DECLARAION: - This story has been written and produced by Cathrath (FanFiction. net ID: 609465). Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of Cathrath. If you should see this story posted anywhere other than FanFiction .net or under any other name it has been stolen so please notify the author. I do not own Yu-gi-oh.

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Chapter 1 - Freedom

A young boy sat on the wall looking out across the desert with sad eyes, watching as the sun set, its fading light casting long shadows. The boys name was Yugi and he was sitting on the wall high above the city hiding from his grandfather. He knew it was a bad idea to be away from the house for too long in case his grandfather realised he was missing and punished him when he returned. Yugi shivered involuntarily at the memory of his last punishment. He was still sore and had a large ugly bruise on his back where his grandfather had hit him. Yugi was used to being hit, ever since his parents had died and he had been forced to live with his grandfather. You would never know they were related. Yugi slept in the servant's quarters with the slaves and waited on his grandfather like a servant. As far as the rest of the world was concerned Solomon Muto had no grandson. Yugi sighed as a tear rolled down his cheek. He missed his parents so much. They had died in a fire nine years ago. Yugi had been only six at the time. A fire had broken out in their small house during the night. His father had been woken by the smell of smoke and had tried to get his family out of the house, but the fire had spread so quickly that the only way out left had been a small grate in the bottom of a wall. His father had ripped the grate away and tried to get Yugi to crawl through. Yugi had not wanted to go, not wanting to leave his parents. Even at the age of six he knew that if he went through the gap he would never see them again. Another tear ran down his face to join the first. He had desperately clung onto his mother but he had been overcome by the smoke. When he came to he was outside the house. His father had pushed him, unconscious through the gap to safety. People had tried to rescue is mother and father but it had been too late. His grandfather had been his only relative so he had been forced to take Yugi into his home. Yugi had soon learnt what his grandfather was like. Only a few days after his arrival his grandfather had been sitting in the courtyard and had gruffly ordered Yugi to pass him a jug of wine, which was resting on a wall. Not wanting to upset his grandfather Yugi had run over as fast as he could to get the jug. However, he had been too eager and had knocked the jug onto the floor, smashing it. His grandfather had shown his displeasure with his cane and had beaten Yugi to within an inch of his life. After that he had been ordered to sleep in the servants quarters and had been treated like a slave ever since. Everyone was sympathetic towards him and he did have friends amongst the salves, one friend in particular, Jou, was always looking out for him. Yugi didn't know what he would do without him. He was always there when Yugi needed help or looking after when his grandfather beat him particularly badly.

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The sun was now right down behind the sand dunes and it was nearly dark. Yugi sat up with a start. How had it got so late? He had to get back. He jumped off the wall and ran up the street to the back of the house. If he slipped in the back way and then quickly into the servant's quarters perhaps no one would notice he had been missing. He slowly crept across the silent courtyard and had nearly made it to safety when a sharp voice behind him made him freeze in his tracks.

"There you are boy. Where do you think you've been?"

Yugi turned around to face Danota, his grandfather's slave master. He knew what was to come so he tried to run but Danota was too quick and grabbed his arm. Yugi cried out in pain as his arm was twisted behind his back.

"The master will be pleased to see you I'm sure".

Yugi's eyes filled with fear.

"No, please," he pleaded.

Danota was already walking him up the stairs to his grandfather's study. Yugi struggled but it was no good.

Danota knocked on the door and Tea the maidservant opened it.

"Is the master available? One of the slaves has tried to escape and I thought I should bring it to his personal attention."

Tea looked down at Yugi whose eyes were now so filled with fear that she wanted to cry, she knew what would happen if she didn't try to help him.

"No, I'm sorry, he is very busy with his figures and can't be disturbed."

Yugi gave her a look of gratitude and Danota was about to leave when a voice came from the back of the room.

"What is it Tea? Who is it at this time of night...?"

Solomon Muto stopped in his tracks as he took in the sight before him and a slow cruel grin spread across his features.

"Danota, is there a problem?"

"I caught this 'slave' trying to escape master and thought you would want to handle the situation personally".

"Thank you Danota you can leave the boy here. Tea, please wait outside".

Yugi was pushed roughly into the room and he stumbled, landing on his knees. As the door closed he saw his grandfather reach for a whip, which had been lying on the top of a cabinet. He knew what was coming and tried to force back the tears, which were already flowing. His grandfather didn't say anything as he lashed out with the whip catching Yugi across the back, Yugi cried out in pain. He lashed out again, and again... Yugi could feel the blood running down his back and the tears stung as they ran from his eyes. He finally collapsed from the pain letting the soothing abyss of unconsciousness take him away.

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"Yugi...Yug...come on please wake up".

Yugi became aware of a quiet, familiar voice urging him to wake up, along with a deep throbbing in his back and arms. It was this that brought him to his senses. He slowly opened his eyes and was greeted by Jou looking down at him, concern and worry etched on his face.

"Wh..where am I?"

His throat was so dry. Jou handed him a cup of water as if reading his mind and helped him to sit up. Yugi hissed in pain as his back left the bed. It was agony. Slowly the events of the night came back to him and tears ran down his checks. He turned his head away so Jou wouldn't see him crying.

"Its all right Yug," Jou said softly.

Then his tone changed.

"I'm going to kill that Danota, how could he do this? He's a mean bastard but the master nearly killed you last night. What in Ra's name happened?"

