Chapter 8- Yami
Yugi was exhausted. He walked down the hall with every intention of going to his room and going to bed.
"Emperor."
Yugi turned to find Rishid coming up to him. "Yes, Rishid. What is it?" Yugi asked.
"Sire, I am sorry, but there are some new servants that have been brought in." Rishid said.
Yugi raised an eyebrow. "Servants?" Yugi repeated.
"Yes, sire. They volunteered to come and work at the palace. We just needed you to look them over and make sure that they were suitable for the palace. " Rishid explained.
"Very well." Yugi replied, starting back toward the throne room with Rishid behind him.
"Shall I summon the others?" Rishid asked, referring to Heba, Jou, Ryou, and Malik.
Yugi knew that they were busy with their families, so he said, "No. I will handle this."
"As you wish, sire." Rishid replied.
Yugi entered the throne room and walked up to his throne and sat down.
Rishid joined the other council members.
"Bring them in." Yugi ordered.
The guards then showed in about three dozen servants.
Yugi looked them over, not really paying attention.
However, one person in the room did catch his eye.
The person looked exactly like his brother's husband except that this one had pal skin instead tanned. His crimson eyes and facial features were exactly the same otherwise.
"Ishizu." Yugi said.
Ishizu was immediately at his side. "Yes, my king." Ishizu said.
"I'd like you to have that servant made ready to be my personal servant." Yugi said, motioning to the one in question.
Ishizu was startled by the way the boy looked. 'He looks like Atemu.' Ishizu thought.
"Ishizu." Yugi said.
Ishizu snapped out of it and said, "Of course, my king."
Yugi nodded to Rishid, who had them taken out. Yugi stood up and left.
Ishizu approached the servant that Yugi had pointed out and touched his shoulder.
The boy turned and bowed respectfully. "Yes, my lady." the boy said.
"Come with me." Ishizu said.
The boy did as he was told and followed Ishizu through the palace until he reached the healing chambers.
"The Emperor has chosen you to be his personal servant." Ishizu said.
The boy's eyes widened at this. "Me?" he squeaked.
Ishizu nodded.
"Why me?" the boy asked.
"The Emperor's reasons are his own. I need to get you ready for him." Ishizu said.
The boy nodded. He did as he was told and took a bath. He then put on the clothes that Ishizu had given him. It was a lavender shirt with black leather pants.
"You'll have to forgive the leather. Personal servants have to wear the leather and the shirt has to be the color of their master." Ishizu explained.
"I understand." the boy said.
Ishizu handed him a lavender collar. "You will have to wear this at all times. It signifies that you are the Emperor's personal servant." Ishizu said.
The boy nodded. He put the collar around hi neck.
"Come with me." Ishizu said. She led him out of the healing chambers and to the west wing of the palace. Ishizu opened the door to Yugi's room and said, "This is the Emperor's room. Wait inside until he comes. He will inform you on what your duties will be." Ishizu said.
The boy nodded and walked into the room. He walked around the corner to the inside of the room.
The room had a king-sized bed with four bed posts and curtains surrounded the bed. There was a table with several chairs around it. There was also a loveseat and a lounge chair. There was a door on the opposite side of the room, and there was another door to the left of the bed. There was also a vanity with a mirror and a wardrobe closet.
The boy sat down on one of the chairs at the table and waited. He didn't have to wait long.
The door opened and closed and then Yugi walked into the room.
The boy was on his feet in an instant and bowed to Yugi.
Yugi looked over the boy silently for a moment. Finally, he said, "What is your name?"
"Yami, Your Majesty." the boy replied.
"Look at me." Yugi said.
Hesitantly, Yami raised his head and looked at Yugi, his crimson eyes showing his hesitancy and slight fear.
"You're afraid." Yugi stated.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Yami said.
"Why?" Yugi asked softly.
Yami swallowed. "I am new at this. I just recently volunteered to be a servant." Yami said.
"So, you're worried about messing up." Yugi said, interpreting his words.
Yami nodded.
"Yami, as long as you do what I tell you, you will be fine. You will be shown how to do these things as well." Yugi said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Yami said.
"And please call me by my name." Yugi said.
Yami's eyes widened. "But it's forbidden. You're the Emperor." Yami said.
"Yes, I am, and I am giving you permission to call me by my name. It is tiring to be called Emperor, Your Majesty, or sire all day long. I'd like to hear my name every once in awhile." YUgi said.
"If that is what you wish, Yo-Yugi." Yami said, correcting himself.
"Good. Now, sit down." Yugi said.
Yami did as he was told and sat back in the place that he had been before Yugi came in.
Yugi sat down in the chair across from him. "Tell me about yourself, Yami." Yugi requested.
"I come from a town called Manesh." Yami said.
"Manesh. That is a merchant town, correct?' Yugi asked.
"Yes. My father is a blacksmith. He's the best in the town, but his business isn't making enough for us, so I decided to come here and see if I could work to help my family." Yami said.
"Is your father the only family that you have?" Yugi asked.
