Hi, sorry I know its been a while since my last update but at least its faster then my last one . Enjoy.
DECLARAION: - I do not own Yu-gi-oh or any of the associated characters but this story is my own work written and produced by Cathrath. Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of Cathrath. If you should see this story posted anywhere other than FanFiction .net or under any other name it has been stolen so please notify the author. I repeat I do not own Yu-gi-oh so please don't sue me I just like writing fan fic's.
Chapter 7 - Royu
Yugi snuggled down deeper into the soft covers as he felt sleep leaving him. He had slept well and more conformable then he thought possible. Getting up was not something he wanted to consider right now.
"Are you going to sleep all day?" An amused voice questioned in his ear.
Yugi groaned and pulled the covers further over his head.
"Go away," he said hopefully, his voice muffled by the covers.
Yami laughed.
"I'll take that as a yes then."
Yugi felt Yami's weight leave the bed as he got up.
"It's a beautiful morning Yugi, if you stay in bed all day you'll miss it."
Yugi reluctantly pulled the bed covers back a little to look sleepily over the top. Yami was standing in a robe, his arms crossed, at the foot of the bed smiling….evilly. Yugi knew what was coming but acted too slow. Yami grabbed the foot of the covers and pulled hard leaving Yugi grabbing for them vainly and then curling up into a tight ball as the wonderful warmth left him.
"Revenge," Yami said laughing loudly, holding his sides.
"Something I should know about?"
Yami turned to find Ishizu looking amused in the doorway her hands on her hips.
"Not really Ishizu, a private joke." Yami said still chuckling.
"I see," she said as she moved into the room closing the door behind her.
Yugi sat up, gave his cousin an angry stare and then grabbing a robe before stomped off towards the wash room grumbling loudly.
"I take it Prince Yugi is not a morning person."
"Not really," Yami said lightly as he sat down in a chair.
He smiled again as he heard muttering from the adjoining room.
"How's Odion?" he asked as he reached for a piece of fruit from the table.
"Much better," Ishizu sighed in relief.
"He's sitting up now and eating well so I think the worst is over. He will need a few days rest before he's fit to ride but that fits in with our plans."
"Not a good start to a holiday was it." Yami said.
Ishizu nodded in agreement.
"No it wasn't."
Yami played with the fruit in his hand absently.
"I know we came away to put aside our mysteries, puzzles and problems Ishizu but they seem to follow us don't they."
Ishizu signed.
"It seems that way doesn't it. I wonder why?"
She was distracted by Yugi re-entering the room and once more stomped across the floor before throwing himself into a chair and grabbing a piece of fruit like Yami.
"Is his Highness now awake?" Yami asked.
Yugi responded by sticking out his tongue.
Yami smiled.
"Sorry Ishizu you were saying."
"I was wondering why Mokuba attacked us. I know he did bad things but they were either because his brother asked him to or because he was forced to. No one ever really held him accountable. What he did was bad but Seto was his brother so you can understand why he did the things he did."
"What's this?" Yugi asked forgetting his anger at Yami.
"We were just talking over yesterday and wondering why Mokuba attacked us."
Yugi was thoughtful for a moment.
"I really don't think Mokuba is a bad person. Everything he did in the past was because of Seto but I don't know what happened to him once I set him free. Who knows what he has had to do to survive. Maybe i underestimated him?"
"Perhaps, but then maybe there's more to this then we understand at the moment."
Yami was interrupted but a knock on the door.
"Enter."
A servant entered the room bowing deeply.
"Your breakfasts my Lord. My Master Tayla sends his compliments to you this morning."
"Thank you, you may enter."
The servant stood aside and several platters of food were carried in and placed on a table. Once the servants had left Yugi quickly stood and began consuming everything he could get his hands on.
"Shall we eat Ishizu, before our young friend here eats everything in sight?"
With breakfast over Yugi and Yami dressed and made there way out into the morning heat whilst Ishizu returned to her patient. They found Jou and Honda in the yard passing on instructions to the guards to take the pack horses to the spot identified the previous day as a suitable campsite and to begin setting up the tents.
"Morning your Highnesses," Honda greeting them with a bow.
"Morning Honda, Jou." Yugi greeted in kind.
