Welcome to chapter 15! Lol I would like you all to know I have a beta, Daikaio! Many thanks! Well I have to say this chapter was fun writing! I wrote this while listening to the Tetris theme…lol. Now it is stuck in my head forever.
I seem to be apologizing each chapter for the lack of updating; sadly this chapter is no different! …. But I got my butt in gear and made myself finish this and even start the next chapter.
The Slow Processional begins?
It was the day of the funeral and the alleged camel thief had yet to awaken even after several days. All the preparations had been finished; great epics of the deceased were painted upon the walls of the tomb that would forever hold them. The traditional canopic jars were placed though only a couple actually held anything.
Two ornate coffins lay side by side held up by many workers. They did not grimace or wince at the great weight held beneath their coarse hands, they stood stock-still. It was a great honor to bear the coffin of the deceased, especially that of the previous Pharaoh and his wife. Those who had lived in the palace and had known them personally stood silently mourning their deaths.
Typically this would be more of a celebration, that of the descending of the two souls into the after-life. But without a heart neither the Pharaoh nor his beloved wife would be able to go through the weighing of the scales. They were truly lost to the world, and that was the thought that weighed heavily on everyone's mind.
The belongings of the deceased had all been placed, things that would typically be needed for one to have a comfortable life in the here after. Necessities and keepsakes, cosmetics and statues were all piled in. (1) Ushabti statues were there also though for little use.
The Opening of the Mouth ceremony was performed. Lesser Priests came and cleansed the body with water and incense. Worthier Priests muttered the ancient scripts; one came closer then any of the others. He slowly pulled out a knife and wedged it between the teeth of the previous Pharaoh. Slowly it pried open and silently the Priest made his way to the wife and repeated the process.
Final offerings came and the tomb was swept out one last time. The pallbearers slowly moved onward into the tomb and down the many steps and slopes before finally reaching their destination, the King's chamber. There, they set down their burdens with the utmost reverence.
The lector Priest began to chant the sacred words to help the dead along, though this couple would make no journey. Cemetery workers came and sealed the tomb with stone and the royal seal was placed upon the door.
"Where the hell am I?" were the first words to come from the mysterious "camel stealer".
"You are in the royal palace under care of Isis."
The man leaned forward and squinted briefly at Atemu before slumping back against the pillows. A sudden hand started dabbing at his head and the man snatched the hand in a fierce grip.
Yugi gave a sudden cry as the man painfully twisted his wrist. Atemu instantly sprung to his feet, "Unhand him immediately!"
Yugi managed to wrench his hand free with a contemptible glance. He slowly moved back over to Atemu who gently took him into his arms and massaged his wrist. Yugi's eyes never left those of the supposed thief.
The man was breathing heavily and he eventually fell back against his pillows. Isis came bustling in and took up Yugi's forgotten cloth and began dabbing at the wound.
"You'll think twice before you even try that with me," she threatened while brandishing her hand.
The man gave a contemptible sigh rolling his head to the side, "Fine," he said shortly.
"What really happened between you and those men?" Yugi asked slowly while Atemu carefully caressed his injured wrist.
"I was looking for work, they obviously did not desire my help."
"I was asking for more of an answer then that. What is your name?"
The man grunted as Isis dabbed at a particularly sore spot before speaking. "I guess I should be known as Kontar, now."
"All right then…Kontar. I'm going to ask you one more time what happened and if you give me the same cryptic answers as you just gave Yugi, then you will find your new home in a dungeon," said Atemu.
"There isn't much to it, Pharaoh…I asked them where I could find some work. They attacked me and your damned husband came to stop them. Nothing but a meddling fool."
Atemu bristled at the obvious insult toward Yugi. "You will do well to remember I hold your life in my hands. Show some respect for authority."
"Authority? Ra be damned authority! Didn't authority abandon me when I lost my brother? Where was authority when I was left on the streets to die of starvation? You start showing some respect for people like me!"
Atemu was about to reply but Yugi grabbed his arm and slowly pulled him away and out the door.
Atemu pulled out of Yugi's firm grasp, "We are just going to leave him there? He insulted you!"
"Yes, and pleased as I am with your heartened defense of me, I'd rather not see you get into a fight with a man such as he. He has lost someone important to him; grief always causes one to lash out. Leave him to grieve in peace. "
Atemu sighed, knowing full well that Yugi was right. "What are we going to do with him?"
"Simple. Have him work in the palace and see all that the damned authority do."
"He is not staying here! No way!" Atemu protested.
Yugi stepped forward slyly towards Atemu till Atemu was pressed lightly against the wall. "Oh but why not?" pouted Yugi, while lightly running a finger along Atemu's collar.
"It's not safe to have him here with us, I-" Atemu's breath hitched slightly as Yugi gently breathed in his ear.
"Oh, you won't even notice he is here, lover."
"I'm not going to have a wretch like him…"
"Trust me, I'll keep you occupied..." Yugi effectively closed Atemu's gaping mouth with a well-timed kiss.
Atemu and Yugi emerged from their bedroom still arguing heatedly.
"I still don't agree with it, I don't want him here. Can't you see he is some vandal from the streets?" Atemu pleaded to an unwavering Yugi.
"And I thought the sex would have stopped your protesting," said Yugi dryly.
"You can't expect me to be distracted by that!"
"That bad, am I? I'm hurt." Yugi turned away and started walking off down the hall.
Atemu, the sucker of course that he is, ran after him. "Wait! I wasn't serious! I was kidding, I swear!" Atemu caught Yugi's wrist and gently turned him around, "I'm sorry."
"You should be," Yugi said while pouting, "Why should I forgive you?"
