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Dark: Well, I'm back. Sorta

I have to apologise for not updating for a LONG time, but I have been really busy, plus it's hard to get to a computer when you only are at a house with one for a week and then the next house your at you don't.

I've been reading many reviews. The main thing is that people are pissed off that I haven't been updating and then truth is that I deserve a smack on the head for not doing so. For the ones who enjoy this fic, you are lucky. You want to know why? Because his is going to be my first update and the rest of the fics I have written won't be done.

A few people want to kill me...but I think that I'll get past their deadly grips. I mean, if they want a new chapter, they have to wait, right?

Heh. In that way, I am pure evil. Anyways, here's the next chapter. Hope you haven't hurt yourself over waiting. =P

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh and if I did, then I wouldn't be writing on this site now, would I? No, actually, I would be spending lots of money! $__$

Just as a side note: The father of Yugi doesn't have a name. So...be creative if you want to. Make the king whomever you want. Unless your just lazy like me and you can just read the story.
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Undercover

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Chapter 6

[... Yugi's POV ...]

I had sat as faraway from my father as possible. The anger that coursed through me could devour him at any moment if I was too close. That's how angry I was and it showed. Deep inside, I wanted to reach around my father's throat and strangle him! Somehow, he always had a way of stepping in and ruining my life. It was bad enough; he didn't have to help it along to its destruction.

Being with him in the shaky gold wagon wasn't what hurt the most, even though the bumps were making my butt sore, it was the fact that I was leaving the place I wanted to be. The person whom I wanted to be with. The only person who made me feel happy, except for Joey that is.

And right before I left, I saw the look in Yami's eyes. They were full of hurt, confusion and anger. Everything that I hated. And to see that in his eyes at the very last moment made my heart break. He didn't deserve to be tricked that way...had it been my fault then?

"A long ride till home. It must have taken days to get to your destination. How did you get so far Yugi?"

I ignored my father's poor attempts to start a conversation. I was not interested in talking about anything with him. I was quite content talking to myself and cursing him inside.

I returned to the previous question I had asked myself. Had it been my fault? After all, I was the one who had started it all.

If it hadn't been for me, Joey wouldn't have become a slave.

If it hadn't been for me, I wouldn't be getting scolded by my father.

If it hadn't been for me, everything would be peaceful.

If it hadn't been for me, Yami would still be happy.

I had not done anything to help anyone. I had just caused trouble and I had made it even worse now. No one was to blame, but me. I had brought this upon myself.

"Yugi!"

I looked up from my view of the fields passing and to my father. We were really far now.

My father took a deep breath and scowled. "You will look at me when I call you."

"I thought I just did," I mumbled.

"What? After all this, you start talking back? You must have really been given a lot of freedom back there, talking this way to me." He said crossing his arms. "What kind of people did you hang around?"

I hummed. Freedom? Nope.

"I hung around particularly nice people father. Better than anyone in your kingdom. It's the only place where people have manners."

My father growled. "So it would seem. And what gave you the idea that it would be all right to leave the palace?"

I shrugged. "I thought it was all right."

"Well," my father said fixing the look of his robes. "You should have thought better."

I sighed and stared out the window again. I saw something very bright in the distance. I rested my head on my hand and blinked lazily. Home was much to close now. I didn't want to go home. I wanted to leave. This was no place for me. I didn't belong. I didn't know why, but everywhere I went, I was looked at as a rich, powerful prince and nothing else. In Yami's kingdom, I wasn't even looked as a person. I was a slave. The lowest of the low. Treated like scum. I was invisible. And for some odd reason, I like it.

"Yugi."

I groaned. "Yes father."

"At the palace you will wash up and then return to the throne room. I believe it is time that you chose a bride to continue the family bloodline. There are several beautiful women at the palace now waiting for you and you will chose one. Do you understand?"

"Uh huh," I nodded and a few seconds realised what words had come out of my very own mouth and his.

"WHAT?!"

[... Yami POV ...]

I slowly trailed my finger along the engraved symbols in my throne chair. I sighed inwardly as I noticed a shadow at my feet. I slowly looked up and watched as the figure bowed before me.

