Consort

Author: Icy

Disclaimer: Never owned it, never will!


"Yeah that's what I'm waitin' for, and trust me pretty he won't be pleased if it's missin'."

Grumbling lowly the chef ordered for the delicacy to be added to the platters. The man before him smirked cheekily, smug in his victory. The balding man scowled, put off by the boy's cockiness. He smiled cruelly at the golden haired boy. "Is that all yer mast'r be wantin' slave?" The chef leered lustily.

His muscles visibly tensed at the mocking, not that it was anything new to him. For seven years it'd been the same story. Didn't matter where he went, everyone thought the same. Of course as the only slave of Lord Yami that hadn't been 'broken' he drew immediate attention. When three months had passed without him baring marks of beatings it was whispered that he was a different type of slave. After the Lord had caught wind of the gossip he'd begun playing dress-up with his slave, encouraging them. Being washed and scrubbed down at first had been a pleasant and comforting experience, it was after he was forced to do it daily that the treat has lost its vanity. The boy had never held a fondness for the 'clothes' the master had ordered him to be dressed him, finding them either to tight or to skimpy and in some cases both. At the age of fifteen he was brought out to entertain the guests and accompany the master. That had been when the schooling had begun too. After all, a slave with a pretty face wasn't that unheard of, but cultivating a slave to having a quick mind sure was; thus Jounouchi became quite the bragging right for his master, both a pretty face and a quick mind. Master Yami's pretty little slave learned not only to read, write and do figures but also was found to have quite the aptness for languages. The master had set no limits on the subjects to be covered, scourging the countryside for tutors on all matters.

Jounouchi grabbed the tray from the counter, scowling as he marched up the stairs.

In his anger Jounouchi made three wrong turns before he backtracked and arrived at his current teacher's chambers. He lightly knocked on the door, trying to do it as politely as possible, out of the respect he held for him. The blonde was only forced to be polite around visiting dignities were afoot. The other slaves and servants all held positions below his own, not to mention the master found it most amusing to have him barge into his chambers. A small 'come in' derailed his train of thought and he turned the knob and pushed open the door.

His tutor was sitting on a couch, dictating a letter out to a scribe. Smiling he approached the couch and lay down the tray and stood by the couch.

"…and the next payment will be arriving with my last package. That will be all for now Marko. Thank you, you are dismissed."

"Of course sir." The man tossed sand over the ink and stood, bowing lowly to the man before leaving the room, snugly closing the door behind him. "Thank you, Jou for bringing this up for me. Join me won't you?"

Jou looked longingly at the food but forced himself to shake his head. Dropping down on the couch without invitation he slumped into a comfy position. Raising a brow at the action but not commenting, he began eating the food with relish. "Hey M-" "Yugi" "Yugi, do you think we could start the lessons in Dryden?"

Slowing down, a piece of cheese halfway to his mouth he cocked his head at the beautiful blonde before him. "I suppose that would be alright. Though I am curious," he allotted, bringing the cheese up to his mouth at last. "why the sudden interest in that particular language, it is most difficult to learn."

Jounouchi, buoyed by the approval of his idea, grinned widely at his tutor and the closest thing he had to a friend at the manor. "Those are always the best."

Yugi rolled his eyes at the earnest nature of his pupil. He had to admit that when he had first been petitioned by Lord Yami to teach the languages to his slave, Yugi hadn't been enthusiastic at the prospect. Of course the three bags of sickles that had been promised ahead of any lessons had been enough to prompt him. It was often very difficult to find work in his field, the offer that Lord Yami had offered was ideal. When he arrived at the manor Lord Yami had assured him that his room and board would be provided for. Yugi's sense had been alerted at this, suspicious that his future pupil would be slow on the uptake. While Jounouchi, the slave to be taught, had been very difficult to teach it hadn't been his fault, but more of a problem of Yugi's own. When he had first met Jounouchi the master had already begun to dress him up, though in Yugi's opinion it had been dressing him down, as the boy had been clad in tight britches and loose shirt. Yugi developed a crush on the beautiful blonde, and often found a blush taking over his face when ever in the slave's presence. When Yugi wasn't embarrassing himself so, he was stuttering so horribly that any learning of tongues was impossible. Over time though, and through Jounouchi's friendly nature with the shorter man, he'd outgrown the puppy's love.

The thirst for knowledge that Jounouchi had amazed Yugi but more often than not, tired him out to the point where he would gain only a few hours of sleep. It wasn't until Lord Yami found his slave's tutor falling off his horse in sleep did he investigate what was making the smaller man so sleepy. After all he was spending hours at a time with his slave, his slave that had caught his attention because of his physical appearance, his slave that he dressed to entice others.

For the next month the Lord had joined them in their sessions of forced another servant to do so when he was found to busy to. Ryou, the servant who was most often forced to attend the lessons, ended up with some very interesting phrases in other languages but in the end was forced to report to the master that they really were just learning. Or really, Jounouchi's energy would be so contagious that the other two found themselves staying up to quench his thirst for knowledge.

