~At Jono's home~
"So your name's Jono?" Mokuba asked.
"Yep." Jono answered as she was healing his left arm giving the wounds dirty looks, and coming to terms with how bad the damage really is, not wanting to start the healing process to only have to start all over again.
"So… what do you think about the Elven king?" he asked warily, eyes watching the healer, eyes sharp and not missing a single tick, breathe, or pause, not allowing a single tell pass.
"Personally, I don't really have a real opinion on him because I've never met him before, so I can't make a true judgment of his character." She answered plainly, with no lies to her words, as if one was speaking of the day's weather.
"That's not what I was talking about…" he stated, mildly deadpanning, but interested none the less.
"Then what are you talking about?" She asked with a confused expression, golden brown eyes peering with genuine curiosity and confusion, as if there was a another way to judge someone, which even the possibility had never crossed her mind.
"Well your king and my king are at war with each other but you said that you don't care about the war and that was why you saved me from those other nymphs. "Mokuba stated, figuring that he opened the can; he might as well eat out of it.
"I saved you because you were innocent not because of which kingdom you belonged to. Now, if you had destroyed their homes to prove a point that you belonged to the Elven kingdom then I wouldn't have saved you from them. But, if you destroyed their homes because of something they had done to you first, for revenge, I wouldn't have let them kill you, maybe rough you up a bit but no more than that. So, for me, it's all about whether a person deserves the punishment they are receiving and the reasons behind it." Jono explained. Going back to her work, never missing a beat, shrugging off the serious conversation's topic as if it were nothing more than someone asking directions. Stoically, truthfully, and with reason she answered, leaving no room for argument to the facts that lie before them.
"Then what if someone had killed someone but didn't mean too?" he asked curiously, head tilting in that way that all children's do, slightly to the side, brows furrowing in thought and confusion.
"Well, if they didn't mean too then it would probably be from either self-defense or in a blind rage to 'accidently' kill someone." Jono stated, shrugging, like it was the most obvious thing in the world to her, it was something she had come to terms with over time, people fight, and that's that.
"Oh… HEY my arm doesn't hurt anymore!" he exclaimed surprised, he moved it around energetically, amazed at the limb, looking at it like it was some holy treasure, wriggling fingers and bending joints, he marveled at the fact his arm now felt better than it did even before he was attacked.
"I told you. You only really need a natural healing to clear up these injuries; they're not all that bad. At first I was worried about breaks, but it was just twisted slightly, so slightly in fact that it could have healed on its own in no time." She said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Cool, I wish elves could do the same, so we could heal ourselves without potions and disgusting medicine… bleh." He emphasized this by holding his tongue out and making a funny face, remembering the last time he had to make use of the awful substance, the memory alone of the bitter stuff crawling down his throat, the taste remaining for hours afterwards sends his stomach twisting into knots, as if trying to push the memory out of itself.
"Haha, hey Mokuba…." Jono called his attentions, more casual talk as if the next question didn't hold any real standing.
"Yeah?" curious and completely at ease with his new friend, the boy answers with a chirp of cheer.
"How would you like to meet a few friends of mine?"
It took him a moment to answer, shocked into silence by the actual possibility of meeting more nymphs, and then excitement took over. "Really? That would be awesome! I would love to meet them!" he exclaimed in excitement, bouncing in his chair like the child he is.
"Alright after I heal the bruises on your legs we'll go ok?" she proposed, smiling softly at the scene.
"'K!" he agreed, already imaging what adventures and new friends awaited him on his next stretch along his unusual path.
~At the Elven Castle~
"It's getting worse…" Spoke Mikuro, the elven queen with a soft and musical quality to it, even in times of great worry. "And my son is missing! Who knows what happened to him, he could be DEAD for all we know" She cried out. Tears flowing down her pale cheeks, though they did not take from her beauty, she still shined, a light bright enough to put the sun to shame, though the light was dying, worry and sadness will snuff out any light.
"Tears don't suit you." Said a deep and smooth voice from behind.
Mikuro looked up in surprise as she turned and saw Seto standing at the doorway. "Oh Seto, my son, do you know any clues about your brother's whereabouts?" She asked hopeful small pale hands clasping together in hopeful prayer.
"I'm sorry, mother, but the royal guard sends his regards and will not give up." Seto explained, breaking his own heart by breaking hers.
"At least we have such loyal patrons willing to help." She said in a collected tone, hiding her disappointment, and the mean words she wanted to scream to the heavens and back. She missed her little one; she wanted to run across the lands, searching under every stone and to the top of every tower, searching for her child. Her Mokuba.
