(A/N) Wow! I didn't think this story would do so well! Thanks for all the great reviews! Responses to the reviews will be at the end of the chapter. Now here's chapter 2 and I hope it live up to your expectations!
Warning: I'm using Yami no Yuugi's real name in this story, so if you don't know it already (an unlikely chance if you frequent ff . net) it will be a spoiler...
Yu-Gi-Oh characters copyrighted by Kazuki Takahashi
Don't Call Me Pharaoh!
By Hales731
Chapter 2: I didn't do it!
Soft and somewhat worried, mahogany eyes filled Yuugi's vision as he awoke. As he tried to rise, he groaned quietly, invoking an "Are you alright, my pharaoh?" from the brown eyed individual.
"Ugh, don't call me that. And I'm fine, Ryou," Yuugi responded. "What happened?"
"One glance at the spy and you passed out, my pharaoh," Seto's cold voice could be heard, stating in a matter of fact tone. "We thought that the spy might have placed a spell on you."
"No, he didn't. I was just caught off guard by his likeness to me. And as far as we know, he's not a spy. He could be innocent," Yuugi growled.
"Oh, I see. My pharaoh is just a wimp then; he cannot take a little shock," Seto smirked.
"My pharaoh," gasped Ryou. "Have you been taking your medicine? You know how fragile you can be."
"Shut up, cousin. And stop treating me like a kid, Ryou! I'm fine. I did take my medicine!" Yuugi took this moment to look around at his surroundings. Lavish furnishings indicated that he was still inside the palace, but he was in neither his room nor the throne room. "You brought me to the healing room?" he whined.
"Of course, my pharaoh. Ryou is the more capable of doing his job in his chosen surroundings," said the high priest.
Pouting, Yuugi decided it was best to not press the matter. Though primarily gentle in nature, Ryou could become very threatening when he felt that his patients were not taking proper care of themselves. Besides, Ryou was the best at what he did and had furnished the healing room with many comfortable pillows and linens because he felt that they would aid the healing process. The subdued earthen tones, in which the walls were colored, also added to the soothing atmosphere. Yuugi found himself propped up on several of the cozy pillows and he couldn't really complain.
"What did you do after I... er... fainted? What did you do with the prisoner?" he inquired, blushing faintly.
"Just as you would have me do, Morning Star," Seto drawled. "I had him detained in a locked room to prevent escape, until you were fit to continue the Weighing. As usual, Akunadin wanted to remove his kaa immediately, feeling that the prisoner might be harmful to your ailing health, but I forbade it." Yuugi turned to Seto, and noticing his smirking cousin, glared at him again.
"Good, he may possibly be innocent; he has no evidence against him. Now, if you're finished, Ryou, I would like to see the prisoner myself," Yuugi glanced at his chief healer, giving him a good look over. Ryou, along with Seto and Yuugi, did not have common Egyptian features. With a slightly feminine body, pale skin similar to Yuugi's, and long, silver locks, Ryou appeared more like a sprite or fairy.
"Yes, I suppose you may go," Ryou sighed, placing his delicately long-fingered hands on his hips. "But make sure you get some rest later and drink plenty of fluids. I don't want to see you back here again today."
"Ra! Why does every one insist on treating me like a baby?!" Yuugi shouted as he walked out the doorway, flanked by a snickering Seto.
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A few minuets later found the pharaoh and his priest standing in front of a locked door being secured by several sentries.
"The Pharaoh wishes to see the prisoner," sneered the blue eyed priest.
"I can speak for myself," Yuugi whispered on the side.
"Ah, but I wouldn't want my dear pharaoh straining himself, now would I?"
"Oh, shut up, and stop calling me that!"
The quarrelling two looked up to see the guards opening the door. Yuugi quickly maneuvered inside and glanced around him. The room was less extravagantly furnished as the other rooms he had been in earlier that day. In the dusty corners, there stood several large jars that were used for storage. Through a barred window, he could see dust filtering in and sparkling slightly in the afternoon sun. Inside the patch of sunlight on the floor, sat the pharaoh's look alike, with his head on his knees. The prisoner looked up at his captors and frowned at Yuugi and Seto, saying nothing.
"Bow to your pharaoh!" barked a nearby guard.
"Quiet!" Yuugi ordered. "At the moment, this man is our guest. He has been taken from wherever he is from, without proof of committing a crime, and has been treated disrespectfully. I will not hold with such behavior in my kingdom. Now, sir," Yuugi said, directing his attention towards the prisoner. "Would you tell me your name, and possibly give me a reason as to why my guards would bring you to my feet, claiming you to be a spy?"
