Author's Notes: Yes still Medieval AU. Thanks to all those who've reviewed, and to those who will. I'm so sorry for the horrendously long hiatus this fic unexpectedly took. I plan to make sure that never happens again. Mature reviews are always welcomed!
With the Wind at My Back
Chapter Seven: Mind Games
Anzu's eyes seemed unable to blink as she stared at her blind friend in front of her. What were they doing in the middle of the forest? Were they all okay? Questions appeared and faded in her head at a rapid pace, as her heart slowly slipped out of her throat and back into her chest.
"Anzu!" It was Yugi's voice that snapped her out of her reverie. She forced her eyes away from Shizuka, and towards the short boy. He placed a hand on her shoulder, glaring at the three intruders. "Are you all right?"
Yugi himself suddenly found that he had become the new center of attention. The two knights were giving him odd looks, and the girl on the ground, while not appearing to be looking at him, had her head facing his direction, curiosity on her face.
The short boy gave a little twitch at the sudden interest from the strangers, but held his ground. The two men were knights of the Duel Kingdom, and he wouldn't let them touch Anzu, even if they broke every bone in his body. Which, he realized with fear sinking soundly into his stomach, they could easily do, since both of them looked to at least be twice his height.
Not being able to miss the tension in the air, Anzu sought to disperse it by placing a hand over Yugi's. "I'm fine. It's okay, Yugi," she motioned to the trio in front of them. "They're my friends."
"Friends?" Yugi repeated, allowing the information to take hold. They weren't enemies. They weren't going to hurt Anzu. It was all right. He could feel himself become calmer with each thought.
The brunette girl started to stand up, when two delicate hands grabbed tight to her arm. "Anzu!" Shizuka cried, her hazel eyes hopeful. "It's really you, Anzu? I'm so glad you're okay!" With a small sob, the petite girl flung her arms around her friend. "I was so worried, even if big brother said it would be all right."
Anzu blinked at the other girl in shock for a few moments, before smiling and gently patting her friend's head. "I'm fine, Shizuka. Honest. Everything's fine."
"Still... " the younger girl sniffled, "I'm happy you're safe."
"Same here," Anzu stated. She turned her focus on the two knights. "I'm happy you're all safe."
"Come on, now," Honda plastered on his best brave smile. "You didn't think ol' Ki-" he stopped himself, looking embarrassed. He didn't know just how much this Yugi boy knew, after all. Then, with a more sheepish expression, he continued," You didn't think the old guy would catch us, did you?"
"Hmm... " Jounouchi frowned at his friend's words. He was beginning to wonder just what the King did know, and just how he did.
"Jounouchi!"
For a moment, the tall blonde saw stars, as an open hand smacked him on the back of the head. Placing a hand to his injury, he growled at the offender. "Honda! What was that for?"
"You shouldn't look so upset to see Anzu again, you know," scolded the tanned knight.
Jounouchi gave him a flat look, before shaking his head. "That's not it. It's not that I'm not happy to see you," he reassured the girl, who was helping his sister up.
"I know," said Anzu. "Say... " She herself frowned, looking around them. "Yugi, do you see him?"
"Him?" Yugi repeated, clueless for a moment. Then, with sudden understanding, he began to look, too. "No, I don't. I didn't even notice he was gone."
The three newcomers remained unsure as to what the two teenagers were going on about.
"Who's missing?" Jounouchi asked, scanning the surrounding area for the same strangely colored hair Yugi had. Maybe the little boy had an older brother they hadn't seen?
"Kuri," Anzu answered, nearly pouting. "I can't believe he ran away. Shouldn't monsters be brave?"
Honda stiffened, and Jounouchi didn't look so good, either. Anzu had a monster following her around now? Just what had she been doing the past few days?
Shizuka tilted her head, then turned her face to the right slightly. "There's... There's something in the bushes," she whispered, a little afraid. "I can hear it."
"Really?" Anzu turned to where her friend had pointed. "Kuri! Come on out. No one's going to hurt you, honest. Come on," she coaxed, kneeling down.
The bush rustled a bit, and both Jounouchi and Honda held their breaths. They quickly released them and felt rather stupidwhen a small Kuribo hopped up, and scurried into Anzu's waiting arms.
"There you are," cooed Anzu. "You had me worried for a second there."
"Kur kuri!" the small monster squealed, before nuzzling itself deeper into her arms.
"See?" Yugi said, noticing the odd looks on the two knights' faces. "Kuri's harmless."
Both men remained silent for a few minutes, their eyes shifting from Kuri, to his mistress and back again.
Honda was the first one to speak. "... Anzu named him, didn't she?"
"Huh?" the accused girl blinked.
"Kuri the Kuribo," uttered Jounouchi. "It's so goofy. So... girlie. So... so stupid. Only you could've named it."
