A/N: Hi everyone! Please don't hate me for not updating in like the longest time! I've been so lazy and stuff¡K I'm really sorry!
Oh, do you guys think I should take down my first story, Hidden Secrets? It's really bad compared to this¡K Or do you think I should just continue on with it, making it better and finishing it? Thanks!
AryaWinds: Thank you! Yeah, I like this story a lot more too¡K I feel special, thanks!
Sarah: Oh wow, thanks so much for deciding to read it! Sorry for taking so long¡K I hope you'll still like it!
Stary Eyes: Alright, thanks! If I ever want to do a really long love scene, I'll be sure to change the rating. K, I'll R&R your stories too, thanks!
CrissyKitty: Lolz! Yeah, thanks for the idea and influence though! Thank you!!!!
Umiko Morimoto: Yami'll come into even more detail in the next chapter! Alright. Seto? I was thinking either Seto or Bakura (yeah, Bakura's going to be in this story too!) K, thanks!
Rachel: Wow, thanks! Lolz!
Shy-Lil-Dreamer: Yeah¡K Well, it'll get better for her! Thanks!
Anonymous: Ah, well, thanks! Sorry, wasn't sure about the friendship part¡K Oh well. Thanks anyhow, I'll keep that in mind. Yeah, and Yami's going to be in the next chapter as well!
midnight dreamer: You really think so? Wow, thanks! I feel special!!! Thank you!
Lunar Dragon 209: Thank you! Hope you like this chapter too!
iris: K, thanks!
breezydreamergrl: Hi! Yeah, thank you! I'm glad you like this story!
-----: Hi! K, thank you!
sakura: Okay, thanks!
Animedreamer: K, thank you! Sorry for such the long wait too!
tarranna: Okay, thanks!!! Sorry for taking so long to update.
Thank you everyone for reviewing and reading my story!!!!
Special thanks to CrissyKitty, Aria, and Tarranna!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter Two: A Bad Start
"You don't understand, my prince Yami," Yami's personal servant and scribe, Yugi, began again, "His and her majesties insisted upon the royal prince to be at the presentation of the gift from Libya, our neighbors, as you should know from your global studies."
"Yes, yes, whatever," an extremely bored and annoyed Yami replied, only half listening, "As if it really matters to me what the king of Libya tries to give us as an attempt to accommodate peace between us. Foolish of them to try, really. When will anyone understand how much stronger we are than them and we really need no allies. It's just mother and father that insist upon 'close ties between foreign areas' to 'preserve old ways of peace'. When I become pharaoh there is a lot I shall change."
Yami Atemu was but a young prince, son of Pharaoh Raneb and Queen Sahure of Egypt. He was their only son, sixteen years of age, and thus first in line for the throne. He was infamous for his quick, flaring temper and determination to get his way. Yami wasn't spoiled, he didn't really hate his high position, just wanted to live a normal life like commoners did. He always managed to have his moments of fun though, slipping out of the clutches of the royal advisers and guards. And once out of the palace, he became Yami, a commoner who just wanted a bit of fun in the nearby towns.
"Please, Prince Yami," Yugi begged, "Please get ready. They should be arriving soon, and you are in no state to be dressed like that. They are expecting you soon. You have but until the moon rises and the stars shine clearly to get ready. I really do not wish to invoke High Priest Seto in this matter, but I shall do as I must to get you prepared."
"Yugi, you are the most annoying and persistent person I have ever met!" Yami exclaimed, "Fine, I shall get ready. There really was no need to threaten me with Seto though. Fetch my maids for whatever my parents requested that I wear."
Seto Kaiba was the high priest of Egypt, hand chosen by Yami's parents themselves. It was a great honor to be the high priest, and Seto had much power at his disposal. He was only second to the Pharaoh and Queen. However Seto had developed a liking to his power and was also infamous for his flaming temper, but was well respected for the way he dealt with issues that came up. Something had happened in his childhood, and so now he was very cold-hearted to everyone but his younger brother, Mokuba. Seto was also in charge of Yami's various activities and was the royal family's advisor, and him and Yami were great rivals in the game of duel monsters. Seto was renowned for his Blue Eyes White Dragon, whom was constantly out and about, flying above the palace and seeing all with its airborne eyes.
