Cheyenne: *Twitches* Just deleted the original content. Must keep promise. Must keep promise...
Jou: *Vaguely wonders what she's mumbling about* Disclaimer! Cheyenne does not own YGO!
Cheyenne: You're getting better at this, Jou! Notes at the end.
"I'm sorry, little one..."
The doors to the throne room suddenly burst open, and a man with honey blonde hair and matching eyes stormed in, leading a small army of soldiers as he did so. Priest Seth smirked. Help had arrived.
Within moments, the invaders started to retreat. Those that were lucky enough to make it to the doors fled into the city streets, and if they were super lucky, the desert. Those that were not were either killed or arrested by the Egyptian guards.
Soon, the hall was clear of the invading forces, leaving the moans of the dead, dying, and heartbroken to echo throughout the air.
"Someone, get Isis!"
"My Pharaoh, please calm down!" This comment was ignored by the frantic young man, who was desperately screaming for the High Priestess and healer.
"My Pharaoh, please! This isn't going to help him!" The High Priest tried to calm his Pharaoh, and he almost smiled when it seemed to work, only to have his blood freeze when Yugi turned to look at him, a cold glint such as no one had ever seen him use coloring his bright amethyst irises.
"Get. Isis." A pause. "Now."
Seth paused himself, but he bowed his head, teeth clenching. "Very well." He stood up and swept out of the room, Jou following from where he had been standing silently to the side.
The Pharaoh, for his part, continued to sit on the floor, supporting the fallen thief. Yami's face was pale and waxen from the loss of blood, and Yugi could feel his pulse getting fainter and fainter.
"Hurry... hurry!" He whispered. His hand tightened around the unconscious thief's, and his eyes pricked with tears. "If you die, Atemu, I'll kill you myself," the small man said wryly. Could the other even hear him, or was he already too far gone to save? The thought made Yugi stop breathing for a second. No! No he was not! They'd save him! He'd be all right!
"My pharaoh!" Yugi looked up as Isis rushed into the room. "Seth said you needed—" She cut off her own sentence when she identified the man Yugi was holding. Her face hardened. "Your Highness..."
"You will save him, or so help me..." The hard edge in both his tone and eyes shocked Isis into nodding mutely. Yugi never spoke to anyone like that! "Y-yes, my pharaoh," she whispered, glancing over at Seth whose eyes had narrowed into slits.
"Hn." Seth tapped his chin thoughtfully, observing the gentle way his pharaoh held Atemu/Yami—his cousin.
"I'll see to it right away," Isis said, watching as Yugi gently brushed one of Yami's golden bangs from his face. Such a change... Where was the companionate, calm pharaoh she had come to know and respect?
"See to it that you do." With that Yugi rose, leaving Isis to tend to the wounded man, ever conscious that with each step he was moving farther and farther from the one person who had come to mean more to him than he'd ever know.
--
"Yugi... Yugi..." Jou lightly waved his hand in front of the other man's face, but he finally had to give it up as a lost cause when he received no response. "Dammit, Yugi, you need to—" Jou swallowed as Yugi turned to glare at him.
"Go away, Jou," Yugi said, causing his friend to look slightly hurt.
"Yuge, I didn't mean—"
"Leave me alone!" Yugi said, this time another edge making itself known. Jou flinched. "Yeah, uh, okay," he said quietly, backing out of the room. "I'll leave you alone, Yugi." This last part was said with an infusion of bitter anger, which caused Yugi to turn.
"Look, Jou, I didn't mean—"
"No, Pharaoh, I get it," Jou said, his face flushing red, though not out of shame or embarrassment. Yugi looked up and met his gaze levelly, and he sighed at what he saw. Anger, confusion, resentment, irritation, and more. Of course, Jou had a right to be angry; Yugi had been short and curt for five days now, and he had buried himself in his work so deeply that Malik and Ryou had given up trying to talk to him within the first three days. Only Jou kept trying, and as a result, it was often Jou who ended up bearing the brunt of Yugi's own anger and frustration.
But Jou calling him Pharaoh like that still hurt.
"Jou..."
"I don't get it, Yugi," Jou said, his voice lowering as it always did when he was trying not to hit something. "Why him, huh? Why are you killing yourself over him?"
"I..."
"He's a slave, Yugi. Worse than that, he's a thief and a murderer." Yugi itched to correct that and tell his friend that it wasn't what he thought—that Yami was really Atemu, the man who had saved him all those years ago. But he didn't say anything, for he knew a feeling of obligation wasn't the reason Yugi kept close to the medical bay, asking Isis every chance he could as to the wellbeing of the unconscious man.
