a/n: sorry it took so long to update but I've been unbelievably busy. I'm glad you like my story so far, makes a girl proud. Well, with no further ado...chapter two!

Ch1

Prince Yami rode atop his black stallion near the front of the line of soldiers marching south. He was brooding; something that was not uncommon for him, but it was the subject of his thoughts that was out of place—the boy Yugi. When he told Bakura and Marik to bring a ransom he had not intended for them to bring the prince. Most would consider this a stroke of luck for the Saxons and so would Yami—if he didn't have to be the one holding Yugi captive.

flashback

Two little boys stood in a clearing, eying each other warily. They looked almost identical except for their difference in height and eye color. Crimson burned into amethyst as the boys faced each other across the clearing. The shorter, amethyst eyed one made the first move.

"My name's Yugi. What's yours?" he asked.

"What does it matter to you, Briton?" the crimson eyed one growled.

"Well my grandpa is in a meeting and I have no one to play with. I saw you all alone and thought you might need a friend." Yugi explained, not bothered at all by the older boy's hostile attitude.

The other boy considered this. "Doesn't it bother you that I'm a Saxon?" he asked finally.

Yugi shook his head with a confused look, "no, should it?"

"Well you're a Briton and I'm a Saxon, we're supposed to hate each other."

"Why? I don't know you—how could I hate you?" Yugi asked.

The crimson eyed boy growled in frustration. "That's just the way it's supposed to be."

"Well, I don't want to hate you and you can't make me. I'd rather be your friend." Yugi crossed his arms stubbornly.

The other boy stood silent for a while, "Yami," he said finally.

"What?"

"My name is Yami,"

end flashback

Yami growled in frustration making the soldiers near him shy away, afraid of incurring his wrath. Why did they have to bring Yugi? True they hadn't seen each other since that council meeting so long ago, but the memory was still fresh in his mind; his first friend, the stubborn Briton who refused to hate him. He wondered if time had changed that.

Yugi awoke to the jolting motions of the wagon he was tied up in. Where am I? He wondered groggily. He starred around at the soldier surrounded cart and to the confused faces of his friends.

"Where are we?" Joey asked.

"You are captives of prince Yami of the Saxons." A voice informed them in harsh sounding common. Yugi turned to see a demonic version of Ryou riding along side them.

"Yami of the Saxons? Oh no we must be ransoms," Ryou said.

"Yes," was all that the demon said.

Prince Yami captured us? I wonder if he remembers me. So much has changed since then. Yugi thought, amethyst eyes lost in memory.

flashback

"Yami,"

"What?"

"My name is Yami," the crimson eyed boy said.

Yugi grinned, "I like that name."

"I don't," Yami said crossly, unnerved by the odd behavior of this Briton.

"Can you play chess, Yami?" Yugi asked seeing as he had his chessboard in his bag.

"Of course I can."

"Good. Let's play."

They set up the chessboard and began to play. Every game ended in a stalemate. By the end of the day Yami had begun to enjoy the Briton's company.

"You do know that we'll have to hate each other when we grow up, don't you?" Yami asked as they headed back to the keep where the council was being held.

"I refuse to hate you, Yami," Yugi said stubbornly, "hate me all you want but I won't hate you. Not ever."

Yami sighed and ruffled the smaller boy's hair. "Okay, little one, you win. I can't hate you either."

Yugi grinned and hugged the older boy, "see how much nicer that is?"

Yami couldn't help but grin I return "You're impossible."

end flashback

I still don't hate you, Yami. Yugi thought, Even if we are at war.

The sound of galloping hooves broke Yugi from his trance. He looked up to see a figure on a black horse galloping towards them. Yami had changed very little from the way Yugi remembered him. He was taller and his crimson eyes seemed a bit harder, but he was still in everyway Yugi's darker counterpart. Yugi began to tremble slightly, what would it be like to face Yami after all these years?

The white haired demon said something to the prince in a strange, stilted, language.

"Prince Yugi, how fortunate for the Saxons that you happen to fall into my lap." Yami sneered.

"So you have me—why don't you let my friends go? I'm all the ransom you need," Yugi replied in turn.

"No, I don't think so. I will hold them to insure your good behavior." Yami said.

Yugi starred defiantly at Yami and mouthed the words 'I don't hate you.'

Yami's eyes widened then narrowed. "We'll finish this chat when we set up camp for the night. Bakura bring the prince to my tent when we stop," and with that he rode back to the front.

Bakura secured them in a tent when they had made camp. There had been little talk between the companions, each lost in their own train of thought. Once the others were secure Bakura grabbed Yugi and dragged him out of the tent and into Prince Yami's. Yami had his back to them.

"You may go Bakura." Yami said, and Bakura turned and left.

"Why won't you hate me? It would make this so much easier for both of us if you would." Yami said after a moment.

"I said it then and I'll say it now, 'I refuse to hate you,'" Yugi answered stubbornly.

Yami turned to face him, "I'm this close to killing Bakura and Marik for brining you here," he said.

"Why? Didn't you tell them to capture me?" Yugi asked, puzzled.

"No, I told them to capture a ransom, not you. I never wanted to see you again," Yami said.

"Why?" Yugi asked, hurt evident in his voice, "do you hate me that much?"

"No. I can't hate you and that's the whole problem. If I could hate you then I could be mean and nasty and treat you the way I would any ransom, but no—I can't" Yami explained irritably.

"Well why don't you just let me and my friends go?" Yugi asked hopefully.

"Not a chance. The whole army knows you here and if I let you go they might think I've changed sides. Then I'd have a mutiny on my hands" Yami shook his head.

"Well maybe if we 'escaped' then you..." Yugi began but Yami cut him off.

"No! And to make sure that doesn't happen I'm going to split you up. The cleric I'll place under my Battle Priest Seto's care. I'll let Marik deal with the mage and the other I'll leave to Bakura." Yami decided.

Yugi could only stare. Could this cold hearted person be the same boy he had known ten years ago? "What about me?"

"You will stay with me where I can keep an eye on you." Yami stepped outside to give orders to one of the guards to pass on to Bakura, Marik, and Seto. Yugi prayed his friends would be safe.

a/n: please review! Suggestions are welcome.