My story...where do I begin. My story is not of anything you will have ever heard before. Mine is true. Mine tells of pain and love, defeat and triumph. But more than that my story is of a man with a heart of ice, put there by his past, and of a girl who got through to him unlike anyone else ever had. Then tragedy struck and the young Pharaoh of our story was once again left to piece together his broken heart. Let me begin long before the beginning...20 years ago...before the reign of Pharaoh Atemu{also known as Yami} and the queen Anzu ended...
4 year old prince Yami snuggled up against the heat of his mother. His father was off somewhere. The queen Nitari tightened her grip on her son. These would be the last hours she would hold him. She felt her life fade with ever moment, and feared for her sons life once she died."I love you my dear son." she said softly. Prince Atem sighed contentedly. "I love you to momma." he said. Nitari gave a small laugh.
"Will you promise me something, my son?"
"Uh huh." the prince responded, half conscience.
"Promise me that whatever happens to you in your life you will always leave your heart open for love. Do not let anyone tell you love is not worth the risk of getting hurt. If you ever find the perfect person for you you will never have a feeling that compares to it. Will you promise me all that?" she said, burying her head in her sons thick multi-colored mane of hair.
"I promise momma. Always." he said with a small smile. "Momma?" he asked, a thought suddenly entering his mind.
"Hm?"
"Will you always be with me? Forever?" He asked, large crimson orbs glittering.
"Do you love me, Atemu?" she asked.
"Yeah!" he exclaimed with an exited shake of his head. Nitari laughed as prince Atemu gripped his head to stop the ensuing dizzyness. The Pharaoh had often said that her laugh was melodous like her voice, before they got married.
"My love, the people we love never leave us. I love you and so forever I will remain in your heart, but only if you remember how much you love me. Do you understand?" She asked gently, her long black hair shifted as she lifted her head to stare over Atemu into his eyes.
"Uh huh." he said. She smiled and lay back down."Go back to your room, Atemu. The Pharaoh will be here soon and you know how he is." she said. Yami yawned and stretched before getting up and pecking his mother on the cheek and heading to his room.
The queen was found dead in her bed the next morning.
12 YEARS LATER
The newly crowned Pharoh Atemu walked onto a balcony looking down over all of Egypt. He was greeted by cheers from his people. It quickly quieted as he glared out among everyone. "Why are you here?" he asked in a loud voice. There were stirrings in the crowd. 'What is he asking?" 'Is that a normal question for a Pharoh?' a million other questions floated through the crowd, again silenced by the Pharohs glare. Since his mother died it had been said that he gained and icy composure, one that terrified anyone who came into it's presence, but also one that demanded and enormous amount of respect.
The silence and glaring continued until one brave old man stepped forward and shouted at the Pharaoh, "We are here to greet out new king my lord, is there something wrong with our presence?" he asked. The words of Atems father rang throughout his head. 'They will only cheer for you out of fear for their lives. There never was and never will be a Pharoh they genuinely respect. Only fear.' his father had said. Maybe he was right. The new Pharaoh though.
"There is if you are only cheering because you fear for your lives, or are being forced to. Go about with your lives." he said, his deep voice rang out. He turned away as the crowds murmuring grew again.
Atemu was greeted by his only friend, Jou, when he once again entered his room."Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine." he said, glaring at the Pharaoh.
"What crime did I commit against you?"he asked, heading toward the window.
"You're a jackass." he said.
"Jou, you are my friend and I am yours but even friends respond when the Pharoh calls upon him."Atemu said, looking out at the sands of Egypt without interest.
"Oh come on. I'm just joking with ya. Can't take a joke?" he laughed, standing up from the chair he was sitting at and heading over to where Atemu was sitting with his head against the wall. Jou decided now was the best time to make his offer."Hey, I have this date with this GREAT woman tonight. She has a friend, Anzu or something like that that she wants you to meet. What do you say?" he asked, no joke in his voice.
"Why would I want to do a thing like that, Jou?"
"Because you're 17 just like me and it's not like you've ever had any...what do they call it these days...oh yeah. Fun. It's not normal for a 17 year old to have never ever had fun...this is the age to enjoy ourselves!" Jou almost shouted. Yami looked at Jou and cocked his head to the side. Jou had once told him that, of all the things that had changed since his mothers death, his eyes never had. He doubted that. "Jou, here is a bracing reality check for you. I'm not a normal 17 year old. I am Pharoh and that must always come first in my life. Understand?"
"Yeah, but..do you have any meetings tonight?"
"No." Atemu stated matter of factly, looking back out the window. He knew fully what was coming next.
"So join us."
"You're persistance, while incredibly annoying, is also commendable, but I have more important things to worry about then a social life, and I may remind you so do you."
