Nothing changed story wise again. Just grammar stuff.
Chapter 5
It wasn't too much longer that they arrived at the throne room doors.
Yugi was still highly amazed with how big the throne room doors were but he could hide the amazement rather well. The two guards bowed politely and were about to open the doors.
"A minute please before we enter." Yami ordered.
"Yes Prince Yami." One of the guards replied.
"Are you ready Yugi?" Yami asked.
"Yes Prince Yami. However I am a little nervous." Yugi replied.
"So am I Yugi. So am I." Yami thought as he nodded to the guard.
The guards took the cue and opened the huge doors to see everyone was already inside.
Akhamkanon sat at his thrown with Atemu to his left and Heba stood to the left of Atemu. Another thrown was to the right of Akhamkanon which was currently empty and it was assumed to be Yami's.
There was a table in the middle of the room where five people sat. Two of them were Seth and Akunadin but the other three that sat at the table and those three were the ones who made Yugi nervous due to their glares. (Seth and Akunadin didn't bother him)
One of the consul members' names was Talim. Talim wasn't a full Egyptian but he was half Egyptian and half Nubian like Taka was. In fact, he's Taka's husband and he has served Akhamkanon faithfully for all of Atemu and Yami's life. He was elderly like Taka was and Talim's face was covered in wrinkles.
The second unknown consul member was named Bes. Bes was a young man, about Seth's age and used to be a guard before he was asked to be placed on the consul years before. He had clear tanned skin and shiny black hair. He had a slightly normal personality but like a lot of people with power he was to full of himself and often overstepped his boundaries.
The final consulman was named Kagemni but went by the name Kage. He was a middle-aged man but he was also very wise for his age. He served Akhamkanon for around five years and was the cruelest of the five consul members. Akhamkanon also feared that Kagemni would eventually bring trouble to Egypt so he kept a close eye on him.
Yami walked up to his thrown and sat down and he motioned for Yugi to stand on his right.
Yugi quickly stood in place and went as stiff as a board and kept his gaze to the ground as the meeting started.
"Prince Yami? Why were you late?" Bes growled.
"My son is not late Bes. Just because he was the last one to show up to today's meeting does not mean that he is late. Remember that." Akhamkanon replied.
"Prince Yami should have been here before Crowned Prince Atemu."
"As you can see he wasn't nor was he late, end of discussion."
"Yes my King."
"I don't like that man." Yugi thought.
"Father, what is the meaning of this meeting?" Atemu asked. "I'm not aware of a problem in Egypt."
"Rest easy my son, for there aren't any problems in Egypt as of yet thanks to the Gods. We just need to address a few changes and issues is all?" Akhamkanon replied. "We shall being with this meeting now and the first change. First Prince Yami shall start this meeting with his matter."
Yami stood up from his thrown and took a step forward.
"Members of my Father's loyal consul, I chosen who I want to have as my personal slave. Members of the consul I would like you to meet Yugi Moto." Yami said gesturing to Yugi to step forward and Yugi walked forward without lifting his gaze and he bowed nervously.
"Absolutely not!" Bes shouted. "Prince Yami, come away from that monster this instant!" Bes added as he stood up and ran over to Yami to pull him away.
"Unhand me Bes!" Yami snapped and Atemu also rose.
"You heard him Bes. Let go of my brother."
"Crowned Prince Atemu. You remember how Prince Yami was a cursed soul." Bes replied. "The gods graciously cured him so Ra forbid should something happen to both you and the Pharaoh, Prince Yami could take the thrown. That is unless you produce an heir before that time so what would happen if 'he' cursed Prince Yami again?"
"You allowed Ryou and Bakura to being Slave and master and allowed them to have a relationship. So why are you making this so hard for Yugi?" Heba asked.
"Shut it Slave!" Bes shouted and he walked over and punched Heba, sending him to the ground and knocking him unconscious.
"ORDER! I DEMAND ORDER!" Akhamkanon shouted as Atemu ran over to Heba.
"Bes, stop this." Kage said restraining Bes.
"Let go of me Kage! Can't you see? All this chaos started the moment he met Priest Seth and Priest Akunadin." Bes shouted. "He should be eliminated!"
"Please forgive me, I'll leave immediately." Yugi said taking off the false jewelry and ran out of the room.
"Yugi come back!" Yami shouted.
"Yami go after him. Kage, Seth, take Bes to his chambers we will continue this when everyone has their heads firmly on their shoulders. Atemu, take Heba to see Isis and have her treat his wounds if there are any."
"And make sure that brat is dealt with!" Bes shouted.
