Chapter 24- Catching a Traitor
The ball had continued, and as far as all of the guests were concerned, everything was fine.
Yami didn't leave Yugi's side because he was worried that someone might try and do something to his lover.
"Yami, you don't have to stay right with me the whole time." Yugi said.
"Yes, I do. I'm not going to take the chance that something might happen to you." Yami replied.
Yugi sighed, knowing that it would be pointless to try and argue with Yami on this matter. 'I'll be glad when all of this is over with. I don't like feeling unsafe in my own home.' Yugi thought.
Yami could see Yugi's distraction and said, "Everything is going to be all right, habibi. You'll see." Yami said.
"I know. I just don't like feeling like I am in danger in my own home." Yugi replied.
"Well, your grandfather's plan is very good, and I am certain that it will work." Yami said.
Yugi nodded. "I hope that you're right." Yugi said.
"Come on. Let's go out and dance." Yami said. He took Yugi by the hand and led him out onto the dance floor.
"I'm not going to let this opportunity pass. He'll be dead by tonight." a man hissed.
"Are you crazy? Maybe you were able to sneak into his room ten years ago, but there have been guards guarding him constantly. You'll never be able to get to him." a female voice said.
"I don't care. Minsiah said that he would kill him, and he didn't. That brat came back, and I am going to make sure that I get rid of him this time." the man said.
"Why are you so intent on killing him? He's done nothing to you." the woman said.
"That's not your concern. Just stay out of my way." the man said.
"You know that the Egyptian Prince is in the room with him. What if he sees you? What are you going to do then?" the woman asked.
"I'll kill that Egyptian bastard, too, if he sees me." the man said.
"What?! If you do that, you could send Japan to war with Egypt." the woman said frantically.
"Like I give a damn! I are nothing for either country and if they go to war, that will be fine, too. Maybe they'll destroy each other." the man said. He turned sharply and said, "If you dare try to tell anyone, I will ensure that your husband knows what you have done. I'm sure he'd love to know that his loving wife had an affair on him and that she aided in the kidnapping of the Prince." the man hissed.
"I-I won't say anything. We'll be leaving soon, anyway." the woman said.
"Good. Keep your mouth shut and no one will ever know what you've done." the man said.
The woman nodded, and the man stormed off.
'What have I done? What have I gotten myself into?' the woman asked herself.
Soon, the ball came to an end, and the guests started to leave.
"Come, Shinsho. We should be getting home." Tahio said.
"No. Sugoroku has been kind enough to allow us to stay here the night." Shinsho said.
"Come now. We should not intrude on him." Tahio said.
"Sugoroku needs my help with something, and I am not going to turn away from him when he needs my help." Shinsho said.
"The children will grow worried when we do come home, though." Tahio said, trying to convince him not to stay.
"I have already sent someone home to tell them. Besides, the youngest is seventeen, and I don't think that they really have the need to have their parents there with them." Shinsho answered.
Tahio realized that there was nothing she could say that could Shinsho to leave without making him suspicious of why she didn't want to stay.
"I hear that you're staying the night." the man from earlier said.
Tahio turned and looked wide-eyed at the man. "What does that matter?" Tahio asked, trying to sound brave when she was scared.
"You know why I'm here. Since you're going to be staying here, I think you will be able to help me." the man said.
"No. I said that I wouldn't tell anyone what you have done, but I don't want to have anything to do with this anymore." Tahio said.
The man grabbed her roughly and pulled her forward. "You don't have a choice in the matter, anymore. You are going to help me whether you like it or not." the man said.
"No. I will not." Tahio said.
The man's grip on her arms tightened. "Either you help me, or your dear husband will learn what you did." the man said.
"Fine. I'll help you." Tahio said.
The man smirked. "Good. This will be much easier than I thought it would be." the man said.
Yugi and Yami returned to their rooms along with all the others.
"We'll be waiting to hear the good news." Jou said.
"You'll all be the first to know." Yugi said.
"Good luck." Ryou said.
"Atemu and I will be waiting for you two." Heba said.
Yugi and Yami nodded before the different couples headed into their rooms.
The two were along.
A few moments later, a section of the wall was moved, and Shinsho entered the room with several guards with him.
"Do you think that that you were followed?" Shinsho asked.
"I don't think so, but someone might have been able to without us knowing." Yami said.
Shinsho nodded. "Go on into the other room. Heba and Atemu are waiting for you." Shinsho said.
"Thank you." Yugi said.
Shinsho nodded and gestured to the passageway.
Yugi and Yami entered the passageway, and the two closed it so that it did not look like there was anything but a wall there.
"All right. Get into position. Don't forget that the Princes are counting on us to find the traitors." Shinsho said.
