Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! I wish I did...

Thoughts

"Speech"

Chapter 25

Yugi stared at Isis in shock as the words sunk in. Then he slid her hand off his wrist.

"Isis, do not worry about me. Whatever happens, I am prepared to die for Atem. I'll do whatever I need to to protect him," Yugi stated. Isis kept his gaze, checking for signs of fear. But he was unwavering, so she turned her head and sighed.

"We should return. They're probably wondering where we ran off to in the first place," Isis added. Yugi nodded.

The stars were bright as Yugi gazed up at them from his room in the inn. Rashidi snored peacefully on the bed. Yugi smiled at the sight. Rashidi was a good man, and Yugi would miss him. Would he even remember him in the next life? Probably not. Yugi wondered what it was exactly that Isis was seeing, and what Runihura was up to. When was this going to take place? And would he die? Yugi shrugged. If he did, it better not be vain. He would never forgive Atem for dying after he tried so hard to keep him alive. A slight breeze whispered into the room and hugged Yugi. The spiky-haired man smiled.

"I'll be fine mother," he said. The wind blew a little harder, and Yugi shook his head. "If I die, then pray I die protecting the idiot who threw me away."

Morning came and Mana came to see Yugi and Rashidi off when Fadil came rushing out. "Yugi! Please, we need you! The Pharaoh has gone crazy! He has gathered the army and has ordered them to go forth! He is sending them into the country as 'high security'!" Yugi stared at him in shock, exchanged a glance with Mana, before looking at his master. Rashidi nodded.

"Go. This madness must stop." Yugi nodded.

"Thank you for bringing me into your home," Yugi said as he bowed. Then he started running.

A minute later, Yugi stood in front of the troops, Mana and Fadil by his side. A general noticed them standing there and walked up to them. "What is this about," he asked.

Yugi stared at him hard. "From whom did the orders to dispatch you come from?" The general looked at him like he was crazy.

"The Pharaoh of course. You did you think gave us the order?" Yugi smiled.

"I think the Queen asked him to do it," he stated boldly. After the words left his mouth, the guardroom went silent. Everyone looked at him. Yugi sighed.

"And so what if she did," a soldier asked. Yugi looked at him.

"What purpose do you have for going out there? And as security. The kingdom has been calm and peaceful for years. Sure there was the Bakura incident, but we got through that, didn't we," he asked. A few of the soldiers nodded, but one guy piped up, saying, "Yeah, barely." Yugi sighed again. "Look, think about it. Why would the Pharaoh send for you and give you orders away from the palace? Not really any, but the new Queen might, especially one no one really trusts or likes."

The word 'treason' started being whispered among ranks. Yugi's fists clenched. He opened his mouth to speak but Mana beat him to it.

"Quiet! How dare you? How can you treat Yugi like this and serve her so diligently," she cried.

"She married the Pharaoh, and he didn't."

"Yes, but he was going to, and you all trusted Yugi as your leader already. How can you let that go? Besides, that bitch isn't even Atem's type. Yugi is. In every way. So listen to him." Mana stopped and nodded to Yugi. He gave her a smile as thanks.

"The woman you call Queen is not who you think. I believe she is conspiring against the kingdom. You've all known the Pharaoh for a long time. Can you honestly say those laws are something he think of?" Guards started looking at each other, shrugging and nodding. "Atem was convinced by his new wife that things would be better this way. But it was to divide the people, and to divide the Pharaoh from his people."

"So what do we do," the general asked. Yugi walked up to him and bowed.

"Have faith in the Atem you knew, and don't leave. You leaving the palace, even the city, will cause fear and panic. That's the last thing we need: another factor to divide us." Yugi stood up and the general bowed to him.

"Then that is what we will do." He turned and looked at the soldiers. "Men, unpack your things. We ain't leaving home." Cheers erupted throughout the hall and Yugi smiled. He watched as everyone walked about, and turned to go.

"What will you do," Fadil asked just as Yugi reached his side. The younger man faintly smiled as he thought of his answer.

"I am going to talk to Atem. Runihura must be stopped." Fadil nodded and joined his comrades. Mana laced her hand through Yugi's and they left, heading for the throne room. There, trouble was brewing.

"What do you mean the troops refuse to move," Atem asked. He glared down at the men in front of his throne.

"Well, sire, it seems as though they've been persuaded not to go," a messenger timidly informed. Atem glowered even more.

"Really, and who, pray tell, has the power to persuade the entire army to ignore my orders?"

"I do." Everyone froze and slowly turned to the speaker at the back of the room. Yugi walked through the doors. Mana came in behind and noticed the Holy Court in the room and stood next to her teacher. Upon hearing his voice, many people filtered in from the corridors.

"What are you doing here," Runihura asked, contempt clear in her voice. "You disrespected and disobeyed the Pharaoh. You have become a traitor to the crown. Right, sweetheart," she cooed to her husband. To the surprise of many, Atem nodded. Yugi faltered in his steps closer to his ex-lover, but he continued.

"If I disrespected him, I apologize. The Pharaoh means everything to me. And if the disobedience comes from my unwillingness to hand over the jewels, then you should think back and realize Atem never ordered me to relinquish them. And the only traitor to the crown is you, Runihura. Becoming Queen of this land means you will obey the Pharaoh, not the other way around," Yugi glared at Atem.

"How dare you speak to me in such a way," Runihura cried. Atem's eyes narrowed.

"This is my wife, your Queen, and you will be punished for such actions." There was a murmur through the vast crowd. As the situation continued, word of mouth enabled more people to reach the throne chambers to watch the encounter.

