"And we win again", Layla said and lay out the cards in her hand.
Yugi gave her a high-five, placed his own cards on the table and grabbed a reed pen next to a piece of parchment. He drew the seventh line under 'Layla+Yugi'. 'Atem+Rashad' had only two.
"Atem, wake up already! Your boyfriend and my wife are wiping the floor with us!", Rashad said on one of the chairs across from Yugi and Layla and dropped his cards.
Rashad gave his friend next to him a nudge but Atem only gave a "Hmm" and threw his cards to the middle of the table. He emptied his cup of orange juice and refilled it with a jug on the table. His and Yugi's eyes met but Yugi looked down at his parchment and scribbled a few hieroglyphs on it. Layla gathered all the cards from the table and shuffled them.
Rashad was petting Taia who had placed her head on his thighs. The sunshade made of wood and straw was slightly swaying in the constant breeze. From the balcony Yugi saw the rest of the palace grounds, the grand stone gate, a road and Karnak in some distance.
Since Yugi and Layla's nightly visit there three days had passed. His and Atem's fight still wasn't settled. Layla had listened patiently to the story but she hadn't known a solution either.
"I get both your opinions. I wouldn't know what to do either. I'm sorry", she had said.
The rustling of the cards, a few birds and the wind were the only sounds. The bunch of gerberas in the middle of the table lost a few petals. None of them said a word. Even Taia looked at them alternately as if she was wondering why the atmosphere was so awkward.
"Okay, would somebody please tell me what's going on?", Rashad said and broke the silence. "Even I notice that something is wrong."
Yugi gulped and glanced at Atem. He leaned back and crossed his arms.
"You tell him. It's none of my business, after all", Atem said.
How could he act that bitterly? All three looked at Yugi. He hugged himself and lowered his eyes.
"I…uhm…the thing is…when we were in Karnak that night…we met those people…and they…", Yugi said and plucked at his sleeve.
He wrapped hie feet around the legs of his chair. When he didn't speak Layla put the stack of cards on the table and placed her palm on his shoulder. Under the table her other hand pointed at herself. Yugi gave a little nod.
"One was a woman, probably a professional gambler. The other was a guy, something like her henchman. They were…well, interested in Yugi and didn't seem to understand the concept of personal boundaries-"
"Stop playing it down, Layla", Atem said. "They molested him and would have raped him too if they had had the chance!"
Rashad's eyes widened. He looked at Yugi.
"What? That must have been terrible. Are you all right?", he said.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It wasn't as dramatic as Atem says", Yugi said.
"Are you sure? I mean, attempted rape…that's a pretty big thing. It shouldn't just be brushed off", Rashad said and scratched Taia behind her ears.
"Exactly!", Atem said and gestured at Yugi. "But he thinks those criminals should do as they please!"
"Why would you think that?", Rashad said and tilted his head.
"I don't think so", Yugi said and his fingers clutched the skirt of his tunic.
The fact that they were both questioning him chocked him. Layla seemed to notice.
"I think the problem lies somewhere else", she said gently.
"Oh right, I am the problem, because the fact that I care is apparently too horrible", Atem said.
Yugi clenched his teeth. Why was Atem being so unfair?
"What does that mean, Yugi?", Rashad asked softly.
Yugi opened his mouth but Atem spoke first.
"If you think I'm the type of guy who reacts to attempted rape with 'Better luck next time' or something I'm terrible sorry to disappoint you!"
Layla sighed.
"Come on, Atem. You're being ridiculous", she said.
"It's my duty as the Pharaoh to protect my people and-"
A laugh escaped from Yugi's throat. It broke the barricade in his head and he looked Atem in the eyes.
"Your people! Don't try to tell me for one second that this is about your people!", he said. "This is about you considering it perfectly normal that you can meddle in my business whenever you want! You always treat me with kid gloves and I'm sick of it! I'm not as weak as you think I am!"
"I don't think you're weak!", Atem said and leaned forward, his forearms on the table.
"Well, you said just that a few days ago, remember?", Yugi said and then mimicked Atem's voice. "You need to be protected! For Ra's sake just look at yourself!"
"What I meant was that you look different from everyone else here and those who stand out are more likely to be targeted! That's why you need to be protected by me and not-"
"Sure, by who else than Mister Overprotective himself?", Yugi said and clenched his fists on this thighs.
"I'm not overprotective!", Atem said.
"Of course you are", Rashad said and took a gulp of orange juice from his cup.
Atem paused, furrowed his brows and slowly turned his head towards Rashad.
"How can you-"
"Oh please, Atem. You always need to pamper those you care about. I know it's your way of showing affection but you really tend to take it too far. You and Myrina wouldn't have had that annoying off and on relationship if you weren't that overprotective. It drove her crazy and you know it. Besides, do I need to mention how you treated her when she was a pup?", Rashad said and pointed at Taia's head on his lap. He cupped her face and made her look up. "Did my little Tai-Tai hurt her tiny paw-paw? Don't worry, baby girl. Daddy is here."
