Chapter 2
The pharaoh paced outside the door. But he couldn't take it anymore. He walked in about to demand answers but what he saw made him stop. There being held up by an aid was the young boy Yugi. What made the pharaoh lose his voice was the condition of his back; the boy had obviously been bathed to clean the blood from him. The back was a multitude of scars. Its skin once white now marred with red welts and healed scars, as well as the still seeping new ones. The pharaoh boiled with new rage. He was sorry his had killed the man so quick. He deserved to suffer for this. Ishizu walked up with bandages in her hand and a pot of cream. She saw the Pharaoh and gave him an admonishing glance then beckoned him in. she then returned to tending to the boy. Smearing the ointment liberally onto the boy's back she then proceeded to wrap it in bandages. Once done they laid Yugi on his stomach.
"Is that wise Ishizu?"
"His back is too badly damages to take the weight. But yes there is some danger to laying him on his stomach. So he will have to be watch. She replied washing her hands in a white basin.
"I would like to stay." Ishizu raised an eyebrow. It is not often that the pharaoh showed such emotion on this level. Yes he showed concern for the well being of his people. But not to this level. A pharaoh was akin to the Gods and should rule with wisdom and power. And here was this pharaoh worried about a slave no less. It warmed her heart. There Pharaoh had friends, but not that he trusted completely. He had always been alone because of whom he was. It was hard to trust when assassins could lurk round every corner.
"You may my Pharaoh. But let him rest." The pharaoh nodded. Ishizu left with a smile on her face.
The pharaoh watched the small form on the bed breath in and out. He could not imagine what this small child had been through. But what amazed him was how Yugi seemed to still hold his innocence. And caring nature. Many like him would have broken by now. Become bitter. But from how the boy had talked to him when he returned Asernath. It astounded him. A murmur roused him from his thoughts. He saw the boys face crease in pain, as if in a dream. The Pharaoh reached down and brushed the bangs away from the boys face. The boy seemed to quieten from the touch and began to sleep peacefully. A gentle laugh made him look round. There Ishizu stood, tray of food in her hand.
"You seem to have a way with him Yami" she smiled.
Yami was his birth name. But not many got to call him this. Only friends who had gained enough trust. Ishizu knew because she was one of them. But she would only use it when they were alone.
Yami snorted. Then moved to sit at the table with Ishizu. She let him take some food while she looked at the sleeping boy.
"Poor thing. What he must have had to injure. Yet he looked so kind. I don't think I would be." Admitted Ishizu frankly as she now reached for the exotic fruit on the clay platter.
"You should have seen him when he returned Asernath to me. He was so kind. A bit fearful to be before me, but kind. All he cared about was getting Asernath back. And he let the boy stroke him Ishizu."
Her eyes widened in shock. For Asernath had killed many with his hooves. Those that had dared to stroke him.
"I think it might be because he looks like me"
"No Yami I think you will find Asernath sensed his kind spirit. For he would smell the difference from you and the boy.
Yami thought on this, looking round the room. Hieroglyphs adorned every bit of the room and gods of healing watched over the sick. They were his gods, and he prayed to them that the boy would live.
"What are his chances Ishizu?" he asked looking her straight in the eye.
"Very good if no infection sets in. he just needs to be watched"
They continued to eat in silence. When they finished Yami took his place by the boy's side to watch the sleeping form.
Yugi was in a dream. A dream of his past. Of his parents. His mother, kind, singing a song when he was scared. Then sickness and death. The plague. Village dying. He saw his mother and father. They were dead. He walked towards them hand outstretched. Then they began to move. They got up sightless eyes regarding him. They lunged for him. He screamed…
Yami saw the boy jerk awake. Fearful eyes searching the semi darkness. Yam got the wet cloth from the bowl and wiped the boy's sweat drenched forehead. He had been whimpering in his sleep. Like in the throngs of a nightmare.
Amethyst eyes focused on Yami's crimson orbs.
"Welcome back to the land of the living little one" Yami said in a sweat voice, Yugi looked at him for a long time.
"P…p..Pharaoh? What are you doing here?" then Yugi paled. He should not be asking such questions of the Pharaoh. " I'm sorry. Forgive me My Pharaoh"
"It's ok little one. I am here because I was worried about you. And another thing…call me Yami" Yugi turned his eyes back to the Pharaoh. He really asked him to call him by his birth name?
