K Yami Yugi - Glad you're liking it!
Ente - What? You think the romance is all? We also have more of Minkabh's antagonism, Yami's coronation, a few deaths, and much more Duel Monsters! Oh, and you're getting a special something for being the 100th review on YLP! You'll be notified before March. ^_~
Shibby-One - I can do you one better! I'll send you some pics. and a full description. And you bet I'm gonna put up the sequal! Most likely before this one is over.
Yami: How much longer is this going to be?
Una: Maybe about 10 chapters or less.
Enya - Is it that obvious that I use research to name, site, and use mythology for my stories? ^_~
Cat-Star4 - FW will be thrilled to hear that you like Kei so much. Listen, if you want more of her, read and review her stories! She's under the penname "Keiko C. Crawford", in my favs list.
digigirl-izumi - ^_^ *hug* Thanks!
.
.
Una: Welp, I'm writing this whole chapter on my own!
Bardock: Who dies?
Una: *scowl* No one!
FW: Then it's a melo-drama.
Una: Can't you guys be a little nice for my b-day?
FW: that was yesterday! The party was even at my house!
Yami: Just get on with the chapter!
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Chapter 4
The Divine Shukura
BANG! The guards forced open the great doors of the Pharaoh's palace, causing the entire hall to be filled with the echo of the clatter and pitiful struggles of their prisoner. "Armon," roared Pharoah Akunamukanon, "what is the meaning of this intrusion?"
"Many apologies, Mighty Pharaoh," said the head guard, bowing deeply, "but this young woman begged an audience with you."
Both Atem and his brother stood up, curious to see the newcomer. Each sat in thrones on either side of their father, the older sat to the right as a sign of his higher standing. Unfortunately, Naeem was too short to see over the captain of the guard. But Armon bowed lower and out of the way to bring the Shukura in plain view. The three guards who had held her closed in, making sure she had no chance of attacking the royal family.
"Oh kind Pharaoh," the girl wailed, "I beseech you! Don't let them cut off my hands! I am a poor girl in need of a little bread! Forgive me! All I wanted was to fill my stomach with more then sand!"
Naeem resisted the urge to run down and help her to her feet. Atem merely cast his eyes on his father, waiting for his judgment in order to learn how to govern such pitiable people.
"Nevertheless," said the pharaoh, trying not to display his pity, "the formidable punishment for theft is the removal of hands in order to unable the crime from being committed again. Why should you be any different?"
"Please, Your Majesty" begged the poor girl. She raised her face, glancing around the room in search of aide. The high prince gasped. Her eyes, compared to the rest of her filthy and dull body, shown with a shocking energy and vitality that touched him. "I am no ordinary girl. The gods blessed me with wit and creativity. I am willing to do anything Your Majesty wishes. Just let me keep my hands!"
The pharaoh's face remained blank, but Atem understood why he hesitated. If this girl was blessed by the gods, she must be kept alive at all costs. But if she was not, she could be put to death as a heretic. Such a claim is risky, especially for a woman.
"Sire," whispered High Priest Minkabh. He was an olive-skinned foreigner, veiled in holy scarves, with supposed infinite knowledge. "Perhaps I can prove her to be a hoax."
"How so?"
He continued whispering a plan to the pharaoh, but this time in such soft tones Atem could not hear a word. He looked to his brother, just visible to the side of the two conspirators. /Do something,/ he pleaded, holding his hands together. Atem glanced back at the girl, her eyes shining with terror, his father, listening intently to Minkabh's words, then back to Naeem. //I don't think I can!//
Minkabh bowed deeply, then hurried to get something. The pharaoh stepped forward, and the crowed hushed. "What is the name of this young woman so blessed?"
"I am called Shukura, Sire."
"Tell me, Shukura, have you been blessed with a quick eye also?"
"I do not boast so-"
"Do not boast? You have stated divine power, and this is not a boast?"
Shukura stood up, body in rags and skin darker from dirt, but attempting to gain some dignity. "That is no boast, Sire. It is a fact."
