A/N: Well, here's my first attempt ever at a chaptered story. I basically took a common fan fiction theme and ... skewed it slightly... AU of course, but I did try to keep the characters fairly in cannon. This is the first installment and I probably wont continue unless I get at least 5 reviews (My ambitions aren't to high are they?). So if you read, please review. Any constructive criticism is welcome. And now, on with the tale:
Yu-Gi-Oh characters copyrighted by Kazuki Takahashi
Don't Call Me Pharaoh!
By Hales731
Chapter 1: Oh my Ra!
"Arrgh! Seto, come here! I need to speak with you!" shouted a childlike voice that belied its owner's age.
"Something wrong, my pharaoh?" replied a deeper and somewhat colder voice.
"Oh no, not at all! Only that the council insists in making its' decisions for me. They don't seem to comprehend that I am not only old enough but have been old enough to rule this country since I was given the crown!" was heard from the first voice.
The two voices drew closer and as they emerged from around a corner, the owners could be identified.
"Of course, my pharaoh," said the deeper voice, and it could be determined that its origin was from a tall brunette adolescent. His eyes were a piercing azure and he was dressed in what appeared to be exquisitely royal Egyptian clothing, kilt and all. He was smirking at his companion.
"You're not helping, Seto. And stop calling me that!" snorted the significantly shorter of the two. The young man's appearance was definitely odd compared to his Egyptian ancestors and relative. At first glance, the boy didn't seem to belong in the desert at all with his gravity defying tri-colored hair that was adorned in a golden winged crown, indigo eyes that gleamed with childlike innocence, and (what was probably the most uncommon feature of the adolescent's appearance) flawless, alabaster skin. The teen (for that was what he was, despite his childlike features) seemed like he had never been caressed by the unforgiving desert sun.
"Why not? That is your title, is it not my pharaoh?" asked Seto.
"I may be the pharaoh, but you know I hate formalities. Besides, we're cousins, for Ra's sake! Hmph! And I know you're doing it on purpose," came the frustrated answer as he viewed his cousin's smirk.
"Fine, Yuugi. Now, what is it you wanted to see me about?"
"I can't understand it? Why does the council seem to think I'm incapable of performing my office? I do not need a regent. You know perfectly well, as much as the other priests, that I can conduct the weighing ceremonies, as well as wield the puzzle fine, so why can't they just leave me alone?" Yuugi griped.
"Could it be, possibly, because you refuse to take a queen?"
"Stop smirking at me. I haven't taken a queen yet because I haven't found someone I love yet."
"How sentimental. What about that one princess? The one with the brown hair and blue eyes?"
"Anzu? Ra, no! She's my friend, and only my friend, nothing further."
At that point the two boys rounded another corner. At the end of the hallway, a curtain dangled in front of a doorway. Seto pulled back the curtain and allowed Yuugi to walk through. In front of them was a wide, expansive chamber with an intricately carved throne at the front. To each side of the throne there stood a total of six people. Yuugi and Seto made their way to this point, Yuugi taking a seat on the throne while Seto stood next to him.
"High Priest Seto, let us commence with the Weighing," said Yuugi, kneading his forehead gently.
"As is your command, my pharaoh," smirked Seto as Yuugi glared at him. "Bring in the first criminal!"
At once, five of the figures standing in front of Yuugi, and Seto took a defensive stance. Each wielded a golden object that had the Egyptian "Eye of Horus" embossed on them. The priests, (three on each side of Yuugi's throne), displayed their items.
A group of guards soon entered lugging a struggling prisoner.
"What was the criminal's crime?" asked Yuugi in an almost bored manner.
"Thieving, my pharaoh, from the previous pharaoh's tomb," responded a guard.
"I didn't steal anything!" exclaimed the prisoner. "There was nothing to steal."
"That does not excuse your breaking into the pharaoh's tomb. The resting place of the former kings is a territory of the gods," replied Yuugi solemnly. "You shall be judged by the Sennen Items. Priest Shada, please use your ankh to uncover the true heart of this man."
A tall man in linens stepped forward, brandishing a large key. There was a blinding flash and a large beast emerged from a chamber in the thief's chest.
"I see that you hold an evil ka within you," said Yuugi mundanely. "Priest Akunadin, please extract the ka."
An old man with a golden eye stepped forward near the Priest Shada. With a cry, the prisoner fell to his knees as wisps of a smoky substance materialized from his mouth.
"High Priest Seto! Please seal the ka into a tablet," ordered Yuugi with a yawn, as Seto strode towards Priest Akunadin. He held out a long rod that was topped with a winged sphere. After another flash, the monster that had come from the criminal became imprinted upon a nearby stone tablet.
During the entire proceeding, as Yuugi watched, he fingered an odd talisman that dangled from his slender neck. It was a cube pyramid, a common feature in his realm, however, it was upside down. There were grooves in it, as though it was once broken in pieces and then put back together again. These grooves were what the young ruler was tracing as he regarded the ceremony.
Once the priests had removed the ka from the thief, he called for the next criminal. Again the guards brought in a struggling captive. This prisoner, though, was unlike his predecessors and had a bag over his head
The young hooded man was furious. He had been working in his small roof garden where he lived with his aging grandfather. Because he rarely had the occasion, he was grateful for the chance to work outside. Leaving the house was forbidden for some unknown reason, but the young man snuck to the roof any time his grandfather was away, trading for new and exciting games (his grandfather was an owner of the only game shop in Thebes). This morning was a deviation from the young prisoner's normal retreat to his refuge. Patrolling guards had somehow spotted him and after ten minutes of rather intense scuffling (just because the captive was kept inside all the time, didn't mean he didn't know how to fight), the captive found himself in his current predicament within the pharaoh's palace. He had been bound, and covered with a rather large and smelly bag. He continued to struggle until a gentle voice floated towards him.
"What is the criminal accused of doing?" the captive heard. The voice hinted at innocence and a twinge of boredom.
"Nothing yet, my lord," answered a nearby guard.
"Then why was he captured? These proceedings were not created by my father to extract the kaas of innocent people!"
The prisoner noted that the peaceful voice had hardened slightly in anger.
"We believe he holds an evil ka, Oh Morning Star! We think that he might be a spy!" answered another guard.
The pharaoh's attention had certainly been captured. "Well, why do you believe him to be a spy? If he is a spy let me see his face!" Yuugi demanded.
'At least I get to see the pharaoh before I die. I'm going to get a little of what I always wanted; I get to see a little of what is beyond the walls of my home,' thought the captive as he was forced to stand.
Yuugi regarded the captive skeptically. Why the guards had forcibly taken a potentially innocent individual under the guise that he might be a spy, was beyond him. What could have given them the idea? Before he knew what was happening, the guards ripped the bag off of the prisoner's head and Yuugi found himself staring into the dazed garnet eyes of one who could possibly be his long, lost twin.
"Oh my Ra!" he whispered and promptly passed out.
A/N: So what do you think? Shall I continue or scrap it? Please, let me know. Also please note that the weighing of the kaa was taken (not quite) directly from the Yu-Gi-Oh manga, courtesy of Janime online (I'd give the address, but it wont show... E-mail me if you'd like the link) It's a great site.