Yugi blinked once as Jou continued his tirade. "When Ryou suffered that riding incident, you were never this worried."
"Jou, Ryou wasn't—"
"Ryou was your friend, Yugi. Or have you forgotten that already?" Jou spat. Yugi rose from his seat, eyes flashing dangerously. But Jou didn't notice.
"He's lower than scum, Yugi! He's been a thorn in Egypt's side for years! You've tracked him down for that long! He's a liar, Yugi! Everything he says is a lie! He's disrespectful to everyone in the palace, he doesn't obey orders and always manages to get away without punishment! You know why that is, Yugi? Huh? It's because of you. And you have to face that, no matter what, he's only going to bring you trouble, and you're better off just letting the bastard die!"
"ENOUGH!" Yugi yelled, causing Jou to stumbled back in surprise. "I don't want to hear another word about him! You don't know him like I do! You don't know what he's been through!"
"Oh, and I suppose you do?" Yugi and Jou looked over to see Malik glaring at them both, his arms crossed and a scowl etched across his face as he leaned on the door frame. Yugi clenched his fists and took a deep breath, especially since, for a brief moment, instead of Malik standing there it was Atemu—Atemu? Since when had he started calling the thief by what he knew to be his true name?—, smirking and laughing—albeit cruelly—at something someone had said.
"I know more than you," the tiny pharaoh said, trying to calm himself down.
"Please, Yugi, do explain," Malik sneered, and Ryou entered the room next, brown eyes blinking sadly. The white-haired noble sighed. He knew his friends were being unfair to Yugi, but at the same time, he was angry, too. They had tried to speak to him, to try and get him to see reason, but he had only buried himself in more work and dismissed them every single time.
And frankly? They were sick of it.
"I don't have to explain anything," Yugi said defiantly, tilting his chin up. Ryou turned to Jou and let out a small sigh.
"All right, Yugi, you know what? I don't care anymore. You can do whatever the hell you want." Jou had turned to the door, his body trembling with rage. "Just don't expect me to try and help you anymore." And he stomped out, leaving only Malik and Ryou. Ryou walked over to Yugi and lay a hand on his arm, looking down at the ground.
"I-I'm sorry, Yugi, but... he's right." Ryou whispered, turning and following the blonde.
"You know what I think, Yugi?" Yugi turned to see Malik, still sneering at him. "I think you're in love. With him. The thief. That's why you're so upset about this; that's why you're acting this way. It's foolish, Yugi; you know this to be true. It'll never work. That man in incapable of feelings like love."
"Get out. Get. Out!" Yugi screamed, shoving Malik out of the room, trying to ignore his friend's cruel laughter as he slammed the door shut, leaning against it and falling to the floor, finally crying the tears of despair he had been holding for far too long.
For now... now he was really, truly alone.
--
Priest Seth wandered down the hallways of the Pharaoh's palace, occasionally exchanging a cool greeting with those who sought to grab his attention. He didn't understand why his pharaoh had insisted on attending the council meeting, especially since Seth had given him a perfectly believable excuse to skip the one thing he hated doing. But then again, Yugi had always believed in doing what he felt was right, just like Seth always felt he had to do what his duty required of him.
Really, it was almost silly. Seth had abandoned all family ties to rise to his position, and the one person he thought he'd miss the least was the one he was tearing himself up over.
Atemu always did have a way with people, the High Priest thought, momentarily closing his eyes as he neared the throne room. He knew what buttons to press; how to start a messy situation and how to stop it with uncanny ease. It was a gift, as strange and annoying as it was, he reconsidered, though he scowled lightly at the memories of his cousin, who always found it amusing to see how far Seth himself could be pushed.
And it never took him longer than ten seconds to do it.
"Priest Seth?" Seth looked up as his name was called, and he found that he had subconsciously walked into the throne room and into the middle of the meeting.
"Ah..." The High Priest walked over to his spot with the other five keepers, not saying anything else. He frowned, though, when he saw how tired and weary his pharaoh was looking; how his eyes seemed dull, and his voice defeated. Had something happened?
"Pharaoh. I see you have recovered from your... injuries?" Tepemkau said, his eyes gleaming. Yugi looked at him tiredly, sighing.
"I was not injured during the battle."
"Mêlée fatigue, perhaps?"
"No, Tepemkau. I am fine."
