Thanks to everyone who reviewed on the last chapter:
CampionSayn (I love chaptered AU fics to death. I think I've written more of those than OU ones, haha,)
cruisegirl,
We're In Like Sin (First: wicked sweet penname! I haven't ever written a denyshipping story, so I am hoping I write it well enough without leaning too much to one side. Actually, only one reviewer got the fairytale right; it's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The originally plot line, anyway,)
Impashence,
journey maker,
punkeymonkey89 (Not sure if I said this in my original response to you, but the rush of marriage and stuff isn't as rushed as it seems, actually. There will a whoooole lot of more elaboration on that. And I actually only based the base of the plot from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. That being the queen all jealous of Snow White and having her servant kill her. Everything else is mostly my own devices. Things will start to add together as the story progresses, so do not worry my dear friend!),
Sakura Takanouchi (Can you believe that you are the only person who knew what fairy tale this was from? And I thought it was totally obvious from the title. You know, the whole, 'Who is the fairest lady of them all?' and everything. Don't worry, Anzu is not going to scream at eyes in the forest and clean a cottage while singing with animals. I'm only borrowing the original plot line for my own devices, much like in Beauty. Everything else is planned out different and way too mature for the original Snow White. Hmm, nobody ever seems to like Shizuka. She has the same role as in Beauty, too, to make things simple on my part. You can sort of predict how often she'll appear since you read that story,)
and CraziAznGirl.
Here is the chapter, which will elaborate a little more on Mai's character.
The Fairest Lady: Chapter Two
Mai entered her chambers, thankful for the peace that washed over her. The gentlemen that day had been rather bothersome, pressuring her into this and that. She knew that they cared nothing for her except her wealth and beauty. They never thought about how much she worked every morning to look that way, how hard she came upon her magical accomplishments. They never looked behind the veil she had cast upon herself. Every single one of them was a vain, thoughtless, good-for-nothing male to her.
Except one.
At Bakura's trial, she had not tried to capture him for the single reason that he had seen behind that veil. He was perceptive, unlike everyone else, and even though she knew that it was possible he took any notice of her because of her position as princess, she began to seek him out. It was because of him that she became interested in magic. The majority of the time, Mai would sit and watch him perform his magic or make some concoction in his work shop with herbs. Rarely did they ever speak earnestly to each other. She simply wanted to sit in his presence, as it had an unusually calming effect on her.
Once, Bakura had noticed her attentive gaze on him and had smirked, asking, "Is it my looks or the magic that appeals to you?"
"I want power," she had responded smoothly, meeting his gaze. "I could get that through the magic. My mother was a sorceress. She was supposed to teach me her arts, and she did a little before Yami was born. It's nothing like what you do, though. I could have anything I wanted if I had magic." Mai recalled the brief pause after that, staring up at Bakura's face that had grown solemn and thoughtful. Only then did she realize that he had lost interest in her before, letting her come as she wished so long as she did not bother him. "I want you to teach me."
"You already have power, princess. How much more do you expect to get in learning the magical arts?"
"Enough to be above my brother."
"Hmm...Then it seems we have a common interest."
He taught her everything that was right, everything that a sorcerer or sorceress was expect to know. She knew that many of the magic she learned was different from what he did and accused him of betraying her as a teacher. He had laughed at her, giving her a brief and somewhat frightening lesson of the dark arts that he so loved to perform. He even hinted that he had plans to make Yami miserable. She offered to help him, but he would not allow it, saying that he did not want to involve an "amateur that was sure to screw things up."
Mai stopped going to his workshop then, deeply wounded that he thought so little of her. She hated her brother more than Bakura ever could. Alone, she made her descent into the dark arts, knowing that the more innocent magic could not help her and she would never earn respect from her teacher if she did not master it. However, she found that a great deal of the advanced spells would not work for her if she failed to do the lesser ones. It was frustrating, taking most of her patience (something which Mai was short of.)