"Fine! He can stay!"
Yugi smirked, "I knew you'd see it my way."
"When did this become a guilt trip for me?"
"Fighting a losing battle, lover…"
Kontar stood slightly stooped as the guards behind him held him. Yugi was standing before him.
"You will help anyone and everyone in this palace that asks for it; you have no title here nor power. If you decide to violate that then you will answer directly to me, and know this: I could have had you killed and it is only because of my mercy you stand with your head."
"Killed me for what? Being a beggar? Living among the poor and destitute because I'm one of them? Not all of us have the same opportunities as you, Pharaoh!" Kontar spat the last bit out harshly.
In a flash Yugi had his hand around his throat and was speaking directly into his face. "Don't you dare assume that I know no hardships! I've been blessed with my position and I help those that I can. Did I not save your life? Do you always disrespect those people who show you kindness? I am the only one keeping you off the streets. I am trying to help you."
And with that, Yugi let the man go. He turned on his heel and didn't look back.
Being the lowest of the low truly sucked. Everyone in the palace was making him do his or her dirty work. "Do this! Don't forget! Hey you! Come here. Scrub this! Deliver this!" And Ra was he sick of it. It'd been three weeks and he hadn't complained, only grumbled to himself every now and then.
"You! Get over here!"
That was the last straw…. "Damn you! Go away, I'm sick of doing your bidding! Learn to do it yourself!"
"Excuse me?" asked a regal voice.
"You heard me!" Kontar said without evening looking back.
A hand clasped around Kontar's throat and pushed him up against the wall.
"You should learn to think before you speak."
Kontar spluttered into Atemu's face, completely taken by surprise, though not for long. Kontar shoved Atemu's hand away from his throat and took several steps back.
"Don't you ever touch me again, Pharaoh!"
"Yugi may have spared your life but I'd watch where you step. You've been given a second chance and I'd hate to think what might happen if you don't make the most of it," Atemu said in a low growl.
"Sounds like a bastard to me, Atemu!" said Jou bluntly, after hearing the story about Kontar.
"Jou!" Set slapped a hand over his lover's mouth. "If you could keep you big trap closed for just one minute before you stick your foot in it it'd be a miracle!"
"Oh but you like my big mouth, because it does more then talking…if you know what I mean," Jou snapped back cheekily.
Set colored furiously while Atemu and Jou laughed. The door to the room slowly opened and Yugi walked in, looking rather somber. Atemu was immediately on his feet, "You okay, Yugi?"
Yugi gave a slow nod and a timid smile, "I'm fine, and I just went to see Kontar off goodnight." Yugi took a seat made his greetings to Set and Jou.
"So what did he do to you?" asked Jou.
"Nothing. It was just something he said. I caught him…well, crying." Yugi's voice slowly faded revealing his troubled thoughts.
"I'm sure he'll be fine; just leave him be, Yugi. You can't save everyone."
"He had just received a letter...If someone he knew died he shouldn't have found out in a letter. It's so…final."
"Sometimes it's the only way," Atemu said consolingly.
"No Atemu, it isn't!" Yugi said angrily, "If they cared enough to send a letter then they should have cared enough to tell him in person!"
Atemu looked taken aback, "Well maybe they just couldn't get here, Yugi."
"If they had wanted to they would have!" Yugi stood up and walked the door closing it with a slam.
"What's with him?" Asked Jou the ever-reigning King on Blunt.
"I don't know…" Atemu trailed off wondering why he had affected Yugi so much with his reply.
"Well go after him, you idiot!" Set said fiercely, "Don't just sit there and gape."
Atemu blushed in embarrassment as he stood up and walked out the door.
He found Yugi on the balcony staring out at the starry sky. He gave a great sigh before speaking, "My grandfather and I used to look at the stars all the time, you know? Always wondering if there was something more then just our life. Something more then even the afterlife."
"Sounds like he was a philosopher or astronomer of sorts."
"Oh he was! He was like…a magician! He could do anything, he could be anything. But he chose not to. He devoted his life to helping those in need, always being the bigger man."
Atemu looked at Yugi, noticing his eyes were just so bright and shining; filled with such enthusiasm and pride for his grandfather.
"Does he still live at your old home?"
Just as quick as the light had entered Yugi's eyes, it extinguished, leaving a Yugi with saddened eyes.
"He…he resides in a tomb."
Atemu gently encircled Yugi in his firm embrace, "Was his death much the same as my parents?"
Yugi nodded, "You can't be a great person without making some poor heart bitter and jealous. He had been giving medical treatment to some small villages that had recently been attacked by raiders. Some victim whose whole family had died of serious wounds stabbed him in the night. He carved out his heart and left it out on a stake to burn. My grandfather was one man, he couldn't get to everyone in time and there was no one to send for help."
"When did you find out?" Whispered Atemu softly.
"A week after he died. I received a letter from one of the villagers still alive telling me he was dead."
"Oh…that explains it."
"That poor man, Kontar. If he has lost someone and that was how he found out...it's the worst possible way." Yugi had tears silently slipping down his face in streaks, shining in the pale moonlight.
Atemu gently kissed away his tears, holding his love and trying desperately to keep him safe from the ever-flowing memories washing down his face.
Ushabti are small figures to help the deceased in the afterlife.
Remember people, names always have a significance in my story…and that's all I'm going to tell you. The opening of the mouth ceremony was basically to "re-animate" the deceased. It allowed them to eat, breath, see, and hear all that the priests were saying. Preserving their "ka".
Also I would think it would have been an extremely common way of revenge, in carving out the heart of another.
Review….please…Daikaio did an excellent job….review! I promise it will be longer next update!