Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ sSn Hrrt ❯ Chapter 1: Amethyst meets Crimson ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: I don't have a clue how people are taking this fic. Don't even know if I'm going to continue writing this fic since I'm not sure how many people actually like it. So here's chapter 1, another experimental chapter for this fic. Oh and side note. Uh… first I want to say is… this chapter might lead to some disturbing mental images. Readers with queasy stomachs are advised to tread with caution. That's the first part, after the (666), yeah those things, the disturbing part will be over. Number two, please read this chapter with an open mind. I'm sure a lot of questions will arise after you all finish reading this chapter. Things that I'm pretty sure won't make a lot of sense, but I'm pretty sure that most things that you guys are going to assume are accurate… at least the fundamental part of it. Oh and here's a warning. A lot of the characters in this chapter will be out of character… actually I'm not sure what their 'anime/manga' counterparts act like since they won't exactly featured. Confusing I know. They are actually based on a picture of them I saw only I made them younger.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh! Duel Monsters.

The blazing sun cast over a desert oasis. Sand dunes baked in the hot, steaming sunlight producing the essence of steam everywhere. A small pack of horses carrying their passengers formed a long line. It was a caravan. They were very common now. Trade had prospered over the years here. Goods, merchandise and even slaves were transported throughout the empire in such a cruel form. Many perished in the hot, blazing sun before making it to the next town or village or even to the next watering hole, which could be days, sometimes weeks or months away. Each man was covered in a long white robe. Their heads covered with a cloth turban. In the back, two stood out before all others. They looked different, more prestigious as if they didn't belong in this band. As if that just joined the caravan for safe transport to their destination, a wave of awe, holiness and wonderment covered their auras. Even their horses looked different from the ones the merchants had. Theirs were fitter, like racehorses groomed for the harsh desert climate. Yet something else stood out about these two, that set the line that divided them from the rest of the band, the two gold items around their necks. They each had one that sparkled in the sunlight. One had the shape of a circle with five gold spears hanging loosing from it, tied to a rope that hung around the owner's neck. They were like the hands of a clock. In the center was a triangle shaped piece with the symbol of the eye of Horus engraved upon it. While the other was a necklace made out of pure gold, it too had the engravings of the symbol of the eye of Horus upon it.

"Look… smoke," a voice broke the silence that the atmosphere enclosed upon them.

"Fire!" Another exclaimed. The sound of the quickening of the horse's pace was the only reply to such a sudden announcement that followed leaving the two young owners of the golden items farther and farther behind. It was the one with the ring that suddenly pulled to stand still halt. The other momentarily realized that her traveling partner had stopped before she too turned around. "Yes, Hafiz."

Hafiz, the younger of the two made no comment for moments before speaking. "You think we should go check it out?" asked Hafiz.

"Of course we should. There are innocent villagers that might need our help. It is after all our sworn duty to help all in need."

"And if it's an ambush, Raja?"

The other, Raja made no movement to counter on such a reply. She squinted up at the blazing ball of fire before speaking. "It'll be night soon. Ra's going to make his daily trek to rebirth soon. I don't think we could make it to the next town before then. Any ways we'll have to camp out tonight. If it really is an ambush at least this way we'll have a larger number."

"But… we are almost home. Probably just a few hours more, we can ride without light. If we stay here, we lose a day," countered Hafiz.

"There are thieves and bandits around this region. That's probably how this town was burned to the ground in the first place. Few hours won't be enough time to make it home. Besides it's just the two of us, we'll be outnumbered even if we use our ka."

Hafiz sighed. He hated it when he was wrong even though it was to his childhood best friend. The two had grown up together. Now, even their occupation took them in the same direction, serving their supreme lord. Raja smirked. She had won this argument, her fifth one this trip, a record for her. A pout appeared upon Hafiz's lips as the two caught up with the caravan as they entered the mass of cremating bodies. The fire had died down by then. The only once indication of there ever being one was the now destroyed town, the dead bodies, and the darkness of the sand around them.

It was like a war zone. The smell of body odor reached the men's noses. Raja almost retched at the sight of the body of a young girl. What was believed to be her mother's laid beside her… hugging her. The sound of hooting carried into their ears. It was coming from the caravan master and his workers. They had obviously struck gold by the way they were now looking. Raja felt her teeth tighten… such a despicable act of treason… stealing from the dead. Such a crime was just like stealing from a pharaoh's tomb. "Let them be Raja. It's their way of life. There is no law stating someone can't take from a massacre site. Come, we should probably see if there are any survivors left. It's the most we can do at this point. It'll be murder if we try to track down the culprits at this point," Hafiz spoke. His voice quiet, sickened by the mass killing that probably had just taken place an hour or so earlier.

Raja nodded. Afraid her voice would break. Even though she had witnessed so many of these mass killings over the years, each one still affected her, the same sickening way. She watched Hafiz go one way. Leading his horse, each time he saw a person he would check and see if they were dead or not. Each one turned out the same…dead like the last.

She felt her heart thumping. The beatings quickened. This village once filled with hope and the sound of children's laughter, Egypt's pride now gone forever. Once, this town had probably been like all the others that she came to see this last week.

