Please check out the beautiful fanart of injured Yugi done by sobafanaticofDOOM (aka – chirp chirp). It's absolutely amazing and the detail is even better than I imagined! I especially like the robe! .com/art/Injured-Angel-125984976
Chapter 14 (U2 – Beautiful Day)
Atemu felt the warm Egyptian sun across his shoulders and opened his eyes. He let his gaze wander lazily around the room until it fell on the small figure next to him. He smiled softly and brushed a lock of hair from Yugi's face. Yugi didn't even stir. Atemu stood and began to dress.
***
Fifteen minutes later Atemu was in the guard's quarters, standing outside Captain Joseph's chambers. After knocking and getting no response, Atemu pushed at the door and stepped inside. It was still early and the palace was quiet and at rest, but Captain Joseph was usually one of the first up. Atemu was therefore very surprised to see him still sound asleep, sprawled out over the bed and drooling slightly. He grinned and walked over to the bed.
"Joseph, it's time to get up."
No response.
Trying to hold back his laughter, Atemu tried again. "Joseph, we need to go see General Taylor's guards. It's time to get up."
Joseph shifted and rolled over, facing the wall. Atemu had to clap a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing.
"Joseph." He reached out and shook Joseph's shoulder. "Wake up."
Joseph quickly swatted the hand away.
That did it. Atemu fell to his knees on the floor, shaking with raucous laughter. Joseph shot up in bed, hand going to a knife under the mattress. His eyes fell on the pharaoh and widened in horror.
"Ph-ph-pharaoh! I-I didn't realize-" He seemed to notice that he was still holding the knife and dropped it. "I'm so sor-"
"Are-are you always this-" Atemu was gasping for breath and pulling himself to his feet, "this hard to wake up?" His eyes were sparkling with amusement.
"I-"
Just then the door opened and an errand boy stepped in, carrying a trumpet made of ram's horn. Atemu collapsed into laughter again as Joseph blushed and dismissed the frightened boy, smiling kindly to reassure him.
"A thousand apologies, my pharaoh." Joseph lowered himself to his knees and then tried to bring his forehead to the floor in an effort to properly bow to his pharaoh. This was not an easy task as Atemu was currently on the floor himself and wiping tears of mirth from his eyes.
Atemu stopped him from bowing. "You have no idea how much I needed that after last night." Atemu gave a last laugh and shook his head. "Come on," he said, drawing them both to their feet, "I'll wait outside while you get ready."
***
"My pharaoh, this is General Taylor."
Taylor immediately dropped to one knee and bowed his head, one hand balancing on the floor. "Pharaoh." he said.
"Rise, General Taylor." commanded Atemu, looking up and down in calm appraisal.
Taylor was taller than Atemu, though not quite as tall as Joseph. He was very muscular, with brown hair kept out of his eyes and a large sword at his waist, but he had a calm, balanced look and gentle eyes. Atemu approved almost instantly.
"Joseph has selected you to be the new guard of my concubines."
Taylor nodded. "I am very grateful, my pharaoh."
Atemu smiled. "I hope you like the position, then. Do you wish to change anything from Kontar's regime?"
Taylor's eyes lit up and he began speaking more rapidly. "I would like to release the restrictions placed upon the women's ability to leave the palace, with the pharaoh's permission. The curfews in place are also much too strict. Kontar has treated these women as if they were children and would get into trouble if left alone. They are grown and capable of making their own decisions. I would also like to-"
"Permission granted." Atemu cut Taylor short. "I give you my permission to do whatever you deem necessary. The things you have already mentioned to me I won't just allow you to do, but order you to do. Do you approve?"
Taylor dropped down to one knee again. "Thank you, my pharaoh."
Atemu bowed his head. "Rise, general. There is one more matter I would like to speak to you about."
"Yes, my pharaoh?"
"I would like to identify the person responsible for harming Yugi, the young concubine I ordered to my chambers last night. Has Joseph told you what happened?"
"Yes."
"Can you find the person responsible and bring him to my chambers?"
Taylor thought for a moment. "I believe so, my pharaoh. Would you give your permission for me to question some of the concubines? They may know who the guard was."
Atemu frowned. "Yes, but do not harm them in your questioning."
Taylor's eyes widened. "Never, my pharaoh!" he said.
"Then you have my permission, and my confidence that you will find the person responsible. The former guards are under lock and key by the palace walls. As soon as your investigation is complete they will be relieved of their duties."
***
"It's far too bright." Yugi thought. "Why is it so bright?" He slowly opened his eyes to find himself resting on the softest bed in all of Egypt.
"The pharaoh's bed! How did I get here! Oh Ra, I have to get out of here!" Yugi tried to sit up.
"Easy, easy," came a deep soothing voice. A hand pushed him back down onto the covers. "You're in no shape to be moving around.
Yugi turned his head to see the High Priest Seto sitting by the bed. His heart clenched in fear as he remembered the priest's sharp eyes as he looked out over the gardens, searching for intruders. He froze.
"Relax, little one. Your safe now," the high priest spoke. "The pharaoh is down in the concubine's quarters with Captain Joseph, and I have been charged with seeing to your health while he is away."
'Well, it's not a complete lie,' thought Seto. 'Atemu did tell me to make that potion for him. But if Atemu catches me here before lunch I'm going to be in so much trouble.'
"How are you feeling this morning?" Seto asked.
Yugi relaxed for a minute. "Better, but my head still hurts and I'm sore all over. My skin feels stiff, for some reason."
"That's to be expected after all you went through. Can you drink this?" Seto asked.
Yugi sat up on the pillows, trying not to move his head any more than necessary. Seto helped him tip the potion down his throat. Yugi grimaced.
"That is not normal medicine."
Seto smiled. "Of course not. I'm a priest, not a doctor. It's a potion that Atemu ordered me to prepare for you. The pain and scaring should be gone within three days."
Yugi was stunned. 'The pharaoh has ordered his high priest to take care of me? He had a potion created for me?'
"Now lay back down, little one." Seto said. "You'll feel better soon."
Yugi settled back down and felt the potion begin its work. Already his vision had cleared and his head ceased it's throbbing. He smiled and closed his eyes again.
Seto smiled. "Yes, the potion may make you just a bit sleepy. Rest, little one, you'll feel better soon."
"SETO, I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO GO TO SLEEP!!!!"
Note: Hi all! I need your input. I hate to give away the plot, but it could go either way, so I'm asking for a vote: What should happen to Mudada? Should Atemu fire him and have him beheaded? Whipped and tortured? Or should Yugi intervene as the little angel and save Mudada's skin, letting him off with a lighter punishment? Tell me what you think!