Chapter 2: Embracing His Destiny.

Elsewhere that night was an ongoing battle between a man and a child. Standing in a bloody area, the boy stood glaring at the man.

"Pick up the pace boy, your slowing down." A boy of seven years and scar below his right eye was panting heavily. "One wrong move and I'll give you another scar identical to that one." the man said. "Shut up you bastard." Pulling out a knife he smirked. "I think you're the one who the wrong move."

Moving swiftly he took the knife and plunged it into the man's back. Groaning the man dropped to his knees. Hearing clapping the boy turned around. "Nicely played son. I'm pleased with you." Turning to a servant standing in the corner, he ordered. "You, take him away and fix him up. I need all the men I can get." "What do you want father?" the boy asked. "Are you going to take my brother from me, just like you allowed my mother to be taken from us?"

"Watch your mouth you insolent child. I came to discuss a different matter with you. Now come with me." They left the bloody room and headed outside into the cool winds that came from the east. Lighting some torches, his father spoke, "my sources tell me that the pharaoh has found a wife for his older son and her coronations as princess will be in one week. You will accompany me when we attack and kill everyone in the palace. Over the next few days we will be gathering men together."

"Father, who will I be given to fight?" he asked. "You shall be in charge of killing Yami, Yugi and the other children. You may go now." Turning, he blew out the torches and left his son in the darkness. "I can't wait for that bastard to die. When he is dead, I'll do the things that he couldn't do and I'll get Yami back for giving me the scar on my chest."

Flashback

"It seems like I shall be the victor Prince Yami. Once I kill you, I kill the rest of your family." The boy said. "Don't misjudge me. I'm much stronger that you think I am." Yami said. "Then it won't bother you if I kill your brother first." Reaching behind some palm tress, the boy pulled out Yugi. "Yugi!" Yami cried out. "Let my brother go now!" "Oh no, Yami. I'll take a lot of pleasure killing your brother." Yami glanced at his brother, trying to find a way out.

Thinking fast he said, "What about your own brother? How would you feel if somebody killed him?" Blinking the boy loosened his hold on little Yugi. "Shut up! You don't know anything about my brother." he yelled. "I know that before your mother died you promised to take care of him." "SHUT UP!" Seeing the advantage he took his sword and managed to slash the boy in his chest. Dropping Yugi he retreated. Looking back he said, "I'll get you back Yami. For everything you said and what you did."

End of Flashback

Smirking he thought, "That damn Yami doesn't even know what'll hit him. That bastard will pay for snooping around into my business." Suddenly he felt a pair of arms around his legs. Looking down he saw his brother. "Hey Squirt shouldn't you be asleep?"

Seeing his brother the younger boy smiled. "Yeah, but what Dad doesn't know wont kill him." The young boy said. "You're pretty brave for a four year old. Exceedingly brave, but stupid. Now go to bed, before I run out of family members to love." Putting on a puppy dogface the younger boy said, "But I'm only trying to be like you." Grinning he said, "Be like me and you loose your life quicker. Now go." "Ok, ok." The small boy hugged his brother and ran back inside. 'I remember when I was that innocent.'

Flashback

"Ha ha ha. Mom watch me, watch me!" Running from his mother, the four year old picked up a knife and flung it into a palm tree. "Oh sweetheart! Who taught you that?" "Jiro did. Wasn't that cool? Dad said he would get me a knife of my own one day." the young boy said jumping up and down.

"I see. Would you like to hold your brother while I go and get your father? his mother asked. "Ok." he replied. "Come here little brother. Let's play." Reaching his arms out to his one-year-old brother, the boy proceeded to play a game with his brother. When his parents came out took his brother's hand and helped him walk over to them. "Dad look! I'm getting better." "Yes much better. I shall see you soon, son. Good bye." Without much of a backwards glance, his father walked away.

End of Flashback

'That was before my whole life was destroyed.' Looking around he could barely see the palm tree he had hit. He could see his mother sitting underneath it, black hair gleaming, the sand blowing behind her while playing with his brother. Then she died.

On her deathbed she told him, "Don't let your father take happiness away from your brother. Don't allow him to change your brother. Fight until you're happy. Fight until you find the one who shall bring you happiness." 'There's nobody that can ever make me happy like you did Mom.' Walking back inside he thought, 'No one.'