She could almost picture what sort of place this small town had once been. The merchants bidding and selling there goods, making a honest living. The farmers working in their fields planing for a good harvest this year. The yearly flooding of the Nile would happen in about another month bringing the rich soil that was always promised. The sound of children's voice as they played in the streets.

The blazing sun cast down at her. A light breeze blew from the air turning the sand that she walked upon. The cloth that covered her face fluttered revealing traces of long brown hair that cascaded down her face. Her skin looked burnt. Shades of deep red covered her almost flawless deep brown skin. A pair of deep brown pupils filled with turmoil, yet she refused to let them show. She couldn't show emotion. She had after all failed just moments before when she first witnessed the massacre.

Each carcass she saw. She wanted to vomit. The dried blood that some of the villagers had that covered their bodies. They were shredding and pealing. The birds would get their fill tonight. That was for sure. A feast for the animals, and a fortune to be made by the caravan. That was sad. On and on she kept moving. More and more bodies… it was like a sea of dead bodies… dead souls that would soon be judged by Osiris. Lord Osiris would be busy tonight. That was for sure.

"H… h… help," a muffled voice called. Was someone alive? Or is it just my false sense of hope. "Help," the voice cried again. It was hollow and low in the alto range… she couldn't even decipher if it was belonging to a man or a woman.

"Raja." Startled she turned. She scanned her range of vision to find Hafiz not far away. He was leaning beside… something. A look of horror was very evident upon his face. She quickened her pace pulling her horse along with her before reaching Hafiz. She too gasped. It was an elder woman with long white threads of hair. Her face was brown, but not sun burned like hers. Wrinkles covered the majority of her face. A deep cut ran along the side her face… dried blood covered most of it… at the least the bleeding had stopped. She was lying on her side. One of her hands wasn't visible as if it was trying to hide something.

"Hafiz… we… we…"

The young man nodded… his sense of astonishment left him. He nodded before standing up. "I'll go see if the caravan master has something for her." Raja nodded, clasping her partner's hand as he left. "W… wait," gasped the old woman. Her voice soft and filled with pain as she sputtered out the words. She tried reaching for Hafiz's robe only to miss.

"Shh… don't try talking. Hafiz's going to get help for you," smoothed Raja. She took the old woman's hand… creasing and rubbing it lightly. "You'll be fine." The woman shook her head. She moaned in pain once before opening her eyes once more.

"S… save the c…child," she gasped… her voice labored and harsh as she spoke.

"Child?!" Raja gasped. Catching herself before speaking. "Of course. I'll save the child. W… where is it?"

The old woman motioned with her index finger… pointing to a bundle that was placed behind her. Raja gasped… trying had not to scream at the sight she saw before her. Now she knew where the old woman's other hand was… and why… why she knew she couldn't be saved. Her other hand… her whole arm was detached before her body. The bleeding still hadn't stopped. She gulped. She hated looking at this type of things. A whole bone could be seen… broken and now laid in two pieces. The hand laid covering the bundle the woman had pointed it. She gulped before moving the hand to reveal a small child… a boy. Her heart skipped a bit. The child… he was simply adorable. His skin was flawless… untainted by Ra's rays, and foreign not like her own. It was pale, ivory white. A small smile had formed upon his face. Beautiful blond bangs hang limply over his face forked like lightning. A mass of black hair crowned his face as red violet highlights encircled the tips. The child was so tiny… and looked even smaller as he was draped in a small white robe. He looked so foreign as if he didn't exactly belong here, yet at the same time she felt like he did. Fine, coarse sand stained parts of the blanket and his face. Lightly Raja wiped them away afraid to awake the child, yet the child didn't even stir. His chest rose and fell matching the sound of his light sharp breaths.

"What is his name?" asked Raja quietly… turning. She felt as if her heart stopped beating then. The old woman… she was dead. Raja couldn't help but wonder. Was the safety of her grandson what kept her alive? Now that he was safe was it her time to move on? Raja fell to her knees cradling this young child… who had even in his sleep had already won her heart. Even though she was taught not to show emotions… this experience that she had just lived though… her years of training towards priesthood broke. Tears fell spattering everywhere. Some landed on the dried blood of the now dead old woman… once more the blood ran… surrounding her and the young, sleeping orphan boy in a sea of red blood. She cried for the dead woman. She cried for the people whose lives were taken by such a sick and horrid act. And she cried for the young child she now held in her arms. His parents, his loved ones were dead… gone forever. She cried for the selfless action this woman had taken to save him… giving up her arm… her life to save him.

And that was how Hafiz found Raja moments later… in her sea of sorrow. A small bag in his hand that he had borrowed from the caravan master… yet as he neared his childhood friend… he knew he was too late. He too was filled with undying sorrow at the thought of losing somebody they might have been able to save. He too tried to hold back his tears, but failed as he walked up to Raja, wrapping his arms around her. Then, he noticed the sleeping child in her arms. "Who is he?"

"The l… last hope," Raja whispered… her tears had long ceased. Her eyes dull and bland as she looked down at the dying message the old woman had written to them. She hadn't noticed it till seconds before.

