Ch 9 I Always Loved A Storm
Yuugi blinked as soft cries echoed in his ears. They were no more than a whisper, but they held the weight of the world.
He couldn't feel any pain: there was no burning, no splitting headaches, no soreness, just a numb feeling encasing his entire body. He felt as light as air, yet he was swimming in an ocean of dread.
Opening his eyes, Yuugi was met with an unfamiliar room that looked like it could be in a lunar palace; however, everything was cast in a shade of grey as if all color had seeped from the world. It was elegant and depressing at the same time, and it twisted his heart with sadness.
Someone took in a shuddering breath and released it with a melancholy wail. Searching the room, Yuugi found a brown-haired woman sitting with a limp, silver-haired woman in her lap.
She brushed away some of the stray silver hair out of the woman's face before she lifted the lifeless body and hugged it close to her chest. The goddess shook before she threw her head back and released a sorrowful cry.
"LAURA!"
()
Yuugi jumped awake as the last resonates of the cry disappeared into the reaches of his mind; likewise, the pain that was once nullified doubled down with full force making him groan in discomfort. He shifted his head to press his sweaty cheek into the cool ground, clenching his eyes shut as the light from the crystals made his veins throb.
It was hard for him to think, much less remember what he just saw, The image was fading fast and he was too incoherent to keep it pieced together. All he remembered was a familiar woman grieving over something. The last of her distraught wail was still imprinted on his memory and it shook his very being.
"Ah!"
There was another cry that disrupted the memory, and it was coming from nearby. Slowly, Yuugi rolled onto his back -setting off a new wave of protest from his body- and lazily opened one eye. At first, he flinched away from the blue light, but he willed his eye to stay open and look around. There were voices and sounds of people moving, but he couldn't see them.
In his search, his eye rolled over the small pool of water in the room. The water was shifting and rocking with some waves splashing onto the dirt. He watched as the water moved for a few seconds before another cry drew his attention elsewhere. It didn't take long until he found Yami's cage with the door open and three of the religious members grabbing hold of him.
"Come along, cursed prince. We have one final trial for you before you meet your father."
Yami struggled in their grasp, "No!"
Yuugi noticed that the prince looked tired and pale. His crimson eyes were dull with dark bags under his eyes, his skin was grey and clammy, his body looked thin, and there was a long red mark across one of his cheeks. His protests were weaker than before and his voice was no longer as strong and resilient; instead, they were tired and bogged down.
The lynx-fur cloaked man scoffed as he managed to lift Yami to his feet, "If you keep this up, you might just see your mother."
"You can't… do anything," Yami huffed.
A woman in a black bear cloak shook her head, "Just bring him along. We need to give him one more of Mira's blessing before-"
The woman stopped as a wave of water slammed into the back of her head, drenching her body. She froze while the other members stood, mouths agape and eyes wide. Then one broke into a smile.
"It's Mira! That's surely a sign that this will work! At last the prince-!"
Once more, a wave slammed into the man's face, knocking him to the ground. The room fell silent, but there was a hazardous hum in the air.
There was the gurgle of water and the crash of waves against land. All eyes turned towards the pool in the center of the room as it boiled over in rage. A red glimmer shifted beneath the surface of the water as it churned within its confines and lashed out at everything around it.
"Mira…" Yami whispered.
An enraged and distraught scream tore through the room and echoed through the entire cavern.
The pool of water shot up and overflowed into the room, somehow stopping when it reached the entrance way, but the water didn't stop flowing. More water spewed from the pool and began filling the room at an alarming rate. Within seconds Yuugi body was under the water and a few seconds later, it was up to the Lelanians chests'.
The Lelanians were stuck between a state of horror and amusement. Such a great display, it could only be done by the almighty Mira; however, the aura was not one of her motherly, loving demeanor. This one was hostile.
It swirled like a storm cloud and tore at anyone in its reach. There was no mercy in its grip, nor was there reprieve. All one could do in a force so great was to allow themselves to fall victim and hope they survived.
"Great Celestial beings of the heavenly plane!" a woman shouted, "Such power."
"Quickly grab the prince and we'll - AHHH!"
