Alright, here is the next chapter. At this point, everything in the story is vague, but it will all come together eventually. I promise. This might leave you with a ton of unanswered questions, which is good, because that means I am doing this right. :D

Raiden- I am actually not minding this story as much as I thought I would.

Well, here it is. I hope you all enjoy! Thank you to all reviewers!

WE OWN NOTHING... except the plot!- Raiden


Almost Easy

Chapter Two

"Call your name every day, when I feel so helpless
I'm fallin' down, but I'll rise above this, rise above this"

It was almost four weeks since the Aknamkhanan's funeral, and the royal family had still showed no signs of mending their torn bonds. Mertz was by Atem's side most of the time, helping him get acquainted with his duties as well as plan his wedding to Anzu. Rei kept to herself par usual, not making any more trips outside the palace walls and avoiding High Priest Seto. Hotaru did what was typical; skip her lessons to converse with Rishid and try to fit in the crazy royal court.

Dinners were still silent occasions, with the exception of Mertz and Priest Akhenaden rambling about things no one else cared to talk about. Everyone else's minds were on other things. Who would have known that the death of one could bring the downfall of many more?

If this wasn't enough, a rebel group located in the caverns of Egypt was beginning to make threats and advances on the palace. High Priest Akhenaden insisted that it wasn't a big deal as did Mertz, who claimed radical groups did this all the time, so Atem never paid it much mind.

Little did everyone know another wrench was soon to be thrown into there already crooked lives.

Hotaru walked next to her sister as they headed towards the temple, both of them silent. Mertz had discovered that Hotaru had been skipping and needless to say was not happy about it. After a brief bout of thinking, she decided to make Rei take her, hoping that High Priest Seto would also be around so they would initiate conversation.

It was a hot day, much hotter than it had been the previous months. This made it seem all the more like a punishment for Hotaru as she dreaded being held captive in the temple, being forced to learn things she wished not to know. As she tilted her head towards her sister, she felt as though a knife had been plunged into her heart, watching as she held her head high.

Rei had never been one to show her emotions, so instead of getting upset; she would lift her head even higher, trying to fool the world. However, behind her violet eyes she could see an entirely different story. One filled with misery, sadness, and an unwanted destiny.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, barely parting her lips.

Rei never diverted her gaze from the temple path. "You have nothing to apologize for."

The silence resumed for a moment.

"Where did you go when you went out?" She asked, looking up with curious eyes. "Ever since then, you haven't talked much."

Rei's lips seemed to firm into a tighter line. "I went out."

Hotaru knew it was futile to question her any more. That was something she had always admired in her sister. She would never crack under pressure, regardless the situation, and if she didn't want her information to be known, she wouldn't tell a soul. Unlike Atem and herself, Rei's conscience never made much of an impact on her decisions, even though nowadays you would have never guessed for Atem to be one with a terrible pact with guilt.

She did not know what had happened between her older brother and sister, but she could only assume it was horrible. They had not spoken one word to one another, and if they did, they used either Mertz or herself to relay the message. It was sad, because they used to be the best of friends.

They finally arrived at the temple, the head priestess Ishizu greeting them both upon their arrival. She smiled warmly at Rei, slightly bowing to show her respect.

"Hello, Princess Rei…" She grinned. "I assume everything is going smoothly?"

"As well as can be expected."

"Very well." Ishizu turned to Hotaru. "We have a lot to catch up on. Let's get going."

As they went inside the temple, Ishizu stopped, turning to the second eldest of the Pharaoh's children. "You have someone who wishes to speak with you inside."

"Tell him to rot." Rei answered smartly, her indifferent face turning into a scowl. "I have no wish to speak with him."

"If you don't mind me saying, princess, I believe it would be wise to speak with him for fear the Pharaoh would intervene."

Deciding that the priestess was right, Rei made her way to see the man she dreaded the most, her face unchanging.

But, Hotaru knew she was upset, for her face looked like that of a stone.


High Priest Seto was what every woman would call attractive; tall, built, tan, brunette. However, there was one thing missing from this Egyptian heart throb: a personality.

