Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Trust Me ❯ Bend Down To God ( Chapter 4 )

Priestess: -__- Nahkti's thieves have very perverted minds, don't they? And I realized something-Nahkti is a fine name for Bakura (it means 'strong' and has a very Bakura-ish tone to it) but I can't think of Malik as Namu. It sounds too...I don't know...un-Maliky. Now, this is a loong chapter. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Freaky (Well, this might be considered 'fun' to Kaiba fans) Fact: Seth never truly betrayed the Pharaoh. He was actually quite vehement about protecting Atemu. Story seems to be that Seth ends up getting possessed. To tell you who by would both ruin the plot and force me to offer information I am not entirely certain of. And by not entirely certain of, the person has a yami in Ancient Egypt and most likely (there are two possibilities, but no one really scrutinized the truth of them much) doesn't even exist in present timing.

Warning: Limey/Lemony content! Did they even have bathtubs or sponges in ancient Egypt?

*****

Namu couldn't sleep.

He was lying in the biggest, finest bed he'd ever laid eyes on; in what could very possibly be the hugest, prettiest room ever; but he still couldn't sleep, thanks to the person lying right next to him.

After what he had just seen, there was no doubt in his mind anymore-Nahkti was the Thief King. And that meant...Namu pursed his lips. What, exactly, did it mean? Hadn't Nahkti already done the worst he could? What more could he do to him?

Well now, let's review, shall we? His mind replied unpityingly. He hasn't raped or killed you yet, has he? And he hasn't tortured you-not physically, anyway. There's plenty left he could do-and maybe he will. You never know...

Terrified, Namu sat up in bed.

Nahkti didn't move an inch as Namu crept over and picked up the very knife Nahkti had threatened him with.

He had had the same idea last night, but the idea of actually slicing his neck open while he was sleeping seemed repulsive.

But wasn't that precisely what he had done to Isis? Shouldn't he deserve the same fate he bestowed others?

Namu glanced at Nahkti. The expression on his pale face was a serene one, a slight smile lingering on his lips. The thought of his beautiful face frozen like that forever, just above a sliced neck, was just as excruciating as it had been last night.

Keeping his eyes on Nahkti's neck, Namu inched the sharp blade nearer. Nearer now, nearer...the blade grazed the tender skin...

And slam!!

Namu found himself lying face-down on the mattress, his wiry arms pinned behind his back. "Well, well, well," Nahkti murmured as he pried the knife hilt from the boy's slim fingers. "It seems I can't trust you for a minute, can I?" his voice was mild and kind, but some sinister touch Nahkti gave his words chilled Namu to the bone.

"Namu, I'm sorry I have to do this..."

I'm going to die, he thought, trembling like mad. He's going to kill me.

But no.

Instead, Namu felt ropes being tied around his wrists and jerked tight. He winced as the rough rope cut into his skin. "I imagine this must be painful, but I can't let you kill me, now can I?"

Freeing Namu from his grip, Nahkti turned on his side and mumbled, "Can't say I blame you for trying, though."

Tears streamed from Namu's cheeks. Not tears of Nahkti-hate...tears of self-hate. No matter what a terrible person Nahkti was, if Namu sliced his neck while he was sleeping, he would be just as terrible a person.

And if he did succeed in murdering Nahkti, then what? Cruel though he was, Nahkti was the only person who had offered him the slightest bit of kindness. Without Nahkti sheltering him, Namu would be raped and killed before he even knew what had happened.

Nahkti smiled slightly at Namu. So, the boy's dislike for him was enough to push the sweet child to murder. He was glad he had decided to be patient. It would be more difficult than he believed to get rid of such extreme dislike. But he could manage.

Suddenly he became aware of a gentle whimpering. He was crying! Why could he never cut it out? Usually he didn't mind inducing tears, but for this boy...

I really am in love.

Namu's mouth made a tiny O of surprise as Nahkti wrapped his arms around him and turned him over so they were facing each other. "Why must you keep crying? What are you afraid of?" Sobbing pitifully, Namu buried his head in Nahkti's chest. "I'm sorry," he wailed. "I-I'm so...so sorry."

