Here's chapter one!

So now we see Yugi's past, into his teenage years. I hope it's not bad, it was written a long time ago - then I forgot about it because of things and stuff, then I found it again and said "Oh god this is so old! ... I'll post it anyway."

Now I think this is where it kicks off the most, it sets up Yugi going to the Palace and how he learns to play music, and other things to give him a backstory. and because writing Yugi as a child is just adorable!

Squeee!

Okay enough fangirling! Read on and I hope it doesn't suck.

Enjoy!

Mai sat, tense beside her Grandfather, biting her nails, other villagers sitting or standing around the house she had been banned from.

Mai was four years old, she had tanned skin from living under Ra, long blond hair that came from a distant land and prompted many people to nickname her 'Axw' which meant sunlight. Her eyes were a greyish violet, hazy and smoky.

Mai looked at her Grandfather and whispered "Will Mother be okay soon, Grandpa?"

Shimon was a well respected old man, he was an Ex-royal counsel adviser, he left that life to live a simpler life with his wife. She died years after, bearing a son. The boy had grown, then married, and then had unfortunately died himself, protecting his wife and daughter from a nomadic jackal. The village honoured the man for his sacrifice and Ran had to grieve and survive without her husband. Barely a week after being in the grave Ran realised that she was pregnant with her husband's final child. She was at first a little sad that her baby would never know his Father, but then became happy and prayed for a boy so that a part of her husband could come back to her.

Mai was fascinated with the idea that a little sibling, a last part of her Father, was growing inside her Mother, and she was delighted to finally be an older sister. Shimon moved into their house to support Ran and Mai.

Now the little one was finally coming into the world.

Shimon patted Mai's head "Don't you worry Axw," he said fondly, Mai both smiling and blushing at the term.

Shimon had the family violet eyes and tanned skin, his hair was normally very spiky but was right now tied back to battle some of the daily heat. He was stout and a bit gruff in the voice, but he was gentle and had never even raised his voice against another person in an argument, preferring to use logic and to argue his case with strategy and care.

Shimon smiled at his Granddaughter "Your Mother will be fine. And soon you'll be a big sister." Mai sighed in relief and then turned back to the house, the healer still inside encouraging their Mother who was crying out in pain.

Shimon felt Mai's hand grip at his, he gripped back. Shimon bit his tongue, he was very worried. The baby wasn't due for another month, so the child could be deformed or have a learning difficulty. He did his best to assure Mai, but he was praying for the Gods to not damage his unborn Grandchild.

Just as Ra began to touch the far horizon a loud wailing was heard from the hut. Mai jumped up and many people, who were friends or just curious, stood and waited for the word. From the cries of the infant they knew he was healthy. The healer came out, her assistants still working carefully inside with the Mother and child. She smiled at everyone and then bowed to Shimon with a warm smile "Ra has blessed you, good sir. You have a healthy baby boy to add to your family."

Mai and Shimon gasped in amazement. Mai rushed up to her "Can I see him? Can I see him? Can I see my brother?"

The healer patted her head warmly "Shh, quietly calm down. Your Mother is tired, once we've cleaned up you can come inside, your Mother will call you" Mai nodded and sat on the doorstep to the house, on the edge and corner so she wasn't in the way.

Shimon chuckled "Impatient little Axw. My lady, I must ask, is my Grandson… deformed in any way? His early birth concerns me," he spoke lowly, not letting Mai hear him.

The healer thought for a moment then slowly nodded "I have seen some very strange and horrid deformities, but this one puzzles me," she admitted, pulling Shimon aside, Shimon looked concerned, the healer shook her head "It is his skin, good sir. It isn't life threatening, I have never seen such a beautiful deformity, if it could be called that," she murmured as if in a daze.

Shimon looked confused.

The healer smiled "He is truly a gift of the Gods to you and your family. Excuse me," she bowed a little and patted Mai's hair before going inside and finishing her work.

A few minuets later there came a weak and tired call "Come in, Father, Mai…"

Mai jumped up, stood to the side to let the healers past, thanking them and showing very good manners for a girl her age. Then she and her elderly Grandfather walked inside.