A large wave toppled over the Lelanians and shoved them into the stone walls while Yuugi and Yami remained untouched. As the water rippled backward, it dragged the Lelanians with it and out of the prince's cage. They splashed as they fought against the water, but the current was too strong. Most were too surprised to fully act as they were caught up in the awesome force, but the fear of the unknown left them moving and fighting.
The water crashed against the Lelaninas threateningly, splashing high and falling down on their heads in a vicious manner. It pooled them together and herded them away from the teens and towards the entrance of the room. As the group neared the invisible wall containing the water within the room, they began to panic and kick against the water vigorously. Their efforts proved futile as they were then tossed out of the room as if they were nothing more than driftwood on the stormy sea. Some tried to fight their way back into the room, but the waves pushed back and churned, never giving them a moment to return.
Yuugi closed his eyes as a soft wave pushed him up and towards his cage door. The moment that his body hit the metal his head surfaced and he gasped as fresh air filled his lungs. He coughed and sputtered as the turbulent waters slipped into his mouth, but it was soothing. The liquid cooled his inflamed throat and calmed his abused stomach. Even as the waves brushed against his face, the water relaxed him and cooled his burning body. It felt like a lick of ice cream on a hot day or the feel of a mother's kiss on a scraped knee. Despite the grey color and the constant churning, the water was gentle and its flavor was clean.
"Yuugi!"
The was a pound against the door as Yami was shoved against it by the waves. Yuugi opened his eyes to look at him and offered a tired smile. Yami sighed as another wave crashed over his head, splashing both of them.
"Hang on, I'll get you out," Yami said before he dunked his head under the murky water.
Yuugi watched with interest as Yami wiggled under the water while clenching and unclenching his hands. While Yuugi found the motion weird, he couldn't find the interest to question it much.
After a few more seconds of repeating the hand motions, the rope tying Yami's hand together snapped and got swept into the undertow. With a triumphant smile, Yami rose his head out of the water and reached for the lock on Yuugi's door.
"Mira give me strength," Yami muttered before a large wave drew back and crashed into the cage door.
Yuugi yelled as the wave pushed him away and under the water. More liquid flowed into his body and down to his stomach, but unlike before, it didn't hurt. The sensation didn't make his stomach twist and want to vomit, nor did it burn a trail down his throat like acid: it just filled his stomach and soothed his body. Even with the storm above him, the water provided a quiet reprieve from it all. It was tempting to stay under and never leave.
He was jerked out of his thoughts as a hand grabbed his hood and pulled him upwards.
"Are you alright?" Yami asked as he struggled to keep both of their heads above water.
Yuugi nodded, "...I'm fine," he opened his eyes and took in the raging scene before him. The room was almost completely full of water and there was no one aside from them floating in the dark depths. Waves rippled out from the center of the room where the water bubbled like a spring, "...what now?"
Yami -with a little help from Yuugi- began to swim out of the cage and towards the center of the bubbles, "... I think that..." Yami panted, "… pool leads outside… if we… swim through it…. Maybe… we can escape…"
Yuugi tugged back until Yami stopped and looked at him. There was a grave tone in his amethyst eyes, "... What if it leads to nowhere…. And we run out of air?"
Yami pulled Yuugi over and rested their heads together, "Then at least we're leaving Lelania together."
With a nod of approval, Yuugi closed his eyes and took a calming breath. His body still felt weak, as he was sure Yami's was too, but they need to make this final push. If they stayed here there was no telling what kinds of things would be done, nor how long they could last. It was a scary thought how they would need to risk drowning in order to live.
Amethyst eyes snapped open and locked onto determined crimson. They bother understood, and they were both ready.
They both took a deep breath and dove below the water. Yuugi wanted to keep his eyes closed and avoid the inevitable sting, but he knew Yami was too weak to do this on his own. While he was still too weak to do much, Yuugi was determined to help in any way he could. Forcing his eyes open, Yuugi had to bite his tongue in order to keep his eyes from closing as soon as the water hit them. Still, after a few seconds, he became used to the feeling of rushing liquid against the soft flesh.
