Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Yami Virus ❯ Slave Girl, Noble Master ( Chapter 23 )

Sorry about the late update, guys. Some people sabotaged the internet and phone company that we subscribe to and we've had no internet yesterday.

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Slave Girl, Noble Master

Bakura's eyes widened at the skull sitting in his former lover's hand. He shook his head in disbelief.

Shock kept Bakura fastened to where he was standing.

"Ishtar, this is not funny."

Marik shook his head. "No, Itemri, this is no joke! Why would I joke about something like this?" The yami's voice raised angrily. "I was born the son of a noble! My bones should not be shoved in a box and surrounded by common straw!"

Malik opened the next box and gasped, jumping back. "More bones!"

Bakura turned to the next box. His face went pale and his bottom lip trembled. "More bones?"

Bakura walked slowly towards the other box. He stood at the edge where a single rib protruded from the straw. Bakura's hand trembled as he held the edge of the box.

Marik and Malik stood by the box.

Bakura reached in with a trembling hand. He grabbed the bone and released it quickly. He started to breathe heavily.

"Bakura?"

"I..I feel like...someone has their hands around my throat."

Malik stood by Bakura's side, holding onto him should he fall.

"Could…could this be?"

"Yes, Bakura," Isis said as she stood in the door to the Archives Room. "That is your mortal body."

Bakura, Marik, and Malik turned towards her. Marik and Bakura's eyes narrowed.

"What is the meaning of this, Isis Ishtar?" Marik growled furiously. "Why is my body sitting in a crate in a basement?!"

Isis closed the door calmly behind her. "I had to be sure that those bodies were indeed yours."

Bakura grabbed the rib bone out of the box. "How do you know that this body belongs to me?"

"My Millenium Necklace allows me to see the past, Bakura, as well as the future. I touched the bones and I saw images of your past life in Egypt. From the damage I saw on your body, and my visions, I knew it was you."

Bakura looked at the rib. "Damage?"

"Two broken ribs.. The wrist was broken, reset, and looked like it had been broken again. The bones in the neck were broken. One of your fingers had been shattered. Part of the skull looked like it had been shattered. The jaw of the body had been broken and reset as well. There are also some teeth marks on your leg bones."

Bakura placed the rib bone in the box with disgust. "That means wild dogs somehow got to my corpse."

Marik looked at his skull and placed it in his box quickly. "Where did you find our bodies?"

"Outside of Cairo. They were buried together in a shallow grave."

Bakura turned to Marik, growling. "That pharaoh is responsible!"

Marik narrowed his eyes. "I'm taking my body and going home!"

Isis shook her head. "You cannot remove those items from the museum."

Bakura growled and his hair went spiky. "This is not an item, Isis! This is my mortal remains you are talking about! My bones! I deserve to be properly buried!"

Marik clenched his fist and Malik stepped back, seeing fire in his yami's eyes. "My bones do not belong in some box, Isis Ishtar! As a noble, I deserve a decent burial!"

Bakura turned to Marik. "There you go with that nobility bullshit again, Ishtar! Are you saying that I'm not worthy of a burial because I'm of a lower class than you?! This has nothing to do with class! This is basic, fucking human decency!"

Malik watched as Bakura's face and his eyes grew red.

Isis folded her arms in front of her calmly. Malik wondered how Isis could be so calm when she had two angry, snarling yamis standing in front of her. "Bakura, I am truly sorry."

"You're not sorry, Isis! You just want to study me like a common rat!"

Isis held up her hand calmly. Malik remembered kneeling in front of Marik when he was this angry. He remembered the angry red eyes staring down at him as he cowered on the floor. Malik was amazed that Marik was not hitting his sister. When Marik became this mad, physical violence was not far behind. Malik had noticed that even when Marik was furious in his true yami form, he would never strike a woman.

"Bakura, Marik. You are right that your bodies deserve a proper burial. I can assure you that when we have finished categorizing and studying your remains, they will be given a proper Egyptian burial."

Marik shook his head. "That isn't good enough!"

"Marik, it is the best I can do."

"Even though we are blood, you refuse to give me my body so that I may bury it properly?"

Isis brushed her hair back. "Marik, you are not my blood."

"But, I was born from your brother's anger and hatred! I am a part of him! That makes us blood!"

Isis shook her head. "You were summoned from your item by my brother's anger and hatred towards our father. We are not blood."

Marik grabbed Malik's arm roughly and held up his hand. "We are blood! We are married! I married your brother and that makes us family!"

