Here it is! Like promised in my notice, the new chapter of Free of Guilt. With more content than originally planned.
Owh, see those triple X's in the story? They are scene changes... Just guess how often I swapped those scenes around... take a guess...
Okay, I'll tell ya: more than thirty times! Thirty! This chapter was so difficult!
Like so many times, again my apologies for having been gone. But I'm back now. I'm already working on the next chapter too! And I have ideas for a continuation. (And no, this is not the last chapter.)
War at Day
They were walking, only walking, unaware of the hot desert sands blistering their feet.
As they travelled through the land, the weakened fell to the ground, their wounds having gone to rot under the hot sun.
But those still strong carried on, their eyes set upon a spot in the distance. Their heartbeats pounded in the same rhythm like a drum, urging them onwards on the path of war.
XXX
"Honda, new orders!" Atemu barked as he reached the top of the fortified wall, his royal robes enhanced with armour and he stood next to the commander. They both overlooked the field in front of the palace, watching how the civilians that had arrived an hour ago were shouting for the doors to be opened.
"Have the guards select the brave and strong from those villagers… arm them, and get them inside… the rest….." He paused for a long time, "….we have no room for the rest…"
Honda widened his eyes in surprise, he expected Atemu to say 'let the rest rot'… but he didn't… The commander nodded and turned, "Immediately!"
As he descended the stairs, he wondered if he had been right in hearing the softening of Atemu's voice.
'That would be a fine timing then!' he thought sarcastically because to be honest… Atemu's lack of social habits and mercy was an advantage in war.
XXX
They had reached the border of the city, the mass amounts of souls aligning to form a wall before they entered between the shanties and stone houses, systematically searching every house quickly and equally devastating.
Anything that could be used, would be used, and useless things were destroyed to make room. They would make sure that the Pharaoh's city would be crushed to the ground, just like the other villages they had passed through on their way.
Except…. it was here they would end, at the fallen Lord's doorstep, and destroy the existence of Egypt.
XXX
Yugi gasped as he saw the bataljons marching towards the palace, he shuddered as he took a step backwards until he felt the warm body of Atemu behind him.
"You have nothing to fear Yugi, Everything will be alright…. We have fortified walls and enough soldiers, the villagers that arrived here yesterday have been selected and armed, so we can fight them off…" Yugi turned his head upwards to look at Atemu, his eyes glimmering with fear and held-back tears.
"Atemu….. my pharaoh…." Yugi stammered as the other male looked at the bataljons setting up camp in the city, Atemu's eyes burned with rage as he watched how houses were ransacked and destroyed.
Yugi was wondering why the gods made him experience this, he had been living quite happily with the bossy lady who had taken him in back at the village, why had he ever been taken to this place? It had never been fair.
But it didn't matter now… the army was here, and as Atemu went to talk to Honda, a sly smile formed on the boy's lips. He turned around and went down, standing on the wall watching was not something he was going to remain doing.
XXX
"Honda, I need you to give instructions to the soldiers, prepare them. This battle is about to begin." Honda nodded as Atemu told him this. "Yes my Lord, anything else?"
"Not right now, we are ready, I'm going to take Yugi inside, I'll be back soon" This was unusual, but he needed to make sure that his servant was safely inside. If the boy got caught up in the storm... He was afraid to even think about it.
The Pharaoh turned around and headed for the palace. On the way he met Yugi, and they both walked further. Honda watched them go with crossed arms.
"Say... I'd like to pretend... that little boy Yugi is going to be our good luck charm" A voice next to Honda made the warrior startle. "Ryou..." he sighed and smiled.
Brown eyes looked at the Pharaoh and Servant ones more, and Honda narrowed his eyes. "I hope so, Ryou, I hope so."
He then left the silver-hair on the walls, as he went to speak to the gathered soldiers who were to defend the front side of the palace.
XXX
"Yugi, you will follow me at once" Atemu whispered as he passed Yugi on the palace courtyard.
Yugi heard him and jumped up, following the Pharaoh loyally.
Taking Yugi inside, Atemu looked at the young boy and frowned, they remained silent as the halls were traversed fast. They ended up at one of the lower servant quarters.
Inside, Atemu turned towards his servant, and his face softened.
"Yami? What are we doing?" Yugi questioned, looking at this environment.
"Yugi, you need to remain here... I need you to remain here" Atemu whispered, embracing Yugi.
For a while, he held the boy, listening to his heartbeat, his breathing, feeling the warmth of his body.
He had come to, funny that he had to admit it now, love. He loved Yugi, and it pained him that this war was threatening their chance of being together.
Yugi just stood there as Atemu embraced him. The words slowly got through to him, their meanings falling cold on his back, He was leaving him here, for reasons unknown. The one who stole his home from him, and put himself in its place. He was now, again, going to destroy his environment. His safe shelter.
Again...
Didn't he learn at all?
Yugi did not return the embrace. Instead, he looked at the wall. Then he widened his eyes involuntarily as Yami whispered something, hardly audible. Perhaps a lie.
"I love you, my Yugi"
It had to be... a lie.
XXX
"Honda! Look!" Ryou yelled, eyes wide in shock as he pointed to somewhere at the border of the city.
Honda stopped his instructions and followed the way in which Ryou was pointing.
