(A/N: Sorry for the short chapter; I'll try to post the next one sooner. Thanks for reading!)

Two days later, Ryou found himself searching the castle for the canine courier. The prince was still insisting that the healing retainer keep to only 'non-physical labors.' So Ryou was tasked with minor errands, such as finding the excitable blonde upon Sir Seto's request.

"Jou? Are you up here?"

He carefully tread across the long, red carpet.

"Jou, Seto wants to see you- Jou?"

He noticed that the door was partially open, and he could barely hear a faint noise coming from the other side.

'Oh no... if Jou wandered into the forbidden wing the Prince might get mad... I hope he hasn't broken anything...'

The un-cursed boy walked cautiously down the hall. The heavy doors of the western wing looked intimidating, and it seemed like the carvings of gargoyles and knights were glaring down at him.

The vocalizations grew louder, and Ryou recognized them as a lone voice.

"Jou?" He called out quietly, hoping Prince Bakura wouldn't hear. "Jou, please, you really shouldn't be in there. Come on out."

But as the white-haired youth grew closer and closer to the doors, he noticed something odd. For one thing, the voice was quite low- much lower than Jou's rapid barks.

Secondly, the voice wasn't speaking.

One door was slightly opened, and he nervously pushed it forward. He peered inside the room.

Ryou felt his jaw nearly drop.

A pale figure stood in the center of the room- he had his head raised and his mouth open, forming the sounds that Ryou had heard.

That figure was the Prince... and he was singing.

His voice was low, but smooth and strong. Every note flowed gracefully from his lips. The white-haired retainer was completely awe-struck. He would never have expected such a coarse lord to have such a lovely singing voice.

Ryou was astonished.

It was a slow, almost sorrowful song- but there was an underlying tone of loyalty and longing. The younger of the two nearly gasped at the powerful emotions coming from the vocalist.

When the piece was over, Ryou couldn't resist clapping in awestruck appreciation.

The prince snapped his head towards the applause and glared furiously. He hadn't realized he had an audience.

The Beast was all but enraged. He felt humiliated to be overheard doing something so... maiden-like.

"Get. Out."

But the boy didn't move- he was still in awe. His eyes were wide and his jaw was slightly open.

"My lord... your voice..." The young villager was blushing heavily- "...i-it's quite beautiful." His breath was nearly taken, and he couldn't think clearly- his mind had already drifted off on the romantic notes from before.

The Prince paused. "You... liked it?"

The teenaged servant nodded, suddenly very shy.

But the man-beast's face twisted into a scowl. "You're lying."

Ryou's daze started to fade. "My lord?"

"You're lying." He hissed accusingly. "You're just trying to curry my favor."

The other boy looked hurt. "My lord, I have no reason to curry your favor. I have everything I need."

Prince Bakura's eyes narrowed, but his frown lessened. "Oh? What about money? Freedom? Do you truly desire nothing?"

The villager faltered. "I, I desire things, my lord; but not those things. I swore my life to yours, and I intend to keep my oath. As for money, what use would I have for it? A retainer such as myself is provided for by his master, yes?"

"You could buy things with it. A large house. Precious treasures. Women."

Ryou suddenly glared back, disapproval written all over his face. "I don't believe in 'buying' people. And as for a large home and treasures; I already have those."

The cursed Prince snorted. "These treasures are not yours. They belong to me."

The manservant frowned and folded his arms. "They may not be mine, but I can still enjoy them anytime I like, yes? Unless you plan to blindfold me all day so I cannot view the carvings or the paintings?"

The slight sarcasm at the end of his speech threw the Prince off-guard.

'Somehow... his will never ceases to amaze me...'

Bakura snorted, his expression turning from irritated to sly. "Hmm, on that point I really have no choice but to agree with you- you're certainly clumsy enough without a blindfold."

"What?!" Ryou flushed again, his frown changing into a pout. "I'm not that graceless!"

The royal teen smirked. "Oh-ho? And pray tell, who broke the blue butter-dish yesterday?"

Ryou's pout grew, but it only looked adorable to the amused prince.

"J-Jou ran into me! It wasn't my fault!"

"Alright- then what of the little gold-and-white vase on the pedestal outside the dining hall?"

"You... you knew about that?" The servant's face fell. "But- how did you knowIbroke it?"

The Prince chuckled. "Oh, I knew the vase was broken- but I didn't know who did it." He gave a playful grin. "And now I do."

"What?! You tricked me!" Ryou gasped, his fully-human face becoming cuter than should be possible.

"Oh, rest assured, little servant- it wasn't a challenge." Prince Bakura sniggered triumphantly.

Ryou's face grew redder than a strawberry. "You... you cretin!"

"Ouch, I'm wounded! The pain-! Please, spare me your piercing criticisms!" The creature held up his hand-paws in mock pleading.

The other male stuck his tongue out. "Well, it would serve you right! Just because I've tripped a few times doesn't mean I'm as bad as Jou-!" Ryou gasped. "Oh! I forgot! Jou! I'm supposed to be looking for him!"

"Jou? Why?"

"Sir Seto wanted to see him about something- I'm not sure what."

The Beast waved a heavy paw. "Relax. Seto's certain to have found the dog by now. Don't forget his wings- with those, he's faster than the rest of us."

"Oh." Ryou watched as Bakura started moving towards the doors.

"It's nearly time for the mid-day meal- we should head down to the dining hall."

The manservant nodded and followed after his master. The pair started to walk towards the hall, when Ryou hesitated.

"M-my Master? Um, could I- if you... should you ever-" The polite retainer began blushing as he stumbled over his words.

The Prince raised an eyebrow- he was baffled by the boy's wavering. "Should I ever-?"

Finally the servant gave a heavy gulp and steadied his tone. "Um, should my liege ever desire an audience for his musics..." here Ryou's face reached the warmth of a wildfire- "...I would be very grateful if he would allow me to partake."

Two crimson eyes fully opened in shock before relaxing contentedly. The royal grinned as they pushed open the dining hall doors together.

"I would be most pleased to grant that request."

Sir Seto noticed the faint smiles on the white-haired latecomer's faces, but decided not to comment. He'd caught Jou digging through the kitchen stores, and couldn't wait to inform his lord of the blonde's wrongdoings.