…………oooooooo…………

His mind was in deep turmoil and he found himself unable to sit still for even a moment without jumping up and groaning in impatience. At that moment, the best way for him to expel some of this anxiety, he figured, was to pace. And pace he did. It didn't quite help the nagging tug in the back of his mind, or give him the answers he desperately wanted or even make the grains of sand in the hourglass fall faster, but it gave him something to do. He'd much rather that than sit still and wait for his mind to slowly slip into insanity.

A light clanking of the manacles, which clung onto various parts of his body, followed every step as he paced the length of his chamber one way and then the other. The long fine, silk cape of lavender bellowed softly behind him with each sturdy step, gold lining reflecting back the torchlight. His arms were folded in front of his sleek, toned abdomen gradually collecting sweat with each passing hour. Once every few minutes he would turn to peer out the large window or the door without really knowing why. He was waiting for someone but he wasn't sure of which direction that person would come.

The pacing grew tiresome and his patience grew thinner with each step. He stifled the urge to bolt it out of the room and go searching for the information himself rather than wait for it to come to him. Lately, with the fast-pace chain of terrible events befalling his kingdom, Atemu felt lost in the mess of troubles and was unsure as to how to deal with them all. The problem, he knew, centered around a thief named Bakura who was apparently seeking justice for the slaughter of his village. 99 souls sacrificed for a greater cause, the creation of the Millennium Items, and Bakura wanted revenge for each and every life taken. Armed with his stealth and amazingly powerful ka, Diabound, Bakura managed to terrorize his people and steal the pharaoh's treasures from right under his nose.

Shimon had urged Atemu to wait and allow the priests to handle Bakura for him. The people needed a strong leader to keep their faith in and if the pharaoh's ka, Kuriboh, was to fail against Diabound, an even greater fear would ensue in the village and chaos was sure to follow. He had reluctantly taken Shimon's advice knowing that Kuriboh was no match against the strength of Diabound. The thought of standing by while he allowed others to handle his problems made him feel useless but he needed time to devise a plan in order to take down Bakura.

And so he was left in the dark. Both literally and metaphorically. His waiting had stretched long into the night with no signs of ending. This waiting was getting ridiculous and he felt like severely punishing whoever the messenger was for keeping the pharaoh in such a way.

"These people move slower than a crippled camel, WHERE IS MY MESSENGER!"

He forcefully slammed his hand against a nearby wall in irritation, brushing aside his 'Pharaoh etiquette.' Always keep you emotions under control. Securely guard your weaknesses. Always maintain a stern, regal stance. Anger is always to be suppressed, etc, etc. To hell with etiquette.

"You are lucky that no one saw you do that."

The pharaoh jumped slightly at the sudden voice coming from the door. Shimon stood at the entrance out of breath, clinging onto a piece of papyrus and something golden. He took three steps into the room and closed his eyes, collapsing against the wall. The pharaoh rushed to his aid and gently led the old man to a nearby chair, sitting him down carefully.

"Shimon, are you alright? What happened?"

"Yes, Atemu, I just need to, just need to…. catch my breath is all."

The man laid his hand on his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat almost bursting out of it. He bent over slightly, struggling to get rid of the exhaustion. Atemu rubbed his back lightly, a gesture he rarely used, but Shimon was a close friend and mentor, so it was acceptable. He finally caught a hold on his breath and sat up slowly, a grim expression marring his face.

"She's gone."

Seeing that Shimon had recovered, Atemu grabbed the man by the shoulders and looked him square in the face.

"Who? Who's gone? Tell me everything that has happened. Where is the messenger and why are you here? What happened out there? Tell me, tell me!"

Shimon placed his hands on top of the pharaoh's and slowly slid them off his shoulders. He stood up and walked towards the window, staring out at the empty night sky. Puzzled and slightly frustrated, Atemu turned and followed suit.

"Well?" He asked in a more softened tone.

Shimon sighed, "If only you could've seen the agony on her face, my Pharaoh."

"I do not understand."

"Perhaps it was to be expected but I never knew the immensity of Diamond's power. And now it's too late."

"You mean Bakura had a hand in this?"

Shimon gave no answer. Stupid question.

"Atemu, you do recall what happened to Mahaado do you not?"

The pharaoh sighed. Of course remembered, Mahaado was one of his most trusted priests, his close friend even. But that was awhile ago. Mahaado was gone now; he lost his life protecting his master. That was the first time the pharaoh had seen and felt the enormous power of Diabound, a Ka that seemed to have come from nowhere and belonged to one most unworthy.

Shimon grasped the pharaoh's hand and slipped something inside, curling his fingers around it. Atemu opened his hand, looking down to see the delicate Millennium Necklace which was slightly more scratched and worn from the last time he saw it.

"Isis……."

"She fought bravely, your highness, but in the end….it was just like all the others."

The pharaoh clenched his hand tightly around the necklace and squeezed his eyes shut in anguish. His entire body shook with the effort to not cry out in anger, something he'd done so many times before.