"You seem to be spending a lot of time near the medical bay, Pharaoh," the councilman said, his eyes narrowing. "Are you sure you're not sick or something? I cannot think of any other reason, sire," Tepemkau said slightly, the implication clear. The man on the throne narrowed his eyes.
"That," he said, tone clipped, "is none of your business."
"My mistake, Pharaoh. Please, accept my humble apologies." Yugi could hear the slight mockery edging the man's voice—something no one else seemed to have noticed. He didn't say anything in response, instead heaving another sigh and trying to find a window or doorway to look out of, desperate for some light of any kind.
He felt like he was losing control of his country, and now his council and friends... When had this all started?
He didn't even need to answer that. But Jou was not right; maybe this had just been long in coming. It didn't mean it was in any way connected with Atemu—err, Yami. Besides, Yami hadn't even wanted to come here, Yugi thought dryly, recalling how the man had verbally lashed every single person in the room upon his capture, almost daring them to kill him.
Yugi remembered it well.
Go on, Yami's eyes had said, looking at a guard with a sword. I dare you to use that thing, if you're man enough. Can you catch me? Have you truly caught me? Yugi chuckled at that memory, though at the time he had been bristling along with everyone else.
And yet... the scene from yesterday, right before the battle interruption, continued to play in Yugi's mind, making him frown slightly. That moment where the other man had shown—even for the slightest second—a soul battling inside of himself. Conflicted and angry; a soul that had been fed nothing but anger and hate for years. Yugi almost giggled to himself as he remembered a particular incident, not too many days after Yami's arrival.
Yugi sat at his desk, humming lightly to himself as he watched his friends argue over some silly game. Or rather, Jou and Malik were arguing over some silly game while Ryou stood there with a wide-eyed look, trying to break the literal fistfight that had ensued between the two young nobles.
"I did not cheat!" Jou sputtered.
"You did so! I saw you! You're the worst cheater ever!" Malik had replied, and Yugi had rolled his eyes, remembering some of the more immature fights they'd had as children—fights that seemed to mimic this one with deadly accuracy. Honestly, he didn't even know what game they were arguing about in the first place. Sennet again, or was it...
"Ah! Yugi!" Anzu had breezed into the room, a smile firmly planted on her face. Yugi had looked up, smiling back at his cousin. "Is there something you need?" He asked politely, watching as Jou and Malik gradually settled down—albeit only after Anzu sent them each a condescending "Stop acting like children!" glare. The two rubbed their heads sheepishly, while Ryou looked like he'd rather be banging his into a wall.
"Yugi," Anzu had said, turning back to her cousin. "There are some nobles in the throne room. They say they have important business." She shrugged, looking bored. Yugi had stood then, smiling almost sadly this time.
"All right, Anzu," he said. "Hey, guys? I'll see you later!" Then the young man had walked out of the room, ignoring the servants and slaves giving him small bows as he passed.
Upon entering the room, Yugi had been almost bowled over by some blonde... thing.
"Oh, my! I am sorry!" The thing had said, offering him a hand while two or three other nobles surged forward, trying to help him up. Yugi merely brushed them off, standing himself and smiling. Really, his mouth was starting to hurt.
"It's no problem; I'm all right." They proceeded to move to some comfier rooms, where they had immediately sat before Yugi inquired as to what their business was here.
It didn't take him long to discover the true meaning for their visit: their daughter, a woman called Rebecca.
Rather an odd name, Yugi had reflected, but he hadn't pursued the matter, for it wasn't like his own name was that common. Throughout the rather boring conversation, she kept giving him coy smiles, trying to catch his eye. Yugi was feeling rather nervous by now, and was wishing he could think of a legitimate excuse to leave without telling an outright lie. Nothing came, so he was forced to endure their dull chatter/Rebecca until finally...
"You, slave!" Three slaves had entered the room, hurriedly laying out trays of food on the table in front of them. Well, all except one, who was standing in the doorframe, staring coldly at every single one of them.
Atemu. Yugi watched as the crimson-eyed man turned to the noble rather lazily, arching one brow as if to say: "Make this quick. I have better things to do." The man, looking rather snooty, had raised his chin, pointing to the food and goblets that had been arranged. "Pour me some wine!"
"Pour it yourself. It's right there in front of you," Atemu had replied levelly, smirking as the man gasped and narrowed his eyes. Even Yugi looked shocked.
"Slave, I order you to pour me some wine!" The man's eyes suddenly opened in recognition, like he had seen Atemu somewhere before. It wasn't hard to believe he had. Atemu as Yami had preyed on pompous nobles like him. "Yami, isn't it?" He said, smirking. Atemu's eyes had narrowed, and he had uncrossed his arms, pushing himself away from the doorframe.
