New Buck Moon

New Buck Moon

~*~

Chappie One ~ Shivering Inferno

Warnings: YAOI, possible lemon, possible angst, possible everything except fer good humor.

Pairings: Yamis/Hikaris, Seto/Jou and Ryuzaki/Haga.

Notes: This story has been created through the twin minds of Gorillaz authoress Young Punk (her stories were recently kicked off cuz FanFic.net doesn't allow stories about real people anymore) and YGO/GW authoress Columbia. Oh, and just so ya'll know, Marik Ishizu is the hikari, and Malik is the yami. (Yeah I know, Ishizu is how you pronounce Marik's sister's dubbed name [and its probably not spelled right anyway] but sue us, she's not in this one anyway.)

Thanks: To Young Punk from Columbia. To Columbia From Young Punk.

~

YoungPunk: Do you think they'll like it?

Columbia: Are you serious? If your helping me write it there's no way these YGO fanatics are gonna turn it down!

YoungPunk: *rolls eyes* Ah, shut up.

Columbia: *grins* Anyway, enjoy this joint-written story...it might take a while between updates but yah know, that's because it's being authored by the top procrastinators in history mind you.

YoungPunk: *smiles insanely*

~(This chappie written by Young Punk, edited by Columbia.)~

~*~

I groaned into my pillow, trying to force out the blinding, intolerable rays that fell off the ungodly thing of which had been named, the Sun. It wasn't working very well, and the fact I was seriously lacking bed sheets didn't help either.

I rolled, squinting through the bright light, and snarled at the said lost sheets that had wrapped themselves around my ankles. I sat up, gingerly, yet efulefully, and stretched my naked body slowly. I was not looking forward to today. I had a meeting with my council mid-day to decide whether war was the best solution for the problems we were facing with neighboring countries, and I personally was not up to listening to the old men rant and rave at me all at once because they thought their opinions were better than the others. The only council member that ever really waited his turn, and was quiet about things above all whether or not the subject was important, was Pegasus.

I don't think Pegasus was the guy's real name, but he wouldn't give us his last name, and I've heard people call him Mandrid outside of palace walls. I never questioned it though; it was of no real importance anyway.

I dressed leisurely into my casual robes, the kilt falling to just below my knees and the sash hanging comfortably loose across my chest. The set was a dusted cream color, woven with gold thread, and the sandals I had chosen for the outfit were worn, rich brown leather. The shoes themselves would have cost me a fortune, which is why I was glad I had gotten them as a gift. After carelessly running one of my brushes through my naturally messy hair and adorning my informal, golden headband I walked out of my chambers quietly, not wanting to alert the servants to my presence, especially not my personal servant Nefer.

Nefer was the boy's palace name; his real name was Yugi Motou, to which only my high priest and myself were aloud to call him by, but even then only in private quarters. I had not known the child but two short years, but he had grown on me anyway, and I vowed not to break his innocence with such trivial, rude things such as whips, torture, or rape for that matter. Even if he was the most beautiful creature I've ever seen I would not dare lay a finger on him in such an intimate way. Well, at least not until he came of age, he was my personal slave after all.

He had a grandfather, who worked as head chef for my kitchens, and had befriended nearly all servants within the palace walls. There was one slave whom he had become acquainted with though that worked the yard and tended the stables, but I know from experience that the two rarely ever met except on accident. I think the stable boy's palace name was Amethyst, but I cannot place his real name, I only know that all outdoor slaves are named after jewels.

I sigh deeply as I move through the brightening hallways of the eastern corridors, one of my favorite places to be with the colors and the gold; it was Yugi's as well. He liked to walk with me, and I let him on some days when he did not have other things to attend to. He kept good company.

I looked up to measured, careful foot falls, and spotted a servant in the hall leading off to my right, carrying a tray consisting of a small bowl and a short glass goblet filled with water. He looked like he had stolen it from the kitchens from the way he was walking, and almost dropped the burden when he found me, watching him with the blank expression I had grown so accustomed to schooling. The boy was one of Yugi's closer friends, his ageless brown eyes wide and fearful as his pale body had stilled to await my sentence. I had never liked punishing this boy, his eerie aura always made me pause to think about what I was really doing, the pale silver of his hair always mystical and out of place in these hot desserts. I believe he had been named Nile, but for Ra knows what reason. I think it had been my high priest that had named his branch of quarters, but I couldn't remember. Seto had always had a faithful affection for the eternal river.