I still have a long way to go before getting as good as Bakura was, Mai reflected. He will regret calling me an amateur in magic. I will find him one day and make him see how good I am. She smiled to herself, settling on the floor, her skirts flowing out around her. For now, though, I will continue to be the admired woman in Kraion. No woman is more beautiful than me. Since Mai's own father paid little attention to her and her relationship with Yami was less than pleasant, she found her respect from the women that glanced at her enviously or the men that sought her out for an illicit tryst. It was not the way she would have liked to keep herself happy, but it was all she had to work on.
She raised a hand and a leather, jeweled bag swung towards her, landing in her lap. She parted the folds and began pulling out two violet candles, parchment, a quill, ink, and a silver goblet. She set the candles on the wooden chest at the end of her bed, placing the goblet between them. She uncorked the ink bottle and dipped the quill in it, scratching symbols on the parchment. After corking the bottle and returning it and the quill to the bag, she held her hand above the goblet, slowly drawing it upward. Water filled the goblet then. She read off the symbols from the parchment before ripping it apart and dropping it into the water.
The water made a cracking sound and the parchment's floating, rough edges blurred. The parchment melted into a liquid, spinning around the goblet. Satisfied, Mai reached into the leather bag and withdrew a dagger. With most dark arts, the spells required the magic user's blood in order to operate. She pricked her finger with the sharp tip of the blade and let five drops of blood fall into the water. She pressed her other finger to the prick and it healed instantly. She lit the candles with a match from the bag and waited, staring down in the goblet.
For a long time, all that Mai could see was her reflection. The water gradually darkened as it swirled in the goblet to a violet that matched the candles. A ghastly, pale face appeared, amber eyes glowing from the face. Its wide mouth stretched in a parody of a smile. Mai had conversed several times with this particular djinn, as she used his spell every few months. "Princess," he drawled in greeting. "I am at your service."
"As always," she remarked. She stared down into the goblet, smiling. The djinn was like her own best friend, the only person she spoke with honestly. She rose to her feet and stepped back as the djinn floated up to hover above the goblet, his massive wings folded behind him, his legs drawn up to his bent arms. The claws on his hands and feet were purposely curled, so that he issued no threat. She pushed her thick locks from her face, raising an eyebrow. "Am I the fairest lady in Kraion?"
The djinn's smile grew vicious, his sharp teeth gleaming. "No."
Her expression twisted into confusion. With an effort, she collected herself, placing a coolly polite mask onto her face. "No? What are you talking about, djinn? I have questioned you of this many times since I learned this spell and you dare to say 'no'? You cannot lie once you are under my service. You had best not be lying."
"I do not lie, the contract forbids it," he told her. "You are no longer the fairest lady in Kraion. Recently another has come to Kraion. She is the fairest."
"Who?" She demanded furiously.
"Anzu, your brother's fiancée."
Mai did not act on the words for a moment, staring at him in disbelief. "Surely you are mistaken, djinn!" She scoffed. "That woman is nothing compared to me. I am all that is elegant, all that is beautiful. I refuse to believe that she can take this from me. She knows nothing of femininity. I was brought up by women tutors, carefully sculpted into who I am. She was raised by an idiot male that knows nothing of raising a daughter!" When he merely returned her statement with a sarcastic look, she flew into a violent rage, tearing apart her room. The djinn watched her with slight interest as she threw everything off her vanity and then threw it down so that the mirror shattered, spraying glass everywhere on the floor.
Only did she stop once the entire room was wrecked, her wardrobe and the expensive dresses torn to pieces by the dagger she had retrieved, her bed cut similarly with feathers scattered all over the room. Heaving in deep breaths, Mai brought some control to herself and turned to face the djinn, her eyes glassy with hatred and residual temper. He grinned and let out a short laugh, his narrow eyes glinting.
"She won't take what's rightfully mine," she told him, moving the candles and goblet carefully so as not to break the spell. The djinn bent over her, watching as she opened the chest and pulled out an overlarge book. His mouth turned down, reading the leather binding. She unclasped the lock around it and placed a hand above the pages. Seconds later, the ancient paper flipped through the book before stopping. She smiled, staring down at the page, turning to look at the djinn. "You will take her from Kraion – to the Forest of Dim. There, the animals will tear her apart. It is rumored there are exiled sorcerers there, too. If Bakura is there, he will kill her instantly once he finds out how she is connected to Yami."
