DISCLAIMER: Welcome! I am Nuin and I will be your guide as we embark on this wondrous tour of Yugi-Oh and Yaoi-land. Now remember that feeding and petting the characters is forbidden at all times. I do not wish for them to run off with any of you, which would result in disabling me from writing the rest of the story. Please keep your arms and legs inside the moving vehicle as I do not wish to receive any lawsuits containing dismemberment of tour-guests. Thank you.

WARNING: May I also kindly remind you that this story is in fact a Yaoi-story. Which means lovers of the same gender. Anyone with restrictions against this form of love is asked to please leave the premises as it will probably upset the characters. Now if you'll please turn to your right, I believe that we are in for a treat as the characters begin on a new story.

Born to Servitude

By Nuin

11. Just like magic.

Furious would be a mild term to use for the young man, who was currently walking down the hall, two guards at each side of him, now the term 'ready to let the world pummel into eternal darkness, while laughing maniacally at its ultimate fate' would be more correct. He glared curtly at the guards, then decided to just stare directly in front of him, while ignoring the two idiots beside him.

He was to be taken to see the Pharaoh, the young Atemu Panseru, who had taken over after his old, crippled father's death. So the old manipulating bastard was finally dead, good, but what was the new ruler like? His initiation had only occurred mere five months ago and so far he had not seen anything, which could help in deciding whether he liked the new ruler or not, so for now he would just go with 'not'.

The guards turned around a corner and stopped in front the entrance to the grand throne room. He too was forced to stop dead in his tracks, seeing as dumb and dumber wouldn't let him get any further. He growled slightly in annoyance at their manhandling of him. And his wounds from two weeks ago had just partially healed over, he hated to admit that the healers had done a good job. But they hadn't let him out of their sight for twelve days and he had grown tired of having them hovering around him every day he had been confined to that room.

The doors to the throne room opened slowly and only at a bare minimum, just enough to let the two guards and himself pass through. A figure shrouded in shadows at the end of the room gestured for the guards to leave them, they did so without the slightest hesitation and the doors closed immediately afterwards leaving the two of them alone in the dim room.

He gulped nervously, it was almost as dark as the tomb in which he had nearly been buried alive, when several of the walls caved in. Why was it again that he had gotten into the profession of robbing tombs. Oh, yeah, the dead couldn't hit him back, as long as he was careful not to trigger any of the traps, he would be safe and the gods could kiss his lily-white ass. They had caused him nothing but trouble so far, his village was gone, it was the will of the gods, he was alone and starving, it was the will of the gods. The priests sure had answers for everything, didn't they?

He turned his attention once again to the shadowy figure perched on a grand throne, his jaw cradled by one hand, the arm resting on his knee, even though it was dark, he was sure he could see the other smirk slightly. He had made his decision concerning the bratty Pharaoh, he certainly didn't like him and he hadn't even spoken to him yet.

Atemu watched with carefully hidden amusement as the white-haired thief cursed silently under his breath. So this was the one who had stolen one of the Seven. The youth was a treat to the eyes. He wasn't specifically tall nor short, white alabaster skin and a sleek figure, a slim face with brown eyes narrowed in anger, directed towards him. But what stood out the most, especially in the dark room, was his silvery-white hair that cascaded down his back ending just below his shoulders.

He quickly averted his eyes to the wall behind the youth, the other may be beautiful yes, but he was a thief and a murderer. And he had stolen one of the most powerful treasures in the land of Kemet, the Ring of the Seven. Atemu straightened his back and fixed a glare a the white-haired youth, authority was the key element if he wished to find out what he had done with the golden ring.

He rose from the throne, his robes billowing out behind him as he approached the other male. A cold expression on his face, crimson eyes narrowed in contemplation. He stopped a few feet from the youth, setting up another smirk.

"I am sure you know who I am, do you not?"

"Yes." Bakura ground out, teeth gnawing against each other and a glare directed against the ruler of the lands.

"You know why you are here? No? I will tell you, otherwise there is no purpose in being here, now is there?" Still the cold smirk was in place, Atemu was playing his part well, never showing hesitation. The High Council had been giving him more and more advice over the last few months, how to act in public as Pharaoh and how to deal with certain problems. He was supposed to be aloof and superior to the people, he was their protector and he should act the part or they would never respect or follow him.

