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
- 5
- 6
- 7
And
here�s the next chapter. Please be patient with me cause the up and coming chap
might be a couple of weeks out � I have issues with work (like I don�t get a
day off) and they�re leaving me little time to keep up with a weekly posting. But
worry not, I�ll get it out.

Special
thanx to Renaiya880727, for her beta-reading and
awesome suggestions!

In
the mean-time, enjoy. Once again � I don�t own Yu-Gi-Oh
(or anything else of value as everyone reminds me), so go ahead and sue. I
would gladly hand over my bills for my bunch of nothing.

ObsidianJade: (snorts) yeah, poor Ryou got the
short end of the stick, but Yugi�s the one who�s going to have a hard time
adjusting, for Atemu is so much more of an arrogant shit than Bakura could ever
hope to be and he expects obedience which is NOT likely to happen.

AlwaysYourAibou: You did?! I scream too when I�m
writing � but I think it�s from frustration. (laughs).
Sorry for the abrupt ending, I�ll try not to do that too much.

SRRH:
Yeah Yugi�s in deep shit, and Atemu can�t exactly do nothing about it as you�ll
find out.

Dragonlady222:
Bakura better keep his word or he�s gonna get shit from Atemu for it!

cridget101:
Thank you � and most of it is due to Renaiya880727 for her diligence in
editing.

SilverDragon-Purity: Breathe; he�ll be fine � if a
little sore. (grins)

Red
Dragon of Egypt: (chuckles) Breathe! I swear your
review cracked me up! I�ll try not to hand out cliffies,
if I can help it. (grins)

Redconvoy, Yami-and-Hikari,
and tinkletimekelly: I�ll try to keep this one
consistent, I�m just not sure if that�s possible right now, but I will try.

YkCandy: Yeah, Atemu is kind of caught up in
his own problems right now � it�ll take him a while to realize anything of
importance.

Yous.to.hold and Nocturne of Shadows: Thank you
very much (grins) I�ll try to keep this at least somewhat consistent.

lo: Oh Yugi will come into his own eventually � it�ll just
take him a little while to get there after he�s been separated from his
friends.

J
Chan: (laughs) Yeah, his grandpa would definitely be able to help. Wonder what
will happen when he finds out!

KiraRaven: Mahaado is slowly becoming the older
brother that Yugi never had in his. Sometimes I wonder who�s side he�s on;
Atemu�s or Yugi�s (and I�m writing the story?!)

And
many thanks to: read_right_time, Angel Dove,cady, Cody_Thomas, mightybeefoven, Mistress Sorcha,
MewMew2, Betrys, KatFO, Rayemoon, xMiyux, anonanon, yugithecutie, Anon, Sisely, Yaminisu, Sakura-Laurel, EmeraldRains, NaomieKeiko, maegerakawii, chickigirl,
tash1021, MokubaRulez, Hikari
Tsuki Chi, yaoifanvane, Supa Artemis and Supa Cheyenne, Haruka-Shir, singinshowtunes, Natoya, Jisa, Renaiya880727,
TIGGI1, CaoYiChen, Sable, Atemu Yugi Lover34, Shamise, sakura angel dark,
alice456, Valkyria Raven, YamiGurl,
Angel�s Charm, Protector of the Nameless, gottasmile416, Moondalian,
ZerynCrystal, Eliyora,
Yana5, ranmyaku-neko, ZombieBlinky,
EvenGlore, and BlackRoseIceMaiden
� thank you all so very much! I love hearing from you.

And
if I forgot anyone please feel free to kick me!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX6

Yugi
fidgeted in his place atop the white stallion with his head bowed. Atemu�s arm
was wrapped possessively around his waist, warm against his bare skin, as the
Egyptians said their farewells. To say that the Pharaoh had been displeased
with his impulsive demonstration was a massive understatement.

His
captor had been absolutely livid at Yugi�s blatant disregard for his own life.
And Yugi could still feel the heat from that displeasure as he shifted once
again to relieve the pressure against his stinging backside. Thanks to that
little debacle his captor had refused to even let him out of his sight, going
so far as to move up the time of their departure so he �didn�t have the time to
think up any more reckless stunts� as the Pharaoh had referred to his earlier
actions.

The
young Hyksos ruler stared listlessly at the ground in front of him, eyes glassy
and red-rimmed, as the procession headed out of the courtyard, berating himself
for his foolishness. There�s another
brilliant plan for the record books�What is it with me? He snorted
derisively, before reminding himself of why he had taken the impossible stance
that he had. �at least Ryou has a fighting
chance now�maybe.

Unfortunately,
he would not be around to know if the Pharaoh�s advisor would remain true to
his word. His last prayers had not been heard. He was neither dead, nor had the
gods granted him a reprieve from this impossible situation. This was the last
he would see of his home, of his friends � and he couldn�t even dredge up the
courage to watch as it faded from his sight.

