Authors note: Well I know it's been a while but I'm finally updating. I'm sincerely sorry for any of you who have forgotten the storyline or are mad at me for taking so long. I guess I ended up caught up in Melodious Nocturne and well, forgot about this one but here is the new chapter anyway. Thank you for all those who have favourited and alerted. A special thanks goes to: Kai Turner, Miss Itachi Uchiha, RetardedRai, Living in a fantasy, Alice4eva, Panda-Chan23, Beyond'sWaraNingyo, Bedessica, 494dwangel and Ignorant words who all reviewed chapter three. So here we are at the fourth installment of Yes, Master. I'm going to try and keep updating this story so expect a new installment sometime soon. I'm going to update this before Melodious Nocturne. So please read, review and enjoy.
The Mad Tea Party
"Near's completely harmless." Mello began reclined on the bed leisurely glancing over to watch the red head slip out of the maid's uniform. He scowled slightly, the boy was decently cute in it. It was as if Near lived to ruin all of his fun. He didn't care, if Matt was going to be sticking around for a while then he would have plenty of time to get it back on him as long as no one found out. His mind wondered into the plenty of other dress up games he could play with the boy. He smirked, maybe it wouldn't be too bad to let him hang around for a little longer. "So I don't want you thinking that he's going to try anything. He's always said that he's going to kill me, it doesn't matter. It's kinda like a huge joke actually. He's too scrawny and freaky to pull anything off against me."
Mail shrugged glancing over his shoulder a modest blush on his face. He hated when someone watched him get dressed. It made him feel utterly awkward but with all of Mello's leering it wasn't as if he were going to get any privacy so the best he could do was ignore it. "I would worry if someone decided to threaten my life like that Master." He replied softly keeping his gaze down as he slipped back into his previously discarded attendants uniform. "He seemed pretty serious about it. Maybe you should try watching over him. He could possibly have people working for him. You are the successor to the throne."
He sat up at the words, "Near's serious about everything. His face never changes unless it's to confusion. He's either completely stoic or completely dead there is no in between for him." He shook his head, "The kid can barely communicate normally with his own family let alone organize people who want to overtake me for the throne. Besides you said it yourself that the old man has plenty of life left in him so I don't have anything worry about currently." He raised his eyebrow at a few white lines on Matt's back but otherwise his face remained blank.
He nodded slowly pulling his shirt on turning back towards Mello to button it. "Of course Master Mello." He replied softly gesturing towards the door. "Shall we meet with Master Near in that case?"
The blonds nose wrinkled, "Not Master Near, just Near. Don't call that little freak Master, it's weird." He strolled forward. "I'm your only master. Remember that, there's no one else with authority over you. Even my father, you were my gift and therefore you belong to me fully."
"How kind of you to finally join me Mello." Near's deadpan tone uttered glancing towards Mail once again before sitting up a bit more in his chair. He seemed just to watch the two rather than speak. "It took you long enough, I began to think that maybe you were going to disobey a direct order from mother and father."
Mello shrugged taking his seat on the opposing side of the boy, "It wouldn't be the first time so I'm going to guess that even if I never showed up they wouldn't be surprised. I ignored the naming ceremony, I ignored your birth, I ignored your countless recitals-" He snickered glancing down at the empty tea cups. "Where the hell is that servant of yours? How the hell are we supposed to have a tea party when there's no tea?" He folded his arms glancing over his shoulder watching Mail glancing around the garden. "Your problem?"
The boy jumped point towards the large willows that were wilting slightly despite the sunlight just over the wall that surrounded the garden and castle, "They don't get enough sun so they'll probably die." He mumbled softly. "I used to take care of a small garden so I kinda know what plants need to grow up to be strong." He smiled softly flushing at Mello's vacant expression on his face.
He nodded slowly, "That's nice farmer Brown. Next time you say something so useless warn me so I don't have to listen." He watched Mail's expression fall. "If you go over there, there are fish swimming in the small river than runs through this place. You might enjoy that seeing as you like living things so much. You're turning into about as much of a freak as Near, go figure my father has an unhealthy obsession with freaks if I do say so myself."
Mail brightened at the words, "Fish? What kind of fish?" He asked already beginning to walk away from Mello the blond following without bothering to glance at Near.
