Accepting ones fate

KITG: Okay people I am so sorry for the wait for this chapter. But my will to write seemed to go in a new direction. That being of Doctor who for a time. I still love Yu-gi-oh, but I just did not have the will to write for it. Now re-reading my fic and changing a few things. I seem to have got the spark back. How long this lasts will be a mystery. Hopefully for a long time.

KITG: (pulls out a dusty box and pulls out Yami and Yugi) oh there you are

Yami: (cough, cough) I should send you to the shadow realm.

KITG: I’m sorry….I never meant to leave you there so long. Please forgive me great pharaoh (bows)

Yami: I should still send you to the shadow realm.

KITG: I brought chocolate…

Yami: really? (Snatches chocolate and starts shoving it into his mouth)

Yugi:…very shrewd.

KITG: I thought so.

Truth before the night


Baset looked at Atemu from Yugi’s shoulder. If her face muscles could, she would be grinning at his shocked expression. She knew she had chosen wisely the day she had picked Yugi to be her chosen. She had felt the love and gratitude from the mind of this cat, the light of the young mans soul radiating through the link she had with all cats.

Atemu blinked and stuttered as Yugi raised his hand to stroke Baset; she purred deeply as he scratched her ear, she leaned into the touch. The rings in her ear jingled as Yugi’s hand set them to clang against each other.

“What do you think Baset? Think I shocked him?” Yugi said conspiratorially to her.

“Meow” she replied rubbing against him.

“Who could think I would make the prince of Egypt speechless..” he giggled.

“But how?” Atemu finally found his voice.

“Well it wasn’t that hard Atemu….I saw your birthmark when I cleaned your wound. And the fact of your hair, also the fact that the prince has suddenly gone missing.” Yugi giggled.

Now Atemu thought about it, he hadn’t really covered his tracks that well. He sighed, what now? Would Yugi hand him in? Should he run from the young one? No he realised he could not run from Yugi, the little one was too important to him now. He and his Grandfather were the only ones, bar Seth, that had treated him with kindness. Not fear because he was the Pharaoh’s son, nor with distain and disappointment from a father.

“So I suppose now that you know, you’ll turn me in?” Atemu sighed.

“Meow!” Baset walked down from Yugi’s shoulder and head butted Atemu.

“I agree Baset, he is kinda stupid.” Yugi just grinned at him.

“Hey, how dare you say that to the son of the Pharaoh….OW!” It had been a knee-jerk reaction before he could get his brain in gear. But Baset had given her view on him talking to Yugi like that with a quick slash of her claws on his hand.

“I think all are equal under Baset’s roof Atemu.” Yugi sighed and got to his feet.

“Meow!” Baset turned angrily away from Atemu and walked to follow Yugi. She ran up one of the statues so she could jump on his shoulder with out him missing a step. Then curling back round his neck while mewing her comfort to him softly.

Atemu just sat gob smacked as Yugi walked from him. How could the attitude he had taken to Yugi hurt him so? True it had not been pleasant but Yugi seemed the kind of person to know he did not mean it.

“Do not judge him too harshly my prince” and old voice spoke behind him, the tone was laced with sadness directed at Yugi. He was now sat at the feet of the Statue of Baset. All the other cats had come to sit round him; Baset was in his lap while all other sat looking up and Yugi, mewing softly.

Atemu looked back at the owner of the voice to see Atamar standing beside him.

“You know who I am?” Atemu asked, he suddenly noticed that everyone else had left the temple.

“Oh yes my prince, I may be old but I’m not blind. You have the aura of Ra about you. Only his sons have that, I have been in the presence on two Pharaohs. I first served your grandfather and then your father for a time. I was there at your birth.” Atamar smiled at his prince before bowing before him.

“Don’t do that, I don’t want it” Atemu rushed to get Atamar on his feet

“Why do you fear your destiny my prince?”

“Why did you ask me not to judge Yugi?” Atemu replied, avoiding Atamar’s question. Atamar saw the change of topic and let the question slide.

“Because he has been through so much. I know Sogoku never told him, but Yugi suspects maybe even remembers what happened that day to his parents.” Atamar sighed.

“What happened?”

“Your father killed them…..and he said almost exactly the same words you said just now to Yugi” Atamar left the young prince to think on this as he walked towards Yugi

His father killed Yugi’s parents? Atemu could not comprehend the pain the young one must have felt. Were they killed before his eyes? He wouldn’t put it past his father to do such a thing. To make a point, to make an example he would say. But Atemu suspected he enjoyed the pain he inflicted.

