mood: accomplished

The silver haired thief's laughter began as a shallow chuckle, but soon evolved into something that appeared more demonic in nature. He eyed his old "friend" with great amusement, "That's right, pharaoh. You wouldn't want to kill two friends of one of your new advisers, would you?" He taunted Atemu in ways that he'd never experienced from a tomb robber. A chill went down the young man's spine as he stared into the thief's icy eyes. Murmurs could be heard throughout the main chamber, for all who were observing could not fathom the little slave as an adviser. Their pharaoh would never be so generous. So, why did this retched thief claim that he was such?

Mentally snapping himself out of such a foolish state, the pharaoh narrowed his eyes at both thieves with as much contempt as he could muster. "How dare you use that tone with me! I should have you beheaded immediately! Guards! Take them away!" He furiously pointed his finger at the accused, then pointed in the direction of the prisoners' next destination: the crypt.

Yuugi made a gesture to stop this from happening, "Please, I beg of you! Don't send them to the crypt. It's a horrible place. I, myself, have been sent there a couple of times. At any rate, like I mentioned before, these two are my friends. I'm sure that whatever they did could be easily forgiven and amended." He ran over to his long since seen friends and put a hand on both their shoulders. He turned and faced Atemu, his eyes portraying a person in desperation, but also determination.

Atemu, though his heart was growing a soft spot for the small boy, was not going to back down on this decision. He stood up, flinging his arm in front of him, "Yuugi, step down! You have no authority on this matter. Move away from the prisoners, so my guards can take them to where they belong. Learn your place, little one. You're still just a minor adviser." With that said, he crossed his arms and glared at his shaking ex-slave, fire burning in his crimson orbs. He waited for Yuugi to move.

Though he was quivering with a fright he was all too familiar with, the little tri-colored haired boy stood his ground, until he couldn't anymore. Two of Atemu's high priests, Shada and Akhenaden, seized Yuugi's arms and attempted to escort him back to the pharaoh's side. Yuugi had other plans in mind and they didn't involve moving from his current position. He arched his back, leaning as far down to the ground as he could, dragging his swollen feet against the marble floor. Everyone, except Atemu, was in awe. Such behavior was only seen carried out by people not of the royal court. All you could hear in the massive room was Yuugi's groans, his feet sliding, and the gaurds' frustration.

"Yuugi..." A deep familiar voice was barley heard behind the little one's back. Yuugi quickly turned his head and eyed the owner of the voice: the one he called "Bakura."

"Listen, Bakura, I promise I'll get you out of this mess. Don't wo-"

The silver haired robber's voice chuckled maliciously once more as he smiled venomously at his old friend. "You don't get it, do you, Yuugi?"

This time, not only was Yuugi's attention drawn to the tomb raider's inquiries, but the platinum blond prisoner slowly turned his head in the same direction to listen in on what was to be said next.

With eyes never blinking, the thief continued, "Did you honestly think Marik and I wanted to be your friend?" Another small laugh emerged from his sand ridden lungs, "Don't make me laugh. Why do you think I personally asked you to send us secret messages about your time here in the temple? Think about it, you naive little simpleton. We wanted detailed information on how to navigate through this vast empire. So, thanks to you, we were able to find many of the king's tombs. Oh, and in case you were curious, my name isn't Bakura; it's Tozokuo."

Everyone in the room gasped, but Yuugi was the only one who spoke up, "The infamous thief and survivor of Kul Elna?! The very theif who's men killed my aunt and uncle in Asyut?!" His amethyst eyes were wide and his pupils were dilated, both in shock and horror.

A proud grin flew across the crazed Egyptian's cheeks, "Yes, that was me and my men -- before they died. Sadly, they were all killed by your beloved Pharaoh Atemu. I've spent most of my life seeking revenge on that worthless excuse for a pharaoh. His father should've killed him when he had the chance." He closed his blood red eyes to await the response he knew was coming.

"You vile excuse for a human being!" Atemu snapped in a fitted rage, "I will have your head for this, Tozukuo! Mark my words!" He pointed another daring finger at his new found enemy as death flew out of his eyes like daggers.

The infamous tomb raider lifted his head and smiled menacingly at the pharaoh, "Oh, I'll mark your words, Pharaoh. But you'll never kill me. The gods of the netherworld will aid in my protection and strike down your false gods. The Nile will flow red with the blood of the priests and people who serve you..."

Atemu could stand no more. He flung his arm one last time in the direction of the front entrance, "Take them out of my sight! I wish not to see them until their execution." He turned his back to the thieves and waited for the sound of footsteps to fade.

The two guards that carried them in grabbed them once more and pushed the raiders to begin their journey to the dark crypt below the kingdom. The grip Shada and Akhenaden had on Yuugi's arms softened as they let him fall lifelessly to the ground. His eyes were still dilated and shook like leaves on a windy day. He lifted his head slightly, turned it roughly 90 degrees to his right, and spoke timidly. "Baku... I mean, Tozokuo... so, all in all, you just... used me?"

The guards halted in order to let the prisoner answer the little one's question. The tomb robber glanced back at the trembling little body that sat on the marble floor and grinned, "I'm glad to see you're finally figuring things out. It was a pleasure doing business with you, Yuugi. I'm sure we'll meet again someday." The first gaurd pushed Tozokuo out into the bright Egyptian sunlight, and the other was about to follow in his tracks, but Yuugi's trembling voice echoed once more throughout the temple.

