Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Pretending ❯ Chapter 1

Yay for odd plotbunnies! I already know my mind is screwed up. *Laughs*

Summary: After traumatic experiences, Atemu's mindset reverts back to a child's. It wouldn't be such a problem, except that he's chosen High Priest Mahaado to be his Mother. Oh dear.

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: Shonen-ai, shota, insanity, dark

Pairing: Mahaado x Yami/Atemu

Title: Pretending

Chapter 1

 

High Priest Mahaado crept silently through the bandit camp. His Ka, the Magician of Illusion, floated at his shoulder, illusion spells protecting them both from any prying eyes. He doubted there would be any. He had personally laced all the wine in the camp with sleeping herbs. They were tasteless, but worked extremely quickly and lasted six hours. That was more than enough time to locate the Crown Prince and escape.

The Sennen Ring on his chest lit up, one single pointer pointing in the direction of his goal. Perfect…

He found the Prince shackled to the central pole of the tent and growled in his mind. He watched as his fingers glittered, reformed into claws that were pitch-black night and harder than diamond.

The chains were easily cut through and then he cradled the Prince in his arms as he summoned Curse of Dragon to take them back to the Palace.

Behind him, the Magician of Illusion razed the camp to the ground.

Mahaado allowed himself a satisfied smile.

 

Pharaoh Akunumkanon muttered something about a great reward as Mahaado carefully handed him the Prince, but the Magician paid him no mind. Seeing that his Prince was home was reward enough.

Crimson eyes slowly fluttered open.

“My son. How are you feeling?”

Yami smiled sweetly at the Pharaoh, then turned to Mahaado and held out his arms. “Mewet…”

Mahaado blinked. So did Pharaoh Akunumkanon.

Yami frowned, and he walked closer to Mahaado. “Mother… I knew you would come save me...” And without further ado, he flung himself into Mahaado's arms with a smile. Mahaado flinched, but Yami couldn't see it and he grinned happily.

Mahaado blushed bright red under the scrutinizing gazes of the other Priests and Pharaoh. He started to speak, but Pharaoh Akunumkanon cut him off.

“Never mind, Mahaado. Don't say a word. We'll talk this over later. For now, why don't you take Yami to his room? He needs rest. You should rest as well, after your arduous task.”

“Yes, my Pharaoh.” Mahaado replied with a low bow.

 

The Priests began to talk as soon as they were out of earshot.

“Mother?” Akunadin raised an eyebrow skeptically. Yami's mother had died when the child was barely three years of age.

Akunumkanon frowned. “I do not understand it either.”

“Perhaps we should ask Mahaado.” Karim spoke, before he noticed Aishizu's Sennen Tauk was glowing. “Aishizu?”

She looked pale as she snapped out of her vision seconds later. That was not a good sign, especially when she collapsed in a dead faint.

Karim and Shadah both rushed to her side.

Pharaoh Akunumkanon sighed. Aishizu was revived a few moments later, but her eyes were wide with pain, and she refused to speak of what she had seen except to the Pharaoh himself.

In retrospect, Akunumkanon wished that they could have shared the pain. Hearing everything that had happened to his son during his two weeks in captivity was enough to make the man deathly ill.

It also might explain his mental state. Aishizu said that Yami wanted to remember the time and place where no one had hurt him. His mother was an acceptable candidate. So was High Priest Mahaado.

His memories had blended and fused, becoming one… he equated them both with comfort, and that was what he needed now.

 

Mahaado watched as Yami fell into exhausted slumber. He had coaxed the Prince into a bath and some figs, and then Yami had fallen asleep. He carefully recited all the necessary protection wards as they shimmered into being around the bed, and sat down on a nearby stool to keep vigil.

It was not moments later before he fell headfirst into a trance.

 

Queen Nefertari studied the Priest as she passed through his barriers into his mind. She found Loyalty, Courage, and Strength wrapped in layers of deception and illusion, and she sighed. In truth, she would have chosen Aishizu, but Atemu had made his choice, and they must abide.

She finished reading and nodded. He was loyal to a point of almost obsession, no, past that, but he was loyal to Atemu and Egypt, and she could not fault that…

It was time to wake him up.

 

Mahaado blinked his eyes sleepily, but as he caught sight of the transparent figure standing in front of him, he hastily fell off the stool and sank to his knees in a bow. Queen Nefertari laughed.

< It is all right, Priest of the Sennen Ring. I mean you no harm. >

“My Queen…”

< I am Queen no longer, Mahaado. I am dead, and you know that well. >

Mahaado flushed.

< I need you to protect my son for me, Mahaado. >

“I will do my best.” Mahaado vowed sincerely. Nefertari laughed and placed her hand on his forehead.

< Then I shall give you the power to protect him. But that is not all I need you to do for me, Priest of the Sennen Ring… >

Mahaado nodded.

That was all the warning he got before intense pain vibrated through his body. He gave a choked sob and passed out a minute into the flow. Nefertari kept the influx of power up until only the barest sliver remained in her body.

Nefertari had been a strong Queen, with untapped potential for magic, but the magicians in her home court of Ethiopia had never discovered it. Now, she was giving it all to Mahaado.

He would protect her son.

He would comfort him.

In essence, he would be the mother Yami had never had. And given his shape-shifting abilities, he could be Yami's mother. Now, with her power, he could wield the magic of wind and water, the female elements, as well as fire and earth, the male elements. Mahaado had always had an odd affinity for difficult spells in any case.

She felt the last of her magic drain away as she slumped down, her soul whisked away on the wings of the wind, heading for the peaceful Afterlife at last.

Protect him…

 

End Chapter

Completed 5/4/06

Power-ups! Yatta!

… That wasn't what you were expecting, was it? ^^

Mahaado: …

Yami: …