A/N: After hours of editing and elaborating emerges the first chapter.
(!) Disclaimer- Kuragari doesn't own Y-G-O or the characters by any means. Kuragari does not make money from writing this fiction, nor will he ever. Kuragari also takes no credit for the Magical Knight Rayearth references. Suing this author is not permitted in any state, country, or local residential area. Too bad.
Fable
Chapter One: The Gate Keeper?
Jounouchi sighed as he took another look down at the carefully drawn map as he walked down a slightly overgrown path. "Where the hell is Zagato Castle on this damned thing?" he grumbled, resisting the urge to rip the confounded piece of paper in half. Jou scanned the paper once more but instead he sought for the nearest town.
"Ah there we go." he said with a grin as he spotted a small town marker that was close to his position. "Looks like I'm going to have to do this the old fashioned way..." Using the slowly setting sun as a quick compass, he set his feet in the direction of the town and began to walk.
Little did he know, his actions were under watch.
oOo
Oceanic eyes train onto the surface of a small pond that was located in a quaint garden, full of exotic and blooming plants.
"Big brother!" a young boy's voice rang through the garden. Soon a small boy scrambled up behind the sitting form of the brunet. "Seto, the court has summoned you..." he panted.
"Tell them I'm busy." he said, not even bothering to look back at his little brothers slightly flustered face.
"Huh? What are you doing?" the short boy with wild black hair began to try and peek over his brother's shoulder, but failed miserably as the other would push him back gently with an arm. "Come on Seto! What could be so important that you would ignore a court summons?" the younger whined.
"Nothing that concerns you, Mokuba."
Mokuba scrunched up his face and placed his hands on his hips, even though Seto couldn't see him. With a wolfish grin Mokuba aimed low and quickly snaked himself around Seto's waist and plopped himself in his lap.
Seto was shocked beyond words, but he quickly gathered his lost wits. "What are you doing?" he hissed. He was less than pleased when his brother decided to ignore him and stare intently at the surface of the pond, his gray eyes flashing curiously as he watched a blond teen walk through a particularly creepy part of a forest.
"Who is that?" Mokuba asked pointing to the chain mail clad teen.
"A man." Seto replied flatly.
Mokuba rolled his eyes. "I can see that. But what is so important about him? Do you have a crush on him or something?"
The brunet scowled deeply. "No. You are quite wrong... he is not attractive to me, in any way. In fact, I find him to be suspicious."
"Suspicious? What do you think he's doing? Does it have anything to do with that one girl you locked up recently? You know... that Princess from the kingdom that favors Ihy?"
"Emeurade." Seto supplied.
"Yeah, her. Is that why?" Mokuba looked up into his brothers stoic face hoping that he would get a straight answer.
Seto nodded his head then shook it. "Perhaps. That is why I watch."
"You must really like that Eme-- Emerald?-- whatever, a lot." he asked with a smirk. "I mean I know it wasn't really your choice, but maybe you're starting to fall for her?" Mokuba got no response from the brunet. "I've heard that she's really pretty, and kind too. Her people just love her. Maybe that's why you are so protective?...or is it just another game to you?" Mokuba's last guess was granted a smirk from the taller. "Ugh. Seto... What's wrong?" he followed Seto's eyes to the images on the surface of the pond once again. He sighed and started to stand up when he was pulled back by a strong arm. "H-hey!" he protested weakly.
"Watch." the brunet commanded. Mokuba did as he was told, eyes going back to the blond figure in the pond.
It seemed that the teen was snared in a thick bundle of branches. He was struggling to free himself and Mokuba was sure that if they could hear him Seto would cover his ears. After a few more moments of struggle the blond seemed to break free. As he began to proceed down the path, two gnarly branches in the shape of hands wound themselves around his shoulders and pulled him against the trunk of the tree owning the 'branch hands'.
"Woah! Seto! Th-that tree thing!" Mokuba exclaimed, pointing a shaking finger at the image.
"Is an ent (1). They are common in that part of the world... Didn't you learn this during your studies?" Seto tried to explain, almost scoffing at his brothers lack of knowledge of things outside of this kingdom.
