Alverna: My next chapter. Yay! Thank you to all who reviewed and favored my story.
I don't own Yu-gi-oh.
Chapter 2: I hate my birthday
Out on a balcony stood a man with gravity deifying, star-shaped, tri-color hair that was black, blonde, and tipped in crimson, along with lightning bolts streaks that went up his hair. His skin was tanned from the light Ra gave every single day. His tunic was elaborately decorated, gold cuffs lay on this wrist and arms, and gold earrings hung from his ears. The crimson eyes of the 16 year old Egyptian prince wearily looked up into the night sky and a sigh escaped his lips.
"My prince, is something wrong?" a voice behind him asked.
With a sigh, Atemu turned around to find himself staring into the icy blue eyes in the tanned face of his cousin, a High Priest of the court, and a few months older than Atemu.
The High Priest was wearing a creamy under tunic that went down to his ankles, with a blue outer tunic on top of that. Golden arm cuffs ran from his wrist to his elbows, while a golden belt circled his waist. Elegant sandals covered his feet. A priest hat covered his brown hair. The Millennium Rod was in its loop on his belt.
"Seto, how many times to I have to ask you to call me by my name?"
"As always, you must give permission first."
"I quote from Atemu," a new voice said. " 'Use my name without any title when we are alone together.' He's given his permission."
"Yeah," said another, snickering. "You've forgotten because you've buckled your belt to tight and got your tunic all twisted up, oh high and mighty High Priest Seto."
The spiky, wild, white-blond haired speaker with lavender colored eyes was mockingly bowing to the now glaring High Priest. The man next to him was laughing.
The bowing one wore a simple tan tunic whose sleeves came to his elbows and dropped down to his ankles, being held in place by a black belt that encircled his waist. On top of these, he wore a decorated dark purple robe; so dark it was almost black. It was sleeveless and fell to mid-calf. Elaborate sandals decked his feet. Simple gold cuffs were on his wrist.
Not letting up his glare, Seto asked, "Is there something you needed, Lord Marik?"
Marik growled as the person leaning on the wall next to him now chuckled at the discomfort that was being caused. He had stalk white, semi-spiky hair, and dark brown, almost black, eyes. He was wearing a black tunic that dropped to his mid-calf, and whose sleeves reached his mid-upper arm. The tunic was held in place by a dark grey belt that looped around his waist. A sleeveless blood red robe was trimmed with black trimming, and stopped above his knees. He wore sandals with no jewelry.
"This isn't funny Lord Bakura," Marik growled.
"Hey," Bakura said warningly. "Keep that up and you'll end up in the crocodile pit."
Bakura and Marik glared at each other. They were best friends, the same age, 17 years and 5 months, and played so many pranks the palace scribes had to record every one they had done after they turned 10.
Sensing a fight coming, Atemu intervened.
"Don't you dare start fighting. I don't have the tolerance to split you two up right now."
Atemu was not in the mood to hear another argument about something stupid, usually who was right about something. One time they argued about whether or not cheese could taste green. Of all things!
"Don't worry Atemu," Seto said to him. "I will make sure they behave. Right?" Last part directed towards Bakura and Marik.
"Yeah, we'll behave," Marik said, rolling his eyes.
"For now," Bakura added.
"Ugh," Seto groaned.
Shaking his head, Atemu turned back to the night sky. Another sigh escaped him as he leaned onto the ledge of the balcony. Seto stared at his cousin.
"I'll ask again because apparently you weren't listening the first time. Is something wrong?"
Without turning around, Atemu moaned, "Did any of you pay attention to the council meeting today?"
"No." Bakura and Marik answered together. Aside from being Lords, Bakura and Marik were also on the council. Though it was common knowledge that unless the meeting pertained to a threat of some sort, like war, they zoned out.
"My 17th birthday is coming up, that's what."
Seto was shocked.
"But you love your birthday."
Marik shook his head.
"You haven't been paying attention to what happened on his birthday for the past four years have you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Lady Tea and Lady Vivian have been trying to get into his bed since his 13th birthday party, remember?"
Bakura sighed. "Oh yeah."
Atemu groaned. "I wish I didn't."
Flashback
The party was in full swing. Atemu was talking with his father. His mother had pasted on to the afterlife when he was 2.
"Are you enjoying yourself my son?" Aknankanon asked Atemu.
"Yes Father. Though I wish I knew where Bakura and Marik were."
"I know. Whenever those two disappear there is bound to be trouble."
Atemu groaned. "Tell me about it. Especially since last time they managed to rope myself and Seto into getting blamed as well."
Aknankanon chuckled. "Why don't you mingle with the party guest? Some of the Lord's children might be your age."
