Chapter Two
Jesse awoke to find himself alone in the bed, he remembered that last night he had been bought and that his new master was kind, he only prayed that this wasn't an illusion and that his new master remained kind.
"Oh, you're up." Came Jaden's voice from the other side of the room opposite Jesse, looking he saw that Jaden was sitting at a mahogany desk and it looked like he was working. Jesse got up and upon closer inspection saw that Jaden was doodling on a piece of paper. Jaden laughed nervously when he saw that Jesse had seen his drawings. "When I get tired of my studies I like to draw, but my brother wants me to learn really boring stuff."
Jesse merely shrugged at what he said, he still didn't like speaking to Jaden as he still didn't know if he could trust anyone. He wanted to believe that everyone in this castle was kind and that he would live a better life now but he also thought about the people who had been left back home when he had been taken away.
Jesse flinched when arms encircled him, he wondered why Jaden was comforting him when he felt something wet flowing down his cheeks. Slowly he leaned into the embrace, he knew that it was something he shouldn't do but right now he didn't care, all he wanted was to feel something he hadn't felt in a long time, love.
"Jesse, what's wrong? If it's something I did I'm sorry."
"It's not that, I just miss my family. I haven't seen them in years and I don't even know what happened to them after I was taken." Jesse cried more into Jaden's chest soaking his shirt but Jaden didn't mind, he knew Jesse needed to be comforted and he would do it for him.
"If you like and if I could get permission off my brother, I could take you back to your homeland and we could see how your family is. It might take a while but I think I can bring my brother around to the idea." Jesse stopped crying and looked at the Jaden, he could see that Jaden was telling him the truth and that he wanted to help Jesse get home.
"T-Thank you, your highness."
"It's no problem but please just call me Jaden, I don't like to be addressed so formally." Jesse nodded and smiled thinking about what he would do when he saw his family again.
X.X.X.X.X.
Three Months Later...
Jaden packed everything they would need into the car, it wasn't a flashy car but one that families used when going on holidays to the beach. Haou had made sure to prepare the car so that people would think they were commoners rather than royalty.
Haou pulled Jaden aside before he left, he wanted to protect his little brother but with his wife pregnant he needed to stay with throughout the whole thing, instead he had arranged for the head of the guards to accompany them on the trip.
"Jaden, be careful. I don't want to get a message saying that you've been hurt or worse and look after the young man, he needs you to be there for him just like I was there for Yubel and you were there for me." Jaden tried to say something but was cut off by his brother. "Jaden I know you stepped back from looking after Yubel when you saw how much I cared for her and I will never be able to thank you enough because of that, so I want you to look after him okay?"
"I will, but there's one thing that I need to ask."
"What is it?"
"What do I do if Jesse wants to stay with his family?"
"You respect his wishes and wish him a happy life. I know I said I would lock you in the stocks the next time you freed another one Adrian's slaves but I was tired from being up all night and..." Haou was cut off by his brother hugging him.
"I know and I just wish we could get rid of the law that allows slavery here."
"I wish I could as well, that's why I'm trying to find something to stop it here but all I've found is that only a slave who is married to a person of higher status is no longer allowed to be a slave."
"Let's talk more when we get back, right now Jesse needs to see his family and I'm going to make sure that he does."
"Be safe little brother and make sure that Axel protects you." Jaden just mock saluted his brother before entering the car. Jesse was looking out the window towards the gardens where Yubel was.
"You'll see Yubel again." Jesse looked to Jaden trying to see what he meant, did he mean that he was going to have to come back and serve the family or was he going to be allowed his freedom. "After all, I'm sure you'll have an invite to the christening of the baby."
"You mean I'll be able to go to it?"
"Of course, you'll either get your own invite or I'll have you come as my guest but with the time you spent here and helping with Yubel, I'm pretty sure you'll get your own invite."
"T-Thank you, your...I mean Jaden." Jaden smiled happily, it had been one of the few times where Jesse had corrected himself before calling Jaden by his title.
It would take two weeks to get to there destination and the two teenagers were looking forward to it, Jesse because he would see his family again and Jaden because he wanted to see Jesse's family and to see Jesse happy.
Axel drove them to the docks, where they would be on a cruise ship for a week and a half then they would travel a couple of days on the road to Jesse's town.
"Why are we travelling by cruise ship?" Jesse asked nervously, besides the boats he had been on as a slave, he had never been on a boat that was for instead of the alternative.
"The king wants us to travel incognito, he doesn't want Jaden in danger."
"Are you in danger?"
"Jaden is the king's brother so yea it would be safe to assume he would be in danger, especially if he was kidnapped and used as a hostage don't you think." Jesse closed his mouth and looked to Jaden who was fidgeting about in his seat looking anywhere but at Jesse.
"Why are you coming, if you're in danger? Why would you risk so much for the likes of me?"