Bakura didn't answer and Atemu continued undisturbed. "What I want from you...is to know what you have done with the Ring. You murdered a man, a priest, to get it. So I take it must be precious to you or have you not discovered its true worth and sold it to some third rate merchant?"

"..." Bakura didn't know what to answer, he had been found out yet again. The scar on his cheek told its own tale quite clearly. But he didn't know where the ring was and even if he did he wouldn't tell the Pharaoh anything. He wouldn't. Suddenly he felt a cool breath on his neck making the small hairs rise, he turned to see the Pharaoh looking at him from a very close distance, close enough to touch. A finger trailed the outline of his bare chest, while the other male continued to stare at him. Bakura felt himself flush, no one had ever been this close to him, except his parents, he gulped nervously. Atemu leaned closer to his ear and whispered.

"I wish for you to think about it, tell me where the Ring is and I will set you free." No response. "No? Then you will go back to the High Priest's chambers, after all you are his slave." Atemu drew back and turned his back on the quivering youth, striding to the throne. "You may leave."

Bakura scrambled out of the room, face burning red and one thought on his mind. He was right, he didn't like the new ruler. He hated him.

Yugi could almost hear the crickets singing inside his head, Yami was awfully quiet. He had been withdrawing more and more over the past two weeks, claiming he needed to think and Yugi being the considerate and caring light that he was didn't pry any further...not. Right now he was on the edge of bursting with curiosity. Damn it, he wanted to know what Yami was doing and he was going to find out, even if he had to pull out the dreaded puppy-dog eyes Yami feared the most. If he were to do exactly that, then Yami would crack within seconds, but he wasn't that cruel...yet.

But he was going to find out, so he decided to start out lightly without much pressure and in a soft voice he asked through their mental connection.

'Yami? Are you okay?'

No answer. He tried again a little more persistent and a bit louder.

'Yaaaami?'

What was he doing? Had he locked and bolted the door to his soul room? Perhaps if he yelled really loud it would work. Even Seto, deeply engrossed in his work, took notice of him, when he yelled at the top of his lunges and Seto was known to cut off the rest of the world, when he worked. Okay, one more go.

'YAAAAAAAAMI!'

'Ow. Aibou you don't have to yell so loudly. I am not deaf.'

'I know!' Yugi chirped happily having finally gotten his yami's attention.

'Okay? What is it you want, Aibou? Is something wrong? Did someone hurt you?' Yami's voice was immediately laced with concern for his light and already thinking up plans of how it would be easiest get rid of anyone wanting to harm his Yugi.

'No, I'm alright. But I want to know what you're doing. You've barely spoken to me in two weeks. Are you okay?' Yugi sniffed a little bit for extra effect, making Yami's resolve crumple without must resistance. Damn, he was good. Yugi couldn't help but smirk a little bit to himself in praise of his excellent abilities to make Yami spill.

'I have been thinking.'

'I can tell.'

'Aibou!'

'Sorry, go on.'

A soft, yielding and yet exasperated sigh was heard. 'The night, when Jounouchi-kun disappeared, I thought for one moment that I had felt powerful magic being cast. Perhaps it was just the damned Tomb Robber, who used a spell to make the pillows extra hard in your all out pillow fight, rather childish if you ask me.'

'I'm not asking.'

'Thought as much. But what if that which I felt wasn't the Tomb Robber? What if Jou-kun did not disappear or was kidnapped, but a spell was cast to get rid of him?'

'Yami, do you know what you're saying...But who would ever do such a thing and at that...to Jou-kun.'

'I do not know, I am not even sure how I first thought of this. Now that I think about it seems so utterly ridicules. Why would anyone resort to magic to get rid of someone? It does not add up. I am going to research it somewhat more meticulously.' With that final statement Yami cut off their connection leaving Yugi practically in the dark...and the crickets were back.

So Yami Bakura had cast a spell that night? So that was why Ryou had won the fight, his yami had cheated and helped his light. But perhaps he had sensed something akin to the 'magic' Yami thought he had felt. What if this was it? This was how Jou disappeared, thinking about the last few years of his life, it suddenly didn't sound all that impossible and unbelievable. After all he had a five thousand year old spirit living in a gold puzzle around his neck and sharing his body.

