Running Through My Head

Yeah I know, none too original, but hey, I'm stil writing. Things pick up a bit here. As always BRING ON ALL REVEIWS!


Chapter 2: A Gift Given Thee


In the main audience camber, in wonderfully cool shade and on a comfortable cushioned throne, sat one who was clearly the man in charge here. At present, his head rested against his fist, and he looked exceptionally bored, and probably annoyed as well. He could feel a vein throbbing in his left temple and wished that the idiot babbling in front of him would get to the point and stop wasting time. There was a slight tug on his free arm and he looked down at a little boy, who usually sat next to him, though not on the throne.
“Are you alright brother?” the boy asked quietly, concerned for his older sibling. The elder of the two smiled a little at him, and ruffled his spiky hair.
“I’m fine Yugi, don’t worry.” He replied in his deep calming voice. Yugi smiled up at him and sat back down, thinking that his brother was too stubborn for his own good in this kind of situation. He sighed at the thought of what it would be like if he were in his brother’s place. Yugi was sure his brother was better suited to this, it would probably drive himself absolutely, and in all other ways, completely mad. Having had enough, the elder of the two held up one hand, palm out to stop the speaker’s constant irritating drone. “Understand this,” he said, and there was definitely warning in his tone. “I will marry when I am good and ready to do so, and I will not be rushed on the matter. Now there isn’t any more point discussing it.” The man who had been speaking, looked crest-fallen and bowed low, retreating backwards and muttering apologies and thanks in equal amounts. Before the young man on the throne could ask if there was anything else to be discussed, another patron walked in, with no less than six guards behind him. He was holding was seemed to be a golden chain, but what it was attached to, could not be seen, not yet at least.
“Oh my Pharaoh, Great Shadow of the Gods…” Both brothers rolled their eyes as the listing of complimentary titles wend on. “We bring you an exotic apparition, a jewel from faraway lands, a rare desert flower.” The Pharaoh arched an eyebrow at this. But when the man before him finished this pronouncement, there was another noise that came from the little cluster of guards behind him. It seemed that whatever they had for him, was nothing too tame, for it emitted a low throaty growl, not entirely unlike that of a lion. The two guards in the front parted, and revealed a woman. And what a woman! The Pharaoh straightened in his seat to get a better look at her. Never had anything like this creature been seen in his palace before. Her skin was not tan like theirs, but of a paler tone, with warm pinkish color in her cheeks. Her long hair was not nearly so dark as every other female in Egypt, but the color of polished wood with streaks of dark gold running through it. And it was not straight, nor did it look so coarse as that of any other woman, but soft, and it hung in long languid waves. And her eyes…Surely no mortal woman had eyes like that! Her eyes were as sharp and green as fresh young leaves Her clothing was odd to say the least. Since when would anyone want to stay so covered up in this kind of heat? But something else registered in his mind. For as entrancing as she certainly was, she was glaring, not at him, but at the man presenting her with the kind of venom that only a woman can possess. For the chain, the Pharaoh could now see, was attached to a jeweled collar around her neck, and her hands were bound by a set of golden manicals and chains as well. The presenter yanked on the chain and her head jerked a bit, but it was clear that she was resisting. After receiving a sharp punch from the butt-end of one of the guard’s spears, she rose to her feet, which the brothers could now see were encased in some kind of odd footwear, as opposed to the sensibility of sandals. The man holding the chain yanked again and this time she strode up to him and stood facing him, glaring as though she might burn holes in him with her eyes. There was that same low, threatening growl and it was quite clear that she was the one who’d made it the first time. The man holding her gripped her chin in his fingers and turned her to face the Pharaoh. “Be more respectful to your master!” he had sounded quite worried at her lack of etiquitte towards the highest authority in Egypt. She actually snapped her teeth at him and growled again, this time louder, though she did not manage to catch anything with her jaws, since he had removed his hand quickly enough. The man pulled her forward, or tried to, and bowed to the Pharaoh, extending the golden chain to him. “We give her to you, a slave, such as she is.” The Pharaoh stared at the woman for a long moment, and she stared right back. Though it was really more of a glare, as she stood straight up, her head held high with defiance; not at all like any half-sensible slave would. Narrowing his eyes slightly, and with the slightest upward curve of his lips, the Pharaoh too the chain the man offered and gave a sharp tug. It wouldn’t have put her in any real pain, but the action was meant to impress upon her just what kind of situation she was in, even if she didn’t like it. She stumbled forward and nearly fell, but recovered herself and tilted her head to glare up at him again, her own eyes becoming dangerous slits of green in her own enraged face. His fingers gripped her face more gently than he guessed she had expected, because her right eyebrow arched making her look quite as confused as she was angry. The Pharaoh, for his own part, found her impossibly beautiful, the kind of thing a goddess might be in living human form. But his damn good sense told him she was no Goddess, not in the least. She was just an overly defiant female, though an odd one even in that rarity, and therefore all the more intriguing.
“You have a name?” the Pharaoh inquired, in that same, calm tone.