Ran sat in the bed, partly sitting against the wall, very tired, cleaned up from the struggle of childbirth but smiling so much it was clear the pain was more than worth it. Her eyes were a deep brown, almost red hinted in some extreme lights, her skin was tanned like everyone else's, her hair was long and lush black, right now in a lose braid and tucked around her shoulder. She smiled at the pair "Hello, Axw, Father."

Mai knelt at her side and hugged her "Mother, are you alright?"

Ran kissed her forehead "I'm fine, Mai. I'm just a little tired."

Shimon knelt with difficulty and smiled "We have a baby boy in the house now," so happy …

Ran smiled and looked at the bundle in her arms "Come and meet him." she moved the cloth from his face and Shimon got his first look at his Grandson.

He was so small. He was tiny even for a baby, his little cherub face rounded and sleeping, his lips pink and his long lashes sweeping along his cheeks. His cheeks were slightly pink and he was a little damp from his wash. His hair was a mixture of little blond forelocks, black hair that was plastered to his head with amethyst tips, but the most amazing thing was his skin. It was white.

Mai stared at her brother for ages. "Mother … his skin is white," she said.

Ran nodded "He's special, dear. A gift for us," she kissed his forehead.

Mai leaned over her Mother's shoulder and said "He's so small …" she bit her lip, worried that he'd be so small he'd get hurt "Mother, he's so little, why is he so little?"

Ran shook her head "That's just the way the Gods wanted him."

Shimon and Ran looked at Mai, fearing that she'd dislike her younger brother. Mai stared at the baby for a long time, the little eyes fluttered open. Mai's eyes widened. The eyes in the baby's face were like purple diamonds, clear as a crystal, shimmering with beauty, the shade of violet so vivid it was as if you'd never seen the colour before. The child's eyes locked with Mai's for a moment and Mai's heart was stolen …

Mai smiled and offered a hand to the baby, the baby's tiny fist reached up and grabbed her smallest finger, only just managing to wrap his entire fist around it, fingers overlapping a little. Mai smiled and sighed "Mother … he's perfect …"

Ran and Shimon stared into the face of their son and grandson and agreed, their baby was perfect.

Mai smiled up at her Mother "What's his name, Mother?"

Ran shifted so she was sitting up, the baby kept a hold of Mai's finger, the women sighed when she got comfortable "I don't know, Mai, it has to be something good."

Shimon chuckled "We have three days to find the right name for him, three days and we'll know if he's strong enough to stay on Ra's earth."

Mai nodded and at once started thinking.

On the final day Mai was holding her brother and sitting on the doorstep, thinking about his name, the baby was sleeping in her arms. Shimon was helping their Mother in the house. Mai kissed his forehead and thought carefully "You need a name today," she told him.

The baby twitched at the sound of her voice, but he didn't cry. Mai cooed and rocked him slowly and her brother soon relaxed again. Mai smiled down at him "You're like a doll, you're so small" she looked up and saw some of the older girls playing with wooden carved dolls, their wooden skin a similar colour to her brother's. Mai sighed "I don't have one of those … would you ever be my doll little brother?"

The baby squirmed, Mai had stopped rocking him.

Mai giggled "I'll take that as a no." she began to rock him again and he relaxed.

"Mai, come inside child, stop playing games, it's time for dinner."

Mai stood up "Yes Grandpa."

"Hey Mai!" Mai looked over her shoulder.

"Valon," she greeted, surprised that her friend was here so late in the afternoon. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working at the temple?" she asked.

Valon had blue eyes and brown hair that stuck up any way it wanted to, the skin was tanned like any other Egyptian and he was training to be a temple Priest. Valon smiled, he was a little older than Mai, by about two or three weeks "No fair, Mai. I'm here to meet your new family member. I heard you are a big sister now."

Mai smiled "It's nice to see you too Valon. Baby brother's here," she showed him her precious bundle.

Valon looked and smiled "Aw, he's cute," he touched the baby's forehead with a finger lightly. The baby grabbed it as it pulled back and his eyes opened and fixed Valon with their heart stealing stare. Valon stared in awe "Gods …"

Mai nodded "Isn't he amazing?"

Valon smiled "What's his name?"

Mai shrugged "We don't know yet, we were trying all sorts of names but none seemed to fit," the baby tugged on Valon's finger and began to let go only to grab again.

Valon smiled "He likes to play doesn't he?" he pulled his hand away at last as the baby yawned, sleepy in the afternoon warm.

