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

Thoughts

"Speech"

Chapter 5

Yugi sat down at the end of Atem's bed. "Atem, wake up. You've been in bed for half of the day already." The prince shot up, his crimson eyes wide and his abnormal hair all fussed and sticking up.

"Seriously," Atem asked his look-alike. Yugi nodded. Atem groaned. "Great…Father's going to kill me," he said as he collapsed back on to his pillow.

Yugi giggled. "Prince Atem of Egypt should not be complaining about his punishment, but rather hurry to his father, beg forgiveness, and set about his task, and take whatever his father has for him with honour and pride," he stated in a very authoritive tone, his eyes closed and his finger up in the air, a slight imitation of Master Shimon. Atem stared at him and they both burst out laughing.

"Okay. I'll go. But Yugi," Atem asked hesitantly.

"Yeah?" Yugi stared at Atem's crimson orbs and Atem stared at Yugi's amethyst eyes.

"Will you come with me," Atem asked quietly. Yugi smiled and laughed a little.

"Of course," Yugi replied. Then he added. "No one would guess you're ten by the way you act." A pout formed on Atem's face, which made Yugi laugh harder.

"Atem! There you are! We were wondering if you would wake up," Aknamkanon joked. Atem looked at the ground sheepishly. Yugi had an embarrassed smile on his face.

"You wanted to see me father," Atem asked. Aknamkanon exchanged questioning glances with Yugi.

"Yes, son. I figure it's about time you started training with a sword." Both boys gasped and looked at each other. Yugi gave Atem and encouraging smile and went to walk away when…

"Can Yugi train too?" Yugi halted in his steps, frozen by these words and whirled around. Atem stared at him.

Aknamkanon shrugged. "If he wishes too," he replied calmly. Atem wants me to train with him? But, what good am I with such things? Yugi was confused. He was about to shake his head no when he looked at Atem's face. It was one of hope and pleading. Yugi sighed.

"Of course I'll train with you. But if Master Shimon comes for me, I go, okay?" Atem nodded happily, and the Pharaoh remained impassive. That boy deals with too much. Why at such a young age? His mother is proud but she also worries for him. The king let go of his thoughts as he watched the boys pick up a sword.

"Ready," he asked them, drawing his own sword. Both tri-coloured hair boys nodded. Aknamkanon smiled and began the lesson. He taught them how to hold the sword, a few attacks, blocks, offensive and defensive positions, and a few other things. By the end of the lesson, they were both tired and slept where they lay, so the Pharaoh left them. Not a surprise that Yugi did better than Atem did. But Atem didn't pay attention very much. He's lucky to have a friend like Yugi. I doubt that son of mine would have learned as much as he did if Yugi wasn't there, Aknamkanon mused as he swept down the halls towards the throne room. He still had time before the first help-seeker arrived inside.

The two "twins" woke up much later and were shocked to see stars. "Have we slept that long," Atem asked.

Yugi rubbed his eyes. "I think so. That training was hard and tiring. It wouldn't surprise me if your father just looked at us and left. What does shock me is why we're still outside. I mean, why didn't anyone take us to a bed? Did no one see us?" Atem looked at his friend and shrugged. Yugi sighed. "We should go then. Master Shimon will skin us if we're even a minute late for studies."

At that, Atem groaned. Yugi just giggled.

The sun rose high when the two boys decided to get up. Well, when Mana decided to jump attack them awake. "AAAAHHH!" Atem and Yugi bolted from the bed (which was Yugi's) and glared at the young girl. "Mana," Atem complained. "What do you want? I was having a good dream."

"Was I in it," Yugi asked.

"Yeah…"

"Oh," Yugi mused. "That would explain why you almost squeezed the life out of me."

"What," Atem exclaimed while Mana giggled. "I did? I'm sorry."

Yugi patted him on the head. "It's okay. Mom rescued me." The purple-eyed boy looked at the girl who attacked them. "By the way Mana, what time is it?"

Mana giggled. "Midmorning," she replied. Atem and Yugi exchanged horrified glances at tore down the corridors. "Wait," Mana called after them. "Master Shimon said to take the day off! … Boys." She rolled her eyes and skipped down to the kitchens for a little fruity snack.

Atem and Yugi reached the library only to find Aknadin putting scrolls away, and Seto sitting at the desk reading a peculiarly large tome. The older boy glanced up from his study. "Oh..Good morning you two. What are you doing here?"

Yugi raised an eyebrow at him and Atem snorted. "We're here for our lesson of course. Where's Master Shimon?"

"Master Shimon has fallen ill with a common disease. With Auset and Isis treating him, he should be fine within a few days," Aknadin stated, not once pausing in his work.

Seto nodded. "Did Mana not tell you? She came here looking for you, but you weren't here. I told her to tell you there was to be no studies today." The prince and his look-alike shook their heads. Seto sighed. "Well, no matter. Run along. Oh! If you see Mahad, tell him TO COME HERE," Seto shouted after them.

"We will," Yugi yelled back. Then he bumped into someone. "Oof. Sorry," he said rubbing his head. Atem pulled him up. "I'm okay," Yugi replied to his unspoken question. He looked down at the person he bumped into. "Sorry. Are you okay," he asked helping the person.

"Yes, thank you," the person replied. It was a girl about their age, with long blonde hair, healthy Egyptian skin, big green eyes and soft round face. "I'm sorry. I should have been looking where I was going."

Yugi shook his head. "No, my head was turned the other way. I apologize. My name is Yugi, by the way. And this is-"

"Prince Atem. Yes I know. My name is Dalila. I was just bought from the market this morning."

"I'm sorry. I don't remember the market. Obviously I came from there originally," Yugi said with a smile, indicating his skin.

"Yes I can see that. But it's not all bad," Dalila said. "If I hadn't been there, I may not have been bought for the palace. And if the palace hadn't bought me, I wouldn't have met you." Dalila smiled with a small blush and hurried away to finish her current task.

Atem watched his friends face as Yugi watched Dalila walk away. A smile crept onto Yugi's face as slow as the setting sun. It was just as beautiful. "Yugi," Atem asked uncertainly.

"Hmm?" Yugi broke from his daze. He looked back at where Dalila disappeared to. "She was pretty, wasn't she," he asked. Atem rolled his eyes and walked away. Yeah, bold too.

"Come on Yugi. We gotta find Mana before she destroys the castle looking for us again," Atem called behind his shoulder. He heard Yugi sigh before his footsteps followed. Why am I mad, Atem asked himself. Why should I care if Yugi likes someone? Why don't I care? She was a pretty girl, so why didn't I care? Because you think Yugi's prettier. Smile like the setting sun. Come on. Are those really the kind of thoughts you should be having about your best friend who looks exactly like you? No I guess not. But why am I having these thoughts in the first place? And why am I arguing with myself? Atem mentally shook himself. There is something wrong with me?

"Hey, you okay?" Atem looked like a deer in headlights.

"What," he asked, his eyes and voice full of surprise. Yugi laughed quietly.

"You looked so deep in thought and you don't do that unless something is wrong. So, what is it," Yugi prompted, hoping it wasn't anything he did.

Atem gave him a half-attempted smile. "It's nothing," he said with a nervous laugh. "I figured it out already." Yugi raised an eyebrow. "Ah shuttup. It's nothing to worry about."

Then Atem collapsed.