"I guess we should probably find him a home when we get back to Khemet."

"No, we're keeping him."

"What!" gasped Hafiz… horrified at such a suggestion. "But… but Pharaoh. He… we… he won't approve."

"The old woman sacrificed everything, so he could live. We own her that much for him to get a loving family."

"Raja, I'm sure there had tons of families… loving families in Khemet who would love to raise him. Besides… we… couldn't. We both have children… the future priests and priestess and holders of the Sennen items. We… can't… possibly."

"Why Hafiz?" muttered Raja. "Can't you see? He's lost everything and more. So young and already alone in this world, doesn't he remind you of someone?"

Hafiz sighed before nodding, already knowing that he was beaten. "Fine. I won't say anything bad if the Pharaoh asks for my opinion, but at for the final decision. Only this child has the power to convince Pharaoh how worthy he is. Only the true nature of his ka can determine his fate."

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The foreboding palace of the god himself loomed in the distance. The gold that the newly crafted palace sparkled in Ra's radiance as if showing approval. "We're finally home," mumbled Hafiz. The ring that hung limply around his neck sparkled and lit up as the two young priests neared the palace gates.

"Yes, Hafiz. We're finally home," the young woman whispered. The young child that had been placed in their possession cradled in her arms. A wool blanket covered his body from the harsh winds of Egypt. She shifted the child in her arms as she they entered the gates of the palace. The guards nodded in approval welcoming them home. Once dismounted they left the horses with the stable master before entering the palace. A young slave girl awaited them. Her head bowed down in respect as the two entered. Raja nodded commanding the young girl to raise and speak. "Pharaoh is waiting for your presence Priest and Priestess after you have had a time to wash up."

"Very well. Tell Pharaoh that we'll be there shortly," commanded Hafiz waving the young girl away. She bowed once more in respect before running off to the throne room.

"Well, Raja. Should we tell Pharaoh now or wait till the boy awakes?"

"We'll see his mood… then decide when to tell him." Hafiz nodded, leaving the young priestess with the child. Raja sighed shaking her head. Hafiz… was a coward. There was nothing else she could say about him. A complete coward… even though he tried not to show it. He had a good heart but was a complete coward. Lucky his son didn't inherit his father's bravery. She watched Hafiz disappear around a corner before making her way to her room. The sound of light-hearted children's voices filled the hallway. She instantly recognized their owners. One was her own daughter, Isis, the other was the young prince himself and finally another priest-in-training Seto. She glanced at the window nearby. Ra was at the halfway point. It was noon. Of course, the children were on lunch break now from their studies. She quickly walked into her room and closed the door behind her. Now wasn't the time to see her daughter, or let them see the child in her arms.

"M… my lady," a young girl's voice whimpered. Startled, Raja turned before sighing. It was just her chamber slave… her personal servant. "Yes."

The young slave girl blushed, bowing before her mistress. "D… do you want your bath heated?" asked the young girl timidly.

"Yes, and find a set of young boy's clothes too. Then leave u… me," the young priestess spoke quickly correcting her mistake.

"Y… yes my lady," the young girl spoke. She bowed before leaving for the connective room where the bath was located. Each room of any important personnel had an adjoining bath. Actually it was a large pit in the ground. The sides were either made of real gold, the pharaoh's room, or other materials not as valuable but just as rare and priceless. A small heating pit was placed near a window where water could be boiled. Raja sighed slipping into a chair… the child still in her arms. A cloth was draped around his body so that only his small, fragile face could be seen. The golden sun baked blond bangs and the ebony hair tainted with red black was roused from the light gush of wind that was blowing faintly in from the open window. The only haven from the hot, blazing temperature ever present in Egypt till nightfall.

Raja ran her hands through the child's blond bangs… smoothing them out. Specks of burnt sand fell to the ground, but she paid no heed to the sand that now littered her once clean floor. Still the child slept… unaware of his new surroundings. Her hand stopped above his bright red lips… petite… a perfect fit for his porcelain doll shaped face. A slow and ever constant production of water vapor came from his lips, the only indication that the youth had not yet left the face of this world. She sighed watching the rise and fall of his chest. He was so precious… beautiful even in his sleep. It was enchanting and exhilarating. He was simply adorable… innocent beyond compare. More innocent and naïve than any child she had ever seen before. Just looking at the sleeping form of the young boy, she knew there was no way Pharaoh could turn down this innocent child.

"M… my lady," the young slave girl whispered… awaking Raja from her thoughts.

Startled Raja glazed up. "Yes."

"T… the bath is ready, a… and here are the clothes."

"Set them over there… then leave," commanded Raja. Words she normally never said. Her slaves usually helped her wash and dress. They would be the ones to bathe and dress her. A common custom that she had grown quite use to over the years.

"Y… yes my lady," muttered the young girl… a little startled and frightened. Such an act from her mistress wasn't at all a common deed… it normally meant for any slave that their time in life was going to be cut short. The young girl quivered as she bowed before quickly leaving the room. Afraid that she would break down any second… her father's scolding and her mother's crying was ever present in her mind. Such a thing had happened to her elder brother just months ago… now… he was already gone… long judged by Osiris for worth.

