Bound
Chapter Twelve
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Jounouchi had just arrived at Yuugi's quarters with some 'requested news.' Anzu hadn't a clue what the two men were conversing about so secretively in the eating room, but she had gotten the clear hint that it was indeed that, a secret. She dutifully wiped down the stone food-preparation table with a wet cloth, spending more time than was necessary while she desperately tried to hear what Yuugi and Jounouchi were talking about in the next room over.
She knew it wasn't any of her business, but she couldn't help her nosiness. She knew that Mahalah would have been interested, too, had she been present. She grinned, imagining the older woman straining her pretty ears to hear what was being said. The blonde was just that type. Unfortunately, Mahalah was in the royal garden, plucking ripe fruits and vegetables for upcoming meals. She wasn't allowed to actually prepare the meals, but she loved to select the ingredients since she loved cooking. Naturally, one had to be extremely trustworthy to be able to prepare the Pharaoh's meals; anyone could poison him if they so desired.
That was something that shocked Anzu just the other day. Normally, a servant was called in before each meal to test the food before the Pharaoh was allowed to eat it. However, Yuugi had waved off the servant a few days prior and had simply eaten the food without doubting Anzu. He had been quite nonchalant about it, but inside, Anzu had swelled with joy. Now that was something new. She was still contemplating why she had cared that he had trusted her with his life in that certain instance, but she felt funny inside whenever she thought too much on it.
She was ripped violently out of her thoughts when Yuugi's main door busted open forcefully. She stepped into the eating room, her curiosity now overwhelming her, and stopped short at the sight of a dying soldier who had stumbled into the dining area. Yuugi and Jounouchi had jumped to their feet, Jounouchi running to the soldier's side.
"What has happened, soldier?!" Jounouchi shouted. The soldier's horrific wound had blood pouring out of his chest at an alarming rate. His blood pooled on the marbled floor, seeping into Jounouchi's sandals. The blood began making its way further, causing Anzu to slowly step backwards in a shocked state. Yuugi noticed her and effortlessly lifted her onto the table to keep her feet from touching the crimson floor. Anzu noted that his own feet had already been bloodied, but he either hadn't noticed or didn't care.
"They... they're g-going to take the ite--" The soldier's sentence was never to be finished, however. His heart ceased beating and he slumped to the floor in a bloody mass.
The dining room became even more crowded when two guards burst onto the scene, huffing for their breaths.
"My Pharaoh, we apologize! We tried to stop him from running into your chambers!" one of them exclaimed, eying the bloody corpse still on the floor.
Yuugi turned to Anzu and gently lifted her into his arms. He walked into the meeting room and set her down, far away from the blood. Finally, he walked back into the dining room and glared at the two guards who were shifting nervously under his penetrating gaze.
"Obviously," Yuugi ground out, "it was important else he wouldn't have strained himself so; you should have assisted him. Carry him out of here and prepare for a mummification ceremony!"
The guards flustered at Yuugi's harsh command and quickly jumped to do his bidding. Jounouchi came up beside Yuugi and stared at the nameless soldier.
"What do you think he was trying to tell us?" he asked and the Pharaoh shook his head in reply.
"I don't know. We had best be on our guard though." Just then he looked over at Anzu who had remained completely silent throughout the ordeal.
"Does blood disturb you?" Yuugi asked softly. She focused her gaze on him and shook her head.
"No, I was just surprised. That poor man..." she trailed off, once again looking at the dead man who was currently being carried off by the two guards. Yuugi agreed with a somber nod of his head.
~*~
The next day, Anzu was informed by Jounouchi and Yuugi that her biological father had been found. Her first reaction had been extreme anger that they had interfered and even more anger over the fact that Yuugi had 'taken advantage' of her rambling that night she had found out who her real father was.
Nevertheless, as the day wore on, she had become exceedingly curious about Jhanu'n. Yuugi had been quite smug indeed when she had requested permission to go see her father. He had offered to have someone escort her, but she had ardently refused that notion. She wanted to do this on her own; confront her past by herself.
