First of all, some Author's notes:
1. Thank you all for your lovely comments, you keep me going! Honestly, even if I don't reply to some of them, I read them all and treasure them, so thank you!
chapter is also concerned more with relationships between the group than the relationship between Yugi and the prince, but trust me, we are getting there. Next chapter is darker and more puzzeshipping-oriented, but this one is not irreleveant. There are some clues and foreshadowings here, and I will need them later in the story
3. I am taking great liberties with blue lotus, it is from Egypt and it has a strong smell, yet none of the features dicrabed here. Treat it as licentia poetica ;-)
4. Drinking game: Drink every time you spot 'cards'
Enjoy!
Yugi was entranced all of the way back home, looking through his decks of those strange looking cards.
Not that Anzu could blame him, even though she did not see the appeal. Those were just cards. Yet, Yugi could probably say the same about her dress. So as long as it made him happy...
Noon was drawing closer and closer, therefore they whole group was headed back home.
Strange, how easily the word 'home' became associated with Mai and Serenity... Anzu was sure that if they decided to stay at the palace, she would miss both of them dearly.
Not that Yugi was not enough, he was the most precious person in her life and he forever will be, no matter who else Anzu may meet. It was simply nice to share some of her thoughts and experiences with someone who was a girl. She could ask Mai about parties and fashion in foreign lands, she could discuss with Serenity their favourite lullabies and strange quirks of brothers. She was not alone with Yugi, but now, she was learning how to be in a group.
Maybe she was naive, considering the bonds that started to form between her, Yugi, and the knights as friendship, but she deeply wished that she was not wrong. She wanted friends. She never thought about it before, but now... Now she would defend these people with her life. They brought joy and novelty, and they seemed to actually care, despite the circumstances.
It was a good thought.
Their way back home was uninterrupted, aside from the fact that Serenity had gained a new admirer. Tristan, the blacksmith followed her throughout all of the market, which made Anzu giggle.
She could not remember the last time she giggled.
Carrying their purchases and some vegetables they bought along the way, the four of them made their way home, listening to Serenity sing some song.
When they arrived at the mansion, they were greeted by a blonde girl waving at them.
It took Anzu few moments to understand it was Mana.
"Hey, you didn't wait for me!" Wailed the girl. They stared at her. Her tan skin was gone. She looked pale, and her hair was blonde instead of brown.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Mana asked, twirling around as if to show off her dress.
"Mahad is skilled." Commented Mai, clearly impressed. " What did he do?"
"You look lovely!" Anzu interrupted, fully aware that she will forget to do it when Mana starts answering.
The girl blushed in delight and chuckled.
It was great, to just compliment people, to be nice without a fear of rejection or punishment.
"Thank you! It is hard to maintain though, so I won't be leaving the mansion much." Here Mana shrugged." But hey, at least if anyone finds us here it will be no longer my fault!"
"True. But you didn't answer Mai's question" Serenity pointed out good-naturedly. She couldn't see how Mana changed, Anzu realized, and almost cursed herself for forgetting. But, talking with Serenity and spending time with her was so easy, so care-free, and Serenity was so high-spirited, that the fact that she could not see the world she was so amazed with was easy to overlook.
"Well, the blond hair is some kind of mixture, Master refused to tell me what's in it, but judging from the smell some herbs for sure, and something else... Nevertheless, it must be applied once a month, so that my real color doesn't show. As for the light skin, it is awful to wear." Here, she looked in panic at people in front of her. "Not the color of course, no offence! Just the ointment is very heavy. I feel as if I'm wearing tones of paint and powder. It will probably fall off me if I laugh to hard." She complained, and took a bag from Serenity.
"And what did you do in the town?" While Mai and Serenity answered her, Anzu came to stand next to Yugi.
"Feels better with them in it, am I right?" She asked, observing Yugi's thoughtful gaze upon the house.
He smiled at her.
"It does. I know I shouldn't, and it is probably not wise, but I want them to stay here, when it is all done. Sure, I won't be exactly missing Ishizu or Rishid, because truly, I do not know them that well, but the people here, and Ryou, and Marik... I will miss them very much when they are gone."
"Yes, me too..." She agreed, and she was struck with a sudden thought. Did that include the prince? That shadowy, brutal person that saved them and now protected them? Strangely, it did.
"Maybe they will visit us. Maybe we will be allowed to visit them." Yugi mused, still looking at his cards. " Even if not, some things will stay with us, like these cards. Mai helped me in picking them. Same with your dress - whenever you look at it, memories of our trip with Serenity and Mai will go with it."
