Disclaimers on the characters of Yu-Gi-Oh! that I don't own.
Warriors At Heart,
Chapter Ten,
By Winterwing3000
"You will have to keep applying this until the blood is cleansed and the wound is fully closed. It also has scar healing properties," Mai, the Healer, said as she tided the small work station. She set a little brown pouch next to his bedside. "You will only need two pinches full of the mixed herbs, crushed into a fine powder and add ten drops of boiling water. It will be a clear colored paste."
Jounouchi was sitting up in his bed with his wounds dressed. He grimaced at the thought of continuous treatment. "I don't need any more of the medicine. I'm all healed now, aren't I?"
"It is your funeral, not mine. I am merely giving you the medicine. Whether you decide to use it is not my problem," Mai said scathingly. On the night that Anzu and Seto returned from their herb hunt, she had gone a whole night without sleep in order to extract the poison from his system and Isis' and then monitored their conditions until they came into consciousness. From then on, it has nearly been a week since she treated them back to health. Needless to say, having stayed up for many nights without filling her stomach for most of the time, made the blonde woman extremely irritable. She also dearly missed her home in the forest. Being out in the open surrounded by so many men was uncomfortable to her since she was raised by women.
"Whoa, I meant no offense," Jou said, arms rose in a surrendering manner. "Just sayin' that I don't really like usin' that kinda stuff, you know? It ain't what I'm used t'seein' back home. And it's sorta creepy that you are helpin' us out. 'Specially after all the things we did."
Her shoulders tensed. Her voice dropped down to a mere whisper but it was laced with steel. "This is why you Raised are so ignorant. What I did was not only for our Leader, but also for you so that you can live to see another day. And yet, not a single word of gratitude."
Just as she turned to leave the tent, Jou couldn't help but feel slightly guilty at the insinuation of his words, so he reached out and gently grabbed onto her wrist. Mai's head snapped immediately over her shoulder and pierced him with a deadly stare. "Unhand me."
"Look… I… I'm sorry. That didn't come out like I want it," he scratched the back of his neck and looked away to the side as he released her arm. "Thank you. For saving my life. I owe ya one."
Sniffing, she pointed her nose in the air. "Then find a way to repay your debt."
The general could only stare at the woman dumbly as she left his tent.
"I will be taking my leave, Your Majesty. I thank you for your kindness," Otogi said with a deep bow to Atem, who was seated behind his table of maps, quills and other little things. Yuugi was standing behind his brother, looking on the situation with quizzical eyes. The letter that the Council handed to them clearly stated that Otogi will be staying for much longer. However, he announced his departure from the camp earlier this morning after Atem informed the camp that they will be returning home within the week as Isis was now awake and the discussion for a peace treaty would resume.
Seto and Honda were stationed at the side. Seto was staring absentmindedly into space, at ease with the fact that he no longer had to share his tent with another man. On the other hand, Honda eyed Otogi distrustfully and had his hands clenched behind his back. Even though Otogi stayed for less than his intended duration, seeing the black rat scurrying around all sneakily made Honda's blood boil. There were times when he caught the other man speaking with the soldiers and the cook's daughter, obviously sniffing for information.
Atem, in his military robes, waved a dismissive hand at Otogi's words. "It was my pleasure to have you here with us. Please, bring my greetings to the Circle Council and inform them of my soon return to the kingdom. Have a safe journey, Sir Ryuuji."
"As you wish, Your Majesty. I bid you farewell, King Atem, Prince Yuugi." With a short flourish of his traveling cloak, the dark hair man rose and swept out of the strategic tent.
It didn't take long before Honda felt his irritation peak. He turned to face his king and spoke agitatedly. "Your Majesty, forgive me for being blunt, but why did you let that man go? He was a spy of the Circle Council!"
Atem sighed and rested his hands on his table. "I understand your concern, General, but you must realize that it will seem suspicious if I were the one to detain him. For what reason should I keep him longer than necessary? The Council indubitably will become even more suspicious."
"But you are sending him back with who knows what kind of untrue observations and information! Will that not even make you more of a target of the Council?" Honda said.
"That is what we are here for," Seto suddenly interjected as he glared at Honda. "Nothing shall befall the King and Prince whilst we live. Or do your doubt your ability to protect his Majesty?"
"I dare you to repeat those words, Kaiba!" Honda challenged with a fire in his eyes. "I may not be your superior and I may not be of the same rank, but don't mock my skills as a soldier!"
"Enough!" Yuugi bellowed, much to the surprise of the two generals. Atem was smiling slightly at his younger sibling's sudden outburst and assertiveness. "What is done, is done. We cannot continue to speculate the past. Right now, we have more pressing matters to attend to!"
Honda backed off from Seto, shoulders obviously dropping in disappointment. He looked to the side and calmed his nerves. He grudgingly said to the two royal members, "I apologize for speaking out of line, your Highnesses."
