Joy: Extremely short. I think it's the shortest chapter yet...
Trembling the two princes were led down the halls, the destroyed ones, to the dungeon entrance. Yami called up ahead, "Marik!"
A deep huff was the response from down the stairs. A taller blond showed his face at the bottom of the short staircase, "Yes, Prince Yami? You brought the tikes with you."
Yami moved the two who very much looked like twins before him and urged them down the steps, "They need a lesson on what happens to our criminals. Heba spent the morning destroying parts of the palace."
Marik barked out a laugh, "Magic?"
Yami sighed, "Yes. The explosion earlier was both of them. From the looks of the room, Yugi tried stopping the water to no avail."
Heba looked at Yugi and they both shuddered at the darker lighting in the dungeons. Heba wasn't scared of the darkness but more of the bars that closed in the cells. Yugi's ears were flat against his head and his tail was curled around his body in hopes of quelling his shaking.
Marik's voice was laced with humor and amusement, "We have one criminal in the cells today. He's a murderer and thief. Took all the hefty priced objects before destroying three family's houses and killing the father of each, leaving behind at the least two children and a mother."
Yami nodded before he placed a hand on one of each boy's shoulders and guided them after Marik to the cell that held the one man. Yami looked at the man's form and then at the two children whose eyes were wide, "This is what happens when you destroy other people's things. When you harm other people and when you take what isn't yours."
Marik lifted a hand to the man, "His punishment is seven years imprisonment, whiplashes once a week and then eight years of manual labor in the mines."
As everything was explained, Heba caught a glance at the man's face.
No remorse or regret showed in his eyes and although his back was matted with open wounds and his hands chained to the wall, he still held steady with pure hatred shining through his stance and his eyes.
Yugi could barely look at the criminal, his eyes hollow. He silently squeaked when the man looked at him with those hate filled midnight orbs. Yugi shuddered and his shaking increased, he was surprised his legs kept him standing. The sight of the caked and dried blood around and on him made Yugi sick to his stomach.
Heba was faring better with no emotion falling into his eyes. His emotionless expression matched his father's face to a T. He watched the man and knew he would never allow himself to become like that. It was then that it finally sunk in. "I am a prince. I am not allowed to shame my father, my people nor myself with acting like a lowlife criminal such as this." He looked at his hands and momentarily saw the blood that he could have caused today. He growled and let his hands fall to his side before he looked up at the man again. His determination shone through his eyes.
When the man looked from Yugi to Heba, Heba smirked and mouthed, "I will not become like you."
The man's face shook for a moment and the hatred fell into shock.
Heba stared at him before turning away from the cell, "I understand, Mother." His tone was heavy with such heartfelt determination that both his mother's and the general's eyes were wide but then they narrowed down.
Yami smiled and led both boys from the dungeons after bidding Marik a good day. He lifted Yugi and wrapped the boy's legs around his stomach as the young one was still shaking.
Yugi's hands grabbed onto Yami's clothes and he buried his face into Yami's shoulder. He shuddered and shook his head in hopes of getting the man's eyes out of his mind. Once that was accomplished, he managed to control his shaking limbs but he kept his face in Yami's shoulder.
Yami took Heba's hand and they walked to Yami and Atem's room as the boys' room was still under reconstruction.
Heba opened his parents' room and they stepped inside.
Atem looked up from the bed, his eyes questioning Yami.
Yami nodded and walked over, setting Yugi down beside Atem. He sat down and pulled Heba up between him and Yugi before he spoke to his husband and pharaoh, "They've learned their lesson."
Yugi curled up with his knees to his chest and his tail wrapped around his legs and body. He fell into a slumber even if it still held remnants of fear.
Atem rubbed Yugi's ear and smiled.
Heba laid on the bed and took hold of Yugi's shirt at his waist and moved up behind his back.
Yami smiled and leaned against the pillows, the day was definitely eventful. Then he remembered Kazue. He stood up and walked over to the door and called over the first servant that walked by.
The servant bowed, "My prince, Lord Kazue left after you took the two princes down to the dungeon. He explained that he'd return next week for his visit."
Joy: Sorry guys. I didn't like it when it was one with the previous chapter...
Next Chapter: HE'S GONE! Again?
