Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, or The Pleasure Slave by Gena Showalter.


Anzu bit impatiently into the meat that Duke had given her. It was a part of the meal package that Gina had given to them before they left, although they still had to cook it themselves. It had been two days since she had last seen Atemu, and her patience was growing thinner and thinner. Duke sat across the fire from her, thumbing through his spell book, just like he had been doing for hours the past two days. Anzu could sense something was amiss in the way Duke was treating her now, and she watched him, trying to figure out what it was, even as she ran over her plans for tearing Atemu's new master to shreds. How dare that boy even put his hands on what was hers?

Anzu rose to her feet, discarding the rest of her meal, and began to walk towards the Nile. As they had journeyed, they stayed close to the river for water and bathing purposes, and Anzu was intent on bathing at the moment while she thought. Her actions brought Duke's gaze to her, and he watched her as she stalked down a ways, to where he could see her, but just barely. He turned his attention back to his book then. He knew Anzu was getting very impatient. When she wanted something, she wanted it immediately, so he could not hope to keep stalling her while pretending to look for a spell. But what could he do? Atemu had confessed that night he didn't want her, and even before then, Duke knew this because of his rejection of his princess. It was the whole reason they were in this mess, because Anzu wanted Atemu, but the feelings were not returned.

Duke wished with all his might that Anzu would just give up, but it wasn't to be. Unless he did something, this would only continue. Duke was loyal to his princess, and he loved her, there was no doubt about that, but ever since the other night, he had been questioning what he was doing. He knew it wasn't right to want to condemn Atemu to a lifetime of servitude at Anzu's hands, but Anzu was his princess, and he loved her. Duke sighed. But she would never love him back, would she? All she would ever want was Atemu. Doing all of this would make Anzu happy, but no one else would be happy. Atemu would be miserable, he would be miserable, and that boy... The boy who was with Atemu the other night, he would be miserable too.

Duke had seen the way Atemu had tried to protect him, placing himself in front of the boy when Anzu drew near. Duke had also seen the fear in the monarch's eyes upon seeing Anzu, but yet he had stood her down, and all for that boy with the strange gem-like eyes. It had seemed to Duke as well, by the way they were holding each other when they had arrived, that they were together. If he helped Anzu, he would be responsible for tearing the two of them apart. In that instant, Duke made up his mind. He was not going to help Anzu get Atemu. He was going to leave him and the strange boy to their lives.

Anzu scrubbed her body with the sand lying on the banks of the Nile, hissing as it scratched her tender skin. She hated bathing like a peasant, but it was the only way she could get clean. Damn Duke, she thought, sinking into the waters to rinse herself. If he would just hurry up and help her get Atemu's box, then they could go home and she could have a real bath. Anzu sighed in bliss as the thought of soap bubbles and scented oils. She stepped from the Nile, her body sopping wet, and dressed, hating the way the fabric clung to her wet body and wishing she had something to dry herself with. Already she was freezing cold from being so wet, but the hot sun would dry her soon enough, and then bake her on top of that.

She came back the tent, irritated since the soles of her feet were now covered in sand again, and she noticed that Duke had put his spell book away. His emerald green eyes were focused on nothing, just staring blankly into the fire. She sat down across from him, her head tilting slightly to the side. He made no movement to acknowledge her presence, and Anzu made an annoyed noise. Duke stirred and blinked, his gaze moving over to capture hers.

"Duke, what are you doing? I thought you were looking for a spell?" Anzu asked, her azure eyes hardening. Duke shifted, looking uneasy, and it sent a feeling of dread through her. What on Earth was he thinking to make him so nervous?

"Ah... Princess... About that..." Duke started slowly. Anzu shot to her feet in an instant, somehow knowing what he was getting ready to say.

"What about it!" It took a great amount of self restraint to keep her cool, and Anzu breathed deeply, trying to calm herself.

"I cannot help you." Duke admitted, looking away from her. For a moment, Anzu just stared at him, her blue eyes wide with shock. What...had he just said? That he could not help her? White hot fury raced through her then.

