Yugi walked from the bathing area after getting Yami's bath ready. To call it a bath was a joke, more like a swimming pool. The hot steam rose from the water. Fire was alight to the sides of the stone pool, warming the water. Yami did not usually bother with this, during the day; the heat of Ra would warm it. But his muscles ached, and Yugi had been the one to actually suggest it. So there Yami was floating in the milky water, flower petals floating about him, the scent of oils wafted from the water making him drowsy as his muscles relaxed. Yugi had gone into Yami's room to place the Millennium Puzzle in the statue of Horus. And returned shortly with a Gold silk robe. Yami watched as Yugi placed the robe on a chair with reverence, he then got a cloth and oil. Yami went to the side of the bath so Yugi could scrub his back. When Yugi got near Yami grabbed him and pulled him into the water.
"Arrrgh" Yugi yelled as he fell in. he came up sputtering water, and was met with Yami's deep laugh.
"Splutter what was that for?"
"Well, you looked like you needed a bath."
"Oh thanks. Come on. I had better clean your back" Yami dutifully turned his back to Yugi. Yugi got the oil that he had dropped on the side, and the cloth that was now floating; he cleaned Yami's back and front, then rubbed the oil in the tri-coloured hair. He then proceeded to dunk Yami in the water. Yami's shocked face was priceless. Yugi giggled trying to hide it as Yami came back up with an Evil glare.
"Right. That's it. Now you will feel my wrath." Yami said in a mock serious voice. He then splashed Yugi. Soon the sound of splashing and trading insults rang through the chamber. Finally the water-cooled, Yugi climbed out to fetch the robe. He wrapped it round Yami as he climbed out from the water. He well muscled chest glowing in the torchlight. Yami then turned and picked up a large towel.
"Come on Yugi, let's get that wet shirt off."
Yugi pulled the shirt off, his back to Yami. Yami made a sad sound as he saw fully the back of the boy. Yugi looked back over his shoulder, with inquisitive eyes
"What's wrong Yami?" Yugi shivered as soft fingers ran down the scars of his back. Yami traced the multitude of scars. Some were old, deep; they rent his back in ragged badly healed scars. Those he had received recently were healing well, almost to nothing thanks to Ishizu. But these scars. A healer must have never seen him; they must have been left to the sands to blast.
"Yugi. What would your master do after he beat you? Would he see to your wounds?"
"No. He would not let me clean them. I would be able to do some, when he slept after drinking too much wine, but normally I would be punished again if he saw me."
Yami closed his eyes in sympathy. His fingers found the largest scar. It went from Yugi's right shoulder, down to the base of his spine.
"Yugi how did you get this one?" Yugi reached his hand round and felt the scar Yami had found. He sighed.
"One day, I failed to get my masters wine. He took his old blade to me; it was blunt so he had to press me to the floor. Him cutting me did not hurt. I felt the blood run down my sides" Yugi had a faraway look as he remembered it " He then tied me to the chains he had in the corner for me. He pilled them tight to the floor. So I was splayed face down. He went to the jar of salt. That's when I felt the pain. He poured salt into the wound. It was like he had placed a hot ember to my back. He pushed more and more in. then got tired and left. I blacked out after that. When he let me go to do my chores, a kind village woman dressed them for me. But she said the damage had been done." Yami embraced the small quivering boy. Tears had begun to fall at the memory. Yugi had not even realised. But Yami had seen the crystalline tears flow. Yugi embraced the pharaoh giving voice to his pain. After a time he stopped.
"Thank you Yami. For being my friend"
"No Yugi. I want to thank you. I have been alone for so long." Yami lead the boy to through chambers. Yugi grabbed Yami his clothes for bed then he himself donned a clean shirt. He nearly tripped over the feather mattress on the floor.
"What's this doing here?"
"You will sleep here from now on."
Yugi smiled. He felt safe being near Yami. The slave's quarters felt open, unsafe. And if Yami ever needed anything, he would be close at hand always.
"Yami. What did you mean when you said you had been alone. You have people around you all the time?"
"But I never had a true friend I could trust. They were always after either my riches or my life. You Yugi. You asked for nothing. Not even for me to save you. You returned Asernath expecting no reward. For that I thank you. You hold no malice to me as your master. Though I wish I was not. I wish I could name you as equal to me"
"It's ok Yami. I like being your slave, you're kinder than my old master."
"Come it is late and we are to go into town tomorrow"
"Ok Yami." Yugi made sure Yami was in bed and did not need anything, he then went to his own bed, bidding goodnight to the Dark Magician.
The morning was hot, but pleasant. Yami was atop Asernath, Yugi walking beside the horse head. They met Seto at the palace gates.
"My Pharaoh. Good mourn. Ah. I see the boy looks well improved." Seto said looking in a compassionate way. He looked healthy, more meat to the frail body than before.
They went threw the town to were the well had been re-dug, the old slaves lined before them bowing low to the Pharaoh. Yugi looked around. When a sight across the landscape met his eye. There in the distance was a ruin of a home. Fences falling down in what seemed to be a paddock. He took a step toward it. Yami was talking to the slaves did not see him move, but Seto did, he had dismounted. He walked over to the child that was now stareing off at the ruin.
"What is it? Why do you look at the ruin so?"
" That's my home" Yugi said in a whisper. Seto turned and strode over to Yami. He had now stopped talking.
"I think you should see to the boy." Yami turned and looked to Yugi's still form. He kicked Asernath over.
"Yugi"
" That's my home. My Pharaoh" Yugi replied, never forgetting his place in front of others. Yami looked at the ruin. And he could just make out 3 grave obelisks.
" Do you want to see?"
" We can't its cursed land"
"No curse can harm a pharaoh. Come on. Seto. Stay here and make sure the slaves are given their reward"
The two walked down, Yami atop Asernath. They came to the ruin. Yugi went over to the stones that were now clearly graves. He bowed to them, saying some words that Yami could not hear. Then Yugi jumped up with a smile.
"Oh Yami. I can get the cards me and grandfather used to play with."
Without stopping for an answer Yugi ran inside. He emerged after a short time with a gold box. On it was the eye of Ra. But that was all. When Yugi came back he opened the box. Inside were many pieces of parchment. Each with a shadow monster upon them.
" Come Yugi lets get back, I'm hungry."
"Ok Yami." Yugi started to walk away. Yami turned to the graves.
"Thank you for bringing me Yugi. I will look after him for you…."
Three forms stood on the hill. They smiled, the sand blew. The forms vanished.
Sorry for the short chapter. Brain kind of fried. Will have a nice long chapter next time. As Yami and Yugi battle. But darkness looms in the shadows…
Bakura: darkness looms in the shadow? What the heck is that supposed to mean?
Ryou: leave her alone Bakura. Or she won't continue to write. And I'm enjoying this
Bakkura: but……
Yami: TOMB ROBBER, GET THE RA OUT OF HERE
Yami chases Bakura from this fic
Ryou&Yugi: please review, as KITG loves to know if it ok.
