------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dark Soul: This story doesn't need a big intro, if you read the summery you'll know what it is about.

Yami: What if they didn't read it?

Dark Soul: They would have had to. Otherwise why would they be reading this now? It's not like the title was that appealing.

Yami: Why do I have to be cruel to my love?

Dark Soul: Oh come on! (what's with all the questions?) It's not that bad! You'll see! Now, we can stop boring the audience and get the story. DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yugioh! Hope you enjoy! ^__^

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Undercover

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I would love to hear your breathing and nothing else…feel your touch and nothing else. The world would not exist as long as I could taste you and nothing else. Would you let me? A cold heart grew warm with my touch and I never let go. Together we are…don't leave me…your eyes cry out for me and I stay. You touch me so gently; I will never leave your arms. Keep me…hold me…forever.

Prologue

[… Yugi's POV…]

The palace was still and quiet, the walls stood tall and the statues rose high. The glowing Moon hung in the sky; small stars scattered around it. Water below reflected the great light of the Moon. The Moon shone it's own light. It had it's own path…but it wasn't the only one who thinking of taking it's own path and living it's own life.



A small boy peered around a dark corner. A wind escaped through the cracks in the walls. The hall was deserted. He quietly tip- toed down the hall. He came to an opening and looked both ways. The guards weren't there. It had to be luck. The boy slyly sneaked into a pair of bushes. He was almost home free.

The boy's jewelry jingled. He cursed under his breath. He knew that if anyone saw him in these good clothes and jewels, he would be in trouble for sure. Taking off his jewelry, except for a chain necklace that hung around his neck, his threw them to the ground and slid off into the shadows of the night. Escaping from his palace prison and into a new life, where he hoped that he would find what he was looking for. Love.

Chapter 1

The city was huge. It was bigger than anything that I had ever seen. Even bigger then my kingdom. The sun was scorching hot and sand beneath my feet, it's heat eating through my worn sandals. The wind did little to help improve my mood. It carried sand grains and scratched them against my open skin.



In the beginning, I never thought that I would have survived. Luckily, I was never caught and I was stronger than I thought. I was hoping that going to this city would offer me a whole new life.



As I approached the city, I noticed many people in white, ragged clothing. Small children ran down the streets. I slowly walked into the city, small and square buildings surrounding me at all sides. I honestly didn't know where to go. I supposed that no one would take me in. I would have to live on the streets. To my surprise and horror, I found that I would not be the only one on the streets with no home. All around me were people that looked like they had not eaten for months. Their faces were sunken and splotched with dirt. I saw little children even, looking for scraps in bins and hiding away in dark corners. Seeing this made me sick. In my kingdom, all children were taken care of and when someone did not have a home, they were either given a home in the shelter, or they were given a job at the palace. Though everything was peaceful in my kingdom, I couldn't live there. My parents wanted to give me everything I wanted. Although, what I wanted was different then jewels and gold. I wanted friends, and I wanted love.



I remember the time my father brought a group of princesses from far away lands to marry me. I didn't want to marry any of them. I was fifteen at the time. Normally, I would have been married before that, but I had rejected all the women put before me. I didn't want to marry someone who just wanted my money, I wanted to marry someone who shared the same interests, didn't care to take risks and loved me for who I was.



Unfortunately, my thoughts were interrupted by a hard grip on my shoulder. I turned around. A large and very tall man had his hand on my shoulder. It was such a tight grip that it hurt.



"What do you think you're doing kid?" the man asked in a gruff voice.



"Uhh…well…I was just-"

I felt a pain in my stomach. I fell to the ground. He started laughing. I slowly and painfully stood up. He grabbed my arm. I tugged from him.



"I order you to let me go at once!" I cried.



The man smirked. "Think your all powerful boy? You don't look like you're from around here. I'm sure the Pharaoh would love to see you."



"No," I said. "Just let me go!"



"Don't think so kid."



I was scared. Meet the Pharaoh? The way that the man had said it, it sounded like he would have fun if I did. That wasn't good. He must be a guard. I waited till the grip he had on my arm was loosened and then I kicked him in the stomach, slide under him and ran down the alleyway. I had to get out. As soon as I did though, there were a few other guards and when they saw me run out and look for an escape, they decided to go after me too. Even though I had never been outside the palace walls before, I was taught defensive skills and trained by myself in case I did decide to leave. I had to be prepared. Luckily, I was.



I raced down the street, five guards after me. The only problem was that not only being bigger than me, they were also faster. But even so, I didn't think smarter. Speeding down another street, I saw dozens of stands. Food stands of course. I had to hide. Seeing that they were not around the corner yet, I had to think quickly. Suddenly, I saw a hay carriage. Not wasting any time, I leaped into the straw and hid myself. I heard the cold and harsh voices of the guards. I listened closely.



