Disclaimer:
 I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!... So I am obviously just a fan who wholeheartedly loves the amazing original show and writes fanfictions (such as this...duh!...and all my other stories that have the said disclaimers on them), for fun, gaining no monetary profit whatsoever...

*Hey. I am really sorry that I no longer update as fast as I used to... But I'm making up for it. I think...

Hehe. Anywho, this chappie is rather longer than the usual ones I put up. A lot of things happen in this one. Let me know what ya think of it. I need reviews to help me quicken my pace, by the way. Hope that encourages ya'll to leave a message.

A Touch of Difference

A straight path of pozzolan was exposed to the lush palace gardens. Railings carved to mimic reaching vines blocked the exquisite green from reaching out to touch those who were tracing its white path. Above was the ever bright sun that was almost at its peak, letting loose its distinctive heat that had become so harsh since the past few days. Its rays gave the usually lush gardens a slight brown in places where the heat was dizzying. Wind accompanied by the heat of early afternoon passed by, giving a slight cooling comfort against the ever harsh rays of the sun. As it went and went on its journey, it brushed passed a young lady who was walking on the beautiful white path amidst the herbs.

The young lady closed her eyes and turned away from the sudden blow. Her hands had moved to restrain her dress as the wind rushed against her elegant form. The rustling of leaves had danced around her ears, creating a sound similar to that of a rushing river.

Then it stopped...

When the passing wind had died, she opened her eyes and regained her elegant poise, blinking at the slight surprise that was caused.

She looked back, eyes widening when she saw that she was almost at the end of the path. It seemed like only a few seconds had passed when she had told her mother and her guards that she wanted to head for the gardens alone. She could not remember how she got to the other end so fast.

But one thing was for sure. The moment she had entered the wonderful garden, thoughts have dominated the rest of her senses. Thoughts that were so confusing. Thoughts that were making her eyes blur from tears. Thoughts that were adding an extra weight to her already heavy heart. And it was all focused on - She shook her head. She could not accept it. It was far too difficult for her to accept. But it still kept going. It still held onto the rest of her senses.

Why were her thoughts so focused on that Pharaoh?

She did not know.

She pitied him. Yes, that was true. She found that of all the kings her father had enslaved, the Pharaoh was the one tortured the most. And a week has not even passed since his arrival to this land. But something else accompanied the pity she had for him. And that something was very new to her. So new that her body had reacted as though she had just paused from a fast run.

Placing a hand near her heart, she closed her eyes once more. The pounding against her chest was so fast and strong. It was getting difficult for her to breathe. Plus, the heat of the day was making her nauseous. Finding her legs suddenly wobbly and unable to support her weight, she would have fallen to the white concrete were it not for the hands that had held her shoulders, steadying her in the process.

"Princess?" Came a concerned voice just before her.

A blurry figure was right in front of her, gazing at her with chestnut eyes. She blinked her eyes many times, driving the blur away. As her vision cleared, she finally identified the one who broke her fall.

"Honda?" She asked quietly as she stood straight, locking her azure orbs into those deep chestnut. "Why are you here? What is the matter?" She did quite a good job in hiding the confusing pain away from the man's attention.

Said guard gently released the Princess when he was sure that her feet have regained the ability to support her. "I saw you about to swoon, My lady." He answered while pointing to the corner of the garden. "My superior has stationed me over that corner. So I was able to witness and come in time to your aid" He bowed. "I am sorry if I disturbed your time of peace."

The Princess shook her head gently. A small smile was on her lips. At least it was Honda. She relaxed, the pain temporarily alleviated. Being with Honda often made her feel like that. But his presence was not stopping the pain that was slowly expanding from its hiding place. "You are still such a formal man, Honda. Please. There is no need to be so formal with me." She giggled elegantly. "After all, we were playmates and we grew up together."

Honda smiled. He relaxed the many years of proper posture he was taught as a guard. "My Lady, I could never deserve the honor of being your playmate. I was only allowed to be near you so that your protection and safety was instilled in me as early as possible."

The Princess sighed. "That's true." She paused. The weight she had buried within her was threatening to explode. She was desperate to pour her heart out. To find answers. To release all this pressure that was welling within her. She pulled her eyes away from Honda's and focused on the ground. Her elegant hand clutched her aching chest.

Upon noticing the sudden change in the Princess' demeanor, Honda had tensed. He reached out, pausing when his hand was hovering mere inches from her shoulder. "Princess?" He asked, concern overwhelming his usual formal tone.

The Princess looked up, eyes glistening like shattered crystals. "Please." She stated, her tender voice slowly cracking. Before her bodyguard could even notice it, she continued. "Just call me Teana." With that she turned away and followed the path, disappearing through the beautiful arch, and leaving a stunned guard in her wake.

No matter how bright and powerful the daylight had gotten, it still did not penetrate the darkness of the underground dungeons. The eerie torches. The only things that gave light to the dark and damp place were still struggling against the immense darkness that thrived within the frightening place.