"Come on Yami." Jou said, practicaly pleading with the Pharaoh now. Yami was what the people had called him since a year after his mothers passing. Yami, darkness. "Yami means darkness, doesn't Jou? Is that what you believe of me? To be darkness."
"Can I be honest with you?" Jou asked,his tone dropping a notch.
"Always."Atemu simply stated.
"Sometimes I believe that because of what your father did to you and how often he did it, you are dark to those who don't know what you've been through. It's a name that works with you. You know what Seth told me the other day when I was talking to him? He said that he couldn't stand to look in your eyes anymore because the hate, the pain and the sadness he saw there was too unbearable to look at if you understood about you. You're people call you Yami because they do not understnd the pain and suffering you have gone through. I call you Yami because I know what you've been through. After that, how could you be anything but dark." Jou said, watching his friends reaction. Atemu looked down.
"Why do you always bring my father into this, Jou."
"He beat you to a bloody pulp and you shove it off as if it's nothing!" Jou shouted. He watched Atemu wince as the memories of his fathers "lessons" ran through his head.
"How do you know I wouldn't have been like this had my fathers lessons not been so frequent, or if my mother hadn't died?" he asked in a small whisper.
"Because I knew you when you were a child, Atemu."
"People change." The Pharaoh snapped.
"Yes, but not that much, and not to as hard as you have become. Not unless it is them to be pure evil."
"So I was darkness, now I am pure evil? Maybe I am. Maybe I am that way because if I wished to survive I would have to be."
"You just proved my point. Atemu, you deserve one day of relaxing at least. Come with us tonight. A celebration of you becoming Pharaoh."
"Yeah, that's something to celebrate. I'll come iwht you if It'll get you off my back for a while." Atemu said.
"Good, and try to be nice to this Anzu girl. I like this woman and I don't need you going and screwing it up." he said with a chuckle. The Pharoh didn't look amused.
"You going to be okay, Atemu?"
"Why wouldn't I be."
"You look like shit, more so than usual I mean." he laughed. A small smile appeared on Atemu's face. He had forgotten what it was like to smile.
THAT NIGHT IN THE PALACE DINING ROOM
Atemu and Jou entered the elegant room without much interest, having seen it a hundred times before. The girls behind them, however, gazed up at the room. Never had they seen such a room. The white marble walls shone brightly, reaching up to a tall glass ceiling, revealing hte sky outside. A crystal chandelier{sp?} hung above them, lighting the room and making it seem so much more enchanting.
Jou pulled out a chair for each of the ladies and watched as they sat down. He smiled at his date, the tall fiery blonde, Mai. He sat next to her and gazed at the Pharaoh as Atemu sat next to the quiet brunette Mia had brought along. 'Why is Yami keeping his head down?' Jou asked himself. He had noticed that since Anzu had showed herself he hadn't once looked anyone in the eye. He just hung his head. In an attempt to get a conversation started he chose a subject to bring up to the girl about Yami, the wrong subject, it turned out. He cleared his throat and smiled to himself as both women looked at him. "Anzu, did you know that the Pharaoh's mother passed when he was four." he said and mentaly slapped himself and Atemu's head shot up and his eyes fixed in a glare found Jou's. Anzu didn't notice.
"When you were four? That must have been terrible."
"I really need to go. Jou, thankyou for inviting me but as Pharaoh I do have other obligations, which I explained to you earlier. Excuse me ladies." he said quickly standing and just as quickly exiting the room. Jou looked down as the food was brought into them.
Atemu would have ran to his room if it wasn't for his image. When he did finaly reach his room he collapsed on the bed and took a deep breath. 'What was Jou thinking?' he asked himself. The question ran through his head until he finaly fell asleep.
His sleep didn't last long as he was awakened by a hurried knock on the door."Who is it?" he asked, still half asleep. He heard Jou call his name through the door. "What could you want? Bring up more bad memories maybe?" he asked.
"Atemu, let me in."
"I'm not stopping you." he called. Jou entered cautiously and looked around as if expecting the young Pharaoh to jump out at him and attack him.
"I'm not going to do anything to you, you know." he called while Jou's head was turned. The tall dirty blonde jumped at the sound of his voice before turning around and bowing.
"Now you bow to me?" Atemu asked.
"Pharaoh, I came to apologize to you for earlier. I didn't mean to..." he was interrupted by the Pharaoh.
"You didn't mean to what, Jou?" he snapped, sitting up. "Hm. Did you not mean to bring up a very painful memory for me. To let everyone in the room know just one of the many hellish things I have been through? Huh? What did you not mean to do!?" he shouted. Jou noted Yami's eyes glistened with tears. 'It's been about 12 years since that happened.' he thought to himself. Jou felt immediatley even sorrier for what he had done. Jou slowly approached the bed Atemu was sitting on, upon reaching it he to sat down and peered guiltily{sp?} over at his Pharaoh, who once again was hanging his head.