He glanced briefly at the clock on the bedside table, 9.15 p.m., not to late to make a quick phone call to a certain white haired friend. He scrambled out of the room and down the stairs grabbing the phone on his way to the living room. Having a cordless phone made his life a hell of a lot easier and he appreciated it gratefully as he flopped down on the couch, making himself comfortable.

He quickly dialed the required number and waited for someone to pick up in the other end of the line. He wasn't disappointed, when he was answered shortly after.

"Bakura Ryou speaking." His voice was tired and strained, sounding like he was trying to suppress a yawn.

"It's Yugi, did I wake you?" Yugi's voice was timid, feeling sorry for his friend if he had indeed woken him up.

"No, no I was just finishing up on some history homework." Oh, homework for Mrs. Karasu, no wonder Ryou sounded so tired, even the assignments she gave them were boring as were her lessons. He then gagged as he realized he had yet to complete them. It would probably take all night. "What did you want anyway?" Ryou suddenly sounded more alert and exited, of course anything else but history assignments was exiting.

"I was talking with Yami and he mentioned something about sensing magic being used the night Jou-kun disappeared. He said that your yami had used magic, but that he also had felt something else. What I want to ask is that perhaps your yami felt something as well?" Yugi dearly hoped so, it would finally give them a lead to follow.

"Umm...wait a minute, I'll ask him." A eerie silence followed, Yugi could feel his heart nearly constricting in his throat at the prospect of Ryou's answer to be the one he wanted. If it was so they would have gotten further in their research in 20 minutes than they had in two months. They would finally have the means to figure out what really happened to Jou and perhaps, no not perhaps, they would have a chance to get him home were he belonged.

"Yugi-kun? Are you there?" Yugi blushed scarlet at the fact that he had been caught drifting off, but quickly assured Ryou with a 'yes, he was still there'. Ryou cleared his throat on the other end of the line as if it took great strength to say what he wanted to say next. "Yami said that he had cast the spell on the pillows that night allowing me to win, but I assume that it is not what you wanted to hear." Yugi gave him an affirmative on that, he could almost hear how his hopes and his heart dropped to the ground, plummeting into nothingness. "But...he also said that he had felt someone else casting magic, though he just thought it was your yami's doing."

"R-Ryou-kun? Your yami didn't say anything about the foreign magic, d-did he?" This could be it. The truth would be revealed.

"Only that he couldn't identify it and that it was very powerful. Do you think this has something to do with Jou-kun's disappearance? Is that it? You still haven't come to terms with him being gone, have you? Jou-kun has been gone for two months, nearly three, perhaps it would be better if you moved on. I know he was your best friend, but Yugi..."

"No buts, Ryou." Yugi hissed, voice filled with malice and yet, grief as well. He sighed and raised his hand to cradle his forehead, willing the pressuring headache to leave. "Ryou-kun, I won't give up on him. If magic really was what happened to him, then maybe, just maybe he is out there somewhere and is trying to get home. How would he feel and what would he think, if he knew that we had given up on him. I have to keep hoping, I simply have to." The last words were uttered in a hushed whisper as if they were the most precious words in the world.

"It's okay Yugi-kun, if this is what happened, we'll get him back, don't you worry, we'll get him back home. Go get some rest, you sound like you need it. Alright?" Yugi just nodded and stifled a yawn, even though he knew Ryou couldn't see him, he said goodnight and hung up. He let his hand rest on the phone for a few seconds, stifling another yawn. Ryou was right, he should get some rest, history would just have to wait. And with he went up to his room, jumped on his bed and snuggled under the covers, not minding the fact that he hadn't changed to his pajamas.

He silently crept across the floor, careful not to let Seth know he had left their bed. The other was still snuggled up in the sheets snoring softly, who would thought that Kaiba Seto's past incarnation would be this cuddly in bed, he suddenly wondered if Kaiba himself would be like this after sex. Hmm. The prospects of the image sent shivers down his spine. If he was lucky he would find out. He had a chance and he was going to use it.

Checking that Seth was still sleeping, he had after all worn the other out, he stealthily swept over to the door adjoining his own room with Seth's. He opened it slowly, crept through and closed it again. So far, so good. Walking over to the wooden chest at the far end of the room he took in every sound and form. He couldn't help but accidentally hum the theme to Mission Impossible as he felt like a secret spy on a mission.