"Marik..." This time, Yuugi's amethyst eyes held more sadness than they did with the previous robber, "You... were in on this, too? You pretended to be my friend in order to gain access to the pharaoh's tombs?"

Marik's eyes held just as much sadness and confusion as Yuugi's, "Yuugi, I had nothing to do with this! I don't even know why I'm here. One minute, I'm collecting water by the Nile, then the next I'm gagged, tied with a rope, and thrown on the ground like a criminal. I haven't done anything! I swear to it! And, Yuugi, ... why do you keep calling me Marik? My name is Malik. I thought you knew that. We grew up together."

Yuugi's head shot up, "Malik? But... you always told me that..." upon further examination of his friend, the little adviser's eyes narrowed in confusion, "Hey... how come your hair is shorter again? And your body height has changed. The same can be said for your body type, too. Why do you look different everytime I see you?"

Malik just stared at him in much confusion, "Yuugi, I have no idea what you're talking about. You're speaking as if there are two of me. How can that be possible? I've always been just me."

The guard, who was more than agitated that he was now far behind schedual, pushed his prisoner roughly forward. "Alright, that's enough talking! Get a move on, you retch!"

Yuugi still had more questions to ask and now it seemed as if they'd never get answered.

"Yuugi!" The little one cringed at the sound of Atemu's thundering voice. He turned to see a deep seated rage in those crimson eyes he's grown so fond of, yet still feared in depths of his heart. "Come with me to my bedchamber. I want to have a word with you." Atemu turned and walked out of the main chamber, his cape flowing ever so elegantly behind him.

Everyone stared at the newly appointed advisor as he stood up and walked slowly towards his given location; knowing full well that he would get an ear full due to all the treason he unknowingly commited.

mood: accomplished

Many thoughts swam through little Yuugi's head as he was floating in ecstacy with each passing second. His lips seemed to meld with the Pharaoh's and he couldn't help but hope this wasn't just another spur of the moment kiss. 'Will my beautiful Pharaoh's eyes hold warmth, as they did only moments ago... or will they revert back to being cold and distant? He shivered a little at the thought.

Atemu, noticing a change in mood, parted ways with his new advisor's cherry red lips that were now glistening in Ra's light of day. He looked inquiringly into Yuugi's big amethyst orbs and saw a mixture of lust and fear. He smirked slightly, then gently ran his fingers over the young boy's flushed cheeks. "Why do you stare at me like that? Is something troubling you, Yuugi?"

His name. He finally heard his name sail across the Pharaoh's lips in a soothing tone, rather than an enraged one. Tears flooded his eyes, whereby the little ex-slave lowered his head to hide and dry them.

The young Pharaoh didn't know how to handle this kind of situation, so he struggled to find the right words. "Y-Yuugi, what's wrong? Uh... did I say something wrong? If I did, I apologize. Please stop crying." He dared not touch his sobbing look alike, for fear he might make matters worse. Atemu placed his palm over his eyes in frustration. 'O Gods, help me...'

"Pharaoh..." Yuugi's voice was barely above a whisper, "... I... could I..."

Upon finally hearing a response, Atemu removed the hand from his eyes and stared attentively at the little statue, "What? What is it, little one?"

Yuugi didn't lift his head one bit. His eyes remained glued to the floor as he continued, "May I... um..." it was duely noted that Yuugi's face was now ten times redder than before "... that is... I..."

Truth be told, the Pharaoh's patience was wearing thin. He made a mental note to, from now on, train himself to grow more tolerate of people. So as not to snap, he took a deep breathe, closed his eyes, and said calmly, "Yuugi, can you please tell me wh-"

"CAN I PLEASE HUG YOU?!" Atemu was taken back by how powerful and loud little Yuugi's voice rang out. Eyes squinted shut in fear, Yuugi awaited his Pharaoh's response, hoping to the Gods it would be a pleasant one.

Once again, the almighty King of Lower Egypt's laughter echoed throughout the temple. Royal purple eyes shot up to stare blankly at the ecstatic Egyptian ruler. His face flushed as his cheeks puffed out like a nut collecting squirrel. He glared angrily at his Pharaoh, "What's so funny?"

Atemu wiped tears of mirth from his now shining crimson eyes as he tried to compose himself, "I'm sorry for laughing, little one. I find it ammusing that you were so frightened about asking me for something as simple as a hug." He chuckled a little more before taking a deep breathe and falling silent.

The flustered teen boy didn't know how to respond. He merely looked away, blushing. "I... I didn't know how you'd react to such a request. I'm sure nobody's ever asked for something like a simple hug from you."

Atemu giggled, "Yes, you would be the first. The only comfort I've ever recieved from another person, since my mother died, would be from my cousin, Seth. He's always looked out for me. Quite a surprise coming from the son of a greedy cold-hearted bastard like Tjuya, but that's Seth for you. His heart is always worn on his sleeve." The Pharaoh smiled as he recalled many occurances in which his beloved cousin came to his aid.

Chains rattled as Yuugi lifted his hand to place it on Atemu's arm, "You're the same way, Atemu. You've always had a big heart." He smiled up at his handsome Pharaoh, who returned the gesture.

