Love's Freedom

Chapter 2

            Seto Kaiba stood alone in the council room, studying the family sword that was mounted upon the wall. It was a symbol of legacy that he carried on; a legacy as old as the mountains his castle rested in. His hands were clasped behind his back as he stared up at it, studying every tiny inscription. It was an excellent weapon, so fine and sharp it could cut through even the toughest of metals. Of course, it sliced much better through human flesh, so well one could carve intricate patterns into a person's skin. He didn't turn around when Isis came into the room, though he was well aware of her presence. She had tried to be silent, not wanting to disturb him. Marriage was what made a person constantly aware of another.

            She came to stand a few feet behind him, eyes lowered and hands folded in front of her. "Wonderful, isn't it?" he said, gesturing to the display on the wall. "I can barely wait until I get the opportunity to use it."

            She lifted her eyes. Meeting his gaze steadily as he turned around to face her, a faint smirk on his features. "My lord, I am positive your time will come soon."

            He threw his head back and laughed; her response was simply to smile at him. He walked the few steps separating them, leaning down to kiss her on the upper lip. "You always know exactly what to say to me," he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers. She sighed, lightly taking a hold of his hands. His thumbs gently caressed her palms as he continued to stare deeply into her eyes. They were both lost in the place where the storm meets the clear sky, never knowing what was going to come out of it. Isis always wondered what was going to happen next when it came to her husband. "You know that is precisely why I married you."

            "I thought you had wanted to salvage some of your honor," she whispered, eyes traveling sadly downward.

            "Oh, Isis, my love," he whispered, pulling her against him with his left arm. "You know I love you," he whispered, kissing the top of her head and softly stroking her hair. "I promise, we will not make the same mistakes this time." He pulled away from her, his hand traveling down her arm to rest lightly on her wrist. "Come, we have thing to talk about," he told her, turning towards the door.

            She walked slightly behind him and to the left as they entered the vast corridors of the castle. Guards bowed as they passed, stepping silently aside, eyes flickering over them as they walked. "I suppose you would be rather curious," Isis stated mildly. "I can guarantee you, he may very well be exactly what you are looking for."

            He laughed, the sound echoing off the walls, coming back to them hollow. Smirking, he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Well, my dear, whatever would give you that impression? Don't tell me you tested him without my knowing."

            She hesitated, avoiding his eyes. He shrugged, turning his head away from her. "Pegasus-" she started.

            His eyes flashed dangerously as he stopped, whirling around suddenly to face her. On instinct she took a step backwards; however, she lifted her eyes unflinchingly to his. "I told you, never mention that name in my presence," he snarled.

            "But, my lord, you didn't let me finish," she said, bowing alande before him.

            Seto stepped back from her, placing his fingers under her chin and lifting her face until he could look her in the eyes. "I'm sorry. He hurt you and I will never be able to forgive him for that." She nodded, straightening herself. "You were saying my dear…"

            "I have it on very good authority that Pegasus sold that very boy." He drew back a little further, regarding Isis with a quizzical expression. "Seto, I was there," she said quietly, coming closer to him. "Pegasus sold him because he was too much for him to handle."

            Seto laughed, turning to continue walking down the corridor. Isis followed him, smiling secretively as she fell in step behind him. "The great Lord Pegasus is afraid of a simple slave boy. I do hope that little mongrel did not recognize you?" He glanced back at her over his shoulder, eyebrow raised.

            She quickly shook her head. "I don't think so. It was a long time ago."

            "Of course. You've grown much more beautiful since then," he said as they turned to enter his waiting chamber. He left her at that moment, choosing to lounge on his chair while she waited patiently by the guard just inside the door. Outside, the sun's last rays were disappearing, the snow on the mountain turning a pale blue. The door to his balcony was wide open, and Isis shivered as a cold breeze drifted through. "Send for Yuugi," Seto ordered, waving his hand at the guard.

            The guard turned to obey the order. "It is already taken care of, my love. I anticipated your needs and sent for him before I came to find you." The guard turned back inside, once again standing vigil at the door. "He should be arriving any moment."

            Seto grinned slyly at her, a deadly twinkle in his ice blue eyes. "Always taking such good care of me, aren't you, Isis?" She bowed her head. Yuugi entered the room, one of the guards following closely behind him. Seto turned his attention to them as they entered the chamber, after which he looked once more to Isis. "I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Isis."

            "Goodnight, my lord," she whispered, bowing gracefully before she turned to leave the room. As she left she cast a quick glance at Yuugi, eyes unreadable as they passed over him. Yuugi kept his gaze straightforward and she turned away quickly, heading down the corridor to her own chambers.

            Seto watched her leave, a smug expression on his face as Yuugi shivered in the cold. "The rest of you are dismissed," he said, waving away the guards. They both gave their formal bows, leaving the room and shutting the door behind them. Seto turned his full attention to Yuugi, eyes passing over his body. "I suppose you've met our latest addition." It was a statement, not a question. "What did you think?" he asked, rising from his chair.

            Yuugi watched him from across the room, violet eyes catching every small movement. "He's very attractive," he started, watching as Seto began to cross the room, "compared to some of the others that have been through here." Seto stopped before him, placing his hand on the back of his neck. "I didn't have much of a chance to talk to him, but you were never one for conversation anyway." His breath caught in his throat as Seto leaned down to him, kissing him fiercely. All other thoughts were driven out of his mind, save for a select few regarding his master. His heart beat faster, his blood course hot through his body. However, one stray thought managed to get through. As Seto pulled away from him, Yuugi whispered, "Do you think this one will kill himself too?"