Jaden took a hold of Jesse's chin looking into his eyes with a seriousness that was rarely there. "Listen to me Jesse, I promised I would take you to your family and I will." he saw that Jesse still looked worried about all this and decided to comfort him. "And besides that's what Axel is here for, right Axel?"
"Yea, but don't overdo it, you may the prince of this country but as soon as we set sail, you are just Jaden Yuki and nothing can save you if you get on my nerves." replied Axel with a smirk he looked into the rear view mirror to see Jaden smiling as well and Jesse looked shocked.
"How can you be so formal around each other? Where I'm from you have to be polite to royalty or be arrested for insolence."
"No offence to you and your country but we find that being on the same status as everyone else makes the people happier and the happier the people the prosperous the kingdom is, the only time we make a point of being royalty is when problems in the kingdom arise or when we have to deal with people like Adrian Gecko." Jaden snarled the name, it had been obvious to Jesse since he had first arrived at the Yuki castle that Adrian was not well liked especially by Jaden.
"Can I ask why you don't like that man?"
"Isn't it obvious? That man brings people he's trained to be the perfect "servants" but they have no personality and if they do he beats it out of them! Not to mention he's tried to kill me and my brother a few times as well." Jesse's eyes widened, he knew Adrian liked to train slaves, himself being one of them but he didn't know the rest. "So me and my brother made a promise to each other that we would watch each other's backs when he was in the kingdom."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. It wasn't my place."
"No it's cool, the more you know about that man the better. If we can make it so he isn't welcome in your kingdom as well then there are less people for him to enslave." Jesse smiled, the more he had gotten to know of Jaden, the more he liked the prince.
They arrived at the docks with an hour before they had to board their ship, so Jaden decided that they should look at the market that was in town. Jaden lead the way holding Jesse's hand all the way to make sure that they didn't lose one another. Axel silently followed them making it seem like he wasn't with Jaden and Jesse but making sure to keep an eye on them the entire time.
Jesse was fascinated with the many stalls, it had been so long since he had been in a market for fun and with Jaden he enjoyed it all the more. Jaden had gone to the next stall to look at the comics called Elemental Heroes. Jesse was fascinated by small animal jewellery that was at the stall, he especially like the look of a dragon shaped pendant with different rare jewel going down, Jesse looked at the price and was surprised by how expensive it was, he would never be able to afford it.
"I'll take the dragon pendant please." Came Jaden's voice from behind Jesse, Jesse turned to see that Jaden already had the money out to pay for it.
"Please Jaden don't do that."
"Why not? You like it, right?"
"Yes but-"
"But what?"
"It's too expensive."
"The price isn't a bother and besides it's a present for you."
"A present? What for?"
"For us becoming friends and for you becoming yourself again." Jesse wanted to say more but Jaden handed the money to the merchant. "And you can't give it back, the sign says no refunds." Jaden smiled as he handed the pendant to Jesse who took it reluctantly.
"Thank you."
Jesse sighed and walked towards the boat so that Jaden wouldn't buy him anything else, by the time they got to the boat they still had twenty minutes before they could board, but Jesse didn't mind.
Jaden kept glancing at Jesse, since he had bought the pendant Jesse hadn't said one word to him, walking over to where Axel was and making sure that Jesse was out of hearing distance, Jaden turned to Axel.
"Axel did I do something wrong that offended Jesse?"
"I don't think it offended him, but I don't think he likes that you bought something so expensive for him."
"Why not? I do it for everyone, besides he liked it."
"Jaden, Jesse has been trained as a slave and I know you don't like that word but it's true none the less and Jesse feels so in debt to you right now for buying him from Adrian that he feels he is taking advantage of you, even though he knows deep down that's not true."
"So should I apologise?"
"It might help."
"Okay, thanks Axel." Axel merely smirked at the comment, watching as Jaden made his way back into the car. Jesse hadn't moved since he had entered the car, he kept looking at the pendant. "Jesse I'm sorry, I should have thought about you're feelings when I bought the pendant but I saw that you like it and I wanted to get it for you because well, I felt you deserved something nice after all the horrible stuff you must have gone through when you were with Adrian. Plus Yubel told me to get something nice from the whole Yuki family"
Jesse stared at Jaden, he hadn't been shown this amount of kindness since his tenth birthday in his town and now a royal family were showing him the same kindness. Smiling Jesse placed the pendant around his neck.
"Thank you, I love it." Axel came back into the car, explaining that they could now board the boat and that when they got to their rooms they were to stay in them until the boat was well out of the docks.
X.X.X.X.X.
Jesse had enjoyed his time on the cruise ship but he was glad that he was finally back on solid ground, during his time on the boat he had gotten to know Jaden well, found out about his parents, his interests and the type of person he was and Jesse had told Jaden about himself.
X.X.X.X.X.
