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Chapter X: The Little Match Girl
Idiot!
Yuugi threw himself on his bed, his broom clattering onto the floor, having followed its owner back home. The boy clenched his teeth in frustration, grabbing the nearest pillow to smother himself with. He flailed, legs swishing and kicking the bedspread with ever-quickening blows. His arms tightened around the pillow, fully intent on pushing it to cover his airways – it would be a quick death, right?
But suddenly, his grip loosened; his legs stilled mid-kick, before going completely limp. He didn't have the strength to move anymore, it seemed: it felt like someone had anesthetized him on the spot. Limbs heavy and aching, he was left lying on the bed, fingers grasping the sheets in a vain effort to rid himself of anxiety.
He was an idiot.
How could he have forgotten the time like that? He had promised himself a few hours only – not the entire night!
A wonderful, never-ending night!
Yuugi buried his face in the mess of sheets.
He had lingered at the ball hours past his intended curfew, even though he had known that the enchanted fabric would lose its glamour the very minute the sun would rise! So, he had not only disregarded the curfew, but he had also completely forgotten one of the utter basic – basic! – limitations of illusionary magic as a whole!
What was wrong with him: forgetting a concept as elementary as that…! Even absolute novices were smart enough to study and memorize the limits their spells and runes had, until they knew them by heart (for otherwise, the potential consequences could not only be embarrassing, but also hazardous to one's health.)
Stupid, stupid, stupid…!
Like a fool, Yuugi had messed up – and thus, he had had to resort to extreme means.
Oh, Atem – I didn't mean to! I'm so sorry…!
He had fled, like a coward: there was no other explanation, no other justification for his actions. When the dawn had broken, he had just…panicked. He would have been wearing nothing but a cheap old cloak soon, in a place filled with judging eyes – he had had to do something –
A hastily scribbled rune, drawn with shaking fingers; he had chosen to run away.
…the glove is still warm, Yuugi thought. He felt a painful pinch in his heart when he remembered how he had had to pull his hand away from Atem's.
The prince probably hated him now – who wouldn't, having been left like that, without a proper goodbye?
You couldn't have said anything anyway.
Yuugi laughed; or at least he tried, but the sound came out more as a hoarse sob.
I'll have to go and apologize tomorrow.
He just hoped that Atem would understand.
With tired eyes, the boy glanced around the cottage, only to spot one of the grimoires: it was staring at him. He should try to study – maybe that would make him feel a bit better –
He was asleep before he could even make it out of the bed.
Yuugi woke up late in the afternoon. After the inevitable grogginess faded away – with the help of a big dose of bewitched coffee (ingredients not disclosed) – the dismay immediately kicked in. The sky was already starting to show signs of the dusk approaching; in other words, he would have to begin to prepare his attire for the night, or he wouldn't be able to go the ball at all.
(He hadn't even opened his books, either! How was he supposed to pass the exam if he didn't even study for it in the first place?)
So, with the taste of coffee still burning his palate, Yuugi dragged himself to the attic. He returned down with his arms stuffed full of see-through organza: a stiff, light fabric that came in multiple different colours.
He had a few strips of non-translucent cloth, too, for the lining of the bodice. He took that fabric, and carefully laid it down onto the floor. Then, after checking and running through the measurements a few more times in his head, the witch began to mark the cloth, before finally pinning and cutting it to its proper shape.
The bodice was supposed to be snug, with a corset-like lacing on the back. Halfway through the first fitting, however, Yuugi had to fight a blush off his face. The top looked pretty good on him, being just the right size and not at all as uncomfortable as he had first thought – but would it be proper to show up at a royal ball with this tight-fitting an outfit? It left his shoulders bare, too!
A tiny voice at the back of Yuugi's mind giggled – I'm sure Atem wouldn't mind at all – but he silenced it with a swift shake of his head. He would just have to wear a shawl, that's all (he was pretty sure that he had enough extra fabric for one) and hope that he wouldn't cause too big of a scandal. It was too late to make any more modifications, anyway – the sun would start setting soon.
Pinning slips of organza onto the bodice to cover the lining, Yuugi stitched them on securely, and then began to work on the skirt part. Bunching up pieces of multicoloured organza – starting with yellow, and then adding orange and a few shades of red in between, having all the different layers of cloth share warm hues – he slowly sewed them into a bell shape, which would spread out into a perfect circle when spun around.
A part of Yuugi wondered how it would look like when Atem and he would dance.