The brothers looked at each other in equal surprise of the girl's tone. The crowd members muttered in awe, then hushed once again as the pharaoh raised his arms. "Then, Shukura, I pray to the gods you speak only truths. My loyal priest, Minkabh, shall test you."
Minkabh took his cue and wheeled out a small table lined with purple velvet. On the top of the table lay four small wooden boxes, enclosed so no opening was visible.
"Are you familiar with this game, Divine Shukura?"
Shukura scanned the boxes. "I am not," she responded.
"Then I shall explain: These four boxes are neither magical nor enchanted; simply wooden and carved by master craftsmen from my land. One is filled with pebbles, the rest are empty." To prove this, he shook three of the boxes with one hand and the last with the other. Only the final one made a sound. "I shall mix the boxes in such a way as to confuse any mortal eye. The object is to pick out the filled one once I finish. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good," said the advisor, smiling with his pointed teeth. "Let us begin." He began shuffling them slowly, then picked up more and more speed, until his arm became a blur. The crowd went "Ooooo" and "Aaaah" at the precision and speed.
The high prince watched the girl's eyes. She stared, never blinking once, concentrating on each box.
When Minkabh stopped abruptly, he took a step back. "Choose, Divine Shukura! Which box has the pebbles?"
Shukura closed her eyes, taking away the brightness of her appearance. But when she opened them again, they filled with a great fire. "None of these boxes have pebbles or anything else in them but air."
The crowd murmured loudly. What could she mean?
Shukura took each box and shook it in turn. Sure enough, each box was empty.
The pharaoh glared at Minkabh. "Explain this!"
"I have exposed her," said Minkabh in nervous triumph, "as a sorceress! She made the pebbles disappear so as not to lose the game!"
Naeem turned to his brother, not caring if he was noticed, and shook his head. Atem understood and stepped forward. "She is no sorceress."
"I beg to differ, Honored Prince," sniveled Minkabh, bowing. "I shook the boxes to prove to you all myself from the start."
"Do not call the prince a liar, Minkabh," warned the pharaoh.
Atem strode to the advisor and lifted the man's sleeves. Under the sleeve of the hand he shook the last box was another box strapped on. The prince shook it, making the exact same sound of pebbles.
"He cheated," declared Naeem. "He cheated and Shukura was right! She saw through it!"
The Pharaoh pointed at Minkabh. "How dare you deceive the ordained and his court! Armon, take the fraud away! As for the girl, she may remain in the palace as a servant until she matures. Then she may become a royal concubine."
The head of guard and four others took the fraud away. Before he left the room, he called to the princes and Shukura, "May you all die sooner then fate allows! And may I be there to witness it!"
.
.
Kei managed to sneak away from the concubines, and set out to find Seto or Naeem. Hiding in the shadows, she moved swiftly towards Seto's quarters. As she did, she passed by the Hall of Justice, a small room where the harshest criminals were tortured by Priest Akunadean and his personnel. She shuddered, feeling the presence of many vehement souls crying out from within its walls.
But a familiar voice now shouted from it. She peeked through the lock on the door and listened in.
"So," snapped Atem, "my own position on the matter means nothing?!"
Akunadean, the addressed, replied, "The girl's father made this one of his last requests. Your father has consented to the union. There is nothing you can do about the matter."
"I refuse to marry that woman! Rei, or whatever her name really is, shall NEVER become my queen! I won't have it!!"
Kei gasped. Even though she did not love Atem, she never considered he'd reject her hand.
Shimon and Naeem stood off to one side. "Honored Brother," said Naeem timidly, "he - I mean she - has been our friend for a long time. Why wouldn't y-"
"FRIEND!?! She betrayed us!! I would gladly have put my life in Rei's hands in battle! He became one of my greatest confidants! Almost the only person not united to me by blood I considered a considered a close friend! And this whole time she's deceived us all! The ultimate betrayal of friendship!" Atem held a fist in front of him. "How can I marry someone I don't trust!"