"I understand your anger, General. But Yuugi speaks the truth," Atem followed up smoothly. He stood up from his chair and came from around the table. "Kaiba, I need you to round up the women of the Wilderness. Honda, bring Jounouchi. We will be meeting soon to finalize the peace treaty. I will have no more of this endless slaughter."
The two generals came to attention and bowed. "Yes, your Highness,"
As the soldiers left, Yuugi released a breath. Atem rested a hand on his brother's shoulder. "You did well just now."
Smilingly weakly, Yuugi managed to make a joke. "You aren't the only one who sat through Father's lectures about being an authority above all." His expression soon became grim. "Do you think that the Wilderness will really agree to the treaty? The terms written on there seem to be more favorable for us than them. And their reluctance to sign is still an issue."
"Regardless, their numbers are dwindling and we can only provide a means which will allow them to continue their lives. At the moment, no matter how unfavorable it may seem, they can only exist for so much longer without our help. They lack the innovations to adapt to the ever changing world." Atem said solemnly as he fingered the scroll tied with a golden ribbon. A wax seal was annealed to the lip of the paper. He had it written, marked and sealed just the night before.
"An ultimatum then? To live with the new world or die with the old?" Yuugi murmured, saddened by that thought. Even though it was a upsetting thought, he knew that Atem spoke the truth.
The only thing is, which would the Wilderness choose?
Shizuka watched as Anzu staked a thick slab of wood into the ground and rearranged a few smooth stones around it. The soil was freshly packed but underneath it was not flesh and bones, only a bead-weaved necklace, a rough jeweled orb and a carefully tied bunch of marigolds that grew natively at the edge of the forest lay beneath.
A large panther sat up in the trees above them, watching the scene unfold. It purred sadly, knowing that its canine companion was longer with them.
The young Mage grew worried as the Huntress remained kneeling on the ground even after the proper burial ceremony ended. The red head murmured softly, "Huntress?"
With her dark head still bowed, Shizuka couldn't really see what was going through Anzu's mind until she saw the slight tremor steady grow into shaking sobs. Startled, Shizuka immediately dropped to her own knees next to the older woman and wrapped her arms around her. "Oh Anzu, please don't cry!"
Anzu turned and leaned her forehead against the younger woman's shoulder. She let out a wail of the despair that was held back for much too long. After returning to the camp and ensuring that Isis was working her way to a healthy recovery, she spent days and nights retracing her steps and scouring the locations underneath the very edge that Kohaku fell over. She found only signs of struggle, as if the battle continued even after Bakura and Kohaku fell from unimaginable heights. Disturbed soil, snapped boughs, puddles of dried blood, scattered leaves and trails of a carcass being dragged. That only led her to further believe that one of them survived but the likeliness of it being Kohaku was grim. The depth and width of the drag marks were fairly light and small, telling her that it was probably her wolf companion who was slain during the battle.
But that also meant that Bakura was still alive and out there, waiting to strike again, whenever that might be.
"Shizuka, she's gone! She is never coming back!" Anzu cried with sobs in each breath. The loss of her familiar was a hole in her heart, right next to the one that the loss of her mother caused. "W-What do I d-d-do now?"
The Mage gently caressed the usually strong-willed woman's brown mane. "We move on knowing that Kohaku will always be with you in spirit. She might not be with you physically, but her presence will always be felt and protecting you. Soon, she'll come back to you."
"I just let her go. I c-couln't d-do anything. I just w-watched her fall. J-just to pro-protect me," the Huntress moaned. "And n-now, I c-c-can't even gi-give her a p-proper bu-burial!"
Shizuka shushed her friend. "You have done everything for her and she has done everything for you. You cannot say that you regret her protecting you, do you? She is probably happier to know that you are alive and mourning for a friend like her. It is our fear to be forgotten the moment we cease to exist. And she knows that she will never be one of them. Because she has you."
The panther Setsubun dropped down from the trees and silently slipped over to the two embraced women. It placed its head on Anzu's lap and stared up at the woman with sad eyes. However, it suddenly lifted its head and turned it to stare deeply into the woods. He placed a paw first on his kindred Mage then on the mourning Huntress. They both diverted their gaze in the direction of the panther.
"What is it, Setsubun?" Shizuka inquired as she squinted in the sunlight. There were only trees and sunshine. The large feline did not stop staring though. Instead, he now got to his feet and stood with his full attention. The red head concentrated her eyes and gradually she saw what her familiar saw. She carefully shook Anzu and pointed at the object unfolding in front her eyes.
Anzu wiped her eyes and squinted with tired and puffy eyes into the midst of the forest. Her sky blue eyes widened when she spotted a well-known shape. She breathed with awe, "Kohaku."