"OUT!" Akhamkanon, Yami, and Atemu shouted.
"Yes sirs!" Kage and Seth said dragging Bes out of the room as Atemu picked Heba up.
"Atemu, don't worry about Heba. I'll let today slide, just make sure that you remind him of the laws of the throne room." Akhamkanon said.
"Thank you father." Atemu replied as he took Heba out of the room just as Bakura and Ryou came in with Yugi over Bakura's shoulder struggling.
"Should we be concerned as to why it seems like a brawl occurred?" Bakura asked.
"Please." Yugi cried. "Please Bakura, let me go!" Yugi said squirming even more.
"Like I said is this something I should know about?"
"Bes is causing trouble already. He doesn't want Yugi to be my personal servant." Yami said walked over and Bakura set Yugi down and Yami knelt in front of him. "Look at me little one. It'll be okay, Bes is only one person. Kage, Seth, Uncle Akunadin, and Talim's opinions and votes are what matter. That and my fathers." Yami said whipping Yugi's tears away.
"Prince Yami, Mr. Moto." Akunadin said approaching them. "You have my vote to allow Yugi to stay here and being your personal slave."
"The same goes for me." Talim said. "So please calm down little one."
"But…I'm cursed." Yugi whimpered.
"I can only speak for myself but I've never believed in the curse." Talim replied.
"I do believe in it. However, when my son and I brought you back I felt certain energy about you. One that isn't cursed." Akunadin said. "You actually remind me of Yami when he was cursed. He hated everything about himself and I think that we were the ones that kept Yami alive."
"Huh?" Yugi asked confused.
"I ran away a couple of times and wanted to die at other times but I had Seth, Father, Atemu, and Uncle Akunadin to keep me going. Then I became "cured" and eventually met Bakura, Malik, Jonouchi, Merick, Heba, Ryou, and now you so it's been okay."
"Let me tell you Yugi. Yami made me have constant headaches since I always searched for him." Akunadin replied.
"I know you won't have any problems. That I'm aware of Bes is the only one who rejects Prince Yami's decision. And even if Seth didn't agree, you'd still be Prince Yami's personal slave unless the Pharaoh doesn't agree. Then it'd be a tie and we'd have to discuss it without Yami and Atemu around."
"I think I know Father's answer. He said that Yugi had the protection of the Pharaoh." Yami said.
"Yami's right. And my decision lies with Yugi being Yami's personal slave."
"And what would happen pharaoh if Yami fell in love with Yugi just as Seth, Bakura, Malik, and possibly Atemu did with their slaves?"
"Tell me, do you reject Seth and Jonouchi's relationship Brother?"
"I honestly do however Seth can decide for himself and I will respect and support him."
"And I shall support my sons. Although they are princes and one of them will sit in my thrown someday, they are also human and can live the way this please and with whom they please."
"What about an heir? Prince Yami or Prince Atemu would need an heir."
"We shall handle that when the time approaches Brother."
"You are becoming soft." Akunadin replied.
"Maybe, or you are becoming too serious. Yami, why don't you take Yugi back to his chambers? We'll continue this meeting tomorrow without Bes."
"Yes father." Yami said "Come on little one." Yami added gently and he led Yugi, who was still sniffling and crying, out of the room and to their chambers.
Once they got there Yami led Yugi to his bed so that Yugi could lie down but Yugi refused to sit or lay down on the bed.
"Yugi, don't let Bes bother you alright. Bes is just one person on Father's consul and you have the whole consul's vote so far except for Seth and Kage. Seth's the one who found you along with my uncle so I doubt he'll have anything against you but we will have to see."
"What about Atemu? Doesn't he vote too?"
"Normally the answer is yes. However Princes can't vote against their sibling's personal slaves. We can however have a say about the potential Queen or harem member since we're the ones who'll produce Egypt's heir." Yami explained… "I couldn't choose whether or not Heba could be Atemu's personal slave or not. We could choose Seth's personal slave Jonouchi since Seth can't take the thrown." Yami said.
"It doesn't make sense to me." Yugi said. "It sounds fake."
"I assure you that is the law. Although I agree that the laws make no sense. You'd figure it would be the other way around." Yami agreed as someone knocked on the door. "WHAT?!" Yami snapped.
"Calm down brother, it's just me." Atemu said.
"Oh, come in Atemu." Yami said.
Atemu opened the door and he came into the room before closing the door.
"Why aren't you with Heba?"
"I'll give you one guess."
"Don't tell me it's Bes!" Yami asked in fear.
"Alright two guesses." Atemu replied.
