Here's the next chapter. Just so you know, nothing lovey dovey in this. A lot of arguments.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2- Loathing
After two months of marriage, Atemu, Seto, Bakura, and Marik were no closer to having in liking of their husbands than when they first met them. In fact, they downright hated them.
"Those bastards! I wish that we had never met them!" Bakura growled.
"I know what you mean! I can't stand the sight of that lowlife! He's constantly berating me whenever I see him! You'd think that I wasn't good enough to be his husband! He's the one that's not good enough for me!" Marik snarled.
"Well, at least you're not married to a mutt. That worthless mutt is a pain in my ass. He does nothing but irritate me. I can't do one thing without him criticize me." Seto said angrily.
Yami sat in the lounge with them trying to watch his favorite show on TV, but couldn't because of their complaining. He sighed and said, "What about you, Atemu? Do you have any complaints?"
"No." Atemu answered.
"Why not?! You can't tell me that you actually like him!" Bakura exclaimed.
Atemu looked up from his book. "No, I don't. In fact, I don't have much of a problem with him because I hardly ever see him, and even when I do see him, he ignores me, and I ignore him. It's a silent agreement that we have nothing to do with each other." Atemu answered.
"Wish that we had that luck." Bakura muttered.
Yami shook his head. 'You'd think that it was the end of the world the way they're acting.' Yami thought. He had to admit that he didn't know how he'd feel if he were forced to marry someone he didn't even know, but he hoped that he would be more willing to at least try and get along with whomever he married.
"I wish that there was a way to get out of these marriages." Marik said.
"I don't think that you're going to be able to manage that one, Marik. You guys were forced to marry them to satisfy Emperor Kenshin so that he wouldn't start a war with us. If you even try to get out of them, we'll be at war." Yami said.
"He's right, but that doesn't mean that we have to like it." Seto said.
"It would be pointless to say that given the fact that you guys are already in the middle of hating them." Yami said.
Joey, Heba, Ryou, and Malik were all in Heba's room.
Heba was laying on his stomach on the bed while Ryou was sitting in the armchair with his legs thrown over the side of the arm of the chair, typing on a laptop.
Malik and Joey were playing a wrestling game on the Playstation 3 that was in Heba's room.
"You know, this is a really cool game." Malik said.
"Yeah, but the ones from home are even better." Joey said.
"You know that you can have one put in your own rooms." Heba said as he turned a page in the book he was reading.
"What are you doing anyway?" Joey asked.
"I'm learning the Egyptian laws like you should be doing. I want to know what rights we have." Heba said.
"Fine anything interesting?" Ryou asked.
"Yes. Any member of the Royal family or the court and their spouses has the right to carry a dagger hidden on them as long as the Pharaoh knows about it." Heba said.
"I take it that you're going to tell him that you're going to carry one." Ryou said, looking up.
"Yes, I am. Assassination attempts are common on Royalty, and I have no doubt that there are people angry enough about the arranged marriage to try and kill us." Heba said.
"If they're smart, they'll leave it alone. After all, one of our deaths by the hand of an Egyptian is what Kenshin would use to start a war." Joey said.
"That's why we have to do this. As long as we don't die, we'll be fine." Heba said.
"Well, let us know the laws we need to know." Malik said.
Heba shook his head. "You two are impossible." Heba said.
"Heba, give it a rest. You know what these two are like, and there is no point in trying to change them." Ryou said.
"Not again!" Malik shouted.
Joey looked at him, smirking. "It looks like I win again, Malik." Joey said.
Malik glared at him. "I will beat you at some time." Malik said.
"Keep telling yourself that." Joey said.
Heba ignored them as he continued reading the book on Egyptian laws.
"I must say that I am pleasantly surprised, Aknaudin." Aknankanon said.
The brothers were sitting in Aknankanon's study.
"Why is that?" Aknaudin asked.
"I thought that when Prince Heba and the others came here, they would try to interfere in our affairs on some way, but they have not. They have mostly minded their own business and not even tried to get too involved in the affairs of the kingdom." Aknankanon said.
"That surprised me as well although there is one thing that bothers me." Aknaudin said.
"What is that, brother?" Aknankanon asked.
"I worry that Atemu, Seto, Bakura, and Marik's constant need to argue and berate them will end up hurting us. These four are the only chance we have to avoid a war with the Millennial Kingdom, and they might destroy that chance." Aknaudin said.