"I have started setting up camp your Highness, a quiet spot shown to us by Tayla just outside the town but close to the main water supply."
"Good Honda, thank you. Have you seen our host this morning?"
"Briefly but he left early to go about business in the town. He said to ask for anything we wanted."
"I'm sure he did."
"What are your plans this morning your Highness."
"I thought we could have a look around the town. It's been a long while since I was here last."
"Very well I shall assign a guard to accompany you."
Yami nodded but Yugi signed quietly. Nothing they ever did could remove the risk. He was used to it now but somehow he had felt more free when he had been only a slave. He shook his head to clear the melancholy thoughts.
"Have you seen Royu this morning?" He asked looking around the yard hoping to catch sight of the boy.
"Yes your Highness he said he would be down by the washing pool if you wanted him. I believe he had chores to do."
"Oh, I don't want to disturb him then."
Honda smiled.
"He also said that if you wanted to disturb him he was very happy for you to do so."
"Personally you're Highness I got the impression that he didn't want to do his chores and reckoned that his father would not tell him off if the Royal Price of Egypt distracted him."
Yugi smiled.
"Then who am I to disappoint him."
"May I go Yami, I won't be long and we can go for a look around the town after I get back."
Yami nodded.
"Go, I want to visit Odion before we get occupied with things."
Yugi looked a little torn. Yami noticed the look on Yugi's face and smiled.
"Go Yugi, Odion won't be any the worst for a few hours delay in your visit. I'll tell him you will come by later."
"Thanks Yami."
"I'll come with you Yug, You need protection even if we are on holiday."
Honda nodded.
"Good idea Jou, I'd come myself but I want to make sure that the camp is set up correctly."
"Its alright, I'm sure our young Prince can't get into to much trouble with only a twelve year old boy as company."
Honda and Yami exchanged a look.
"Can we spare any more guards Honda…..we may need them."
With a snort of disgust Jou promptly turned on his heals and pushed a complaining Yugi out of the main gates towards the town, the sound of laughter echoing behind him.
It took a few attempts at taking directions to find Royu but eventually they found him at the wash pool helping some of the servants gather the laundry. He was grateful to leave the task in order to talk to Yugi.
"How are you this morning Royu?" Yugi asked generally.
"I'm well your Highness. Did you sleep ok?" Rou asked with a deep bow.
"There's no need for that Rou we are friends now and yes thank you I slept very well. This is Jou by the way, my adviser and good friend."
"Good morning Jou. Rou said politely.
"I'm just going to be over here your Highness if you need me," Jou said pointing to an array of stalls and market stands.
"Thanks Jou, I'll shout if I need anything."
Jou nodded and left the two to talk.
Royu and Yugi talked for a good while. Yugi wanted to get to know Royu and explore any links with Bakura, after all their similarity was uncanny. Royu explained to Yugi how he had grown up all his life in the village. His mother had died a couple of years ago from a fever and his father had tried to make up for his loss ever since. They were a close family and as yet his father had not planned to remarry. Yugi asked Royu questions relating to any connection to Bakura but he could not find a link. They were alike in appearance only. Royu had a much gentler expression and nature then Bakura could ever have. In an attempt to explain Yami's actions from the night before Yugi told Royu of Bakura and how he had betrayed the Pharaoh. Royu said he understood completely but admitting to Yugi that he had been terrified when the Pharaoh had approached him with drawn sword. Yugi decided that he would not tell Yami this as Yami already felt guilt enough over the pervious night's incident. Reaching a dead end concerning Bakura Yugi decided to leave the subject and asked of general life in the town. It seemed to be a profitable town with much passing trade. The oasis made it a natural place for travellers to rest and resupply. Royu even proudly stated that the town had its own fortune teller. Yugi was instantly curious by this and asked Royu about the fortune teller. Destiny, fortunes and prophecies naturally were close to Yugi's heart considering how much they had played a part in his life so far. He was a little taken back to realise that he has already meet her as Royu explained to him that the healer he had met the night before was the fortune teller that he spoke of.
"Do you think she can really tell the future?" Yugi asked intrigued.
"I don't know. My father went to see her when my mother became ill, but he has never told me what she said."
"Do others come to see her?"
"Oh yes, she is known as a great seer in these parts and people come from all over to see her."
"Where does she live?"
