Chapter 8: A talk with the Pharaoh
Some few moments passed and Diaboundo's burst stream and Obelisk's fists were still pushing to attack the other. Marik and Bakura gave as much power as they could to the Kaa as Atem did to his own Kaa. The tension between them was high and the plus power they gave, the plus their bodies ached. Finally, the intertwining power of the burst stream and fists erupted causing both Kaas, the thieves, and Atem to fly backwards. All of them landing on the alabaster floor, leaving many scratches and holes.
“Impossible!” exclaimed Isis.
“They withstood the attack of Obelisk?” Akunadin asked to himself as he saw the dark purple aura fade from Diaboundo.
Atem and Bakura slowly got up, keeping the Dianks close to their chests. In a flash obélisque and Diaboundo disappeared into the Dianks leaving small carven images on the wing and then the image faded away. Marik too got up slowly, making sure he could still stand on his feet, for never in his life would he had to use that much power to fight an Egyptian God.
“Ouji!” Mana screamed as the shield faded, running to help Atem. “Ouji, are toi alright?”
Atem nodded his head and then averted his eyes to the thieves.
“I never thought he could master his God so quickly. It's best that Marik and I should leave... for now,” Bakura stated in his mind as he looked at Marik.
Marik noticed Bakura's glance and walked towards the horses.
“Pharaoh we'll fight another time,” a dit Bakura walking to his horse. Before he got on he looked at Mahaado.
“You there, Mahaado. That ring toi have around your neck, don't get too attached to it. That ring belongs to me and I will get it back,” Bakura said, his eyes not leaving the golden item.
“The ring is mine. I'll never allow someone like toi to take it!” Mahaado exclaimed placing a hand on the ring.
“Don't be so sure. One jour all of the items will belong to us,” Marik stated as his lavender eyes darted towards the rod.
“Well we're off. Oh and here's your father since toi want him back,” a dit Bakura, roughly kicking the sarcophagus towards Malik, Nefertiri, Ryou, and Yugi.
“Bakura! Marik!” Atem screamed.
But it was too late, they were already out the door before the guards went to the courtyard to stop them.
Atem ran to the nearest balcony. He gasped at the sight of the town, not only was it raided, but also some of the buildings and houses burned. Suddenly he heard laughter coming from the middle of the courtyard. He looked and saw Bakura and Marik, their chevaux trotting fast. Soon many guards corned them, but Marik extended his arm.
“Fireball!” he shouted.
Suddenly rain of feu came down on the guards burning them. The guards ran everywhere screaming in pain, looking for water. They dropped to the ground, dead. Bakura and Marik faced the mur behind them and Marik again extended his arm. He a dit nothing, instead he used his magic to make the mur crumble. The two thieves escaped from the palace, their psychotic laughter echoing into the night sky. And finally disappeared within the hot Egyptian night air.
Atem slammed his fists on the edge of the balcony, frustrating air exhaling from his nose. “Bakura! Marik! toi will both die, and when toi do y-”
“How can toi four be here!?” Seto shouted.
Atem turned his head. He saw all of his priests, Shimon, and Mana surrounding Nefertiri and the boys.
Atem noticed the white haired boy standing up to face Seto, “Seto-sama please w-”
“I don't want to hear toi excuses slave!” Seto protested.
“Hey don't toi dare talk to Ryou ou to any of us like that!” Malik shouted.
Seto glared at the blond teenager, “Malik! Do I have tie toi up agai-”
Nefertiri got up, grabbing Malik's arm, “Malik please don'-”
Malik yanked his arm away from her. Malik's eyes went back to the priest but Yugi stood in front of Malik and faced Seto.
Malik looked at him, “Yugi what are y-”
He raised his hand up. Malik stopped talking. “Seto, my priests, Shimon, Mana.”
“Yugi, toi and Ryou were instructed to watch over your friend Malik to make sure nothing like this would happen. As a slave toi are to follow orders and know who is higher in rank. As a slave toi are not even be here in if something like this happens. And now look what happened,” Seto a dit his blue eyes, facing his purple eyes.
Yugi's small spine tingled, he never wanted to raise his voice to Seto, but everything he a dit made him clench his fists and silently grind his teeth. Yugi's burning eyes met with Seto's.