"I'm sorry, Atemu. I really am. I was trying to make conversation between you and Anzu." he whispered hoarsly. He hated seeing his friend like this.
"Anything but my parents. Anything. There are a million subjects you could have chosen, but you chose that." the 17 year old Pharaoh whispered, afraid that speaking any louder and his voice would break.
"I know. I can't believe what an idiot I am. Please forgive me. Please. You are my best friend, I hate to see you suffer. Twice today I've brought up subjects I shouldn't have and I'm sorry. I can't be any sorrier. Just please, forgive me."
"Very well. I need you here. You are all that I have besides Seth, and he isn't much good." Atemu said, closing his eyes and laying back down. Jou stood up. I'll let you sleep now. Thankyou my Pharaoh." he said, though Yami was already asleep.
The next morning Yami was wandering through the palace looking for his high priest when he ran into Jou again.
"Hey Atemu. How are you doing?"
"Want the truth?" it was a rhetorical question. Jou laughed. "If you're looking for the high priest Seth, you're not going to find him. He left Egypt early this morning with high priestess Isis, they have things to attend to in Rome with the Ceasar, if we don't wish an attack." Jou said. Yami sighed and asked, "Why do you know this, but I don't."
"He ran into me on the way to tell you and I told him I would tell you. To let you rest because you had a hard night last night. Especialy after you fell asleep." he answered.
"How would you know?" Atemu asked suspicously.
"A maid came and got me in the middle of the night. Said she heard sobs and such coming from your room. She knew you didn't have a concubine with you because she is informed of all and had previously checked to make sure they were all there. She mentioned lots of screaming and moaning as well. I went into your room. Were you dreaming of your father?" Jou asked abruptly. Atemu looked down. "Yes." he said. Jou searched quickly for another subject.
"Hey, remember that woman, Anzu from last night?"
"Yes." Atemu said, narrowing his eyes.
"Well, I saw her this morning and she asked about you. She wants to get to know you."
"Jou, could you hurry with your point so I can move on."
"I think you should get to know her. You two could get along." Jou said, elbowing his friend. Atemu rolled his eyes.
"Not my type."
"No ones your type." Jou said, it was his turn to roll his eyes.
"Exactly. Why waste my time and hers?"
"I didn't say you were out to marry her. I just said you should get to know her." Jou defended himself.
"When would I have time."
"Do you have any meetings today?" Atemu rolled his eyes. 'Here we go again." he thought.
"One, but it's not until later tonight." 'Why don't I ever lie to him?' he asked himself.
"Good. I'll bring her to your room. Go. Hurry."
"No Jou. No."
"But.."
"No."
"Fine.If you want to be miserable that's your choice." Jou added in a high pitched voice. Atemu ignored him.
"Good."
"Oh come on!"
"Hm...let me think on it."
"Realy?"
"No. Jou, I'm going out in the streets, okay? If anyone needs me they can find me there."
"Are you taking guards?"
"No."
"Do you want to get killed."
"Often." Jou cocked an eyebrow. 'Okay.' he thought.
"I'm coming with you."
"No, you're not."
"Why?"
"Because you're obnoxious Jou." Atemu sighed.
"Great! Lets go." Jou said, dragging a speachless Atemu out into the village.
When Jou and Yami were a quarter mile away from the palace Jou let go of Atemu's now sore arm. "Okay, come on. Now you can't escape. We're going to meet Anzu. She'll be at home right now." Jou said. Atemu shook his head and followed. 'Lets get this over with. ' he thought, not believing Jou had a stronger will then he.
After walking for about 10 minutes Jou turned and stopped at a door of a particularly shabby looking cottage and knocked. "Be nice." he whispered to the Pharaoh before the door opened. It was the man who had spoken out to the Pharaoh the other day. The mans large grey beard touched the floor when he hit his knees upons seeing the Pharaoh. "Please, stand." Atemu said. He had never enjoyed being bowed to. The man reluctantly stood, taking his time as the bones in his back cracked. "What can I do to help you Pharaoh?" he asked bowing his head. Jou spoke first. "We are looking for a woman named Anzu, does she live here?"
"What has she done wrong?" the man asked. Atemu stepped forward this time. "Shes not in trouble for anything. My friend, Jou, and I would just like to speak with her. She had dinner with us last night and I'm afraid I left rather abruptly." he said. The mans eyes widened at the prospect that his daughter had had dinner with the Pharaoh. "Of course shes here. Shes out in back, by the Nile. I can call her in if you wish, my lord." he said. Atemu almost smiled. Almost. "No, that's alright. We'll meet her there. Thankyou for your kindness. What is your name?" he added as an after thought.
"Joseph, my lord."
"Thankyou Joseph." Atemu asked, bowing his head and turning to head in the direction Anzu was supposed to be. Joseph just nodded as Jou and Atemu made there way to his daughter.