"Yes, Seto."

The priest looked up and caught my eye, standing up. I could see that waiting in the shadows was his slave. I tried to focus in my sight as to see the look on the blonde's face. It was a look of sadness. Had the slaves known each other that well?

I mentally smacked my forehead remembering once again that my precious Yugi was actually gone. And to think that he had actually been a prince. That I what upset me most of all.

"Excuse me, your highness?"

I looked back at Seto. "Oh yes, continue."

"I was wondering your plan of action sir."

I raised an eyebrow. "Plan of action, Seto?"

Seto nodded. "Sir, for all we know, this whole mix up could have been set up."

"Set up?" I asked. "By who?"

"The king of your slave of course. Perhaps it was a way of gathering information. Seeing what we hold here in order to attack us, after knowing our strength."

Yami shook his hand. "No Seto. I do not think that slave had anything to do with what you are proposing. Besides, he was a slave and was watched at all times. How could he have looked around for anything."

"I'm just saying. We have to be careful. This could all be a trick," Seto said.

Yami nodded. "And I shall keep that in mind High Priest. Now don't you have some work to do?"

Seto turned from me walked down the many steps to the main floor. He looked at his slave, snapped his fingers and walked down the opposite dark corridor, the blonde one following.

In the pure silence, I began to think about pure violet eyes...and sweet soft lips as light as petals. What beauty...what magnificence and yet...I could not hold it. Never again could I savour the sweet taste of Yugi's skin, or hold him near me to feel the heat from his small, fragile body.

I couldn't believe that he had lied to me. What was even more fascinating was that he had lied in the first place. If he had shown some proof that he was actual royalty, perhaps, he could have been sent away. The again, he said nothing to even try to prove. The truth was that even if he was a prince, he could still be used for trade and as a slave. Leaving your own country was foolish. You would almost find most certain death.

But Yugi...he had a confidence...I was sure he did. Something that few did have in this world. He did something little did. He fought for what he believed in. And I was sure that he knew the consequences.

But if my love, a young prince, wanted to get away and believed he could...could not I do the same?

An idea sprang into my mind. A soft smile caressed my lips.

I loved Yugi more than I could express. His cheerful smile, the way that did things so carefully and so...perfect.

I immediately stood up and strode over to the hallway that Seto had taken with his slave. The halls were covered in candles. Candles that had burned for so long it seemed, but when they neared their end they would burn out. Almost like dying love. I couldn't have that.

Turning a corner, I saw the way to Seto's room. The way in which my High Priest probably took. I came to the door and banged my fist on it. I listened carefully and heard a loud and aggravated groan.

The door suddenly opened and a harsh voice replied. "What do you-"

Seto stopped and looked at me in almost horror. I gave him a grin and pushed his door open. He seemed intent on keeping it closed. I looked to Seto's bed to find his slave. The slave looked terrified himself. Or perhaps not terrified...but shaken. I tried not to notice the ruffled sheets, or the fact that the slave's hands were tied to the bedpost.

I walked in and Seto closed he door. I noticed the blonde watching me with a close eye...perhaps, hoping I would do something?

"Seto, I need to speak with your slave," I said.

Seto looked perplexed and he didn't seem to want to obey.

"For what, may I imply, your majesty?" he asked.

I turned to him. "Nothing that concerns you. I will be done in a few minutes. Please wait outside."

Seto hesitated, but finally left the room, not forgetting to slam the door. I turned back to the slave and walked towards him. He pushed away to the back of the bed as I sat on the bed myself. I looked at his hands, reached forward and undid the tight knots.

I watched as the slave rubbed at his cut wrists, almost like he forgot that I was even in his presence. I moved closer and tried to capture his eyes that hide under his blonde hair. He finally looked up and we stared at each other for a few moments.

He made no move to bow, or do anything to respect me. I grew angry of this, but I dared not to lay a hand on him. Yugi wouldn't like that. Even so, he wasn't my slave; he was Seto's. Seto could deal with him later.

"Could you..." I began. "Why don't you tell me your name?"

"What is good a name if you are a slave?" he asked darkly.

