Bound
Chapter Ten
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Anzu held her stomach in pain as she fell over onto her side, choking with laughter. Everytime she would start to regain her composure, Jounouchi would say something else to start up her laughter again. He was only chuckling, but she could barely contain herself!
"The Lady Mai is lucky to have a man like you!" she choked out between giggles. He had told her of his long-time love of Mai and how he had finally got up the nerve to tell her. Anzu wasn't surprised that Mai told him that she returned that love. Lord Jounouchi was a splendid person; how could anyone not love him back?
"No, I am the lucky one," he said soberly. She smiled engagingly at him and stood.
"I should probably be going back to the... to our quarters," she ground out, unable to admit to herself where she was staying. A lot of good that did considering he already knew. He decided not to point that out and simply nodded.
"I'll call for the guard to escort you," he replied. She stared at him for a long moment before finally stepping up and wrapping her arms around him. He stood still in surprise for a moment before returning the embrace.
"Thank you for being so nice to me," she whispered. He smiled against her chocolate hair.
"You're so much like my little sister. If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'll be here. You're welcome to my chambers whenever you deem necessary," he told her sincerely.
At that moment, Jounouchi's one superior in Egypt chose to enter his chambers.
"Jounouchi, I was wondering--" Yuugi stopped abruptly as he eyed Anzu and Jounouchi breaking out of a hug. Jounouchi stared at him expectantly with a big smile on his face. Yuugi's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What are you doing? Why is she here?" he asked without even looking at Anzu. The slave girl bristled defensively and said goodbye to Jounouchi. She brushed past the Pharaoh, paying him the same courtesy that he paid her by not sparing him a glance.
"Did you need something?" Jounouchi asked while offering Yuugi a fresh pear. He brushed it aside and looked pointedly at Jounouchi.
"Why was she in here and why were you hugging her?" he asked harshly. Jounouchi raised his eyebrows and placed his hands on his hips.
"Don't tell me you're jealous because we're friends. Now that's just ridiculous," he said flatly.
"I'm not jealous!" Yuugi snapped.
"Right," the other man replied, trying hard to suppress the grin that threatened to surface. Jounouchi sat down on the comfy seat and motioned for Yuugi to do the same. He did so, if a little grudgingly.
"When I stumbled upon your little 'scene,' I had come to ask you a favor. I don't know if I want to now though," Yuugi said with a childish pout.
Jounouchi rolled his eyes. "What favor?"
"I wanted you to find out about the girl's cousin and also if she has any friends here."
Jounouchi looked uncertain. "Well, there is one woman she speaks of who is a concubine, but I hear nothing of anyone else. And her cousin is supposed to be working in the fields from what she knows."
Yuugi contemplated this. "Good. Find out about this woman and her cousin then."
Jounouchi nodded. He led Yuugi to the door and also left, himself, to bid his tasks.
~*~
Twenty minutes later found Yuugi in a small meeting room, reclining on his cushioned seat comfortably while he waited for a guard to bring the girl to him. Two servant women fanned him against the warm summer air, but he still had a thin layer of perspiration gracing his forehead. In truth, it wasn't from the smoldering heat, but rather from his nervousness. He couldn't understand why he was so nervous. It was simply ludicrous! He was the most powerful man in Egypt. Far be it for this mere slave to have any sort of hold on him!
He waved the fanning girls away when the guard entered with Anzu behind him. He grinned at her obvious displeasure. It was apparent that she was not happy to be near him again. When they both stood before him, he dismissed the guard and everyone else in the room. A few minutes later, they were finally alone, and he motioned wordlessly for her to sit down next to him.
"I'll stand if it's fine. Your highness," she sneered the last two words. "You're brave to dismiss everyone. What if I was hiding a dagger?"
He gazed up and down her form purposefully. Her tight bodice left little room for anything besides her body. "Where would you put it?" he asked with a smirk. He didn't wait for her response, but instead began explaining why he had requested her presence there.
"I am willing to accept you back as my houseservant--" he stopped upon noticing the seething look her features were taking on. He swallowed his pride regrettably. "What I mean to say is, will you become my houseservant again... under certain circumstances?"