"Normally, I would agree with you, and I don't like it, but their husbands do the same thing back. As for Atemu, he does not do that with Prince Heba now. In fact, I believe that they both avoid each other when possible, and when they are faced with each other, they ignore each other." Aknankanon said.
"If only the others would do that." Aknaudin said.
"I believe that is wishful thinking." Aknankanon said.
"I must admit that I have never seen anyone other that Atemu, Bakura, Marik, and Yami who could hold their own in an argument against Seto, but Lord Joseph has proven himself to be able to argue right back at Seto with as much ferocity, defiance, and firmness that Seto does." Aknaudin said.
"I think that Seto enjoys those arguments because no one else stands up to him the way his husband does." Aknankanon said.
Aknaudin sighed. "Do you think that they will ever be happy?" Aknaudin asked.
Aknankanon grew serious. "I don't know. I had hoped that they would at least try to be on friendly terms with their husbands, but I had my hopes set too high. If they allow each other to go outside the marriage to find companionship, maybe, but I doubt it." Aknankanon said.
"As much as I hate to admit it, we both raised them too morally. They would never go outside the marriage for anything, and most certainly not that. Atemu, Seto, Bakura, and Marik value loyalty, and they will not betray their husbands, no matter how much they hate them." Aknaudin said.
"I fear you are right. Their only chance at happiness is to let go of their resentment at being forced to marry them, and try to learn to get along with their husbands. You never know. They might could find love in their marriages." Aknankanon said.
Aknaudin looked at his brother with a raised eyebrow. "Do you honestly think that they will try to let of their resentment and allow themselves to see what they are really like?" Aknaudin asked.
"No, I do not, but I can always hope." Aknankanon said.
"You stupid mutt! Why don't you learn to mind your own business?!" Seto shouted.
"In case you haven't noticed, I live here, so what goes on in Egypt is my business!" Joey spat back.
"You may live here, but you're not an Egyptian, you will never be an Egyptian, and you don't need to worry about Egyptian affairs!" Seto growled.
"Says you!" Joey snapped back.
"You wouldn't be able to learn the ways and laws of Egypt if you tried! Mutts can't read, and they most certainly can't be taught something new!" Seto snarled.
"At least I don't have my head stuck up my ass! Unlike you! I could learn anything!" Joey retorted.
"I highly doubt that you have enough intelligence for that!" Seto snapped back.
The two had ended up meeting in the library and were now locked in another one of their heated, insulting arguments.
Bakura glared at Ryou as Ryou walked through the gardens. "What are you doing here?!" Bakura snapped.
Ryou glared back. "I decided to take a walk in the gardens because I got tired of being cooped up inside! Not that it's any of your business!" Ryou snapped back.
"You don't have the right to be out here!" Bakura shot back.
"As I recall, Lord Bakura, I am your husbands, which entitles me to all the rights you have, which include walking around the palace!" Ryou snarled.
Bakura glared heatedly at him. "You have those rights, but you don't deserve them!" Bakura said.
"I've changed my mind! Since the gardens are filled with rodents, I'd be better off inside." Ryou said before heading back into the palace.
Bakura was seething as he watched Ryou walk off. 'Conceited bastard!' Bakura thought angrily.
"You psychopath! You're out of your damn mind!" Marik shouted, glaring at Malik who was holding a sword.
Malik had been practicing his swordsmanship in the training area, and had nearly decapitated Marik.
Malik glared at him. "Next time, check to see if someone is practicing before you just waltz in here like nothing can happen to you!" Malik shouted.
"You should watch where you swinging your sword! You shouldn't do that so close to the door!" Marik yelled, getting in Malik's face.
"I turned on the sign outside which said that someone was in here, so you should pay more attention!" Malik spat.
"Maybe you should learn to watch what you're doing!" Marik said.
Heba was walking down the hall. As he walked, he could hear Joey and Seto arguing. He shook his head. 'That is going to get old really fast.' Heba thought.
Up ahead, Atemu was walking down the opposite way right toward Heba. 'Great. He has to be here right now.' Atemu thought.
Heba and Atemu passed each other without saying a word to each other. They didn't even throw a glance at the other.