I am absolutely worthless. Crystal clear in the fading light a
lone tear streaked down the side of the young ruler�s face, only to be brushed
aside with the swipe of his hand.

As
bad as his life had been behind those walls Yugi couldn�t help but wish that
the past three weeks, and the events leading up to his departure had been
nothing but a nightmare. One where he would wake up to find that Jou had been
wandering around the palace late at night, in search of food, and had come to
rouse him after hearing his cries.

But
as the procession wound their way around the edges of the sleepy village that dream
began to slip from his grasp, cold, stark reality settling in its stead � and
much to the young royal�s dismay he had noticed his
friend, Malik, sitting atop of a gray stallion not far from him, forcibly
restrained by the brawny blonde guard�s arms.

The
other teen managed a grim sort of smile before lowering his head to hide his
tearstained face. Yugi bit back a despairing sob as his friend�s plight weighed
heavily on his shoulders. As much as he needed the company he wouldn�t have
wished this on any of them.

��So what�s the first thing you�re going to do
when you get home?� Marik questioned as he sidled his horse up alongside
Atemu�s not long after they passed the city gates, prompting a silent glare
from the younger blonde sitting in front of him for his jovial mood.

��I would give my crown for one of Mana�s massages�and a moment of calm.� Atemu gave his own
captive a sidelong glance.

�Keh! Good luck with that one, your
Highness.� The large blonde retorted with a chuckle. �You�ll be lucky if Siamun
doesn�t pounce on you the minute you set foot in the doorway, demanding you set
to rights whatever went wrong while you were away.�

Atemu
hummed noncommittally. �It was a pleasant thought though�� he said wistfully
before turning his attention to the road ahead.

The
caravan continued in silence for a few hours under the guiding light of the
moon and the smaller king found it hard to keep his eyes open, regardless of
his pain and fears. The past three weeks had been nothing short of pure agony,
not to mention the events of earlier that day, and eventually Yugi succumbed to
his exhaustion, his body going limp in Atemu�s arms.

The
Egyptian royal glanced down in surprise as he felt the weight in his arms grow
heavier. And then he chuckled softly, shifting his slight burden in order to
get a better look at the boy who had managed, in such a short time, to capture
his attention so thoroughly. What had the little one been thinking earlier, to
risk his life for his friend�s comfort?! The insanely heroic gesture had nearly
bordered on suicidal.

In
a tender motion that most would think unbecoming of his nature the Pharaoh
reached out and brushed a braided lock of hair out of his captive�s alluring
face. Long, spiky onyx lashes lay innocently against creamy porcelain skin that
seemed to glow in the moonlight, concealing what Atemu had assessed to be the
most beautiful, candid eyes he had ever come across.

The
little one�s hair swept up into intricate braids that masked the true length as
well as the texture from his wandering hands. Atemu shook his head in
frustration; he was going to have to do something about those.

As
beautiful as the iridescent beaded plaits that framed the boy�s face were, he
desired to see what was hidden beneath their brilliance. With such becoming
looks his young captive would be considered a welcome addition to any court, or
to any bed for that matter.

But
the boy was definitely headstrong � a trait that would more than likely earn
him a few reprimands in the near future. Atemu rolled his eyes in exasperation.
That was alright. He admired spirit so long as it didn�t interfere with his
intentions. He would, however, have to break that defiant streak before someone
else tried to do it for him and went too far.

Atemu
felt bad for having to reprimand his young captive earlier, but it was better
to deal with his defiance now than wait until others had the chance to
interfere. That would be nothing short of disaster. The Pharaoh shook his head
to clear the images of what his well-meaning council�s reaction to his slave�s
disobedience would undoubtedly be. He had the feeling he would have to forbid
them from touching his newest acquisition before too long.

�My
Pharaoh�� Marik cleared his throat. �We shall be reaching the rest of our
forces before long.�

�Ah.
Thank you, Marik.�

Atemu
had the grace to flush at being caught ogling their prisoner. But he couldn�t
help himself, as he studied the younger king�s youthful features one last time before
mentally preparing himself to greet his troops. This innocent, feisty little
prize was quite simply the last thing that he expected to come across with this
foray into Hyksos.

Moments
later a shrill bird call was heard throughout the silence of the shadows and
Atemu answered with a call of his own, letting the men hidden in the brush know
that the group was indeed who they were expecting. Within minutes several
torches were lit and their caravan was surrounded on all sides by boisterous
men, waking Yugi from his short nap with a start.

The
wide-eyed Hyksos royal watched as their caravan was engulfed by so many men
that he gave up counting after the first score or so. He shivered in awe as he
contemplated the sheer numbers that made up the army before him.

Had
the entire Egyptian army decided to march on the royal city with force, nothing
would have been left to speak of. His trembling was noticed by the man seated
behind him and Atemu tightened his grip in reassurance before lowering Yugi
down the side of the horse and dismounting gracefully behind him, wrapping a
possessive hand around his waist.