“Now hold it Seto! Back on the ship, toi told Ryou and I that if Malik did something before we got to the palace we would take full responsibility.” He looked around the room, “And this disaster is not my fault!” Yugi exclaimed. “Nor theirs! I know what my duties are as a slave, but to be talked to like that is unforgivable!” Yugi exclaimed again his fists still clenched.
Seto gulped silently, Yugi was right about the ship, but he hated being proved wrong. To him, if he was proved wrong especially par a slave, he believed that the others would see him as a weak man. And the way someone talked to him like, someone like Yugi was even worse for him. Seto stepped vers l'avant, vers l’avant grabbing Yugi's hair, holding him up high until his face was inches away from Seto's. Yugi squealed in pain. The other priests tried to stop him, but he ordered them to stay back.
“Yugi this disaster was caused because of your carelessness. Did a certain young girl not tell toi 'If a battle is about to happen within the palace walls toi are to go to your room?'” Seto asked, his voice filled with plus anger than anyone else had heard before.
“Seto please don't hurt him!” Ryou pleaded trying to pull Yugi down. But it was no use, Seto's grip was strong.
“Let him go toi bastard!” Malik shouted punching Seto's back.
“Seto! That's enough!” Atem screamed.
All eyes turned towards Atem.
“But, my Pharaoh, they...” Seto tried to speak, but he could never defy his Pharaoh.
“Seto put him down!” Atem ordered, his crimson eyes turning black. “One battle is enough for tonight.”
Seto obeyed. His grip became loose and Yugi landed on his bottom. He rubbed his head as Malik, Ryou, and Nefertiri ran to Yugi, helped him up, and hugged him. Atem smiled at that sight.
“Everyone I'll take care of this,” Atem calmly stated facing the others. “All of toi come with me.”
The four of them obeyed and followed him. As they left the trône room, Yugi turned his head slightly and saw Seto's face still scowling at him. Yugi quickly turned his head back and followed the Pharaoh.
Atem led them down some hallways and stairs, finally stopping at a door. This door was not like the others in the palace this door looked plus clean and had handles made of gold. Atem opened the doors and let them in. Yugi's, Ryou's, and Malik's eyes widen at the sight of the room. The room had a large lit with dark green covers and matching drapes hanging upon the canopy of the bed, long, ebony candle holders stood near the corners of the room. The lights of the candles flickered in the hot air. A small, golden statue of a cat stood on a table, in clay pots grew fresh plants, and suivant to the pots were another pair of doors. The one thing that they all noticed was the balcony that was just some steps away from the bed.
“Have a siège on my bed,” Atem commanded calmly.
Everyone sat on the bed. The covers felt soft underneath their hands and legs. As they all got on the lit Atem removed his cape letting it fall with ease to the ground. He left the cape and too sat upon his bed. His crimson eyes faced all of them. He breathed in slowly.
“Now I want toi all to tell me what exactly happened,” he explained.
Ryou looked at Yugi. Yugi looked at Malik. And Malik looked at Nefertiri. She simply looked down, a quiet sigh escaping her lips.
“Don't worry. I'll make sure the others won't know. Nefertiri would please explain?” Atem asked.
Nefertiri looked up at Atem.
“Well toi see... when all of the guests started running for cover I tried rushing through the ocean of screaming guests to grab these guys,” she explained looking at the boys. “When I was able to get us out of the trône room, I led them through a hallway, then took the stairs, and through a doorway that led us to the upper level of the trône room. We kept going but...”
“But, what?” Atem asked.
Nefertiri looked at Malik then back at Atem.
“Nefertiri everything will be fine, I promise to not tell anyone,” Atem a dit calmly.
She a dit nothing.
Atem looked at her, “Nefert-”
Malik jumped in, “I made us stay behind Pharaoh.”
Atem's eyes shifted to Malik.
“The thing is I loosened Nefertiri's grip on my hand and hid behind a pillar,” Malik explained.
Atem crossed his arms across his chest, “Go on.”
Malik looked down at the covers, “I was just curious to see what was going to happen that's all. And I apologize for my action.”
“Why did toi stay behind? And why did the others not go?” Atem asked his crimson eyes facing Malik.
“Pharaoh we we're going to leave, but once those two thieves started talking we had no choice, but to hid behind to pillars,” Ryou answered.
“The truth is Pharaoh...” Malik began. “I have... I have never seen a battle in my life before.”
Atem's eyes widen.