I shook my head and sighed. "Please answer the question."

"Joey."

I nodded. "Now, Joey. You know what has happened in recent events. What can you tell me about Yugi?"

He shrugged. "Not much. I know just about as much as you do your majesty."

"I do not believe that to be true...you knew he was a prince all this time, didn't you?"

There was silence. I didn't know how to press on. What would make him crack?

"You...helped him, didn't you?" I asked.

The slave, Joey, looked up at me and nodded.

I smiled in success.

"Yuge...Yugi was from another kingdom. He just came here to-"

The boy suddenly cut off and I knew there was something he wasn't supposed to say.

"Yes, continue," I said.

"Can't," he said. "It wouldn't be fair to Yugi. Since when do you care about him anyway?"

Joey looked at me with fiery eyes. Anger filled those orbs with a glow. He obviously didn't know that I had treated Yugi more than a slave. And I cared about him much more than a slave. Yugi was, after all, the one person who had lightened my soul in years. Someone with such power had to special. To cure someone in their own depression.

"I have a unique connection with your friend Yugi. Please tell me. Why did he come here?"

Joey sat; looking at his feet, finding them particularly more interesting than the question I wanted him to answer. At several times, I noticed him ready to speak, but then he lost his words. Anxiety was crawling in my skin. I needed to know. I had to know.

Suddenly, Joey looked up at me and took a deep breath. "The reason he came here, was because he wanted freedom."

Freedom.

I could understand well.

Everyone wanted freedom. One of the hardest dreams to make come true. But so many fought for it.

"Why?" I asked. "What does he want freedom so much that he would risk his title?"

Joey produced a soft snicker. "Do you think being called a prince is worth all the pain you go through?"

"Pain?"

Joey shook his head as if it was obvious. "Yugi has a whack-job father, no mom and he's never looked after. At least not in the way he wants. He doesn't want to be given stuff and all that crap. He wants to be cared for. That's why he came here and that's why he liked it. He had a sense of...responsibility; at least that's how I see it. He wanted to get out and do something. Not be cooped up and then turn to sit on a throne for the rest of his life."

I smiled. It was exactly what I wanted to hear. My plan would fold out nicely then. Perhaps it was time to do some copying of a sort.

I stood up and held my hand out. "I'm going to find Yugi. I know that you care about him, so it only seems fair that you come with me."

Joey looked up at me, his jaw hanging slightly like he was in shock.

"Y-You mean it?"

I nodded.

"B-but what about your-"

"I'm having Seto take care of the kingdom. I trust him. Besides, I have others that can take over while I'm gone; it'll be like I was never gone in the first place. Seto won't miss you that much, I'll make sure he understands that you are crucial to this journey. No one will know why I'm gone, and I don't plan on travelling in style. I'll do this just like Yugi did. So, care to join me?"

From what I saw, the boy's face immediately changed. It had been so glum looking and cold like the world was at an end, but now his face matched his gold hair. He looked ecstatic.

"Thank you," he said bowing at my feet. "You won't regret this."

"Believe me, I won't," I replied.

I quickly grabbed his hand and rushed to the door.

"Wait!"

I looked back. "Yes?"

"Won't everyone recognise us, or you for that matter? You're the Pharaoh!"

I smiled. "Not if we have the right costumes, correct?"

I opened the door. Joey smiled following me out and without looking, we dashed passed Seto. I could explain it all to him after we got ready. As we ran down the hallway, I noticed Joey's smile growing. He looked at me.

"Do you have a good plan?" he asked.

"We have the plan already laid out in front of us, Joey. It's been done before, hasn't it? Lets just say that were going to copy the master of going undercover."

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So, now it's the Pharaoh and the slave duo! A Pharaoh out to find his beloved and bring him back into his arms and a friend who wants to make sure that a certain someone is safe from harm, but secretly feels like kicking Seto's ass. No, I'm not dissing him.

Guess ya'll will have to wait till the next chappy. I think I'm getting into a writing mode, so maybe I'll update it soon. But there are so many fics I want to read myself.

* Sighs * Guess I'll have to wait. I'd better get started on that next chapter then, ne?