He smothered her in kisses. Taia grimaced, freed herself and placed her snout on Rashad's thighs again. Her brown eyes looked at Atem who tapped the table with his fingertips.
"First of all: I never talked to her like that. Second: Her pawswere really sensitive when she was a puppy. Third: There were dozens of reasons why that between Myrina and me didn't work out. And fourth: What would you do if Layla had been molested? Don't tell me you'd just take it easy!", Atem said.
Rashad straightened the parts of Taia's fur which he had ruffled up with his kisses.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right. I couldn't just sit around. It's not a good feeling in this case either. That kind of stuff can't be tolerated", Rashad said.
A gush of wind blew and ripped a few petals from the gerberas on the table. One of them landed in Taia's eye and she startled. Rashad whispered a "Shh" and gently removed the petal. Yugi took a deep breath.
"You're right, Rashad. It can't be tolerated", he said. "I don't want anyone else to be molested by them…or worse."
"Then why don't you let me take care of this like I suggested?", Atem said.
"You didn't suggest it. You demanded it and you want to hold the trial yourself!", Yugi said.
"It's my right as-", Atem said but Rashad placed a hand on his mouth.
"So let me get this straight. Yugi, you want those people to be punished but you don't want Atem to punish them", Rashad said.
"Well, yes", Yugi said.
"It's simple then, isn't it?", Rashad said. Yugi blinked. "You can to to the guards' headquarters in Karnak and report them there. They'll be called to account but Atem won't meddle in the whole thing. Sounds good?"
It was like these words and the next gust of wind made him feel much lighter.
"Yes…it does. That's the perfect compromise!", Yugi said.
Atem pushed Rashad's hand away from his face.
"Yeah, just peachy. It's going to take forever until they get to our case!", he said.
Yugi raised his brows.
"Our case?", he said.
"I don't think it will take forever, actually", Layla said. "The guards usually work together with the owners of bars and clubs and warn them about who to watch out for. The looks of these two were pretty distinctive and they seemed to be at such places often. They'll be spotted easily and it's only a matter of time until the guards learn where they like to go."
Atem's hand ran through his hair.
"They're just usual guards and those are…they're occupied with other matters", Atem said and his eyes shifted over the floor.
"You shouldn't call your own people incompetent, Atem. Just a tip", Rashad said and poked him with his elbow.
"That's not what I meant! The royal guards are more efficient and reliable because they're under my personal command", he said and turned towards Yugi. "Besides, I don't want you to go to Karnak again. I will not let you-"
"Seriously?! Now you want to forbid me to go out at all?", Yugi snapped and slammed his fists on the table. First Atem's nagging, then his inability to sympathize with Yugi and now he wanted to take his over-protectiveness even further? Enough was enough. "I'm not your child! I'm grown up and I make my own decisions and I decide that I'll go to the guards' headquarters in Karnak, weather you like it or not! If you want to pamper someone, get another pet but I've had enough of your over-protectiveness! End of discussion!"
Atem's eyes had widened in surprise but Yugi didn't blink. Rashad raised his cup, as if for a toast.
"Well said."
He took another gulp of orange juice. Atem gave him a glare, then rose from his chair and placed his palms on the table. His gaze was fixed on Yugi.
"You know what? Yes, I want to know those I care about safe and that's not wrong of me. I have a good grasp on reality. I am not overprotective!", he said, pushed his chair aside and walked inside.
Yugi's throat contracted with guilt as he saw Atem leave.
"Other me…", Yugi said and was about to stand up.
"You don't have to run after him", Rashad said and Yugi stopped. "He can be quite a spoiled brat and he hates to lose. He needs to cool down."
"You stood up for your boundaries. There's nothing wrong with that", Layla said and caressed his arm.
Yugi rubbed his forehead.
"You think?", he croaked and dropped back into his chair.
The guilt of hurting Atem still gave him a feeling of tension in his stomach.
"Yes. Look, it's a nice day. Let's not spoil it", Layla said, grabbed the stack of cards and started dealing them out.
"Don't worry. Atem knows he has a protector complex. He just hates to admit it. Once he got over himself everything will be okay", Rashad said and petted Taia.
Judging from her wide eyes she was confused about what had happened as well.
"How can you tell him all that straight in the face? He always gets so angry", Yugi said and took a sip from his juice.
Swallowing hurt a little and his throat felt sticky afterwards.
"He's not angry, just huffy. Besides, I'd be a bad friend if I lied to him", Rashad said and picked up his cards. "No more teams, that means we reset the scores, right? So I have a chance to win after all."
Yugi travelled to Karnak two days later. He had asked Layla to accompany him but she, Rashad and Atem had to attend another meeting with the merchants' guild. Instead her brothers offered to come with him and Yugi gladly accepted. Navid and Sameer could help him describe Mamba and Rezar and they'd support him, like Jonouchi and Honda would have done it.