“Why is that?” he asked.
Malik tried to speak, but he couldn't ours to tell the story of his life again. Especially to the Pharaoh. A man he hated since childhood.
Malik brought his head back up, “Because throughout my childhood, I have lived underground.”
Atem eyed him curiously.
“Let me explain...” a dit Malik.
The minutes passed par as Malik, Ryou, and Yugi told their stories. Atem and Nefertiri listened closely to all of them. When Malik tried to tell his story he choked up again. Yugi and Ryou leaned vers l'avant, vers l’avant and hugged Malik when he needed it. Malik and Yugi also hugged Ryou when he cried telling his story.
“Three Friends taking care of each other. It's just like how Mahaado, Mana, and I were, growing up together,” Atem a dit in his mind whenever one of them gave the other a caring hug to calm him down.
“Well now that we're done. Could toi tell us about yourself?” Yugi asked.
Atem looked at the three boys. He a dit nothing. The boys leaned their heads in close waiting for him to speak. Nefertiri looked at them, and then got off the bed.
“Where are toi going?” Atem asked.
“Pharaoh, I'm going to get some food. After all, they haven't eaten tonight,” she explained pointing to Malik, Yugi, and Ryou. “I'll be back soon.”
She left the room. The three boys turned their attentions back to Atem. Atem looked at them.
“Well, alright I'll tell you,” he said. “I was born the son of Pharaoh Akunum-Kanon, my mother Anck-su-namun, died shortly after my birth. So my father raised me as he ruled his kingdom...”
plus minutes had passed as Atem told the boys his story. He told them about his family, his officials, his country, and so on. All of them listened closely, just as Atem and Nefertiri did before. Yugi especially, listened to his story. As Atem spoke he noticed Yugi's shine of interest in his eyes as Atem told his life story. When ever Atem saw Yugi's glance, Yugi slightly turned away. Atem couldn't help but smile at him.
“Pharaoh, could toi tell us about those two thieves that toi and the others fought tonight?” Yugi asked.
Atem nodded. “The two thieves that toi saw are Bakura and Marik. They are the most dangerous and psychotic criminals that ever treaded upon the sands of Egypt. The thief with the red peignoir, robe and white hair was Bakura and the one with the blond hair and purple peignoir, robe was Marik,” he explained.
“How long have toi been trying to catch them?” Ryou asked.
“For many months we have tried to capture those two, but they always seem to find a way out of our grasp. Now Bakura is known as the king of thieves, at least that's what I hear. His Kaa is as dangerous as his appearance and he takes no mercy to anyone. Marik is very much like Bakura, except Marik uses magic instead. It's unknown how those two found each other, but all I know is that they teamed up and now we are in plus danger then ever,” Atem explained resting his chin in his hands.
“Haven't toi ever tried sending toi men to stop them? Do toi know where his hideout is?” Malik asked.
“Yes I know where their hideout is, but to get there is dangerous,” a dit Atem.
“Why?” Malik asked.
“His hideout is in the far outskirts of Egypt. An area where an ocean of sand stretches on for miles, there is no nourriture and no water. There is nothing. I remember sending my best men to find those two. Twenty were sent... only seven returned,” Atem explained.
Yugi's, Ryou's, and Malik's jaws opened. “Only seven... returned?” Ryou asked, shocked.
Atem nodded.
“But your guards are so strong, surely... surely they can survive days without foods and water, right?” Yugi asked.
Atem nodded. “Only some could. I remember hearing from one of the survivors that they only Lost two ou three from the intense heat and lack of nourriture and water. When they reached his hideaway, everything went downhill from there according to them.”
“What do toi mean?” Malik asked.
“Well when they reached his village hideout, it was a dit that these creatures come out from the ground and dragged a few plus to their deaths. Suddenly these ghosts came out and killed more. The remaining soldiers divisé, split in two groups, one would kill the creatures and ghosts while the others went to find the thieves. The seconde group that went down to find Marik and Bakura were able to reach the underground hideaway. Little did they know that all of sudden traps went off, many plus killed and injured. Finally the still surviving ones and the slightly injured were confronted with Bakura's men. The surviving soldiers didn't tell me much about what they looked like, all they a dit was that they were demons that only hell itself could raise and tell them to serve Bakura,” Atem explained, his eyelids coming down. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips.