A foul look suddenly crossed Anzu's face.
"Shut up!"
It was the first time Yugi ever saw a woman manage to kick a man right off his feet.
A little while later, the five young people found themselves sitting in a clearing away from the Mutou residence, the picnic Honda had prepared laid out in front of them.
"So," Anzu began, halfheartedly picking at a piece of chicken, "he really had you fetch a Black Forest Witch?"
"Yeah," Jounouchi grunted, looking completely disgusted with the subject. "She's bossy, obnoxious, way too arrogant-"
"You sound like you know her well," the blue eyed girl smirked.
"Big brother is her guard," Shizuka chirped. It seemed nothing could bring down her spirits, now that she had found her best friend safe and sound.
"Just until she leaves. Which will hopefully be soon," muttered the blonde knight. With a growl, he chomped onto a chicken leg with a bit too much eagerness. Obviously, his situation was not something he was happy with.
"Jounouchi's just upset that the Witch is always outdoing him," Honda assured both Anzu and Yugi. He grinned. "He doesn't like to be reminded that he's not as smart as he thinks he is."
"Hey! Who's side are you on?" Jounouchi demanded.
"Miss Mai's really nice when you speak to her," Shizuka nodded.
Her brother glowered. "Traitors, the both of you... "
Meanwhile, Yugi watched silently, as the four friends got reacquainted. It was amazing how Anzu just lit up around them. It actually made him feel a little jealous. Still, he was happy that she had met up with her three companions; she looked much better than she had earlier in the day.
"So, Yugi," Jounouchi said, bringing the smaller teen out of his thoughts. "You're the one who found Anzu, huh?"
"Uh, yes," Yugi answered, placing one hand on the back of his head, embarrassed. "I couldn't just leave her alone in the forest, much less in the rain."
"Still, that's pretty brave for a little kid like you to do," grinned the tall blonde, swiping his nose lightly with his thumb.
"Uh, well... " the shorter boy blushed, and smiled weakly.
"Jounouchi," Anzu groaned, a hand on her red face. "Yugi's our age."
"No way!" declared both Jounouchi and Honda, startling Shizuka.
The brunette girl groaned again. "Yugi, I'm so sorry... "
"It's okay," he waved his hand, dismissively. "I'm used to this, remember?"
"R-really, though," stuttered a mortified Honda, "sorry about that. It's just that, well... "
"You're really short," Jounouchi said bluntly, before being hit upside the head by Honda. "Not that that's a bad thing!"
This time, Yugi laughed. Anzu's friends were interesting! And amusing, too. No wonder she liked them so much. He hoped they'd be able to see them more often, if possible.
"Well, we should really get going," Honda pointed out, looking at the darkening sky. "It's getting late."
Shizuka's cheerful face suddenly fell. "So soon? Can't we stay a little longer?"
Honda looked like he might cave at the simple request, but Jounouchi stepped in. "He's right," the blonde sighed. "We should be heading back before it gets too dark. We don't know these woods well enough to go home at night."
"Anzu!" Shizuka reached out a hand in the direction she knew her friend was sitting. "We can come visit, right?"
The older girl bit her lip, hesitantly clasping the blind girl's hand. "I... I don't know if that's such a good idea. You'd just put yourself in danger."
"You'd risk Anzu's safety, too," Honda pointed out. "As well as Yugi's and his grandpa's."
Shizuka frowned, eyes suddenly welling up with tears. "I know. But I don't like not knowing if Anzu's okay or not. And I want to help!"
Yugi's heart went out to the young girl. She felt a lot like he did. To know that Anzu was in trouble, but not know exactly what to do about it. They both felt rather worthless.
"Maybe it's not my place to say anything," Yugi began, violet eyes focused
on the ground. "After all, I've only known Anzu for a little while, and
you three barely a couple hours.
"However, I know it must feel very frustrating to think that you're
useless. You want to be able to do something, even if it's a little thing.
Just something to make you feel like you're not just watching, but doing.
"But, don't you think that what you're doing is something?"
he asked, softly. "It might not seem like it, but having someone know that
you want to help can be good enough. Sometimes just you being a friend
is all you need to do. Knowing that there's someone there who cares about
you can give you a lot of strength.
"At least," Yugi blushed, feeling highly embarrassed, "that's what
I think."
The four other people stared at him, expressions ranging from shock to confused. The sudden deafening silence caused Yugi to feel extremely self conscious. Had he really said something that stupid?
Finally, Jounouchi leaned back a bit, while he scratched his head. "Well, I don't know if I'd use such pretty words, but..." he grinned, widely, "that sounds about right to me. We're already doing our job on the home front, after all."
"That's right." Anzu nodded. "I'm sure I would've had a much harder time without you guys. And, it is nice to know you're worried for me."