Mokuba nodded. "Well yeah... But it's just different when you see it for real..." with a small sigh Mokuba just shook his head and started to watch the blond again.
The blond was flailing helplessly against the tree. His arms were effectively pinned under the tree's own. He began kicking his heels into the trunk of the offending tree, leaving large crescent shaped dents in its trunk, but it showed no signs of relenting its fierce grip.
"Big brother he..." Seto gently placed a hand over Mokuba's mouth to silence him. Taking a hint he pouted silently to himself as he watched the blond's struggles become less and less. "The tree is killing him! He can't breathe!" he yelled, worried for the life of this stranger.
Seto just grunted and continued watching. As the blond's body became limp, his slightly bluish lips -from lack of oxygen- began moving as if he was speaking to someone.
'Must be praying.' Seto thought idly.
Both brothers and the blond were surprised when the tree caught aflame. They watched as the tree dropped the blond, who was able to roll away and deftly draw his blade in a swift movement.
Mokuba carefully noted how the blond was gasping for precious air as a faint glint of ... something ... brushed past him and disappeared.
"Seto, what was that light just now?" he asked in a hushed, and yet slightly awed voice.
"I have yet to find out." When the blond in the pond smiled and dropped his guard in recognition, Seto was positive he was about to find out the answer to what was going on when suddenly the image went blank, making Seto cry out in outrage.
"What? This shouldn't be happening!" he yelled at the pond. As Seto continued to rant in a controlled anger, Mokuba stared thoughtfully into the now blank pond.
"You're right big brother. He is... suspicious."
oOo
Jou had finally made his way out of the forest and into the outskirts of the small town he had seen on his map.
"Man I'm so glad to be out of there! I mean sheesh! Attacked by an ent? Who woulda thunk?" he laughed casually and roughly shoved the fact that he was moments from death to the back of his mind. "I must be really lucky today. I never thought that --"
"Oi! Strang'ner! Ya gone gots yerself lost?" Jounouchi's head snapped in the direction of the voice that had interrupted him. There was a rather plump farmer man in a straw hat and a pair of half done overalls standing on the other side of a fence protecting the crops of a bean field.
"Uh... No... Not exactly... I don't think." Jou said slowly, trying to decipher what exactly the man had asked, while he eyed his pitchfork carefully.
"Ya sure? I ain't no smart-tart, butcha sure dun looks femiliar. Ya know?"
'What the hell is he saying?!' Jou panicked in his mind before smiling to the man. "Ya I guess so... could you tell me where the nearest tavern is?"
The man snorted in what Jounouchi thought might have delight. "Ya fancy a glass do ya? Well jus' down ta road thar an' 's ta one wit a iron cock on ta door."
Jou did his best to keep his jaw from dropping to the ground. 'Think farmer! Think farmer! Um... Uh... Cock means... Rooster! Yes, rooster! Iron rooster, iron rooster, iron rooster!' Quickly he tried to remove the images that the man's words had brought to his mind. He was failing miserably.
"I ain't gots no more time ta be awast'n. Didja git watcha was look'n fer? Ya best hurry up, ya hear?"
Jou smiled at the plump farmer with some difficulties. "Yes. Thanks." As soon he was out of earshot of the man he began to rant. "Seth! I could barely understand a word that man said! I mean there is a difference between speaking easily and.. and language abuse! I mean really! Is all I got from that guy is door, iron rooster, and hurry!" he tossed his arms up in frustration. Looking around he noticed he was in the middle of a street packed with people all staring at him. "Oh." he said simply before searching each building he passed for an iron rooster on the door.
The tavern was easier to find than he thought it would be. It looked like it was the center of the whole town. The place was stuffed with a variety of people being served by busty waitresses in low cut, frilly, two piece dresses.
Jounouchi looked around for an empty spot, only finding few to none. With a sigh he took a seat at the bar next to an old man with an extremely strange hat, and a rather depressed looking red headed woman.
"Just get me something with taste." he said with a friendly wave of his hand to the burly bartender.
"Hmm? Wuz tis? Looks we have ourselvez a new face!" The old man next to Jou said, swinging his mug around causing its contents to swish around and occasionally spill. The man had a short shaggy gray beard and slightly pinked cheeks from the alcohol. His eyes and mouth were bordered with cheery wrinkles and his hat -which Jou swore to Ihy looked like a birds nest- was pushed high onto his head. Overall he seemed like an okay guy.