"Is that what this is all about?" Nahkti replied, genuinely surprised. "Namu, Namu, Namu, you aren't the first to make an attempt for my life, and you certainly won't be the last. You're lucky. The lunatics simply trying to steal my throne usually end up being punished with a very excruciating demise. You're the first ever to get off with your wrists tied for the night." This, unfortunately, just made Namu weep harder.

Ignoring the wet tears splashing all over his chest, Nahkti held Namu tightly as he wept and didn't let go-not even when they were both sleeping.

*****

"Reincarnation?!" Karimu repeated, sounding utterly stunned. His dark eyes seemed ready to pop right out, and from the others' expressions it seemed the feeling was mutual.

"Yes, I'm her reincarnation," Isis replied ever so calmly. "That is what I said."

"Impossible!" Seth cried. "If truly you are her reincarnation, how can you both be here at once?"

Isis glanced mildly at him, as if used to this reaction. "I time-traveled here with my friends' help." She fingered the Millennium Necklace at her swanlike throat. "We sensed something amiss in this time." Mariku could have sworn she was staring right at him when she said this. "And it seems...we were right."

*****

"Undressed…?" Namu squeaked, backing away from Nahkti as a new wave of fear ran through him.

"Of course. I can't bathe you with that on."

"But I can bathe myself," Namu protested weakly, knowing that it probably wouldn't do anything to change the situation.

"I don't doubt that, but I want to bathe you," Nahkti replied, something in his tone signaling he wouldn't stand for anymore argument.

Not wanting to anger Nahkti, Namu slowly began undressing, trying his best to suppress the fresh tears that began to well up. Never in his life had he felt as humiliated as at the moment where he exposed himself completely, feeling his cheeks growing hot in shame.

He didn't want to meet Nahkti's eyes and turned his head to the side, closing his eyes, which caused a single crystalline tear to spill down his cheek.

Nahkti's eyes glittered lustfully at the sight of the beautiful naked angel standing before him. "Namu, look at me."

Namu obeyed, flinching when he saw that Nahkti's nose was nearly touching his.

Nahkti's eyes and voice were uncharacteristically soft as he ran a hand over Namu's silky cheek. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Why are you so shy?"

Namu's cheeks burned at the unexpected praise, and he stepped back.

Deciding begrudgingly to stop torturing him, Nahkti said, "Just get in the water."

Namu obeyed, though reluctant, and gave a tiny sigh as the warm, comforting water enveloped his petite frame. He leaned the basin and looked at the older boy, waiting uncertainly.

The white-haired Egyptian pulled the long sleeves of his shirt up, so that they wouldn't get soaked by the water, and kneeled beside the tub. Taking a sponge from the shelf, he dipped it into the water, wetting it thoroughly, before he began to wash Namu.

Starting at Namu's delicate face, Nahkti gently traced the sponge down along his neck, over his collarbone, and slim shoulders. Namu didn't say a word, but Nahkti could hear his breathing becoming a little bit louder with every movement of the sponge.

Smiling, Nahkti continued until he reached Namu's chest, noticing with satisfaction the little gasp that slipped from the quivering boy's lips as the soft material brushed over his sensitive nipples.

Namu's breathing was now audible as Nahkti gently rubbed the small pink nubs into hardness before he traveled down further, sliding the sponge over his ribs and belly until he reached his thighs.

The child let out a moan as Nahkti abandoned the sponge, his fingers dancing over the silky half-erect member inside Namu's thighs.

Pleasure slowly overtook his fear as Nahkti caressed him. Nahkti was touching him so tenderly, so gently, like no one ever had before. He was almost disappointed when he removed his hand.

"Well, I think you're clean now," Nahkti said, though he sounded reluctant.

Nodding in surprise at the unexpected mercy, Namu watched mutely as Nahkti left.

Then, shuddering slightly, he got up and out of the tub. As he rubbed his wet body with the towel, he tried to sort through his feelings. He knew what they should be-he should be terrified, humiliated, and above all furious. But he felt none of these. Instead, he felt thoughtful. Even...tranquil.

Why? He wondered as he lifted a white tunic. It looked pretty similar to his other outfit, but as well as being a better fit it smelled clean and it was a high-quality silky white fabric. Why did he feel so confused, when what he should feel was incredibly obvious? Why did he feel so peaceful, when he had never been this degraded in his life? And why did he feel so safe, when he knew the worst could come at any moment?

