Yu-Gi-Oh! An Egyptian Diary [PG15]

[Naimo]

If you've ever read any of my previous fics, you may recall that I have [u]never[/u] written a duel before. I am utterly hopeless when it comes to writing any decks that aren't Spellcasters/Dark Magicians/Spell Counter-based/a combination of those. Thus, there shall be very little duelling happening.

[spoiler=Chapter One]
[u]Chapter One[/u]

[i]Ancient Egypt[/i]
Anybody who messes with Psychic Duellists has no head, physically or not.

That was the lesson everybody was taught. That was the lesson that was beaten into Acenith’s mind. She knew that lesson well – she had had twenty years to learn it, and just as many to uphold it. The latter was important for a woman of her status, for her father was the respected politician Wakhakwi; like our modern day system, face was everything for a politician, and any scandal could wreck careers faster than it took to build them. For a time when Psychics were rejected from society, to be associated with one would bring the very worst kind of disgrace, and an end to any political career. Ironically, it could potentially steer them towards black methods and corruption, and we all know that corruption is a politician’s best friend for life.

Now that the author has finished digressing, she shall now return you to Acenith. Anybody who saw her walk through the marketplace that afternoon could not avoid looking at her. She had the advantage of height, and her features were well-built; her complexion was pleasing, her large eyes were a lovely shade of aeneous, complete with a beautiful, childish shimmer that made them appear to be protected with a layer of stained glass; her skin was delicately tanned, her figure slender and full of ladylike grace. She wore a white dress that hugged her vase-like figure, along with a matching hooded mantle pinned down by her many gold necklaces; equally, her arms and fingers were adorned with gem-encrusted gold jewellery, and there were a disproportionate number of rubies to emeralds and sapphires. A rich leather pouch hung from her golden, plaited girdle; the pouch itself was protecting her beloved deck of sixty cards, and being the daughter of an affluent family, she had the best cards to win all her duels.

She raised eyebrows wherever she went; from women, she was the object of much jealousy; from men, she was the perfect opportunity for social mobility. Acenith had a good disposition; her heart was frequently said to be made of gold, and her temper to be as pure as diamond. She appeared to have no deficiencies, mentally or physically; her heightened taste was right for an educated lady, and she had a kind of self-esteem that could only be shown through supporting political power and value.

Acenith was taking the route through the marketplace for the large building that was conveniently situated at the opposite end. To the untrained eye, it was just a towering building with a well-furbished exterior, yet when they entered, the interior was a pleasant surprise. It was really a stadium, designed only for duelling; there were multiple rows of seats, with the back ones being the highest to the airy ceiling. In the center, two tables placed evenly apart were firmly fixed to the floor; a very neatly etched and almost identical duel matt was on the surface of each.

During certain days, the stadium would be buzzing with keen duellists and audiences alike; today, there was nothing significant – in fact, it was going to be several weeks before anything did happen – and it gave Acenith a good excuse to find an opponent to duel. She perused the other duellists that were currently present, but immediately, her eye fell on a very familiar face. Similarly, she was spotted by the same person, and as he got out of the stands to meet her, she advanced forward.

Buikhu was much stouter than the average man, and although he was close to twenty-five, he had a young, weather-beaten face that was not unappealing to the eye. Compared to Acenith, he looked even more like a pauper. His hands were still raw from farming, although his arms were full of muscle honed purely through hard work.

“I wondered when you would arrive,” Buikhu grinned. He seemed genuinely pleased, for his eyes were lighting up with the familiar warmth of an acquaintanceship that had lasted for twelve unbroken years.

“You always say that when you see me,” smiled Acenith. “Do you really miss me that much?”

“I always think about you when I’m dreaming.”

Acenith was glad she had not yet removed her hood. “I thought you were here for a duel?”

Buikhu chuckled. “Of course I am.” A quick rock scissors paper determined that Acenith was to go first, and then they took their places; Buikhu stood behind the table furthest from the door, leaving Acenith with the one nearest. She unstrung her pouch and withdrew the deck with ease, despite its larger size; Buikhu shuffled and thumped his deck onto the deck zone, and speedily pulled the top five cards, and thus beating Acenith, who completed the process a little longer, yet much more gently.

She said nothing as she drew; there was a pause, during which she perused her hand, before declaring, “I play White Magician Pikeru, and then I shall equip her with Trial of the Princesses, and Black Pendant. Next I set two cards, and I finish.” Given how this was a time before holographic imagery, it took both good eyesight and memory in order to even remotely recall what was on the opposing player’s field/Graveyard, something which both players had anyway.

“My go!” Buikhu roughly drew the top card, and barely glanced at it before resuming. “I play Inaba White Rabbit –” He slammed the monster card onto the field. “– and next, I equip it with Mirror of Yata.” There was a slight smile on his lips as he ordered the attack on Acenith’s LP.

“I activate Magician’s Circle.” With an elegant flick of her wrist that required barely any effort, she flipped her leftmost facedown over. “With this effect, I summon Ebon Magician Curran.”

“In that case, I play Gravekeeper’s Guard.” There was a simultaneous moment in which both players shuffled their Decks again, before play resumed. Despite the little interruption, there was nothing to stop Inaba White Rabbit, and Acenith made note that she now had 7300 LP. “I set one card, and I end.”

Acenith drew, and waited for her two monsters’ effects to take place. That levelled them at 8100 LP to 7700 LP. “I discard Noisy Gnat to increase your Gravekeeper’s Guard by one level. Pikeru White Magician, attack Gravekeeper’s Guard.” She kept her eyes on his field and, as she had expected, watched him flip his facedown over to reveal Mirror Force, to which she gleefully revealed her other facedown, Trap Stun.

