Yami took a deep breath, on edge since his encounter with Ra. He could barley pay attention at the court function without Seto beside him. Seto and Katsuya were weak from their experience and may even had died if Yami hadn't looked up. Yami was relieve for this, scared for the well-being of his long-time friend. Still, the younger, less experienced priest made him uneasy about his own well-being.

After punishing an adulterous women and a counterfeiter, an interesting criminal came before him. He walked evenly with the guards, not struggling a bit. He fell to his knees properly in front of the pharaoh.

Yami looked confused at the man. "What is his crime?"

A guard handed an ankh-shaped key to Yami. "He was found meandering the market with this around his neck."

Yami took the key and studied it. The Eye of Ra symbolized it as a God Item. The God Key. "Where did you get this?"

"My pharaoh, it has been handed down from my family for generations. You must understand, I meant no disrespect to you."

"When we came across him, he refused to remove it."

"Is this true?" Yami asked.

"I can not remove the Item from my neck myself for it has bonded with my blood. It must be taken off by someone else. That is why I couldn't remove it."

Yami stood up and kneeled before the man. "Raise your head," he spoke softly. Placing the rope around the man's neck, he then asked, "Remove it please."

The man tried several times, but couldn't get it past his chin.

"What is your name?" Yami inquired.

"It is Shadi, my Morning Star."

"Shadi, do you swear by your name this is your family's?"

Shadi nodded mutely.

"And you confirm this in full knowledge of what Horus will do to you in the afterlife?"

Shadi nodded again. "Yes, my pharaoh."

Yami nodded. "You are free to go." He waved his hand to the guards, dismissing them. "Hold all other trails for tomorrow."

~~~

Yami ran his hand through Seto's dark brown hair. "My dear friend...please wake..." he spoke in a soft voice. "I need you now, more than I have ever." He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Seto's lips and left them to raise their energy.

~~~

Yami laid onto his bed, drowsy. Yugi peered up at him from the floor where he ate his supper. "Yami, what bothers you?" he asked in broken Egyptian.

Yami ran his hand lazily through Yugi's hair. "Nothing," he answered, unable to find simple enough words to explain it to him.

Yugi climbed onto the bed next to Yami, snuggling close to him, laying his head on Yami's chest. "Where Katsuya?" he asked earnestly.

Yami closed his eyes and weaved his fingers through Yugi's hair. "He is ill," he answered softly.

Yugi began to play with the bracelets on Yami's wrist. "That bother you?"

Yami shook his head. Yugi still had problems remembering the difference between "on" and "no." He opened his eyes into thin slits and peered at Yugi. He raised his hand up and pulled the bracelet off his wrist. It was a bronze bracelet. He handed the bracelet to Yugi. "I got it from a Celtic trader," he said, bored.

Yugi's eyes lit up at what Yami said. "Celt!" he shouted happily.