In the largest and most horrifying of chambers that were full of strange devices built to inflict pain, five men were gathered round a bare and limp former king who hung by chains.

One of the men grinned as he continued poking the prisoner's sensitive areas with red hot iron, laughing when an exhausted scream mixed with the hot sizzle of flesh against glowing fire was captured by his ears. "Worthless waste." He muttered as he pulled the rod away, adding another mar to the poor boy's body. "You must be one of the weakest of Pharaohs."

The Pharaoh sighed as he continued to lower his head, hiding his humiliation. So much had been taken away. So much. His home, his life, his kingdom, his freedom, his dignity, his pride. Everything. Almost everything was taken. But at least there was one thing not being ripped from him. And that was his name – Atem.

Atem moaned when he felt someone forcing his face up and prying his eyes open. He tried to hold back, but it only earned him a painful backhand.

"Disobedient piece of trash." growled the Emperor, his hand throbbing from the impact. He leaned down and grabbed Atem's face, infuriated eyes threatening to burn through terrified purple amethyst orbs. "You should have learned by now." He shook the Pharaoh's head, ignoring the frightened yelp that resulted from his move. "You should know your place. You should know that you are no longer a king. You should know that you are a waste of space. You should know that you belong TO ME" He snarled, closing in on the Pharaoh, until he was mere inches from the latter's face "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" He roared.

Atem closed his eyes, keeping his mouth closed as the Emperor's spit splattered on his face. He stayed still and silent. Slight shivers emitted from him as he fought the urge to struggle. Invading hands had grasped his shoulders, head, and every part of him that he could move. He was forced by both inner and outer forces to stay in that shuddering but petrified state. He prayed that his act was enough to let the Emperor know his unsaid answer.

Unfortunately, that was not what the Emperor wanted.

"ANSWER ME" The Emperor roared as he shook the Pharaoh's face once more, his own hand shaking with the urge to dislocate the vulnerable jaw. "ANSWER ME OR I WILL HAVE YOU CHAINED AT THE PALACE GATES."

"Yes..." Atem moaned fearfully, keeping his eyes closed. He felt so ashamed. But he had no choice. Obeying the Emperor was probably the only way for relief to come.

"Yes who?" The Emperor growled threateningly, tightening his grip on the Pharaoh's lower jaw.

"Yes..." Atem whispered. He swallowed. He was so afraid now. He did not know what to do. His heart was pounding fast and strong. His breathing became short and held back. His head was being overpopulated by frantic thoughts. He was becoming desperate for alleviation.

Fear began drowning his hope, taking over his mind and his usually wizened senses. All childlike emotions that he had put aside for the sake of his people began to bubble out like boiling water. He wanted to cry. To curl up into a ball and be left alone with no more pain. However, his tattered pride all but allowed him to have such an outburst.

But before he could even think rationally, a painful nudge on his head had forced out his next word. "Master..."

Oh how he wanted to die...

The Emperor smirked as he let go of the Pharaoh's face and moved to give the latter a pat on the head, enjoying the frightened shudders he could easily feel. "That is more like it..." He sneered as he pulled himself back, relishing the sight of the cowering child before him.

The chuckling and jeering of his guards entered his senses. He cleared his throat, immediately silencing all sounds emitted by his followers. Settling his cold eyes on the traumatized former king, he spoke. "That seems to be a big step for you." He reached out to the frightened king who moaned and looked away out of fright. "Despite it taking so long, you still managed to learn how to follow my orders..." He stroked Atem's bruised cheek. "For that, this interrogation will be cut short."

Dartz, who was standing by the corner, frowned slightly. But he shook it off. Perhaps that would lengthen the Pharaoh's anguish in many ways he would soon discover. Seeing the look the Emperor was giving him, his smirk returned. He approached his king while burying his hand deep in his cloak. After a second's fumbling, out emerged an elegant vial filled with bright green liquid.

The Emperor chuckled as he took the vial from his vizier. He then turned to face his slave, raising the bottle for the former king to see. "Once this liquid slides down your throat, you can have your peace in your cell...for the time being." He leaned forward, reaching out to the poor restrained king.

Atem tried to pull himself away, desperately keeping his lips sealed and far from the vial that was following his every move. He could feel the grumblings and the building of force around him. It was not long when those same hands grabbed his head and pulled, forcing him steady. Something cold was on the tip of his lips, pressing hard as if intending to bruise. He ground his teeth together and shook his head, hoping that his actions would spill the contents in places other than his mouth.

It was then something hard made forceful contact with his side, making him open his mouth in a scream. Before he could even realize what he had done, he felt the long and thin neck of the vial pushed passed his lips. He could only moan and close his eyes when he felt the green liquid slithering down his throat unhindered.

The Emperor smirked as he pulled the now empty vial out, ignoring the chocked out sputters his captive made as a result of his harsh act. He turned to his guards. "Take him to his cell." With that he swept out of the chamber, his vizier close behind him.