Mai blinked "Play? Oh! Valon that's it!" she jumped forwards and kissed his cheek. "That's his name! That's perfect!"

Valon stood blushing and embarrassed as Mai ran inside with her brother. He blinked, touched where his crush has kissed him, and mumbled "You're welcome … what'd I do?"

Mai rushed up to her Mother "Mother! Grandpa! I know his name!"

They looked at Mai and the baby, Shimon smiled "Tell us, Mai, what's his name?"

Mai smiled widely "It's Yugi. It's Game."

Ran blinked and looked at her son, he was smiling with his eyes closed, sleeping soundly. She looked at Mai then smiled "Yugi … its perfect."

Mai knelt, five years old, her arms out to a one year old baby Yugi, he stood in the middle of the street, his knees knocking and his arms pulled close to him. His eyes large in his sweet innocent face and his flawless pale skin making him look more venerable

Mai stretched her arms wider "Come on Yugi, you can do it" she was only a meter and a half away. Valon stood behind her, smiling and calling encouragements to the trembling youth.

Yugi raised his arms and his hands made grabbing motions, wanting his big sister to hold him. He stood perfectly but wasn't trying to walk like Mai wanted.

Mai smiled and returned the action "Come here Yugi, you can do it"

Yugi's lip trembled and his eyes swam with tears of frustration. He hiccupped once, his entire tiny frame shaking with the noise, and reached forwards as much as he dared without falling over. Valon walked up to him and put his hands on his shoulders "Come on, move your feet," he gave Yugi a little push, keeping his hands on his shoulders to make sure he wouldn't fall.

Yugi's feet moved and then he stood still again, unsure. Mai nodded and clapped her hands "Well done! Come here, you can do it"

Yugi raised his arms again then took a step, Mai squealed in excitement. Yugi smiled, his pearly white teeth showing, he gurgled and took another step, then another, wobbling and making worried noises but he managed to stagger his way to his sister.

Mai hugged him fiercely when he stumbled into her arms "You did it! You did it!" she cheered, picking him up and spinning them both around. Yugi laughed and kicked his feet wildly in the air. Valon danced around them all silly like and many wondered what the racket was about.

Then smiling when they saw it was about Yugi …

Yugi crouched next to Mai, his little hands working alongside his sisters as they worked together to dig the stubborn crop out of the ground. Mai's feet were sandy and slightly muddy as they had splashed along the river to get here; they had their eyes on this crop for weeks, waiting for it to get big enough. Mai grabbed the leaves and stem, Yugi did too and they pulled for the tenth time.

Yugi oofed as they finally pulled it out of the ground, the three year old and the seven year old lay side by side, panting up at the blue sky, both their hands holding onto the crop they had pulled from the earth.

Mai looked at her brother, Yugi looked at his sister, they both smiled widely and laughed.

Yugi pulled himself up and looked at the crop they had worked hard for "That's for dinner, Mai?" He asked very softly, like he was scared of talking too loud.

Mai nodded and sat up with him so he was at her face level, he was still painfully yet adorably, little for his age. Mai held it up and tossed it into the air slightly before catching it "Several dinners, Abw."

Yugi smiled, his eyes closing and his head tilting to the side as his shoulders raised a little, Mai nicknamed this his 'cute smile'. Yugi only did it when someone made him very happy, when someone did something he really liked. Mai had called him Abw … it meant 'ivory'. Mai was Axw for her 'sunlight' golden hair and Yugi was Abw for his 'ivory' skin.

Mai messed Yugi's tri coloured hair, it had grown thick and silky yet gravity defying, in a star shape with blond bangs. "Let's go show Mother and Grandpa."

Yugi nodded eagerly as Mai got up, he thought the world of his sister, seeing her as perfect and his best friend. "Yep! Yep! Yep!" he half sang half chanted as he skipped beside her.

Mai smiled and began to skip too, laughing, her long blond hair pulled back into a braid that their Mother had done to keep it out of the way. The two had grown up very close, Yugi going almost everywhere Mai went. Mai always found time to play with him and the entire village loved seeing them together. He was so innocently sweet, honest, kind, almost like the Gods had made his personality as beautiful as his appearance. Mai took his offered hand and they ran along the river that went by their home.

