Me trying to write this chapter: KANFEHWGIVNWEKBENV;JDVNJVNRKVNKV WHAT ARE WORDS

Actually that's me trying to write anything.

SO HEY GUYS. Yup, this is chapter six. Needed a LONG break after that all-nighter apparently. Ugh. But I came through!

You know the drill, boyxboy, don't like don't read, rated m for mature, yadayadayada

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Hope you enjoy, here ya go.

Chapter 6:

~…***…***…~

…Aibou…

...Aibou…

…AIBOU!

Atem woke, startled by the realistic voice calling him. It was the same dream again, where the boy servant fell from the sky into his body. The voice had gotten louder than before and was almost screaming in his head. It was harsh, as if it was in pain. Just like the boy's voice from the night's event.

The Pharaoh was covered in cold sweat, and he went to the window to calm himself. This isn't just a dream anymore he thought to himself. It has to mean something. But what could I have in connection with that slave boy? He's nothing; a peasant! And I am the almighty king who crushes him beneath my feet.

…but…

Maybe there really is something to this dream, this…premonition, perhaps? The Pharaoh nodded to himself. Yes, I will see Seth today and demand his wisdom on the subject.

Unable to go back to sleep, Atem stayed by the window until the sun rose. It was the first time in a long time he had seen the god of Ra's first brilliant light. It gave him a strange feeling…that something was about to change.

He dismissed the thought and rang the gong for the slave boy to enter his chambers. Nearly a minute passed before he heard the door creak open, and he turned to see the boy: Yugi's face was dark and he dragged himself along as he came closer into the room. He had no spirit and he simply looked heavy, like a sack of flesh without a soul; a corpse. His eyes were colorless and never left the floor as he shuffled over to the wardrobe to retrieve the Pharaoh's clothes. His hands shook as he dressed him, and it was obvious he was still in great pain from the previous night. The king looked down on the boy, his thoughts clouded with the dream, and felt a twinge of pity for him.

Unconsciously, he shook his head. What the hell…a Pharaoh feeling sorrow for a slave? It's unheard of! He deserved his punishment…he deserved it…

Yugi was startled by Atem's sudden movement, and he flinched, dropping low to the ground in response. When he realized he was not going to be attacked, he cautiously returned to his work, placing the final pieces of jewelry on Atem's body before stepping back, farther than usual, and kneeling.

Atem checked himself in his mirror before turning to the boy whose entire head was facing the ground.

"I am going to meet personally with my head sorcerer today. I will not require your presence during this meeting. Instead, you are going to spend the day in the kitchen helping the other servants to prepare my meals," he ordered. "Understand?"

Yugi slowly bowed his head even further until it nearly touched the floor. As Atem left his chambers, Yugi followed solemnly. He brought the slave boy through the palace corridors until they reached the grand kitchen. It was full of stone ovens where the Pharaoh's meals were prepared. Meat and vegetables hung in netted bags from the ceiling, and the whole room smelled of spices. There were many slaves, male and female, waiting for his orders.

"I will not have breakfast this morning," he spoke to the cooks and servants. Then he motioned towards Yugi, who was at his side with his head falling forward. "This is my personal slave. He will be joining you for the day to learn to cook since I have no need for him today. Teach him well and keep him out of trouble," he ordered.

All the servants bowed their heads. "Yes, my king," they said in unison.

The Pharaoh left the kitchen with a hesitant glance back at his slave before disappearing into the hallway. Yugi didn't even seem to notice that he had left. A boy about his age than him with white, spiky hair came up to him first, and took his hand in his.

"Do you have a name?" he asked in a calming voice.

Yugi was silent.

The boy kneeled down to meet his face and Yugi gazed up at him with empty eyes.

"My name is Ryo. You don't have to tell me your name if you don't want to."

Yugi hesitated before muttering, "Y-Y-Yugi…"

Ryo smiled and took him by the hand as he led him through the kitchen. The other servants went about their work, preparing for the Pharaoh's lunch. They didn't take much notice of Yugi; some gave concerned glances and others gave menacing glares. Yugi didn't notice though, since his eyes were glued to the floor.