The door slapped close. As Raja watched her slave girl's retreat, she was tempted to call her back, but the young boy's heartbeat reminded her of his presence. She couldn't run the risk of exposing the child to anyone else at this moment… not till Pharaoh and the other priests judged his worth. For now, she would have to do the common deeds that she hadn't performed in ages… not since she was little and still living in her old village.

Raja watched the child sleep in arms. Each not moving… as if time stood still, waiting for one or the other to move. It was the unconscious child that broke the spell first. A small quick movement in opening his mouth before quickly closely it broke the surreal atmosphere. Pharaoh's meeting immediately came to mind. The fact that both she and the child were still covered in Egypt's gifts drew her from the chair. The warm bath that awaited her that would soon cool. All that and more drew her to undress the child in her arms… tenderly… as a young mother would her infant son. She disposed his current garments, but she didn't throw them away. They were part of his heritage and childhood that was now taken away from him by cruel and heartless bandits. She knew how important self-heritage was, and she knew someday that he would question his origins. Something she and everyone else here knew nothing about because of that she knew keeping his clothes would be his only ties to his past.

A small blush ran over her cheeks. What she saw before her was so awkward. She normally didn't do such a thing… strip a child or even wash a child. She never even washed her own daughter when Isis was first born. A midwife had been the one who had literally raised her. But technically nobody was suppose to know about this child yet, until she received Pharaoh's permission.

Lightly she ran her hand over his bare chest. A light gasp left her lips. This child's skin was flawless… not tanned at all by Ra's rays such beautiful ivory white skin. She had never seen such a thing. Could the child be… no… no of course not. That was silly… too silly. She took the young boy to the bath. Soaking him in the bath with herself. All formalities gone. A sleeping child… a male no less and herself… a certified priestess. Was this even proper? Wasn't such an act scorn by, by her fellow priests? Why hadn't she given the boy to Hafiz? Deciding now wasn't the time to think of such things, she lightly dried the young boy… dressing him in the clothes her slave had brought for her. A white linen shirt and pants… nothing fancy but not as degrading as what the male slaves wore. She placed the child in her bed… leaving the window open before finishing dressing herself. She stroked the child's head one more time before leaving the room. Hopefully nobody would enter her room before she returned.

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Nine days of counseling slowly passed, each day longer than the next. Pharaoh's counsel and the great lord himself sat in the boardroom each day discussing the fate of Egypt itself. The raiding and the burning of villages were more frequent now. It was especially traumatizing for Raja as the haunting image of the young unconscious boy's village still eluded her mind. Visions of the dying woman's pleas to save the young boy. The innocent girl burned to ashes with her mother hanging on to her only child. What had all those people said… pleaded… before being burnt alive? Now, so many others were following while she, and Pharaoh's minions stayed here in the glorious palace without fear… with everything most peasants could never have.

A vile, bitter taste submerged from the depths of her throat. She gulped it back. Lightly she traced the eye of Horus on her necklace. Once more it neglected to show her an image of the future. It had been months now since the last vision… even that vision was blurry… indecipherable. As the days dragged on without another vision, she knew the other priests were beginning to doubt her powers. She knew they talked about it in silence when they thought she wasn't nearby. She knew they would question if she was getting too old… her foresight leaving her. If it was time for her to past on the lineage to another, namely her only living bloodline now, her only child, Isis. She had after all inherited her place among the possessors of the Sennen Item after her husband's death. He had dead tragically years before when Isis was only two. He had drowned saving a life. His death even to this day still haunted her.

"I still say we set the army out to take care of this," Akunadin, an elder man around the same age as the Pharaoh stated bluntly. A golden eye protruded from his left eye socket. It flashed momentarily. His face was tanned and heavily marked wrinkles were ever present upon his ancient face.

"But Akunadin, that could scare the villagers to no end. We can't do such a thing. It'll give the villagers the wrong impression," stated Hafiz bluntly back. His gold ring flashed back at Akunadin with the same ferocity. A challenge with words and sacred powers… it was a showdown between the six priests and priestess now to fight for their point to declare to Pharaoh, which one of them was correct. Normally it ended before the game could start… sometimes… it didn't

"Hafiz's right, Akunadin. We can't send the army out with no face… no culprit. You know how bloody it could get, don't you?" asked Shimon. A golden ankh, symbolizing life, hung loosely around his neck. It too sparkled… flashed in a brilliance of golden light before dying down. A sign and code that broke the heated power the two priests were threatening to release. He was the oldest out of the whole counsel, actually he had been a member of the counsel when the former pharaoh had been ruling too. A freshly new beard showed signs of forming on his chin.

"Then what do you expect us to do? Sit here and do nothing? Don't you think the villagers will think we forgot about them if we do nothing to protect them?" smacked back Akunadin hearty. The eye flashed gold once more

"Let's take a break. It's been a long day. We'll rejoin tomorrow after tonight's festivals," a loud booming voice spoke, breaking the tension and power in the air. The counsel members immediately nodded. Their supreme had spoken. All magic and powers lay forgotten as they left the meeting room for their separate duties that had to be performed before the night's festivals. Security was high on everyone's minds as they left. Raja was the last to leave, and Pharaoh noticed it.