Heba walked on through the many halls and found Aknankanon's study. He knocked on the door.
"Enter!" Aknankanon called.
Heba opened the door to find Aknankanon working. "I'm sorry, Pharaoh. Am I disturbing you?" Heba asked.
Aknankanon looked up and grew worried. 'I hope that Atemu hasn't done something.' Aknankanon thought. "Of course not, Prince Heba. Come in." Aknankanon said.
Heba walked on into the room.
"Now, what can I do for you?" Aknankanon asked
"Well, Pharaoh. I was acclimating myself with the Egyptian laws so that I will know them. I saw where I would be allowed to carry a dagger for protection, and I was wondering if you mind." Heba said.
'A dagger? Is he a threat?' Aknankanon asked himself. "A dagger?" Aknankanon asked.
"Yes. I know that assassination attempts on Royals are all too common. I merely wish to carry one so that I can have something to use in my defense should someone attack me." Heba said.
"I understand. You may do so. Also, if the lords wish to carry one, they may as well." Aknankanon said.
"Thank you, Pharaoh. I will not waste anymore of your time." Heba said before he left the office.
Aknankanon sat back in his chair, slightly concerned. 'I hope that I do not regret this. I could not refuse the request because it is his right to choose to carry the weapon. I just pray that he does not intend to bring harm to anyone in the palace.' Aknankanon thought.
Heba had gone back to his room and was now going through some of the things that he had brought with him from his home in the Millennial World. As he went through them, he came across a ruby necklace done in the shape of a star.
Heba smiled sadly as he looked at the necklace. 'It seems like a lifetime ago when this was given to me. I can't believe that it has been so long since the last time I was in the Millennial World.' Heba thought.
Heba finally found what he was looking for. It was a small dagger that could easily be concealed on his person.
"I'm glad I have this. I know that there are people who will try and kill me, and I have to be ready to stop them.' Heba thought.
Seto stormed into the lounge where Yami was playing a game of solitaire. "That mongrel! He is getting on my last nerve1" Seto growled.
"What happened this time?" Yami asked, continuing with his game.
"That mutt decided to try and find out about the Egyptian laws and such, so he went to the library! I can't believe this! He must be planning to learn what he can or cannot do here! Or he might be looking for a way to gain more power!" Seto said.
"You know that he has the right to know the Egyptian laws. He needs to know the boundaries in Egypt. They are bound to be different than the ones in the Millennial Kingdom." Yami said.
"But he could be using them to find a way to get more power." Seto argued.
"There is no way to prove that. For all you know, he does just want to know the laws so that he doesn't break them, and he does have the right to know them." Yami said.
"What if he wants to know about the affairs of Egypt?" Seto asked.
"Well, he has the right to know because he is your husband so we can't stop him from finding out." Yami said.
Seto groaned. "I hate this." Seto said.
Bakura then entered the room and slammed the door shut. "I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!" Bakura said.
"What now?" Yami asked, throwing the cards down.
"He was walking around the gardens like he owned the place!" Bakura snapped.
"Bakura, there is no harm in walking in the gardens. He can't hurt anything. Besides, he does have the right to." Yami said.
"I don't think he should! As far as I'm concerned, he shouldn't have any rights at all!" Bakura growled.
Yami sighed. "Bakura, Lord Ryou now has every right that you do, and there is nothing that you can do about it. I get that you don't like this, but there is nothing you can do about it, so you might want to get used to it." Yami said.
A moment later, Marik barged into the room, seething. "I can't believe him! He's not even sorry!" Marik shouted.
Yami groaned and was close to slamming his head onto the table he was at to knock himself out. At least he would find some peace unconscious. "What is it?" Yami asked, his voice strained.
"I went down to the training room, and that lowlife I call a husband nearly decapitated me with a sword! He didn't even care!" Marik shouted.
This was a concern.
"That's it! We can tell our uncle that he tried to kill you! That's get us out of these marriages!" Bakura said.
Yami growled. "Marik, did he intentionally try to kill you?" Yami asked.
"Well, no." Marik said.
"What all happened?" Yami asked.
Marik groaned. "I didn't notice that the sign was on to say that someone was in the room and went in." Marik said.
"Then it was an accident." Yami said.
"Yeah, but he didn't even apologize to me!" Marik argued.
"You probably went in there yelling and started a fight." Yami said.