Yami's best friend was Joey Wheeler, whom was the head of the royal army. They had been best friends since they were young, and Joey was only two years older than Yami.
Yami sighed in defeat as the maids entered his chambers with the clothing he was to wear.
*****
"Presenting the Royal Pharaoh himself, may he live forever, Her Royal Highness, who blesses us with her beauty, and the Royal Prince, unborn God of Egypt," Seto announced.
Yami was seated to the side of his parents, politely attempting not to shift around with boredom. He glanced at his parents, and noted how calm and regal they looked. He let out a soft sigh and decided to suffer for a few more moments of the presentation from Libya before he slipped away. Their royal palace guards entered, led by Joey. Yami brightened suddenly upon his best friend's arrival, and flashed him a quick smile. Joey just nodded to him, improper for him to smile back in greeting at such a time.
The guards' rhythmic walking heard upon the marble floor was only broken by delicate clinking sounds of horses' hooves. Yami was surprised when he saw a girl, no older than himself, gracefully dismount from the white horse as the guards split aside into two rows. The guards knelt on the floor, but Joey approached the Pharaoh and Queen, holding a scroll of papyrus. He handed the papyrus to the Pharaoh and backed away with a bow. The Pharaoh unrolled the scroll and began to read it; a message from the King of Libya accompanying their gift.
As the Pharaoh was reading, Yami examined the girl that had been brought to present the gifts Libya had to offer. She didn't look anything like the native Egyptians or Libyans, or like any person from anywhere around their area. She had pretty, long, brown hair and captivating, wide azure eyes. She had delicate, pale skin; an amazement with the hot desert sun always overhead. A pretty, expensive-looking dress framed her body, dark blue and silver, beautiful on her.
Yami caught her eye as she was glancing nervously around, and he was surprised to see a defiant looking fire in her eyes. Yami thought that servants were always supposed to kneel or bow, or at least feel awed at such royal divinity's presence. He knew that he looked different himself. He had natural, tri-colored hair, a shade of purple and black with golden bangs. Bright violet eyes stood out in his face. He knew he did look like the son of Ra, and people greatly respected the Atemus' rule.
As the Pharaoh finished reading the scroll, he handed it to Seto to then read. Seto skimmed it quickly and expertly.
"As a sign of friendship from our kind neighbors, Libya," Seto said aloud, summarizing the message from Libya, "The gift of this unique girl shall be given to us. The King of Libya, Pegasus, also sends his best regards towards all of Egypt."
Yami was quite shocked to find that the girl was to be a slave in the royal palace. Never before had gifts of actual people be given to them. It had always been people giving them gifts of gold, silver, rare stones, food, fabrics, and many other rare goods as signs of peace. Yami had thought that the gift would be the stunning white horse that the girl had rode, and maybe other jewels that he had thought she had brought with her. He glanced at his parents, and saw that they had a guarded look about them. However, he could tell that they were also very surprised to find that the gift was an actual live person.
Seto was staring very disdainfully down at the girl. She met his gaze with ease, and did the same with the Pharaoh.
"Girl," Seto began warningly.
"Anzu," the girl answered in a clear, strong voice.
"What?" Seto questioned imperiously.
"My name is Anzu," she answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I did not ask for your name!" Seto replied harshly. "When I want you to say something I shall tell you. When I want you to do something, I shall order you to."
"And no one asked you to open your big mouth as well," Anzu snapped back, "You shouldn't even open your mouth, if all that comes out of it is as foolish as that. I shall do as I please, and when I wish to. I do not obey anyone. I never have, and I never will!"
"In the royal palace you obey orders without question!" Seto exclaimed angrily, "And right now you are to bow in the presence of the living God, the Pharaoh himself! And you always address the Pharaoh and Prince as "Your Highness", the Queen as "Her Highness", and all others as "Sir" or some other way of showing that you are but a slave and serve others, and everyone is higher than you."