After a final dress up (checking if everything fit well, and that there were no rips or loose threads hanging about) he gave his work a nod of approval, before going and hanging it up outside, pinned to a clothes line – just in time.
The sun had started to set, bringing on the dusk – and along with it, the magnificent play of colours. It almost looked like the horizon was on fire; from behind the trees, lights like flames rose up, flaring in all their amazing beauty. The heavenly glow lit up the cloud linings as if someone had struck a match to the buttermilk sky, and the bright colours began to slowly eat away at the soft downy plush.
Intense, burning hues continued to spread across the sky like wildfire, pushing back the darkness that would eventually emerge victorious as the night would continue to fall. However, for now, the dusk was the conqueror.
As if on cue, the sun peeked one final time from behind the horizon, its farewell rays more piercing than the rest – showing that it wouldn't go down without a fight.
Yuugi murmured without a sound under his breath – now was the time.
The dress, swaying lazily on the clothes line, caught on fire.
In a matter of seconds, the whole garment was engulfed in heat and smoke, with flames licking at the end of the skirt, climbing upwards. They coiled around the bodice like a swarm of snakes, leaving behind a trail of burns, while the hemline blackened with soot, curling up like paper being teased by a candle.
It only lasted for a short while; as soon as the sun had disappeared, having gone off to slumber till morning and no longer shining bright, the fire began to die away, too. Soon, all that remained was an intact, unburnt dress – yet, there was still a distant scent of smoke wafting in the air.
Carefully, Yuugi donned the dress, still feeling the residual heat as a comfortable warmth around his middle. Burning patches, like embers, had been embedded into the woven threads of the attire that now glowed when catching light. The skirt, too, looked like it had been made of clusters of flames – just as iridescent and burning as fire itself.
Yuugi spun around, watching as the layered organza spread out into a circle – he could almost hear the crackling of the hearth.
Smiling to himself, he reached up and plucked a few leaves from a maple he stood next to – although most of the tree was still green, a couple of the leaves already had a pleasant, warm red tint to them. With a few taps, a mask was crafted, fitting perfectly with the rest of the attire.
The clock was ticking: the second night of the masquerade would soon begin. Anxiety gnawed on Yuugi's gut – he would have to go and apologize to Atem, no matter how far behind he was with his studies (he had brought this upon himself, after all, having dawdled at the castle all night.) So, with a swift kick, he pushed his broom airborne again.
That night, someone thought they saw a shooting star.
Atem had been a bundle of nerves all day. Watching him pace back and forth like a cat on hot bricks had been entertaining – if only for the first half an hour. After that, Jounouchi hadn't been that interested in the peculiar sight anymore, instead preferring to sneak off into the kitchens to have a little foretaste of the dishes to come.
Nevertheless, night was falling fast, and soon, it was time to begin. As the gates to the castle were opened, and a signal was given to start the party anew, Yuugi was there, arriving with the first of the guests. Jounouchi let out a sigh of relief; he wouldn't have to put up with a paranoid prince tonight.
Atem sought out Yuugi immediately from amongst the crowd, and had very little trouble finding him: not only had the boy not hidden his hair this time around, but he was also wearing one of the most eye-catching costumes Atem had ever seen to date.
(A tiny voice at the back of his mind cheered loudly.)
Like the night before, immediate gossip ensued ("Look at all those colours – forget the colours, can't you see how short that skirt is?") Once again, Atem brushed the not-so-hushed voices aside: Yuugi was here – that was all that mattered.
The prince embraced the boy right at the gates: there was a pleasant warmth coiling in his stomach.
"Thank goodness you came," he breathed out, relieved.
He saw Yuugi blush under his mask, pink colour spreading across his cheeks and dying the tips of his ears. The boy opened his mouth, as if to speak, but his jaw snapped back up almost immediately (he was really passionate about the idea of a mysterious masquerade, wasn't he?) Instead, he returned the prince's embrace, the pale arms rising up to curl around the other's shoulders.
Somehow, Atem knew that the gesture was meant as an apology.
"Don't worry – it's fine," the prince said, letting go of the boy so he could take a look at him and his pretty face "but…don't run away like that anymore…please?"
Yuugi nodded furiously.
Atem smiled – then, with a mischievous smirk pulling on his lips, he offered the boy his arm.
"Well then, shall we go? I wish to show you around my home, if you don't mind."
Yuugi stared at him, blinking – it wasn't until the prince nudged the boy a little that the other seemed to realize that he was being given the privilege of having a guided tour around the castle. How could anyone say no to that? It was practically a once-in-the-lifetime opportunity! (Although if it were up to Atem, Yuugi would be visiting the castle a lot more in the future.)