"No. My mother lives there, too. She is a cook and works in a bakery. I also have four brothers, but they disappeared awhile back. My twin was the one that I saw last. That was about six months ago." Yami said.
Yugi stiffened. "Twin?" Yugi repeated.
Yami nodded. "Yes. I have a twin brother, and three older brothers." Yami said.
'Hmm. I wonder.' Yugi thought. "What are your brothers' names?" Yugi asked.
"My oldest brother is Seto. He's the oldest. Marik and Bakura are two others. They're twins, although they look nothing alike. My twin brother is named Atemu. He and I looked exactly alike except he has tanned skin where I don't." Yami replied.
"Yami, come with me." Yugi said, standing up.
Yami stood up and followed Yugi out of the room.
Yugi and Yami went down the hall to another room. Yugi knocked on the door.
A moment later, Heba opened the door. Heba was surprised to find his brother at the door. "Brother, I didn't expect you." Heba said.
"I know, but I thought that there was someone that you and your husband should meet." Yugi said.
Heba nodded. Heba turned and walked inside with Yugi and Yami following.
Once in the room, Heba took full notice of who was with Yugi. "Yugi, who is this?" Heba asked, recognizing the fact that Yami looked exactly like Atemu.
"This is my new personal servant, Yami." Yugi replied.
"Let me get my husband. He's in the study." Heba said.
Yugi nodded.
Heba walked into his study where Atemu was sitting at the desk, reading a book.
Heba and Atemu had been married for two months. Atemu was now four and a half months pregnant and showing.
"Atemu." Heba said.
Atemu looked up and said, "Yes, Heba? What is it?"
"Yugi's here. He has a new personal servant, and I think that you should meet him." Heba said.
"The Emperor has never had a personal servant or slave." Atemu stated.
"I know, but you should meet him." Heba said.
Atemu nodded and marked his place in the book before putting it down and following Heba out of the room.
Yami and Atemu both froze hen they laid eyes on each other.
"Yami!"
"Atemu!"
The twins instantly ran to each other, hugging each other tightly.
"What are you doing here?" Atemu asked.
"I thought that I would never see you again." Yami said.
"I can't believe that you're here."
"I can't believe that I found you here."
"Are you all right?"
"How long have you been here?"
"What are you doing here?'
A whistle stopped the questions to each other, and both turned to look at Yugi and Heba.
Heba wore a smile while Yugi didn't show what he felt.
"We'll step outside and give you two a few moments alone." Yugi said.
With that, Yugi and Heba left the room.
Atemu and Yami sat on the bed.
"Atemu, what are you doing here?" Yami asked.
"Well, I've been in the palace for about eight months. I was captured in Manesh and brought here as a slave. Heba, the Emperor's brother, took me as his personal slave. I fell in love with him, and we ended up getting married." Atemu said.
"Before or after you got pregnant?" Yami asked. He hadn't missed Atemu's enlarged stomach.
Atemu blushed. "Well, we were lovers for about three months before I got pregnant. Once Heba knew I was pregnant, he asked the Emperor if we could get married. When he said yes, Heba proposed to me and then we got married two moths ago." Atemu explained.
"How far along are you?" Yami asked.
"Four and a half months." Atemu replied. He looked at his brother and said, "Yami, how are mother and father?"
"They're both fine. Father's business hasn't done so well, so I came here hoping to get work to help out. I never expected to become the Emperor's personal servant." Yami.
"So, you're his personal servant." Atemu said.
Yami nodded. "Is there anything I should know?" Yami asked.
"Not that I know of. Truthfully, I don't have much contact with him." Atemu replied.
"Well, I guess I'll find out soon enough." Yami said.
"How did you know I was here?" Atemu asked.
"I didn't. I was telling the Emperor about myself since he asked. He asked about my family, and I mentioned that I have a twin another. After I told him your name, I guess he put everything together." Yami said.
"Did he tell you about the others?" Atemu asked.
"Others? What others?" Yami asked.
"Yami, Seto, Bakura, and Marik live in the palace as well." Atemu said.
"They do?" Yami asked.
Atemu nodded. "They're married to Jou, Ryou, and Malik. They're Heba and the Emperor's cousins." Atemu said.
"Wow. Almost the whole family's here." Yami remarked.
"Yeah. Don't ask me how we got so lucky." Atemu said.
"Do you think I'll get to the see the others?" Yami asked.
"I don't know. That's up to the Emperor." Atemu replied.
The door opened, and Yugi and Heba returned.
"Yami, we should go back to my chambers." Yugi said.
Yami nodded and stood up.
"Will he be able to see Seto, Bakura, and Marik?" Atemu asked.
"Well, since he does need to be shown around the palace, I thought that you four could do that tomorrow." Yugi said.
"Of course." Atemu said.
Yugi motioned for Yami to come, and the two left the room.
"I take it that you're happy." Heba said, wrapping his arms around Atemu.
"Yes. I didn't think that I would ever see Yami again." Atemu said.
"Well, now you are close to him." Heba said.
"Yeah, but do you think he's safe?" Atemu asked.
