After a grueling day of fighting lead-laden eyelids, both Seto and Yami were allowed to retire for the evening. After dinner, the two departed for early nights of much needed sleep. As usual, however, the night had some magical hold of them. Both always seemed to have extra energy whenever the cloak of darkness enveloped the land.
"I'm going to bed, prince. To...B-E-D. I want to SL-E-E-P. Got that."
"But Seto, I bet those ruffians will be around to duel again. Don'tchya want to duel?"
"I want to SLEEP. I can duel another night."
"You're no fun."
"And you're an annoyance. Defy your body's needs and it will turn on you faster than a cobra on a rat."
"You're getting old Seto. You're even grumpy and cranky like old people." Yami taunted, playing on the fact that Seto was indeed roughly three years older than the prince.
This of course earned a retalitory swat from the young priest. With a swift, fluid move, he backed the prince to the wall and pinned him with his own body.
"Keep it up and your father will need to create a new heir."
Normally, a prince could pull rank here and remind a lesser of the risks of threatening a royal. But, Yami wasn't the average royal. He could care less about formalities. Besides Seto was his cousin and friend. Formalities didn't apply to them out of the public (or parental) eye.
Yami had been caught slightly off guard. He hadn't expected a sleepy priest to have such fast reflexes in his current state. Still though, Yami had a knack for getting out of ANY situation. His eyes met Seto's glaring, yet victorious ones. Yes, the young priest was actually gloating in this minor victory against the prince. This fueled Yami's fire. He loved it when he knew otherwise! Slowly, almost seductively, Yami's eyes closed to mere slits. Dense Seto took it as Yami growing tired. Again, he had underestimated the wily young prince. He let his guard drop slightly. Yami saw his chance. He drew an index finger forward in a 'come closer' sort of way. Instinctively, Seto responded and dropped his face lower to compensate for Yami's shorter height. He didn't see the devious smirk develop upon the prince's lips. With cat-like grace, Yami leaned forward and licked Seto's cheek. Then, using the shock value, pushed a stunned Seto away from himself, thus freeing himself from his hold. He took several steps before turning to see the stunned priest slumped against the wall.
It wasn't THAT bad. Yami cocked his head in curiousity. "What? You liked that or something?" Yami inquired teasingly.
A few seconds later, Seto snapped out of his stupor. "Hardly. You're so dull, that it lulled me to sleep."
"I wha--! " Yami sputtered, but for once, could not find the words to come back with. His tired mind was letting him know that sleep was a better option on this night.
Seto took that as a victory. He smirked and flung his bangs from his face in a cocky show of success. As he passed the prince en route to his sleeping chamber, he couldn't resist one last shot at the sputtering prince.
"Loser." Seto said in a seductive growl as he brushed by the prince, knocking Yami slightly off balance.
The sound of silence from his rival added just that much more to Seto's small little victory. He closed the door to his sleeping chambers. For once, he would might dream pleasant dreams of defeating the prince once and for all.
Yami, dumbfounded, just stared at Seto's departing form. His brain had failed him! It gave his rival a victory. Smacking his own forehead as if to punish his own brain, Yami opted to retire for the night as well. He now knew the power of defying one's own body. It was best not to do that too often. The results were most unpleasant. With a heavy yawn, Yami opened his bed chamber doors, shooed out the servents, concubines, and dancing girls, and dropped immediately onto his lush bed.
The next morning, the well rested boys encountered each other on their way to the morning meal. Walking amidst the pharaoh, his Great Wife (the queen), Simon, and the other priests, Seto and Yami prepared to continue where they had left off the night before.
"We're not finished yet Seto."
"Seems to me like you were last night."
"I was merely letting you think you had the upperhand. It was all planned."
"Suuuure it was."
"We're on for tonight right?"
"What?"
"The bath house. I skipped my bath last night. Plans stay the same, only tonight instead."
"Why do you bother me with such trivial matters? I do not want to watch you taking a bath."
"Only because you know I've got what you wish you had."
"You couldn't be more wrong."
"Then what are you afraid of eh?"
"I do not see the point in meeting at the royal bath. We could meet anywhere."
"Royal choice."
"Oh, now you pull the rank card. You're so pathetic. And what if I don't show?"
"You'll show."
"You give me all the more reason to not."
"You can't refuse a challenge."
"A challenge is it?"
