Legend: Other Half: (Monogatari Zatsuyou Han)

Chapter One:

Groaning, the white haired thief twitched, and attempted in moving. He growled, opening his eyes, squinting as he then saw that it was pitch dark around him.

'Shit. Dungeon.' he thought grimly, moving his arms that were strapped above his head. Restrained. He cursed again. Moving his body, he then found that his clothes had been stripped from him, leaving him bare except for a cloth that barely covered his front.

“Good, you're awake, scum!” A sneering voice then met his sharp ears.

“Fuck off, palace dog!” The thief spat into the dark. The sound of the other man clicking his tongue could clearly be heard.

“Now now, we should behave....after all, if you're lucky, may be you'll receive the Pharaoh's judgment, and not immediate execution!” He laughed.

The thief narrowed his dark brown eyes in anger.

“Tell your Pharaoh that he can go screw himself....I have no intention of being judged by some two-bit ruler.” he growled. His vision then went white around the edges as pain filled his every pore, a brutal whip slamming into his back. He screamed.

“That's it, take it like the bastard that you are!” the guy purred. The thief bit his tongue hard enough to draw blood, rasping out,

“Burn in the lowest form of hell!”

The brutal laugh erupted from around him again, as he was struck over and over by the whip that had spikes embedded on the outer part.

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A scream sounded from the healing chambers, high-pitched, and ear-shattering. The High Priestess burst through the double doors, immediately calling upon her shadow powers to help the screaming figure in the bed.

The screaming soon faded into whimpers, as the Priestess carefully lifted her from the bed. She gasped, as she saw red burn marks appear one by one down her back. Slowly they stopped, but not before the High Priestess was nearly ready to rip out her hair in frustration.

“......Isis.......!” The High Priest said as he suddenly burst into the chambers. The Priestess flickered her hard gaze to the icy blue eyes before her.

“Seth,” She snarled, ignoring the flinch from the man, “Get Atemu. Now!” She snapped, hearing him run out the doors again. Growling low in her throat, she slumped into a nearby chair, running a hand through the blonde bangs that framed her patient's face.

Crimson eyes shot open as her mouth opened to scream again. Isis quickly covered her mouth, forcefully pinning her to the bed in an effort to keep her writhing still.

“Ashiako!” A new voice shrieked and hurtled himself at the terrified figure. Taking her hand into his own, she immediately stilled and quieted, the only sound occasionally coming from her now was nothing more than a quiet whimper.

Isis sighed in relief.

“Thank you, Atemu.” she said, forcing a smile, but she knew the boy wasn't listening. He was too focused on the matching crimson eyes that were staring at him.

“.......Atemu....?” Ashiako said weakly. The boy instantly teared up, causing her to chuckle weakly. She shakily reached up a hand to ruffle his spiky tri-colored hair, making the boy scoot forward, gently snuggling into her side.

“.......Pharaoh?” Seth asked, making her bleak red eyes shift their gaze. She smiled.

“I'll be alright....” she said before breaking out into a fit of coughing. Seth rolled his blue eyes, snorting.

“That reminds me.....,” he paused, not sure if he should tell her, “We received a new prisoner earlier this morning.” he said, almost happy. Both sets of crimson eyes turned to him, narrowing slightly.

Seth quickly backpedaled in his phrasing,

“We somehow managed to catch the legendary Thief King; capturing him in your father's tomb.” he said softly. Ashiako sighed quietly.

“And what of his punishment?” She asked in a small voice. Seth looked up at her sharply.

“Pharaoh, you of all people know that for someone to thieve from a tomb or wealthy establishment, that the punishment is execution.” he said, matter-of-factly.

Ashiako clenched her small fist before squeezing her eyes shut, letting out a low hiss of pain.

“Sister!” the Prince cried again, curling up once again into her side, shivering.

“I.......shall.....judge.......him.....!” she hissed out in her haze. Seth just blinked at her in shock.

“But......Pharaoh!” he opposed, but was immediately interrupted.

“That is an ORDER, PRIEST!” She suddenly yelled out as another spasm of pain ripped through her.

“Seth, go!” Isis said, pushing him out of the room. He all but tripped over his royal blue robes in an effort to escape.

The Pharaoh then slumped in her bed, unconscious. Isis rushed forward, quickly pressing to of her fingers to the side of Ashiako's neck. She breathed a sigh of relief, now somewhat content that her pulse was now slowly steading in pace.

The boy-Prince then lifted his head up to stare at the High Priestess defiantely.

“Isis.....what's wrong with her?” he asked, his voice slightly cracking. The elder woman sighed, raking a hand through her black hair.

“Atemu......I.....I truthfully do not know.” she finally said, causing his crimson eyes to widen in disbelief.