"This, this was not……how could this happen? S-she was just a woman, why did she have to face Bakura? What man would be so low as to harm a helpless woman? There is no decency in…."

"She was not helpless. Isis was armed with a Millennium Item which meant that she posed a threat towards him. He is careful enough to dispose of any form of possible hazard in his way be it man, woman or otherwise."

"Yes, I know but….."

"I understand. This is difficult to accept. I don't know how many people we lost in this short period of time. It has all happen so quickly."

"It all seems like a dream."

The two men stood staring out the window in an uncomfortable silence. Shimon rubbing the piece of folded papyrus between his fingers suddenly realised what he was doing and broke the silence.

"This is something for you." He handed the pharaoh the piece of parchment.

Atemu eyed the papyrus carefully. The edges were ragged and torn, and small splotches of dried blood stained various parts of it.

"The messenger who carried this was accidentally shot by one of your guards. For some reason, the guard was under the influence of alcohol and perceived anyone arriving at the palace as an enemy. I found the man lying on the ground with an arrow pierced through is temple and tore the note from his hands and brought it here myself. I was in luck to escape the drunken guard, even if it was only by a hair."

"This looks suspicious. I doubt that……Ooooph! What the – "

"NO! No, no, no, no, no, I dun wanna, I DUN WANNA!"

The pharaoh looked down in surprise to see a four-and-a-half-year-old clinging onto his leg tightly, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Help me fada, she's gonna get me!"

"Atemu, he's – "

"- I know, I'll handle it."

The pharaoh knelt down and tried to yank the toddler off his leg, but the little one refused to move. He eventually managed to get him off but the kid just grabbed onto his arm and clung onto that instead.

"Yuugi, I'm busy right now, go play somewhere else."

"She's gonna, she's gonna…" The prince's eyes went as wide as saucers as he dug his fingernails into his father's arm.

"Yuugi……" His tone was grave, giving off the slightest hint of warning.

"But fada!"

"YUUGI!"

The boy flinched at his father's sharp, demanding voice and slowly sank down onto the ground whimpering. He hung his head in a sulk and mindlessly fiddled with the hem of his shenti.

The pharaoh sighed, glancing at Shimon who was shaking his head in disapproval. He gently kneeled down to where Yuugi was sitting and gave him a light hug, patting the boy's back in the process.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you son, but you shouldn't be barging in like that."

Yuugi's only reply was a small sniffle.

He sighed again and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Alright then, who is 'she'?"

"Anzu."

"And what is she doing?"

"Chasing me."

"And why is she chasing you?"

"She wants ta give me a bat."

Atemu arched an eyebrow, "She wants to give you a what?"

"Bat, bat-uh." Yuugi spat out the last part of that word causing some spittle to hit his father's face.

"Oh, you mean a bath."

"Yes."

The pharaoh couldn't help but grin a little. "What is so bad about that?"

Yuugi's head shot up and the look he gave his father was one of sheer disbelief. His large lilac eyes grew even wider and his mouth hung agape. It was almost like the pharaoh had just announced that he had two heads.

"Fada! She wants ta give me a bat! A bat!"

The pharaoh faked a gasp and blinked profusely. "Oh, you mean a bath, bath."

Yuugi was getting annoyed at how slow his father was. He started bouncing up and down, still on his butt, repeating "Yes, yes!"

Atemu rubbed his chin and tilted his head, appearing to be in deep thought. Yuugi stared at him closely, waiting for the solution to his predicament. "Hmm, I don't know son, this is too difficult a situation for me. I don't think there is anything I can do for you."

The toddler's excitement strengthened and he tugged at his father's arm swinging it back and forth. "But you can do lots' a stuff. You da phe- da pha- da pharow!"

Atemu almost berated himself for being surprised that Yuugi knew that. But Yuugi, in some ways, was slightly more mature for his age than most children. In some ways.

"You are very demanding aren't you son?" He chuckled, "Let me think."

They heard the sounds of almost squishy footsteps quickly coming down the hallway. In no time, a girl appeared at the doorway with a very agitated expression on her face. She was nearly soaked from head to toe.

"There you are! Gods Yuugi, why do you have to make this so har- oh, my Pharaoh I'm sorry I-I….."

She instantly dropped to her knees, bending down as low as possible. Her face flushed in embarrassment, seeing the quizzical expression the pharaoh gave her. Yuugi gave a squeak and hid behind his father, peeking over his shoulder just enough so that he could see Anzu but hoping not enough so that she could see him.

"You may stand up, Anzu."

"But his highness is… is… sitting on the ground."

He stood up, Yuugi carefully keeping himself hidden behind the Pharaoh as his father rose to his feet. He gripped so tightly onto Atemu's shenti that he almost pulled it down completely.

"Now, you may stand up, Anzu."

The girl reluctantly got onto her feet, fully aware that Yuugi was hiding from her. She sighed; indeed this job was tiresome sometimes.

"My son tells me that you plan to give him a bath."

Anzu was, to say the least, confused, but one reassuring nod from the Pharaoh and she caught on.

"Yes, I was."