Valon was away training to be a Priest, soon he'd return and visit, Yugi said that Valon liked Mai more than a friend, his childish eyes seeing the truth; when everyone else saw only friendship, he saw fanciful feelings.

Yugi smiled at Mai and laughed "Yep! Yep! Yep!" he called out again, running as much as his little legs would allow him.

Ran and Shimon were at home, Shimon whittling sticks into carvings that he sold to tradesmen to earn extra coins for when food was scarce. He looked up as he heard Yugi's distant chanting, it had now changed from 'yep' to 'yummy mummy dinner'.

Yugi and Mai appeared around a corner, Mai in skirt and tie-on-one-shoulder-top and Yugi in a child's kilt, both without sandals and both covered in sand. Shimon smiled "What have you been up to?" he asked as Yugi rushed up to him for a hug.

Yugi smiled "We got food!"

Mai nodded and held up the large crop "We've had out eyes on it for a while, now we'll eat like Pharaohs."

Yugi cheered then shook his head "You and Mother are not Pharaohs, you's Queens."

Shimon laughed and kissed Yugi's spiky head "Get a wash you both, dinner will be done when you get back."

Yugi froze then tried to run. Mai saw this coming and grabbed the escaping boy and hoisted him over her shoulder. Yugi squirmed in alarm "No bath! No bath!" he shrieked.

Mai frowned at her kicking brother "It's only your legs and it's only because you're dirty, so stop it. Here you go Grandpa," she gave him their prize and Ran came out just as Mai turned to the river.

Ran chuckled "You be careful by the river!" she called after them. "There's crocodiles about, and don't talk to strangers with horses and chains!"

Mai smiled and nodded "We'll be careful Mother. Yugi! Stop pulling my hair!"

"No Bath!"

Yugi leaned over Mai's hands as he watched her slowly drilling a hole in the tooth. Yugi ran his tongue along his teeth, pausing to feel the new gap at the front. "Is it done yet, Axw?" he asked.

Mai blew her blond fringe out of her eyes, she was now ten years old and Yugi was six. Mai had cut her hair down to shoulders but it was quickly growing out again, her hands were more slender as she worked with delicacy instead of tools. Yugi's hands had more calluses on them from helping his Mother and Grandfather in the gardens and crop patches the village shared.

Yugi was a little bigger, still small for his age, still pale, with Ra's rays doing nothing against his pale skin- neither tanning nor burning- his hair stood up even more and his personality only gained more wisdom and opinions. He was still the wonderful little pure soul that everyone adored without hesitation. The eyes were still the same violet that could capture a stranger's heart in a moment.

Mai had learnt how to sew and tend to the house and cook, she had also learnt some basic prayers from Valon, and they often were talking together. Mai poked Yugi on the nose "Be patient, Abw. It'll be done soon," she picked up another tool and carefully scratched, then blew then scratched.

Yugi waited and watched, his eyes wide, shining like water on a lake "My first tooth … will I have a gap forever now?" he asked quietly, not wanting to distract Mai from her work.

Mai laughed "No. You'll grow your adult teeth now," she held up the little pearly white tooth that had come from Yugi's mouth only that morning "This is a baby tooth, it's a sign that you're growing up."

Yugi blinked "Will the grown up teeth fall out, then you grow old person teeth?"

Mai laughed loudly and clutched her stomach. Yugi looked confused then began laughing himself. Mai calmed down after a while. Yugi had crawled around to her side and was leaning into her frame. Mai messed his hair "No, Abw. You only get adult teeth. Those will only fall out if you're not careful with them, too much honey or not enough cleaning."

Yugi nodded seriously "Is it ready?" he asked, peering over her shoulder.

Mai looked at the tooth and shook her head "Nearly …" she tapped away at it, very carefully, it was so small! Then Mai sat up and smiled, she reached for the thread and a needle and quickly pulled the string through the hole she'd carefully drilled. Mai added a few wooden beads that were colourfully decorated to the string then tied it off. She held it up and nodded "Here, Abw," she tucked it over Yugi's head.

Yugi touched the necklace with his first tooth on it. "It's just like yours," he said.

Mai pulled out her own, a mouth full of baby teeth hung from the string, decorated with beads and feathers, she nodded at her little brother, only six… "Yes, Yugi. Just like mine, but you'll need to lose a few more teeth to get as many as me."

