A/N: I'm finally finished with the next chapter and this time it has gone through editing… Unlike last time. I apologize for last chapter.
(!) Disclaimer- Kuragari doesn't own Y-G-O or the characters by any means. Kuragari does not make money from writing this fiction, nor will he ever. Suing this author is not permitted in any state, country, or local residential area. Too bad.
Fable
Chapter Six: Difficult Decisions
Jou sat haphazardly on a fallen trunk of a tree in an otherwise empty clearing. The afternoon sun beat down on his golden mop of hair, rings of sunshine reflecting off the golden strands. He was so confused. He'd already wasted one day finding this place of refuge and now he had until perhaps sundown, sunrise? He sat perfectly still, soaking the warmth of the sun, helping himself to relax.
"So what should I do?" he asked himself in frustration and scratched at his scalp violently in a stressful gesture. How the hell was he supposed to decide between two people who were essentially the same person? But were they really the same? He stopped stressing and took deep relaxing breaths. He needed some stable ground to work on. Get some control in this seemingly hopeless situation. He knew that the two were different; he just had to search for what made them separate. He began to list some differences in his exhausted mind.
He'd known Seth for most of his life, so he knew him pretty well—as well as you can know someone that doesn't really seem to be real. He was unpredictable and violent, but he was also kind and considerate to those he cared for. Jou rarely saw him without a smile on his face. There had only been one incident when the other was frowning, and that was when a mortal had dared betrayed his word, his smile had returned later as he was rending the innards of the offending mortal out for personal pleasure. Jou solemnly swore that day to never get on Seth's bad side.
But Seto, who he'd known for only a few weeks, he was cold. It seemed he got whatever he wanted using his sharp cunning and silver tongue instead of force. What surprised Jou the most about him was the others passion. He found that under that icy exterior was a warm fire of passion hidden in its depths, flaring to life when something that he cherished was threatened. Like when Seto had kissed him; did he know about Seth? Or did he just feel threatened? Thinking about it both frightened him and left him strangely satisfied.
"So it's a choice between kindness with cruelty or ice with a hint of warmth." With a heavy sigh he slid off the tree and sprawled out onto the ground. He had known since he was child that one day he'd want to have someone to call his own, his other half, but due to his tainted blood he'd never be able to have a woman as a lover. He could never risk having a child with his tainted blood and watch it be murdered in front of his very eyes.
Maybe he should just pick one at random. Did it really even matter which one he chose? Maybe he should stick with the familiars and just go with Seth? Or try something new and go with Seto? He had known Seth the longest and it would probably be the safer choice to make—
"Ow! Holy…!" he grabbed at his neck frantically and pulled on the chain to the amulet that was burning furiously at the skin on his chest, directly above his heart. As the circular mirror was exposed in the air, he watched the steam float off its smooth surfaces. He looked closer he saw colors swirl within the depths, armies lashed about dangerously, and Jou began to feel uncomfortable watching and attempted to look away only to find that he couldn't. He felt somehow drawn to the angry mesh of colors and he began to feel extremely sleepy. His eyes fell closed and he drifted off to sleep before he could protest the feeling.
He found himself standing by a small pond in a very unfamiliar flower garden. Standing in front of him was a very stoic looking Seto. He wondered briefly how he'd gotten here, but when Seto didn't see him he opted to stay silent and observe. He could tell that he wasn't really here, but just there somehow. How he'd known, he wasn't sure.
Finally Seto moved to rub his temples. "It's just two days." He mumbled to himself. He looked around his gardens, blotches of yellows and reds decorated most of the space, leaving room for little variety. "It could use more white lilies..." Jou had to stifle a laugh. Did Seto like white lilies too? Who could've guessed?
"Big brother!" A small boy with wild raven hair yelled cheerfully as he bounded up towards Seto. Jou was slightly shocked to find that Seto had a younger brother, but then again what would he know? He hardly knew the guy. The young boy smiled widely at Seto. "Seto we should go and do something fun! I don't have my usual studies today. Kanamiri fell ill this morning so I have the day off!"
