Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Thoughts

"Speech"

By the way, Tsarina, Anippe, Auset, and Tsarina's husband Yukio (who we meet in this chapter) all belong to me.

Chapter 2

A few years passed, and the two boys with the tri-colored hair that stuck up like a star were now four. Isis had been right. They were young but it was an oddity to see one without the other. And not only were the look-alikes best friends, but Isis, Mahad, Seto, and a girl the same age named Mana were their friends. The Queen and her lady-in-waiting, or personal servant, were sitting on the stone floor surrounding the courtyard. They chatted about the past as their two sons chased each other, Mana chasing them, and the older children just watching.

"Remember the day when we first met," Anippe asked. Tsarina turned her head and smiled at her queen. Anippe looked at her then both women turned back to watching their children.

"Yes, I do," Tsarina breathed. "Hectic day that was. But don't regret anything that happened that day. It brought me here."

~ ~ Flashback ~ ~

Tsarina came in from another day's chores when her husband grabbed her arm and dragged her through the house.

"Yukio, what's going on? Yukio please let me go!" Tsarina stopped talking as he dragged her outside and a sight awaited her. There about five men on horses, a huge cart behind one. Sitting in the cart was several women and men, most of which she didn't know. One man took out a small leather sack and threw it at her husband. "Yukio? What's going on," Tsarina asked hesitantly.

Her husband turned and faced her. "Gomen-nasai, Tsarina," were his last words to his wife as they dragged her away and threw her into the cart and rode away. The last sight she saw was her husband counting the money in his hand. Bastard.

"Did your husband sell you too? Or was it your father?" The quiet, broken voice was beside her. She whirled her face around to look at the speaker. Tsarina gasped. So did the lady. "Tsarina?"

"Amaya? What's going on?" Tsarina hugged her childhood best friend. Amaya let go and her dark blue eyes stared into the light amethyst depths of her friend. She shook her head.

"Something bad," Amaya replied. "Someone in all our families sold us to be slaves. They got a nice price for us too." Tsarina glanced at all the other people in the cart.

"Oww," she said as they all jumped from the cart going over a bump. "Does any one know where they're taking us?" Several heads shook. One man shuffled his feet in the cramped space.

"Well, I heard a few months ago a new slave market popped up in the area. They've been collecting people ever since. People with debts, no home, no money, or with greedy family members or spouses."

Tsarina looked at him. "Yeah, that part I know," she whispered softly. The hours passed slowly and the group continued along the road. Many hours later the group stopped by the river, where a boat already loading people was waiting. Many of the people weren't even Japanese but came from surrounding countries. Tsarina stared at the boat, and then realized there were four more behind it. "Where are those going," she asked no one in particular. Then she a hand on her back and she fell to the ground.

Amaya bent down to see if she was okay after being roughly pushed. "All she did was ask the question we're all thinking," she shrieked. Which resulted in her getting slapped. This brought many outcries of shock.

"Shut up and get on the boat," one of their captors growled.

"Just tell us where we're going. We're gonna go anyway so what's the harm in letting us know," one of the slave men asked. A hand was raised and the man flinched, expecting a blow. The man looked at his colleagues and started laughing, and they joined in.

"Nah, I guess it wouldn't hurt, now would it," he chuckled. He pointed at the boats. "Those are going to Egypt. All the money your sellers received came from them. Many countries are doing the same as we are here. Happy now? Good. Now…GET ON THE FUCKING BOAT!" All people on the beach rushed to do as he ordered, whether he brought them or not.

Thus began the journey to Egypt, which many of the would-be slaves did not survive. Among those to die was Amaya, leaving Tsarina alone.

~ ~ Flashback ends ~ ~

"Nor do I," Anippe agreed. "I just wish we could have met on different circumstances."

~ ~ Flashback Continues ~ ~

Queen Anippe was walking about the market when she heard the boats arrived. She was strangely happy. She had a good feeling about these people.

Tsarina stepped off the boat. The chains around her ankles and wrists had been replaced by rope and the change was welcomed. She slowly followed others to the destination of the slave market. In the distance, the grand palace gleamed. Of all the people brought over, she was one of the few with white skin. It made her stand out and she shivered with fear. Tsarina glanced around as she stepped onto the dais in the middle of the market. She gasped as her eyes made contact with deep sapphire. Along with blazing eyes, this full-blooded Egyptian was dressed in fine silk, with gold about her arms, legs, neck, and hair. Tsarina averted her gaze. She didn't know why but she felt inferior to this strange woman.