As if he had thought better of the situation, the boy lowered his head, placing the tray on the floor and then kneeling, knees together, elbows bracing his upper body with his forehead touching his upper arms on the floor, backside raised. I walked forward, not really in a bad mood but not in a good one either. It was thirty flogs for stealing food.

"Forgive me, my Pharaoh."

"What were you doing."

It was not a question, but a demand, and the young servant shivered, his bare back turning even more pale even under the scars that been left by the tooth of a diamond tipped whip, his kilt a dark blue and sagging on his thin hips.

"I was sending food to Lord Ankhu, my Pharaoh. I worry."

I said nothing, his whispered words shaky and nervous as he spoke them as clear as he could. Lord Ankhu was a visitor, a guest of Kamers Rei's, a council member, and also a distant step uncle to the trembling boy before me. I had heard that the Lord had grown ill with fever, and that if he did not get better soon he would not be recovering at all. I took notice now that what was on the tray, discarded to the young man's side, was a bowl of soup, more than likely a concoction of herbs and healing spices.

"You may take this to him. But before you try this stunt again, I will be approached first."

I made sure to put a sharp edge to my tone, letting him know I was not completely happy about this, and that he would not get off so easily if I caught him like this again. I knew he realized this when his thin fingers curled and he whispered a rather grateful 'yes your highness'.

I walked away after that, keeping my back straight and sighing inwardly that the slave had enough intelligence to stay kneeling until I had left the room, or the area rather. He was truly a smart boy, and I wished for him, as well as Yugi sometimes that they had made better lives outside of my palace walls. But it was not like they had chosen to serve my rule; they had been hand picked by my Council many years before. Yugi and Nile had been given to me for my 16th birthday from Pegasus. But Yugi had not fought my guards when he had been brought in, and I hadn't known until later it was because he knew if he came willingly he'd be close to his only living relative. He was such a brave child.

However, my peaceful train of thought was shattered and I was almost tempted to slam my head into the nearest wall when my most hated of advisers rushed towards me, that same sour, disapproving, 'you-should-be- more-like-your-father' look he always wore set in stone. He did have the courtesy to stop and bow, ever so slightly, before approaching me fully, and I paused in my walk to the dining room.

"What is it Yuki?" I all but growled, and he had the nerve to look disgusted. I don't know how many times I had promised myself to kill this man.

"You Highness, we have just had a report that food and medicine has been stolen from your kitchens."

"I already know this."

Yeah, trying to keep my voice down was not working as well as I had hoped, and in the distance echoed a door opening. It creaked, and I immediately knew it was Yugi's door. Only his ever made such high pitched noises.

"Forgive me, Pharaoh. What are your orders?"

"Go back to the council hall and wait for me, I wish to enjoy a quiet breakfast without your big mouth."

I don't wait for his vice look or snide remark after that, partly because I did not feel like executing one of my more intelligent advisors this morning and partly because I realize that Yugi is still in the hallway.

I can't help but smile when I thought about the innocent, how much just his presence alleviated my dreary senses and more times than not lifted my spirits even after a bad council meeting. He was the brother I never had, but sometimes, he felt closer than that. I had often wondered if we were related, our hair tri-colored and the shape of our faces very similar. His eyes were a deep purple though, while mine could often grow to an icy ruby if my mood deemed it so. Another thing that set us apart was the fact he was no more than a year younger than me yet I towered above him a good half foot. Those differences mattered not to me, so usually I ignored them, but this morning, when he caught up to my side to accompany me to breakfast, I noticed them more clearly.

His soft hair was particularly shiny, his eyes distinctively brighter and his semi-dark skin glistening. I realized then that he had been up before even me to bathe himself.

"Good morning, my Pharaoh."

"Good morning Nefer. Will you be joining me for breakfast this morning?"

"I was hoping I could."

I could never deny those eyes anything, and I never saw a reason for him to really ask me if he could do anything so insignificant as to eat with me. He already knew the answer.

We walked silently after that, a comfortable silence I might add, and I was almost tempted to hold his tiny hand in mine, an impulse I was newly used to having, because it was something I understood. It was these goddamned hormones, that's what it was; it didn't take a sorcerer to see that.

