Pharaess Cleopatra: Enjoying the story so far? I sure hope so because it's time for yet another chapter! Hint: A new character comes in here. Bet you can't guess who! Till then!
Chapter 4: Shoulder to Lean On
Yugi had woken up that morning feeling much better. He took a quick shower before dressing himself and meeting Joey in the dining hall. The two greeted each other before sitting down to eat breakfast. Once finished though, Yugi asked to help clean up everything, but told him it was fine and to go ahead and see Yami, who was in his study. It took a while to get to the study – since it was on the other side of the castle, near Yami's room – but once he reached it, Yugi knocked on the door loud enough to hear.
"Come in."
Yugi grasped the handle and took a deep breath before twisting it and pushing the door open, peeking his head in to see Yami at his desk, reading a book with some paperwork at one end. The prince looked up to see Yugi as he smiled. "Good morning, Yugi. Come on in, don't be shy."
The boy smiled as he entered the room, closing the door back. "Good morning, Yami." He greeted as he walked up to the prince.
"I trust you slept well?"
He shrugged. "Sort of..." He seemed saddened by this.
"I would have to assume then something happened?"
"I just had another nightmare, that's all... I get them pretty commonly, ever since my stepfather inflicted his wrath onto me..."
Yami closed the book in his hands and set it down, turning to face Yugi as he grasped one of his small hands, the boy looking up into those deep crimson eyes. "It will be alright, Yugi. I know it is difficult for you to adjust to your new life here, but do not worry, nothing shall happen to you."
He nodded with a small grin. "Thank you, Yami..."
"You're wel—"
Knock knock knock
Before Yami could finish, there was a knock on his door, though it opened before he could respond. He released Yugi's hand that was still in his grasp when a very tall man with chocolate brown hair and icy blue eyes, dressed in a white suit with a light blue tie entered the room. He walked up to the desk Yami was at, glancing at the desk to see the stack of paperwork looking untouched along with the book Yami set down. The man seemed a bit unpleased at this sight as he placed a hand on his hip, Yami gazing up at the tall man, though seemed unfazed by his displeased expression.
"Are you stalling again?" The man asked in a deep voice.
Yami smirked slightly. "Whatever would give you that idea, Seto?"
"Because you're smirking, your paperwork looks untouched, and there's a book on your desk. It really isn't hard to put two and two together to understand that you're putting this off."
Yami sighed. "You do need to relax, cousin. Everything will turn out alright, like it always has every other time. It is either that, or you are just naturally stubborn and very impatient."
The man known as Seto scoffed. "Believe what you want, but that paperwork has to get done sooner or later to make sure everything has arrived on time so that we can get ready."
"I am aware of that, but remember who is returning today."
"Don't remind me..." Seto cringed at this. "She is always on my case."
"That is only because of how impatient and high-strung you can be. I would be the same, but I know how to control myself whereas she can get a bit out of hand."
"You don't think I know that? I am related to her, after all..."
"Indeed. Though, if it will settle you down, I will have the paperwork done soon."
"Fine. Just make sure it gets done." Seto said. "Oh, right, I almost forgot, since Joey always does, I hear you have a new steward."
Yami then remembered Yugi was in the room as he gave a grin. "Yes, I do. Seto, this is my new steward." He gestured to Yugi.
The boy gave a smile as he held his hand out. "My name is Yugi Moto. It's nice to meet you."
The brunette took his hand before drawing back. "Pleasure to meet you, Yugi. I'm Seto Kaiba, Yami Atem's cousin." He gestured to Yami this time.
"So you're who Joey spoke of then?"
"That would be the case. Now then, I'd best get back. Joey is most likely wondering where I've gone off to by now. Until then, Yami."
"Yes. I will bring that paperwork to you soon." Yami said before Seto made his lave, the prince letting out a sigh. "I guarantee, Seto is trying to drown me in all the paperwork he gives me..."
"He seems rather calm though..." Yugi commented.
"Only when he is not stressed or drowning himself in paperwork..."
"If you don't mind my asking, what is that paperwork for?"
"The ball in a few days."
"A ball?"
"Correct." Yami answered. "My father is preparing it for mine and my sister's honor of returning home safely, as he put it."
"You have a sister?"
Knock knock knock
Both looked up at the door as it knocked for a second time, and in only a few minutes at that. "Come in." Yami said as he began on the paperwork so that he could deliver it sooner rather than later.
"Good morning, Yami." A female greeted as she entered the room.
"Yes, good morning, Hikari. How may I help you?"