The guards spread out across the room and hide themselves in a way that they were also able to watch. Two guards hid in the wardrobe, but kept it open enough that they could see out. Two more hid behind the curtains and parted them so that they could see out of them. Shinsho and another two guards hid out on the balcony and positioned themselves so that they could see into the room.
Now, all that they could do was wait.
Yugi and Yami entered Heba and Atemu's room from the secret passage.
"You two okay?" Heba asked.
"Yeah. Nothing happened, and Shinsho and the guards were able to get in without anyone knowing." Yugi answered.
"It's a good thing that Shinsho is so dependable. I don't think that he is going to let anyone get away with this." Atemu said.
"I just want this to be over with." Yugi said.
Heba put an arm around his brother. "It will be. It's all going to end tonight." Heba said.
Yugi nodded.
Atemu and Yami walked to the side of the room so that they could talk privately.
"Yami, can you still sense when someone enters the room?" Atemu asked.
"Yes." Yami replied.
"If it looks like Shinsho and the others are getting in trouble, then we'll go and help them. We're not letting whoever did this get away again. They've gotten away with this for ten years already. It's time for them to pay for what they did to Yugi." Atemu said.
"I agree." Yami said. He glanced over at Yugi and said, "If whoever did all this thinks that they're going to get away with it anymore, they are mistaken. We can easily use our magic to stop them, and if we have to go in to help them, so be it."
Atemu nodded.
They weren't going to let this go on any more.
"Come on, woman." the man snapped.
"How do you plan to get past the guards at the Prince's room?" Tahio asked.
"They're no match for me. I'll be able to take them down easily." the man said.
'I know that I am wrong in doing this, but killing the Prince is better than Shinsho ever finding out what I did.' Tahio said.
Tahio didn't know what had possessed her ten years ago, but she had an affair with this man, and when she tried to end it, the man threatened to tell her husband. Tahio couldn't have that because she knew that Shinsho would have divorced her for such a reason. She couldn't risk losing him, so she had aided this man in kidnapping Yugi although she did not want to. She had been shocked to learn that her husband had been good friends with Yugi's father and realized that Shinsho would turn her in for treason, and Tahio couldn't stand that thought.
"Come here." the man said, jerking Tahio forward.
The two were standing at the corner of the hall where they could look down the hall that all if the Royals were sleeping in.
"Those guards are complete idiots." the man sneered, seeing that the guards were talking and not paying attention to what was going on.
Tahio had hoped the guards would stop this man, but now she saw that that was not going to happen.
The man ran up behind the guards and knocked them both out without any problem.
Tahio came up and saw that she was doomed to commit treason again.
The man opened the door and walked in with Tahio behind him.
There seemed to be two figures sleeping in the bed.
The man smirked. "There can't be any witnesses, so we'll just kill them both." the man said.
Tahio's eyes widened when she heard that. 'We'll be committing treason against Japan and Egypt.' Tahio thought.
The man lunged forward and brought his knife down into one of the figures, but was startled when no blood poured out.
"WHAT?!" the man exclaimed.
Shinsho and the guards lunged out.
The man grabbed Tahio and threw them toward her before running for the door.
Shinsho lunged for the escaping man and tackled him, knocking him down to the floor, pinning his arms behind him.
"Let me go!" the man screamed.
"No. You're under arrest for treason in the attempt on Prince Yugi and Prince Yami." Shinsho said.
"Lord Shinsho." a guard said.
Shinsho looked and was shocked.
Two of the guards held Tahio by her arms.
"Tahio." Shinsho said.
"Shinsho, I-" Tahio started.
"Don't. Nothing you say can make up for this." Shinsho growled. He grabbed the man and dragged him to his feet.
Two guards came forward and took the man by his arms.
"Mouri. You're the one behind all this." Shinsho said.
"So what if I am!" the man, now known as Mouri, spat.
Shinsho glared. "You're going to pay for the crimes that you committed against Japan. Who else was in on this?" Shinsho demanded.
"Like I'd tell you." Mouri growled.
Tahio sighed, defeated. "Three of the servants here in the palace were paid of by him to aid in Prince Yugi's kidnapping ten years ago. As far as I know, they are still here." Tahio said.
"Shut up!" Mouri shouted.
"Who?" Shinsho asked.
"Akio who worked in the kitchen, Mayon who worked in the gardens, and Suri who works in the healing chambers." Tahio said.
Shinsho looked at two guards and said, "Go find these people. The Emperor will want to deal with them as well."
The two guards nodded and left to find the three named servants.
A few moments later, Sugoroku along with Yami, Atemu, Yugi, and Heba walked into the room.
"Tahio!" Sugoroku exclaimed.