As Jou was about to strike up a conversation with the guy he was interrupted by a sad voice on his other side. "Just ignore him." came the monotonous voice. He looked over to see the depressed woman didn't even bother to look at him. She was now in the middle of downing a mug. She was dressed in a dark green blouse and skirt with a black vest and accessories, accenting her wild red hair nicely. Jou guessed that she was somewhere in her mid-twenties.
"'Sokay laddie. Zis poor woman just lost her huzband." Jou nodded slightly as the bartender set a mug of... something... in front of him. "What bringz a lad like you ta a place like tis?" the man asked adjusting his nest hat.
"Well," he started to say and took a quick sip of the stuff in front of him. It didn't taste that bad. "I'm lookin' fer a place called Zagato Castle, but 's not on muh map 'ere. See?" Jounouchi easily slipped into what nobles called commoner tongue and pulled out his map to show the other man what he was talking about.
Bird man, as Jou had now dubbed him, snatched the map from his hands with nimble fingers. "Hrm. Tiz a nice map laddie."
Jou quickly recognized the glint in the man's eyes and shook his head. "A friend gave it ta meh. Said it wuz 'cuz I traveled 'round a lot."
The woman next to him hummed in her mug. "I see more than that stranger. Perhaps we could come to an agreement?" Her dull emerald gaze fixed onto his honey one.
"Ah, so ya wants ta haggle wit me?" he asked, a smile on his lips as he snatched his map back from bird man. "So lady, tell me whatcha want fer yer information."
"I also seek information. But an opinion as well." she said with an uninterested shrug.
"Hm.. Alright! Now that sounds like a deal ta me!"
"If you would follow me then." the woman stood and walk slowly towards an empty booth in the shadows of the tavern. Jounouchi gave her an uncertain glance before following her, a hand on his great sword hilt.
He sat opposite of the woman and they stared at each other for a few long moments before the red head finally spoke. "What is your name stranger?"
"What's yers?" he countered. Giving out personal information to strangers was not good, as he had recently figured out with that brunet man.
The woman smiled weakly before replying. "Good answer. You may call me Rosetta."
Jou nodded and thought for a moment. "Then call meh Drifter, Rosetta."
"Yes, I overheard that you travel quite a lot. To where have you traveled?" Rosetta asked, folding her thin hands on the table in front of them.
"I have been to many places, Rosetta." Jou said, suddenly serious. "I have traveled for most of my life. I've seen things most people don't even know exist, I've visited almost every kingdom, seen the different influences of the Gods. You name it and I've probably been there and seen it with my own eyes."
"And what of the Four Gods? Tell me of them."
Jou stopped for a moment to think. "Well, you know how the Four Gods all share equal power and in turn none is more powerful than the other in order to bring harmony." Rosette nodded, of course all that was common knowledge. "Let's start with Ra," he thought he was starting to sound like a school teacher, "Ra's light shines on all, yet it also burns. The one's who favor Ra are kind of ... glorified in a sense. They bask in his light but they are fully aware of the scorching of Ra's wrath."
"I see..."
"Yah is the brother of Ra. While Ra burns hot, Yah soothes. The ones who favor Yah seem to have a lot of healers and thieves among their ranks. But mostly they are secretive and kind. And unlike common belief they do like sunlight. I have no idea where that myth came from."
Rosetta seemed to be in deep thought, so Jou took it as a sign to continue.
"Well I'm assuming you already know quite a bit about Ihy, so I'll skip him." she nodded. "So lastly there is Seth. I really don't know much about the God himself, except that he doesn't tolerate many things and these things seem to change daily. Those who favor him usually have violent tendencies, but if you gain their respect, you're set for life."
"... And what God do you believe me to follow? For no longer can I hear the sweet music of Ihy to my ears." Rosetta's stern look told Jou that she was serious. It kinda freaked him out. "I already have forgiveness from Ihy. But I do not know where to turn. I feel very helpless without a deity."
