Past is Past - Chapter 4: Issues
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh
Téa slipped out of the palace walls more frequently, to visit Seto. On one of her visits Mokubah bounded into the room and was grinning ear to ear.
"Seto! Seto! I did what you told me to! It worked! The plan worked!" Mokubah was bursting with enthusiasm.
Seto merely nodded his head, "Excellent."
Téa, who was bewildered to what was happening, looked back and forth at the two brothers.
"What did you tell him to do Seto?"
"Have you ever wondered where Mokubah," Seto ruffled the younger brother's hair, "went when he left the palace walls during my absence?"
Téa thought about it and admitted, "Honestly nobody cared. Everyone figured it was his way of dealing with grief, I was too busy dealing with my grief to bother with Mokubah. It sounds selfish but I missed you Seto. Without you there life was terrible! I was beginning to think that life was being unfair to me!"
Seto gave her a comforting hug.
"Well, Mokubah can explain where he's been." Seto gave his younger brother an encouraging smile.
"Well, at first it was a way to deal with grief. Until I figured out where Seto really was! He was lurking in alleys and such! I was staring into the fountain in the market square, when I saw a hooded figure's reflection in the water. His eyes were covered, which if I had seen them it would've been a dead giveaway. I thought he was watching me so when he started to shuffle into the crowd I decided to follow him. I followed him all the way to the city gates, where he mounted his horse. I recognized the horse to be Seto's, so I decided to find out who this shady guy was. I walked right in front of him and from my level I could see into his hood, he had Seto's blue eyes. He was staring me down, I must've made an expression that made Seto realize I discovered who he was. So he dismounted and walked to me."
Seto rested a large hand on Mokubah's shoulder.
"I'll take over from here. In the market square, I was getting the last of my supplies when I spotted Mokubah. He was staring into the fountain I used to take him to when he was little. I couldn't help it I watched him, it made me almost return to the palace remembering my brother and you Téa. Seeing him so sad, I wanted to pull my hood down and tell him I was alright. I couldn't though, I just couldn't. It would ruin all my preparations. I made a great deal of sacrifices. I do regret some, but things are going to get worse before things start to get better. After I dismounted, I knew it would be alright to show him it was me. After all we were alone. Mokubah had already figured it out anyway. I walked up to him…"
Flashback (at the city gates, over a month ago)
Seto looked around before dismounting his horse. His brother was gazing up at him, he decided it would be safer coming clean.
Mokubah spoke almost inaudibly, "Seto…"
Seto pulled his hood down, and Mokubah's face broke into a grin as his ran to his brother.
"Seto! I knew you were still here!"
"Mokubah, I knew you'd be the one to figure out my disguise. Did you hear how fast the news spread? I heard a simple fisherman speaking about me, 'Did you hear? The High Priest Seto is missing! I heard it has something to do with the Pharaoh, he cheated a deal with the Priest or something.' Its quite sad how not even the palace walls can hold secrets."
Mokubah laughed at the accent Seto made during his impersonation, he gave Seto a tight hug.
"Seto where are you going? Why are you leaving? Why did you leave without telling me, or even Téa?"
Seto felt a pang inside, he hadn't told Téa of his whereabouts. It made him burn inside that his brother was so concerned, it was difficult to stay strong with his brother looking at him, he was too adorable for his own good. Seto knew how much his brother admired him, so he decided to tell Mokubah his plans.
"I am going away, for a short time. I will return in two weeks, I want you to meet me at the fountain at noon. I am leaving because the Pharaoh betrayed me, I must make him realize he shouldn't have done that. I need to show him how much he relied on me. I wanted to leave without a trace so even if you or Téa were interrogated the Pharaoh wouldn't know where I was, or planning to be. Since I have told you this, you can't tell anyone about me, not one word. Not even Téa. Mokubah, can I trust you with this task?"
"But Seto, why can't I tell Téa? Didn't you see her this morning? She was bawling her eyes out!"
Seto closed his eyes, and lowered his head. In the shadows he hid, and watched. He stood there watching the one he loved cry over him, he could've comforted her. He could've done something to let her know that he was fine that she had nothing to worry about. Instead he stood by, and watched. Seto decided to take precautions, if she didn't know where he was her sadness would be genuine, and he would never be caught.
"Yes, yes Mokubah. I did see her. I saw her crying. It pains me but it is for a greater good, her suffering will not be gone to waste. When all of this is over, we'll be married. Maybe we'll move out of Egypt! No no, she wouldn't like that. Maybe just traveling. Mokubah, don't tell her. I know it sounds wrong but, it's just not the right time. Take care brother, and watch out for Téa. You will be my eyes and ears while I'm gone. If you find anything out about the Pharaoh, tell me when I return. I must go now. Goodbye for now."
"Goodbye Seto." Mokubah sniffled.
They had a long embrace.
End flashback (Present)
Téa, who had been listening intently had a few questions popping in her head.