Hikari had long, jet black hair with magenta colored ends and golden blonde, spiky bangs, similar to Yami's, some of those blonde bangs going down into the rest of her hair, and her eyes were a violet red rather than crimson like the prince's. She was dressed in a violet, strapless gown, the sleeves being on her upper arms; silver heels; and white gloves on her hands, complete with a silver tiara, an amethyst gem in the center.
"Does our beloved cousin have you doing more paperwork again, dear brother?"
"Not necessarily filling out the paperwork, I am merely looking it over for the ball, and I have been putting it off, so I must do it now due to the fact he stopped by to grumble over it." Yami chuckled at this. "He would like it to be done and delivered back to him as soon as possible.
"Classic Seto..." Hikari chuckled lightly.
"Anyhow, how was your trip, sister? Father informed me that you would be returning today, though not so soon as to this morning."
"It was wonderful." Hikari replied. "I was able to see various Egyptian artifacts, that including a few of those Millennium Items you told me of with Miss Ishizu and her younger brother, Mister Marik. It was quite fascinating and simply wonderful, brother."
Yami smiled at his sister. "Well I am glad you enjoyed yourself with the Ishtar siblings, little sister, though shouldn't you be practicing your dancing?" The prince gave a smirk this time.
Hikari rolled her eyes. "Brother, the ball is not for another four more days, and I don't believe I need to practice for I am still far more proficient in dancing than you are."
"That may be true, though when it comes to that of strategy, I believe I have you out-classed."
The princess smirked at her brother's comment. "Yes, indeed. However, enough about us, who is your darling little friend sitting right next to you." She turned to Yugi, who had sat down in a nearby chair while they had their little banter.
"Oh, yes, my apologies. Hikari, this is my new steward, Yugi Moto, and Yugi, this is my younger sister, Hikari Atem."
"It's nice to meet you, your highness." Yugi greeted in his polite manner, as he always did.
"Yugi, is it?" Hikari pondered over the name for a moment before smiling warmly. "Game. How interesting for such a name, though I believe it suits you nicely. However, please refer to me as Hikari, Yugi. You need not be so formal here, for here in the castle, you are family, as I am sure my father has mentioned." She said as Yugi gave a nod.
"Anyhow, you should be off to inform father of your return." Yami spoke up.
"Yes, I will since I did stop to see you first, brother. I shall be off then. I shall see you soon I hope, little Yugi." Hikari then made her leave.
"She seems nice." Yugi said once she had left.
"She is, though enjoys to tease me every now and then."
"So will she be attending the ball as well then?"
"Indeed. It is in our honor of returning home, though I believe my father had sent out the invitations a bit too soon..."
Yugi chuckled. "My stepsisters were going nuts when they heard about the ball..."
"I can only imagine why..."
"Yeah, but I was never really close to them. I was really only close to my mother before she had passed away..."
"Yes, I too know what it is like to lose a mother..."
"May I ask what happened, Mas – err, Yami?"
"It happened when I was very young, say around ten years of age, I believe. We were at war with the opposing kingdom, and in order to get revenge on my father, they..." Yami sucked in a short breath as he clenched his fists. Yugi saw the prince struggling as he got up from the couch he was seated on and grabbed his hand, trying to comfort him.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me if it's too hard. I got too curious..."
"No, it is only right that you know why there is no queen... In order to receive revenge on my father, they eliminated my mother in the dead of night..." Yugi gasped. "My father was furious and filled with great sorrow... In the end though, our kingdom came out victorious in the war..."
Yugi tightened his grip on Yami's hand. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Yami..."
He shook his head. "Yes, but it pales in compare to the pain you have had to endure, and that is why I will ensure you never have to deal with such pain, fear, or sorrow again." Yami placed his other hand on top of Yugi's. "Yugi?"
"Yes, Yami?"
"Would you like to accompany me to the ball?"
He gasped. "Are you sure? Is that even allowed?"
Yami smiled warmly. "I want you to have a wonderful time at such a large event and I would like for you to have the opportunity to enjoy yourself on such a glorious night."
Yugi smiled widely. "Thank you so much, Yami!" He hugged the prince, who gladly returned it.
"You are very welcome, Yugi."
"I would love to go to the ball with you..."