Jou nodded in understanding. When you didn't have a favored God they all fought for your worship. "Well I haven't known you for very long Rosetta, but maybe Yah would understand? You don't strike me as someone who would be able to tolerate Ra nor Seth." he said with a grin.
"Drifter... I believe you are right. I owe you my gratitude and directions." she smiled gratefully and Jou had to admit that she looked much prettier smiling. "The fastest way to get to Zagato castle is to head directly East from the crossroads that are just a little further from here. After a while the trail veers to the right, but ignore that and continue heading East no matter what. Within a two days walk you shall come upon the front gate of Zagato Castle."
"And the Gate Keeper, correct?"
"Yes. There are many mysteries surrounding that man. Some rumors say that he possess magic given to him from Seth himself. Others say that he is but a common murderer searching for the revenge of his people that once lived in the Castle."
Silently Jounouchi absorbed this information. "Thank you kindly Rosetta. May we meet again someday." he said with a soft smile as he stood and headed for the door. "I hope you find peace with Yah." he went back to the bar and payed the bartender for the drink that bird man had been so kind as to drink for him and left.
Walking down the crowded streets he noticed many vending stalls lining the streets selling things from food to alchemy potions. 'That must be why this farming town is so populated. They have merchants here.' Smiling at his good fortune Jou bought some supplies, such as extra food, flint (hell if he was going to start a fire with sticks again), and more fresh water. All of it was purchased with the money he had gotten from the blue eyed man. 'Wonder if he ever made it home.' he thought forlornly and was pleased to find out that it was only noon.
"Well, I better get a head start while there is still good light."
oOo
Long fingers rubbed at their owners temples.
"Woah! Seto did that guy have a bird nest on his head?" Mokuba chatted excitedly.
The brunet groaned inwardly. "Mokuba why are you here?"
"Huh? Oh! The court has demanded your presence. This time they wont take no for an answer." the boy shrugged and turned back to the pond.
"Hn. Did they tell you anything?"
"I heard a couple of nobles ranting about that Princess and plans of some sort. They never really told me anything except to get you." he laughed softly at the images in the pond.
"Wonderful." Seto said sarcastically as he moved to clear the pond of its images.
"Ah wait! You don't have to... I mean, I can watch him for you. He's pretty funny."
Seto paused and looked at his brother carefully before standing up to his full height. "Fine."
"Thanks big brother." Mokuba said with a smile that made Seto smile faintly back.
"If he does anything perverse cover your eyes immediately. Understood?" he said in all seriousness.
"Yes big brother." Mokuba said with a roll of his gray eyes.
"Good." And with that he left to listen to everyone babble and complain about his private life.
oOo
Jounouchi sighed heavily as the darkness became too great for him to continue onwards. Luckily there was a tree close by for him to take shelter by. He grabbed a nearby stick and dug an arrow in the soft soil so he would know which way to head in the morning.
Wearily he approached the tree as he drew his sword. He slashed the trunk of the tree and jumped back, raising his guard.
The tree didn't react.
"Okay good. Not an ent... I'm seriously starting to hate trees..."
After making double and triple sure that the tree wouldn't try and viciously murder him in his sleep, he finally stretched out beneath it to eat and finally rest.
He awoke in the early hours of the next morning. He ate quickly, cleaned his teeth with some nearby herbs, and set off again.
Jou stretched his arms above his head as the sun finally peeked over the treetops two hours later. He had made excellent time yesterday and he hoped he could make it to the Castle before sunset tonight. Hopefully he could use the shadows of the night to slip past this guardian figure.
As he ran his plan through his head he was painfully aware of the low overcast of clouds. Suddenly he stopped and shook his fist at the sky. "You better not rain ya hear?" he yelled upwards.
As if in response thunder clapped and a slight drizzle began to fall.
Jounouchi lowered his fist and continued to stare upwards into the rain. "Well shit."
oOo
Mokuba laughed outright, from his place in the brunet's lap, at the blonds antics. Over the past couple of days it had become routine for Mokuba to join Seto in his private garden to watch the suspicious blond.
It may have seemed like a waste of time to any other person, but to Mokuba any time spent with Seto was worth every second. They never really had much free time to spend together, so in a way he was grateful to this mysterious blond.