At breakfast Yugi could only down a few spoons of yoghurt with berries and some gulps of milk. He had dressed in a beige, sleeveless overall that reached his knees and a cloth belt in blue and gold. Back in his room he added to that some jewellery, sandals, a leather hip pack and a midnight blue cape that covered only one shoulder. He took a deep breath as he checked himself in a mirror and then left his chambers before he could change his mind.
He focussed on the shiny marble floor below his feet and ignored everything else. He had been so occupied with his and Atem's fight that he only now realised how nervous the thought of reporting Mamba and Rezar made him. What if they didn't believe him? What if they said he just should have fought back? What if they thought it didn't count when men were harassed? What if they had more important cases to work on?
"…but I am perfectly concentrated, Shada", a voice said and one moment later Atem, Shada and Amerys appeared from another corridor.
Yugi stopped a few steps away from them.
"Forgive me, my Pharaoh. I just had the impression that you've been a little distracted the last days", Shada said.
"Well, I am n-", Atem said but paused and stopped when he looked up from the scroll in his hands and saw Yugi.
First Shada frowned but then he said:
"I'll go ahead, my Pharaoh."
He bowed and walked away. Amerys pressed his body against Yugi's legs and he petted him. He looked up when Atem cleared his throat.
"Are you going somewhere?", he asked and rolled up the scroll.
"Yeah, to Karnak", Yugi said and rubbed his arm.
"Today already? All by yourself?", Atem said and took a step towards Yugi.
Yugi did the same and clenched his fists.
"No, Sameer and Navid will come with me. But I could go alone if I wanted to, just so you know!", Yugi snapped.
Atem threw back his head and gave a frustrated moan. Amerys gave him a confused look with his big,yellow eyes.
"Yes, yes, you could. I know", he said. "I'm calm, I'm calm. After all, the royal guards will accompany you."
"What should I need them for?", Yugi asked.
Atem's mouth hung open.
"You didn't plan to take them with you?! But the heathens-"
"Isn't the whole subject top secret?", Yugi said.
"Yes, but-"
"So if it's a secret, how can the whole problem be so obvious that people can't go to Karnak in the middle of the day? Or am I the only person who's threatened by them?", Yugi said and crossed his arms.
"No, but you're more likely to be-", Atem said but stopped when he saw how Yugi narrowed his eyes in anger. He took a deep breath and turned the scroll in his hands. If he implied one more time that Yugi was too weak and fragile he'd just rush past Atem. He seemed to know so and chose his next words with care. "Partner…I acknowledge and respect that you are a grown up person who can make his own decisions. I am hereby asking you to take the royal guards with you because it would make me feel a lot better. Please."
Yugi played with the brooch on his cape. He still considered the idea ridiculous but he knew that Atem was trying to change the way he acted. It wasn't the perfect way to handle the subject yet but it was a start.
"Well, only a few", Yugi whispered. "And only because I appreciate that you're requesting it."
Atem sighed in relief.
"Thanks", he said and took Yugi's hand. "And please, partner, come home right after the whole thing. Don't take any-"
Yugi pulled his hand away.
"Don't push your luck. Adding a please to every sentence doesn't solve the problem", Yugi said.
"But it's really necessary that-"
"I'm going now. See you later", Yugi said and walked away from Atem and Amerys.
Yugi's cape was flapping in the wind when he, Sameer and Navid climbed out of the litter. Sameer pulled his chiffon scarf over his nose.
"That sandstorm has to be really close now", he said.
"I hate those", Navid said. "We better get inside. Yugi?"
Yugi gulped as he looked up at the steep stairs that lead to the big stone building that was the guards' headquarters. The tops of the pillars were shaped like the heads of Ra, Obelisk and Osiris and their angry gazes made Yugi take a step back. Navid placed his hand on Yugi's shoulder.
"Hey, don't worry. You're not alone", he said.
"And if anyone dares to say something stupid we'll tell them to shut up", Sameer said with a smile.
Jonouchi and Honda would have said the same. Yugi gave a little laugh.
"Thanks, guys. But please don't interfere unless it's necessary. I want to handle this by myself if I can", he said.
"Sure", both said.
Why couldn't it be that simple with Atem too? Right, Atem. Yugi couldn't go back and face him without having done this. He took a deep breath and then they climbed the stairs.
Two guards before the entrance had their spears crossed. Both were middle-aged; one was bald and the other one had a black beard. An old lady with a stick and a man with a sleeping toddler girl in his arms were waiting in line before them. The guards opened their spears and wanted to let the old lady inside but she swung her stick – almost hitting the man behind her – and cursed about her neighbour who seemed to have stolen her door stop for the fifth time.