"Yes."

"Uh… nothing Pharaoh. I better be going," stammered Raja. She bowed lightly before turning to leave.

"Raja," Pharaoh called… stopping the young priestess in her tracks.

She turned nervously. A wave of new formed fears rose in her mind. Had Pharaoh discover the sleeping child that even now still laid in her bed? "Raja. Don't mind the other priests. The Sennen Tauk will show you a vision when the time comes. Don't fret over it," spoke Pharaoh. Raja nodded. A wave of relief shimmered through her body. She was saved. He didn't know. Not yet any ways.

"Y… yes Pharaoh. I know."

Pharaoh nodded. "You may go now. I'm sure Shimon and the others could use your help on suggestions for the decorations in the throne room."

"Yes Pharaoh." Raja spoke before hurrying out the room. The way he spoke to her so kind and gentle. Thinking about the fact that she was deceiving him hurted so. Yet, as she turned the corner that let to the flight of stairs that lead her up to the room, the feelings of guilt left her. Seeing the many slaves carry the decorations to the throne room, all other thoughts soon left her being replaced by thoughts of the festival, tonight. It was the turning of a new month and soon the young prince's birthday.

Pharaoh sighed as Raja left the room. He lightly shook his head before sinking deeper into his chair. His brow furrowed. He felt as if he had aged years in such short moments.

The light tap on the door awoke him from his thoughts. "Come in," he stated. A young boy stepped in. A crown of raven black hair and blond bangs hung loosely over his deep crimson red eyes. Adorned in a light white cloth shirt and a small purple skirt that glazed just above his knees. A small purple cape hung loosely over his shoulders. It flapped in the wind that blew in from the open window. A small golden crown with the eye of Horus engraved upon it nested snugly in his mass of black hair. "Son," Pharaoh called, a hint of surprise ever wavering into his words as he welcomed his son and heir into the room. The boy was handsome and intelligent. He was everything and more that Pharaoh could hope for as his successor some day. At least he had received one good and strong child out of the many that he had. Most died from an early age… the rest were sent away to other parts of the empire for study leaving only his one son here in the palace with him among of hundreds that he had. "Finished your lessons already."

"Yes, Father," stated the young boy. He was not yet six but spoke with a tone of authority that had practically been drilled into him since birth… since the day it was decided that he would be the next pharaoh among his siblings.

A long defying silence loomed the conference room. The young prince fidgeted… twirling his index finger around and around… a common act he did when he became embarrassed, nervous, or frightened. Pharaoh too was uneasy at such a conversation. As much as he hated it, he and his son rarely ever talk, talked. Since the day he was born, they probably never had a conversation that went over fifty words, actually they seldom ever talked to one another or saw one other. Sometimes they would go months without ever speaking or looking at each other. He always on one side of the palace while the young prince was studying, playing with the other children especially his future advisors, or doing his normal daily necessities. Such an act of actually coming and seeing him was not something that the young prince ever did. Quickly, before the deadly silence could drag on any longer, an idea crossed Pharaoh's mind. "Good… good," he spoke faintly approving his son's answer before quickly indulging in something else in case the prince decided to indulge or discuss his lesson. Schooling wasn't something Pharaoh was fond of… actually he never been all that great at it either, but he did managed to survive none the less. "Does your mother need anything?"

The young prince immediately shook his head before discovering his error. A small streak of crimson crept upon his cheeks. He blinked embarrassed at making such a childish error and the fact that he was in front of such a high spiritual presence. Someone, everyone looked up to. "Do you need anything?" Pharaoh questioned once more. The young prince shook his head once more.

Before attempting to force a string of words out of his lips. He felt as if his throat has closed up… not allowing him to speak. It took moments before the glue seemed to have dissolved before the prince spoke. "No… no Father. May I be excused?" asked the boy immediately followed by a low bow… respect, another one of those lessons that was drowned into the depth of his mind. He was like a robot sometimes. His daily actions always affected by what he was taught. Something he used to ponder about… what would he be like if he wasn't 'polished'? Would he be barbaric or sophisticated?

"Yes. Run along," Pharaoh spoke watching his son back away and before disappearing out the door much like how Raja did moments before. He heard his steps quicken once exiting the room. Whatever the young prince had tried to accomplish by paying his father a visit had obviously backfired. "That boy, what am I going to do with him?" Pharaoh sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Give him some credit Akunumkanon. From what I remember, you were no different from our son when you were younger," spoke a voice. Sweet and beautiful like the mystical bells themselves. A young woman stood behind him. Her arms draped around his shoulders lightly, rubbing his shouldering… lightly smoothing out the creases and tension upon his shoulders… dissolving the ever-present knots that were entangled in his shoulders. Her face tanned… but not burnt by Ra's rays. A pair of warm sapphire eyes glowed brightly. Long brown hair hung loosely over her face cascading downwards. A small golden crown sat elegantly upon her hair… the head of a snake protruding out from the center. She was dressed in a simple white dress… gold rings fitted snugly in each of her fingers symbolizing the number of sons she had produced… ten all together… most were dead either right after birth or died later on. Gold bracelets draggled loosing around her wrist sparklingly elegantly. A lone gold necklace shined lovingly around her neck, sparkling. She was the queen. Pharaoh's most beloved and adored wife of all that he had… because of that… he had chosen his heir out of one of the sons she bore for him.

