K Yami Yugi - Yes, that does sound interesting. I'll look it up!
Strawberrylover - Heya! Glad your around! And I notified you!
Shibby-san - [Una talking] Welp, I'm doing a lot more research on Ancient Egypt now, and you have become a major source/inspiration of mine. Yami will remain a brat, but will grow up a bit as time progresses.
Yugiohchix2008 - Welcome to the group! You are too cool! Thanks, Excel Clone #2! (my friend Crystal is #1) Please read Keiko's fic "Runners High" too, okay?
Ente - [Una talking] Hope you're happy, this one is the longest of all of my chapters of all of my fic ever!!
FW: Not mine!! XP
Serafina - Glad to have you back. Don worry, you're always welcome with open arms!!
Jennyfish - YIPPIE!! I real live best friend!! *glomp*
digigirl - Hello my hyper-active-flag-waving-like-japanese-cheeerleader-buddy! Love ya!
Greenwood - Nope, some are longer! ^_^ This one sure is, and I think the one after the next is too.
.
Sorry I updated late.
.
.
.
FW: And now, time for a bit of comparison.
Una: No fair! People are getting to like Kei more than Shukura, just because you make her in a comedic fashion, making her perky and hugable, while Shukura is more serious, maternal, and obsessive with games.
FW: Shukura needs more stage time, is all. They may get to like her.
Bardock: *grins* You goin' down Una! No one will like your serious writing instead of her funny stuff!
Yugi: At least Una-san's makes more sense historically.
Bardock: But FW's makes you feel good!
Yugi: And Una-san's doesn't?
Una: No fighting! No voting! No comparing! No begging! And that goes to the reviewers, too!
Yugi: Don't you have anything to say?
Yami: Why me?
Yugi: You're the only one in it, of course! It all only affects you!
FW: *holds up sign saying "He still doesn't get it, and neither does his baka yami"*
Yami: I'm refraining from saying a word in either's favor because I know whoever I vote against will f**k me up in their writings.
FW: ^_^ Now why would I do that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 6: Caught!
Kei walked through the market place, people turning to stare at such a strange girl. She was skipping along, singing a song to herself, was dressed in boys clothing, and carried a very dangerous looking sword. The bustling marketplace soon forgot about the strange little girl, and moved on with everyday business. Kei stopped and looked around when she arrived at some homes.
"He was in a shack somewhere around here last time I saw him….AH-HA! I found it!" she proclaimed, running over to a dilapidated shack, at the beginning of an alley.
"Ba~ku~ra! Where are y~ou?" Kei said aloud in her sing song voice.
Someone groaned. A teen aged boy moved around under a blanket and sat up.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Bakura asked quite rudely.
"What a tone to take with your best friend!" Kei said, as she looked around his home. "How have you been getting by recently?"
"I have become a thief, like all of my ancestors. Got a problem with that?"
Kei shook her head. "Hey Bakura, on one of your outings…can I come with you? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease?"
"No. No way am I having a energetic little girl who thinks she can fight off anyone come with me. Go home."
Instead of her eyes filling with tears, Kei sliced the hand of someone who was trying to steal Bakura's food.
Bakura watched as the hand recoiled, and cocked an eyebrow. He studied Kei, her body shape, her agility, her choice of clothing and her sword. His answer was still no.
Kei began following him around the market place, begging him to let her come with him. After an hour of this Bakura finally gave in to her biggest puppy dog look she could muster.
"Fine you can come but don't get yourself caught, you hear me?"
.
.
The concubines returned at dusk, to change before their meal, and discovered that there was no weeping Kei in the room. They frantically started searching, and one had enough sense to run to find a priest. Unfortunately for Kei, that priest happened to be Akunadean.
"Priest Akunadean! Priest Akunadean! Please help! Kei has disappeared from the room!"
Akunadean decided to have his men search the palace. "She isn't stupid enough to leave these walls, she knows she would be killed in a minute!" he said to the guards who wanted to look in the city.
Little did they know, two little robbers were causing quite a ruckus in the sleeping city below.
.
.
Kei had tucked her hair under a long black bandanna, so only her curly bangs peeked out from underneath. She also wore a smaller bandanna across her face, so her identity would not be revealed. Her short boys tunic, which barely covered to near begging of her thighs, showed many obvious reasons that she was a girl. Kei had even gotten Bakura to dress in the same manner, only her wore pants and a long shirt. That was the only way you could tell the two apart. Their bangs and what they wore. Bakura's malevolent brown eyes seemed to blend in with his black bandanna and face mask, but Kei's blue green eyes brimmed with curiosity and thus stood out, even on this dark night.
"Do you know what we do?"
"Steal the valuable stuff, and food if we can."
"Don't steal idols of the gods, please, I don't need to be struck down just yet."
"Ok~ay!"
Bakura shook his head and jumped down into the nearest house, followed shortly by Kei. He was amazed at how silently she moved, and she was even able to sooth the animals in the house to sleep. They had a good run, and had two bags stuffed to the brim after a few hours of plundering homes. All was going as planned until someone saw them and screamed: "Look out! Thieves!"
Bakura and Kei quickly glanced at one another and took off, leaving a large dust trail after them.
"This is all your fault!" they both screamed at one another at the same time.
"This isn't the time, it is no one's fault! Just keep running!!!" Bakura said.
They reached the palace walls and Bakura wanted to turn back. Kei threw their bags over and forced him to hide in the gardens.
"Just until the heat dies down. Then maybe in a few days we can steal more, gotcha?"
Bakura meekly nodded from the tree he planned to stay perched in. He planned to get Kei back later and maybe make her think someone snuck up behind her on their next raid. He laughed to himself. He could be so evil sometimes.
