Very good. Writer’s block stay far away!

Warnings: OOCness, Insane! And possibly Psycho! Yami, Insecure! Mahaado
Chapter 6

A few more days, almost two weeks, passed in relative silence. Yami would eat, sleep, bathe, read in the library, and spend some time with Mahaado and Mana each day, watching as Mahaado and Mana practiced scrying. Apparently divination was not a strong forte for each of them, but at least Mahaado could manage it while Mana could not.

Yet…

What if this were merely an illusion? As long as Mahaado tried to teach her and she failed, Yami could catch glimpses of his past life.

He saw more, playing games with his Father – he could tell, the man looked different but from the feeling, he knew it was his father, and an old advisor that reminded him of Yugi’s grandfather named Shimon…

He saw Priestess Aishizu in the visions once or twice, and she looked almost exactly like Isis, so he knew who she was…

He saw Priest Shadah of the Scales…

He also saw High Priest Seto, but in his visions, he never saw Mahaado, and he only saw Mana one other time, when she jumped out of a pot and surprised him.

How odd…

Perhaps the diviner could not see his own past?

That could be, but Yami still had a half-feeling of missing something. Still, he was confident that his favorite monster would not betray him.

Mahaado…

Mahaado was strange. He was obviously powerful – a rogue Blue-Eyes had appeared by the castle and Mahaado had taken exactly two seconds to blast it into submission. And he knew more than just Dark Magic attack, all sorts of fancy illusions and special spells… and yet…

He heard Mana asking about Mahaado one day… he’d been surprised, but it made sense. If Mana had been around in Ancient Egypt, why not Mahaado?

Surely he could ask?

“Teacher-sama?”

“Yes, Mana?”

“I know that you’re a Spirit-Sorcerer and an Illusionist and much better than I am, but…” She pouted, “Why isn’t my Marendan getting any better?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing! It just doesn’t do enough damage!”

“That’s because I practice more than you.”

“Liar! You were only in the Shadow Realm for an extra few days! It can’t have made that much difference!”

“You forgot one thing, Mana.”

“What?”

“I sealed my power for five years… it’s grown exponentially…”

“Oh!”

I’m tired… so tired of this charade, Pharaoh… but it must continue, for the good of the world. You must remember, for if we use the God Cards to do so, it will only bring more pain and despair.

Besides, only a few more weeks, and the spell to give you a separate body from your partner will be complete…

“Mahaado.”

Ma’at take it. Now was not the time-! Mahaado turned and bowed as he went down on one knee. “Pharaoh.”

“I wish you would keep doing that.” Yami said, and then realized what he had said. “Ack! I mean! I wish you would stop doing that.”

Mahaado nodded. “Pharaoh.”

“Please, rise.” Mahaado did so and Yami turned to him seriously. “Mahaado, tell me. Who were you in Ancient Egypt? I know you were important, and yet, I keep feeling as though you are more than a duel monster.”

He had been to visit his fortress – er his area of the Shadow Realm, a bustling metropolis where his monsters lived, and he knew that the others were mostly, well, still alive, but not as human.

Mahaado and Mana were special…

“I was… the Captain of your Royal Guard. I also guarded the Royal Tombs.” Mahaado spoke truthfully, deliberately leaving out some parts of his life.

Yami didn’t buy it.

“You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

“Pharaoh, I would never lie to you…”

“I know you would never betray me, but hiding the truth – I don’t like either. Tell me the truth.”

Mahaado swallowed. “I was the High Priest of the Millennium Ring, and your friend, my Pharaoh.”

After all, he and Yami hadn’t been lovers, so he wasn’t lying… not technically… after all; it wasn’t really the same…

Illusion versus reality, truth versus absolute truth, what was true and what was false, when it all came down to it?

Yami felt strangely disappointed as Mahaado finished. “That was all?”

“That was all, my Pharaoh.”

His Pharaoh did not need to know that he wanted him, did not need to know that he lusted for him, no matter how shameful that was…

He would always love his Pharaoh. And he would make sure his Pharaoh didn’t know. It was too dangerous…

He did not want to become his Pharaoh’s weakness. He would never forgive himself if he did.

Yami sensed a brush of something again, and growled.

He’d been feeling it all week. A feeling of being watched, but not really…

“Mahaado.”

“Yes, my Pharaoh?”

“Kiss me.”

Mahaado’s eyes widened. “P-Pharaoh?”

“You know, it’s cute when you stutter like that.” Yami said, before he yanked his Dark Magician down into a kiss.

This proved it. The feeling was stronger here with a hint almost pleading… his hands gripped his monster’s shoulders. “Don’t run from me any longer.”

“Pharaoh… I cannot…” Mahaado’s words died off as Yami kissed him again.

“Fine, then would you like me to make it a royal order?”

The hurt shimmering in his monster’s eyes was enough to convince him otherwise. “You…” He frowned as he met Mahaado’s eyes again, searching for… Yes, it was there, and clear as day to see as they were both know kneeling on the floor. “You…”

Mahaado nodded.

“You… for me… you…!” He clutched his Dark Magician to himself, feeling fear and pain and horrible, agonizing, unrequited love. “You…!”

End Chapter

Completed 10/13/05

Ah… bunny dying…

And cliffhangers. ^^