HEY GUYS! IM BAAACK! Did you miss me? Never mind, don't answer that. ^_^ now see, I am being a good authoress and updating my story! *grin* ehem…thank you to:

elsiey: you're back! YAY! Thank you so much for the review! And you think it could be better than the first! I'd better get cracking! ^__^ I feel loved.

Romi 2004: I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter! Thank you so much for all you're reviews!

Unknown: And apparently one other person reviews too, but the stupid site hasn't posted it! *throws tantrum* anyway, thank you so much to whoever you are, I'll give an extra big thanks next chapter! Promise! ^____^

Bakura: Honestly I have no idea why people actually read this stuff. It's so booooring. Why don't you write a story about me! At least that would be interesting

Yeah, if you think watching a bloody massacre and then stealing and killing for about fifteen years is interesting.

Bakura: *indignantly* hmph. It is. *waves to story* This is just trash.

Hey buddy! I suggest that if you want to stay alive long enough to even mention that you once stepped on a pile of cow dung you should shut up about my stories!

Bakura: *mutters*

You got something you want to share with the class?

Bakura: *bows down* Oh no mighty one. I was only saying what an amazing writer you are (aside from romance) and how I am privileged to even be used as a footstool for your glorious feet.

Aw! I'm so proud! You memorized it! *sniff* Although I don't think I put in the thing about romance? *glares suspiciously*

Bakura: HEY! I didn't say that part outloud!

That's the beauty of having it written out baka. ^___^ Hope everyone likes the next chapter! It takes place about two months after the first, and Egypt is at war with some formidable opponent but I'm too lazy to actually come up with a country. And the pharaoh/Anukanamen is preparing for some major battle or other. Okay? So, hope that clears everything up! ^_____^

Chapter 2 (…..I have 2 siblings…..sadly)

King Akunamukanon sat at his desk, plans and battle strategies on papyrus strewn in piles before him. He sighed leaning back in his chair staring at the ceiling. "Will this work?" he asked aloud to no one in particular.

"That brother, is up to fate," said a dark man as he entered the room baring more scrolls.

"Ah Teki," the pharaoh greeted his armor-clad brother with a grateful smile. "It is good to hear your voice." Teki placed the scrolls on the desk and turned to look at his elder brother, his dark eyes concealing the thoughts held within them. He looked about to speak until something behind the pharaoh caught his eyes.

Anukanamen turned to see a young nurse holding a squirming child in her arms walking toward him. A great smile spread across his face, as he held out his arms to receive his son. Behind the pharaoh's back Teki grimaced slightly at the sight of his young nephew. Atemu they had named him. He had hardly seen the boy since the night of the queen's death, and was most displeased to see that the child was growing healthy and strong. The infant lay his small head on the pharaoh's shoulder. Teki glared at the child angrily. How dare this baby take his place in line for the throne!

The small boy suddenly became aware of the man fixing him with a stony stare and opened both eyes meeting his uncle's dark eyes squarely with the infamous crimson eyes. Teki struggled to hide his shock. Those were no ordinary eyes! They seemed to bear understanding and suspicion, but the child closed his eyes again and Teki could no longer be sure if those things had really been there or if he had merely imagined them.

AHHH! ITS 11:35!! NEED SLEEEEP!! NIGHTY NIGHT! ^____^

~the next morning before dawn~ (In the story I mean! heheh.)

The pharaoh was awakened by someone calling sharply to him.

"Pharaoh!" a man shouted. "Wake up! We're under attack!" Akunamukanon sprang from his bed, and hastened to put on his armor. Beside him Mahado his high priest stood silently, muscles tensed and wary.

"What happened?" Akunamukanon asked urgently. Mahado strode to the window peering out for any enemies as he replied.

"It was a surprise attack," he said quickly, "the troops somehow slipped past the guards." The pharaoh grabbed his sword and walked to the door when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Mahado looking at him, a serious expression of concern within the priest's eyes.

"Pharaoh-sama," he said softly, "I think it would be best to sent the prince away from the palace until after the battle. The enemy may wish the child harm." The pharaoh's eyes widened as he thought of his small son.

"Of course…..Thank you Mahado," he said wrenching open the door. "I entrust this to you. See that he is safe. No matter what happens to me."

"Hai, pharaoh," Mahado said, bowing before turning down a hall toward the young prince's chamber. Akunamukanon watched the priest until he vanished around a corner. Setting his jaw squarely, the pharaoh swept off to meet his enemy.