"You'll see. I'll--" Yami was suddenly silenced by a cuff on the ear by his father. They were entering the main chamber whereby many subjects would be present. Proper behavior was expected in such matters. Stoic, stern, and quiet were called for, not chatty boys trying to 'one-up' each other.
The two boys sat across from each other at the table. Throughout the entire breakfast, the young priest and prince were continuously exchanging looks and facial expressions, taunting each other without verbally saying a word...that is until the prince yet out a loud yelp when the fed up priest kicked him in the shins.
"That's it! Simon, escort these two to their chambers. They will remain in their rooms until further notice!" the pharaoh boomed.
Yami actually looked to his mother for support, but found none. It wasn't easy being a teen AND beaten at one's own game. But, Yami's father always seemed one step ahead of his son. He had to be. His son was fast becoming a mighty gamesmaster and would soon surpass everyone and everything in his gaming skills. Inwardly, he beamed with pride at his son's skills. He knew that his son was only behaving in ways that would perhaps allow the young prince to practice and enhance his skills. The young priest was a perfect counter and had similar skills and interests. These two teens would test each other to their limits, constantly testing and pushing those limits to higher heights and altering the rules of the game as they did so. It was rather fascinating to watch these two future leaders, but as a father, control and respect still had to be utilized.
The two boys stood from their chairs, both red in the faces in embarrassment at being scolded in public. Simon added to their suffering by leading the two boys out by their ears.
"One moment Simon." the pharaoh said before Simon could lead them away.
The two boys looked at the pharaoh, awaiting his response.
"I want the Millenium Rod and Puzzle. You two will not practice with those until I deem it so."
Both boys groaned inwardly. Without the items, dueling with strong Shadow monsters would be bascially impossible. Reluctantly, they handed the pharaoh their items, then with heads hanging low, allowed themselves to be led out by Simon.
It was a very long trudge to their chambers. The entire way, Simon continued to lecture them both on proper etiquette, courtesy, royal and noble behavior, among other things. The Grand Vizer just kept ranting and rambling from one subject then onto another. It was most annoying, but neither boy could find an escape. They just remained quiet and took their lumps.
Seto's chamber was reached first. As he was freed to enter, he had to get one last word into the troublesome prince.
"It's all your fault."
"My what!? YOU kicked ME!"
"If you were stronger, you wouldn't have yelped like a girl."
Yami growled and tried to pull away, but Simon had his ear in an even tighter grasp. Simon dragged the squirming prince away before the boys had the chance to exchange blows. Seto's loud cackle of victory could be heard within the walls, even with his chamber's door closed. That was two small victories for the priest against the prince. Yami was not a happy person. In his mind, neither should have been scores for the priest. And now, he was prevented from getting any sort of payback.
"Now prince, you must understand, that as the future ruler of this land, you must have---" Yami quickly tuned back out as he found Simon still on his continuous lecture. Upon reaching his chamber, Yami entered willingly and without a word. He had some pondering to do as well as some studies of certain lessons that he hoped would give him an edge upon their next meeting. He knew Seto had been diligently studying his lessons and spells as well as other crafty means of manipulation. The young prince had been preoccupied with actual practice of dueling and testing skills of escape and evasion. Now it was time to beat Seto at his own game. The young prince had every intention of matching and besting the young priest on EVERY front, including spellcasting. To him, like his father, no being should be above the pharaoh...or future pharaoh in anything. Perhaps then, he could shut that priest's big trash talking trap once and for all.
As he settled himself in at his table with many scrolls, one of the servant girls caught his eye. Suddenly he found himself unable to focus on the scrolls. He was entirely focused on the girl. He watched her assist in preparing the fine linens for his bed, replace spent candles with new ones, dust sand off shelves, and so forth. He even took notice in the way she walked and carried herself. He was entirely entranced by this girl's presence!
Several of the concubines noticed this. One sided over to the servant girl.
"The prince is watching you."
"Why?"
"Maybe you'll be promoted."
"Promoted? To what?"
"A concubine like us."
The servent girl thought about it. At this point, the concubines did virtually nothing. They were eye candy for the young prince. As of yet, the prince showed no interest in them for their other purposes, though with each passing year, that was likely to change.
"I-I don't know. No female in my family has ever been more than a servant."
"We're still servents. We just haven't been called upon yet. Who knows, one of us could one day become a wife to this prince, who one day will be pharaoh. His father took a commoner for a wife. This one scampers out of the palace often and to do what? To hang out in the local villages."