Kohaku's soft fur glimmered in the sunlight and her eyes pierced straight at her master's. Her long tail swished from side to side, not truly disturbing the air of serenity around her. She was seated upon a slab of a rock shrouded by earthy green moss. It felt like an eternity that Anzu was staring at the wolf. But just as she stood up, ready to pump her legs and run toward Kohaku, the wolf stood up. Immediately, the Huntress froze in her spot.
Kohaku howled once. Twice. And another time. And then, she turned her tail and trotted into the forest. Her image disintegrated into thin air, leaving behind only sunlight and a paw imprint on the moss.
Anzu closed her eyes and fell to her knees, face tilted to the sky. That was it.
"Goodbye, Kohaku. I love you. Goodbye."
"Where were you? You weren't supposed to leave the camp without our authorization or accompaniment!" Seto barked the moment he spotted the two other members of the Wilderness returning to the campsite. Shizuka and Anzu were holding hands between them, the air still thick with grief. The panther trotted in front of them and meowed loudly from the unpleasant tone that Seto used.
The general stilled when he saw the large feline and made a disgruntled sound at the back of his throat. "Away with you, beast. I seek your master's presence, not yours."
Shizuka saw the way Setsubun wriggled the digits of her paws and sank into a crouch, preparing to pounce onto the threat before them. "No, please don't, Setsubun! Return to the forest, I will call you when we are done."
The panther gave Shizuka an annoyed look but relented to her wishes. He bore his teeth at Seto before slinking back into the darkness of the forests behind them. The moment his shadow vanished, Seto returned to his questioning. Shizuka silently observed that he was not in the best of moods.
"Again, I demand to know where you two have been! You have delayed our negotiations long enough!" he said through clenched teeth. He had spent a good portion of the afternoon seeking out the two remaining members of the female tribe without direction or awareness. It was well past the hour since Atem had sent him to find them.
"Please, we were only in the forest giving Kohaku a ceremonial burial," Shizuka uttered with her head bowed in apology. She could only see to his chest through the lip of her hood. "We did not mean to inconvenience you, General."
When she peeked at him, he saw that his attention was now mostly focused on Anzu, who remained despondent to the scolding that they were receiving. She guessed that he felt some sympathy but that did not soften his tone.
"Whatever it may be, you should have informed someone. Now come, we are keeping his Highnesses waiting," Seto said curtly as he turned on his heel and headed to the center of the camp.
Silently, the girls followed him. They arrived at the strategic tent where the two other generals, Honda and Jounouchi, were already present. Isis and Mai were also there. King Atem and Prince Yuugi both stood up from their seats the moment the trio entered. A large square table was set up, fully arranged with chairs. King Atem sat at the head of the table and Isis was at his immediate left whereas Yuugi was to his right. The seat next to Yuugi was vacant, followed by Jounouchi and Honda. Mai was placed two seats away from Isis.
Seto bowed and greeted the royal family. "King Atem, Prince Yuugi, I have returned with Huntress and Mage."
"Very good, General Kaiba. Please take your seat," Atem directed in a kingly manner. Seto bowed again and swiftly made his way to the spot between Yuugi and Jounouchi. The king then turned his violet eyes kindly to the women. "Huntress, Mage, please join us."
Nodding, Shizuka squeezed Anzu's hand once more before releasing it. She sat on Mai's right, occupying the last seat at the end of the table. Anzu breathed in deeply before striding confidently to seat herself between Isis and Mai. Now was not the time to mourn, it was time to settle things once and for all between the two groups of people.
Everyone watched apprehensively as the two leaders—the King of the Raised and the Leader of the Wilderness—wrote their names carefully and crisply onto the parchment. It was nearly dark out and the tent was illuminated by the wick candles placed all around.
For nearly three hours, negotiations went on between the two groups. When Anzu heard of the details regarding the peace treaty, she was furious. And she noticed that Mai was as well. It was easy enough to pick up the underlying message that was written between the lines of black ink.
They were either to give up their rights to the land and travel to the home of the Raised or they will be pushed out of their forest. She knew that they had other intentions to this war—and it was to expand the territory. The population of the Raised was growing rapidly from the increase in medicine and technology. People grew restless of the overpopulating towns and yearned for the frontier. Even though it was easy enough for the Wilderness to relocate and rebuild their home, the thought of giving up their homeland for these foreigners who desired for more than what they need made Anzu sick to the core.
The verbal abuse did not truly start until Seto blunted stated that the Wilderness, sooner or later, will be extinct and that the land will be theirs regardless. It was only a matter of time. Mai was outraged by such a comment and Anzu joined her in their defense. Shizuka and Isis remained quiet throughout this event. Jounouchi, with the intention to pacify the argument, rashly said something that it was better for them to live in the town of the Raised so that they could at least still survive. That only fueled Mai's temper to the point she slammed her fist on the table top, jostling the ink.
