Yugi could only watch quietly as strangers bid on him for purposes he didn't want to think too deeply about. He was still trying to fully comprehend the fact that he had traveled three-thousand years into the past, and now was being sold into slavery! The day definitely wasn't turning out to be one of his better ones…

Suddenly, the crowd surrounding the platform hushed and parted for a man dressed in clean, unstained cloth and gold. He was clearly a man of higher importance, though the fact barely registered in Yugi's mind. The man paid before tugging lightly on his rope, and he followed obediently.

As he was pulled through the bustling streets to his fate, he had enough sense to listen to the man as he instructed him on what he was to do. 'The Pharaoh?' He gasped softly.

Mahado pulled Yugi along. "Yes the Pharaoh. You will do well to obey his every word," he warned.

Yugi bit his lip. 'Did I say that out loud?'

He had to get his head in the right place. So what if he was a slave? So what if his family and friends were three thousand years away from him? At least he still had his health... Well, last time he'd checked he did.

As they walked pass the guards and into the courtyard, he added. "You will be cleaned up before you are shown to the Pharaoh."

He was silent as he was lead through the palace, focusing intently on the ground as he walked; so much so, that he almost ran into the man when he stopped inside a damp-smelling room. They had arrived in a large bathing chamber; in it was several women, wearing only what they were born in. He looked up, and when he spotted the women, looked immediately back down and blushed deeply.

"Here is a new one for you to get ready." Mahado said as a blond nodded and walked over not covering herself.

"Yes Priest Mahado." She said before taking Yugi's rope.

'Priest Mahado,' Yugi noted, careful to keep his thoughts internal.

"Come on dear, let's get you clean," she said.

Yugi 'eep'ed when a woman removed the cloth around his waist, and immediately moved to cover himself with his hands when they were finally untied; though the woman was much quicker. Before he could even blink, he was pushed into the water and the other women swarmed around him and began to clean him. He flushed redder than a tomato.

"What's your name, sweetie?" a woman lathering his hair asked.

"Y-Yugi," he stuttered, receiving a giggle in response.

"Aw, look girls, he's shy," the woman cooed.

As the others began to laugh, Yugi wanted nothing more than to dunk his head under the water and count to a million.

Yugi was soon dried, dressed, and oddly comfortable. His private parts were covered; in a clean though slightly worn tunic; the pain in his jaw had dulled, if not disappeared, and now he was fresh and clean.

Priest Mahado arrived to fetch him as he was adjusting the smaller bang at the middle of his forehead.

"The Pharaoh will see you now," he stated. "Come."

Yugi gulped. What good feelings he'd once had were then replaced with nervousness as he followed Mahado through the many halls. He kept his head down once again, though this time was careful to pay attention to when Mahado stopped walking, and so on. Yugi saw out of the corner of his eye a grand entryway, and knew he had arrived. He took a deep breath to calm himself, and kept his eyes downcast. He had no idea what was going to happen, so he found it best to keep quiet and listen intently.

Mahado talked to the guards before they opened the doors for him and he walked in before he bowed to a young male sitting on a golden throne. His wilds tri-color hair was the same as Yugi's the base was black that ended in red tips with blonde bangs framing his face. He had three blonde pieces that went up his hair like lighten blots.

Red eyes looked at Mahado then to Yugi as he raised a brow. "Who is this?" he asked as Mahado stood up again. "He is a slave i found being sold...i brought him as a gift and since you did say you needed a new slave." He said as Atemu sat back resting his chin on his hand.

"That is true...alright...boy what can you do?" he asked looking at Yugi again.

Yugi flushed, remembering reading something about it being disrespectful to look the Pharaoh in the eye and keeping his head down. He thought hard before he replied, "Whatever you need me to do, My Pharaoh."

"Anything you say?" he asked before he nodded. "We'll see if that is true...put him with the others. He is open to work for me or the priest only." Mahado nodded as Shimon an elder male smiled. "So it shall be written, so it shall be done." he said as Mahado took Yugi out of the room.

Yugi remained silent, and followed Mahado from the room when they were dismissed.

"The head slave master will explain your duties when no one wants you for something." Mahado said.

Again Yugi was being led through many hallways, and again they were in another room, where he would continue to piece together the puzzle that was his new life.

In said room was a large male writing things down. "Misun you have a new one."

Misun looked up with dark brown eyes, and then turned his gaze to Yugi. "He's tiny."

It was the first time Yugi looked up from the floor, and he found his gaze locked with that of the slave master's. His back stiffened, and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He didn't know why, but Misun frightened him.

"That he is but I'm sure you can find something he can do," Mahado said before he left the room.

Misun looked at Yugi. "You can wash laundry." He said getting up and he started to walk expecting Yugi to follow him.