"BOO!" Jou shouted as he snuck up Anzu. She laughed and continued with what she was doing. "Hello Jou." she said.
"You knew." Jou pouted.
"It was hard not to know. She said, finaly turning around. When she saw the Pharaoh she dropped the basket of water she was holding and bowed her head, her hands in front of her. 'Why do they ALWAYS do that?" he thought to himself, mentaly rolling his eyes.
"We came to talk, Anzu. You don't need to bow." Jou said. Anzu slowly lifted her head and peered into the cold dark red eyes of the Pharaoh. It was easy to see why everyone called him Yami. He was quite handsome though. She noted. Jou and Atemu sitting next to her on either side shook her out of her thoughts. Yami...the Pharaoh, lifted his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Jou, being more causual, stretched out his long legs and lay back in the sun. Silence followed. Finaly, Jou spoke. "I made a big mistake last night. I came here so you and the Pharaoh can talk. I'm going to go back to the palace. You two behave yourselves." he said with a wink at Anzu. Atemu, once again, rolled his eyes.
"Pharaoh, I'm sorry for last night."
"It wasn't you. It was that idiot of a best friend." he said. She smiled and he chuckled. 'What is wrong with you! You are never to laugh or smile in front of your people. Makes you appear soft!' his fathers voice rang out in his head. The smile immediatly disspeared from the young mans face.
"You've had a hard life, haven't you." For the third time in two days Atemu's head shot up and looked over at the innocent girl who had no idea what she had just done. He closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry. It's none of my buisness. I shouldn't have brought it up. I apologize."
"No. I should have moved past everything. It's just, it's harder then one would think." he said, shaking his head. 'Why am I telling her this. I don't even know her' he mentaly scolded himself.
"Jou tells me you're a great guy, you just can't show it to anyone because of what your father did." Atemu cocked his head.
"And what else has Jou said to you." Anzu instantly realized her mistake. 'It's too late to turn back. I have to tell him the truth' she thought to herself.
"He told me your father used to beat you alot, and hard. That you still have alot of the scars on your body if people look close enough. I saw so many last night I asked him about it and he told me what happened, your father beat you alot after your mother died."
"Well, I'll just have to have a talk with Jou then." he said.
"Don't punish him!" she pleaded with him. Her blue eyes glittered with worry.
"I won't. Hes the only friend I have. The only person I have actualy. I just have to have to have a talk with him about my past and not telling people things that I find painful to even think about. I would rather no one know about this. Have you told anyone else?"
"No, sire. I thought it very personal. I swear I won't tell a soul." she said.
"Thankyou, Anzu, isn't it?"
"Yes, my lord. My lord, you mentioned Jou being your only friend. Do you think you could add me to that list of friends. You seem decent and I would like to be your friend."
"If I had a penny for every time I heard that. It seems everyone wants to be my friend. Gold diggers, everyone."
"What makes Jou so different?"
"I didn't trust Jou at first, if that's what you mean. Then he found out my "lessons" from my father. Anyone else would have run off, but he stuck by me. When my father was feeling particularly viscious and hurt me more than usual he sat by my bed with me until I could move again. He sometimes even stopped my father if he was way out of control. Jou saved my life a few times. That's why he is my friend. We would both sacrifice ourselves for the other."
"Well, you can trust me. I want to be your friend. It might take a while for you to fully trust me but believe me when I say this, I want nothing from you. I'm sure you've been told this, but when I look in your eyes, very pretty eyes I might add,"she said this with a smile before continuing,"and I see so much pain and distrust. You have good reason, but I hate seeing that in peoples eyes. I want to help you."
"I don't want you to be kind because you pity me." Atemu simply stated, turning his head and looking in the water.
"Pharaoh, what do you see when you look at your reflection?"
"Why?" 'What a strange question.' he added in his head.
"'Cause I want to know what you see. It can't be good. What do you see."
"A man who would be nothing if not for his title." he answered bitterly.
"Pharaoh, I have been sitting here talking to you for not half and hour and I know you are decent man who has had a hard life. It happens. I think that if you weren't Pharaoh then everyone in Egypt would love you."
"But because I am Pharaoh they only fear me." Atemu said, closing his eyes and bowing his head.
"Maybe you should show the people of Egypt the same kindness you have shown me here today."
"You must never show the people of Egypt your kindness. They will believe you going soft. I will beat the kindness out of you if I must. My father said that. He was right. And he did."
"Hm....I can't say anything to help that. Just maybe, you need to learn to trust. I'm going back to the original subject. Will you trust me enough to consider me a friend?" she asked gently. He turned to look at her. She was beautiful. Her eyes met his and she resisted the urge to look away from those pain filled eyes.