Atemu grasped Yuugi's hand and placed it on his chest, causing the little boy to flush furiously, "My heart is still cold, Yuugi. True, it's warming up now because of you, but it'll take quite awhile before I can be reborn as a new Pharaoh and person. Years of suffering and torture will be hard to erase. Who knows if I'll be able to face my demons."

mood: creative

Tears still seeped from the distressed Pharaoh's eyes as he listened to his toy's humming. He didn't budge as he spoke, "What is that melody y-you... hum so peacefully?" He sniffed back as much sadness as he could, so as to hear little Yuugi's answer.

Thankful that his master had finally uttered words, the little peasant lay still as he remembered a distant pastime. "It's a song my mother sang to me as a child. I'll never forget the words for as long as I live." He fell silent, deep in thought.

Atemu lifted his head and looked over at the little one who resembled himself in so many ways. "Where is she now?" He asked with slight reverence.

Yuugi clutched the satin sheet with his right hand, "She's dead. She died two years ago... in a... raid."

The young Pharaoh repositioned himself back on his pillow and quietly said a prayer to Ra for his little slave's deceased mother. "Sorry for your loss. Do you remember who raided your village?"

Silence was all that could be heard in the Pharaoh's chamber. Questioningly, Atemu raised an eyebrow, "Yuugi...?"

"... It was your men... my Pharaoh." Atemu's whole body shot up like a spring as he stared wide eyed at Yuugi, who was still lying in the same spot -- not moving a muscle. "I was out collecting water from the nearby river. I came up over the hill... " his eyes squinted as he unearthed his terrible past, "... and saw nothing but red flames, burning as high as the heavens. I dropped my water jug and ran to my house... hoping my family got out safely. But..." tears surfaced on the lids of little Yuugi's amethyst eyes, "... but she... my whole family... had been burned alive. I could smell their rotting corpses. I could even taste them in my mouth. When I walked into our burning house, I saw all three of them... my mom, my little sister, and my father, all huddled in a corner of what once was our family room. They were lying together. Clinging to each other... as if that would somehow save them." He buried his face within the Atemu's fine satin sheets and sobbed his little heart out, "Why? Why my family? Why my village? Why did they have to die? What, on Ra's green earth, had they ever done to deserve such treatment? My family was my sole reason for living. When I lost them, I lost everything. I wanted to die, so I could be with them. But, you..." He turned his head slightly, so his master could see the hatred dwelling in his eyes, "... you had your men escort any survivors out of that forgotten village and into slavery. I worked my hands to the bone everyday for two years; until you summoned me, along with nineteen other men, to your temple, where I would be imprisoned as your new toy for the rest of my life. Why do you reap so much joy out of mistreating the innocent? How can you be so cold hea-" He quickly slapped his hands over his mouth to keep from saying anymore. He had already spoken too much. In his heart, he felt as if he was asking for a death wish. He dared not look at his master as he lay on the bed, frozen stiff.

Atemu's expression was unreadable as he stared blankly at the frightened slave. He closed his eyes and bent his head far back, as if praying to one of the Gods for help. "Yuugi..."

The little peasant said nothing. Only shivered and cringed more at the sound of his name being called.

Atemu took a deep breathe, lowered his head without opening his eyes, and spoke sincerely, "Let me tell you a story. A story... about my own past..."

Yuugi stopped shivering and raised an attentive ear, wanting to hear this "story" about his Pharaoh's past.

Atemu opened his eyes and stared blankly at the sheets below him, "As you know, I was born as the son to the almighty Pharaoh of Lower Egypt, Ahmose. His wife, my mother, Nailah, was a very kind and tender woman. I remember how she used to play hide-and-seek with me in this very temple, seeing as how I was forbidden to interact with children from neighboring villages. My father would always tell me, 'Atemu, remember that you are the son of a Pharaoh and the heir to the Egyptian throne. Playing with peasant children is a disgrace to the Gods and me. Know your place!' I can still hear his thundering voice as if it were yesterday. Oh how I feared my father. He was strong, powerful, and ruthless. He enjoyed torturing the innocent, like it was some kind of sick game. He forced me to watch every time he went on these ridiculious escapades. The sight of blood has always made me feel sick to my stomach. Whenever I covered my eyes to blind myself from the savage beatings that lay before me, Ahmose would remove them in an instant and yell in my ear, 'Don't hide from fate, my son! This is what being a Pharaoh is all about. We, the ones chosen by Ra himself to rule over Egypt, have an obligation to show those who would dishonor us the wrath of the Gods. Never show weakness, Atemu! Remember that well.'"

Atemu smirked, half-hearted, and choked out a sighing laugh, "I sure as Sokar* remembered his words. To this very day, I live by those cruel words of advise." He sighed heavily as he noted how side tracked he was becoming, "As I was saying, my father held no remorse for the weak, no matter who they were.

