Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Tamer of Beasts ❯ Chapter Two- WARNING! This is NOT Japan!! ( Chapter 2 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Chapter Two Warning This is NOT Japan
-Cairo, Ancient Egypt-
“Atem… my boy, Atem..,” Pharaoh Akhenamnkhanen rasped weakly, “Where's my son, Atem?”
“I am here, father. I am always here at your side.” The young prince of Egypt replied softly in his deep voice as he grasped the out reached searching hand of his fever-blinded father, “I'm here.”
“Tell me… my son,” Akhenamnkhanen was breathing deeply as his silvery glazed violet eyes stared near Atem's general direction sightlessly, “Are you afraid?”
Atem was silent. He opened his mouth to say that he was strong and had no concept of fear, but hesitated. Akhenamnkhanen seemed to sense this in his son and smiled, “Fear is not your enemy, my son. Ignorance is… for if you live in fear… at least you know what is wrong… but to live ignorant of even fear… you never know what will hit you until it has you bearing your throat to… to death itself.” The wise and aged withered pharaoh said.
Atem gently knelt by his fathers bed side, silently looking to the stand-by servants to leave. Once gone and the guards were posted at all entry ways, but well out of earshot, Atem looked back to his father with his own deep mahogany-violet eyes full of sorrow and pain, “I am terrified, not afraid, father.”
“What ails my son so?” Akhenamnkhanen asked as if Atem were the one deathly ill and he was the comforter.
“The priests' and doctors say you are dying, father. The royal court has already begun to prepare me for a coronation to become the pharaoh of Egypt!”
“You are my son and you have your mother's gentle spirit watching over you, you will be among the greatest of pharaohs in all of time.” Akhenamnkhanen praised.
“I fear I am not ready, father. Up till now, I've relied on your wisdom and guidance,”
“As you should for the rest of your life and rein as the pharaoh. Do not forget what I have taught you my son and follow your own path. Mine is calling me away to join Ra.” Akhenamnkhanen interrupted his son.
Atem smiled softly. His father always had told him to heed his valued wisdom since Atem was a small boy- especially after Tatamu, Atem's mother died when the young prince was only ten… nine years ago. He was a man of nineteen now, old enough to have already sired his own children and watch over Egypt as its pharaoh, but he had hoped his father would be at his side when he finally accepted his birthright, but now it would seem that his long wait was in vein- with his father's death, Atem is forced to ascend the throne of Egypt as her pharaoh.
“I will never forget your wisdom, father.” Atem promised as he rest his head on his father's hand he held with in both his own. Even though it was the warm-dry season, the old pharaoh's hands were chilled to the touch, another sign that stabbed at Atem's heart. The prince's odd, tri-colored hair hid his face, though it was in an upright style. His blond bangs more than enough to hide the tears on the brink from falling down.
“My son, it is not all terrible as it seems. The gods have given me a vision about you that make me proud of whom you have become and who you will be.” Akhenamnkhanen said softly as his breath thinned. He was fading from this world while the gods called him away.
“Father..,” Atem looked up sharply when he felt Akhenamnkhanen's hand twitch and lay lax.
“Take these words as my parting to you: In the times to come, your very being and Egypt will be burdened with darkness…” the old man struggled with his last breaths, “Don't forget your light, my son. Don't let her pass you….pass you…buh-yyyy…,” his breath exhaled once more and then his chest stilled while Akhenamnkhanen's body lay motionless as if he were peacefully at sleep. His silvery-glazed violet eyes were closed for all eternity.
Atem stood slowly, not wanting to break the silence his father's death laid before him just yet.
The golden doors of the pharaoh's room slowly opened to reveal Seto, the high priest his father put heavy faith into. Neither Seto nor Atem knew why the old Pharaoh had such unyielding faith in the young priest, but Seto had proven himself time and again under pharaoh Akhenamnkhanen's rule, never knowing that the pharaoh himself was Seto's own Uncle and Atem his cousin. The priest hesitated at the door, seeing the prone form of the late pharaoh lay upon the bed with the prince of Egypt standing solemnly at the edge.
He finally cleared his throat to gather Atem's attention, “It has happened..?” Seto ventured.
“Pharaoh Akhenamnkhanen has passed.” Atem confirmed quietly, still not turning to face Seto.