Their conversation was abruptly broken as one of the older servant women shooed the concubine away and ordered the servant girl to continue on her duties.
Yami, of course, was watching as the two girls conversed. He couldn't hear their whispers, but he sensed it had something to do with him. Then the old woman broke up the fun. Well, there was no way the old hag could stop him from conversing with them. Pulling away from his desk and setting aside a scroll, he stood and made his way to the servant girl. Other young servant girls and concubines giggled and shushed as the prince made his way to her.
As he approached, the servant girl quickly ceased work and bowed. Her nervousness obvious as she trembled from all the individual attention she was getting from one of such high status.
"Please don't. I get enough of that outside of my chambers. Here, you go by my own rules."
"Yes, my prince." she replied though refused to break from her bow and avoided eye contact.
Yami gently placed a hand under her chin and lifted her head so her eyes would have no choice but to see his.
"What is your name?"
His voice was that of a soft, deep purr to her heart. Future king or not, this prince was special to her heart. It fluttered every time she caught sight of him and it wasn't out of fear of his status. "Asru, sire."
"Asru huh? It seems fitting enough though perhaps I should give you a name only you and I shall know? I'll strike you a deal. Whenever I use that name, I expect no formalities in speech or manner. Does that sound fair?"
Asru gave a slight nod in agreement. She knew the others were watching and probably trying to listen as well.
Yami, ever the one to break traditional rules of status stepped ever closer to her. His lips were near her ear. "Miw-sher. I shall call you Miw-sher." he whispered.
He then stepped away, allowing the nervous girl some distance between them. * Kitten. It suits you perfectly. One day perhaps, you will be revered just as all cats of Egypt are.* Yami thought as he returned to his studies, but not without stealing a glance or two at the servant girl who was fast becoming his 'favorite' servant girl.
An hour later the group within the prince's chamber were rocked in surprise when Yami yelled triumphantly. "THAT'S IT! HE WILL NEVER, EVER BEST ME IF I MASTER THIS!" he contiued, followed by a devillish laugh.
Suddenly, Yami realized everyone was staring at him, dummified. Embarrassed, he quickly assumed a more serious guise. "As you all were, please."
The occupants immediately went back to whatever it was they were doing.
A couple of hours later, Yami launched out of his studies. He forgot about meeting Seto at the royal bath. He had to find a way! Seto would likely remember the challenge and slither his way out of his own chamber. He was very good at such things. But then again, so was the prince.
Thinking about all possibilities, perhaps traditional custom could work to his advantage this time. Lost in thought, a small black cat perched atop his balcony sat cleaning itself. It ceased its activity upon feeling the gaze of the prince. Both locked eyes, in a gaze of amusement and wonder. The cat mewed then lept off the balcony, despite its height. Perhaps there was something the cat knew that Yami had overlooked. He pondered the cat, but again, found himself looking back at the servant girl. Snapping himself out of his reverie, he banged his head on the table on purpose. Why was his head pulling in so many directions when it only needed to focus on one right now!? And why couldn't he control his own thoughts!? What mystical force had such power upon a person? Before he could figure it out, the little cat returned and mewed once again. This time it had a collar upon it. Tucked in the collar was a small roll of parchment.
"Seto, you sly fox! You found a way to communicate with me afterall. Hmph, I should've thought of it first. Perhaps I'll return a message with a cobra." Yami muttered to himself as he urged the cat forward and slipped the parchment out of the collar. Opening it, it read:
You're such a pathetic loser. Even I thought of this first. Tonight as planned.
Yami half growled, half laughed. His relationship with the young priest was love/hate, but the challenges were always worthwhile, despite the constant taunting and berating. Then he remembered, he DID have a better way to communicate...a ROYAL way. With a whistle out the window, he summoned his falcon, a beautiful and very rare albino white raptor. Scribbling a brief message on the same parchment, he tied it to the falcon's leg and gave it directions.
As planned, but why are you so deeply deluded? I have been the victor all along!
The falcon soared off as Yami prepared himself for the upcoming meeting. He would have to once again, evade all occupants of his chamber, PLUS the guards his father likely posted outside the door, PLUS any other being or creature who would be alerted to where he was supposed to be and where he wasn't. On top of that, he had to plan his meeting with Seto. Without the Millenium Items, his initial plan of seeking out duels was sacked. He had to come up with something just as worthwhile. If he failed, Seto would be sure to continuously remind him of the waste of time and effort he put forth.
to be continued...