"I say that he was justified." Seto said.
"Don't bother telling my father. There is nothing he can do since it was because of your ignorance." Yami said.
Atemu then walked into the room.
Yami rubbed his forehead. "Atemu, please tell me that you're not coming in here to complain about something that your husband has done." Yami said.
Atemu stopped and looked at his brother. "No. I only saw Heba a few hours ago, and we didn't say anything to each other when we passed. Why?" Atemu asked.
"Because that's all the other three are doing." Yami said.
"They're bastards, and we need to rant!" Bakura protested.
Yami stood up. "All right, if you need me, I will be in my room. And if you want to complain about your husbands, find someone else!" Yami snapped before walking out of the room.
"What's up his ass?" Marik asked.
"I think that he's tired of us coming to him and complaining." Seto said.
"We need to complain to someone." Bakura said.
"Leave Yami be for a while." Atemu said.
Yami walked into his room and walked over to his bed, flopping down on it. He buried his face in the pillow and screamed, the pillow muffling the sound.
Yami then turned over to lay on his back. "I get that they hate their husbands and the situation that they're in, but why do they have to come to me every time something goes wrong? I am tired of this." Yami said.
There was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Yami asked. 'If it's Seto, Marik, or Bakura, I won't be held responsible for what I do.' Yami thought.
"It's me, Yami." Aknankanon said.
"Oh. Come in, Father." Yami said.
Aknankanon walked into the room and shut the door. He then went over and sat down beside Yami. "Is everything all right, son?" Aknankanon asked.
"Everything's fine, Dad. Why do you ask?" Yami asked.
In private, Yami and Atemu called Aknankanon Dad. They had to call him Father otherwise for formalities sake.
"Yami, I saw you storm out of the lounge before coming in here. I could tell you were upset. What's wrong, and don't you dare tell me it's nothing." Aknankanon said, adding the last part when he saw Yami start to say something, knowing what Yami would say.
Yami sighed. "All right, Dad. Seto, Marik, and Bakura are driving me nuts!" Yami said.
"Why are they doing that?" Aknankanon asked.
"You know that they are constantly getting into fights with their husbands over the smallest things, right?" Yami asked.
"Yes. The entire palace knows it." Aknankanon replied.
"Well, after every argument, they come and rant to me about it. They're always talking about hoe much they hate them and so forth. Dad, it's tiring. I have to listen to them everyday, and it's putting a lot of stress on me." Yami said.
"What about Atemu?" Aknankanon asked.
"Ra bless him, he is the only reason I still have my sanity. Atemu doesn't fight with Prince Heba. They have a silent agreement. If Prince Heba doesn't mess with Atemu, Atemu won't mess with him. They basically avoid each other, and if they happen to cross paths, they ignore each other. Not ideal for a marriage, but it stops them from being at each other's throat all the time." Yami said.
"I see. No wonder every time I see you lately, you look like you're about to explode." Aknankanon said.
"I guess the stress is just starting to get to me." Yami said.
"I understand. If you want, I can tell them to stop." Aknankanon said.
"No, dad. Don't do that. I'll find a way to deal with this." Yami said.
"All right. Just don't let it get to you so much." Aknankanon said.
Yami nodded.
"Well, I have to go. I have things that I need to deal with." Aknankanon said.
"All right, Dad." Yami agreed.
Aknankanon then left the room.
Yami sighed and turned on his TV, hoping to take his mind off of his troubles.
"The nerve of him! He thinks that I don't have the right to know about the Egyptian laws or Egyptian affairs! I may not be an Egyptian, but I deserve to know about them now that I live here!" Joey growled.
"You think that that's bad? My husband started yelling at me because I was taking a simple walk in the gardens. How's that for petty?" Ryou asked.
"My husband walked in on me in the training, and I nearly hit him with the sword, and he started yelling at me because he ignored the sign that said someone was in there." Malik said.
Heba sighed as he closed the book he had been reading. "When are you guys going to learn to just let all of this go and stop paying them any attention? When I see Prince Atemu, I just ignore him, and I avoid him when I can. Just try and do that." Heba said.
"That's not going to be easy. My husband seems to enjoy arguing with me." Joey said.
Ryou and Malik nodded in agreement.
"You encourage it, Joey. You need to try and ignore it." Heba said.