"Why can you not help me? Were you unable to locate a spell?" Anzu inquired through clenched teeth. Duke sighed and raised his gaze to hers.

"Princess, don't you think this whole thing is in vain? The Pharaoh does not want you, he never did. Didn't you see the way he protected that boy the other night? It's clear he has found someone he cares about, and I would be a fool to help you tear the two of them apart. And what would that gain you in the end? The Pharaoh would still hate you, and everyone would be miserable." Duke explained calmly, well aware of the growing anger inside Anzu's vivid blue eyes. There was storm cloud brewing, and he didn't want to fight with her, but he was finally going to put his foot down.

"You know nothing." Anzu hissed. "That boy will die, and I will reclaim Atemu, with or without your help, my dear bodyguard." The threat in her voice was clear, and it made Duke gulp. She would do what she said, he had no doubt about that. Suddenly another thought struck Duke. What the hell was he doing? They were alone in the desert somewhere in Khemet, a long way away from their own home. Anzu may be his princess, but he was responsible for her, and he was to stop her from doing anything stupid. Duke suddenly surged to his feet, a new fire in his eyes.

"No!" He snapped, and Anzu faltered, taking a step backwards. When she had recovered, her eyes narrowed.

"What...did you just say to me?" She growled.

"I said no." Duke told her, crossing his arms over his chest. "I am tired of this Princess. I am tired of chasing a man for you who doesn't want you. I'm tired of listening to you complain day in and day out. I'm tired of it all!"

"Duke, you will help me! I command you as your princess!" Anzu shrieked.

"And I just got through telling you no. Princess, why not just let him go? He doesn't want you." Duke told her again for the third time. "Why not just move on and be with someone who will love and appreciate you?"

"He will learn to love and appreciate me!" Anzu kept shrieking. "I want Atemu damn you! I want him and no other!"

"Princess, you're not listening to reason! He will never want you! Never!" Duke yelled, raising his voice for the first time to her in all his years of servitude. Anzu closed her mouth, her eyes filling up with tears. Duke's heart wrenched at the sight. Why couldn't he just make her see that this was all fruitless? The Pharaoh would never want her the way she wanted him, so why couldn't she just see that? It was then the answer came to Duke.

Anzu thought she was in love.

Duke recognized her pain in that instant, because it was a pain he experienced everyday. He knew what it was like to love someone to the point of doing anything for them, even if it meant trying to help them be with someone else, even if that other person didn't want them. Anzu thought she was in love, so she was doing everything in her power to try to express that, but everything she was doing was wrong. She couldn't see how what she had done would never make Atemu love her. Anzu was blinded by her infatuation with the Pharaoh.

"Duke... Please..." Anzu's tone broke Duke's heart. "I... Duke, I love him." He knew. Duke knew this. But he had to make her face reality, and in doing so, he had to make himself see reality. He could never have the beautiful young woman standing in front of him, and it tore his heart to shreds to admit it, but it was the truth. Steeling himself, he stood up to his full height and looked down at her.

"Princess, forgive me. But I cannot and will not help you kidnap a man who does not and will never love you." There, he said it one more time. Anzu sank to her knees and began to sob, loud brokenhearted sounds that almost made Duke turn around and promise her Atemu and the world, if only she would cease to make that awful, heart wrenching noise. He sat down on the other side of the now dying fire and picked up his spell book. Suddenly something rammed into him, and he looked up, startled to see Anzu on top of him, her hands reaching for the spell book.

"Give it to me!" She screamed. "I'll get him back myself, you worthless piece of trash!"

"Princess, stop it!" Duke used one hand to hold her back and the other to keep the book out of her reach. "Stop it now!"

"You haven't the right to order me around! Give me the Ra damned book!" Anzu shrieked, clawing at him in an attempt to get closer to the book. Her nails hurt as they scratched his skin. He bled, and yet he still fought her, trying to reason with her and keep her away from the book.

