AteKake: Well, I just cannot figure out this story anymore. Ugh, I totally forgot what I was going to put in this chapter. Ugh! OH well, I'll try to make up this chapter as I go along. Again, this might just seem like mindless drabble for a couple of chapters… maybe… Sigh, let's just see how this will work out, shall we?
Atemu sigh, placing the countless assortment of jewels on his neck. The golden necklace rested on his neck as he sighed once again. He was really tired this morning, and he really did regret going into his gardens and spending time there until very late at night. He finally placed the last piece of jewelry around his neck, his Millennium Puzzle.
Yugi sat there on Atemu's bed, watching the pharaoh as he finished getting ready for his day. Yugi looked at the golden pieces of jewelry, wondering how Atemu got such treasures. He shrugged the thought away as he kept a silent watch on the ruler.
Atemu looked at his appearance in the mirror before getting up and walking towards Yugi. The pharaoh smiled at Yugi, asking "Are you ready?"
Yugi looked up at Atemu before getting up off the bed and patting his clothing, trying to look presentable for the pharaoh. Yugi then smiled back at Atemu, nodding his head, "Of course, your highness."
Atemu smiled lightly, "You don't have to call me things like 'your highness' and 'Pharaoh' when it is just the two of us. Feel free to call me Atemu during those times. I just have the request that you call me those names in front of others."
Yugi looked up at the other, contemplating for a moment. "Oh, are you sure? I just feel it proper to," Yugi mumbled a bit.
Atemu nodded his head, "I'm positive. I already get enough of these higher names, I just want to be called by my actual name from time to time. It can be a little annoying hearing 'Yes your majesty' and 'Of course your highness.'"
Yugi looked at the teen for what seemed like a few moments; by that simple statement, Yugi could already tell that Atemu was somehow tired of his kingship. Yugi shooed away the thought before smiling. "Okay, Atemu. Are we going to head to the dining room for breakfast now?" Yugi asked in an innocent tone.
"Yes. Come, I'll lead the way there," Atemu stated as he headed towards the door and opened it. Yugi shortly followed the other as they both went into the hallways.
As soon as the two had entered the halls, the servants there all bowed in the presence of their king. Atemu smiled as he held up his hand, ordering them to rise. The people did as their ruler asked, raising themselves. Yugi looked to both sides out of curiosity, watching the people keep their respect in Atemu's presence.
Said person looked behind himself, watching Yugi as the younger looked to both sides, staring directly at the servants who held their respect. He smiled o himself, thinking of Yugi's actions as almost childish.
The two just continued their way down the hallways of the palace, passing by numerous servants who held their heads low in respect of their king.
The two reached the dining room in what felt like a long time, but a few minutes. Mana was already waiting there for the both of them (she left Atemu's chambers before the Pharaoh could start changing his clothes). She smiled widely, before running up to the two of them.
"There you two are! I've been waiting and I am starting to get really hungry!" Mana announced. She turned the other way, leading Atemu and Yugi towards the dining hall. Atemu and Yugi walked together, though they were both quiet. Mana smiled once again before opening the door of the dining hall before all three of the teens entered the area.
Yugi looked around right away, Mana never actually showed Yugi this part of the palace. She did only just show him one of the palace's gardens and the throne room. Yugi looked up, the ceiling of the area was somehow high, which surprised Yugi. Once again, the walls were of course covered with hieroglyphs and other symbols and gods of the Egyptian culture. There was another door at the other side of the hall, of which lead to the kitchen. Different smells and sounds could just be heard from that area.
Atemu noted Yugi's amazement. It seems as if Mana neglected showing him the dining halls. He smiled lightly before speaking up slightly, "Are you liking the palace's dining hall, Yugi?"
The said teen turned his head to Atemu, smiling and remembering to address him in public with respect. Yugi turned his body towards Atemu with some sense of respect for the royal. "I very much do, Pharaoh. This place is just so big and amazing to me," Yugi commented, not removing the smile from his face.
Atemu nodded before walking over to the large and long table in the center of the room and sitting at the head of it, him on a single chair. Mana happily skipped over after she grabbed onto Yugi's hand and taking him over to the table. She took him to Atemu's side before telling him to stay right there. "Since you are Atemu's servant at the moment, you really need to serve him first. Sorry if you're hungry," Mana said with sympathy in her voice.
Yugi kept being polite smiling, "No, it is perfectly fine. I know that I need to serve the pharaoh first. I can wait."
Mana looked at him with a doubtful look on her face. She placed her hands on her hips before asking a final question, "You sure?" Yugi responded in only a nod. Mana shrugged her shoulders before taking the seat on the right of Atemu.
The pharaoh just watched the two, though he was concerned about if Yugi was hungry or not. "Yugi, I should just ask you if you are hungry. It is inhumane if I just ate right in front of Yugi if you had an empty stomach. Just tell me, alright? I have plenty of other people willing to serve me," Atemu stated.
