The pharaoh and Jouno revealing their memory of the pasts, enjoy~ ^^
~ Chapter 11: Friendship Statement ~
Bakura and the men in black robes have disappeared from the pharaoh and his group's sight, leaving the twins as the evidence of the thief king's appearance. When they got back to the palace Seth asked the pharaoh to let him became the caretaker for Jouno and the twins. Even though the other high priests were unsure about it, the pharaoh granted his wish. Now it was almost a year since the incident occurred.
The sky was clear and sun shone brightly, it was a perfect day to had outdoor activities. Seth taught Khairo how to ride a horse while Jouno and Khana sat on the wooden bench, watching them from a distance.
"Just relax, keep your body position like that." Seth held the horse rein.
"Y-yeah..." The horse walked slowly, so it was easier for Khairo to maintain his balance.
"Good, Good..." Seth stroked the horse mane.
"I guess I'm starting to get used to it." Khairo smiled gladly.
"Try to take it around this field." Seth released the horse rein after he gave it to Khairo.
"Thank you very much my lord." Khairo brought the horse away with him.
The high priest watched the boy as he went away from him. When he sure that Khairo could handle it well enough, Seth walked approached the seating girls.
"Here you go." Jouno stood up and offered him a jar of water.
"Thank you." Seth received it and drank the water directly from the jar.
"My lord, how is my twin brother?" Khana asked him.
"I guess he's good enough for a first timer." Seth put the water jar on the bench.
"Can I try it too?" Khana's eyes sparkled in enthusiasm.
"I'm sorry Khana, but only men were allowed to ride horse." Seth shook his head.
"But we're twins... We are supposed to have the same ability." Khana pouted.
"Even though both of you are twins, man and woman have different jobs and responsibilities. Just assume that one egg is represent one family. Man is the eggshell, his role is protecting his family from the outside world ..." Seth was lecturing her.
"...And woman is the egg yolk. I already know about that..." Khana sighed.
Jouno could understand Khana's feeling so she tried to convince the high priest about it.
"Seth, I know that this is quite hard... But could you please give her at least one chance to experience the horse riding?" She whispered at him gently.
"Hmpf, if that's what you want... Just this once." Seth agreed after he thought carefully.
"Thank you... I know that I could rely on you." Jouno smiled at him.
"I only do this because you ask me to." Seth turned his face.
"So that means I can ride a horse? Thank you my lord, thank you big sister Jouno!" Khana hugged them.
"Ha ha... You welcome my dear." Jouno patted her head.
"Let's go to the stable so you can choose the horse you want to ride." Seth walked away from Jouno, followed by Khana.
"Have fun!" Jouno waved her hand at them.
"Yeah I will!" Khana waved her hand back at Jouno.
Now they look like real sisters... Seth thought to himself as he led the way to the stable.
Jouno sat down on the bench and took out something from her pocket; an old bandage with dried blood stain. She stared at it for quite a long time, that bandage reminded her about the boy that saved her from his own people and helped her to escape. Her life saviour who was also her first friend. They had parted for years and then the faith reunited them, but once again they were separated by the situation they faced.
Whydo we have to endup like this? Jouno looked up, tryingnot to spill any tears on her face. No, you shouldn't cry Jouno...Don't make them worry about you... Jouno shook her head.
"Is there something wrong?" The voice from behind got her back to her senses.
"P-Pharaoh?" Jouno jolted from her seat.
"Did my presence disturb you?" The pharaoh asked her.
"Ah... No, no at all. P-please have a seat..." Jouno patted on the bench.
Both of them sat down on the bench quietly, Jouno felt really awkward because this is the first time she directly had a conversation with the pharaoh.
"...Jouno, I want to ask you something." The pharaoh finally broke the silence between them.
"What is it, my lord?" Jouno replied him.
"What is your relationship with the thief king?" The pharaoh's question made her eyes widened.
"I keep thinking about it when I saw his reaction towards you. He looks like a different person; his eyes became very gentle but also full of sadness, so I thought that you've met him before... And I believe that it's not just an ordinary meeting." The pharaoh looked at her in wonder.
Jouno bowed down her head, trying not make eye contact with the pharaoh. She was confused whether she had to tell him everything or not. After considering the choices in her mind for quite a long time, Jouno finally decided to believe the pharaoh and told the whole story to him.
"Hmm... I never imagine that he is that kind of person." The pharaoh nodded.
"Why is that my lord?" Jouno looked at the pharaoh.
"I met the whole opposite of what you've told me about him..." The pharaoh started to tell Jouno the story of his encounter with the thief king; from their first meeting where Bakura got inside the throne room and challenged him and his high priests until the last time he saw him in the Kul Elna village ruin.
"...That wasn't him; I know he wouldn't do such a thing." Jouno grabbed the pharaoh's clothes.
"Yeah, that's not the real him... He was used by the evil spirit that appeared from the millennium items." The pharaoh looked at her.
"Evil spirit?" Jouno relieved that the pharaoh agreed with her, but she still confused with his statement.
"The evil spirit called Zorc Necrophades... Not only did he use Bakura as his pawn, he also managed to influence The Former High Priest Akhenaden; the first owner of millennium eye that was also my uncle to defeat The Sacred Guardians in order to make his son become the next pharaoh." The pharaoh continued his story.
"How could people with the same blood betray you, my lord?" Jouno couldn't believe what she had heard.
"Everyone can do something beyond their own sense to satisfy their thirst for power... Even if they have to kill each other for that." The pharaoh held the millennium pendant.
Jouno became speechless, she felt really sorry for the pharaoh but she didn't know what she should say to him.
"...Don't worry about it Jouno, I still have loyal people around me... That's includes you." The pharaoh looked at her.
"Me?" Jouno pointed at herself.
"Yes, Jouno... You." The pharaoh nodded.
"B-but I don't deserve such an honour... I'm only a servant." Jouno waved her hand.
"Not anymore, because from now on I want you to be my friend." The pharaoh patted her shoulder.
"My lord's friend?" Jouno eyes widened.
"Atem... Call me Atem." He pointed at himself.
"Atem?..." Jouno whispered awkwardly.
"That's right..." He smiled at her.
Atem and Jouno were too busy with their conversation so they even didn't realize that someone had watched them all the time...
- To Be Continued -
I'm really sorry for taking a long time to update this fic... (TT _ TT)
Hopefully this chapter could redeem my lateness (- v -)
Thank you so much for waiting~! *bow* (_ _)
Rewritten by Yami Ace and Neko