Malik looked slightly confused for a brief second, so brief that Nekomi
almost thought she imagined it, then his eyes shown with a steady wariness.
"What do you mean by coming here?"
She smiled again, "You are not courteous, sir. You think it would not be insulting to me to explain myself and my plans with unknown men around me in a hostile guard? For shame."
Malik's reaction was just what she wanted, he looked surprised that she would dare to scold him. That surprise gave way to arrogance, then forced calm. He knew she could read emotions and that he was adding fuel to her fire. Good for him, he wasn't quite as dim-witted as she had been told. That would only make the partnership stronger. or her ally stronger. Either way, it would work out for her.
His voice echoed slightly, bouncing off the high ceilings and becoming slightly distorted, though still loud and clear. "Ki!"
The man who appeared to be the captain of their guard hurried forward and kneeled before the dais. His head bent so low he touched the red carpet. He did not address 'Master' Malik, he knew better then even to inquire why he had been summoned. Ki, for so the man's name was, froze in his bow until Malik's full order was issued.
"Go. Take the full guard and ready a room with a table, food, and drink."
Nekomi gave an inward smile, though she would not let it show outwardly, that would give Malik satisfaction. She had him virtually around her finger. Her slightest wish, she phrased in a way that mocked or shamed him, and the wish was granted.
Soon, surprisingly soon, Ki returned to the great hall. He strode past Nekomi and Hazime as though they were flies and pressed his face to the carpet once more. Nekomi's blood was filled with an icy furry. He, and all Malik's other slaves or servants, would learn to bow to her. She made a mental note to make sure that Ki was punished later.
Malik swept forward, his guard a step behind, and strode past the man. Knowing that he was now entertaining guests, rather then keeping servants, he paused for a moment beside Nekomi. Then grudgingly offered his arm to escort her.
Lady Nekomi accepted with pleasure, placing her hand lightly on his bare, muscled arm. Though she did not let it shine anywhere but through her eyes, she was pleased. She had him! The man would not worm his way out of a partnership with her for any reason. Already they were treated both with caution and respect. Hazime fell into step with Malik's guard, a half a pace behind his Mistress.
Malik guided them to a small and sparsely furnished room. A table stood at the center with a plate of vegetables in the center. Two lone chairs were placed opposite each other around the circular table.
Nekomi removed her hand from Malik's arm and went to the closest chair. She waited while Malik took his place in the opposite chair. Hazime pulled her chair out for her and she sat, a moment behind Malik out of respect for her host.
Malik decided to start the talks, inquiring why they had journeyed to his 'fortress' and what they desired to accomplish.
Taking a carrot, Nekomi bit it, while thinking of how best to phrase her reply. She took a chance, hoping to appeal to his better nature, "I was hoping you could help me." She spoke clearly, keeping her head low and looked through her eyelashes at him. A single strand of hair, fell out of place into her face. Perfect!
Keeping control on his emotions, Malik spoke, "Why, pray tell, would you think I would help you, Nekomi Miyahara of Shishikui?"
"We seem, sir, to share a common goal." She met his eyes and he seemed amused.
"And what, might that goal be?"
"Well," she took a breath, "to rule the world, but on a smaller scale, to annihilate Yugi Moto."
Any control that Malik had over his features and emotions was lost. He stood up so fast his chair fell backwards. His face took on a red hue as he spouted with rage and pride, "How dare you come here and accuse me-"
"But is it not true?" Nekomi was getting sick of these games, but kept her calm. She toyed with her loose strand of hair, curling it around her finger.
About to sputter on, he opened his mouth, but closed it when she spoke again.
"Do NOT deny what you and I both know to be true. I know that your grip on your plans is slipping and I come offer you my assistance."
"What can YOU do that I cannot?"
"Many things, Malik, many, many things."
Hazime, who until that point had kept his hand on his dagger as a threat to Malik, relaxed. Negotiations where under way and now was a time to bend, not threaten. He released his knife, but kept his hand close to where the handle stuck from its sheath.
He watched with fascination as his Mistress and the man began to bargain. Offering a little of what each had. Nekomi, of course, had her fortune, but also offered herself in a plan to capture Yugi. Malik offered his servants and headquarters, which, of course, were conveniently in Domino City.
"What assurance do I have of your allegiance?" Nekomi inquired after the talks had subsided.
"My word, Madam."
She raised one eyebrow, "What is that worth?"
He smiled, "I see you are not one to take chances, very well. We will shake on it." He glanced at their two guards and added as an after thought "with them as our witnesses, may they strike us down if we betray each other."
She laughed, knowing how very true those words were. Malik extended his hand and she took it, ignoring the joy she felt in its warmth. They shook, then he pulled her to her feet. "I suppose that you would like a chair on the dais, as well? For we are, after all, equal in this partnership."
