I don't own Yugioh. I do own Maria, Gold, silver, and this plot… which is co-owned by Rei…figures, but nothing more,
YSF: I hope everyone managed to read my little note at the bottom of last chapter. That way, I won't get any flames on the "immorality" of it.
Rei: do you even care?
YSF: No I do not!
Rei: eye roll just write.
YSF: victory sign okay!
Warning: Some mild swearing later on.
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Atemu stood on the balcony of the master bedroom looking out over the Nile and Thebes. As of that moment, all was peaceful. Closing his eyes, he remembered the state of things about one and three quarters years ago when he ascended throne.
Atemu's thoughts were disrupted by a tiny giggle and a gentle voice saying: "Yugi, you weren't supposed to giggle. Now we can't sneak up on your almighty father." Another giggle and, "You are just too happy for a two year old."
Turning, he smiled when he saw his wife, Maria, holding their son, Yugi, on her hip standing not far away. Going over to them, he scooped up Yugi and kissed Maria on the forehead. "Wasn't Mahaado going to watch Yugi today?" he asked.
"He's 'busy' with Aniba," Maria said making a slight face.
"Well, we were like that before we were married," Atemu reminded with a chuckle catching the hidden meaning, "shirking our duties to be alone together."
"I know that," Maria replied with a smirk, "All I wonder is what I got myself into in doing so."
"That's harsh."
"Deal with it. Anyway, how's the city?" Maria asked changing the topic because Yugi was starting to become a little too interested in the subject.
Atemu gently pulled Yugi's hand away from his one bang. "Excellent as usual," he said suddenly frowning, "I don't know why, but something just doesn't feel right."
"Can it be Bakura? Do you think he's planning something?" Maria asked looking out the window.
Atemu shrugged. He knew Maria missed Bakura, but it was hard for her to go visit him being the queen and all. "I really don't know love," he replied setting Yugi onto the floor and hugging her.
Maria curled into his chest. "I wish I knew what was going on with him. It's hard not being able to see your best friend except for once in a great while," she murmured.
"Why don't you ask your friend Rei to find out what he's been up to…" Atemu started but trailed off when he felt Maria start trembling, "Maria? Is everything all right?"
Maria looked in his eyes, and Atemu could tell she was trying hard not to laugh. "I must have missed the joke," he said dryly.
Maria let loose her laugh. "Oh Atemu," she giggled, "it's nothing, just something I thought of when you mentioned Rei."
Atemu rolled his eyes and let Maria go. Turning to look for Yugi, he spotted the bubbly little toddler over by his toys and was quietly playing with them. Going over, Atemu kneeled down and picked up a stuffed animal, no doubt given to him by Seto, and "walked" it over to where Yugi was sitting while Maria sat on the enormous bed and watched with amusement.
"Hello Yugi," Atemu said making the little animal dance and talk.
"Hello," Yugi replied softly as the animal came closer.
"What a fine day isn't it?" the 'animal' asked making Maria laugh.
Yugi smiled and continued building with his blocks. "Yep!" he said.
The animal hopped onto Yugi's shoulder. "Would you like to know something?"
Yugi turned his wide purple eyes towards the animal. "Yeah," he breathed.
Atemu bit his lip to stop himself from laughing. Yugi had set himself up perfectly. "You're about to be tickled!" he exclaimed throwing down the stuffed toy and tickling Yugi.
Yugi shrieked with laughter. "Daddy! Stop!" he pleaded between laughs. Finally Atemu stopped and the two were both breathing hard from laughter, Yugi on his back, and Atemu on his hands and knees. Yugi reached up and managed to hook his small hands around Atemu's neck and pulled himself up to hug his father. Atemu hugged back and felt Yugi hiccup.
"This is your area of expertise," he said holding Yugi out to Maria.
Maria sighed and sliding off the bed, took Yugi into her arms. "Come on little one," she said rubbing and patting Yugi's back, "Let's go find some warm milk to soothe that tummy of yours." Maria left the room, and Atemu flopped onto the bed.
'I should really get back to the throne,' he thought sitting up and running his hand through his gravity-defying spikes. Finally making a decision, Atemu headed to the throne room and sat down on his throne.
"Slow day my pharaoh?" asked Seto entering and bowing.
"And getting slower if you don't stop bowing when no one else is around," Atemu sighed, "Set, can I ask you something?"
"What would that be?" Seto asked straightening up.
"Is it just me, or is this the calm before the storm so to speak? I mean, why is everything so quiet and peaceful? It just seems too perfect," Atemu wondered.
Seto thought for a bit. "It's not just you," Seto said slowly, "I feel it too…"
Atemu never got to hear the rest of his cousin/ brother-in-law's thoughts, because at that moment, a guard burst in and hastily bowed.
"Yes? What is it?" Atemu asked coolly, his voice taking on its royal tone of authority.
"My pharaoh," the guard said, "the thief lord has struck in broad daylight! He's terrorizing villagers as we speak, and is working his way towards the palace!"