*****

"What do you mean, 'amiss'?" Mariku almost snarled, glaring at 'Isis.' "What's so wrong with this time?"

Isis pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. Granted, this will make the future very different. But maybe it will be better. Maybe some of the negatives won't exist anymore. Maybe..."

Her unintelligible musing trailed off, and she stared right at Mariku.

"Or maybe Necrophadisu will never be defeated," she said, not seeming to care that she made no sense whatsoever. Maybe Kaiba and Atemu will never find out about their pasts. Maybe Atemu and Bakura will never end up in their Items at all. Maybe Malik will never be a Tomb-Keeper, or never be born at all. Maybe I will have an entirely different family. Maybe..." she touched her stomach very gently and trailed off again. "I can't be sure what will happen."

"So you're here to make sure things are the same in your time?" suggested Karimu. Isis fixed him with what just happened to be her most serious gaze before shaking her head very, very slowly. "It will never be the same."

With that she turned around, striding out without speaking.

*****

Nahkti glanced up as Namu entered the room. His gaze gentled slightly, as it always did when he saw the boy.

Namu looked more beautiful than usual. White looked good on him, and his hair seemed even silkier brushing against the scarlet cloth still draped over his shoulders. He didn't know what drew him to that beautiful Egyptian boy, but Namu was something special-a unique, exquisite, and virtuous thing whose alluring purity couldn't be stolen even by the most sinful act.

He noticed there was something in Namu's eyes that said he needed to say something.

"What is it?"

Namu hesitated. He had no idea how to word this. At last, without thinking, he blurted the stupidest thing possible: "What am I to you?"

Nahkti blinked. "Huh?" he repeated stupidly, understandably having no idea whatsoever what Namu meant.

"What I mean to say is..." that I'm an idiot "what am I? A slave, a prisoner?" His voice broke slightly, and he was beginning to quiver irrepressibly. "W-Where do I stand here?"

Ahh...Nahkti's lips quirked into an amused smile. So, that was what he meant. The beautiful child was worried about his future, did he?

"D-Don't smile," Namu cried, his quivering voice irritable. "It isn't funny!"

Nahkti's smile was immediately replaced by a thoughtful look. "No, I suppose it isn't." He pursed his lips. How was he supposed to reply to this? Truthfully, he wasn't sure. How about something which surprised him? That was easy enough-Though he shouldn't have been, he was surprised that Namu actually believed he was either a slave or a prisoner. "Is that really what you think?"

"Today I will go to the Pharaoh and fight him, and after that you may do as you wish."

Namu scowled, his purple eyes flashing. "Like what? Because of you I have no where! The only place I even have a relative is in the palace, and I certainly don't want that! It isn't as if I can survive by myself! Where am I supposed to live?"

"With me," replied Nahkti bluntly, though his eyes were still gentle. "Whatever you want to call it, you can always live with me. Like you said, it's my fault you have no where. I can't very well leave you to die."

Namu nodded, but he still felt ready to cry.

Nahkti's throat tightened with infuriation. "This is because of what those twisted rebels who call themselves thieves said, isn't it?" he snarled, which made Namu cringe with fright before he nodded very cautiously.

"Don't listen to them," Nahkti snapped, his fists clenching and his blue eyes burning with rage. Namu's eyes widened and he whimpered quietly, backing up against the wall.

Immediately guilty, Nahkti gripped Namu by the shoulders and said as tenderly as he could, "Namu, I wouldn't do something like that. Trust me. Just because I'm the Thief King doesn't mean I have no morals."

Namu nodded again, quivering hard.

With a dissatisfied sigh, Nahkti released Namu. Making a mental note to murder the thieves who filled Namu's head with these thoughts, he started gathering up the mummy and a portion of the treasures in one ordinary bag and the special huge piece of richly embroidered fabric Necrophadisu had given him specifically for this task.

As he started digging through the treasures to find the best ones, he noticed something which made his eyes widen and his mouth part softly. His slender, muscular fingers pulled a slim gold chain from the piles of treasures. At the end was a small ankh made of a glimmering light purple crystal that reminded him strongly of Namu's eyes.

"Here."

