AN: I'm sorry I'm late (again) but my phone died my charger is MIA and I have fucked up luck so... Yeah... On the possibly bright side my computer had finally been sent to get fixed but it won't be done until the middle of the moth.
It was the day after Yugi's punishment that he was sitting in bed staring up at the ceiling, thinking about his predicament. A lot of questions came to mind about the place he was in and everything that had happened so far. Most he was able to answer without too much trouble. But one thought kept bugging him.
So far, since he got to Kemet everyone had been nice. It hadn't occurred to him before but now that he had some free time, he realized that everyone had treated him as if he was an old friend. Everyone excluding the pharaoh and the guards had been nothing but kind and excepting. As if they had not been at war with his country recently. It felt so weird.
Yugi had expected animosity and hate. He had expected for people to treat him like an outcast and reject him. But it was just the opposite.
Yugi was broken out of his thoughts of the strange treatment as the door connecting the bedroom with the main room was opened. Yugi scrambled to get under his blankets of his bed as a person he had never seen before walked in. The blanket was up to his chin as the person walked in the room.
The new comer had pale skin like Yugi's and hair white as snow. His big brown eyes were large and innocent. His lips were turned down in a frown as he let out a sigh. The light blue robe he wore was tied at the center to keep it closed and was lightly splashed with water from the bucket in his hands as he walked into the room.
He turned around and was surprised to find someone in the room. He smiled kindly at Yugi from the doorway. "Hello miss." He said mistaking Yugi for a girl.
Yugi sat up suddenly, mad at the person's confusion. "Hey I'm not a girl! I'm a boy!" The new boy looked scared as Yugi suddenly snapped at him. Seeing the look on the new boy's face though, Yugi calmed down. "Sorry I just really hate when people think I'm a girl."
Yugi watched as the new boy slowly broke out of his shocked state. "It's ok, I'm sorry for calling you one. It's just that there has never been a boy in the king's harem before so I just assumed..."
Yugi stared in shock. "Never!" Yugi asked, surprised that he was the first. "I thought that the pharaoh preferred men."
"He does but men are not usually allowed in the harem because they cannot conceive. The pharaoh has no wife but he still needs an heir. The council is hoping that he might get one of the harem girls pregnant with his child. So far none of them have been able to give him a child."
"Then why am I in the harem? Why didn't he just make me a simple cook or have me clean? I cannot give him a child."
"I don't know. My guess is that he saw something special in you. Something he wanted. But if you ask me, I don't think the pharaoh even wants an heir. I've heard that he never releases in the girls so that he won't accidentally get them pregnant. Oh but where are my manners! My name is Ryou."
Yugi smiled at Ryou. "It is a pleasure to meet you Ryou. My name is Yugi. Do not take this the wrong way but what are you here for?"
"I am here to clean the bathing chambers. It is after all my job." Yugi remembered how big the bathing chambers had been when Delilah showed them to him.
"That seems like a pretty big job. Would you like some help with it?"
A look of surprise passed over Ryou's face but then was gone and replaced by a grateful grin. "It is not as bad as it seems. But yes I would love some help. Thank you."
Yugi was about to get up from his bed when he remembered he was naked. He blushed in embarrassment and shifted uncomfortably under the covers. "Um... Well... I'm uh..."
"Naked?" Ryou asked. Yugi nodded. "It's ok I'm used to it. I pass by all those girls in the front room just to get back here every day."
Yugi nodded and slowly got out of bed. He and Ryou made their way to the bathroom. "It's a good thing I brought an extra rag." Ryou said as he and Yugi began the cleaning. It was a hard job but Yugi didn't mind. As he scrubbed at the floors and the showers he thought about people's hospitality again, and again he began to question it. He was so focused on his thoughts that he didn't even realize it when Ryou began to call his name to get his attention.
"...Yugi...YUGI!" Yugi finally snapped out of his daze and looked at Ryou, an apologetic smile on his lips.
"I'm sorry about that Ryou. How many times did you call my name before I snapped out of it?"
"I think five. Are you alright, you seemed pretty deep in thought over there. You wanna talk about it?"
Yugi looked at Ryou considering telling him about the problem he faced for a moment before he spoke. "Ryou... What do you think about the Nubians?"