Jou watched in silent amazement as Seto smiled and his brother bounced impatiently in a pair of thin sandals for an answer. "And what do you propose we do then?" Jou thought that the two brothers made a nice picture, both smiling carelessly, caught in such a beautiful moment. He could feel something deep inside him yearn to be a part of that picture, but he knew that if he tried he'd just destroy it with his taint.
The raven haired boy stopped bouncing to think. Suddenly he looked over his shoulder directly at Jou. Jounouchi felt extremely uncomfortable as the boy made eye contact with him but dropped the gaze as suddenly as he had started it to answer Seto's question. "We could—"
"Give up on the Golden One and return to your normal mortal lives?" said a low voice, thick with anger from the entrance of the lavish garden. Jou was just as surprised as the others to see Seth leaning against a vine covered pillar, if not more so.
Quickly Seto placed himself between his brother and Seth. "How did you get in here?" he growled.
"Don't underestimate me mortal. You believe that the Golden One will come to you. He is mine."
"Seto… What's going on?" the boy whispered. Jou had a sudden urge to help the young boy, to drive away anything that threatened him.
Seth didn't allow Seto an answer as he continued his speech that Jou had a feeling he'd planned out. He took a step further into the brothers' safe haven. "Ah, but my shadow, don't worry yourself about such trivial things. I'd make him much happier than you ever could. I know everything about him, all the way down to whom his parents are to his favorite food and least favorite sleeping conditions –and that happens to be on his stomach. And what do you really know? Nothing." The dark god seemed very pleased at Seto's silence, so he continued with his verbal assault. "You're just a slave to the ungrateful Ra. You are meant to live out your poor, pathetic, lonely life day by gruesome day until you end it yourself."
Jou felt his fists clench in anger and watched as Seto's did the same thing. Everything that Seth had thrown at him had been unfair and unjust, but it was perfect ammunition for a situation such as this. Suddenly the wild haired boy detached himself from the protection of his older brother's shadow to fling himself in front of Seto, arms spread and a look that could kill on his innocent face. "I don't who you are," he started, his small voice projecting and trembling in his anger, "but you've no right to say that to my brother! He'll never, ever be lonely. I made sure of it." He paused for a quick intake of breath. "I saw the Golden One choose, and it is not in your favor." He said gravely, forelocks hiding his gray eyes. Everyone stood stock still after the revelation. Jou digested the information quickly and decided he would think on it later, but had to suppress a laugh when the boy stuck his tongue out at Seth in a childish way.
"Brat!" Seth growled a look that promised death distorting his normally handsome face. "Seers blood…" he raised a hand and Jou felt the power caress his skin. "Well little one I'll just make it in my favor."
Seto began to struggle with the young boy, trying to forcefully coax him back into his protection. He did not like the spell that the other was starting to cast and he would have tried to stop him now if he didn't feel that Mokuba was in any danger, and he was.
Jou began to pull at his hair. He didn't know what to do. There was nothing he could do and that was what pissed him off the most. Just standing here most likely invisible to the naked eye and probably couldn't be touched or heard anyway, it pissed him off. He knew the spell that Seth was going to cast, one of banishment. It was a spell he had never wanted to see or sense again. Before he realized it he felt himself shouting, "Seth STOP!"
To his surprise Seth did stop and looked around like a wild man.
"Seto, get the knight!" the boy pleaded to his brother quietly then wiggled free of his grasp. He ran to Seth and grabbed the arm he was concentrating the spell on and bit down as hard as he could while the god was still distracted.
With a surprised yelp the god reflexively brought his arm towards himself to capture the boy, but in the process he'd forgotten about his spell.
Both god and boy disappeared in a flash of crimson light.
Seto and Jounouchi stood in shocked silence, one unaware of the other. What would they do now?
Jou watched as Seto began to pace. He had heard the boy's plea to his brother and was willing to help in anyway he could. Is all Seto had to do was ask. And he had to find a way back to his body. But he didn't want to leave just yet. He wanted to see how Seto reacted in such a situation.
Seto seemed to think something over before walking to a small clear pond. He murmured a few words Jou didn't quite catch and he saw his own sleeping body in the clearing he had found earlier. Jou didn't know whether he should feel flattered or afraid of the thought that Seto had been watching him. Again Seto muttered something Jou couldn't hear and he disappeared himself.