"Honored Brother…" Naeem's voice shook.
"Prince Atem," said Shimon calmly, "please be reasonable!"
"No! Its like she killed my best friend!"
"She is very pretty when dressed like a woman."
"I can't forgive her!!"
Kei's eyes filled with tears. 'Atem…' She wanted to run up to him and apologize, but what happened next stopped her dead.
Akunadean back-handed Atem hard on the side of his face. The high prince flew a couple of feet to his side and landed hard against the wall. Naeem tried to run to him, but Shimon held the boy back.
"You listen here," growled Akunadean. "Your father has worked hard to preserve the sanctity of this family. If you dare defy his wishes, you shall be dragging his great name through the mud! Your forefathers and Lord Osiris will never accept him in their good graces. His name and yours shall become a laughingstock in history! Is that your desire?"
Atem's eyes faced away from Kei. He held his hurt cheek and said nothing, not bothering to look at the priest. Akunadean roared. "Selfish boy! Do you care nothing for anyone but yourself?!"
"Who else would care," said Naeem in an uncharacteristically cold voice. "He can't make his own choices in life! He has to obey the laws!"
Shimon shushed him. "Lord Akunadean, we must be heading over to Pharaoh to inform him we fulfilled our duty. Lady Kei should be ready to see the prince tomorrow."
Atem snorted. Akunadean raised his arm to strike again, and the prince did not flinch. "Stubborn, spoiled brat!"
Naeem ran to his brother's side once the adults' backs were turned. "Honored Brother," he whispered. "I'll tell Father!"
"Don't you dare," Atem hissed. "I won't give him the satisfaction of getting to me!"
"Un!" Naeem nodded and joined Shimon. The three opened the door and walked away, leaving the elder prince alone in that terrible room.
Luckily, the swinging door covered Kei from the adults, and she crept into the Hall. "Atem?"
Atem stood up quickly at the sound of the voice. He glowered when he recognized its owner. "Don't speak to me so informally, madam!"
"Atem, I just wanted to explain!"
"I don't want your explanations! Its inexcusable!" He turned his back to her, fists clenched. "I hate you! I trusted you, and it meant nothing to you!"
"It does!! It does!! Atem, I'm still your friend! I don't want to be forced into something I'm not ready for either!" Tears poured down her eyes. She thought about her love for Seto, and how, if she married Atem, they could never be together again. "Can't you see that?! We're both being forced! Can't you call it off?!"
"No." His hands relaxed, and his voice softened. "I am honor bound. I don't want my family name soiled. We must… We must do our duty. No matter how much we dislike each other."
"I don't 'dislike' you! I just don't love you!"
Atem let out a hollow chuckle. "Love? You think that has anything to do with royal matches? It's the one luxury we are not guaranteed." He looked her up and down. Now that she wore a dress, she looked a lot prettier than before. "You are quite beautiful as a girl. Why did you fool us all, anyway?"
"I told you! I don't want to marry you!"
"Then it looks like we are both in the same fix."
"You forgive me?"
Atem paused. "I'll think about it."
Kei couldn't help but giggle. She and Naeem knew that was Atem's reluctant code for "Yes."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey everyone! Its Kei again!
All of us have been getting really depressed after I joined the concubines. I can't help it!! I don't wanna dress up in dresses, wear make-up, or talk all prim and proper! Seto's lessons have gotten harder, Atem has to shadow his dad all the time, and Naeem's feeling left out. How can we survive this?!?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FW: The next chapter is my last, except for a few fillers.
Bardock: heeheehee
Yami: NOO!!!
Yugi: No more randomness?
Una: I can try for some funny parts, but this is a prequel. Its all background.
Yugi: Who cares? I like seeing Yami's life before he met the rest of us! And I really like Kei's personality!
FW: Aw! =^o^=
Una: Well, don't you worry, Keiko will be in the sequel, and the first three chapters are total humor, with suggestions from FW herself!
Yugi/Yami: YEAH!!
Bardock: Una writing random humor… Does not make sense…
FW: I feel all loved! Read and review!