�Easy
little one, no harm shall come to you in my presence.�

Blinking
at the gentle tone Yugi nodded in understanding, whispering back. �There�s just
so many of them.�

Before
Atemu could come up with a suitable reply their conversation was cut short as a
bald man with tattoos on his forehead walked out of the midst of the group and
bowed low before them, holding out a fawn-colored bird of prey to the Pharaoh.

�Horus has been showing his displeasure at being unable to
join you since you sent him to warn us of your approach, my Pharaoh.�

�Has
he now?� Atemu eyed the bird with a disapproving look as he reached out to take
him from the other man. Once the hawk was roosting firmly on his arm Atemu
looked him straight in the eye, tapping him gently on the beak with a gloved
finger. �You knew your orders when you left my side. If you had wanted to hunt
you should have done so before returning��

The
bird nibbled affectionately on the offered finger and Atemu relented with a
grin. �Very well; go find your meal�but catch up to us once you are finished.
We�ll not wait for the likes of you.� And, after admonishing the deadly
creature as if it were nothing more than a disobedient child he held his arm
skyward, allowing the bird to take flight into the night breeze.

Yugi
watched the whole scene in disbelief before shaking his head in confusion. The
Pharaoh was a complete enigma. He was commanding and arrogant, condescending
and intimidating, yet at times he seemed to be wholly in tune with the needs of
animals as well as the subjects he ruled over. How could one person be so
unpredictable, so very changeable?

Atemu
turned his attention to the tattooed priest kneeling before him. �I thought
that you had decided to remain at the palace, Shadi?�

The
priest shrugged. �It was Isis who sent me to fetch you, your Highness. The
Hittites have once again slandered your name in the high council and they have
sent out an emissary to argue their position. They shall arrive sometime late
in the next week.�

Atemu
shook his head, giving Mahaado an exasperated look after the priest let out a
sigh of annoyance that sounded suspiciously like a slur on the Hittite king�s
name. This was no less than any of them had expected after demolishing four of
the Hittite military outposts in retaliation for their aborted attempt to gain
control of the villages along their shared border.

The
Hittite king was nothing short of a whining loser, and every time he was bested
in combat he would make it a point to bring in the council in hopes that they
would side with him. Would it be too much to hope that the council had the
foresight to bring the sniveling bastard with them?

How
he would love to see the man fleeing from his palace as if the shadows of the
underworld were set loose upon him. The images Atemu�s mind presented of a
fearful Hittite king scampering from the palace as fast as his skinny legs
could carry him brought a momentary smirk to his features, before Shadi
requested him to meet with his commanders.

The
three of them made their way over to where the troop leaders had gathered in
the fire-light, Yugi reluctantly tagging along in their midst. There the young
Hyksos ruler was given into Mahaado�s care while
Atemu conferred with his officers. After a brief conversation Atemu sent the
men on their way with his prayers. Then he gave the command to mount up, their
small group setting off with Shadi riding in the place of honor next to Atemu,
Marik and Mahaado.

The
four men spoke quietly of the troubles surrounding Hyksos, Hati
and Egypt as they headed back to their homeland, Yugi sitting quietly in front
of the Pharaoh as the sounds of conversation flowed around him, unable to carry
the whole of his anger for a man who � from the sounds of it � held such a care
for his homeland and those who dwelled within it.

He
wasn�t ready to forgive the arrogant Egyptian yet for forcing him to defend his
earlier position, but he was beginning to understand the reasons behind some of
his actions, even if he didn�t agree with them.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The
second morning into their homeward journey Marik awoke to find his Pharaoh
staring at his young prisoner with a thoroughly bemused expression. Not
accustomed to such a look adorning his sovereign�s features the blonde shook
his head with a grin and tried to catch Atemu�s attention with a soft whistle.
When that failed he decided to try an alternative solution.

�Why
are you so interested in his welfare, my Pharaoh? What is he to you?� He asked
quietly, so as not to disturb the rest of the camp.

The
blonde stood, stretching his sore muscles and cursing the need to sleep on the
hard ground before wandering quietly over to where Atemu was contemplating
whatever weighed so heavily on his mind.

Atemu
shrugged. �He intrigues me Marik. I never expected someone such as him to be
standing between me and my desire to avenge Otogi�s
murder. I am not yet certain what to think of him��

Atemu
had awoken several times in the middle of the night to the boy�s whimpers and
soft cries, and a couple of times he thought he had heard his Hittite rival,
Pegasus�s name mentioned in the fearful mutterings, but he couldn�t be certain
for it was too quiet for him to make out fully. What would his little slave
know about Pegasus? Their territories bordered opposite sides of Egypt.

Was
it an association he needed to worry about, or was it merely coincidence?

After
listening to the pitiful noises for a few moments he had pulled the little one
up against him, soothing away the nightmares with gentle touches and soft
words, and eventually the boy quieted, falling into what appeared to be a
dreamless slumber. He should have left the boy to his dreams, but the thought
just seemed wrong as he gazed down at those peaceful features after the
nightmare had faded away.