Ryo noticed this and spoke up. "I'll teach you all you need to know, Yugi. If you have any questions, just ask. Ok?" he smiled warmly and it made Yugi feel a little better. The younger boy nodded.

"Ok, then. First of all, everyone who works in the kitchen has to wash their hands. We can't go getting the Pharaoh sick, now can we?" he motioned to a nearby fountain.

Yugi went over to it and kneeled down, dipping his hands into the cool water. It felt good on his skin. So cold and refreshing compared to the constant heat that flowed through the corridors of the palace. He noticed his own reflection in on the surface and for a moment couldn't help but stare. He was frightened of the expression he was making. But his whole body was still in terrible pain. He couldn't help it. His mind was so conflicted…how much longer could he survive in the service of the Pharaoh? But as long as he stayed, he had a chance to protect his friends if they ever got in trouble. He was willing to for them…

Even still, Yugi missed his only possession, his treasure. That tiny gold piece he had to leave in the slave quarters in the fields below was the only thing he had of his own. It gave him strength to be near it. But now that it was gone, he wasn't even having those dreams anymore. They stopped the first night he slept in the palace. Maybe the dreams meant nothing…maybe they weren't even related to the piece. The knowledge that he would never see it again nearly brought tears to his eyes. But he knew that even without his treasure…

He had to be strong.

"You ok, Yugi?"

Ryo's voice shook him from his stupor and he quickly finished rubbing his hands in the cold water. He turned to the white haired boy and smiled. "Yeah…thanks."

Ryo gestured for him to come up to a stone slab counter where a basket of vegetables lay. He explained how to cut the food and where to put it for the cooks to roast in the ovens. He gave a demonstration on a tomato, then handed Yugi his knife to let him try it. But his hands were still shaky and he accidentally cut his finger, yelping and bringing it to his lips to try to suck away the pain.

"Oh dear, I'll get a bandage," Ryo reassured him as he ran off to a corner of the kitchen, returning with a medicinal cloth. He wrapped it around Yugi's finger, just tight enough to keep it from slipping.

"Better?" he asked. Yugi felt such a comforting vibe from this boy. It made him glad to know that someone else was trying their best to be positive in their situation. "Yes…thank you."

The other boy looked at him with pity. "Something really awful happened to you…didn't it?" he asked. Yugi's face went pale and his head drooped. "I see." He came over and hugged the smaller boy, who was surprised by the warm contact that he hadn't felt in a long time. Yugi shuddered in Ryo's arms and the boy held him tighter. "It's ok, Yugi. Everything is going to be ok. I'm sure you've been through a lot, but you have to be strong. You can't lose hope, no matter what happens…even in the darkest times…even when you feel so alone…when you're in such pain you want to die…I know. I've been there before. But you have to hold on to the precious life you have, ok?"

Yugi held back tears as he pulled away from the white-haired boy. He smiled and received a similar smile from Ryo.

"Well then, enough sad talk. Let's finish this up," he suggested cheerfully.

Ryo washed the knife and threw away the tomato since Yugi's blood had gotten on it, then helped Yugi to finish cutting the rest of the vegetables. They threw them in a basket and helped the other cooks heat them in the oven. Ryo sneaked a piece of the roasted vegetables to Yugi, who accepted it gratefully. The wonderful smell filled the kitchen, and it reminded Yugi of his home so long ago.

~…***…***…~

Atem's cape fluttered behind him as he made his way to the grand temple of the priests. It was a building adjacent to the palace but separated by a walkway; statues of the gods were placed around it, standing as protectors. As he entered the temple, he saw many priests and sorcerers wandering about with scrolls and bowls full of strange things the Pharaoh didn't particularly want to know about. When they saw him enter, they all dropped to their knees and welcomed him with "Good day, my Pharaoh."

"Where is Seth?" he demanded. A young sorcerer stood and gestured toward a corridor. "He's in his study, my king."

Atem followed the corridor until he came to a large wooden door with many strange markings on it. He pushed it open to see Seth sitting at a desk with piles upon piles of scrolls and such scattered around him. He had his nose shoved in a scroll and was muttering something angrily when he looked up to see the Pharaoh standing at his door. He quickly bowed.

"My Pharaoh, what brings you here? Does something trouble you?"

"Something does." The king closed the door behind him. "I want your wisdom on a very tentative subject; I don't want anyone else knowing about this. Do you understand?"

"Of course, my Pharaoh. I will do whatever I can to help you."

The Pharaoh trusted Seth more than anyone else in his kingdom. Seth was a member of the high ranking noble classes, and thus had a more intimate relationship with Atem than any others. He never disobeyed and was always fruitful in his findings. They knew each other for a long time even before Atem had taken the throne as Pharaoh, so Seth had a little more leeway with him. They were almost…friends.

Atem took a moment to gather his thoughts before he spoke. "I have been having a strange dream lately. I begins like I am sleeping, but soon I hear someone screaming from far away. The voice gets closer and closer until I open my eyes. That's when I saw…" he paused, unsure how to continue. "…the slave boy…falling from the sky."

Seth's eyes widened.

"He falls directly into my body, as if the both of us were spirits. Then everything goes white and I can hear a voice saying something I don't understand…aibou…"

Seth was writing furiously on a scroll, making sure to include every detail of the king's dream. "Are you sure it was the slave boy, my Pharaoh?"

Atem hissed. "Of course it was! I saw it with my own eyes; in fact, that's why I chose that boy out of all the others."

"Then…you had this dream before you knew of his existence?" Seth asked.

"Yes…many nights in a row before."

"I see…"

"What does it mean, Seth? I must know. You must tell me."

Seth pondered the information for a few minutes. Then he suddenly remembered.

"My Pharaoh, if you will, come with me. I believe we have something here that might help to decode your dream."

Atem agreed and followed the taller man out of his study and through several passageways until they came to an open area that let the sun's rays come down on the stone. There was a beautiful pattern carved into the stone beneath their feet, displaying the three gods; Obelisk, Osiris, and Ra. Seth kneeled before the carving and began muttering a magic chant that, when he was finished, caused the three gods to separate, creating a secret door and stairs leading down into the ground. They Pharaoh was not surprised by existence of such a place, but it sent a chill through his body and they entered the sacred grounds.

Seth grabbed a torch on the wall of the secret chamber and lit it with his magic, carrying it to light the way once the door above them sealed itself shut and left them in darkness. The light from the flames flickered on the walls, making their shadows dance with an eerie motion. At the bottom of the stairs, there was an empty room, cold and dark. But the walls were covered in engravings, pictures and words of many things illuminated by the torch. Seth held the flame up to a particular section of the wall.

"Look here, my Pharaoh."

Atem came up to Seth to see the wall in the light and gasped. Carvings of the seven millennium items adorned the wall in a row, each with a body of hieroglyphics beneath it. Above them were strange pictures describing actions and events that seemed to be connected to the items.

"This place is known as the Room of Truth," Seth explained. "These inscriptions and carvings depict the true secrets of the seven millennium items; their powers and weaknesses. At least, that's what we believe. The writing is ancient, even to us. It has proved difficult to translate, but what we know from it is this-"

"I can read it."

"My Pharaoh?"

"I can read these words plain as day, Seth," Atem stated, staring at the wall to read by the faint light.

"The millennium puzzle is endowed with the power of spirit; it is a connector of souls. Where one soul is weak, another completes it. The millennium puzzle connects these people together. But just as it completes people, so must it be completed itself. The puzzle represents the human being: made of many pieces and often scattered. Should the holder complete it, they will unlock its true power…the power…of…"

The rest of the paragraph had faded away and was illegible.

The Pharaoh stood staring at the prophecy for several seconds before reaching down to touch the puzzle hanging from his neck. He held it up to his face to see the hole where the final piece was meant to go. It made him feel empty inside, like the puzzle was a reflection of himself.

"Do you really think this prophecy has something to do with that slave boy?" Atem questioned the sorcerer.

Seth bowed. "It is the only explanation I can offer for your recurring dreams, my Pharaoh."

Atem gazed back up at the wall. "But he's just a peasant! Nothing but a tool…how could someone like him be connected to someone like me-"

The Pharaoh's heart throbbed in his chest and he dropped to the ground clutching it. He groaned in pain as the feeling pulsed through his body. Opening one eye, he saw the puzzle glowing in his other hand.

"What…who…"

Aibou

The word was stated so perfectly clear in his head. But it wasn't Seth's voice nor his own. It was however familiar…someone he knew, but he didn't truly know…

Maybe there really is something about that boy… Atem pondered. Perhaps I shouldn't have treated him so harshly….no! What am I thinking? He stepped out of line…he deserved that! He…deserved…

The very thought of the slave boy's punishment caused Atem's chest to throb in pain. He felt the same throbbing from the puzzle. There was no doubt now. That boy was involved.

As the pain disappeared, he rose and faced Seth.

"I have made my decision. I will observe the boy for a few days and consider what use he may truly be to me. If he poses a threat, I will kill him."

Seth was quick to respond. "But Pharaoh, if he is the one from prophecy-"

Atem glared at Seth, who cowered before the king's presence. "Do you want to defy me?"

Seth became quiet. There was no talk between them as they made their way out of the Room of Truth, back to the surface. "There will be no mentioning of what just occurred," Atem ordered, and Seth bowed before leaving to return to his work.

~…***…***…~

As Atem graced the halls of his palace, thoughts from his encounter with Seth raced across his mind. How could a slave boy be connected to a Pharaoh through something as ancient as the millennium puzzle? It didn't make sense. Besides, he didn't have the missing piece as far as he knew. But Atem couldn't ignore the dreams. There was no doubt that the slave boy was the same one from his dreams. But why this boy? Unable to find an answer, he made his way to the dining hall where his lunch buffet awaited him, along with the boy standing behind his chair. He seemed better than he was before he left him with his kitchen staff; he wasn't shaking anymore and his color had returned to his face. It was the first time he was actually intentionally checking on the condition of a slave. He felt something like relief when he saw the boy was feeling better. Relief? He thought. For what? Heh, don't fool yourself, Atem. You couldn't be feeling something for that boy now could you? For that slave?! Ridiculous.

Or…is it?

~…***…***…~

Yugi noticed Atem enter the dining hall. At first, the sight of him frightened Yugi. But he remembered Ryo's and his own words and quickly came around to pull out his chair for him. Atem sat and began to eat. However it wasn't long before he asked: "Which dish did you help prepare, boy?"

Tentatively, Yugi stated from behind his chair: "T-the vegetables, my king."

Atem reached for the plate of roasted greens and veggies, taking a large bite. Yugi braced himself, frightened it would not please him. His whole body shuddered at the thought of the punishment he would receive if it did not suit his standards.

"It's good. Well done, boy."

Yugi stood dumbfounded, blinking a few times before realizing he should respond. "T-Thank you, my king!"

Atem never gave compliments to his slaves. Yugi was the first to receive such things. This boy was causing him to make all kinds of changes to his routine. But wasn't that the reason he chose the boy in the first place? For a change of pace? The boy's voice was the happiest he had ever heard it and it made something pulse in the Pharaoh's body.

"Give him extra today."

Atem motioned for one of the cooks waiting by the table to bring Yugi food. The man hurried to the kitchen and returned with a plate of bread, fresh from the oven, an apple, and a glass of freshly squeezed juice. Yugi eyes brightened when he saw the food and he ate it gratefully. He had never been fed during lunch since he came to the palace. It felt wonderful to have a full belly. He smiled softly at the warm feeling in his stomach. Atem noticed this and smirked.

"Don't get used to it, boy," he warned.

The next few days would determine whether or not the boy would live. Maybe the boy was never meant to be a slave. But then…what fate had brought him there? He wanted to know more about the boy.

In those thoughts, the Pharaoh unconsciously spoke to him. "What is your name, boy?"

Yugi swallowed the bread in his mouth before hesitantly answering. "It's…Yugi, my…king."

Unsure how to process the knowledge, Atem continued his lunch without another word. He didn't know any of the other slaves names, but they didn't matter to him. His personal servant, the one who supposedly was connected to him through the millennium puzzle: well, he would have to know his name eventually. That boy could turn his entire life upside down…

The next few days would be interesting, indeed.

~…***…***…~

END CHAPTER 6

THANK FUCKING GOD I GOT THAT DONE

I stayed up til 1 this morning. Tried not to make it seemed rushed though. Gah.

No quirky comments here this time…might add later…right now I need sleep…ugh…gnight.

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