Amber was about ready to have a bitc-fit over this whole insane ordeal. Did these arrogant morons honestly think she’d stand for this? She wasn’t a slave and wasn’t about to accept the concept of being property, not to him, not to anyone. She jerked her face away from his hand and tried her best to kill him with an icy expression, that really being her only weapon.
“What do you care?” she hissed threateningly. “It’s not like you’d think to use it.” Her reward was another sharp yank of the chain, effectively choking her for a second or two.
“Mind your tongue.” The Pharaoh warned gruffly and pulled her face close to his own this time. There was a pause in which they stared at each other, two sets of eyes with fury in equal measure. “Or you may not have one at all.” He whispered, and his voice was so calm and placid that it sent a chill up Amber’s spine, though she tried to hide it. Her only vocal reply was to let out an irate sigh, in indication of weary petulance, and in this case, momentary defeat. She was still clearly annoyed as the Pharaoh smirked at her, and his grin widened when she gave a sudden start as he pecked her lightly on the cheek. She drew back a step, but couldn’t go back any farther because of his tight grip on the chain. A soft chuckle rose from somewhere in his chest, and seemed to ground whatever she was thinking, because her face turned icy again. The Pharaoh sighed and sat back in his throne. “Yugi,” the younger boy next to the young man stood up. “Do me this good turn, and take her to my chambers.” To Amber, it sounded like more of an order than a request for a favor. But the younger male only nodded and took the chain his brother offered him, smiling almost – was she imagining it? – kindly up at her. She gave him a severe look for a few moments, but to the surprise of all present, she sighed and it was like a mask falling away, and what was revealed was sadness, even fright. Though what she was so scared of, none of those around her could say. The Pharaoh was not overly harsh to his slaves, but he could definitely be strict and would give punishments for disobedience if necessary. Pondering on this, Yugi led the young woman down several halls and at least half as many sets of low steps. More than once, he glanced back at her to see if she was alright, but she seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, and didn’t notice his gaze. Apart from her looks, there was something else he noticed about her. Yugi had judged her to be maybe only a little younger than his brother, which he knew the Pharaoh must have guessed as well. It was a good change, in Yugi’s opinion, from the other slave-girls the people sent his brother, which were usually around his own age of 14. Both siblings had found this exceptionally insulting, though culture dictated that there was nothing to be ashamed of. The Pharaoh found it to be hardly any different from sleeping with a child, and as such, didn’t bother with those slaves, but rather let them get on with their work in peace. Yugi paused once they reached the massive double doors to his brother’s chambers and a second later felt the woman walk right into him.
“Sorry.” She muttered as she stepped back again, and he smiled gently at her.
“That’s alright, no harm done.” He said, and was surprised when she smiled slightly at back him. The guards standing on either side of the doors pushed the gigantic panels open and the little prince entered, guiding the slave behind him. There was a hook in the wall, right next to the bed, and this was where Yugi hung the last link on the chain, tethering the woman to the wall. He looked up at her then, his violet eyes holding a sense of guilt that Amber felt he really didn’t deserve, not entirely anyway. “Um…I’m sorry, but this is just how it’s supposed to be.” He looked up at her again, since she was a good deal taller than he, maybe a few inches shy of his brother’s height, and was yet again astonished. To him, the expression on her soft fair-skinned face was of confusion rather that frustration or anger. Feeling awkward, and a bit embarrassed, the little boy shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the door. Pausing for a moment, he looked back at her over his shoulder. “Don’t be angry with the Pharaoh. He’s really very nice to the slaves.” He told her and turned to leave. But just as he was crossing the threshold…