"It is a waste of blood," he stated plainly. "You could easily employ a human – "
"Humans can be bribed and not to be trusted," she interrupted briskly. "You are my djinn and therefore loyal to only me. I have treated you kindly, have I not?"
"Of course, princess."
"Then you will do as I say. Who I feed my blood to is no concern of yours, djinn. You should be glad to take half my life supply." The djinn was silent at this, unable to explain his unease for her recklessness with her blood. Djinns could look into the very depths of one's heart, into their own magic. It was why he had come when Mai had performed the spell the first time, why he had bound himself to her with a contract. He could tell that there was a tortured soul beneath the layers of beauty she placed upon herself. It was not enough to be beautiful, but it kept her living.
"If it pleases you," he said softly.
X
Anzu opened her eyes groggily as a knock came on her door. She slid the presently warm rag from her head as she sat up. Yami poked his head in, smiling in greeting. "Shizuka said you were feeling a bit ill," he said, shutting the door behind him. His eyes briefly roamed the room, as he had never been in her chambers before.
"I just needed to rest," she assured him, setting the rag aside and brushing her fingers over her forehead, fixing the stray strands of hair that had escaped her bun. Yami came to the bed and sighed, settling on the edge of the bed. She knew by the shadows in his eyes that something was bothering him. He rarely kept things from her; if he wanted to speak his mind, he would. If not, she respected that. There were, after all, many things that she did not tell him. She was afraid it would hurt him to know that she was anxious about the upcoming marriage. "The, um, wedding arrangements are coming along very nicely..."
"Are they?" He queried, leaping upon the subject eagerly. It was clear that whatever it was that was lingering in his mind was something that he did not feel comfortable speaking about with her. She smiled a bit, guessing it was something political. Her smile turned puzzled. But he even tells me that...Hmm.
"Yes, but I think I must have overdid things." She gave a laugh, pressing the palm of her hand to her forehead. "I've been hurrying around all day, worrying about the wedding. I never even gave a thought to my own health. I am glad that Shizuka persuaded me to lie down or I might have fainted."
One of his eyebrows rose skeptically. "Somehow I cannot see you fainting." She gave a slight laugh of agreement.
From then on, there was comfortable silence as they both lost themselves in their thoughts. Anzu could not stop thinking that it was strange that Yami would not tell her of his troublesome thoughts. She wondered, Is he as nervous about the wedding as me? A moment after that thought crossed her mind, she decided, No, not Yami. He has liked our engagement from the beginning. My father has lectured me so much about men and his disapproval of such an early betrothal that it has made me hesitant. I have always known that was why I became this way about the wedding. I don't want to give my heart to the only guy I was allowed to known personally. How do I know there isn't someone else out there that I would prefer? She sighed softly, so as not to disturb Yami. I do like Yami very much, but... I feel as though I am denying us both what we should have. He might only love me because I was the only girl he knew. If he got out more...
"What are you thinking?" His gently thrumming voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked to him, startled. There was a deep thoughtfulness in his eyes that she was unable to read.
"Honestly?" She sighed again. "The wedding."
"It is a bit...nerve-racking," he admitted slowly, deliberately sliding his gaze to the wall to hide any thoughts that flashed through his eyes. "We have always been betrothed, you know, Anzu, so I knew that we would one day marry. Isn't it strange now that we are finally preparing for it? It puts things in one's perspective, does it not?" She stared at him, shocked that he felt nearly the same as her.
"It does," Anzu agreed. "Yami...Shizuka told me – " There was a knock on the door, causing a flash of irritation. The knock grew more insistent as both Anzu and Yami merely stared at it, a bit uncomprehendingly. At last, the visitor could not withhold themselves, allowing themselves in. The couple blinked, seeing that it was Yami's lovely sister, Mai. She coolly appraised them and then smiled at Anzu, her face lighting up with warmth. It was more than obvious how insincere the expression was. "Mai..."
"Mai," Yami cautiously said. "What brings you here?"