"Go ahead. There's nothing you can do to me that will hurt more than that day," Yugi stated. "You did more than break my heart when you left and came back with that whore." Gasps resounded at the language. "You left on a trip and didn't bother breaking it off with me. You're an idiot. Ra himself wouldn't know what to do with you."

Atem's crimson gaze darkened as Yugi ascended the steps. "Not only do you disrespect your Queen, you give the same treatment to me?"

Yugi nodded. "Trying to make you see sense. For her, it's just because I don't like her."

"Get out of her now," Runihura ordered. "Guards, arrest him."

"I'M NOT DONE!" Runihura jumped, as well as everyone watching below. A yelling Yugi wasn't a common occurrence and it scared the shit out of everyone when it happened. Yugi turned back to Atem and glared. "You're a moron for marrying her, listening to her, believing her lies, and for letting her play you like this. Have you thought about what your father would say to you destroying his peaceful kingdom on account of her say-so?" Atem stayed silent. But the atmosphere became tense and people shivered in fear of the air of danger.

"Don't you dare bring my father into this, filthy slave!" Yugi froze and looked at Mana. He honestly didn't believe her when she told about her encounter with him. But no matter what happens, I will not give up until you see the light Atem. Yugi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his soft amethyst eyes were cold and hard, nearly black.

"There was a time when you said you loved me. And asked me to spend the rest of my life you… Your father asked you if you meant it. Now I ask you. Did you mean it?"

Atem blanked out when he heard those words.

"Did you mean it when you asked Yugi to marry you?"

"Did I mean- Father! Of course I did! Why would you ask something like that?"

"I did," Atem whispered when his thoughts returned to the present. "A long time ago, I meant it. But I changed my mind and I married Runihura. Now, I suggest you leave before I have you detained, slave." Mana made a move, but Mahad held her back.

"I never thought there would be a day when you treated like your people like trash. And I never thought I'd see the day where you acknowledge your superiority and act thusly," Yugi stated calmly.

"No one thought there'd ever be the day when he treats you like shit," Mana yelled out. "I'll never forgive you for this betrayal!" Mahad shushed his student, but Atem turned his gaze to her.

"Speak out like that again and there will be consequences." In the background, Runihura smiled evilly.

"Touch her or anyone and there will be consequences for you." Atem faced his "twin". Memories of Yugi's fierce loyalty came flooding back. And it made him wonder what the hell he's doing.

"You dare threaten your king," Runihura asked Yugi. Yugi nodded without ever taking his gaze from Atem's. Atem could see his wife walk up to him from the corner of his eye. "My love, are you going to allow this slave to treat you like this? Me?" At the last word Atem froze and Yugi saw exactly how she controlled him.

"You bitch! How dare you manipulate him like that? Get your hands off our king!"

Gasps were heard throughout the room as Runihura slapped Yugi's face. Mana was nearly let go as the rest of the group was ready to run up there. But nobody had time to worry. Yugi retaliated with a slap himself.

"Don't you dare, act so high and mighty. You will be punished for your actions," Yugi growled. "You don't know who you're dealing with." Runihura looked behind him and saw everyone glaring at her. She was ready to hide behind the throne, but the unthinkable happened. This action would change the hearts of many who lived in this land.

Atem punched Yugi.

When his fist hit, silence filled the room as everyone watched in horror at what their king had just done. Yugi fell backwards and rolled down the stairs. A few people gasped, the group ran forward, Isis and Mana in lead, but Atem stared down at him in a cold, hateful gaze, pain in his eyes, and Runihura smiled wickedly in the shadows.

Yugi weakly lifted his body, limbs shaking in their support while injured. He stood up, refusing help and silencing protests. He climbed the stairs, ignoring the bleeding from his scars. Once he reached the top, he did what nobody thought he would do.

He bowed. Yugi bowed down, breathing deeply and shakily, struggling to stand up. He looked up at Atem with serious eyes, and took noticed of the deep regret and pain in his ex-lover's eyes. He smiled faintly before standing up.

"So now what, Pharaoh? What will you do now? Imprison me? Banish me? Sell me? Kill me? Do what you want… There's no reason for me to fight." There was no answer and the populace was eerily silent. With no answer, Yugi sighed. "I hope you see reason soon, Atem, I really do. I still love you." Yugi then walked down the stairs.

"Arrest him," Atem ordered. No one moved, not a single guard. They just stared at their king as Yugi walked past them. Everyone watched him go. As soon as he was gone, Mana turned her furious gaze to Atem.

"How could you?" With that she, too, left. Isis followed. All she did was shake her head and sprint out the door, yelling, "Yugi! Wait! I must treat your wounds!"

Atem watched them go with unchanging eyes. His attention turned to the next person who walked up. Mahad walked up to the stairs

"There are so many things I wish to say, but the in the name of our past friendship I won't. But I will say this: I am disappointed in you." Atem was startled by this, but Runihura noticed. "I am disappointed in the king you have become. How dare you disrespect and ignore everything your father upheld. Right now, there is nothing left to do or say. I am disappointed in you. Mana will never forgive you. Yugi is hurting for and because of you. You are no longer fit to rule this land. Ra himself wouldn't know what to do with you. And I believe with all my soul… Your father is ashamed of you and what you've become." Atem froze after the last line. If possible, the silence grew. Mahad turned his back to his once friend and left, following his lover's steps. Seto and Kisara followed. After a while, the rest of the Holy Court members bowed to their Pharaoh and left. Slowly, everyone else who filled the room began to empty it. In a few minutes, the throne room was empty.