Silence had taken control. No one spoke for a few moments, not even their own breathing could be heard. All was quiet, nothing could be heard except for the crickets in the gardens and the feu that crackled upon the candles in the room. Ryou glanced at Malik. Malik glanced at Ryou and then to Yugi. Yugi didn't notice, instead he just fiddled with the soft covers with his fingers. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, everyone's eyes faced the door as it slowly opened.
Nefertiri walked in holding a plate of food, “I hope toi three are hungry.”
She walked in and sat upon the bed, placing the plate of fresh plums, cheese, and dates in the middle.
Nefertiri waited until one of them would grab something, but their eyes didn't even look at the food. She looked at the four boys, their expressionless faces made her worry.
“What's wrong?” she asked, worried.
“Please toi must forgive us, after all we have just been told much about Bakura and Marik,” Ryou explained.
Nefertiri understood as she too remembered when the Pharaoh told her this story before. Nefertiri remembered the face she made after hearing the story.
“Oh yes, Atem when I was coming to your room, Shimon told me that he needed to talk to toi after toi were done talking to us. He'll be waiting for toi in the trône room,” a dit Nefertiri picking up a date.
Atem nodded.
Malik reached out and picked up a rendez-vous amoureux, date also. Ryou and Yugi watched as they saw the two Egyptians eat the brown fruit.
“Malik what is that?” Yugi asked pointing to the piece of food.
“It's called a 'date'. It's really good,” a dit Malik taking another bite out of his date.
“Try it, it will fill toi up,” a dit Nefertiri.
Yugi and Ryou looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders. They reached out and picked one up. Yugi smelled the fruit, while Ryou nibbled on his. They both took a bite and smiled.
“Hey, this is really good,” Ryou a dit taking another bite out of the sweet fruit.
Yugi nodded and took a large bite out of his. Nefertiri giggled.
“What?” Ryou asked.
“Nothing, it's just... toi guys are like children to me,” a dit Nefertiri.
“What's that supposed to mean?” Ryou asked crossing his arms across his chest.
“Well remember that time I showed toi the gardens. Ryou, toi and Yugi chased each other like little kids,” Nefertiri explained.
“We were having fun that's all!” Yugi protested
“But she's right though,” Malik added.
Nefertiri turned to Malik, “Malik when I mean 'you guys' I mean all of you.”
Malik's eyes widen. “What! How am I like a child? Please explain to me why?” he asked sounding annoyed.
“Now, now... there's now need to get angry,” Nefertiri a dit abruptly, recoiling back.
Atem watched as the four bickered. He laughed to himself as he grabbed some cheese and a plum.
“I guess I was right. Oh I remember the times Mana and I used to bicker like that and Mahaado...” Atem a dit in his mind as he munched on the prune and smiled at them.
After everyone finished the food, Ryou, Malik, Nefertiri, and Yugi got off the lit and headed for the door.
“Well we must go now. Goodnight Pharaoh,” a dit Nefertiri a dit picking up the plate as she headed for the door with the others.
“Goodnight everyone,” a dit Atem.
Everyone was nearly out the door, until Yugi stopped and faced the Pharaoh again.
“Wait! What are toi going to tell your priests Pharaoh... about tonight?” Yugi asked abruptly.
“Don't worry Yugi, I won't tell them exactly what happened. I promise,” Atem said. “Now go on, toi need your rest,” Atem informed as he gently pushed Yugi out the door.
Yugi gave the Pharaoh one plus smile as he closed the door, “Goodnight.”
Atem waited a few moments, eventually picked up his cape and placed it around his shoulders. He walked out the door and headed for the trône room.
Within the slaves quarters Nefertiri entered her room where her two roommates surrounded her bombarding her with questions. Her reply was that the Pharaoh wanted to talk and he would straighten things out with priests tomorrow.
In another room, Malik, Ryou, and Yugi all lied upon their beds. Malik and Ryou slept soundly, quietly breathing. However Yugi was still wide awake. After everything that happened today, from sunrise to sunset to the late evening, how could he fall asleep? Many questions flowed through his mind about the two thieves, Atem, he and his Friends working hard, Seto, those or items with the weird eye, Kaas. He felt the same strange feelings he felt upon the ship when he was forced to lie in the dirty cell he shared with Ryou. Eventually his eyelids slowly came down, sleep had taken over his body, despite everything that happened today.