When he woke up the next day he felt a pair of eyes watching him. Reaching to his right, he swiftly grabbed the thing by the neck and proceeded to choke it. "Brother, brother! It's me! Ack! Stop!"

Dropping his brother he said, "Damn squirt. I could have killed you. What the hell do you want?" the smile that was on the younger brother's face was instantly replaced with a tearful one. "I'm sorry. I . . . I got s sc scared. Dad was yelling at the men and I was scared he'd come in my room and yell at meeeee." With that last sentence he began to cry.

Sighing he picked up his sobbing brother. "What time is it?" "It's still dark outside." Sniffling he burrowed his head into his brother's shoulder. "I don't like Dad. He never plays with us anymore. All he cares about is killing the Pharaoh and his family." "You know why he's doing this. The Pharaoh killed our mother and we'll never forgive him for it."

Flashback

"Everyone it's an attack! Run to the nearest sand tunnel." Chaos was everywhere. Children were hurrying to find their parents. "MOM, Mom where are you." Dai, Dai! I'm here! Come toward the trees." Seeing his mother, the boy ran towards her. "Mom is it the Pharaoh? Could he have found us?" the boy asked.

"Yes it is he. Come now and be quiet." Quietly the two of them ran to the nearest sand tunnel. "Mom, where's my brother?" "Shhh. He's with Ami. Your father allowed me to come look for you, so I left him with her." Suddenly an arrow flew pat their heads. Picking up her son, his mother turned sharply, only to come face to face with the Pharaoh.

"Haruko, how wonderful it is to see you again." "Damn you Atemp. Now let me go." "I don't think so. If this is the only way to capture your husband, then why let you go?' Grabbing her hand, he pulled her towards him. Haruko dropped her son and yelled, "Run, son, run, find your father!" "Don't move boy." Pushing Haruko onto the sand, the Pharaoh drew back his bow and arrow. "One move and this arrow shall be lodged in your throat." "Mom! Help me!" the young boy looked toward his mother with pleading eyes.

"If you dare hurt them, I swear by Ra I'll kill you right here." Looking to his left, the boy saw his father. "Hiroshi." The Pharaoh growled. "What's the matter Atemp? Afraid I'll take something else that you wanted?" Hiroshi smirked. "Oh, you won't be the one taking something from me, I'll be taking it from you!"

Letting go of his drawn arrow, it flew straight for the boy. "MOM!" What they heard next was not the grown of a male, but of a female. Haruko had stopped the arrow from hitting her son but had paid a high price for it. "HARUKO!" Before the Pharaoh could get away, Hiroshi had struck him with his sword. The wounded Atemp retreated, but before leaving he said. "I'll get you for this Hiroshi. One of these days your bones shall make a fine dinner for my dogs." And then he left.

Hiroshi picked up his wife and hurried her inside a servant's tent. He tore of her robes only to find that the arrow was lodged into her heart. "Where's my Dai? Is he ok?" she asked gasping. The boy rushed towards his mother and knelt beside her. Taking his hand she looked at her husband, "Watch over my babies. Teach them to be strong. Protect them."

Motioning to her son, he leaned forward. Whispering she said to him, "Don't let your father take happiness away from your brother. Don't allow him to change your brother. Fight until you're happy. Fight until you find the one who shall bring you happiness."

End of Flashback

Seeing that his brother had fallen asleep, he laid the younger boy on the bed. Looking around the dark room he yawned and stretched. "Well this is a better time as any to begin training." He got his knife and made his way outside. After lighting some torches, he filled some bags with sand. Tying some bags with sand he hung them from a high post and swiftly slashed each bag except for the last one. Seeing his father sword in the ground he reached over, picked it up, and struck it in the middle. "At least you weren't handling that yesterday or I'd be dead."

A man came out of the shadows. "I'm surprised you survived my attack Ronin," the boy said without turning around. "I was sure I killed you. Damn." Ronin glared at him. "Hopefully I'm dead or far away from you before you are leader over me." "By the time I'm leader, I'll make sure your dead. Now get out of my way. I've got other things to do." Pushing the man out of his way he walked back inside.

Meanings

Dai: The Beloved or Adored one

Who is this mystery boy? Who do you think it is? What does Ronin have to do with his family? Will he succeed in killing Yami and his family? Find out in chapter three: This Meeting Is Not In Vain.

R&R

Ja Ne