"One day, my father introduced me to his brother, Tjuya. I was expected to address this man as my uncle, though I had never met him before. I, honestly, wish I hadn't met him. Apparently, Tjuya was having problems in his home land, Luxor. Of course, Ahmose gladly let him stay at our temple until things settled in Luxor. Ra knows, I wish he hadn't. One night, while I was trying in vain to sleep, I heard my father and uncle talking and laughing. I could only assume they were drinking wine, for their words seemed slurred and incomprehensible. I decided to try my best at sleeping once more. A short time passed before I heard the door to my room creak open. I turned over in my bed to see who it was, but found it hard to make out a profile in the dark. Only when the figure was mere inches from my face could I see and smell that it was my uncle, Tjuya. He was obviously not right in the head from too much wine consumption, for he kept stammering and fumbling with every step he took. I asked what he wanted, but instead of a worded reply, I got a mouth full of saliva that tasted of aged liquor. He didn't stop kissing me as he forcefully pushed me down on my bed. He got on top of me and began undressing. I was too young to comprehend what was going on. All I knew was that whatever my dear uncle had planned for me, it wasn't going to be pleasant. I tried wriggling free, but he was a lot stronger and older than I was. He held me down fast, leaving me no room to escape. After we both were unclothed, he had his way with me. I was only 10 years old. It's a pity my first sexual encounter was with my drunken uncle.

"When my mother heard of this event, she was outraged. She threatened my father with taking me away. A bad choice on her part. Ahmose had her beheaded that very evening. I remember crying my eyes out as I watched Nailah being escorted to the execution grounds. She turned to me, smiled, and winked -- as if telling me to be strong. I nodded my tiny head, silently promising her that I would be strong. I saw as her head was wrapped in a black bag, then chopped off with a huge sword." A tear escaped Atemu's eye, but he quickly wiped it away. "After the funeral was held, my father put his cold hand on my shoulder and whispered, 'Son, your mother deserved to die. She betrayed us. She was too soft on you, thereby causing you to be such a weeping weakling. I shall raise you to be the greatest Pharaoh is history. You'll learn the proper ways of becoming an Egyptian ruler. You'd better not let me down.' Strong words that came from such a heartless man. But who was I to disobey. I was the heir to his throne and had an obligation to carry out my duties as such.

"The next 8 years of my life were a living nightmare. I was constantly beaten, raped, and tortured by, not only my father, but his high priests as well. Such treatment forced terrible thoughts into my head. I was slowly becoming my father. One time, I realized this fact and attempted to flee my father's kingdom. He found me soon after and beat me senseless. Hence, the massive scars all over my backside. I learned to never disobey him again.

"When I reached the age of 18, my mind was swimming with ruthless thoughts. My greatest goal at that time was to kill the man who made my life a living Netherworld... my father, Ahmose. Whilst he was in his lounging chamber, being fed by his many wives, I casually let myself in, sword in hand. He glanced up at me for only a mere moment before I proceeded to lop his head off in one clean swipe. Blood flew in all directions. The women screamed and ran out of the room as fast as they could. I stood in front of my father's corpse, drenched in blood, and smiled. The sight of blood no longer made me feel queasy; but instead gave me a rush I had never felt before. I loved it and longed for more.

"My reign as Pharaoh followed in familiar steps. I loved torturing peasants and slaves. The sounds of screams and cries were like music to my ears. Until now, I had never really contemplated exactly how much I had turned into Ahmose. My mother had taught me to be kind and gentle to others, but after she died, her lessons faded into a distant memory, until all I could hear was my father's thundering voice telling me to be cruel. I guess, all in all, I'm the real fool in the end. I became my father, while leaving no trace of my mother, Nailah, anywhere in my life. I guess I'm a failure as a son..." Tears crept out of his beautiful crimson eyes once more, so he covered them with his hands. He sobbed more than he ever had in a long time.

Yuugi, on the other hand, was speechless. He had just heard an earful of his Pharaoh's past and he didn't know how to respond to it. What could he say? His life was sad, but, at the same time, this was the man that ordered Yuugi's village and family to be burned to the ground. Was he supposed to pity his master... or hate him for what he's done to so many innocent people?

mood: enthralled

Yuugi sat in the bath, dumbfounded. Had he said too much to his Pharaoh? Did he perhaps open an old wound? He had to know. As fast as he could, he washed himself down and poured hot oils on his body. He wanted to be as presentable as possible.

Back in the Pharaoh's chambers, Atemu paced frantically from one wall to the next. His hands were clasped tightly around his head as he tried to reason with himself.

"Stupid little peasant! How dare he ask about my scars! It's none of his Ra damned business! I haven't been asked about them in over 10 years. They were a forgotten memory..." as his words faded, so did his pacing. A forelorn look fell across his facial features and he fell to the floor. Images flashed through his mind so fast, he needed the support of his right arm and hand to keep the dizziness from causing him to fall. He glanced toward his backside and, slowly, he dared touch the battered muscles. Pain shot through his entire being as if the marks were inflicted that very day. He winced and bent his body over so his forehead touched the cold marble floor below. He began shedding tears of remorse, sorrow, agony, and, most of all, fear and anger.

He was so lost in his cries and forgotten thoughts that he failed to hear the doors of his chamber creak open. The tiny slave's eyes widened in shock when he saw Atemu haunched over on the floor.

"Pharaoh!" He yelled as he ran over to the broken spirited King of Lower Egypt. He knelt behind the shaking ball known as Pharaoh Atemu and gently placed his hand on his trembling back. "Are you alright, Ph-AAAGHHNN!!!!!" When his little hand touched Atemu's precious scars, the distraught Pharaoh was instantly brought to his senses and thwacked Yuugi's hand away as hard as he could. Atemu's golden braclets had made contact with the little slave in the process, thus causing tremendous pain for Yuugi's wrist and hand. Atemu could care less about the little one's pain, as he stared at him with such intense hatred. Yuugi felt as if his eyes were going to melt from the fire that was being shot his way from the Pharaoh's own crimson orbs. He was too scared to say anything, so he just sat a few feet from Atemu and stared in sheer horror.

