Hello hello hello! I'm in a quite delightful mood. But that doesn't mean I'm going to give any of these characters a break. LOL I'm happy that everyone is starting to make predictions on what will happen to the queen. I've finally made a decision to have her be a nameless character. She'll have a personality, but you'll only meet her once. Not in this chapter though. I'll have to get Yugi out of his situation first. I'm also going to try some mind games with Atemu. You'll see what I mean towards the end of this chapter and the start of the next chapter. Anyway onward to this chapter!

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Chapter Five

Bakura carried the small bottle in his hand as he made his way through the slight maze. Though he felt slightly guilty for causing the young man so much pain, he would never admit that aloud. Even though the former pharaoh destroyed his entire town, he didn't know why he hated this pharaoh so much. It could be the fact that he was the son of that cursed pharaoh, or it could be the fact that he didn't know how to deal with his anger. Either way, he didn't understand at first why Marik would want to included this young man in their plan. He could clearly sense that the pharaoh cared for him deeply, but if so why wasn't his walls being broken down at this point? Could the pharaoh not care as deeply for this man as he thought he did? It was true that Marik's plan did start a conflict between the two lovers.

Bakura looked at the broken, bruised man lying on the floor to the cell. Pity caused him to growl and almost leave. He didn't understand why he cared about Yugi. So the man was unconscious on the floor with a small puddle of blood around his lower half and his lips had a hint of purple and blue that weren't obviously from him slapping him. He shook his head as he pulled one of the torches off the wall. Yugi was obviously cold. Goosebumps lined his skin. Bakura frowned and grabbed some fire wood before entering into the cell. Lighting the wood on fire, he picked the young man up and carried him over to the fire. Yugi let out a small whimper and whispered the pharaoh's name.

This angered the thief more. Yugi still loved the pharaoh deeply. How could anyone toss away such a thrilling man? Sighing, Bakura placed Yugi down by the fire before leaving the cell and going to retrieve a bowl of warm water and Yugi's original clothes. He had enough of Marik's plan and couldn't hurt Yugi again. Something was happening inside of the thief's heart that he couldn't understand. Why did he care about such a person?

Bakura entered into the cell again, seeing the slight delay of Yugi's breaths. The young man was obviously dying. He was too rough on his delicate body. Bakura didn't even want to think what would have happened to Yugi if he didn't return in the middle of the night. If Yugi would have died, not only would he be hunted in this world, but Marik would make sure he was hunted in the Shadow Realm. Being careful not to wake Yugi, he washed all the blood off his legs before applying the medicine from the body. Yugi let out a whimper as he slid his finger carefully into his bruised entranceway. Bakura leaned over and whispered into Yugi's ear, "Easy. Everything will be okay. Little One," he added at the end. He didn't understand why he called Yugi such, but the name caused Yugi to relax.

"Atemu," he whispered again. Assuming that the pharaoh must call him the same, Bakura hummed a lullaby his mother used to sing to him. Slowly the color started to return to Yugi's lips as the goosebumps disappeared. Bakura dressed Yugi in his royal clothes before lying him back down on the ground with his head in Bakura's lap. Bakura played with his hair, gently gliding his fingers through each strand. Pity and guilt returned to him as he watched the young man sleep. He officially made the decision that he would release Yugi tomorrow. To hell with Marik and his plans. He didn't want to hurt Yugi any longer. He was going to give him back to the man that Yugi loved the most. He silently hoped that the pharaoh would come to his senses and appreciate Yugi like he should be.

The sun began to rise as it lit the walkway leading from the dungeon to the hidden door that lead to the desert. Yugi curled around Bakura's leg automatically wanting to be in the man's lap. "No, Little One, it's not I that you love so dearly. It's time to wake up."

Yugi moaned and curled more. "Not yet," he mumbled.