As she approached the decently-sized home of Jhanu'n, she mused over the information that Jounouchi had given her about her father. He still lived alone though he kept a few women of the oldest profession at times. Anzu snorted disdainfully. The man in her nightmares did certainly seem the type to have whores living with him for short periods of time every now and then. Anzu learned that she had a few bastard siblings with whereabouts unknown; they were not full-blooded Egyptian, however. He was nearing forty summers of age. He was a prominent blacksmith with a fairly decent fortune -- not enough to live in the Great Palace though. Jounouchi had told Anzu that Jhanu'n had no clue that he had been searched out and so should be thoroughly surprised to have his daughter show up on his doorstep.
Anzu hesitated, then knocked on the stone door. She was about to leave after a few minutes of waiting, but finally a petite woman, a servant, she guessed, opened the door a crack. Anzu noted that the woman didn't seem at all welcoming.
"I am here to speak with Jhanu'n," Anzu supplied after a moment of silence. The slave woman sneered, but allowed Anzu to enter. Anzu fought back the urge to pinch her nose at the putrid smell that enveloped the home. After being shown to the waiting room, she seated herself and waited patiently.
After five minutes, she rolled her eyes inwardly at her father's rudeness to keep a guest waiting so long; nonetheless, he entered moments later with a look of pure boredom on his face. He was just as he appeared in her nightmares, and she fought her anger down. He didn't seem to recognize Anzu at all, and she couldn't really blame him. He hadn't seen her since she was a toddler, and the only resemblance she bore to her mother was her eyes. Anzu momentarily wondered where her chestnut hair came from; a grandparent, perhaps.
"Who are you?" Jhanu'n asked bluntly. Anzu stood and approached him, stopping about five feet from him.
"I'm Anzu, your daughter."
Her father's eyes widened considerably, and in that moment, Anzu felt pride like no other for being able to make her father so shocked. Damn, if he didn't deserve it after what he had done to her and her mother. The bastard.
"I know no daughter," he finally replied in a clipped tone. Anzu shook her head, not allowing her emotions to overtake her.
"Mayhap you do not know of a daughter now, but you did once," she paused at his blank expression, "Surely you remember. Afterall, you left her and your wife to the elements when you kicked them out of your home fifteen summers ago."
Jhanu'n's eyes narrowed at her hateful and accusatory tone. His gaze slid over her features briefly, noting her attire and bare feet.
"You are obviously naught but a slave -- still worthless, just as you were when you were my daughter. Leave me now," he told her. She nodded, yet didn't say a word to him as she left his home. She was afraid that the tears that would surely fall in front of him. She couldn't allow him to see how much he hurt her.
When she reached the Great Palace again, a guard was already waiting to escort her back to the Pharaoh's quarters. She truly didn't need an escort, but she appreciated that Yuugi was willing to give her one.
Upon entering his quarters, Anzu saw Yuugi sitting in the meeting room. Had he been waiting for her? For some odd reason, her sorrow and anger at her father was gone for a few moments as she relished in the idea that the most powerful man in Egypt had been waiting for her when she was sure he had much more important things to do. He stood and she approached him and she bowed her head respectfully to him. He raised an eyebrow at her show of respect -- a rarity -- but didn't say anything about it.
"I'm only a worthless slave," she answered his unasked question. Yuugi's magenta eyes glowed angrily.
"He said...? I would have him regret those words," the Pharaoh ground out and Anzu was certain that he was fully prepared to back up his threat. She held up a hand in a stopping motion.
"No, he was right. I am just a slave," she said quietly and walked across the room to the one she and Mahalah shared. Yuugi stared after, his anger brewing inside of him. He didn't understand why he felt so defensive over his house-servant, but he knew that insulting her was almost as bad as insulting himself.
~*~
Bakura growled at the two guards who held his arms tightly as they escorted him to his new 'duties,' whatever those might be. The High Priest and High Priestess had apparently been worried about a potentially dangerous relationship between himself and the younger priest, Malik. They had implied as much when they had two guards drag him out of the temple, telling him that he would be "set into new duties away from Malik."