Kei snuck back in through the kitchen, making her famous "Ssssssaaaaah" sounds and moves. A light flickered on and a familiar voice talked to her.
"So, you were out with that thief friend of yours, hmm?" Shukura questioned.
Kei stopped dead and sweat dropped. She turned to face her friend and proposed a deal.
"You don't ask, and I won't ask if anything goes missing in the palace." Kei held out her hand.
"Deal." Shukura said, shaking Kei's hand. Kei had found a nice niche where she could hide her treasure, and took the food to the kitchen, and told Shukura to hide it in a special place for her.
"You can eat some to, just don't eat it all ok?" Kei made her promise.
.
.
Kei was tiptoeing down a hallway, then through the throne room, just as dawn was approaching, She could hear people I the dining room, preparing to eat the first meal. She crawled in the back of the room, making sure not to be seen. She looked back and smirked, thinking she had gotten away, when she crawled right into Akunadean. "So there you are."
Kei made a small eep sound and began to run, but failed to noticed Akunadean was holding on to her sash.
"You are in a lot of trouble little girl. Guards, take her away."
Kei thought of something that could get her out of this. She smiled at Akunadean, showing her devious little fang.
"So, you would rather, in front of everyone in the court, have the guards take me away, instead of taking me yourself?"
People began to stare at them. She was mouthing off. Not that she couldn't, she had a right to do so being a concubine, but everyone was afraid to mouth off to Akunadean.
"You dare talk like that to me?"
"Why dare? I can talk to you in such a manner and I think I will. Seems fun!"
Akunadean growled and raised his hand to slap the insolent girl, but stopped.
"Aw, what's the matter? Arm to tired from all that lifting?"
Akunadean clenched his fists and tried not to show this was getting to him.
"Why haven't you summoned your precious guards to take me away? Don't wanna prove my point that you are to old and feeble to drag a little thing like me to the dungeons and whip her till she bleeds?"
At this many people turned their heads and began to snicker at Akunadean. None of them could last remember when he had actually dragged someone and punished them himself.
"Why don't you go sit down, you look so exhausted from all that standing!"
Some of the guards couldn't help it and started laughing out loud, as did the older concubines who were already awake.
"Bitch! Shut your insolent mouth right this instant! I don't understand why they made such a rude and insolent girl such as yourself a concubine! Much less thought of using you as a guard of the pharaoh! You are a worthless excuse for a shaman and concubine."
"Wow, you look like such a little wrinkled dick in a hat when you say that."
Now everyone present was laughing, even Seto and the pharaoh. People began applauding Kei, and Akunadean stormed out of the room.
Kei took a bow, but collapsed on the floor. Some of her caretakers screamed, but the people who knew her didn't worry.
"She just having hunger pains. Just give her some food or drink and she'll perk right back up. See?" Seto said, dangling a pastry in front of her. Kei sniffed for a minute, and bit the pastry, along with Seto's hand.
"AUGH!!!! GET HER OFF!!"
"Mmmm…tasty…." Kei said, half awake and controlled by her hunger.
Seto got her off from his hand, and lead her to the table and sat her down. He counted four seconds before her eyes perked open and she began to feast. The group sighed, and started to wonder about her sanity. They also wondered what she did last night.
"Hmm? That's my little secret!" she said with a cute yet evil little cat face. The pharaoh patted her head and smiled.
"Don't change."
.
.
Naeem returned to the shack once in a while to play or watch the gamblers. All of the men hardly believed he was the son of the Pharaoh; the boy was so small and childish. Then again, his older brother must have inherited all of the princely traits.
One hot summer day, Naeen wiped the sweat from his brow and took off his nemes. "Ah! Much better!"
The others dropped their pebbles and stared. Commoners were forbidden to see the hair of a royal man (other than the pharaoh, if he chose), and this boy so willingly showed it off. Naeem's hair stood up in spikes and was black with red tips. His yellow bangs hung down, drooping in the heat.
"What strange hair," commented Shukura. "Its kind of like your brother's."
Naeem brushed it with his fingers sheepishly. "Un, but not as well kept!" He grabbed a pair of dice. "My turn!"
The games continued as usual until sundown, then they all departed. Naeem waited until he and Shukura were alone before asking, "Are all commoners so poor?"
"Not really. The general populous is very happy with their life." She smiled and ruffled his hair. "I just like helping apples at the bottom of the barrel."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not unless your father or brother understand, or you become a wealthy priest. What will you do when you grow up?"
Naeem shrugged. "Scribe, maybe. Or a doctor. I like helping people, too. But whatever I do, I'll still be sure to help you and your friends."
They walked along the wall and through the servants' entrance of the palace. "I'll never forget the kindness you showed me when I really needed someone."
Shukura opened the door. "I need to be in the kitchens for the feast tonight. You can join your fa-" She was stopped when three large guards grabbed her by the shoulders and tore her shirt.
"SHUKURA!!" Naeem pulled on one of the guard's arms, and was shocked to find it belonged to Karim, a recently ordained priest and friend of his brother's. Karim made the number of priests seven, now that Minkabh was banished and Shadi the new high priest. "Karim! What's going on?!"
Karim bowed to the prince. "Forgive me, Young Prince, but one of the cooks informed us of your occasional meanderings with this woman, and-" He gasped. "Sire! Your hair! You must put on your nemes before anyone else sees!"
"Don't hurt her," Naeem insisted. "Please, she's my friend!"
"She has broken one of the oldest laws in our history," came a deep, calm voice from the kitchen door. Priest Akunadean, head of the punishment of prisoners, beckoned the group over. He was shadowed by Seto. "And so have you, Young Prince. Punishment is in order."