"By the gods that shield this land..." Honda's jaw dropped as a bataljon came over the hills to join the army gathered in front of the fortified walls. They themselves weren't much impressive, weren't it that they were transporting a dozen catapults.
Those devices would break the palace apart! Honda was an experienced war commander, and he could tell that these machines were making his army nervous.
"SILENCE! Stay in line! I want discipline!" he growled, his voice bouncing against the stone walls. Immediately, everything went silent.
"Ryou! Go to the Pharaoh, warn him!" Honda lowered himself and whispered into the servant's ear.
"Yes, Commander Honda!" Ryou nodded and immediately rushed down the stairs. It wouldn't be soon or the enemy would start their assault.
Enemy bowmen were gathered down below, their generals barking orders.
With a loud cry, Honda raised his sword into the air, his soldies following his example.
"Archers of Egypt, I raise awards for every one who kills those foolish enough to fight against our Pharaoh!" He called out, "Prepare for war!"
The royal archers on the walls exchanged glances, and without hesitation, they loaded and took aim. Their arrows hit even before the enemy could get to cover.
XXX
Ryou ran through the immense royal house which ways he knew from memory. His heart jumped when he saw the blonde-haired boy from the stables ahead of him in the hall. He smiled broadly as he ran to catch up with him.
His smile faded and turned into shock as he heard the thundering sound of one of the catapults hitting the palace, it was right above them!
"Look out!" Ryou launched himself into his friend right on time as with a deafening crack, the ceiling gave away to the force upon it.
They both hit the ground hard and groaned, getting back up slowly.
"Owh no…" Ryou whispered.
Ryou and the blonde messenger watched helplessly at the collapse, the catapult had effectively destroyed the only exit from the room they were caught into.
"Well then, that ends this for us!" the blonde messenger raised his arms in frustration and sat on the ground.
Ryou still looked at the debris, but they couldn't move the large boulders that had formed. He sighed and dropped next to the blonde, hearing how the war was going on outside.
He bit his lip in fear, what if Honda had need of him? And worse, he couldn't reach the Pharaoh to warn him about the Catapults. Although, most likely, Atemu knew by now.
XXX
The sound of the catapults hitting the palace was familiar to Atemu, it brought him into alarm immediately.
"They are starting, I must go lead the defense" he stood up and kissed Yugi on his forehead, "I'll see you after the war, pray for our victory, Yugi"
He turned around to join the troops outside, but felt someone grab his arm tightly.
"Yami…. Don't you love me..? If you do, don't leave me!" Atemu looked down into the innocent, pleading eyes, tears rolling over Yugi's cheeks and he swallowed. "Stay here, Yugi…." He forced himself to say, and gently pushed Yugi back onto the bed in the room.
Then he left, leaving the boy servant behind. He watched violet eyes filling with tears as he closed the door, and locked it.
He hung the key at a pin in the wall next to the door. Should he die... people from the palace could open the door still.
The footsteps to the Pharaoh faded from the hall. It was time to join his land in battle.
XXX
Ryou looked at the blonde messenger who was following the actions of the enemy sieging the palace through the window, Ryou himself didn't dare to look.
"I never caught your name" he said, voice miserable and shaken.
The blonde looked at him and smiled, "my name is Joey" he answered and continued to look outside.
"Joey!" Ryou widened his eyes, "that's not possible! That means…" he sank against the wall in shock, "that soldier… is an imposter!"
Joey nodded and looked ashamed, "I'm sorry… some things are meant to happen, and we can do nothing about it"
"What do you mean?" Ryou looked at him, shivering.
Joey just shook his head and looked down, "I cannot disobey him…"
Like that, they stayed another while. Then Joey sighed and sat down next to Ryou, laying an arm around the boy's shoulder. "Everything will be okay, Ryou. It will be okay"
"THE FRONT GATE IS OPEN!" both looked up as the cry sounded through the air, along with the sound of the enemy cheering as they were granted entrance to the palace, behind them the sun slowly sinking behind the horizon.
XXX
Yugi was watching the battle outside through the small hole that served as a window, when the enemy suddenly headed to the front entrance of the palace, the battering ram had done its job well, and the remains of the enforced gate crashed to the ground.
His mind tried to keep up. Where would Atemu be? Where would the soldiers go first? Who would be winning, and who would fall? For how long would the blood be visible in the sands?
Hearing the war becoming up close and personal, he kept his eyes fixed on the sun, it slowly disappeared behind the horizon.
"Indeed, Ra, cast your gaze aside..." Yugi whispered, feeling sorrowful. "This bloodshed may best be abandoned."
XXX
As the light left Egypt, Honda swung his sword through the invading infantry with much ease, even though the gate had fallen, and the enemy could enter the palace, Atemu's army seemed stronger and winning.
As a Nubian male fell down to the ground, he heard a startled and choked cry behind him. He turned around, another male in enemy armour falling to the ground. Behind the male, Crimson eyes locked with his own.
"Hello, Honda" Atemu nodded.
"Pharaoh Atemu..." Honda nodded in return.
This was the only moment, the only event, where Commander and Pharaoh were side by side. They were fighting to save their land. Equal for the time being, finishing each other's moves.
Defending themselves, their friends, defending Yugi, and Ryou.
None of them saw faces, they just saw armour, they just saw blood. None looked to the end, they concentrated on one soldier at a time.
They would fight till the end.