"How dare you..." Atemu finally choked out, "How DARE you show your face to me after what you did in the bathhouse! Have you no shame you leech infested little rat!? Why did you inquire about my scars? Would seeing me in such a wretched state give you some sort of pleasure? Answer me slave, or your head rolls tonight!" His body now loomed over Yuugi's trembling body and, as his big amythist eyes slowly made their way up to meet the Pharaoh's, he vividly remembered a similar scene from when he was first brought to the temple.

"...I... I was j-just... u-uh..." Tears were falling quite rapidly as his fear could no longer be hidden, "I couldn't... just say nothing. I know the pain of being whipped, so I thought..." His eyes fell to the marble floor, "I thought I'd be someone you could-"

"Confide in!!!!!????" The Pharaoh ubruptly interupted, "Is that what you were going to say?! Well, I don't need your damn sympathy, nor understanding! If you want to see them so badly again, then here!" Atemu let the back side of his robes drop down to his waistline, revealing the bruised and scratched reminiscence of a torchered past. "Is this what you wanted to see, slave?!"

Yuugi looked away and squinted his eyes shut. "NOOO!!!!! I don't wish to see that, Atemu!"

"Don't call me Atemu!" The angered Pharaoh snapped. "You have no right to call me by my Ra given name. You know the proper way to address me and I expect such respect."

"I'm terribly sorry, Pharaoh! I meant no disrespect. I swear it! I apologize for what I've said to you. It's not my place to inquire such things. I shall hold my tongue from now on. Please forgive me, my King!" Yuugi's little body bent as far down as it could as he begged for his life.

Atemu saw the swollen spot where his priceless golden heirlooms had hit his slave's wrist. His eyes grew a bit softer as he stared down at the pathitic display before him. "Get up, slave. I shall forgive you this one time. But never, under any circumstances, are you to bring up my scars again. Understood?"

Yuugi's head shot up, revealing widened eyes that expressed confusion and relief. He watched as his Pharaoh walked over to his enormous bed and sat himself down on the edge.

Atemu looked over in Yuugi's direction and grew irritated that he hadn't moved and was only staring. "I said get up, you imbisile! Have you gone deaf or something? And dust yourself off. You look horrid."

The little peasant quickly sprung to his feet and dusted himself off with his hands. He winced and hissed slightly as he moved his injured wrist. The Pharaoh saw this and sighed, "Come sit by me, little one." Cautiously, Yuugi made his way over to Atemu's bedside and sat himself down. His shoulders were raised to the point they were touching his ears. His head jerked in Atemu's direction as he felt his right hand being lifted by none other than the Pharaoh himself. He watched with both fear and anxiety running through his vains as Atemu studied his battered wrist.

Atemu made note of Yuugi's painful reaction when he lightly touched the black and blue area of the little one's wrist. The next act shocked Yuugi: the Pharaoh gently pressed his warm lips against the tender spot. "I'm sorry, little one. I did not mean to hurt you." His whispers tickled the peasant's ears. He blushed as he gazed at his Pharaoh's still damp face. Atemu's eyes were closed and Yuugi couldn't help but think he looked peaceful and content. Once Atemu's eyes were opened, they held a soft and heartwarming appearance. The Pharaoh's face inched closer to Yuugi's and, eventually, his lips found sanctuary upon the little one's.

Yuugi froze for only a moment, but fell into bliss soon after. Though he was tempted, he dared not touch Atemu's face. Why would he want to ruin a moment as perfect as this? Yuugi cracked an eye open when he felt something moist touch his cheek. The Pharaoh was crying once more.

mood: accomplished

Flopping himself down on his satin sheets, Atemu tried in vain to understand what transpired in the bathhouse. Why did he laugh? Such an act wasn't common amoung Pharaohs, thus was viewed as a sign of weakness. Not wanting to be labeled as the weakest Pharaoh in all of Lower Egypt, the rattled boy sat up and got in the lotus position. He began his usual mantra, of which he often used when upset or stressed. In the moment he felt his spirit find peace, Sahudah, the gaurd he left in charge of watching Yuugi, barged in the room, panting up a storm.

"Sire!"

Although startled by this intrusion, Atemu never opened his eyes, nor removed himself from the lotus position. "Now, if memory serves me correctly, I distinctly remember telling you and all my gaurds never to disturb me while I'm in the middle of a mantra. This brings us to our current situation. Why are you standing in my doorway, yelling at me like a squaking bird? Your answer decides whether you get whipped or not."

Sahudah bowed in apology, "I'm terribly sorry, your highness! I only barged in because I thought you'd like to know that your newest slave escaped from the bathhouse. I don't know how, considering I was standing guard the whole time, not moving an inch. I thou-" His face grew white with fear as he noticed his Pharaoh approaching, eyes filled with rage and hate.

Atemu grabbed his gaurd by the collar, held him up, and glared at him with eyes burning as red as the sun. "Did you not think to find him, you useless wretch?! Or were you too busy losing your mind over not seeing him in the bath? He could've been hiding within the room, waiting for a chance such as this to make his escape. Now, how do wish to atone for your sins?"

