Chapter 12: Deaths are merely beginnings

Atemu woke up before dawn, the events the previous day flashing in his mind instantly. He rose from bed silently and prepared himself. It was officially his first day as pharaoh.

On his way to the throne room, he saw Isis by the window along the hall, staring at a distance. And why was she crying?

"Isis?"

Said priestess turned to meet her pharaoh and bowed in respect. "Good morning, my pharaoh," she said. Something was definitely wrong today. Question is, what?

"Are you alright, Isis?" Atemu asked.

"Yes, my pharaoh, I'm quite alright," Isis answered.

"Come on, Isis. I know you. Something's wrong, tell me," the pharaoh insisted.

"You will find out soon, my pharaoh," his priestess answered. Atemu sighed before nodding. "Would you mind going with me to the throne room?" he asked.

"Certainly, my pharaoh," Isis answered before they headed to the said room.

Five familiar faces were present. But someone was missing. Akunadin… Shimon… Seth—

Mahado!

"Where is Mahado?"

No one met Atemu's gaze and this infuriated him. "Where is High Priest Mahado?" he asked again. Isis, in a soft and silent voice, replied, "He left to find Bakura, my pharaoh."

'Mahado, why?'

"What? Where is he now?" he asked.

"We know not, sire. He didn't want to tell us," Shadi answered.

Atemu ran a hand through his hair. No, this couldn't be happening. It was suicide. Mahado knew how dangerous and deadly Diabound was. He was going to die! So that was why he wanted to talk to his pharaoh last night. It was making sense. But no one knew where he was.

"How many men did he bring with him?"

"12,sire," Karimu answered.

"We will look for him, if you will grant us the permission to do it, my pharaoh," Shadi suggested.

Seth watched Atemu decide over things. This was definitely not his day. Why will Mahado do such a stupid thing of all things? Something happened the previous night. His cousin was reacting oddly to the news about Mahado. What happened?

Atemu sighed. Mahado, how could you? "Do what you must," he answered in resignation. But there was hope for his best friend, right? Mahado is considered one of the best mages. He will make it. Mahado is too good.

"Can I have some time alone?" he asked all of a sudden.

"As you wish, sire," Akunadin answered before ushering his fellow priests and vizier out. Atemu sat on his throne, massaging his temples. What must he do? There's a lot of things he had to sort out. The rebels were not completely gone. They were still lurking by the mountains planning their attack. Something must be done with that. And then there was the thing about Bakura. He must be caught. Mahado must be found fast. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Can't he just be… absent or something? Can't he just wish this all away?

"My prince?"

Atemu looked up to see a girl of perhaps 13 or 14 years old with brown hair looking up at him in concern.

"Are you alright, my prince?"

He smiled, "Yes, Mana. I'm fine. Shouldn't you be practicing your powers as Mahado instructed?" he answered.

Mana smiled sheepishly, "Well… umm… about that… I got bored. Do you want to go to the gardens, my prince?" she said.

"Why not?" Atemu replied with a smile before walking with Mana and headed towards the gardens.

"Mana?"

"Yes, my prince?"

"Did it came a time when you wished you were a commoner?"

Mana stopped walking and looked up at the sky with a cute pout, "I don't think so, my prince. I have to admit; I have the best teacher ever. High Priest Mahado never pushed me too much but he does have the tendency to be strict at times," she answered childishly.

Atemu smiled. That's Mahado all right.

"What about you, my prince?"

"Me? Yes. Sometimes I wish I was just like everybody else," Atemu answered.

They sat under the shade of a tree.

"He was always thinking of you," Mana suddenly said.

"What?" Atemu asked.

"High Priest Mahado. Sometimes I see him staring at something but I know he thinks of you," Mana answered.

"How do you know?"

Mana was silent. "There were times he talks to me about you. How strong you are despite all those things that happened to you… I never understood what he was talking about but I can tell he was always concern about you," she answered, looking at the pharaoh.

"Sometimes I see him at night staring at your chambers, my prince. I know he was in-love with you," Mana added.

"I think after all these years, I have gone blind to what was in front of me then?" Atemu said.

"No, my prince. High Priest Mahado was very good in hiding his feelings. I would always tell him that I know but he always denies it," Mana replied, "You are lucky, my prince, to have him as a best friend."

Atemu stared at the sky, his thoughts wandering off, "Yes, you're right. I'm lucky to have him as a best friend," he answered, "But I am a horrible one to him."

"My pharaoh, you should rest," Isis suggested, taking note of the

pharaoh's appearance. Atemu eyed his priestess and gave her a small smile but argued.

"I will when Mahado is here already," he said.

It was already nighttime in Egypt and still; there wasn't any news about Mahado. Four days of worrying. On the contrary, it would be an understatement to say that they were dead worried about the High Priest, especially their pharaoh.

"My pharaoh, my pharaoh, they have arrived!" a servant said.

Atemu sat straighter on his throne, waiting for his best friend's appearance. But Mahado never appeared. He never came into those doors and flashed them a smile. This confused and worried him.