I heard little Yugi start to hum under his breath, trying not to be rude to my presence, but I welcomed it blindly. He calmed me, he was my peace. Often times I would send for him and have him come to me in my chambers and sleep with me, just for someone to be there, to make me feel like I was protecting someone even if it was a rare thing. He never said anything about it, merely obliged and let me hold him against me while I slept on those few, troubled nights. In my opinion, I would say he enjoyed it, enjoyed the warmth two people could share in one bed. I know I did.

We made it to my personal dining space just as the cooks and kitchen maids had set up the one person table for me, a plush cushion by the throne like chair for Yugi to kneel on. I sat immediately, Yugi taking his place by my side and we were left alone, the servants waiting their orders or a call.

I found the fruit most attractive this morning, fresh, their taste tender and sweet. I easily found a small plate of honeyed plums, dried and basted to perfection, and delicately picked one to hand feed to Yugi. He was not allowed to help himself, therefore I had the utter-most pleasure of 'helping' him. You couldn't imagine the heavenly images I was able to create when that small, charming mouth would sometimes capture my fingers along with the food, the delicacy that had the privileged entrance to those lush lips. I never really mean to linger there, waiting vainly to see if the beauty would clean my fingers with his smooth pink tongue as well, but I always did, and he had never fulfilled my silent wish.

Neither of us said a word the entire time, and I enjoyed it this way, knowing a spoken truth would shatter this dreamscape into the harsh reality that was my life, my hell. Little Yugi respected this, and I was very thankful for that.

It was a short meal, Yugi filling up easily as he had begun to refuse the offered food, and me following. I could never really eat that much in one sitting, especially not in the mornings. Now, the next thing for me to do was my bath, and I intended on having Yugi assist me. It had been a while since I had the opportunity of feeling the young one's tiny hands massage my scalp and clean my skin with engagingly smelling oils. I didn't have time for Yugi's company anymore though, and I missed it.

"Stand, Nefer." I ordered evenly, not hard but not soft, and calmly turned to head back into the halls, my personal servant not two feet behind me as he was supposed to be.

I nodded to the maids waiting and they rushed in to clean the room we had just exited, Yugi's bare feet taking quicker steps than me with his short legs. I noted, with a touch of warmth that the boy caught up to walk directly at my side once we were in empty corridors.

It didn't take long to get back to the Eastern Wing, and by the time we reached my private bath chambers, a messenger had rushed up to us. It was a young woman, no older than myself but no younger than Yugi, with partially uneven brown hair and weakened blue eyes. I had seen this slave before, many times, sending me messages and then replying, she had grown since the first year she had been brought here though, and now she looked as if she were actually taller than me.

"My Pharaoh, I have a message."

"What is it Mau?"

The girl kept her head lowered and clasped her hands together; "The Council wishes an earlier meeting with you, your highness." I scoff, and the girl flinches noticeably.

"No, I intend to clean myself first, then I will deal with their nonsense. That is what you are to tell them, word for word."

"Yes, my Pharaoh." She mumbled, and then scampered off hurriedly.

She was one of Yugi's friends as well, one of the people I saw him with more often than not. Mau was a personal slave to Kan Sker, but also delivered messages that only needed to be sent through the palace. Kan was one of my more trusted council members, but absolutely not one of the quietest unfortunately. I sighed as I watched her turn a corner and vanish, before grinning shortly at Yugi, who had also watched Mau until she was gone.

"Come, I wish to be bathed."

"As you command, your highness." Yugi replied, voice soft and smile slightly slack but still tepid and guiltless.

I undressed carelessly, tossing my robes onto my bed for my chamber servants to take care of later, and moved towards the large golden doors that led to my bathhouse. Yugi stayed behind me, a large towel draped over his arm with my formal, crimson kilt and sash over his shoulder for a I w I was done. The golden ornaments I were to adorn were already at the large tub's side.

"What would you like me to attend to first, my Pharaoh?" Yugi asked boldly, knowing he would not be in trouble for addressing me so directly and openly when we were alone in an enclosed room. No one would hear him, or me for that matter, speaking so freely.

"I think I would enjoy a back massage." I thought aloud, and Yugi's grin grew a fraction wider.