Yugi scurried after him, soon catching up and looking curiously at his surroundings. Some of the men, women, and children working around him watched as he passed, and he fought the urge to blush. Though one thing was for sure; it took a lot of people to keep the palace in working order.

It was fairly obvious when they arrived at the laundry room, for in the middle was a huge basin full of water, surrounded by people pulling clothes from piles and dunking them into the water, running them up and down a washboard propped against the inside of the tub.

"Get to work, boy," was all Misun said, before he turned and walked out of the room.

Yugi, not wanting to look stupid, grabbed a washboard from the wall and a piece of clothing from a pile before dunking them both into the sudsy water; copying the boy next to him as discreetly as possible.

'Well,' Yugi inwardly sighed. 'This is my new life. I might as well get used to it.'

"Hey," a voice beside him said. "You're new, aren't you?"

Yugi started, looking up at the face of the boy beside him and stuttering, "Y-yes, I am."

The boy smiled. "You're a little pale. Not from here?"

He looked back down at his washboard and replied, "No, I'm not."

"Oh, I see." He nodded. "It's been awhile since anyone new's came along that wasn't from here." Grinning, he added, "I'm Malik."

Yugi couldn't help but smile at the boy's friendliness. "I'm Yugi."

"Yugi..." Malik repeated. "That's a strange name. But I like it!" As Malik went to drape the piece of clothing he was washing over a line running across the room, he called over his shoulder, "You know, you look an awful lot like the Pharaoh."

Yugi blinked, deeming his own article of clothing clean and following Malik's example. "I do?"

Malik nearly fell face first into a dirty pile of laundry as he went to retrieve another cloth to wash. "You never noticed?"

Yugi blushed. "I never thought to look."

"Let me guess..." Malik teased. "You were staring at the floor the whole time?"

Yugi nodded.

"Thought so. You seem like the type to do that." Malik smiled over at him as they re-assumed their positions at their washboards. "I suggest you don't just take my word for it and look next time. You'll be surprised; though there are some differences..." He looked Yugi up and down. "Like he's taller than you."

"Who isn't?" Yugi quipped.

They both laughed.

There was a moment of comfortable silence, before Malik spoke. "Y'know, Yugi," he began, "I don't think I've ever had this much fun washing laundry before."

Yugi giggled. "Neither have I."

As they smiled and nudged each other, Yugi realized that it hadn't even been a half an hour since he'd first entered the palace, and already he had made a new friend. His grin grew wider. Maybe life as a slave just took some getting used to.

After a few hours Atemu walked from the throne room glad the meetings are over as he went to his wing ad entered the lounge chamber he had as he sat down on a chair. Seth (Seto) Walked over. "MY Pharaoh is there anything you need?" He asked as Atemu looked up at him. "Have that new slave bring me some dates...I need someone to fan me." he said as Seth nodded and walked away.

Atemu watched before he covered his eyes with his arm wanting the headache to go away.

Misun came found Yugi and looked at him. "The Pharaoh wants you to bring him some dates." he said looking down at Yugi. "Hurry up." He said walking away.

Yugi looked over at Malik and down at the cloth he was folding. "I guess this'll have to wait until later."

"Nah, I'll probably have it done by the time you get back," Malik said. "By the way, dates are in the kitchen, which is two rooms down through that doorway behind me, and there should be a fancy wooden bowl or two on one of the tables. The fan's usually in the lounge chamber."

Yugi thanked him, though stopped himself when he was about to leave. "And the Pharaoh's... where, exactly?"

Malik laughed. "Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. From the kitchen you head out into the main hallway, you take a right down the second hallway, and then two immediate lefts. A couple guards are standing watch in front of the hallway leading the Pharaoh's bedchambers, and two more stand outside the entryway to those, also. You can't miss it."

After taking a mental note of everything, he smiled. "Thanks, Malik."

"No problem!" He smiled. "Come find me when you get back, alright? I'd like to introduce you to some of the others."

A nod and a wave later, Yugi was out the door. He carefully but hurriedly gathered what he needed from the kitchen, and went the way Malik had told him. When he saw the guards, he knew he had gone the right way.

"State your purpose," one of them said.

He gulped. "I am to bring these dates to the Pharaoh."

The guard nodded. "You may proceed."

With a humble bow, Yugi walked past the guards and down the hallway, to the doorway where there stood two more guards. They simply opened the door to allow him passage, and he bowed to them also before stepping inside. He immediately spotted the Pharaoh in one of the chairs and he walked over, setting the bowl of dates on the small table next to the chair, and scanned the room for the fan. He found it propped against the wall in the corner of the room, retrieved it, and then walked briskly back over to the Pharaoh, beginning to fan him.

Atemu had heard the male come in and move around, feeling the small breeze he smiled and he removed his arm from his eyes and looked at Yugi.