While the guards tried to calm her Yugi looked around. People were walking and hurrying through the streets. Another work day was beginning. Many turned their heads, pointed and whispered when they saw the royal guards in their blue uniforms. Four carriers for the litter, ten guards and Karim on a horse had come with them. Their escort was drawing more attention than it would be protective.
Finally the old lady went inside and the man with the little girl spoke next.
"The heathens stole our goat! I know it was them! They've been creeping around our house for days!", he said.
Yugi's heart missed a beat at these words.
"Go to the right and follow the other angry people. We had to establish an extra department for that greedy bunch", the bald one said and spat on the floor.
"Thank you", the man said and when the two guards pulled the spears aside he entered.
Yugi flinched when the guards looked at him next. He forced his stiff legs to take a step forward. They frowned at him. Why? Would they send him away just because of his looks? Was his attempt futile after all? Yugi opened his mouth.
"I…I'd like to report a case of sexual harassment", he said.
The guards' eyes widened.
"Oh…I thought you were inspectors or…well, you wouldn't be using this entrance, then. But since you're from the palace…", the bald one said.
"How do you…", Yugi said but then turned his head around. The royal guards had given it away. He directed his attention back to the guards. "Well, yes, we are from the palace. Would you let us inside, please?"
"Oh, of course! You'll get to speak to the captain at once! Your visit is an honour, my lords!", he the bald guard said and both bowed clumsily.
"Wait, no. I don't have to speak to the captain. Any officer is fine by me", Yugi said and raised his flat hands.
"Did you think of someone in particular?", the bald guard asked.
"N-No, I don't know any, after all", Yugi said.
"My lord, I only wish to ensure that you get the best treatment we can offer", the bald guard said.
"But I don't want the best treatment", Yugi said.
"But only the best is worthy of a noble like you", he said and turned to the guard with the beard. "I'll be right back."
He entered the building and Sameer, Navid and Yugi – sighing and rolling his eyes – followed him. The inside was completely out of stone and the only decoration were a few statues and wall paintings of the Gods and inscriptions about justice and loyalty to the Pharaoh. More than twenty people formed a line that filled an entire corridor. At the end of it stood the man from before with the little girl on his arm. They were all talking, complaining and cursing about the heathens. Another guard passed them. He was holding the arm of a handcuffed woman and gave the bald guard a nod as he walked by.
They walked upstairs where fewer noises were heard. Another floor higher it was almost silent, except for a few muffled voices behind doors and their own steps. The bald guard knocked on a door that had two statues of Ra on each side. A young man with a reed pen behind his ear opened it slightly.
"You wish?", he asked.
"I'm sorry to bother you but we have visitors from the palace", the guard said and pointed behind himself with his thumb.
The man with the pen opened the door completely, his eyes widened.
"The palace? Do come in, my lords", he said and stepped aside with a bow.
Yugi, Navid and Sameer did as they were asked. The man closed the door and hurried towards a curtain over a door frame.
"Have a seat, my lords. I will inform the captain immediately", he said and rushed into the other room.
The three sat down on a couch near the wall. The whole room was filled with scrolls in shelves and a desk scattered with scrolls and small pots stood in the middle. Yugi recognised the smell of paper and ink from the palace library.
"Who'd have thought that we get to talk to someone that quickly? And to the captain, too", Navid said and leaned back.
"Atem would have thought", Yugi said and his fingers clenched his pants.
So he was given preferential treatment after all. Atem's request for Yugi to take the royal guards with him had just been another, more subtle way to achieve his goal and Yugi had fallen for it. How could Atem be that manipulative?!
The captain was a woman with grey hair in a tight bun and wide robes in a gentle beige. She came into the room and bowed as well.
"My lord, you visit honours me. Come into my office, please", she said and gestured towards the room behind the curtain. Her office was another room filled with lots of scrolls in shelves and maps of Karnak hanging on the walls. Yugi could only glance at them but he thought he read something about the heathens scribbled on the maps.
Yugi, Sameer and Navid sat down at a wooden table across from the captain's scribe. He dipped his reed pen into an ink pot and rolled out a blank scroll before him. The captain sat down next to him.
"What can I do for you?", she asked and folded her hands on the table.
Yugi swallowed. His anger for Atem had to wait.
"I'd like to report a case of sexual harassment", Yugi repeated.
The captain tilted her head.
"Something wrong?", Navid asked after a moment of silence.
"Excuse my confusion, my lords. I just assumed that you had a different request. Don't get me wrong. Sexual harassment is a terrible thing and needs to be prosecuted. But isn't that the kind of thing the royal guards would take care of for you? Of course we will do everything in our power but-"
"That doesn't matter", Yugi said. "Can we please start? I'd like to get this over with as quickly as possible."
"Of course", she said. "It's been some time since I filed a report myself but I haven't forgotten a thing."
She dictated her scribe a few formalities and then began asking questions.