"Even if they stop looking, I won't stop until I find him." Knowing what was going on in her mind, he answered her unspoken pleas, having said the very same ones to himself time and time again.
"Oh Seto, for all we know he could be dead." Finally, she said the words than none wanted to say, think, hear, or mention. The words that begin the decent into such darkness that one must give up, not only on the task at hand, but on all before them.
"At least we'll have his body for a proper burial for a prince of the Elven kingdom." Seto stated calmly, tying to remain within reason, hurting both of them with his words, cutting deeper than any blade created on heaven or earth.
"SETO!" she exclaimed in horror, wide eyes pleading for her eldest to take the words back. He was the one who wasn't supposed to ever give up, to never give into the temptation of surrendering.
"I pray that he isn't mother, but if he is I'm sure everyone would feel better that Mokuba would be buried here than in the forest somewhere." He explained, trying to call out to her reasonable side.
A few moments later, the wide eyes return to normal, the jaw closes, and she replies with all the dignity of not only a queen, but a mother, "That is true, it would be better reassurance for all of us to accept that my son is dead if he is properly buried." she agreed as her eyes filled with tears again, remaining in her eyes this time though, not making tracks down her cheeks like the last.
"Didn't I say that tears don't suit you?" Seto gave a small smile, though strained it spoke volumes of its subtlety.
"Yes, yes you did." She said as she wipes the tears from her eyes, giggling at the thought of how she must have looked.
"Please don't cry until we find Mokuba, save your tears for when he is brought home." He pleaded, never wanting to see any sort of tears upon her face again except for those that fall in times of great joy.
"I'll try but I worry so much." She teases lightly, "I'm the mother." She stands tall, still proud, wise, and beautiful even after the years.
"I know mom, I know." Seto said reassuringly, looking towards the lands, smile faltering for just a moment, worry and anger setting back in, blue eyes flash as the last rays of light bleed through the window, red gold creating a blood bath around the prince, foretelling what comes.
~At Yami and Yugi's house~
"WOW!" Mokuba exclaimed in astonishment. "This is where your friends live? It's beautiful."
"Thank you!" a voice exclaimed in appreciation, calling the duo's attention out of their sight, but somehow close by.
"WHA!" Mokuba screamed in surprise. He looked behind and saw a fairy floating above him. This fairy had blonde, black, and violet colored hair, huge dark violet colored eyes and a small frame covered with a red dress made from what looked like silk in the shape of leaves at the bottom and cute red shoes to match. Her wings had a swirly patterns that were hard to follow, but they were also violet colored like her eyes, she was absolutely adorable, yet despite the cute appearance, you also got the feeling that she was wise, and had something different about her.
"Oh, I'm sorry; I didn't mean to scare you. I was just thanking you for complimenting my home. I try to keep it clean and all but sometimes it's really hard because of my husband's job." Said fairy explained, shyly blushing in mild embarrassment.
"Oh, well its ok you just surprised me a bit but I'm fine now. And I'm Mokuba by the way." He introduced himself, excited at meeting the tiny person.
"My name's Yugi!" she smiled at him. "You're an elf? I didn't think elves came over to this side of territory without being spotted and attacked at. I'm actually surprised." She flittered around the boy, trying to capture all of his features, comparing him to the people she's used to dealing with on a daily basis.
"He's with me and NO ONE messes with me so he's safe because of that." Jono explained using her fists as emphasis on her ability to protect not only herself, but the boy with little to no issues. She had a reputation in the land, one who is honorable, but will not defend one who deserves their dues, having taken her own multiple times for letting her mouth run off without her brain.
"Well if you all would like, you guys can come in and I'll make you guys sweet berry tea!" Yugi smiled brightly at the idea of having guests over. It had been so long since anyone besides her husband, or those who required his assistance had come around, and even then most of them were sourly creatures at best.
"Berry tea? What is that?" Mokuba asked, half curious and half fearful, never having heard of the beverage.
"Trust me kiddo I don't really like tea in general but this tea is AMAZING. You just HAVE to try it." Jono said as she made her way further into the dwelling, her mind on a single destination; where the berry tea awaits her.
"I'll take your word for it. I'll try it." He giggles slightly at the emphatically eager response the nymph had given, feeling comfortable with her light attitude.
"It's settled then, now, come inside and make yourselves comfortable." Yugi said as she pushed them inside her beautiful house, eager and excited, practically bussing with joy.