"Doesn't it make you angry, though? I mean, they act like we're trying to undermine their authority and take control of the kingdom." Malik said.
"Malik, you know what my father is like. With what he is doing and has done, do you no think that they are entitled to think that?" Heba asked.
"I suppose they are." Joey admitted.
Heba sighed. "Maybe it's time we do something a little different." Heba said.
"Like what?" Joey asked.
"Maybe try and get to know them. It might stop the arguments at least." Heba said.
"I don't think it'll help with that idiot, but I'll try." Joey said.
"Yeah. I will, too." Ryou said.
"Why not?" Malik added.
Heba and the others had tried to be nice to their husbands during dinner, but it had evolved to a full-blown argument.
Aknankanon, Aknaudin, and Yami sat there listening to the arguments.
"Any chance of stopping this?" Yami asked.
"I doubt it." Aknankanon muttered.
"This is getting annoying." Aknaudin said.
"You people can drop the act!" Seto snapped.
"Look! I don't know what you're going on about but we don't have any underhanded motives!" Joey snapped back.
"Sure. Like you're not planning to try and take over." Bakura sneered.
"We're not. We don't have an interest in that," Ryou snapped back.
"You people are pathetic." Marik said.
"You're one to talk!" Malik growled.
Heba had stayed out of the argument and sat with his head in his hands. 'This isn't what I had in mind.' Heba thought.
"You people ruined out lives for you own selfish reasons!" Atemu snapped.
Heba looked up. For the first time since he got there, he got furious at them. He slowly stood up and walked over until he was standing right in front of Atemu.
Atemu looked at him.
SMACK!
Everyone was shocked.
Heba had just slapped Atemu.
Atemu was stunned.
Aknankanon, Aknaudin, and Yami stood up, ready to stop this if it got anymore physical.
"How dare you!" Heba growled.
Atemu saw the anger in Heba's amethyst eyes, and he was worried.
"We ruined your lives. Do you think any of us wanted this? Do you think I wanted to be married to your sorry ass? Believe me. I could think of a lot better husbands. Not one of us are here because we want to be, but you think we ruined your lives. My father set this up, not me. And how can you say we ruined your lives when nothing much has changed in your lives other than the fact that you are in unwanted marriages?" Heba asked.
No one spoke. They were shocked by Heba's calm, even tone that held a sound that commanded respect.
"You still have your home. You still are with your family. You are still with your friends. What did you lose?!" Heba shouted.
Atemu took a step back, shocked at the increasing volume of Heba's voice.
"You didn't lose a damn thing! We were ripped from our homes and forced to live in a new place that we know nothing about! We are forced to live in a strange place! We were ripped from out families! We were ripped from our friends! We have nothing but each other! We live in a place where most people would rather drive a dagger through our hearts to end this! You don't! You have everything you had before!" Heba shouted. There were now tears in Heba's eyes. "Before," Heba said in a quiet tone, "you say that we ruined your lives, remember that you still have everything we lost." Heba then turned and stormed out of the room.
Ryou, Malik, and Joey looked at each other before they quietly left the room, having nothing else to say.
"I can't believe he slapped you." Bakura said.
"Father-" Atemu started.
"Atemu, I think you deserved it because everything Prince Heba said was true. You have everything that they lost. You should consider yourself lucky. They have nothing but each other. They were taken from everything they know. You deserved it." Aknankanon said before leaving.
"Perhaps in the future, you should consider what they lost before arguing with them." Aknaudin said before leaving as well.
"I think you did a marvelous job. Now, they're liable to gain power just to spite you." Yami said.
Atemu, Bakura, Seto, and Marik looked at each other, realizing that they had royally screwed up.
Heba walked into his room and walked over to the bed, collapsing on it as silent tears fell. He curled into himself.
'I've tried, but I can't do this. I can't adjust.' Heba thought.
Heba sat up and picked up the ruby necklace from before.
'Yugi, I can't do this. I can't.' Heba thought as he cried in pain at what he had lost by being forced to leave the Millennial World.
Hope you liked it. The point of this was to show how much they resented each other because of being forced to marry to each other. I also wanted to show how much harder this was on Heba and the others with all Heba said at the end.
Note: It'll be a little bit before they start getting along.
Next: Maybe a little action. Sorry, not romance action.
R&R.