Anzu's eyes flashed angrily at Seto's words. She made no move to bow or make herself seem less than the royalties in front of her.
"I will address those as I wish, Seto," Anzu said boldly. "I never have addressed people with titles; everyone is just human and on the same level. And I bow to no one. And so certainly not to someone who is not my king."
"Myself you will address as 'High Priest'," Seto said, trying to keep his temper in check, "You will not insult the Pharaoh in such a way as well! You are in the royal palace, and here you shall live and conduct yourself as every other slave and servant here."
Anzu said nothing, but continued to stand there, glaring at the High Priest.
"Commander," Seto finally nodded, addressing Joey.
Joey hesitated, but then motioned to his men to escort the girl to prepare for her new life.
"People present, dismissed," Seto announced, and everyone began to slowly file out.
"Get your filthy hands off me!" Yami heard Anzu snap angrily at the guards that had moved to grab her arms. They backed off a bit at Joey's nod to them. They exited, leaving Yami, his parents, and Seto alone.
"Yami," the Pharaoh said, "This girl will be a gift to you. You will be in charge of her like you are of Yugi. Teach her what she needs to know about serving royalty. I expect you will discipline her as needed. She will be brought to you when she is done."
Yami was quite surprised. He already had a personal scribe that also acted as a servant to him, Yugi. Apparently that girl, Anzu, would always be with him to serve him. He knew that he would have a lot of trouble trying to control that girl. She was very unique, and that temper of hers could probably match his own. However he bowed respectfully to his parents and thanked them for the gift.
"I thank you for your generosity to me. Rest assured that everything will be okay in the end," Yami said, "Now if you will please excuse me, I have my studies to get back to." With that, he exited as well.
"Are you sure that was a good idea, Your Highness?" Seto asked when Yami was out of earshot.
"He needs to learn responsibility," the Pharaoh replied smoothly, "I will admit that this gift was quite a shock to all of us, but surprises is a part of our lives. Anyhow, he must get ready soon for a bride. We have not discussed that yet, but he needs a suitable bride soon. He is sixteen, and should have a women by his side."
"Of course, Your Highness," Seto replied, "I am just expressing my concern over the Prince's lack of experience in such matters. Yugi was born into the servant's life, and his personality was already very obedient and calm. This girl is quite different, as you could have probably already tell."
"High Priest, your concern is appreciated. So will you be kind enough to assist Yami in the training then?" the Queen said, "Maybe sometimes you could also teach her a few things herself. You have our permission to do whatever you would like to in your power to assist our son."
Seto bowed and finally left as well.
*****
Anzu had been escorted to the servants' area to receive new clothing and such. She had no idea what she was to do and what was to become of her. She new she had made a mess of herself, and it was just the first day at the palace. Even after promising Pegasus she would try her best to be respectful and stuff in royalties' presence, she just couldn't help it when she saw that arrogant High Priest, Seto.
Egypt was a strange place, and now that she was in the Palace, she sensed something strange in the air. She wondered what it was, for it was like an aura she had never sensed before, but it was everywhere in the palace. Anzu let out a sigh, knowing that she would probably find out soon enough in her time at the palace.
The guards that had been escorting her looked quite formidable, and she thought that she would have enjoyed some type of hand-to-hand combat with some of them. But she decided it would be best to hide her talents until later use.
She sighed as the servants bustled about around her, and silently wondered if she had made a mistake by losing her temper in front of the Pharaoh, Queen and Prince. She new there was nothing she could do about it, but then thought if it would be better off for her if she acted like the obedient servant like she was supposed to be. She grinned at the image of herself acting as a slave and decided that she was going to do everything in her power to make their lives at the palace the worst she could manage. Anzu thought that maybe, just maybe her life at the palace wouldn't be that dull after all.
A/N: Sorry again for such a long wait! Please leave a review! Thank you! (oh, and please tell me what you think; if I should update Hidden Secrets or take it down. Thanks!) ~Kari