Alright! Now for some puppyshipping action! Seto and Joey start us off in this chapter.
Yami: Are you still going to have Dartz kill me at the end of the fanfic?
Possibly, I've neot heard enough complaints against this idea.
Yugi: But it's cruel!
Ryou: Don't worry, if everyone who reviews says that they want Yami to live then Amme-chan will have to change the ending.
I don't own Robin hood or Yugioh. Please enjoy and review!
Joey peeped out of the exit and looked around carefully, listening and hesitating. "Are you going to move mutt?" came Seto's irritated voice from just behind the cautious blond.
Joey growled "Shut it, you jerk. If the city is discovered then it's all fine for you, you can just go back to the Valley of the Kings and hide there, but it's important to some, and we can't risk being seen by just any arrogant punk"
Seto growled back, knowing he was right but would never admit it. "Just hurry up" he snapped.
Joey rolled his eyes then crawled out and looked around again "All good, hand the bags out, quick!" Seto threw one out at his feet and Joey put it over his shoulder and then helped Seto out before closing and disguising the entrance to the infinite city. "Got everything?"
Seto glared "Just hurry up mutt!"
Joey glared back "Shut up if I wanna make sure you ain't lost a shoe or something!" he half shouted at the icy eyed teen before stomping towards the village.
Seto blinked then followed at his own pace, his longer legs making up for Joey's speed, he was a little surprised that Joey was trying to be nice. But being Seto he'd never apologise for something that small to someone like Joey "We can't spend all day stuck underground, Joseph" he said lowly, the two boys entering the village and trying not to attract too much attention.
Joey glared up at the taller and said "It's Joey, not mutt or Joseph, Jo-ey" he spelled out angrily. "If you can't get my name right I wonder how you ended up high priest-"
Seto clamped a hand over Joey's mouth and turned his face to his, glaring and their faces closer as he glared and gripped Joey's jaw. Joey blushed at the closeness, having a crush even though all they did was fight, Seto ignored the blush and said "Don't shout my former position out to the world, mutt. Dartz still wants me dead for being a supporter of the Pharaoh" he hissed to the blond.
Joey nodded and Seto slowly let go. "Sorry" Joey mumbled before rubbing his jaw and then complaining "Man, why'd you have to grip so hard?" he winced.
Seto smirked "Oh, I don't know, maybe because you've got a loud mouth that I can only just manage to shut up"
Joey blinked then glared "Alright! Shut up! Or I'll knock that pompas ass of yours into next week!" he punched one hand into his fist.
"Not fighting are we?"
The two jumped at the new voice and looked up fearfully. Ushio, the tax collector, a large, greedy and suspicious man who often took some of the gold for himself to be rich, he had small piggy eyes and a body like a gorilla's but he did possess a little brain which made people fear him and very wary around him, including Seto and Joey. Ushio's pale skin and black hair made him look sickly and he stood out a mile away.
Joey slowly let go of Seto's shirt and Seto stopped fisting his hands, they didn't step apart though. Joey wrinkled his nose at the gorilla and said "What's it to you if I wanna knock this guy's head off?"
Seto discreetly pulled his hood up to hide his identity. Ushio might recognise him as the former high priest or he might not, but Seto never took chances like that. Ushio smirked "There's a peace breaking penalty now, just thought I'd let you know, any fighting results in a cost of five gold coins" Joey and Seto blinked and Seto kicked Joey in the shin to keep him from blowing up in an argument that could get him hurt. Joey winced but got the hint and shut up. Ushio smirked and walked on by, swaggering because he was untouchable. "Have a nice day" he drawled.
Seto and Joey glared at him until he was gone "Bastard" Joey cursed under his breath.
Seto agreed with a grunt "Let's go before he comes back" Joey nodded and the two began their normal visits to each house, entering and giving a bag of coins saying to each household; "A gift from Yami Atem"
Some of the regulars knew when to expect this and even had secret compartments to hide the coins. Valon, a blacksmith smiled as he took some from Seto "Ra bless and honour Yami Atem" he said with a wide smile and he hid the coins. Seto nodded and prepared to leave when Valon turned his blue eyes to Seto seriously "Hey, there is something you might wanna tell that Yami if you see him"
Seto unfolded his arms "What's that?"