He opened the lock on the chest and rummaged through the linens and clothes in it to find what he had hidden there two weeks ago. Seth had promised never to go through his personal items and so he had thought it best to hide it here. His hand stumbled against something hard and he knew he had found it. He took the ring out of its clothed hiding and stared at it. It was quite beautiful, the gold shimmering in the pale moonlight streaming in from the window.

He quickly put the cord around his neck, not wanting to loose it and turned to his bed. Sitting down, he scrutinized the ring once again. How to make this work? He had heard from Yugi that every time he met Shadi, the other had traveled across great distances with the aid of the Shadow Realm and its powers. So perhaps it would be able to bring him back home, even cross the boundaries of time.

He positioned himself cross-legged on the bed and tapped his chin thoughtfully. He tried rubbing the ring, wishing for a spirit or a genie to come out and grant his deepest desire. Nothing. He tried concentrating solely on the ring willing the Shadow Realm to appear on bring him back home. Still nothing. Over the next couple of minutes he tried everything he could think of, but to no avail. In one last desperate attempt he gripped the ring tightly and chanted.

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home." Nothing happened. Well that went well. What had this little quest brought him, nothing but the knowledge that he had seen the 'Wizard of Oz' one too many times as well as every other adventure movie he knew. He sighed defeated, then he was startled out of his wits as he heard someone clear his throat and he turned to see Seth standing in the doorway.

"Seth..." Jou felt guilty, he had hoped to go home and hadn't even thought about what Seth would say.

"What were you doing in here?" His soft voice was filled with hurt and betrayal. Jou had had the Ring the entire time, yet he hadn't told him. Jou knew that they were searching for it and yet he hadn't told him.

"I...I..." Jou stammered, he flushed bright red, embarrassed at having been caught. Gathering his courage he stood up and walked over to his Seth. "I-I wanted to go home."

"Go home? But how would the Ring help you in accomplishing that?" Seth gazed at him inquiringly, his voice still soft.

"When I told about my...my home, I left out a tiny fact." He looked up at Seth, grinning slightly and very nervously. Seth silently urged him to go on by putting a hand on his shoulder. Jou sighed, it was now or never. "I am not from this time."

"What do you mean?" Seth blinked confusedly.

"I am not from this time, as in I am possibly from the future, thousands of years from now." Jou averted his eyes to the ground, not wanting to look at Seth right now. But a finger tipped his head up making him look directly into the brunette's sapphire eyes.

"How is that possible?" He sounded out of breath and astounded. "How is that possible?" He repeated.

Jou swallowed hard. "I don't know. A spell maybe. I hoped that the ring would have enough power to bring me back home."

Suddenly Seth stood straight and loosened his grip on Jou, he glared at him with cold fury in his eyes. "And what about me? You would have left without telling me."

Jou wasn't sure what to say. "I...I had a chance to go home and if I get another I will take it."

Seth shook his head, tears threatening to spill. "No! I will not let you go. You are mine."

"Seth, I might have a future chance to go home to my friends, my family. Who knows if I will ever be able to do it, but if there is a chance, I will risk it. Please, I miss them so much. If you love me, please let me go." Jou sobbed and slumped to the floor.

"And what about me? I will miss you too. Did you not think about my feelings? I love you, Ra damn it!" Seth cried, silver tears running down his cheeks. He crouched down to the floor and took Jou into his arms. "Iu i mery tu."

Jou sobbed uncontrollably by now, clinging to Seth. "Please Seth. I need to go home. Please?" Seth just held him tightly, letting the blonde cry it out, his own tears slowly drying away. They sat there for the next few minutes, just content with each other.

Then Seth rose from the floor, trying to compose himself again. He had come to a decision. "Come let us go back to bed. I will see what I can do in the morning. Please, come with me." He offered his hand, which Jou gratefully accepted still sniffling. Seth grabbed the ring from the floor, where it had been discarded. "I should keep this for now." Jou blushed shamefully.

After they had left the room, they hadn't even noticed the pale-haired figure, who had witnessed the entire scene. He crept out from his hiding place and dumped himself on the bed, a grin apparent on his face as he fell asleep.

A/N:

Ancient Egyptian lesson of the week.

Iu i mery tu: I love you.