Ente - What? You think the romance is all? We also have more of Minkabh's antagonism, Yami's coronation, a few deaths, and much more Duel Monsters! Oh, and you're getting a special something for being the 100th review on YLP! You'll be notified before March. ^_~
Shibby-One - I can do you one better! I'll send you some pics. and a full description. And you bet I'm gonna put up the sequal! Most likely before this one is over.
Yami: How much longer is this going to be?
Una: Maybe about 10 chapters or less.
Enya - Is it that obvious that I use research to name, site, and use mythology for my stories? ^_~
Cat-Star4 - FW will be thrilled to hear that you like Kei so much. Listen, if you want more of her, read and review her stories! She's under the penname "Keiko C. Crawford", in my favs list.
digigirl-izumi - ^_^ *hug* Thanks!
.
.
Una: Welp, I'm writing this whole chapter on my own!
Bardock: Who dies?
Una: *scowl* No one!
FW: Then it's a melo-drama.
Una: Can't you guys be a little nice for my b-day?
FW: that was yesterday! The party was even at my house!
Yami: Just get on with the chapter!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 4
The Divine Shukura
BANG! The guards forced open the great doors of the Pharaoh's palace, causing the entire hall to be filled with the echo of the clatter and pitiful struggles of their prisoner. "Armon," roared Pharoah Akunamukanon, "what is the meaning of this intrusion?"
"Many apologies, Mighty Pharaoh," said the head guard, bowing deeply, "but this young woman begged an audience with you."
Both Atem and his brother stood up, curious to see the newcomer. Each sat in thrones on either side of their father, the older sat to the right as a sign of his higher standing. Unfortunately, Naeem was too short to see over the captain of the guard. But Armon bowed lower and out of the way to bring the Shukura in plain view. The three guards who had held her closed in, making sure she had no chance of attacking the royal family.
"Oh kind Pharaoh," the girl wailed, "I beseech you! Don't let them cut off my hands! I am a poor girl in need of a little bread! Forgive me! All I wanted was to fill my stomach with more then sand!"
Naeem resisted the urge to run down and help her to her feet. Atem merely cast his eyes on his father, waiting for his judgment in order to learn how to govern such pitiable people.
"Nevertheless," said the pharaoh, trying not to display his pity, "the formidable punishment for theft is the removal of hands in order to unable the crime from being committed again. Why should you be any different?"
"Please, Your Majesty" begged the poor girl. She raised her face, glancing around the room in search of aide. The high prince gasped. Her eyes, compared to the rest of her filthy and dull body, shown with a shocking energy and vitality that touched him. "I am no ordinary girl. The gods blessed me with wit and creativity. I am willing to do anything Your Majesty wishes. Just let me keep my hands!"
The pharaoh's face remained blank, but Atem understood why he hesitated. If this girl was blessed by the gods, she must be kept alive at all costs. But if she was not, she could be put to death as a heretic. Such a claim is risky, especially for a woman.
"Sire," whispered High Priest Minkabh. He was an olive-skinned foreigner, veiled in holy scarves, with supposed infinite knowledge. "Perhaps I can prove her to be a hoax."
"How so?"
He continued whispering a plan to the pharaoh, but this time in such soft tones Atem could not hear a word. He looked to his brother, just visible to the side of the two conspirators. /Do something,/ he pleaded, holding his hands together. Atem glanced back at the girl, her eyes shining with terror, his father, listening intently to Minkabh's words, then back to Naeem. //I don't think I can!//
Minkabh bowed deeply, then hurried to get something. The pharaoh stepped forward, and the crowed hushed. "What is the name of this young woman so blessed?"
"I am called Shukura, Sire."
"Tell me, Shukura, have you been blessed with a quick eye also?"
"I do not boast so-"
"Do not boast? You have stated divine power, and this is not a boast?"
Shukura stood up, body in rags and skin darker from dirt, but attempting to gain some dignity. "That is no boast, Sire. It is a fact."