Axel looked to the back seats of the car, both boys were fast asleep leaning on one another for comfort, Axel smirked he could see that the boys liked one another he wondered if the boys had realised it as well.
The town came into view and Axel felt better now as he knew there was less chance of anything happening to the prince now that they had arrived. Axel parked just outside the town, they would go to Jesse's when it was light.
X.X.X.X.X.
Jesse woke the next morning to find Jaden leaning against him and snoring loudly, Jesse smiled and looked to Axel and although it looked like he was asleep, Jesse knew he was awake.
Jaden woke just after midday, Axel had told Jesse that they would wait for Jaden to wake so that it would make things simpler. Axel would wait by the car while Jesse and Jaden went in, when it was alright Axel would enter the house.
X.X.X.X.X.
Jesse dived out of the car as soon as it was outside his house, it had been six years since he had last seen this house, just as he was about to knock on the door, Jesse hesitated.
"What's up Jess?"
"What if they don't live here anymore? What if they don't want me after everything that's happened?"
"Jess, I know for a fact that your family still want you, they'd be crazy not to and if they don't live here then we'll head to the palace and found out where they do live." Jaden placed a reassuring hand on Jesse's shoulder and was surprised when Jesse didn't flinch at the touch.
Taking a deep breath Jesse knocked on the door, there was silence for a couple of minutes before a shuffling sound was heard followed by footsteps.
"Hold on a sec." Came a voice from the other side, from what Jaden heard he thought the voice sounded like it was from Australia.
The door opened and Jaden was surprised to see a tall man with a Stetson hat and fairly worn clothes, he had bandages over one eye but the other eye widened in surprise when they saw Jesse. Jesse embraced the man before them and sobbed into his chest.
"There, there now. You're home safe now." The man said soothingly stroking Jesse's hair calming him down. Jaden smiled as Jesse looked at the man smiling.
"Jim, this is Jaden Yuki. He saved me and Jaden this is Jim. He's basically my big brother."
"Nice to meet ya Jaden, why don't you come in?" They both entered the house but after taking a few steps into the living room, Jesse was pounced on by a small cat.
"Hey there Ruby, I missed ya." laughed Jesse holding the small cat in his arms, looking around the place he saw that it looked the same as when he had been taken. "Where's gramps?"
"He's out shopping with Alexis right now. But he should be back within the hour and won't he be surprised, so Jesse why don't you tell me what happened to you and how Jaden here saved you."
Jesse looked down, not knowing if he should say anything or not because he didn't want to lose Jim's affection, Jaden saw how he was struggling and decided to help out.
"Jesse was captured by slavers."
"WHAT? How?"
"T-They grabbed me while I was leaving school, they said gramps was in the hospital and they had been sent to get me. I didn't trust them so I-I asked them which hospital but they were d-determined to take me there themselves and when I refused they p-pulled me into their car. I don't k-know what happened after that all I know is that if I didn't do as they said they would b-beat me." Explained Jesse desperately trying to contain his tears.
"Jess it's alright, they won't hurt you again, I promise."
"So how do you fit into this Jaden?"
"Jesse was brought to my kingdom by a slaver by the name of Adrian Gecko, my brother wanted to send him away but I convinced my brother to buy Jesse and make Adrian leave."
"Well then we owe you a lot, first for saving Jesse and now for bringing him back. But we won't be able to pay it all back immediately."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, we'll have to pay you back for buying Jesse, right?"
"Nope, it's already been taken care of." Jesse looked to Jaden, he didn't know what he meant and this was the first he was hearing of it. "By the way Jesse I forgot to give you this before. Mainly because Axel didn't give it to me until we got out of the car but here is the money from working all these months."
"What are you talking about, I didn't do anything."
"You were technically my companion for three months and this is your money." Jaden handed the cheque to Jesse who looked at it, Jim peered over Jesse's shoulder and whistled.
"That's a lot of money there, mate."
"Minus what my brother had to pay for you and the travel expenses that was taken out, the remainder is what Jesse earned."
"This is too much, I can't take this."
"Actually you have to, unless you want to make my brother seem like a slaver. Trust me Jess this is what my brother's personal servants are paid as well." Jaden was shocked when Jesse threw his arms around him.
After getting settled they sat in the living room, while Axel stood in the corner. When the door opened Jesse's grandfather entered followed by a girl about the same age as Jesse with long blonde hair.
Jesse's grandfather eyes went wide with shock, it had been six years since he had last seen his grandson and now here he was safe and sound.
"Jesse?"
"Gramps, it's good to see you again."
X.X.X.X.X.
Well that's all folks, what did you think?
Also I know Jaden seems more mature than he was in the series, so think the season 4 Jaden with the personality of the previous seasons.
Also before I forget, I hate Adrian Gecko and think that he was a horrible guy in the series and therefore he was horrible in this and I apologise if you liked him but I don't.