Mahado slipped silently through the halls, past soldiers running to defend the palace, as well as ones wanting to destroy it. When he reached the young prince's room he slid through the door without a sound. Inside the chamber brightly colored blankets and tapestries adorned the walls, and it seemed no one was present until the soft wail of a child broke the stillness in the room. He crouched down and peered under the child's bed. Lying beneath it pressed against the floor was the prince clutched in the arms of his nurse. The girls' eyes widened as she saw Mahado, and she gave him the boy without a sound or protest. Mahado tucked the child under his cloak and turned to leave. "Tell no one of this," he warned the girl still underneath the bed. She shook her head quickly and made the symbol for speed with her tanned hands. Mahado nodded and disappeared.

In the throne room, the pharaoh stood with his troops against the enemies filing into the chamber. Their leader was walking up the stairs to the room, head held high, yet immersed in shadow. As he came before the pharaoh he tilted his face toward the ceiling and Akunamukanon backed away, disbelief written clearly on his own face. "Teki!" he whispered.

The pharaoh's brother smiled cruelly. "Yes brother, me." Akunamukanon was still looking at his younger brother in astonishment.

"But Teki," he said pain crawling into his voice. "Why?"

"Why?" Teki laughed. "Oh, for many reasons. First and foremost though comes the fact that you are pharaoh, and that your son would be after you, not me or my son. Of course," he said looking thoughtful, "There was also the fact that your wife refused me." Anger flashed briefly in the mans dark eyes at the memory.

"WHAT!?" the pharaoh roared, anger replacing the hurt. "You tried to force yourself on her?"

Teki grinned, but it was full of malice and loathing. "But the wench turned me down," he said quietly. "And I made her suffer for that. Unfortunately, she didn't take the child to the grave with her."

Akunamukanon's rage filled the room like a whirlwind of sand and dust. The golden pyramid around his neck began to glow with an eerie light. Teki shook his head. "Now you see," he said, so softly that only his brother heard. "The disadvantage of fighting someone close to you, is that they know your weaknesses. You cannot defeat me without the power of the Millennium Puzzle, so I cannot give you time to summon that power!" With one fluid movement Teki pulled from beneath his cloak a long thing knife, and with quick timed precision, hurled it at the pharaoh. The glowing light faded as Akunamukanon looked down in surprise at the blade sticking out perpendicular to his chest. He dropped slowly to his knees, blood seeping out from around the knife and he stared up at his brother as the younger man walked over to his side.

"Give me the puzzle brother," he said, "and I will let your soul go on in peace." Akunamukanon smiled, his face mirroring the look Teki's had taken only moments before.

"You are not my brother," he whispered, a trickle of blood seeping from his lips. Teki pulled his sheathed sword from his hip and lifted it up, preparing to end the life of the man in who's shadow he had walked from the day he was born.

"Otosan[1]," a voice whispered quietly behind him. Teki turned to see a small boy with brown hair, no more than two years old standing behind him, looking at the man at his father's feet. The child's distraction gave Akunamukanon the time he needed. He grabbed the puzzle around his neck and smashed it against the floor, shattering it. Teki turned away from his son, roaring in rage that he had been thwarted of that power. The pharaoh chuckled as he wheezed out his last breaths.

"Only my son, will ever be able to put the pieces together," he proclaimed. "Only the true pharaoh…..," and as the magic sealed on the fragments of the pyramid the pharaoh's last breath left his bloody lips.

Teki stared in disgust and loathing at the body at his feet. "When your son dies," he said, "I will be the true pharaoh!" and he turned strode off to search for the little prince.

Unseen by anyone else, above the palace on the rooftops, a man clad in pale robs carrying a small bundle scaled the wall and heading in the direction of the poor villages, vanished into the sand.

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[1] Otosan- father/dad in Japanese. And guys, I know we all love Egypt alright, and I don't mind being asked/told that/why Egyptians don't use Japanese, but it is 11:12 and I don't have an Egyptian dictionary on me, and the internet is down, so for now at least, this is as good as it gets. ^____^ (and no I'm not mad that people have asked that before, I'm just saying I don't need a reminder.)

Please tell me that you know "Hai" means yes and I don't have to explain anymore!

Oh and guys, the little boy is none other than SETO! YAY! Hope everyone likes the story! I'm having a blast doing all the murder and betrayal scenes. You know, life is good. R&R please! I'd love you opinion!