She laughed, lightly, again and let him lead her back to the hall so they could address his servants, now, THEIR servants.
She smiled again, "You are not courteous, sir. You think it would not be insulting to me to explain myself and my plans with unknown men around me in a hostile guard? For shame."
Malik's reaction was just what she wanted, he looked surprised that she would dare to scold him. That surprise gave way to arrogance, then forced calm. He knew she could read emotions and that he was adding fuel to her fire. Good for him, he wasn't quite as dim-witted as she had been told. That would only make the partnership stronger. or her ally stronger. Either way, it would work out for her.
His voice echoed slightly, bouncing off the high ceilings and becoming slightly distorted, though still loud and clear. "Ki!"
The man who appeared to be the captain of their guard hurried forward and kneeled before the dais. His head bent so low he touched the red carpet. He did not address 'Master' Malik, he knew better then even to inquire why he had been summoned. Ki, for so the man's name was, froze in his bow until Malik's full order was issued.
"Go. Take the full guard and ready a room with a table, food, and drink."
Nekomi gave an inward smile, though she would not let it show outwardly, that would give Malik satisfaction. She had him virtually around her finger. Her slightest wish, she phrased in a way that mocked or shamed him, and the wish was granted.
Soon, surprisingly soon, Ki returned to the great hall. He strode past Nekomi and Hazime as though they were flies and pressed his face to the carpet once more. Nekomi's blood was filled with an icy furry. He, and all Malik's other slaves or servants, would learn to bow to her. She made a mental note to make sure that Ki was punished later.
Malik swept forward, his guard a step behind, and strode past the man. Knowing that he was now entertaining guests, rather then keeping servants, he paused for a moment beside Nekomi. Then grudgingly offered his arm to escort her.
Lady Nekomi accepted with pleasure, placing her hand lightly on his bare, muscled arm. Though she did not let it shine anywhere but through her eyes, she was pleased. She had him! The man would not worm his way out of a partnership with her for any reason. Already they were treated both with caution and respect. Hazime fell into step with Malik's guard, a half a pace behind his Mistress.
Malik guided them to a small and sparsely furnished room. A table stood at the center with a plate of vegetables in the center. Two lone chairs were placed opposite each other around the circular table.
Nekomi removed her hand from Malik's arm and went to the closest chair. She waited while Malik took his place in the opposite chair. Hazime pulled her chair out for her and she sat, a moment behind Malik out of respect for her host.
Malik decided to start the talks, inquiring why they had journeyed to his 'fortress' and what they desired to accomplish.
Taking a carrot, Nekomi bit it, while thinking of how best to phrase her reply. She took a chance, hoping to appeal to his better nature, "I was hoping you could help me." She spoke clearly, keeping her head low and looked through her eyelashes at him. A single strand of hair, fell out of place into her face. Perfect!
Keeping control on his emotions, Malik spoke, "Why, pray tell, would you think I would help you, Nekomi Miyahara of Shishikui?"
"We seem, sir, to share a common goal." She met his eyes and he seemed amused.
"And what, might that goal be?"
"Well," she took a breath, "to rule the world, but on a smaller scale, to annihilate Yugi Moto."
Any control that Malik had over his features and emotions was lost. He stood up so fast his chair fell backwards. His face took on a red hue as he spouted with rage and pride, "How dare you come here and accuse me-"
"But is it not true?" Nekomi was getting sick of these games, but kept her calm. She toyed with her loose strand of hair, curling it around her finger.
About to sputter on, he opened his mouth, but closed it when she spoke again.
"Do NOT deny what you and I both know to be true. I know that your grip on your plans is slipping and I come offer you my assistance."
"What can YOU do that I cannot?"
"Many things, Malik, many, many things."
Hazime, who until that point had kept his hand on his dagger as a threat to Malik, relaxed. Negotiations where under way and now was a time to bend, not threaten. He released his knife, but kept his hand close to where the handle stuck from its sheath.
He watched with fascination as his Mistress and the man began to bargain. Offering a little of what each had. Nekomi, of course, had her fortune, but also offered herself in a plan to capture Yugi. Malik offered his servants and headquarters, which, of course, were conveniently in Domino City.
"What assurance do I have of your allegiance?" Nekomi inquired after the talks had subsided.
"My word, Madam."
She raised one eyebrow, "What is that worth?"
He smiled, "I see you are not one to take chances, very well. We will shake on it." He glanced at their two guards and added as an after thought "with them as our witnesses, may they strike us down if we betray each other."
She laughed, knowing how very true those words were. Malik extended his hand and she took it, ignoring the joy she felt in its warmth. They shook, then he pulled her to her feet. "I suppose that you would like a chair on the dais, as well? For we are, after all, equal in this partnership."
She laughed, lightly, again and let him lead her back to the hall so they could address his servants, now, THEIR servants.