Chapter 10
It was Laundry Day for the palace of the great Pharaoh, and Yami and the Nubian slaves were knelt at the River Nile's edge, closely supervised by Atemu and a handful of his men.
Yami looked up from his washing, as he stole a second to stretch, locking eyes for a moment with Atemu.
Atemu approached the Nubian Prince and crouched down next to him. "You've been watching me, again. All week you've been watching me," he smirked as he whispered into Yami's ear.
"I have no goddamned idea what you are talking about," Yami said innocently as he snatched a table linen out of the basket next to him and furiously scrubbed it.
"Do you think you're going to be given freedom just because you've caught my attention? You might be incredibly handsome, but I'm not so easily led away from my fiance," Atemu whispered as Yami's face flashed a furious shade of crimson.
"The only reason I've been watching you is to see if your glass needed filling," he hissed as he folded a linen towel and put it in the basket.
"I don't have a glass now, and yet you sneak a look in my direction...why is that?" Atemu asked as Yami jumped to his feet and picked up the full basket of clean linen.
"Pardon me, Captain, but I have linen yet to wash," Yami said, nodding as he turned to walk away.
"I didn't excuse you, slave! Stop where you are!" Atemu snapped as those gathered at the river's edge stared at the two men. Work at the river's edge ground to a screeching halt, the only sound piercing the silence was the sound of distant fishermen hauling in the day's catch.
The soldiers stared at the Nubians, who had been staring at the two men in a stunned silence. "What the hell are you staring at? Back to work! Pharaoh's linen isn't going to wash itself!" snapped a soldier, as the sound of gentle splashing resumed.
Yami turned slowly, his eyes flashing as the young captain approached him. "What the hell do you want from me?" he hissed, his heart pounding in his chest.
"I want to make life easier for you, Yami. Tell me how? What can I do for you?" Atemu asked the Nubian Prince, looking into his eyes.
"Help my people," Yami hissed, his knuckles turning white from squeezing the basket too hard.
"I want to help you," Atemu reminded him. "Tell me how I can help you."
"I am my people! And I hate seeing them suffer while I live comfortably in the palace. You want my 'affections' Captain? Help them, then come and find me," Yami hissed, nodding for a moment to the Nubian slaves before turning to walk away.
Atemu jogged ahead of him for a moment, stopping him. "I could have your 'affections' right here if I wanted to. I want to know if you feel anything for me…aside from hatred. Just tell me that, if anything," Atemu hissed, gripping Yami's arm.
"How the hell am I supposed to know what I feel for you?" Yami said, taking a step back.
"Well, let's find out, shall we?" Atemu said as he bent down to kiss Yami, who had dropped his basket of clean linen on the ground out of shock.
"Yami, I just s-" Jonouchi started as he skidded to a stop, his face white. The two men stepped away from each other, both of them blushing a furious shade of scarlet. "Yes, sorry, Jonouchi, what were you saying?" Atemu asked, clearing his throat as he stepped away.
"Oh, yeah, Yami, Princess Anzu wants to go shopping and needs your help choosing fabric for a new gown for the banquet tomorrow night," Jonouchi said, shaking the shock from his head.
"I'll go and see what the Princess has in mind," Yami mumbled as he retrieved the basket and hustled towards the palace.
Jonouchi stood in a stunned silence, staring at the young captain as he walked away, lost in thought.
I once knew all the answers to everything, I stood on unshakable ground. A picture of true happiness in the form of Anzu, I have confidence so effortless...things were perfect, Atemu thought as he walked, not bothering to pay attention to where he was going.
Oh no. Oh Gods, please tell me that look dosen't mean what I think it means, Jonouchi thought as he silently followed the young captain.
Jonouchi continued to follow the young captain, his heart pounding in his chest. I can't believe it, he's fucking changing. How in the hell did that happen? he thought, his face turning white.
Who knew confidence could die? That everything I took for granted: power, status, charm...all of it was a lie. And who'd have guessed I'd throw my world away, all to be with someone I'm afraid will say no, Atemu thought as muscled his way through the Egyptian market.