Mokuba sighed in awe, 'the house is just as beautiful inside as it is outside' he thought, gazing about him at all the colors that littered the area, tapestries, rugs, plants, mixes, and anything else. It was by no means large, but it was warm and cozy, it gave you the feeling that it as well as you were always well loved.
"Is Yami here?" Jono asked Yugi, taking a seat at the table, as if she belonged there, a colorful character in a colorful abode.
"Actually no. He just got an emergency appointment out of the blue and he had to leave immediately. But he said he should be home in time for dinner." Yugi described the situation, slightly deflating at relaying the information, but she perks up when she mentions her husband being back for dinner, leaving Mokuba amazed at how quickly she could switch emotions.
Jono looked toward Mokuba "Since we'll be waiting how about I heal you some more?" The injuries had been bothering her, especially since she knew they hurt.
"That's fine with me. I don't like to be in pain." Mokuba shrugged, admitting what Jono already knew was true.
"Squirt, I don't think ANYONE likes to be in pain." She laughed. Sliding up next to him, her gentle hands lightly ran over his skin, ghosting but never touching, getting a feel on how bad the injuries really were.
"Hey I'm not a squirt! I'm 13 years old, and I can take care of myself." He huffed in embarrassment, for the first time in a long time acting his age, and not being reprimanded for it.
"Right," she started sarcastically "you could TOTALLY take care of when TWO full grown nymphs were beating the hell out of you a few days ago." She dismissively taunted, rolling her eyes with a soft smile like an older sibling, silently saying with her actions 'what am I to do with you?'
"That's different!" he squeaked, blushing slightly, and averting his eyes downward in embarrassment.
"And how is that different?" she retorts, a raised eyebrow coupled with a light teasing smirk.
"Well, I'm small, so I don't have enough strength to fight people bigger than I am, but to be able to feed myself and make shelter and clothes to wear I can do that all by myself!" he defined his definition of 'taking care' of himself. Huffing and crossing his arms, looking off to the side with his head raised, peeking out of barely opened lids to see her reaction.
"If you say so." Jono rolled her eyes yet again with a sort of affection shining in the moving orbs.
"Tea's ready!" Yugi proclaimed in delight, flittering back into the area to relay the information to the eager blonde and curious child.
"Time for you to taste the best tea in history." They both went to the kitchen and Yugi handed them their glasses filled with the 'best tea in history' as Jono had called it. Mokuba took a sip of it. "…*long pause* this is….*another long pause* DELICIOUS!" he shouted.
"Told you." Jono said with a deadpan tone, her cup already half way gone by the time he's able to voice his opinion.
"Um… can I have some more please?" he asked Yugi, shyly holding his cup out, puppy eyes on high beam.
"Sure you can." She said as she poured him another glass, giggling at the show of cuteness.
He took a sip and sighed in satisfaction. "My family has to try it. I'm pretty sure Mom and Dad would love it but I don't know about my big brother. He eats the things he's handed to even if he hates them." He paused then he thought of a question "Hey, what does your husband do?" head tilting in curiousity. "Oh he's a mage, so he uses magic and potions to do certain jobs that normal people can't do on their own." Yugi told him, busying herself with the jobs at hand, tidying up and so forth, bouncing with energy at having guests.
"Speak of the devil himself, he's here." Jono stated looking out the kitchen window, drawing the fairy's attention immediately, and the room brightens up with her smile.
"Oh, he's earlier than I expected, that makes me happy! I can ask him what he wants to eat rather than just make something and hope he likes it." She sighed happily, her wings buzzing in pure joy.
"Oh please Yugi, your husband will eat anything you make just because YOU were the one who made it." Jono commented, smiling in an exasperated fashion. Shaking her head at her dearest friend.
Yugi blushed at Jono's statement "Well I don't know about all that…" she mumbles as the fiddles with her gown, not meeting Jono's eyes, blushing madly.
The front door opened "Yugi my love, I'm home!" a deep voice rumbled out, drawing all eyes to the source, there stood a man with wild hair, eyes sparkling in mirth.
"I'm in the kitchen Yami!" Yugi called back. "We have guests too!" she giggles, excited that not only are there guests, but Yami was early, a big crowd for the normally quiet dwelling.
"Oh really…" Yami walked in the kitchen and saw Jono sitting there with a smug grin on her face. "I should have known YOU were here." He liked Jono, but, sometimes she could get on his nerves. "And why are you giving me a smug look?" he asked cautiously, knowing that the girl was an exceptional strategist, and sometimes things didn't go too well for him because of it.