"Marik Ishtar, you are a spirit who was locked in an item five thousand years ago. You are also the spirit who caused my brother much pain. I consider you my brother's husband. Nothing more. I know Malik loves you very much. But, I must follow policy, despite my own personal feelings. There's nothing more that I would like than to see your bodies buried properly. However, I promise that once I have finished, I will properly bury your bodies and give them the respectful burial they both deserve, regardless of class or social status."

Bakura growled. "I owe you my daughter's life, Isis. For that, I will be eternally in your debt. But this," Bakura emphasized by pointing to the box. "This is inexcusable."

The yami grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.

Marik followed close behind, quietly, putting the keys to the Archives in Isis' hands.

Isis turned to Malik. "I am sorry, Malik."

Malik went to his sister and hugged her. "I understand that you have to do what you have to do. I can handle my yami. It's not hard to understand why he's so upset, though. I don't blame him."

"I wish I could do more, but, my hands are tied. I'll see if I can expedite the process."

Malik sighed. "I wish there was something we could do. Marik deserves to be buried. Bakura deserves it, too."

"I know. I will try to do what I can. I'm deeply sorry, brother."

"MALIK ISHTAR! COME!" Marik called from the top of the stairs.

"Coming! Will you be home early, sister?"

Isis nodded. "I will be home shortly to check on Aria."

Malik nodded and kissed his sister on both cheeks. "I love you, sister."

Malik ran up, chasing his yami.

*************************

Bakura paced the living room, his hair spiky and twitching with fury. Ryou watched as his yami growled low in his throat. Aria had been put down for a nap in Isis' bed, oblivious to her father's temper.

Marik stood by the window looking across the street at the museum. His arms were crossed and a growl boiled in his throat.

Malik sat beside Ryou, unwilling to say a word for fear of igniting their yamis' fury.

Seto watched Bakura pace, just as hesitant to say anything to make the yamis more angry than they had become.

"That pharaoh is in for the beating of his life when we get home," Bakura growled, his canines sharpening.

Marik gripped the Millennium Rod in his hand tightly. "Yami won't be able to walk when I get done with him. I'll break him in half myself," he sneered as he looked at the museum.

Seto stretched. "When Aria wakes up, we will go."

Isis walked into the room. "How is Aria?"

"She's fine!" Bakura roared angrily.

"Bakura, please. She's still asleep, Isis. I don't know how long she'll stay asleep."

Bakura narrowed his eyes at Isis and growled. He disappeared into Isis' bedroom, closing the door behind him quietly to avoid waking his sleeping daughter.

Isis turned to Seto. "Good. Then we have time to go."

"Go? Go where?"

"Out."

Seto chuckled. "'Out'? Where?"

"I have something to show you at the museum."

"Please, Isis. No more lies about my past."

Isis shook her head. "Not lies. Truths. To understand the future, Kaiba, you must learn from the past."

"I have nothing to do with the past!"

Isis grinned. "The child called you 'Seth' before she left the office. She appears to have regained some of her past memories. It is time for you to learn from your past, Kaiba."

"I'm not going!"

"Not even to see your slave girl's body?"

"Slave girl?"

"Aria."

Ryou and Malik gasped. Marik appeared too preoccupied in the window to notice Isis' revelation.

Ryou shuddered. "I'm going to stay here. I don't wish to come. I don't think I could see that."

Malik held onto Ryou. "I can't leave Ryou alone."

Marik growled from the window, rubbing the dagger of the Millennium Rod, gently. "How many fingers should I cut from the pharaoh's hand when I see him?"

Seto laughed. "I have no past with Aria!"

Isis grinned and laughed. "You have had more of a past than you wish to believe. But, don't worry, Kaiba, all will be made clear to you."

"What if I do not go?"

"Then there are lives at stake. Human life will be lost…and your son shall pay the price."

*****************

Isis lead Seto down the Hall of Mummies. He stopped in front of a female mummy. Seto's hand touched the glass as a memory flashed before him.

--------Flashback---------

Yami growled at him. "You do not question my orders, High Priest Seth. She has produced nothing but dead sons! Her womb is useless to me! I ordered you to produce an heir for me, Seth!"……….

Seth saw the two guards emerge from his bedroom….their swords covered in blood……………

Seth heard the midwives crying through the closed door. "Neferu…..Yami will pay for this dearly."

-------------------------------

Seto's eyes widened. "I remember that! Neferu! How can I remember something from that life?!"

Isis took Seto's arm to another female mummy. "Recognize her?"

Seto looked and shook his head. "No."

Isis smiled. "Look closer, Seto Kaiba. Look at her. She was a loving wife to you after Neferu's death. She birthed Aria and you loved her dearly."