"You're tiny." He said as he reached for a date took a bite out of it.

Yugi blushed at the comment. Well, that was sure a popular word to describe him as.

Atemu watched him to see if he made any mistakes, and when Yugi made none, he smiled. "You may speak when you wish," he said as he shifted a bit.

Yugi chose to remain silent.

"What is your name?" The older one asked as he finished off one of the dates.

He looked up when he was questioned, and his eyes widened slightly when he finally made the connection in their appearances. His eyes then darted back down, and he managed to sputter, "Y-Yugi."

"Yugi...where is that name from?" He asked, smirking when he noticed Yugi had looked at him.

"Um... Japan," he replied.

"Japan? Never heard of it." He paused a moment before asking, "We look alike, don't we? Isn't that weird?"

He couldn't help but spare another glance up at the Pharaoh, and then back to the ground. "Yes... It is weird, my Pharaoh."

Grabbing another date he took a bite, turning his glaze out the balcony looking at the sky. "How old are you?"

He looked back up at the Pharaoh. "I am eighteen."

"That's three times I could have you whipped," he said as he stood up. "You can stop fanning me," he added.

Yugi flushed a deep red. 'I really have to start thinking before I act,' he thought, and scurried over to place the fan back in its corner.

Atemu walked over to a table. "Come take this off." he said gesturing to the gold on his arms and legs. "Once you have done that you will draw my bath then you can leave."

He rushed back to the Pharaoh, removing the gold bands from his arms and legs with minor difficulty, and with a bow, disappeared into the Pharaoh's private bathing chamber. All the while he kept his gaze to the floor, and only when he was back in the hallway on his way to find Malik did he look up.

Malik was helping with dinner when Yugi returned. "Hey, Yugi, how'd it go? Did you get a good look at him?"

"Yes... Three good looks, actually. And I wasn't the one that was keeping count," Yugi responded.

Malik's eyes widened. "You mean you got caught...? Oh, Yugi-"

"It's okay, Malik," Yugi interrupted. "I haven't been punished."

Malik sighed in relief. "Then that means he won't punish you, if he hadn't done it immediately." He then blinked up at him. "Though I'm surprised he didn't have you whipped, or anything…"

Yugi shrugged. "I'm sure he's just excusing it because I'm new. I wouldn't look into it much."

Malik was silent for a minute; turning back to chopping up vegetables; before he looked back up at Yugi. "Though I was right, wasn't I? You look almost like him! ... And you've gotta admit, his is kinda handsome."

Yugi blushed. "Malik! Remember our place! He's our Pharaoh, and we are his slaves. We're nothing more to one another."

'Though his eyes were beautiful...' Yugi mused with a blush.

Atemu groaned as he sank into the water before he chuckled. "He forgot the oils." he muttered as he called in a servant to fix that before sending her away. Normally the servants washed the Pharaoh but he wanted to be alone so he did it himself.

'That boy...Yugi is very strange...' He said in his mind as he sank deeper before going under then coming back up. 'Why does he look like me? His eyes are beautiful...' Atemu shook his head as her smirked.

"i could always call him for a night." He said to himself as he pictured those eyes again. 'So innocent...so sweet…'

Yugi's eyes sparkled with amusement as he swatted a pale hand away. "Stop it, Ryou! I said no!"

The albino's lower lip quivered as he folded his hands in front of his face. "Please, Yugi? Just let me braid your hair this once?"

"It'll stick up and look weird..." Yugi warned. "Trust me, I've tried it before, and it didn't end up well."

"C'mon, Yug'," a blond boy urged, slinging a strong arm around the other's shoulders. "If you let him do it, I won't be able to do this!" He ruffled Yugi's hair with his free hand, causing him to squeal and attempt to squirm from his hold.

"Jou!" Yugi laughed. "S-stop it!"

"Mealtime is over!" Misun's voice echoed through the big empty room which doubled as everyone's sleeping quarters/meal room. "Get back to work!"

Jou groaned in annoyance, releasing Yugi whose hands immediately went to his hair; though he still managed to send Jou and Ryou a triumphant grin. When he stood, he looked over at Malik, who was smiling back at him. "Today's our day to wash the dishes, right?"

Malik nodded. "Right."

"I wash, you dry?"

"Sounds good to me."

"We'll see you guys later!" Jou exclaimed, and followed Ryou into the next room.

Yugi smiled after them, and again found himself anxious for their next break.

"Hey, Yugi?"

The named glanced over at a gently smiling Malik. "…I'm really glad I met you."

Yugi nodded. "I feel the same, Malik. I'm glad I met you too."

"What!" Atemu yelled as he looked at the messenger who was shaking.

"It was there idea to come three days earlier then later." He said.