That being said, it was hard to see much under the water. The turbulent waves kept kicking up dirt, creating a cloud the made the water murky and difficult; however, the venting pool was clear for them to see as the water erupting from the center kept the cloud at bay.
They fought against the current and swam closer to the pool; likewise, the closer they got, the stronger the current was and they both needed to use the rim of the pool to keep from being pushed to the surface. In order to go deeper, they had to climb down into the pool using the rocky walls.
Water whipped past Yuugi's face, pushing his hair back and making it harder for him to keep his eyes open. It was getting dark and the water was getting colder; moreover, his lungs were beginning to hurt from holding his breath for so long. His muscles ached from use and his thoughts whirled around his head: were they going to make it? How far did the pool go? Where did it let out? Was Yami okay? Was he still alive?
The more he thought, the less his concentration became and his hand slipped from the rock it was holding. He yelped as his balance was thrown and his body was thrust upwards, while his other hand tightened on its rock. Clamping his mouth shut, Yuugi cursed as his air supply was cut short and water invaded his mouth. He needed to focus or else he wouldn't make it.
Adrenaline pumped through his brain as black began to creep into his vision and his fingers began to slip. No, he couldn't end like this, he had to keep going. Closing his eyes, Yuugi brought his free arm towards the wall and clamped onto a sturdy perch. His focus went to his hands as they cautiously moved from one rock to the next, inching his way deeper into the dark pit of water.
Seconds, minutes, hours it felt like passed and still they were trapped, stuck heading in a direction that seemingly had no end. Yuugi couldn't take it. His lungs burnt, his head spun, his muscles ached, and his nerves were fried. The only thing that kept him moving was adrenaline and the knowledge that Yami was in just as bad of a position. They could get out, they needed to get out, they-
"AH!"
Yuugi shot his eyes open, fighting against the urge to close them, when he heard Yami cry out beside him. It was difficult to make out anything aside from shadows in the dim pit, but Yuugi could vaguely make out the prince's shape as it began drifting towards the surface.
Lunging out to catch him, Yuugi managed to grab his wrist before the current pushed the prince up to the room. Yami managed to grab onto the wall once more, but Yuugi could feel him shaking with effort.
Finally, Yuugi found a lip in the wall that opened into open water. Gripping onto Yami, Yuugi kicked off of the wall and into the open with his last breath. The two of them floated upwards and Yuugi closed his eyes praying that they were free. Beside him, Yami wasn't moving, whether or not it was from exhaustion or he ran out of air, Yuugi didn't know, and he was getting scared. He could see a blue light above them and they were getting close.
He gasped as his head broke the surface of the water and entered the open air. He gulped in oxygen while pulling Yami up so his head was above the water. When Yami remained limp in his arms, Yuugi tried to look at him and wake him up, but the two were pulled back down as a wave crashed over them.
Holding tight to the prince, Yuugi desperately kicked his legs in order to resurface and give them both the air they were lacking; however, they only got a second of reprieve before another wave tumbled over them. Yuugi could feel the power of the water pushing and pulling them to wherever it wanted. It was vast, it was strong, and it was in control. In his already weak state, it was difficult to keep himself afloat, but now he had to worry about Yami who sat like lead in his arms.
As Yuugi reappeared on the surface, he opened his eyes to see where they were, but all he could see was water. In every angle, as far as the eye could see, grey waves toppled over one another and churned like a stormy sea. Panic gripped Yuugi and his heart began to race, his blood began to pump as fear shot through his veins, all while his mind began to fade.
Black began to overtake his vision just as another wave forced the two of them under. Yuugi held tight to the prince and tried to swim up, but he lacked the energy. His legs felt like jello and his arms were sore: they couldn't keep going. Even his grip on the prince began to loosen, but he refused to let go. They had to make it…
Yuugi felt the water as it rushed backward as a large wave built up. It swept the two of them into the undertow as if they were nothing more than stray feathers and collected them in its stockpile of energy. Yuugi tried to fight against it, to keep them both afloat, but the force of the wave outweighed his remaining energy, and before he knew it, they were cresting over the top of the wave.
It seemed to resonate with energy as it collected and grew, storming toward a random direction with the two teens in tow. Yuugi closed his eyes knowing that it was useless to fight and he was too tired to try. Then his back hit stone.