"It would be my pleasure."

~*~

I sighed into my hand, as the table grew louder at Council member Kan's opinions of war and how it was completely necessary for our survival. It was a nice thing to know that not everyone here was obsessed with blood, but I still wished they could just argue quietly for once.

"Silence!" I bellowed, and everyone took their seats quickly, bowing their heads slightly in submission to my antagonism. I did not feel like being here today, not when I could still be with Yugi in my bathhouse.

"I realize Lord Ishtar is a very threatening opponent, but now it's you who must realize what you're asking of the Royal Army! We are few in numbers and who would we use to protect my people?"

"Your highness, as long as you are safe." Kan meeped quietly, valiantly.

"And even if I am safe, if there are no more citizens because they have been slaughtered as an act of war WHO exactly will I have ove over besides my council, who barely listens to me anyway?!"

They fell silent after that, and I knew they were confused as to why I was not supportive of this conflict. Lord Malik Ishtar may have been very powerful indeed, but we were better with defense, not offense, and my council knew that. I glanced at Pegasus as he crossed his arms, light brown eyes furrowed in thought.

"Something to add, Pegasus?" I asked, a bit calmer, knowing my chief advisor was a very intelligent man and would never say anything he knew I was against. He always tried to work his mind around my opinions so that he could make sense out of what I wanted.

"Yes, my Pharaoh."

"Well then, don't keep me waiting."

"I was just pondering on the idea of multiplying our defenses, instead of trying to put together a messy offense. The probability of a victory for us would almost be one hundred percent guaranteed that way, if we attacked him directly after we take down his army on our home land, using our advantage that way to the best of our abilities." He said, echoing my exact thoughts as if he could truly see into my mind. It was a scary thought that he might be able to do such a thing, but I never said anything on those musings.

"I agree," I turn back to the other men in the room. "Can anyone make better logic out of any other scenario?"

No one answers, and I smirk at Pegasus, a bittersweet gesture, and all but growl, "Council dismissed."

My anger is more directed at the older men in the room, and Pegasus knows that as he returns my grin before standing, bowing his head while kissing my knuckles, and leaves. The rest do the same and follow him out the door to do whatever it is council members do when their not in, well, council meetings and I slump into my chair rather inelegantly.

I don't think I could have been able to stand that thick atmosphere any longer than I had, and it gave me a headache to think back on the events that had taken place around this glorious marble tabot fot five minutes ago. Lord Ishtar was the last of my concerns as of now, and I stood to grace my garden with my presence. On impulse mind you, did I turn last second to see if Yugi would join me.

~*~

"Thank you for letting me accompany you on this walk, my Pharaoh." Little Yugi murmured softly, his bright eyes wide in awe as his happy expression put truth behind his words.

"Your welcome Nefer, your always welcome."

The breeze picks up, dancing with the wild sand flowers and forcing the cactus to sway in its power sometimes. Every so often I'd have to wipe my eyes with my headscarf because of the sand that was being kicked up, but it didn't bother me as much as I had originally expected. With Yugi accompanying me nothing seemed to worry me.

We walked until we came upon the only stone bench in the garden, made for two people to fit comfortably, and we both sat down automatically. Like every other time we took this little walk, Yugi let me wrap my arm around him and pull him closer to me, his head falling to rest on my shoulder with a sigh. It was my favorite position, my favorite way to spend my time, and absolutely nothing would ruin it for me.

Except for maybe another bidding from Mau.

The brunette ran up to us, out of breath once more with a scroll of parchment under her arm. I narrowed my eyes when Yugi had to sit up and away from me on the complete opposite side of the bench, but said nothing when the boy looked into his hands almost like he was ashamed.

"My Pharao-."

"What is it?" I snapped, not letting the girl finish as I got to my feet, and she jumped back in fear. With shaky hands she said nothing more, but handed me the scroll, bowed and took off again.

I scowled at the delivery, but did nothing other than grip the parchment tightly. I felt tense again, but found myself almost ignoring Yugi in my recent ire.

"My Pharaoh, if I may speak freely?" I heard Yugi near whisper, and glanced over towards the young servant blankly, nodding only once. He swallowed nervously.

"If something is wrong, please tell me what I can do to make it better, if not fix it completely."