"P-punishment," stammered Naeem. He had passed by the 'Hall of Justice' many times prior, and heard the screams of prisoners being tortured.
"Yes. However, we cannot strike a prince, so I will merely inform your father of this outrage after supper."
One of the guards held up Shukura. "And her?"
Akunadean motioned for them to follow him. They walked into a large room with no windows and lit by only one torch. In the center of the room stood a platform. Next to it, a table with several whips. The Hall of Justice sent chills down the children's spines. Even Seto couldn't stand being in such a place that stank of blood.
"The girl led the prince astray. She must be punished for her crimes and his." He picked up a heavy whip and thrust it into Karim's hands. "At least fifty lashes should suffice."
"Fifty!?" the man exclaimed. "Even a fully grown man would collapse from that!"
"Sir," said Seto anxiously, "that seems a bit harsh to me. Especially for a woman! Remember, she is to be a concubine someday."
"I have not forgotten. But the combined number should fit." He pulled aside his hair, and let his Millennium Eye read Shukura's mind. "She stole the prince away months ago, and they've gone outside the walls several times since."
Naeem stood between Akunadean and Shukura. "I forbid this!"
"Boy, the laws are higher than any runt of a prince to object to them." It was a lie, but he figured Naeem did not know that.
The men dragged Shukura to the platform and stripped her of her filthy shirt. Naeem ignored his embarrassment and tried to run to her rescue, but Karim held him back.
"Naeem," she called out. "Naeem, get out or you'll get in more trouble!"
"You dare," panted Karim enraged, "you dare ... speak the prince's name! Your mouth is unworthy!"
"I deemed it worthy when I told it to her," said Naeem. "If you're so thirsty for blood, then beat me instead!"
The guards nearly dropped her. "But, Sire!"
"I order it," said Naeem, standing tall and proud. "If the law says someone must be punished, then punish me!"
Seto stepped forward, towering over the prince. "Are you a fool? We cannot harm a prince! If a woman cannot survive the thrashes, neither can you!" He added, much softer, "That's why you and your obnoxious brother can get away with murder!"
Naeem's eyes narrowed and he smirked. "Jealous, Seto?"
Karim held the whip up. "Your word, Akunadean?"
Priest Akunadean paused, thinking. At this time no one knew of the evil man's ambition to place his son on the throne, nor that he would one day betray the Nameless Pharaoh and be the direct cause of his imprisonment in the Puzzle. To him, Naeem was yet another obstacle in Seto's road to power. "The prince has given us an order. The laws must be upheld. Spare the girl and give the prince fifty lashes."
"NO!!" Shukura tried to stop the men, but they grabbed the prince, tore off his shirt, and set him on the platform, bent over to receive his blows. Karim walked over to Akunadean. "Pharaoh will be furious."
"I know that," he said. He picked up another whip. "Here, this one is lighter." Karim took the whip, thinking a lighter one would do less damage. In reality each strap held tiny, sharp hooks Akunadean had placed for the more terrible prisoners.
Karim held the whip high above his head, prepared to strike the prince's back, but hesitated. "I do not wish any of this on you, Sire," he whispered.
"I know, Karim," said Naeem. "I forgive you."
The priest nodded, then brought the first blow down hard. Naeem grimaced, but tried not to make a sound. He wanted to prove himself a brave man, like his father and brother.
Shukura let out a wail and sob at each blow instead. She ran out the door to find help.
"Your supposed friend has abandoned you, Young Prince," said Akunadean in a harsh whisper.
Naeem's hands tightened into fists in his pain. 'I'm glad. I don't want her to watch this!'
.
.
Shukura flew down the halls, calling out at the top of her lungs, "Help! Someone help me!"
Most saw her ratty skirt and dirty hair and thought her to be a madwoman. They turned their backs to her, ignoring such obviously idle nonsense. Even the concubines jumped backwards out of her way. Kei was among them, ready for some dinner. When she saw Shukura running down the halls of the palace half naked, she urged her companions to help her.
"Are you insane," gaped one of the women.
"She is a madwoman," said another.
"She's my friend," exclaimed Kei. With that, she sped off to catch up with Shukura.
Scared for Naeem's sake, Shukura finally spotted the one person who she felt could save Naeem. Atem walked towards the dining hall with his trusted friends, Shimon and Priest Mahado. Throwing caution to the wind, she ran straight for him. "Your Highness! Your Highness! Please wait!"
Atem turned around and before he knew it, Shukura had grabbed his arm and started pulling him to follow her. "Your Highness, we must hurry!"
"Here now," said Shimon taking the girl's wrist gently. "What's this all about?"
"Speak civilly, woman," ordered the future pharaoh.
"Shukura, what's wrong," asked Kei.
"Please! Its Naeem! We have to save him!"
The four looked at each other, wide eyed, then back at her. "Which way," demanded Atem.
"This way! Hurry!" She led them all to the small room. By this time, tears flowed from Naeem's eyes, just as blood trickled down his back. The hooks had succeeded in ripping small pieces of flesh from the boy's body, and blood gathered around his feet as he continued to receive blow after blow.
Kei shrieked in horror. "NAEEM!!!"
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF OSIRIS IS THE MEANING OF THIS," roared Atem, absolutely furious.
Terrified, the two guardsmen sank to their knees to grovel, and Naeem fell to the floor. Priest Karim bowed his head. "Forgive us! We were ordered so!"
Shimon and Kei rushed to his side, while Mahado rounded on Karim. "Who ordered this?"
Akunadean stepped forward, annoyed that the carnage had stopped so soon. "The prince has committed several crimes. When we selected this girl to take his punishment, he offered himself instead."
Kei shook the battered prince gently. "Naeem! Naeem, can you hear me?!" Her eyes shone with tears. "Please answer!"