The frightened right-hand man felt tongue tied. Knowing full well that his Pharaoh was right, he only lowered his head in shame. "You're right, Sire. I failed you. I'll await any punishment you see fit to bestow upon me."

The angry Pharaoh's eyes narrowed as he grew more irritated with what was happening. He dropped Sahudah on the cold floor and stormed past him, through the door. "You stay there, Sahudah! Be ready for your punishment when I return." With that said, he slammed the door behind him and sped walked towards the bathhouse. 'What in RA's name could that little rat be pulling this time?! When I find him, he's gonna be snake food!'

Upon reaching said location, he pushed open the large golden doors and yelled, "Where are you, slave?!"

When no answer was returned, the young Pharaoh's blood boiled. Black brows knitted together as he slowly scowered the room for his missing servant. Upon reaching the tub, which was still filled with luke warm spring water, he noticed tiny bubbles surfacing and popping rapidly. His ruby eyes went wide as he feared his little slave might be drowning. He quickly removed his heirlooms and dove in.

He spotted the little peasant, but instead of seeing him struggling for air, he noted that his little slave was, in fact, surprised to see his Pharaoh's presence. He signaled for him to surface and the two swam upwards to catch a much needed breathe. Once above water, the Pharaoh quickly made his way to the side of the tub/mini pool, pulled himself out, and sat on the edge. His makeup was now running down the side of his face and he was sure it looked quite terrible. He grabbed a neaby towel and wiped his face as clean as he could. He then looked over at his toy, who was still wading in the shallow end, and sighed with both relief and annoyance.

"Sahudah is going to get the beating of his life once I get back to my room." His eyes narrowed curiously at Yuugi, "Why were you submerged like that, slave? You gave my gaurd the impression that you'd escaped."

Thrown back a bit by this question, the little peasant stumbled over his words. "I... uh... I w-was... trying t...to teach myself... h-how t-to... swim..." He lowered his head, not wanting to look into his Pharaoh's rage filled eyes.

The Pharaoh couldn't help but chuckle in amusement, "Ha, is that all? What a trifle matter. I could've gotten one of my other servants to teach you if you desired to learn so badly."

"I didn't want to trouble you, Pharaoh." He raised his pupils a bit and was surprised to see not rage, but a look of contentment. He lifted his head and immediately noticed how wet Atemu's clothes were and how black his face was due to the makeup running all over it. He giggled to himself as he swam towards his master. "Would you like me to wash you, Sire? You're already wet, so why not take advantage of it? If it would please your majesty, I would be humbled to do this for you."

Though he didn't want to admit it, Atemu knew Yuugi was right. He could use a good washing, after all. He closed his eyes and began to stand, "You'd better be good. I don't want scratches all over my perfect backside."

Yuugi's eyes gleamed at his Pharaoh's approval. "Yes, my Pharaoh! I'll be sure to wash you thoroughly. You need not worry."

"I hope not." Atemu turned his back to Yuugi and began to strip down. A widespread blush fell upon the little slave's face and he quickly turned around. Hearing the water around his new toy splash rather frantically, the Pharaoh peeked over his shoulder in curiousity. Knowing full well that Yuugi was blushing at seeing his stunning physique, Atemu smirked and continued undressing himself. Once done, he wrapped a towel around his waist, grabbed a nearby stool, and sat himself down with his back still facing Yuugi. "I don't have all day, slave! Begin your washing on the double!"

Yuugi's head spun around in shock as he completely forgot to keep watch over the Pharaoh's completion of stripping down. "Yes, Pharaoh! Sorry, your majesty!" He quickly grabbed a bottle of cleansing oil, poured some of the contents onto a small towel, then proceeded to wash the almighty Pharaoh's back as gently as he could.

The Pharaoh's skin was amazingly beautiful. It was soft to the touch and smooth as silk. The muscles arced through his that tanned exterior. Yuugi blushed as he stared awestricken by this site. He knew it was a rare site to see the Pharaoh as exposed as this, so he soaked it all in like a spunge.

mood: ecstatic

No turning back. Yuugi's fate now rested in the hands of a ruthless Egyptian Pharaoh. Yuugi debated weather running away was worth it, considering where it led him. He followed closely behind his master, not taking his eyes off the ground below. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Narmerza's Sennen Ring around his neck and pondered if that item had, in fact, led the Pharaoh to his hiding spot in the courtyard. He'd heard many tales regarding the powers of each Sennen item, but never witnessed any in action himself. He was curious, but decided to put that thought aside, as he had more pressing issues to address. What horrid things awaited the little peasant once inside the Pharaoh's chambers? He mentally prayed to Ra that he would, at least, be alive to see another day.

Once at the door of his room, Atemu ordered Narmerza to give his gaurd, Na'tah, ten lashings for trying to whip one of his slaves without permission. With a bow, the Ring owner about faced and soon was out of site, leaving Yuugi alone with the cruel Pharaoh.

Opening the large, golden doors, Atemu smirked as he turned his head to look at his cowering toy who was shaking in utter terror. "You've been very naughty, little one. I will have to punish you for all the sins you've commited so far. First, I want some answers. Step inside and sit on that chair beside my dresser." The weak and tired slave slowly made his way inside. Atemu was never a patient person and seeing the little slave move like a slug made his blood boil. "Get the Hell inside, you Horus forsaken piece of dirt!" Yuugi went flying across the room, as the Pharaoh's foot connected forcefully with his back.

