Yami awoke from his slumber in the afternoon. Yawning he rose to bathe, trying to ease his tiredness. He still wanted to sleep. But had a country to run. Donning his rich gold silk and dark colours he favoured, he turned to retrieve the Millennium puzzle from its hiding place. He walked to the large statue of Horus, the Hawk god. It's lower half was that of a man. But it had the head of a falcon. He touched the Eye of Ra on the hawk's arm guard. The great beak opened to revel the Millennium puzzle nestled safely inside. The inverted pyramid was made of gold. On it's front was the eye of Ra. This showed the wealth of power held within. For it was from the very gods. Or so many believed. The power of the shadow realm.

Yami smiled as he looked to the left. There lingering in the shadows was a dark form.

"Good morning Dark Magician."

The Dark Magician bowed low, placing his hand across his chest in a sign of loyalty.

"Morning master? More like afternoon" he replied with a smile.

The dark magician wore dark purple robes that hid most of him. His pointed hat curving to the front. He had the mot piercing blue eyes. And light blue hair. In his hand was his staff of power. The light blue staff holding his shadow orb. Yami regarded him.

"Yes well, I have not slept much of late my friend"

"Yes. So I hear. Something about a slave boy? Who looks remarkably like you!" The magician responded in a cold voice, one that did not go un-noticed by Yami.

"Something troubles you my friend" Yami placed his arms folded across his chest. Lets see what he thinks.

"Can you trust this one? He looks just like you, I am told. What if he is part of a plot to overthrow you?" the Dark Magician replied with fervour, walking over to face his master.

"So. Whose been spying on him?" Yami gave a half smile waiting for the reply. He had an idea who it would be.

"Kuriboh"

"Ah yes. I thought as much. My friend I trust him."

"bu…" the dark magician was cut of by Yami's raised hand.

"I trust him enough. That he knows my birth name"

Shock passed across the magician's face. He was so shocked that he stood there a moment. Then blinked.

"If you think that is wise my pharaoh. But I still do not trust him."

"Dark magician that is enough. You have no idea what the boy has suffered. I will not have you scaring him. Leave him be."

The dark magician nodded then faded away. He would have to make sure. His Pharaoh must be safe.

Yami shock his head. He had not meant to get mad at the Dark Magician. The shadow monsters had really been the only true friends he had ever had. He had let them get close because he could. Because they didn't try and kill him every 3 seconds. But he would not have Yugi hurt again. Turning he left his rooms. For he could hear his advisers chittering like hens outside. No rest for the wicked…

Yugi was alone in the healing room. He looked out the balcony window. There he saw Yami walk across the Gardens. He was coming to see him. Yugi smiled. He really liked the Pharaoh. All the stories about him being evil and cruel. They seem to have been lies. How could Yami be like that? He had showed him nothing but kindness. Yugi ran back to his bed. His back still hurt, but not as much as it had. Yami walked in, a broad smile on his face. But there was some worry behind his eyes.

"Hello My Pharaoh." Yugi called out in an angelic voice.

"I told you. You can call me Yami. Only in front of others will you have to call me pharaoh" Yami replied ruffling Yugi's hair.

"Ok Yami. It just seems strange. I am a slave after all."

Yami sighed. He wished he could change that. But he smiled again when he saw Yugi looking at him.

"Would you like a tour of my home?" Yami asked giving a bow. Yugi giggled. It made Yami's heart soar to hear it. He marvelled again how this one had stayed so innocent. After his treatment.

Yami helped him out of the bed and they walked from the room. Yugi walked a little step behind, as was his place. Yami showed him every inch, from the throne room, ordained with silk and the golden throne, to the Gardens. The palm trees swaying in the breeze by the small pond.

"It's beautiful Yami" Yugi smiled, walking between the trees.

"I am glad you like it little one."

They were enjoying themselves when the advisers made an appearance. Much to Yami's annoyance.

"My Pharaoh. We must talk. About the food shortage"

"I know well Padafar, the state of my country"

"But what shall we do? They only way I can see is to kill off one quarter of the slave population, preferably the old."

"Padafar. Don't you even dare entertain that thought for another moment. By Ra. You suggest we kill innocent people because of this?"

"Your father would have done what needed to be done."

"Be Silent. I will hear no more of this. If my father would have acted so, then I am glad I am nothing like him."

"Then what shall we do? We shall all starve"

It was a face off. That was broken by a sweet voice.

"My Pharaoh. Why is there a food shortage?"

"The well that supplied the water to some of the field has dried up. So the crops wither and die."

Padafar looked indignant. The pharaoh was talking to a slave as if he was his equal

"Well if you need water. Can't you dig in the well? My grandfather said that would happen sometimes. When it did. He said it meant the gods had changed the land so you had to dig for it again."

"It is not that simple. The man power.."

"Why? You have slaves. The old would probably know better on how to find it. Why is it not simple"

" Well…" but Yami's argument died on his lips…. yes why was it not that simple?

"Do it Padafar"

Padafar stood with his mouth open for a couple of seconds. But then snapped back when the Pharaoh called his name again.