"I am not here to speak with you, brother," Mai flippantly dismissed him, gliding across the room and halting in front of Anzu. She surveyed Yami over her shoulder, eyeing him. She could see that her brother had no false impression of her. As Bakura had considered Yami his rival, it was no surprise that he was suspicious of any person who wielded magic. Ironic, how he seemed to find the last two advisors unacceptable. He even hated magic when he was a baby. Truly, the wretch is admirable to some level, she mused to herself.
After another moment, she turned back to Anzu. She could barely hold herself together because of the loss of blood in performing the ritual to free the djinn from the goblet for the next few nights. "I came to speak with my future sister-in-law. It is a personal, female matter, you see. I feel that I should give her some advice on...certain things." Anzu's face went a bit pink, while her fiancé remained clueless. With a sigh, Mai rolled her head back to give him an exasperated stare. "Sex, Yami."
"What of it?" He replied blankly. She scowled meaningfully. He stared a moment and slowly, his cheeks grew a bit red, too.
"Your wedding night, idiot," she snapped irritably. I don't have time for him. You would think he knew nothing of the sexual world. If I didn't hate him so much, I would explain things to him quite thoroughly. As it is, he will have to remain as clueless as a ten-year-old. "Out. You would hardly want to listen to our conversation." He gave a jerky nod, rising to his feet and mumbling a farewell to Anzu. Once he was out of the room, Mai settled beside Anzu.
"It is really unnecessary, Mai – " She began earnestly. Mai waved a hand, hushing her.
"Nonsense, Anzu. I shall educate you upon all things womanly. My brother will be quite pleased, I assure you." She took her hands, smiling apologetically. "I know I have been rather cold to you, Anzu, but I intend to make amends. I have trouble showing my emotions adequately. The sorcerer...Bakura...I thought he was my friend and then he betrayed me and – " She released her hands, turning her head away and pressing the back of her hand to her mouth. "Forgive me."
"Oh..." Anzu touched her shoulders compassionately. "I am so sorry, Mai. I never knew."
Behind her hand, Mai smirked triumphantly. Even though Anzu had an energetic soul, she was also rumored to have a kind heart. Stupid girl, she thought as she raised the symbols for the spell she would place on Anzu. You trust far too easily. Yami at least understands the truth. After living here at the palace for such a long time, you should have known that I care nothing for you. She almost laughed aloud at her naïveté. Once the symbols were solidly burned into her mind, she glanced at Anzu and murmured the word beneath her breath. This spell will ensure that the djinn will know where you are so that he can carry out my orders. You will soon be out of the way. I will be the fairest lady in Kraion again.
"Did you say something?" The younger female asked, leaning forward, peering up in Mai's face. She wiped the fake tears away and gave a tremulous smile, seeing the spell gather around Anzu.
She doesn't even sense it. "No, no," she assured in a shaky tone. "Nothing. I am fine. I had best start preparing you for your wedding night. We wouldn't want to disappoint Yami, now would we?"
X
Yami sat sprawled in his chair, staring at the chessboard placed before him. He had sought Jounouchi out in the soldier barracks below the castle rather than call him up to his chambers. He had never enjoyed royal life. The constant attention from servants had irritated him, not to mention the way every citizen had to hail him if he went outside the castle walls. He found it was more tiring than anything. Therefore, he escaped to the soldier barracks every once in awhile in order to ignore that life for awhile. The soldiers treated him as just another man.
The general, who trained all incoming soldiers, often teased him, "Perhaps you should come down here and try out my training, little prince. I'm interested to know if you would survive." Yami always assured him that, one of those days he would, but he was content with his fencing training for the time being.
"Can't ever be sure with Mai," Jounouchi commented, leaning over the table, glaring down at the chess pieces. Yami smiled faintly at his companion's concentration. They had been playing chess since they were children and as they played, Jounouchi became a better and better player. He rarely ever won against Yami. There were many times, however, that it was close. He moved a rook to challenge a knight and took it out. Leaning back smugly, Jounouchi continued, "You know how she is."
Yami stared at the board, a bit baffled. He ruefully looked at his one remaining knight and muttered, "Well, yes. She's planning something, though. I am sure of it." He straightened in his chair and raised his eyes to Jounouchi's. "Mai has never cared a fig about Anzu. Isn't it strange that she would suddenly decide that she's in the business to give her advice? It's all a little suspicious, if you ask me." He peered down at the board and then slid his bishop forward. "Checkmate."