"Heh. Seto it looks like he is heading to Zagato Castle. Just like you thought."
"Of course." Seto said, gloating.
"Then why don't you do anything about it?" curious gray eyes met cold blue.
There was a short pause before the brunet answered. "I am curious as to see how far he shall get."
Mokuba said nothing as he returned to watching the pond. He didn't want to say anything more to break the peace. He only had a little while longer until he had to return to his studies. He would rather leave with Seto in a good mood.
"Mokuba."
"Hm?" was the soft reply.
"You should get going soon."
"I know, I know. I just don't think it's fair that you get a break and can sit here all day." he pouts.
Seto looked down at his pouting sibling and pat his head with affection. "I'm not on break."
Mokuba gasped slightly. "Then..."
"Yes. It is the will of Ra." Mokuba seemed to wait for an explanation so he continued, only slightly annoyed. "I don't understand what is so important about this man and what his connection to Ra is, but I do intend to find out."
"Maybe he is supposed to save Eme-- Eme-- the Princess..." Mokuba mused aloud.
"Perhaps... Perhaps not. It all--"
"Is the will of Ra." Mokuba finished for him, earning himself a glare. "I know Seto. I have a feeling that Ra is up to something though."
Seto gave a rude snort, "You believe that everyone is up to something."
Mokuba grinned widely before standing and stretching. "Everyone is guilty until proven innocent." he said as he left Seto alone.
"Hn." Seto watched his brother leave and turned back to watch Jounouchi. "He looks like a wet dog." he commented to himself before remaining in silent observation.
oOo
The rain began to pour down on Jounouchi. He had been walking for hours and he was soaked to the bone, his teeth chattering on their own will. Once again he thanked his luck that his pack from the King had turned out to be water resistant so his food stayed dry. The foliage around him began to get more and more dense, when suddenly it all disappeared. Looking up he noticed large rusty iron gates coming into his view. It was actually pretty close to him, but he couldn't tell earlier because of the darkness around him due to the heavy clouds and rain.
"Woah, I can't believe I was this close the whole time! It's way too dark out here." he shivered slightly as a cold wind passed his wet body. He approached the gates cautiously. "So cold..."
Jou yelped when an arm wrapped around his waist and another hand came over his mouth.
"Shut up." a voice warned harshly from the person behind him. Jou had no choice but to comply and allow himself to be drug by the other, he was in no position to be struggling, it would get him killed faster.
He closed his eyes and waited for the worst to happen. Imagine his surprise when he is pulled into somewhere warm and cozy. His eyes popped open when he was pulled down into a chair and the mysterious hands left his body. He noted quickly that he was in what seemed to be a one room house of some sort.
"Wha-- where?" he asked hesitantly.
A teen that looked to be about his age with platinum blond hair, lavender eyes and a tan that seemed impossible to obtain this time of year flooded his vision.
"What are you doing here?" the platinum blond demanded, arms crossed over his chest angrily.
"I don't even know where 'here' is!" Jou growled. He had meant 'here' as in the cabin like home, but it seemed that the tanned teen mistook as in the area.
"Oh. Are you lost then? I mean with this storm and all it's entirely possible." it seemed that he was talking more to himself than to Jounouchi.
"Yeah... Where am I?" he asked carefully. "And who are you?"
"My... You're nosy." the platinum blond sighed and sat in a chair across from Jou. "Well you seem pretty harmless... aside from that sword strapped to your side." the platinum blond waited for Jou, who sighed in defeat and unwillingly unstrapped his prized possession and placed it against the wall before returning to his seat a couple of feet away. "That's better." he stood and grabbed the sword and shoved it under a bed.
"Who are you?" the blond repeated.
The teens lavender eyes glared up at him before softening. "I am called Malik. Right now you are in my home." Jou took a better look at his surroundings to notice that there were two beds in one corner of the house, a table in another, a rug in the third and a small entry way into what Jou supposed was the kitchen. "So who are you?"
"Jou." the blond replied cautiously.
"Jou... Nice name. It's cute. Like you." the tanned teen strode up to Jou and gently pulled on a lock of wet, shaggy blond hair. "You need to dry off. I don't want you getting sick near me."
