Chapter Three
Evening found Jou, Honda, Yugi, and Anzu sprawled out on the ground, worn out. They had decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing, but only ended up playing and chasing each other, enjoying themselves, and having a rather good time.
Yami preferred to stay out of it, though.
"Geez, Jou. . ." Anzu wheezed, still out of breath. "I didn't know you ran so fast."
Jou grinned. "Well, that's what I get for running from the lawkeepers back in my village, to prevent from gettin caught stealin."
Honda suddenly sat up, an idea popping in his head. "Hey, Jou-kun, you know how we can't get our shackles off cuz of the spell?" He said excitedly.
Jou nodded. "So?"
"What if Yami-kun could get them off for us!"
Anzu squealed. "Then we could settle at a village without being chased out anymore!"
Yugi nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea, Honda-kun. But will Yami do it? Let's ask!"
The four friends made their way to the lone figure leaning on a tree, arms crossed, eyes closed, completely still.
"You'd think he wuz sleepin standing up." Jou muttered.
"Hey Yami?" Yugi poked Yami to see if he was awake, even if he was standing.
Yami's eyes flew open, angry at being disturbed. About to yell at whoever bothered him, he stopped when he realized it was Yugi.
"Yes?"
"Could you do us a big favor? Pleease?" Jou pleaded.
Yami nearly sighed in exasperation. Jou got on his nerves pretty easily, which wasn't a safe thing. The only reason Jou, Honda, and Anzu weren't smoldering ashes by now was because he needed to earn Yugi's trust.
"What?"
"You see, you know how prisoners and criminals wear shackles to show everyone they're convicts, right?"
"Yes, I do know."
Not noticing the irritated tone, Yugi continued. "Well, Jou and Honda, as you might've already noticed, have those shackles. But they were only convicted because they stole food. They were too poor to buy their food, and no one would pay them to work. Don't you think that's unfair?"
"Er. . ." Personally, Yami couldn't care less about poor folk. But he couldn't exactly say that to Yugi.
"Well, the reason we travel around is because we get chased out of villages since Jou and Honda have those shackles. And they're magicked, so they can't break them."
"Yes, I know." "We really miss having to stay at a decent village, so could you pleeeeeeeeeaaase get the shackles off?" Yugi pleaded, eyes shining with hope.
Yami looked at Yugi, thinking. 'This might help increase Yugi's trust in me.'
"Okay."
"YESSS!!!" Jou and Honda leaped up, cheering wildly. They were about to hug the mage, when they noticed the look in his eyes that clearly said to back off. So instead, they shook his hand, nearly crushing it.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou soooo much!"
"Alright, alright. I get the point. Now give me your wrists."
Jou and Honda extended their left hand so the shackles were shown. Yami simply touched them, and they crumbled. The two boys gaped.
"Wow. . ."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once again, night befell the travelers. And once again, Yami was awake. Jou and Honda were snoring peacefully, still hugging their bare wrists even in their sleep. Yami shook his head; when he had freed them, they proceeded to kiss their left wrist, then hug them tightly. 'Fools.'
Like the night before, Yami snuck out of earshot, hoping Yugi wouldn't hear this time. He consulted his Master from the scrying mirror to report.
"Yami. I hope you have good news to report."
"Actually, Master, today isn't much different. I think I have earned a little trust from Yugi after freeing his two friends from the prison shackles."
The image in the mirror growled. "That is not enough. You are working too slow, Yami. We do not have all the time in the world. I expected you to gain most of Yugi's trust by today."
"But Master-" Yami began to protest.
"Do not protest my expectations. Do you wish to go through the procedure again?"
Yami shivered, remembering how painful his Master's wrath could be.
"No, Master. I will gain Yugi's complete confidence in me. Please allow me more time, at the most three days."
"Very well."
Yami sighed in relief. "Thank you Master."
The image disappeared.
Yami turned to go back to the others, when he saw movement. 'Damn!' he thought. 'Yugi followed me again!' Yami watched as the younger wild haired boy approached him.
"Yami, who were you talking to?"
'Oh no. He must have heard me.' Yami mentally gulped, trying to think of an excuse.
"And how come you're awake again?" Yugi asked.
"Why are _you_ awake again?" Yami countered, hoping he wouldn't have to answer Yugi's first question.
"I heard you leave again." Yugi answered, eyes shining thoughtfully. "It's weird, but ever since a few weeks ago, it seems like my senses have sharpened. Weird, huh?" Yugi laughed softly.
'His powers. They're developing without his knowing. Master will not like this.' Yami didn't respond.
"So anyway, why are you out here? And who were you talking to?"
'Damn!' Yami had thought Yugi forgot about that.