"EH?" Jounouchi gawked at his king, his jaw hanging loose. After a moment, he folded his arms on the table and hid his mouth behind them, staring intently at the board. Yami sighed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. "Listen, Yami," he finally said, grabbing a rook and knocking it into Yami's bishop violently. "You and Mai haven't ever had a very good relationship. It's not very surprising that you are being overly suspicious, if you ask me. And it's not because I went to get her that I'm saying that, either," he added, pointing a finger at Yami. "I'm just statin' the facts."
"You don't know my sister," was all Yami said, pushing a pawn forward carelessly. Jounouchi pounced on the pawn with one of his own pawns. He let out a hoot at having gotten Yami off his king. "You might actually win for once."
"Don't be getting all bitter and pissy just because your sister is talking to Anzu," Jounouchi grumbled, glowering slightly. He brightened a second later, adding, "After all, it might be good if Mai really is giving her advice about the bedroom. You could end up being a very happy husband on your wedding night." He snickered as Yami dropped his arms, staring at Jounouchi, his face reddening. "Just think! Mai has been going with all kinds of guys. She's got the kind of experience that anyone would want passed onto their wife." He winked at Yami over the table.
Just as he opened his mouth to begin an angry and embarrassed tirade, someone came stumbling over to them, knocking the chessboard over. Jounouchi jumped to his feet with a roar of horror. The table was knocked over from his abrupt standing. Yami sat in his seat, staring at the board, pieces, and table on the ground as if he was unsure of how they had gotten there. Meanwhile, Jounouchi was agonizing over it to his sister, who had been the one to knock it over. "Shizuka, how could you?! I was going to win! Once in my entire life and I was actually going to win against Yami." He let out a pained moan, slumping to the floor, bowing his head against the mess on the floor. "Why?! Why, why, why?! It's always me! I never have any luck!! Ohhh..."
"Oh, brother, honestly!" Shizuka sighed crossly. "It's only a game, for goodness' sake! I came down to give you something, but seeing as you would much rather moan and cry over a lost game..."
"Something for me?" He repeated, springing to his feet, his eyes immediately traveling to the covered basket in her hands. As he moved to lift the cover, she turned so that her back was facing him. Jounouchi gave her a tearful look, his eyes going wide and glittering. "Shizuka, are you teasing me? I can smell the muffins! You didn't just come down here so that I could imagine how delicious they are, did you? How could you? You've turned heartless!"
"Stop dramatizing it," she said, shaking her head with a slight smile. "I'll give you and Yami some as soon as you set up this table." She turned to Yami, a kind look on her face. "Would you like some, Yami? They really are good and will cheer you right up. You look ever so miserable right now." He managed a small smile.
"Thank you, Shizuka. That's nice of you. I probably do need some sugar to make me feel somewhat better."
"Mmm," Jounouchi sighed as soon as the table was standing properly again and Shizuka had removed the cover to her basket. "That smells like blueberry muffins."
"Go ahead and take some," she told them. "I'm going to clean up the chessboard." She knelt down while Jounouchi and Yami helped themselves to the muffins. She gathered all the pieces and after counting thirty-two pieces, she placed them on the table, folding the board so that it held the pieces. She did the clasp on the board and then leaned against the table. Yami did look a bit better now that he had gotten some comfort food. She smiled sadly. Being a prince is hard, she reflected. I do feel for him. It will be even harder once he's king. Yami worries over everything and everyone. It's sweet, but it only causes himself harm. I wish he would understand that no one expects him to make every problem in the kingdom to go away.
"Aw, man..." Other soldiers came lurking up to see what the smell that was permeating through the barracks was. "Why can't they ever keep their nose out of my business? I hate sharing with them..."
"How sad for you to be an adult," Yami dryly remarked with a smirk.
Jounouchi snorted.
X
DIS: I think things will get a bit more exciting next chapter since some of our favorite guys will be introduced, woot. Please review on your way out, telling me how you think I am doing. Ciao!