How could Atemu talk to Yugi after this, he was so ashamed. And Atamar had asked why he tried to escape his destiny. This was the reason, the fact that he might turn out like his father. He knew the advisers, growing fat off the pain they inflicted, would accept no less. Atemu walked over to Yugi, the cats parting before him at a “meow” from Baset. She turned wise eyes on him as he came beside Yugi.

“I’m sorry Yugi”

“What for Atemu?”

“For my father” he tried to lock eyes with Yugi.

“It’s not your fault, you are not your father” Yugi smiled at Atemu’s shocked expression.

“I’m not my father?”

“No you’re not. You are you. Nothing can change the core of you. You are kind and strong. You have a heart that a true pharaoh should have. Atamar told me of your Grandfather, of how kind he was.” Yugi had a smile on his face as he thought of what a kind pharaoh was like.

Yugi looked up as Ra hung low in the horizon, it’s deep red hue almost making the sands seem red with blood. The cats were now getting up from their places on the now cold stone to gather round the fires that burned in large gold bowls. The flickering light illuminating the hieroglyphs all over the walls, making them seem alive.

“Come on Yami, we had better be getting back home” Yugi got to his feet; he gently gave Baset a parting caress as he placed her on the floor.

“Home?”

“Yes, back to Ji-chan” Yugi held out his hand to Atemu, that innocent and calming smile upon his face and Atemu knew he was lost. He could no more ignore the offered hand than stop breathing. So with a smile of his own he grasped the young ones hand, marvelling on how it seemed to fit as is it was made for him alone.

They bid a good night to Atamar as they left the temple, the course was easy to follow, the sandy roads clear of people. They had given up queuing for food, their hunger pains and exhaustion driving them to their beds. The cycle would begin anew when Ra rose again the following day.

Night’s curtain was just turning the sky to its ebony black, the stars twinkling in greeting as Yugi and Atemu came to the outskirts of Yugi’s home. They could see the camels, heavy laden with goods. Carpets and jewellery, silks and dried figs as all were worth their weight in gold.

Yugi could see the Regent sat atop his Arabian mare, the pure white horse looking like a horse of Ra’s chariot. He must be finalising the deal with his Ji-chan. Both men looked into their direction as they became illuminated in the torch light. Atemu had by this time re-wrapped his hair in the turban. Atemu tried to hide his face from the regent by turning his gaze to the ground.

The Regent looked long and hard at the strange one standing beside the old mans grandchild. He had met Yugi on a number of occasions and was going to bring his similarities to the prince before the high priest. At the very least they could use the young one as a decoy for assassination attempts. They had been becoming more frequent as of late, poisonings seemed to be the favourite and it would only escalate with time. It seemed a rather redundant idea now that the prince had already been kidnapped.

Something about the young man standing beside Yugi sent off alarm bells in the Regents mind but he dismissed it, he passed the bag of gold to Sagoku before turning his mare away. The Caravan began its journey as all watched, before long the camels were swallowed by the night and the Regent began to go home for food and rest. But as he was about to crest the hill, his presence now masked by the night while the small home was in bright illumination of fire light, there was a loud yell as a blond haired teen came rushing round the corner, colliding with Yugi and his friend. The friend was knocked to the ground.

As he watched them hit the floor, rich laughter echoing out from the old man and his grandson, the young teens turban fell from his head…. illuminating tri-colour hair….

88888888

“Careful Jou, you never know whom you might be knocking over” Yugi giggled as he looked down at Atemu pinned under his friend.

“Sorry man, I didn’t mean to….whoa you’re hair is just like” Atemu cringed as he waited to the unavoidable revelation..The teen would know he was the pri.. “Yugi’s hair..Are you a long lost brother or something?” Atemu sweat dropped.

“He’s my…cousin. Yami this is Joey, Joey this is Yami” Yugi used Atemu’s false name as obviously Atemu did not want to be found out.

“Hi Yami,” Joey shook Yami’s hand, a big grin on his face. “Call me Jou. Everyone does.”

“Pleased to meet you Jou” Atemu smiled, Jou was obviously a good soul, even if he was a little dense. Jou like was clearly a street rat, Yugi had plain cloths but they were clearly of better make than Jou’s. His were torn and tattered, years worth of dirt covering it.

Sagoku watched the whole exchanged with some interest, he knew whom Yami was now. It was clear he was the missing prince. He had seen him on many occasions when he had worked for the palace. He used to be the main suppliers from the caravans, now it all went through the regent. He would not reveal what he knew in front of Jou but he would have to bring it up with Yugi later. They were running a great risk having him here. He needed to know the reason why he was hiding here. Had he really been kidnapped? Or had he just had an argument with the Pharaoh?