Yugi stood in the temple doorway, amazed at what he saw and heard. A temple priestess was playing a metal flute, to welcome the presence of the Gods and the guests. Yugi felt others pushing past him and saying hello, but he could only stare at the player. It's beautiful … Yugi's hands tingled and he had the urge to ask to have a go.

He was only eight and didn't yet know of the law against his desire to play.

A twelve year old Mai appeared at his side "Yugi. Don't stay behind. You'll get lost. Here, hold my hand," Yugi took her hand but stared after the player as his older sister dragged him over to their Mother and Grandpa. Mai saw him looking "You like her?" she asked, thinking he was crushing on the older girl that was about eighteen.

Yugi blinked at looked at Mai and shook his head, he couldn't lie to her and Mai knew he wasn't taking after the girl "What was she doing with that bit of metal?"

Mai looked "It's called a flute, it's a musical instrument. Priestesses and Priests and other Lords and Ladies play them," she explained.

Yugi sighed "It's beautiful …" Mai saw him bliss out at the sound. He looked up at his older sister "Can I play too?"

Yugi was shocked when Mai gasped in horror "No Yugi! You mustn't ever ask, we're not allowed!"

Yugi blinked "Not allowed? But Mai, its only music," he reasoned.

Mai sighed "I know; I wish I could play more than a drum too, but …" Yugi and Mai sat behind their elders and bowed to the High priest of the temple as he entered in full ceremonial robes. "A long time ago a Princess convinced her Father, the Pharaoh, to ban all commoners, pretty much all who couldn't read and write with a good status, from learning how to play instruments that required discipline and practice."

Yugi thought about that. "It seems unfair, why did she do that?" he asked. "Princesses as supposed to be nice."

Mai shrugged "I don't know, no one can remember the true reason, it was so long ago … but the Lords and Ladies liked the extra power it gave them and the educated, so they pestered the Pharaoh into keeping that law, so that they could keep on top of us common folk and so that we appear stupid."

Yugi made a angry noise "That's mean!"

Mai nodded "That's the truth. You mustn't say this to any noble though. Some want others to learn music but there are too many who don't and if they all ganged up on those who were nice, they'd be beaten before you can say 'Ra raises in the East'."

Yugi blinked, he looked at his pale hands. "I wish I could play … I'd keep it a secret …" he stopped talking when the first song ended. Everyone had to pay attention to the fortune of the village, then there would be dancing and food.

Mai looked at her brother and saw the honest longing for that honour; to create beautiful music. Mai watched Yugi admire the flute more and more then she made up her mind, and walked up to Valon. She and he had become very close, nearly fanciful feelings were flitting between them.

Mai blushed as he smiled at her "Hey Axw," he greeted warmly, Mai blushed even more. Valon chuckled at her reaction, she was normally so tough, but around him she was simply herself.

Mai smiled back "Hello Valon. Can we talk quickly?" she nodded to the hallway.

Valon took her hand and pulled her to an empty hallway. "What can I do for you?"

Mai bit her lip and looked back at the festival "It's about Yugi, Valon."

Valon blinked "What's wrong with him? He's not sick is he? Did those bastards hurt his feelings again?" he grew a little angry at that outcome. To Yugi, Valon was like an older brother.

Mai shook her head "No, nothing like that, he's fine … he's just," she leaned in closer "He's obsessed with the flute."

Valon blinked "As in … he wants to learn?" Mai nodded. Valon reached up to his brown hair, he was thirteen, just a bit older than Mai who was twelve "Have you explained the law?"

Mai nodded again "He knows it's unfair, he'll be good, but … just look at him, he want to learn so much it's hurting him to know he can't. I can't say no to him …"

Valon saw the painful longing in Yugi's face too and sighed "He can't. They'll cut off his hands if he tries."

Mai nodded "I know … Valon? What if he taught himself in secret?"

Valon looked at her. "What? Mai that's crazy!"

Mai looked up at him "Why? No one would know, he'd be safe. I'll keep him from people's ears, please Valon, for Yugi … for me?"

Valon froze then shook his head slowly before turning and vanishing into some rooms. Mai stood in quiet defeat. I'm sorry Yugi, but you'll never get to play now …

"Got it!"