I think you yearn for friendship even stronger than I do. Anzu thought with fondness. She wanted to ask about the second deck, the one with strange, half-human creatures, but decided against it. The pictures meant something for Yugi, and if he decided not to tell her, it was his right to do so. He was growing up, she noticed, and not in a physical sense. Yugi was never stupid, or less anything than people his age, but with people here, he seemed to change, to discover some aspects of his personality, that were hidden before. And that was good.
"You are right. I wonder what type of training Mahad prepared for Serenity." Yugi's face told her, that he knew something she didn't.
"Maybe, if we are nice, they will let us watch." He answered with a smile and entered the house.
Anzu just sighed.
She went to her room to leave her purchases on the bed to deal with them later.
Looking around this whole space made her realize, how quickly she had accustomed to the new order of things. Arkana was deep in the past, with so much going on, as if he died years ago, instead of days.
And now, Anzu had the whole house at her disposal, guests to feed and friends to share company, and she briefly wondered, if the Anzu from year before would recognize herself in Anzu now. Maybe she was growing up and changing as well?
With a smile on her face, she left the room, ready to prepare some light lunch for everybody to enjoy during the 'training', whatever that was supposed to be.
Some movement on her right caught her eye. It looked like somebody was entering the prince's room.
Not sure of what to do, Anzu stayed rooted in place, wondering whether to check who that was, or let the prince alone. It was daytime, so he probably was in his room. Maybe it was somebody from the house? Maybe it was an assassin, ready to take the life of man who changed Anzu's fate? At that thought, her blood ran cold.
With a start she rushed to the door, ready to protect, to shout if needed, but before she reached the door, they opened in front of her and Yugi came out.
"I brought him something for lunch. In case he wakes up and feels hungry." He explained and Anzu let out a deep sigh.
She was changing.
In that one moment, from Cinderella she was ready to change into a warrior.
/
Mana's assumption regarding Serenity's training proved to be right.
With all of them seated in the garden, Mahad brought different plants for Serenity to recognize by scent and structure, some poisons which ways of acquisition he refused to share and which he mixed with wine and water and taught Serenity ways of telling them apart.
"What about this one?" He encouraged, giving the girl yet another cup full of wine. If Yugi hadn't seen that he indeed poured something in it, he would proclaim that it was a mere wine. It looked the same and from where he was sitting on the grass, it smelled the same as well.
"I don't know if I am assured by knowledge that he was carrying these poisons with him all the way here. " Whispered Mai, earning herself a glare from Mana.
"He is not going to poison any of us."She said proudly, shaking her new, golden hair.
If Yugi was to be honest, he preferred Mana in her previous version.
"But he is going to poison someone?"Mai pressed, and edge of amusement evident in her voice. Mana seemed not to notice it, because she was ready to take offence. She opened her mouth to say something, but thankfully, noticed Mai's teasing grin, and calmed down.
"You are a terrible, terrible woman." She gritted out, but there was no bite to it.
Anzu, sitting next to Yugi laughed and looked at him, as if they were sharing some kind of secret. Yugi went back to their previous conversation about the knights.
Maybe they did share a secret.
That they were unwisely attached to this dangerous bunch.
"It smells like wine, but... there is something... A small dose of...a flower?... I do not recognize the scent." Serenity finally said.
"Very good. I did not count on you recognizing the flower, it is blue lotus, mostly growing back in the capital. " Mahad truly looked proud. Yugi risked a glance in Mana's direction. She was watching her former Master intently, as if waiting for him to compare Serenity's skill to hers. But she was not crying, nor was she glaringly upset. She looked pensive.
"Is it poisonous?" At Serenity's question, Mahad smiled
"No, far from it. It is used as a remedy in many diseases. It cannot cure, but it eases the pain. It is worth remembering, because if you smell it in somebody's cup it means that person is ill, or in pain. And that...?"
"May be useful if we want to know something about the health condition of person in front of us." Serenity answered, her voice weak and uncertain, almost asking.
"Yes. Big doses of it can put a person in a dream-like state for some time, that's why even if it cannot kill you directly, it can be still used against you."
They sat like that for some time, watching and commenting many things Mahad explained to his new pupil.
Yugi always assumed that Mahad was wise, but only then he could see that 'wise' might be an understatement. The man seemed to remember things he learned not only in capital, but also along the way, describing plants and medicaments he had encountered on their way.
From what Mahad said Yugi could observe that since the prince returned, Mahad had accompanied him through at least three countries. In one of them they must have encountered Mai, for at some point she started arguing with Mahad about the usage of roses that apparently were native to her homeland.
"Well, I think that is enough of wisdom for now. " Mai concluded and to Yugi's amazement, Mahad agreed.
"Indeed. Time for sword masters." He said and sat down on the grass, asking Serenity to join him.