"I-I just came out to think. Sometimes I, er, talk to myself." Yami mentally slapped himself. 'That was so lame! He'll never buy that!'
Surprisingly, Yugi believed him. "Yeah, that's what I do too sometimes. I guess I'm sort of like you, huh. I like to come out at night, when it's quiet, and peaceful." Yugi sat down, gazing up at the stars. Unsure, Yami joined him, and sat next to him.
"I like to think about my life, where it's going, and how it came about. But I don't like to think about my past too much." Yugi bowed his head.
However, the small boy immediately snapped out it. He looked at his companion, and asked cheerfully, "So what about you? What do you like to think about?"
Yami didn't really feel like talking with this boy. He was beginning to feel. . .different when around Yugi. 'Perhaps it is my magic reacting to his power. But it doesn't feel that way.'
"Just. . .stuff."
"Like what?" Yugi focused his full attention on the mage. Yami shifted uncomfortably under his stare.
"Like my magic and how to develop it."
"Really?" Yugi sighed dreamily. "It must be wonderful to have magic. In my hometown, we had a village mage. He was sort of the village caretaker, making sure fires wouldn't break out, protecting the homes from bandits, and the like. I liked to chat with him and he told me it was wonderful to use his power to help others. Don't you agree?"
"Um. . .sure." Despite the fact that Yami had never helped anyone benefit from his magic, save for his Master.
"So how do you get magic anyway?"
'Man, he's too curious. When will he stop talking?' Yami was beginning to feel more and more uncomfortable under Yugi's presence. 'And why am I so self-conscious around him?'
"Yami?"
Yami replaced his attention back onto Yugi.
"Well, I was born with magic." Yami explained. Regardless of his uncomfortable feelings around the other boy, Yami found that he was enjoying talking with Yugi.
"My mother had the magic, but my father didn't. My mother's side all had it."
"Where are your parents?"
"They're living in my hometown. I left them to improve my magical abilities." Well, that wasn't completely a lie. He left to work for his Master, but by working for him he would still enhance his power.
Silence. Yugi seemed to have a lost a bit of his enthusiasm at the mention of Yami's parents. Yami wondered why.
"So Yugi," Yami started, attempting to revive their conversation. For some reason, he didn't like Yugi to seem sad. "What about your parents?"
"They're dead." Yugi answered bluntly.
'Oops. That's probably why Yugi seemed so sad.' "Er. . .sorry." 'Wait, why should I be sorry?'
"My hometown was one of the three villages that burned down. I was out running an errand when it happened, so only I survived."
Yami felt a small twinge of guilt. Yugi was talking about the villages _he_ had blown up. 'Yugi must definitely know I burned down his hometown. . .but if he does, why does he trust me? He must've heard from Anzu that I did it on purpose, even though I denied that.'
Yugi seemed to be struggling to keep up a happy mood. "So what kind of stuff can you do with your magic other than healing Jou?" Yugi smiled brightly, but this time, Yami could see through it.
'Yugi's not really happy. He certainly hides it well.I wonder if his friends know of his parents.' For the first time in his life, Yami felt sympathy: for this boy who was constantly putting on a happy mask for the sake of others, hiding his painful family fact.
To answer Yugi's question, Yami responded, choosing his answer carefully; it wouldn't do for Yugi to find out the real reason he was here. "Other than healing, I try and prevent anything that might destroy." 'Okay, that was a complete lie.' "You know, like flooding, forest fires, and the like."
"Cool."
"Why did you decide to travel? You could have settled at a nearby village." Yami commented.
"Well, I was too stricken with grief to think right, so I just wandered around. That's when I met Anzu." Yugi smiled fondly, remembering the memory. For some reason, Yami felt a small pang of jealousy.
"She was already a traveler. She left her family because, well as she put it, 'They get on my nerves so much, always ordering me about, and if one thing went wrong, who got the blame? Me, that's who!' But I think Anzu was just yearning for a bit of adventure." Yugi fiddled with something around his neck.
"Then, we met Jou and Honda in another village. They were about to be executed for being caught for the third time stealing. But I don't blame them. They were poor, and couldn't work. We- I mean Anzu and I- thought it unfair for them to be killed for stealing food when they had no money. So we begged the judge to allow them to travel with us, provided that they never return to the village. The judge agreed, but said that if Jou and Honda-kun were found wandering without Anzu-san and me, they would still be executed."
Yami nodded. "I see. So that is how you came to now."
By now, the two had talked so long that the sun had begun to rise. Yugi glanced at it startled.
"Wow, Yami! We talked all night!" he chuckled.
"Yeah. . ." Strangely, Yami regretted that they would have to stop their chat. The two made their way back to the others.