"My, aren't you quite the observer," he had said. The noble had snorted, bristling at the insult as his wife tittered around him. Rebecca had been glaring at Atemu angrily, while Yugi had been suppressing the first genuine smile he had had all day.
"Yami," the noble had said, drawing out the name in a lazy fashion of his own. "I order you to pour me some wine. Surely you must be good for something besides that mouth of yours?" Immediately Atemu had stiffened, his eyes narrowing into slits at the rather disturbing implication. Yugi had tensed as well; that look was never a good thing.
"Are you implying something, sir?" Atemu had growled. The noble laughed, and Yugi returned to his food, trying to ignore Rebecca, who was trying to make small talk while fluttering her lashes in what would normally be a seductive, charming manner. If it hadn't been so simultaneously creepy, it might have actually worked.
"I am not implying anything, except a horrible punishment if you continue to disobey me!" Yugi knew Atemu got away with a lot more than most slaves would, but he also knew that was because many people were still afraid of him, even though he was a slave. This noble clearly was not, and Yugi had the feeling he would soon pay for his mistake.
Atemu started walking towards them, taking slow, deliberate steps, his hips swaying slightly, causing Yugi to blush lightly. Sadly, Rebecca thought this was because of her, so she increased the charm even further, even adding a small little purr to her tone. Without looking at anyone, he picked up the pitcher of wine, extending it towards the smirking noble, who was still holding his cup. Then, with an almost feline grace, Atemu started to pour the wine...
Right onto the nobleman. Coincidentally, he made sure to slip forward as he did so, making it appear to be an accident. Yugi probably would have believed him if he hadn't known just how nimble the thief could be... when he wanted.
"YOU INSOLENT—"
"Oh, sir!" Yugi leapt up, snapping to the other two slaves—two females, who had watched the whole thing with wide eyes.
"Let us help you with that, sir," the slaves said, knowing their part as they moved forward, trying to dab at the red liquid. Atemu put on a shocked expression of innocence, but Yugi caught the cat-like gleam in his eyes; the look of triumph.
"It is all right! I believe we must go," the noble growled, standing up as he glared at Atemu. "I expect to see him punished!"
"Oh, don't worry, he will be," Yugi said, eyeing Atemu, who only purred suggestively. Yugi flushed, along with the nobleman and his wife, who looked almost disgusted. "Umm... not like that!" Atemu pretended to pout, causing Yugi to cover his face and mumble something, still blushing madly.
"It's been nice talking with you, Pharaoh," Rebecca said, smiling so hard Yugi thought her face would break. Finally, however, they left—the slaves escorting them out as Yugi flopped onto his chair, sighing deeply as he closed his eyes with a slight frown. He was suddenly aware of a rich chuckle behind him, and he turned to see Atemu, who was still there. Without a word, the former-thief had left, but not before turning back to Yugi, the gleam back in his eyes.
"Hear that, Pharaoh?" He said, voice low. "Your subjects think I need to be punished." He had stopped then, eyes hardening. "What they don't seem to realize is that my whole life has been one punishment. Do they honestly think one more will do anything?" Then he had left, leaving a slightly confused Yugi behind him.
"—right, Pharaoh? Pharaoh?"
"Is he all right?"
"He looks rather out of it..."
"He's fine, I'm sure."
"Pharaoh!" Yugi suddenly blinked, his eyes clearing as he looked into the worried faces of his six keepers. He shook his head, trying to clear it of the memory, before smiling faintly at them.
"Sorry," he replied. "What happened?"
"My Pharaoh, I think perhaps you should rest," Mahado said, his wise brown eyes blinking. Yugi contemplated this, sighing and nodding.
"You have been very busy, Yugi; you're ahead of your work, I'm sure," Seth intoned. "You must rest now—your strength is low after such a heated battle."
"I think..." Yugi said, "... I think you are right. Please excuse me, Tepemkau, I fear I must lay down for a bit." Yugi rose, walking out of the throne room—trying to ignore the hushed conversations that followed his departure.
--
Tepemkau almost smirked as he watched Yugi leave, instead merely giving him a concerned nod. "I, too, must depart: I have urgent business to attend to."
"Of course," the High Priest said, and Tepemkau had to resist the urge to curl his hands into fists at Seth's uninterested, Holier Than Thou tone. In retrospect, perhaps he was... But we'll see how long he can hold onto that look, hmm?