The brothers looked at each other in equal surprise of the girl's tone. The crowd members muttered in awe, then hushed once again as the pharaoh raised his arms. "Then, Shukura, I pray to the gods you speak only truths. My loyal priest, Minkabh, shall test you."
Minkabh took his cue and wheeled out a small table lined with purple velvet. On the top of the table lay four small wooden boxes, enclosed so no opening was visible.
"Are you familiar with this game, Divine Shukura?"
Shukura scanned the boxes. "I am not," she responded.
"Then I shall explain: These four boxes are neither magical nor enchanted; simply wooden and carved by master craftsmen from my land. One is filled with pebbles, the rest are empty." To prove this, he shook three of the boxes with one hand and the last with the other. Only the final one made a sound. "I shall mix the boxes in such a way as to confuse any mortal eye. The object is to pick out the filled one once I finish. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good," said the advisor, smiling with his pointed teeth. "Let us begin." He began shuffling them slowly, then picked up more and more speed, until his arm became a blur. The crowd went "Ooooo" and "Aaaah" at the precision and speed.
The high prince watched the girl's eyes. She stared, never blinking once, concentrating on each box.
When Minkabh stopped abruptly, he took a step back. "Choose, Divine Shukura! Which box has the pebbles?"
Shukura closed her eyes, taking away the brightness of her appearance. But when she opened them again, they filled with a great fire. "None of these boxes have pebbles or anything else in them but air."
The crowd murmured loudly. What could she mean?
Shukura took each box and shook it in turn. Sure enough, each box was empty.
The pharaoh glared at Minkabh. "Explain this!"
"I have exposed her," said Minkabh in nervous triumph, "as a sorceress! She made the pebbles disappear so as not to lose the game!"
Naeem turned to his brother, not caring if he was noticed, and shook his head. Atem understood and stepped forward. "She is no sorceress."
"I beg to differ, Honored Prince," sniveled Minkabh, bowing. "I shook the boxes to prove to you all myself from the start."
"Do not call the prince a liar, Minkabh," warned the pharaoh.
Atem strode to the advisor and lifted the man's sleeves. Under the sleeve of the hand he shook the last box was another box strapped on. The prince shook it, making the exact same sound of pebbles.
"He cheated," declared Naeem. "He cheated and Shukura was right! She saw through it!"
The Pharaoh pointed at Minkabh. "How dare you deceive the ordained and his court! Armon, take the fraud away! As for the girl, she may remain in the palace as a servant until she matures. Then she may become a royal concubine."
The head of guard and four others took the fraud away. Before he left the room, he called to the princes and Shukura, "May you all die sooner then fate allows! And may I be there to witness it!"
.
.
Kei managed to sneak away from the concubines, and set out to find Seto or Naeem. Hiding in the shadows, she moved swiftly towards Seto's quarters. As she did, she passed by the Hall of Justice, a small room where the harshest criminals were tortured by Priest Akunadean and his personnel. She shuddered, feeling the presence of many vehement souls crying out from within its walls.
But a familiar voice now shouted from it. She peeked through the lock on the door and listened in.
"So," snapped Atem, "my own position on the matter means nothing?!"
Akunadean, the addressed, replied, "The girl's father made this one of his last requests. Your father has consented to the union. There is nothing you can do about the matter."
"I refuse to marry that woman! Rei, or whatever her name really is, shall NEVER become my queen! I won't have it!!"
Kei gasped. Even though she did not love Atem, she never considered he'd reject her hand.
Shimon and Naeem stood off to one side. "Honored Brother," said Naeem timidly, "he - I mean she - has been our friend for a long time. Why wouldn't y-"
"FRIEND!?! She betrayed us!! I would gladly have put my life in Rei's hands in battle! He became one of my greatest confidants! Almost the only person not united to me by blood I considered a considered a close friend! And this whole time she's deceived us all! The ultimate betrayal of friendship!" Atem held a fist in front of him. "How can I marry someone I don't trust!"
"Honored Brother…" Naeem's voice shook.