Seto let silence fall between the two of them again. As young boys, Atem and he were rivals, always trying to best the other in anything they could justify competing in, but as men, they had grown father apart: Seto to his training under the priests' and Atem in the ways of becoming the pharaoh someday and taking armies to wars. Atem was a renowned general of his army and was well respected among his countrymen. He has never lost a battle yet.
“I see,” Seto shifted, not looking at Atem. He was embarrassed in how he was acting in front of the soon-to-be pharaoh, but this man had never tugged at Seto's hard won sympathy before. Seto had loved the late pharaoh as if he were his own father, but his son, Atem was another story.
“ATEEEEEEEEEEM!!!!” Seto nearly jumped at the loud and obnoxious howl that echoed through the corridors of the palace royalty quarters.
Atem turned, genuinely surprised when he say his Captain of the Guard, Katsuya Jounouchi bolting into the pharaohs quarters out of breath, not bothering any mind to Seto on his way in. the blond captain panted heavily, his short, layered hair all out of proportions and his over all appearance seemed quite alarmed. His brown eyes wide as if he'd just seen Horus himself!
“Katsuya? What is the meaning of all this?” Atem stepped forward to his best friend and captain of the guard.
“The-the sacred fountain of your mother's garden!” Katsuya panted.
“What of Lady Tatamu's sacred fountains?” Seth demanded quippedly at the captain.
The captain glared at Seto, “I'll sew your lips together later and see how well your insults get to me then!” he promised darkly, then turned back to the young prince of Egypt, “Atem, there was a woman in the waters of the sacred fountains!”
“You came all this way, howling like a jackal out of hell and its all because a woman fell into the sacred fountains?” Seto snarled at Katusyas impudence.
“She didn't fall in!” Katsuya snapped back, “She sprung up from their depths as if the fountains gave birth to her!”
“Fountains giving birth to women??” Atem blinked confused, sharing a look with the high priest, Seto who just scoffed at the idea.
“Katsuya, do not badger lord Atem with your drunken ramblings!” the priest snapped, stepping toward the captain of the guard threateningly to discourage the man from wasting his or the new pharaohs time any longer.
“I AIN'T FUCK'N DRUNK YOU HOLYER THAN THOU STUPID PREIST GUY!” Katsuya snapped, “The woman is fair skinned with brown hair and eyes of the northern peoples- blue! She's dressed in foreign clothing and struggled to the surface of the sacred fountain as if she were drowning and then she just konked out- she fainted!”
Atem's eyes fell to the floor in thought before looking up to his friend, “Where is this woman now?”
“My men have her in a cell down in the dungeon. They're so superstitions; they believe her to be a demon of Horus's underworld or something. Your Saladin is watching over her.” Katsuya replied, having gotten his breath in control once more.
At this, Atem raised a brow, “Saladin, you say?” now that was interesting. Saladin rarely left his own quarters and only stayed near Atem's presence. The exotic panther felt threatened around others and was prone to attack. Once the great cat attacked, it wasn't easy for Atem to calm him again.
“You're not seriously going to believe this, are you?” Seto groused.
Atem merely glanced at Seto, but it was all he had to do to give the doubtful priest the warning to shut his mouth while he still could, “Take me to this… surprise guest of the sacred fountain, Katsuya.”
09870987908a7=-098-090987-98098-098-7098-098-08-098-098-098-
“Mmmnnn… my god, what happened to me…?” Anzu started to stir with a groan, “What a freaky dream…” she slowly sat up, cradling her head in her hand. She winced when her feet touched very cold ground and… was that dirt?
“Wha…?” she froze as she started to take in her surroundings.
This was not her bed…
Not her room-
Not Japan…
She was sitting on a cot… a very dirty smelly cot.
This room… was barred off on one wall, had dirt floors and a pan in the corner that smelled and she didn't even want to know what it was supposed to be used for!
She was… she was just not in Japan… that much she knew. Japan wasn't this hot this time of year. It didn't smell of sweat and heat and animal hides and … who knows what else but it DEFINITELY was not Japan!
“Oh. My. God! Where they hell am I??” Anzu gulped wild-eyed.
“You funny human female…,” a deep, purring voice startled her.
“Who said that??” she looked around frantically.