Jou watched the pool as Seto appeared in the images. For a brief moment Jou panicked. He was still here doing whatever it was, while his body was left helpless in the middle of an open field. Seto leaned over his sleeping form and paused briefly to brush a strand of hair away from his face, causing Jou blush, before he shook his shoulders roughly.
Jou snapped back to consciousness with a start. He looked up to find ocean blue eyes staring into his own. So he hadn't just dreamed the whole thing. He kinda wished he had, then that little boy wouldn't have been caught up in all this.
"What happened?" he asked stupidly and rubbed his head in effort to clear his mind of its fog.
"I was about to ask you the same." Seto said and leaned back from Jou as he sat up completely. Seto then asked him something he didn't see coming at all. "Do you hate me?" his face was serious as he said this, leaving Jou slightly confused.
"Well… no." he said slowly and watched as Seto's stiff posture became lax. Jou sighed and reached up onto his chest to clutch the amulet that Shizuka had given him but faltered when he found it was no longer around his neck. "Where'd it go?" he asked, panicking slightly. He didn't want to lose something that Shizuka had given to him when she had to go through all that trouble just to get it.
"What is it?" Jou was surprised again at Seto's curiosity. Wasn't he worried about his little brother?
"It's… a necklace thing. Has an amulet that looks like a mirror and has a gold chain. It's supposed to be magical or something like that, but I don't care. Shizuka gave it to me so I have to find it." He began to rummage around the area that he had fallen unconscious.
He began to panic even more when he didn't find it right away. Seto stood and moved to a different part of the clearing before coming back a few moments later. "Is this it?"
Jou looked up to find himself looking at a blank mirror, his reflection refusing to show. "Yes!" he made to grab the necklace but Seto pulled it out of his reach. "Huh?"
"If you want this back, you have to do something for me."
Jou blinked. He had a fairly good idea where this was going, but he wasn't going to tell him that, Seto might think he was delusional or something. "What?"
Seto leaned a little closer to him, self assured smirk planted onto his face. "Help me find my brother Mokuba."
Jou chose to play stupid. "What happened to him? Did he run away or something?"
Seto stood to his full height, as did Jou. He was slightly nonplussed by the fact that Seto was taller than him by a couple of inches. "Do you know anything about the banishment realm?"
Jou blinked a few times before rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I know a few things about it." He looked down as a few memories assaulted his mind. "I've been there myself." Before Seto could ask anything else he continued. "How did your brother get banished?"
Seto sighed, realizing that this wasn't going to be as easy as he had first thought, and sat on the fallen tree Jou had used earlier. He began to recite the tale of what happened between Seth, Mokuba and himself. Even though Jou knew it detail for detail, it was interesting to hear Seto's point of view, what information he would leave out and if he added anything to the truth –which surprisingly he didn't.
"So both of them were banished together?" Jou asked quizzically. Seto nodded. "Well that's good."
"How the hell is that good?"
Jou understood Seto's temper, he would be edgy too if something had happened to Shizuka. "The banishment realm is basically a giant empty space of stark nothingness. You always feel cold even though you're not, you always feel hungry, but you never have to eat. Worst of all you are always lonely. That is the part that always gets everyone. You get all these negative feelings and there is virtually nothing you can do but to believe everything that you're feeling."
With every word that Jou fed him, Seto became more and more concerned for Mokuba. "So how do we get him out?" he demanded.
Jou sat down with a thump. "We don't do anything." Seto sent him a very angered glare so he explained himself. "The only way out of a banishment realm is by –I know this sounds cliché- facing one of your greatest fears."
"What was your fear?" Seto asked quietly. Almost too quietly.
Jou just sighed. "It was… Not finding a place in the world." He gave Seto a sidelong glance. "Because of well… you know."