Tepemkau walked to his chambers, before slipping into a large brown cloak. He then made his way down the servants' corridors, trying to look inconspicuous.
Once outside, Tepemkau regretted using the cloak, so hot was the beating of Ra, but he forced himself to ignore it, instead heading off to one of the taverns. He had a meeting with someone, and he must not be late.
Upon arriving, the councilman seated himself at a rather shaded table, awaiting his contact.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Ah... Tepemkau." The figure swooped in, sitting down at the table across from him, face shadowed by a hood.
"You summoned?" Tepemkau asked, only momentarily musing about how his contact had summoned him, and not the other way around.
"I did," the figure said, taking a sip out of the wine that had appeared in front of them—courtesy of one of the servers. "I want to discuss your recent failure. The Pharaoh is not yet dead?"
"Nor is the thief," the man said, grinding his teeth. The figure tsked.
"Shame, Tepemkau, shame... A double failure? How disappointing. Stabbed by a sword, though?" The figure tilted its head to the side. Tepemkau bristled.
"Yes. He was wounded, but the pharaoh insisted..."
"Don't waste my time, Tepemkau; I honestly don't care right about now. You've put me in a dangerous position, you know that?"
"I'm sorry—"
"I don't want any apologies! I want the job done, and I want it done fast. Just think: the sooner you accomplish this, the sooner you can marry the princess and rule Egypt, hmm?" The figure seemed to be sneering at him, but suddenly they adopted a lazy expressing, drinking more wine. "Did you know, dear Tepemkau, that one word from me could ruin you?" The figure purred again. "I have contacts, you know. I have contacts everywhere. They tell me when you fail, just like they tell me how you're treading on thin ice with our dear pharaoh. If word of your... association with me were to get out, your reputation would fall faster than drunks at a heated party! We don't what that, now do we?"
"And what, exactly, do you get out of this?" Tepemkau asked, his tone laced with suspicion.
"Ah, ah... Silly boy, that's for me to know, and you to find out... when the time is right. Until then, here is what you must do..."
The two continued to talk in low, hushed tones, until at last Tepemkau nodded, looking grave.
"And if that doesn't work, well... you always have plan B, am I right?" The figure laughed, and for a moment a flash of silver was revealed. Tepemkau nodded stiffly. The figure cooed. "Right. On your way, then. Next time I see you I expect some good news: not more reports of how you've once again failed. I helped you capture him in the first place, didn't I? The least you can do is kill him for me."
"Is that all you want?" Tepemkau blurted out, baffled. The figure sighed lazily, leaning back into the chair and taking yet another sip of wine.
"As I said, that is for me to know, and you to find out. But I will give you this: No, that is not my only reason. However, I intend on solving this issue myself; I already have a plan worked out. Nevertheless, it depends on your success, so if you don't want to wake up with a dagger in your back, I'd do it right this time." Tepemkau swallowed nervously at the deadly edge in the person's voice, and he nodded slowly.
"I understand," the councilman said, trying not to grit his teeth together.
"I'm so glad!" The figure purred, rising. "Now don't make me bother you until the job is done, Tepemkau. I don't need to warn you of the penalty should you fail me again!" The person swept past him, out into the darkening streets... but not before Tepemkau caught a definite flash of sapphire as they left.
--
Bakura leaned against the cave walls, scowling lightly at Marik, who was conversing with the silver-haired man: someone who Khemet had brought in when she had returned with their supplies.
"This is Pegasus," the girl had said cheerfully, bouncing into the cave and depositing the new supplies on the floor unceremoniously. "He's the head of Yami's thief ring to the... west, I believe it is?" She frowned, shrugging. "Anyways, I figured we needed a fourth person. I found him in Thebes, and recognized him instantly!"
"Everyone knows who Pegasus is, idiot," Bakura growled, looking over at the silver-haired man. "He's not exactly inconspicuous."
"Well, neither are any of us, right? Yami certainly wasn't," Khemet shrugged, sitting down on the floor of the cave. "I mean, with that hair and all. And you, 'Kura—Well, you aren't, either. Face it, we'd all stand out in a crowd," she said, laughing lightly. Bakura hissed, but said nothing, and Marik just ignored them both. Typical.
"So what are we going to do? You saw what happened at the battle!"
"Why 'Kura!" Marik cooed. "You were actually concentrating on something besides the little white-haired noble? I'm surprised! That deserves a treat!"
"Shut up, Marik."
"Ouch. That hurts, man," Marik said. Bakura growled at him, too. Khemet rolled her eyes, going through her bag, though her posture was noticeably stiffer, and her eyes were deadpan.