"Oh thank the gods. Then I assume the reason is Isis?"
"Yeah. She doesn't want me to see Heba for a while to give Isis the time to examine him and time for him to relax for a while." Atemu answered. "So I came to check on you and Yugi."
"Thank you Prince Atemu. I'm okay." Yugi sniffed, his voice sounding hoarse.
Yami stood up to get water for Yugi while Atemu smiled.
"I'm glad to hear it. While we're alone, or in the company of the group please feel free to just call me Atemu." Atemu said.
"Thank you Atemu." Yugi said.
"Do you know when the meeting will continue tomorrow Atemu?" Yami asked handing the water to Yugi.
"No, I didn't go ask father yet. I wanted to make sure that Yugi, You, and Heba were alright. However, there's no way in hell I'm going to let Heba go tomorrow."
"That's not a good idea. Even though Bes won't be around the consul can still take Heba away. You have to make it look like you punished Heba or have Isis keep him in the healing chambers." Yami said. "You know that Uncle isn't exactly happy with Heba."
"Why does Consulman/Priest Akunadin hate Heba?"
"Uncle is starting to see that Heba gets away with a lot. Today Bes started in but if Heba kept his mouth clothes he wouldn't be sitting in the healing chambers unconscious." Atemu replied.
"It sounds like you're blaming Heba." Yami said.
"Of course I'm not! I would never blame Heba!" Atemu shouted.
"Yami's right. That's what it sounded like." Yugi replied.
"If I blame anyone it's that damned Bes." Atemu growled. "He's the one who angered Heba.
"Heba has been here the longest, he should know the laws. However, I do agree with you about Bes. He definitely over stepped his boundaries." Yami said.
"Now you sound like your blaming Heba, Yami." Yugi replied.
"Huh, I guess I am. Heba broke the law of the Slaves but Bes broke the laws of a nobleman but two wrongs never make a right."
"Noblemen? The consul are noblemen? I thought they were higher ranked than that."
"They're noblemen because they don't really have a lot of power. Father could legally and easily go against whatever the consul says. For instance, say a law came about that needs to be passed that lowers the tax rates in the marketplace and the consul says no. If father wants to pass it he can say "screw you and beware the power of the mighty pharaoh!" and pass the law." Yami explained.
"The only true thing they actually have a say with is Yami and my personal slaves and wife. Anything else Father can easily overrule." Atemu added.
"I see. It sounds complicated but I'll go with it." Yugi said. "I think that you should wait down at the healing chambers for Heba."
"That might do more damage. Bes isn't going to let this go and I doubt he'll stay in his chambers."
"Even the more reason to be at the healing chambers! Bes might go down there to get at Heba. He didn't care about the laws in the throne room so I doubt he'll care about them out of the throne room." Yugi said. "You should go and pretend that you're waiting for Heba so you can "punish" him."
"I WOULD NEVER-" Atemu started.
"Thus the pretend." Yugi interrupted.
"Maybe I should go. Atemu, can you stay here with Yugi for a while? You need to calm down for a little while."
"Alright. Thanks little Bro." Atemu said as Yami and Yugi stood up.
Yami looked confused at Yugi standing up and then Yugi approached Yami and motioned for Yami to lean forward to whisper a question.
"Would you mind if I prepared Atemu a bath? It might help him relax a little bit."
"Oh yeah, you know a little aromatherapy don't you? Yeah go ahead do what you see fit to try and calm him down. However if the wrong buttons are pressed, things won't be pretty."
"How so?"
"Let's hope that you don't find out." Yami replied leaving the room.
"Alright then. So I just have to tread cautiously." Yugi thought as he turned to Atemu. "Um…Atemu?"
"Yeah?"
"Although I lived in the desert for years I know some aromatherapy and other methods to help people relax. Are you interested?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well on top of knowing aromatherapy I know how to give a good massage too. Yami knows about the aromatherapy part but I never told him about the massage."
"No thanks, I'll be alright."
"But all that stress isn't good for a person."
"I SAID I'M ALRIGHT!" Atemu shouted and a black aura surrounded him.
"I'm…I'm sorry!" Yugi said falling on his butt from fear and he pushed himself back until he was up against the wall and he couldn't go back further.
A few seconds later Atemu's eyes blinked and he saw Yugi cowering up against the wall.
When he did, he realized what was happening and the black aura slowly dissipated and Atemu took deep breaths to further calm himself down.
"Oh my…Yugi I am so sorry!" Atemu said running over to Yugi's side. "Are you alright? I didn't hurt you did I?" Atemu asked franticly.