Seto nodded and stood up. He seemed to be struggling to say something, but Jou decided he wouldn't have to say anything. "I'll go with you." Jou said, very unsure of himself. "I mean I'll stay with you until Mokuba returns and stuff…"
Seto, for the briefest moment, couldn't believe his ears. Instinctively he reached out a hand and took Jou's. "Then let's go home."
oOo
Ryn ran fast and hard. She had to find Jou and she had the least notion as to where he could be. The beginnings of a town sprang up before her. She kept her pace in a vain attempt to reach a place she didn't even know where. She passed people in blurs, some moving aside and others shouting in outrage.
"Young lady, stop right now!" A large woman had bellowed at her. Ryn turned around to jog backwards and flash a rude gesture at the woman before turning back around only to fall over someone who was half her size.
Ryn landed hard on her hands but was able to keep herself from smashing the child that was now underneath her. "Forgive me." She panted, still breathing hard from her exertion.
"No it's alright." The young boy said, his hood slipping off his head. "I should've been paying more attention."
Ryn stared as spiky tri-colored hair and a small childish face was revealed. She recognized the faerie almost instantly. "You're one of Jounouchi's friends!" she breathed, uncontained happiness leaking from her breathy words. "You must know where Jounouchi is!"
The small boy seemed to shy away from her. "I uh, I can't really say. I-I mean I'm on a mission you see, and…"
Ryn grabbed him by the collar of his wool cloak and brought her face into his. "Forget your stupid faerie mission!" she spat angrily. It seemed as if the boy was going to cry at any moment. Ryn sighed. "This… This is bigger than you, than me; bigger than the whole entirety of the faerie and elf races! You have to understand little one, I need to find Jounouchi."
The boy visibly gulped and nodded. "Come with me." He said in a shaky voice. Ryn stood and helped him up as well. With a quick glance behind him he made sure that she was following and began weaving his way in and out of people, seeming to head in one direction then changing his mind to go in another. He maneuvered his way all the way to the other side of town. He stopped next to a small rundown shack and slipped inside, leaving the door open slightly for Ryn.
Ryn stepped inside and secured the door behind her. She was very careful. She knew that any friend of Jou's was probably dangerous in his or her own way, and now she didn't have the protection of the public.
"Who are you?" the boy demanded as he took off his cloak, still appearing to human eyes as one of their kind, but if Ryn looked hard enough she could see the faint sparkle of wings behind him.
"I'm Ryn. Partner of Jounouchi, the Golden One."
"The Golden One?" the boy asked slowly, confused.
Ryn was shocked that a friend of Jou's didn't know about his alter name but she shook her head and said nothing more about it. "I need to find him. But… who are you?" as she asked, she felt giddy over her new freedom.
"I-I'm Yugi." He said timidly. "Um Ryn… earlier, when we were outside, you said something about it being bigger than both the faerie and elf races. I mean… What I'm trying to say is… is, are you an elf?" he said quickly, fear outlining his small speech.
"And if I was?" again she suppressed the feeling of glee.
"Then I would not be able to take you to Jou." Yugi said defiantly. Ryn blinked. She knew that there was some bad blood between the Elves and Faeries, but she had no idea exactly how bad it was.
"Do not worry. I am only half of what you hate so dearly." She said smoothly, folding her arms across her chest looking very smug.
"O-only half?" Yugi squeaked shrinking back a bit as the woman in front of him seemed to transform into another person entirely.
"Yes little one. I am half of an elf." She smiled viciously at the look on Yugi's face. "My father was a tyrant of an elf. He enjoyed killing others for pleasure, whether it be with magic or arrows. My mother on the other hand, she was a priestess at a small chapel on the edge of a forest. She was completely human. How they met and fell and love I don't care. Is all I know is that they had two children together. Myself and my twin brother. I watched as all three of them were slaughtered. I enjoyed watching it. They each deserved it. The gods preserved the faces of my father and mother in their temple to warn other races of their folly."
"B-but what about you!" Yugi shrieked, hearing more than he had ever wanted. "You should've been killed too!"
"Yes, you're right. I still resent that fact." She gave Yugi a sharp look then softened her face, he was but a child! "I became their servant." She said tenderly. "I wasted away doing their bidding under bonds naked to the eye." She turned back to Yugi and smiled softly. "But now I am free and I bring terrible news. Jounouchi is the only other… person who can make sense of anything I have to say."