Valon pulled a piece of parchment out from under a pile of clothes "This, a wanted poster. He must have seriously pissed Dartz off caus' that's serious money the Phoney is offering for his capture"
Seto looked at the poster and frowned at the offer of one hundred thousand gold coins for his capture, dead or alive. Seto looked up at Valon "When did this come out?"
Valon shrugged "Earlier today, he must have done something"
Seto groaned mentally, Yami you fool, now look what your reckless robberies have caused! "I'll get the word to him, take care of yourself" he said before leaving.
Elsewhere in the village some children sang happily "Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!" inside an orphanage boys and girls were dancing around a black haired little youth who was turning twelve. He had blue eyes and a mop of long black hair that got into his eyes a little, he was tan but not as much as other desert born children. He was smiling widely at the singing and dancing his friends were doing for his birthday.
Mai, the orphanage owner knelt and presented a present wrapped in while linen as she sang with the little ones. She had long blond hair and tanned skin with simple cotton clothes as did most of the children wear "You are Pharaoh for the day son, happy birthday to you dear Mokuba"
But just as the song was ending the door burst open and Ushio entered the room with an evil smirk "Happy birthday to you" he sang tauntingly.
Mai gasped and stood up, pushing the little ones behind her as much as she could, the orphans not needing any encouragement, they all scrambled away from the hulking giant as soon as they recognised him. Mokuba clutched his present to him and paled. Ushio smiled around and then leaned down, like a bird of prey over a rabbit, and said to Mokuba with false warmth "Well now, that little package has some property in it"
Mokuba trembled as he nodded "Y-yes M-Mr U-Ushio S-s-sir" he stuttered out. "I-it's my b-birthday p-present"
Ushio crouched and nodded "It sure is, why don't you open it?"
Mokuba eyed him worriedly but opened the material just the same, his eyes lit up and he gasped out "Oh Mai! Three gold coins!" he began to tip them into his hand when Ushio swooped in and snatched them.
Mai gasped then lost her temper, and it was never pretty to be on the wrong end of her temper "Have you no heart? We've all waited and saved to give them to him!" Mokuba's lip trembled and he turned into the arms of his best friend Noah as he began to cry, Noah being an Atlantian orphan who had blue-green hair and pale skin with slightly longer limbs than a child of thirteen should have. Noah glared up at Ushio while Mokuba cried.
Ushio just smirked "Well that's very thoughtful of you, stupid woman, but taxes come first. And the family that saves together… pays together" he chuckled triumphantly then turned to mock the sniffling young boy "Don't cry you wimp, King Dartz wishes you a happy birthday too"
Mai growled "We could care less about that no good Phoney Pharaoh! Get out of my house!" she shrieked at him and punched him in the jaw, right under his chin and sending him backwards, flying right into the street. She stormed up to the door and said "Take that to your King!" before slamming the door and locking it. Mai turned and knelt before Mokuba and pushed his black hair out of his eyes "Oh, I'm so sorry Mokie" she said trying to sooth him.
Mokuba rubbed at his eyes. His close friends Leon, Rebecca and Noah all stood around him holding him "W-worst b-birth-d-day e-ever" he choked out.
Mai winced and her purple eyes swam with tears too. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Mai got up and picked up a boom, holding it like a sword "Ushio, if it's you you're going back to the Palace in pieces!" she threatened before opening the door. Mai gasped at the sight, there was a hurt man in a cloak of brown, leaning on a crutch and wincing.
"I… I've been robbed… could you p-please help me?" he coughed out weakly.
Mai at once opened the door "You poor thing, come in. We don't have much, but you can rest a while" she held his elbow and let him inside.
The hurt man winced as he lowed himself into their only chair "Oh… thank you, Mam" Mai shut the door and stood and listened while the stranger talked again. "Now, did I hear someone singing about a birthday just now?"
Mokuba sniffed and nodded "Y-yes sir… but that mean old U-Ushio t-took my b-birthday present" Noah rubbed his shoulders.
"We all saved up so long to give him those gold coins and Ushio just took them like that" Noah flicked a wrist to show how much work had gone in an instant.
The hurt man looked down at Mokuba in sympathy "Did he really? Well head up little guy, and don't mope over it" he brought a hand up and pushed the hood back "The day's not over yet!"
Mokuba stared "Oh my Ra! It's Yami Atem!" he half shouted in amazement.
