expression on her face, "W…What do you mean?"

"Never mind," I said quickly, "You should still rest; you're still badly injured…"

"I w…will Seto…" she replied and closed her eyes.

Yami

I went to go and see Miss Katiana again, to see if there had been any progress made. It had been a week since I was last there, a week since she had her soul shattered…if I hadn't received word of her death yet, she must still be alive.

"My Pharaoh, welcome to our temple," a priest said, "Might you be here to see High Priest Seto?"
"Is he here?" I asked, almost chiding myself for asking such a stupid question. If he cared anything for Miss Katiana, he was most likely with her.

"He's with one of our priestesses, she was recently in an accident…" he said casually.

"I know this, take me to them then," I said and he nodded hastily. He beckoned me to follow and led me to a door.

"They're in here…" he said, "But be warned my Pharaoh, the priestess, she isn't herself…"

"Does that mean she's awake?" I asked and he nodded, "Good then, thank you…"

"Anything my Pharaoh…" he said and walked off. I knocked on the door and slowly opened it. High Priest Seto was sitting next to Miss Katiana's bed and she…she was awake!

"High Priest Seto…" I said and High Priest Seto stood to face me, "Miss Katiana, I'm glad to see you're awake…"
"She doesn't remember anything," High Priest Seto said, "Not even who I am…"

"W…Who is this Seto?" she asked and I looked at her. She was propped up on the bed slightly, and her arm and leg were set so that they could heal.

"She seems to remember you pretty well," I said dryly, watching as High Priest Seto turned to address her.

"This is our pharaoh," he said, as if he were speaking to a child, "You were currently in his service before you lost your soul…"

"I was?" she asked, "I d...don't remember…"

"It's alright," he assured her before turning back to me, "As you can see, she has little to no memory at all…"

"That proves nothing," I said, "Miss Katiana, are you sure you don't know who I am?" She shook her head.

"I'm s…sorry my pharaoh," she said, "S…Should I? Was there s…something I needed to r…remember?"

"I'm sure she'll recover her memories after some time…I'm working to collect them," High Priest Seto said, "And then she'll be able to finish the job you enlisted her to do."

"Of course," I said, my heart still shattered, 'I love you!' That thought ran through my head, she didn't remember…anything about me…I don't think she realized that I loved her now…maybe she had before…and what's more…she doesn't remember anything she may have felt for me…I couldn't bear that…I knew she loved me…I knew it.

"My pha…pharaoh, are you alright?" I heard her ask, "You look a little p…pale…"

"I'm fine Miss Katiana," I said, forcing a small smile, "I look forward to having you become yourself again and returning to the palace to finish the job I asked you to do." She nodded and smiled at me.

"I m…must have been doing s…something important," she said.

"Yes, you were," I said, "Good day Miss Katiana, and High Priest Seto, we will talk later."

"We shall my pharaoh," he said, bowing. Miss Katiana saw what he did and tried to do the same, bowing awkwardly as she couldn't maneuver very well. I left the room. She didn't remember me and that was killing me…now it was…one thing to have her almost dead, lying there, but she knew who I was…I think…and now…she didn't remember me, didn't even really know who I was save for what High Priest Seto would tell her. He would probably tell her all the things she had believed about me before she met me, all the bad things at least…and she'd probably believe them more now than before too…I didn't want that…I didn't want her to hate me, I wanted her to love me! By Ra, what was I going to do? How was I going to get the Miss Katiana back, the one that knew me, loved me, and I loved her. What was I going to do? Would High Priest Seto even be able to find all her memories? There had to be something else, those shards would be hard to find, mere slivers, scattered about the shadows… I would find some way to help…all my power and I couldn't save her…couldn't help her…I would find some way. I swore I would, or else I didn't deserve to be Pharaoh…not if I couldn't save her life, the life of the woman I loved. And once I did, I'd tell her, I 'd tell her how I feel…and then hopefully, my instincts were correct, and she'd feel the same way… and once that happened, I would ask her to be mine, forever.

TBC

A/N: Eh, so it was slightly better. I promise to update soon if people nicely review! No flames. Did you like the flashback, did it add something, mystery or fantasy to it, or did it take away from the story? If it did, I'll try to fix it, but I'm not making any promises at all…I told you in the beginning I had been tossing around what to do. So I'll see you all next chapter, eh?