"Uh... thanks?" Jou stammered as the other teen crossed the room to grab a blanket and shuffle through a chest of clothing.
"His clothes should fit him just fine..." the platinum blond mumbled as he grabbed some clothes and tossed them at Jou. "Here. Change into these."
Jounouchi eyed the other suspiciously. "What do want from me?" he asked, not taking the bait of hospitality.
Malik barked out a laugh. "Well, well, well. It seems that someone's not as dumb as they look." he waved away the fierce glare sent at him by the honey eyed teen. "Don't worry. I'm just looking for company." Jou did not like the way the platinum blond had said 'company', seemingly hinting at something more. "Lately I haven't seen another face but his." Malik jutted a thumb over his shoulder indicating the two beds.
Jou faltered for a moment and ran through the options in his head. He could try and make a break for it right now and seek shelter in the forest nearby, but then he'd leave his sword behind and that was something that he wouldn't do. His other option was to play along for now, grab his stuff at the most opportune moment and run for it...
He chose to play.
"Okay..." he said with a defeated sigh that caused the other to jump and clap his hands in delight. "Um... Where should I... uh, change?"
"Oh! Yes, wait just a sec." Malik turned around, back to Jounouchi. "Okay go ahead."
"Erm... Could you take three steps to your right please?"
"Why? Then I can't see--"
"In the mirror, yeah I know." he finished with a crooked grin as Malik crossed his arms and moved out of view from the mirror. 'What a strange guy.' Jou thought as he dressed hurriedly, not trusting for a second that Malik would stay facing away from him.
"Done yet?"
"Yep." Jou said as he tugged the slightly oversized shirt down completely.
"Are you hungry? Let's talk while I make us something!" the platinum blond said rapidly as he bounced into the entry way that did in fact lead to a kitchen. Feeling slightly at a loss, Jou followed.
"Soooo Jou, tell me about yourself! Where do you come from? How is the world?" Malik asked as he began grabbing ingredients from a cabinet and setting them on a counter.
'And he thought I was nosy.'
"Well... I travel around a lot." Jou said deciding to humor the other. "And the world? I 'spose it's doing just fine."
The tanned teen nodded as he began to prepare what Jou assumed would be sandwiches. "So how did you end up here?"
"Well, this is actually pretty embarrassing, but I was walking down a trail near here I think, and I kinda spaced out for awhile and the next thing I knew the trail was gone!" he forced a blush to rise to his cheeks, not a particular skill he used often, and he continued his little story. "And so I just headed straight, figuring I'd find a town sooner or later." the blond shrugged as he took a bite of the sandwich offered to him, tasting it carefully. He couldn't risk being poisoned at this point.
"I don't get it. Why didn't you just turn around and find the path again?" Malik asked taking a bite of his own sandwich.
Jou snorted. "And get more lost than I already was? No thanks."
The tanned teen laughed loudly but stopped suddenly when the door to the cabin like home slammed open. "He's home early..." Malik said with a sigh as he continued eating.
"Who?"
"Marik. Don't die on me now." the platinum blond said with a smirk.
"Huh?" the others threat wasn't lost on the blond.
"Malik!" A large man who looked almost exactly identical to Malik, but with darker, more vicious eyes, stepped through into the conjoined kitchen. Jou didn't even have time to breathe before the taller version of Malik attacked him.
He sidestepped the others first fist smoothly and ducked out of the way of the other, using his balance, or lack thereof, to roll to the side and drop into a fighting stance. Just because he didn't have a sword didn't mean he couldn't kick the crap out of this guy.
"I can't believe you think this is funny!" Jou growled at Malik, who was still sitting on the counter smirking as if this was an everyday occurrence, and dodged another round of blows. "Fucking do something before I do!"
"Alright, alright. Just keep your pants on pretty boy." Malik hopped off the counter and stood in front of his larger look alike and placed a hand on the others chest. He stopped immediately. "Well on second thought..."
Jounouchi glared hard before sighing and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "They are staying on and that's final. Now would you care to explain... this?" he asked waving a hand at Marik, still watching him carefully.
Malik looked up to Marik and grinned impishly. "Well since you're still alive, I guess I could tell you. This is Marik."
"We've established that." Jou said with a groan.
