It has been a while since I updated this… I got a bad case of writers block… *sweat drops* So here it is, now! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, or anything associated with it… though if I did, it would be much different than it is now… mwahaha!
Chapter Four
Atemu secured the hood, making sure it wouldn't fall when he wandered through the crowd. So far, the feeble disguise had worked, and no one had realized who he was. All he could do was hope that no one at the palace noticed he was missing.
It was strange being part of the crowd. Normally all he could do was observe from the palace, far above and away from his own people. So now, being a part of it, the experience was stunning. He could tell the rich from the poor, the sellers from the buyers, the children from the adults.
The noise was almost overwhelming. Merchants were yelling advertisements of their various products to any potential customer, while glaring threats at any beggars, or anyone driving off business.
Most of the beggars were children, Atemu noticed, surprised at the numbers. "Excuse me," he said to the nearest. "Where are your parents?" Surely their parents didn't send them out alone to beg, did they?
The child looked at him warily. No street kid liked strangers, and hated questions more. "Dead." The child ran off with some of the others before Atemu could reply.
How many of these children are in the same position?
() () () () () () ()
Mana laughed with Bakura at Atemu's pitiful disguise. Even if they hadn't met the prince the day before, they'd have suspected something. As it was, and the fact they had made such an obvious impression, they could deduce he was searching for them, and having no luck at all.
"What an idiot," Bakura drawled. "He can't even disguise himself right."
Mana giggled but said something in Atemu's defense. "At least he seems like a decent guy. He didn't bring the guards yesterday, and he's not turning in the thefts he's watching at the moment." They watch a little girl steal an apple while her friend distracted the merchant and run off.
"He also let you force him into a pot," Bakura replied. "No offense, but you're not the strongest person in the world."
"Well, neither are you!" Mana frowned. She wasn't all that weak, especially when she had her staff. People ended up with bruised heads around it.
"No, but I'm the Thief King," Bakura sent aback. "I never get caught, so I don't need to be the strongest." He smirked as Mana stuck her tongue out at him.
They watched Atemu again with the silent pleasure at watching without being seen.
Bakura sighed as he noticed something else in the crowd. "Doesn't he even realize he's being followed down there?"
() () () () () () ()
Atemu paused at the opening of an alleyway. No one he'd talked to gave him any information on the two he was looking for, though by the hesitation in their answers, he was sure everyone lied when they said they'd never seen Bakura and Mana. Either they were afraid of the two, or they had inspired a great deal of loyalty.
The search was proving useless, but even if he never found them, he'd gotten a few hours away from the palace, and the Lady Tea who hadn't left yet. He had tried to avoid spending more time with her than necessary after what Mana had said. Of course, he didn't know if what she had said was true, so he approached one of the shopping women with an alarmingly charming smile.
"Excuse me? I was wondering what you thought of the Lady Tea," Atemu said.
"Um… w-well," the woman stuttered. "She was q-quite generous with her money but…"
"What happened?" Atemu prodded at her sudden silence.
"She almost whipped some of the street rats," the woman whispered. "At least until Mana jumped in."
"Mana?" Finally, some sort of information!
"Yeah! She's a street rat herself, and very protective of all the others," the woman replied. "She'd take all the trouble herself if she could. Nearly got herself in trouble yelling at the lady anyways. So Bakura had to come in and settle things. Not normal, since he tends to cause trouble."
Aha! So maybe they were at the palace to try to get revenge on Lady Tea. Atemu wasn't sure if he was supposed to feel pleased they would want to get rid of her, or try to stop that from happening.
"Now, don't tell anyone I'm gossiping, but I think Bakura likes young Mana," the woman whispered. "Like I said, he likes to cause trouble. He wouldn't stop it for anyone else but Mana and his brother."
"Really?" Thank Ra for town gossips! "Do you know them well?"
"Oh no, not at all! Just rumors!" The woman seemed appalled at the very thought. "They're a thief team; I'm a law-abiding woman. Now, I must go. Have a nice day.
"You too," Atemu said to her back, walking down the alley he'd paused at earlier, trying to get away from the crowd to think. He met with seven daggers surrounding him completely.
All done! This seems short for some reason… Oh well. Review please! I mean it… I want to know your thoughts, so please please review if you favorite/followed this… Tell me what you think could be done to improve or what you like!