His eyes shot open and took in the area around him. Behind him, shooting tall into the air was a large cliff face where the waves were beating against it. Yuugi let out a defeated cry before his head was pushed below the water. He sputtered when he rose up.
"Help!" he managed to call out before he was forced back under again. When he resurfaced he tired again, "Help please! Somebody!"
As his body was forced against the rock face once more, his grip on the limp prince loosened and the undertow nearly pulled him away. Yuugi scrambled to collect Yami, but struggled to keep both of their heads above the water. His clothes where heavy and clung to his body, his muscles were sore and tired, and his brain was stressed and frayed; he didn't know how much longer he had.
Tilting his head back, Yuugi cast a longing glance to the top of the cliff. To be so close to freedom, but unable to achieve it, it was cruel.
A tiny shape appeared over the edged and peered down to the floating teens before it disappeared from sight. Yuugi tried to call out to the figure, but was stopped as a rush of water toppled over his head. As he fought against the waves, he heard something dive into the water not too far away just before arms wrapped around his torso and pulled him up.
Yuugi kept a tight grip on Yami as he was hoisted out of the water and into the air with whoever it was still holding him. They didn't stop rising once they broke the surface of the water; instead, they continued to ascend into the air along the side of the cliff.
Yuugi blinked his eyes open and watched as the ocean below grew further away, "How…?" he finally looked to see who had saved them. His face brightened, "Yusei!"
The Neko didn't respond to him as he continued to watch the approaching cliff top. Yuugi noticed that Yusei was holding onto him with only one arm while the other was outstretched above his head where a thick twine rope was tied around his wrist. It stretched over the rock face and seemed to be pulling them up on its own. It wasn't long before the top was in reach and they were pulled to safety.
Yusei helped heave Yuugi onto the grass first while Yuugi focused on pulling Yami with him. Once they were on the ground, Yusei rushed over to the pile of rocks that Yuugi had seen a few days earlier, but this time a thick twine rope was tied around it. Yuugi noticed as the Neko neared the pile, the rope around his wrist wasn't gathering or dragging behind him; instead, it seemed to shorten and wrap back around his wrist as though it were no more than a bracelet.
Too tired to think too much on it, Yuugi laid on his back with Yami beside him. The wind whipped around his body, chilling him to the bone while bringing a clean, crisp scent. It was fresh and cool with only a hint of glorean, reminding him of its presence. His eyelids drooped while his lungs rose and fell with each breath, trying to purge his system of the poisonous plant.
Realization swept over Yuugi as his muscles finally got a chance to relax. They were safe and in Yusei's care. No longer were they trapped in the cave and tortured, instead they were in a safe presence. They were going to be okay. The thought made Yuugi's eyes droop as sleep tried to pull him away.
"Don't fall asleep. I need one of you awake." Yusei warned as he bounded back to the two.
Yuugi groaned, blinking away the exhaustion, as Yusei kneeled between the two teens heads, his attention on Yami, "Is he okay?" Yuugi asked.
Blue eyes remained trained on Yami as Yusei slipped one hand under his sleeved and pulled out a vial, "I don't know. I need to know what happened to you both."
"We were…. Taken underground somewhere….. Put into cages….. Poisoned…."
"Poisoned?" Yusei stiffened and shot Yuugi a serious look, "With what?"
"Glorean. They made us drink it and the smell was everywhere…. "
Moving quickly, Yusei pulled out a small pouch and reached his hand inside. When he found what he needed, he held out a familiar looking ball of herbs and split it in half.
"Here. Eat this," Yusei said as he held out one half to Yuugi.
Yuugi gratefully took the medicine and plopped some of it into his mouth. At first, it was just as it was before, same taste and texture, but the longer he chewed, the tougher it became. The paste coated his mouth and stuck to his tongue. It coated his throat and stomach soothingly and seemed to soak up any of the glorean inside of him; however, it was becoming hard to chew and swallow. His jaw struggled to grind the paste, but whether it was from the gummy texture or his tired muscles, he didn't know.
"I don't know how either of you are alive," Yusei commented as he then rose the vial to Yuugi's lips, "Drink."