Slowly Yugi relayed to Jou how Danota had caught him sneaking back into the servant's quarters, and how Danota had told his grandfather that he had been trying to escape. Jou didn't need to be told what happened next, the terrible wounds on Yugi's back and arms told that story. Yugi's story trailed off as he reached the last part he could remember. Jou then took up the story and explained how Tea had come rushing in just after full dark crying for someone to help her. Not knowing what the hysterical woman was on about, two of the older slaves had left with her. Jou then explained how the whole room had gone deathly silent when one of the men had returned carrying Yugi. Yugi's clothes had been ripped to shreds, his back and arms covered in blood. Jou had dived out of his bed to be with Yugi but had been held back whilst Yugi had been laid on his bed, his face deathly pale and unconscious. One of the old women had treated Yugi's wounds using some herbs as painkillers and had bandaged his back and arms as best she could. No one had said anything but the looks on their faces had been enough. When the old woman had finished Jou had been allowed to sit by Yugi's bed. Jou finished his story, quickly wiping away the tears that had started to flow.

"That's what happened, you've been unconscious all night".

"Thank you Jou".

"For what Yug?"

"For staying with me."

Jou embraced his friend but quickly let him go as Yugi gave a cry of pain.

"Sorry".

"It's ok".

Suddenly there was a commotion from the direction of the courtyard. One of the slaves looked out but quickly stepped back as Danota walked through the door. Jou clenched his fists. Yugi laid a restraining hand on his friends arm. He knew what Jou wanted to do but it wasn't worth it. It would only earn Jou a flogging of his own.

"Everyone out," commanded Danota.

Slowly people responded and the servant's quarters emptied into the courtyard. Jou had helped Yugi to his feet and was now supporting him heavily with one arm. Yugi was still weak and his head was spinning from the sudden movement.

"What's going on?" he managed to ask.

"We're being paraded so the Pharaoh can choose his new servants," came Tea's voice from behind them.

"Huh?".

"The Pharaoh can pick his servants from the slaves of his subjects, its tradition".

"You mean he can have anyone he chooses".

"Yes".

Others had heard Tea speak and there was soon at lot of jostling as people tried to get to the front. After all, anything was better than living here. As a result Jou and Yugi were soon pushed to the back. Not wanting to cause Yugi any more pain Jou decided against trying to push through and tried to see over their heads instead. He could just make out the people now walking into the yard. The first were obviously guards but the second were people of much more importance. Jou recognised Seto the Pharaohs High Priest. Jou had seen him once on a tour of the city whilst Jou had been buying supplies for the master. The second person beside him was something else. Jou looked on with shock and he could see others doing the same. Some turned around to look at them and then back again, it was obvious why. Yugi and the Pharaoh could have used each other as mirrors they were practically identical. They had the same wide violet coloured eyes, they were of similar build and their hair was the same colour and style with crimson edging and blonde bangs hanging down either side of their face. The only small differences were that the Pharaoh was slightly taller and obviously a few years older. He looked about eighteen whereas both Yugi and Jou were fifteen and some of the blonde had been brushed back into the black of his hair like rays of the sun.

"What's the matter?" Yugi asked and Jou realised he had been staring.

"N...nothing".

"Well something's up, you look like you've seen a ghost".

Jou realised that Yugi probably couldn't see what he was looking at. Yugi had always been small for his age.

Seto approached the line of slaves, looking them up and down, picking the occasional one. It looked like he was about to pass them by when he suddenly stopped and pushed his way towards them.

"You, slave", he said pointing at Yugi.

"Come with me".

Yugi slipped his arm from around Jou's shoulders and slowly walked forward.

'What have I done now?' he thought, as he made his unsteady way forward.

His mind raced as he walked forwards his eyes fixed on the ground.

"You boy."

Yugi's attention was snapped back to the current.

"What is your name?"

"Yugi, sir".

"Are you a slave within this household?" a new voice asked.

Yugi glanced quickly at his grandfather who was staring at him with hate filled eyes.

"Y..Yes sir".

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen, sir."

"Fifteen? You look so much younger, but then I suppose so do I. Look at me Yugi".

Yugi, slowly raised his head to look up at the owner of the voice, he couldn't have hid the surprise from his face very well because the owner of the voice smiled. Yugi was looking full in the face of himself. It took a little while before his situation became clear to him. He dropped to his knees and lowered his eyes to the ground. He had looked the Pharaoh of Egypt full in the face. Him, a lowly slave, surely there was going to be a punishment for his disrespect. He started to tremble uncontrollably as he heard footsteps crossing the gravel towards him.

"Your Highness," came his grandfather's voice.

This was it. He was going to be made an example of for his insolence.

"Do I take it from your interest that you are looking to make this boy one of your slaves? If so, I feel it is my duty to point out that this boy is extremely unreliable and untrustworthy and has tried to escape several times. Only just last night I had to punish him for yet another attempted escape."

Yugi could hear Danota approaching behind him.

"I see", said the Pharaoh.

"Is it because you are not treated well that you try to escape?"

It took a little while for the fact that the Pharaoh had spoken to him to sink past his rising fear.

"Answer him", shouted Danota.

Yugi shrank back in fear as Danota raised his whip to strike. The whip cracked but the cowering Yugi felt no pain.

'Maybe I've been whipped so many times it doesn't hurt anymore?' he thought.

He slowly opened his eyes. Whatever he was expecting it wasn't this.

Standing in between Danota and himself was the Pharaoh, his arm out stretch in front of him and the end of the whip, which had been intended for Yugi, wrapped around it.

"I think my question has been answered", he said in a dangerous voice.

Danota dropped the whip and stepped back fearfully. The Pharaoh turned to Yugi.

"You will be coming with me. Gather up your possessions and join the procession".

"Tha..Thank you." Yugi stammered and got awkwardly to his feet.

He didn't need to gather his possessions. He had none.

As the procession left the courtyard he turned to look back at his grandfather and friends. His grandfather had a face like thunder, as his plaything was taken away from him. Yugi was silently glad that he wasn't going to be around tonight. His friends were smiling back at him and at the front stood Jou looking happier than he had ever been. Yugi was finally safe.