It can't be true: he's in love, but he's not the only one who'll be changed, Jonouchi thought as he watched the young captain, who was still lost in his own thoughts.
Meanwhile, in another part of the marketplace, Princess Anzu and Yami were stopped at a stand selling fabrics of different colors.
"This would look lovely on you," Yami said as he held up a piece of midnight blue fabric against Anzu's thin frame. "I'll say this for you Egyptians, your thread count is amazing. I'll take this one," he said, turning to the vendor, dropping a purse of coins into his open, expectant hand.
Anzu wasn't paying attention, her mind was on something else. "Why hasn't Atemu come to see me again? Our wedding is in three days, and, yet…oh, Yami, I've got to make things right with him before the wedding," Anzu said, as she turned to the Nubian Prince, her face white.
I don't envy lovers, even if I could, I wouldn't want to. But I can't help but wish for what they share, Yami thought, as his mind flashed to the forbidden kiss he shared with Atemu.
Princess Anzu couldn't help but wring her hands as she and Yami continued to wander through the market. An empty room is cold and merciless, but I can't help but I confess: I need some comfort there, she thought, her heart racing.
Who'd have thought that love could be so good as to show me things I never thought I would understand? Yami thought as he shifted the package in his arms. Anzu was so lost in her own thoughts that she was oblivious to what was going on around her.
The Nubian Prince and the Egyptian Princess shook the thoughts from their minds as a familiar face raced by, her arms overflowing with bounty."Yami!"
"Mana, where the hell did you get all of that?!" Yami asked as Mana ran up to him, her arms full of fruit and new bedding.
"The Egyptian Captain! He's giving away everything he owns and he's giving it all to us!" she said as she ran off, excited to share her bounty with the other Nubian slaves.
Yami turned to look at Anzu, and she turned to look at Yami, both of them shocked at what they had just been told.
Who'd have guessed he'd throw his world away, just to be with someone till his dying day, Yami thought, as his mind flashed to forbidden thoughts of Atemu.
The pair approached the edge of the marketplace, and watched from a distance as Atemu handed the last of his belongings to a elderly Nubian slave, before retreating into an empty courtyard.
"Look at that, Yami! He's preparing to move into the palace at last! So whatever doubts he had the other night must finally be gone!" Anzu said, her voice shrill with excitement as she turned to leave. "Stay, Yami. I want you to apologize for me."
"No, I-I can't. I'm sorry, Princess," Yami said, his heart racing.
"But, Yami, yes you can! You always say the right things! I never do," Anzu said, sighing.
"Please, Princess Anzu, don't make me stay," Yami pleaded, his heart racing.
"I'd never make you do anything. But I'm asking you, this once time…as my friend," she said as she gently took the package out of Yami's arms and turned to leave.
Silently, Yami watched as Anzu walked towards the palace, escorted there by three caddy noble daughters. His heart seized in his chest, as he felt a presence approach him from behind.
"Thank you," he said softly as he slowly turned around to face the young captain.
"It was no big deal… Actually, it was a huge deal, but that doesn't matter anymore," he said as he set a ragged blanket on the ground.
"Captain, I came to tell you that the princess is sorry for what happened the other night. And she wants you to know th-" Yami started.
"Yami," Atemu said softly.
"You're engaged to my mistress! What the hell else do you want me to do?" Yami said, his voice echoing around the empty courtyard before he turned to walk away.
"It was arranged by my father, Yami! And it will be unarranged by me!" Atemu said, gripping Yami's arm as he turned to walk away.
"You could easily raid another kingdom tomorrow and rebuild your fortune! Atemu, you're a fucking Egyptian! Nothing will ever change that fact! I don't even know why you're bothering to do this!" Yami said, as he turned to walk away from him, shaking his head.
"Don't you?" Atemu asked as he grabbed his arm, stopping him from going any further.