In between the fighting, Atem and Isis did not try to prevent them but rather observed their respective parties lay out point after point. It wasn't until Shizuka spoke up in her solemn voice that the argument ceased.
"What if we were given a time limit? We can spend a year in the town of the Raised before we truly make our decision. It will allow us to experience the life of the Raised, to understand their needs and hopefully allow you to understand ours. At the end of the year, we will choose—whether to stay in your homeland or to remove ourselves completely from the forest," she said with her head, though covered, turned to the rest of the people at the table. She saw Isis smile.
"I agree with you, Mage. You are wise beyond your years," the Leader commented. She then turned seriously to the king. "If you may, King Atem, add that clause to the treaty, along with a few other provisions that I wish to enforce, then I believe that we will have successfully negotiated a peace treaty between the Raised and the Wilderness… for the first time in ten years."
King Atem smiled. "Of course, I will do anything in order to ensure your comfort and happiness in this treat-"
"Leader! You cannot be serious!" Mai gasped, shocked by the mere suggestion of living with these men who she viewed as pests. "Please reconsider this before even agreeing to it! We will be practically abandoning our traditions and dignity to be living with them! It is no different than admitting to defeat!"
"The Healer's right, Pyschic. We can't so easily give up our rights to our ancestors' land. We will be nothing but dirt if we were to leave behind the forest!" Anzu protested. "Think of our past leaders and what they would have done! They have fought bitterly for years, protecting our land and died to secure what is rightfully ours! We cannot mistreat their sacrifices so carelessly!"
Jounouchi was about to retort that comment but Yuugi held up his hand and stayed the blond man's words. Yuugi also shook his head and turned his full attention to the group of women in a heated discussion.
Isis' dark blue eyes lowered to the table. "I understand your concerns. It is not my intentions to tarnish our pride or to suggest that our great ancestors fought for nothing. But the valid point stands. We are but four left of what was once a prosperous tribe of the forest. We cannot survive without serious casualties in defending our land, our beloved home. It is, perhaps, the time that we begin to merge ourselves with the changing times. And perhaps, this is the only way that can be done."
"Please," Shizuka pleaded, "Please Huntress, Healer, understand that even though it is not my wish to live with them, I cannot bear to see and lose you, any of you, to battle. We already have lost so much, and to me, the forest is no longer worth the blood we shed to defend it. I would gladly choose to leave and sojourn to another land, one more beautiful and rich than this, but we are not getting any younger. It will be time before Isis undergoes the Rites of Fledge. Traveling will only delay it, and possibly ruin her future."
"Mage…" Isis uttered, touched by the woman's thoughtfulness and sensitivity to the rest of them. It was something that the three older women lacked as they had seen more bloodshed and had more blood on their hands than she did.
Mai clenched her hands into fists, her shoulders shaking with suppressed discontent. Releasing a sigh, she sat back down and turned her head away. "Do as you wish, Leader. But know that I will not be part of this willingly."
The black haired woman nodded in understanding. She looked at Anzu next. "And you, Huntress?"
Anzu looked over to the other woman. Could she bear it? The thought of leaving her homeland to live with the people who had slain her mother? Her people? And soon, her homeland? Did the price of their dignity of the Wilderness really no longer mattered in the equation? And would she truly be happy knowing that she was better off living with the Raised and away from the forest?
"I… I will agree to your words, Leader. But I refuse to with live with the commonfolk of the Raised. We will be sheltered at the edge of the town, approximately three oak trees in length away from the entrance of the town. We will live in solitude and only interact with the Raised when we deem fit. No guards, no surveillance. If this is truly a peace treaty, then I expect that in that one year, we, the daughters of the Wilderness, will live peacefully without any disturbance." Anzu stated firmly.
"Very well, Huntress, I will agree to those terms," King Atem quickly answered. "I shall write these additional provisions onto the peace treaty and we shall seal it. Prince, a quill and my seal, if you please."
The moment Isis lifted the quill from the surface of the paper, they all released a collected sigh of relief. The red waxy seal was carefully stamped on the parchment and it was then rolled up and tied by the gold ribbon. Yuugi took a wooden box from behind him and held it open.
Atem and Isis each held an end of the scroll and together, they set it into the box. Yuugi closed it and locked it before pocketing the key safely into his inner shirt.
It was done.
AN: And~ That's a wrap! This is the END of a story started a long time ago. Things are certainly left hanging, but that's the reason for the sequel! I did tie up some loose ends, just not all of them teehee! I hope this was worth the wait, cliffhanger aside, and that you will stay alert till I post the sequel: In Waiting, The Lady. Till then, I bid you adieu.
Thank you so much for my lovely readers and reviewers. Especially since it took me ages to update this! I hope you will follow me into the sequel! Love, love!