So
many questions, yet every time he looked into those stunning amethyst eyes he lost
the heart to demand the answers to them. What was wrong with him? After a while
he had given up on the idea of sleep completely and moved over to the base of
one of the trees where they had made their camp, in order to watch over his
charge.

�Admit
it; you�re just fascinated with his looks. Why don�t you just fuck him and get
it over with?�

�Well,
there is that.� Atemu chuckled, gracing Marik with a wry grin before becoming
serious. �But it is his na�vet� and misplaced devotion to the other prisoners
that concerns me. I have never seen anyone so concerned about another�s
welfare, yet with such little regard to their own. Either the face he shows is
all a superior charade�or I am in the wrong by ripping him from his homeland
and expecting him to survive in my world.�

�I
have seen that type of intense loyalty in a person before �� Marik responded,
causing Atemu to blink at him questioningly. �Were you not the one who
threatened Akunadin with his life the time he came after me and Bakura with a
whip for drawing lewd pictures on his set of sacred scrolls for the harvest
ceremony? And you weren�t even Pharaoh at the time��

The
memory was waved away with a chuckle as Atemu recalled the incident. �Yes, but
you and the others are family. I would do anything to keep you from harm�s
reach. I do, however, remember very well my father�s reaction to my threats��

�As
do I� Marik chuckled. �Let me ask you this, your Highness�Which way would you
rather have it?�

A
sigh; then �I am not certain.�

Atemu
glanced at his sleeping charge. The little one looked so serene, innocence
floating about his peaceful features like a soft cloud. Would he rather the boy
be a complete fraud, capable of such manipulation? Or would he rather be the
brute in this instance, having uprooted a complete innocent from his homeland
only to force him into a life of slavery? Was either of the answers any better
than the other?

�Are
you sure? You�ve never been the type to prevaricate�least not when I knew you.�
Marik commented, his tone becoming rather sullen all of a sudden. The blonde
cleared his throat before taking quite an interest in the lush scenery around
him, plucking at a few stray blades of grass in frustration.

��What is it that truly concerns you Marik?�
Atemu asked after a moment of silence.

�What
makes you think something is bothering me?� Marik leaned back on his elbows,
raising an eyebrow at his Pharaoh.

�I
know you well enough to know when you are troubled.� Atemu snorted. �Speak.�

First
Mahaado, now Marik. This was the second time in as many days that he�d had to
drag the truth out of one of his closest friends. This beating around the bush
had gone on far enough. It was time for them to come out with it already. He
was sick of feeling like he was pulling teeth in order to get them to say what
was on their minds.

Marik
eyed his disgruntled companion as if searching for the right words to approach
the problem � and finding none, he sighed despondently. �You�ve changed so much
your Highness��

�Changed?
How so?� Atemu shifted, giving the blonde his
undivided attention. �I am still the same person you have always known.�

�Not
truly; you have distanced yourself from everyone, always speaking in the
courtly ways�You�ve become so formal, so reserved lately that I don�t even know
you anymore.� The blonde sighed. �It�s as if you really are the unapproachable
god they say you are.�

Atemu
sighed regretfully, plucking at the grass much as Marik had done earlier. �I am
not a god and you know this to be the truth as well as I do. I just have a
rather large responsibility now, Marik. Life is not all fun and games anymore;
in fact, lately it has been anything but.�

�That�s
true, but you isolate yourself from us now�you do not share your worries, your
burdens with us as you used to. And it�s made you edgy�angry, if you will.�

Atemu
shot to his feet, fists clenched, feeling the need to clarify his position as
he began to pace back and forth in front of his friend. �And why shouldn�t I
be? Every time I turn around someone is laying waste to those who depend on my
protection! Why should I not worry over their welfare, over whether or not
someone else is going to see my youth, my inexperience as a reason to commit
acts of atrocity against my people?!�

�Even
so, you used to share your troubles with us, seek out our input. Now you stand
alone�You of all people should not go through this life as such. You carry too
many burdens for one man alone.� Marik argued. �The others think the same,
Bakura, Seto, Mahaado��

Atemu
opened his mouth. Unable to come up with a suitable response he shut it with an
audible click, realizing that what
the blonde was saying was nothing short of the complete truth.

How
he wished he could go back to being that na�ve, careless child of ten. To
forget, if only for a moment or two, exactly how much weight had been placed on
his shoulders, along with the crown on his head. He
slumped to the ground, defeated for the moment.

Six
harvests on the throne had taken their toll. Too often of late he found himself
snapping at those he held dear for the slightest offense. He would gladly give
up every last bit of his immense power to return to a time when his father was
still alive, when he himself still held a certain amount of hope and wonder for
the future of the world. But, as much as he would wish otherwise not even he
had the ability to alter time.