Both presented equal danger as the other. As both would leave the current Pharaoh in a rage. He could have him and Yugi slain for this, still Sagoku’s heart would not let him turn the young one away. He was not blind to how taken Yugi was with the prince. It would end in tears, but to see that spark in Yugi’s eyes once again it was worth the risk.

“I’m sorry to bother you Yug, but dad…”

“It’s okay Jou. You can stay for dinner, right Ji-chan?”

“Of course you can stay Joseph” Sagoku was the only one who used Joey’s full name.

“Thanks Ji-chan” Joey thanked Sagoku, he thought of the elder as his grandfather anyway. And Sagoku always told him to call him Ji-chan like Yugi.

They all went inside, each helping in their own way with the meal. Jou set the table. Atemu, under Yugi’s direction, cut the fruit while he got the salted meat. Sagoku brought out the bread he had freshly cooked that day.

Once they all were sat down at the table, Yugi took a portion of the food and placed it before the statues of Ra, Horus and Baset in offering. Then they all dug in, Jou poured the sweet wine from the jug while Yugi handed round the meat. The meal was better the some had, and Jou was freely welcome. His father was more an owner than any parental love. Jou’s sister lived with her mother near the palace. Their mother had become a priestess under the high priestess Ishar. The only senior to Istar was the High Priest Seth.

Soon the meal was over, all helped to clear away the remains then gather round the fire for a time. They talked, told stories of their lives. Sagoku relating how he had travelled the vast deserts. Of the bandits and sandstorms.

“Think he will have drunk himself to sleep, I had better go home,” Jou announced as the moon rose high in the sky. “Thanks for the food Ji-chan”

“You are quite welcome Joseph. Be careful walking home”

“I will. See ya Yug, Yami” Jou waved them all goodnight then opening the wooden door he set off home for the night.

“Well we had better turn in for the night also. Yami why don’t you get cleaned up first? I need to talk to Yugi about the caravan.” Sagoku ignored Yugi’s confused look.

“Okay Ji-chan” Yami left the room, leaving Yugi and his Ji-chan alone.

“Yugi, why is the young prince here?”

“You know?” Yugi exclaimed.

“I’m not that old Yugi. And you forget I served at the palace for a time. And was it not I whom told you to be careful because you looked like the young prince?” Yugi blushed as he remembered.

“I don’t know exactly why he is here. I don’t think he was kidnapped.” Yugi’s face frowned as he tried to think why Atemu had run from the palace. Could it be that the Pharaoh was as cruel to Atemu as he was to his people? “I think he’s here because he doesn’t like how his father runs thinks. He doesn’t want to become like his father.”

“Hmmm, we will have to be very careful Yugi”

“I know Ji-chan. I’ll have to ask..” Yugi never got to finish that sentence.

From outside came the sound of many horses, then the sound of men shouting. They could see now outside the light from torches shortly before the door was thrown open. In the meagre light cast by the lamp they could see the crest of the Pharaohs personal guard right before they were thrust to the ground at sword point.

“Where is the young prince you kidnapping scum?” the captain of the guard asked.

At that moment Atemu came out, he had heard the noise and would not let Yugi or Ji-chan be harmed.

“Release them at once” Atemu’s voice was deep and commanding.

“Young prince” All in the room bowed to Atemu. “We cannot release them my prince. They have kidnapped you”

“They did not kidnap me, I ran away. So release them now”

“Apologies my prince, but the Pharaoh has commanded that the kidnappers be brought before him.” The captain answered before turning to his men. “Bind these two.”

Yugi and Sagoku’s hands were tied no matter how much Atemu protested. They were led from there home and loaded on a cart while Atemu was led to a golden chariot. Then they were taken to the palace….

TBC,,,,


KITG:oooh, what do you think?

Yugi: are you actually typing this at work?

KITG: Yes….have to look after the store while the painters are in.

Yami: I thought the security guard was doing that..

KITG: he bailed at the last minute…like 5 mins into my normal shift…there was no one else to do it. So I have to stay.
Yugi: how many hours?

KITG: about 12 why?

Yami: what time is it now then?

KITG: 2:02 AM…..4 hours to go….joy….bloody hell its cold in here!

Yami: humm…4 hours? Plenty of time to do more writing. Get writing now!

KITG: you’re awfully bossy for someone that’s been stuck in a box for months…..

Yami: Shadow realm.

KITG: okay, okay I’m typing….