Naeem's eyes slowly opened. "Hi, Kei," he said weakly.
Atem glared at Akunadean. "My father shall find out about this! I'll make sure to it you are tortured for striking a child of royal blood!" He crossed the room to where Shimon and Mahado helped Naeem to his feet. "Little Brother, are you alright?"
"Honored Brother?" Naeem's eyes swam in and out of focus. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to protect my friend." He passed out.
.
.
Atem never left his brother's side all that night. He stayed in the infirmary as the doctors spread medicine over the prince's back, prayed a spell to ward off inflection, injected lotus juice into his blood, and dressed his wounds. He had to sleep on his stomach, blissfully unaware his father threatened to behead Akunadean if he hurt the boy again, or that Karim was suspected of tampering with the whips, or that Kei was furious with Seto for not stopping the whole matter (like he could), or of his older brother's vigil by his bedside.
About an hour before dawn, when the land was at its darkest, Atem began dozing off until he heard a knock at the door. "Naeem," came a whisper. "You awake?"
Shukura entered the room carrying a lit candle, and she squeaked when she saw the older prince sitting there. "Oh! I had no idea anyone else would be here! I'll leave." She bowed over and over, backing away.
"Wait," he said. "Who are you exactly?"
"I - I'm just a servant in the kitchens, Sire."
"I remember you. You're the one Minkabh tried to cheat."
"Your Highness is very perceptive."
"Come. Sit down." She obeyed. "My brother said you are his friend."
"Y-yes, Sire. I sometimes play with him when there are few chores for me to do."
"So, that's why he's been skipping some of his fighting lessons."
"With all due respects, Sire, he seems hardly the likely one to become a warrior. The twerp's much smaller than most boys, and so scrawny!" She covered her mouth. "OH! Forgive me! I often forget he's a prince!"
Atem looked at his brother. "He's also a child. He deserves to act like one once in a while. A prince usually must grow up far too fast."
They sat in silence for a short time. Shukura watched the fire on the candle dance on the wick. She felt so nervous sitting so casually next to the high prince of Kemet. Should her head be lower than his? Should she ask how he is? If he needs anything?
"How old are you?" 'Boy, that was dumb!'
Atem smirked. "I'm thirteen. You?"
"Twelve, almost thirteen."
"Really? I'd have guessed fourteen."
She chuckled. 'He's like a regular kid, only endowed with godly powers and will one day rule the largest kingdom in the east!' "How about your brother?"
"Guess."
"I don't know. Six maybe."
This was Atem's turn to chuckle. "He's ten." His eyes darkened. "He was born very small and weak. My mother died giving birth to him. Father loved her more than life, and for her to die ... Many priests felt it was a bad omen. They suggested we just let Naeem die, as tribute to my mother. But I didn't allow it." He put his hand on the sleeping Naeem's. "Shimon and I made sure he survived. I vowed that I'd never let anything happen to him."
"That's so touching! I never imagined royals had problems like that."
"We are basically human, too." He glanced at her, his red eyes shining in the firelight. "Thank you for calling me. He couldn't have survived much more torture. You saved him."
She blushed and shook her head. "I'm only a servant to my country. You know, he said that you were a good person. I think he lied about you being a bit snobby, though."
"Little Brother never lies. Exaggerates, perhaps, but he's too good to lie. What about your family? How are they?"
"My father was a merchant in the northern regions. He died before I was born. My mother raised me until I was four, then she went missing for a while. I found her, or at least part of her, half buried in the desert." She looked out of the window and into the desert. "Since then, I've wandered down here, trying to find my place in this life."
"How do you survive?"
"Like Captain Armon said, I'm a thief. I also gamble a bit. Okay, a lot! And contrary to popular belief, there IS honor among thieves and gamblers!"
"If you say so."
Their eyes connected. A special bond passed between them that night, an inseparable bond. Fate had destined them to be brought together by Naeem, and in the future, it would happen again. Shukura blushed slightly, taken in by the elegance of His Magesty, still wondering whether or not he actually was sent down from the heavens.
Atem suddenly cleared his throat. "Um, so, are you going to tell anyone else about all of this?"
"No. Naeem would be offended. That's just how he is."
"Yeah." Another uncomfortable silence. "I guess no more games with him," Shukura whispered sadly. "Pharaoh must be furious with me."
"On the contrary," said Atem. "Father is delighted my brother has had a playmate. But in the future, he would prefer a couple of guards to accompany him to your little hide-away."
"My other friends won't like that."
"There's one more condition."
"What?"
Atem smirked and closed his eyes. "I can go too sometimes."
"WHAT?!"
Atem just winked.
"I so glad!"
They jumped at the sound of Naeem's voice. His eyes drooped, and he had a weak smile across his face. "Ah! Finally awake, runt," asked Atem with a wink.
Naeem closed his eyes. "Kin of. I still seepy."
"What," asked Shukura.
"Its the lotus," explained Atem. "It'll dull the pain and the mind for a while. He should be better by morning."
"I so gad yer here," muttered Naeem. "My fabrit peoples in th' world. Now we all friends, right?"
Shukura looked at Atem. "I think so. You?"
"Definitely."
Naeem smiled again, then drifted back off to sleep just as the candle extinguished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yugi: @o@ That was freakin' loooong!!
Bardock: How did you two think up writin' a story together, anyway?
FW: No da?
Bardock: Yer so different!
Una: It makes for a better story, b/c it gives the best of both humor and drama.
FW: Hence the genres.
Yami: As long as Naeem doesn't become a junkie.
Una: He won't. ^_^ I really like Naeem.
Bardock: Shit.
Una: What?
Bardock: That means he's gonna die.