When they left the building another gust of wind hit them. Yugi held on to his cape when they descended the stairs.
"Well, that went pretty smoothly, didn't it?", Navid said.
"You didn't even have to go into detail about their looks. They both have previous convictions. Mamba for fraud and Rezar for bodily injury, wasn't it?", Sameer said.
"Yeah", Yugi said and looked at the scroll in his hands.
It was a confirmation of the report he had made, including Mamba and Rezar's unlawful history. He had been relieved that rape hadn't been listed. But then again, this contained only their crimes in Karnak.
"Hey, don't look so gloomy", Navid said and tousled Yugi's hair.
"It's just…uhm, never mind", Yugi said.
He liked the two but he'd rather complain to Layla about his and Atem's relationship problems. But first he'd confront Atem himself. Yugi had only agreed to his suggestion because he thought they were both taking steps towards a compromise. Instead Atem had deceived Yugi's trust for getting his own will. That clingy, spoiled idiot!
When they reached the foot of the stairs two of the carriers held open the curtains of the litter.
"Did all go well, my lord?", Karim asked, the reins of his dark brown horse in one hand.
"Yeah, it was fine", Yugi muttered without looking at him.
"Good. Can we return to the palace, then?", he asked.
"Already? We could take a stroll over the market. What do you say?", Navid said.
"You want to see the town while sober for a change, huh?", Sameer asked and poked his brother with his elbow. Navid gave him a little punch on his arm in return. "Ouch…but I'd like to see the market too. What do you think, Yugi? It'll be fun!"
Yugi didn't feel like having fun at all. He was about to open his mouth but Karim spoke first.
"I'm afraid that is not possible, my lords. The Pharaoh commanded me to bring you back to the palace as soon as your business here is done. Please get into the litter", he said and gestured towards it.
Yugi crumpled the scroll in his hands. Atem had suggested the same to him before he had left. Was this his way of dealing with a No?
"Did he command that now?", he hissed. "Well, the Pharaoh isn't the only one who has a will. Navid, Sameer, let's go."
They went around the litter but two guards blocked their path across the busy street. Karim stepped beside them.
"Come on, that's ridiculous", Navid said. "Besides, Sameer and I don't even have to follow the Pharaoh's command. We're not his subjects."
"And neither am I", Yugi said.
"We just want to see the market. What's the big deal?", Sameer asked.
"The Pharaoh has his reasons, my lords. I'm just following my orders", Karim said calmly.
But Yugi was determined not to obey Atem. He stuffed the scroll inside his hip pack, put his hands on his hips and took a deep breath but before he could speak another gust of wind hit them. It was so strong it smashed flower pots and vases to the ground. The people on the street stopped, clung to the objects they were carrying and looked for shelter, not few of them shrieking. Suddenly a cloud of dust appeared and engulfed the whole street. Yugi raised his cape before his face. Everyone around them coughed and when Yugi glanced over his cape he saw that even the royal guards were covering their faces and trying to pick sand out of their eyes. This was the perfect chance!
With his cape still protecting his face he ran past the guards, over the street and wormed his way through the crowd into an alley. They were thanks to the buildings sheltered from the sand. He lowered his cape, ran left, right straightforward, hoping that the royal guards wouldn't be able to follow the random path. But even if he had known the streets himself he wouldn't have been able to remember his way. He thought about Atem.
That stupid, stupid idiot! How could he be that disrespectful towards Yugi? Was getting his will so much more more important to him than anything else? Did he really think being the Pharaoh meant that in the end Yugi was just one of his subjects who had to follow his command? How couldn't he understand that being treated like a child infuriated Yugi? Was he really that blind for his own flaws?
Yugi ran and ran until the piercing pain in his chest became so strong he had to stop. His breath was going short and he leaned against a stone wall. An empty crate stood right next to him and he kicked it in frustration. Two skinny cats at the end of the alley were eating from a pile of garbage. At the sound they looked up, hissed and and then turned towards their food again.
"He's a jackass!", Yugi said to himself and punched the wall. "He's an overprotective nut job! He's a spoiled brat! If he doesn't stop being like that I swear I will break up with-"
He stopped when he realised what he was about to say.
Did he really want to break up with Atem? No, of course not. Even though he was angry at him Yugi still liked him more than anyone else. He didn't want to lose his smile, his hugs, his kisses and all the other beautiful things. He didn't want to give up on his first relationship just like that. After all, Yugi had travelled through time for Atem, had given up his entire life because it had been so empty without Atem. It couldn't just end like that.
Yugi brushed the sand off his clothes. Atem's decision to command Karim to bring them home right after the report had been immature. But so was running away from the guards. This kind of behaviour didn't bring them anywhere. Atem would only keep treating Yugi like a child if he now also acted like one. In his mind he could almost hear Layla say:
"You should talk to him about this. Atem cares for you so much. In the end he will choose you over his pride, I'm sure."