She glared at him suspiciously. "Certain circumstances?" she echoed.
He cleared his throat. "Since you seem to be lonely during the day, you would have a companion of my choosing. She would help you complete your duties each day, as well."
Anzu's eyes widened in slight surprise. "You would do that for me?" He nodded casually.
She considered how much she disliked her current dancing duties in comparison to her household duties she had taken up briefly in the Pharaoh's chambers. She wouldn't see Mahalah again, but at least she would have someone else to talk to during the day. Finally she nodded. "I cannot complain about such an arrangement. I accept."
~*~
Jounouchi waited patiently as one of the guards skimmed through his long list, looking for Honda's name. Finally he stopped and pointed at the paper, showing it to his superior. Jounouchi nodded solemnly and turned away, not at all liking this turn of events. Oh, well. He still had to stop by the Pleasure Ladies' quarters and speak to the woman.
Approaching the Pleasure Ladies' quarters about ten minutes later, he entered with an attitude expected of someone who wasn't too happy. He glanced around for Anzu, but didn't think much about it when he didn't see her.
"Tell me of a woman who has befriended the dancer girl, Anzu," he snapped at the nearest lady. She hesitated and cast her eyes to the ground.
"The concubine, Mahalah, is the only one I know of who is especially close to Anzu," the young blonde said quietly. She pointed to Mahalah who was bathing in the small pool in the center of the room. Jounouchi approached her, keeping his eyes to the side modestly.
"Mahalah?" he questioned and she nodded in confirmation, grabbing a fluffy towel and stepping out of the pool. She wrapped it tightly around her and gave him the okay to look at her directly.
"I thank you for being modest, even to a slave with my occupation," she said appreciatively.
"A respectful man would not take advantage of such a situation," he replied seriously.
"What can I do for you?" she asked while walking behind the changing the changing curtains. She emerged wearing a pale yellow dress, quite simply since she wasn't expecting to work that night.
"You are a friend of Anzu?" he asked and she nodded. He leaned in to whisper to her. "Not to frighten you -- you haven't done anything wrong -- but the Pharaoh wishes to speak to you."
Mahalah's eyes widened in shock and she shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't do anything! Is he going to have me killed?" she asked frantically. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Relax. I said you didn't do anything. He only wants to talk to you; you're not in any danger," he soothed and she visibly relaxed at the reassurance. He stood up and held out his young. She accepted it after a moment and allowed him to lead her out.
Five minutes later found her sitting in a small meeting room with Jounouchi. She fidgeted nervously on the cushioned seat as they waited for Yuugi to join them. As if on cue, the Pharaoh entered at that moment. Mahalah made a choking sound and dropped to her knees, pressing her nose to the floor.
"She's a lot different from Anzu, isn't she?" Yuugi asked Jounouchi, only half serious. Jounouchi chuckled and sat down as Yuugi did.
"You may rise and seat yourself before me," he told Mahalah and she slowly did as he told her. She made it a point to never once look him in the eye.
"The cousin?" Yuugi asked quietly, and Jounouchi shook his head. Mahalah heard the Pharaoh curse softly under his breath, but she hadn't a clue what they were talking about. Then he turned a brilliant smile on her causing her to fidget quite nervously.
"How are you about household duties?"
The question caught her off-guard. She paused dumbfoundedly. "W-Well, I-I suppose I do quite well, my lord Pharaoh."
He nodded thoughtfully. "And you cook?"
She nodded whole-heartedly. "Yes, lord Pharaoh. I love to cook."
"Good! You start immediately!" he exclaimed as if that explained everything. Mahalah looked to Jounouchi for help.
"Ah, I didn't quite get to the point of your requested visit, Yuugi," he muttered quietly. Realization dawned in Yuugi's eyes.
"I see. Mahalah, is it?" he didn't pause for her confirmation, "I am changing your Palace duties from Pleasure Lady to my second household servant."
Mahalah's eyes widened in astonishment. She knew that she would be switched from her Pleasure Lady duties sometime soon due to her tender age of thirty-two, but never in her wildest dreams had she imagined ever getting promoted to such an honorific duty.
"I'm honored! Thank you, oh Great Pharaoh!" she exclaimed, dropping to her knees once again in thankfulness. He nodded in acknowledgment.