Atem allowed himself to fall limp as the guards freed his wrists and ankles. He flopped down, not even fighting back when one of the guards grabbed him by the arm and pulled him from the rack, sending him crashing to the floor. He moaned and whimpered when those same hands harshly pulled him up and dragged him out of the room. He kept his eyes closed all the way, not even daring to take a small peek at what he knew would be the familiar corridor of nightmare.

At the corner of the corridor, light entered from above, bathing the staircase beneath it in blinding white. However, two distinct silhouettes tainted the ivory wall of light.

"I would like to know." The Emperor asked as he watched the Pharaoh and his guards vanishing into the darkness still dominant in the dungeons. Turning to face Dartz, he continued. "What kind of pain will that concoction of yours cause for the Pharaoh?"

Dartz smirked as he focused his eyes on the Emperor. "The worst kind." He stated, eyes narrowing as he focused on the dark path where the Pharaoh was last seen.

The sound of rusty doors forced opened echoed throughout the dank place. Light seeped in the room that lay beyond the said doors, slightly blocked by three figures.

Atem yelped as he crashed inside, landing hard on his freshly wounded chest. He whimpered as he felt a merciless nudge on his back before the sound of a slamming door followed, leaving him in darkness that was only being stood up to by a lone torch and a small barred window.

Without him being fully aware of it, he curled up, ignoring the close sounds of squeaking rats. He began crying. Crying like a lost child. The pain was just far too unbearable. It was probably worse than Duat itself.

Believing that there was no use in preserving anymore pride. Believing that hoping against all this was just too painful and useless, he allowed himself to succumb to his grief. Why was he put through this? Had he done anything wrong to deserve such a fate? Why must he suffer so much? He cried and cried, ignoring his searing eyes. He did not care about his pharaonic pride anymore. Why bother? He was no longer Pharaoh. His kingdom was reduced to rubble and his people enslaved. There was no point in trying to appear unafraid. Denying what has happened was a great big waste. He had no choice but to accept it. It was already happening to him and all around him. Why exhaust himself when his efforts would probably fail? He could no longer fight. He could no longer lead. He could no longer...believe in himself.

He had lost...

And now he was suffering for it...

"Look how the mighty has shattered." Came a voice from behind him.

He did not even bother opening his eyes. He only allowed his tears to fall. He did not even move or flinch at the sound of the grueling voice. He did not even react whatsoever when a pair of red eyes appeared, followed by wispy tentacles that encircled his laid down body.

Zorc finally materialized in his true form, though a hundred times smaller. Red eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the sobbing heap before him. It was finally done. The Pharaoh had finally shattered into a million pieces. That would usually bring him joy. But still he could not help feeling a little bit...let down.

"I am disappointed. I expected you to last longer." He frowned when he got no response. Then again, his toy did suffer and endure what most humans had already died from. The frown was soon eased by a smirk. He still craved for more suffering for his toy. "Oh...you should consider saving some of your tears. Your suffering has not even reached its peak."

Atem simply moaned and curled up into himself even tighter.

It was then a sharp pain – so unlike the ones he felt before – burst through him like a raging tsunami, as though his insides were being shredded by a tide of white hot knives. He surged up and screamed in such an agonized and spine tingling high pitch that even had Zorc taken by surprise. He began thrashing and flailing as the pain burned its way all over his body. He stood up, hands on the sides of his head as he staggered towards the corner only to slump down the floor helplessly.

So much pain. So unbearable. He kept his eyes tightly sealed as everything around him seemed to be spinning. But the back of his eyelids provided no comfort. He could still see nauseating swirls of light that added to the unmeasurable pain that was pounding every part of him.

He was so focused on the pain – the dizzying, burning, sharp pain – that was rushing inside of him. He struggled and struggled, even though his body was tired. At the back of his mind - the small part that remained slightly unaffected by the strange pain – he heard a door creak open. But it was not enough to stop him from his frantic struggles. Then he felt hands take hold of his struggling form. Hands that were strangely comforting. However, he still did not stop. He continued to thrash like a trapped animal. Cries, screams, and pleas continued to fly out of his parched throat. He could hear muffled hushes and feel numb caresses all over him. Was this a trick? He most certainly thought so. He continued to lash out, fighting against the gentle forces that were attempting to give him comfort. It was when two hands had cupped his face when he finally stopped, taking in harsh breaths after his struggle. The moment his frantic actions had ceased, everything was slowly becoming clearer.

He could feel someone near him. And this someone did not radiate intimidation. He could hear vague words that seemed to echo in his mind, repeating and repeating in many gentle tones. A soothing rub of a thumb against his bruised cheek made him hold his breath. He could really feel it. The gentleness, the soft and caring movements accompanied by soothing words that had finally became understandable. It felt so real. It had to be real.

Would he dare allow himself to hope?

Slowly, he opened his eyes, frowning a bit at the bleary and hazy vision presented. But he dared not close them. In fact, he widened his line of sight, trying to rid the blur that was covering the looming face before him.