"No…I'm alright, I promise." Yugi said. "What was that though Atemu?"
"The power of the shadows." Atemu sighed. "All of the item barriers can use and control the shadows. Everyone except for me. Hell, Yami can even control the shadows and he's not even an item barrier."
"Yami can do that creepy magic trick too?" Yugi asked. "So…what exactly is the power of the shadows?"
"Maybe you'll know of it by this name. Have you ever heard of the Shadow Realm?"
"Isn't that where the evil Ka's come from? If that's what the Shadow Realm is then yes."
"It's true that the evil Ka's do come from the Shadow Realm but it's also more than that. The shadow realm is a magical Hell but if you can learn to master the power of the shadows, it can be used for good." Atemu explained. "If I lose my temper even the slightest, I loose control of the shadows and sometimes…bad things happen."
"Then why didn't anything happen when Bes attacked Heba?"
"Let's just say I need a lot of anger management." Atemu said and Yugi chuckled. "Thank Ra for Bakura and Malik."
"What do they have to do with things?"
"They taught me how to use a sword and they fight with me when I need it to suppress my anger so I don't loose control." Atemu said. "Is it possible to take you up on your earlier offer?"
"Oh yeah! Of course." Yugi said standing up and he headed towards the bathing chambers but then went back. "Heba won't be upset will he?"
"About what?"
"Helping you."
"No, not all." Atemu said. "He understands and will probably thank you for helping me out."
"If you're sure. I don't want to hurt your and Heba's relationship."
"Don't worry Yugi; I assure you it's alright." Atemu said.
"Alright if you're sure." Yugi said heading back into the bathing chambers.
Yugi started to draw the bath while he looked at Yami's scented bath salts and candle collection to find the right combination of scents to use for Atemu.
"Lavender is always supposed to calm people down." Yugi thought and looked through the collection of candles.
Yugi found four decent candles of Lavender he lit all four and placed one candle at each corner of the large tub and Yugi could instantly smell of lavender filled the room.
Yugi then turned off the water and tossed some bath salts into the tub and watched them dissolve into the tub before he fetched Atemu.
"You're all set Atemu. Unfortunately Yami didn't have a lot for me to work with so I hope it helps."
"Thanks Yugi, I appreciate it." Atemu replied as he went into the bathing chambers.
Meanwhile Yugi decided to clean up the room and he ate a little bit of the left over fruit as well.
A total of an hour and a half passed and Yami entered the room while Yugi was still cleaning.
"Yugi Moto! Do I have to tie you to the bed so you don't do chores?" Yami asked crossing his arms.
"No, I was just board. So is everything alright with Heba?"
"Yeah, Isis said he has a swollen lip and a concussion. Once the meeting tomorrow is over she'll release Heba so he'll be safe and no one besides Atemu and myself can see him."
"Atemu would be glad about that."
"Speaking of Atemu, where is he?"
"In the…oh god!" Yugi said running to the bathing chamber door and slammed on it. "Atemu! Atemu are you alright?"
"How long has he been in there?"
"Shortly after he lost control of the shadows."
"He lost control again? Were you hurt?"
"No, it just scared me."
"Atemu probably fell asleep. I'll check on him." Yami said and Yugi stepped out Yami's way and Yami went inside the bathing chambers and laughed almost automatically. "I think Atemu was too relaxed." Yami called.
He walked over to Atemu and started to shake him so he'd wake up.
"Atemu, wake up you lazy bum." Yami smirked. "
"Go away." Atemu moaned.
"I would if I wasn't worried about you getting a cold."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about my older twin brother who is asleep in his younger twin brother's bathtub after having a relaxing aromatherapy bath thanks to my personal slave." Yami said sticking his hand into the water. "This water is absolutely freezing!"
"Personally it feels good."
"Please tell me that you're not hot and bothered thanks to falling asleep."
"No, I assure you I was not dreaming about Heba." Atemu laughed as Yami tossed him a towel. "How long was I out?"
"I left around two hours ago so at the most an hour and a half since you lost control of the shadows."
"I assume Yugi told you then?" Atemu asked as he wrapped the towel around his waist.
"Yeah. I'll explain about the priests and the item bearers." Yami said as Atemu got dressed.
"I told him about the Shadow Realm."
"Then it'll be a little easier."
"I hope so."
"Well, let's get out of here." Yami said and they walked out of the bathing chambers. "Good job little one." Yami laughed.
"Are you alright Atemu?" Yugi asked worried.
"Yeah, I just fell asleep."
"You…you fell asleep?" Yugi asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I fell asleep."
