Chapter 4- Training
Heba, Jou, Ryou, and Malik ran into the training area of the palace to find Yugi standing in the room.
Yugi was wearing red pants with a read jacket over a red shirt. He also wore a chest plate over his chest. There was a golden ring around his head, and there was a red gem in the center of the ring. He was holding a sword in his hand with a red hilt. "You're late." Yugi said.
"We're really sorry, Yugi. Time just slipped by us." Heba apologized.
"Change. We have practice to get to." Yugi said.
Heba was surrounded by blue light and was dressed like Yugi except for the color was blue.
Jou was surrounded by green light and was dressed like the other two except the color was green.
Ryou was surrounded by yellow light and was dressed like the others except his color was yellow.
Malik was surrounded by white light and was dressed the same way except for the color was white.
"Are you ready now?" Yugi asked.
"Yes, we are." Heba replied.
Yugi turned to face them. "All right. I want all four of you to come at me." Yugi said.
"Yugi, that's four against one. I would hardly call that fair." Heba said as the four drew their swords from the sheaths at their sides.
"Come at me." Yugi said.
All four did as they were told and attacked.
Yugi blocked Jou's sword and ducked to avoid Heba's. He turned and stopped Malik's sword before he turned and kicked Ryou in the chest. Yugi blocked Heba's sword and forced Heba back and then kicked back without looking to hit Jou in the stomach. Malik went at Yugi again, but Yugi turned and rammed his elbow into Malik's stomach, knocking Malik down. Yugi turned and blocked Heba's sword. The two continued to exchange blows with their swords, and a metallic sound filled the area. Yugi ducked to avoid a strike from Heba's sword and then jumped up to kick Heba in the chest knocking Heba down.
Yugi looked around all four of them.
Heba, Ryou, Malik, and Jou slowly got to their feet and looked at Yugi, who had remained untouched.
"You all are slacking. I took you all down easily. If we were attacked, it would be a rough battle." Yugi said.
"Come on, Yugi. When are we really attacked? There hasn't been anything interesting to happen in the Millennial Kingdom for twenty years." Jou protested.
Yugi looked at Jou with his usual cold look although it was a bit less cold then usual. "Jou, anything can happen at any time. Someone will look for a time when you are venerable to attack. If we let down our guard, it is offering a chance to be attacked." Yugi said.
"There hadn't been anything to happen, though." Ryou said.
"Yeah. There aren't even rumors of war." Malik said.
There was a brief flash of hurt in Yugi's amethyst eyes that almost went unnoticed by them all.
Almost.
Heba noticed it. He couldn't help but wonder what that flash was.
"I think you could all use more training," Yugi said.
Malik, Ryou, and Jou all groaned in protest.
"If you like, I could find others to take your place on the Elemental team." Yugi said.
"You wouldn't." Ryou said.
"I need people I can rely on in face of danger. Right now, you're not ready for a fight." Yugi said.
"We'll train, Yugi." Heba said.
"Good. Then let's get started." Yugi said.
All four nodded and started training vigorously with Yugi.
After Seto, Bakura, and Marik had shown Atemu around the palace, and Atemu thought that he knew where he would need to go, Atemu returned to the rooms he needed to get cleaned and organized.
Seto, Marik, and Bakura went with him because they wanted to spend time with their brother.
"I hated this part of my duties as a slave." Marik said.
"Marik, I'm sure that it's a lot better than some of the things that I could have ended up doing." Atemu replied.
"He makes a good point." Seto agreed.
"Hey, Atemu. Why did you say that you wouldn't want to be the Emperor's personal before?" Bakura asked.
"Well, I've just heard that the Emperor is kind of cold and unfeeling. I don't want to be around someone like that." Atemu replied.
"Cold? He seems heartless." Bakura said.
"He's not. The Emperor has done a lot for the people of the kingdom. I have seen those changes myself. Most of the citizens are prosperous. There are very few people that are homeless or jobless. Plus, he does help people who really need it." Atemu said.
"It didn't do much good as far as the slave thing goes." Marik muttered.
"There is only so much that one person can do." Seto said.
"We shouldn't even be having this conversation. If anyone were to hear is, there could be hell to pay." Bakura stated.
"Who's going to hear us?" Marik asked.
"I just wouldn't take the chance." Bakura said.
Atemu continued with his work of cleaning the room he was in while he listened to his brothers.
Within a few hours, Atemu had everything done that he needed to do.
"Well, since you're done, we can hang out. Lunch isn't for another hour." Seto said.