"Well that's a strange question. Most people hate them but I guess I'd have to say I feel sorry for them. I can't believe that they were all wiped out during the war!"
"Nobody survived?" Yugi asked skeptically. "Not even the royal family?"
"Nope! The pharaoh told us they all died. He told us that he personally executed the King the Queen and the prince."
"Out of curiosity, did you know what the royal family looked like of any of their names?"
Ryou shook his head. "No I don't think anyone does. We were never told what they look like and we've never seen them."
"Oh my gods..." Yugi whispered as he finally realized why everyone was being so nice to him. "Everyone thinks I'm dead." Yugi said, accidentally thinking out loud.
"Wait... What!" Ryou said as Yugi finally realized his mistake. Yugi could practically see the gears in Ryou's mind turning as he realized what Yugi meant. Yugi quickly covered his mouth as Ryou screamed his next words.
When Yugi removed his hand from Ryou's mouth Ryou repeated the words in a whisper. "You're a Nubian! That's impossible, they're all dead!"
Yugi looked around to make sure no one was there and peaked outside of the bathroom to make sure the door to the main room was still closed. He went back to his spot on the floor with Ryou. "I'm about to tell you something but only if you promise that you can keep a secret ok?" Ryou nodded. "I am the Nubian prince."
The skeptical look on Ryou's face proved to Yugi that he didn't believe him. Ryou got up and started pacing around the room. Yugi watched, getting dizzy from the many circles Ryou made. "But... That doesn't make any sense! Why would the pharaoh lie and say that you three were killed if you weren't?"
Yugi had a sour taste in his mouth. He knew the reason the pharaoh had done it and he hated it. "I hate to say it," Yugi finally answered bitterly, "but I think the pharaoh did me a favor. If most people here really hate Nubians like you said, everyone here would try to hurt or kill me if they knew who I was."
Ryou nodded. "That makes a lot of sense. My friend Jou would probably try to poison your food if he knew you were a Nubian! He's the head cook."
"I'm going to guess that he doesn't like us that much." Yugi said as he wondered how many of the girls in the front room would hate him if they knew.
"He's had a bad history with the Nubians but he's not as bad as he sounds. He's really funny and silly. I could introduce him to you if you want."
"I would love to meet him as long as he doesn't know who I am." Yugi said with a genuine smile. But then he saw the troubled look on Ryou's face. "Ryou is something wrong?"
"Well..." He said hesitantly. "There's this rumor that the prince of Nubia has some type of special power. Do you?"
"Yes" Yugi said "but it's dangerous so I only use it when I or someone I care for is in trouble."
Ryou pouted. "There isn't any possible way you can show me?" He begged. "I'm really curious to see if the rumors are true!"
Yugi sighed and checked around the room even though he knew no one else was there. He turned back to Ryou with a serious look on his face. "Ok I'll show you but you can't tell ANYONE about this! What happens in this room stays in this room!" Ryou nodded silently, staring expectantly at Yugi.
Yugi sighed and concentrated, trying to call the magic to his hand. He closed his eyes and thought about how mad he had become when the pharaoh had threatened to put his mom in the harem.
He felt his finger tips tingle and Ryou gasp and he opened his eyes. He looked at his palm to see just a little bit of the magic in his hand. He concentrated again and turned the white light into a small hopping bunny. Ryou smiled brightly and laughed merrily as he watched the small bunny hop across the room. Yugi willed the little rabbit to hop over to Ryou.
Ryou stared at the rabbit shyly for a minute before slowly stretching out a shaking hand. He pet the bunny, surprised at the pleasant tingling feeling it left in his fingers where they had touched the light creature. Yugi smiled as he watched Ryou play with the bunny. "You're so cute." He cooed to the tiny creature. "I'm going to name you... Princess!"
Suddenly Yugi gasped in fear as a thought suddenly came to him. "Princess!" Ryou stared at him in concern.
"What's wrong Yugi? Did you have a sister or something?" Yugi shook his head, still worried.
"Princess was my pet back in Nubia. I hope nothing bad happened to her!" Yugi began to bite his fingernails in nervousness for his friend.
"You had a pet? What like a cat?" Ryou asked in surprise. Yugi cracked a small smile.
