Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Pharaoh’s Decision ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five:

It was late at night when Seto began to near the palace, with the only the light of the crescent moon to guide him, though it was a path he knew all too well. Seeing the palace again, made his heart clench, it was place he called home his whole life, a home he was exiled from. Seto slid off the back of the camel and patted its neck as though to thank it for the ride, then allowed it to move off to where several other camels lay sleeping in the sand.

Staying in the shadows he moved towards a secret passageway that was near the palace temple, a door into the palace known only by a handful of people He stopped at an ordinary looking wall, there was not a single mark on the wall that it appear any different then any of the other walls. Seto touched three different stones on the wall. The stones were smoother to the touch, despite looking the same as all the others, and touching them in the proper order opened a doorway just large enough for one person to pass through. Seto quickly slide through the opening, pressing a small lever inside the door to close it. When the door closed behind him Seto was plunged into darkness that was too dark to even see an inch in front of him. He reached to pick up a small torch from by the door, jumping slightly when he felt a scorpion scurry across the back of his hand. He pulled the tip of the torch across the wall, taking two swift strikes before the end burst into flame. The light of torch was more then enough to light his way through the corridor, being mindful of the scorpions that scurried across the floor. The air in the corridor was stale, and each footstep stirred up the dust that coated the floor.

When he reached the end of the corridor he peered through the peephole, finding the room on the other side to appear deserted. Though he knew that could change at any minute even if it was late at night, so he would have to be extremely cautious. Seto could hear his heart pounding loudly in his ears so he took a deep breath to try to calm his racing heart. He prayed that his luck would hold out to allow him to make it the hundred yards to the temple unseen. Even though he was no longer the high priest he still had the power to perform rituals, all he need was the right tools.

Pushing a lever on the wall the secret door slid open. Seto quickly stepped out into the empty corridor. He pushed a button, hidden in the eye of Ra carving on the wall and the door closed. Seto glanced both ways down the corridor, and then ran towards the temple, staying in the shadows of the corridor. It took only a few moments for Seto to reach the temple doors. The double golden doors carved, by the finest craftsmen, with images of the gods hung open a small crack, just enough for Seto to be able to peer into the room. Seeing the temple was desert Seto pushed the one door open further and hurried inside rushing to a table and began to gather the tools he would need for a ritual.

"Hem-netjer-tepey?"

Seto jumped at the sudden voice, dropping everything he had been holding, and spun around to see one of the monks standing there.

The monk smiled. "I am glad to see that you are alive and well, Hem-netjet-tepey."

"I am no longer the high priest, so there is no need for you to refer to me with that title." Seto said.

Again the monk smiled. "To many of us you will always be the Hem-netjer-tepey. We are still loyal to you and not Marik."

"Marik is the high priest?" Seto blinked in disbelief.

"Yes, Hem-netjer-tepey..."

"Don't call me that." Seto growled.

"Very well, Seto. Marik holds the millennium rod now as well."

Seto's eyes darkened. "How could Yami even think of making Marik the high priest?"

"He made an unwise decision."

"He has made several unwise decisions and he needs to be taught a lesson." Seto said.

The monk nodded. "I will gather those I know that are loyal to you, to aide in your revenge."

"Thank you."

"Come now, and I will you give you a place to hide from the guards." The monks said, before leading Seto out of the room.

` ` ` ` `

Yami stood out of the balcony, looking out across the quiet gardens, ever since he had banished Seto he had been unable to sleep or eat for the heartache was too strong. `Why did the gods forsake me by forcing me to make such a decision?' He closed his crimson eyes tightly against the tears, feeling the cool night breeze wash over his face. `I will not continue to dwell on this, I must do what is needed so it is not all in vain.'

A knock on his chamber door pulled Yami from his thoughts. Wanting no company Yami made no move to answer the door, but a moment later he heard it being opened anyways.

"Pharaoh, you have visitors from the city of Tepemkau." Pegasus said.

"Tepemkau?" Yami questioned stepping into his chambers. His eyes filled with a sudden concern.