Malik had objected to the separation, but had been quieted quickly by his sister's fierce scolding. Malik had given Bakura a look that clearly said "I'll see you again."
He didn't doubt that Malik would find him, wherever he was taken. Bakura only hoped that he wouldn't be taken to an outside task. Anything would do, just not the fields or working on the buildings!
When he and the guards finally reached their destination (within the Palace much to his relief), he was shoved into a spacious room of assorted colors and pillows. The room smelled of sweet honey and rosemary. The large bathing pool in the center of the room looked absolutely splendid and welcoming with its lilac pads floating on it and perfectly fluffy cloths surrounding it. All in all, the room was wonderful and reminded him of the Great Palace Pleasure Ladies' quarters except for one thing:
The room was filled with gorgeous, half-naked... men.
~*~
"I don't care what you have to do; just do it!" the woman shrieked angrily, her face flustering like a ripe tomato. The man sitting across from her raised an eyebrow in an unaffected manner. He had dealt with her kind plenty of times. Her anger meant nothing to him. He had been in his sort of business for many of his thirty-six years; he had first gotten into it at the tender age of twelve due to his older brother.
"Hn," came his short and final reply. He stood calmly from his seat and exited the small and enclosed room. The woman glared after him, silently threatening him. He was supposed to be the best assassin in the land. Ra only knew how many favors she had given him to get him to agree to help her. She knew that the next time the Pleasure Ladies' guards tested the ladies, she would be moved to concubine, but she didn't care. This was worth it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NEXT CHAPTER: Anzu is depressed about her father's rejection. Bakura isn't too happy about his new 'duties,' but he's cheered up a little by a visitor. The plan against Anzu is set into motion.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Another short chapter, but oh well. I'm busy. XD Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. I thought Yuugi was really sweet in this chapter. Don't forget to review... 'till next time! ^^
Chapter Twelve
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jounouchi had just arrived at Yuugi's quarters with some 'requested news.' Anzu hadn't a clue what the two men were conversing about so secretively in the eating room, but she had gotten the clear hint that it was indeed that, a secret. She dutifully wiped down the stone food-preparation table with a wet cloth, spending more time than was necessary while she desperately tried to hear what Yuugi and Jounouchi were talking about in the next room over.
She knew it wasn't any of her business, but she couldn't help her nosiness. She knew that Mahalah would have been interested, too, had she been present. She grinned, imagining the older woman straining her pretty ears to hear what was being said. The blonde was just that type. Unfortunately, Mahalah was in the royal garden, plucking ripe fruits and vegetables for upcoming meals. She wasn't allowed to actually prepare the meals, but she loved to select the ingredients since she loved cooking. Naturally, one had to be extremely trustworthy to be able to prepare the Pharaoh's meals; anyone could poison him if they so desired.
That was something that shocked Anzu just the other day. Normally, a servant was called in before each meal to test the food before the Pharaoh was allowed to eat it. However, Yuugi had waved off the servant a few days prior and had simply eaten the food without doubting Anzu. He had been quite nonchalant about it, but inside, Anzu had swelled with joy. Now that was something new. She was still contemplating why she had cared that he had trusted her with his life in that certain instance, but she felt funny inside whenever she thought too much on it.
She was ripped violently out of her thoughts when Yuugi's main door busted open forcefully. She stepped into the eating room, her curiosity now overwhelming her, and stopped short at the sight of a dying soldier who had stumbled into the dining area. Yuugi and Jounouchi had jumped to their feet, Jounouchi running to the soldier's side.
"What has happened, soldier?!" Jounouchi shouted. The soldier's horrific wound had blood pouring out of his chest at an alarming rate. His blood pooled on the marbled floor, seeping into Jounouchi's sandals. The blood began making its way further, causing Anzu to slowly step backwards in a shocked state. Yuugi noticed her and effortlessly lifted her onto the table to keep her feet from touching the crimson floor. Anzu noted that his own feet had already been bloodied, but he either hadn't noticed or didn't care.
