A little angsty ko-Pharaoh thing I did a while back. ...Yeah. That's about it. This was inspired by volume 28 of the manga. I dare you to guess how. :P
DISCLAIMER: I dun own YGO. I dun make money from this. I dun think there's anyone in the world stupid enough to think I do.

AND. Okay, so at the recommendation of Jewel-of-Egypt, instead of saying "Pharaoh" in the dialogue I have used two Egyptian words, "nesu" and "Per-aa". Actually, I'm just kidding, I only used "nesu" in this one, but in the second chapter I used both. (Or is it just Per-aa in there? I don't know.) Anyway... let's see if I have this right. Nesu was an Egyptian word for king, while Per-aa was... sort of an honorific term, used in the presence of the king? is not sure she has it all figured out Go here > htXtp:X/X/jewel-of-egypt.deviantart.Xcom/journal/6899118/for full details. Take out the x's--I can't get it to take without them.

Whispers

One by one, hundreds of people—soldiers, servants, priests—swore loyalty to the new king. But the king stared blankly ahead, only half-feigning attention to those in front of them, as he listened to the whispers. Was he really hearing those soft voices now? Maybe he was just imagining, remembering. The whispers had been following him for days, ever since it had happened, and they always said the same things.

"Poor child."

"He's only eleven!"

"He'll be able to handle it. He's so mature for his age."

"So like his father. He was a good man."

"This one will be no different, I'm sure. He'll make a fine king."

The young pharaoh suddenly got down from the throne, hopping a little since his feet didn't reach the floor. Offering no excuse, meeting no eyes, he strode out of the chamber and past the many that waited in the hall to meet their new king. They bowed low as he passed; he did not acknowledge them.

But he still heard. They whispered here, too. Would they never leave him alone?

"I haven't seen him cry once. He's being strong for the people."

"It must be hard for him, though, to be thrust into his father's role so soon after the man's passing…"

"And he fell ill so suddenly… It can't have been more than a week ago. And now he's gone."

He resisted the urge to speed up, and he kept his gaze steady. Ignoring the suffocating restriction in his chest that had plagued him ever since that day, the king kept walking. Only once did he tremble; as he passed one of the large pots in the hallway, a fond memory of hiding from his lessons and being found by his father surged forward and made him catch his breath before he could force it away.

Finally he made it to the balcony. He dismissed the guards and stepped out into the cold night air. Then the cloud of numb shock that had surrounded him for days finally dissipated, and he leaned heavily against a pillar as an intense grief sank into his heart.

Father…

His breath caught in his chest again and again. When he blinked, something wet clung to his eyelashes and slipped onto his cheeks. He slid down to a sitting position, still leaning on the pillar for support, and curled into a ball.

His hands desperately clutched the large gold pendant that hung from his neck, a gift to him years ago. It had been both an early inheritance and a promise. "You will become nesu after my death, son. Use this Millennium Puzzle to lead and unify the people," his father had said.

"But I can't," the new pharaoh whispered now. "I can't do this. Come back, Father…"

The young king was afraid. He feared the responsibility that was coming, and he feared leading all the people by himself.

But a pharaoh must not be afraid—and he must not weep or show grief. A pharaoh must always be strong. For the people.

All this the newly initiated king knew. And yet he was still afraid. A deafening sob still emerged from his throat, and tears still flowed freely from his regal violet eyes.