Marik
had fallen silent as well, contemplating his friend�s uncharacteristic
outburst. It was true � everything that his Pharaoh had said. From the time
Atemu had ascended the throne at the tender age of eleven there was never a
shortage of covetous people who had attempted to wrest the control over Egypt from his hands. And he had seen the
result of their machinations.

Standing
before him now was a young man he had grown to admire greatly for his
determination, his principles, and most of all for his fairness in dealing with
any who happened across his path with no malicious intent. But it didn�t keep
him from longing for the troublesome youth that he had come to know so well in
years past, as well as worrying about the solitary individual that his friend
had become lately.

And
he commented on that fact when their stilted conversation resumed.

As
the two continued their quiet discussion Yugi held his breath, not wishing to
be discovered eavesdropping. He couldn�t help it; they were only feet from him
and the Pharaoh�s hissed tirade had badly startled him.

The
young ruler debated his few options as the two Egyptians discussed the many
problems that they had faced as underage leaders, unable to help but overhear
yet another side to the complex individual that held his life in his hands -
yet he understood none of them.

It
didn�t take long before he realized that the two had fallen silent once again
and he wondered if he should make some noise to alert them to the fact that
they were no longer alone. But the opportunity was taken from him as they
started up once more.

��My Pharaoh�Atemu,� Marik reached out and set a
gentle hand on his sovereign�s shoulder. �None of us wants to see you worry
yourself into an early grave as your father did�We want our friend back, the
one who used to send his guards away during his supposed afternoon respites and
sneak down from the balcony to wreak havoc with us.�

Atemu
raked a hand through his unruly hair in frustration. �I do not know if I can be
that person again, Marik�too much has happened. Too many people lost�and I
cannot help but feel responsible, for it was my inexperience that led to their
demise��

��But you cannot be held accountable for
someone else�s greed!!� Marik retorted hotly. �And I don�t want to lose you as
well. I miss Otogi too, my Pharaoh. But you need to find some time for
yourself. You need to figure out who you are and what you want from this life.�

Belatedly
realizing that the conversation had become much too weighty for such an early
hour Marik attempted to inject a little humor, reaching for his friend�s hand.
�Perhaps once you do you�ll even learn how to speak like a human being again.�

Catching
on to the other�s ploy Atemu chuckled at the slight, the anger draining from
his form as he clasped the offered hand. �I fear Siamun has rubbed off on me
overmuch. I shall try, my friend�I truly shall try.�

Yugi
shifted uncomfortably with the dawning awareness that he would not be able to
keep still much longer. He really had to find a tree, or something. There was
no way he could hold it for an undetermined length of time. Deciding to alert
the two to his consciousness he stretched and yawned loudly before sitting up
to take in their knowing smirks.

��tis
about time you decided to rise little one. You have been awake long enough.�
Atemu grinned playfully at him, deciding to give the young Hyksos the benefit
of the doubt for the moment. There would be time enough to figure out what the
boy�s true intentions were later on down the road.

Yugi
blanched, his face turning a shade paler than normal before a blush crept up
his cheeks. And here he thought he�d had them fooled. Marik graced Atemu with a
wink, nodding once at the blushing young Hyksos before wordlessly making his
way out of the clearing to give them some privacy.

�After his guard�s departure Atemu walked over
and held out a hand to help his captive rise, taking care to rid his clothing
of the dust that had accumulated during his fitful sleep. Eventually Yugi
managed to squirm out of the other�s grasp, but not before the firm notion that
he was being molested in public passed through his thoughts.

Atemu
gave a mischievous smirk at his retreat, eyeing the lightweight cloak that hid
his rather risqu� outfit with more than a little interest. �There is a private
area over behind those trees if you require it. In fact�I could even be of
assistance to you, if you find those clothes too cumbersome?�

Yugi
shook his head vehemently, color high, and quickly scampered off towards where
the other monarch had motioned before he could gain an unwanted visitor. This
was a side to the Pharaoh that he had not been treated to yet � the roguish,
playful side. And he wasn�t sure if he wanted any part of it. The man was
dangerous enough when he was being commanding and arrogant. With that devilish
smirk he was downright devastating.

As
he relieved himself against the base of a tree Yugi noticed a shallow stream
not far from where they were camped. He glanced wistfully at the clear, flowing
waters. How he truly wished for a bath to freshen up. After contemplating the
idea for a moment he strolled over, deciding to wash the sleep from his eyes at
the least. He wouldn�t get in trouble for that. Would he?

Kneeling
down, he peered into the stream just as another face appeared unexpectedly
beside his in the crystal clear reflection, nearly startling him into taking a
swim.

�Here,
I thought you might have a use for these.�

Yugi
put a hand to his chest as if to stop his heart from leaping from its place
before glancing at what was in the other�s hand. The items that the Egyptian monarch
held out before his eyes were a jar of mint paste, a soft twig and a small
length of waxed twine. He thanked the other profusely and proceeded to clean
his teeth, grateful to have the chance to rid himself of the nasty taste.

His
mouth had felt like it was filled with cotton since yesterday. It was
disgusting and he wasn�t sure how much longer he could have dealt with it.