“Are you his brother?” The soft question rooted the little prince to the ground for a moment, then his nerves recovered and he looked back at her.
“Yes.” He replied, then after a second of quiet asked, “How did you know?”
“The two of you look alike, that’s all.” She answered with an idle shrug, as if it had only been a curious question. They left it at that. Yugi passed through the doors and they closed with a solemn thud behind him. Walking slowly, and a bit rigidly, he made his way back to the main audience chamber, wondering why her one question had bothered him so much. Everyone in Egypt, or failing that everyone in town, knew he was the Pharaoh’s little brother, that didn’t seem to strike any particular cord. What felt odd was the fact that she had asked it, and also the feeling he had that there was a severe difference in culture. It was as if she came from an entirely different world that what would make any kind of sense. After all, even women of other cultures knew their place and could behave themselves without spitting fire. Also there was the other fact that she had been so indifferent towards him, and had been so manifestly sharp towards his brother. It felt wrong somehow.
Back in the Pharaoh’s chambers, Amber was struggling with that stupid collar. The buckle to it was in the back, beneath her long hair, and she was nearly choking herself to try and get the thing undone. When it finally did come off, she coughed once and took a few good deep breaths. Next were the golden manicals on her wrists, and though they were accessibly positioned, they were no less difficult. She would have gotten them off with greater ease if she could have figured out how they where secured, but that seemed to have some kind of odd trick to it. Instead she turned and twisted her wrists until her hands were finally free, and the area of her wrists was sore and pinkish-red from irritation. With a sigh, she sat on the edge of the bed for a few minutes to recover herself a bit. Those damned bindings had really hurt to get off, but it was worth it to be able to move freely again. At length, she stretched and heaved a deep sigh, the bed was feeling rather comfortable just now. With a snap, she came back to reality and shook her head sharply. First and foremost, was getting the hell out of here, and that required something special, since half the household would know by now who she was, at least who she was to the Pharaoh. She was smart enough about society to know that gossip spread faster than the common cold. None of what had happened since she had woken up made any sense, especially since there were no Pharaohs anymore, everyone knew that, and more over kidnapping an American was as good as launching a runaway hubcap up you nose; which is to say causing nothing but trouble. Amber walked quicky and silently over to the open balcony to the far side of the room from the doors and looked out. Knowing full well that the hallway doors were guarded, she hadn’t even bothered, but if there was a way out through the balcony, she might just have a chance at escape, and finding the American Embassy or something else just as helpful. There didn’t seem to be anyone out there, nor in the open space below. The only serious flaw was that the distance from the balcony to the ground was way too far to jump without serious injury. Also there was no rope to lower down to a safe level. Glancing back into the room, she realized she might just have to attempt something perfectly absurd, like tying the bed-sheets together. It seemed nothing was on her side today, or at lest nothing that was useful.


Author's Request/ Challenge: I came up with an idea some time ago and a friend suggested I throw it online as a challenge so here it is. Someone(ANYONE) write a story about the word's of Yu-Gi-Oh and Final Fantasy 10 crossing. Think of all the weird shit that could happen! This could get messy. Again make sure to reveiw, DON'T MAKE ME USE MY KUNG FUU (In my case random-button-fuu LOL)!