"What sword masters?" Anzu asked, but Yugi did not reply. He had a bad feeling about what both of them implied.
"That means you, hon." Mai said, winking at Anzu and Yugi and gesturing them to stand up.
"We are not going to make you into knights, so don't even think about starting in tournaments. But we will try to teach you basics so you don't get murdered by the first dumbass who thinks he can handle a sword."
Yugi gulped.
"But we do not have weapons?" Nice try, Anzu.
Mana approached them, giving them two wooden sticks.
"We had to sacrifice your rakes for them, but it is better than nothing. " She said with a smile. " Anzu, you are my partner!" She added cheerfully.
So that left Yugi with Mai. He was not so sure whether he got better end of the deal.
"Lesson number one. There is no fair play." And with that, Mai kicked him in shin.
With a shout, Yugi went down.
/
The dinner was prepared by Mahad and Mana, because Anzu and Yugi were too hurting to actually move. Those books talking about young village boys becoming knights in one day? Lies.
Yugi could not find one spot that was not tender to touch, and as he talked with Anzu on their way to their rooms, she felt the same.
Climbing the stairs was an awful experience Yugi did not want to repeat anytime soon. It wasn't that Mana and Mai were deliberately hurting them, they were just treating their task seriously. No enemy would ask patiently for you to stand up and find the weapon you lost seconds ago.
Yugi even suspected that there were moments where Mai could strike him really painfully and yet didn't, but he was too sore to appreciate it at the moment.
Yugi was used to bruises, but even though he still found no pleasure in them, these ones did not make him cry. They were necessary for him to learn, and he agreed to receive them. He did not like them, but they were the results of a training, something he did for his own good and not of madness of one man.
Maybe, when they stop bothering him, he will be even proud of them.
And truly, they were not that bad. He just became unused to pain during these few days.
When he finally convinced himself to move, he met Anzu on her ways to stairs. Or, probably on her way, because at the moment she was simply glaring at them, as if they were the ones that hurt her.
"Together?" He offered quietly, extending his arm. Anzu smiled and nodded, accepting his hand.
"I know they want to help, but at the moment, I'm contemplating making use of Mahad's poisons."Anzu muttered darkly, and Yugi laughed.
"We will be tough when they are finished with us." He defended.
"Or when I am finished with them. And with that blond hair she looked so nice! That devil!" Yugi understood that Anzu meant Mana. He did not have time to observe how Anzu was faring, for he was literally biting the dust half of the time. Apparently Mana did not go easy even on another girl.
Complaining and joking, they have reached the dining room and joined the rest.
"I tried my best, but I will never cook as good as you..." Mana started and was silenced with Anzu's murderous gaze.
"Flattery won't get you anywhere." Anzu threatened, but soon she was bantering with her tutor, while Yugi took his usual place at the table. He looked for a moment at Joey's empty place and felt a pang of sadness.
Serenity who sat on Joey's other side was also quiet for a while.
"... I aided her, so there is a good chance it is almost edible." That was Mahad. Anzu laughed and sat down next to Yugi.
Mai, as if noticing Yugi's and Serenity's silence, sat down between them, taking Joey's place.
"When he comes back, he can fight me for it." She said. So she was worried for him as well.
"I hope you will like it!" Mana shouted, looking around, anxious to help anyone to anything that was set on the table.
"If you were cooking, Mana, then I am almost sure this meal will determine our fates." Came the voice from the corridor. The prince entered the room without any preamble and sat down on his chair.
Now when Yugi thought about it, the plate for him was set from the beginning. So Mahad or Mana knew that he was coming.
"Yes, it will determine us dead." Mahad joked, and everybody started their meal.
The chicken was not half-bad, even if it was lacking herbs Anzu usually added, but all in all it was pretty good. Yugi wondered, what the prince and Mahad had in mind when they were teasing the girl, after all she did good... And then he tried the vegetables.
He looked for help in Anzu's direction, but she seemed to have the same problem.
"What did you put in it?" Demanded Mahad, smile gone from his face.
"What you told me!" Yugi, drinking the wine set in front of him as if his life depended on it, risked a look at the prince. Both him and Mai were smirking now, their plates devoid of any vegetables.
"I told you to add fern, not nettle!" Mahad hissed, also looking for salvation in his cup.
Mana looked ready to cry.
Now, when everybody knew that vegetables were to be avoided, the dinner went on, disturbed only by Mana's profuse apologizing.
"We are not being assassinated at the moment, and we have survived Mana's cooking. What shall we do with such a lovely day?" Asked the prince after the meals was over and dissolved into chatter.
For a moment, everyone was silent.
And Yugi was battling with his thoughts.