After landing a few feet away, the battered slave curled into a ball and cringed in both pain and fear. Never before had he experienced such suffering. Now he understood why Pharaoh Atemu was known the world over as a ruthless canable. It was much worse than he had ever expected. He clutched the rusted chains that bound his legs and arms, hoping that this would all, somehow, turn out to be some kind of bad dream.

"I said go sit on the chair, slave! Are you hard of hearing?" Atemu's deep, commanding voice sent shivers down the little one's spine. He slowly got up, trying in vain to ignore the sharp pains that shot through his backside where the Pharaoh's foot once made contact. He winced as he walked over to the large, fancy chair and sat down.

Atemu walked over to his scared little toy and loomed over him, once again, with his arms crossed. "Now, tell me why you ran away from me. You are the first person to dare refuse my advances. Although I am very upset by this, I can't help but feel intrigued. I want to hear your reasons behind it. Now, speak up."

Knowing full well that anything he says would result in either death or a serious lashing, he sighed heavily before opening his tiny fragile mouth to speak, "I... I was v-very... f-frightened, sire. I panicked. I apologize profusely for my misguided actions earlier. I..." He felt tears forming in his eyes and he tried to fight them off, so as to not let the Pharaoh have another reason to whip him. "... I didn't know what else to do. I was... just... so... s-scared..." Trails of salty tears now fell down the frightened slave's cheeks, as he felt more and more uneasy with each passing second. He just wanted to get whatever the Pharaoh had planned for him over with. The tension was becoming too much for him to bear.

Atemu's beautiful black brows raised slightly at the sight of Yuugi crying. As heartless as he was, something inside him twisted and ached and he grew frustrated with these odd new feelings. His eyes twitched with agitation until he could taker it no longer, "Aaaahhhh, what in Ra's name is wrong with me?!" He sped walked over to his bed while holding his face in his hands, and proceeded to throw himself on the soft satin sheets.

Yuugi looked up immediately after hearing the Pharah yell. His eyes followed his stressed master to the bed and was more confused than ever. 'What happened just now? Did I say something to cause him such distress?' Chains rattled as he stood up and walked slowly towards the bed, where Atemu still lay -- head in hands, flat on his back. He stopped at the foot of the bed and tried to address his King.

"Um... d-did I... say something... to... offend you, Pharaoh? I apologize for any rudness I may have displayed." He bowed as low as he could, but his back was too bruised to go any further than a couple of inches. He winces and hissed in pain.

At hearing this, Atemu raised his hand and head to see what caused Yuugi such agony. He quickly plopped his head back down on one of his many pillows and spoke softly, "I don't know what's happening to me. I'm a little scared about what these strange feelings inside of me might mean. Maybe I have the plague or worse. Ever since you came into my life, things have, somehow, ... changed. For the first time in my reign over Lower Egypt, I don't know what to do. It's frightening." The almighty Pharaoh grabbed one of his pillows, assumed the lotus position, then closed his eyes.

Yuugi stood, awestruck at seeing this cold-hearted, ruthless Pharaoh speak to him as if he were an equal. To add to his astonishment, he realized he must be the first person to have ever seen him curled up like a fetus on the bed. Given the circumstances, the little peasant couldn't help but think of his Pharaoh as cute in this vulnerable state. He walked up to Atemu's bedside, kneeled on the floor, trying to to make too much noise with the rattling chains, then proceeded to do something no one ever dared to attempt -- place a caring hand on the Pharaoh's arm.

Crimson eyes flew open when he felt Yuugi's cold, shaking hand on his forearm. He stared at Yuugi, then his hand, then back at Yuugi... who was trying his hardest to give his Pharaoh an honest to Ra smile. Atemu's cold heart melted at this sight and, truth be told, he felt bad for how bruised and dirty the little one's face was. His eyes softened as he relaxed back into the comfort of his pillow. He placed a gentle hand on the one Yuugi had on his forearm, then did something he hadn't done in years -- smile with sencere gratitude.

The two became lost in each other's eyes only for a few moments, before Atemu mentally snapped himself out of his current trance. He quickly sat up, removed his arm from Yuugi's gentle grasp, then buried his face, once again, inside his hands. 'What in the name of Osiris happened a minute ago?! I must be losing my mind.' He glanced over at his slave, who was staring back at him, blushing and afraid. He sighed heavily before gesturing to get off the bed. "Let's get you cleaned up, runt. I don't like when my toys are dirty. Follow me." He stood up, walked over to the doors, and gestured for Yuugi to come. "Do I have to repeat myself or will I have to drag your pathetic body to the bathhouse?"