"Yes. Yugi's not cruel. As long as Yami does what he is told, he will be fine, and I'll talk to Yugi about letting you all see him." Heba said.
"Thank you." Atemu said.
"Yugi has a bigger heart than you think. I know he'll let you see him. He won't keep a family apart." Heba said.
Yugi and Yami walked into Yugi's room.
Yugi took off his cape and draped it over a chair. "Yami, you'll be responsible for this room and all the rooms connected to them. That's the bathroom," Yugi said, pointing to the door beside the bed, "and that a mini library." Yugi said, pointing to the door on the other sidle of the room. "you're welcome to the books in the library." Yugi said.
Yami nodded.
"You'll need to keep all the rooms clean and organized, and make sure the bathroom is stocked with what is needed. I'll need you to be up no later then six forty-five everyday. When I have council meetings, you will need to accompany me." Yugi said.
Again, Yami nodded.
Yugi pointed to a door to the side.
Yami hadn't noticed this door earlier.
"You'll find cleaning supplied in there. There are bed sheets and towels as well. When they get low, you'll just need to get more." Yugi said.
"All right." Yami said.
"Is there anything that you need to ask me?" Yugi asked.
"Where will I be sleeping?" Yami asked.
"In the same bad as me. Sorry, but it's how things are done." Yugi said.
Yami nodded. He began to worry about becoming a pleasure slave.
Yugi seemed to sense what he was thinking. "You don't need to be afraid, Yami. I have no intention of harming you." Yugi said.
"Yes, si-Yugi." Yami said, catching himself once again.
"If we are around my brother, my cousins, or their husbands, you can call me by my name. Any other time except in here you will need to call me by my title." Yugi said.
"Very well." Yami said.
"Oh, and anything that I say to you in this room stays in here. I don't want what I say to you to get out in the palace. Don't even tell your brothers." Yugi said.
"I won't. You have my word." Yami said.
"Good. I have no problem with you spending time with your brothers as long as your work does suffer as a result. I ask that you get your work done first and then spend time with your brothers." Yugi said.
Yami's face brightened. "I will, and thank you." Yami said.
Yugi wasn't sure why, but the happy look on Yami's face made him feel happy. 'What's this feeling? I've never felt like this.' Yugi thought.
"Will I need to start tonight?" Yami asked.
"No. That can wait until morning." Yugi said. He walked over to where there were alcoholic drinks and poured himself a scotch.
"You drink?' Yami asked.
"Not a lot. Just on occasion. Truthfully, I haven't had a drink in a few weeks. I only have one when I'm really stressed from the day's events, and this is just one of them." Yugi said, taking a drink of the scotch.
Yami nodded.
"It's harder than most people think to run a kingdom." Yugi said.
"I imagine that it does." Yami said.
"After breakfast, Atemu and your other brothers will show you around the palace. I will have work to do, so I may not be back around until lunchtime. Most of the time, I have lunch on my study." Yugi said.
"Will I need to bring lunch to you?" Yami asked.
"No." Yugi said. He glanced at the clock and said, "We should go on to bed."
Yami nodded, and the two got into night clothes before laying down to go to sleep.
"Yami!" Seto, Marik, and Bakura all shouted, pulling the younger into a group hug.
"Guys, can't- breath." Yami gasped out.
The three instantly let go.
"Sorry about that." Seto said.
"What are you doing here?" Bakura asked.
"Well, I came here to see if I could get a job in the palace. I was shocked when the Emperor chose me to be his personal servant." Yami said.
"Wow. That's huge." Marik said.
"I know." Yami said.
"Yami, he's referring to the fact that the Emperor has never had a personal servant before." Atemu said.
"He hasn't?" Yami asked.
"Nope." all four said.
"That's weird. I wonder why he decided to get me." Yami said.
"Who knows? Anyway, we're supposed to show you around the palace, so come on." Marik said.
The four brothers left the room, leaving the kids with a nanny.
Yugi's POV
I don't know why, but I can't stop thinking about Yami. Something about him makes me want him to be around more.
No. I can't do that. He has his duties, and he also has his family that he should be with right now.
I really don't have much of a family anymore.
I lost that a long time ago.
There are times that I wish I had never become the Emperor.
I love the kingdom, and I love the people, and I would do anything for the sake of my kingdom, but sometimes, it just becomes too much for me to handle on my own.
I sigh. I wish I had someone like Jou, Ryou, Malik, and Heba do. They have someone that they can talk to about the things that bother them, but I don't. I haven't had someone that I could just sit down and talk to about what bothers me in a long time.
I want to open myself up to someone again. I want to be able to talk to people like I used to. I want to laugh. I want to joke. I want to have fun again.
But I can't. I don't remember how to do those things anymore.
I'm not sure that I would be able to.
I can't tell anyone any of this.
Despite all of the people I have around me that would willingly talk to me, I can't talk to anyone about it. I just don't think that there is anyone that I can talk to.
I'm still alone. I might be alone for good.
There's Yami, and a little more insight on Yugi.
The next chapter has a bit of a problem come up.
R&R.