“But....but you know everything!” He exclaimed hotly. Isis snorted, then smiled.

“No, little one. I know far from everything. I simply have knowledge of my own, but I still have much to learn.” She said chuckling lightly as she saw him shake his head, stubbornly.

The High Priestess then stood, nodding to the young Prince curled up next to her patient.

“Keep an eye on her.....if anything happens at all out of the ordinary, send for me. I'll be in my chambers.” She said before swiftly and gracefully walking out of the healing chambers.

Atemu sighed, glancing at his now sleeping peacefully sister. Snuggling happily into her side, he soon fell asleep, for once, both of them being content.

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The thief opened his eyes again, his senses clogged and unfocused. He let out a slight hiss as he noted the dry blood that was now crusting on his back. He weakly struggled against his bindings again, in an last ditch effort to escape from his sure death.

He sighed, slumping in defeat. His brown eyes blinked a few times, and he frowned, trying to place the new feeling that seemed to flow through him. His eyes widened as he recognized the feeling. It had been so long since he had felt it, it took him a few moments to analyze it.

Peace, contentment.

“Wake up, you unholy bastard!” the man from before said. The thief lifted his head. Hadn't this man had enough?

“You should consider yourself damn lucky! The Pharaoh has called to give you an immediate judgment!” he scoffed as if displeased, moving to the thief's side to get him to his feet.

“UP! The Pharaoh will not wait for lowlifes like you!” he exclaimed, roughly poking him in his injured back with the pointed spear. He bit back a cry of pain, letting his instincts kick in and force him to continue walking.


Nearly a half hour later, he stumbled into the throne room, his hardened muscles twitching as the many eyes of the Council seemed to burn their gaze into him.

“State your name, Thief!” He heard a man say coldly. He looked up, seeing the man in the middle wearing a royal blue. This must be the Pharaoh. He concluded. He smirked.

“Akefia. I am the Thief King, and may you burn that name into your memory.” He spat. The man laughed.

“Thief, your name is not worthy enough for me to burn it into my memory!” He hissed back. Akefia grinned maniacally back at him. This was going to be interesting.

“High Priest, Stand down immediately!” A female voice suddenly shouted. The man in blue whirled around, his face turning an interesting shade of purple.

“Pharaoh! What in Ra's name are you doing out of bed?” He hissed quietly. But not so quietly that the Thief King couldn't hear him. His eyes widened in disbelief before turning their attention to the female that limped into the throne room.

The female limped over to gingerly sit on the throne, carefully resting her raw back against the chair. Turning her crimson eyes slightly, she focused on the prisoner that was before her.

The thief couldn't believe it....a woman? A goddamn woman was on the throne?! But for some reason he couldn't tear his brown eyes away from the scarlet gaze that seemed to pierce through him.

“Thief King Akefia,” she said softly, making him flinch slightly, “What deed has brought you before me for my judgment?”

“He has plundered yours and the Prince's tomb, my Lord.” the man in blue said, bowing low.

“What have you stolen, Thief King?” She asked suddenly, seeming to ignore the man before her. The Thief raised his eyebrow.

“Why do you wish to know?” he asked incredulously. She smiled.

“I merely wish to see if your skills are as legendary as they have said.” He smirked.

“The item I stole was a necklace that I found, with the Eye of Horus and a sapphire diamond.” he stated. She laughed out loud, her red eyes twinkling in mirth.

“I congratulate you on your thieving! That was one of my mother's prized possessions before she passed away. And worth a fair fortune.” she said, still smiling.

“Pharaoh, what are you doing?!” The man cried in outrage. Her gaze turned hard, swiveling down to the man before her.

“Did I not tell you to stand aside, Priest?! This is the Pharaoh's judgment, not the judgment of the High Priest!” she hissed through her teeth. He flinched, bowed low, and scooted out of the way and to the side to join the rest of the Council. She turned her gaze back to the prisoner, her stare softening again.

“Release his bindings and return all of his belongings,” She said suddenly, watching as the guards hurriedly move to do so.

Watching him shrug into his gold and crimson cloak, he turned his gaze back to her.

“Why do you release me?” he asked quietly. She smiled.

“Even the Thief King must have a reason for thieving. Who am I to deny you to live your life as you decide? Keep the necklace, Thief, for you may sell it and use it for your own pleasure should you choose to.” she said.

He narrowed his eyes, not sure what to make of this. Before she could have any chance to change her mind, he turned on his heel, and fled.

Slumping back against the throne, she sighed, the High Priest running to her side.

“Why did you release him?” he asked, his voice a tad high-pitched. She looked at the place where the thief last stood, her crimson eyes misting slightly.

“I do not know, Seth....I do not know..” she whispered.

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End Chapter One

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-Bakura