Atemu stood, his anger evident in his eyes, which were alight with a fire that surprised even Seto. "Seto," Atemu commanded, "I'll go find Maria and Yugi and get them to the hidden room. I need you to gather the priests and prepare for an assault. You, guard, summon your soldiers and reinforce the defenses around the outside of the palace. We are about to be attacked from all sides. The villagers are just a distraction." Seto and the guard hurried to fulfill their tasks, and Atemu whipped out the rear throne room door and ran along the corridor to the kitchen. Skidding to a stop outside of the kitchen, he entered and saw Maria singing to Yugi while he drank his milk.
"Atemu, what's wrong?" Maria asked, stopping mid word in her song as she spotted the look in his eyes.
"No time, we have to get to the hidden room."
"Tell me Atemu," she said sternly, standing up and striding out the door behind Atemu, still holding on to Yugi.
"Bakura's about to attack the palace."
"Let me help you hold him off," Maria said walking backwards so that she was facing Atemu.
"I need you to watch Yugi. Besides, I would never forgive myself if you got hurt or killed," Atemu said gently.
"Stay with us then," Maria pleaded.
"No," Atemu said shaking his head, "My duty is to be on the lines with my troops. I'm their commander."
They had reached the hidden door. Pulling down on Horus' beak, Atemu said nothing while the wall slid open. Stepping in slightly, Maria turned and Yugi held his arms out to Atemu.
Atemu, taking him for a minute, felt Yugi put his mouth to his ear and whisper: "Be careful daddy."
"I will," Atemu replied ruffling Yugi's hair and handing him back to Maria, who stepped backwards, and the door shut between them. Knowing they were safe, Atemu turned and headed outside where he saw Isis concentrating, her ka circling high overhead.
"You were right my pharaoh, the palace is being surrounded by thieves," Isis said opening her eyes and slightly bowing to Atemu. Atemu nodded and continued to Mahaado, who was giving orders to the guards and soldiers.
"How's everything on the outside Mahaado?" Atemu asked.
"So far the thieves and renegades are just surrounding us. As of right now, they haven't done anything. Either they are waiting for Bakura to show, or they are waiting for more thieves. Either those, or they just plan to hold us under siege," Mahaado said looking to his illusionary mage. "I sent my ka to take a look a minute ago, and the thieves have already surrounded us three deep just out of arrow range."
"There's that many thieves in Thebes?" Atemu asked incredulously.
"No pharaoh," laughed a voice, "these are most of the thieves of all Egypt who would like to see your bloodline off the throne."
Atemu whirled around and glared up at the sneering face of none other than Thief Lord Bakura. "Bakura," he snarled, "do you really think I actually care about what you say? Especially since I know I can beat you."
"Touché," Bakura replied easily, "you don't have to listen to me, but if you insist on refusing my demand of stepping down from the throne, me and my thieves would be glad to show your severed head to your people."
Atemu stepped back slightly, making Bakura snicker. "Guards Attack!" Atemu shouted. Bakura jumped down away from the arrows and calmly walked over to where a cloaked thief was waiting. "I think I got them mad," Bakura laughed.
The cloaked thief also laughed and lowered his hood, revealing corn silk blonde hair that stuck out in spikes. "It appears so," Ishtar agreed looking to where arrows flew from behind the high palace walls and occasionally and skillfully struck thieves, "It's too bad Rei didn't get to participate. She would have had fun."
"Well, she stays in the palace on and off, so it would be a little suspicious if she disappeared the day before or of the attack," Bakura explained getting tired of just sitting there, and signaled the thieves to start climbing the huge walls.
Atemu meanwhile paused the guards' attacks and listened. At first there was nothing, but then he heard a soft scraping sound making his ruby eyes widen. "Guards!" he shouted, "They're climbing the walls. Make sure they land or are descending before you attack. Then they won't be able to retreat!"
Half of the guards drew their swords and waited. The remaining half fixed the wall they were facing in their sights and pulled back arrows. A second later, the thieves appeared sliding down rope that was fastened to the top. Immediately, arrows flew, cutting down some of the thieves. As other thieves landed, the guards and soldiers who carried swords engaged them. Soon the outside of the palace was filled with fighting. Atemu battled off one thief and turned to see Bakura approaching him.
"Well pharaoh, I can now pay you back for those scars you gave me two years ago," Bakura said. Atemu drew his sword and pointed it at Bakura.
"Try me," he said as Bakura lunged at him.
A while later, people were still fighting. But no one was fighting as fiercely as Bakura and Atemu. Slash after slash came from both of their swords until Bakura's sword knocked Atemu's away and deeply cut Atemu's arm. Atemu, weaponless, staggered from the pain and fell to his knees, clutching his arm. Bakura stood over him with a triumphant smirk.
"I think I'll end this now. Farewell pharaoh," Bakura said raising the sword, preparing to strike.
Atemu just looked at the sword as it started coming down, and closed his eyes, waiting for the blow. It never came. Instead, the ringing sound of metal on metal rang through the air. Opening his eyes, Atemu found Silver's wing covering him protectively, and her jaws clamping firmly but not very hard on Bakura's sword arm, effectively making Bakura drop the sword.
