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 17 – Final Secret
"Did you find him?" Ishizu asked urgently as Yami slowly opened his eyes.
Yami glanced expectantly down at Yugi looking for any sign of change. He breathed a sigh of immense relief when he saw Yugi's chest begin to rise and fall. He was starting to breathe again. Yugi's eyes fluttered open and he started to cough violently. Yami gently turned him onto his side so he could cough up the blood from his lungs left over from the arrow wound. When his coughing had subsided Yami laid Yugi gently back down. Yugi was a little disorientated but on seeing Yami he looked up and smiled weakly.
"Yami? I had the strangest dream, you were there and you said you wanted to take me home, and..."
He didn't get a chance to finish because Yami swept him up in his arms and hugging him fiercely.
"Yes, Yugi we're going home," Yami said in a thick voice.
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The journey back to the palace across the desert was less fraught with danger than the journey to Hamet. To pass the time Yugi and Yami told each other stories of their adventures over the last few days. As Yugi described his experiences Yami became very quiet.
"Yami, what is it?" Yugi asked concerned, pulling his horse in beside him.
Yami kept his eyes fixed on the travelling ground beneath him.
"I'm sorry Yugi, for what I did to you."
Yugi looked at him confused.
"How do you mean Yami?"
"I'm sorry for thinking that you attacked me and for putting you through that terrifying experience. I saw the room, the one you were taken to and it was horrible. I never imagined that such a terrible place could exist."
He looked up at Yugi his eyes glistening with tears.
"You must have been terrified."
Yami couldn't miss the shudder Yugi gave as he recalled his experiences and he looked back ashamedly at the floor.
"I understand if you cannot forgive me for my foolishness," Yami said quietly as he closed his eyes sadly.
"If you want to leave the palace when we return, I won't stop you. You are free to go."
Yugi leaned over and placed his hand on Yami's. He gave Yami a rare serious look.
"It wasn't your fault Yami. I knew that and I never blamed you. What matters is that you came for me when you knew I was alive and for that I owe you my life."
Yami looked up gratefully at Yugi and smiled in relief.
"In that case I have repaid one of my owed debts to you."
Yugi gave him a questioning look.
"Don't you remember? You saved me from being bitten by a snake only a few weeks after I met you."
Yami scratched his head thoughtfully.
"You know, I always thought that was an accident but looking at recent events it makes me wonder."
He looked back round at Yugi.
"The point of the matter is that I owe you two lives."
"Must we keep score," Yugi said as he reached up a hand to his chest to feel where the arrow had pierced him.
"You know it's awfully hard to fill out an IOU when you've got an arrow sticking out of your chest." Yugi said with a pained expression on his face.
With that the two of them burst out laughing and it was a long while before they were composed enough to talk again. Yami turned to Yugi again.
"You know, I also owe a debt of gratitude to Jou. He came to my chambers to tell me the truth when you were arrested. He knew that as an escaped slave he could be punished if he was caught but he came to me none the less out of friendship for you. If he hadn't I would never have realised my mistake."
Yugi turned in his saddle to look for Jou. He spotted him riding at the back of the column and swung his horse around.
"Hi, Jou," he said as he pulled in beside him.
"Oh, Hi Yug, how are you feeling?"
"Ok, why are you here at the back?"
"No reason, just trying to keep out of the way," Jou said quickly.
"But you're not in the way Jou," Yugi said surprised.
Jou didn't answer, instead he turn his head to look out at the desert.
"Jou, I want to thank you."
Jou turned in the saddle to look at Yugi.
"For what Yug?"
"For risking your life to save mine."
Jou turned back to the desert and shuffled in the saddle awkwardly. Yugi, determined to get his point across continued.
"Yami told me what you did for me. You risked your own life to get the truth told when I was arrested and you risked your life again by coming here as a guardian of the millennium scales. Without you Yami could never have defeated Seto and I would be dead."
Jou lowered his eyes to the ground in embarrassment. Seeing that he was starting to break through his friend's humble shell Yugi continued.