"I will, for now." he said slowly. She smiled and and he told her thankyou and goodbye before standing to head back to the palace.
a/n:wow...long...would you believe I wrote that in ONE sitting. My butt is sore. Anyway, tell me what you think. I haven't done a fic like this before so I need to know whether to continue or delete it.
4 year old prince Yami snuggled up against the heat of his mother. His father was off somewhere. The queen Nitari tightened her grip on her son. These would be the last hours she would hold him. She felt her life fade with ever moment, and feared for her sons life once she died."I love you my dear son." she said softly. Prince Atem sighed contentedly. "I love you to momma." he said. Nitari gave a small laugh.
"Will you promise me something, my son?"
"Uh huh." the prince responded, half conscience.
"Promise me that whatever happens to you in your life you will always leave your heart open for love. Do not let anyone tell you love is not worth the risk of getting hurt. If you ever find the perfect person for you you will never have a feeling that compares to it. Will you promise me all that?" she said, burying her head in her sons thick multi-colored mane of hair.
"I promise momma. Always." he said with a small smile. "Momma?" he asked, a thought suddenly entering his mind.
"Hm?"
"Will you always be with me? Forever?" He asked, large crimson orbs glittering.
"Do you love me, Atemu?" she asked.
"Yeah!" he exclaimed with an exited shake of his head. Nitari laughed as prince Atemu gripped his head to stop the ensuing dizzyness. The Pharaoh had often said that her laugh was melodous like her voice, before they got married.
"My love, the people we love never leave us. I love you and so forever I will remain in your heart, but only if you remember how much you love me. Do you understand?" She asked gently, her long black hair shifted as she lifted her head to stare over Atemu into his eyes.
"Uh huh." he said. She smiled and lay back down."Go back to your room, Atemu. The Pharaoh will be here soon and you know how he is." she said. Yami yawned and stretched before getting up and pecking his mother on the cheek and heading to his room.
The queen was found dead in her bed the next morning.
12 YEARS LATER
The newly crowned Pharoh Atemu walked onto a balcony looking down over all of Egypt. He was greeted by cheers from his people. It quickly quieted as he glared out among everyone. "Why are you here?" he asked in a loud voice. There were stirrings in the crowd. 'What is he asking?" 'Is that a normal question for a Pharoh?' a million other questions floated through the crowd, again silenced by the Pharohs glare. Since his mother died it had been said that he gained and icy composure, one that terrified anyone who came into it's presence, but also one that demanded and enormous amount of respect.
The silence and glaring continued until one brave old man stepped forward and shouted at the Pharaoh, "We are here to greet out new king my lord, is there something wrong with our presence?" he asked. The words of Atems father rang throughout his head. 'They will only cheer for you out of fear for their lives. There never was and never will be a Pharoh they genuinely respect. Only fear.' his father had said. Maybe he was right. The new Pharaoh though.
"There is if you are only cheering because you fear for your lives, or are being forced to. Go about with your lives." he said, his deep voice rang out. He turned away as the crowds murmuring grew again.
Atemu was greeted by his only friend, Jou, when he once again entered his room."Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine." he said, glaring at the Pharaoh.
"What crime did I commit against you?"he asked, heading toward the window.
"You're a jackass." he said.
"Jou, you are my friend and I am yours but even friends respond when the Pharoh calls upon him."Atemu said, looking out at the sands of Egypt without interest.
"Oh come on. I'm just joking with ya. Can't take a joke?" he laughed, standing up from the chair he was sitting at and heading over to where Atemu was sitting with his head against the wall. Jou decided now was the best time to make his offer."Hey, I have this date with this GREAT woman tonight. She has a friend, Anzu or something like that that she wants you to meet. What do you say?" he asked, no joke in his voice.
"Why would I want to do a thing like that, Jou?"
"Because you're 17 just like me and it's not like you've ever had any...what do they call it these days...oh yeah. Fun. It's not normal for a 17 year old to have never ever had fun...this is the age to enjoy ourselves!" Jou almost shouted. Yami looked at Jou and cocked his head to the side. Jou had once told him that, of all the things that had changed since his mothers death, his eyes never had. He doubted that. "Jou, here is a bracing reality check for you. I'm not a normal 17 year old. I am Pharoh and that must always come first in my life. Understand?"
"Yeah, but..do you have any meetings tonight?"
"No." Atemu stated matter of factly, looking back out the window. He knew fully what was coming next.
"So join us."
"You're persistance, while incredibly annoying, is also commendable, but I have more important things to worry about then a social life, and I may remind you so do you."
"Come on Yami." Jou said, practicaly pleading with the Pharaoh now. Yami was what the people had called him since a year after his mothers passing. Yami, darkness. "Yami means darkness, doesn't Jou? Is that what you believe of me? To be darkness."
"Can I be honest with you?" Jou asked,his tone dropping a notch.