Hopefully imaginary Layla was right.
"Watch out down there!", someone above him called and he shot aside before a stinky, brown mass hit the floor.
"Eew. That's disgusting", Yugi said to himself, held his nose and hurried away.
The alleys were narrow and Yugi constantly checked above if someone else in the houses would empty their chamber pots. The stench of urine and rotten food still didn't leave his nostrils. Fat flies were buzzing around a puddle of vomit. Yugi decided to ignore his surroundings and walked straightforward.
The street he reached was shady and almost empty. Three middle-aged men were sitting in a corner, laughing about obscene jokes and each holding a cup in their hands. A few boys and girls played at a well and a man leaned against a wall and picked dirt from under his fingernails with a knife. They all had one trait in common: silvery hair that looked shiny in the sun but rather dirty in the shade.
When Yugi entered the street they all looked up and watched him as he passed by. The kids were whispering and the drunk men pointed at him and slurred something that Yugi guessed to be an insult. But what worried him more was the other man who turned the knife in his hand and gave a sinister smile. His nose looked crooked as if it had been broken in a brawl once.
Yugi quickened his pace and his heart began to throb when he heard steps following him. He was about to start running when someone bumped into him. Out of reflex he pushed the person away and raced forward but he stopped when he heard a cry behind him.
"Watch where you go, you silly goose!"
Yugi turned his head and saw how the man with the crooked nose pushed a young woman to the ground. She wore two hair buns that were decorated with small white flowers.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-" she said and grabbed for the linen bag she had dropped. But the man stamped his foot in it before she could reach it. "Give it back! Please, it's mine!"
She pulled the straps but he didn't move.
"Really? Since when do things that lie on the floor belong to anybody?", he said and revealed a gap between his teeth when he smiled at her.
The flower girl tightened her grip around her bag but the man didn't move. His eyes examined her body from head to toe.
"P-Please! I only bought-", she said with her voice shaking but he grabbed her arm and pulled her up.
"Don't care, sweetie. But you're cute. Come with me and you might get it back", he said and caressed her cheek.
Yugi knew that if he ran now he'd get out unharmed. But he couldn't look away from the flower girl. He wanted to help her but what could he do? The man had a knife and the kids or the other men would help him or call for someone who would. They could both get killed!
The flower girl flinched at the man's touch and tried to free herself. The three other men and the kids laughed at her.
"N-No! Please!", she said but no matter how hard she tried to wriggle free from the man he only joined the laughter of the others.
"Come on, sweetie. Show me that not all Egyptian women are bitches", he said, forced her into a hug and pressed his lips against hers.
Yugi's mind flashed back to the moment Rezar had tried to do the same with him. He remembered the paralysing shock, the disgust and before he knew it he was running towards the knife man and the flower girl. Layla and her brothers had been there for him. Now it was his turn to protect someone else.
"Let her go!", Yugi called and threw himself against the man.
The three hit the floor and rolled over each other. Yugi felt a kick in his stomach and heard a scream of pain from the man. When he looked up the man was writhing in pain and his hand had a deep cut. His whole arm and the sand below him turned red and his own blade was lying only a few centimetres away from him. The three middle-aged men shot up and staggered towards them.
"How dare you, you scum?!"
"You think you can treat us like you want, huh?"
"Too bad for you that we stick together!"
More heads with silvery hair poked out of some windows and doors. The kids cheered on the men and called Yugi and the flower girl insulting names. Yugi jumped up and wanted to run through the same path as before but two muscular women with a hatchet and a dagger blocked it. The flower girl grabbed Yugi's wrist.
"This way!", she said and pulled him to the right.
They ran into another alley but right before it took a turn another man with a hammer and a wrinkled face appeared before them. He pushed them back into the street and they almost fell.
"Looks like we got some troublemakers", the man with the hammer said.
He, the other three men, the two women and the knife man – holding his bleeding hand – formed a circle around them, looked at them with disgust and spat on the floor.
"Oh look, it's another one of those Egyptian cunts who think they're too good for us!", the hammer man called.
"We'll teach her better! Everyone can get a ride on her, what do you think?", one of the middle-aged men said and all the others, even the kids, bawled in agreement.
The flower girl clung to Yugi's arm, her whole body trembling and her eyes wide in terror.
"What about the pale one?", the hatchet woman asked.
"Look at his clothes, he must be a noble!"
"That skin looks so freakish!", a little boy called.
"We'll just peel it off and see what's underneath!", the dagger woman called and licked the flat side of her blade.