"They... they're g-going to take the ite--" The soldier's sentence was never to be finished, however. His heart ceased beating and he slumped to the floor in a bloody mass.
The dining room became even more crowded when two guards burst onto the scene, huffing for their breaths.
"My Pharaoh, we apologize! We tried to stop him from running into your chambers!" one of them exclaimed, eying the bloody corpse still on the floor.
Yuugi turned to Anzu and gently lifted her into his arms. He walked into the meeting room and set her down, far away from the blood. Finally, he walked back into the dining room and glared at the two guards who were shifting nervously under his penetrating gaze.
"Obviously," Yuugi ground out, "it was important else he wouldn't have strained himself so; you should have assisted him. Carry him out of here and prepare for a mummification ceremony!"
The guards flustered at Yuugi's harsh command and quickly jumped to do his bidding. Jounouchi came up beside Yuugi and stared at the nameless soldier.
"What do you think he was trying to tell us?" he asked and the Pharaoh shook his head in reply.
"I don't know. We had best be on our guard though." Just then he looked over at Anzu who had remained completely silent throughout the ordeal.
"Does blood disturb you?" Yuugi asked softly. She focused her gaze on him and shook her head.
"No, I was just surprised. That poor man..." she trailed off, once again looking at the dead man who was currently being carried off by the two guards. Yuugi agreed with a somber nod of his head.
~*~
The next day, Anzu was informed by Jounouchi and Yuugi that her biological father had been found. Her first reaction had been extreme anger that they had interfered and even more anger over the fact that Yuugi had 'taken advantage' of her rambling that night she had found out who her real father was.
Nevertheless, as the day wore on, she had become exceedingly curious about Jhanu'n. Yuugi had been quite smug indeed when she had requested permission to go see her father. He had offered to have someone escort her, but she had ardently refused that notion. She wanted to do this on her own; confront her past by herself.
As she approached the decently-sized home of Jhanu'n, she mused over the information that Jounouchi had given her about her father. He still lived alone though he kept a few women of the oldest profession at times. Anzu snorted disdainfully. The man in her nightmares did certainly seem the type to have whores living with him for short periods of time every now and then. Anzu learned that she had a few bastard siblings with whereabouts unknown; they were not full-blooded Egyptian, however. He was nearing forty summers of age. He was a prominent blacksmith with a fairly decent fortune -- not enough to live in the Great Palace though. Jounouchi had told Anzu that Jhanu'n had no clue that he had been searched out and so should be thoroughly surprised to have his daughter show up on his doorstep.
Anzu hesitated, then knocked on the stone door. She was about to leave after a few minutes of waiting, but finally a petite woman, a servant, she guessed, opened the door a crack. Anzu noted that the woman didn't seem at all welcoming.
"I am here to speak with Jhanu'n," Anzu supplied after a moment of silence. The slave woman sneered, but allowed Anzu to enter. Anzu fought back the urge to pinch her nose at the putrid smell that enveloped the home. After being shown to the waiting room, she seated herself and waited patiently.
After five minutes, she rolled her eyes inwardly at her father's rudeness to keep a guest waiting so long; nonetheless, he entered moments later with a look of pure boredom on his face. He was just as he appeared in her nightmares, and she fought her anger down. He didn't seem to recognize Anzu at all, and she couldn't really blame him. He hadn't seen her since she was a toddler, and the only resemblance she bore to her mother was her eyes. Anzu momentarily wondered where her chestnut hair came from; a grandparent, perhaps.
"Who are you?" Jhanu'n asked bluntly. Anzu stood and approached him, stopping about five feet from him.
"I'm Anzu, your daughter."
Her father's eyes widened considerably, and in that moment, Anzu felt pride like no other for being able to make her father so shocked. Damn, if he didn't deserve it after what he had done to her and her mother. The bastard.