"Always."Atemu simply stated.
"Sometimes I believe that because of what your father did to you and how often he did it, you are dark to those who don't know what you've been through. It's a name that works with you. You know what Seth told me the other day when I was talking to him? He said that he couldn't stand to look in your eyes anymore because the hate, the pain and the sadness he saw there was too unbearable to look at if you understood about you. You're people call you Yami because they do not understnd the pain and suffering you have gone through. I call you Yami because I know what you've been through. After that, how could you be anything but dark." Jou said, watching his friends reaction. Atemu looked down.
"Why do you always bring my father into this, Jou."
"He beat you to a bloody pulp and you shove it off as if it's nothing!" Jou shouted. He watched Atemu wince as the memories of his fathers "lessons" ran through his head.
"How do you know I wouldn't have been like this had my fathers lessons not been so frequent, or if my mother hadn't died?" he asked in a small whisper.
"Because I knew you when you were a child, Atemu."
"People change." The Pharaoh snapped.
"Yes, but not that much, and not to as hard as you have become. Not unless it is them to be pure evil."
"So I was darkness, now I am pure evil? Maybe I am. Maybe I am that way because if I wished to survive I would have to be."
"You just proved my point. Atemu, you deserve one day of relaxing at least. Come with us tonight. A celebration of you becoming Pharaoh."
"Yeah, that's something to celebrate. I'll come iwht you if It'll get you off my back for a while." Atemu said.
"Good, and try to be nice to this Anzu girl. I like this woman and I don't need you going and screwing it up." he said with a chuckle. The Pharoh didn't look amused.
"You going to be okay, Atemu?"
"Why wouldn't I be."
"You look like shit, more so than usual I mean." he laughed. A small smile appeared on Atemu's face. He had forgotten what it was like to smile.
THAT NIGHT IN THE PALACE DINING ROOM
Atemu and Jou entered the elegant room without much interest, having seen it a hundred times before. The girls behind them, however, gazed up at the room. Never had they seen such a room. The white marble walls shone brightly, reaching up to a tall glass ceiling, revealing hte sky outside. A crystal chandelier{sp?} hung above them, lighting the room and making it seem so much more enchanting.
Jou pulled out a chair for each of the ladies and watched as they sat down. He smiled at his date, the tall fiery blonde, Mai. He sat next to her and gazed at the Pharaoh as Atemu sat next to the quiet brunette Mia had brought along. 'Why is Yami keeping his head down?' Jou asked himself. He had noticed that since Anzu had showed herself he hadn't once looked anyone in the eye. He just hung his head. In an attempt to get a conversation started he chose a subject to bring up to the girl about Yami, the wrong subject, it turned out. He cleared his throat and smiled to himself as both women looked at him. "Anzu, did you know that the Pharaoh's mother passed when he was four." he said and mentaly slapped himself and Atemu's head shot up and his eyes fixed in a glare found Jou's. Anzu didn't notice.
"When you were four? That must have been terrible."
"I really need to go. Jou, thankyou for inviting me but as Pharaoh I do have other obligations, which I explained to you earlier. Excuse me ladies." he said quickly standing and just as quickly exiting the room. Jou looked down as the food was brought into them.
Atemu would have ran to his room if it wasn't for his image. When he did finaly reach his room he collapsed on the bed and took a deep breath. 'What was Jou thinking?' he asked himself. The question ran through his head until he finaly fell asleep.
His sleep didn't last long as he was awakened by a hurried knock on the door."Who is it?" he asked, still half asleep. He heard Jou call his name through the door. "What could you want? Bring up more bad memories maybe?" he asked.
"Atemu, let me in."
"I'm not stopping you." he called. Jou entered cautiously and looked around as if expecting the young Pharaoh to jump out at him and attack him.
"I'm not going to do anything to you, you know." he called while Jou's head was turned. The tall dirty blonde jumped at the sound of his voice before turning around and bowing.
"Now you bow to me?" Atemu asked.
"Pharaoh, I came to apologize to you for earlier. I didn't mean to..." he was interrupted by the Pharaoh.
"You didn't mean to what, Jou?" he snapped, sitting up. "Hm. Did you not mean to bring up a very painful memory for me. To let everyone in the room know just one of the many hellish things I have been through? Huh? What did you not mean to do!?" he shouted. Jou noted Yami's eyes glistened with tears. 'It's been about 12 years since that happened.' he thought to himself. Jou felt immediatley even sorrier for what he had done. Jou slowly approached the bed Atemu was sitting on, upon reaching it he to sat down and peered guiltily{sp?} over at his Pharaoh, who once again was hanging his head.
"I'm sorry, Atemu. I really am. I was trying to make conversation between you and Anzu." he whispered hoarsly. He hated seeing his friend like this.