*Una chases Bardock with an eraser*
Strawberrylover - Heya! Glad your around! And I notified you!
Shibby-san - [Una talking] Welp, I'm doing a lot more research on Ancient Egypt now, and you have become a major source/inspiration of mine. Yami will remain a brat, but will grow up a bit as time progresses.
Yugiohchix2008 - Welcome to the group! You are too cool! Thanks, Excel Clone #2! (my friend Crystal is #1) Please read Keiko's fic "Runners High" too, okay?
Ente - [Una talking] Hope you're happy, this one is the longest of all of my chapters of all of my fic ever!!
FW: Not mine!! XP
Serafina - Glad to have you back. Don worry, you're always welcome with open arms!!
Jennyfish - YIPPIE!! I real live best friend!! *glomp*
digigirl - Hello my hyper-active-flag-waving-like-japanese-cheeerleader-buddy! Love ya!
Greenwood - Nope, some are longer! ^_^ This one sure is, and I think the one after the next is too.
.
Sorry I updated late.
.
.
.
FW: And now, time for a bit of comparison.
Una: No fair! People are getting to like Kei more than Shukura, just because you make her in a comedic fashion, making her perky and hugable, while Shukura is more serious, maternal, and obsessive with games.
FW: Shukura needs more stage time, is all. They may get to like her.
Bardock: *grins* You goin' down Una! No one will like your serious writing instead of her funny stuff!
Yugi: At least Una-san's makes more sense historically.
Bardock: But FW's makes you feel good!
Yugi: And Una-san's doesn't?
Una: No fighting! No voting! No comparing! No begging! And that goes to the reviewers, too!
Yugi: Don't you have anything to say?
Yami: Why me?
Yugi: You're the only one in it, of course! It all only affects you!
FW: *holds up sign saying "He still doesn't get it, and neither does his baka yami"*
Yami: I'm refraining from saying a word in either's favor because I know whoever I vote against will f**k me up in their writings.
FW: ^_^ Now why would I do that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 6: Caught!
Kei walked through the market place, people turning to stare at such a strange girl. She was skipping along, singing a song to herself, was dressed in boys clothing, and carried a very dangerous looking sword. The bustling marketplace soon forgot about the strange little girl, and moved on with everyday business. Kei stopped and looked around when she arrived at some homes.
"He was in a shack somewhere around here last time I saw him….AH-HA! I found it!" she proclaimed, running over to a dilapidated shack, at the beginning of an alley.
"Ba~ku~ra! Where are y~ou?" Kei said aloud in her sing song voice.
Someone groaned. A teen aged boy moved around under a blanket and sat up.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Bakura asked quite rudely.
"What a tone to take with your best friend!" Kei said, as she looked around his home. "How have you been getting by recently?"
"I have become a thief, like all of my ancestors. Got a problem with that?"
Kei shook her head. "Hey Bakura, on one of your outings…can I come with you? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease?"
"No. No way am I having a energetic little girl who thinks she can fight off anyone come with me. Go home."
Instead of her eyes filling with tears, Kei sliced the hand of someone who was trying to steal Bakura's food.
Bakura watched as the hand recoiled, and cocked an eyebrow. He studied Kei, her body shape, her agility, her choice of clothing and her sword. His answer was still no.
Kei began following him around the market place, begging him to let her come with him. After an hour of this Bakura finally gave in to her biggest puppy dog look she could muster.
"Fine you can come but don't get yourself caught, you hear me?"
.
.
The concubines returned at dusk, to change before their meal, and discovered that there was no weeping Kei in the room. They frantically started searching, and one had enough sense to run to find a priest. Unfortunately for Kei, that priest happened to be Akunadean.
"Priest Akunadean! Priest Akunadean! Please help! Kei has disappeared from the room!"
Akunadean decided to have his men search the palace. "She isn't stupid enough to leave these walls, she knows she would be killed in a minute!" he said to the guards who wanted to look in the city.
Little did they know, two little robbers were causing quite a ruckus in the sleeping city below.
.
.
Kei had tucked her hair under a long black bandanna, so only her curly bangs peeked out from underneath. She also wore a smaller bandanna across her face, so her identity would not be revealed. Her short boys tunic, which barely covered to near begging of her thighs, showed many obvious reasons that she was a girl. Kei had even gotten Bakura to dress in the same manner, only her wore pants and a long shirt. That was the only way you could tell the two apart. Their bangs and what they wore. Bakura's malevolent brown eyes seemed to blend in with his black bandanna and face mask, but Kei's blue green eyes brimmed with curiosity and thus stood out, even on this dark night.
"Do you know what we do?"
"Steal the valuable stuff, and food if we can."
"Don't steal idols of the gods, please, I don't need to be struck down just yet."
"Ok~ay!"
Bakura shook his head and jumped down into the nearest house, followed shortly by Kei. He was amazed at how silently she moved, and she was even able to sooth the animals in the house to sleep. They had a good run, and had two bags stuffed to the brim after a few hours of plundering homes. All was going as planned until someone saw them and screamed: "Look out! Thieves!"
Bakura and Kei quickly glanced at one another and took off, leaving a large dust trail after them.
"This is all your fault!" they both screamed at one another at the same time.
"This isn't the time, it is no one's fault! Just keep running!!!" Bakura said.
They reached the palace walls and Bakura wanted to turn back. Kei threw their bags over and forced him to hide in the gardens.
"Just until the heat dies down. Then maybe in a few days we can steal more, gotcha?"
Bakura meekly nodded from the tree he planned to stay perched in. He planned to get Kei back later and maybe make her think someone snuck up behind her on their next raid. He laughed to himself. He could be so evil sometimes.