"Look sir. Seems that the runt left us something."



I was confused, what had I…I gasped. The gold, chain necklace around my neck was gone! They had it.



"Hmm. Well, that kid ran off and we can't find him. Better report to the Pharaoh. Give me the necklace. It's our proof. Must be a thief. I growled. Thief. If I was still in power, they would have been going into the dungeon for a day and spend their time counting the stones in the cells. Unfortunately, I had no power here in this city. I was a peasant like the rest, unless I told someone. But I wouldn't. I didn't want to live that life again. I wanted freedom. I wanted to be like other people. Not waited on hand and foot. I wanted something good in life.



Hearing the guard's voices fade away; I poked my head out of the straw and looked around. They were gone. I took in a breath of relief. Suddenly I was tugged out of the hay and sat on by something twice the size of me. Right on my stomach. I groaned.



"What do you think you're doing?" a voice asked in amusement.



This voice intrigued me.



"I don't know what you were doing in my hay, or why you were running from those guards…but I think it was great."



Suddenly, the weight was taken off me and a hand came into my view. Without looking, I grabbed it and stood up. A boy teen with blonde hair and soft eyes stared at me. He was much taller than I was and really skinny. His smile was warming though; I managed to smile myself.



"My name is Jonouchi," he said. "But you can call me Joey."



"I am Yugi," I replied.



Joey smiled. "Well, now that we know each other's names, how bout you tell me why you were running from the guards."



"Well," I said. "Not any reason really. They wanted to take me to the Pharaoh."



Joey looked surprised. "Really? You must have done something very wrong. Going to see the Pharaoh is the worst punishment. Glad you didn't go then."



"Why?" I asked, curious.



Joey whispered into my ear. "The Pharaoh is the top, he's the big kahuna. (a/n: did I spell that right?) If he wants to, he can order you to become a slave, live in the dungeons, or be executed. He can make you do whatever he wishes. Unfortunately, he uses his power for evil. He kills innocent people."



"You mean the people of his own kingdom?!" I cried. "How selfish!"



Joey hushed me. "All you want to know is to not go near him. You're not from around here, are you?"



I shook my head. "No, far away from here."



Joey studied me. "You look like you've been walking a long ways, but your clothes, they're really nice. They must have cost a lot."



I was silent.



"Oh yah," Joey added. "I saw them take a necklace, was it yours?"



I nodded.



"Really?! That was pure gold! Where did you get such a thing? Did you steal it?"



"Never," I answered. "It was mine."



"Are you royalty?"



I tried to decide whether to tell him or not, I couldn't lie to him, I had just met him. I looked to see if anyone was listening and I went closer to him.



"Joey, I'm going to tell you the truth. I am a Prince of a kingdom far from here. I came here because I wanted to have a new life. My parents are probably looking for me."



Joey's mouth was wide open with shock. I chuckled.



"You're a prince?! Yah right!"



I nodded again.



"Well…how can I believe you?"



I sighed. "Well, believe me or not Joey, but I am a prince, just don't do spreading it around."



"I guess I can believe you." He bowed before me. "I am so sorry Prince Yugi. I didn't-" (a/n: I know, he believed Yugi very quickly, but it's not that important at the moment)



I lifted his head with my hand. "No Joey. I am not a prince anymore. I don't want to be."



"You don't want to?" he asked confused. "Why?"



"Being a prince isn't all you think it is. You don't have choices Joey, no freedom. For seventeen years I have been stuck inside palace walls. I knew it was time to leave. I just had to have the courage to do it."



I could still see that Joey was still taking all this in. It was quite amusing watching him. I saw the look on his sweet face, pondering over my words.



"Wow, Yuge. I never imagined. A prince! No wonder you look all fancy and all!"



My eyes widened. Yuge? He had given me a nickname? I smiled. I had a true friend. Joey saw the look on my face and he immediately gasped.



"Oh! Prince! I am sorry for calling you that. If you have a problem with it, I can call you Prince or Majesty, or-"



I put my hand to his lips. "Shh Joey, you may call me by whatever you wish."



He smiled. His smile warmed me.



"Ok, well, I don't know what you want to do Yuge," he said to me. "Oh, I know!"



I looked at him confused.



"Come with me!" he said and ran off, pulling me by the arm.



I was quite impatient about where we were going, since it was taking so long and my already aching feet were hurting again. Still, I was grateful of Joey's kindness and didn't complain. Joey then pulled me in front of him and put two hands on my shoulders.



"Welcome to Egypt prince," he said.



I gasped. In my view were the largest buildings that I had ever seen in my life. They were triangular in shape and had four sides. I could see two of them and then another that was halfway done. I could see dozens of people pulling large stones up and putting them on the unfinished building. It was an amazing site. I was astounded. I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life.