"Sultana," Pharaoh sighed cherishing his wife's gentle touches. "Why does he always act like that? Does he act like that around you? Sometimes I think our relationship couldn't be more strained. We probably have the most strained relationship out of all my children which is mighty sad considering he lives in the palace the rest don't."

The young woman sighed… her touched ceased for a moment before starting up again. She licked her lips preparing her next set of words carefully. "He's just nervous, and he has ever right to be. His father is the pharaoh, God to his people. He had ever right to be nervous… timid around you. Can't you see it in his eyes? He wants so much to please you. He wants to prove to you that he is fit to someday be Pharaoh, that you didn't make the wrong choice. He's young. He still has a lot to learn… about everything. I see it in his eyes. I hear it in his words. How he always judges his phrases carefully before speaking him out loud. He's afraid of error. He's afraid of… of failing. After all, all he knows he perfection… nothing else. Give him time Akunumkanon. Give his time. He'll come around, just like you did with your own father."

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The palace halls lit up with torches of fire. Pharaoh and his queen sat upon their thrones watching the festival down below. The priests and priestess gathered around. Some of the finest belly dancers of the whole empire gathered around. The sound of music filled the lively and vivid atmosphere. The young royal children ran around the tables of food… eating to their hearts content. A pleased look appeared on Pharaoh's lips. In the background the sound of the villagers own partying could be heard.

While upstairs, in one of the highest rooms in the palace a window was open blowing in the river air from the Nile. A young boy lay in a large bed. The sands of time blew around him rousing his peculiar hairstyle. The sheets fluttered in the wind. His right eye blinked followed by the left. The first time in a long time, a lone finger moved followed by a whole hand. The boy's eyes snapped open revealing a pair of vivid amethyst eyes. A small groan escaped from his lips as he tried to sit up. He was unsuccessful the first few times… groaning as he sat up. The sun's rays blinded him momentarily as he tried to regain his whereabouts.

The whole room scared him. How big it was. The softness of the bed he slept in. He looked down at his arms, confused at what he was wearing… all white… a gown. The boy turned watching the last of Ra as it disappeared into Osiris's domain. Bewildered he slipped out of the bed and walked over to the window. The sound of voices… cheering and yelping transcended into his ears. Glowing balls of light slowly started to appear. A low rumble in his stomach made his blush.

He stepped away from the window and walked to the door. He could barely reach the doorknob. Once the door opened he was met with a long corridor. His brow furrowed, confused at his whereabouts. He trembled confused… before sniffing back a tear. He couldn't cry not now… not now. He just had to find somebody… anybody and figure out where he was… and why he was here. He gulped before taking a step. The sound of his bare foot on the cold hard ground was all that could be heard as he made his way through the corridor… the long, lone corridor.

A flash in his line of vision startled him. A black shadow appeared then quickly disappeared. What was that? He tried to speak, open his mouth but no words left his lips… instead he decided to chase after the dark shadow. Maybe who that was could give his directions… shed some light on his whereabouts. His quickened steps were the only sound that rang in the hallway… around each bend… down another flight of stairs. By now he was completely lost… the dark shadow disappeared long ago… yet at each staircase he passed he took it. Each new corridor he made a turn. Soon the sound of people talking could be heard. Lively music could once more be heard. The rumble of his stomach reminded him of his heard. From what he knew… people usually meant food. Using his ears as a guide he walked on… now completely oblivious to everything. The music got louder as he winded his last bend. A young boy stood before a large door. Deep in thought as he fingered with the handle to the large… gold patented door. The boy gulped ducking behind a corridor. Never once had he thought about what he would do if he actually saw another human… what would be his excuse about being here. Actually he didn't even know where he exactly was. The boy gulped… yet curiosity got the better of him as he stuck his head out. He scanned the wall… a dark figure loomed in the distance… probably the same one he had been chasing moments before.

Curious the boy turned his attention to the new presence. The shadow moved… bending down for a few moments before getting up. Something now clearly visible in his hands, the boy's brow crinkled. The lone torch in this part of the corridor flashed… shinning exactly on the object in the shadow's hands. It was an arrow… pointed menacingly at the boy by the door. Two and two came together. The boy gasped. That shadow was going to murder the boy. He… he had to do something. His mind cleared… everything forgotten except for the boy who could possibly be a victim for death to ensnare if he didn't do something. The young boy wasn't acquainted with death or how it was done, yet he knew whatever the shadow figure was planing; it wasn't good. A scream escaped from the boy's lips as he ran out of his hiding place… and tackled the boy to the ground. The force of his throw knocked them both against the door… throwing them into the room that was on the other side of the golden door with the symbol of the eye of Horus upon it. An arrow glazed passed them… landing a centimeter from their heads. A large curse word could be heard before total silence invoked the atmosphere.