Kei snuck back in through the kitchen, making her famous "Ssssssaaaaah" sounds and moves. A light flickered on and a familiar voice talked to her.
"So, you were out with that thief friend of yours, hmm?" Shukura questioned.
Kei stopped dead and sweat dropped. She turned to face her friend and proposed a deal.
"You don't ask, and I won't ask if anything goes missing in the palace." Kei held out her hand.
"Deal." Shukura said, shaking Kei's hand. Kei had found a nice niche where she could hide her treasure, and took the food to the kitchen, and told Shukura to hide it in a special place for her.
"You can eat some to, just don't eat it all ok?" Kei made her promise.
.
.
Kei was tiptoeing down a hallway, then through the throne room, just as dawn was approaching, She could hear people I the dining room, preparing to eat the first meal. She crawled in the back of the room, making sure not to be seen. She looked back and smirked, thinking she had gotten away, when she crawled right into Akunadean. "So there you are."
Kei made a small eep sound and began to run, but failed to noticed Akunadean was holding on to her sash.
"You are in a lot of trouble little girl. Guards, take her away."
Kei thought of something that could get her out of this. She smiled at Akunadean, showing her devious little fang.
"So, you would rather, in front of everyone in the court, have the guards take me away, instead of taking me yourself?"
People began to stare at them. She was mouthing off. Not that she couldn't, she had a right to do so being a concubine, but everyone was afraid to mouth off to Akunadean.
"You dare talk like that to me?"
"Why dare? I can talk to you in such a manner and I think I will. Seems fun!"
Akunadean growled and raised his hand to slap the insolent girl, but stopped.
"Aw, what's the matter? Arm to tired from all that lifting?"
Akunadean clenched his fists and tried not to show this was getting to him.
"Why haven't you summoned your precious guards to take me away? Don't wanna prove my point that you are to old and feeble to drag a little thing like me to the dungeons and whip her till she bleeds?"
At this many people turned their heads and began to snicker at Akunadean. None of them could last remember when he had actually dragged someone and punished them himself.
"Why don't you go sit down, you look so exhausted from all that standing!"
Some of the guards couldn't help it and started laughing out loud, as did the older concubines who were already awake.
"Bitch! Shut your insolent mouth right this instant! I don't understand why they made such a rude and insolent girl such as yourself a concubine! Much less thought of using you as a guard of the pharaoh! You are a worthless excuse for a shaman and concubine."
"Wow, you look like such a little wrinkled dick in a hat when you say that."
Now everyone present was laughing, even Seto and the pharaoh. People began applauding Kei, and Akunadean stormed out of the room.
Kei took a bow, but collapsed on the floor. Some of her caretakers screamed, but the people who knew her didn't worry.
"She just having hunger pains. Just give her some food or drink and she'll perk right back up. See?" Seto said, dangling a pastry in front of her. Kei sniffed for a minute, and bit the pastry, along with Seto's hand.
"AUGH!!!! GET HER OFF!!"
"Mmmm…tasty…." Kei said, half awake and controlled by her hunger.
Seto got her off from his hand, and lead her to the table and sat her down. He counted four seconds before her eyes perked open and she began to feast. The group sighed, and started to wonder about her sanity. They also wondered what she did last night.
"Hmm? That's my little secret!" she said with a cute yet evil little cat face. The pharaoh patted her head and smiled.
"Don't change."
.
.
Naeem returned to the shack once in a while to play or watch the gamblers. All of the men hardly believed he was the son of the Pharaoh; the boy was so small and childish. Then again, his older brother must have inherited all of the princely traits.
One hot summer day, Naeen wiped the sweat from his brow and took off his nemes. "Ah! Much better!"
The others dropped their pebbles and stared. Commoners were forbidden to see the hair of a royal man (other than the pharaoh, if he chose), and this boy so willingly showed it off. Naeem's hair stood up in spikes and was black with red tips. His yellow bangs hung down, drooping in the heat.
"What strange hair," commented Shukura. "Its kind of like your brother's."
Naeem brushed it with his fingers sheepishly. "Un, but not as well kept!" He grabbed a pair of dice. "My turn!"
The games continued as usual until sundown, then they all departed. Naeem waited until he and Shukura were alone before asking, "Are all commoners so poor?"
"Not really. The general populous is very happy with their life." She smiled and ruffled his hair. "I just like helping apples at the bottom of the barrel."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not unless your father or brother understand, or you become a wealthy priest. What will you do when you grow up?"
Naeem shrugged. "Scribe, maybe. Or a doctor. I like helping people, too. But whatever I do, I'll still be sure to help you and your friends."
They walked along the wall and through the servants' entrance of the palace. "I'll never forget the kindness you showed me when I really needed someone."
Shukura opened the door. "I need to be in the kitchens for the feast tonight. You can join your fa-" She was stopped when three large guards grabbed her by the shoulders and tore her shirt.
"SHUKURA!!" Naeem pulled on one of the guard's arms, and was shocked to find it belonged to Karim, a recently ordained priest and friend of his brother's. Karim made the number of priests seven, now that Minkabh was banished and Shadi the new high priest. "Karim! What's going on?!"
Karim bowed to the prince. "Forgive me, Young Prince, but one of the cooks informed us of your occasional meanderings with this woman, and-" He gasped. "Sire! Your hair! You must put on your nemes before anyone else sees!"
"Don't hurt her," Naeem insisted. "Please, she's my friend!"
"She has broken one of the oldest laws in our history," came a deep, calm voice from the kitchen door. Priest Akunadean, head of the punishment of prisoners, beckoned the group over. He was shadowed by Seto. "And so have you, Young Prince. Punishment is in order."
"P-punishment," stammered Naeem. He had passed by the 'Hall of Justice' many times prior, and heard the screams of prisoners being tortured.