Yuugi did as he was told and sipped some of the liquid before it was taken away. The drink had no flavor and slipped over his tongue as though it wasn't there. Still, as it passed through him it lessened the pastes' stickiness and made it easier to breathe.
When he was sure that the medicine was down and the paste was manageable, Yuugi turned to look over at Yusei who plopped the second half of the medicine in his mouth and chewed. After a few seconds, Yusei propped open the prince's mouth and placed his lips on top.
Yuugi blinked as a hot emotion stirred his stomach, "What are you doing?"
Yusei pulled back and wiped some of the green paste from the corner of his mouth before he popped open the vial, "He's too weak to chew the medicine and it needs to get in his system now," Yusei then poured the remaining liquid past Yami's lips before his closed the other's mouth. He leaned back and sighed.
Yuugi watched him as Yusei sat back and cast his glazed over expression towards the sea. His ears would flicker at even the slightest sound while his tail swished behind him, disturbing the grass. The longer he watched, the more Yuugi noticed how haggard his appearance was. There were dark circles under his eyes, his cheekbones seemed a little more pronounced, his blue eyes looked tired, and his hair was unkempt. Instead of looking like the proud, royal cat he was, he looked like a stray street cat.
"What happened to you?" Yuugi inquired.
Yusei thought for a moment, "Your disappearance caused more of an upset than Yami would like to admit."
"And the King?"
Yusei looked down at the prince, "He is a worried father."
Yuugi nodded his head and closed his eyes. He could only imagine what the King must be feeling; the fear of losing his son, the worry of not knowing what is going on, the pressure of being strong for the public, it all seemed so draining. The King can't show his emotions because that would upset the public in more ways than one. He had to hide his feelings for the benefit of everyone; it was tragic to think about.
With a sigh, Yuugi opened his eyes only to blink in surprise at what he saw sitting on Yusei's shoulder: the small black cat. Yusei seemed unfazed by the feline's presence as it rested on his shoulder, its tail swishing along his back; meanwhile, the cat stared on towards the ocean as though it was there the whole time. Blinking again, Yuugi stared wide-eyed as another cat, similar to the one before, walked out from behind Yusei. It rubbed his head against the Neko's arm -to which Yusei gave no response- before it sat down beside Yami's head. There was also another car sitting atop Yami's stomach, then by his leg, and in Yusei's lap, and nuzzling his hand.
Yuugi's fingers twitched as the cat's fur rubbed at his palm, begging for attention; however, the second Yuugi went to pet his head, the cat backed away and scampered towards his feet. There were many more cats that were scattered along the plain, more so than Yuugi thought even lived in Lelania. They were sitting, sleeping, grooming, playing, and purring all around and on him, Yami, and Yusei. Yusei paid the creatures no mind, while Yami stayed asleep and unfazed by their presence.
Just as Yuugi was about to accept the sudden flood of feline's, heavy paws padded in his chest. They were heavy like a panther, but silent like a shadow and although they felt small and dainty like a house-cat, these were also strong and fearsome. Each step set off a wave of dread and uneasy inside Yuugi, and he feared what he would see if he looked at it, but curiosity poked at his mind. What creature could cause such emotions? What did it look like? Was it special? Was it like the others?
Slowly he turned his head to face the predator on his chest and when they locked eyes, he froze. Fear and discord strung at his brain as amethyst locked onto piercing, haunting, striking yellow eyes. This cat, while similar to the other's with its black coat, didn't hold the same loyal blue eyes like the other; these eyes didn't spark security, boldness, and warmth, they projected calamity, discourse, a tempest.
When he felt its tiger-like claws sink into his chest, he screamed.
"Yuugi!"
He felt Yusei shake his shoulder, and all the pain was gone. As Yuugi took deep gulps of air, his eyes darted around, searching for the yellow-eyed cat, but he couldn't see it; in fact, he couldn't see any of the cats. All the little black bodies were gone from the field and cliff, and none were they reclining on the four of them. They were all gone.
Yuugi blinked as another pair of hands rubbed his back soothingly, "Hey, what's wrong?"