"T..thank You Yami" he said carefully. But the Pharaoh only smiled. In the shadows Ishizu smiled. Yugi tried to turn on his back to see better, but he winced in pain. Yami pushed him back down
"You should not try to move little one. Here. Drink this. It will help." Yami put the cup to the boy's mouth and he drank thankfully. Ishizu had made this in case the boy had woken. It would null the pain, and make him sleep again.
Yugi nodded his thanks to the Pharaoh. From his view lying on his chest. You could see the moon in the sky out the window. It's pale light behind Yami seemed to make him glow. Now more than ever he saw how much they looked alike. Only Yami had more blond bangs and was taller. They could have been brothers. He continued to look from his view. Seeing some other beds, and various herbs in pots on a shelf. He saw the gods of healing covering the place. The wet cloth being run across his forehead again roused him from this.
"Sleep little one." Yugi gratefully obeyed the command of the deep voice. And closed his eyes to await the morning.
When Yugi awakened the next morning Ishizu had said she needed to change the bandages. So this time Yami held him up gently. She felt the small form tense every now and then accompanied by a small whimper as the bandages were removed. Ishizu proceeded to cleanse to wounds with salted water. Then replaced the ointment and bandages. This time she let him lie on his back. After putting double feather mattresses under him. She made him drink some broth to give him strength. When it was all done Yugi spoke to Yami.
"You should sleep Yami. You must be tired" which was true. The pharaoh had large rings under his eyes; Yami was about to protest when Ishizu began to push him out the room saying Yugi as right. So Yami left with a final smile over his shoulder, ad retired to his bed.
He walked down the adorned hallways to his rooms. The rooms were lavishly furnished with silks and rugs of the finest quality. Yami began to take his jewellery off. Then taking off the Millennium puzzle and hiding it in its safe place he lay upon his bed. The soft mattress comforting him. He thought back again to the boy. He wanted for some reason to protect the innocent one. But he could not change what the boy was. He was a slave. Then the Pharaoh had an idea. He would make him his personal slave. That way Yugi would always be near. And he could confide in the child.
It shocked him when he realised what he had just thought. Confide. He wanted to confide fully to him. But he had never done that with anyone. Not his advisers not even Seto. But Yugi was different. He instantly made you want to trust him. He just had to turn those eyes to you and that was it. Yami glanced out the window to see a hawk flyby. He sighed. How he wished he could be free like that bird. Yes he was Pharaoh. But he had to make so many decisions and choices, which affected so many lives. And he never had anyone to talk to about his fears. He talked to Ishizu, but not about it all. For she was a priestess. And it was her duty to make sure the Pharaoh acted, as he should. Like the son of a god. To show this to her, she may judge him. But he knew in his heart that Yugi would never judge him. That he would listen and let Yami pour his heart out. He would talk to the boy tomorrow. And tell him that he was to become his personal slave. Slowly sleep drew in on the Pharaoh of Kemet and his eyelids slowly lowered to hide the crimson eyes. In the corner. The Dark magician took up his post as always to watch his sleeping master. He wondered what had put his master in such a good mood. He had felt the anger the day before and got a flash of him killing someone. He must have been very angry to foolishly ride ahead and dispatch the friend without his guards there to protect him, or to summon him. He wondered what a mere mortal had done to anger him so? The dark magician crossed his arms and thought on this while his master slept
Ishizu stayed with boy so he would not become lonely.
"What will happen to me Ishizu?"
"I think if anything Yami would make you his personal slave."
Yugi smiled at this. For he could never be anything other than a slave. The laws of the gods for bayed it. It was his place that Ra himself had given him. But to be Yami's slave would be wonderful.
Several men storming in interrupted the two.
"Where is the Pharaoh Ishizu?" the leader demanded.
"Padafar. This is a place of healing. Keep your voice down!"
"There is only a worthless slave. Now where is the Pharaoh?"
"He is not worthless. And he is the Pharaohs personal slave!"
All eyes turned to him. And their looks were not kind. Yugi did not like the eight advisers. They looked upon him with hatred.
Ishizu wished she hadn't said that. She did not trust these men. They were left over from Yami's father's days. So they had to be kept on, as they knew how to run most things. But they could be so unnerving.
"And to answer your question. The pharaoh is sleeping."
Padafar glared at both of them. Then with the rest of the advisers stomped from the room. With one last dark glare at Yugi. Yugi shivered. He did not like them at all…