"Yes. However, we cannot strike a prince, so I will merely inform your father of this outrage after supper."
One of the guards held up Shukura. "And her?"
Akunadean motioned for them to follow him. They walked into a large room with no windows and lit by only one torch. In the center of the room stood a platform. Next to it, a table with several whips. The Hall of Justice sent chills down the children's spines. Even Seto couldn't stand being in such a place that stank of blood.
"The girl led the prince astray. She must be punished for her crimes and his." He picked up a heavy whip and thrust it into Karim's hands. "At least fifty lashes should suffice."
"Fifty!?" the man exclaimed. "Even a fully grown man would collapse from that!"
"Sir," said Seto anxiously, "that seems a bit harsh to me. Especially for a woman! Remember, she is to be a concubine someday."
"I have not forgotten. But the combined number should fit." He pulled aside his hair, and let his Millennium Eye read Shukura's mind. "She stole the prince away months ago, and they've gone outside the walls several times since."
Naeem stood between Akunadean and Shukura. "I forbid this!"
"Boy, the laws are higher than any runt of a prince to object to them." It was a lie, but he figured Naeem did not know that.
The men dragged Shukura to the platform and stripped her of her filthy shirt. Naeem ignored his embarrassment and tried to run to her rescue, but Karim held him back.
"Naeem," she called out. "Naeem, get out or you'll get in more trouble!"
"You dare," panted Karim enraged, "you dare ... speak the prince's name! Your mouth is unworthy!"
"I deemed it worthy when I told it to her," said Naeem. "If you're so thirsty for blood, then beat me instead!"
The guards nearly dropped her. "But, Sire!"
"I order it," said Naeem, standing tall and proud. "If the law says someone must be punished, then punish me!"
Seto stepped forward, towering over the prince. "Are you a fool? We cannot harm a prince! If a woman cannot survive the thrashes, neither can you!" He added, much softer, "That's why you and your obnoxious brother can get away with murder!"
Naeem's eyes narrowed and he smirked. "Jealous, Seto?"
Karim held the whip up. "Your word, Akunadean?"
Priest Akunadean paused, thinking. At this time no one knew of the evil man's ambition to place his son on the throne, nor that he would one day betray the Nameless Pharaoh and be the direct cause of his imprisonment in the Puzzle. To him, Naeem was yet another obstacle in Seto's road to power. "The prince has given us an order. The laws must be upheld. Spare the girl and give the prince fifty lashes."
"NO!!" Shukura tried to stop the men, but they grabbed the prince, tore off his shirt, and set him on the platform, bent over to receive his blows. Karim walked over to Akunadean. "Pharaoh will be furious."
"I know that," he said. He picked up another whip. "Here, this one is lighter." Karim took the whip, thinking a lighter one would do less damage. In reality each strap held tiny, sharp hooks Akunadean had placed for the more terrible prisoners.
Karim held the whip high above his head, prepared to strike the prince's back, but hesitated. "I do not wish any of this on you, Sire," he whispered.
"I know, Karim," said Naeem. "I forgive you."
The priest nodded, then brought the first blow down hard. Naeem grimaced, but tried not to make a sound. He wanted to prove himself a brave man, like his father and brother.
Shukura let out a wail and sob at each blow instead. She ran out the door to find help.
"Your supposed friend has abandoned you, Young Prince," said Akunadean in a harsh whisper.
Naeem's hands tightened into fists in his pain. 'I'm glad. I don't want her to watch this!'
.
.
Shukura flew down the halls, calling out at the top of her lungs, "Help! Someone help me!"
Most saw her ratty skirt and dirty hair and thought her to be a madwoman. They turned their backs to her, ignoring such obviously idle nonsense. Even the concubines jumped backwards out of her way. Kei was among them, ready for some dinner. When she saw Shukura running down the halls of the palace half naked, she urged her companions to help her.
"Are you insane," gaped one of the women.
"She is a madwoman," said another.
"She's my friend," exclaimed Kei. With that, she sped off to catch up with Shukura.
Scared for Naeem's sake, Shukura finally spotted the one person who she felt could save Naeem. Atem walked towards the dining hall with his trusted friends, Shimon and Priest Mahado. Throwing caution to the wind, she ran straight for him. "Your Highness! Your Highness! Please wait!"
Atem turned around and before he knew it, Shukura had grabbed his arm and started pulling him to follow her. "Your Highness, we must hurry!"
"Here now," said Shimon taking the girl's wrist gently. "What's this all about?"
"Speak civilly, woman," ordered the future pharaoh.
"Shukura, what's wrong," asked Kei.
"Please! Its Naeem! We have to save him!"
The four looked at each other, wide eyed, then back at her. "Which way," demanded Atem.
"This way! Hurry!" She led them all to the small room. By this time, tears flowed from Naeem's eyes, just as blood trickled down his back. The hooks had succeeded in ripping small pieces of flesh from the boy's body, and blood gathered around his feet as he continued to receive blow after blow.
Kei shrieked in horror. "NAEEM!!!"
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF OSIRIS IS THE MEANING OF THIS," roared Atem, absolutely furious.
Terrified, the two guardsmen sank to their knees to grovel, and Naeem fell to the floor. Priest Karim bowed his head. "Forgive us! We were ordered so!"
Shimon and Kei rushed to his side, while Mahado rounded on Karim. "Who ordered this?"
Akunadean stepped forward, annoyed that the carnage had stopped so soon. "The prince has committed several crimes. When we selected this girl to take his punishment, he offered himself instead."
Kei shook the battered prince gently. "Naeem! Naeem, can you hear me?!" Her eyes shone with tears. "Please answer!"
