Wow! 12 reviews last chapter, and I aim for five... Domo arigatou minna! ^_^ *runs round hugging everyone who doesn't look like they'll hit him for it* And a special thankyou to those of you who supported my assault on the flamer - who, I notice, hasn't bothered to make another appearance.
Well, thanks to everyone who gave me pixie sticks and what-not, and all those who wished me 'get well soon', this chapter's dedicated to all you guys!
*re-reads chapter*
Or maybe not, since you guys are probably gonna hate this one... I'm gonna get hate mail for the affair thing in 'One Last Breath'... and then there's this chapter... I'm gonna go into hiding...
*~*~*~*~*~*
Two nights had passed since Bakura and Malik had first come up with their plan. Two nights of scheming, plotting, spying, planning and discussing.
And now the moment was almost upon them. Having avoided all the guards - the slave quarters weren't heavily protected, after all - they crept along the corridor to Yugi's room. Both boys were almost salivating at the thought of what awaited them and what it meant to them. That one measly little slave was going to make them as rich as the Pharaoh himself! All they had to do was slip the ransom note - which currently resided in Bakura's pocket - under the Pharaoh's door, once they had the slave, and then wait for the gold to start pouring in. Bakura allowed himself a small smirk as they advanced through the dim light.
They both came to a sudden stop outside a particular door simultaneously and nodded to eachother. They had both separately spied on the palace, and had both seen Yugi being led to this room - 17th on the left. There was no question of error. Malik reached for the dead-bolt and silently eased it back, allowing Bakura to stealthily open the door and creep in.
Bakura's bellow of rage was only prevented by Malik clamping a hand over his mouth and dragging him out of the room. He somehow guessed they were going to go on a random vengeance spree tonight.
Yugi wasn't there.
*~*~*~*~*~*
A small, spiky-headed shape hurried across the courtyard gleefully. "Won't the Pharaoh be surprised to see me!" the shape chuckled. "I do hope he isn't asleep already, that'd ruin half the fun." The slave mentally paused for thought, still continuing on his path. "On the other hand…"
Yugi began remembering what the other slave had said. She'd been Yami's favourite concubine, until fresh young blood had been brought in. Yugi had been fortunate enough to catch her in a good mood, while she'd been reminiscing, so he hadn't had to press too hard for any information.
"Oh yes," she'd chuckled. "Those were fun days. I remember his sensitive spot always used to be…"
Yugi had raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really?" He'd somehow expected it to be somewhere a little more… intimate.
The slave - Beketaten - had giggled slightly. "Oh yes, I'd always thought it'd be somewhere lower too, but that's the Pharaoh for you."
Yugi had stopped scrubbing plates momentarily to think. "So what else did he like?"
Beketaten gave Yugi a knowing look. "Fancy being a concubine yourself eh? Gotta admit, they usually take girls - young ones at that - for the training, but if you can do the job…"
Yugi blushed slightly at this, and Beketaten took that as an answer. "Well, he likes lots of contact - touching, caressing and so forth. Oh, and he also likes it when grapes are involved." Yugi allowed himself a small smile as he remembered the incident ten days ago.
Yugi had been about to press for more, but Jou had rounded the corner. Yugi had instead given Beketaten a smile and a quick nod in gratitude before returning to the dirty dishes.
Now, armed with this new information, Yugi continued on across the courtyard to Yami's room, his stomach churning with a mixture of anticipation, excitement and fear. He knew he was supposed to be punished if caught, but he thought Yami could just tell the guards to forget about it. Of course, if he went to the wrong room, things could get a lot worse. To Yugi, though, the risk was well worth the potential reward, which was why he was crossing the courtyard now, unaware of his lucky escape from Bakura's clutches.
However, a shout from the guard on watch duty stopped Yugi in his tracks. "Halt thief!"
Yugi turned to face in the general direction the shout had come from. "N-No, I'm not a th-thief, I'm a s-slave!"
"Name?"
"Y-Yugi Mothankh." [1]
"Well, Y-Yugi," came a mocking sneer from behind. "I think you're in deep trouble."
With that, he was forced to his knees, his hands bound behind his back, and he was led away.
*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, a rather riled Hiroto and Jou - whose guards had reportedly failed to capture Bakura and his accomplice AGAIN - dragged Yugi off to see the Pharaoh, where his punishment would be decreed.
This time, Yugi was led past the throne room to a much smaller room, approximately twelve cubits by ten cubits [2], with a large table covered in piles of papyrus at one end. Past the piles, Yugi could just make out the red tips of Yami's hair.
Hiroto stepped forward. "Mighty Pharaoh Yamises!"