Tahio looked down, ashamed.
Mouri glared at them.
Sugoroku looked harshly at the man. "Somehow, I am not surprised that you are in on this. Guards, take him to the dungeons. I shall deal with him tomorrow!" Sugoroku ordered.
The two guards dragged the struggling man out of the room.
Sugoroku turned to look at Tahio. "I don't know what could have possessed you to want to aid him in this." Sugoroku said.
Tahio still did not look at him.
"Is there anyone else involved?" Sugoroku asked.
"Tahio told us that there were three servants paid off by Mouri to help them ten years ago. I've sent guards to go and find these people. If they still work in the palace, they will be found." Shinsho said.
Sugoroku nodded. "Take her to the dungeons as well. Since she did offer this information willingly, no harm to come to her. Put her as far from Mouri as possible. I don't want them to be able to communicate." Sugoroku said.
The guards nodded and led Tahio out of the room, who did not even try to struggle.
"Emperor, I want to apologize. I assure you that I had no knowledge of Tahio's actions." Shinsho said.
"I know, Shinsho. You cannot be held responsible for the actions that your wife took." Sugoroku told him.
"Why did she do it, though?" Yami asked.
"I don't know, but we'll find out tomorrow." Sugoroku said.
"Until those servants are found, it might be best if Prince Yugi and Prince Yami don't stay in this room tonight." one of the guards said.
"A wise thought." Shinsho said.
"Yugi and Yami can stay in my room. It's more than big enough for all four of us." Heba said.
"He's right." Atemu added.
"All right." Sugoroku agreed.
The four left to go back to Heba and Atemu's room. On the way, they met Jou, Seth, Malik, Marik, Ryou, and Bakura.
"Did they catch them?" Ryou asked.
"Yeah. Come on." Atemu said.
They all piled into Heba and Atemu's room.
"So, who did all of this?" Jou asked.
"Some man named Mouri. I'd never seen or heard of him before." Yugi said.
"The name sounds familiar, but I don't know him." Malik commented.
"Well, he was one of them, and Shinsho's wife, Tahio, was the other." Heba said.
"Tahio!" Jou, Ryou, and Malik exclaimed.
The four nodded.
"Was Shinsho in on this, too?" Seth asked angrily.
"No. He was shocked that it was his wife. I could sense it." Yugi said.
"Well, Sugoroku plans to deal with tomorrow. Those two are locked in the dungeons. There are three servants who are being hunted down now." Atemu informed them.
"I take it that there will be a special session of court tomorrow." Seth remarked.
"Yeah, and I have a feeling that Grandpa will want all of you to be there." Yugi said, referring to all of the Egyptians.
"Gladly." Bakura said.
"Well, I think that we had all better get some sleep. We're going to have a long day tomorrow." Yami said.
"Is it safe for you guys to sleep in that room with those servants still out and about in the palace?" Marik asked.
"No, which is why Yugi and I will be sleeping in here tonight." Yami replied.
"I guess we'll see you in the morning." Malik said.
They all said good night and left.
"Okay. I think we do need to go to bed. We had a long day today, and we're going to have an even longer day tomorrow." Yugi said.
"Where do we all sleep?" Atemu asked.
"Atemu, the bed is more than big enough for all four of us. There's just going to be no fooling around tonight." Heba said.
Yami and Atemu groaned at that.
"let's go to bed." Yugi said.
The four climbed into bed. Yugi and Heba were in the middle with their respective lovers on the other side of them.
"Sugoroku, I don't know how to apologize for all this." Shinsho said.
"Shinsho, as long as you knew nothing of what happened, you have nothing to apologize for." Sugoroku said.
The two sat in Sugoroku's chambers, talking about what had happened.
"I never thought that Tahio would have done something like this, or that she would consort with someone like Mouri. We all know that he had a bad reputation." Shinsho said.
"I know. We will learn what happened back then, and your wife will be asked questions you might not want the answers to." Sugoroku said.
"She's a traitor. She may be my wife, but I cannot excuse this. You do what you see fit." Shinsho said.
"Thank you. Go and sleep. I'll want you there tomorrow." Sugoroku said.
"Of course." Shinsho said. He bowed and left.
Sugoroku sighed. "I want to know what happened ten years ago, but we will all learn things that we will wish we did not know." Sugoroku said. He went to bed, knowing that the next would be long and tiring.
Hope that you liked it. I know a lot of you thought it would be Rebecca, but she would have been younger than ten, so she couldn't have helped. Just letting you know why it couldn't be her.
The next chapter will be about the trials for all these traitors.
You can still vote in the poll. It will be taken down Thurday, April 2 or Friday, April 3.
R&R.