"Yami, we all lead such elaborate lives. How an affair of the heart can survive days apart and hurried moments spent peeking around corners and forbidden glances. It seems quite unbelievable to me, But I know for a fact that don't want to live like that. All I know, is that I just want our time to be slower and gentler, wiser...free," Atemu said softly, his heart racing in his chest.
Slowly, Yami turned to face Atemu, reaching out slowly to caress his face, unable to suppress the forbidden feelings for the young Egyptian captain any longer.
"We all lead such elaborate lives. It's funny, sometimes we don't know whose words are true: strangers, lovers, husbands, wives. It's even harder to know who's loving who," Atemu whispered as he took a small step forward, closing the gap between the two men.
Too many choices tear us apart, I don't want to live like that anymore, Yami thought, his mind racing.
"Too many choices tear us apart, I don't want to love like that anymore. I just want to touch your heart, Yami and may this confession be the start," Atemu said softly, grinning.
Atemu bent down to kiss Yami and take the Nubian Prince into his arms. Yami wrapped his arms around Atemu's neck as they stood in the empty courtyard in an passionate embrace.
Atemu gently broke the kiss, and set Yami down, wrapping his strong arms around the Nubian Prince. Yami shivered as a cool breeze filtered through the courtyard.
"Are you cold?" Atemu asked as he bent to retrieve the blanket from the dusty courtyard floor.
"A little. You know, you could have kept a blanket or two for yourself," Yami said as Atemu wrapped the blanket around him before taking the Nubian Prince in his arms once more.
"Ah, alas, habibi, no, I couldn't. Man enters this life without possessions. I want to be a new man for you, Yami. Completely reborn. Cleansed of my past offences," he said as he rested his chin on Yami's shoulder.
Atemu looked up sharply, as a familiar noise caught his ear. "What? What is it?" Yami asked, as Atemu poked his head out of the courtyard.
"It's the horns. My army has returned from another expedition, and Pharaoh will be expecting me at the victory celebration. Go back to the palace, you'll be safe there," Atemu said as he ran out of the courtyard. "Wait, a sec. Take this, if anyone stops you, show this to them, and they'll let you pass."
Atemu was almost out of earshot when Yami whispered, "I love you." He covered his mouth as his face flushed a furious shade of crimson as Atemu whirled around.
"I heard that," he said smugly, as he whirled around to face Yami. "Say it again, I command you!"
He tried prying Yami's hand from his mouth, but all it did was made the forbidden lovers laugh, which drew some unwanted attention.
Egyptian soldiers were marching past the empty courtyard, as the sound of laughter caught General Malik's attention. "Captain!" he said, saluting as he approached the two men. Atemu stepped forward, blocking Yami from the soldier's glances.
"I heard the horns. What's the news?" Atemu asked as Malik joined the men in the courtyard.
"We captured the Nubian King," Malik said as Yami's face turned white.
"The King? You captured the Nubian King alive?" Atemu said, his heart racing. "How the hell did you accomplish that?"
"Yes we did. It wasn't easy, but we captured him. We are taking him to the prison for now," Malik said, smiling smugly.
"Find out who it was that captured him, and see to it that he receives the highest honors. Tell Mahado and the men I'm on my way," Atemu said, dismissing the men before turning to face Yami, who had taken a step back, his face white.
"Yami, our kingdoms are at war. I can't change that, but I can ensure that you are safe," Atemu said softly when he saw the horrified look on Yami's face.
"Go back to the palace, you'll be safe there," Atemu said, kissing Yami before he took off after his men.
"But he's my…my King," Yami said softly, his eyes burning with tears as his heart raced.
Translations
Habibi-my love (Arabic)
We are drawing closer to the end of Act I...what do the stars in have for our lovers? Stay tuned to find out.
I know, there was a fair bit of language in this chapter, it was appropriate for the moment, hence why the story is rated T. As always, I don't own Yugioh or its characters. nor do I own Aida, its music or its characters. Read & review, let me know what you think...