When the story finished she asked the big one on her mind.
"What do you mean it wasn't the right time?"
"It wasn't."
"Seto, what does it MEAN?"
Seto sighed, "I didn't think it was the best time to tell you, I thought it would be better to tell you now. I didn't want the people in the palace to see you walking around calm as can be, since you knew that I was fine. It would seem as if you didn't care about me, that you were just using me."
Téa gaped at the thought of using Seto, but nodded her head in agreement. She understood why Seto had done what he had done.
"I'm sorry Mokubah, but I honestly think you did a terrible job as Seto's 'eyes and ears'. I didn't see you at all, and EVERYONE in the palace knew that the Pharaoh kept me as a concubine. If so that would mean you, so why was Seto so shocked when I told him about it? You were supposed to tell him anything new with the Pharaoh."
Mokubah shifted on his feet, "Yes. I did know about it. I didn't want to tell Seto, I just couldn't pull up enough courage to tell him. I didn't know how to put it into words…"
Téa gave him a hug, "Its alright. There's nothing to worry about. Besides, I am no longer a concubine. Every time the Pharaoh requests me in his quarters I don't come. I send one of the women he HIRED for that job to his bed."
Although Téa didn't see his face, Seto was wearing a signature smirk. With his arms crossed. Téa turned around and gave Seto a tight hug. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, it was Mai.
"Knock knock! Hi Mokubah! I have some treats for you! Seto do you mind helping Joey unload some of the wares? Please, it would be a big help. He's trying to be macho, again, even though he's not that strong." Mai gave Seto a pleading look.
Seto nodded, "It's the least I could do."
After Seto left to help Joey, the girls steered Mokubah to Mai's kitchen.
"Mokubah would you like some -?"
"No thank you, but would it be alright if I had a cup of milk?"
Mai blushed at how formal the young boy was, "Why of course."
"Thank you."
While Mai poured Mokubah some milk, she started to gossip with Téa.
"Téa you would not believe it!"
"Believe what Mai?"
"It's so unbelievable! The silk trader, my competition, started rumors about me! He said that I used to be a prostitute before I married Joey. Which is how I got so many customers and even how I met Joseph!"
"Why would he say that?"
"Oh, I don't know. I think that's was the trader the nobles used to go to. Before you popularized my store."
"Oh that guy. He was gross. I never went to him, but I know of servants who got fitted there. They told me that he touched them inappropriately to fit them. I'm surprised if he still has any customers."
"That is sick! You know what he also said?"
"What did he say?"
"He said that to bring in more customers, I would do things."
"What things?"
Mai eyed Mokubah, which made Téa understand she couldn't say it in front of a child.
"Oh, um. Say Mokubah, why don't you go see what's taking the guys so long?"
"Alright Téa."
When Mokubah left, Mai continued.
"He said that I would strip for my customers, or something. You know? Like wear skimpy clothes outside and draw attention to my shop!"
"That's so horrible! Mai! How did you even find out about these rumors?"
"I have a few friends. The man I buy my supplies from also supplies that silk trader. He told me, and I told Joey. Joey got extremely mad. His face got bright red! It was scary he said that he would handle it."
"When exactly?"
"You know when I said that he was unloading the wares to Seto?"
"Yes…"
Mai had a nervous laugh, "Well, he's actually going to pay that guy a visit. I thought it'd be safer if Seto was there. You know? He could help Joey, and keep him in place."
"Oh Mai! We have to go after them before something bad happens!"
"Come on follow me!"
Mai locked up her shop and the girls ran through the streets towards the silk trader's shop. When they were outside they heard Joey cursing at the merchant.
"You are sick! Why in the hell would you start a rumor about my wife? Is it because your customers switched to her after you "fitted" them? Hmm, oh wait I mean TOUCHED them!" Joey's voice rose, scaring away whatever customers lingered in the silk trader's shop.
The silk trader growled, "How dare you-!"
"How dare you! Starting rumors about more successful businesses!"
Seto cut in, "That is pretty unwise, unless you have no secrets or faults. In your case you do have secrets." Seto made his voice loud enough that people in the streets could hear.
"Your big secret is that you TOUCH your customers! No wonder they decided to go to someone more professional!"
Joey got a cocky grin, "Not to mention someone better looking."
The silk trader gaped at the two, these men had come to insult him and scare away what few customers he had left. Seeing ahead he knew that his business was about to go under. With a rush of fury he ran towards the taller one.
"ARGHHHHHH!"
Seto dodged the enraged merchant and let him collide into a wall. Then he grabbed him and held him in a lock, five inches above the ground. While Joey came over and started to punch him. The merchant's pleas were quieted when Mai and Téa walked in.
Mai watched her face showed false horror, but hidden in her eyes it showed she was extremely tempted to join her husband.
"Joey! What are you doing?"
Joey turned to Mai, "What does it look like?"
"It looks like you're beating the crap out of him!"