The four went into the lounge where Seth, Inchan, and Crystal were playing with a nanny who was watching them.
The nanny immediately stood up and bowed to them.
"You may go." Seto told her.
The nanny immediately left the room.
"Do they have to bow to you?" Atemu asked.
"Yes. Since we're married to Jou, Malik, and Ryou, we're considered royalty since they are a part of the royal family. It's a sign of respect." Seto said.
"We were actually given the titles of Prince although there is no real meaning to what we do. Mostly, we're just as formal banquets, balls, etc for show since we're married to them." Bakura said.
"That would get old." Atemu said.
"It does, but the good thing is that there are things we can do here. After all, there's just about anything to do here in the palace." Malik said.
The group sat down.
"You know, I never thought that I would get the chance to see you three again." Atemu said.
"None of us did. We thought that we would be the only family any of us ever saw again." Bakura said.
"Why is it that no one ever heard that the Emperor's cousins got married?" Atemu asked.
"Well, you see, the truth is that they knew that we didn't really want any big, fancy wedding. So, the Emperor agreed that there would just be a few people there. In fact, the council, the Emperor, Heba, and the rest of us were the only ones there." Marik said.
"Yeah. Considering the fact that we were pretty far along when we got married added to that fact. Our husbands didn't care, but we didn't want them to look bad. It might have made the public opinion of them drop." Bakura said.
"That's what you all felt, right? Not them?" Atemu asked.
All three nodded.
"Truthfully, it wasn't until after Seth was born that I finally told Jou that, and we got married when I was five months pregnant. Jou was angry. If it hadn't been for the fact that yelling at me would have woken Seth up, I'm sure that he would have been yelling bloody murder at me. I got quite the lecture though, and he told me that I wouldn't like it if I ever thought that he was ashamed of me." Seto said.
"Ryou told me that he would personally announce it to the entire kingdom that he married me, and that I was pregnant at the time, and he would have dared anyone to say anything about it. Ryou has a very sadistic side once you get to know him." Bakura said.
"Malik, too. Malik told me that he would go around and tell every person individually the exact same thing. Right after he lectured me about how I was never to think that I wasn't good enough for him ever again." Marik said.
"Something tells me that if I ever need advice on how to deal with Heba, I'll just come to you guys." Atemu stated.
The group laughed.
"Atemu, the only thing that you need to know is that you should be open and honest with him at times." Seto said.
"And don't keep secrets. One thing that we have learned about Heba is that he doesn't like anyone to keep secrets from him. If it's a promise not to tell, he'll be okay with it. Just don't keep anything big from." Seto said.
"So, basically honesty and no secrets." Atemu said.
"Pretty much." Bakura said.
"I think that I got it." Atemu said.
"Good. We'd rather not have to repeat this conversation." Marik said.
Jou, Ryou, and Malik stumbled into the room then, looking like they had been in an earthquake.
"What the hell happened to you guys?!" Bakura asked.
"Oh, nothing. Yugi just had us doing a lot of training. I don't have a clue as to why." Jou said as they collapsed on the couch.
"What did he say?" Marik asked.
"That we were not ready if the kingdom were to be attacked, and that we needed to get into shape or risk losing our Elemental warriors positions." Ryou said.
"Hold on. You guys are the Elemental warriors?" Atemu asked.
"Yes. There are seven of us, but only Yugi, Heba, Ryou, Jou, and I live in the palace." Malik replied.
Seto elaborated. "Jou has the power of earth. Ryou has the power of lightening. Malik has the power of ice. Heba has the power of water. Yugi has the power of fire. The other two elements are wind and thunder." Seto said.
"Your power hasn't been needed for years." Atemu stated.
"Yeah. Yugi wants us to be ready, but I don't think that it's really necessary." Malik said.
"Where's Heba?" Atemu asked.
"Oh. He was wanting to talk to Yugi for some reason." Jou said.
Yugi and Heba had gone to Yugi's study and sat down.
"So, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about, Heba?" Yugi asked.
"I just know how much you hate secrets, so I thought that I would be upfront with you about Atemu." Heba said.
Yugi frowned. "Who is Atemu, Heba?" Yugi asked.
"Oh. Sorry. That's my personal slave's name." Heba said.
Yugi nodded and said, "What about him?"
Heba took a breath. "Yugi, you know how Seto, Marik, and Bakura are all brothers?" Heba asked.
Yugi nodded to show that he understood.
"Well, I didn't introduce those three and Jou, Malik, and Ryou to Atemu until this morning, but when I did, I found out that Atemu is the younger brother of Seto, Marik, and Bakura." Heba said.