That night, Yugi was startled awake as he frantically looked around to see himself in his own bedroom that was given to him when he first arrived. Although Yugi had been living at the castle for about a week or so, he was still having these horrible nightmares of his stepfather. He was sat upright, holding the blankets to his chest as he balled them in his fists, every moment of his ruthless stepfather flooding his mind. He could still hear the crack of the whip and feel the jolted pain as it made contact with his bare skin, and he could still hear the sizzle of the hot coals and feel the burning sensation against his flesh. Yugi could still hear the loud slapping sound and feel that harsh sting against his cheek, and he could still hear the eerie slicing sound of the metal as it was sharpened and feel the cold steel blade slice against his bare flesh. Tears rolled down Yugi's face as he curled into a ball, covering his ears with his hands and closing his eyes tightly. He would get cut if he disobeyed his stepfather, or if his broke something or didn't clean a room or an object well enough, burned for not doing something right, hit or beat for waking up late, talking back, or raising his voice, and whipped for doing something by mere accident or just being clumsy, though this punishment was usually the go-to for Dartz, so Yugi had more whip marks than anything else... Yugi began to sob as he wrapped his arms around his legs that were tucked into his chest, and was just about to hide under the covers and cry himself to sleep until something caught his ears.
Knock knock knock...
It was very soft knocking at Yugi's bedroom door. He quickly wiped the tears from his face before sliding out of bed and opening the door to see Yami behind it, a worried and concerned expression on his face upon seeing the tears staining the boy's eyes and cheeks. "Is there something you need, Yami?"
"Are you alright, Yugi? I heard you sobbing on my back to my room."
Yugi lowered his gaze, blinking as more tears slid down his face only to be swiped away with his arm. "I'm fine..."
Yami grabbed Yugi's chin, pushing it up to have their gazes meet, the prince's crimson eyes with the boy's teary violet ones, and one look instantly told Yami that Yugi was everything but fine. "No, you are not... If you were alright, you would not be in tears and trembling the way you are. What is wrong, Yugi? Did you have another nightmare?"
Yugi seemed surprised by this. "How... How did you know that?"
"I have noticed the way you have been acting and become rather distant since you have been here. It seems as though the only conclusion would be these nightmares you have been having you mentioned earlier today."
Yugi looked away from the prince. "I'm sorry... I don't mean to be a bother..."
At hearing the boy say this, Yami placed his hands on Yugi's shoulder, forcing him to look back up at the prince again as he spoke in a calm and gentle tone. "Yugi, you are no bother to me in any way, shape, or form. I am worried about you because I do not want you to be frightened anymore. Have you always had these terrible nightmares?"
Yugi simply nodded, but what surprised him next was Yami pulling him into a tight embrace. At first, Yugi was hesitant, a deep blush coloring his pale skin, until he leaned his head against Yami's right shoulder, allowing his scent of warm spice tea to soothe him. After a few minutes of silence, Yugi's trembling had calmed down as he wrapped his arms around the prince. However, Yami surprised Yugi further by carefully lifting him up into his arms and carrying him bridal style to his bedroom, just as he did the first night Yugi arrived at the castle, but this sudden act caused Yugi to blush a deep shade of red. Once to his bedroom though, Yami gently laid Yugi down on his bed before lying down next to him, but the boy stared at the prince with fearful eyes, unsure of what was going to happen to him next. Yugi was caught off guard, however, when Yami gently grasped the boy's smaller hand in his own and began to softly stroke Yugi's hair, calming the boy's nerves a bit.
"I will never hurt you, Yugi, remember? I promised to never lay a hand on you no matter what and to always protect you. You can trust me..."
Yugi nodded with a small – very small – smile as he wrapped his fingers around the prince's larger hand before letting his eyes slip closed. Yami then gave a warm smile as he pulled the warm blanket over the two of them. "You may come to me anytime you wish should you ever need comfort, little Yugi... I will always have a shoulder you can lean upon and open arms to embrace you tightly..."
But Yami's words barely reached Yugi's ears for he had already drifted off to a peaceful slumber for once in quite a while, something the boy had longed for in so many years. And for nearly another hour, Yami stayed awake and watched as the young boy slept peacefully, slowly breathing in and out through slightly parted lips. The prince couldn't help but smile as the boy cooed softly; Yugi was simply too adorable for his own good.
I do not know of the pain you have been forced to go through, but you will never have to go through it again, not so long as I am around to protect you, my little Yugi...
"Mmm... Yami..." Yugi moaned very softly as he shifted a bit, pulling Yami's hand closer to his chest.
The prince suddenly blushed a rose pink color, but smiled nonetheless before laying a gentle kiss upon Yugi's forehead. A small smile then tugged at the boy's lips as he slept on, causing Yami to move close to him before allowing his eyes to slip closed as he too drifted off into a peaceful slumber with Yugi – his light – right there by his side...