“You hear me?” the purr questioned as if in surprise.
“Wha-what's that supposed to mean??” Anzu replied.
“Stupid female. I'm over here. No, not that way, this way!” the voice quipped.
Anzu's fell on a large predatory cat with sleek black as night fur and glowing golden-green eyes that watched her intelligently, “Here I am.” It purred to her.
“I-I-.. You're a… Panther??” Anzu blinked, “I'm talking to a PANTHER??”
“No see any guards, yes. You hear Saladin.” The great cat replied. Its tail swayed behind it as if this pleased him.
“Sa-Saladin?”
“That what master call me.” Saladin seemed to preen with pride, “Master is great ruler of the humans here.”
“What is he a king or something?” Anzu only half-heartedly guessed.
“They call him Prince, but he soon be Pharaoh.” The cat replied as if she were serious, “Master will be pleased with you- you have gift of tongue.”
“Gift of what?? Wait-wait a minute- PHARAOH!” it then dawned on her, “I'm in… I'm in Egypt????!”
((Bold words are spoken in Egyptian))
“You there! The prince has come to judge you! Come here!” a Soldier started to bark in a foreign language Anzu didn't understand, but Saladin seemed to. He stood from his haunches and looked eagerly toward the bars. He had been sitting quietly watching over Anzu in the corner of her cell. Soon as the soldier saw the great cat he backed away fearfully while Saladin grunted.
`Master has come to see funny female human.' He said, looking from the bars to Anzu.
“I have a name just like you do,” Anzu replied flippantly, hardly believing she was arguing with a jungle cat in Egypt, “It's Anzu.”
`Master want see Anzu.' The cat retorted correctly… somewhat. He spoke in chopped phrases.
“How do you know?” Anzu stayed where she was firmly even as more soldiers came to the bars to see why the first hadn't retrieved the prisoner, but upon seeing Saladin in there with her, they nervously looked from the cat to somewhere behind them.
`Man just said so.' The cat tilted his head, `You do not understand your own breed?'
“No I do not understand Egyptian.” Anzu bit back.
Saladin tilted his head the other way, `Not understand. Anzu should know her own speak.'
“I speak JAPANEESE, not EGYPTIAN!” Anzu growled, impressing Saladin with how well her human vocal chords could mimic the animalistic noise.
“Sire, we tried to retrieve the prisoner for you, but with the beast in there and-,” the guard stammered.
“There's no need, I'll go to her.” A new, younger, more masculine voice startled Anzu from her glare-contest with the curious panther. She looked to the bars only to stare at the man who stared equally as curious as she was. His hair reminded her of the style she would see on a punk-rocker in high school with how it stood in a star-burst fashion above his head. His blond bangs framed his face that held jeweled mahogany-violet eyes on tanned skin. The rest of his hair was black with deep red highlights that flashed in the sun. He wore nothing but a golden necklace on his torso and golden cuffs on his wrists. Another golden band that probably marked him as a royal band across his forehead and he wore a light cloth material around his waist like a kilt.
He certainly was something to look at! She could barely tear her eyes away from the way his sinewy muscles across his toned chest, abs and arms. He seemed to watch her much in the same fashion as she to him.
“Who are you?” the Adonis-man spoke.
But she had no idea what he was saying…
“I-I don't know what you're..,”
“What language is that? What does `Nani' mean??” He spoke again, this time his face furrowed with what appeared to be confusion.
“I already said to you guys that I don't have a clue what you're saying!” Anzu snapped, getting irritated.
`Master say who are you.' Anzu turned to Saladin as the panther sauntered up to her side and sat down beside her, leaning his head toward her hand, silently asking her to pet him. Her hand seemed to move on its own automatically as it scratched lightly though his fur, tugging a content and blissful purr out of the great cat, `Much loved,' he sighed.
“Milord, is she a demon? The beast, Saladin purrs for her!” one of the men shivered.
“And she looked down at him as if he spoke to her and then she responded in her gibberish!” another backed away, “She has dark magic in her!”
“Grow a pair, will ya?” Katsuya rolled his eyes, “She obviously isn't completely normally having been born from a sacred fountain! Besides,” he looked back to the beauty that had a beast purring under her touch and felt a pang of jealousy the new pharaoh seemed to share for the jungle cat, “Can you honestly look at her and call her evil? She just tamed a cat that would sooner maul a woman or man other than his majesty than cuddle up with them like a kitten.”