Taking a shuttering breath, Yuugi turned towards Mana who sat behind him with a worried smile, "When did you…?"
"I came as soon as Yusei said he found you," Mana explained as she wrapped him in a spare blanket she brought with her. Yuugi noticed there was one covering Yami as well.
Yusei tugged on his shoulder's to refocus his attention, "Why did you scream?"
Yuugi gripped the blanket closer as a bitter chill rushed over his body, "There was a cat, and it attacked me."
"Back in the cave?" Mana asked.
Yuugi shook his head, "No, just now. It was a black cat with yellow eyes."
"Yuugi, nothing has been around you, and I should now. I've been watching," Mana exclaimed as she pat his shoulder.
Amethyst eyes widened, "But I saw it. It came with the other cats and-"
"Yuugi," Yusei turned the teens head so he could look him in the eye, "There was nothing."
The cold refused to lessen, "But…"
"Yusei, I think it's time we take them back to the castle. They're probably both tired and I think it's getting to Yuugi," Mana reasoned.
Yuugi huffed, "I may be tired, but I know what I saw."
Mana smiled, "Let's get you to the castle first before we talk any more about cats. The King will be glad to know that both of you are safe."
Mana stood up while Yusei scooped Yuugi into his arms. Yuugi put up little protest as he was then placed onto Mana's back. She hooked her arms under his legs and Yuugi wrapped his arms around her neck to keep from falling off, but it was difficult keeping the blanket up, not choking Mana, and holding onto Yami's scarf.
Yuugi raised his head from where it was resting in Mana's shoulder, "Wait, Yusei!" the Neko stopped as he kneeled to pick up Yami, "Tie this back on him, please." Yuugi waved the scarf weakly to indicate what he was talking about.
Yusei silently took the garment and tied it back around Yami's torso. Yuugi smiled: Yami looked complete whenever he was wearing that.
With everything in place, Yusei picked up the prince, and the four of them began their trek back to the palace. It was quiet as they walked back: eerily so. The air rung with silence as it seeped into any empty space it could. The only solace was the splash of distant waves crashing below, but even that was becoming distant. Soon the waves were nothing but a whisper, an echo, then a memory.
The town loomed over the horizon with a sense of foreboding. The shadows seemed alive and encompassed every building, the lamps were dim and flickered erratically, and the buildings seemed haunted. Even the vibrance from the water, the viens of the city, seemed to be absent upon their arrival.
As they ran through the narrow streets, Yuugi could see people peeking out of their windows. Some smiled and waved while others scoffed and closed the blinds. Very few Lelanians wondered the streets, but of those who were, their reactions mirrored those inside. Those who were displeased at their return merely turned their nose and walked away. Yuugi was glad that the other half wasn't as cold; in fact, many of the people who were pleased to see them came to inquire what happened and if they were okay.
Yugi would have answered, but voices and faces were merging together. It was getting hard to determine singular people, let alone a single question, and his eyelids felt heavy. Still, he fought off sleep in favor of ebbing away the peoples' worry: even if all he could do was nod his head weakly. Also, despite not being able to fully understand them, it warmed Yugi's heart to know that there were those who genuinely wanted him and Yami there. If only Yami could understand that.
Yuugi sighed when they finally entered the palace. While the stone halls echoed the change in the city, it still brought him comfort to know that they were back home, safe and secure. Yusei and Mana didn't stop, however, and continued to haul Yami and Yuugi through the corridors and back into Yami's bedroom. Yusei laid Yami down on the couch while Mana tried to set Yuugi down in the bed, but Yuugi didn't want to be too far from Yami. Mana tried to convince him that it was better for him to lay on the bed, but she gave up when she noticed Yusei had already made a make-shift bed for Yuugi right beside Yami. Yuugi was grateful for the Neko's understanding, and as he was being helped down by both Mana and Yusei, Yuugi made sure to give him a quick hug. It was short and it was weak, but Yuugi saw the quick twitch of a smile it caused for Yusei.
As Yuugi cuddled amongst the pillows and blankets, his eyes shifted to Yami who still had yet to move since the escape. Then he heard the door open.
"Where is he? Where is my son?"