I feel my eyes widen when he looks back down to the ground, head lowered and fingers twined with each other as he fidgeted. I had always known he had such a big heart, ready to absorb anything, to help anyone, and I think that's what I loved most about him. With a careful air and a calm grin I raised my hand out for his, and waited. He saw this and looked up with large eyes, curiously taking the offering while straightening his back.

"It's nothing you've done wrong, little Yugi, and it's nothing you need to make right again. I feel better just having you with me, alone."

My smile becomes real when his face lights up with one of his own, and it's effortless when I pull him back to me while I resituate myself on the bench, this time his weight in my lap with my arms around his thin waist. I carecarelessly let the scroll drop to the ground, but that didn't matter to me right now. I knew the beauty in my arms was not yet of age, but I was the Pharaoh, I made the rules for others to follow, but that did not mean I had to. Who was going to punish me for breaking my own laws?

We sat there like that for a long while, Yugi watching the broad expanse of desert move with the wind while I watched him, his tanned skin soft and creamy like. I loved his eyes the most though, his stunning eyes, and couldn't restrain the impulse to lean in and kiss his unblemished cheek. The servant looked back at me startled, and I felt the smirk slip from my face as a small blush crept up into Yugi's expression, giving him the most exotic, yet innocent look anyone could possibly posses. Something about it turned me on horribly, and I had to shift the boy in my lap so as not to frighten him with my obvious excitement.

He didn't question the move, and I soon had to avert my eyes from his intense gaze so as to be able to restrain my hormones, but I could still feel him watching me closely, curiously, and for some reason I couldn't find it in myself to force this boy to lay with me. I could have anyone I wanted, of age or not, I could have Yugi and he could do nothing against me, but I didn't want to. I didn't want to hurt him, and I valued his trust and respect more than anyone else, it was just not something I wanted to lose in him.

"My Pharaoh, I-."

"Forgive me Yugi." I tell him before he can ask me why I had done what I did, and smile at him although I am not looking his way.

He quiets after that, but continues to watch me until the sun angles itself in the sky, letting us know dinner would be served soon. I tenderly guide him from my lap and my arms, before standing myself and picking up the scroll that Mau had brought earlier. Yugi had his eyes locked with my every movement, and for a moment I was scared he now feared me, but pushed that muse aside as I started the walk back to the palace dining chambers, knowing my personal servant was following me closely.

~*~

"My Pharaoh," Seto Kaiba announces, bowing his head. "Please, be seated. Your just in time for the meal to begin."

I nod to my High Priest, smirking towards his own personal slave standing behind him obediently, and take my place at the head of the broad, gold table. Yugi kneels at my side before I wave everyone else to sit as well. Seto relaxes in his chair visibly to my right, trying to hide his fatigue over something, and I smile when I notice Yugi grinning in a form of 'hello' towards Seto's servant, whose kneeling by his master as well.

The boy was considerably taller than Yugi, or myself for that matter, but not nearly as tall as my High Priest, his master. He had rich blonde hair and creamy caramel eyes that were always bright and jovial, much like Yugi's. The boy had belonged to Seto now for almost five years now, and had become a good friend of my little Yugi, acting like a big brother even and protecting the my servant to the best of his abilities.

Deftly, a guard stepped forward and announced the night's feast to all of us, Seto, the council members and myself included in the lot, as well as our slaves, and I eagerly awaited the meal. Anytime food was present when Yugi was with me made me that way, turned me into some kind of freak with a fetish for hand feeding gorgeous people. But that was fine with me, because by all means I was free to say that Seto seemed to enjoy the event with his own slave much the same.

The dishes were placed in front of all of us, me first, and were then opened to let the steam roll off the meat that had been prepared. It was a type of smoked fish, basted and salted with the finest spices of the land, fresh vegetables accompanying it from the palace gardens. I inhaled gratefully and picked up the utensils on the side of my platter, casting a quick smile to Yugi as I quickly enjoyed my first piece. My council had a thing against me serving the first piece to my servant, so I always made sure to get the first bite done with as quickly as possible. Seto had the luxury of doing what he pleased with his servant though, and I noticed his secret smirk as he watched me from the corners of his eyes, the blonde at his side chewing gratefully. I rolled my eyes.