He was what many called ruthless, a man with the potential to rule, but was overlooked because of his birth. His heart was one of stone, one that wasn't able to be touched by the tenderest of souls. No one had been able to crack Seto, and it didn't appear as though that was about to end anytime soon.

As he watched Rei walk into the room, he could only stare. He hadn't expected her to come to him as he wanted. She never did that. The only thing she would ever do for him was give him an argument. Of course, he was more than happy to oblige, but the fact that she had actually come on his request made him wary.

"Princess Rei…"

"High Priest Seto…"

All the other priests and priestess' took this as their cue to leave. No one wanted to be around when things got rough.

He couldn't help but notice a different gleam in her eyes as she watched him, violet orbs peering deep into his. Instead of being a fighting glare, it was more of deep regret, an apology.

However, Rei was never one to apologize or regret anything.

"I know you aren't happy about this whole… thing."

"As are you." She agreed.

"Well, that's a given of course. But, I am asking you, on the request of the Pharaoh, when you would like the day to be." He said the word 'day' like it was poison. "We have prolonged this long enough, and I find it pointless to draw this out any longer."

She quirked an eyebrow. "I, for one, don't care when the day is. It won't have any significance to me."

He turned his back to her. "Very well."

Hearing her footsteps exit the building, he turned around, watching as her shadow disappeared from sight.


Being a servant wasn't all that bad, at least to Makoto it wasn't. She got to cook, stay in the servant's quarters in the palace, eat free food, and see the high society of the kingdom on a daily basis.

Well, there was really only one person she wanted to see.

"Would you like something to drink, High Priest Seto?"

She only needed a brief nod from him to signal her leave to get his beverage. Making him happy was something she looked forward to everyday. His favorite wine was in the cellar, separate from the others. Makoto wanted only the best for him.

The brunette didn't start out loving him, not in the slightest. He used to be very cruel and cold to her, expecting her to know everything he wants before he even requested it. As time moved along though, she did grow to know everything he wanted when he wanted it, and her heart grew along with it. Even with his harsh glares and short fuse, she could see beyond that, knowing that he was just as lost and confused as the next person.

Returning with his goblet, she sat it on the table in his room, watching as he drank it greedily. Makoto frowned. Something must have not gone good today.

"Is all well with you, High Priest Seto?"

He frowned and set his cup down. "Of course not. Not when I have to marry that devil woman."

The woman grimaced. When she had discovered the marriage arrangement between Seto and the Pharaoh's daughter she had been less than excited. In fact, she had been downright pissed. Princess Rei had been given the man of her dreams and all she did was complain, not giving him a second thought.

Of course, Seto starting a majority of their arguments didn't make way into her thoughts.

"Is Princess Rei that bad?" She questioned, leaning the wall. Over the last few years of bowing down to his every whim, she had become a confidante of sorts. He would vent to her, sometimes yell, but it was ok. Makoto enjoyed hearing about his life, it was almost better than cooking to her.

Almost.

"Yes…" He huffed. "Well, unless she is being civilized. But, that never happens. So, yes, she is that bad."

Makoto smoothed her skirt. "What about the wedding?"

"The date remains to be decided." He took another sip of his wine, more calmly this time. "That is what I tried discussing with her today-"

"Tried?"

"Yes, tried. For some reason, she-" He cleared his throat. "we can't have a decent conversation without going at each others throats."

"So, you are admitting that some of it is your fault?" Makoto questioned, her heart tearing inside. Seto had never even come close to claiming some of the fault as his own. In fact, it was always Rei's fault. But, today he says different?

She couldn't help but feel jealous of the princess. She was essentially flawless. Her waterfall of black hair, eyes that shone like the brightest of jewels, skin as clear as the sky… everything she did not possess. Rei was born to royalty and betrothed to the man of her heart. Yet, she did nothing to claim it. It was all given to her.

That jealousy got to her sometimes.

"Sometimes, yes." He sighed. "If we are going to be forced to wed, I might as well try to make it a refined relationship. But, it is almost impossible for me not to fight with her! When I see her I just get so pissed…"

"Do you know why you get so angry?" Makoto asked innocently. However it looked as though she hit a sour note, because the High Priest frowned.