"Because I made Yugi blush at an absolute true statement about you." She shrugged non committedly, taking another sip from her tea casually.
"And what did you say to her?" he asked, wary but interested at the same time, knowing that Jono would never hurt his love, and that it's probably something that will make him blush as well.
"I said to Yugi, "Yami would eat anything you make simply because YOU were the one who made it.' And she turned red that was all."
A long pause later and Jono's grin got wider every second, and then Yami said in a nervous voice "Well… of course I would eat anything Yugi made…because she went to the trouble of cooking it for me and I love that about my wife." He explained blushing slightly, eyes darting to the side away from the smug golden ones peering at him.
"AWW Yami, you are such a romantic!" Jono proclaimed with her hands together and eyes shining in radiant kind of full happiness. "Yugi can we share him?" she begged, golden eyes pleading with the fairy.
Yugi nearly spat out her tea over the counter. "Wha?" said a very confused Yugi. "Share…Yami?" her eyes the size of dinner plates, "Wha? How? WHAT?"
"HAHA Man, Yugi, you should look at yourself right now!" Jono laughed. "I'm just kidding don't worry he's all yours." She giggled.
"Oh well… hey Yami have you met Mokuba yet?" Yugi asked him while pointing in Mokuba's direction, trying to sneakily change the subject.
"Mokuba…?" he said as he turned around in the direction of Yugi's finger. He saw an elf child with shaggy black hair, grey eyes… 'Huh he kind of looks like the missing elf…' Yami thought then paused. 'Wait, Yugi just said that this kid's name was 'Mokuba' which is the same name as…' then it just CLICKED "You're the missing elven prince MOKUBA!" Yami blurted out, jumping up to point at the child.
Now, Yugi did spit out her tea and Jono looked at Mokuba and back at Yami in puzzlement. "What Yami?" Jono asked, having one of those fabulous times known as a 'blonde moment'.
"This kid is the missing younger elven prince…" He thought about it and then bowed to Mokuba in respect. "I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you right away your highness, please forgive my abruptness."
"Oh no, it's ok. I was just surprised you were the person who recognized me out of all the people I have met since leaving home." Mokuba reassured, laughing slightly, it was funny.
"If I may ask, why did you leave your home?" ah, the question he had hoped he wouldn't have to answer.
"I was trying to find a healer to come help my father because he's really sick and no one knows what's wrong with him." He explained, eyes sad, and he seemed for just a moment the child that he was, afraid and hurting.
"Well Jono is the best healer that I know of. And trust me when I say this, she really is the BEST because I have met MANY healers and she is above them all by everything, knowledge on medicine, healing techniques, and she's the most efficient and her healing isn't fraud either." Yami explains, "and she always keeps her word, if she says she'll heal someone, she does."
"Why thank you Yami." Jono gives thanks, nodding in his direction.
"Well it's true."
"Wait a minute, you're not surprised?" Mokuba asked Jono in astonishment, grey eyes wide and shocked.
"Not at all, actually now, I completely understand why you left without telling your family. Let me guess, they didn't want to go to the 'other side' and ask for help there and they wouldn't have let you leave?" she said, in a sad sort of way.
"Right on the target. So will you help my dad?" he pleaded, eyes getting big and watery.
"Absolutely, but I don't want to die so if you can promise that I'll be able walk out alive then I'll go." She jokingly approached a delicate subject.
"Sure, I can get dad to make a promise to not hurt my special guest under any circumstances." Mokuba nodded in decision, "Not to mention I'd beat up anyone who would hurt you." He flexed his muscles, looking silly.
Jono laughed, "My hero."
"Alight then, let's get packed and ready to go to the Elven Kingdom."
"I'll help by giving you guys potions and food for your journey." Yami stated, already shuffling about.
"And I'll give you guys my special berry tea with you so your family can have some." Yugi smiled, and plotting sneaking some sweets as well into the bag.
"And I'll need big cloak to disguise myself to enter but I can get that from Mai." Jono says, thinking on what else she'll be needing for the trip.
"So tomorrow will be quite interesting to see how my parents and brother are going to act when they see you." Mokuba laughed nervously.
"Yeah but they'll get over it since I'll be healing your dad." Jono comforts him with a ruffling of his dark hair.
"I hope so." Mokuba whispers to himself.
And that is the end of this chapter! Hope you all enjoyed it, and I hope to be uploading the next chapter soon and don't forget to go and thank Keisuke-Osoka for helping me write it!