As
the smaller royal busied himself with his task Atemu opened the saddle bag that
he had brought with him. He pulled out some clothing and stripped down to
absolutely nothing, dipping his toes into the water to test its temperature. He
shivered at the coolness of the clear stream, but his mind was already made up.

Yugi
blinked up at the taller royal � taking in his lack of clothing, as well as his
flawless form � with a deep blush. �W-what are you doing?!� he whispered.

�Preparing
to bathe, as you would be advised to do�Why, was there something else you
wanted to do?� Atemu asked suggestively.

�No�!�
Yugi�s eyes darted around the camp, finding many of its occupants up and
around. His gaze returned to the other king as the blush deepened.
�B-but�there�s p-people everywhere, t-they�ll see you!�

�So?�
Atemu glanced around unconcerned before aiming a smirk straight at his gaping
captive. �They will be doing the same in a few moments, I merely got here
first. Are you certain there is nothing else you wish to do?�

�B-but
don�t you�I wouldn�t want�no! I-I�m fine, really!� Yugi crossed his arms out in
front of him as if to ward off the other�s advances, his face nearly flaming
with the intensity of his blush. Oh gods
� the man is an exhibitionist! He thought, drawing a shaky breath. A gorgeous, childish exhibitionist! Why is
it so hot all of a sudden?

The
mere sight of the Pharaoh�s elegant figure, and the mischievous look in those
laughing scarlet eyes was driving him insane. Yugi felt the need to run from
the glade as fast as he possibly could, just as much as he needed to reach out
and touch the sun-kissed flesh that was revealed to his curious gaze. Torn
between the two contradictory feelings his body froze in place, leaving him
only able to gawk helplessly at the graceful monarch standing before him.

Atemu
glanced down at his figure appraisingly before gazing straight into startled
amethyst. �I am as the gods made me. Why should I be ashamed of this form?�

�As
the gods made�? Are you not a god yourself?� Yugi asked, his inquisitiveness
overcoming his natural shyness. From his understanding of the Egyptian culture
the Pharaoh was supposed to be Horus himself, in the
flesh.

Atemu
shrugged idly, jumping into the hip deep, chilly waters without a second
thought. He pondered the question as he dropped to his knees, using the silt
from the bottom of the stream to cleanse his face and body of the accumulated
dirt and grime. �They believe me to be a god of sorts. I have often thought
otherwise, but if they have need of a god to protect them then who am I to let
them down?

Again
Yugi could find no comment suitable, not that he had much of a chance, for once
he had turned his eyes from the Pharaoh�s stunningly perfect form he found
himself pulled feet-first into the chilly water, clothes and all. He came up
spitting and sputtering to find the Egyptian monarch laughing quietly at his
plight.

�Th-that wasn�t fair!! Next time warn me�or something!� Yugi
pouted as he shook his head, launching a spray of water into the air with his
heavy braids.

Atemu
snickered quietly in amusement. The little one quite resembled a small angry
kitten, all puffed up and pouting as he was � the sight was almost as cute as
when the boy blushed. He reached out to touch the Hyksos ruler�s complicated
hairstyle, remembering that he had wanted to see what was hidden underneath all
the beading and plaits.

�Why do you wear it like so?� He asked curiously, all traces of
laughter gone from his features

Yugi
averted his gaze, uncertain of the other�s sudden change in attitude. �My
father doesn�t � er�didn�t want to be reminded of my
Persian heritage�or so he�d implied on more than one occasion.�

�There
is nothing wrong with having Persian blood. I too have Persian ancestry; my
grandmother descended directly from their royalty. It is time for these to go.�
Atemu commanded as he began to unravel the thick plaits.

The
two struck up a cautious, stilted conversation as Atemu gently picked at the
complicated braids as if trying to find common ground without revealing too
much. Eventually they reached a safe topic and before either of them realized
it the job was done, a pile of discarded beads lay forgotten on the embankment.
Yugi sighed in relief, for those heavy plaits had been entirely too tight for
his comfort.

After
he was free of their weight he submerged himself in the chilly waters, running
his hands through the soft strands to separate them, scrubbing vigorously with
a vial of oil that the Pharaoh had given him. When he came back to the surface
he squeezed the water out of his hair allowing it to fall to his shoulders,
free of the cumbersome beading.

Atemu�s
eyes widened as he beheld his captive�s true splendor. Locks of spun gold
provided the perfect frame for the boy�s heart-shaped face, as inky blackness
gave way to reddish tips that just barely touched the tops of his shoulders.
This was what the boy had been hiding all this time?

Their
looks were so similar, it was uncanny; although the little one�s softened
features gave off an alluring innocence he could never lay claim to even on his
best day. Instantly wary � and a little jealous � Atemu wondered who else knew
of the boy�s true beauty, and if he should attempt to conceal it once they
returned home for fear of another�s lustful advances.