"Are you aware that he is not fond of baths?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Then why would you give him one?"

"Um…because he's dirty?"

Yuugi's peeked out from behind his father and yelled "Hey!" In protest before realizing that he just revealed himself to her and clasping his hand over his mouth.

"And you dare to insult my son, your prince, by calling him 'dirty'?"

"I, uh………"

This was becoming quite uncomfortable for her and she began to shift her weight from one leg to another.

"You know I can easily punish you for disrespecting my son don't you?"

Anzu could feel beads of sweat rolling down her already soaked back. "Oh Gods, what am I supposed to say, this is all so……strange. Okay, stay clam Anzu, stay calm."

"Yes, your highness."

"Wait here while my son and I discuss a proper punishment for you."

"Y-yes my Pharoah."

Atemu pulled his son to a corner of the room and knelt down to his level, speaking in a hush whisper. "Shh, she can't hear us from here."

Yuugi snuck a glare at his dry nurse and cupped a hand around his mouth, believing that, indeed, the girl couldn't hear him. "See! Told ya she was gonna give me a bat!"

"She is a sneaky one isn't she?"

"Real seaky."

"How do you suggest we punish her?"

Yuugi scratched his head. He hadn't really thought about that until now. His father usually did all the punishing but was never allowed to witness them.

"Lock her in da batroom foreva!"

The pharaoh blinked. "Isn't that a bit harsh son? What if she needs food?"

Yuugi scratched his head again; he hadn't thought about Anzu getting hungry, but he knew how awful it was to have an empty, growling stomach. No one deserved that. He needed to think harder than he thought. This whole punishment business was tough.

"Uh….lock her in da batroom foreva but let her out sometimes ta eat stuff."

"When do we let her out?"

"I dunno, wheneva she wants."

"But then wouldn't she always want to be let out?"

"Well yes but……oh dis is too hard!"

The pharaoh chuckled, "See, son this is a very difficult situation."

"What are we gonna do?"

"Hmm, I have an idea. But I don't think you'll like it."

"What, what?" Yuugi began to jump up and down in excitement.

"Are you sure you want to hear it?"

"Yes, c'mon."

"Well, I was thinking for now you should go with Anzu – "

"No!"

"Shh, you didn't let me finish." Atemu placed two fingers on Yuugi's lips, and the toddler frowned, "You go with Anzu for now, just for now and I will try to think of a proper punishment for her. Acceptable?"

"Promise?"

"Yes son, I promise."

"'k."

Atemu took Yuugi by the hand and led him to Anzu, who was fiddling with her fingers uncomfortably, at the brink of a nervous breakdown.

"Alright then Anzu," He stood erect, his tone thickly coated with authority, "You may take my son with you for the time being. But remember that you still have a punishment awaiting you."

She grabbed Yuugi by the waist and hoisted him onto one hip. Yuugi seemed to weigh himself down purposely to make her task difficult but, other than that, he didn't show any signs of struggling.

"Yes your highness."

As Yuugi's dry nurse headed out the door, she turned around to catch a 'thank you' smile from the pharaoh. Blushing slightly, she left the room and went down the hall.

From somewhere down the hall Atemu heard a "You promised, fada!" from his son.

Atemu breathed a sigh of relief and placed a hand on his forehead, running it back through his hair. He sat down on a chair and glanced at Shimon who, once again, had his arms folded across his chest, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Atemu you – "

"Don't say it Shimon!"

"- spoil him too much." The pharaoh turned away with a head shake, knowing Shimon would continue anyways, "When you were a child, I used to spank you for such behaviour."

"Times have changed, I don't believe in spanking children, especially not my only son."

"He will grow up to become a spoiled brat."

"No," Atemu sighed, "I know my Yuugi, he's a good child. All he needs is his father's attention once in awhile. I rarely have any time to spend with him so every moment counts, especially during these dangerous times. I wish he didn't have to grow up in such an environment. He deserves to be able to go outside and play without having to worry about assassins or thieves like Bakura." He gestured towards the necklace and Shimon nodded, "It pains me to see him trapped in the palace all the time, lonely and longing to be with other children. Whenever he leaves the palace walls, he needs to be escorted by twenty guards. Do you understand what the sight of twenty guards does to a grown man?" The magic-wielder said nothing, knowing twenty soldiers was no challenge for him, "I never wanted this for him, but it's all I can do to keep my little Yuugi safe."

Shimon gave a sad smile and walked over to the pharaoh, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But that is the price for being the son of royalty. This will become routine for Yuugi in time and you have done your best in raising him. The best is all that one can ask for, don't blame yourself for this."

"I know. I love him so much, it hurts."

"During these stressful times, you should try to keep a smile for him."

"I will."

Atemu's eyes fell to the ground where he dropped the note when Yuugi crashed into him. He picked it up and unfolded it carefully. The note was written in a scratchy, almost illegible Egyptian text and he had to strain his eyes to read it. The words spelled out a foreboding message that made his blood run cold.

"Stop cowering from me, Pharaoh. I will arrive at dawn."