Oh my God I'm not dead! I'm really sorry this update is a week and a half late but schol had been manic (you would have thought with only three or four weeks left and seven weeks off they wouldn't attempt to teach you anything but noooooo. My school has to start next year's stuff even though by the time I go back I'll have forgotten it all) and Univeristy Open Days. Last one this Friday, yey!
Anyway, I'm sorry that this is late and shorter than I intended it to be. I swear the next chapter will be at least 3500 words, if not 4000. Thanks for bearing with me guys!
Akhefia was uneasy. Someone in Japan had broken through his wards and removed something but he couldn't think what or why. Anything of real importance that someone could use was either in his rooms at the thief court or he had brought back with him. There was only junk, some food he probably should have thrown away before leaving and the box that held his things from Kul Elna. What could the thief have wanted to have survived his traps?
It worried Akhefia. Ryou was in Japan without any kind of protection and every one of his instincts were screaming for him to return to Japan, grab his brother from that idiot of an adoptive father and never let him go. They were vulnerable, he had found, vulnerable to the Shadows to which their parents had been offered. Akhnadin had offered the entire village's souls to the creature in order to gain the full power of the Millennium Items once more but two had escaped. The Shadows wanted their souls, would do anything for their souls, and Akhnankhamun had only taken Akhefia in on the grounds that if he were not trained his soul was wide open for possession from the Dark One. But Ryou had no such training, no idea what was happening. If there was something roaming around Japan looking for him, it was only a matter of time until they found Ryou.
Atem and Yugi had gone off for lunch and Akhefia knew that after that, Atem would take Yugi upstairs for his crash course in New Thebes politics, culture and ideology. It was time the shrimp realised exactly what was at stake. In the meantime, Akhefia was going to take the time to catch up with some old friends and enjoy the market while he could.
Akhefia loved the bazaars and markets in Egypt for the feeling of freedom and diversity they brought (they were also excellent places to gain a profit through the unwary traveller's pocket). Cairo was a whole world away from New Thebes but even here there were backstreet bazaars that traded in the same spices and drinks that Akhefia was used to seeing. They were the best places for making deals and the best places to hide. No self-respecting tourist would take themselves to an area of town with a reputation for crime and high death rate (of course that had more to do with poverty and disease than crime but let them think what they wanted). Dodging through the throngs of people he carefully picked his way through the alleys and streets and through a door into a mud-brick house which was lit by one grimy oil lamp. Sitting on the floor, dressed in rags that could have been from Cairo or New Thebes- and when one worked in the business that Akhefia did, it didn't really matter- were three children and a teenage girl. The children were clearly siblings, each with back hair, tanned skin and amber eyes, weathered looks about them and dirt splattered across their faces. The girl also had a tanned hint to her skin but her hair was a dark brown rather than black and her eyes were a clear, pale grey and stared into space. A simple fig branch lay next to her, presumably broken off from some hotels fig tree.
"You made it," was all the girl said. The triplets stared up at him and as usual Akhefia could have sniggered at how tourists would easily mistake them for being all boys. Too bad they didn't know that Amisi would bury them in the ground for even so much as suggesting that she looked like her brothers, both of which had jumped to their feet, eye alight with delight.
"I was held up. Palace business," Akhefia sneered, letting the two boys scamper up and give him light hugs. It was as much as he would allow and about two seconds later they both jumped off of him and plopped to the floor, looking up at him in admiration.
"Did you bring us anything, Akhefia?" one asked- Odji, Akhefia thought.
"Is there anything for us to do?" the other- definitely Djehuti- piped up almost in sync with his brother.
"Are we going back to the court?" Amisi demanded, following quickly on the heels of her brothers. He raised an eyebrow at them all and they instantly fell quiet. Certain they knew that they were close to overstepping their line (young as they all were he was the Thief King after all, not their parent), he turned his attention to the girl, Khepti*. She turned her blind eyes towards him and turned over her report.
"We gathered enough provisions from the markets legally to feed the thief court for a week. The triplets gained thirty pounds** begging whilst I was only thrown a grand total of ten. I blame the tour guides for that but between us all; we managed to gather forty pounds begging and a hundred and thirty by picking tourists pockets. Jaul and Sensi haven't returned from Giza yet." Akhefia nodded, knowing that the triplets were fairly accurate in counting up money. A hundred and seventy pounds out of people's pockets wasn't bad and when taken to the dealers were worth a small fortune in New Theban pieces. Their provisions had to be bought in a variety of ways or else the court would become too noticeable and traceable. The fact that two were yet to return troubled Akhefia though, another burden to add to the one already sitting on his shoulders.