The hair wobbled as if Yami were shaking his head in exasperation. "I do this for one week four times a year, and you choose now to disturb me?"
"I apologise, oh mighty Pharaoh, but we have a slave who needs punishing."
Yami sighed and stood up. When he caught sight of Yugi's hair, he felt his heart sink into his stomach. "… what is his crime?"
"He was out of his quarters during hours that he was appointed to remain there. How many lashes, oh mighty Pharaoh?"
Yami suddenly hated his law. The usual punishment was fifty lashes of the whip, but he doubted Yugi could handle that many. He wished he could just let it drop, but…
"… where was he?"
"In the courtyard."
"Did he have any stolen goods on him?"
"No, oh might Pharaoh."
"Is this his first offence?"
"Yes, Pharaoh."
Yugi felt his heart jump. Surely, for all that, he'd be let off?
"… twenty lashes."
All three stared at Yami in amazement.
'What on earth?'
'Only twenty?'
'… he's really punishing me? For loving him and wanting to see him?'
Yami fixed Jou and Hiroto with a steely gaze, as if to confirm the debate was finished, and - against his will - he accidentally let Yugi catch his eye. When Yami saw the hurt, and betrayal, and confusion in Yugi's eyes, he felt his soul rip in half. He didn't want to punish Yugi, but he'd be in more trouble if Yami didn't. "Take him away now," Yami stated, his voice choked, before returning to his makeshift desk.
Hiroto and Jou bowed, and led Yugi back to the prison.
*~*~*~*~*~*
CRACK
Yugi cried out in pain as the whip struck for the twelfth time. He could already feel the blood seeping from his cuts, the burning red wounds that would scar him for life.
CRACK
Even worse, every blow was a reminder that Yami had ordered this. Every time the searing pain ripped through him, he felt his heart tear a little further.
CRACK
How could Yami order this? Didn't he love him? Why hadn't Yami protected him?
CRACK
Each blow felt like a betrayal.
CRACK
Yami's betrayal.
CRACK
Yugi felt his heart wrenching again and again, each crack of the whip tearing him in two, the torturer's laughter burning his soul. Yugi felt tears welling up - not because of the pain, or the humiliation, but because of what Yami had done.
'Why Yami? Why?'
CRACK
'I won't cry… I won't… I won't cry for him…'
CRACK
"Last one now slave. Are you ready?"
Yugi knew this would be the worst. He took a deep breath, swallowed and nodded.
CRACK!
Yugi nearly collapsed under the blow, and he gasped for breath, relieved that it was finally over. He didn't get to rest long, however, as the torturer pulled him roughly to his feet. He called one of the other slaves over. "Madhi! Take this boy to the apothecary!" With that, Yugi was gently led away to have his wounds attended to.
*~*~*~*~*~*
That night Yugi slept on his front, preferring that to lying on the dressing the apothecary had applied. Yugi felt a silent tear roll down over his nose and drip onto the sack he called a bed. Now that he was on his own, he could think properly. Not only that, but he could cry in peace.
"… why?" he whispered to the night. "Why did you punish me? You know I love you, that's why I wanted to see you. I know you've never said you love me, but… I can feel it."
Yugi shuffled slightly, trying to get more comfortable. There was no malice or anger in his voice - only hurt. "You're the Pharaoh… if you'd said to forget it, they'd have had no choice. Why did you make them do that to me? Why?"
Yugi stood and walked across to the tiny window. Kneeling in the moonlight, he assumed a praying position.
"Ma'at… Hathor… I don't know if you're listening right now… but I'm really lost and confused, and I need your guidance. The one I love hurt me today, and I want to understand why. I'm sure he loves me too, so I really don't get it. Please, let me understand why Yami did this deed tonight."
His praying done, Yugi returned to bed and, curled in a ball, he cried himself to sleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*
[1] Pronunciation: 'Mot' is as in 'Motou', and the 'h' is silent. 'Ankh' is pronounced as in the Egyptian symbol.
[2] 18ft x 15ft - and I know cubits are Hebrew, but it's the only measurement I know that was in use in those days!
Ma'at = goddess of law, order, truth and justice.
Hathor = goddess of joy, motherhood and love.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Now, I know what you're thinking... and I'm REALLY SORRY I DID THAT TO YUGI! *sobs and huggle Yugi till he feels better*
Yugi: ^_^
Now, to make it up to you, I have a reeeeeeeally kawaii Yugi\Yami pic on my profile now, so ya's can all go there and grab a copy! ^_^ Oh, by the way, I paid for that support services thing, so now if you put me on author alerts you'll get an email about every update and story I publish, instead of having to check in every however often you do!
And, all going to plan, I have a lime due in chapter 10! ^_^ (Yes, I have got that far ahead planned out) I plan to update every saturday now, but don't hold me to that!