Yugi stared at her with fright, somehow he managed to swallow his fear and step closer to Ryn. "And how do I know you're not lying?"
Ryn laughed, a very hallow sound to Yugi's ears. "I could slit my wrists right here little one and show you I bleed black. The taint of my family still runs through my veins."
"Y-you don't have to…" Yugi murmured.
"Then I won't. But I need you to take me to Jounouchi."
Yugi looked up into Ryn's dark gray eyes. She looked so sad even though she was putting up a tough front. It was the same thing that Jou did whenever he was in some kind of trouble. Yugi felt bad for accusing her of lying. "I'll take you." He said at long last.
Ryn released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Then let us go."
Yugi nodded and allowed his hidden wings to unfurl themselves. He reached out for Ryn's hand and took it with confidence; he concentrated on Jou's location but gasped at the distance. "Ryn!" he exclaimed and let go of her hand. "He's very far away. I've never traveled that far. It would take me about… four different transports to reach him. And that would take days."
"That is alright." She said and grasped his small hand in hers once more. "I'll help you. We can cut the time down by half." She gave him a small smile.
"I forgot you knew magic…" he said with a small ashamed chuckle.
"I never told you." Ryn closed her eyes and concentrated on going to wherever Yugi chose. This trip would be a difficult one to make, but it had to be done. When she felt the distortion of her senses she willed herself to relax and move with the magic, a technique that Jou had yet to learn, and then they were gone.
oOo
It was so cold. He didn't have any idea where he was, but he was afraid. He refused to open his eyes to see where this frightening place was.
"Wake up small one." A soft voice said beside him. Mokuba couldn't feel the heat of the others body even though the voice sounded so close. "You must open your eyes."
Slowly Mokuba opened his eyes one at a time to be greeted with darkness. A lot of darkness. He looked over to see the person that had spoken to him earlier perfectly even in the stark darkness. "S-Seto?!" he squawked, momentarily confused by looks.
"Seth." The god corrected. He looked away from Mokuba and sighed. "Are you alright?"
Mokuba blinked a few times. "Uh… yeah. I think so."
Seth ran his hand through his hair. "I... apologize. For bringing you –a child– to such a horrible place."
Mokuba shrugged. "This is the banishment realm right? I've read about it before, it doesn't seem as bad as they make it sound in books."
Seth let out a harsh laugh. "It is much worse then in books. You don't have to act brave small one."
Mokuba puffed out his chest. "I am brave! I saw everything that happened back there and I knew that I would be sent here if I tried to stop you. I wasn't scared at all."
"So instead of using your prophesies to an advantage you went through with it?" Seth asked surprised.
"Yes… I had been having nightmares about it for weeks." He admitted. "Anansi kept me company though. She helped me sort out my feelings about it all." He paused and looked at the dark god curiously. "Do you hate Seto?"
Seth looked at the boy strangely. "No. I do not hate him. If I did he'd be an unrecognizable bloody mess." He grinned maliciously. Mokuba visibly shook. Seth decided he did not want to frighten the child too much. "Do you know how you must leave this place?"
"Yes. By facing your greatest fear, am I right?"
"Correct." Seth shifted awkwardly. "Do you know what your greatest fear is?"
Mokuba shook his head. "I used to think that Seto being alone was it, but I realized a long time ago that even if Seto doesn't find that special someone that I'll always be there for him no matter what. So now I'm not sure anymore."
Seth nodded. "By the end of all of this you will know."
"You'd think that you could just get out of here, I mean you are a god right?" Mokuba asked as he felt some strange emotions begin pressing on his head. It made him feel uncomfortable.
"There are no exceptions in this realm." Seth said angrily. After a few moments of silence he laughed loudly. "I have nothing here. I hold vast power and yet am powerless to do anything. I've killed with my bare hands, ended and started wars with just words, I can make myself live for eternity and yet I am fooled easily by one small child who has a gift for seeing."
"I'm sorry. I-I just did what I thought was right." Mokuba looked to Seth and moved closer, hoping for warmth and not finding any. The pressure was starting to give him a headache. "Seth?" he asked carefully.
"Yes small one?"
"You won't leave me here will you?"