Grinning, but biting it back to an amiable smile (it seemed that Yuugi wanted to play along – good) the boy curtsied, letting Atem take his hand.
It felt just as warm as last night.
So in they went, running hand in hand past the shocked crowd – Atem thought he might have heard some woman shriek – and into the castle, bypassing the ballroom with a simple glance thrown its way. This wouldn't be a night for dancing (well, perhaps maybe later) but for exploration and adventure.
Atem felt giddy.
Suddenly, he felt like he was eight years old again: the drapes framing the beautiful ornamental windows became vines, lianas to grab and climb (he found out that it was surprisingly easy to swing from one curtain to another, in spite of donning a suit.) Yuugi followed him to the best of his abilities – though in his case, playing Tarzan wasn't really a viable option – so he chose to simply run at the other's side, the hem of his dress swaying in beat with his quick steps.
Bypassing servants shot them vexed looks, clearly annoyed (who would be cleaning up the mess, huh?) but at the same time, they knew there was nothing they could do – the prince's word was law, one only abolished by his parents. If he wanted to turn the insides of the castle into an untamed jungle, so be it – unfortunately.
"The floor is lava!" Atem shouted suddenly, dropping down onto the carpet below. Yuugi didn't have any time to react – he noticed too late that he had been standing on naked floor. Fortunately, the prince came to his rescue: stopping to scoop the boy up, he sped along the hallway with mad laughter bubbling up his throat.
"Hey – let's shortcut through the kitchens," he said, grinning down at Yuugi, "and get some snacks. We can go have a picnic in my room!"
If Yuugi objected, he didn't know – at this point, the prince was too much into his little game to really notice what was happening around him – but he guessed that the other would be okay with the idea of having a spontaneous outing indoors.
Yuugi was.
A tray with a half-eaten sandwich tower and a couple of leftover cupcakes rested on the nightstand. Atem grabbed the pitcher that stood next to this masterpiece of culinary engineering, and poured himself more punch. He offered Yuugi some, too, but the boy shook his head: he was all-too full already.
"You know, it must be a miracle that Jounouchi hasn't joined us yet," the prince laughed, secretly pleased. "I thought his sense of smell was better than this – seriously, if anyone could sniff out a crumb fifteen feet away, it would be him!"
Yuugi grinned, slapping down another card; at the moment, the two were in the middle of a game.
"Eight of diamonds, huh?" Atem thought out loud, peering down at his own cards. "What to choose, what to choose…"
It was a friendly little game of cards: enough to give them something to do, but not as intense as their game of chess (which was still on-going, though largely forgotten by now.) They continued to take turns, playing and bluffing –
– until the very first rays of the morning sun began to paint the walls around them.
Immediately, Yuugi jolted up from the bed the two had been sitting on; his lips thinned and twisted like he was about to let out a groan.
Atem couldn't help but chuckle a little at the sight – but he shut up when he saw how horrified Yuugi looked: the boy had gone ashen pale once again.
"Sorry," the prince said, "are you alright? Have I kept you for too long?"
The boy was wringing his own hands, obviously distressed. Suddenly, he curtsied (which, despite his worry, made Atem grin crookedly) and turned to pull the other into a hug.
The prince knew that it was Yuugi's way of saying goodbye.
Atem smiled, happy with being embraced by the other for a good while (he was feeling warm and fuzzy and perfectly comfortable right now, thank you very much) until he finally moved to let the boy go – but just as he was about take a step back and allow the other make his leave, a wayward idea seized him, and he instead grasped Yuugi's hand.
"You know…we never got to dance tonight…"
Atem spun the boy around: immediately, the dress flared to life in a fiery arc, rising up to the clockwise motion like a bouquet of flames. Once, twice – three times around Yuugi went, until Atem brought him to a stop, draping him over his arm; there was a distant sound of sizzling to be heard –
The prince bent down to whisper into the witch's ear:
"I do wish you'll come tomorrow – I want to show you the gardens. And…"
At this point, he stumbled a bit.
"…I…I think I'll have something important to tell you."
The prince's stomach coiled, and he knew it wasn't because of the magic that had started to circle around them. With one final squeeze of Yuugi's hand, he backed away, watching as the tiny rune did its job: a brief flash of light followed, and the other was gone.
Now standing alone in the empty room, Atem wondered if he truly had the courage to face tomorrow night.