Yami murmured. "Yeah, the Celtic. You can have it. Keep it." He lightly folded Yugi's hand around the bracelet to show ownership. "It's yours," he yawned, rolling over onto this side, drifting off to sleep.

~~~

Yami sat with Seto more often, waiting for him to wake. "Please," he would sometimes murmur. Yami's appearance began to fall and court functions were ignored. He tried his best to balance everything, but found himself too weak without his friend. A commotion outside of the room drew him out, however. He came to view with Yugi struggling with several guards. "On! On! I tsum kaeps ot Bakura!"

Yami stood directly before them, arms crossed. "Unhand him immediately! What is going on?!"

"This boy is trying to go to the dungeon."

"'This boy' is my personal slave! You unhand him immediately!" He kneeled before Yugi, level with Yugi's flushed, tear-stained face. "What do you want, Yugi?"

"Bakura!" he said frantically. "Eh si ereht!" he pointed down the stairs.

Yami shook his head. "I don't-I don't understand you, Yugi. Speak, I can't understand you."

"I...go...talk...ot...ot...to! Bakura," he said, struggling on his words.

Yami stared at him, not understanding what he meant. Then he remembered the white-haired boy. "You know Bakura?"

"Bakura!" Yugi shouted. "Go talk to."

Yami thought about it for a minute, then nodded. Standing up, he took Yugi's hand, leading him down the stairs. Yugi ran ahead, pulling Yami along. ~I hope he's not dead...~ Yami thought. He wrinkled his nose up at the smell of blood and pulled out a handkerchief to hold over his nose.

Malik met him at the end of the stairs. "Yes my pharaoh?" bending in slightly for a semi-bow.

"We need to see the white-haired prisoner. Ba...Ba..."

"Bakura!" Yugi insisted.

Malik nodded, bowing again, motioning them to follow. He stopped at a room far down the hall, pulling out a set of keys. "If he's sleeping, just kick him," he said, unlocking the door. He bowed one last time, leaving them alone.

Yugi rushed in. "Bakura!" he stopped short at the sight of him. "Bakura?"

Bakura's long hair had been butchered close to his scalp and was stain brown with his own blood. The remainder of his clothes hung in tatters around him. Scars covered his body in criss-cross patterns and were interrupted every so often with an opened wound. Looking into his face, Yugi gasped. "Bakura!" he said, falling to his knees beside him.

Bakura stirred, blinking his eye at Yugi. "Yugi?" he said softly. "Is it really you, Yugi?" he asked in Yugi's language.

Yugi nodded and sadly ran his hands through the remainder of Bakura's hair. "What happened?" he asked.

Yami leaned against the door frame, having no idea what they were saying to each other.

"I got caught thieving," he smiled weakly. He held up his hand where his thumb and index finger were cut off. "I got this done in Athens and my eye in this palace."

Yugi whirled around to stare at Yami. His eyes narrowed in anger.

Yami blinked and stood up straight, surprised to see that look on Yugi's face.

"Does he hurt you?" Yugi asked, meaning Malik.

Bakura grinned. "Come on, Yugi. You know I've been through worse." He sat up a bit, leaning his back against the wall, wincing slightly as some of the wounds opened up again. "He says he can help me find the items."

Yugi stared at Bakura. "What items?"

"The Egyptian God Items, young one. I will collect them," he said determined.

"Bakura, the danger of that...and where are we going to find the Master?"

Bakura shook his head. "Time, time will answer everything." He held Yugi's wrist in his hand. "I think I made this bracelet," he laughed weakly. "Whatever happened to your parents?"

"They were killed up the river a bit...I wondered here."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Bakura ran his good hand through Yugi's hair. "You look a lot like them." He touched Yugi softly. "Don't worry young one, we will restore the glory of the Celts. I promise."

"Magic can be evil, Bakura. Even Egyptians believe that. The risk is too great."

"We're dying out, Yugi. Others have begun to assimilated themselves into the other cultures. We've lost our identity, our greatness."

Yugi shook his head. "It's not worth it," he whispered.

Bakura smiled at Yugi. "You like being a slave? I know that's what you are to him."

"It doesn't matter, Bakura."

"Bowing before a pharaoh, Yugi? You are our king and shouldn't have to bow to anyone."

Yugi shrugged. "He treats me well," he spoke softly.

Bakura grabbed Yugi and ripped at the silk shirt. He pointed to the Celtic royalty tattoo on his shoulder. "You are a Celtic King, Yugi. You are NOT a slave. I don't care HOW well he treats you, you are NOT a slave!"

Yami stepped forward. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Yugi placed his hands up. "No, Yami," he begged softly. "He no hurt I."

Yami's eyes narrowed at Bakura. "Watch yourself, prisoner," he warned.

Yugi looked back at Bakura, his eyes stained with tears. "I can't be king," again speaking in his own tongue. "I was never trained...the responsibility is too much."

Bakura took Yugi into his arms. "As your father's faithful servant, I will help you, Yugi. I will die for you." He held Yugi close, Yugi's tears mixing with Bakura's blood.

~~~