Namu's mouth opened in surprise as Nahkti clasped the chain around his neck and the beautiful amulet fell a few inches past his breastbone, feeling strangely cool against his warm skin.

"Come on," Nahkti said when he pulled away. "Let me gain my revenge first, then you can decide what you want to be."

*****

"We-e-ell..." ventured Atemu, never rising from his gilded throne. "If we have reincarnations, I take it you know these future selves, then?"

Isis nodded. "Yours. And his," she nodded at Mariku. "And his," she tilted her head towards Seth. "Somewhat them-met, if not know," she said of Karimu and Mahaado. And-hmm...what is he called in this time?"

It was immediately evident that none of them knew who 'he' was. It was Mahaado who said "He? He who?"

Isis shrugged imperturbably. "I don't know his name in his time. We already have five of him in our time. Granted, two out of five are dead; but..." she pursed her lips thoughtfully. "The Thief King," she said at last. "The white-haired one, who robbed your father's tomb..."

"That scum!" Furious, Atemu jumped to his feet and started tirading while flinging his fists in the air. "Where is he? Tell me where he is, I'll rip of his head and feed it to crocodiles then I'll gut him and eat his insides then I'll skin him and rip his foul flesh into bits and scatter them across the sands of Egypt and I'll burn his bones clean and I'll-"

"Pharaoh!" Mariku barked. "Sit down!"

Stunned at being addressed with such disrespect, Atemu obeyed and took a deep breath before turning his gaze back to Isis.

Fighting to keep his voice steady, he implored, "Tell me how to kill him."

Isis regarded him steadily before replying ever-so-matter-of-factly, "You have been trying to kill him for thirty-five hundred years and have yet to be successful, though you remained persistent right up to the moment I revealed we were all gods."

Of course, this got gawking stares from everybody. It was Aishisu who finally ventured, "we who?"

"Atemu," she replied without missing a beat. "Bakura. Kaiba. Malik. Mariku. Me."

"All right..." said Karimu with just the slightest jealousy. "Can you at least tell us what this Thief King's appearance is? What he looks like."

It was unsurprising when Isis first gazed unperturbedly at Karimu before giving quite a mystifying, unhelpful reply "I can't be sure. The way things have been going, it seems to me perfectly possible he will retain his present-day appearance."

"Which is...?" inquired Akunadin, quite puzzled and a bit anxious.

Like with the others, Isis stared long and hard at him. But this time, she turned to stare in turn at everybody and lifted her arms. "He's about this tall in my time, a bit skinny but still very powerful, with white hair about this-"

"Heh heh heh."

A gruff, cruel chuckling cut Isis off, and everybody turned.

Nahkti was there, tall and proud and surrounded by treasures. By his feet was the corpse of the former Pharaoh, wrapped in the special embroidered fabric. His right hand was raised to proudly display the several huge jeweled rings and bracelets dripping from his fingers, and a bag with more treasures was slung over his shoulders (hmm...looks like he decided to bring all the treasures after all.) Still with her arms lifted to show the length of Nahkti's hair, Isis said in a stunningly undisturbed voice, "Yeah, that's him."

"I am Nahkti, the King of Thieves. I have special delivery for the Pharaoh," Nahkti snarled, his voice welling up with sarcastic obsequiousness. Atemu's teeth clenched, and he clenched the throne to keep from jumping off and making another scene. Guards filed in, but Nahkti kept his unperturbed smirk.

"Who are you? How dare you show up here?" Atemu growled, fighting to keep his voice steady.

Aishisu noticed Isis mouthing Nahkti's words as he replied, "now, now, keep your crown on. Actually..." his smirk widened. "Don't. You see, I have a little challenge for you. You and your priests duel me, right here right now. If I lose, my life is forfeit. But..." Isis even paused when he did. "If I win, I get all seven Millennium Items and you must renounce your status and wealth." His smirk grew gleeful, and taunting. "That shouldn't be too difficult for the 'King of Games', now should it?"

Seth lowered his head to whisper in Atemu's ear. "My Pharaoh, you mustn't accept. Remember, he is the only one to dare and succeed to break into the former Pharaoh's tomb. He even killed Aishisu's daughter!"