"Anything but my parents. Anything. There are a million subjects you could have chosen, but you chose that." the 17 year old Pharaoh whispered, afraid that speaking any louder and his voice would break.
"I know. I can't believe what an idiot I am. Please forgive me. Please. You are my best friend, I hate to see you suffer. Twice today I've brought up subjects I shouldn't have and I'm sorry. I can't be any sorrier. Just please, forgive me."
"Very well. I need you here. You are all that I have besides Seth, and he isn't much good." Atemu said, closing his eyes and laying back down. Jou stood up. I'll let you sleep now. Thankyou my Pharaoh." he said, though Yami was already asleep.
The next morning Yami was wandering through the palace looking for his high priest when he ran into Jou again.
"Hey Atemu. How are you doing?"
"Want the truth?" it was a rhetorical question. Jou laughed. "If you're looking for the high priest Seth, you're not going to find him. He left Egypt early this morning with high priestess Isis, they have things to attend to in Rome with the Ceasar, if we don't wish an attack." Jou said. Yami sighed and asked, "Why do you know this, but I don't."
"He ran into me on the way to tell you and I told him I would tell you. To let you rest because you had a hard night last night. Especialy after you fell asleep." he answered.
"How would you know?" Atemu asked suspicously.
"A maid came and got me in the middle of the night. Said she heard sobs and such coming from your room. She knew you didn't have a concubine with you because she is informed of all and had previously checked to make sure they were all there. She mentioned lots of screaming and moaning as well. I went into your room. Were you dreaming of your father?" Jou asked abruptly. Atemu looked down. "Yes." he said. Jou searched quickly for another subject.
"Hey, remember that woman, Anzu from last night?"
"Yes." Atemu said, narrowing his eyes.
"Well, I saw her this morning and she asked about you. She wants to get to know you."
"Jou, could you hurry with your point so I can move on."
"I think you should get to know her. You two could get along." Jou said, elbowing his friend. Atemu rolled his eyes.
"Not my type."
"No ones your type." Jou said, it was his turn to roll his eyes.
"Exactly. Why waste my time and hers?"
"I didn't say you were out to marry her. I just said you should get to know her." Jou defended himself.
"When would I have time."
"Do you have any meetings today?" Atemu rolled his eyes. 'Here we go again." he thought.
"One, but it's not until later tonight." 'Why don't I ever lie to him?' he asked himself.
"Good. I'll bring her to your room. Go. Hurry."
"No Jou. No."
"But.."
"No."
"Fine.If you want to be miserable that's your choice." Jou added in a high pitched voice. Atemu ignored him.
"Good."
"Oh come on!"
"Hm...let me think on it."
"Realy?"
"No. Jou, I'm going out in the streets, okay? If anyone needs me they can find me there."
"Are you taking guards?"
"No."
"Do you want to get killed."
"Often." Jou cocked an eyebrow. 'Okay.' he thought.
"I'm coming with you."
"No, you're not."
"Why?"
"Because you're obnoxious Jou." Atemu sighed.
"Great! Lets go." Jou said, dragging a speachless Atemu out into the village.
When Jou and Yami were a quarter mile away from the palace Jou let go of Atemu's now sore arm. "Okay, come on. Now you can't escape. We're going to meet Anzu. She'll be at home right now." Jou said. Atemu shook his head and followed. 'Lets get this over with. ' he thought, not believing Jou had a stronger will then he.
After walking for about 10 minutes Jou turned and stopped at a door of a particularly shabby looking cottage and knocked. "Be nice." he whispered to the Pharaoh before the door opened. It was the man who had spoken out to the Pharaoh the other day. The mans large grey beard touched the floor when he hit his knees upons seeing the Pharaoh. "Please, stand." Atemu said. He had never enjoyed being bowed to. The man reluctantly stood, taking his time as the bones in his back cracked. "What can I do to help you Pharaoh?" he asked bowing his head. Jou spoke first. "We are looking for a woman named Anzu, does she live here?"
"What has she done wrong?" the man asked. Atemu stepped forward this time. "Shes not in trouble for anything. My friend, Jou, and I would just like to speak with her. She had dinner with us last night and I'm afraid I left rather abruptly." he said. The mans eyes widened at the prospect that his daughter had had dinner with the Pharaoh. "Of course shes here. Shes out in back, by the Nile. I can call her in if you wish, my lord." he said. Atemu almost smiled. Almost. "No, that's alright. We'll meet her there. Thankyou for your kindness. What is your name?" he added as an after thought.
"Joseph, my lord."
"Thankyou Joseph." Atemu asked, bowing his head and turning to head in the direction Anzu was supposed to be. Joseph just nodded as Jou and Atemu made there way to his daughter.
"BOO!" Jou shouted as he snuck up Anzu. She laughed and continued with what she was doing. "Hello Jou." she said.
"You knew." Jou pouted.