"You will be shown to my quarters, where my first household servant will be waiting to greet you, and begin immediately," he told her before rising from his seat. He motioned for a guard to bring Mahalah to his living quarters, bid her and Jounouchi good-bye and left the room. As Mahalah walked behind the guard towards Yuugi's chambers, she couldn't help but marvel at the rich paintings and glorious tapestries of Egyptian life that began to get more frequent as they neared his living area of the Great Palace. She mused briefly about who might be his new household servant after Anzu, but didn't think too much on it.
When she and the rough-looking guard finally reached their destination, she was ushered inside quickly, for the guard wished to return to his regular day duties. She stopped a step inside the door and stared dazedly around her at the marvelous interior decorating. The plush cushioned floor warmed her bare toes as she slowly stepped further into the main room. After a few minutes of inspecting her new living area, she was startled by the voice of a young woman.
"Mahalah?"
She whirled around. "Anzu?!"
"You're my new companion?" Anzu asked excitedly, running up to her friend.
"I... I guess so!" she replied, hugging the younger woman.
"When he told me he was getting me a companion to keep me from being lonely, I figured he would find me someone really drab!"
Mahalah pulled her back. "You mean he put me here just because you were lonely?" she asked in disbelief. "Wow... I could be killed for saying this, but you have some sort of a hold on him!" She giggled. Anzu looked confused.
"Do you really think so?" she asked quietly. Mahalah simply shrugged.
The two spent the next hour chatting and discussing their daily duties and how they would be split up. They both quieted upon hearing the main room doors open and close. Mahalah rose from the kitchen table to greet their master, but Anzu didn't follow. They both joined her again a few moments later. Anzu stood as they entered, but showed no other sign of respect. Mahalah shook her head, but Yuugi didn't seem to care, or if he did, he didn't voice or show his displeasure.
"Dinner is cooking," Anzu said. Yuugi was surprised to not hear any malice in her voice. Well, he mused to himself, maybe getting this other woman was a good idea afterall. He decided that he had better tell Anzu the bad news before he became too much a coward about it.
He cleared his throat. "Anzu, there is something I should tell you about your cousin." Oh, damn it all, she didn't look nervous that something might have happened. She looked happy... like something good had happened. "He... he has gone on to live nearer to our lord Ra." Her face dropped and she lost her voice momentarily.
If he hadn't expected him, it would have startled him to hear her break down into tears. She sobbed loudly and neither Yuugi or Mahalah could find it in their hearts to say anything worthy to her. No matter what they said or did, it wouldn't bring her only family back.
"Oh, by the gods, now I'm really alone!" she wailed hysterically. She slumped down onto the dining room floor, burying her face deep within her tear-damp hands. Mahalah knelt down next to her.
"You're not alone. I'm here with you," she said soothingly and glanced up at Yuugi.
"Yes, and I am here, too," he said which earned him a surprised stare from both women present. Anzu continued to cry, but her sobs had lightened somewhat. Mahalah rubbed her back softly.
"May I..." Mahalah started.
"Yes," Yuugi cut in. "Bring her to her room for the remainder of the night. The older woman smiled thankfully, promised to finish their duties before she went to sleep, and walked Anzu into hers and Mahalah's shared room.
~*~
Isis walked into one of the sacrificial chambers and stopped quickly upon spotting her younger brother conversing quietly with the white-haired temple servant, Bakura. She stifled a gasp and quickly left the room unnoticed. There had to be something going on for her prideful brother to speak with a lowly servant. She hesitated to admit to herself that it was exactly as the High Priest had said it was.
She knew that she owed him an apology, and left to find him to do just that. Something also needed to be done about Malik and Bakura.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NEXT CHAPTER: Isis and Seto talk about what to do concerning Malik and Bakura. Anzu has another dream, this one a little more clear, which leads to an idea on Yuugi's part. Yuugi's birthday is now a month away and more preparations are made.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Poor Honda. It had to be done though. XD Bakura plays a larger part of the next story and I'm going to go out on a limb and hope I don't get flamed for the idea I put him into. Please review and I'll see ya'll next time! ^^
Chapter Ten
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Anzu held her stomach in pain as she fell over onto her side, choking with laughter. Everytime she would start to regain her composure, Jounouchi would say something else to start up her laughter again. He was only chuckling, but she could barely contain herself!