“Get me Donatello, the Roman Seer.” Atem ordered his men with out looking away from the wildest sight. His faithful companion, Saladin was acting like a spoilt, loving kitten under the touch of this enchanting rare beauty. He'd never seen anyone with such fair skin that seemed to glow ivory in the sun, but in the shade, the shadows gave her the appearance of at least some kind of tan. Her light brown hair he had only seen on Honda, Katusyas second in command, Katusyas sister, Shizuka, and his priest, Seto. But her shade seemed to have a chestnut tone to it. He wandered if it were as soft to the touch as it looked…
“Milord, you sent for me?” Donatello bowed in his cloak he and his Uncle were accustomed to wearing. Much in the Hebrew style, but Atem didn't judge the elder man.
“Can you translate to this woman's language?” Atem nodded to the woman in the cell watching them suspiciously.
Donatello took one look at the woman then turned to his lord, “I have no idea, she seems like a silent one. Is she impaired in hearing or vocal?” he asked, but didn't seem serious.
“Oi, you in there,” Katsuya banged on the iron bars, startling the woman inside and urging a threatening snarl from the panther at her side as Saladin bristled at Katsuya for interrupting his fur-rub and making all that racket, “Speak up!”
“I told you guys, I. DON'T. KNOW. A. FLIPPIN. WORD. YOUR. FREAK'N. SAYING! STOP HARASSING ME!” Anzu roared back, startling the three men with her flare of temper that, to them, shot out of no where! Her blue eyes held a deadly fire that all men recognized in a woman who meant business.
“I think you've angered her…” Atem glared at Katsuya from out of the corner of his eye.
Katsuya shrugged, “She spoke, didn't she? Whatcha got, Donny?” he turned to the Seer.
Donatello sighed, “This language is not with in mine or even my Uncles knowledge. She's probably very confused and frustrated right now.”
“I can see that…,” Atem watched the way those blue eyes spat venomous fire at them like an agitated spitting cobra. He couldn't help but fell fascinated with how those diamond eyes shone even brighter in her spark of temper. Saladin seemed to try and calm her down as the cat rubbed his head along her thigh with a low moan. Atem couldn't help but think how lucky the panther was…
“But, there is a way… the soldiers said she was… talking to Saladin?” Donatello turned to Atem, forcing the young prince to look away from the rare desert… cobra.
“It appeared so… and the fact that he seems so taken with her is alarming.” Atem replied.
“Then she might just be the one.” Donatello grinned slyly.
“The who?” Katusyas golden brows rose.
“The Beast Tamer. He- or in this case- SHE who can speak a thousand tongues and appease the restless beasts.” Katsuya replied.
“Yeah, right. If she were one who could speak a thousand tongues, why can't she speak our language and keeps jibber-jabbing at us?” Katsuya snorted.
“One who can speak a thousand tongues doesn't just know them by birth. Animals instinctually are able to communicate with her soon as they take in her scent. Human tongue is different and as such it is learned a different way.” Donatello slyly looked at the Pharaoh who was becoming suspicious.
“We have to teach her?” Katsuya guessed.
“Much simpler. A mere… Kiss will unlock the power with in her to understand and speak our language. Doesn't matter who kisses who where, but so long as there is a connection of some sort of the like, she will speak fluent Egyptian with out even realizing it.” Donatello was practically smirking at the two shell-shocked men.
“I'll do it!” Katsuya volunteered, but Saladin roared warning at the man when he touched the bar doors.
“Would you fight Saladin to get to her? And win?” Donatello chuckled, “Besides, I doubt Lady Mai would appreciate her fiancé kissing another woman, no matter what the circumstances may be.”
“No thanks- I choose LIFE” Katsuya backed away.
Donatello turned slyly and expectantly towards his lord, “Milord? Saladin will not attack his beloved Master.”
Atem glared suspiciously at the seer, “You swear this is not another way? This is actually called for?”
“Why, of course my lord! The other way is to teach her as a child, but I doubt she'll understand what we're tying to do to her and cause problems fighting against our teachers.” The seer replied.