"Silver," said Atemu standing up, "Show the 'Thief Lord' what flying feels like." Silver, in response, spread her wings and took off, still holding on to Bakura. Turning, Atemu spotted Gold rounding up the remaining thieves.
"We better clean that wound of yours," Maria pointed out coming up to him.
"Didn't I tell you to remain in the secret room with Yugi? And speaking of which, where is he?" Atemu sternly asked, allowing himself to be led up the steps and back into the palace.
"One, relax, two, Rei is watching Yugi in our room, and three, if I had stayed as you told me to, you would be decapitated right about now," Maria crossly replied pushing Atemu down onto the throne and pulling a bowl of warm, soapy water and a rag towards them.
"Shit, that hurts!" Atemu exclaimed as Maria touched the hot rag to his wound.
"Nothing I can do about that," she replied finishing cleaning, and putting a salve on the cut as he swore in pain again, "You won't be able to use your arm until this heals. Bakura gave you a deep cut."
Atemu, grumbling, sat as still as possible while Maria bandaged his arm and put it in a sling. "There," she said finishing and giving him a small kiss, "that wasn't so bad now was it?"
Atemu kissed her back and stood, pulling her close with his good arm. "With you, we don't need a healer," he said with a smile. Maria pulled away with a small laugh.
"I'm sure Yugi is wanting to see you," she said returning the smile.
Atemu took her hand and walked to their room. Reaching there, Maria opened the door and Yugi looked up from where he was stretched out on the floor.
"Daddy!" he exclaimed, scampering over and hugging Atemu around the legs. Atemu kneeled down and returned the hug.
"Were you a good boy while I was gone?" he asked.
"He 'drew' the whole time. Ra, I've never seen a more quiet child," Rei said standing up from where she had been sitting on a cushion.
"Besides yourself, ne Rei?" Maria chided as Rei came over to them. Rei just shrugged.
"I had no choice… I was a slave when I was a child, pharaoh," Rei explained turning to Atemu, "So, who gave you that wound?"
"I knew that," Atemu countered and then fingered the sling, "Bakura did, and he almost killed me if it hadn't been for Silver."
Rei shook her head and sighed. "Always one to be reckless," she said leaving the room.
"Did I miss something?" Atemu asked Maria. Maria just picked up Yugi and shook her head.
"Rei's always been cryptic. I have no idea what she was talking about," Maria quickly replied, sitting on the bed, Yugi in her lap, "By the way, how did Seto fare in the attack?" Atemu shrugged, immediately wincing.
"I'm too tired to care," he said laying down next to her and running a hand through Yugi's hair.
"Atemu!"
"He's probably fine. I didn't get a chance to see before you led me away, so I know just as much as you do," Atemu said in defense curling up and closing his eyes. Maria rolled her eyes and took Yugi over to the other side of the room so the almighty pharaoh could sleep.
Meanwhile, Bakura was just reaching his home after Silver flew him out to the far side of the Nile. Entering his house, Bakura looked up and glared at the figure waiting for him.
"You know," Bakura said gruffly, "You could have come to help me."
The figure let out a low laugh and lowered his hood. "Are you kidding me?" Ishtar asked, "The remaining thieves had no chance of escape once those gold and silver dragons appeared. I had to use my ka to escape, or else there would be guards surrounding us as we speak."
Bakura realized that there was truth to what Ishtar said… and hated it. Just as he was about to reply, a new voice cut him off.
"Bakura, leave the idiot alone," the voice said. Both turned to see another person standing in the shadows of the door.
"Hey! I'm not an idiot, Rei," Ishtar said crossing his arms as Rei stepped into the light.
"No, but you look like an ass to me," Bakura told Ishtar while Rei sat down on the couch.
"Ishtar, calm down," Rei said as Ishtar pulled his arm back to punch Bakura. Ishtar just dropped his arm and stalked off to his room.
"You know," Bakura said, joining his sister on the couch, "I had a feeling that we wouldn't win today, but I had to try anyway."
"I'm sure you managed to get under the pharaoh's skin all the same," Rei pointed out.
"Anyway, I know for sure that this 'attack' has distracted the royal family for a while."
"Why is that?" asked Rei at her brother's statement.
Bakura smirked his trademark smirk, his eyes darkening and narrowing. "Because, dear sister, they are now completely unaware of my true intentions. I now have time to refine my plan for avenging Kuru Eruna," Bakura replied.
"Plundering a tomb, and then killing off the millennium item holders one by one to gain their items? Come on Bakura, I'm surprised at you. Usually you have more finesse than that," Rei said dryly, enjoying the disappointed look take over Bakura's face.
"Which is why I'm going to refine it. I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow," Bakura grumbled, walking to the second floor of their house where his room was, hearing Rei's laugh follow behind him.
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YSF: I was planning to make this longer, but I decided to chop it short for two reasons. 1) I'm out of ideas again, and 2) I'm saving what's left of Rei's sanity by giving her something to read while she's in Florida. So Rei, I dedicate this chappie to you. May you bash bling-bling with it. lmao