"Prince Atem," said Shimon calmly, "please be reasonable!"
"No! Its like she killed my best friend!"
"She is very pretty when dressed like a woman."
"I can't forgive her!!"
Kei's eyes filled with tears. 'Atem…' She wanted to run up to him and apologize, but what happened next stopped her dead.
Akunadean back-handed Atem hard on the side of his face. The high prince flew a couple of feet to his side and landed hard against the wall. Naeem tried to run to him, but Shimon held the boy back.
"You listen here," growled Akunadean. "Your father has worked hard to preserve the sanctity of this family. If you dare defy his wishes, you shall be dragging his great name through the mud! Your forefathers and Lord Osiris will never accept him in their good graces. His name and yours shall become a laughingstock in history! Is that your desire?"
Atem's eyes faced away from Kei. He held his hurt cheek and said nothing, not bothering to look at the priest. Akunadean roared. "Selfish boy! Do you care nothing for anyone but yourself?!"
"Who else would care," said Naeem in an uncharacteristically cold voice. "He can't make his own choices in life! He has to obey the laws!"
Shimon shushed him. "Lord Akunadean, we must be heading over to Pharaoh to inform him we fulfilled our duty. Lady Kei should be ready to see the prince tomorrow."
Atem snorted. Akunadean raised his arm to strike again, and the prince did not flinch. "Stubborn, spoiled brat!"
Naeem ran to his brother's side once the adults' backs were turned. "Honored Brother," he whispered. "I'll tell Father!"
"Don't you dare," Atem hissed. "I won't give him the satisfaction of getting to me!"
"Un!" Naeem nodded and joined Shimon. The three opened the door and walked away, leaving the elder prince alone in that terrible room.
Luckily, the swinging door covered Kei from the adults, and she crept into the Hall. "Atem?"
Atem stood up quickly at the sound of the voice. He glowered when he recognized its owner. "Don't speak to me so informally, madam!"
"Atem, I just wanted to explain!"
"I don't want your explanations! Its inexcusable!" He turned his back to her, fists clenched. "I hate you! I trusted you, and it meant nothing to you!"
"It does!! It does!! Atem, I'm still your friend! I don't want to be forced into something I'm not ready for either!" Tears poured down her eyes. She thought about her love for Seto, and how, if she married Atem, they could never be together again. "Can't you see that?! We're both being forced! Can't you call it off?!"
"No." His hands relaxed, and his voice softened. "I am honor bound. I don't want my family name soiled. We must… We must do our duty. No matter how much we dislike each other."
"I don't 'dislike' you! I just don't love you!"
Atem let out a hollow chuckle. "Love? You think that has anything to do with royal matches? It's the one luxury we are not guaranteed." He looked her up and down. Now that she wore a dress, she looked a lot prettier than before. "You are quite beautiful as a girl. Why did you fool us all, anyway?"
"I told you! I don't want to marry you!"
"Then it looks like we are both in the same fix."
"You forgive me?"
Atem paused. "I'll think about it."
Kei couldn't help but giggle. She and Naeem knew that was Atem's reluctant code for "Yes."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey everyone! Its Kei again!
All of us have been getting really depressed after I joined the concubines. I can't help it!! I don't wanna dress up in dresses, wear make-up, or talk all prim and proper! Seto's lessons have gotten harder, Atem has to shadow his dad all the time, and Naeem's feeling left out. How can we survive this?!?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FW: The next chapter is my last, except for a few fillers.
Bardock: heeheehee
Yami: NOO!!!
Yugi: No more randomness?
Una: I can try for some funny parts, but this is a prequel. Its all background.
Yugi: Who cares? I like seeing Yami's life before he met the rest of us! And I really like Kei's personality!
FW: Aw! =^o^=
Una: Well, don't you worry, Keiko will be in the sequel, and the first three chapters are total humor, with suggestions from FW herself!
Yugi/Yami: YEAH!!
Bardock: Una writing random humor… Does not make sense…
FW: I feel all loved! Read and review!