"Besides," Jounouchi added, "if something bad comes up, it'll be up to us to take care of it. And that'll sure to start up at... Where we are," he said, being wary of what he said around Yugi. "So, we are helping."
"I guess..." Shizuka tapped her chin, pondering Yugi's words. "Well, I still would like to help more than I am," she admitted, a small smile touching her lips. "But, you did make me feel better, Sir Yugi. Thank you."
Yugi blushed, and shook his head. 'Sir Yugi?' He certainly didn't deserve that! "I-it's nothing! Really."
A grin etched on his face, Jounouchi stood up, and brushed the dirt off his pants. "Right. Time to go, Shizuka."
"I know," the blind girl sighed, a bit of a whine slipping in her tone. Nevertheless, she took her brother's helping hand, and stood up, waiting patiently for Honda to clean up their picnic.
When everything was packed, Anzu gave the younger girl a hug, and wished her well. Yugi could see the tears that threatened to roll down the blue eyed girl's cheeks, but she held them back by sheer strength of will.
"Anzu," said Shizuka, holding her brother back, before the trio disappeared into the forest. "I promise, when everything is okay, we'll find you again, and bring you home. I promise!"
Honda nodded. "Promise of a lifetime."
Jounouchi winked, and flashed a thumbs up sign. "Between friends."
Smiling brightly, Anzu agreed, "No broken promises between friends. That's our rule, right?"
"Right," the trio answered, without hesitation.
And again, Yugi was left dumbstruck at the bond Anzu had with the three young people in front of them. They cared for her. Truly cared for her, maybe even more than he did. They were willing to risk their lives to keep her safe. All the while waiting for the time they could finally take her back, and bring her home. Waiting to take her away.
Away from Yugi. Away from him.
That last part didn't quite sit right with the short boy. However, that time wasn't now, and didn't appear to be coming soon. In which case, he'd enjoy what time he did have with Anzu. And maybe... Maybe when her friends finally came to take her, she wouldn't want to go at all.
As much as she hated to admit it, the Black Forest Witch Mai was beginning to become a little stir crazy. It wasn't so much that she was stuck in a stuffy palace. Oh, no. She practically had free reign of the place, and was abusing the privilege as much as one spoiled human being could.
However, besides delightfully driving the castle workers slowly mad with her high maitenence demands, Mai found that there was simply nothing to do. At least, out in the forest there were random lost souls that she could toy with. If she made that sort of mischief here, she doubted even King Pegasus could stop the people from trying to burn her alive.
Honestly, normal people had no sense of humor. Especially when they were in the form of an angry mob.
Times when she became jittery caused Mai to seek refuged in desperate ways. She had even resorted to walks about the castle grounds, something that she couldn't help but loathe in ways. She wasn't one to walk about without purpose, and she certainly hated the stares she received. But, it was better than going crazy in her posh, stifling room.
Not by much, but still... Beggars can't be choosers.
And it was on her latest walk that Mai spotted her appointed castle guardian, Sir Jounouchi, walking back into the palace grounds, along with his sister, and close friend. A sudden tick of irritation tightened a muscle in Mai's neck.
"You!" she pointed to the blonde knight. "What sort of protector are you, anyway? I haven't see your ugly face all day."
"I haven't seen yours, either," Jounouchi commented, his tone flat. "That must be why I was so happy."
Mai's anger flared. That was it. She really would turn him into a toad! An ugly, warty toad! "You miserable little lapdog! I could have you tossed in chains for that."
"Then, do it!" he demanded. "Anything would be better than listening to you!"
If anything, the witch became even more enraged. She seriously didn't know why just looking at the knight caused her to burn with rage. Just the mere sight of him set her off. And it didn't help that he didn't act intimidated like he was supposed to, dammit! Didn't he understand that she was a short tempered, evil witch, figuratively and literally? Honestly, she sometimes wondered if his brain functioned at a decent level above speaking ability.
Or maybe he was just too damned brave for his own good. Mai had never met anyone who never cowered before her in the slightest, until King Pegasus had sent the obnoxious blonde knight to her doorstep. It was unnerving in a way, she supposed. But, maybe a small part of her found it rather refreshing to be able to snap barbs back and forth with someone, almost as if she was a normal person.
Jounouchi frowned. "Can I go now?"
...She also found it horrendously annoying. Annoying.
"No," Mai replied, with a tone that left no room for argument. "I want to go shopping."
The knight slowly raised a brow. "...And?"
"Well, you don't honestly expect a lady to go about the market place alone?" she scoffed. Lips quirked, she snapped her fingers. "Follow me."
Not surprisingly, Jounouchi glared at here. "Are you kidding me? I'm supposed to be your guard, not your servant!"