"And you're one to talk, Marik—especially since you were..." Bakura was cut off as Marik threw a golden plate at him, wincing as it hit the wall behind him.
"That's solid gold, you silly boy," Pegasus said, speaking for the first time as he walked over and bent to retrieve the object. "Tsk," he sighed. "What a waste. It's all bent out of shape! Now we'll have to eat off of bent plates! How uncouth." He made a face whilst Bakura and Marik stared at him incredulously.
"We don't eat off those," Khemet said slowly. "We sell them. You know, for supplies."
"Good heavens! Why on earth would you do that?" Pegasus said, shaking his head sadly. "You have a perfect amount of them, and can't you just sell everything else?"
"We sell everything we can," Khemet explained, like she would to a child. Pegasus looked slightly aghast, but he finally sighed, smiling wryly. "I see we have some work to do," he said. "And I don't just mean within this fabulous little thief ring."
"Oh, joy... Listen, I'd love to stay and learn how to search beverages, but I have somewhere to be." With that, Bakura got up and walked out of the cave, leaving his friends behind.
--
Yugi lightly paced his room, one hand at his chin and the other behind his back. He laughed as he remembered the way he father used to wear his ceremonial beard—something Yugi had tried and despised. Slowly, he made his way to the elaborate bed, lying down and staring at the ceiling.
"Pharaoh?" Yugi looked up as Mahado entered the room, tilting his head to the side lightly. "Yes?" he asked, blinking twice.
"Are you sure you're all right?" The man asked, causing Yugi to nod quicker than he had meant to.
"I'm fine," Yugi said, trying to cover up. "Just... really tired, you know?"
"You're worried about him." Yugi stilled, biting his lip.
"Of course not. Why should I be worried about a slave?" He tried. Mahado just laughed.
"I knew you were," he said, smiling slightly. "It's the way you... hover. And what you just said there—it's not a you-thing to say, my pharaoh. It was false, and you know it." When Yugi didn't answer, Mahado sighed.
"I didn't mean to upset you, Pharaoh," he said, looking towards the bed, trying to suppress a smile as he saw Yugi, who had fallen asleep. Mahado laughed again, this time quietly, before leaving the area, closing the door soundlessly behind him.
--
Yugi's dreams had not been disturbed by images and strange words for quite some time, but he supposed everything must come to an end. Yet... this was unlike any dream he had ever had before. Instead of being in an abyss of darkness, he was in his own room, and when he looked at his hands, they were almost transparent. With a start, Yugi leapt back, his eyes wide... especially as he saw his own self still lying on his bed, fast asleep.
"What...?" He whispered, reaching out once as if to see if he was real. He stopped himself however, withdrawing and frowning. What was this? He had never had dreams like this before; certainly not ones where he could see himself. Blinking, Yugi walked towards his door, opening it lightly... only to find he could pass right through it. He yelped loudly as his hand passed through the wood and inwardly cursed himself, especially as he spotted his friend, Ryou, walking slowly down the hall, a black cloak draped over his shoulders.
"Sorry, Ryou, I didn't mean to..." But Ryou walked right past him, as if he wasn't there, casting an almost sorrowful glance at Yugi's door.
"I'm sorry, Yugi," he whispered. "I don't mean to betray you like this... but I think you'll understand."
"Betray me?" Yugi echoed as Ryou's hand lightly touched his door, before slipping down as the white-haired noble slipped a hood over his head and continued walking, turning right at the servants' hallways. Yugi frowned, deciding to follow him, if only to preserve his sanity. What was going on?
He watched as Ryou zigzagged through corridors, casting nervous glances all around. Yugi the Spectre followed, not even bother to watch where he was going, as he seemed to pass through anything but stone, as he found out in a rather painful manner. Suddenly Yugi stilled as he saw Ryou pause. He was at one of the palace entries, albeit one hardly used. Yugi frowned again. What was going on? Ryou seemed to look around again until he was satisfied no one was watching, before stepping out of the palace.
"Bakura?" he called gently, his eyes roaming the gardens. Yugi waited as nothing happened.
"Bakura?" Ryou tried again, only this time he got an answer. A small chuckle was heard, and suddenly another figure appeared. This one was wearing a red cloak that looked almost black in the moonlight, and his hair was white. Yugi gaped. He knew who this was!
And, evidentially, so did Ryou, as the next thing Yugi bore witness to was the larger figure drawing Ryou in and kissing him gently, something Ryou responded to with just as much tenderness.