Seth didn't answer at first, but gradually with a sigh he did. "I'll try not to small one. I cannot guarantee anything."
"Thank you." Was all Mokuba could say before the feelings pressing on him broke and he fell into an unconscious state.
oOo
Jou landed uneasily on his feet and clutched the nearest thing in his reach to prevent falling over. "Why couldn't we just walk?" he moaned as a headache began to form directly between his eyes.
Seto ignored his question and waited for Jou to let him go and walk on his own. "This is my home." He said callously.
"Okay."
Seto snorted and decided to help Jou walk forward; he noticed with pleasure that even when Jou had recovered from his nausea he still clung to him. "I have to take you to the King. He was the one who sent me to find you in the first place."
"Oh really?" Jou didn't look forward to meeting the king of… wherever he was. Most kings were fat, snobbish, and were mostly drunk too much to the point that you could smell it on them at all times. It was sickening. He let go of Seto slowly and walked beside him. He followed Seto silently past a large whitewashed temple, through an empty courtyard filled with tangerine trees and into a huge stone castle. A little different than most of the places he'd been, but the change was refreshing.
As they walked on the stone floors, Jou became more and more aware of the people that would bow to Seto as they walked past. He slowed his pace slightly so that instead of walking next to Seto he was walking slightly behind Seto to his right.
When Seto noticed this he stopped walking and turned around to face Jou. "What are you doing?" he asked impatiently.
Jou blinked. "What I'm supposed to do… I'm showing rank." He answered uneasily.
Jou was surprised when Seto rolled his eyes and grabbed him by the crook of the arm and forced him to walk next to him. "As of now I'd like us to be equals."
"I uh…" his face turned a soft pink. "Okay."
The throne room was at the top of two grand staircases that converged together at the top, crimson livery was strewn about the walls and railings making the room feel more rich and grand than it already was. Seto pushed his way inside without announcing himself and drug Jou along with him. "Atemu." He called when they were inside the large, plush carpeted room.
Unlike what Jou was expecting, there was a young man sitting sideways on the throne, legs dangling over one arm. He wore a modest crown of gold and silken clothes. To Jou he looked rather… bored. And strangely familiar, but he wasn't sure how. When the young king saw them he stood out of his chair, smile on his face. "Seto! Welcome home." His face turned grim for a moment. "I've news of Mokuba. Have you anything to say of this?"
"We wait." Seto said reluctantly.
"What!" Jou winced as the king yelled. He felt that he should be the one to explain. Not Seto.
"Excuse me Your Majesty." Jou said and nearly made a horizontal bow. "There is no way to get someone out of the banishment realm until they complete the trail." He tried to explain hastily to the ground.
To his surprise, instead of being angry the king laughed. "You must be Jounouchi Katsuya." Jou righted himself and nodded. "Do you know of this banishment realm?" Again Jou nodded. "And we must wait for Mokuba to complete a trail?" Once more Jou nodded.
Seto hit him on the back of the head. "You can speak." He said in an agitated tone.
Jou chuckled lightly. "Yes, but you never know how long completing it will take." At the apprehensive look on the king's face he continued to explain further. "When I was in the banishment realm it took me… almost two years…" he said in a quiet voice. "But a good friend of mine, Ryn, she was sent there and came back in two hours." Jou shivered at the memory. When Ryn had returned she looked even more lifeless then when she had left, as if a part of her had been ripped from her soul.
Both King and Seto were quiet. Jou shifted uncomfortably. "Um, can I ask why I was summoned here?"
The young king looked to Jou then Seto. "He didn't tell you did he?" Jou shook his head. "Two reasons knight. One I'm offering you a position in my Kingdom as a Royal Knight of Domino." Before Jou could protest Atemu cut him off. "Second is simple. According to Mokuba, Seto loves you. So I wish for you to stay."
Jou looked over to Seto. The other hadn't moved an inch and his face remained stoic, but there was a slight tint of pink traveling across his cheeks and nose.
That was something he hadn't expected. Seto never said anything about love, the way Seth had so willingly proclaimed... He shook his head at the lack of response from Seto and refocused his attention to the king. "King Atemu, right?" Atemu nodded. "I accept your offer of your knight. I guess it's time for me to settle down. I've lived the life of a wanderer for far too long."