The smile on her face could only grow bigger after Ebon Magician Curran’s attack on Inaba White Rabbit. Having reduced Buikhu’s LP to 5700, during her Main Phrase 2, Trial of the Princess’ effect activated, and thus White Magician Pikeru was Tributed for Princess Pikeru. To deal additional damage, Black Pendant’s effect activated, and Buikhu was reduced to 5200 LP.

“I’ll set a monster, and end my turn.” Acenith finished her round as she lowered the final card in her hand onto the field.

Buhiku drew his next, and as he played out his move, Acenith became vaguely aware of who was watching. There were two young boys sat at the front, immersed in the duel before them; near the door, a group of teenage girls were present, although it appeared that they were more interest in Buhiku; several people of varying ages were scattered randomly around the seats; and then Acenith became terrifyingly aware of another man.

She stole an involuntary glance at him; he was standing on a step, watching with his arms crossed. He had a body that could rival Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, and were it not for the uncomfortable lingering impression he gave, he could have easily been considered gorgeous. His complexion was serious and alert, yet it gave him a degree of uncommon manliness; his dark grey eyes may have been warm, but his glint was trying too hard to make him seem well-rounded and respectable. His short black hair was windblown, and it gave him a rough, unpolished edge that made him more attractive. He was dressed in a loincloth and sandals; there was nothing else on him, which rendered him even more serious-looking. What Acenith found most uneasy about him was the way he was looking at [i]her[/i].

“Acenith?” Hearing Buhiku’s voice was like being plummeted in warm water. She started, and having lost her composition for a moment, recalled that they were duelling; currently on his field was another Spirit monster (her mind was too troubled to tell which one) equipped with another Mirror of Yata (or was that the one that had been sent to the Graveyard?).

“Sorry … what’s happening?”

“It’s your turn.”

Acenith drew; their LPs were now 9700 against 4900. She was barely paying attention; every second she stood, rooted to the spot, she could feel the man’s glare empowering her more and more. There was yet another pause, and then she declared, “Sorry, I’ve just remembered that I have something to do. I don’t know when I can come back – I think father’s doing some legislation thing right now, mother probably wants me to help look after Iabi.”

Buhiku looked crestfallen at her words, but there was an encouraging smile on his face. “Oh, OK. Well, we’ll say you won this time.” He watched her hastily brush her cards off the field and into her other hand; he was expecting her to say goodbye, but she rushed away instead, leaving him blinking in her wake.

Once outside, Acenith could only think about returning home. She dodged and stormed her way down the marketplace, with the man following her, though at a distance. She could feel his presence trying to sting her, but she wasn’t going to give in to him; she kept her head down and continued to walk with controlled velocity. Never had the journey from the stadium to her home been so long, or so daunting, but by the time she arrived at the guarded front door, she felt a spring in her step – he was no longer pursuing her.

The door swung open, and as Acenith stepped in, she heard her name being announced somewhere. The entrance hall wasn’t bad; it was very spacious, both width and height-wise, and it was a common place for bustling servants to cross. To liven the bland, pale hall, and to make it presentable to other wealthy guests, several gold statues that seemed to lack taste stood in randomly located places; it was difficult to distinguish which were made from real and fake gold, yet everything was so over polished, it all looked genuine. Acenith dropped her hood, and with it tumbled her dark brown waist-length hair; she proceeded to undo her mantle just as a butler arrived, and she passed it to him.

“Master is the library if you need him,” the butler added. “Mistress requests that you look after young master.”

Acenith thanked him, and dashed up a set of stairs. She was now in the east end of the mansion, where the bedrooms were situated; the first door to her left was her parents’ room, and some distance down were two doors directly opposite each other. The one to the left would lead to her room; she pushed open the right door, and stepped in to be greeted by her younger brother.

Iabi was a fine, ten year old boy, yet he already had considerably more education than his sister. He was healthy for his age, and there were visible traces of his father in his face; his wide brown eyes beamed with hidden intellect, and like his sister, not a single blemish or deficiency could be found. He was perfect where she was not, though it would take some prior acquaintanceship to realise it.

Acenith found him sorting through his cards; the moment he saw her, he immediately dropped his deck aside, and rushed over to hug her. She embraced him affectionately, rendered even more so with the troubling event she had just gone through. Seeing her little brother was enough to drive him out of her mind. Iabi was every source of warmth to her; his innocence, which had not yet been destroyed by his on-going education, shone, and no room seemed big enough to contain his personality.

“Sister,” he began brightly. “Will you duel me?”

Acenith hesitated as she knelt down. “Not today; maybe tomorrow. Don’t you have work to do?”

Iabi pouted; his father was making him learn how to read, write, do arithmetic, and anything else that would prepare him for a career in politics. “Do I have to work? It’s really hard.”

“Father only wants the best for you.”

“I’m not sure he does,” Iabi mumbled to himself. He averted his glare to the floor; Acenith reached for his hand, and she warmly clasped it.

“You are doing exactly what father did when he was your age,” she said kindly. “If he hadn’t learnt what you were learning, he would never have become this rich; we would still be farmers. Do you want to spend all day working in a field, with the sun burning on your back?” She watched him shake his head. “Come on, I know you have work to do.”

Iabi made no more resistance, and he staggered to his desk. Given how he was not particularly tall, the desk seemed rather oversized. Acenith followed him, and as she stood over his shoulder, she watched him continue on with his work. Any previous occurrences had been forgotten for now.[/spoiler]