"Yes, Tepemkau." Pegasus said with a smirk. "The same city you banished Seto to."

Yami glared at Pegasus. "What do they want?"

"I do not know. They were insistent on speaking only to you." Pegasus said.

"Very well have them sent in." Yami said.

Pegasus turned and stepped back out of the room, stepping back in a moment later with Yugi and Joey. Yami's eyes widened slightly when he saw one of those from Tepemkau looked remarkably like him. Yugi quickly knelt before the pharaoh, though had to tug on Joey's arm to make him knell.

"What is it you want?" Yami demanded.

"I am Yugi Osorkon of Tepemkau, and this is my friend Joey Phyemra also of Tepemkau." Yugi said.

"Or what's left of it." Joey muttered.

"What do you mean by that?" Yami asked.

"As you know, Tepemkau was destroyed weeks ago." Joey said.

Yami looked confused and glanced at Pegasus. "Why was I not informed of this?"

"It is the first I have ever heard about it as well." Pegasus said, feigning surprise.

"How was it destroyed?" Yami asked.

"By a monster." Joey said.

"That's impossible. All the monsters are sealed and it is illegal to use them in anything but the games." Yami said.

"Doesn't change the fact that it was a large gold dragon." Joey said, earning him a hard poke in the ribs from Yugi.

"We aren't here seeking aide for our city. We are here to warn you." Yugi said.

"Warn me?" Yami asked.

"Yes, Pharaoh." Yugi nodded. "You see we found a man in the desert, we did not know at the time we saved him from the desert that he was there on your punishment."

Yugi was about to say more but Yami interrupted. "In the desert?"

"Yes, obviously left to die in the desert. Typical punishment from the pharaoh." Joey said.

Yami's eyes were blazing when he turned to look at Pegasus. "I want those guards executed. How dare they not follow my orders."

"It was not your order?" Joey asked, looking surprised.

"No. I was not aware that Tepemkau was destroyed, that is where I ordered him to be taken." Yami said.

"It matters very little as this exiled one is coming back here to seek revenge on you." Yugi said.

A small smile appeared briefly on Yami's lips knowing that Seto was back. Yami was not surprised that Seto had returned looking for revenge, as he knew how emotional the former high priest could be. "I thank you for coming all this way to warn me, but there was really no need for it."

"See, I told you." Joey whispered to Yugi.

"Do you me to start a search of the palace?" Pegasus asked.

"I don't think that will be necessary." Yami said.

"But, Pharaoh… he was ahead of us…" Yugi argued.

"Seto is no threat to me." Yami said.

Yugi opened his mouth to object, only was stopped when Joey poked him in the ribs.

"You may both stay here until you have rested enough to return to your city. And when you do return I will send aide for the city of Tepemkau." Yami said. He turned slightly signaling for Pegasus to remove them from his chambers.

When they were gone Yami turned and stepped back out on the balcony, only now there was a half smile on his face. `I am not surprised that you returned, Seto… I hope this time I am able to explain my actions to you, to make you understand I was only trying to protect you.'

` ` ` `

Rumours that Seto had return quickly spread throughout the palace Some people claimed to have seen the exiled high priest, merely to sound important in a conversation, some going as far to claim Seto had tried to attack them but they somehow managed to escape with their lives to tell the tale. Though the only ones that had truly saw Seto were the priests that were loyal to him, and of course none of them were talking.

The five potential brides were once again in fear for their lives, still believing that the high priest had been the murderer of the other girls. They believed he had returned for the sole purpose of killing them. Isis came into the room, with two guards to reassure the girls that their lives were safe.

"There was nothing to fear the high priest's return is nothing more then a rumour a poor villager has started." Isis assured them.

"How can we be sure?" Pamiu asked nervously.

"He would never be able to make it back inside the palace without being spotted." Isis said, even though she knew that wasn't the truth. "You have nothing to fear from the former high priest." She gave them a reassuring smile. That was one thing she was sure of, Seto wouldn't harm any of the girls just as he hadn't killed the others. The girls seemed relieved so Isis left the room.