"Cat? Sort of. She was a white tiger I got as a cub for my fifth birthday." Ryou stared at him, mouth open wide in shock. After a few minutes he closed his mouth and swallowed.
"A tiger? For my fifth birthday I got a doll and you got a tiger named princess!"
"Yes. my parents asked me what i wanted that year. I remember asking for something special that I could cherish for the rest of my life. I hope she's ok..."
They sat in silence for a few moments as Yugi thought his friend and Ryou absentmindedly pet the bunny in his arms.
"Will she disappear?" Yugi looked up in surprise at Ryou, not expecting the question. "The bunny I mean." Yugi saw the way he looked adoringly down at the bunny.
Yugi sighed, knowing he was taking a huge risk by doing this. "Yes. But I can bring her back when you come here from now on if you want..."
Ryou's face broke out in a wide grin. "You would do that for me!" Yugi nodded.
"As long as you don't tell anyone about this!" Ryou nodded his head so fast it made Yugi wonder if his head would fall off.
"Oh thank you so much Yugi! This is the best thing ever! I made two new friends in one day!"
Yugi smiled and nodded, smiling wider at the thought of having a friend. Suddenly they heard the bedroom door open and someone come in. Yugi rushed to dispel princess and grab his cloth and toss Ryou's to him as the bathroom door opened.
Yugi looked up and saw a girl with short brown hair and blue eyes. Her button nose was turned up in disgust as she looked at Yugi and her thin lips were drawn in a straight line. She was very pretty but the look on her face was colder than ice. She glared at Yugi as the amethyst eyed boy glared back at her. She crossed her arms and hmphed.
"So, you're the amethyst eyed beauty everyone has been talking about around the palace?" She scoffed. "You're nothing special."
Yugi glared at her. "Did you come here to do anything besides make cheap shots at me because you have no friends to talk to instead or was there an actual reason behind this visit?"
She glared at Yugi in anger. "Dinner time. The pharaoh insists even the lowliest pieces of shit get food."
"That explains why you're eating then." Yugi shot back. Yugi turned to Ryou who was watching the exchange with barely concealed amusement. "Come Ryou, we must get away from this," Yugi looked. Back at Tea with a look of disgust, "thing. I don't really like being in the company of bitches."
Yugi and Ryou stood up and exited the room leaving the girl screaming in fury behind them. Yugi went into the closet and put on a pair of tight black pants and the matching shirt before the two headed towards the kitchen. "Who was the screaming banshee back there?" Yugi asked.
"That was Anzu. She treats everyone like that but I think you're the first one ever to stand up to her like that. Most people fear her. She had this crazy idea in her mind that she will get pregnant with the pharaoh's child and he will fall in love with her and make her his queen."
"So in other words, not only is she a bitch, but she's an insane bitch as well." Yugi said as he followed Ryou to the kitchen.
"Yeah, kinda. But anyways, now you can meet my friend Jou!" Ryou sped up a little bit, anxious to let Yugi meet his friend. Yugi jogged to keep up with his friend, excited but nervous to meet the nubian hating chef.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Yugi and Ryou were navigating through the kitchens. The smells of the delicious food made their mouths water as they traveled deeper into the room to find Jou.
Suddenly Yugi stopped as a particularly delicious smell came to his nose. He sniffed the heavenly scent I'm the air and turned to Ryou. "Do you smell that?"
Ryou gave him a look. "We're in the kitchens it smells like food. What did you expect?" Yugi shook his head.
Yugi started to follow his nose, getting closer to whatever was causing the smell. His mouth watered more and more the closer he got. Finally he reached his destination as he wiped the drool from his chin.
There roasting slowly on one of the fires were a dozen cooked quails, golden brown and seasoned beautifully. Ryou and Yugi stared in surprise at the food. It had been a while since Yugi had eaten quail. He reached out a shaking hand, about to grab one.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The two boys turned in shock to see a blonde with honey colored eyes and a look on his face like he was trying not to laugh. "The pharaoh doesn't like it when others touch his food."
Ryou blushed when he heard who the dinner was for. Yugi glared at the quails as if blaming them for his not being able to eat them. Yugi then turned back to the blonde in time to see him ruffle Ryou's hair. "Hey buddy what's up!"