"Please leave me." He shooed her with his hand. "I will not need any more assistance tonight."

Making her leave, Makoto shut his door, feeling as though she were about to cry.


It was around midnight when Marik started to think about his life again, wondering how it could have been different. He could have been born to royalty, or as the son of a High Priest, or just a peasant. But, no, he was born as the son of a tomb keeper, forever doomed to dwell in the darkness.

His job wasn't all that bad, at least to him. He had never known anything different than his life of solitude. But, now that freedom had been brought to his attention, he couldn't get it off his mind. The longing to roam the lands and do whatever he pleased was almost tempting enough to abandon his post, abandon his family, and abandon everything that was familiar.

Marik groaned. It would all have been fine if she hadn't come to see him. She made him question everything. All of her talk about choices and doing as she pleased had gotten him nowhere, except for unhappy and disappointed. If she hadn't been so beautiful, maybe they wouldn't have done what they did.

Every time he thought back on that night, he couldn't help but feel angry. However, he also felt another feeling he had never experienced before. His dreams of a better life made him want to soar over the tallest mountains, touch the sun with his fingertips. All of this, good and bad, would have not come to be if it weren't for her.

He resented her for this. He hated feeling all of these emotions. She was untouchable, unreachable by the hands of men. The princess had come to him broken and confused, upset with the binds that held her. Because of this they had done something unintended, something forbidden. She left him saying that she had made the first decision in her life and thanked him for making that happen. He had not spoken of what happened to anyone, and was sure she had done the same.

Marik wasn't naïve enough to believe she actually liked him, much less long to be in his embrace again as much as he wanted to be in hers. What happened was probably long forgotten to her.

Even as he tried to convince himself of this, he couldn't help but wish he was wrong.


Hotaru found herself walking to her home from the temple late that evening. Ishizu had told her they had a long way to cover, and she spoke no lies. It was well into the evening before she had let Hotaru go home, and the walk home was not a short one. As her tired feet trudged on into the courtyard, she could only think of her comfortable bed.

One good thing that came out of the day was getting to see Anzu, the daughter of a High Priest. Instead of training and dedicating her life to becoming a priestess at the temple, Anzu was raised in the palace, being taught everything of a proper woman and wife. She was arranged to be Atem's wife before she could even speak. Anzu didn't seem to object though. They had been friends for her entire childhood, so when it was announced that she would rule alongside him, she was ecstatic.

Sometimes it made the young girl upset that she had nothing to look forward to during the rest of her existence. She was to be a disciple until she turned eighteen, at which point she would relieve Ishizu of her position as the head priestess, and then she was to live the rest of her days a virgin patron to the Gods. Hotaru could smell the excitement.

Why had Rei been the one chosen to marry? Why had she been the one father took on his various trips to showcase to other countries? Was she not beautiful in her own right? What had she done to be the one cast aside to something of no significance?

No one could blame Hotaru for being so discouraged, because it was evident in the placement of the children who was favored among the Pharaoh's offspring. She had been placed somewhere she didn't belong, a place she didn't want to be in. But, like her sister and her brother, she was stuck in her position, unable to escape.

As she walked into the courtyard, the quiet of the night seemed to echo around her, making her feel more alone than she had been before. It was times like these were she wanted nothing more than to disappear. The loneliness of the palace was enough to engulf you sometimes.

Reaching the door, she began to feel familiarity within her again, a smile on her face. However, she began to feel as though someone was watching her. She looked around and saw nothing, everything was as still as the dark.

"Is anybody there…?"

No response.

She watched as the wind played with the trees, the palms seeming to dance under the moonlight.

"Hello?"

When no one answered, the young girl turned and went inside; trying to convince herself she wasn't insane.


Atem rubbed his temples as he listened to his mother and High Priest Akhenadan argue. The rebels that had been reported to be residing in caverns had been increasing their hostility. Peasant's had been slaughtered in small villages beside the riverbank, along with their livestock. Homes were burnt to the ground, as were the crops and tools. Apparently, nothing was left standing in there path.