Ok, that's all done, please review and DON'T HURT ME!
Well, thanks to everyone who gave me pixie sticks and what-not, and all those who wished me 'get well soon', this chapter's dedicated to all you guys!
*re-reads chapter*
Or maybe not, since you guys are probably gonna hate this one... I'm gonna get hate mail for the affair thing in 'One Last Breath'... and then there's this chapter... I'm gonna go into hiding...
*~*~*~*~*~*
Two nights had passed since Bakura and Malik had first come up with their plan. Two nights of scheming, plotting, spying, planning and discussing.
And now the moment was almost upon them. Having avoided all the guards - the slave quarters weren't heavily protected, after all - they crept along the corridor to Yugi's room. Both boys were almost salivating at the thought of what awaited them and what it meant to them. That one measly little slave was going to make them as rich as the Pharaoh himself! All they had to do was slip the ransom note - which currently resided in Bakura's pocket - under the Pharaoh's door, once they had the slave, and then wait for the gold to start pouring in. Bakura allowed himself a small smirk as they advanced through the dim light.
They both came to a sudden stop outside a particular door simultaneously and nodded to eachother. They had both separately spied on the palace, and had both seen Yugi being led to this room - 17th on the left. There was no question of error. Malik reached for the dead-bolt and silently eased it back, allowing Bakura to stealthily open the door and creep in.
Bakura's bellow of rage was only prevented by Malik clamping a hand over his mouth and dragging him out of the room. He somehow guessed they were going to go on a random vengeance spree tonight.
Yugi wasn't there.
*~*~*~*~*~*
A small, spiky-headed shape hurried across the courtyard gleefully. "Won't the Pharaoh be surprised to see me!" the shape chuckled. "I do hope he isn't asleep already, that'd ruin half the fun." The slave mentally paused for thought, still continuing on his path. "On the other hand…"
Yugi began remembering what the other slave had said. She'd been Yami's favourite concubine, until fresh young blood had been brought in. Yugi had been fortunate enough to catch her in a good mood, while she'd been reminiscing, so he hadn't had to press too hard for any information.
"Oh yes," she'd chuckled. "Those were fun days. I remember his sensitive spot always used to be…"
Yugi had raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really?" He'd somehow expected it to be somewhere a little more… intimate.
The slave - Beketaten - had giggled slightly. "Oh yes, I'd always thought it'd be somewhere lower too, but that's the Pharaoh for you."
Yugi had stopped scrubbing plates momentarily to think. "So what else did he like?"
Beketaten gave Yugi a knowing look. "Fancy being a concubine yourself eh? Gotta admit, they usually take girls - young ones at that - for the training, but if you can do the job…"
Yugi blushed slightly at this, and Beketaten took that as an answer. "Well, he likes lots of contact - touching, caressing and so forth. Oh, and he also likes it when grapes are involved." Yugi allowed himself a small smile as he remembered the incident ten days ago.
Yugi had been about to press for more, but Jou had rounded the corner. Yugi had instead given Beketaten a smile and a quick nod in gratitude before returning to the dirty dishes.
Now, armed with this new information, Yugi continued on across the courtyard to Yami's room, his stomach churning with a mixture of anticipation, excitement and fear. He knew he was supposed to be punished if caught, but he thought Yami could just tell the guards to forget about it. Of course, if he went to the wrong room, things could get a lot worse. To Yugi, though, the risk was well worth the potential reward, which was why he was crossing the courtyard now, unaware of his lucky escape from Bakura's clutches.
However, a shout from the guard on watch duty stopped Yugi in his tracks. "Halt thief!"
Yugi turned to face in the general direction the shout had come from. "N-No, I'm not a th-thief, I'm a s-slave!"
"Name?"
"Y-Yugi Mothankh." [1]
"Well, Y-Yugi," came a mocking sneer from behind. "I think you're in deep trouble."
With that, he was forced to his knees, his hands bound behind his back, and he was led away.
*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, a rather riled Hiroto and Jou - whose guards had reportedly failed to capture Bakura and his accomplice AGAIN - dragged Yugi off to see the Pharaoh, where his punishment would be decreed.
This time, Yugi was led past the throne room to a much smaller room, approximately twelve cubits by ten cubits [2], with a large table covered in piles of papyrus at one end. Past the piles, Yugi could just make out the red tips of Yami's hair.
Hiroto stepped forward. "Mighty Pharaoh Yamises!"
The hair wobbled as if Yami were shaking his head in exasperation. "I do this for one week four times a year, and you choose now to disturb me?"
"I apologise, oh mighty Pharaoh, but we have a slave who needs punishing."