Seto bit his lip.

-------Flashback-----

Rayna managed a smile. "Why did you wish to bed with me tonight, Seth? There are other women in your harem more worthy than myself."

Seth lead her over to the bed and laid her down. Seth crawled on top of her. "I need the pleasure you give me tonight. Your body is as beautiful as the goddess Isis. I need your love to surround me tonight. I need you to give yourself to me."

Seth rolled over, pulling her on top of him.

"Anything…..for the one I love," Rayna whispered, smiling.

---------------------------

Seto whispered. "Rayna."

Isis nodded. "Her kind, gentle nature is not unlike someone else to whom you are close. She reminds you of someone you know, Kaiba. Doesn't she? It is not surprising that you feel a love on a different level for this person."

"I love Joey!"

"Joey. Yes, you do love him. This love is different. It is love that runs deeper than friendship, and yet not romantic. I'm talking about Ryou. Ryou is the reincarnation of your wife, Rayna, from your past."

Seto lowered his head. "I have always loved Ryou, but not the same way I love Joey. I love Joey completely! I want to be with Joey! I need him, Isis."

Isis nodded. "The same way that Ryou needs his Dark, Bakura, to keep himself whole. But you loved Rayna and Aria with a love that burned deeper than friendship. Deeper than love. Follow me."

Isis lead Seto to the Archives room. "We have a scroll down here which will be of interest to you. We have unearthed your tomb, Kaiba."

"I hope you didn't put me in some box on a shelf like Bakura."

"No. We have designated a special place for you."

Seto rolled his eyes. "I'm not even going to ask."

"We have a scroll from your tomb which will be of interest."

Isis removed a scroll from the cabinet and opened it. It was a scene of Aria washing the High Priest's feet.

"That girl looks like Aria!"

Isis nodded. "She was your slave from the age of three, Kaiba."

Kaiba looked around, hearing the sound of a chibi's giggle. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"A little girl's laugh!"

Isis shook her head. "You are remembering her laugh, Kaiba. It's possible that you are hearing what you heard in the past.

[High Peas Seth all wet!] the little girl's laughter resonated in his head.

Seto shook his head, trying to block the sound of Aria's laugh.

"You watched her grow up until her mother had died, killed by Yami's hand."

Seto turned. "Died? How?"

Isis continued to open the scroll. "The scroll does not say. Pharaoh Yami had began his search for the Millennium Items which would give him unlimited power over life, death, and all creation. Legend says that the Millennium Items would give power over the gods. Imagine, Kaiba….If you could look at Ra and give him an order. He would have to follow it. That is the power that Yami craved. It was then that Yami set his sights on your Millennium Rod. It did belong to you first."

Seto cringed. "I know what Marik does with that thing and, believe me, I could never touch that thing again."

"You fell in love with Aria, Seto. You loved her and had children by her." Isiswent to a small coffin in the corner. "This is your child, Makalani. He was your son with Aria. Aria produced more children for you than Makalani, but he was your pride and joy."

Isis opened the coffin where a small child lay, in hand hands, the symbol of the High Priest. "He died quite young. The inscription says he died of the 'Red Fever.'"

"Scarlet Fever?"

Isis nodded. "Yami's only heir to the throne was playing in the gardens with one of your daughters. Seven days later, he took his last breath. It took your son seven days to die, Seto. Aria was heartbroken."

"Aria. Where is her body?"

Isis went to a pine box. "We found Aria's body inside your burial chamber. We removed it first and brought it here."

Seto watched as Isis opened the pine box and Seto's heart leaped into his throat. He looked at the mummy in the pine box, her white, spiky hair retained its color, though the mummy had lost much of its hair. The mummy's nails were neat and trimmed, her white skin had faded to a wrinkled brown. Around her neck, she wore a necklace with the Eye of Ra.

"This was your gift to her when she had reached her eighteenth year."

Seto looked at the necklace and gasped. "I…I remember that!"

Isis projected Seto's memory on the wall.

------Flashback--------

Aria held her hands over her eyes. She bounced up and down excitedly. "Can I look now, sir?"

Seth smiled as he removed the necklace from the box. "Not yet, Aria."

Seth tied the necklace around her neck. "Open your eyes."

Aria looked in the mirror and looked at the solid gold necklace. "This…This is for me?"

The High Priest turned her to face him. "That is the most beautiful object in this room."

Seth raised his hand and stroked her cheek. "But, you are the most beautiful person that I have ever seen. My heart belongs to you, Aria Kanika. Now and Always."

Seth closed his eyes and leaned down, kissing her passionately. Aria returned the kiss just as eagerly.

