DECLARAION: - This story has been written and produced by Cathrath (FanFiction. net ID: 609465). Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of Cathrath. If you should see this story posted anywhere other than FanFiction .net or under any other name it has been stolen so please notify the author. I do not own Yu-gi-oh.

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Chapter 2 – A New Life

The procession wound its way through the streets for what seemed like forever. Yugi was dizzy. His back and arms throbbed and he felt like his legs wouldn't walk another step.

'The pain killing herbs must be wearing off,' he thought miserably.

He didn't realise he was on the ground until he felt a strong pair of arms pick him up and put him on the back of a horse. The man then swung back up into the saddle beside him. Yugi dimly recognised the robes of the High Priest.

They finally approached the palace and the tall gold encrusted doors were swung open to allow entry to the Pharaoh and his entourage. Yugi's senses were beginning to return and he was fully awake when the horse came to a stop. Seto dropped down and offered his arm to Yugi who took it and dropped to the floor. He gasped as pain jarred up his back. If Seto noticed he didn't say. Yugi joined the rest of the Pharaoh's new slaves as they were delegated out to their new jobs.

"Ah there you are," came a female voice from behind him.

"Come with me, the Pharaoh wants you as his personal servant."

Yugi dutifully followed the woman as she led him through the palace. They stopped in front of a large ornate door marked with the eye of Horus.

"These are the Pharaoh's private chambers," the woman said as they entered.

"This is where you will serve the Pharaoh. You will also be expected to accompany him wherever he goes. Now wait here, the Pharaoh will be back shortly."

And with that she left Yugi alone. Yugi looked around. He had never seen such splendour. Everywhere there were rich fabrics and gold. He stood in awe of his surroundings. The splendour around him must have dazzled him beyond comprehension because he didn't hear the large ornate doors being opened. Therefore, when the voice by his ear spoke he jumped like a startled rabbit.

"Beautiful isn't it."

He spun round to find himself looking up at the Pharaoh. Realising his earlier mistake he quickly averted his eyes to the floor.

"Yugi, there is no need for that, I don't need that kind of servitude from you. Look at me."

Yugi kept his eyes firmly on the floor.

"Look at me," he said again more gently.

Yugi slowly raised his eyes from the floor to look at the Pharaoh.

"Now that's much better, isn't it," he smiled down at Yugi.

Yugi gave him a small smile back.

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Over the next few hours the Pharaoh showed Yugi through his chambers and explained what his tasks were to be. There was nothing he was not already familiar with. Preparing meals, cleaning, preparing clothes, running errands etc. He gradually started to relax.

"Yugi, there is one more thing, I want you to do for me," the Pharaoh said as they finished their tour.

Yugi stepped closer.

"I don't want you to think of me as your master Yugi, I want you to think of me as your friend. I need a companion I can to talk to, someone to trust". Yugi nodded.

Pleased that Yugi understood, the Pharaoh continued.

"Good, now to start off I think the title of Pharaoh is going to become a bit tedious after a while so why don't we try Yami, after all it is my name".

Yugi couldn't believe it he had known the Pharaoh for only a few hours and already he wanted him to use his real name.

"Yugi, will you be my friend as well as my servant?" He had obviously taken Yugi pause as being a sign of uncertainty.

"Yes, my Phar..Yami I will", he responded quickly.

"Good" Yami said as he leaned back.

"It is a hot day is it not, will you fetch me a drink of water please Yugi".

Yugi hurried over to the table where the water jug stood. The pain in his back was increasing again and becoming harder to ignore. He really wished he could look at his back in the mirror, he was sure that some of the cuts were bleeding again. With his mind distracted his hand caught the water jug, knocking it to the floor. He looked at it in horror as it smashed on the tiles. Yami's footsteps approached and Yugi closed his eyes and braced himself for the blow he thought was sure to come as punishment for his clumsiness.

"Yugi, are you alright?"

Yugi didn't move

"Please Yugi, I'm not going to strike you, it was an accident".

Yugi opened his eyes. Yami was kneeling, so he was able to look Yugi in the face, with a kind but understanding expression on his face.

"I know from witnessing first hand the type of treatment you are used to, and I don't believe a word of what your old master said about you. I promise you while you are here no one shall every hurt you again".

"Thank you", was all Yugi could manage.

"Good now we can get back to...Yugi...your back!"

Yami slowly tuned Yugi round and from his reflection in a mirror across the room Yugi could see that blood was seeping through his bandages and into his long sleeved tunic. Yami walked Yugi over to the bed and sat him down. Yami gently untied the neck of Yugi's tunic and pulled the top down to reveal Yugi's heavily bandaged torso and arms. The bandages were soaked with Yugi's blood.

"Who did this to you?" Yami, said quietly.

"My grandfather." Yugi whispered bowing his head.

"Your grandfather? Wait...that man...you master...was your grandfather!" Yami said in horror.

"How could a man do this to his own flesh and blood?"

It was all too much for Yugi. He burst into loud racking sobs, from the pain of his wounds and the pain in his heart. Yami pulled him close as an older brother would his younger as Yugi poured out his heart, telling how his parents had died, how his grandfather had treated and beaten him like a slave. It seemed like he talked for hours and Yugi was exhausted when he had finished. Yami reached out and pulled a cord to the right of his bed. A guard came in through the large doors.

'Is he is going send me back now he knows I'm not a genuine slave?' thought Yugi.

"Honda, please could you ask my personal physician Ishizu to come to me".

"Right away your Highness," replied Honda as he glanced at Yugi's blood soaked bandages.

Ishizu turned out to be the same woman who had brought Yugi up to the Pharaohs chambers. She took one look at Yugi and started work on him immediately. First she gave him something to drink, which made him drowsy but it did take the pain away. Then she set about cleaning and re-bandaging Yugi's wounds. The last thing he remembered before falling asleep was being laid back onto the bed and being covered with the silk sheets.

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Yugi awoke to the sound of birds singing and sunlight streaming though the window. He was momentarily disorientated.

'This doesn't look like my bed in the servant's quarters?' he wondered.

The events of the previous day slowly came back to him.

'If it wasn't a dream then that means I'm still in the Pharaoh's quarters, and that means...'

He sat bolt upright and then wished he hadn't. He was so stiff but at least there was no pain.

"If you are moving that quickly I would say the Ishizu did her job well".

Yugi, looked over to where Yami was sitting in a chair smiling at him.

"I'm sorry your Highness, this is your bed".

"Please Yugi, I thought we agreed to drop the titles last night".

"Yes, I'm sorry. Thank you for what you did".

"I did nothing, Ishizu is the one to thank".

"No, I didn't mean that, well I did, it's just that I wanted to thank you...for listening to me".

"That's what friends do, and I'm sure you will do the same for me soon. Now do you feel like something to eat?"

Yami brought over a tray of various fruits, meats and other exotic things for him to choose from.

"Isn't this supposed to be my job?" Yugi asked.

"Yes, but not until you've fully recovered, now what do you fancy".