Yusei and Mana shot to their feet while the King rushed into the room. As he came around the couch, Yuugi got to see the King and was surprised to see him exhausted and frazzled. His hair was a mess, his ma'an was sloppy, and his clothes were disheveled. Gone was the regal manner of a king and instead was the worried persona of a father.
The King only glanced at Yuugi before his attention was brought to Yami. A relieved smile crossed his lips as tears brimmed his eyes. He reached out his shaky hands as if to touch Yami, but he hesitated and as his hands hovered above his son, his face looked torn between concern and sorrow. Yuugi watched him intently with his own somber feeling taking over. In the end, the king retreated and straightened to his full height.
"I'm glad he's safe," he whispered before he took a breath to regain his composure, "Where did you find him?" he asked Yusei.
"They were both in the water over the cliff," Yusei answered as he flicked his tail.
"The cliff?"
Yusei nodded, "The one by the grave."
The King looked away, "I see. Were they hurt?"
Yusei glanced at Yuugi, "Yuugi told me that they were both locked in an area filled with glorean and that they were fed the plant. I gave them both medicine, but it will take them awhile to fully heal."
The King closed his eyes, "Please don't take my son," he muttered under his breath. Yuugi would have missed it had he not been so close.
Yuugi offered a small smile, "He stayed strong throughout all of it. Had it not been for him, neither one of us would have made it."
The King smiled down at Yuugi and kneeled beside him. He rested a ringed hand on Yuugi's forehead, gratitude written all over his face.
He removed his hand with a solemn face, "I'm sorry that you both got captured. As king of Lelania, it is my responsibility to look after my subjects. Such behavior is not tolerated in our culture."
Yuugi shook his head, "I don't blame anyone for what happened, but I appreciate your sincerity."
Something flashed within the King'spale eyes: a glint of familiarity flashing across his stoic expression. The King hide it well, making sure that it was only there for a second before it was hidden once more. Yuugi watched as the King stood up and walked silently to one of the windows. Then someone knocked on the door. After the king told them to enter, a young maid opened the door and bowed.
"Excuse me, my King, but the council has requested a meeting."
The King sighed, "Very well. Tell them I am on my way," after she left, he turned to Yusei, "Make sure that both my son and Yuugi are taken care of before you join us. I wish to have you with me before the council divides." after Yusei's nod of approval, the King left the room.
Mana smiled, "I wish Yami would see his dad like that. Maybe then they could be a family again."
Yuugi nodded in agreement, "It may take awhile, but I think Yami can learn to forgive."
"You think I haven't tried?"
Mana and Yuugi jumped as Yami's tired voice piped into their conversation. On the couch, Yami groaned and shifted, trying to find a new position to lay in. When it appeared that nothing would be comfortable, Yami gave up and opened his eyes.
He stared at Mana, "I know that to some he is nice and caring, but he has made dire mistakes that hurt other people. He fears public rejection and so hides behind public opinion," he shifted to Yuugi, "I have forgiven him, but he always goes back, and I can't forgive a person making the same mistake."
Yuugi met his glare, "That's unfair to him. He is the king and so he has to take everyone's opinion into consideration. A king is meant to keep peace in his kingdom."
"But he is also supposed to keep justice and equality. A king is supposed to do what is best for the city, even if the people don't understand it yet."
"But if a king stirs his people too much, they won't trust him, and thus won't follow him."
"If the king only ever did what the people wanted and were comfortable with, nothing would ever change. A king is supposed to lead, not follow."
The room fell silent as the two lovers glared at each other, both stubborn to their own ideals. Mana sifted her gaze between the two, uncertain whether she should intervene, while Yusei leaned back against the table with his arms crossed. Yuugi was the one who relented and closed his eyes, turning his head away.
"I wish we could just all get along," he muttered.
Yami scoffed at the comment but said nothing else. Yuugi curled in on himself as his thoughts raced in his head. A small part of him had hoped that his encounter would bring Yami and his father together, but that seemed to do only half a job. The King clearly cared for his son and feared that he was hurt, but Yami still seemed indifferent. If not even this could bring them together, then what could?
Dread befell the group as a scream shattered the silence of the castle.