"Jou, you are the best friend anyone could ask for and I don't know what I would do without you."
Jou raised his head and smiled at Yugi.
"Thanks Yug, that means a lot to me."
Yugi returned the smile and pointed to the front of the column to where the walls of the city were coming into view.
"We're nearly at the city. Let's ride up front to get a better view."
"Why not," Jou smiled at his friend and together they moved their horses to the front of the column to ride beside Yami.
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They were greeted as heroes as they rode through the streets of the city. News of how the evil High Priest had tried to destroy the world and the great battle that had ensued had spread fast. Both Yugi and Jou were uncomfortable at all the attention and rode at a respectable distance behind the Pharaoh. After all despite everything they were still just servants. Yami noticed this and sighed, this was not how he wanted it to be.
They finally arrived at the gates to the palace and entered into the courtyard. The heavy gates closed behind them.
"Well I suppose you will want a bath and your dinner," Yugi said to Yami as they dismounted.
"I'll get right on it."
"Yugi wait." Yami called out.
Yugi stopped and turned back to Yami.
"I don't want things to be like they were before. You're more than a servant to me Yugi."
Yugi gave him a small sad smile.
"I know Yami but unless you can magic up a title then a slave is what I am, it doesn't matter as long we can be friends, that is all I ask."
"Yes Yugi, always," Yami said firmly but with a trace of sadness.
They stood in awkward silence. A female cut through the silence.
"I might be able to help with this."
Ishizu crossed the yard towards the two boys.
"More secrets Ishizu?" Yami asked as she approached.
"Only one more but perhaps this one is the best. Have you ever noticed how alike you two are?"
Both the boys nodded.
"It's like looking in a mirror every day," Yami replied in an amused tone.
"That is if I bend my knees a bit."
Yami held out and arm to indicate Yugi's height.
"Well at least I don't have to duck to go through doors," came Yugi's retaliation.
Ishizu laughed.
"Yami did you know your father had a brother?"
Yami shook his head.
"When your father became Pharaoh it was decided that his brother should go into hiding. That way if anything was to happen to your father before an heir could be born, his brother would be able to assume the throne in his place. Your uncle made the ultimate sacrifice and put aside all his jewels and finery to take up the life of simple peasant. It was thought that this would keep him safe."
Ishizu looked up at the two boys who were listening intently to her story.
"However, your father and uncle had many enemies and they were betrayed. They learned that your uncle was living in a small village on the edge of the Nile and in an attempt to kill both him and his family they started a terrible fire during the night. The house was destroyed leaving them to believe that they had accomplished their task. However, unbeknown to them, your uncle was able to save his young son, by pushing him though a grate in the wall to safety. This boy was found and adopted by his mother's father."
She stopped to look at Yugi, who was standing ridged with surprise and shock. He knew this story.
"Yami, I would like you to meet you cousin...Yugi."
Now it was Yami's turn to stand there in shock.
"Many attempts were made to locate Yugi after the fire. After several years of searching we finally tracked down the grandfather. But when we asked if he knew of the boy he told us he had died a few weeks after the fire. He even showed us a grave. Having no reason to believe he was lying we took his word as the truth and the hunt for the lost prince ceased. That is until you came to the same house to choose you servants and Seto spotted him in the crowd. There was no mistaking who he was. The rest you know."
Yami stepped towards Yugi who was still standing there, mouth open in shock. Yugi didn't have time to react as Yami swept him up in a tight embrace.
"Cousin." Yami said in thick voice filled with Joy.
He let Yugi go long enough to breathe before hugging him close again. He finally let Yugi go and turned to Ishizu.
"I can't believe you knew all this time Ishizu and didn't tell us."
She answered with a shrug.
"I felt it was safer at the time to keep his identity a secret but there's no need now."
Yami turned back to Yugi.
"Come Yugi we must get you changed into robes fit for a prince."
"But I'm happy as I am," Yugi protested not wanting any fuss made over him and still not quite recovered from the shock of leaning Ishizu's 'secret'.