That said, Yuugi did as he was told, quickly making his way to the door. Yuugi couldn't help but wonder why Atemu hadn't beaten the life out of him yet. And why was he suddenly offering to give Yuugi a bath? These answers were sure to be awaiting him once they arrived at the bathhouse.

mood: creative

Pharaoh Atemu was your typical Egyptian ruler. He was hot-headed, unruley, and somewhat cruel to his people. His father had raised him to be the most powerful and influential figure in all of Egypt, which proved successful. Although he had everything his heart desired, the young Pharaoh was never satisfied. He demanded riches, women, men, entertainment, clothes, anything his cold heart desired. Nothing was ever good enough for him. As anyone could suspect, he was not well liked amoung his fellow Egyptians. Many death threats have been placed on his head, yet most have been thwarted by his many bodygaurds. Atemu remained under the delusion that his life was, somehow, perfect. He had everything he could ever want, yet, in the back of his mind, he knew something was missing. This troubled the Pharaoh deeply and he grew more frustrated with each passing day. He suddenly began ordering more slaves, women, men, and entertainment than usual -- trying, in vain, to fill the empty void he felt so strongly in the deeepest part of his black heart.

One hot, miserable day, Atemu was, once again, summoning  new slaves to his throne room for inspection and approval. His advisors brought a line up of about 20 different male slaves to the cold room, whipping them as they made their way to the steps leading to the Pharaoh's throne. They were whipped once more, signaling them to stop and make a horizontal line in front of his majesty.

The emotionally stressed Pharaoh warily looked down at the tired, beaten, and worn out bunch of males ranging in size and age. He slowly stood up and walked down the stone steps. The peasants dared not look into the Pharaoh's eyes, for such an act was considered insulting and usually resulted in a long prison term. They kept their eyes locked on the beautiful marble floor as their Pharaoh inspected them, one by one.

One happened to catch Atemu's eye. The smallest one at the very end posed a striking resemblance to the Pharaoh, himself. Intrigued by this fact, he approached the boy, looming over him like a pillar.

"What is your name, boy?" The Pharaoh inquired, in a very authoritive tone.

The young one knew it was against the law to speak to the Pharaoh, so he kept silent. Atemu was growing agitated upon recieving no response from this meager little peasant who dared ignore the mighty Pharaoh. The Pharaoh's advisor who held the whip saw his majesty's growing irritation and proceeded to whip the small one's back.

"Speak up you little wretch!" The whip flew, but instead of hitting the young one's back, it was met by the Pharaoh's arm. Shocked, the whip controller just stared at the firey crimson eyes that lay before him, confused and frightened.

Atemu didn't blink as his eyes threw invisible daggers at the frightened man in front of him, "I don't remember ordering you to whip this boy. If you ever try a stunt like that again, your head will roll. Understood?"

The advisor removed his whip from the Pharaoh's arm and fell to the ground, bowing as low as he could, "Please forgive me, your highness! I did not mean to disobey you. It'll never happen again!"

The cold hearted Pharaoh sneered at his slave, "See that it doesn't." His attention reverted back to the little peasant, who was now shaking in fear. "Why do you tremble, little one? Did I somehow frighten you? Fear not. I have no intention of striking you at this time. Now, tell me your name. I'm giving you permission to speak, so you needn't hold your tongue."

Even though permission was granted, the young boy's boby trembled more as he attempted to speak, "Yuu... Yuu..." His eyes squinted in pain as he bent his body forward to bow as low as he could. "Yuugi, your majesty. My n-name is Y-Yuugi, sire."

The ancient Egyptian Pharaoh's heart fluttered as he heard the young one's sweet voice. Atemu had never felt like this before, hence his confused reaction. He wanted to know why this peasant had such an effect on him, so he decided to invest his time learning the reasons behind it.

"Look at me, boy." He leaned foward to get a better look at his future slave. Little Yuugi's head lifted and locked eyes with his ruler. His face flushed as he suddenly became awestruck by the figure in front of him.

'Beautiful...' The little peasant could only think of such a word to describe how he viewed the Pharaoh. 'His eyes -- red like flames; his hair -- strangely like mine, yet more beautiful; his skin -- smooth like a newborn and toned like sand after the rainy season; his body...' Yuugi's face grew even hotter as his mind ventured further than he had wanted. He immediately looked away in an attempt to avoid any further eye contact with the beautiful Pharaoh.

After seeing Yuugi's eyes for the first time, Atemu found himself strangely drawn to them. He found them enchanting, entising, and... amazingly cute. When he saw the little one's face flush and turn away, he couldn't help but smirk ever so slightly. He straightened himself, removed the small smile on his face, raised his right hand to get everyon'e attention, and announced his decision.

"Let it be known that I have chosen this little peasant who calls himself, Yuugi. All of the other peasants may return to their villages. That is all." He lowered his arm, then signaled Isis, one of his top seven advisors and the owner of the Sennen Tauk, over to his side. "Take the young one to my chambers. I want to observe him a little more."

"As you wish, my Pharaoh." She bowed, then gently led little Yuugi to Atemu's bedroom. Ra only knows what exactly the Pharaoh wanted to observe and Yuugi was scared out of his wits thinking about what it could be.

mood: accomplished

Welcome to my YGO RP Paradise community! *throws confetti* Since this community is new, please give me a little time to customize this place. I want it to look great for all of you who decide to join, so bear with me. ^^;

Right now, I think I'll go tell my koi that I made this community. She's a vital RPer. =^___^= She's the inspiration of this entire commuinty, after all. ^_^

Much love to everyone! *blows kiss* Enjoy yourselves!

Btw, my journal on here is yaoi_queen . In case you might be curious about who I am, the rest of my info is on my profile page. I set my journal on "Friends Only" for numerous reasons, so if you want to be added, just ask and I'll most likely comply. ^__^