Yami sighed and stood up. When he caught sight of Yugi's hair, he felt his heart sink into his stomach. "… what is his crime?"
"He was out of his quarters during hours that he was appointed to remain there. How many lashes, oh mighty Pharaoh?"
Yami suddenly hated his law. The usual punishment was fifty lashes of the whip, but he doubted Yugi could handle that many. He wished he could just let it drop, but…
"… where was he?"
"In the courtyard."
"Did he have any stolen goods on him?"
"No, oh might Pharaoh."
"Is this his first offence?"
"Yes, Pharaoh."
Yugi felt his heart jump. Surely, for all that, he'd be let off?
"… twenty lashes."
All three stared at Yami in amazement.
'What on earth?'
'Only twenty?'
'… he's really punishing me? For loving him and wanting to see him?'
Yami fixed Jou and Hiroto with a steely gaze, as if to confirm the debate was finished, and - against his will - he accidentally let Yugi catch his eye. When Yami saw the hurt, and betrayal, and confusion in Yugi's eyes, he felt his soul rip in half. He didn't want to punish Yugi, but he'd be in more trouble if Yami didn't. "Take him away now," Yami stated, his voice choked, before returning to his makeshift desk.
Hiroto and Jou bowed, and led Yugi back to the prison.
*~*~*~*~*~*
CRACK
Yugi cried out in pain as the whip struck for the twelfth time. He could already feel the blood seeping from his cuts, the burning red wounds that would scar him for life.
CRACK
Even worse, every blow was a reminder that Yami had ordered this. Every time the searing pain ripped through him, he felt his heart tear a little further.
CRACK
How could Yami order this? Didn't he love him? Why hadn't Yami protected him?
CRACK
Each blow felt like a betrayal.
CRACK
Yami's betrayal.
CRACK
Yugi felt his heart wrenching again and again, each crack of the whip tearing him in two, the torturer's laughter burning his soul. Yugi felt tears welling up - not because of the pain, or the humiliation, but because of what Yami had done.
'Why Yami? Why?'
CRACK
'I won't cry… I won't… I won't cry for him…'
CRACK
"Last one now slave. Are you ready?"
Yugi knew this would be the worst. He took a deep breath, swallowed and nodded.
CRACK!
Yugi nearly collapsed under the blow, and he gasped for breath, relieved that it was finally over. He didn't get to rest long, however, as the torturer pulled him roughly to his feet. He called one of the other slaves over. "Madhi! Take this boy to the apothecary!" With that, Yugi was gently led away to have his wounds attended to.
*~*~*~*~*~*
That night Yugi slept on his front, preferring that to lying on the dressing the apothecary had applied. Yugi felt a silent tear roll down over his nose and drip onto the sack he called a bed. Now that he was on his own, he could think properly. Not only that, but he could cry in peace.
"… why?" he whispered to the night. "Why did you punish me? You know I love you, that's why I wanted to see you. I know you've never said you love me, but… I can feel it."
Yugi shuffled slightly, trying to get more comfortable. There was no malice or anger in his voice - only hurt. "You're the Pharaoh… if you'd said to forget it, they'd have had no choice. Why did you make them do that to me? Why?"
Yugi stood and walked across to the tiny window. Kneeling in the moonlight, he assumed a praying position.
"Ma'at… Hathor… I don't know if you're listening right now… but I'm really lost and confused, and I need your guidance. The one I love hurt me today, and I want to understand why. I'm sure he loves me too, so I really don't get it. Please, let me understand why Yami did this deed tonight."
His praying done, Yugi returned to bed and, curled in a ball, he cried himself to sleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*
[1] Pronunciation: 'Mot' is as in 'Motou', and the 'h' is silent. 'Ankh' is pronounced as in the Egyptian symbol.
[2] 18ft x 15ft - and I know cubits are Hebrew, but it's the only measurement I know that was in use in those days!
Ma'at = goddess of law, order, truth and justice.
Hathor = goddess of joy, motherhood and love.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Now, I know what you're thinking... and I'm REALLY SORRY I DID THAT TO YUGI! *sobs and huggle Yugi till he feels better*
Yugi: ^_^
Now, to make it up to you, I have a reeeeeeeally kawaii Yugi\Yami pic on my profile now, so ya's can all go there and grab a copy! ^_^ Oh, by the way, I paid for that support services thing, so now if you put me on author alerts you'll get an email about every update and story I publish, instead of having to check in every however often you do!
And, all going to plan, I have a lime due in chapter 10! ^_^ (Yes, I have got that far ahead planned out) I plan to update every saturday now, but don't hold me to that!
Ok, that's all done, please review and DON'T HURT ME!