"I was afraid you didn't come," Ryou admitted as they stepped apart, not noticing the rather red-looking spectre who was blushing mightily behind them.
"Ah... we had a new... addition." Ryou looked liked he wanted to ask more, but didn't dare, just in case. Yugi started to tremble lightly behind them.
Bakura... Bakura... he had heard Atemu mention something about Bakura... and he knew who he was, too. Yami's second-in-command. How could Ryou do something like...
... like what he himself was currently wishing he could do, only with a certain slave. Yugi's eyes saddened. He watched the two for a little while longer, before abruptly turning and running back into the palace, his feet making no sound as they hit both grass and stone. He turned then. He knew where he was going, and nothing short of an army could keep him from going there.
A short intake of breath. He didn't think spirits could run out of breath in the first place.
The medical bay. Yugi hesitated at the door, wondering if he should really go through with this.
Then he remembered Ryou, and his eyes burned with determination. Yes.
Yugi passed through the door to the medical bay... or rather, he tried to. For some reason, he couldn't pass through again, so he was forced to open the door and slip silently in, hoping he didn't wake any of the other patients. He quietly surveyed the room, looking for...
Ah... there... Yugi glided over to the bedside of the former thief, looking down with a strange expression in his eyes. "You saved me again," he whispered to him, even though he knew Atemu would not be able to hear him. He lightly brushed the sleeping other's cheek, humming a lullaby someone had once sung to him, all those years ago. "And you didn't have to. You could have let me die, you know... I know you carry no affection for me. But you still did, my thief. And it makes me wonder..." Yugi stilled as Atemu stirred lightly, but when nothing else happened, he relaxed. "It makes me wonder if... perhaps you feel something more, now. Do you still hate me? I hope not..."
"No..." Yugi almost leapt back as the thief murmured something in his sleep. As far as anything had told him, Atemu had stayed silent, never making a sound, as if he were dead.
"You're a strange person," the young pharaoh said. "A very strange person, Atemu. Really, sometimes it's like there are two different versions of you, but that's silly, isn't it?" He lightly smoothed one of Atemu's blonde bangs, his face deep in concentration.
"What have you done to me?" Yugi wasn't even startled when he looked down to see Atemu's crimson eyes staring directly at him. He smiled lightly. This was a dream, wasn't it?
"The real questions is this: What have you done to me?" He laughed lightly, in an un-Yugi like way. Although, he hadn't been acting like himself since entering the room. Instead, he had shed the meek public Yugi, and a new, bolder, braver Yugi had taken his place.
"Is it not funny? The games we play?" Yugi looked down at Atemu, who, while still lying on his back, was having no trouble speaking or anything else.
"Mmm..." Yugi said lightly, tilting his head to the side. "And what games do we play, Atemu?" He asked, enjoying the shudder that ran through the thief's body at the use of his real name.
"Games of deception; games of lies; games of treachery, games of love..." Atemu groaned once, painfully, as he tried to sit up, only to have Yugi lightly push him back down with a shake of his head, fingers ghosting over the bandages that were wrapped around the thief's wound, causing the crimson-eyed man to shudder, and not with the pain this time.
"Ah, ah... rest, you. No getting up," Yugi said, feeling empowered, his amethyst eyes glowing in the dark. After all, this was but a dream. None of it was really happening; in the morning he would forget. For now, he lived in the present, and only that. "We wouldn't want you to injure yourself further." He lightly ran a hand through Atemu's hair, humming the strange, haunting lullaby again. "You wouldn't be able to play your games if you had no strength, my thief. And wouldn't that be a right shame?" Yugi purred, his eyes trailing down the thief's body. He only wore the bottom part to the tunic now; they had needed to access the wound properly. Yugi saw the white linen bandages surrounding the lower part of Atemu's torso, and he smiled sadly, lightly trailing a finger down it.
"That's because of me, isn't it?" he said, not looking up. His breathing was slightly ragged, and he lightly placed his palm on where he knew the wound lay underneath. He looked paler, and his head was lower slightly at he looked at the layers of cloth. "Because you... you tried to save me. I'll bet you regret it now... I can only imagine the pain you must be in..." He stopped as he felt a hand grasp his free one, and he looked up to meet the burning crimson eyes of the man who had stolen his heart.
"I regret nothing." Yugi's breath hitched again. Atemu had pulled himself up and was sitting, staring at Yugi levelly. "Nothing." Then all Yugi felt were a pair of warm lips on his own, and a hand encircling the back of his neck, pulling him closer.