Yugi kept his head down the entire time though, and unlike at breakfast and lunch I missed the way his eyes followed my movements, the way he actually allowed both our eyes to meet whenever he'd receive a piece of food. Delicately, I placed a generous amount of warm fish on his tongue, watching him chew softly as he savored the flavor before turning to continue eating.

The meal passed swiftly, Seto and I being the first to finish as we sat sipping on my finest Burgundy wine and talked quietly. We were inconspicuously letting our boys drink some as well without being seen, knowing the small cups of water they had were empty now and having enough respect for them to keep them content while we conversed lightly about the new threat.

I rubbed my forehead lightly, closing my eyes and leaning back slightly in my throne like chair, trying to sort things out and although grateful for Seto siding with me on how our terms of engagement should unfold, I wished he hadn't of brought the subject up all together.

"Do not worry so much, my Pharaoh. I'm sure the threat is all that it is, an empty one." Seto murmured under the loudness of the councils' own conversations. I sighed again.

"I know. But even if it does turn out to be empty, I don't want this problem on my back any longer. Lord Ishtar has been prompting us to battle for months, and to be honest its become quite bothersome."

Seto merely nodded his agreement, before rising from his seat. He looked around the table once, before clapping his hands for the kitchen servants to clear the dirtied dishes. It was a cue, and the council left after that, still talking even as they stopped briefly to bow respectfully in front of me. Pegasus, however, stayed behind, taking a seat to my left and Seto sat back down. The silver haired advisor waited until everyone had left the room, and catching on Seto turned and dismissed the guards.

"Yami," Pegasus began, the coy little grin present as always. "I'm afraid I have some news that you would probably rather not hear."

I tensed, and sat with my back pressed into my chair, arms crossed, the servants still kneeling on their cushions forgotten momentarily.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Lord Ishtar has completed his first warning threat. The entire south side of the Akhenre has been burned to the ground, and the citizens taken hostage."

I saw Seto's eyes widen a fraction, and felt my muscles stressed further at the thought of my people being harmed. Without needing to look I knew Yugi and the other boy were holding hands tightly for comfort. Seto had said he'd purchased his slave, Itemeri was his name, from some part of Akhenre, and if my common sense served me one of the boy's relative might have been taken for the slave trade with the rest.

"When did this happen?" Seto spoke up, voice strained.

"Just this morning. I received word from our local scouts about it at least an hour after our meeting this morning."

"Why wasn't it reported immediately?" I order, almost enraged. Pegasus smirked a little more.

"You were said to be busy with your servant, as Mau had informed me. Did you not read the parchment I had sent you earlier?"

I blanched, then quickly remembered the events in the gardens earlier, and how carelessly I had tossed the scroll into my chambers before making my way to the dining hall. Yugi had entranced me, and I cursed myself now for my stupidity. I should have known the scroll had been important.

"No, I neglected to look at them. ans answer tersely, angry with myself, and I knew it was Yugi who flinched when I saw someone move from the corner of my eye.

"Well, what is it you wish to be done about it, my Pharaoh?" Pegasus questioned, and I scowled at the wall straight across from me, unfolding my arms from my chest to lean over the table on my elbows. I hated to say it, but I had to, and opened my mouth to order what was to be done.

"Gather the troops into defending my country. I want all cities, towns, villages and houses guarded, every man, woman and child protected from the underground slave trade that I know Ishtar is sending them to. The borders are as of now officially locked off and we are to isolate ourselves until her her notice. Is that clear." I explain evenly, watching the serious looks on my two most trusted advisors faces, and they nod, Pegasus's small smile completely gone.

I stand after that, expression blank, and look down towards my trembling slave.

"Nefer, return to your chambers. You are to retire for the night."

Yugi nods at the emotionless tone I'm speaking with, before standing, bowing low to me, and then exiting quickly and quietly. Seto and Pegasus stand with me and I look at both of them.

"Call in my generals." Is the last thing I tell the two, and then follow Yugi's lead and exit on a stiff, important stride towards my throne room.

~*~

TBC.

YP: So, how was it?

C: IT SUCKED!

YP: Really? Awesome!

C: Yeah yeah, stop bragging, you know you did better than I'm gonna do.

YP: Psh, shut up and start working on your chapter.

C: *walks away slowly, dragging one foot behind her like Egor the hunchback* Yes master.