Yugi didn't have to answer as his stomach did for him with a loud growl. Said teen blushed right away at the moment as he covered his cheeks, trying his best to hide the red on his face. Mana and Atemu looked at each other before bursting out laughing. Yugi watched Atemu with a bit of curiosity. As a king, he would never expect Atemu to act so childish. Yugi almost forgot that Atemu was a teenager too.
Atemu clutched his stomach, trying to hold his laughter. He slightly opened an eye, spotting Yugi staring at him with a blush. Though, this did not stop the pharaoh from laughing. Atemu snapped his fingers as a few slave carried in platters of food and placing them on the table before bowing and hurrying away. Atemu stopped with his laughing at the moment as he then looked up and let go of his stomach.
He then smiled widely before patting the chair to his left, "It's alright Yugi. Just go ahead and eat."
Yugi hesitated for a moment, before following what Atemu asked him to do before sitting on the pharaoh's left. Yugi brought the plate of food in front of himself closer before watching if Atemu and Mana were eating, which they were. There were a few fruits on the plate, as well as some meets. Yugi waited before actually going to pick up a grape from the cut bundle. He popped the fruit into his mouth before smiling; the fruit was very sweet.
The three continued in eating while Yugi kept a smile on his face as he hummed to the good taste of the food, which brought smiles to both Atemu and Mana. As soon as the meal was finished, a few slaves once again picked up the empty plates before running off into the kitchen.
Atemu smiled due to Yugi's pleasant face. The teen did enjoy his time eating the food. After all, being a peasant he didn't really get even enough food to last him the day. He then spoke up, "Yugi, how did you like the food? I could just tell from the smile on your face that you liked the meal."
Yugi looked up from his spot, before looking at Atemu with a happy smile and bright eyes. "It was amazing! Being a peasant for most of my life, I barely got much food," Yugi then began fiddling with the Silent Swordsman charm around his neck.
Atemu noted the phrase "For most my life" and began to wonder about Yugi's past. He was curious as to why the teen had said that. Was he a noble at some point? No, there would be records in the palace of him for sure. He looked at Mana for a slight moment before going back to looking at Yugi. He shooed away the thought for another day, though he kept in mind to ask Yugi about his past.
Mana also wondered about why Yugi had said that phrase. She did remember that he had mentioned coming from a distant land called Japan. She wondered if he was perhaps a noble of that land. She shook the thought away, just as Atemu did.
Atemu and Mana then both got up from their seats, Yugi looking at the two and following their actions. Atemu noted how Yugi followed him before looking at the other teen and saying, "Yug, we need to go together to enter the throne room. Once in that area, you must stand right beside me, alright?"
Yugi looked at Atemu for a little moment, sinking in that he needed to stay right by Atemu's side. Yugi nodded his head in agreement before smiling, "Alright my pharaoh. I will," Atemu looked right into Yugi's eyes for a moment, before shaking his head slightly and smiling himself.
Mana happily skipped over to the two put both arms around each one of their shoulders. She giggled and hugged the three of them together as they all shared a laugh. Mana looked at the two, actually surprised that today Atemu was acing more childish than usual. She then looked once more at Yugi, who was slowly opening up instead of acting as shy as he was.
Then Atemu, knowing to act a little more proper, stopped giggling but kept a smile on his face. He slipped out of Mana's arm before patting his clothes and standing up straight. "Alright, me need to go to the throne room before Seth gets into another one of his fits," Atemu joked.
Mana and Yugi happily followed the pharaoh as he opened the doors and walked into the hallway, heading towards the throne room.
Mana kept walking right next to Yugi, before quietly whispering in his ear, "You know Yugi, ever since you came here, Atemu has been slowly opening up. He used to be all uptight and strict. He hasn't laughed in a while so thank you."
Mana removed her hand from Yugi's ear, looking over to Atemu who kept his focus on the hallway. Yugi looked up at the girl before giving a quick glance at Atemu. He then switched his sight to Mana once again, smiling. "You're welcome, Mana," Yugi happily said.
Atemu looked over his shoulder at the two walking behind him giving Mana a quick glare, "Mana, what are you saying to Yugi?"
Mana smiled widely before sticking out her tongue at Atemu, "Nothing!" She then grabbed onto Yugi's hand and began running towards the throne room.
Atemu watched the two as they ran, Yugi looked back over at Atemu giving him a look that said, "I have no idea where she is taking me." The pharaoh watched the two run towards the throne room before shaking his head and placing his hand on his face. He then began to run after them saying, "Mana! Slow down! Who knows what you'll run into this time!"
AteKake: phew, done with that. So yeah, sorry for the delay and so on. Reviews are greatly appreciated!