"Princess! Cease this foolishness at once!" Duke roared, his green eyes burning with rage. He was close to hitting her to subdue her, and he really did not want to have to go to such measures to keep the book out of her hands. Was she really so determined to have the Pharaoh?

"Give it to me or I swear I will have you beheaded for treason when we return home! GIVE IT TO ME YOU BASTARD!" Anzu screamed, swiping at his face with her nails. Duke cried out and dropped the book, both hands going towards his bleeding cheek. Anzu scrambled over him and grabbed the book, then surged to her feet and began to run. Duke moaned in pain, rolling onto his stomach. He looked up to see Anzu running down the Nile, and he hurried to his feet, ignoring the stinging wounds she had inflicted, and raced after her.

"PRINCESS! RETURN MY SPELL BOOK AT ONCE!" Duke roared, knowing he had to catch her. He heard her squeal at the tone of his voice, and he saw her try to pick up speed, but the area was sandy, and she tripped more then once. Duke was gaining on her, and he saw her rifling through the spell book as he approached. Anzu had just begun to say a spell when Duke tackled her, sending them both into the sand. Anzu screamed and fought him, trying to get back to the book which was now a couple feet away due to Duke rolling with her.

"LET ME GO DAMN YOU!" Anzu beat at his chest as he jerked her up, getting to their feet. Duke had had enough by this point, and he smacked Anzu across the face. Silence reigned between them as she stared wide eyed up at him, and he stared wide eyed down at her. Duke felt his heart drop to his stomach. He had just hit the Princess of Nubia, his own charge. It mattered not why he had done it, only that he had, and now surely she would have him executed.

"Princess..." Duke let her go and backed away from her, picking up the discarded book. "I am so sorry..."

"You hit me." Anzu choked out. "Do you really hate me this much?"

"I don't hate you!" Duke protested before he could stop himself. "I...am sorry. I will not ask your forgiveness for my action; it was foolish of me."

"All I wanted was for you to help me get Atemu's box. Why won't you help me?" Anzu pleaded, tears rolling down her cheeks. Duke's heart hardened towards her in an instant, his action almost forgotten. Damn her!

"Princess, we will end your obsession, and we will end it now." Duke's eyes burned as he stared at her. This all had happened because of her foolish desire for the Pharaoh of Khemet, and he would end it himself. He would cave to her demands and take her to see Atemu. It was the least he could do after harming her, but it was all he was willing to do. He would not allow her to take the Pharaoh, merely see his happiness with that boy. Perhaps then she would finally understand. Duke gripped her wrist and flipped the book open, searching for the spell he wanted.

"Duke?" Anzu's voice was tinged with fear, but he ignored her. He began to chant a spell, and the wind whipped around them, blowing sand and dust into their faces. Anzu coughed and sputtered, her hair getting into her mouth as well as sand, but Duke seemed unaffected as he chanted still. A vortex appeared around them, and Anzu leapt forward, wrapping her arms around Duke's waist. "Duke! What are you doing!"

Duke snapped the book closed as the vortex howled, and he held fast to Anzu, not because he wanted to, but because it was the only way to transfer them both. In seconds they were deposited in another area, and Anzu stepped away from Duke to look around her. It was a small place, at least by her standards, and it was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

"Duke, where are we?" She asked.

"Exactly where you wanted to be." Duke replied, his eyes flashing green ice. Anzu continued to look around. There were so many strange things here that she had never seen before, and she didn't know the names of them. It was very tacky to her however, and she saw it looked like a small home. She wrinkled her nose at the thought of anyone living here. It didn't look very comfortable at all.

"How could anyone live in this place?" Anzu inquired.

"Princess, shut up for one second and turn around." Duke told her. Anzu frowned at his harsh tone, but she did as she was told. When she did, her eyes lit up with happiness, and a smile spread across her face.

Across the room from her and Duke, amethyst and crimson eyes both widened with horror.