" As you wish…My Pharaoh"

Yugi watched as the Advisers walked off. Padafar seemed mad at him for some reason. Though he know not why. Yami broke his thoughts when he spoke.
"Come. We had better get you back. Of Ishizu will have my head" Yami smiled.

They walked back to the healing rooms. Ishizu scolded Yami for having Yugi out for so long. And made Yugi go straight to bed. And as it was late. Ra now setting. Yami decided to sleep. For tomorrow was going to be a long day…but just how long…. he would soon find out.

Yugi awoke with a start. The nightmare fading away. But he had a feeling of being watched. He looked to the corner to see a blue eye's watching him.

"W…. who's there?" he asked in a trepid voice.

"What do you want? Your here to kill the Pharaoh aren't you. You cannot fool me with you innocence. No one with the scars and blood I smell on you can be innocent."

" I would never hurt Yami" Yugi replied with conviction.

"There is too much light. Were there should be dark." The dark magician replied in a cold tone like death as he stepped into the moonlight. "You will not hurt my master, He treats us like equals. You will never harm him as long as I am his protector." The dark magician lowered his staff to point at Yugi. Yugi didn't move. The dark magician had to give him credit. He was brave. But the fool boy didn't know whom he was dealing with.

"You're the Dark magician aren't you?" came a sweet voice.

The dark magician stopped, thrown off guard by this.

"How do you know me little one, if you are not an enemy?"

"My grandfather told me of him. That he was powerful. Grandfather had a stone tablet with his picture on it. But you are different from when I saw it; I think you had another name. Didn't you? Mahado?" (spelling?)

The dark Magician's staff slowly dropped down, shock showing on his face. He looked at the small child before him.

"How do you know that?"

" I'm not quite sure really. I had a dream a few years ago. It was after my grandfather died. The plague took him shortly after my parents. The slavers had found me, and locked me up, I was afraid. And I thought of the dark magician. He had always been my favourite." The dark magician couldn't help but smile at that. The boy continued to talk.

" That night I had a dream. I saw a man, wearing a gold headdress, he was fighting someone. The other person was wining. The one with the gold headdress had the dark magician out. I could see them mans face, but he joined with the dark magician. And I heard someone call out the name Mahado. So…."

The dark magician thought on this. But then Yugi seemed to jerk, as if in fright

"What is it?"

"I don't know, it as if there is danger"

Then the dark magician felt it to…"Yami!" he faded away. Leaving Yugi to run to Yami's room

Yami had awoken to something strangling him. He looked to see a shadow monster. It had its hands around his throat. He was then thrown against the wall. Dazed…he saw the dark magician come in he tried to shout warning, but it was too late. The thing attacked sending the dark magician flying. The staff fallen from his grasp. He was pinned down and hit about the head a few times. Then it turned its attention back to Yami. And there was nothing he or the dark magician could do about it. For the dark magician was trying unsuccessfully to get p. the thing must have pounded his head very hard. Hey were at its mercy….

Yugi ran into the room to find Yami about to be shredded and the Dark magician trying to get up…but he looked badly dazed, and Yami didn't look too better. He saw the Dark Magician's staff on the floor. So he did the first thing that came to mind. He picked up the staff and brought it down on the monsters head right before it was about to kill Yami. All Yugi really managed to do was make it mad. Plus the fact that the staff did not belong to him, it reacted by sending dark magic down the wielders arm. Yugi's arm burned and froze at the same time. He cried out throwing the staff away. Then he too was flung across the room. But this gave the dark magician the time he needed. He ran to his staff and used his dark magic attack. The monster was obliterated. The dark magician ran over to Yami but seeing he was only dazed he ran over to the boy. He was writhing on the ground clutching his arm, dark magic still crackled around it. The dark magician heard Yami gasp behind him and come over. So he slowly freed the Childs arm from the other. The boy whimpered, tears flowing, but looked at the DM(got sick and tired of writing dark magician) with trust. Passing his hand over the boys arm he took the magic away. The boy sighed in relief as the pain ebbed. Yami had come up by this time to cradle the boy from behind.

"Thank you Yugi, you saved us both" Yami said.

Yugi turned to sit up and looked at the both." you quite welcome. After all you saved me"

Yami smiled, and then saw the dark magician hanging his head. He spoke to Yugi.

"I am sorry little one, for what I said earlier. I see now that you will not hurt Yami. You have my trust, and my help if you should ever need it. As anything of me and I will do it."

"Thank you. Will you be my friend then Mahado?" Yami opened his eyes in shock, how did Yugi know the DM's real name?

"I will. Thank you Yugi"

Yugi yawned and started to fall asleep. Yami picked him up and laid him on the couch. It was too late to take him back to the healing chambers. So he let him sleep in his room, so the DM could keep an eye on them both. Tomorrow Yugi would have to start working as his personal slave….

Yami turned to the DM.

"How did he know your name?" the DM explained what Yugi had told him. Yami went to get some rest. He would get the DM to show Yugi his duties. While he told Ishizu about Yugi's dram of the past……