"Nonsense," Yami said as he steered Yugi up the steps and into the palace.
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Yugi shook his head in despair at some of the things Yami tried to get him to wear. Yami was enjoying himself and some of the things he suggested were just plain ridiculous.
"There's no way I'm wearing that." Yugi said firmly as Yami held up a long purple robe with a heavy cape.
"Oh, what's wrong with it?"
Yami held up the robe with mock innocence in his eyes.
"You know what's wrong with it," Yugi said firmly crossing his arms in defiance across his chest.
"It's ten times too big for me and that cape will have me on my knees as soon as it hits my shoulders. Pick something sensible or I'm walking out of here."
"You're no fun," smiled Yami.
"Stop that."
"Stop what."
"Teasing me."
"But it's so much fun!"
Yugi sighed. They were going to be at this all day.
After a lot of time, in which Yami continued to pick more and more absurd items, they finally agreed on a white silk robe with a short purple cape that draped over the shoulders. As well as that Yami had insisted Yugi wore jewellery befitting his station. Yugi had rejected the big heavy rings and necklaces opting for two gold cuffs that encircled his wrists and half his forearm. He felt slightly uncomfortable in his new finery as he sat beside Yami in the throne room.
"What do I do now?" he asked Yami.
"Well most people of importance have servants and advisors. I suppose you should pick some."
"But I don't want servants," exclaimed Yugi.
"You will. Normally it's a rule for people of importance to have at least one. Unless you plan to prepare your own meals and do your own washing," Yami smiled at him.
"Although come to think of it I can picture you down by the well scrubbing the laundry in your finery."
Yugi opened his mouth to retaliate but couldn't think of anything to say.
"Well fine but it's a stupid rule," he said crossing his arms across his chest.
"Where do I start?"
"Well how about picking an advisor," Yami said
"What do they do?"
"You mean apart from advise." Yami said with an amused look on his face.
"Be nice."
"Normally an adviser is there to handle your affairs and give you advice on problems or decisions that need to be made."
Yugi nodded.
"Who should I pick?"
"You should pick someone you trust and talk to. Someone you know will always be there." He paused as he turned to Yugi.
"Maybe even a friend."
Yugi returned Yami's look with knowing eyes.
"I know just the person," and with that he stood up to walked across the floor.
Many people had flocked to the palace to welcome the Pharaoh home and the throne room was full. Of course they had also come to see the newly discovered prince. Therefore, as Yugi made his way across the floor people moved out of his way and bowed.
'I wish they wouldn't do that,' he thought.
He was looking for one person in particular and as he looked through the throws of people he spotted him standing at the back of the room, trying to keep out of the way.
"Jou," Yugi said as he approached.
Jou turned to Yugi and dropped to one knee in front of him.
"Your Highness."
"Oh stop that," Yugi said irritably.
"Stand up, you look ridiculous."
Jou stood but still kept his eyes respectfully on the floor.
"Jou look at me."
Jou kept looking at the floor.
"Jou?" Yugi sighed.
"Oh well I suppose I don't need you to look at me to ask you this. Yami says I need an adviser. He also says I need servants but that's another issue. He says I should pick someone I can trust, talk to or even call my friend...."
He paused as Jou lifted his eyes a little way from the floor.
"Will you be my adviser Jou?" Yugi continued.
"I can't think of anyone else I trust as much as you or who I have the greater honour of calling my friend."
Jou lifted his head completely to look at Yugi
"Yug, I mean Your Highness. I don't know what to say."
"You could start with yes." Yugi offered.
"And please drop the Highness bit. We're friends aren't we? Now what do you say."
"I would be honoured Yugi." Jou said as he smiled at his friend. Yugi returned the smile.
"Great, now shall we return to Yami, I think he wants to tease me some more". Yugi's rolled his eyes dramatically and then narrowed them mischievously.
"Except this time I have my adviser to back me up."
Jou smiled, the look on his face mirroring that of Yugi's.
"Well we'll just have to see what we can do about that."
Together they returned to the front of the hall, both of them ready to face what their new lives had to offer.