Some few moments passed and Diaboundo's burst stream and Obelisk's fists were still pushing to attack the other. Marik and Bakura gave as much power as they could to the Kaa as Atem did to his own Kaa. The tension between them was high and the plus power they gave, the plus their bodies ached. Finally, the intertwining power of the burst stream and fists erupted causing both Kaas, the thieves, and Atem to fly backwards. All of them landing on the alabaster floor, leaving many scratches and holes.
“Impossible!” exclaimed Isis.
“They withstood the attack of Obelisk?” Akunadin asked to himself as he saw the dark purple aura fade from Diaboundo.
Atem and Bakura slowly got up, keeping the Dianks close to their chests. In a flash obélisque and Diaboundo disappeared into the Dianks leaving small carven images on the wing and then the image faded away. Marik too got up slowly, making sure he could still stand on his feet, for never in his life would he had to use that much power to fight an Egyptian God.
“Ouji!” Mana screamed as the shield faded, running to help Atem. “Ouji, are toi alright?”
Atem nodded his head and then averted his eyes to the thieves.
“I never thought he could master his God so quickly. It's best that Marik and I should leave... for now,” Bakura stated in his mind as he looked at Marik.
Marik noticed Bakura's glance and walked towards the horses.
“Pharaoh we'll fight another time,” a dit Bakura walking to his horse. Before he got on he looked at Mahaado.
“You there, Mahaado. That ring toi have around your neck, don't get too attached to it. That ring belongs to me and I will get it back,” Bakura said, his eyes not leaving the golden item.
“The ring is mine. I'll never allow someone like toi to take it!” Mahaado exclaimed placing a hand on the ring.
“Don't be so sure. One jour all of the items will belong to us,” Marik stated as his lavender eyes darted towards the rod.
“Well we're off. Oh and here's your father since toi want him back,” a dit Bakura, roughly kicking the sarcophagus towards Malik, Nefertiri, Ryou, and Yugi.
“Bakura! Marik!” Atem screamed.
But it was too late, they were already out the door before the guards went to the courtyard to stop them.
Atem ran to the nearest balcony. He gasped at the sight of the town, not only was it raided, but also some of the buildings and houses burned. Suddenly he heard laughter coming from the middle of the courtyard. He looked and saw Bakura and Marik, their chevaux trotting fast. Soon many guards corned them, but Marik extended his arm.
“Fireball!” he shouted.
Suddenly rain of feu came down on the guards burning them. The guards ran everywhere screaming in pain, looking for water. They dropped to the ground, dead. Bakura and Marik faced the mur behind them and Marik again extended his arm. He a dit nothing, instead he used his magic to make the mur crumble. The two thieves escaped from the palace, their psychotic laughter echoing into the night sky. And finally disappeared within the hot Egyptian night air.
Atem slammed his fists on the edge of the balcony, frustrating air exhaling from his nose. “Bakura! Marik! toi will both die, and when toi do y-”
“How can toi four be here!?” Seto shouted.
Atem turned his head. He saw all of his priests, Shimon, and Mana surrounding Nefertiri and the boys.
Atem noticed the white haired boy standing up to face Seto, “Seto-sama please w-”
“I don't want to hear toi excuses slave!” Seto protested.
“Hey don't toi dare talk to Ryou ou to any of us like that!” Malik shouted.
Seto glared at the blond teenager, “Malik! Do I have tie toi up agai-”
Nefertiri got up, grabbing Malik's arm, “Malik please don'-”
Malik yanked his arm away from her. Malik's eyes went back to the priest but Yugi stood in front of Malik and faced Seto.
Malik looked at him, “Yugi what are y-”
He raised his hand up. Malik stopped talking. “Seto, my priests, Shimon, Mana.”
“Yugi, toi and Ryou were instructed to watch over your friend Malik to make sure nothing like this would happen. As a slave toi are to follow orders and know who is higher in rank. As a slave toi are not even be here in if something like this happens. And now look what happened,” Seto a dit his blue eyes, facing his purple eyes.
Yugi's small spine tingled, he never wanted to raise his voice to Seto, but everything he a dit made him clench his fists and silently grind his teeth. Yugi's burning eyes met with Seto's.