            "What does it matter to you?" Seto pulled further away, his eyes flashing angrily as they searched the slave's eyes. Yuugi whimpered at the loss of contact, knowing there was only one way to obtain redemption.

            "I'm sorry, my lord," he whispered, bowing alande before him. It was only a few short seconds before he felt the sweet pleasure of his punishment.

            As usual, Jounouchi woke up with the rising sun, blinking as he adjusted to the new light. A quick glance at the other bed revealed it was unoccupied. Jounouchi stared at it a moment, running his fingers through his hair. The door opened, and he turned his full attention in that direction. Two guards came inside, both heavily armed and Jounouchi watched them impassively. However, his eyes widened slightly as Isis followed them inside, looking at the floor with a far off look in her eyes. Jounouchi could tell there was something different about her; a sadness in her eyes that had not been there yesterday. When her eyes met his, her demeanor changed; she straightened herself and looked at him with authority. "I do believe I promised you new clothes." He continued to stare at her, partially confused by the new path his life was taking. Slavery he was used to, even accepted by this point, but the events that happened here were so much different from the other places. "Stand up," she ordered.

            He obeyed, keeping his eyes fixed on hers. "Measure him," she told the guards. They approached him, and he continued to watch Lady Kaiba, moving as they told him whenever they barked their commands. "You lost your fighting sprit, haven't you, Jounouchi?"

            He lowered his eyes to the ground, and she turned away from him with no further comment. "All finished," the guard on the left said after they had finished their thorough measurements.

            Isis turned to face the, "Give the measurements to the seamstress immediately. Be sure she is clear that these clothes are to be her top priority on my order." The guards nodded, turning to go back out the door. "Send Phedre in." Once they were gone, Isis moved closer to Jounouchi, stopping a few feet away from him. "Now, Katsuya, we shall see what you are truly made of deep inside."

            The door slid open and Jounouchi looked up as a young girl walked in, carrying a large bundle of animal pelts. "Here are the furs you requested, m'lady."

"Thank you, Phedre. Place them on the bed over there," she said, gesturing with her hand to Yuugi's bed. The girl nodded, placing them down. "Spread them out," Isis ordered. The girl nodded, separating the furs one by one, a splendid array of fur and color from various animals. From gray to gold, long-haired to short-haired, she laid out the furs, putting them down carefully and gently smoothing the fur. Jounouchi watched her, a thousand questions visible in his eyes. "Thank you," Isis said once the girl was finished, "you are dismissed, Phedre." The girl nodded, curtseying several times as she backed slowly out of the room.

"Katsuya, I have a favor to ask of you," Isis said lightly, stepping away from Yuugi's bed. "Unlike Yuugi, you will be working outside at times and therefore will need a cloak. Take your pick," she informed him, gesturing to the pelts lying on Yuugi's bed.

Jounouchi took the few steps across the room hesitantly, eyes searching across the bed. Once piece caught his particular attention; it was a deep russet with fine silken hair. "I've never seen anything like this," he whispered softly, reaching out to lightly stroke the soft fur.

"Neither have I," Isis agreed, her eyes not on the fur but on him. "Sit down," she ordered, and he obediently went back to sit on the edge of his bed. "Phedre!" she called, picking up the fur he had selected. The girl hurried into the room, looking expectantly at her mistress." Phedre, gather the rest of these pelts and return them to the seamstress." The girl quickly went about her task, leaving the room with an armful of furs.

Isis sighed, sinking slowly onto the bed, the precious fur resting on her lap. She reached underneath the bed, pulling out a small kit she had found with ease. "Cloaks don't make themselves," she murmured, pulling out thread and a needle. Jounouchi watched her for a moment, every stitch careful and precise. It's can't be said how long they sat in silence, Isis stitching away while Jounouchi sat on the opposite bed, staring at his feet. To the two, it seemed like a lifetime, even an eternity. In actuality it was no more than an hour or so. The silence was broken by the sound of the door opening and both occupants turned in that direction.

Yuugi entered the room and Isis quickly looked away." "I've never been very good at sewing," she admitted, almost regretfully, "but it will have to do." She placed the cloak on Jounouchi's bed, walking towards the door. "Katsuya, they'll be putting you to work starting tomorrow. Goodbye." She left the room, shutting the door and locking it behind her.

Yuugi went over to his bed, lying down on his back. "Did you sleep well, Jounouchi-kun?" There was a pause before he added, "It must be hard, getting to sleep in a new place."

"I'm used to it," he whispered, looking at the cloak Isis had left beside him. He fingered the fur lightly, so soft and fine.

"That's a beautiful cloak," Yuugi said, looking over at him. "I suppose Lady Kaiba made it for you." Jounouchi nodded, watching Yuugi from across the room. "I think I need some sleep," he said, covering his mouth as he yawned. "Wake me in a few hours," he murmured sleepily. From across the room, Jounouchi watched him as Yuugi's breathing slowed and the smaller boy drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

~Remember, folks, the more you review, the sooner we'll get to the Kaiba/Jounouchi and the Yuugi/Jounouchi.