"Where is High Priest Mahado?" Akunadin asked.

One of the soldiers who was pulling the stone tablet answered, "He… he told us to close the entrance, sire. We were given orders by High Priest Mahado not to open it until today. We went inside and found this, your majesties," he presented the stone tablet where oddly, the Illusion Magician, now grown up, stood tall and majestically.

Atemu rose from his throne to go see the tablet himself, despite his High Priests' reactions and warnings. Where are you, my dear friend?

"My soul is your eternal servant, my pharaoh"

"Mahado! Where—" Atemu cried, recognizing the voice, looked at the monster in the tablet, somehow recognizing the magician's face. "Mahado," he breathed, "Why?" The pharaoh dropped to his knees, feeling tears well in his eyes for the death of his best friend.

Silence filled the vast room as all eyes turned to the pharaoh and the stone tablet in front of him. Everyone was affected with Mahado's death but it was clear as broad daylight that the pharaoh was the most affected.

Why did he have to die? Atemu asked himself. Somehow he couldn't help himself but feel guilty. If he hadn't been that hurt, that weak, Mahado would never have died. It was because of him. He was always the one who was being protected by Mahado. And now, Mahado even died for him. Tears continued to flow as memories flooded the pharaoh but it was the one days ago that made his heart wrench.

"I love you, Atemu. I am in-love with you, my pharaoh."

"Mahado," he breathed. He stopped abruptly feeling a hand on his shoulder and he looked to see who the owner was.

"Atemu, I am sorry," Seth said, offering condolences.

"Bakura will pay for this," Atemu said, "Take this to my temple," he ordered before towards the stables.

"Pharaoh, wait!"

"Atemu!" Seth called but obviously, the pharaoh didn't hear him. Growling under his breath, he ran after his cousin, knowing where his cousin was headed to.

He didn't know what was wrong with him. All he knew was that he was angry. No, angry was not the right word. He was dead furious. How could Bakura ruin everything for him? That ungrateful thief ruined his life. If Bakura wanted to get his revenge, he didn't have to hurt anybody else. It should be directed to him. Damn that Bakura.

His steed was racing past the towns into some unknown place. He couldn't see where he was going. Rage has blinded him but he couldn't stop himself as tears fell from his crimson-orbed eyes. There will be no stopping now.

Why must all of these happen to him? Why him? Facing the river, he dismounted and threw a stone in anger.

"I'm going to kill you Bakura, even if it's the last thing I'd do!" he shouted as the sky started to darken, as if agreeing with his mood. Suddenly, there was a thunderclap and then the rain poured. He sat beside his steed, watching the river as the rain constantly poured and soaked him wet.

What if he can just jump into the river? He could and then everything will be over. But that will be giving up. Jumping into the river will be disregarding his promise.

"I hate you Bakura! I HATE YOU! Why did I ever save you!" He shouted repeatedly until his energy drained from him and he fell to the muddy ground crying.

"Atemu?"

He knew that voice. It was his cousin.

"Leave me alone, Seth. I want to be alone," he answered.

"It is raining heavily, we must get back to the palace," Seth reasoned out.

"I will not. I want to stay here."

"It is not right. You belong to the palace, not here."

"I don't care."

"Well I do so get your ass over that horse and we'll go back to the palace!" Seth finally answered back. He walked towards the fallen pharaoh and forced him up. "Look at you! Atemu, are you giving up?"

"No. Leave me alone!"

"This is about whatever happened that night before Mahado left, isn't it?"

Atemu paled.

"What are you talking about?"

"I am not stupid, Atemu. I know something happened between you and Mahado before he left. This is what's affecting you the most, isn't it?"

"Well what do you care? As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to kill Bakura right now and no rain can stop me," Atemu answered. Seth willed himself to calm down. No wonder his cousin refused to get angry. Angering the pharaoh was really dangerous to anybody's health, his in particular.

"You will not. You will ride back to the palace with me now before we both get sick!" Seth argued. Before Atemu knew it, Seth had carried him and hoisted him on his shoulder before riding his horse. With Atemu's steed trotting behind, Seth went back to the palace with an angry and wet pharaoh.

Everyone can only wonder how Seth managed to do that and as to when the pharaoh will decide to grace them of his presence after locking himself in his room.

Isis stared at a distance.

'You have affected them greatly, Mahado. You will be greatly missed, my dear friend.'

She sighed before succumbing to a dreamless sleep knowing the coming days will not be boring or will it be good especially to the pharaoh and his High Priest, Seth.

A/N: Three chapters in a row! Goodie… so, how was it so far? Did I make Atemu here so scary? Tell me. I don't know what to think. I'm so tired. Man, my back already hurts. I've been typing for seven hours straight. And I really want to sleep now. It's 3:04 AM! My mom's going to kill me if she finds out! Oh well… read and review guys!

Oh and before I forget again… Ryou or Malik:snicker: