Adult-FanFiction.org : Yu-Gi-OH

Mistaken Assumptions	By : tavia454 Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 17844 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh, I make no money off this story! Bummer!

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Okay, well I think between me
and Renaiya88027 we've been able to pull this chap back together
after losing my computer and parts of my file. Hopefully I can get
the next one up quicker, along with review replies which I've been
kind of remiss about lately.

So, thank you for
reading...enjoy!

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“Remember
young ones – you are to keep your eyes down and your ears
open.” Mahaado somberly advised the two younger teens walking
beside him one last time as the royal entourage made their way toward
the throne room for the morning court. “It wouldn't do to draw
any more attention to yourselves than absolutely necessary. Those
that consider themselves nobility can be just as heinous as the
criminal element.”

“Mahaado
–” Atemu warned, rubbing at his head wearily as he felt
the tension once again settle in above his brow. Oh gods, this was
neither the time nor the place. The young king muttered a brief plea
to the gods to hold off the coming pain until after his court
appearance.

Yugi arched a brow at both his
captor and Mahaado's rigid, solemn behavior before realizing that it
was mostly a performance for the benefit of the public. He stole a
glance around the deserted corridor, giving a small pout. Here he
was, full of energy, and everyone else was acting like marionettes on
a string. Again he snuck another quick look around as he tried his
hardest to resist the childish urge that had set upon him from the
instant of his instructor's latest prodding.

And once again he rethought the
situation. Perhaps he could get them to lighten up a bit, laugh a
little even before the day's tedium descended on them.

Laughter was something he so
very rarely heard from the serious Egyptian monarch. And yet it was
the one thing he most wanted to listen to. He wanted to hear those
husky baritone chuckles that sent shivers down his spine, to see the
other's exotic sun-kissed features soften into the seldom seen smile
that always warmed him to his toes. One last glance did it, assuring
himself that no one other than the guards could hear them Yugi
couldn't keep his comments to himself any longer.

“– yes
mother, I understand.” He intoned with a roll of his eyes as he
took a graceful sidestep to avoid his instructor's long reach, nearly
running into Mana in his haste. Yugi flashed an apologetic smile at
the young female apprentice, gaining one from her in return before
glancing back at his instructor to recite his duties with an air of
playfulness as the group continued on through the corridor. “We're
not to look anyone in the eyes and we need to keep our heads bowed
respectfully when in the presence of nobility.”

The young royal bit back a
laugh as the man who had managed to become one of his closest
confidants shortly after their arrival on Egyptian soil did a double
take at his off-hand comment, his normally gentle features slack with
astonishment, Mana giggling quietly beside him.

Granted, he usually wasn't this
boisterous around even the smallest group of people but Mahaado knew
from experience that he could joke and poke fun with the best of
them, he shouldn't have been that surprised.

“What's
the matter?” he queried mischievously, his brow raised in an
impersonation of Atemu's haughtiest expression. “One of
Bastet's children got your tongue?”

The Pharaoh himself let out a
short, strained bark of laughter at the younger monarch's irreverent
monologue, causing the guards, as well as Mahaado, to turn towards
him in astonishment before averting their eyes, confused. Never
before had any of them heard their sovereign so much as utter a sound
on the way to the throne room, other than to bark out an order. The
Egyptian monarch was usually all business before his court
appointments.

“Enough, little one, your
point has been made.” Atemu chuckled. “We shall continue
this discussion once our obligations have been met for the day.”

Yugi nodded happily, grinning
ear to ear, satisfied that he had gotten the response he was looking
for from the two Egyptians.

While Mahaado finally cracked
the smile that the younger monarch had worked so hard for Atemu
glanced discreetly over at his captive, taking in the flushed face,
amethyst eyes shining with amusement and mischief, only to swallow
hard and look away when their eyes met, unable to hold the contact
with those glowing orbs.

This
is not right, Atemu
berated himself mentally. None
of this.
And it is my
doing.

Three days he'd had to mull
over the information Marik's younger lover had imparted, going back
to the blonde with whatever else in Yugi's past started to plague
him. And three days that the Egyptian monarch had made no further
progress in determining who his true enemy was, or if and when they
were going to strike again.

But now, having been given
enough insight into how the young Hyksos ruler may have become
involved in it, Atemu felt even more like the demon that so many had
accused him of being. His eyes slid once again in his captive's
direction, scarlet gaze troubled and yet still holding a somewhat
contented gleam as he recalled their time together since the night he
had watched the boy's erotic dance on the balcony.

They had made love three times
in as many days and still Atemu could not seem to get enough of the
silky-soft feeling of the boy's moonlight pale skin, of the way his
eyes darkened to a deep plum when caught up in the heat of their
desire, of the breathy mewling sounds that he made in his need –
particularly since Yugi had now become brave enough to put to use
some of the techniques he had been taught; Atemu had scarcely known
such pleasure was possible. So needy, so beautiful.

Sneaky
little one,
Atemu smirked sardonically. The boy would wait until he thought him
to be asleep to whisper his love silently before bedding down beside
him at night – unlike the others he had bedded, who were always
adamant in their loud declarations of love, demanding that he answer
back with the same commitment.

So different was this young
Hyksos royal from his other conquests that Atemu frequently found
himself seeking out the other's company for more than just simple,
physical pleasure – for reasons that remained well beyond him –
the two of them often lying side by side, limbs intertwined as they
debated various topics from the punishment of a guilty criminal to
something as mundane as how best to prepare a simple meal.

It was the first time in his
life that he had ever sought out someone's company after they had
bedded down together. And as much as Atemu would have liked to deny
it he didn't see this odd phase ending any time soon. He found
himself quite looking forward to hearing those quietly whispered
words at the end of his day even if the thoughts behind them made him
uneasy.

But
the longer they were together in such an intimate fashion the clearer
it became that he could not – he would
not
– keep his little one in this gilded cage. The boy deserved his
freedom. He deserved the right to choose his own path. And therein
lay the problem. He didn't want to let the little one go. Atemu
gritted his teeth as another wave of indecision washed over him,
chancing one more discreet glance over at his captive.

Immediately sensing his
sovereign's agitated state, Mahaado glanced from his newest charge to
Atemu and then back once again, catching the pair sneaking longing
glances at each other, only to look away guiltily when caught. He
raised an eyebrow out of pure confusion, sensing the drastic change
that had occurred over the past few days but not knowing quite what
had caused it.

He had never seen the young
Hyksos royal quite so playful, nor his own sovereign so tense, so
quietly moody. But before he could reflect fully on what might have
happened between the two of them the entourage reached the throne
room's massive double doors, and the dark-eyed priest realized with a
sinking heart that he would have no further time to ponder those
changes. He would have to wait until his friend confided in him to
find out the truth – if Atemu ever did, that was.

The retinue paused before the
grand entrance long enough for the younger members to gather their
nerves, and for Atemu's royal presence to be announced, before
descending upon the room in full military fashion. At the center of
the room the group parted ways, a still confused Mahaado joining the
ranks of priests lined up and kneeling before the dais while Atemu
ascended the steps to the throne itself. Yugi and Mana quietly making
their way over to a corner of room to kneel beside the trio of
scribes.

The Pharaoh seated himself
gracefully, watching as the two apprentices took up their positions,
heads respectfully bowed. Shortly afterward Atemu glanced around the
room, his eyes lingering on the guards and slaves that worked the
courts and ran errands for himself and his priests, assessing their
readiness. Finally his weary gaze landed on the scribes and once they
gave the signal he motioned for his priests to begin.

“You
may rise.” Atemu commanded regally.

“May
the gods help to see us through this day, to ensure their vision of
Ma'at is fulfilled.” Shadi proclaimed as he rose.

“Where
is Akunadin?” Atemu questioned after the junior priest finished
giving the day's blessings.

“I
fear he is still feeling a bit under the weather, Your Highness. He
gives his apologies that he is unable to attend.” Isis answered
softly.

“Ah.”
Atemu sighed heavily, he knew what was bothering his high priest and
he doubted very seriously that he would see the old man until Seto
returned. Pushing the thought from his heavily overloaded mind he
asked, “Very well, what is the agenda for our early session?”

This time it was his priest
Karim who answered his query. “We have two thieves from the
royal city held over for trial, the accused murderer from the
outlying village of Kru Elna is in the barracks awaiting his
sentencing, a contingent from Nubia has arrived during the early
hours seeking to discuss an alliance of our countries for commerce,
and three of the high council's members have arrived as well. They
have requested an audience with you before break.”

“Is
that all?” Atemu questioned dryly, his hand coming up to rub
uncomfortably at his temple.

Could there possibly be
anything more to do today? With this schedule they would be lucky to
have the chance to break for a mid-day meal. It wasn't so much the
coming trials as the unexpected caravan, some of which had been known
to bargain and haggle for hours on end.

He
could already feel the headache that had threatened earlier in the
morning coming back for a second round. He would be lucky if he
made it through the day without mishap, let alone two fledgling
apprentices who had never experienced a day in public court. This was
not what he was wanting for Yugi's – and Mana's – first
day. In fact it was the exact opposite. Atemu sighed mentally,
squaring his shoulders and lifting his head so as to hide his ailment
from his priests. So much for hoping.

“That
is...oh and Commander Dartz requests the chance to view our court
system first hand. And that is all.” Karim gave a slight bow
before stepping back into line with the other priests.

“Thank
you Karim. Very well, then.” Atemu nodded in a regal, if
somewhat stiff manner, giving serious thought to having Mahaado
prepare a potion for him before they began their day. In the end he
rejected the notion, knowing that he needed his wits about him in
order to deal with the Nubian caravan as well as the councilors
arrival. He could not afford for their impression of him to be
tarnished by an unclear head and unintelligible words.

His voice rang out smoothly
however, giving away no indication of his inner turmoil as he gave
his priests their orders. “Shadi, have the guards retrieve the
accused thieves as well as the witnesses to their crimes, we shall
hear from them first. Isis, inform the Nubian caravan that I shall
grant them an interview after the determination of those trials. As
for the Kru Elna sentencing we shall wait until all other cases are
dealt with before we render our verdict.”

Directing his attention towards
his newest priest, Atemu nodded his approval. “And Karim, let
the council members know that they are welcome to attend our
proceedings – as well as Commander Dartz, if he so wishes. I
shall speak with them upon the conclusion of our morning. Let us
begin, for it is going to be a lengthy day as it is and we still have
the gathering of the nobles to attend to before Re's journey ends.”

The Pharaoh clapped his hands
twice, wincing inwardly at the echo, and the priests disbanded with
their orders. Yugi glanced over at Mana to see how she was taking the
announcement that their day would be overly lengthy. He had yet to
see her sit still for any extended period of time and couldn't help
but worry over how well she would hold up during such a drawn-out
period of inactivity.

“Do
not worry, little one, Mana. If you think yourself unable to make it
through the proceedings then give your signal to draw my attention. I
shall call for a short break no matter what the time.” Atemu
advised.

It was a plan they had
discussed many times over the course of the past three days, each of
them well versed in the hand signals used amongst the court workers,
but Atemu vowed that he would keep an eye on them throughout the
proceedings, just in case one or the other of them felt the need to
push themselves beyond their endurance. Just because he felt the need
to overextend himself didn't mean that they had to. Especially since
he wasn't risking the wrath of the nobles if he were to step out of
line.

“I'll
be fine, Your Highness.” Mana replied in an
uncharacteristically quiet voice. “Thank you though.”

Yugi nodded his head to confirm
that he too understood, glancing over at his friend to catch her
staring back at him with a determined glint to her hazel eyes. He
realized this was her chance to prove that she was worthy of Mahaado
and the Pharaoh's trust, and he wanted to wish her luck, to say that
he believed in her.

But before they had a chance to
further their discussion people began to file quietly into the room.
Those under the rank of noble prostrated themselves fully before
Atemu, the rest bowing gracefully until he waved them away with a
majestic flick of his hand.

“Please
be seated and we shall begin our first trial.” Shadi called out
as the witnesses for the coming trials and what few spectators were
allowed made their way towards the decorated benches that graced the
walls around the throne room.

Shortly after Shadi's
announcement a young man in chains was dragged roughly into the
center of the room by two guards and made to kneel before the
Pharaoh's feet. Yugi watched with interest as his trial began with
the listing of his crimes. The young Hyksos ruler assessed the man
from underneath the canopy of his bangs and guessed him to be a
rather successful thief, if he actually was a thief, for the man had
the look of a well-fed cat, seeming to have a rather defiant aura
surrounding his sullen form.

Definitely
not a man who was stealing to feed himself or a family,
the young Hyksos thought to himself, wrinkling his nose in distaste
as the man before the court passionately denied his crimes. As the
facts began to roll in Yugi started to lose interest in this case
that reeked of avarice, his gaze wandering idly around the courtroom,
lingering on any person, or persons, of curiosity.

It was fascinating to him to
note that the small group seated around the hall was as varied in
race and status as they were in demeanor, each exhibiting differing
expressions ranging from that of smug satisfaction to solemn pity as
they watched the proceedings and briefly he wondered at some of their
thoughts as to the man's innocence or guilt.

And then the young Hyksos
froze, sucking in a breath as his gaze landed on a familiar face in
the crowd, his heart racing with the sudden urge to flee. His face
grew pale as he stared unblinkingly at the man he had thought dead so
many weeks ago. He blinked and glanced at him again, hoping to find a
flaw in his theory. How was it possible that that man – of all
people – still lived?!

Abruptly the object of his
sharp stare looked up, as if he felt the intensity of the eyes upon
him and Yugi ducked his head quickly, praying to any god available
that the man was unable to recognize him with his hair free of the
intricate braiding he'd worn for so long. No good would come of his
being recognized, that was for sure.

Knowing there was no place to
hide Yugi kept his eyes glued to the floor, clasping his hands
against each other, the strength of his grip leaving half-moon
indentations in his palms, as he waited for the alarm to be raised.

Dartz glanced up when he felt
the pressure of eyes boring into the top of his skull. He peered
around the courtroom, searching for the source of the bold gaze, only
to stop when he happened across a young boy kneeling by the side of
the scribes with his head down, guessing him to be either an
apprentice, a relative, or the Pharaoh's latest play-toy. The last
thought forming a smirk on his sharp features.

He studied the child intently
for a moment, thinking to have seen him somewhere before, but when
the origin of that thought refused to make itself known he shrugged
and glanced over at the accused thief, who was currently being
sentenced to the loss of his hand, with a perverse smirk. He let out
a muffled chuckle when the guilty man began to struggle violently
against his guards with every intention of keeping the appendage.

While all other attention was
centered on the guilty man's sentencing Yugi exhaled though his nose,
breathing a sigh of relief when no voice was raised in objection to
his presence. He waited for another nerve-wracking moment before
glancing quickly back at the man who had caught his attention before
to note that his attention was also taken up by the commotion in the
center of the room. He took that time to study his profile further.

It was him alright, his
father's favorite commander, his right hand
man...Darth...Drake...something, he couldn't recall the name. But he
knew the face. Gods help him he knew the face. The man sitting on the
second bench from the entrance was just as ruthless as his father,
and perhaps even more cunning, more cruel. This he understood from
the few times that his father had allowed him into the throne room to
watch the punishment of those unfortunate enough to be brought before
him.

His brow furrowed as he wracked
his brain for a reason why the man would be alive and here in Egypt
when most of those who had been fighting the Persians alongside his
father had perished. He had to find out what the man was here for. It
couldn't be anything for the benefit of the Pharaoh, that was for
certain

During
his musings the Hyksos ruler's gaze fell upon the man who had been
tried and found guilty of the thefts he had been accused of, and try
as he might he could not look away while the soldiers prepared him
for his punishment. Yugi flinched mightily as the ax came down,
severing the convicted man's hand from his arm with a solid thud,
strands of compassion pulling at his heart.

He knew the man was guilty
beyond a doubt, but that didn't stop his eyes from tearing up as the
injured miscreant was dragged, screaming in agony, from the hall. He
couldn't imagine the pain...

“Bring
in the accused.” The Pharaoh's voice rang out authoritatively,
snapping Yugi from his thoughts and the Hyksos ruler shivered in
anticipation of the next verdict, all previous thoughts fleeing his
traumatized mind.

This time the young royal's
sole focus was on the proceedings, having felt a tugging of sympathy
for the starving, nearly skeletal waif of a man that was brought
before the priests from the instant he caught sight of him. The man
sobbed openly as he pleaded for their mercy and Yugi could not help
but sneak a distressed glance up at the Pharaoh to see what decision
he had made concerning the man's guilt or lack-thereof.

His gaze shot quickly back down
at the floor when he found those piercing scarlet eyes trained on his
as if already expecting his disobedience.

Once again, though, the guards
were not alerted and Yugi was not dragged from his place beside the
throne to face a trial of his own. And for this he was more than
grateful, keeping his face to the ground for the rest of the time
while he listened to the not so subtle nuances of the Nubian emissary
as they pleaded their case before the Pharaoh and his priests, the
previous case having been quickly and unanimously decided and the
accused sent away into servitude at the hands of a family of outlying
farmers – where the man would learn the value of an honest
living.

Twice throughout the caravan's
long and not so humble request Yugi was certain that the Pharaoh
would just simply send them on their way without so much as a by your
leave, for their lack of manners was simply atrocious. But the
Egyptian monarch surprised him by skillfully maneuvering his way
through the group's harsh dialogue and rudely combative conversations
amongst themselves, all the while stating unwaveringly what terms
needed to be met in order for them to form an alliance.

The hours slowly ticked by as
the young Hyksos royal tried to make sense of the barrage of foreign
demands and the endless bickering amongst the clan of traders. He
could tell that the Pharaoh was beginning to tire of their ways
though, the other's words becoming short, his tone harsh, his entire
frame rigid as he listened to the constant quarreling.

After a while Yugi began to
feel kind of sorry for the Egyptian monarch, for every so often he
would see the other's hand reach for his head and guessed that the
caravan was stressing the his nerves to the breaking point.

Finally, after what seemed like
forever the caravan, as well as the rest of the witnesses in the
court, withdrew from the room and the Pharaoh was descending the
steps with the intention of greeting the high council members that
had arrived late the evening before. He glanced up curiously, making
sure to keep his subtle movements well hidden behind a curtain of
hair, to watch his captor's majestic movements, wishing with all his
might that he could tell the Pharaoh how he felt while the other was
awake. Yugi sighed forlornly. Why was he such a coward?!

“Greetings
Your Highness.” One of the three robed figures held out a hand
to the Pharaoh.

Atemu clasped the offered hand
warmly into his own, flinching inwardly as a stab of pain shot
through his skull. His voice, however, remained strong and unaffected
by the lance of agony. “Khallid, it is a pleasure to see you
again. How fares your family?”

“They
are well.” The man answered, drawing back the hood and
presenting a broad, white smile on a wrinkled face darker than pitch.
“You have spoken well with our ambassadors despite their
rudeness; I shall leave word with Queen Akhila.”

Atemu nodded stiffly, taking an
even breath. “I do not think they intended to come off that
way. Do not trouble yourself on my account. I have dealt with
worse...And Akhila? Is she well?”

“Our
queen is blessed with full health and soon to be giving birth to her
first child.” The old man's grin seemed to widen even further.
“And it is
of
concern to her that our people behave themselves as befitting our
culture. You should not have to deal with their crassness...Ah, but
enough of that, I have not introduced my companions. Pharaoh Atemu,
this is Rishid Ghardiah.”

The man introduced held out a
welcoming hand. “It is a pleasure, my Lord Pharaoh.”

“Like
wise.” Atemu replied, clasping the outstretched hand.

“Rishid
is our newest addition. He comes from the Kissi tribe, having given
up his throne to his eldest son, the honorable King Saah. Most of the
others shall arrive tomorrow. However the Supreme Councilor begs your
forgiveness that he is running some three days behind. He and his
brothers needed to make a stop off to see to the welfare of their
family once they collected our foreign guests.”

“I
hope everything is well.” Atemu responded sincerely with a
glance toward the third hooded person in their group. “Guests?
Then I take it the king of the Orient has decided to accept the
council's offer?”

“From
what I've heard told, yes. As well he has some family business to
attend to somewhere around this area.” The old man nodded,
noting the other's gaze. “Ah, forgive me, Atemu, I forgot to
make known my other guest. Pharaoh, I believe you know Princess
Katara of Hati.”

Atemu drew in a startled
breath, his features still as stone, as the lady before him drew her
hood back with a deep throated laugh, the sheer volume of her voice
grating on his last nerve. “Atemu, darling, it is good to see
you again.”

Atemu's narrowed glance shot
back to his friend before taking a good long look at the one person
whom he had always made a conscious effort to steer clear of,
thoroughly bemused by her unchanged appearance. Sun-kissed skin,
slender, willowy figure and deep, soulful mahogany eyes, Princess
Katara still looked the same as when he first met her, that night so
many harvests ago.

It seemed, to him, as though it
was a lifetime ago when he had first seen the princess. Inwardly he
cringed at the memory. Back then he had been naught but a simple
child, blinded by her arrogant beauty and coerced into her well-used
bed with only a sultry promise. But as he found rather quickly her
beauty hid a heart of blackness and deceit beneath its stunning
depths, one that nearly crushed him in her betrayal.

And in the time since their
last meeting he had found that her selfish traits were in no way
unique among the many others who claimed the title of nobility –
much to his dismay. No more would he be blinded by her selfish
haughtiness, nor that of others. A discreet glance back towards his
captive told him he had since then beheld true beauty and that it did
not need to lie to keep itself from shame.

With a glare Atemu turned on
his heel, stalking away from the group to about face and stalk back,
wishing mightily for a goblet of Mahaado's potion to ease his
throbbing head. “Katara...why are you here?” He hissed,
the pounding in his head rising to deafening levels.

“Simple.
My brother is on trial...as well as yourself. I have every right to
be here. Even you cannot deny me that much.” She replied
condescendingly, an elegant eyebrow lifted in reproach.

Atemu groaned silently. He
wanted nothing more than to strangle the woman where she stood. She
had no cause to visit his palace. A kaleidescope of brilliant colors
slashed through his vision and he swayed where he stood, realizing
that he would need to find a quiet place shortly. With that notion in
mind he found himself thinking to give in to her demands, if only to
remove himself from her presence all the sooner. He needed the
darkness of a secluded chamber – preferably with his little
one's company – and soon.

But he would leave a warning
before he retreated.

Gritting his teeth against the
pain Atemu hissed. “Very well then, but I shall hear none of
your lies for the duration of your stay. If one word of your deceit
is uttered within these walls you shall find yourself waiting
anxiously for word of your brother's fate from the comfort of your
own palace. I do not hold with liars and harlots. You would do well
to distance yourself from me while you are here.”

“Really
Atemu...and here I thought you had gotten over our little
misunderstanding.” She tsked, the tip of her nose rising into
the air as she looked down on him.

Stupid wench! Of all times to
test him! Atemu snatched a hold of her arm in a brutal grip, his eyes
aflame, his deep voice nothing but a velvet purr. “It was
neither little, nor a misunderstanding between us, Katara. Your false
proclamations have had consequences beyond what you well imagined.
But understand this now you scheming whore...your bastard shall never
lay claim to my throne and neither shall you!”

“I
would never –!” She shook her head, giving an affronted
glance, a hint of worry hidden deep within her almond-shaped eyes.

Atemu ground his teeth hard
enough to hear them creak and continued, cutting her off in his
determination to have his say. “– My people have seen
through your selfish machinations and shall no longer give credence
to any word you speak. Perhaps you should have cautioned your lover
to keep his mouth shut until the matter was decided. Should you push
the issue I can assure you that your son shall indeed have a place in
my court...but not the one you wished for. And he shall be
well-informed of your character during his time here.”

Princess Katara stepped back
from the hatred in his tone, gasping aloud when he confirmed her
suspicions that her priest had indeed let slip word of their previous
relationship. Confronted with Atemu's unblinking glare a delicate
shiver ran the length of her spine, as she finally understood with
his last threat that she was treading very, very close to dangerous
territory.

Tears welled up in her eyes at
the thought of her well-crafted dreams lost. She could have had the
perfect royal family, envied by all. The Pharaoh was unrivaled in
bed, as well as in looks, and he was without a doubt her best
prospect for marriage.

But there was one tiny little
fact that she had forgotten when she had mistakenly gotten herself
with child. It was that he was also completely ruthless when it came
to those that betrayed him, such as she had done. And she had no wish
to lose her only child's heritage to a life as an ordinary Egyptian
priest. Recognizing her defeat she began to look for a way to
extricate herself from the confrontation with as much dignity as she
could muster.

“Pharaoh
–” Khallid gently broke Atemu's hold on his captive and
she fled the room without a single backward glance. “That is
enough, my friend. She has her regrets, if I am reading her
correctly. However, I shall be sure to keep her from your sight while
we are here.”

Atemu
shook off the elder man's hand, running his fingers through his own
hair as he fought for control over his wayward emotions. He had not
expected her
to come to this meeting. His ex-lover was nothing if not
self-centered, and she had never taken an interest in her brother's
affairs before now. No, she was here for a different reason entirely.

What
is it she wants from me?

No sooner had the question
crossed his mind and the thrumming headache he had been staving off
burst into a full-blown migraine, nearly dropping him to his knees in
the process. Atemu wanted nothing more than to retreat to the cool
seclusion of his chambers before the ailment overwhelmed him
completely, shaming him in front of all those within the palace
walls.

Hastily he called for Shadi to
escort his remaining guests to the dining hall so that they could
partake of the midday meal, giving a hasty explanation for his abrupt
departure from their presence.

Once the last councilman had
exited the room, leaving him with only the court workers and his
guards, both hands gripped at his hair in agony . As he stood
shivering against the pain and nausea, Atemu took three deep breaths
in quick succession, praying for any god available to aid him in
keeping disgrace from his name.

Finally the initial queasiness
died down and he no longer felt the need to empty his stomach in full
view of anyone left in the throne room. Only then did Atemu give the
gesture for the others to quit the room, leading his contingent of
guards, along with Yugi and Mana back towards his private sanctuary.
His pace was labored and pained, even though his head was high as he
crossed the through the entryway searching for the empty corridors to
the private section of the palace through the darkened haze of his
vision.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Who
was she?” Yugi glanced down at his captor questioningly as he
sponged off the other's perspiring brow, unable to help but feel
somewhat jealous of the gorgeous brunette that had captured his
lover's attentions so thoroughly earlier. True, the woman was older
than the both of them, but the way she had carried herself had him
wishing he could pull off the same image of decorum and
self-possession. It was too bad he hadn't been able to hear
everything that was said, for the tension in the room had gotten
thick enough to slice with a blade.

What
had she done to irritate his lover so thoroughly? Who was she to mean
so much to the person who held his heart?

“She
was a mistake...” Atemu whispered brokenly. “A very
large...misconception of youthfulness...and arrogance.”

“Oh”

It
was a little vague as far as explanations went but Yugi accepted it
for the moment, understanding that his captor wasn't truly up to
talking just yet. When the Egyptian monarch had dropped unexpectedly
to his knees earlier, just out of sight of the curious onlookers from
the courts, he had feared for the other's life.

He
had never been so thankful that the blonde guard – whom he had
recognized immediately as being his friend Malik's captor – had
decided to follow them, realizing without being told that something
was drastically wrong with his sovereign.

Only
once they had attained the privacy of the royal suite did the Hyksos
royal finally learn what was ailing his captor. And he promptly threw
together the potion that Mahaado had taught him to make during his
first week in the palace, in order to relieve his suffering while the
guards shut out Re's overpowering light with heavy blankets.

“Well...everyone
makes mistakes.” Yugi whispered back. “You should be
allowed yours too, without regret.”

“But
I am supposed to be without fault...'tis what is expected of me...”
Atemu replied in a weary murmur.

Yugi
snorted quietly at the notion, quickly changing the subject. “Is
it working yet?”

Atemu
nodded stiffly. “'Tis beginning to...”

“Good...just
rest, my Pharaoh.” Yugi whispered as he massaged his captor's
neck and shoulders. To further aid the other's relaxation he began to
talk of his life with his mother before her death, unknowingly giving
Atemu a glimpse into his hopes and dreams for the future. After a
while he could tell that the potion was beginning to take effect when
the Pharaoh began to participate in his one-sided narrative on life,
asking questions and giving advice.

The
further they ventured into their conversation – and Atemu
wasn't quite certain how they had gotten into that particular topic
considering the boy's obvious reluctance to mention his home life –
Yugi's father's name happened to be mentioned. And somehow his
mannerisms were bluntly compared to the previous Hyksos king's
dominating ways.

Atemu
ground his teeth, his head still fuzzy from the overly potent mixture
that Yugi had given him. It irked him beyond belief that his captive
saw him as some sort of fearsome ogre. Yes, he had a temper, he
freely admitted to that, but was he truly that bad? After a moment's
thought he voiced the comments that had been running through his mind
– only to be reminded of the night that his young captive had
placed himself in peril by climbing out onto the ledge of his
friend's window.

“I
do regret my actions of that night, but you were in the wrong as well
to pull such a dangerous stunt. You could have very easily been
killed.” Atemu tipped his captive's face to meet his, finally
finding an opening, as well as the courage – liquid more so
than mental – to say what needed to be said. “I am not
your father, little one, nor am I some hideous demon out to steal
your soul. If you will let me I can teach you everything you need to
know of being a true leader – the kind that people would
willingly follow into death.”

Yugi
blinked down at his captor, astonishment visible in his jewel-like
eyes. “But I thought I was brought here to be your slave?”

Atemu
gave a mirthless chuckle, lucid enough to take some delight in his
captive's puzzled expression as well as his own reticence to the
matter. “We are well past that point, are we not? 'tis true
that while you are here you will obey me. You shall be taught in
exactly the same manner as I was, for only once you learn what 'tis
like to be the lowliest slave will you begin to comprehend the
enormous task of being a true king.”

Their
eyes locked and Atemu stared straight into the other's perplexed
amethysts, content to lie in the his lap as if he belonged there. He
had observed the boy's quietly regal demeanor throughout the day,
realizing that his little one could have made a great ruler indeed.
The boy was a quick study in courtly mannerisms, his posture
indicating his interest in what was going on throughout the trials.

And
from his facial expressions when those accused entered the room, the
little one was a rather astute judge of character as well. Although
he had a bit of trouble keeping his silent opinions to himself, his
sympathy or dislike showing quite plainly on his face before he could
manage to cover it up with a blank expression. The boy was rather
observant when it came to recognizing the truth of someone's
innocence or guilt.

These
traits were admirable in a leader, and something he was always on the
look out for in an ally...or a consort. It was time for the truth to
come out. He couldn't keep the little one locked up any longer for no
more reason than his selfishness. That was Katara's specialty, not
his.

I
– you...uh,” Yugi's jaw dropped, his eyes widening past
the point where Atemu thought they would pop out of his head. “Wait,
what? Could you repeat that?!” The young Hyksos shook his head,
sure that his hearing had failed him – or that his captor had
taken leave of his senses.

Atemu
laughed outright at the expression of complete and utter disbelief
that crossed his captive's face, sitting up unsteadily to reach out
and draw the boy to him. “Yes, little one, you heard me true.
You shall regain your freedom once you have completed the tasks I set
before you. But I do demand the right to court you even after such a
time.”

“But...how...why...wait
what?!” Yugi sputtered, clearly confused. Had he made the
potion right? His captor was acting awfully flighty, his words
somewhat slurred, behavior erratic. Closing his eyes the Hyksos royal
ran back over the list of ingredients in his head, wondering if
perhaps he didn't need that third pinch of the herb that was used to
relieve pain.

Atemu
closed his eyes, steeling himself against a bout of dizziness,
determined to make the other understand his motives despite his
impairment. He gripped the younger royal tightly, breaking him out of
his thoughts as he gave his explanation. “I have come to the
conclusion that you and yours are not responsible for Otogi's death.
The evidence does not lie. Given the fact that you are not my enemy I
am forced to admit that I was in the wrong for stealing you away. But
that does not mean that I am willing to let you go just yet. There is
still much unfinished business between us.”

Yugi
scooted back out of the other's reach, watching as the Pharaoh
overbalanced and toppled forward onto the bed. He glanced around
nervously, noting that all the guards had taken their leave and
wondering how long before someone realized what had happened and
punished him for his mistake.

But
Atemu was having none of it, reaching out to draw him down to lie
beside him and resting his hand on the curve of his buttock. “Little
one, what is the matter?”

Averting
his gaze Yugi replied, “n-nothing,” letting loose with a
squeak when that sneaky hand began to graze alongside his bare leg.

“Ah,
now you lie to me!” Atemu laughed, his attention quickly
drifting from the subject by the texture of the other's skin beneath
his fingertips. He gave another chuckle, “you have the sexiest
backside I have ever seen, little one!”

Yugi
rolled out of the amorous Pharaoh's reach, his eyes widening
comically, grasping for a topic only to come up with a question he
had held over from the beginning of their conversation, well before
the other had gone completely crazy. “You've done this too? I
mean the slave part...”

Atemu
graced him with a wide smile the likes he had never seen on the
other's face before putting a finger to his lips as if telling a
great secret. “Before my father died, when I was eight
harvests, he gave me into the care of Shadi for the duration of half
a year. I was to serve his every whim, with a status no higher than
that of the other slaves.”

Yugi
cringed, thinking of the many things that could have gone wrong with
such a scenario. “Every whim?”

Giving
a hearty snort Atemu responded, “Almost...There were...ah,
certain restrictions to that servitude, little one. I was his to do
with as he wished so long as he refrained from defiling me or marring
my body beyond the acceptable strapping.”

“But
were you...I mean didn't it bother you to have them decide your fate
like that?” Yugi asked incredulously, thinking of his own
untenable situation with his father and the outrageous demands that
had been placed on him not long before the man's death. Demands that
he no longer had to adhere to thanks to his captor's intervention.

“It
irked me greatly,” Atemu replied with a chuckle. “So much
so that I received many lashings before it sunk into my head that I
was truly his possession and that he could make me do anything he
wanted...including mucking out the stables, as I found much to my
chagrin. It was quite a blow to my princely ego to have to clean up
after the horses with my personal guards doing nothing other than
standing around and making bets as to when my next beating was going
to come.”

At
the other's horrified look Atemu explained, “Shadi was not a
truly harsh person in that respect, but he was a rather formidable
task master. He made sure that I learned everything from dancing to
healing and fighting, cooking to diplomacy and figures. 'Twas his
instruction that made me who I am today. I continued my lessons with
him long after my father's demise, out of a need, if you will, to
learn more – as did Seto with Akunadin. There is not a task in
this palace that I cannot accomplish with at least a modicum of
proficiency.”

“Wow,”
Yugi breathed, “I would have never known you were so
accomplished.”

Again
Atemu shook his head, placing a finger over the other's soft lips,
“'tis not something that everyone knows about me, little one –
nor do I want them to. I have kept watch over you during court this
morning and I feel that, given the training and confidence, you are
capable of the same. I would like to give you this chance to prove
that you are who I believe you to be.”

Blushing
prettily Yugi lowered his eyes, hiding behind a curtain of blonde
bangs, “I would like that...very much, thank you.”

Atemu
leveled a careful glance at the boy, making sure that he understood
his next words. “Keep in mind that you still belong to me until
that point. As things stand right now if I were to return you to your
throne you would not be there long before an attempt on your life is
made. Some one is after your title and they thought to use me to
accomplish their deeds.”

Yugi
dropped his head in his hands. This was just what he needed. “Why?
Why would they want that? I was giving it up voluntarily. They didn't
need to use force...not that I would have just given it to them.”

“That
I do not know, little one.” Atemu replied. “But I do
intend to find out. For now just understand that you belong to me,
just as if nothing has changed. I do not wish another enemy, but
perhaps an ally...if not a consort.”

“Pharaoh!
I –”

Atemu
put a finger to his lips. “My name is Atemu, little one. I give
you permission to use it.”

Forgetting
briefly about all the other implications of their unexpected
conversation Yugi sucked in a startled breath at the other's casual
comment. Did the Pharaoh really mean that?! Did he really mean that
he could call him by his given name? The comment about a consort, as
in...he couldn't think straight, it was too much. Was this whole
conversation the by-product of his captor's drug induced haze?

His
reply came out as a garbled sputter and he clapped a hand over his
mouth, Atemu reaching out to take that hand away long enough to
envelope him in a breathtaking kiss. Yugi's hands fisted in the
Egyptian monarch's hair, urging him on with every heartbeat.

And
that was the scene that Mahaado walked into as he pushed past the
guards and into Atemu's chambers. His jaw dropped as he beheld the
tender vision before him. So that was what had changed. A smirk
graced his features and he attempted to back out of the room before
they spotted him. Unfortunately he was not nearly stealthy enough to
make it out of the room.

Yugi
wrenched himself out of the Pharaoh's grasp, shooting out of the bed,
his eyes wide as he spied his instructor's formidable presence in the
entryway. Immediately he dropped to the floor, hiding his face in
shame for his miscalculation. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't
mean to!” He cried.

Mahaado
straightened, moving further into the chamber against his better
judgment. “What are you going on about, young one?”

Abruptly
Yugi glanced up at the taller brunette, only to lower his gaze as he
quietly admitted, “I think I put too much poppy seed in the
mixture...Pharaoh is –”

“–
Atemu, little one.” The
Pharaoh chimed in laughingly.

“A-Atemu...isn't
making much sense.” Yugi glanced up beseechingly at his
instructor, imploring him to understand what he was saying.

Mahaado
bit back a grin, looking over the unsteady figure of his Pharaoh as
he tried – and failed – to balance on his knees on the
bed. “So I see.” He commented casually. He truly could
have so much fun with his childhood friend at this moment. But as his
gaze stole over to the younger monarch still kneeling on the floor in
repentance he decided to take pity on the boy and let him off the
hook for doing exactly the same thing he was known to do on occasion.
“It seems we have a dilemma on our hands...very well then, I
shall inform the nobles that the meeting is to be rescheduled and we
shall deal with the Kru Elna sentencing after he has regained his
senses.”

Atemu's
head shot up at his words and he roared with laughter. “I have
not taken leave of them Priest! In fact I seem to recall you having
made the exact same mistake on several occasions.”

“I
never said I didn't, Your Highness.” Mahaado shot back
laughingly, knowing that his sovereign was still in command of his
faculties with that retort. He was distinctly pleased to note that
whatever had been bothering his teenage ruler had faded into the
background due to the younger monarch's mistake. It had been a while
since he had seen the other so worry free.

Atemu,
on the other hand, was displeased with the situation, and sought to
remedy it by dragging Yugi back up onto the bed so that he could
molest him further.

“Hey!”
Yugi squeaked as he was hauled back up to sit in his captor's lap.
“What gives?”

Atemu
quirked a brow at him. “So you think I've taken leave of my
senses, do you? Would that be due to my earlier comment about giving
you your freedom...?”

Mahaado's
curiosity was finally quenched with those words. The High Priest
began to back soundlessly out of the room with the realization of
what had been bothering his sovereign for so long. A grin encompassed
his features as he softly closed the doors behind him. It had taken
so long, but it looked like his friend had finally, after all this
time, found what he had been searching for.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gah, please review, the plot
bunny demands more food than I can give it!
- 11
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