Pulling himself to a standing position, the prisoner studied Yuugi. The captive's grandfather had always described the pharaoh as a child, nearly a baby in appearance. He regarded the pharaoh and realized that, despite his diminutive stature and rounded, childlike face, the pharaoh was anything but that. In fact, the prisoner saw that Yuugi was only a few inches shorter than himself. He looked into Yuugi's eyes, hoping to find some sympathy for his current situation, and discovered deep pools of indigo innocence. In the afternoon sunlight, Yuugi's eyes sparkled in god-like purity. 'No wonder he's the pharaoh; he intelligent, polite, and has the looks of an angel. All he's missing is the wings,' the prisoner thought to himself.
"My name is Atemu," he said simply.
Hearing Atemu's baritone voice, Yuugi found himself melting. He looked over his 'twin' seeing that, though at first glance they were similar, they were quite different. While Yuugi had a rounded, babyish face, Atemu had a slightly more squared jaw, giving him an older look. Atemu had bronzed skin, where Yuugi's skin was fair. Yuugi was also shorter in stature, with Atemu having a few more inches in height. The final disparity between the two was that Yuugi had wide, orchid eyes, whereas Atemu's were narrowed and burgundy. The only thing that they seemed to share was their wild hair. Both had blonde bangs that dangled in their faces, while ruby-tinted, raven locks jutted towards the sky in a shape reminiscent of a star. Overall, Yuugi thought that Atemu was quite handsome.
Shaking himself of those thoughts, Yuugi asked, "Why would my guards take you captive. Have you done anything that might precipitate that action?"
"I was just tending my roof-top garden, when they attacked me. I retaliated, of course, but was unable to fight them all off. They put a bag over my head and I felt them carry me someplace, saying something about a weighing. I thought that maybe they were going to find out my weight and sell me as a slave. Then they started talking about some spy. Apparently, they were talking about me, but I've never been outside my home, much less to other cities or kingdoms. I assume they figured that since we look similar, I might attempt something on your life..." answered Atemu forcibly.
"Well, you seem truthful, but I will not know for sure until your kaa is weighed, then we will know whether or not you are a danger to me or my kingdom," said Yuugi. "The weighing will take place tomorrow, so if you do have an evil kaa residing in your heart, I suggest you reform it." On that final note, Yuugi and his priest left Atemu's room.
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"I hate being so dictatorial," Yuugi sighed, as he entered his chambers later that evening. "He seems innocent but, I can't be sure until Shada checks. I still wish there was a less forceful way of enacting justice."
He plopped down on his bed and looked towards Seto, who was standing in the doorway.
"What do you want me to say, my pharaoh? Oh lookie! I found a new way to change all the evil in the world to soft and squishy pillows! Isn't it great?!"
"Oh shush. If you're going to be a jerk, than you might as well leave me alone. I won't let your negative spirit bring me down."
"As you wish, my pharaoh. I understand that someone as frail as you needs their rest," Seto sneered as he sauntered out the door. Once he closed the door, he could hear something shattering against it and he chuckled to himself. It was so much fun to wind up his wimpy cousin...
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The sun dawned on the next day, as shouts could be heard down the corridor to the pharaoh's sleeping chambers. A high-pitched youthful voice shouted at one more gentle but strained.
"But my pharaoh, you must take your medicine! You are still weak from you fall yesterday, and the herbs will aid in your recovery!" said Ryou, trying to keep the impatience out of his voice.
"I don't need them! I'm not weak, and besides... they taste bad!" Yuugi yelled, pouting.
Abruptly, Ryou grabbed Yuugi by the chin, clamped his nose shut and forced a foul smelling (not to mention tasting) liquid down Yuugi's throat. Choking and coughing, Yuugi tried to glare at Ryou, but was failed as his eyes began tearing.
"I hate you..." he muttered.
"Yeah, well, as long as I'm allowed to keep you alive, then I will be happy," Ryou huffed, and exited out of Yuugi's chambers.
"I hate this! I hate being treated like some weakling!" Yuugi shouted, while pounding his small fists into his mattress. "Why can't they just see me for what I truly am!"
"As our beloved puny pharaoh?" Seto interjected.
"Bastard... What do you want, cousin?"
"I've come to remind you that you are needed at the Weighing. We are supposed to uncover the alleged spy's kaa today, remember?"
"Alright... Inform the other Chosen that I will be in the throne room shortly. And make sure Atemu knows the procedure so that he can prepare himself," stated Yuugi in a business like manner.
"Calling the prisoner by name now, huh? If his kaa is not evil, will you keep him?" Seto snickered.
"Shut up and stop being an ass! How would you feel if your soldiers brought a near mirror copy of you to your feet? It's quite unsettling, and besides, he doesn't strike me as someone who might stab me while my back is turned, unlike some family members I know."
"How cute, but isn't that bordering on narcissism?"
