Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Yu-Gi-Oh Characters, or characters from Jackie French' book Slave Girl.

Author's notes:

THE first few chapters of this story are based heavily on a novel by Jackie French called Slave Girl, I loved reading the story originally and it is a really good read if any of you want to look it up, however as I read my mind began to wander – and this is where it ended up. Somewhere between the "Chase is on" and "Under sail" does my version kick in – I hope you enjoy.

If Welsh phrases have been used there will be a note at the bottom of the chapter, which will be the nearest accurate translation.

~ A Decision Made … ~

It was a mild winter, as Tikka had said it would be. The grass continued to grow almost through the season. The cows had stayed outside the newly built huts and the sheep were growing fat.

The priests with the help of KaibaCorp funding had rebuilt the village – the process had taken just under a month, and now Seto stood on the beach, the Priests were about to bless the island, and purify it of all the evil that had taken place.

Joey had disappeared early that morning – Seto knew he had gone up to see Tikka, and Snorri had gone with him. He had hoped that the boy would be back by now, but as he watched the priests move through the village, muttering blessings and scattering the mineral of life, his heart saddened – as his eyes caught no glimpse of unruly blonde hair, that refused to be tamed.

As the Priests came down onto the shore, Seto bored the boat – the residents of Bendithio Ilys were now stood on the shore having followed down twenty steps behind the Priests. As Seto looked out he could see the girls that had survived, Gwynwr stood next to his wife Bronwyn, although Gwynwr had been left simple from the attack the pair of them seemed happy. He saw the raven black hair of the witch, stood slightly off to one side, and at her feet sat Snorri – but there was no sign of Joey. The dog barked, and the witch smiled, Seto scanned the shoreline, but the one he longed to see was still not around – maybe he had decided that he would not be able to face watching Seto leave.

The boy had been given permission by the Priests to write letters to the man who had taken care of him, given him somewhere to live and had bought him back to the life that he had belonged too. They would leave every two months with the supply ships that would deliver to the island, the Sacred had changed the delivery schedule from twice yearly to six times, to avoid another massacre going unfound for months.

The motor roared once again to life and the ropes that held it to the island were set loose, the villagers waved, and Seto waved back – his eyes still hoping for that glimpse of blonde hair, he watched until the figure on the island were little dots, and he allowed one tear to fall from his eye, as his goodbye to the boy who had not come to see him off, to the boy he had not seen or held since cuddling into him the night before.

The mist and the clouds drew in and Seto shivering in his thin cotton shirt, the island of Bendithio Ilys had disappeared into those clouds, the mist surrounding the mystery of the island. He was inwardly happy that he had bought Joey back and that Joey would live his life, among his people – a people that loved him enough, to know what was best for him, but it didn't stop his heart aching, although his intention had been to never have another slave boy he had ended up with one, but this one – this one – was not his slave – this one was now and would forever be his equal.

He walked to his cabin lost in thought – his head wanting to move on, and give Joey every chance he needed to live his life normally – his heart shouting to turn the boat around – to take the boy – willing or not back to the Mansion – back to Japan, and to never let him go.

The lamp had been lit in his room, as he opened the door and stepped inside he shivered – he closed the door, and headed straight to the bed – he did not look around the room, and lying flat out on the bed he closed his eyes and flicked the lamp off.

Had his heart not been so heavy maybe he would have noticed the blonde knelt in the corner, waiting for Seto to come in from the cold, Joey knew that the cold was not all that was effecting the man laying on the bed and he knew that

~0o0~ Flashback ~0o0~

Joey had woken up earlier than was usual that morning, he looked about the hut – Seto had rebuilt it, just as Joey had described it, every little thing that had been put back as it had been when Jerik and Joey had lived in the hut by the shore, with one exception instead of the hard mat that Joey had always slept on, Seto had insisted on having a bed put there for him. He uncurled himself from Seto's arms, the brunette did not move – except to mutter his name, but Joey had got up, and calling Snorri from the foot of the bed, he pulled the cowhide door aside, and headed up the mountain. He stepped once again in front of Tikka's doorway,

"I've been expecting you Joey," she said from inside the hut – Joey nodded and walked into the hut, ducking his head aside. "Your in turmoil Joey, so you have come to ask me what to do, that is a very wise decision."

"Tikka …"

"I know, you love the man that bought you back, although you do not fully understand what you feel, you know it from in here," she said as she placed a hand on his chest, she smiled and continued, "It is not often that you find what you have found, you have dreamed since childhood of an adventure beyond these shores, and now that you have had one, you will not settle – but you will always be welcome back to visit."