The throne room immediately went quiet as if suddenly everyone had become statues… frozen in place. All eyes turned to the two boys that had appeared… one on top of the other. Gasps of horror was present everywhere before one voice roared over them all silencing them all. "Get him!" As soon as the words left Pharaoh's lips, a loud buzz filled the room. The sound of the priests' footsteps followed by a couple of soldiers as they ran out the room. Their weapons clasped tightly in their hands… a look of menace ever present upon each and every one of their faces. The younger of the two boys was the first to recover from his daze. He looked up… rising his head a few inches from the other boy's shoulder, which he had hid his face into. He looked startled… confused… as he opened his eyes… to come face to face with an almost perfect double of himself. The boy under him… also opened his eyes at that same moment.

At that moment amethyst met crimson. Each not saying a word… just staring… stunned at the other. A loud painful, agonizing scream filled their ears breaking the connection followed by a blinding white light. The two blushed… startled at the small clink that had just transcended between them. Immediately they looked away.

A strong grasp lifted the two boys off the other… setting them both on their feet… yet neither spoke. The younger boy immediately looked down… embarrassed as he fingered with his hands… twisting them other and other again.

"We caught him Pharaoh. He's been punished. It was one of the slaves," a priest with a golden scale in his hands spoke. The golden pans attached to the scale wobbled momentarily before leveling… as if it had just been used. The two nearly identical boys looked up. One confused. The other relieved. Both flushed. The younger of the two watched… curious as a young woman… immediately wrapped her arms around his look alike… smoldering him with affection. Embarrassed the boy tried to pull away to avail.

The young boy watched the scene… confused. His confusion increased as the two started speaking… followed by more speaking… all foreign… incomprehensible in his ears. A gasp entered into his ears… one that was set aside from all the other noises that were present in the room. He turned… noticing that it belonged to a woman… older than the one that who was currently fondling over the boy that he had just saved. Another man spoke. The one who had first spoke when they had crashed into the throne room.

"You know this boy, Raja?" asked Pharaoh. Raja nodded… embarrassed.

"I… I found him in a village. His home had been burned down, raided. An old woman asked me to take care of him."

"How long were you planing on keeping him a secret from me?" demanded Pharaoh.

"I… I… I couldn't find an appropriate time to tell you, Pharaoh," stammered Raja.

Pharaoh shook his head lightly before speaking. Disappointment was were present in his words. "I never expected such a thing from you Raja." He paused taking a deep breath before thinking about his next set of words… weighing the way that they should be expressed before coming to a conclusion. "You… you have disappointed me… deeply. I expect you knew about this too, Hafiz?" questioned Pharaoh turning to the young man standing not far from Raja. He nodded.

"Yes, Pharaoh," he quickly added… before quickly giving a short bow that Raja soon joined him in.

He sighed… rubbing the bridge of his nose. "These are your warnings. Don't keep this kind of thing from me ever again. This goes for all of you. Next time the consequences will be much more severe. As for the boy…" He turned glazing at the foreign boy. He stared into the young boy's eyes… his haunting amethyst eyes. They blinked. A look of confusion could ever be clearly established upon them. The young boy gulped… knowing that whoever this man was… he was the highest authority here… probably the one to decide his faith.

"Akunumkanon, spare the boy. He saved your son's life," pleaded the queen. Her arms still wrapped around her son's shoulders. The boy had now completely given up pulling his mother away and was currently staring at his savior… much intrigued by their similarity in appearance.

"Please… Sultana. This isn't my choice," he spoke. His words strong… holding multiple meanings in them. Immediately Sultana understood and nodded. Intrigued at how her husband intended to go about this sort of thing. She watched…her husband's eyes land on her son. The young prince… blinked… yet made no comment. Only then did she notice that her son wasn't even paying attention on them. Instead his total focus was on the foreign boy that stood before them. Now that could get interesting.

Pharaoh coughed… clearing his throat as well as alerting the young prince that he was about to speak. "What do you say Son? Should I spare this boy?" asked Pharaoh. His voice like always held with authority and grace… fit for a king.

"Me?" the boy whispered… startled. His father never asked him about such affairs. Why the sudden change? Why the sudden disturbance from their normal ritual.

"Yes, you… my son. Someday you will be Pharaoh in my place. This is your first decision… your first step to becoming Pharaoh. What do you decide as the fate for this boy?"

The young prince gulped. His crimson eyes widening as he glanced back at the look alike. Their similarities were haunting… yet the boy looked so innocent and alone standing there… confused. Not to mention adorable and cute. Did he just say adorable? Cute? They were not words that he said… not words that a prince soon to be heir ever said. The young prince gasped… taking in a deep breath before speaking. He knew that everyone was waiting for his jurisdiction. His father's advisors, his parents, his own future advisors, and even his look alike… all waiting for his opinion. He gulped… fear gripped his bones. What if he said the wrong thing? What if he made a fool of himself? What would his future minions say about him… their future pharaoh? He gulped… yet as he looked into the young boy's warm… captivating eyes. He knew his answer. All doubt left him as he spoke… proud and strong. "He saved my life Father. Let him stay here in the palace… but not as a slave. As… as a pupil… an equal… even someday my last advisor of the six."