"I think she's lying. I think he is back." Sadeh said.

"I think that as well. I am not leaving this room… except if it is to spend time with the pharaoh." Pamiu said.

"Though he has not spent time with anyone in a while now." Sadeh said sullenly.

"With what happened to poor Muyet when she tried to get the pharaoh to dance with her I am not about to starting asking him to spend time with me when he doesn't wish to." Pamiu said.

"Well, I am not going to sit around here any longer, it is too nice a day to stay inside, and I think she was right that he would never be able to make it back into the palace." Mai said as she stood up. "I am going for a walk."

"I will go with you." Pebatama said. She stood up and followed Mai out of the room.

A couple minute later Tea stood up from her seat. "I think I am going to go try and catch up to them, a walk does sound nice. And I am not afraid." She finished boastfully before leaving the room.

` ` ` `

Pamiu and Sadeh sat in the room, working on each other's hair and chatting about the recent rumour that they both still believed to be true. Pamiu sat behind Sadeh, braiding her hair, both girls faced away from the door so they didn't see the shadowy figure enter the room. It was Pamiu's strangled cry of pain that alerted Sadeh to the danger, and before she could react she felt hot blood spray onto her back. With her eyes wide with fear she scrambled away from Pamiu's lifeless body. She turned to face the attacker and her eyes widened even further.

"It's… it's... you... but…" Sadeh stammered as she found the face of the killer to not be who she had expected it to be.

The killer merely smiled and advanced on Sadeh who was too frightened to move, too afraid to scream. The killer lunged forward and stabbed the same blade that had just slit Pamiu's throat into Sadeh's heart. With a wicked grin the killer removed the dagger from the lifelessly body and left the room.

When Mai and Pebatama returned to the room they were surprised to find it filled with guards. Bloodied sheets covered the two lifeless bodies and Tea was crying loudly into her hands.

"What happened?" Mai asked as she hurried over to Tea.

"I decided to try to catch up to you and Pebatama… but I couldn't find you and I came back to the room and… and…" Tea started crying even louder. "They were dead."

"Did you see who did it?" Pebatama asked.

Tea shook her head. "But this proves the rumours must be true. It had to have been Seto… if I had been here he would've killed me too."

"I don't see how he could've snuck in here… there's extra guards on duty all over the palace." Mai said.

"He most likely knows secret passages in the palace and used one to come in here and kill them." Tea said.

"That's possible." Mai said and Pebatama nodded in agreement.

They stood in silence, remembering the two girls that had just been murdered and wondered which one of them might be next.

` ` ` ` `

Yami sat on his throne, the lack of sleep showing on his face was pale and dark circles lined the undersides of his eyes. Marik, Isis, Pegasus and Shadi stood before him to deliver the news of the two girls that had been murdered.

"This proves that Seto was the murderer all along. He returned and instantly two more girls were murdered." Pegasus said.

"I don't think it is proof at all." Shadi said. "It could merely be the real killer knew he returned so they knew they could resume the killings without suspicion falling on themselves."

"That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard." Marik said. "He is a killer. He needs to be caught and this time he needs to be executed."

Yami paled slightly at Marik's comment but said nothing.

"That decision is for the pharaoh to make." Isis said.

"Well, Pharaoh, how many lives is Seto's worth to you? How many must die before you are willing to sacrifice him?" Marik asked.

"Seto didn't murder anyone." Yami said in a voice so quiet the others had to strain to hear it.

"You obviously thought he did before, when you banished him." Marik said.

"Don't tell me what I believe." Yami said crossly.

"Marik does have a point, Pharaoh." Pegasus smirked. "I say the former high priest should be killed on sight."

"I will give no such order." Yami said.

"That is your error then." Marik said.

"Do not question my orders." Yami said.

"You mean your unwillingness to give an order, don't you?" Marik smirked slightly.

"Leave now. All of you." Yami ordered firmly.