"Get out!" Yuugi exploded, throwing a nearby vase at Seto, as the high priest retreated towards the exit. "And don't forget to tell the priests I'm coming!"
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Several minutes later, Yuugi arrived in the throne room, taking his seat in what he thought was a rather uncomfortable wooden chair, otherwise know as his throne. Sighing, he wished that for at least one day, he could escape from the duties of being a ruler and go out and prove that he could be just as brave and strong as anyone else that lived outside the palace walls. But today was not going to be that day, Yuugi realized as a bound Atemu was brought in, flanked by two guards. He wondered what it would be like to live the life of his look alike. Was Atemu poor? Was he lonely? Did he get force-fed nasty drinks disguised as medicine? The answer was probably no to all Yuugi's queries. He figured that, as gorgeous as Atemu was, Atemu probably had many friends, and judging by the young man's tanned physique, he never had problems with his health either. 'Lucky bastard,' Yuugi thought.
"Shall we commence the weighing of this man's kaa?" Seto asked the customary opening question.
"What was this man's crime?" sighed Yuugi.
"I told you already! I didn't do anything!" Atemu cried.
"Do not worry, Atemu. This is just the ceremonial procedures. We will know if you are true or not in a moment," Yuugi responded, yet Atemu glared at him anyway. It saddened Yuugi somewhat, to see Atemu behave towards him in such a manner.
"The crime that he is accused of is spying on the pharaoh with the intent to harm him," said a guard.
"You shall be judged by the Sennen Items. Priest Shada, please use your ankh to uncover the true heart of this man," Yuugi said, indifferently. He began playing with the Sennen Puzzle that hung from his neck.
Again, like the day before, Shada strode towards Atemu, brandishing the Ankh. Another blinding flash and Shada turned towards Yuugi, however, this time the man was shaking slightly.
"My Lord," he gasped.
"What is it?" Yuugi interrupted. "Is his kaa evil?"
"I don't believe so, but it is very strong, much like God!"
"Truly?" Yuugi said, overriding many of the other gasps that could be heard throughout the room.
"If you allow me, my pharaoh, I will remove his kaa, and we will see for sure whether this man's kaa is like God or not," said the priest Akunadin.
"Very well. Priest Akunadin, please extract the kaa, and High Priest Seto, please seal it."
As with all the other prisoners that had come through Yuugi's halls, a smoky substance curled its way out of Atemu's mouth, but as Seto tried to coerce it into the nearby stone tablet, the stone cracked and fell to pieces on the floor.
"I cannot seal it, Yuugi!" he cried.
"Shit!" exclaimed Yuugi.
"Quick! You must use the powers of the puzzle, Pharaoh, and force it into another the tablet!" cried another priest who wielded a ring like item around his neck.
"Shit!" exclaimed Yuugi, again. "I know, I know!"
He lurched out of his throne with a shout and took a defensive stance. 'I guess today won't be as boring as I'd thought it would be. Plus, I get to prove to my people, once and for all, that I'm not weak! ... I just hope I don't get hurt or Ryou just might kill me with those herbs of his...' he thought.
With that in mind, Yuugi closed his eyes, concentrated on the power of his puzzle, and a brilliant flash filled the chamber.
Review Responses: (hyperventilates) Wow! Thanks again for all the great reviews. I hope you all enjoyed the new installment of "Don't Call Me Pharaoh!" I'm glad that you all like my story! Really I do! (Hales' cousin walks in, kicks her, and shouts "Quit gushing and get the responses done!") Ahem... Newho... On with the responses:
Paladin Dragoon Yes, for Yuugi, being the pharaoh isn't too much fun... And this story won't be Yaoi (that's the graphic 'boy x boy' stuff and I'm not into that, much less able to write it. I figure whatever Atemu and Yuugi do in their spare time is for them to know and me to never find out...). The most Atemu and Yuugi might do is kiss. Stuff might be hinted, but other than that, don't worry about reading any intense action 'tween the two.
Pharaohs-slave: Yeah, the whole Atemu (I use his real name here, because 'yami' is Japanese, and somehow I don't think they spoke Japanese in Egypt.) being pharaoh is what most AE stories are about, but I wanted to switch it up a bit.... Thanks for the positive vote and I hope you liked this new chapter!
Citrus luver: No, this won't be incest. Atemu just appears to be Yuugi's long lost twin. Yes, this will be quite a deviation from the normal YYxY Egypt stories... And I hope this next chapter was up soon enough for you!
Ladywolf(Terri: Thanks! And I hope you enjoyed this continuation.
Poop-is-good-for-throwing-at-cousins: Interesting name. Thanks for the... er... encouraging review. And for the... (blinks)... wise words from Confuscious... Here's the update and I hope you liked it.
Ttrlpoop: Thanks!