��W-what�? Did I do s-something wrong?� Yugi
stuttered, deliberately not understanding the cautious, yet lustful stare that
the other was aiming at him.

�Come,
little one, it is time to finish your bath.� Atemu shook his suspicions away as
he tugged at the soaking wet garments that clung to Yugi�s petite frame. He
wanted to see the rest of what was hidden from his view, if only to catch a
glimpse of what was being denied him for the moment.

�B-but��
Yugi crossed his arms over his chest in an effort to retain at least some of
his modesty.

The
frustrating Egyptian wagged a finger in front of his face teasingly. �Remember
your place, little one.�

Yugi
swallowed his retort, lowering his arms and allowing the other to undress him
until it came time to shed his waterlogged pants. �I-I can finish��

Atemu
nodded and stepped back, watching intently. From what he could see the little
one was beyond beautiful. The crystal clear water reflected back against
delicate porcelain skin in the dappled sunlight, giving the boy an almost
ethereal look. He waited until the pants had joined the rest of the clothing up
on the embankment before reaching out to trace the path of one of the water
droplets as it slid down the boy�s chest.

�Uh...w-what�?�
Yugi�s blush had deepened until he thought it would become a permanent fixture
on his face.

His
captor was being so gentle. And with those exotic eyes following his every
movement it was hard to think straight. For a moment Yugi wondered what it
would feel like to kiss those full lips, to taste the other�s flavor. Gods, the
man was beyond gorgeous, standing there with droplets of water running down his
slender body, just begging for him to savor them with his tongue.

The
young Hyksos quickly scrubbed himself down in an effort to rid himself of those
peculiar longings, hiding his face as he accomplished his task, re-emerging
only to find that the other�s intense gaze had not lessened in the slightest.
The two of them stared at each other for a while, neither willing to make the
first move.

�Shh�just feel, little one.� As if reading Yugi�s thoughts
Atemu reached out and took the young prince into his arms, the desire to taste
him overwhelming.

Yugi�s
breath hitched as a strong arm wrapped him up in a crushing embrace, chasing
the chill of the cold water from his body. He put his hands out in front of
him, unsure of whether it was just from his longing to touch the Pharaoh�s
masculine form or from the need to push the other away out of fear.

But
he had no further chance to examine his contrasting feelings as a pair of
feather-soft lips descended on his, stealing his first kiss without his prior
consent. He gasped softly, slender fingers digging into the other�s biceps as a
smooth tongue reached out to taste his bottom lip, unknowingly granting the
Egyptian monarch what he sought. And then his eyes fluttered shut at the
strange, but alluring feelings that this first kiss produced.

Atemu
groaned audibly. The boy was delicious, with
just the slightest the taste of mint on his breath. He probed deeper, searching
out the boy�s tongue and drew him into a heated battle as his hands wandered
the length of his body, mapping out all the sensitive areas with the tips of
his fingers, thoroughly enjoying the delicate shivers that ran through the
other�s petite frame. How could anyone taste this good?

If
he didn�t stop soon the little one was going to end up on his hands and knees,
their first kiss had left him with such a craving for more. Almost selfishly
Atemu wondered if the little one was as talented in other areas as he was in
kissing, and just where he had learned such a talent.

Before
he could steer his thoughts from their current direction Atemu�s hand wandered
of its own accord past the boy�s flat stomach, traveling downward to his
semi-erect manhood. He stroked the rigid flesh briefly, listening to the erotic
catch in the other�s breath. So the
little one likes it as well? Then this is fine, I will continue. The
wandering hand moved between slender legs until he found the place he sought.
Atemu stroked at the silken skin, loving how the muscles tensed at his intrusion.

Not
wishing to startle the boy in his arms and end their union prematurely, Atemu
broke the kiss, his lips traveling to Yugi�s neck to make his mark; a soft sigh
was his reward. As he did so he pressed his fingers up into the tight channel
to touch the boy from the inside, heedless of the gasp his captive made.

Yugi
stiffened as he felt something probing at his entrance. The pain of its entry
startled him and he squirmed out of his captor�s grasp with a cry. �N-No!
St-stop! Please!� He landed backwards in the water, flailing helplessly as he
tried, and failed, to catch his balance.

Atemu
flashed him a look of impatience, reaching out to haul his uncooperative slave
out of the water, pulling him up against his need. �Are you in need of another
reminder as to your station? You belong to me little one!�

�Don�t
do this�please! Not like this!� Yugi choked as he gave a tearful, pleading
glance up at his captor.

At
the anguished look in those innocent eyes Atemu cringed mentally. Damn it! What in the name of Re am I
thinking?! With a sigh of disgust directed more at himself than at the
child in his arms, the Egyptian royal pulled them both from the chilly waters.

Yugi
landed on his knees near the edge of the embankment, his captor tossing a piece
of drying cloth at him as though he no longer wanted anything to do with the
one who had had the audacity to reject him, storming off in search of a place
to vent his irritation with a complete disregard for his lack of clothing. The
young prince curled up into a ball in tears.