"Anything father fancied." Near responded pulling on his shirt to lengthen the sleeves. He pointed to a tiny bell that sat between them, "Mello before you follow that boy, can you ring that bell? Once. Not twice, not three time. Just once." He watched the blond stare at the bell before picking it up and examining it. He blinked a few times before flicking it once and dropping it back down trailing after the red head mumbling something about him going soft.
Mail fingered the inside of the water from the side of the bridge watching the fish scatter with a slight smile. He had never imagined a place like this inside of such a cold stony castle. It was nice here, trees blooming at each corner. Fish swimming in the tiny stream that ran through, several rocks to climb on to see over the walls built around the castle. He could spend countless amounts of hours here without thinking about it though he doubted Mello would allow him to do anything close to it.
The blond simply stood over him watching him play with the stream under him. He reminded the boy simply of an interested shadow that possibly was a bit homicidal. He crouched down behind the red head leaning over his shoulder, "Tell me again what's so amazing about the fish in the stream Farmer Brown? Or would Farmer Red suit you better?" He questioned leaning further over the boy who glanced back at him. "Am I too close? I would like to think you enjoy intimate interaction."
He shook his head frantically, "Actually I enjoy personal space much more than actual touching." He replied softly feeling the mans breath on the back of his neck. "Lot and lots of personal space, it's good for you actually. It-It helps stop the spread of disease and um other unfortunate- um…"
Mello snickered, "Like how you stopped my father today?" He felt the boy bristle. "Don't think I don't know what punishment was Matt. Why do you think I came and found you? You play no specific part in this little family get together with Near. I'll be damned if I allow that man to touch you because that's what he wants. If it's up to me I'll drag your ass along with me wherever I go just so he'll never have you. I know all his little get away spots Matt. All of them."
"Mello, let's get this over with. Lawliet has arrived." Near mumbled using the sugar cubes to play a tiny game on his side of the table. "Hurry up."
The blond sighed standing and pulling Mail by his collar towards the table. The boy came reluctantly which gave him a bit of humor but his face barely showed it. He frowned dropping down into the seat giving the dark haired hunched over man a dirty glance. Lawliet was Near's Butler, they both creeped Mello out more than anyone else possibly could in the castle. "This guy still works for you?" He asked as the dark haired man split everything on his tray of special treats into two piles. "And what the hell is he doing?"
Near shrugged glancing at Mail, "You can sit down somewhere if you want. It's uncomfortable to stand all the time. Just sit." He gestured towards the seat between the two of them. "Unless Mello is so cruel he doesn't allow you to sit."
Mello glared before Mail had a chance to move. "I'm not so leisurely with my attendants as you are. He'll stand and be okay with it."
The white haired boy shook his head, "I should have guessed as much coming from Mello." He then glanced at Lawliet who began moving everything from one stack onto the table for the two boys. "Lawliet has always been my attendant. You run everyone out who has ever cared for you. That's not my fault."
The man responded with a simple shrug poking gently at one of the cakes Lawliet as sat before him. "I didn't run anyone out that didn't want to leave already. I'm guessing that there are people here that still want to do the same. If anything I was helping them." He glanced up at Lawliet who was offering sugar cubes for the tea he had just poured. The blond sighed gently holding up the cup watching as the man placed on sugar cube into his tea and then ate one himself before repeating the same routine mumbling something that sounded a bit like 'one for you, one for me.' Mello's nose wrinkled as he glanced down at his own cup.
Matt laughed softly behind the blond but didn't make a comment. When Lawliet glanced him direction he instantly stopped a tiny smile still playing on his lips. It was nice to finally meet someone that wasn't scared of Mello or anything he could possibly say. The blond held power but he didn't preside over anything.
The blond reached back pulling the red head forward watching him intently, "You think that little show was funny?" He hissed as the red head quickly shook his head frantically. Mello glared pouring the hot tea on the boys head shoving him forward. "Go make me tea. Three cubes of sugar, now." He folded his arms placing his feet on top of the table as Near glanced up throwing a sugar cube at the man.
"Feet off the table." He mumbled pulling on his sleeve as Lawliet tapped him on the shoulder.
Mail glanced at Mello running his fingers through his hair, "Where am I going to find you tea Milord?" He whined his neck burning from the heat it had been introduced to it.