It wasn't enough that he was looking out for two of the most powerful people in the country, one being completely useless in the defensive area, but now he had to worry about deserters too. The oath of the thief court was that all those members were brothers and sisters, a people who took care of each other when no one else would. In this way, very few people decided they wished to leave but it did happen from time to time when someone got greedy or wanted to take his place. Well, it wasn't as if he profited from the thief court, in fact Akhefia was probably the poorest out of all of them, all the money given to him and then churned out among the rest of them while he lived off of whatever he stole himself and his measly palace wage. It was clear why the guards stayed for life and it wasn't through any sense of loyalty.
"Wait here for three more days to see if they return. I'll have provisions sent to keep you going and if they haven't returned, leave for home. Don't bother with wringing any more out of the tourists. You've done well." The triplets' faces lit up at the praise and Akhefia couldn't help but be painfully reminded of the time when he had said something similar to Ryou once they had reached New Thebes. He had been tired and thirsty, but Ryou was even more so and only three at the time. Akhefia remembered praising him on not complaining the whole way, even to a fault when he had needed the water so badly he had been on the verge of collapse. Ryou's face had lit up that way too and Akhefia turned away, pushing down the memory of his brother's face. He couldn't afford to be distracted at the moment.
Akhefia left the house, knowing they would follow their orders to the letter and would soon be safe within the court. He couldn't afford to make any more mistakes. He had left something that the shadows were capable of using at his house and he had to warn Atem. Soon. It was not like him to mess up but there was something off about Egypt now, a dark power that he hadn't felt in years. It felt like home but inverted; as if the ghosts of his village were crawling up his spine whispering evil words in his ears. It had been a mistake to leave Ryou unprotected and he knew that he would pay the price very soon for it. He had to warn the pharaoh that hell was about to be unleashed.
Yugi had never felt so uncomfortable in his life. Lunch had been quiet, Kaiba off with the blue haired girl- Kisara- and Mana was being kept aside by Mahad. Apparently she was supposed to be learning about being a full-time magician or something (it hadn't really made sense to Yugi) and so the pair was standing in a corner, Mahad firing questions at her in rapid fire Wesret and Yugi tuned them out. Hotep curled at Atemu's feet, purring contentedly, obviously the happiest out of all of them.
Mahad approached them as they finished, bowing low to Atemu, who didn't look the slightest bit embarrassed when the entire restaurant turned to stare. Yugi sunk down in his seat, already aware they had been getting strange looks for the domesticated (theoretically) leopard.
"My Lord, I'm afraid we only brought your horse as a spare. I could find a ride for Yugi but I do not know how skilled with the horse he is," Mahad said, apologetically as if this were something he should have planned. Yugi got the feeling that if he had been able to ride well, someone would now be walking. Atemu shook his head at Mahad, waving away the waiter who approached them with a check. Mana spoke to him quietly and the man scurried away, off to serve another table.
"Yugi will ride with me, Mahad, do not worry," he said, rising from his chair. "Is everything in our rooms?" Mahad nodded and ten minutes later, Yugi now stood wearing nothing more than a tunic and sandals. A girl dressed in a simple linen dress was draping a golden collar around his neck and an array of golden bands were laid out on the table along with a simple golden band with an eye of it. Atemu was watching from a chair, already changed and ready. Yugi noted that he didn't look quite as washed out by the white as Yugi felt he did. In fact, the clothes suited him.
He wore a white tunic like Yugi, but a blue kilt was strapped around his waist and a golden collar emblazoned with precious jewels was around his neck. The golden bands that Yugi had noticed before around his neck didn't stand out as much now and two more were wrapped around his biceps. A single golden shoulder ornament held a navy blue clock in place and the silver cartouche dangled freely over the folds arranged artfully around his neck. He, too, wore a golden crown, although his was more elaborate, with golden wings stretching out from the side, embellished with a side sapphire on each wing. A pair of golden ankh earrings dangled from his ears and his eyes seemed to glow from underneath his bangs, which were pushed to the side by the crown.
The girl finished with the bands of gold and fastened the crown to Yugi's head, making him feel slightly unstable. The gold weighted him down and he knew that if he were thrown into the river now, besides the threat of being eaten by a crocodile or hippopotamus, he would most likely drown. Atemu waved the girl away once she was finished and stood up, looking him over. Yugi fiddled nervously with the edge of his tunic, feeling lightly silly but intimidated.
"I feel so out of place," Yugi murmured, looking at the floor. Atemu took his hand in his and tilted Yugi's head up.