Yugi began to shake violently. There was no way out. The flower girl sank down to her knees and pulled Yugi with her. His legs were so heavy he couldn't resist. His breath was going so short he might choke to death. He even hoped for it; it would be less painful than what that crowd would do to him with their knives and hammers and hatchets. He screwed up his eyes and covered his head with his trembling arms. Their insults, their threats and their devilish laughter were like hundreds of forks that scratched over plates. He heard them coming closer and it was only a matter of seconds until…
Suddenly men, women and children alike shrieked, screamed in pain and ran. Yugi didn't feel any cuts or blows or worse and so he dared to slightly open his eyes. A few men had surrounded him and the flower girl and turned their spears on their attackers. They disappeared into the alleys, some holding bleeding parts of their bodies as they hurried away. The sand around him and the girl was spotted in red. As Yugi looked up he recognised the blue uniforms of the royal guards.
"My lord, are you hurt?", Karim said and knelt down beside him.
Yugi's tongue and throat were so dry no sound came out of his mouth. He took a shaking breath and swallowed before he tried to speak again.
"N-No, I'm fine", Yugi croaked.
Only now he felt the pain of the flower girl squeezing his arm beside him. Her wide eyes shifted from one guard to another. She was still trembling.
"It's fine. They came to help us", Yugi said but he sounded so stiff that he wouldn't have believed himself.
Karim helped him and the girl up. She was one head taller than Yugi.
"Thank you so much…how did you find us?", Yugi asked but it was like his voice belonged to someone else.
"We followed the noise. I'm so glad we got to you in time. What happened? Why were those heathens attacking you? Not that that bunch needs a reason…", Karim said.
"So they are the heathens…?", Yugi whispered to himself but then focussed on Karim. "I got lost and ended up here. When that one guy molested her" - he pointed at the flower girl holding his arm - "I tried to help but things got out of hand…"
"I see. Let's leave this place, my lord", Karim said.
Yugi couldn't have agreed more. With six guards surrounding them they left the place. Some faces peeked out from windows and whispered but they became fewer the farther they walked. The busy street that also contained the guards' headquarters looked almost like before. Many window curtains and banners were full of sand and people cleaned up the vases and jugs the wind had smashed. But other than that everyone seemed to go on with their daily routine. Yugi saw Sameer, Navid and the rest if their escort in some distance. He looked back at the flower girl still clinging to his arm.
"Karim, I'll be right there. Just give me a moment", he said and guided the girl to a stone pond in a corner. They sat down on the edge of it and Yugi took a deep breath. The flower girl was still as tensed up as before and dug her fingers into his arm. It hurt but Yugi forgot about the pain as he looked into her eyes that were staring at nothing and still wide in terror. "It's over now. They won't hurt you."
She flinched and turned her gaze towards him. She tried to speak but she could only produce a sob. Her wide eyes filled with tears and she let go of Yugi and buried her face in her hands. Yugi patted her back and let her cry. He ignored the people who looked at them as they passed.
"I was so scared", she sobbed. "I really thought they would…"
Yugi swallowed. He looked at the water in the pond. The bottom was covered in a layer of sand.
"Me too", he said.
"I'm so stupid! I shouldn't have gone that way! But it's the shortest way home and I…it's my own fault!", she said.
"It's not your fault. They are to blame", Yugi said but he still sounded too stiff to be comforting her with these words.
She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.
"You hear such stories all the time since the heathens invaded Karnak! People getting mugged and raped and some even…", she said but lost herself in her tears again. "My best friend…she got raped a month ago by a heathen and she…she didn't even dare to report him because he said he'd find and kill her!"
Yugi covered his mouth.
"That's…horrible", was all he could say.
She cried a little longer until her sobs became quieter.
"I'm just so glad you were there! Without you he'd have…", she said and sniffled back her tears. She took his hands and squeezed them. "Thank you so much! I can't repay you in any way but I will pray to the Gods for your well-being for as long as I live! I swear!"
Yugi looked down at their hands.
"Thank you. But you don't have to repay me. I'm glad you're safe now", he said and gulped. "It's just…when I went to Karnak a few months ago none of this would have…"
"Y-You're a noble, aren't you?", she asked, her eyes inspecting his clothes.
"Uhm…kind of", Yugi said.
"My lord!", she said, let go of his hands and went down on her knees before him. Yugi blushed and his body tensed up. She folded her hands as if in prayer. "My lord, I have to right to ask for even more! But please…please tell the Pharaoh about what happened today, what's been happening to us the last months! Ever since the heathens invaded Karnak, our beloved home! The street you saw earlier…it was where most of Karnak's flower shops used to be a few months ago! It was so beautiful and I went there every morning, just because it smelled so wonderful but now…you saw what the heathens turned it into! We love and worship the Pharaoh! Please, tell him that we need him now; we need him to protect us from those heathens! I have no right to say so but…I just don't understand what could be more important than protecting his own people! Please, my lord…tell him that we need him! We need him so much…!"
More tears streamed down her face. How often had the people of Karnak cried like that in the last months?
"I…will tell him, I promise", Yugi said.
Her lips formed a little smile.
"Thank you, my lord, thank you so much for everything", she said.