"I know no daughter," he finally replied in a clipped tone. Anzu shook her head, not allowing her emotions to overtake her.
"Mayhap you do not know of a daughter now, but you did once," she paused at his blank expression, "Surely you remember. Afterall, you left her and your wife to the elements when you kicked them out of your home fifteen summers ago."
Jhanu'n's eyes narrowed at her hateful and accusatory tone. His gaze slid over her features briefly, noting her attire and bare feet.
"You are obviously naught but a slave -- still worthless, just as you were when you were my daughter. Leave me now," he told her. She nodded, yet didn't say a word to him as she left his home. She was afraid that the tears that would surely fall in front of him. She couldn't allow him to see how much he hurt her.
When she reached the Great Palace again, a guard was already waiting to escort her back to the Pharaoh's quarters. She truly didn't need an escort, but she appreciated that Yuugi was willing to give her one.
Upon entering his quarters, Anzu saw Yuugi sitting in the meeting room. Had he been waiting for her? For some odd reason, her sorrow and anger at her father was gone for a few moments as she relished in the idea that the most powerful man in Egypt had been waiting for her when she was sure he had much more important things to do. He stood and she approached him and she bowed her head respectfully to him. He raised an eyebrow at her show of respect -- a rarity -- but didn't say anything about it.
"I'm only a worthless slave," she answered his unasked question. Yuugi's magenta eyes glowed angrily.
"He said...? I would have him regret those words," the Pharaoh ground out and Anzu was certain that he was fully prepared to back up his threat. She held up a hand in a stopping motion.
"No, he was right. I am just a slave," she said quietly and walked across the room to the one she and Mahalah shared. Yuugi stared after, his anger brewing inside of him. He didn't understand why he felt so defensive over his house-servant, but he knew that insulting her was almost as bad as insulting himself.
~*~
Bakura growled at the two guards who held his arms tightly as they escorted him to his new 'duties,' whatever those might be. The High Priest and High Priestess had apparently been worried about a potentially dangerous relationship between himself and the younger priest, Malik. They had implied as much when they had two guards drag him out of the temple, telling him that he would be "set into new duties away from Malik."
Malik had objected to the separation, but had been quieted quickly by his sister's fierce scolding. Malik had given Bakura a look that clearly said "I'll see you again."
He didn't doubt that Malik would find him, wherever he was taken. Bakura only hoped that he wouldn't be taken to an outside task. Anything would do, just not the fields or working on the buildings!
When he and the guards finally reached their destination (within the Palace much to his relief), he was shoved into a spacious room of assorted colors and pillows. The room smelled of sweet honey and rosemary. The large bathing pool in the center of the room looked absolutely splendid and welcoming with its lilac pads floating on it and perfectly fluffy cloths surrounding it. All in all, the room was wonderful and reminded him of the Great Palace Pleasure Ladies' quarters except for one thing:
The room was filled with gorgeous, half-naked... men.
~*~
"I don't care what you have to do; just do it!" the woman shrieked angrily, her face flustering like a ripe tomato. The man sitting across from her raised an eyebrow in an unaffected manner. He had dealt with her kind plenty of times. Her anger meant nothing to him. He had been in his sort of business for many of his thirty-six years; he had first gotten into it at the tender age of twelve due to his older brother.
"Hn," came his short and final reply. He stood calmly from his seat and exited the small and enclosed room. The woman glared after him, silently threatening him. He was supposed to be the best assassin in the land. Ra only knew how many favors she had given him to get him to agree to help her. She knew that the next time the Pleasure Ladies' guards tested the ladies, she would be moved to concubine, but she didn't care. This was worth it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NEXT CHAPTER: Anzu is depressed about her father's rejection. Bakura isn't too happy about his new 'duties,' but he's cheered up a little by a visitor. The plan against Anzu is set into motion.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Another short chapter, but oh well. I'm busy. XD Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. I thought Yuugi was really sweet in this chapter. Don't forget to review... 'till next time! ^^