He bought the cards especially for this reason. He was waiting for this moment, hoping to have everyone involved in a game. But will the prince...?
That was the question. He trusted the man, and to his great confusion counted him as someone he will miss after all of this was over, and yet, there was some kind of barrier, one that Yugi did not feel when interacting with the rest.
It wasn't fear anymore, but what was it?
Yugi didn't know.
"We could play a card game." He finally said, and looked at the prince's face, waiting for reaction. His answer was the most important, it was him who would decide... But at the same time, he wanted the prince to simply want to play cards. He wanted to share his passion...
There was a glint in prince's eyes, and it wasn't anger.
"A card game?" The man said, as if tasting the words on his tongue. Yugi noticed, that he was not the only one observing the prince. Mahad was staring as well, waiting for an answer. 'Wonderful."
Yugi couldn't fight the smile that spread on his face.
"Mai? Mana? Anzu?" Only then Yugi understood his mistake... Serenity could not play. He was awful, and egoistic and...
"I don't like card games, you know me." Anzu answered." Come, Serenity, maybe we could go for a walk?" The girl nodded and took Anzu's hand. " I wish you pleasant evening." Anzu said, and bowed to the prince as both girls left the room.
"And I wish you one as well." The prince answered, and Yugi noticed the surprise on Anzu's face before she disappeared behind the door.
"What shall we play then?" The prince's tone changed immediately, now he sounded like a very self-assured predator.
"Oh, that reminds me. We do not like playing games with him." Mana complained, and Mahad laughed.
"Do we have a choice?" He asked, putting on a fake long-suffering sigh.
"You always have." Said the prince, his voice speaking different story. But there was no dangerous edge to it, it sounded almost like a banter.
"I do have a choice. And I will get back at Your Highness for that poker night!" Mai said proudly.
The prince's smirk widened.
"Is that so?"
Yugi gulped.
"I will get the cards!" He said, and left for his room. All of the pain from the day gone in a rush of excitement. He had someone to play with!
He stormed into his room and grabbed the monster deck, the one he chose with Mai, but on a second thought, he grabbed the second one as well. Just in case.
He just hoped they will teach him how to play poker before they eat him alive.
/
He was winning.
He was actually winning!
Right, almost winning, because the prince was winning even more, but Yugi will not let it deter him.
After a while they started betting, small amounts of money, but Mahad and Mana were already broke and only Mai struggled barely, most of her money either on Yugi's or prince's hoard.
"You are just vengeful!" Mai accused, pointing at Yugi.
"Not at all." He answered, not bothering with hiding his grin.
"I think that's enough for today. Mana is almost crying." Said Mahad, looking at his disciple fondly. Mana did not notice it, because he was wailing with her forehead pressed to the table's surface.
"As you wish." The prince said, his smirk even wider than before. The aura of smugness was almost visible around him, and for the first time Yugi noticed that the prince was indeed young. Older than him, true, but still young.
"I will defeat you. Just you wait." Mai muttered and stood up.
"I am waiting." Came the smug reply, and Mai left the room.
Mana jumped to her feet and dragged Mahad with her. "I told you, we don't like playing with him." For a moment, Yugi was sure she will stick her tongue at the prince. But she settled to grace Yugi with that sign of affection. " You are sooo training with me tomorrow." She threatened and alongside her master, left the room.
Yugi was left with the prince.
"You have some skill." The prince said, gathering his cards and winnings.
"Thank you, Your Highness. It is nothing compared with yours."
"I wouldn't be so sure." Yugi stared. Was he just... Did he just?
"Very interesting deck. I like it. Where did you find it?" This comment made Yugi jump in excitement.
"In a game shop in the town. We bought it today, Mai helped me choose."
"Unique taste." The prince mused.
Yugi's hand stopped on his second deck. He could show it to the prince. He did buy it with prince in mind, didn't he?
"I bought another one." He said quietly.
"Oh?" A polite inquiry. Yugi stepped closer.
"It is somehow even stranger." He said, and put the cards in prince's outstretched hand.
For a moment, the prince was silent, and Yugi, now paralyzed with some kind of fear, did not dare to look down, at the still sitting prince.
"Those are..." That brought his mind back to the man.
The red eyes were looking at him in a way he never saw before. As if he, Yugi, was something worthy of such a gaze, a gaze of... what exactly? Joy? Gratitude? Adoration?
Yugi's heart sped up.
"They are from my home." Said the prince and smiled.
For the first time.
He smiled.
A radiant, genuine smile.
And Yugi was standing there, speechless, with a final proof of his obsession with the prince laying on the man's hand, and all he could think about was the beauty of that smile.
Yugi was gone.