"I don't recall you guarding me the entire day, do you?" Mai asked, her head tilted just slightly, a sly look on her face. "Imagine King Pegasus' response to that little fact."
The knight's face turned an odd shade of red, while he sputtered out curses under his breath that his little sister, still standing behind him, had never heard in her entire fourteen years of existence. The moment the string of obscenenties started both Mai and Honda, also standing behind Jounouchi, knew the blonde knight's battle had been lost.
"Fine!" Jounouchi finally declared, hands held high in irritated defeat. "Lead the way. But I refuse to hold your stupid trinkets."
Mai idly twirled a lock of long, golden hair between her fingers, pretending to be fascinated more by her own bangs than the man-child in front of her. "Yes, yes. Come along."
Jounouchi muttered something that almost sounded like, "Witch" underneath his breath, though Honda had a better idea of what it had really been. Nonetheless, the Black Forest Witch's guard dutifully followed her toward the market place.
"Poor Jounouchi," Honda said, once the pair were out of hearing range.
"You think?" Shizuka asked, innocently.
"I'd hate to have someone who despised me that much as someone I had to guard," he admitted, rubbing his neck as if to massage away the unpleasant thought.
"I don't know," the blind girl shook her head. "Miss Mai seems to be more mad when big brother isn't around her than when he is. I think she kind of likes his company."
"You're too nice, Shizuka," the tall boy said. "I think she just likes to torture him."
"Hmmm... Maybe. I suppose," she said, not sounding at all convinced.
Night time came soon enough at the Mutou residence. And though Yugi swore to himself that he was too worked up over the day's events to sleep, he was soon contentedly unconscious under his covers.
Unfortunately for the boy, he was a fairly heavy sleeper. Which meant he did not hear the dark clad figure slip into his room through his window. Nor did he awaken to the stranger walking over to his desk, and picking up his puzzle chest.
The figure opened up the treasure box, letting a grunt of irritation slip through his lips as he noticed only a few puzzle pieces had been connected. He thought for sure that Yugi would've made more progress by now. He was the one chosen by the Puzzle, after all. Surely, that meant something. The short boy couldn't be a complete idiot, could he?
Bakura shrugged... Or, at least someone who looked like Bakura shrugged. There was nothing he could do about it for the time being. Only Yugi had the power to complete what he had started. Stealing the Puzzle in the condition it was in now would be a waste of effort, and detrimental to his entire plan. Best to wait it out. Soon enough, everything would fall into place.
A smile slipped onto the thief's face. Of course, this didn't mean he couldn't do anything. He reached into the treasure box, and pulled out one shining puzzle piece. A whispered word, a silent flow of magic, and a tiny glow from the piece was the only indication that something out of the ordinary had occurred.
Yes, the dark Bakura decided, that would quite do for now. Now, if his original plan couldn't be followed through, he had a back up. Best to be thorough. After all, he hadn't managed to "survive" for a thousand years by being stupid. Back up plans were always a necessity. One could never be too careful.
Now he could really keep an eye on the boy. With a satisfied smirk, he let the piece drop back into the box, not even caring about the clink it made as it connected with its golden brethren. The Yugi boy apparently wouldn't wake up for anything. Terribly dangerous, really. Particularly with a fugitive girl in the room next door.
Which, come to think of it, was another matter entirely. Perhaps, the dark Bakura thought, it was time for him to be a good citizen. The King surely would appreciate any help in locating the Lady Anzu. And a good shake up to Yugi's stability could do wonders in getting the Puzzle completed.
Then again, there was always the possibility that pushing Yugi too far would do more harm than good. He wanted the Puzzle finished, but not its prisoner awakened. Though, he was not quite sure he could have one without the other, it was far greater a thought to practice patience and restraint in such a delicate situation.
The dark Bakura could feel the metal Ring that hung from his neck burn against his chest, as if in protest to waiting any longer than it had to. Like one would soothe an angry child, the white haired boy stroked his fingers against the metal softly.
But again, back up plans should be had, and all...
The box was placed back on Yugi's desk, as if it had never been touched at all, and the white haired boy slipped back outside with the grace of a cat. He walked casually away from the home, fully aware of how his present aura was keeping away the weak monsters that inhabitted the area. It was a good idea to leave, before the silence became so unnatural that that became a reason to be awoken.
Besides, he had more plans to make. From what he saw that afternoon, there were new players in this game of his. And he had to make sure they got the rightful attention they deserved. Particularly the blind one. Yes, she would be a most valuable pawn in his game of human chess. He just had to make sure he positioned her accordingly.
He chuckled under his breath. He'd forgotten how amusing it was to play with people without their knowledge. He hoped he hadn't gotten too rusty to have a good go at it this time around.
Next Chapter: All the Pieces