Mertz wanted to go and find the radicals, bring them to there knees while they were still a diminutive force. Akhenaden on the other hand wanted to stay in the city to protect their palace and the other nobleman. The more they argued the more Atem wanted to hang himself.

Life as of late had not been kind to him. His sister hated him, Seto hated him, and now a violent group threatened his reign. He had only been Pharaoh for almost five weeks and it was already beginning to take its toll.

"How can we be so sure that it everything will go well?" Mertz screamed at Akhenaden, her black hair flying about wildly as she swung her arms. "These rebels have been up to no good for a while now…"

"And they still haven't reached us."

Mertz scoffed. "No, not us. But they have been roaming the desert, killing hundreds of our people…"

"If I do recall, mother, you said only yesterday that this was no big deal, and now you say it is catastrophic." Atem pointed out, trying to ignore the pounding in his skull. "Which is it?"

"Well," She appeared more flustered than usual at this point. "I have thought about it and I think something should be done! Who knows, they might come for us and our Millennium Ite-"

"You are speaking nonsense! Don't worry your majesty, they shan't come here!" The High Priest interrupted, giving the Queen a side glance as she glowered.

"What might they want?" Atem directed to his mother, but before the Queen could respond, he interrupted again.

"Nothing, your magnificence. She just doesn't understand the ways of ruling the kingdom." Akhenaden smirked as he watched Mertz stride away, her white gown dragging on the ground. "Now, let's just ignore this for now. Why don't you take a break from the court duties?"

Not thinking twice about the strange behavior of his advisor, for he was always strange to him, Atem took his advice and left the throne room, deciding to take a stroll. He had needed a relaxing walk for awhile now. Ever since he had taken the throne, only mayhem seemed to appear in his life.

He went to the courtyard, looking at the miniature oasis that was in the center. At the bank of the small pond sat Anzu, brown hair flying around her face.

Even before it had been announced he was to marry her, he had every intention of doing so in the first place. She was his best friend, his shoulder to lean on, and his confidante. Anzu knew everything about him and every trouble he had in his life. Why wouldn't he wish to marry her?

"Anzu," He spoke gruffly, trying to get her attention. She turned around quickly, standing up as soon as she saw who it was.

"Oh, your majesty!" She deeply bowed, one arm resting under her stomach. "How can I help you?"

"You don't need to do anything for the Pharaoh." He smiled and walked closer to her. "I could use a good talk as a friend though."

"Of course, Pharaoh!"

Atem sighed. "Call me Atem, please. I get enough of all that other stuff from everyone else."

Anzu laughed, giving him the smile he had grown to love. "Ok, Pharaoh! I mean… Atem!"

They both laughed as they took a seat on a stone bench, facing the oasis.

"What would you like to speak with me about?" She asked sweetly, giving him the tiniest of smiles.

"Everything." Atem grumbled, his head falling into his hands. "This is all not how I planned it."

Anzu shrugged, the jewelry around her neck making a clang noise as it hit together. "Nothing ever does. Still about Rei?"

"Well, yes. She hates me because she has to marry Seto. Seto hates me because he has to marry Rei. I haven't spoken in Hotaru about anything personal in ages… and now there is a rebel group attacking villages along the river." The Pharaoh spoke quickly, feeling a little better once he said it all. "I just don't know what to do. I want to be a good ruler… but I want to honor my father's wishes."

"It's hard. But, you must remember that you cannot make everyone happy. Someone will always be angry about something." She advised, smiling to herself for thinking of something so clever.

"It seems I'm not making anyone happy at this point."

"Well," She began, blushing a little. "You make me happy all the time…"

With this statement, Atem's day began to look a little brighter.


End of Chapter Two

So, Rei and Marik did something unspeakable, eh? Seto gets angry when he sees Rei for reasons unknown. Makoto hates Rei for stealing her man. Hotaru feels left out and someone was watching her from the shadows. Atem is torn between doing what he feel's is right and what his father wished. And a hostile group approaches.

It appears that Anzu is the only one happy in this bunch.

Oooo, the mayhem.