"On the outskirts of town…would you like me to show you?"
Yugi thought about it for a moment. He had had quite enough of prophecies and destiny for one life time. Did he really want to temp fate again? However, there were many unanswered questions concerning the old woman conduct the night before…Vordia, Ishizu had called her. Maybe this was an ideal opportunity to find out more. After all Ishizu certainly wasn't telling. However, as much as he wanted to ask his questions he wasn't sure he wanted to involve Royu. He was only a child after all and despite current appearances both Yugi and Yami lead dangerous lives. It would be irresponsible to expose him to that.
"That would be great......maybe later though. It's getting near midday, we should eat."
Right on cue Jou appeared from the crowd.
"Did someone mention food?"
Yugi laughed, Jou was as efficient as any time device.
"I was just suggesting that we get something to eat as its near midday."
"Sounds like a plan to me. Shall we head back then?"
Yugi stood and brushed the sand from his robes.
"Yes, I think I've kept Royu from his work long enough." He gave Royu a knowing smile.
Royu look at a little disappointed by smiled back sheepishly.
"Royu before we go can you give me directions to this fortune teller?"
Royu pointed towards the cliff that indicated the edge of the town.
"She lives on the outskirts of the town by the towns mains water spring. If you follow the water course you can't miss her house."
"Thanks Royu. I hope you don't get into trouble for this morning. You can blame me if you do."
Royu smiled.
"Thanks Ok your Highness it was fun."
"I'll see you later then." And with that Yugi and Jou set off through the market crowd.
They had only gone a short way when Yugi caught hold of Jou's arm.
"What's up Yug?"
"Do you mind if we take a short detour before we go back to the house?"
"Sure, where did you want to go?"
Yugi turned to look at the cliff looming over the town.
"There's someone I want to see." With that he told Jou about the fortune teller Royu had told him about and about what had taken place the night before.
"Yug, I'm not going to stop you but are you sure this is such a good idea."
"No I'm not, but there are so many questions to be answered. If I don't try and find out I'll go crazy."
"All right then, let go try and find this fortune teller."
In order to avoid Royu they found a path a little way up from the wash pool and then proceeded to follow its course towards the cliff face. The stream took a fairly direct path towards the cliff and they had been walking for about fifteen minutes before it took a sharp turn to the right and disappeared into deep under growth, far too thick for them to continue to follow it. They were now deep in the shadow of the cliff face.
"Are you sure this is right Yug? I'm not questioning your navigation skills but I don't see any houses, in fact it's been ages since we have seen anything."
"Royu said this was the way. I'm sure he said to follow the stream to the cliff. It should be here."
"He looked around but like Jou could not see any signs of life or dwellings."
"Maybe we should head back Yug. Yami and Honda are going to start getting worried if Royu gets back before we do."
"Maybe your right, sorry Jou I just wanted to….." Yugi stopped and sniffed the air.
"Can you smell smoke?"
Jou also sniffed the air.
"Yeah I can, maybe there is a house around here. It' coming from over there," and with that he pointed towards the trees to their left. A little overgrown but easy to see now that they had found it was a small track leading into the trees. Without further discussion Yugi started up the track closely followed by Jou.
They had only been walking a few short moments when the trees opened out into a clearing. In its centre stood a small but solidly built house, a small wisp of smoke was curling from its roof.
"Guess this is it." Yugi said a little uncertainly.
"Guess so. Look Yug we don't have to do this you know." He looked at Yugi and sighed. Yugi had a look of determination on his face that Jou was more then familiar with.
"Ok go on then. I'll wait here if you don't mind. This place creep's me out".
Yugi looked up at Jou and touched his arm comfortingly.
"Thanks Jou, I won't be long I promise. I just want to ask her a few questions."
Yugi located the door easily and knocked politely. There was no answer. He knocked again but this time the door swung a little inwards.
"Hello." He called tentatively.
"Is anyone there?" There was still no answer but boldly he stepped into the doorway.
'What am I doing?' he thought.
'I can't just go wandering into someone's house uninvited.'
He turned to leave and jumped violently when a woman's voice came from behind him. He spun round quickly to face Vordia
"Welcome young Prince. I have been waiting for you."
Well there you go. Sorry for the wait. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon ;-). As always please review.