My Little One

Reunited At Last

Yugi obediently had gotten into the crimson streaked tunic and Atem turned to him as he entered once again, his head low. Atem sighs and walks over to him, lifting his head, gazing into his amethyst eyes. 

"Yugi, look at me when we're alone." Atem orders and Yugi hesitantly nods. "And stop calling me by my title. Just call me Atem." He adds and Yugi nods again. "Come." He tells him and then pauses at the door. "Remember you must act like you don't know me around others. So around others, you must act like a normal servant, ok?" He asks and Yugi nods, then follows him out. 

They enter the dining hall and Atem sits Yugi beside him, to his right before sitting down himself. Food is brought out and Yugi keeps his head down, wishing nobody knew him from his past. The council members walk in and sit down the table from Atem and his father, Aknankanon. 

Soon, the meal's over and Yugi has noticed one of the Pharaoh's councilmen watching him closely. Yugi pretends not to notice, but keeps his eye on him discreetly. Atem doesn't notice as he talks with Aknankanon and the councilmen turns to a priest Yugi knows by the name of Seth. Yugi remains silent as the councilman that was staring at him stands and gives him an odd look before leaving the dining hall and Seth frowns. The other priests look troubled and Aknankanon is confused as Yugi is frozen in his seat.

"Where did Karim go?" Aknankanon asks as Atem looks around. 

"My apologies, Pharaoh, Karim felt a bit warm so he left the dining chamber for some air." Seth tells him and looks at Yugi nervously. 

"Well, I will go fetch him. The morning meeting will be starting soon." Atem speaks clearly and stands, then turns to Yugi. "Come with me, Yugi. You are to stay by my side today." Atem tells him and Yugi follows him out silently. 

Atem soon finds Karim in the palace gardens and Karim notices Yugi, then turns to Atem. Atem informs him of the meeting and Karim nods, then bows. Atem leaves and Karim catches Yugi's arm before he can leave. Yugi struggles for a moment before Atem returns as Karim lets Yugi go and snarls at him before turning away for a moment. Yugi touches his arm and turns to Karim. Atem touches Yugi's shoulder and Yugi turns before bowing and following him out. 

"Why did he look so angry at you?" Atem asks and Yugi tenses, then shakes his head a little. "I know you know, so tell me." Atem orders and Yugi tenses. 

"It's as simple as we know each other in a bad way, Atem." Yugi whispers his name and Atem frowns. "I insist you do not confront him, he isn't dealing well with it." Yugi advises quietly and Atem walks on to the throne room. 

Atem stands by his father as a boy who looks like Atem, but is a lot paler stands on the other side of Aknankanon. Karim soon joins them and stands with the rest of the council at the bottom of the steps leading up to the throne. Yugi looks down as he stands around 5 steps behind Atem, near another slave who seems familiar to him. This slave has the same hair as him but Yugi has golden bangs framing his face while this slave has no bangs at all. Yugi looks down and remains that way until the meeting finishes and Atem takes Yugi into the dining hall and the paler boy who looks like Atem joins them with the tanned slave. Yugi doesn't look up until Atem lifts his head and Yugi's surprised when he offers him an apple. 

"Eat it." Atem tells him and Yugi shyly takes the apple and bites into it. "You'll need your strength." Atem admits and Yugi finishes the apple quickly. 

Soon, Atem and Yugi are in Atem's room. Atem is sitting on the bed as Yugi is tidying up and putting Atem's clean clothes away. The door knocks and Yugi pauses but Atem goes to it so Yugi continues putting the clean clothes away. 

"Yami, how are you?" Atem asks and Yugi keeps quiet after closing the drawer. "Come on in, my slave's just finished tidying." Atem admits and the paler boy who looks like Atem walks in with the tanned slave behind him. "Yugi, you can go to the that small room to the side if you like. Yami, would you like your slave to go with him?" Atem offers and Yami nods. The slave follows Yugi into the room before pinning Yugi against the wall and then raising his head, causing Yugi to freeze. 

"Y-Yugi?" The boy stammers, letting go and Yugi puts a hand to his neck. 

"Yeah, why'd you try to kill me?!" Yugi spits and the boy looks away awkwardly. "Heba...what happened to you?" He asks and Heba covers his face with his hands, then hugs Yugi, weeping. 

"Mum and Dad...They died and you'd gone. I found myself growing up in a family that taught me to defend myself and even assassinate someone. I was sold when that family became broke and I came here. Yami out there chose me to be his slave!" Heba weeps and and Yugi holds him close. "You look so different, Yugi..." Heba admits, wiping his eyes now and running a hand through Yugi's hair now. 

"As do you, Heba."  Yugi admits and Heba smiles. "I missed you, brother." Yugi whispers and Heba smiles, pressing their noses together like they did when they were little. 

"So did I." Heba admits as Yugi smiles when their noses touch. "Mother and Father would be proud of you." Heba tells him and Yugi moves away a little. 

"No, all I did was rat Kamii out. They'd be proud that you got away, at least for a few years." Yugi admits and Heba smiles. "But they'd be glad we're together again." Yugi adds and the door opens so they quickly sit like they don't know each other. 

"Don't tell them." Heba tells him under his breath and Yugi nods a little. 

Atem goes to Yugi as Yami walks to Heba. Atem beckons Yugi out and Yugi follows him quickly. Atem sits him on the bed and Yugi tenses up as Atem kneels in front of him and makes Yugi look at him. 

"Sorry about that. It happened that my brother, Yami, needed to talk to me."Atem admits and Yugi stays quiet. "Is Karim a problem?" Atem asks and Yugi shakes his head as Yami and Heba come out. 

"No, your highness. Karim won't be a problem." Yugi tells him and Yami comes over and Heba follows. 

"Atem, I need to speak with Yugi, if that's ok." Yami admits and Yugi freezes as well as Heba. "Of course, if you need to talk to him it's fine." Yami adds and Atem shakes his head. 

"Just be quick. I'll be in the throne room." Atem admits and leaves the room as Heba turns to Yugi. "And don't anger Father again." Atem adds and Yami smile, then nods. 

"Well, Yugi, it seems Karim on my fathers council knows you." Yami admits and Yugi nods slowly. "How does he know you?" Yami asks and Yugi looks down again. 

"We met when I was little, Prince Yami. It wasn't a pleasant experience." Yugi tells him and Heba frowns at Yugi. 

"What happened between you?" He asks and Yugi tenses. 

"It's...hard to talk about." Yugi admits as Heba keeps his head down, but listens.