"The Lady Mai is lucky to have a man like you!" she choked out between giggles. He had told her of his long-time love of Mai and how he had finally got up the nerve to tell her. Anzu wasn't surprised that Mai told him that she returned that love. Lord Jounouchi was a splendid person; how could anyone not love him back?
"No, I am the lucky one," he said soberly. She smiled engagingly at him and stood.
"I should probably be going back to the... to our quarters," she ground out, unable to admit to herself where she was staying. A lot of good that did considering he already knew. He decided not to point that out and simply nodded.
"I'll call for the guard to escort you," he replied. She stared at him for a long moment before finally stepping up and wrapping her arms around him. He stood still in surprise for a moment before returning the embrace.
"Thank you for being so nice to me," she whispered. He smiled against her chocolate hair.
"You're so much like my little sister. If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'll be here. You're welcome to my chambers whenever you deem necessary," he told her sincerely.
At that moment, Jounouchi's one superior in Egypt chose to enter his chambers.
"Jounouchi, I was wondering--" Yuugi stopped abruptly as he eyed Anzu and Jounouchi breaking out of a hug. Jounouchi stared at him expectantly with a big smile on his face. Yuugi's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What are you doing? Why is she here?" he asked without even looking at Anzu. The slave girl bristled defensively and said goodbye to Jounouchi. She brushed past the Pharaoh, paying him the same courtesy that he paid her by not sparing him a glance.
"Did you need something?" Jounouchi asked while offering Yuugi a fresh pear. He brushed it aside and looked pointedly at Jounouchi.
"Why was she in here and why were you hugging her?" he asked harshly. Jounouchi raised his eyebrows and placed his hands on his hips.
"Don't tell me you're jealous because we're friends. Now that's just ridiculous," he said flatly.
"I'm not jealous!" Yuugi snapped.
"Right," the other man replied, trying hard to suppress the grin that threatened to surface. Jounouchi sat down on the comfy seat and motioned for Yuugi to do the same. He did so, if a little grudgingly.
"When I stumbled upon your little 'scene,' I had come to ask you a favor. I don't know if I want to now though," Yuugi said with a childish pout.
Jounouchi rolled his eyes. "What favor?"
"I wanted you to find out about the girl's cousin and also if she has any friends here."
Jounouchi looked uncertain. "Well, there is one woman she speaks of who is a concubine, but I hear nothing of anyone else. And her cousin is supposed to be working in the fields from what she knows."
Yuugi contemplated this. "Good. Find out about this woman and her cousin then."
Jounouchi nodded. He led Yuugi to the door and also left, himself, to bid his tasks.
~*~
Twenty minutes later found Yuugi in a small meeting room, reclining on his cushioned seat comfortably while he waited for a guard to bring the girl to him. Two servant women fanned him against the warm summer air, but he still had a thin layer of perspiration gracing his forehead. In truth, it wasn't from the smoldering heat, but rather from his nervousness. He couldn't understand why he was so nervous. It was simply ludicrous! He was the most powerful man in Egypt. Far be it for this mere slave to have any sort of hold on him!
He waved the fanning girls away when the guard entered with Anzu behind him. He grinned at her obvious displeasure. It was apparent that she was not happy to be near him again. When they both stood before him, he dismissed the guard and everyone else in the room. A few minutes later, they were finally alone, and he motioned wordlessly for her to sit down next to him.
"I'll stand if it's fine. Your highness," she sneered the last two words. "You're brave to dismiss everyone. What if I was hiding a dagger?"
He gazed up and down her form purposefully. Her tight bodice left little room for anything besides her body. "Where would you put it?" he asked with a smirk. He didn't wait for her response, but instead began explaining why he had requested her presence there.
"I am willing to accept you back as my houseservant--" he stopped upon noticing the seething look her features were taking on. He swallowed his pride regrettably. "What I mean to say is, will you become my houseservant again... under certain circumstances?"
