I don't need saving. I'm just a slave.
Do not own Yugioh, I do own the lullaby in previous chapters. I also own the challenge idea.
Warning – angst, abuse, Yaoi content.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/
Chapter 4 – Consequence
Joey returned to the outer chamber of the High Priest's rooms. He watched the High Priest walk away before entering. At the sound of the door the three slave boys looked up tears in the corners of their eyes. The instant they saw it was him they greeted him back warmly.
"Joey! You came back!" Yugi smiled brightly.
"Joey you haven't left us?" Ryou asked unsure.
"Joey is something wrong?" Malik had asked after the surprise had worn off.
He had smiled and sat the boys back down. "I can get you your freedom" he had told them. They had been shocked to say the least. Patiently the three boys waited for Lady Isis to give them a clean bill of health and leave before they had sat down to speak with him.
"Joey? You really think you can get our freedom?" Yugi had asked looking his newest friend over. Joey smiled at him and Yugi realised just how far this young man would go to do just that.
Joey nodded. "Yes. The High Priest has told me about a way I can fight for your freedom. And even as a slave I can apply to the Pharaoh to try it." the three boys looked happily at each other. Ryou was the first to notice the distant look in the tall blonds face. "Its a series of four challenges. One of each Body, Mind, Soul, and Heart. I wont know what any of them are until just before I attempt them."
Malik nodded and placed his hand on his friends shoulder. "So you mean your wondering blind?" he asked and Joey let the smile on his face slip.
"Yes and no. The test of Body will test my physical strength. Mind will test my memory and quick thinking. Soul I do not know, and I don't know Heart either. But I'm not completely blind in this. But. If I fail. I will loose my life and you will be imprisoned for life. For my life I do not care, but I fear your fates if I fail" Yugi thought for a moment.
"You would put yourself through all of that, the strain and anxiety, for us? You only met us last night. You don't even know us..." Yugi let the sentence hang in the air.
Joey smiled and pulled the boy into a one armed hug "Yes I would. I can tell you were never meant for slavery. Very few are. But you three, I can feel it, your... special. I feel it in my heart that I have to make sure your safe. I'd do it for anyone." the three slave boys blushed and smiled gratefully.
At that point the High Priest entered. Looking over the four boys he let his eyes rest on one in particular. "You have been granted an audience with the Pharaoh tomorrow. I suggest you return home and prepare yourself."
Joey's Pov
No I cant go home! Not back there! I looked up at the Priest. His blue eyes were cold, calculating. I took a breath and bowed my head. "My Lord, if I may, I would like to stay with them?" I phrased it like a question as I peaked out from under my fringe. I watched his eyes soften for a moment before hardening again. It happened fast, I cant be sure if it really happened.
He shook his head. "I'm afraid that you can not. You must go." I shivered. Taking a breath I nodded and bowed to him from my position on the floor.
"I will go then." I said. I saw the others wanted me to stay but I flashed them a smile. It was fake but they wouldn't know that. Standing I made my way to the door. Before leaving I turned and broke all acts of my slave persona I had carried my entire life. For the first time, I acted like the Noble I was bourn as "You hurt them, or allow them to get hurt... I care not if the God's would punish you. I will hunt you down and deal them justice. I have never had a reason to go on except to help those who would suffer in my absence. And last night... they are my purpose now. I charge you High Priest with their safety." I don't know where my courage came from to say such a thing to someone of such a high rank. I waited until he acknowledged that he had heard me before I left. Once I was out the door I ran.
Normal Pov.
Seth stayed still looking at the now empty door way as he listened to the heavy foot falls recede into the distance. Joey didn't stop running until he arrived at the courtyard he taught at. He slowed as he approached the arch he always entered from. As he turned into the courtyard he froze. His father stood in the centre of the paved area holding a young girl slave by her throat in the air. The others cowered by the far wall. Joey ignored the voice in his head yelling at him about the consequences as he ran forward. "Father! Lord Katsuya! Let her go!" he cried as he launched himself at the taller man.
Runihura dropped the girl as his son forced him to the ground. Joey made sure the girl was well out of arms reach before he let his father move. The older man growled and pushed the younger off of him and stood. Joey flinched at the anger that burned in his eyes but remained on the ground. Runihura sneered "how dare such filth as you even touch me!" he shouted and aimed a kick at his son's side. "How dare you speak as if you are my equal!" Joey let his father kick him again. "You Filthy Blood Stained Wretch" with each word the man hit him. The slave children averted their eyes.
Joey knew they did not want to be bystanders. They would have helped him if they could. But Joey had known that his father would come one day. Knew that one day he would deify his father and do something that would warrant punishment. He had warned the slaves at the slave yards, the guards there too, the children here and their owners. That if ever his father was to come looking for him they were to hand him over. Many a time those he met tried to declare that they would protect him but he always shot them down. No one would take his punishment,. He couldn't let them get hurt. But he would always willingly take theirs.
Joey felt himself hit the floor heavily. His whole body burned and ached from the multiple bruises and lacerations. His arms, body and legs were encrusted with bloody cuts and torn skin. Only his face and neck remained unscathed. His father never hit his face. It was the one part of his body that he could not hide so his father never marked it.
He tried to push himself up, Runihura sneered. "Pathetic. How the Gods could have cursed me with the likes of you I'll never know." Joey cringed and waited, stayed on his hands and knees for the next kick. "Where have you been? Hu boy? Skirting your duties, helping slaves to escape? Where did you take them?" Joey remained silent as his father stomped on his ankle. With a look of disgust Runihura then stamped down on the young mans back. Joey cried out as he collapsed back to the floor. "Fight me! Show me your worth something! You pathetic wretch!" the older man screamed at his son punctuating each sentence with a harsh kick to the boys ribs. Joey clenched his fists and remained still, hoping that the pain would make him black out.
He knew it wouldn't. It hadn't for many years. He had become to used to the pain that coursed through his body. The man stopped his attack and spat at him. Without another word he turned and left the broken and bleeding boy on the floor of his room. Joey let his body relax as he gasped for breath.
Outside the window two men watched silently. The firsts carmine eyes flashed with anger as Runihura exited the building and stumbled off. The figure held out a hand to stop his partner from moving. The others lilac eyes frowned in silent question as the first of them remained still, watching the boy through the window. "Bakura? Can't I go after him?" the Lilac eyed man whispered and the Carmine eyed man raised an eye brow.
"No" he whispered back and the second man sighed.
"Can't I just hurt him a little?"
"No Marik'ie"
"Awww... But what if...?"
"NO"
Joey opened his eyes slowly, squinting them in the morning light. Re was just showing over the horizon as he finally found the strength to push himself up onto his hands and knees. Looking about he found that he was in his dusty and dirty room. Struggling he removed his clothes and looked himself over. A large bruise stretched from the centre of his back, up his side and across the majority of his stomach and chest. Long shallow cuts littered his body from his elbows, torso to his knees. His hair was matted with sweat, dirt and blood from a gash hidden in his hairline. He gingerly touched his ribs and flinched, their was pain but no broken bones. Sighing he stumbled over to his bed and reached beneath it for his extra clothes. Leaving his room he stumbled into Kara. The woman looked on at him with pain filled eyes.