Mai blinked and looked up in surprise when Valon appeared in a rush, he smiled and held up a well made flute with carvings of stars and suns and waves of the sea. Valon smiled and pressed it into Mai's hands "Its one of the new ones, the tradesman brought us too many this year, take it, hide it. They won't notice, there's about fifty more just like it."

Mai held the silver in her hands like it was a fragile baby bird "Valon … It's beautiful … Thank you," she leaned up and kissed his cheek. She smiled when he blushed "Yugi will be pleased, and I know just where to take him, I know where no one will ever hear him play."

Valon smirked "Where?"

Mai leaned up and whispered in his ear. Valon's eyebrows rose and he nodded "You're a genius Mai! No one would think to look there!"

Mai smiled at the praise then stuffed the flute under her arms, hoping no one would question why her arms were crossed.

Yugi flopped on his bed at home, Mai entered next, their elders had stayed to watch the ending ceremony. Mai smiled at Yugi's sleepy face "Abw, wake up a little. I have a present for you."

Yugi looked up "What is it Mai?" Mai revealed the flute with a grin. Yugi sat up and stared "Where did you get that?!"

Mai sat down next to him and smiled "Valon gave it to me, it's for you," she pressed it into his hands.

Yugi took the flute in his hands and stared in amazement. "Mai … you got this for me?" he looked up at her with large eyes. Mai smiled and nodded, knowing that he was in love with the object now. Yugi's eyes watered then he flung himself at her "Oh Mai! You're the best sister in the world!"

Mai chuckled and sat them both up "Easy there little brother … though your right I am."

Yugi laughed with her and they looked at the silver tube that sat in Yugi's hands as if it was crafted just for him. Mai brushed his blond bangs out of his eyes and said softly "Yugi? You must promise me that you won't play it in the village, or where anyone can hear you. They mustn't even find you holding it."

Yugi nodded "I promise, but … where can I play?"

Mai smiled. "I'll take you there tomorrow. Hide it, keep it to yourself, don't even tell me where you put it." She couldn't stress enough how important this secret was now.

Yugi nodded seriously and rushed outside for a moment, returning with a proud smile. They'll never think to look in the groove on the roof.

Yugi sat in the shade of a tree years later, he had grown into a very beautiful young man. He was now sixteen years of age, his skin was still pale yet creamy and soft to the touch while his hands were slightly tougher from a lifetime of work. His height hadn't improved much as he was still shorter than average, looking twelve or thirteen rather than sixteen, nearly seventeen. His hair was still tri coloured, star shaped and gravity defying, framing his face yet soft in colour making him look angelic. His features were soft and his face still clung to some baby fat to make him appear devastatingly innocent.

Yugi's eyes were still the vivid violet that could steal hearts with a single second of eye contact. His body was slender, his frame keeping it's thin but graceful stature his limbs, subtly strong from working around the village all his life. He sat on a rock and had his lips against the flute he was given at the age of eight. He had practiced and taught himself over these years. Hiding away his talent at the entrance of a flooded mine, the water was not drinkable so there was no attraction to this area as nothing was to be profited from it.

Mai was sitting on a higher rock, looking out over the plain of sand, keeping an eye out for people approaching. She was twenty years old now and was just at the age where a young woman thought about settling down and finding a husband. Valon and she had been courting for just over ten weeks, they were a good couple, they had plans to marry the following year once Yugi turned eighteen and became a responsible young man.

Mai leaned her head back and listened to her brother's music. It was beautiful …

Yugi poured his soul into his music every timed he played. Mai closed her eyes and smiled. Yugi's song finished with a shiver in the air.

Mai opened her eyes and looked down at him "That was lovely."

Yugi smiled up at his sister "Thanks Mai," he took out a cloth and polished the flute before carefully placing it into his bag he took with him everywhere, there was a secret pocket that it was kept in to keep others from knowing he owned a flute.

Mai watched "Does that song have a name?"

Yugi nodded after a moment "You Raise Me Up," he said as he joined Mai at the top of the climb. "I have words that go with the music but I can't sing very well," he laughed as he remembered his bad attempts at singing before.