Yami smirked and stood up, discarding the worn brown cloak and revealing his outfit, complete with the signature purple cape. "Happy Birthday Mokuba"
Rebecca gasped, she was a young girl of eight summers with blond hair and baby blue eyes, she held a teddy that had seen better days and was seldom seen without it. She clapped her hands before saying "Wow, he's so handsome, just like his reward posters" her cheeks blushed pink when Yami winked at her.
"The very same"
Mai had a hand over her heart "Good gods, I never thought I'd get to meet you personally Pharaoh Atem" she said with a bow, many of the children copying.
Yami raised his hands "Please don't bow, its Mokuba who's Pharaoh for the day" he smiled at the startled, but happier youth, and knelt to his level "So cousin, how old are you today?"
Mokuba smiled widely "I'm twelve years old, going on thirteen!" he said at once, very proud to be at that milestone.
Yami appeared impressed "Twelve! That does make you the little fighter" he put a hand behind his back and brought out a toy bow and a single arrow that was just a pebble covered in material so it wouldn't hurt anyone. "And I've got just the thing for a young warrior"
Mokuba took it with wide eyes "For me?" Yami stood up and nodded. Mokuba stared at it and then said "Gods… thanks, Yami. Hey how do I look, huh?" he posed with the arrow.
Another friend, one who had a crush on Rebecca, who had brown eyes with pale skin and freckles and unusual purple hair that he kept tied back with a spare bit of rope. He tilted his head then shook it with a sigh "Not much like Yami Atem" he said crossing his arms. He was ten and people called him Leon.
Yami looked at the slightly downhearted Mokuba and said thoughtfully "Yes, there is something missing…" he snapped his fingers after a tense moment, enjoying the suspense. "That's it!" he pulled off his cape and put the head opening around Mokuba's shoulders "There you go"
Mokuba looked amazed and touched the fabric with wide eyes "Oh gosh…" he turned and hugged the surprised Yami and looked up with big eyes "Thank you Yami, thanks so much"
Yami smiled and patted his head "Seto would never forgive me if you didn't enjoy your birthday"
Mokuba and several of the children all gasped. Mai leaned forwards "The high priest is alive? I thought he vanished" she looked overjoyed.
Yami nodded and looked at Mokuba "Your brother misses you very much, Mokuba and sends his love for today, he hopes you'll forgive him not being able to be here himself, so he ordered me to come by instead" he smiled and said "You understand, it's still too dangerous for Seto to just walk around"
Mokuba nodded "I know, I'm so glad to know he still cares about me"
Yami smiled, his red eyes warm "He made that bow with his bare hands, you won't believe how many splinters he got" he chuckled at the memory of his cousin's ruined hands. "Happy birthday little cousin, now go out and enjoy it" he pushed Mokuba playfully towards the entrance.
Rebecca smiled as the young boy tripped on the cape "It's too big for him" she snickered.
Mai frowned and shushed her "Mind your manners young lady" she scolded.
Rebecca apologised and ran out after Leon and Noah. "Goodbye Mr Yami Atem, come again on my birthday!" Yami laughed and waved them off, the other orphans filing outside one small group at a time to play elsewhere or to do chores.
Mai clasped her hands together "Thank you, Yami. You have made his birthday a wonderful one" she turned to him fully and shook her head in amazement "How can I ever thank you enough?"
Yami smiled and pulled a bag of gold out of his pocket. "I only wish I could do more" he pressed the bag into her hands "Here, this should keep the roof over your heads for a while longer" he pulled on his disguise and lowered the hood with a final reassuring smile to the teary Mai. "One day Kehmet will be restored again, you'll see"
Mai watched as he limped, playing his character perfectly, away down into the streets and then into the desert "Oh Ra, Yami Atem… you've done so much to keep our hopes alive. Gods honour and bless you" she said as she rubbed her eyes dry of the grateful tears that were flowing.
So can anyone guess why Ushio is the sherrif? Or Tac collector? anyone who's watched season 0 will know.
Yami: *cuddling Yugi*
What are you doing Yami?
Yami: What does it look like? I'm spending as much time with my aibou as I can before I'm killed! *cuddles*
Ryou: That was a bit mean of you Amme-chan, please reconsider?
Alright, I will, But Only if people review againt Yami's death. Please Review!