"He's my lover." Jou coughed as he nearly choked on this new information. "Don't look too jealous now." Malik said with an annoyed pout, which soon turned into a predatory grin. "But if you want I can try and talk Marik into letting all three of us having some fun tonight."
"No!" Marik and Jou shouted in unison.
Malik seemed a little crestfallen so Jou tried to console him from his place across the room. "D-don't look so down! It's not because lack of interest or anything." A sharp, death promising glare made him regret his words. "I-I mean, I'm not interested at all! But uhh... Marik is! You should focus on him!... or something..." he had just not only embarrassed himself as well as confused himself, but he may have just ordered his own head on a silver platter.
Malik turned back to Marik and kissed the man soundly. He grabbed Marik by the wrists and began to lead him to the other room with the beds. "He's right Marik. Come on, lets have us some fun." he purred ignoring Jounouchi's presence completely.
Marik allowed his smaller lover to pull him into the next room, but before he could be dragged completely out of the kitchen he stopped and glared at Jou harshly. "Don't you dare even fucking watch or I'll rip out your eyes with my bare hands and feed them to the forest gnomes."
"You don't have ta tell me that!" he hissed angrily before Marik left to join his smaller lover.
Jou sunk against the wall and sighed. "Dear Ihy! How can they just do that when they have a complete stranger in the house!" he took a deep breath as the moaning in the next room became louder. Looking around for something to occupy his numb mind he noticed a rolled up parchment on the counter. He strode over to it quickly, grabbed it and returned to his spot on the floor. "What's this?" His eyes widened as he read what was written on the paper. "This can't be...? A decree of the Gods?" He had only seen one of these once before in his life, and that was when... "No... Just... What is Seth up to? An official proclamation? To guard this Castle of all places? Does he like to make my life difficult?"
Tossing the parchment back over towards the counter he brainstormed an escape plan. These two are the Gate Keeper. Well Gate Keepers actually, and it was even decreed so by Seth himself, they were followers Seth! That would explain Marik's violence... Well not really. These two were just... crazy. The moaning from the next room increased.
"That's it!" he whispered to himself with a sadistic smile. "I'll just grab all my stuff from under the bed when they fall asleep. And from the sounds of things now that just might take a little while longer."
Jou had been wrong in his assumption that it would only be a while longer. After the first round Jou thought for sure they were going to finally sleep when they started up again. He started to nod off when he suddenly noticed how quiet everything had gone. He chanced a peek into the room and was beside himself with glee when he found the other two sleeping in the bed that didn't have his equipment shoved underneath.
As stealthily as he could muster he crawled into the other room and moved to the bed. He pulled out his armor, sword and pack quickly. Placing everything back on his body he stood up and made for the outside. He was grateful that the rain had stopped and he closed the door silently behind himself. Quickly he ran to the iron gates and pushed them open slightly glad they made no noise or resistance. He slipped past them and shut them once more before running into the castle itself.
Not until he was fully inside the castle did he dare breath normally. "Dammit Seth. Why do you have all the psychos following you? I think you just scarred me for life with those two." he sighed when he heard the familiar voice chuckle in the back of his mind.
"Just... no more hitches in this mission... please?" he pleaded quietly keeping his place against a cold stone wall.
'Ah, I'm sorry. I can't quite make such a promise serf. (2)the familiar voice of Seth rang clearly in his mind. He'd had communication with all four of the Gods since he could remember. This was a normal occurrence for him.
"Yeah, figures. Sometimes you guys are as useless as a sack of potatoes when it comes to stuff like this."
'You should watch what you say to a deity, serf.' Seth scolded half heartedly.
"I should, but I don't and you know it. Now if you don't mind I need to get on with this rescuing business." Jou said as he began to make his way into the dimly lit palace.
'Whatever you say serf.' Jounouchi knew that the God of Chaos wasn't telling him something. They all always withheld important information from him. He just sighed in frustration and forcibly closed their mental link. He'd just figure it out the hard way.
End Chapter One
Yes I realize that ents are from LOTR. I have no imagination.
A serf is a servant... Just more... formal.
A/N: Thanks to my beta, the girl that sits next to me in study hall... Yeah... -- Kuragari