Atemu sighed. "Fine...I'll get things ready."

The messenger bowed hurriedly and left.

"Summon Misun!" Atemu said as the slaver master came in. "I need some of the slaves to help get this place clean and ready for royal visitors tomorrow."

"I can't believe it," Joey grumbled. "We're supposed to clean the whole palace top to bottom in only a day! This is insane!"

"Calm down, Jonouchi," Ryou whispered. "Before someone hears you."

"But-"

"You'd better listen to him, Jou," Malik warned. "The Pharaoh didn't look as if he was in the best of moods."

"My Grandpa always said, 'Complaining doesn't sweep the floors, Yugi!'" Yugi imitated.

Ryou giggled, and Jou huffed.

Yugi's brows knit together. "I wonder who's so important that they could inconvenience the Pharaoh in such a way."

"I don't know, but they're sure making life a pain in the-"

"Jou!" Malik hissed.

They cleaned in silence as Priest Mahado walked by, and once they were sure he was a safe distance, Malik began to speak.

"You're gonna get us in a lot of trouble someday, Jou!" he barked.

"Me?" he gaped. "Last time I checked, you weren't exactly the perfect role-model!"

"Why you-"

"Would you two stop?" Yugi snapped. "If you keep this up, you'll both get us all in trouble! Now can we just all get back to work, please?"

The three of them stared at Yugi in shock. They never thought him capable of being so harsh.

"Yes, sir," Jou mumbled, but they all got back to work; as quiet as mice.

Once everything was clean for the next day Atemu was talking with Misun over getting a collection of slaves to serve at the meal with the guest.

"I want Yugi the one that looks like me to be mine." He said as Misun nodded. "Of course Pharaoh...as for the others I will pick the best we have." Atemu nodded before he walked off passing the slaves before he stopped in front of Yugi.

"You come with me Yugi." He said before he started to walk again. With Yugi in tow Atemu headed to the garden before he sat on a bench. "Tell me about Japan."

Yugi stared in awe around at the lavish greenery that surrounded them. Not even in Japan had he ever seen something so magnificent. As he studied a pink lotus blossom floating in a small pond he contemplated what he should tell the Pharaoh. The truth was definitely out, so there was only one other option. Lie his ass off.

"I've never been to Japan before, My Pharaoh, but I've heard it's beautiful."

Atemu made a face. "you said you were from Japan... how can you be from there and yet never gone?" he asked narrowing his eyes. Touching the puzzle he looked down at it. "Are you lying?"

Yugi bit his lip, looking up; though careful not to meet the Pharaoh's eyes; when his hands moved to rest on something. He had to stifle a gasp. 'That's the pendant that was around the mummy's neck at the museum! He's the Nameless Pharaoh?'

And then he remembered his current situation. Uh oh. "I said that my name was from Japan, My Pharaoh. My mother was born there, though my parents liked to travel... And I ended up being born here in Egypt. I apologize for being unclear..."

"Oh...I see." he said relaxing again.

Yugi inwardly sighed. Another reason to constantly guard what he said.

"I want you to be my personal servant at the dinner tomorrow." Atemu said as he looked at him. "You're small enough so no one will really notice you." He added with a smirk.

He blushed deeply and looked back over to the pond. "Y-yes, My Pharaoh."

It was fun to tease this boy. Atemu found it so easy to do. He spent what free time he had teasing Yugi more before he left the garden sending Yugi back to his friends. He now had to get ready for the princess he couldn't stand to show up and her father.

"This will not end well," he muttered.

The next day came as everyone was running around finishing last minutes things.

Misun looked at the slaves. "Till you are needed you will stay by this wall...you have all be selected to a person you will go when they call you."

"I'm surprised," Ryou muttered once Misun had left. "Yugi I can understand being chosen, and Malik's capable of being good every so often... but you, Jou?" He shook his head, disbelievingly. "I think I'm going to pass out."

"Eh, shut up! 'Before we get into trouble'." Jou imitated mockingly.

Yugi giggled and whispered to the blond, "So, who're you serving?"

"Priest Seth," Jou replied. "You?"

"The Pharaoh," Yugi said.

"You've been pretty popular with the Pharaoh," Malik commented softly. "I know you two look alike, but I would've guessed that his fascination with you would've worn off by now."

Yugi shrugged, indicating that he didn't know any more than Malik did. "And who're you serving, Malik?" he asked by means of changing the subject

"Priest Mahado's apprentice, Mana."

"And you, Ryou?"

"Priest Mahado."

Yugi nodded and pressed his back against the cool stone wall they stood against. He stared at the floor and let his mind wander to nothing in particular. When he sensed a mix of anxious emotions in the air he was snapped from thought and stood straighter. Guards rushed to open the front door. Whoever they had been expecting had finally arrived.