Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the characters therein

(This chapter does have Yu-Gi-Oh characters in it although I don't say it directly in this chapter. Do you think you could figure out who the noblemen are?)

~ The morning after the prologue~

     A young nobleman of 21 walked through the streets of Menfe, looking for someone. He didn't know who in particular he was looking for. All he knew was that he had to find someone who would fit the criteria of a brave and courageous messenger.
     He walked throughout the market place, looking at all the different shops and stalls. He saw quite a few people begging in the streets. Knowing he had money, he wished he could have given them something but the money he had with him was money for getting that messenger. He couldn't spend it on anything else.
     He was not dressed as a nobleman though because that could possibly give away what he stood for. He was dressed as any middle class man would be dressed.
     He kept searching the streets of Menfe, smelling the sweet aromas of the baker's cakes and breads. He also saw children running around everywhere, sometimes with merchants chasing after them because they had stolen something. He felt kind of sorry for those kids.
     Just then, he stopped in the street, sniffing the air. He smelled the most delicious smell at one stall than from all the others. He watched as a young woman in rags with dark hair and deep blue eyes stepped up to the stall and started talking to the baker.
     He was amused watching the young woman, who appeared to be putting on an act for the baker. All of a sudden – as if in a blur – he say the woman snatch a few cakes and put them in her sash, while still talking casually to the baker.
     The young nobleman almost laughed aloud, but somehow held it in. That's one sly girl, he thought. The girl then slipped away and the nobleman guessed that she was going home. He again made his way through the streets of Menfe and soon forgot about the amusing incident with the woman. He became very occupied with finding the perfect person for the dangerous job of being the messenger.

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     At the same time, another nobleman, wearing a cloak that covered his face and royal clothes saw the very same incident involving the dark-haired, blue-eyed girl. Thoughts were flowing through this nobleman's brain about this girl. He knew that she would be perfect for his plan.
     He watched her go and followed exactly 12 paces behind her, walking quietly so that she would not hear a thing. As they reached an alley where no one else was, the nobleman surprised the girl by suddenly talking.
     "Where are you going with those cakes?" he demanded.
     "Oh, I'm just going to bring them to my family," the girl replied.
     "What's your name?"
     "I'm Lani. Who exactly are you and why do you have a cloak on?"
     "That I cannot tell you unless you come with me."
     "Um…no thanks. I think I've gotta be home now," Lani said and she started hurrying down the alley.
     "You could run but I saw you steal those cakes from the baker and I wouldn't hesitate to have you thrown in prison…or worse. So, I think it would be best if you come with me."
     Lani was a little frightened by this. "What are you going to do with me?" she asked.
     "I just have a request to ask of you," the nobleman replied. He motioned for her to follow him. Lani had no choice since he knew her secret so she followed him back through the alley and over to the small hotel in Menfe, where she was brought to his room.

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Please review. I would love to see what everyone thinks about this story so far.