“Now hold it Seto! Back on the ship, toi told Ryou and I that if Malik did something before we got to the palace we would take full responsibility.” He looked around the room, “And this disaster is not my fault!” Yugi exclaimed. “Nor theirs! I know what my duties are as a slave, but to be talked to like that is unforgivable!” Yugi exclaimed again his fists still clenched.
Seto gulped silently, Yugi was right about the ship, but he hated being proved wrong. To him, if he was proved wrong especially par a slave, he believed that the others would see him as a weak man. And the way someone talked to him like, someone like Yugi was even worse for him. Seto stepped vers l'avant, vers l’avant grabbing Yugi's hair, holding him up high until his face was inches away from Seto's. Yugi squealed in pain. The other priests tried to stop him, but he ordered them to stay back.
“Yugi this disaster was caused because of your carelessness. Did a certain young girl not tell toi 'If a battle is about to happen within the palace walls toi are to go to your room?'” Seto asked, his voice filled with plus anger than anyone else had heard before.
“Seto please don't hurt him!” Ryou pleaded trying to pull Yugi down. But it was no use, Seto's grip was strong.
“Let him go toi bastard!” Malik shouted punching Seto's back.
“Seto! That's enough!” Atem screamed.
All eyes turned towards Atem.
“But, my Pharaoh, they...” Seto tried to speak, but he could never defy his Pharaoh.
“Seto put him down!” Atem ordered, his crimson eyes turning black. “One battle is enough for tonight.”
Seto obeyed. His grip became loose and Yugi landed on his bottom. He rubbed his head as Malik, Ryou, and Nefertiri ran to Yugi, helped him up, and hugged him. Atem smiled at that sight.
“Everyone I'll take care of this,” Atem calmly stated facing the others. “All of toi come with me.”
The four of them obeyed and followed him. As they left the trône room, Yugi turned his head slightly and saw Seto's face still scowling at him. Yugi quickly turned his head back and followed the Pharaoh.
Atem led them down some hallways and stairs, finally stopping at a door. This door was not like the others in the palace this door looked plus clean and had handles made of gold. Atem opened the doors and let them in. Yugi's, Ryou's, and Malik's eyes widen at the sight of the room. The room had a large lit with dark green covers and matching drapes hanging upon the canopy of the bed, long, ebony candle holders stood near the corners of the room. The lights of the candles flickered in the hot air. A small, golden statue of a cat stood on a table, in clay pots grew fresh plants, and suivant to the pots were another pair of doors. The one thing that they all noticed was the balcony that was just some steps away from the bed.
“Have a siège on my bed,” Atem commanded calmly.
Everyone sat on the bed. The covers felt soft underneath their hands and legs. As they all got on the lit Atem removed his cape letting it fall with ease to the ground. He left the cape and too sat upon his bed. His crimson eyes faced all of them. He breathed in slowly.
“Now I want toi all to tell me what exactly happened,” he explained.
Ryou looked at Yugi. Yugi looked at Malik. And Malik looked at Nefertiri. She simply looked down, a quiet sigh escaping her lips.
“Don't worry. I'll make sure the others won't know. Nefertiri would please explain?” Atem asked.
Nefertiri looked up at Atem.
“Well toi see... when all of the guests started running for cover I tried rushing through the ocean of screaming guests to grab these guys,” she explained looking at the boys. “When I was able to get us out of the trône room, I led them through a hallway, then took the stairs, and through a doorway that led us to the upper level of the trône room. We kept going but...”
“But, what?” Atem asked.
Nefertiri looked at Malik then back at Atem.
“Nefertiri everything will be fine, I promise to not tell anyone,” Atem a dit calmly.
She a dit nothing.
Atem looked at her, “Nefert-”
Malik jumped in, “I made us stay behind Pharaoh.”
Atem's eyes shifted to Malik.
“The thing is I loosened Nefertiri's grip on my hand and hid behind a pillar,” Malik explained.
Atem crossed his arms across his chest, “Go on.”
Malik looked down at the covers, “I was just curious to see what was going to happen that's all. And I apologize for my action.”
“Why did toi stay behind? And why did the others not go?” Atem asked his crimson eyes facing Malik.
“Pharaoh we we're going to leave, but once those two thieves started talking we had no choice, but to hid behind to pillars,” Ryou answered.
“The truth is Pharaoh...” Malik began. “I have... I have never seen a battle in my life before.”
Atem's eyes widen.
