The Pharaoh and the Slave

Chapter Five: Assassination

"Wake up, Yami!"

Yami groaned as his tired subconscious recognized that voice that he hadn't heard in forever. He took the pillow and threw it in the direction that he heard the voice and heard it make contact with something before hearing a chuckle.

"You cannot hit me, Brother. I know your sleeping habits too well."

Yami huffed before sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He looked over to the makeshift bed that he had a couple servants make for Yugi, before realizing that his young look-alike was missing. That woke him up.

He looked at his brother. His brother, Atem, was basically his twin, except for the fact that Atem was more tan than Yami. "Atem, where is Yugi?" He asked with a glare.

Atem smiled. "You need not worry, dear Brother. He awoke when I came and I asked him to get you some breakfast whilst I woke you. He should be back soon." Yami sighed in relief; unlike his father, Yami knew he could trust Atem.

Atem and Yami were brothers, with Atem being the older one. However, due to the fact that Atem was more rebellious than Yami and was not afraid to commit various acts of rebellion, Aknamkanon had named Yami the heir. Atem didn't mind; he knew that Yami was more suited for the job. Instead, Atem was sent to the borders to command the troops protecting the kingdom.

"Why have you returned, Atem? I thought you wouldn't return." Yami asked as he stood and went over to the clothes that he assumed Yugi had set out for him. He smiled; he would have to thank his aibou later.

"I heard rumors that my brother had taken a slave." Atem said. Yami froze; Atem knew of Yami's opinion on slavery. So, he knew that if Atem caught wind of it, he would be questioned. "I thought you hated slavery, Yami."

Yami sighed as he finished wrapping his scarf around himself and began on his jewelery. "I do. However, Father wished for me to take a slave. When I saw Yugi, he intrigued me. I felt a connection." Yami's face grew scarier. "And the way they treated the Little One angered me."

He heard Atem chuckle as he finished dressing himself. He turned to Atem. "I understand now, Brother. Forgive my nosy nature." The darker-skinned teen said. Yami smiled. "But I must ask; why do you have a makeshift bed in here for him?"

Yami blushed a bit before clearing his throat. "I wish to protect him, and I fear that if I make him sleep in the slave quarters, he will be hurt. Besides, I enjoy his company." Yami explained.

"Very well."

Yugi then chose that time to return with breakfast for the two brothers, who gladly ate the breakfast, even sharing with the young slave.

:-:-:-:

"Are you prepared, Atem?"

Atem sighed nervously as he looked at the doors of the throne room. Yami looked at his older brother with concern. Yugi stood behind them, hesitating.

'Should I?' He thought. He suddenly got a surge of determination and stepped up to Atem before placing a hand on the commander's shoulder. Atem looked at him and Yugi smiled. "Everything will be fine, Prince."

Atem smiled back before looking over at Yami, who also smiled in support. He nodded before taking a deep breath and turning to the doors. Yugi knew what he was thinking by the look on his face. It's now or never.

Yugi watched and followed as Atem and Yami opened the doors and walked across the throne room where the Pharaoh was waiting. Yugi's bad feeling suddenly came back and he gulped. What was about to happen?

Atem and Yami kneeled in front of Aknamkanon and Yugi knelt behind them. The feeling got worse. Yugi blocked out the conversation as he scanned the room. His heart froze as he watched something shine in the corner of the room.

There was an assassin in the room.

:-:-:-:

"And why have you returned Atem?"

Yami glanced at his brother, who hesitated. "I wished to visit my family and the home I grew up in. I apologize for not sending a messenger ahead of time, Father." Atem said. Yami knew he was just trying to keep their father from exploding. Yami just hoped it worked.

All of a sudden, he saw a flash of pale tan zoom past him and a grunt of pain. When he realized what had happened, his eyes widened.

"Yugi!"

:-:-:-:

Yugi grunted in pain as the arrow made contact with his arm. He winced. 'Shit... It's poisoned.' Ignoring the fact, he glared at the corner that the arrow came from. He pulled the arrow from his arm, resisting the urge to flinch. "You just made the wrong choice." He said in a scary voice.

He then launched into a run. He ran to the corner and found himself fighting with the assassin in hand-to-hand combat. He was determined to defeat this assassin; he wouldn't allow him to kill Yami, Atem or even the Pharaoh he hated so much. He had more honor than that.

As Yugi punched, kicked and dodged, he noticed a knife on the assassin's waist. He grew irritated at this. Was this guy an amateur? All assassins knew that they should hide their knives where their opponent couldn't reach it.

Yugi should know; he was raised to be one.

Yugi kept the assassin distracted long enough to grab the knife attached at the belt. Yugi unsheathed it and pinned the assassin to the ground, knife at his neck.

It was then Yugi got a good look at the assassins face. He froze in shock to find it was the face of his younger brother.

"Heba?"

:-:-:-:

A/N: New characters; yay! Anywho, as you can see, I decided to place Heba in the story, hence why I made Yami and Atem two different people. OH AND WHAT A PLIT TWIST. To think our cute baby panda was raised to be an assassin... I'M SHOCKED, YUGI. Anywho, please stay tuned. Much PuzzleShipping in the next chapter.