"Maybe I used to much lavender." Yugi mumbled as he headed to the bed. "I'm so sorry Atemu."
"Don't be Yugi. I really needed that nap, I don't think I need to get my ass kicked by Bakura and Malik now."
"That's because you have the skills of a rookie." Yami laughed.
"You get your ass kicked too so don't start." Atemu sighed.
"Duh! They're the palace mercenaries Atemu. They're supposed to kick ass."
"This is the reason I'm glad I don't have a brother." Yugi sighed. "They sound like a married couple." He added.
Yugi leaned back on the bed and he found a scroll lying underneath the pillow and pulled it out.
"Yami, do you have an admirer?" Yugi teased.
"No, that's a scroll my mother made before she died. Father, Atemu, and I all got one." Yami said.
"I'm sorry Yami and Atemu."
"It's alright. Atemu and I were seven when Mother passed away. We really aren't affected by it anymore."
"I still apologize." Yugi said and he tucked the scroll back underneath the pillow.
"Oh! Yami, how's Heba?"
"A swollen lip and a concussion. Isis agreed to let him stay in the healing chambers until the end of the meeting tomorrow. No one is allowed to see Heba except the two of us." Yami said.
"Good, that means Bes can't touch him." Atemu sighed in relief.
"Exactly. Even though he's already in legal trouble for even touching Heba in the first place."
"He'll get away with it since Heba is."
"The only ones who know that are you, Talim, Uncle, Father, Yugi and myself."
"Maybe I should come up with a light punishment."
"You could probably fake a day without meals."
"That or a day's hard labor." Yugi said.
"We can't fake that."
"Sure you can. Have him "serve" Bakura and Malik. Heba can clean the chamber, weapons, or something like that."
"That's not really a bad idea. After all, Bakura and Malik would never hurt Heba or work him to exhaustion. Thanks Yugi."
"No problem."
"You should talk to father about it." Yami suggested. "Father's in his study."
"Alright. I'll see you later and thanks again Yugi." Atemu said.
"Don't mention it." Yugi added as Atemu left.
"I'd have to speak with Father but you have also broken the law. You might have to do the same thing Heba will or I'll leave you in the hands of someone else I know who won't hurt you."
"When did I…oh yeah, when I ran out of the room begging for forgiveness. If that's the fate I have I'm fine with it. I did break the law after all."
"I'll talk to father later. For now, do you have any questions about the Shadow Realm?"
"Not really, but I do have some questions about the item bearers. Who are they and what are they?"
"Well as for whom, they're Karim, Shada, Seth, Uncle Akunadian, Mahad, Isis, and Atemu. They each own one item of the shadows and the items are what are used to convict criminals or try them. Atemu owns the strongest item called the Millennium Puzzle, Seth owns the Millennium Rod, Uncle owns the Millennium Eye and he covers it with his hair since he really lost his eye, Shada owns the Millennium Key, Karim owns the Millennium Scales, Mahad owns the Millennium Ring, and finally Isis owns the Millennium Necklace. Each item has a special power as well. We haven't been able to discover Atemu's power since he can't control the shadows yet. However Seth can draw out evil and brainwash them, Uncle can read minds, Shada can enter the souls of anyone, Karim measures the balance of good and evil, Isis can see into the future, and Mahad seals any dark Ka's into an inanimate object. All of them are able to do so by using and control the Shadows." Yami explained.
"Atemu said that you can use the shadows too. So what do you do?"
"I learn to use the shadows so I can take over just in case that Atemu gives up the thrown or any ties to royalty. For now I just play pranks with it."
"Pranks?"
"I used magic once to dye Seth's hair pink."
"Nice." Yugi smirked.
"That was a fun day." Yami laughed.
"And obviously you were board."
"Well, it was during the rainy season."
"That's explains a lot." Yugi giggled.
"Yeah well." Yami laughed. "So, anything else?"
"Yeah, can I please take a nap in my chambers? I'm actually really tired for some reason."
"You are welcome to stay here. I have a lesson and I still have to talk to father about your punishment."
"No, I'd rather use my chambers."
"As you wish." Yami said and he led Yugi into a room that was really small and the only things in the room was a small bed and a small dresser.
"Thanks Yami." Yugi said. "When I wake up I'll grab dinner."
"Alright." Yami agreed and he walked out and closed the door as he left to give Yugi some privacy. "Have a good nap." Yami added through the door as he left to do his chores while Yugi rested from the mentally exhausting meeting and the day in general.
Yami and Yugi knew the day was hard, but he had a feeling that the next day would be a little better, he hoped.