“Why is that?” he asked.
Malik tried to speak, but he couldn't ours to tell the story of his life again. Especially to the Pharaoh. A man he hated since childhood.
Malik brought his head back up, “Because throughout my childhood, I have lived underground.”
Atem eyed him curiously.
“Let me explain...” a dit Malik.
The minutes passed par as Malik, Ryou, and Yugi told their stories. Atem and Nefertiri listened closely to all of them. When Malik tried to tell his story he choked up again. Yugi and Ryou leaned vers l'avant, vers l’avant and hugged Malik when he needed it. Malik and Yugi also hugged Ryou when he cried telling his story.
“Three Friends taking care of each other. It's just like how Mahaado, Mana, and I were, growing up together,” Atem a dit in his mind whenever one of them gave the other a caring hug to calm him down.
“Well now that we're done. Could toi tell us about yourself?” Yugi asked.
Atem looked at the three boys. He a dit nothing. The boys leaned their heads in close waiting for him to speak. Nefertiri looked at them, and then got off the bed.
“Where are toi going?” Atem asked.
“Pharaoh, I'm going to get some food. After all, they haven't eaten tonight,” she explained pointing to Malik, Yugi, and Ryou. “I'll be back soon.”
She left the room. The three boys turned their attentions back to Atem. Atem looked at them.
“Well, alright I'll tell you,” he said. “I was born the son of Pharaoh Akunum-Kanon, my mother Anck-su-namun, died shortly after my birth. So my father raised me as he ruled his kingdom...”
plus minutes had passed as Atem told the boys his story. He told them about his family, his officials, his country, and so on. All of them listened closely, just as Atem and Nefertiri did before. Yugi especially, listened to his story. As Atem spoke he noticed Yugi's shine of interest in his eyes as Atem told his life story. When ever Atem saw Yugi's glance, Yugi slightly turned away. Atem couldn't help but smile at him.
“Pharaoh, could toi tell us about those two thieves that toi and the others fought tonight?” Yugi asked.
Atem nodded. “The two thieves that toi saw are Bakura and Marik. They are the most dangerous and psychotic criminals that ever treaded upon the sands of Egypt. The thief with the red peignoir, robe and white hair was Bakura and the one with the blond hair and purple peignoir, robe was Marik,” he explained.
“How long have toi been trying to catch them?” Ryou asked.
“For many months we have tried to capture those two, but they always seem to find a way out of our grasp. Now Bakura is known as the king of thieves, at least that's what I hear. His Kaa is as dangerous as his appearance and he takes no mercy to anyone. Marik is very much like Bakura, except Marik uses magic instead. It's unknown how those two found each other, but all I know is that they teamed up and now we are in plus danger then ever,” Atem explained resting his chin in his hands.
“Haven't toi ever tried sending toi men to stop them? Do toi know where his hideout is?” Malik asked.
“Yes I know where their hideout is, but to get there is dangerous,” a dit Atem.
“Why?” Malik asked.
“His hideout is in the far outskirts of Egypt. An area where an ocean of sand stretches on for miles, there is no nourriture and no water. There is nothing. I remember sending my best men to find those two. Twenty were sent... only seven returned,” Atem explained.
Yugi's, Ryou's, and Malik's jaws opened. “Only seven... returned?” Ryou asked, shocked.
Atem nodded.
“But your guards are so strong, surely... surely they can survive days without foods and water, right?” Yugi asked.
Atem nodded. “Only some could. I remember hearing from one of the survivors that they only Lost two ou three from the intense heat and lack of nourriture and water. When they reached his hideaway, everything went downhill from there according to them.”
“What do toi mean?” Malik asked.
“Well when they reached his village hideout, it was a dit that these creatures come out from the ground and dragged a few plus to their deaths. Suddenly these ghosts came out and killed more. The remaining soldiers divisé, split in two groups, one would kill the creatures and ghosts while the others went to find the thieves. The seconde group that went down to find Marik and Bakura were able to reach the underground hideaway. Little did they know that all of sudden traps went off, many plus killed and injured. Finally the still surviving ones and the slightly injured were confronted with Bakura's men. The surviving soldiers didn't tell me much about what they looked like, all they a dit was that they were demons that only hell itself could raise and tell them to serve Bakura,” Atem explained, his eyelids coming down. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips.