Atemu gave him a sharp glance. "I will not simply let the scum who besmirched my father's memory run free, and it seems the dungeons will not work-he may be pretentious, but I'm sure he has some skill. Besides, imprisoning him isn't enough. If he loses, he will be humiliated. I want to humiliate him!"

Turning back to Nahkti, he barked, "I accept! I hope you're ready to die!"

Nahkti seemed to find this highly amusing. "It's impossible to defeat my Diabound," he sneered. "Now, on this field, I'll make your blood cover the palace."

Isis's lips quirked into a genuine smile as she brushed past him, shaking her head. "Atemu, you have so much to learn."

"Hey, where are you going?" Mariku cried indignantly as Isis walked down the hall, brushing right past a staring Nahkti without even glancing at him.

Isis's expression was mild as she turned back to him. "I have a friend I need to meet, and currently he's of higher consequence than a fight I've already seen."

With that, she turned once more and exited the Great Hall.

*****

Nahkti frowned as he snapped, "could we get on with it? Oh, but, one more thing." Ignoring Atemu's moan, he continued, "the first of your priests whom I beat must give me their Millennium Item. It isn't fair that all of you can use yours to aid you, but I have none."

After deciding Mahaado would duel him first since the previous owner of the Millennium Ring had filled it with so much evil he was afraid to use it anyway,

Isis's eyes were a bit wistful as she entered the airy room and exhaled lightly. "Finally here?"

Still perfectly calm, obviously having expected to be addressed in such a manner, Isis turned serenely to the wild-haired Egyptian man and stared strait into his disturbingly pupil-less periwinkle/lilac eyes. "Hello, Mariku," she said primly. "Early as usual."

But then, upon her closer inspection, her brother's yami didn't quite seem usual anything. His glinting eyes seemed more haunted than ever before, and there were even indisputable tears streaking his cheeks.

"Mariku, what is it?"

Mariku sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, Isis," he whispered. Isis's immediate reaction was panic, though that may have just been the fact that she was pregnant.

"S-Sorry? Why are you sorry, what's wrong?!"

Mariku's eyes were sad and rueful, and without warning he pulled her into a warm embrace which made her blush. "Our time is gone," he informed her matter-of-factly, resting his chin in her hair (he was two inches taller than her, not including the hair.) "Touzoku Ou and Adularia are spirits wandering aimlessly. The rest will be replaced by themselves from this reality."

Isis jerked away, her eyes wide. "W-What?!"

Mariku nodded grimly. "But I have a plan."

And he told her.

It was a difficult plan, but since Isis didn't much care to re-witness the battle, she listened with utter focus. When it was all finished, she did not burst into tears. She simply nodded grimly and said softly, "How much time to I have?"

"Two days, about. But-Bakura had a final request. I don't know how, but don't let him be tricked by Necrophadisu again. Please."

Isis nodded. "Very well."

*****

Meanwhile, the battle had intensified. So far, Nahkti had an obvious upper hand. No one even noticed Isis walk in-except Mariku, who hissed in her ear, "finally here?"

Isis didn't even reply.

Atemu gazed at his father's face, and shut his eyes as he remembered something his father had once said.

"Justice is in the name of god."

The Priests will perform the punishment in the place of god. That was what Shimon had said.

But...Atemu opened his eyes. The corpse that was so cruelly defiled...

Is...He whirled to glare at the Priests who were fighting and shouted, "He is my father!"

"All of you get back!" Standing between the Priests and Nahkti, he yelled, "I'm fighting!"

Justice is in the name of god

"Pharaoh..." whomever had protested soon trailed off. "Finally King Pharaoh's turn!" Nahkti sneered. "You'll be a mummy soon."

A god who's name is...

The Millennium Puzzle glowed, both on Atemu's chest and in the middle of a tablet. One of the three kaas on the tablet glowed, and formed a monster with such earth-shattering power even Nahkti gasped and staggered back. But Isis, of course, didn't bat an eye.

OBELISK!!

"What is this?!" Akunadin cried.

"Look carefully," replied Atemu. "This is one of the Gods."

Nahkti and Diabound and the Priests and Mariku and everybody except Isis and Atemu gasped in disbelief.

Atemu's eyes burned with a fire they had never shown before. "You better bend down to God, Nahkti!"