She glared at him suspiciously. "Certain circumstances?" she echoed.
He cleared his throat. "Since you seem to be lonely during the day, you would have a companion of my choosing. She would help you complete your duties each day, as well."
Anzu's eyes widened in slight surprise. "You would do that for me?" He nodded casually.
She considered how much she disliked her current dancing duties in comparison to her household duties she had taken up briefly in the Pharaoh's chambers. She wouldn't see Mahalah again, but at least she would have someone else to talk to during the day. Finally she nodded. "I cannot complain about such an arrangement. I accept."
~*~
Jounouchi waited patiently as one of the guards skimmed through his long list, looking for Honda's name. Finally he stopped and pointed at the paper, showing it to his superior. Jounouchi nodded solemnly and turned away, not at all liking this turn of events. Oh, well. He still had to stop by the Pleasure Ladies' quarters and speak to the woman.
Approaching the Pleasure Ladies' quarters about ten minutes later, he entered with an attitude expected of someone who wasn't too happy. He glanced around for Anzu, but didn't think much about it when he didn't see her.
"Tell me of a woman who has befriended the dancer girl, Anzu," he snapped at the nearest lady. She hesitated and cast her eyes to the ground.
"The concubine, Mahalah, is the only one I know of who is especially close to Anzu," the young blonde said quietly. She pointed to Mahalah who was bathing in the small pool in the center of the room. Jounouchi approached her, keeping his eyes to the side modestly.
"Mahalah?" he questioned and she nodded in confirmation, grabbing a fluffy towel and stepping out of the pool. She wrapped it tightly around her and gave him the okay to look at her directly.
"I thank you for being modest, even to a slave with my occupation," she said appreciatively.
"A respectful man would not take advantage of such a situation," he replied seriously.
"What can I do for you?" she asked while walking behind the changing the changing curtains. She emerged wearing a pale yellow dress, quite simply since she wasn't expecting to work that night.
"You are a friend of Anzu?" he asked and she nodded. He leaned in to whisper to her. "Not to frighten you -- you haven't done anything wrong -- but the Pharaoh wishes to speak to you."
Mahalah's eyes widened in shock and she shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't do anything! Is he going to have me killed?" she asked frantically. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Relax. I said you didn't do anything. He only wants to talk to you; you're not in any danger," he soothed and she visibly relaxed at the reassurance. He stood up and held out his young. She accepted it after a moment and allowed him to lead her out.
Five minutes later found her sitting in a small meeting room with Jounouchi. She fidgeted nervously on the cushioned seat as they waited for Yuugi to join them. As if on cue, the Pharaoh entered at that moment. Mahalah made a choking sound and dropped to her knees, pressing her nose to the floor.
"She's a lot different from Anzu, isn't she?" Yuugi asked Jounouchi, only half serious. Jounouchi chuckled and sat down as Yuugi did.
"You may rise and seat yourself before me," he told Mahalah and she slowly did as he told her. She made it a point to never once look him in the eye.
"The cousin?" Yuugi asked quietly, and Jounouchi shook his head. Mahalah heard the Pharaoh curse softly under his breath, but she hadn't a clue what they were talking about. Then he turned a brilliant smile on her causing her to fidget quite nervously.
"How are you about household duties?"
The question caught her off-guard. She paused dumbfoundedly. "W-Well, I-I suppose I do quite well, my lord Pharaoh."
He nodded thoughtfully. "And you cook?"
She nodded whole-heartedly. "Yes, lord Pharaoh. I love to cook."
"Good! You start immediately!" he exclaimed as if that explained everything. Mahalah looked to Jounouchi for help.
"Ah, I didn't quite get to the point of your requested visit, Yuugi," he muttered quietly. Realization dawned in Yuugi's eyes.
"I see. Mahalah, is it?" he didn't pause for her confirmation, "I am changing your Palace duties from Pleasure Lady to my second household servant."
Mahalah's eyes widened in astonishment. She knew that she would be switched from her Pleasure Lady duties sometime soon due to her tender age of thirty-two, but never in her wildest dreams had she imagined ever getting promoted to such an honorific duty.
"I'm honored! Thank you, oh Great Pharaoh!" she exclaimed, dropping to her knees once again in thankfulness. He nodded in acknowledgment.