Evening found Jou, Honda, Yugi, and Anzu sprawled out on the ground, worn out. They had decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing, but only ended up playing and chasing each other, enjoying themselves, and having a rather good time.
Yami preferred to stay out of it, though.
"Geez, Jou. . ." Anzu wheezed, still out of breath. "I didn't know you ran so fast."
Jou grinned. "Well, that's what I get for running from the lawkeepers back in my village, to prevent from gettin caught stealin."
Honda suddenly sat up, an idea popping in his head. "Hey, Jou-kun, you know how we can't get our shackles off cuz of the spell?" He said excitedly.
Jou nodded. "So?"
"What if Yami-kun could get them off for us!"
Anzu squealed. "Then we could settle at a village without being chased out anymore!"
Yugi nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea, Honda-kun. But will Yami do it? Let's ask!"
The four friends made their way to the lone figure leaning on a tree, arms crossed, eyes closed, completely still.
"You'd think he wuz sleepin standing up." Jou muttered.
"Hey Yami?" Yugi poked Yami to see if he was awake, even if he was standing.
Yami's eyes flew open, angry at being disturbed. About to yell at whoever bothered him, he stopped when he realized it was Yugi.
"Yes?"
"Could you do us a big favor? Pleease?" Jou pleaded.
Yami nearly sighed in exasperation. Jou got on his nerves pretty easily, which wasn't a safe thing. The only reason Jou, Honda, and Anzu weren't smoldering ashes by now was because he needed to earn Yugi's trust.
"What?"
"You see, you know how prisoners and criminals wear shackles to show everyone they're convicts, right?"
"Yes, I do know."
Not noticing the irritated tone, Yugi continued. "Well, Jou and Honda, as you might've already noticed, have those shackles. But they were only convicted because they stole food. They were too poor to buy their food, and no one would pay them to work. Don't you think that's unfair?"
"Er. . ." Personally, Yami couldn't care less about poor folk. But he couldn't exactly say that to Yugi.
"Well, the reason we travel around is because we get chased out of villages since Jou and Honda have those shackles. And they're magicked, so they can't break them."
"Yes, I know." "We really miss having to stay at a decent village, so could you pleeeeeeeeeaaase get the shackles off?" Yugi pleaded, eyes shining with hope.
Yami looked at Yugi, thinking. 'This might help increase Yugi's trust in me.'
"Okay."
"YESSS!!!" Jou and Honda leaped up, cheering wildly. They were about to hug the mage, when they noticed the look in his eyes that clearly said to back off. So instead, they shook his hand, nearly crushing it.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou soooo much!"
"Alright, alright. I get the point. Now give me your wrists."
Jou and Honda extended their left hand so the shackles were shown. Yami simply touched them, and they crumbled. The two boys gaped.
"Wow. . ."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once again, night befell the travelers. And once again, Yami was awake. Jou and Honda were snoring peacefully, still hugging their bare wrists even in their sleep. Yami shook his head; when he had freed them, they proceeded to kiss their left wrist, then hug them tightly. 'Fools.'
Like the night before, Yami snuck out of earshot, hoping Yugi wouldn't hear this time. He consulted his Master from the scrying mirror to report.
"Yami. I hope you have good news to report."
"Actually, Master, today isn't much different. I think I have earned a little trust from Yugi after freeing his two friends from the prison shackles."
The image in the mirror growled. "That is not enough. You are working too slow, Yami. We do not have all the time in the world. I expected you to gain most of Yugi's trust by today."
"But Master-" Yami began to protest.
"Do not protest my expectations. Do you wish to go through the procedure again?"
Yami shivered, remembering how painful his Master's wrath could be.
"No, Master. I will gain Yugi's complete confidence in me. Please allow me more time, at the most three days."
"Very well."
Yami sighed in relief. "Thank you Master."
The image disappeared.
Yami turned to go back to the others, when he saw movement. 'Damn!' he thought. 'Yugi followed me again!' Yami watched as the younger wild haired boy approached him.
"Yami, who were you talking to?"
'Oh no. He must have heard me.' Yami mentally gulped, trying to think of an excuse.
"And how come you're awake again?" Yugi asked.
"Why are _you_ awake again?" Yami countered, hoping he wouldn't have to answer Yugi's first question.
"I heard you leave again." Yugi answered, eyes shining thoughtfully. "It's weird, but ever since a few weeks ago, it seems like my senses have sharpened. Weird, huh?" Yugi laughed softly.
'His powers. They're developing without his knowing. Master will not like this.' Yami didn't respond.
"So anyway, why are you out here? And who were you talking to?"
'Damn!' Yami had thought Yugi forgot about that.