Atem glared at the seer and then to the woman behind bars, she still watched them warily, like a doe in the antelope herds watched a lion that lazily lounged around in the shade nearby her heard. That's just what she was- an Antelope doe.
`Don't forget spitting cobra with that sharp temper.' He thought to himself.
“If it is truly the only way..,” Atem sighed finally in defeat.
“It is, Milord, it is.” Donatello reassured.
“Then I'll do what must be done so we may put this bizarreness all behind us.” Atem took the keys from Katsuya and opened the dungeon door.
Anzu eminently retreated alarmed, “What's going on?!” she demanded, but the tri-colored hair man came closer to her, albeit cautiously.
`Master has come!' Saladin purred happily as he approached the man and rubbed his black head against him. The man took a moment to run a hand through the great cats' fur before setting his sights on Anzu once again.
“Stay back you! I mean it! I'm a lot scarier than I look!” she warned with a bluff. She tried to school her expression to be intimidating, but it only seemed to confuse him.
“GET AWAY FROM ME!” she ducked away from his approach and scurried to the opposite side of the cell, she was now against the bars where the other men were, but at least the bars shielded her from them. It was the one inside she was worried about!
“Hesshra-ra-neth,” one of the men murmured behind her, Anzu looked back at him confused, but found her feet refused to move! She was stuck to the floor!
“WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME? HUH! RELEASE. ME. THIS. INSTA-,” she was shocked to silence as warm, large hands cupped her face and dragged her head so her lips met with warm moist ones of the man that Saladin called Master. All thought of running away or even caring that her feet were practically planted to the ground escaped her as those warm lips ceased hers for a precious few seconds before he retreated. She caught herself before she groaned for him not to go, but couldn't help that she leaned forward slightly after him.
She slowly opened her eyes to determined mahogany-violet jewel eyes and blinked, “What… what did you do that for?” she asked quietly.
“It worked?” she turned her head sharply when she understood that voice! The blond on the others side of the bars- he had said it!
“Of course it did.” This time it was the cloaked one with silver-green eyes retorted as if it were an insult that the blond thought otherwise could happen.
“Now then… what is your name, girl?” this time it was the man who kissed her that spoke.
Anzu blushed when her eyes collided with his own and quickly looked away embarrassed with the way she reacted to his kiss. He didn't even seem like he did anything to her! But here she was still able to feel the brush of his lips against her own- no matter that he just took her first-kiss!
“Why should I tell you? You put me in a cell.” Anzu retorted, venting her frustration at his lack of reaction.
Atem raised a brow, “And I apologize on behalf of my superior's men, but its not every day a woman SPRINGS up from our sacred fountain and then Saladin curls up to them like a kitten and they spout gibberish at us through jail bars.” Atem replied, meaning no offense, but Anzu took it anyways.
“JIBBERISH? I'M JAPANEESE AND SPOKE IT PLAINLY TO YOU JUST LIKE YOU ARE NOW! WHY DID YOU STARE AT ME DUMBLY BEFORE WHEN I SPOKE BUT NOW YOU GET EVERY WORD I'M SAYING?” Anzu hissed.
“You're not speaking Japanese Miss.” Donatello spoke up, “You're speaking Egyptian.”
“Egyptian…?” Anzu held a hand to her throat, “That cant be right, stop playing jokes!”
“Catches on quick doesn't she...” Katsuya rolled his eyes, “Look, lady if anyone's pulling the jokes around here, its you! What were you doing in the sacred fountain?”
“WHAT SACRED FOUNTAIN?!” Anzu snapped, “I wasn't in any stupid fountain! I read a few lines out a book and then- SHAZAM! The wind picked up, lights went out, and suddenly I was in water and couldn't breathe, so I struggled to the surface, fainted- then I woke up here and finding out your cat can TALK!”
“He… doesn't…,” Atem looked from the ranting girl to Saladin, “I've never heard him speak a word in his life….,”
“Excuse me?” Anzu now looked from Atem to Saladin, “He can't? But I just…,”
“I think I liked her better when she didn't talk our language…” Katsuya grumped.
“Perhaps the shock of what's occurred to the lady is stressing her sanity levels. Shall we postpone this conversation for tomorrow so that we may all get some sleep to recoup?” Donatello suggested.