Atemu
strode forcefully through the center of the camp in search of a place to cool
down, never even noticing the stares his nude form garnered as he berated
himself mentally for his unforgivable behavior. Never before had he acted as
irrationally as he had today! There was no cause for him to force himself on
another against their will! Had he done so he would have been no better than
the men who had defiled Mana!

Upon
finding a quiet spot hidden from the others� view Atemu sank to the ground with
his head in his hands. His behavior had been inexcusable.

---------

In
the glade not far from the arguing duo, Malik heard his young sovereign plead
for his captor to stop. He had jumped to his feet with every intention of
helping the smaller teen before being tackled to the ground from behind.

�I
know what you are thinking and I�ll not let you meddle in their affairs.� Marik
growled.

�Get.
Off. Me!� Malik hissed. �You can�t let him do this! It�s not right!�

�It
is not of our concern where the Pharaoh finds his pleasure.� Marik retorted.
�If you do not cease your struggles than you shall find yourself in a similar
position.�

As
if in answer to the challenge Malik brought his head up, butting Marik square
in the nose. The two tussled, rolling around in the grass but in the end the
larger blonde proved stronger and a loud smack
was heard across the silent camp.

When
that failed to subdue the struggling blonde Marik withdrew his whip from where
it had been coiled against his waist. Malik gave the head guard a heated glare
as he jumped to his feet, unwilling to give in to the other�s arrogant demands.
The sounds of leather meeting flesh soon filled the camp, drawing onlookers as
the rest of the men caught sight of the battle.

Yugi
lay on the grass where the Pharaoh had dropped him, his will to exist
diminishing after that all too frightening confrontation. Upon hearing Malik�s cries Yugi shot to his feet, taking off at a dead run,
the drying cloth clutched in his hand. But he made it no further than a few
steps before Mahaado tackled him to the ground. He struggled futilely against
the other�s superior strength.

�Let
me go!� He cried. �Malik doesn�t deserve this�please!�

�Do
not interfere!� Mahaado hissed against his ear.

�He
was trying to protect me�� Yugi sobbed pitifully, earning a place in the aloof
priest�s heart with his loyalty. �Please don�t let this happen�please.�

Mahaado
sighed, wrapping the cloth around the boy�s nude form while still retaining a
good hold on the struggling youth. �I would be more worried about my own fate
if I were you. You would do well not to anger the Pharaoh. He is not known for
being the most patient of men.�

�But
I can�t just sit back and let my friends�� As Yugi struggled against Mahaado�s hold Malik�s cries
began to subside, until the only sounds left were those of nature. He broke out
into a fit of sobs.

�Hush
now young one; it is over.� Mahaado pulled them into a sitting position, wiping
the tears from his face with a gentle hand. �Marik was only trying to prove his
point; he is nowhere near as volatile as Bakura. Let�s get you dressed before
you catch a chill.�

Yugi
dropped his gaze. Prove his point? How was a beating such as that proving a
point? It was his fault; he was the one that surrendered his friends to these
fiends. Perhaps he would be wise to lie down and spread his legs like a good
whore, allow the Pharaoh to have his way with him, for every time he put up a
fuss one of his friends ended up hurt.

Yugi
allowed the gentle priest to outfit him in the clothing that Atemu had left
with little to no protest, his will to carry on having all but deserted him,
leaving him drained and almost incapable of movement. By the time he was
dressed the Pharaoh finally wandered back into camp, signaling that it was time
to depart. The group gathered their belongings, filled the water skins and
mounted up.

Mahaado
hoisted the despondent young king up onto the Pharaoh�s horse, letting go once
he was safely secured in Atemu�s arms, before shooting his sovereign a slight
glare and stalking away. Atemu raised a brow at the priest�s behavior
momentarily, before focusing on the unresponsive boy in his arms. He knew damn
well what that look was for.

He
had not intended to let his urges take over like that � even he knew better
than to force another against their will.�
But now that the line had been crossed he was unsure of what to say or
do to make up for his actions. The bitter taste of shame left his mouth dry and
he couldn�t force even the smallest sound past that lump in his throat. With a
curt nod at his men Atemu kneed his horse into a canter, falling back into his
thoughts.

Yugi
refused to look at his captor as they left the peaceful glade. He couldn�t. He
knew what his position entailed. He should have been prepared for that. Instead
he had acted like some foolish maiden trying to preserve her virginity. But he
couldn�t just willingly give himself to someone who had not even the slightest
care for him as a person.

His
grandfather had often spoken of true love. And that was what he wished for, not
some cheap imitation. But now that was an impossibility.
The arrogant man behind him owned him body and soul; there would be no chance
for love.

For
the rest of the day Yugi found himself the recipient of many dirty looks and
whispered comments from the soldiers. He bowed his head, hiding the tears that
he refused to shed, praying for the past three weeks to be a nightmare.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX7

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Mistaken Assumptions