"It was hard not to know. She said, finaly turning around. When she saw the Pharaoh she dropped the basket of water she was holding and bowed her head, her hands in front of her. 'Why do they ALWAYS do that?" he thought to himself, mentaly rolling his eyes.
"We came to talk, Anzu. You don't need to bow." Jou said. Anzu slowly lifted her head and peered into the cold dark red eyes of the Pharaoh. It was easy to see why everyone called him Yami. He was quite handsome though. She noted. Jou and Atemu sitting next to her on either side shook her out of her thoughts. Yami...the Pharaoh, lifted his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Jou, being more causual, stretched out his long legs and lay back in the sun. Silence followed. Finaly, Jou spoke. "I made a big mistake last night. I came here so you and the Pharaoh can talk. I'm going to go back to the palace. You two behave yourselves." he said with a wink at Anzu. Atemu, once again, rolled his eyes.
"Pharaoh, I'm sorry for last night."
"It wasn't you. It was that idiot of a best friend." he said. She smiled and he chuckled. 'What is wrong with you! You are never to laugh or smile in front of your people. Makes you appear soft!' his fathers voice rang out in his head. The smile immediatly disspeared from the young mans face.
"You've had a hard life, haven't you." For the third time in two days Atemu's head shot up and looked over at the innocent girl who had no idea what she had just done. He closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry. It's none of my buisness. I shouldn't have brought it up. I apologize."
"No. I should have moved past everything. It's just, it's harder then one would think." he said, shaking his head. 'Why am I telling her this. I don't even know her' he mentaly scolded himself.
"Jou tells me you're a great guy, you just can't show it to anyone because of what your father did." Atemu cocked his head.
"And what else has Jou said to you." Anzu instantly realized her mistake. 'It's too late to turn back. I have to tell him the truth' she thought to herself.
"He told me your father used to beat you alot, and hard. That you still have alot of the scars on your body if people look close enough. I saw so many last night I asked him about it and he told me what happened, your father beat you alot after your mother died."
"Well, I'll just have to have a talk with Jou then." he said.
"Don't punish him!" she pleaded with him. Her blue eyes glittered with worry.
"I won't. Hes the only friend I have. The only person I have actualy. I just have to have to have a talk with him about my past and not telling people things that I find painful to even think about. I would rather no one know about this. Have you told anyone else?"
"No, sire. I thought it very personal. I swear I won't tell a soul." she said.
"Thankyou, Anzu, isn't it?"
"Yes, my lord. My lord, you mentioned Jou being your only friend. Do you think you could add me to that list of friends. You seem decent and I would like to be your friend."
"If I had a penny for every time I heard that. It seems everyone wants to be my friend. Gold diggers, everyone."
"What makes Jou so different?"
"I didn't trust Jou at first, if that's what you mean. Then he found out my "lessons" from my father. Anyone else would have run off, but he stuck by me. When my father was feeling particularly viscious and hurt me more than usual he sat by my bed with me until I could move again. He sometimes even stopped my father if he was way out of control. Jou saved my life a few times. That's why he is my friend. We would both sacrifice ourselves for the other."
"Well, you can trust me. I want to be your friend. It might take a while for you to fully trust me but believe me when I say this, I want nothing from you. I'm sure you've been told this, but when I look in your eyes, very pretty eyes I might add,"she said this with a smile before continuing,"and I see so much pain and distrust. You have good reason, but I hate seeing that in peoples eyes. I want to help you."
"I don't want you to be kind because you pity me." Atemu simply stated, turning his head and looking in the water.
"Pharaoh, what do you see when you look at your reflection?"
"Why?" 'What a strange question.' he added in his head.
"'Cause I want to know what you see. It can't be good. What do you see."
"A man who would be nothing if not for his title." he answered bitterly.
"Pharaoh, I have been sitting here talking to you for not half and hour and I know you are decent man who has had a hard life. It happens. I think that if you weren't Pharaoh then everyone in Egypt would love you."
"But because I am Pharaoh they only fear me." Atemu said, closing his eyes and bowing his head.
"Maybe you should show the people of Egypt the same kindness you have shown me here today."
"You must never show the people of Egypt your kindness. They will believe you going soft. I will beat the kindness out of you if I must. My father said that. He was right. And he did."
"Hm....I can't say anything to help that. Just maybe, you need to learn to trust. I'm going back to the original subject. Will you trust me enough to consider me a friend?" she asked gently. He turned to look at her. She was beautiful. Her eyes met his and she resisted the urge to look away from those pain filled eyes.
"I will, for now." he said slowly. She smiled and and he told her thankyou and goodbye before standing to head back to the palace.
a/n:wow...long...would you believe I wrote that in ONE sitting. My butt is sore. Anyway, tell me what you think. I haven't done a fic like this before so I need to know whether to continue or delete it.