"I felt like that too in Japan. But things are different here and you have to do what I say now. Yugi…" Atemu trailed off and Yugi knew, even though he couldn't see it in Atemu's eyes, that his twin was afraid. It was like when he had had that dream all those weeks ago of when Atemu was a child, watching soldiers die in front of him and hiding. Atemu was afraid for him because it would be so obvious how alien everything was for him and Yugi wore his heart on his sleeve. He just hadn't realised quite how much. "Yugi, you must be careful when we reach New Thebes. It will be unlike anything you have ever seen." Yugi nodded, standing a little straighter.
"So what do I need to know to not freak anyone out?" There was a slight tremor in his voice but Yugi hoped it was disguised by the fake confidence. Atemu gave him a quick smile, before turning serious once again.
"First off, you must do as you just did. Act like a prince, not like a normal teenager from Japan. Hold your head high and stand straight and tall, as if you aren't afraid of anything." Yugi nodded, holding his head above where Atemu had held it earlier, pulling his shoulders back to give himself his full height (as diminutive as that was). Atemu nodded his approval but didn't smile this time. "I know it is hard Yugi but you must not look afraid. If you can't keep it from your eyes then look straight ahead. Look at the people but don't meet their gaze. They are obligated by law not to seek it out for themselves." Yugi made a face.
"Isn't that kind of harsh?" Atemu shrugged, doing another circuit of Yugi, pacing like he did when he was especially nervous. Hotep looked up from the corner, licking his chops from the mauled bird he had caught only a few moments before in the gardens. Yugi didn't really want to know what it was.
"It is the law of Kemet, of New Thebes. It is how our ancestors lived and it is how we must live now. Whether we agree with it or not."
"Couldn't you change the law?" Atemu paused and then shook his head.
"When I become Pharaoh I could change the law and turn New Thebes into a more democratic system if I so wished, or a constitutional monarchy***, but it wouldn't do the people any good. They know no better than what they have and while the royal family looks out for them at all times they do not care so long as they can continue their own lives. Anything so drastic could cause trouble for both me and the people." Yugi tried to take that in, to imagine a world where you lived as you were told and liked it. It sounded rather fascist to him. Atemu then changed the subject abruptly, moving on to a few other topics.
"When we arrive there will probably be a lot of confusion. Father will most likely present you to the people immediately, so we will have to work on some Wesret on the way there." Atemu looked thoughtful, considering this. "You will also have to speak, if minimally, to Father in front of the court. Let them now that this is no trick. Just say what we teach you and you should be fine."
"What happens if I mess up or say the wrong thing?" Atemu's eyes darkened.
"I don't know. The people wouldn't really notice, but the court will. Most of the court support Father but those who don't… it's not worth thinking about what they will do." Atemu was clearly not sharing what would happen but Yugi guessed it was something bad. He swallowed thickly and nodded, understanding that he couldn't mess up, no matter how bad he was at public speaking. Terror coiled in his stomach and he stared at the wall, hoping Atemu wouldn't notice. He did though and wrapped Yugi in a tight hug, holding his close. Yugi clutched at the fine linen and buried his face in Atemu's shoulder.
"I know it doesn't help but the court scare me as well," Atemu murmured. Yugi bit back a sob, feeling homesick all of a sudden, wishing he could go home and pretend none of this had ever happened.
"You're braver than me. I would never have been able to hold my own here. I can't even stand up to the bullies at school! How am I going to talk to a whole country?" Atemu rubbed slow circles in his back reassuringly.
"I know it sounds terrifying but I learnt a long time ago to just stare at the desert sands when I was making a speech. That way you can't see the hundreds of pairs of eyes watching you from afar," Atemu said quietly. "Besides, you only have to learn something parrot fashion. I actually have to learn a speech a day." Atemu scowled at that and Yugi giggled.
"Is speech making a problem for you then?"
"Oh giving the speech isn't the problem," Akhefia said, dropping out of nowhere through the balcony doors. Yugi jumped, wondering how he had gotten on the roof of all places. "It's remembering the correct words that Atem has issues with." He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes and Yugi was reminded why he was a thief as Akhefia's eyes ran over the gold. "Nice jewellery."
"You steal it, I throw you off the balcony," Atemu warned. Akhefia shrugged, turning to look at Yugi carefully.
"Well," he said after a while. "He looks the part and if he can say the right stuff he'll at least look like he knows what he's doing. You know what you're going to say yet?" Yugi shook his head.
"I don't have the faintest idea of what I'm supposed to do when I meet my Father or the people," he said, feeling daunted already. Akhefia just gave him a hard look.