Knowing there was no use arguing they all turned and left the pharaoh alone. Once he was alone Yami sighed deeply and leaned back in his throne wondering what he was going to do about this confusing situation.

` ` ` `

Yugi rushed over to his friend Joey with a loaf of bread clutched in one hand, and sat down under the shade of the tree with him. "Did you hear what happened?" Yugi asked. Then without waiting for an answer continued talking. "That Seto guy is a killer. He was something like the high priest but got exiled for murder. Pretty freaky isn't it?"

Joey waited a moment to be sure Yugi was actually expecting an answer to the question before speaking. "Are you sure it's the truth? I heard it was nothing more then a rumour." He said as he broke off a piece of the bread and stuffed it into his mouth.

"I heard it was the truth. And that now two more girls where killed within a few hours of his return." Yugi said.

"I think it is all a rumour. I mean he didn't seem like the murdering type." Joey said.

"I think it's true. I mean he wants revenge on the pharaoh so what better way then to kill the girls that he is trying to chose his bride from, before he tries to kill the pharaoh himself." Yugi said.

Joey shrugged slightly. "I don't think I ever heard him say he wants to kill pharaoh."

"Oh…" Yugi thought about it for a moment. "I think he'd do anything for revenge."

"I think we don't know enough about the situation to be making any assumptions." Joey said.

Yugi shrugged slightly but said nothing further. The two friends sat eating the bread in silence when they heard hushed voices from the other side of the bushes. Deciding to investigate they snuck quietly over to the bushed to listen. They didn't know who the voices belonged to but it was obvious both speakers were male.

"We must take action soon or all our planning will go to waste."

"Just a little longer. By tonight all the other girls will be dead. After that we can make the final strike."

"Can you see who it is?" Yugi whispered to Joey, who only shook his head. "One of them is probably Seto."

Joey looked skeptical and put a finger to his lips to tell Yugi to be quiet.

"That plan is no longer needed."

A cold voice responded. "You know it's still needed. Only for a different reason then I first planned."

"Very well. You can continue to carry out your little plan."

A rustling noise caught the attention of the two men. One of the speakers quickly slipped into the shadows to avoid being seen.

"Who's there?"

Joey and Yugi held their breaths sure they had been discovered. The footsteps grew closer to place that they where hidden, their hearts beating so loudly they were sure it give their location away.

"I said who is there?" The voice demanded an answer.

They were still frozen in fear desperately trying to think of what they could possibly say when they were caught. But their fears where put to rest when another voice answered the questioned.

"It's… me…Tristan Sirenput." A nervous voice said.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I was brining the news to the pharaoh." Tristan said.

"Well, the pharaoh is a delicate state these days. Give the news to me and I will decide what the pharaoh needs to know."

"But, Pegasus, sir… I am only supposed to deliver the news to the pharaoh himself."

"I am one of the pharaoh's advisors so I know what the pharaoh needs and he doesn't need to hear the news from you." Pegasus said.

"Alright." Tristan said. He handed the roll to Pegasus. After Pegasus walked off he shook his head. "One-eyed freak." He mumbled under his breath before turning and walking away.

"Pegasus… isn't that the guy from last night?" Joey asked.

Yugi nodded. "He must be working with Seto. We have to warn the pharaoh."

"Again?" Joey sighed.

Yugi nodded. "He doesn't know that guy is a traitor too."

"Gee, maybe if everyone who has ever worked for him wants revenge he isn't such a nice guy after all."

Yugi stared at Joey as if he couldn't believe what his friend had just said. "How could you think that? King Yami is the best thing that has happened to Egypt in hundreds of years."

"Then why does nobody seem to like him?" Joey asked.

"Who are you two? What are you doing here?" A voice asked before Yugi could answer. They turned to see Tristan standing there, his hands placed firmly in his hips, standing tall, and trying to look important.

"We are guests of the pharaoh. We brought him news of Seto's return and we have another warning for him now. That concerns Pegasus."

Joey poked Yugi in the ribs and glared at him to be quiet and not announce to anyone who would listen what they were doing.