"I see. Is this an issue?" Yugi asked.
"I don't think that it is. I just thought that you should know." Heba said.
"You also wanted to be sure that it would be all right if Atemu spent time with his brothers even though he was only a slave." Yugi said.
"Yes, that, too." Heba agreed.
"Heba, you know that I give you free reign of your personal slave just like I do everyone else. It is up to you." Yugi said.
"Are you sure, though? I don't want to do anything you don't want." Heba said.
"Heba, if you have no problem with your slave spending time with his brothers, then let him. You know that the only thing I want is for him to not shirk his duties. Otherwise, the decision is all yours." Yugi said.
"All right. I just wanted to be sure." Heba said. He stood up to leave.
"You like him, don't you?" Yugi asked.
Heba stopped and looked at his brother. "What-?" Heba started.
"Heba, I saw the way you looked at him last night. You were attracted to him just by seeing him." Yugi said.
Sometimes, the way that Yugi would know things that no one else seemed to was scary.
"Yes, I do, and I found out that he feels the same way as me." Heba said.
Yugi nodded. "All right." Yugi said.
"You're not angry?" Heba asked.
"All three of our cousins are married to former slaves. If I had cared, I wouldn't have let them get married." Yugi said.
Heba nodded. "Good afternoon, brother." Heba said before leaving.
Yugi watched him leave. He sighed. 'I think that it's already too late for me.' Yugi thought as a saddened look overcame his normally cold features.
Heba walked into his chambers to find them spotless. "Atemu's been busy." Heba said.
"It's what I'm supposed to do."
"AHH!" Heba shouted, whirling around.
Atemu was so startled that he fell backwards.
"Atemu, are you all right?" Heba asked.
"Yeah. Why did you scream?" Atemu asked, getting to his feet.
"I didn't think that anyone was in the room, so it scared me to hear someone talk suddenly. What are you doing in here? I told you that you could spend time with your brothers if you finished your work." Heba said.
"I did finish, and I spent time with them. They all decided to have lunch in their rooms, so I figured you'd do the same." Atemu said, gesturing to the lunch on the table.
"You guessed right. You did a good job with the room, though. I don't know the last time it was this clean." Heba said.
"It wasn't really messy." Atemu said.
"I'm referring to dust. I don't dust, and I don't let any other slave in here except for my personal one." Heba explained.
Atemu nodded. "Well, I guess I'll be keeping it clean." Atemu said.
Heba nodded. "Let's eat." Heba said.
The two sat down to eat.
"Heba, why didn't you mention to me that you were one of the Elemental warriors?" Atemu asked.
Heba nearly choked. He drank his glass before turning to Atemu. "Where is you hear that?" Heba asked.
"Seto and the others. Were they not supposed to tell me?" Atemu asked, hoping he hasn't gotten them into any kid of trouble.
"It's fine, and I honestly didn't think about it." Heba said.
"How long have you been one?" Atemu asked.
"About five years. I was thirteen, I think." Heba said.
"That's kind of young." Atemu said.
"Not like Yugi." Heba muttered.
"What?" Atemu asked.
"Nothing. Just forget I said that." Heba said. He noticed Atemu's look and said, "I'll tell you at some time. Just not now. I hate secrets, but now's not the time to get into that."
"Okay." Atemu said.
Atemu wasn't sure why, but he was beginning to get the feeling that there was a lot more to Yugi than he originally thought. He also was sure that Heba had something to do with it or at least knew more than the rest of them did.
Heba sighed. "Atemu, I promise that I will tell you later." Heba said.
"Okay. I trust you." Atemu said.
Heba nodded. "We're having council this afternoon, and you'll go with me." Heba said.
"Why?" Atemu asked, curious.
"Personal slaves go if they're masters are there. The council knows that you are my personal slave, and they might not approve if you were not there." Heba said.
"What do I do?" Atemu asked.
"Nothing. All you have to do is stand behind me. Seto, Marik, and Bakura had to do the same thing when they were still personal slaves." Heba said.
Atemu nodded.
There was more to being a personal slave than Atemu thought.
"Oh, and don't talk in the court. It's not highly favored." Heba said.
Once more, Atemu nodded.
There was a lot more to being a personal slave than Atemu thought.
Okay. I know a lot of people want to know why Yugi's cold, but I may not reveal that for a few chapter. It probably won't come out until Yami comes in, and I'm not sure when he will.
The next chapter will have Heba stepping up to Yugi's defense when the others are bad-mouthing him. It's a bit of brotherly fluff between them.
R&R.