His words seemed to calm her and some minutes later she had stopped weeping. Yugi suggested to bring her home in the litter but she declined and said that he had done enough for her already. She took his hands, kissed them and whispered again and again that the Gods may bless him for his kindness. When he told her that this wasn't necessary she praised his modesty. She wished him happiness for the rest of his life, bowed and then walked home.
Yugi looked down at his hands.
"I don't deserve any if this. I'm the reason why the other me…", he whispered but then returned to Karim and the guards.
When they reached the litter Navid and Sameer smiled at him.
"There you are. Where did that little sand storm take you?", Navid asked and winked.
Yugi frowned. How could they act like this after all that had happened? Then again, all this had taken maybe fifteen minutes and Sameer and Navid hadn't experienced any of what he had seen.
"We should have seized the opportunity as well. The whole thing is still ridiculous", Sameer said so loud that everyone of their escort could hear him.
Yugi tucked his cape at another breeze. It felt so much cooler than before. His anger for Atem's command to bring them home seemed so unimportant now.
"Guys, let's get back to the palace. Atem had his reasons, I'm sure", Yugi said.
"What?", both said.
"We're too old for this kind if quarrel, don't you think? You'll get to see the market on another day", Yugi said.
They asked him several times why Yugi had changed his mind so suddenly but Yugi refused to tell them. The whole subject concerning the heathens was top secret, after all. But how could it still be?
Yugi asked them a few more times to get back into the litter with him and in the end they agreed. He sat down on one of the cushioned seats and looked one more time at the street and the people there before one of the carriers closed the curtains. His hand ran through his hair. Now he had a promise to keep.
Back at the palace Yugi hurried inside and towards Isis who was carrying a bunch of scrolls in her arms.
"Isis, could you tell me where Atem is?", he asked.
"The Pharaoh? He's taking a walk in the gardens with the Prince, the Princess and some of the merchants. They may still be talking about the treaties, so please-"
Yugi walked away before she could finish the sentence.
In the gardens Yugi spotted Atem on a stone path that was lined with palm trees. A thin woman in bright orange robes walked beside him; Rashad and Layla and about ten other people were behind them. Yugi took the direct route over the grass to be as quick as possible. Atem startled when Yugi grabbed his arm from the side.
"Other me, I need to talk to you", he said.
Atem frowned at him.
"You do realise that you're talking to the Pharaoh? You can't just-", the woman in orange said but Atem raised a hand to silence her.
"He can", Atem said. "Excuse me for a moment."
Yugi pulled Atem into a stone pavilion, so far away so the others couldn't hear them. Its pillars were twined with ivy and from the ceiling hung flowers in pots. Atem opened his mouth but Yugi spoke first.
"Look, I talked to a woman in Karnak and I now know that you weren't exaggerating as much as I had thought. By fighting with you I only added more to all the things you have to worry about. That suggestion you made about me not going out at all, I'm willing to accept it now. You don't have to worry about me any more, I promise! But you have to protect your people. They need you so much, other me", Yugi said and clung to Atem's clothes.
"Calm down, partner. You're shaking", he said and took Yugi's hands.
Yugi looked down and saw that Atem was right. He shook his head.
"That doesn't matter. I just don't want to fight with you any more. You have to do something about those heathens, you just have to. And I want to help you in any way that I can, so whatever you need-"
Atem pulled him into a hug.
"Just breathe", he whispered into his ear. Yugi wrapped his arms around him and only now realised how hard it was to take a deep breath. His body was still in a state of alert, especially now that he was carrying out the wish of the flower girl and probably many other people of Karnak. "What happened, partner?"
Atem's hand caressed Yugi's cheek. Only now he noticed his painfully tensed up back and the goosebumps on his arms.
"A lot", he whispered. He nuzzled up against Atem's chest. His arms around him gave him the stability he needed to calm down from the events of the day. In Atem's arms he was safe and didn't have to fear anything. But he wasn't the only one who needed Atem to shelter him now. "The whole thing about the heathens…it won't be secret for long, right?"
Atem kissed Yugi's hair.
"Right", he whispered.
Yugi had been so mad about Atem trying to protect him that he had forgotten how good it felt to be able to feel so safe around someone. Atem must have known about the violence, the rapes and murders in Karnak all the time, so hadn't it been only natural that he hadn't wanted Yugi to go to the town? With everything going on Yugi knew that it was now his turn to support Atem. But for now…only for now he wanted to enjoy the feeling of safety in Atem's arms. From tomorrow on things would be different, he promised himself.
Next week I'll go to Cologne, so the next chapter will take a while. Therfore this one had some extra length! But once I'm back I will try to release a new chapter every second Friday! The commission for this chapter will come after my vacation as well. Sometimes I also draw the characters' clothes myself. Check my profile for the link. Last but not least, I made a little poll about a possible next story (though this one is far from over!), so if you would give it a click that'd be awesome! Have great time, guys!