PROLAGUE
The sun wasn't very high in the azure sky yet, but already the heat was sweltering. The Pharoh stood on his balcony overlooking the city, and watched his subjects scurrying around with their daily lives. He envied them, for having simple lives and not having to worry about the things that he did. He didn't, however, evnvy the females having to wear their cotton shirts in this heat.
"Dreaming again, Pharoh?" A chipper voice behind him said, and the tri-colored haired pharoh whirled around quickly to face a blond boy, wearing the simple outfit of the pharoh's servants.
As if suddenly remember who's presece he was in, the boy gave a quick and somewhat awkward bow that almost ended with him on his face. The pharoh laughed, and motioned him up.
"Yes Jounouchi, I was dreaming again." He motioned over the edge of the balcony. "Their lives are so simple. They do not know the danger that is looming on the horizon."
"You sense something." It wasn't a question, but Pharoh nodded anyway.
"A dark presence is looming. Something is coming, Jounouchi, and it will not be good fro Egypt. I fear that I am about to face the challenge sent me by Ra...and I am not ready." Jounouchi stepped closer to his friend, and rested his hand on the stones next to his.
"You faced evil, and the destruction of Egypt before and overcame it. I know you can do it again." Jounouchi smiled at him. "This time, I am with you. I will not let you face it alone." The Pharoh smiled back at his friend, but avereted his eyes.
"I do not want you hurt, Jounouchi. You have put youself in danger for my before, and it is harder everytime."
"I will not leave you." Jounouchi said confidently. "I'll always be with you." He leaned down and foreward, so that he was almost face to face with his friend, and gently laid a hand on the Millenium Puzzle that always hung around the great ruler's neck. "Ra would not allow us to be seperated, and we will be together in spirit." The pharoh put his hand over his friend' larger one, and they stood there for several sexoncds before Jounouchi broke into a large grin.
"Now down to the important stuff." The Pharoh stared at him, and Jounouchi winked. "The lady Anzu is waiting for you to come down to breakfast." Pharoh Yami blushed and scowled.
"Anyone else would be beheaded for such impertance." Jounouchi shrugged and smiled.
"I am not just anyone. I am the Pharoh's closest friend and body guard." The short boy rolled his eyes and started toward the door.
"It is best not to keep the lady Anzu waiting. She is very impatient about these things." Jounouchi snickered, but straightened when the pharaoh called his name.
"Yes, Pharoh?"
"Thank you." And then, he was gone through the door. Jounouchi smiled after him, as osmeone stepped out from behind a pillar. The burnett, dressed in the same clothes as Jounouchi, smiled at him and shook his head.
"You do care for him, don't you?" Jounouchi didn't seem suprised, nor did he turn to face the other boy.
"Of course I do, Honda. He is the Pharoh, and my friend." Honda nodded, but stopped when he realized the other could not see him. Instead, he asked a question that he knew was not only bothering him, but the Pharoh as well.
"Would you die for him?" Jounouchi was silent for a moment, before he half turned to face his friend.
"Egypt would be lost without him, he is the leader. My duty, and yours, is to protect him wiht everything we have. We swore our lives to protect the young prince when we were eight-years-old. To that promise I hold." To himself, he added softly, "And I promised his father on his death bed that I would let no harm befall his son." Honda walked up to his friend, and lay one hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Keep your faith, Jounouchi, he will need all he can get if he is right about the coming deanger. But do not forget yourself or those who care about you. Danger will come, probably from unexpected places, but do not go looking for it. Jounouchi smiled, more to himself than as any reassurance to his friend.
"I will be careful, Honda. I promise."
"Don't go looking for it." Was all Honda replied.
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