“You're just giving into her? Just like that?” Katsuya complained, “She's the suspicious one here! The suspect! She's not a guest!”
“On contrer, my idiotic blond friend,” Donatello held up a finger, “If she is in fact the Beast Tamer, which she probably is, than she not only is our guest, but just short of our demigoddess.”
“D-Demi-Goddess?” Anzu stuttered.
“The Beast Tamer has not been reborn into a human for two-thousand years. Why would someone like this girl here show up now? The Tamer's powers only reappear when there is a need for them.” Atem said as if Anzu wasn't there.
“You know, I do have a name, and while I am a GIRL my name is not the same as my gender.” She huffed.
“Well then, if you would have given me a name to call you, I wouldn't have to call you girl, now would I?” Atem retorted coolly.
“Who said you HAD to call me anything?” she demanded, irked by this man's arrogance.
“Would you rather I call you a that or an it?” Atem challenged.
“My name's neither of those either, so NO!” Anzu snapped back, rising to the bait in his voice.
“Really then? Go on, tell me your name,” he prodded deviantly.
“ARGH! It's Anzu! Anzu Mazaki!” Anzu bit back.
“Mazahkee…,” Donatello tried out the feel of the name on his tongue, “Defiantly not from any providence around our lands or our enemies for that matter. So she's not a spy.”
“I'm from Japan.” Anzu grumbled. She had turned away from Atem and stubbornly refused to look or address him now.
“Hmm… is that North?” Donatello asked curious as a kitten.
“No, far east. Across the continent, over a sea, on a collection of gathered islands. Like Hawaii.” She offered.
“What is Hawaii…?” Atem blinked confused.
“Hawaii, you know, in America? Well not IN it, but its part of America.” She explained.
All she received were blank stares, “Sheesh,” Katsuya sighed finally, “Ask her one question, she confuses the hell out of you with even more strange babbling.”
“It's not babble, its real!” Anzu bit out through her clenched teeth.
“Well, it certainly appears that we have much to discuss in the morning.” Donatello cut off Katusyas retort, in favor of stopping the argument before it could progress, “Lady Mazaki certainly must desire a nice bath, meal, rest and… cloths..?”
At the mention of her attire, Anzu glanced down and squealed mortified. She was only clad in her plush white bathrobe- it was no longer white- and the sash was loose. She was sporting a hefty amount of cleavage for the men to enjoy unknowingly and she suddenly felt the draft where she shouldn't.
Yanking her robe to cover her self more properly, Anzu glared at Atem, “YOU PERVERT! YOU JUST CAME IN HERE WHILE I WAS PRACTICALLY NAKED!” she accused sharply, backing away from him.
Now Atem was really confused, “Naked?” she looked covered up to him.
“She calls that naked..?” Katsuya murmured to Donatello who once again jumped to the rescue.
“Lady Mazaki, if you will, I'll take you to more proper quarters where you can get more comfortable and rest.” He offered, opening the dungeon door wider so she could walk out.
Anzu did in fact want to follow Donatello to that tempting and heavenly sounding offer, but unfortunately that Atem guy was standing between her and the door out, still staring at her with a solemn stance and emotionless eyes that chilled her as if they could see deep with in her own soul.
“Ahem,” Donatello cleared his throat, “Milord, I believe Master Seto still has something's he would like to address with you before the day is done. Should you go do that now?”
Atem snapped out of it with a shake of his head and turned to Donatello, “Yes, I'll go see to him now. Come Katsuya.” He nodded to the captain of the guard who pouted.
“But I don't wanna go see the guy who has one too many sticks up his ass and fantasizes about my baby sister.” He pouted.
“Come along, Katsuya,” Atem grinned at his friend hopelessly as he walked out of the cell and down the dungeon corridors, looking over his shoulder to see if the blond was coming and using the excuse to get another glimpse of the strangely alluring woman he left behind in the care of the Roman Seer, Donatello and his companion, Saladin.
“It's safe now, you can come out of there.” Donatello nodded knowingly while he witnessed Anzu watching the soon-to-be pharaohs back warily as the young man walked away, “What do you say about that bath, hmm?”
“That would be… that would be great, thanks,” Anzu suddenly felt self-conscious around this guy. The way she did when she talked to the librarians' Nephew- Donatello.
“Then follow me this way, please, milady.”