Silence had taken control. No one spoke for a few moments, not even their own breathing could be heard. All was quiet, nothing could be heard except for the crickets in the gardens and the feu that crackled upon the candles in the room. Ryou glanced at Malik. Malik glanced at Ryou and then to Yugi. Yugi didn't notice, instead he just fiddled with the soft covers with his fingers. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, everyone's eyes faced the door as it slowly opened.
Nefertiri walked in holding a plate of food, “I hope toi three are hungry.”
She walked in and sat upon the bed, placing the plate of fresh plums, cheese, and dates in the middle.
Nefertiri waited until one of them would grab something, but their eyes didn't even look at the food. She looked at the four boys, their expressionless faces made her worry.
“What's wrong?” she asked, worried.
“Please toi must forgive us, after all we have just been told much about Bakura and Marik,” Ryou explained.
Nefertiri understood as she too remembered when the Pharaoh told her this story before. Nefertiri remembered the face she made after hearing the story.
“Oh yes, Atem when I was coming to your room, Shimon told me that he needed to talk to toi after toi were done talking to us. He'll be waiting for toi in the trône room,” a dit Nefertiri picking up a date.
Atem nodded.
Malik reached out and picked up a rendez-vous amoureux, date also. Ryou and Yugi watched as they saw the two Egyptians eat the brown fruit.
“Malik what is that?” Yugi asked pointing to the piece of food.
“It's called a 'date'. It's really good,” a dit Malik taking another bite out of his date.
“Try it, it will fill toi up,” a dit Nefertiri.
Yugi and Ryou looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders. They reached out and picked one up. Yugi smelled the fruit, while Ryou nibbled on his. They both took a bite and smiled.
“Hey, this is really good,” Ryou a dit taking another bite out of the sweet fruit.
Yugi nodded and took a large bite out of his. Nefertiri giggled.
“What?” Ryou asked.
“Nothing, it's just... toi guys are like children to me,” a dit Nefertiri.
“What's that supposed to mean?” Ryou asked crossing his arms across his chest.
“Well remember that time I showed toi the gardens. Ryou, toi and Yugi chased each other like little kids,” Nefertiri explained.
“We were having fun that's all!” Yugi protested
“But she's right though,” Malik added.
Nefertiri turned to Malik, “Malik when I mean 'you guys' I mean all of you.”
Malik's eyes widen. “What! How am I like a child? Please explain to me why?” he asked sounding annoyed.
“Now, now... there's now need to get angry,” Nefertiri a dit abruptly, recoiling back.
Atem watched as the four bickered. He laughed to himself as he grabbed some cheese and a plum.
“I guess I was right. Oh I remember the times Mana and I used to bicker like that and Mahaado...” Atem a dit in his mind as he munched on the prune and smiled at them.
After everyone finished the food, Ryou, Malik, Nefertiri, and Yugi got off the lit and headed for the door.
“Well we must go now. Goodnight Pharaoh,” a dit Nefertiri a dit picking up the plate as she headed for the door with the others.
“Goodnight everyone,” a dit Atem.
Everyone was nearly out the door, until Yugi stopped and faced the Pharaoh again.
“Wait! What are toi going to tell your priests Pharaoh... about tonight?” Yugi asked abruptly.
“Don't worry Yugi, I won't tell them exactly what happened. I promise,” Atem said. “Now go on, toi need your rest,” Atem informed as he gently pushed Yugi out the door.
Yugi gave the Pharaoh one plus smile as he closed the door, “Goodnight.”
Atem waited a few moments, eventually picked up his cape and placed it around his shoulders. He walked out the door and headed for the trône room.
Within the slaves quarters Nefertiri entered her room where her two roommates surrounded her bombarding her with questions. Her reply was that the Pharaoh wanted to talk and he would straighten things out with priests tomorrow.
In another room, Malik, Ryou, and Yugi all lied upon their beds. Malik and Ryou slept soundly, quietly breathing. However Yugi was still wide awake. After everything that happened today, from sunrise to sunset to the late evening, how could he fall asleep? Many questions flowed through his mind about the two thieves, Atem, he and his Friends working hard, Seto, those or items with the weird eye, Kaas. He felt the same strange feelings he felt upon the ship when he was forced to lie in the dirty cell he shared with Ryou. Eventually his eyelids slowly came down, sleep had taken over his body, despite everything that happened today.