"Father, with Seto, Bakura, Marik, and Mana, I think I'm good as far as friends go." Mana was an apprentice to another High Priest, Mahad.
After a second thought, "Well, maybe not so much with Bakura and Marik."
"My point exactly. Go and have some fun. Within reason that is."
"I'll try. But I may not enjoy it." Atemu talked over his shoulder as he went down the steps to the dance floor.
"So you say." His father called after him.
Looking around, Atemu immediately decided that Bakura and Marik were going to play another prank, and it was best if he found Seto, and both waited by the doors so they could run when the adults started yelling.
"Hello my prince." a voice Atemu had never heard spoke from behind him.
Turning around, Atemu saw a young girl?, teen?, it was hard to tell, standing behind him. She had shoulder length brown hair and blue eyes.
"May I help you?" Atemu asked. He was silently hoping no. Something about this girl was off.
"I just wished to introduce myself my prince. My name is Tea, and I am the daughter of Lord Mazaki."
"It was nice to meet you Lady Tea. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find my cousin."
"But my prince, I was actually hoping we could get to know each other better." she replied in a tone of voice that sent red flags went up in Atemu's mind.
"My lady, we don't even know each other."
"Well then we could take the time to do so." She started to move closer to him. "We could go back to your chamber and, talk." She replied in the exact same tone, which Atemu identified as seducing.
"My father would be most displeased if I ever did such a thing."
"Your father won't ever find out."
"My lady, I am not interested in doing such a thing. Now I must go."
And with that, Atemu whirled around and ran in amongst the dancers, desperately searching for Seto.
Not looking where he was going, Atemu ran into a person and knocked them over.
"I am terribly sorry." Atemu apologized. "I should have been watching where I was going."
The black haired girl he had knock over looked up with her brown eyes and said, "It is all right my prince. Although, I think my ankle is hurt. And my name is Vivian. I am the daughter of Lord Wong."
"Well Lady Vivian, I will have one of the servants take you to the healing chambers."
"Are you chambers not closer?"
Atemu knew in that instant that she was faking. He also decided he did not like girls anymore. Except for Mana who was already his friend.
"No." he replied. "I do not wish to be with someone I have just met and know nothing about."." At that, he left and continued his search for Seto.
As he passed by a door that led out to the balcony, four hands shot out and grabbed him, one effectively covering his mouth.
"Stay quiet princey." a voice Atemu knew well said. The hand was lifted from his mouth.
"Yeah." spoke another. "We saw what the girls are doing so we are getting you out of here."
"Thanks Bakura, Marik. I so owe you two."
"Just make sure we don't get in trouble for this."
"For what?"
Bakura smirked. "Do you really want to know?"
"No."
"Good. Now, Marik is going to get you back to your rooms safely, and I'll handle the guest."
The next morning, Atemu heard that somehow the horses had gotten loose and ended up in the party room.
End Flashback
"That's how the horses got in there?" Set asked, shocked.
"Yep." Marik replied, grinning. "And we didn't get into any trouble."
"Well that explains why you don't like those two." Seto said looking to Atemu. "But why were the past three parties so bad?"
"They tried to get me into bed again, every year. I know they will do it again this year." Atemu looked back at his friends. "The party is already ruined."
"Cheer up mate." Marik said. "It just gives us an excuse to pull some pranks."
"Is there any way to get them to stop trying to get me into a bed?"
"You could get a personal servant." Bakura said. "They have to be with you all the time."
The three stared at him.
"What?"
"You said something that makes sense, that's what." Seto replied.
Bakura glared.
"I've tried that remember?" Atemu said. "Just another person that wanted me in their bed."
"So, just go to the dungeons and pick someone in the slaves waiting area at random." Marik said.
"We don't have any slaves waiting."
"Says who?"
"The dungeon warden, that's who idiot." Seto hissed. "If you had paid attention at the council meeting today, you would know that."
Bakura shook his head. "And here I thought you knew that warden was a liar. He probably does have someone down there. He just wants to have some, 'fun', first." Finger quotes on the fun part.
"I suppose I could go look." Atemu said. "In fact, I'll go tonight. That way if I do find someone they can start tomorrow morning."
"We'll come with you." Marik said.
"We will?" Seto looked annoyed that he was getting dragged into this as well.
"Sure." Bakura said, catching on to Marik's train of thought. "If we get personal servants, girls will get off our backs about getting into bed with them to."
It was common knowledge that Bakura and Marik preferred guys over girls. Seto was undecided. Atemu liked guys as well but kept it secret.
"That does sound like a good idea." Seto admitted. He also hated it when a random stranger tried to come on to him.
"All right then, let's go."
Alverna: Still good? Let me know.
Next Chapter: The Hikaris and Yamis meet.