Naeem's eyes slowly opened. "Hi, Kei," he said weakly.
Atem glared at Akunadean. "My father shall find out about this! I'll make sure to it you are tortured for striking a child of royal blood!" He crossed the room to where Shimon and Mahado helped Naeem to his feet. "Little Brother, are you alright?"
"Honored Brother?" Naeem's eyes swam in and out of focus. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to protect my friend." He passed out.
.
.
Atem never left his brother's side all that night. He stayed in the infirmary as the doctors spread medicine over the prince's back, prayed a spell to ward off inflection, injected lotus juice into his blood, and dressed his wounds. He had to sleep on his stomach, blissfully unaware his father threatened to behead Akunadean if he hurt the boy again, or that Karim was suspected of tampering with the whips, or that Kei was furious with Seto for not stopping the whole matter (like he could), or of his older brother's vigil by his bedside.
About an hour before dawn, when the land was at its darkest, Atem began dozing off until he heard a knock at the door. "Naeem," came a whisper. "You awake?"
Shukura entered the room carrying a lit candle, and she squeaked when she saw the older prince sitting there. "Oh! I had no idea anyone else would be here! I'll leave." She bowed over and over, backing away.
"Wait," he said. "Who are you exactly?"
"I - I'm just a servant in the kitchens, Sire."
"I remember you. You're the one Minkabh tried to cheat."
"Your Highness is very perceptive."
"Come. Sit down." She obeyed. "My brother said you are his friend."
"Y-yes, Sire. I sometimes play with him when there are few chores for me to do."
"So, that's why he's been skipping some of his fighting lessons."
"With all due respects, Sire, he seems hardly the likely one to become a warrior. The twerp's much smaller than most boys, and so scrawny!" She covered her mouth. "OH! Forgive me! I often forget he's a prince!"
Atem looked at his brother. "He's also a child. He deserves to act like one once in a while. A prince usually must grow up far too fast."
They sat in silence for a short time. Shukura watched the fire on the candle dance on the wick. She felt so nervous sitting so casually next to the high prince of Kemet. Should her head be lower than his? Should she ask how he is? If he needs anything?
"How old are you?" 'Boy, that was dumb!'
Atem smirked. "I'm thirteen. You?"
"Twelve, almost thirteen."
"Really? I'd have guessed fourteen."
She chuckled. 'He's like a regular kid, only endowed with godly powers and will one day rule the largest kingdom in the east!' "How about your brother?"
"Guess."
"I don't know. Six maybe."
This was Atem's turn to chuckle. "He's ten." His eyes darkened. "He was born very small and weak. My mother died giving birth to him. Father loved her more than life, and for her to die ... Many priests felt it was a bad omen. They suggested we just let Naeem die, as tribute to my mother. But I didn't allow it." He put his hand on the sleeping Naeem's. "Shimon and I made sure he survived. I vowed that I'd never let anything happen to him."
"That's so touching! I never imagined royals had problems like that."
"We are basically human, too." He glanced at her, his red eyes shining in the firelight. "Thank you for calling me. He couldn't have survived much more torture. You saved him."
She blushed and shook her head. "I'm only a servant to my country. You know, he said that you were a good person. I think he lied about you being a bit snobby, though."
"Little Brother never lies. Exaggerates, perhaps, but he's too good to lie. What about your family? How are they?"
"My father was a merchant in the northern regions. He died before I was born. My mother raised me until I was four, then she went missing for a while. I found her, or at least part of her, half buried in the desert." She looked out of the window and into the desert. "Since then, I've wandered down here, trying to find my place in this life."
"How do you survive?"
"Like Captain Armon said, I'm a thief. I also gamble a bit. Okay, a lot! And contrary to popular belief, there IS honor among thieves and gamblers!"
"If you say so."
Their eyes connected. A special bond passed between them that night, an inseparable bond. Fate had destined them to be brought together by Naeem, and in the future, it would happen again. Shukura blushed slightly, taken in by the elegance of His Magesty, still wondering whether or not he actually was sent down from the heavens.
Atem suddenly cleared his throat. "Um, so, are you going to tell anyone else about all of this?"
"No. Naeem would be offended. That's just how he is."
"Yeah." Another uncomfortable silence. "I guess no more games with him," Shukura whispered sadly. "Pharaoh must be furious with me."
"On the contrary," said Atem. "Father is delighted my brother has had a playmate. But in the future, he would prefer a couple of guards to accompany him to your little hide-away."
"My other friends won't like that."
"There's one more condition."
"What?"
Atem smirked and closed his eyes. "I can go too sometimes."
"WHAT?!"
Atem just winked.
"I so glad!"
They jumped at the sound of Naeem's voice. His eyes drooped, and he had a weak smile across his face. "Ah! Finally awake, runt," asked Atem with a wink.
Naeem closed his eyes. "Kin of. I still seepy."
"What," asked Shukura.
"Its the lotus," explained Atem. "It'll dull the pain and the mind for a while. He should be better by morning."
"I so gad yer here," muttered Naeem. "My fabrit peoples in th' world. Now we all friends, right?"
Shukura looked at Atem. "I think so. You?"
"Definitely."
Naeem smiled again, then drifted back off to sleep just as the candle extinguished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yugi: @o@ That was freakin' loooong!!
Bardock: How did you two think up writin' a story together, anyway?
FW: No da?
Bardock: Yer so different!
Una: It makes for a better story, b/c it gives the best of both humor and drama.
FW: Hence the genres.
Yami: As long as Naeem doesn't become a junkie.
Una: He won't. ^_^ I really like Naeem.
Bardock: Shit.
Una: What?
Bardock: That means he's gonna die.
*Una chases Bardock with an eraser*