The thief chuckled, wondering if the pharaoh had to deal with this every morning. "Come on, Yugi. You want to go back to the pharaoh don't you?" With that Yugi's head shot up and he stumbled almost landing in the fire. Bakura quickly grabbed him and pulled him back. "Easy, there's a fire right behind you." He felt Yugi tremble in his arms. Bakura tried to form the words that he wanted to say to Yugi, but instead he decided it wouldn't be right. "Listen. I'm going to lead you to the door, but you have to make it through the desert on your own." Yugi pulled at his arms, trying to free himself. "Stop fighting. I'm not going to hurt you. If I let go, you'll land right in that fire. Do you understand?" Yugi glanced over his shoulder, seeing the first for the first time. He stopped struggling and bowed his head. "Listen very carefully. Marik plotted and influenced the council for the pharaoh's wedding. When you get out this door, you are to run to your left as fast as you can. Before sun down you'll reach your home. From there you know how to get back to the palace. Return to your love, okay? You understand?"

Yugi frowned not believing a word he said. Marik was dead. How could he plot Atemu's wedding? What if he ran left from here and it ended him trapped with someone else that would do the same thing Bakura did? "Why?" he finally asked.

"Why what? Why am I letting you go, or why am I helping you?"

"Why are you doing all of this?"

"At first I was just doing as Marik said, but." Bakura slid his fingers over Yugi's cheek. "I realized how deeply you loved the pharaoh. I wish I could have that deep of love. You and he deserve each other. Trust me even though I know you can't. Go left outside of the door and you'll end up home. I promise." Bakura let go of Yugi and opened the cell door. He pointed down the hallway. "That way. Go, before Marik comes back."

Yugi moved over to the door and looked up at Bakura. "What about you?"

Bakura shook his head. He hurt this man so deeply but yet he was worried about him. "Don't worry about me. I'm tough. Go get out of here."

Yugi nodded and walked out of the doorway, looking back only once at the thief. "Thank you," he whispered before running as fast as his body to could through the desert. Oddly enough, he didn't ache, and he felt as he nothing happened between him and the thief. The sun began to set and Yugi was too tired to run anymore. Off in the distance, he spotted Malik's farm. Happiness welled into him as he collapsed just outside of his barn.

Malik rounded the corner with his heart heavy in depression. Ishizu would be returning tonight with the pharaoh if he didn't get any word on the whereabouts of his friend. He didn't really want to tell the pharaoh what had happened, but he felt it was time for him to know. Just as he closed the door to his barn, he spotted a figure lying on the ground. He gasped and ran over to it, not sure who would be in this oasis. When he reached the figure, he instantly knew who it was. "Yugi!" he shouted, picking the smaller man up. He was clearly dehydrated and looked as if he ran through hell and back. He carried Yugi inside and set him down on the bed determined to get him hydrated again. Now, he wasn't sure what he was going to say to the pharaoh.

Several hours went by, but Yugi didn't wake up. Malik glanced out the window, seeing the pharaoh approaching with his usual guards. Atemu got off his horse just as Malik came out of his farm. "My pharaoh, it's a pleasure."

"Where is he?"

Stunned by the pharaoh's firm words, Malik didn't know what to say. "He's upstairs."

Atemu brushed by Malik. He knew that Yugi arrived back at the farm only a few hours ago. His guards told him as much before Ishizu suggested that they go see her brother tonight. He wanted to see the state of his lover first hand before he heard anything from Malik. Once in Yugi's room, Atemu gazed down at his smaller lover. Yugi's chapped lips clearly showed that he was dehydrated. Glancing more over his body, Atemu found several bruises on his back and shoulders. What worried him the most was the bruises on Yugi's butt in the form of hands. Atemu growled and left the room determined to get an answer.

He walked into the room where Malik and Ishizu were talking. "What have you done to him?" he growled.

"My pharaoh, I've done nothing to him. He-"

"Enough! I'll take Yugi back to the palace and get the truth from him. The guards will escort you and Ishizu to the dungeons."

"What! But, my pharaoh."

"I said that's enough. I received a message from an unknown source that you were using Yugi as a slave. He is royalty. You have no right. Not to mention that my guards saw you bringing him back to your house. He's dehydrated and very pale. Not to mention he has bruises all over him. Resist and the guards will kill you. Come quietly and I may hear your explanations later." With that said, Atemu turned and went back upstairs to carry his lover back to the palace. Malik and Ishizu tried to reason with the pharaoh, but he ignored them as he rode off back to his palace. He'll have his medicine men check Yugi over more carefully for any other injuries. He glanced down at his sleeping lover, glad that it was difficult to wake him even if he was at full health.

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And the mind games begin. I hope you like this so far. Thank you for reading please review

Angel Dove