"You will be shown to my quarters, where my first household servant will be waiting to greet you, and begin immediately," he told her before rising from his seat. He motioned for a guard to bring Mahalah to his living quarters, bid her and Jounouchi good-bye and left the room. As Mahalah walked behind the guard towards Yuugi's chambers, she couldn't help but marvel at the rich paintings and glorious tapestries of Egyptian life that began to get more frequent as they neared his living area of the Great Palace. She mused briefly about who might be his new household servant after Anzu, but didn't think too much on it.
When she and the rough-looking guard finally reached their destination, she was ushered inside quickly, for the guard wished to return to his regular day duties. She stopped a step inside the door and stared dazedly around her at the marvelous interior decorating. The plush cushioned floor warmed her bare toes as she slowly stepped further into the main room. After a few minutes of inspecting her new living area, she was startled by the voice of a young woman.
"Mahalah?"
She whirled around. "Anzu?!"
"You're my new companion?" Anzu asked excitedly, running up to her friend.
"I... I guess so!" she replied, hugging the younger woman.
"When he told me he was getting me a companion to keep me from being lonely, I figured he would find me someone really drab!"
Mahalah pulled her back. "You mean he put me here just because you were lonely?" she asked in disbelief. "Wow... I could be killed for saying this, but you have some sort of a hold on him!" She giggled. Anzu looked confused.
"Do you really think so?" she asked quietly. Mahalah simply shrugged.
The two spent the next hour chatting and discussing their daily duties and how they would be split up. They both quieted upon hearing the main room doors open and close. Mahalah rose from the kitchen table to greet their master, but Anzu didn't follow. They both joined her again a few moments later. Anzu stood as they entered, but showed no other sign of respect. Mahalah shook her head, but Yuugi didn't seem to care, or if he did, he didn't voice or show his displeasure.
"Dinner is cooking," Anzu said. Yuugi was surprised to not hear any malice in her voice. Well, he mused to himself, maybe getting this other woman was a good idea afterall. He decided that he had better tell Anzu the bad news before he became too much a coward about it.
He cleared his throat. "Anzu, there is something I should tell you about your cousin." Oh, damn it all, she didn't look nervous that something might have happened. She looked happy... like something good had happened. "He... he has gone on to live nearer to our lord Ra." Her face dropped and she lost her voice momentarily.
If he hadn't expected him, it would have startled him to hear her break down into tears. She sobbed loudly and neither Yuugi or Mahalah could find it in their hearts to say anything worthy to her. No matter what they said or did, it wouldn't bring her only family back.
"Oh, by the gods, now I'm really alone!" she wailed hysterically. She slumped down onto the dining room floor, burying her face deep within her tear-damp hands. Mahalah knelt down next to her.
"You're not alone. I'm here with you," she said soothingly and glanced up at Yuugi.
"Yes, and I am here, too," he said which earned him a surprised stare from both women present. Anzu continued to cry, but her sobs had lightened somewhat. Mahalah rubbed her back softly.
"May I..." Mahalah started.
"Yes," Yuugi cut in. "Bring her to her room for the remainder of the night. The older woman smiled thankfully, promised to finish their duties before she went to sleep, and walked Anzu into hers and Mahalah's shared room.
~*~
Isis walked into one of the sacrificial chambers and stopped quickly upon spotting her younger brother conversing quietly with the white-haired temple servant, Bakura. She stifled a gasp and quickly left the room unnoticed. There had to be something going on for her prideful brother to speak with a lowly servant. She hesitated to admit to herself that it was exactly as the High Priest had said it was.
She knew that she owed him an apology, and left to find him to do just that. Something also needed to be done about Malik and Bakura.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NEXT CHAPTER: Isis and Seto talk about what to do concerning Malik and Bakura. Anzu has another dream, this one a little more clear, which leads to an idea on Yuugi's part. Yuugi's birthday is now a month away and more preparations are made.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Poor Honda. It had to be done though. XD Bakura plays a larger part of the next story and I'm going to go out on a limb and hope I don't get flamed for the idea I put him into. Please review and I'll see ya'll next time! ^^