"We'll teach you on the way, along with a few other crucial pieces of information you'll wish you never knew." He then turned to Atemu, eyes deadly serious. "Someone got into my apartment last night and took something. I don't know who and I don't know what but whatever it was, was powerful. And it's coming this way." Atemu's eyes widened fractionally but otherwise his face was a blank mask. Dread curled in Yugi's stomach as he listened to that but confusion swirled through his mind as well.
"How do you know that? What's going on?" he asked. Both paused a moment before Atemu said something to Akhefia in Wesret. The other boy nodded and left the room- by the door this time- and Atemu turned to Yugi.
"I'll explain later. Right now we need to head towards New Thebes as fast as we can. You're going to have to learn extra fast now. I was hoping to delay the journey as long as I possibly could, give you more time, but things are moving down a darker road than anything I thought possible." Yugi gulped at the intensity in Atemu's voice. Sensing this, his twin wrapped him in one last embrace, before pulling back, keeping his hands on his shoulders. "Stay here for now. I'll be back soon. Hotep will look after you." A moment later he was gone, Hotep jumping to his feet with the resounding crash of the door. The leopard looked at him in some confusion, as if wondering where his owner had gone.
"Yeah, I'm not sure either Hotep," Yugi murmured, staring after his brother before taking the seat that Atemu had once occupied. Hotep trotted over ad curled at his feet like a very large domestic cat. A large domestic cat with teeth that could rip a man's throat out if he so wished. Feeling slightly better that if he were attacked then whoever it was would have to go through a protective leopard first; Yugi reached down and stroked Hotep's head, waiting for Atemu to return.
* Hey anyone remember my sub plot point brought up with Serenity's blindness? No? Me neither for a while (CrimsonStrawberry17 if your still reading this, your questions have all been answered :) ). But here it is, that answer to the question of who it was that went blind. Anyone wanting to see more of Khepti will have to review on it and then read the sequel when it comes out since the thief court will be playing a bigger role in that.
**Minor point but I'm talking about the Egyptian pound, not the British pound. Just in case I was accused of being a bit thick on that.
*** Again, just as an answer to those reviews of 'huh? How does he know this?' I'm going to just say that this has to do with Atem's schooling. While he has been brought up in New Thebes with the intention of running the country one day, New Thebes is not as cut off from the rest of the world, royal family wise as this story shows, as the people in it are led to believe. Therefore, Atem would be taught that different forms of governemnt and how they work. In Britain we have a constitutional monarchy, even though they don't actually do much other than sponsor Britain, fight in the army and waive laws if they feel like it. Probably a random fact none of you wanted to know but it's there for those who are interested.
So, again, thanks for reading and the lovely reviews from last time. This story in all liklihood may not be updated until some time after 7th July, mainly for the reason my school is taking part in this stupid political exercise where, since it is being run by a favorite yet retiring teacher, I actually have to make effort and we are also attempting to organise a leaving party and book for her. So, yeah I'm very busy at the moment plus personal statement but after that, I shall soon be free! Summer, finally!
Yeah, you guys probably didn't want to know that so... er, review answers.
Aqua girl 007: Thank you for your lovely review. I'm glad you liked the bit at the end since I wasn't too sure on how it was going. I had one of those moments where I starts something, get to the middle and think 'is this really that good?' But thank you for the support.
angiembabe: I'm glad you liked the possessed Ryou part. I have a ton of fun writing that and don't worry, he returns in the next chapter! AS for your comment on Rebecca, and so everyone else knows, that will NOT be happening. That was just me making a point that I don't really like the character of Tea that 4kids made up. I shall read the manga one day and judge her by that instead :) So no Rebecca in this story unless in the annoying capacity of being her stupid 4kids self.
AnimeGirl9894: Well, there were some Atem Akhefia moments in here, kind of. As for the shadow powers, yes, but I can't say any more unless I want to give the rest of my story away. Suffice to say, there will be some of that in the next chapter. And thank you for your review, more crazy Ryou coming up!
Gracey88: There is some yaoi in this if you squint real hard and pretend their not brothers... But I'm glad you are enjoying this story nevertheless. Hope you enjoy this installment short as it was!
reincarnatedpharaoh: Um... I enjoy Stargate, Star Trek and Star Wars as much as the next person but I don't really believe that the pyramids were built by aliens. I think we even have Imhotep's mummy and archaeologists have figured out how he built the Step Pyramid up from the ground like stacking floors of buildings except with limestone blocks and not mud-brick. Anyway, cool theory and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story! Thanks for the review!
Please read and review this guys! Most reviews ever for me! 67, whoo! (Yes that's sad but it's the most reviews I've ever had for a story)