Joey had looked at her, her power was beyond his understanding – Joey nodded, and looked up at her eyes, it was the first time he had ever made contact with the witch, her face was full of understanding. Something clicked in Joey's head, the words that the Witch had used the last time he had come to see her, with a sickly pup in his arms, he hesitated a moment,

"You said I would need Snorri, for my first adventure-"

"I did, and you did – Snorri's job is done – he guided you through and he bought you home, but if Snorri leaves he will not see another month – but if Gwynwr and Bronwyn –"

"I understand, will you take care of him for me, and see that Gwynwr gets him – after all had Gwynwr not bought the meat the pup would have died."

"I will Joey, now go and do what you have to do -"

"Thanks Tikka,"

Joey bent down; he stroked Snorri's fur, scratched behind his ears, and placed a kiss on his cold wet nose. He backed out of the hut and Snorri had sat and stayed, and although a piece of him was being left behind, Joey had followed what his heart was now telling him to do.

He had entered back into the village, it was still asleep – some of the Priests could be heard praying in the huts, the boat was bobbing on the pier, and the village's boats were drawn up on the sandy part of the beach. Joey had walked onto the boat, and gone to the cabin that his Seto had slept in on the voyage to the island.

~0o0~ End Flashback ~0o0~

The boy stood from his kneeling position, he had been on the boat since returning from Tikka's hut upon the mountain, and he knew that he was a good four hours from Bendithio Ilys now – his head worried that if he approached Seto – he would turn around and make him go back, that he would make him stay on Bendithio Ilys.

He tiptoed over to the edge of the bed, and kneeling down at the head of the bed, he raised his hand up, his hand touching the soft thick hair, he gently stroked it out of his Master eye's, a murmur was heard, and suddenly a hand reached out and grabbed his own.

A deep in take of breath, as Seto held onto that hand, he felt the fingers, and followed the arm, he dare not open his eyes – scared he was dreaming, the arm leading to the shoulder, and the blonde's face, he felt the smile that was on the face, and stroked the hair out of his face.

"Joey …" he paused – it had to be a dream, there was no reply – he dropped his hand down, the boy would not choose him over his life.

The blonde was shocked by this action, but he knew what his old Master's heart was saying and he knew that it was greatly conflicting with his head. He bent forward and breathed onto the brunette's ear.

"Seto, wake up!"

He felt the brunette stiffen up, and Joey reached over and turned the light on, he bowed slowly to the floor, Seto rolled over on to his side, he blinked in the light, how dare someone wake him in this fashion. His eyes looked about the room, he could not see the blonde, and just as he was about to lie down again – a rumble from the floor had his eyes focussing on a mop of blonde hair that was bowed next to the bed.

He swung himself out of the bed, and knelt beside the blonde – his heart beating at the shock, his head still trying to work out, what kind of vision this was. He placed his hands under the boy's chin, and slowly let his eyes lock with the golden beauty.

"Joey …"

"Yes Seto …"

"What are you doing here?" Seto cursed himself – of all the smart things he could have said – he blurted out the first thing that his head could think of, Joey smiled and he leant towards the brunette, his head going fuzzy with the thought of what he was about to do, and he placed his lips gently against those of the brunettes, he moved his hands up and cupped the shocked brunette's head in his hands, and breaking away he lent his head against the brunette's forehead.

"I … I … wanted … wanted to say …" this was harder than it seemed when Bronwyn had told him what to do, after all she was the only person he knew that was also as much in love with her husband as he was with the man now in front of him.

"Joey …" Seto sought out, trying to understand what Joey was trying to say, needing to hear the words that he knew would only believe if they came from the mouth in front of him.

"Yes … I wanted to say … that I … I love you!"

The brunette bought his lips against the blonde's; and captured them in a deep kiss, Joey murmured against it, and parted his lips as the tongue of the other, tried to gain access. For a long minute the two explored the cavity of each other's mouth, and only then did they break apart, Seto took Joey into his arms, and settling himself on the floor pulled Joey onto his lap, one arm supporting the blonde's back, the other stroking the cheekbone, he locked his gaze with Joey's.

"I love you too!"

Joey smiled, and he lent his head into the curve of Seto's neckline – the place he had come to love ever since the first nightmare, the first time his Master had shown him love; and he knew without a doubt - that this is where he belonged.

Author's Notes:

Okay Folks! That's it for this one – there is a sequel in the pipeline, but your going to have to wait for it!

Let me know what you thought of this *begs (nicely) for reviews*

Thanks to all those who reviewed as they went along, it was much appreciated.