"I-I just came out to think. Sometimes I, er, talk to myself." Yami mentally slapped himself. 'That was so lame! He'll never buy that!'
Surprisingly, Yugi believed him. "Yeah, that's what I do too sometimes. I guess I'm sort of like you, huh. I like to come out at night, when it's quiet, and peaceful." Yugi sat down, gazing up at the stars. Unsure, Yami joined him, and sat next to him.
"I like to think about my life, where it's going, and how it came about. But I don't like to think about my past too much." Yugi bowed his head.
However, the small boy immediately snapped out it. He looked at his companion, and asked cheerfully, "So what about you? What do you like to think about?"
Yami didn't really feel like talking with this boy. He was beginning to feel. . .different when around Yugi. 'Perhaps it is my magic reacting to his power. But it doesn't feel that way.'
"Just. . .stuff."
"Like what?" Yugi focused his full attention on the mage. Yami shifted uncomfortably under his stare.
"Like my magic and how to develop it."
"Really?" Yugi sighed dreamily. "It must be wonderful to have magic. In my hometown, we had a village mage. He was sort of the village caretaker, making sure fires wouldn't break out, protecting the homes from bandits, and the like. I liked to chat with him and he told me it was wonderful to use his power to help others. Don't you agree?"
"Um. . .sure." Despite the fact that Yami had never helped anyone benefit from his magic, save for his Master.
"So how do you get magic anyway?"
'Man, he's too curious. When will he stop talking?' Yami was beginning to feel more and more uncomfortable under Yugi's presence. 'And why am I so self-conscious around him?'
"Yami?"
Yami replaced his attention back onto Yugi.
"Well, I was born with magic." Yami explained. Regardless of his uncomfortable feelings around the other boy, Yami found that he was enjoying talking with Yugi.
"My mother had the magic, but my father didn't. My mother's side all had it."
"Where are your parents?"
"They're living in my hometown. I left them to improve my magical abilities." Well, that wasn't completely a lie. He left to work for his Master, but by working for him he would still enhance his power.
Silence. Yugi seemed to have a lost a bit of his enthusiasm at the mention of Yami's parents. Yami wondered why.
"So Yugi," Yami started, attempting to revive their conversation. For some reason, he didn't like Yugi to seem sad. "What about your parents?"
"They're dead." Yugi answered bluntly.
'Oops. That's probably why Yugi seemed so sad.' "Er. . .sorry." 'Wait, why should I be sorry?'
"My hometown was one of the three villages that burned down. I was out running an errand when it happened, so only I survived."
Yami felt a small twinge of guilt. Yugi was talking about the villages _he_ had blown up. 'Yugi must definitely know I burned down his hometown. . .but if he does, why does he trust me? He must've heard from Anzu that I did it on purpose, even though I denied that.'
Yugi seemed to be struggling to keep up a happy mood. "So what kind of stuff can you do with your magic other than healing Jou?" Yugi smiled brightly, but this time, Yami could see through it.
'Yugi's not really happy. He certainly hides it well.I wonder if his friends know of his parents.' For the first time in his life, Yami felt sympathy: for this boy who was constantly putting on a happy mask for the sake of others, hiding his painful family fact.
To answer Yugi's question, Yami responded, choosing his answer carefully; it wouldn't do for Yugi to find out the real reason he was here. "Other than healing, I try and prevent anything that might destroy." 'Okay, that was a complete lie.' "You know, like flooding, forest fires, and the like."
"Cool."
"Why did you decide to travel? You could have settled at a nearby village." Yami commented.
"Well, I was too stricken with grief to think right, so I just wandered around. That's when I met Anzu." Yugi smiled fondly, remembering the memory. For some reason, Yami felt a small pang of jealousy.
"She was already a traveler. She left her family because, well as she put it, 'They get on my nerves so much, always ordering me about, and if one thing went wrong, who got the blame? Me, that's who!' But I think Anzu was just yearning for a bit of adventure." Yugi fiddled with something around his neck.
"Then, we met Jou and Honda in another village. They were about to be executed for being caught for the third time stealing. But I don't blame them. They were poor, and couldn't work. We- I mean Anzu and I- thought it unfair for them to be killed for stealing food when they had no money. So we begged the judge to allow them to travel with us, provided that they never return to the village. The judge agreed, but said that if Jou and Honda-kun were found wandering without Anzu-san and me, they would still be executed."
Yami nodded. "I see. So that is how you came to now."
By now, the two had talked so long that the sun had begun to rise. Yugi glanced at it startled.
"Wow, Yami! We talked all night!" he chuckled.
"Yeah. . ." Strangely, Yami regretted that they would have to stop their chat. The two made their way back to the others.