"Exactly." Joey continued to beat him. To his surprise Mai came over to him and grabbed his fists.
"No Joseph. We don't stoop to his level. We don't retaliate with violence. We just continue to do business better than him." She turned to the man, "You, you, you sick, you sick, I dare say it! You sick BASTARD! How could you start lies about me like that! Why? What did I ever do to you!"
The merchant laughed, "What did you ever do to me? What did you ever do to me! Oh you wench!"
He cackled, with every word he spat.
"You whore! You stole my customers, showing yourself to my customers they left me in a heartbeat!"
Mai gaped at the offensive words he called her, Joey was seething with rage gave him a hard kick in his crotch.
"Hurt me all you want! I know you did something to my customers!"
"Me? I didn't do a thing! I started out small! I just sold clothing to who wanted them! I didn't do any bribing! I'm a fair business women, and people like my style of fashion! My-!"
The merchant spat, "Your fashion? HAH! Good one! Your fashion is the fashion of any prostitute!"
At that point Mai's eyes were watering up, she couldn't take it anymore. She didn't like being called those names, she didn't like being called unfair. Everything she worked for, she had pushed herself to her limit and beyond.
Téa decided to step in, she noticed Mai was starting to lose it. Her eyes were starting to get red and puffy.
"Now listen here mister! She never did anything wrong! See this robe I'm wearing? She designed it and sewed it all together by hand! I'm the reason she is so successful! I live in the palace, and I bought all my robes at her shop. I popularized her store to the nobles! They liked them a lot, so they decided to buy all their robes there! Don't you ever accuse her of being something she isn't! She worked hard for everything she has you miserable cretin!"
The merchant just stared at the woman, his eyes wide with fear. He shifted his gaze over to Mai. She was crying, Joey saw her and kicked the merchant again before consoling her. Téa scoured the shop for Mokubah. She found him sitting behind the counter with his fingers in his ears.
She tapped him, "Mokubah?"
He pulled his fingers out, "Huh?"
"What are you doing Mokubah?"
"Seto told me to stay here with my fingers in my ears until it was all over. He didn't want me to see or listen."
"Oh. Well it's over so you can come out now."
Téa escorted Seto's brother out of the silk trader's shop towards Mai's.
In the silk shop, Joey was holding Mai and reassuring her. While the silk trader was begging for her to accept his apologies.
"Please! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't-!" he pleaded.
"Oh shut up! You dolt! You meant to harm her business! Just shut up and get the heck out of here before I make you!" Joey snapped.
Seto put a hand on Joey's shoulder and shook his head.
"Joey remember you're in HIS shop." Seto gave the merchant a menacing look, and added, "Be careful what you say about others. You never know what kind of friends they have and what they're capable of."
With that he gently pushed the blonde couple out of the shop, slamming the door behind him.
When everyone was back at Mai's store they began to reassure Mai. Téa offered to buy twelve new robes, Mokubah even offered to buy some robes. He was growing and was almost level with Téa's eyes, he needed to get bigger robes to fit him. Mai smiled and took them to the back to get fitted. When they were all done she gave them a pouch to put their robes in, and Téa, Mokubah and Seto headed back to the palace.
At the palace walls, Mokubah gave his older brother a hug. Téa gave him a long kiss, and the two snuck into the palace. Seto waited for their figures to disappear from view before heading back.
Téa was about to go into her chambers when Mokubah stopped her.
"Um, Téa?" he asked nervously.
"Yes?"
"Well, do you know how, um…" his voice died away.
She gave him a good hard look and decided to take him to her chambers. She checked outside her room and in the courtyard in case anyone might be listening. Once she knew it was all clear she sat down with Mokubah in the privacy of her room.
"Now that we are alone, what was that you were trying to say?"
Mokubah still spoke quietly, as if he was still unsure about their privacy, "Do you know how Seto," he spoke his brother's name extra quietly, "is going to get back into the palace with us?"
Téa thought about, minutes went past without either of them speaking. She couldn't come up with anything, but she knew how concerned Mokubah was about it so she reassured him.
"No, I don't." She saw his face fall, and added, "I'm sure he has it all figured out. You know how brilliant he is." Téa gave him a sincere smile, and he smiled back, he seemed full of hope.
"You're right! Thanks Téa, it's just I've had that on my mind for a while. I just couldn't figure it out. Well goodnight, a pretty girl needs her beauty sleep."
Téa blushed at his comment and gave him a hug, "Goodnight Mokubah."
After Mokubah left, Téa changed into her nightgown and crawled into bed. She thought about it again, "Seto has it all figured out, doesn't he?". Téa thought about it a little longer before she dozed off.
I want to thank anyone who has been reading this story...I know I haven't updated in forever...sorry about that, I had writer's block along with this disease called laziness, I didn't upload because I had a severe case of laziness...so if you like this story review...if you don't review...and if you're just taking a look at this story...REVIEW! I like reviews they give me the confidence to continue...