Ryou pouted At him. "I am not a little kid! You don't have to ruffle my hair like I'm five! I wanted to introduce you to my friend, Yugi. Yugi this is Jou. Jou this is Yugi." Yugi looked up at him and smiled.
"Hello Yugi nice to meet you! Any friend of Ryou's is a friend of mine!" Suddenly a woman with black and blonde hair ran over to the group.
"Joey, a fight broke out over by where the apple baskets were kept!" Joey cursed and sighed. He and Ryou ran to where Yugi assumed the apple baskets were.
Yugi stared at the woman for a moment. "Mom? Mom!" The queen turned to Yugi just in time to catch her son who lept into her arms. The happy boy looked up at his mom with a grin so wide it nearly split his face in two. "Oh mom, I'm so happy you're ok!"
"Yugi I'm happy you are safe too! But why are you dressed like this?" The queen had seen the dresses the harem girls wore, long white gowns that covered everything of their bodies with hoods to hide their faces. They were meant to hide their beauty but what her son was wearing could hardly be called modest.
Yugi blushed at his mothers comment. "It will be another six days before my clothing is made. Until then I must wear the clothes from the harem closet and they were made to be a bit more... Revealing."
His mother nodded and suddenly had a panicked look. "He hasn't called you yet has he?"
He shook his head. "I haven't been called for anything but my punishment." Yugi decided to leave out the part that he would probably be the one the pharaoh asked for next. "Mom, what happened to princess?" Fear showed in Yugi's eyes as he silently prayed that his friend was alright.
"It's ok Yugi, she's in the basement. She's chained up but they're keeping her alive." Yugi gave a sigh of relief.
"Listen Yugi, I must go. I need to cook and you are not supposed to be in the kitchen." Yugi stared up at his mother and thought of how he'd need to separate from her. Suddenly the images from when Atemu punished him came back and he shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "No, I can't mom I can't!"
As the queen began to cry she pulled her son into a tight hug that he returned. The two sat there quietly, even after their tears dried up. They knew they should separate but couldn't. It was only a matter of time before something bad happened.
"As I recall," came a sudden voice that made the pair jump, "my harem slaves are not allowed in the kitchens."
The queen stared down at the ground while Yugi glared in defiance at the pharaoh. He saw the king's eyes look at his body again. Suddenly he turned to the queen. "Go. You have work to do." She quickly rushed off, stopping only the cast one last concerned look back at her son.
"What do you want?" Yugi growled out in annoyance at him sending away his mother. Atemu gave him a fierce glare.
"I am the pharaoh and this is my palace so I may go wherever I want! Go get me a tray." He said as he crossed his arms and glared at Yugi still. Yugi put his middle finger up at the pharaoh who just smirked at it. "Oh trust me I will. In fact..." Atemu grabbed Yugi's waist and forced the boy's body flush against his. "Maybe I'll do it to you right here!" The twisted smirk on Atem's face scared Yugi but he didn't let it show on his own face.
"You wouldn't dare!" Yugi said as his eyes narrowed dangerously. He tried to get out of Atemu's grip but the pharaoh was holding him tightly.
"You're right" Atemu suddenly said as he let go of him "I won't do it to you here. But after dinner come to my room." Yugi paled slightly at the thought of what Atem meant.
"Wh-why!" Yugi demanded, mad at himself for his shaking voice. Atemu smirked at him, his eyes showing amusement.
"Isn't it obvious little one? So that you can do your job. So that you can pleasure me." Atemu said, walking away to get a tray so he could bring his dinner up to his room.
Yugi reached out and grabbed a wall before his legs gave out. He felt so dizzy and nauseous like he was about to throw up. He didn't notice as Atem came back and grabbed his food. He didn't notice when Jou and Ryou started to ask if he was alright, steadily getting more and more worried. He didn't notice as his mother came over to him asking him to say something. All he noticed was the one line that kept repeating in his head.
"So that you can pleasure me. So that you can pleasure me. So that you can pleasure me. So that you can pleasure me." So Yugi did the only thing that came to mind. He screamed.
AN: A soldiers love will be updated once my writers block goes away. I honestly have no idea when that will happen but as soon as I done with the chapter I will post it.