-------------------------

Seto's stomach turned at the thought of kissing a woman. But, this was Aria. Even he had to admit, he found her attractive in the past. If the thought of a naked woman turned his stomach, why did his body not react as negatively?

"You loved Aria very much, Seto," Isis said watching the master and slave girl kiss.

"Isis, Aria is only eight years old! I could never love Aria like that! What does my son have to do with this anyway? You said that my son will pay if I don't come see this!"

"Indeed."

Seto growled. "Hayden is my world! I love him!"

"Not Hayden."

Seto rolled his eyes. "I don't have any other kids! Hayden is my adopted son and he's all I have."

"You must eventually accept these memories, Seto. You and Aria had a past. You fathered children by her. You defied Yami to keep her safe. These memories are intense. Now that Aria is becoming an older girl, it's going to be harder to stop the memories of what you both had in the previous lifetime."

Seto pointed to the image on the wall. "I could never kiss Aria like this! She's only eight years old! Besides, that's disgusting!"

Isis made the image disappear. "As Aria gets older, Seto, it's going to be difficult for you to separate this Aria from the Aria in your past. Your memories may become problematic for you both."

Seto shook his head. "I'd rather cut my own hands off before I touch Aria. She'll always be my little girl."

"One day, Kaiba, your memories may become too much for you both to handle."

"Not likely. I can control the memories."

Isis touched her necklace. "My necklace tells me otherwise, Kaiba. You and Aria have a past that you will both be unable to ignore one day. It is that day that will change both of your lives forever. Then she will no longer be the little girl you once knew."

Kaiba turned his back to her. "Thanks for the bedtime story, Isis. But, I can control myself and my memories. I do not need you bringing my son into this mess either, Isis!"

"Hayden is not the son who will pay the price if you and Aria ignore your past."

Seto growled. "Who is it, then? I have no children of my own."

Isis grinned. "You do not know him yet. But you will, very shortly."

Seto rolled his eyes. "I'm tired of your riddles, Isis. Thank you for saving Aria. I will be eternally grateful to you for doing that. But, I refuse to believe I will see Aria as I did back in ancient Egypt. Goodbye, Isis."

Isis watched as Seto opened the door. "You cannot deny what you have been….we learn about our past so that we are not condemned to repeat the same mistakes! Seto Kaiba, when Aria becomes the beautiful young woman from your past, you and Aria will make one large mistake that will threaten to tear your families apart!"

"As I said, Isis, I would rather cut off my hand than touch Aria. I do not find women attractive at all!"

Isis smiled. "Aria will be a beautiful girl, Seto, when she ages. Will you be able to resist her when she is tall with long white hair with a smile that boys lust over?"

Seto narrowed his eyes. "Any boy that comes near her is going to get a visit from my 'Public Relations Department.'"

"You cannot protect her from all of the courting boys."

Seto growled. "Watch me! No boy will come within one hundred feet of her! I'd do the same thing for Aten. I'd make sure all his girlfriends--."

Isis chuckled. "Aten? Girls? Girls will chase him, but he only has eyes for one person. You don't have to worry about girlfriends for Aten. He will be far from interested."

"You mean he'll be--?"

"Girls will be the furthest thing from his mind. The girls will like him because of his unique…physical characteristics. But, a girlfriend? Just the thought of being with a girl will make Aten physically ill. He'll be much happier with the mate of his own choice."

Seto leaned against the doorpost. "Of course Aten will be able to make his own choice! I don't think Marik plans to arrange a marriage for him."

"Well, Marik is Egyptian. He had been raised with old traditions. I don't see Marik arranging a marriage for his son."

"As long as Marik works for Aten's best interests, I won't get involved. Thank you again for helping Aria, Isis. I have to get home to my puppy."

Seto left and thought about what he had seen. The images of Aria flashed before his eyes.

When he arrived back at Isis' apartment, he saw Ryou and Malik sitting on the couch, their arms wrapped around each other.

"What did Isis want to tell you, Seto?" Ryou asked.

"Nothing, Ryou. Get Aria. We're going home."

Ryou stood up and opened the door to Isis' bedroom. Marik and Bakura were sitting by Aria's side, talking quietly in Egyptian.

"Yami, we're going home."

Bakura grinned. He turned to Marik, whispering in Egyptian.

"When we get back home, we owe the pharaoh a little friendly visit."

Marik's grin widened, his canines showing. He rubbed the blade of the Millennium Rod. His eyes glowed fiery red. "Yami is going to pay dearly for the desecration of our bodies!"

Updates: Saturday

Next Chappie: Marik, Bakura, and Yami fight.