"And what about Pegasus?" Tristan asked.

"He's working with Seto." Yugi said, ignoring Joey's glare.

Tristan laughed. "That's a laugh. Those two hate each other, they wouldn't work together for any reason."

"They want revenge on the pharaoh." Yugi said.

"I think you should get your facts straight before taking such accusations to the pharaoh." Tristan said.

"That's exactly what I have been trying to tell him!" Joey said.

"Somebody has to warn the pharaoh. He's in danger." Yugi said.

"The pharaoh has ways of taking care of himself. He doesn't need you to warn him or try to play hero and protect him." Tristan said.

"It's my duty to serve the pharaoh." Yugi jumped to his feet and ran off.

"Is always so… headstrong?" Tristan asked.

Joey nodded. "Yup. When he gets an idea in his head there is no changing his mind." Tristan chuckled slightly. "So, what was in the news today?"

Tristan grinned; seeming very happy that someone asked that question and he quickly began to tell Joey everything he had taken down for that day's news.

` ` ` `

Yugi ran as fast as his short legs would carry him. He hurried into the throne past two guards who quickly chased after him.

"What is the meaning of this?" Yami asked, looking at where the two guards held the young boy.

"He slipped past us. We're sorry, Pharaoh." The one guard quickly apologized.

"I have to speak with you, Pharaoh. It's a very important matter." Yugi said. He looked very unnerved by the two guards that were gripping him tightly by the arms.

"And you are?" Yami asked.

"I am Yugi Osorkon. I came here last night to warn…" Yugi started but Yami cut him off.

"Oh, yes. Now I remember you." Yami said. He looked at the two guards. "Everything is alright. You can leave now." The guards looked skeptical but they left anyways. "And what is this important matter that you must rush in here to tell me?"

"Joey and I overheard a conversation about some plan to do something horrible to you. We found out that Seto is working with Pegasus on this." Yugi said. He was talking so quickly that Yami almost couldn't understand him.

Yami chuckled. "Seto working with Pegasus?" Yami laughed again. "That is highly amusing. I have not had that good of a laugh in a long time."

"It's the truth. Pegasus is also a traitor." Yugi insisted.

"I do not doubt that Pegasus would betray me. However, there is no chance of him working with Seto." Yami said.

"He is! We heard them talking." Yugi said.

"You saw Seto talking to Pegasus?" Yami asked.

"Well... not exactly. We only heard them talking. We weren't really sure who they were. But one had to be Seto. Then we found out the one was Pegasus. That was when I rushed here to warn you of this danger."

"I appreciate your loyalty, but your fears are groundless." Yami said.

"But…"

"There is much about this situation that you are unaware of. Perhaps next time you should find more out before being so quick to accuse another." Yami said.

Yugi hung his head. "I was only trying to help."

Yami smiled slightly. "I understand that. But you must understand that I am more aware of this situation then you seem to think I am."

One of the priests stepped into the room carrying a piece of parchment. He knelt before Yami. "Pharaoh, a request for a shadow game has come for you."

"From who?" Yami asked.

"It does not say." The priest replied. "Just that the dual is to be tomorrow."

Yami frowned. He didn't feel like participating in a dual against anyone, especially someone who wouldn't name themselves. "I chose my option of having a person to dual in my place."

The priest shifted slightly, not seeming to like the pharaoh's response, but he held his tongue on the issue. "Whom do you wish to dual in your place?"

Yami thought about it for a moment. "My loyal servant, Yugi."

"What?" Yugi asked, his eyes wide in shock.

The priest looked just as shocked as Yugi. "Are you sure about this, Pharaoh?"

Yami nodded. "Yugi will dual in my place."

"But… I don't know anything about dueling." Yugi said.

"I will tell you all you need to know." Yami said.

"But… but…" Yugi stammered then sighed. "If that is what you wish."

"It is what I wish." Yami said.

"Then very well, I will serve you the best I can." Yugi said.

"Send the response." Yami told the priest. The priest nodded and left the room. "Now, I will tell you what you need to know for this dual."