Atemu smiled. "That is excellent! I welcome you to our family Sir Jounouchi." Atemu looked around to find one of his chief advisors in the corner. The bent old man stepped forward and bowed to the king. "Make preparations! We will feast for the arrival of our new knight of the kingdom!"
The man bowed again and scurried out of the room. Jou moved a little closer to Seto, trying to make the other notice how nervous he was. He really did hate parties. As if on cue Seto turned to him and looked him over. "You'll be needing a bath first." He said and wrinkled his nose slightly.
Jou snorted. "What do you expect? I've been on the road for days, weeks even. It's not like pools of hot water appear out of nowhere on the roads." He scratched at his head nervously and noticed for the first time that his hair was slightly matted despite all of his finger brushing.
Atemu chuckled lightly. "Seto will show you to the baths." He gave the young king a grateful smile and followed Seto out of the room and through hall after hall.
"Here." Seto said and stopped in front of a plain wooden door. "This is my personal washroom." He said pridefuly.
Jou chuckled softly. He couldn't believe that Seto was proud to have his own personal washroom. He must not like bathing with people he didn't know or trust, which was the complete opposite of him. He wouldn't mind going stark naked in front of a group of complete strangers if it meant a good bath.
He pushed the door open and walked in slowly, taking everything in. He was surprised when Seto followed him inside and began to point everything out and told him that he'd have clothes similar to the ones he was wearing when he was finished. As Seto continued to explain Jou put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. "It's a bath. It's not like I'm going to accidently drown myself."
Seto flushed slightly as if he hadn't realized what he had been doing. "I'll leave you to your own devices then." And with that he disappeared through the door.
Jou shook his head and smiled. He wondered what Seto would do when he realized that he didn't stop him until he started to repeat himself…
The bath was wonderful. The hot water seemed to melt away the tension that had been building between his shoulders. With a sigh of content he lifted himself from the waters and made his way to a small towel stand on the other side of the room. He grabbed one of the fluffy white towels and dried himself thoroughly. Only when he was finished did he see the stack of clothes on a stone table next to him.
He examined the articles with scrutiny. He wouldn't wear just anything. It had to be comfortable, easy to move in and contain at least something of leather for decent protection. He was glad that the outfit almost looked like exactly what he had been wearing earlier that day and put it on without hesitation.
Just as he was about to slip the final boot on, something shining slid from the boot and fell to the floor with a soft clang. He bent down and found his sisters necklace waiting for him. With a smile he picked it up and placed it around his neck before finishing dressing.
He played with the amulet as he left the washroom, still smiling to himself. He was surprised he had gotten it back at all, but it showed him one thing about Seto.
He kept his promises.
oOo
Ryou finished his prayers to Yah and stood, the stone before the alter scraping against his knees. He stifled a yawn and wished for most likely the millionth time that he didn't have to pray at night. He pulled his robes about him tighter as he left the temple to try and keep out the cool night air.
"Serf." An angry voice commanded in his head.
"Y-yes?" Ryou squeaked, unsure of what he had done wrong.
"You must raise the followers. The time of the end is nearing."
"W-what!" Ryou exclaimed. The time of the end is something he'd only read about in books. A theory of the gods faltering in their rule of the earth. "I'm not sure what you want Yah…"
"Serf, gather all those willing to serve their god. Prepare for the worst. Do this and save all that you can." Yah's words sounded grave. Suddenly Ryou felt as if the weight of the world had been dropped onto his
shoulders. Yah was telling him that by how he acted out on his words, people may lose their lives if he did something wrong.
"I-I… Why?" Ryou suddenly demanded only to have his link closed hastily. Never before had he wanted to cry as much as he did now. He stood up straight and went directly to the castle library. He had no choice but to save everyone.
He ran down the empty stone corridors as quietly and quickly as he could. He had taken off his shoes earlier to prevent the thudding sound of his thin boot soles on the stone. He reached the large red oak doors of the library huffing heavily. He pushed them open quietly and slipped inside, shutting the doors securely behind himself. He lit a small oil lamp and began to scan the shelves for a certain book that he knew would be of much use to him at the moment.