"It's….amazing," I said.



"Yep," Joey said. "The Pyramids have that kind of affect on most people."



"Pyramids?" I asked. "That is what you call them?"



Joey looked down at me. "Yes. You have never-"



"I have never seen or heard of them! Such beauty created by your city should be recognized!"



"Well, they're more for bury our Pharaohs in than looking," Joey said.



I turned to him. "Bury?"



"Yes," he said. "When the Pharaoh's bodies die, we bury them deep within these pyramids so that they can rest. All are tested when they die, by the great God of the Underworld Osiris."



"Hmm…your beliefs and culture intrigue me," I said.



"Culture?" he asked.



"Well, you see Joey, my people have different beliefs and different religions. I am very interested in yours."



"Neat," Joey said.



I nodded and looked back at the pyramids being built. As I looked, I saw a couple people stop pulling a stone up. Immediately a couple larger men with whips in their hands walked over to the fallen slaves. I saw the slaves trying to walk away, but to my horror I saw the guards hold them and whip them.



"What is this inhumanity?!" I cried.



"What?" Joey asked me looking at the same thing. "You mean the slaves being punished? It happens all the time."



I turned to him and shook him by the arms. "It happens all the time?! People are beaten constantly? Whom is this madness caused by?!"



"The Pharaoh orders them to punish those who don't work," Joey said.



Anger was pulsing through me. A fire was burning in my very heart. I could feel the pain of those being beaten. It was horrible. How could someone with such power, use it to hurt people? It was inhumane and just plain…unexplainable. I was shocked.



"If I knew about this Pharaoh when I was still in power, I would have had my father talk with him. Then again, that might have started a war if he did."



Joey nodded. "Yeah, best not tango with the Pharaoh, especially since you're in his kingdom."



"I don't care," I said. "Now that I'm on my own, I really couldn't care less if I was beaten for what I believe in."



I started walking away. I was going to find this Pharaoh and tell him what I felt. Joey grabbing my arm stopped me. I turned to him.



"Let me go Joey."



"No!" he said in a voice that expressed concern. "I won't let you get hurt! You don't know what you're doing! If you go in there and try to say what you think-"



"I am going Joey and you can't stop me!"



"YOU'LL BE KILLED!"



I stared at Joey in shock. He was breathing quickly; sweat was running down his face.



"You.Must.Listen.Yugi."



I was silent.



"Yuge," he said letting go of my arm. "If you go there, you will never see daylight again. Buddy, I don't mean to scare you and yell, but this Pharaoh is one tough cookie. You crack him and he will show no mercy."



"But you must understand Joey, I need to stop this madness. If I don't go, who will?"



Joey's face sunk. He sat down on the ground, his back against a wall. "No one. The ones who do care tried."



"Joey?" I asked concerned. "What happened?"



Joey sighed. "They died. Every one of the people who cared about the slaves died because they went up to the Pharaoh and complained about the punishments. Since all the peoples deaths, no one has tried since."



I sat beside Joey and tried to look in his eyes. His blonde hair covered his face. Something else was wrong.



"Joey? Joey, is there something that you're not telling me?"



Joey chuckled. It was very weak. "You know Yuge, my mom was just like you. Determined to do what she knew was right. In doing what she believed in, there was the risk of death and she took it. I don't want you to end up like she did Yuge."

"Joey," I said sadness filling my heart. "Your-"

"Let's drop it Yuge…I don't want to talk about it."

I stood up. "All right Joey. I will take precautions, but Joey…I'm still going."

Joey shook his head. "Don't be an idiot. You must promise me that you won't go"

"I must go. I am sorry Joey, but I will return. I can promise you that."

I turned from Joey and walked away from him. I didn't want to hurt him that way, but I knew that I had to go and talk to the Pharaoh. He was an evil that had to be dealt with. I didn't know where I was, but I knew that if I were looking for the Pharaoh, I would have to look for a large and beautiful building.

As I turned the corner, I was grabbed roughly my the front of my shirt and lifted up to a large and angry face. My eyes widened. The guards.

"So, we found you now, eh kid?

"Let me go!" I yelled.

"Yugi?"

I turned my head. "Joey!"

"How dare you touch him!" Joey ran at the guard.

I thought I was saved, until two other guards ran at Joey and one of their fists managed to get Joey in the gut. Joey fell to the ground on his knees, holding his stomach in pain.

"Joey!" I screamed struggling from the guard's grip.

"Shut up!"

A searing pain was in my chest. I felt my body hit the hard ground. I squirmed. The pain was unbearable. My vision was being eaten at by darkness and soon, I lost all consciousness.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, there you have it! The first chapter done! I'll be working on the next chapter straight away! R & R please! ^__^