"Slaves from around the world! Come and get your foreign slave now! First up is this beauty from Japan…" Gasps were heard across the market. Whispers and shouts, bids and exclamations were issued on Tsarina. It took her a while before she even realized that she was the one being sold. She kept hearing the word 'Moswen'. Tsarina glanced around again and saw someone who looked Egyptian being sold.

"Excuse me," she whispered. The slave looked at her with curious eyes… "Oh, you don't speak Japanese do you? Gomen-nasai..." She turned away when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Tsarina looked back at the man she talked to.

"I know enough," he replied. She weakly smiled.

"Umm, I was wondering. What are they saying? What is the meaning of Moswen" The word felt weird in her tongue. The slave laughed at her attempt of speaking his language and turned to the crowd.

"Moswen means white or light skin. You are a wonder, and marvel to them. As you can understand, we don't have many people like you here, even if this is the Oriental market." He looked back at her. "Does this answer your question," he asked.

Tsarina nodded. "Domo arigato," she whispered before bowing her head.

"I'll take her!" Tsarina looked to where the voice yelled from. She didn't exactly know what they said but she had a feeling she'd been bought. The crowd parted and let the person through. The jeweled lady walked up to the stage and handed the slave-master a small sack of money. She then grabbed Tsarina's wrist and drew out a knife. She cut the ropes and dragged her off the platform. Tsarina looked back to see the Egyptian's eyes grow wide. Then he shook his head.

"She's the Queen! The bloody fuckin' queen bought you," he laughed. "Don't worry, she's an ami." Tsarina then disappeared within the crowd and she never saw her helpful slave again. Tsarina was taken back to the palace where she was washed and clothed. After that had all been done, the Queen had her brought to her chambers.

"Name," she asked. Where is that helpful slave now? Tsarina asked herself. The Queen looked irritated. She pointed at herself. "Anippe, Queen of Egypt," she stated. Then Anippe pointed at Tsarina. Oh…She wants my name…But, why? The Queen sat waiting.

"Tsarina," she said with a bow. Anippe smiled. Finally the girl speaks.

~ ~ Flashback ends ~ ~

"After that, you taught me your language. And it was not an easy task," Tsarina said as the two women watched their children chase each other around the courtyard.

"Yes, but it was worth it," Anippe agreed. "And you became my most trusted friend. It took a while, but I finally convinced my husband you were better than a slave. To think that was only five months after we met-"

"More like after you bought me," Tsarina laughed, and Anippe playfully punched her. She started laughing too.

"Yeah, I guess that would be more accurate," she sighed with a smile. "But it worked out. You're no longer a slave, your son plays with mine without being discouraged to, and you're both better off than you were. And I wouldn't change a thing that happened that day."

"Nor would I," Tsarina agreed. "I already said I don't regret it, but if I had to go through everything at home again just to get here, I would experience it all again, just to end up at your side once more." Anippe took her hand, and they sat for the rest of the afternoon, only getting up when their sons fell on top of one another, exhausted from running around.

As the Queen and her faithful friend took their sons to bed for a nap, Mahad stood in the shadows, watching them as they left. A hand grabbed his and he turned to see Isis's eyes staring mischievously up at him.

"You realize no one's around, right," she asked with a smirk. Mahad nodded and bent down to kiss her when a voice shrieked "Asenath!" Isis groaned.

"Coming Mother," she yelled back and left. But then she turned around and quickly kissed Mahad on the cheek and ran to her mother. Mahad smiled as he watched her go.

"Lucky dog," Seto said as he slapped Mahad's back. The fourteen year-olds stared at each other for a while before Mahad turned back and watched Isis walk away.

"Just because the girl I like likes me back and is around doesn't mean you should be jealous," Mahad stated smoothly. "Your mystery girl is around somewhere. You'll meet her again…I am sure and Isis is sure that you two will meet again."

Seto looked at him with wondering eyes, then gazed up into the sky. "I hope so," he whispered.

Domo Arigato (Japanese) - thank you

Yukio (Japanese) - gets what he wants

Gomen-nasai (Japanese) - I'm sorry

Amaya (Japanese) - night rain

Ami (Japanese) - friend

Moswen (Egyptian) - white; light skin

Anippe (Egyptian) - daughter of the Nile

Asenath (Egyptian) - daughter

Auset (Egyptian) - another form of Isis.

Just to let you know, the meaning of the names are what I found on the baby name site.

Reviews please.