Mai chuckled as well "Too bad we can't write them down …"

Yugi nodded "Maybe Valon could when he has time," he looked up slyly at his older sister "You could always ask him … alone …"

Mai's hazy violet eyes went wide "Yugi!" she shrieked and pushed him off the rock onto the sand. Yugi just laughed and stuck his tongue out at her. Mai rolled her eyes "I don't know who's more eager, you or Valon."

Yugi giggled "Mai, I don't like girls that way."

Mai messed his hair lightly as he returned to sitting next to her. "I know. Seen anyone you like?"

Yugi shook his head, and sighed "I wonder if there is someone out there for me?"

Mai smiled "There will be … can you play that song again Yugi?" she asked.

Yugi blinked "Why?"

Mai smiled widely and messed his spiked hair as she explained "Because your music is my treasure, because only I get to hear it." The two laughed and held each other as Yugi pulled out the flute again.

Mai sighed as she listened "Only let very special people to you hear your 'treasure music' Yugi," she told him as he finished "It's your most precious and secret gift."

Yugi nodded "I will, only those I love and trust will hear me." Mai and he held hands as they walked back to the village, happy in secrets and safe from the law.

But only a week after that, everything changed.

"No! Let him go! Leave him alone you Bastards! You Sons of Jackals! Let Him GO!" Mai screamed as she fought the burley man who was holding her back. Ran and Shimon shouting similar things.

Yugi cried as he was dragged over to a cart "Mai!" he shouted in horror.

The Slave traders had come.

They were cruel men who stole one child from each village, when they were spotted everyone hid their children inside, but Mai and Yugi were late back. They stayed at the mine an extra hour so that Yugi could practice more. The slavers saw Yugi and knew they could sell him to someone rich and had decided to take him.

The entire village protested, Valon came running from the temple with several other Priestesses to beg them to let him go, but they were relentless and Yugi was soon dragged from the arms of his family.

Valon hit one in the face "Yugi! Hold on! Don't let them take you!"

Yugi struggled and scratched the man who was holding him. "Let me go!" he shouted, the entire village was throwing stones and shouting at them to leave the village, to let Yugi go, but they were too strong, too many, too powerful.

Yugi gasped as the man hit him in the stomach, he fell to his knees, clutching his bruises and retching emptily.

Mai shrieked again "You Fucking Son Of A Dung Beatle! I'll Tear Your Miserable Face Off! Let My Brother Go!" she hit a man on the head with a broom and he crumpled in pain. Yugi was lifted and slung carelessly into the cart full of other unfortunate slaves, all roped to the cart and to each other so that there was no escape.

Mai ran forwards as Yugi was secured and just managed to get to him before they threw her away. She grasped his hand tightly and Yugi held back before she was torn from his grip

"Mai! Help!" Yugi begged as they started moving away, the whips cracking and the horses moving.

Mai sobbed as Valon comforted her on the sandy ground. She got up with him and their Mother, Shimon was crying. Mai began to run after the horses "Yugi! No!" she sobbed as the horses sped up "I'll find you! I promise! I'll come and find you Yugi!"

Yugi cried as his sister faded from his view, falling to her knees in the middle of the road, Valon and Ran beside her and crying as they watched their littlest family member leave the village forever.

Mai sniffed and shook her head, Ra, please, wake me from this nightmare … don't let them hurt my brother, keep him safe, watch over him. I beg of you! It was an unwritten and unspoken myth made real; once the slavers took you: you didn't come back …

Right so poor Yugi's been kidnapped to be sold as a slave. I guess we all know he ends up at the Palace, but you don't know what hid job is, and he doesn't know if he'll stay or escape. What if they find out he can play music? His hand will be chopped off!

Maybe it's better if he doesn't play ...

Na! The plot demands it! DEMANDS it I say (I've been on my own too long, I'm losing it slightly). Still filtering through the next chapters, then I'll retackle the end to see what I can do with it. Grr- that end won't know what hit it.

Right-o!

A final thing:

Axw - is the Egyptian word for Sunlight/Sunshine - which I believe is fitting for Mai because of her hair in the middle of Egypt. It would cause a few second glances, yes?

Abw - means Ivory, and it's startlingly similar to Aibou in sound and look. So that was a lucky coincidence! And it means that Yugi has to be very pale to earn that nickname, therefore everyone is tanned, he is not. Ta-da!

Now please review and I'll see you in chapter Two!