"Beginnings and Ends" was the book he had found minutes later, dust collecting on the leather spine of the volume. He grabbed the book from the shelf hastily and moved to one of the many wooden tables scattered around the library.
As he turned the pages dust flew about causing him to cough slightly. Ryou scanned faded ink with weary eyes until he found exactly what he was looking for. He placed a pointer on the page and read it over and over again.
The time of the end is the theory first proposed by Professor M. Pegasus. It is an uncomplex theory that the Four Gods will one day fail in their duties as our rulers, just as Kings and Queens have done in the past. When the Four fail there will be a loss in the balance of the Earth and all its races. Wars will rage between the Four and between the races. In all his years Professor M. Pegasus never found an alternate solution to such events. We are at the whims of our most Holy Gods and such a theory may never even come to happen.
Ryou snapped the book shut with a depressed sigh. So it was war that he had to prepare for? How could he save anyone in a war?
He placed the book back in its respective spot and searched for one with more tactical tastes. He knew the basics of warfare. Save the women and children of the homelands, men fight and lose their lives. He shook his head. There had to be a way to prevent all of this from happening.
He would have to negotiate with the other High Priests. He would become commander, help all the wounded, try and stop the whole thing from ever happening in the first place. He just had to.
oOo
Bakura lay back on his bed in his darkened chambers. He absently tossed a throwing knife at a painting of his parents. They had died when he was a small child of only 3 to fend for himself. He gave a wicked grin when the tip of the knife had planted itself straight between his father's eyes. It had been two days since he had been severed from Seth, but strangely he could occasionally feel the presence of the god nearby.
The court had been in an uproar when they found this little tidbit out. Bakura was more than happy that he could pass the burden onto some other poor unsuspecting fool as he had been. He just wished that he could've captured his little mouse before his time was up.
"Your Grace Bakura." Came a snide voice from his door. He looked over to see both Marik and Malik standing waiting. Both wore identical faces of worry.
"Haven't you idiots heard yet? I'm not the High Priest any more." He threw another dagger near Malik's head and it splintered into his door frame. Malik didn't even flinch. "What do you want?" he growled when they didn't leave.
"Three days ago," Malik began as he walked seductively into Bakura's room and sat on his bed. "Our doctrine changed itself. No longer are we to guard that stupid empty tower. We come with a new mission."
Bakura sat up, giving his full attention to Malik. "What is it then? Spit it out already."
"We are to gather a war party and name you, ex-High Priest, as its general." Marik said from the doorway. His deep lavender eyes troubled. "I do not like this doctrine at all."
Malik nodded. "Neither do I. We have no choice but to do as the doctrine says."
Bakura lost his temper and threw his last knife at his wall with all his might. The knife bounced off the stone and clattered to the floor. "For fuck's sake! Why do I have to do everything around this damned place?" he growled and flopped back down to his bed. "Get the fuck out of my room before I fucking gut you both!"
Both Marik and Malik left him without another word. He pounded a fist into his mattress. What could Seth possibly want with a war party? And why the hell wouldn't he leave him alone? He took a few deep breaths but only felt himself grow more and more angry.
Of course it wouldn't be so bad to boss around a bunch of wannabe mercenaries, but a war party? What was this all about? What could Seth possibly want with something like that during this supposed time of peace?
That would mean the peace was… over?
He sat up abruptly. If that was true then this would mean that… what exactly did it mean? To him it meant killing others for something he really didn't believe in. It meant that he'd have to try and win for the sake of the people that were under him. And most importantly, it meant that his little mouse was trying to do the exact same thing.
He could never let such a horrible responsibility fall on the shoulders of someone so frail, so weak, so… comforting. He stood and moved to a clear desk. Concentrating on summoning his favorite quill and some parchment that he had stolen from a kingdom out west, he was deciding what exactly he would tell his little mouse.
End Chapter Six
A/N: I'll be graduating High School in a few days, so now I have a lot of free time to get more done. Hopefully I can produce more chapters faster now. Reviewing would be nice for this senior!