Mello looked as if he were ready to pounce, "Matt, I swear for the Lord if you don't get out my face. I don't know where the hell do you think you're going to find tea? Find the damn kitchen you stupid fuck." He shifted to make a stand as the red head instantly darted back the way they had came. Mello was aware Matt had no clue where the Kitchens were but that wasn't his problem. He just wanted his tea, and not tea that was touched by that Lawliet man. "And bring me some chocolate to eat while you're at it." He smirked folding his arms happily. "Good attendants, can't find them anymore, eh Near?" He glanced towards the dark haired Butler that slowly smiled in his direction. He twitched laying back again. "He better bring me my tea."
Matt cleared the second pillar inside the castle before he stopped running. He panted harshly glancing back towards the garden just in case the blond was still following him. He was pretty positive that if Mello really wanted to he could have tracked him down but he breathed a sigh of relief anyway glancing around the lengthy corridors that led to endless amounts of rooms. He whined softly to himself, the kitchen could be anywhere in here. Anywhere.
"Boy." The shrill voice came from down the hallway accompanied by several sets of clicking heels and footsteps.
Mail turned slowly paling visibly. It was the Queen surrounded by her entourage and attendants that all watched him as if he were worthless. He bowed deeply keeping his composure as well as he possibly could but it didn't hinder his hands from shaking. This was only his first day and he kept running into problems. "Yes, milady?"
She frowned slightly, "What are you doing walking around these halls without the Prince? You are his attendant, you should not be without him unless you've decided to go rogue?" Her eyes narrowed at the words before her lip curled. "If you are I'll have Halle take care of you. You don't want that."
He slowly rose from his bow, "The Prince sent me to find the kitchen because he wanted…tea and chocolate during his meeting with the Prince Near…"
"Nate. His name is Nate you idiot. I'm surprised you decided to change clothes you harlot. Maybe that husband of mine actually put some sense into you." She fanned herself glancing over her shoulder. "In that case Halle go with this…boy and make sure he completes his task properly. If he isn't where he is supposed to be make sure that you take care of him accordingly dear." She waved the group forward, "Or if you see so fit take care of him also. I don't know why he's here in any case. No one does." She laughed following the group forward going back to talking with her group that laughed every few seconds.
"You're looking for the kitchen?" Halle asked glancing down at the red head boy. This was the boy that the King was so smitten with? If so why had he thrown him to that dog of a child Mello? "Follow me."
The boy follow instantly keeping his head down. Was everyone in this castle against him or was it just him? Mello hated him because of something he couldn't control. The Queen was cruel and bitter. Near stared at him with indifference, he was maybe the only person not against him fully. Lawliet just seemed interested and this Halle woman watched him with cold eyes.
It took several minutes before the two reached the kitchen and she left Mail to ask the chefs for tea and chocolate for the Prince which they immediately made for him. The kind man handed him a tray of everything that Mello enjoyed patting him on the head and wishing him luck for his return to the blond.
Among the trays contents were a few chocolate bars and cakes that apparently Mello requested a lot. He had been warned that Mello's choices changed a lot and not to be scared if the blond began to throw anything or have a fit. It seemed as if all the cooking staff knew the man for a majority of his life and knew what calmed him, what soothed him and what made him happy, sad and upset. It was a good feeling to finally meet some remote people who enjoyed his company and they had even invited them back when he wasn't on duty or the Prince was napping.
"Mail, you should get back quickly. You never know when that psycho will go well, psycho." Matsuda laughed gently patting the boy on the head sending him out. "Come back and visit anytime, we'll even make you an extra little cake." He winked. "Be careful on the way back. Carefulness is close to cleanliness…or something like that."
Mail laughed softly heading as quickly as he could back towards the small tea party reaching the garden without much effort. It felt as if things were finally getting better.
"Master Mello!" Mail called attempting to move as quickly as he could to get the heavy tray out his hands. "I got your tea-" He managed hearing several shots rang out. Even he knew the sound of a gun, he had grown up in a rough environment. The sound startled him forcing him to drop the tray he had worked so hard to get. He was forced to think if he should go find Mello or stay here for cover. He groaned running forward smacking forcefully into a tiny body.
"Matt!" Near cried clinging to the crimson haired boy. "Someone shot Mello! Someone shot Mello!" He seemed to be in hysterics which was the exact opposite of Lawliet who slouched forward holding several sugar cubes in hand eating them one by one. He glanced down at the two before a slow smile spread over his lips before popping another cube into his mouth.
Mello…
Authors note: It's been a while but here it is. Please review and I'll try to update soon...