The kiss wasn't deep, really. It was simple, yet it carried torrents of emotions the young pharaoh had only heard about from people he knew, and people he didn't. It was the kind of kiss you'd find in a story, right before the part that goes "and they all lived happily ever after." Powerful, yet soft. Demanding, yet tender.
"Atemu..." Yugi breathed, looking down at the other, who had drawn away after a moment.
"I do not regret anything." Yugi smiled softly at that.
"I am glad, Atemu," he said, voice matching the thief's in regard to level. "I'm glad..." His hand trailed up the thief's torso, causing Atemu to let out a small moan. "So very, very glad..." And then he eagerly drew the man into another heated kiss.
You can have winners in this game, Yugi thought, smiling as he elicited yet another small moan from the crimson-eyed thief. And this time I've captured the grand prize.
Suddenly a noise outside the room startled him, and Yugi's head snapped up. This caught the attention of Atemu who turned towards the sound, still breathing heavily, as was Yugi's spectral form. He wasn't sure what this dream was, but it sure was an odd one. He didn't even wonder why Atemu could see him but others could not. It was only a dream, after all. He would remember nothing when he woke, and neither would anyone else.
Sadly...
"I think I must go," Yugi said, watching as Atemu's eyes flickered over to the door. The footsteps and voices were getting louder. "Or... at least as much as I can, now. You've stolen my heart, Atemu."
"Thieves steal, Pharaoh," Atemu said, eyes half-lidded. "It is what we do. I have just finally found something worth keeping." Yugi smiled warmly at that. Atemu watched him for a moment, before reaching out, grabbing his arm, and pulling the young pharaoh close, pressing their lips together again.
"The games we play; the games we win; the games we lose, pharaoh. I think, today, I have done a little of both. Like all of Egypt, I will listen to you. But not because you are my pharaoh, Yugi." The pharaoh shivered as he heard his name roll off the thief's tongue. "No," Atemu continued. "It is because you hold my heart—it is yours to do with as you please. Remember that, Yugi. I will obey no one but you."
Yugi smiled, but it was then the doors opened, and a very stunned Isis stood there, staring at Atemu with wide eyes.
And then he woke up.
--
Yugi sat on his bed, gasping lightly. Images from the dream he had had the night before filled his head, refusing to go away or even fade, like most dreams did. Because unlike dreams, he remembered every single part of this dream.
Every. Single. Part. He remembered every word, every touch, every smell... everything. And... it was almost frightening. He had never felt something like this before. A combination of fear and hope such as he had never experienced. He knew it must have been a dream... what other explanation was there? No one had seen him; no one had heard him.
Well, no one but Atemu, anyways.
Atemu... The name caused chills to run down Yugi's spine and a small smile to spread across his face. That was the part of the dream that scared him and thrilled him the most. He could hardly believe... Yugi shook his head, lightly pushing back the sheets of his bed and standing up. He threw on some of his more simple robes, followed by a white cape. He wasn't in the mood to wear heavy or extravagant colors. A simple white tunic embroidered with gold, and a white cloak of the same material. He laughed calmly. He usually dressed himself, even though the slaves insisted it was their job. He merely shrugged them off, telling them he was used to it and could manage. He walked over to a small table, where he quickly hooked some gold earrings into his ears, shaking his head soundlessly. A gold Egyptian collar lay next to them, and he quickly put that on as well. White and gold.
Perfect. Standing up, Yugi quickly glided over to his door, the images from his dream making him pause every now-and-then. He wished... he wished...
Well, he didn't have time to finish that wish, for at that moment, the door to his chamber burst open again, and a very anxious-looking Isis ran in, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.
"Pharaoh! The thief! He's awake!"
--
Cheyenne: And... end! WITH short author notes, and over 7,000 words! There's just a little something I want to say regarding Yugi's character.
I know some of you may consider the characters to be acting a little OOC, and I'm all right with that. However, I want you all to know that OOC-ness is not my intention. However, this is my interpretation of how they would act in these situations. Yes, I have made Yugi bolder and a little more seme-ish, but... well, actually, my characters are kind of writing themselves by this point. *Laughs*
And don't worry. Atemu is certainly not going to be a submissive uke or anything like that, ja?
Just wanted to clear that up, though it didn't really come out like I had hoped it would. *Frowns*
Anyways. Since it is almost All Hallows Eve, I want to wish you all a Happy Halloween. I intend to write a Halloween story, though it may be short and a bit late ;D The first chapter will be posted sometime tomorrow, though.
... Yay!
It will be done, though.
Thanks for reading, and please review!