Akununkanon nodded… a small smile slowly forming, yet he decided not to give his approval. It was still to early to celebrate, besides working under doubt would expose the young prince's talents more fully. Instead he simply nodded before speaking. "Very well. We will find a place for him. Tomorrow we will judge his soul for worth. Even though he saved your worthy, a prince's life no doubt… he will be awarded honorably. But we can't let that blind us… intimate our judgment. He could very well be working for an enemy… using an innocent bystander, even an trained assassin to learn our weak points. The judging of ka will still take place tomorrow."

The prince nodded immediately understanding the mistakes he had made and would have to correct. He bowed his head…waiting his parents return to the throne. The festival started once more. The light sounds of the band playing the light-hearted music. The torches dimmed once more. The dancers started up once more. The sound of struggled laughter and forced conversations carried throughout the room before everyone soon forgot the murder attempt that a rebellious servant tried to cast on their prince and heir to the throne.

The young prince's face lined with a thin line of crimson after turning down a dance invitation from one of the royal female children, a future prospective wife for him. He turned. His blush deepened considerably as he glazed at the young boy, probably younger than him, standing in the center of the throne room. He looked so out of place and alone, yet his eyes showed signs of wonderment, confusion and awe. Who was he? This foreign boy captivated the young prince. He was everything and more that he wanted to be.

Shyly the prince walked up to the boy. "Murhuba," he spoke. His voice light and soft, a childish voice, something that his tutor despised.

The young boy made no comment or indication that he had heard the young prince's voice. "Murhuba," the prince spoke once more… a little louder and right by his look alike's eye.

"Eeep!" Gasped the boy startled, before jumping up a couple of inches before turning to face the prince. "Nani?" a single word escaped from the boy's lips. This time it was the older to be confused. His brow furrowed. He didn't at all understand that foreign and new tongue that this mystery boy spoke.

"Konnichiwa," said the boy… another foreign word the older didn't understand. The young looked up at his counterpart. Soon he realized that this boy didn't understand what he had said… just like how he didn't understand what he had said. Instead he did the one thing he knew anybody could understand, he extended out his hand. The older looked down at the extended hand… confused. Bewilderment filled his face as he stared at the younger boy. Slowly a shy face appeared on his face… and the older boy… etiquette lost extended his hand clasping with that of the young. The interaction was belief… but long enough to satisfy them both.

He bit his lips thinking of what else to say. Deciding that like phrases would probably do better for conversation the young prince motioned around the room. "Km-t."

"Km-t?" Yuugi repeated confused. The prince nodded before thinking of what else to say. After all it was only polite, considering he did save his life and all.

That's when he couldn't help but laugh. He hadn't even introduced himself yet. "Atemu," the prince said… pointing to himself. A foreign word even in his own lips. Nobody ever called him by his given, birth name except his mother… even then that was rare. Normally he called 'prince' or 'your majesty' something formal. That's why he didn't know why he instead decided to give his birth name… something very uncommon.

The young boy tilted his head… registering what the older had said before gasping. His name… he must want my name… my name. The boy strained… thinking about his own name before something finally clicked in the back of his mind. One single word left his lips… clear and true. "Yuugi."

TBC

A/N: How was that? Okay? Bad? Indifferent? Please tell me. Oh yeah about the priests and priestess. They are the parents of the priests and priestess that we all know and love except Shimon. He isn't the dad of Shada. I was going to have Shimon be an advisor like he is to Atemu, but I decided against it especially after remembering this picture I saw of the old six priests. Shimon was one of them… only I made all the other priests and priestesses younger. I thought it was disturbing that they all looked so old, yet their children were so young… especially the relationship between Akunadin and Seto. Freaky. So I kind of de-aged them. All the names for the priests and priestess I made up except for Shimon, Akunadin, and Akununkanon. Atemu's mother's name is made up too. Now if anyone knows what their real names are, tell me, and I'll gladly change them. If not that's how their names will stand… and they all mean something too. The names were chosen either to match their personality, occupation, or other stuff that falls along those lines. I don't know if Atemu was scared of his father more like intimated by his father's rank in society. From what I perceived from the anime/manga, he wasn't, but here he is. Yes, Yuugi is younger than Atemu whose not yet six. Oops… that's all I'm saying for now. . Oh yeah one more important note. When Yuugi speaks, he'll be speaking in Japanese for the time being. At times Atemu will speak Egyptian/Arabic depending on how great my vocabulary in ancient Egyptian and Arabic. Actually I don't speak any of these languages… don't know how its going to work out. Also I will have a translation guide at the bottom of each chapter. Oh yeah. I know that usually the next pharaoh is the oldest son. Only problem is that Atemu is six. He can't possibly be his father's first born son… so I kind of changed stuff. Here I allowed Akununkanon to decide who his next heir is instead of having his eldest son be the next pharaoh… unfortunately doesn't help that his eldest son is died too. I know that it's strange that Atemu's siblings don't live at the palace, but I kind of wanted to make it seem like Atemu is the only child… even though he isn't. It'll work better this way… and so I won't have to add too many OC's.

Translation:

Murhuba- hello

Konnichiwa- hello

Nani- what

Km-t - Egypt