From then on Yugi and Jounouchi were often found in the company of one another. This of course had caused uproar in the manor, servants and slaves whispering to one another that the master had grown tired of his pretty slave or that he was losing his slave's attentions to his hired help. Even that the tutor Yugi was actually a wizard who had cast a spell over the slave to lure him into his bed. This time the master hadn't found the rumor amusing, in fact he seemed quite incensed about it, punishing any who were found to be passing it about.


"Voite diek enla niz b-bbpr…"

"Voite diek enla niz broeckszyul. You have to accent the vowels." Jou nodded, stretching and popping his joints. "Who cares if that 'my true love is an ass?' Yugi?"

Yugi just smiled. "That was one of the first sentences I learned in Dryden, what can I say? Besides, maybe your true love will be an ass." Jounouchi scoffed at this but got up. "I should probably allow you to retire Yugi, the master's got some meetin' for everyone in the mornin' and I know how you don't like fallin' 'sleep durin' them." Nodding to show his gratitude, Yugi did go to sleep.

…on the cushion he'd been sitting on.

Shaking his head, blonde hair shimmering in the candlelight, Jounouchi lifted his light friend up and carried him into his sleeping chambers. They weren't elaborately decorated but the room had a certain homey nature about its four walls. Settling Yugi down on the bed, he tucked the cover loosely around him, the masters lands could get frightfully hot in the mornings. Though the nights were often chilly and during the later half of the year it was down right suicidal to cross into the lands at night without the right clothing. The blonde looked down at his friend, a soft smile crossing his features. "One day he'll tell you."

"Tell him what Jounouchi?" Jou whipped around, bowing automatically at the tone; before him stood his master, Lord Yami. The man looked over his slave, pleased to see he had developed perfectly. When the strange order had come from the Heir to collect the boy he had down so questioning the meaning of taking the rowdy boy. With many hours of patience and friendliness did Lord Yami gain the young boy's willingness to serve. It wasn't until years later that he had realized what the Heir had been cultivating.

Before him was a breath taking man, his skin had not been scathed with the training methods often employed by trainers. A lithe build had filled out with ropey muscles. The build wasn't lacking, or overbearing. Astonishing wide amber eyes were framed by a silky shag of exotic blonde hair. An unbroken nose, not too large or short perched on his face. His heart shaped face completed the perfection. Yami had even thought to educate the slave, wishing to give him any advantage he could provide the boy. Yami figured he owed him that much for the amusement he provided, not only for himself, but also for his household. It was such a pity the Heir would be collecting him under a moon's cycle. He would be missed at the manor. Not by all, he reminded himself to have the chef given twelve lashes in the morn. He wouldn't have dissention of rank under his rule and in his own manor.

Quickly Yami's eyes flew to the form on the bed; the tutor that had been chosen to teach the Heir's slave. True the slave had to the public's knowledge remained Yami's own, but he had the true papers of ownership in his desk that proclaimed the golden haired slave as the Heir's. The tutor, Yugi was a different matter all together. Yami was well aware of the deal he'd set up was by far more nicer than could be asked, but had been pleased by being able to bestow it on the smaller man. His welfare concerned the lord, though he was not sure as to why. The tutor was just another servant really, if he were to displease Yugi then the teacher would find himself out on the streets or killed. Though even as Yami thought this he knew it wasn't true, he couldn't lower himself to hurt the smaller man like that.

"Tell who what, Jounouchi?"

The blonde froze, unsure how to answer the question. "I was just muttering to myself, master, nothing to concern yourself with sir." Yami frowned at the answer, displeased with the skillful dodging. Perhaps he had taught the boy too well. Shaking his head, it was too late to change what was done, he let it go. "I had thought your lessons were cancelled for the day?"

Jounouchi squirmed, he had known he wasn't suppose to pester Yugi today. His master had given him the day to prepare for a visitor. He had been hoping he wouldn't be found out, thinking back on his actions, staying so late had not been the wisest moves. "Did you not receive the message I sent to your room?"

"I…yes master, I…I am truly sorry for going against your wishes." Yami's eyes narrowed, he had been hoping that his slave would not be pressing his tutor for more lessons.

"Do you think I give these orders to fill my day Jounouchi?" He didn't give the slave a chance to answer. "I give them because I expect that they are to be followed." He bellowed. The boy would have to learn obedience if he was to be the Heir's. He wouldn't last other wise. Yami may find his actions amusing but the Heir would punish him, holding no mercy for a misbehaving slave.

"O-oh cou-urse mm-m-aster. " Jounouchi hunched down further, making himself the smallest target he possibly could. "You are dismissed Jounouchi, and do not let me catch you not following my orders again."

Nodding dumbly he fled the chamber as quickly as he could, barely remembering to close the main door before he shot off to his own chambers. Jou had the distinct impression that the master had been hinting at him not catching him disobeying, not him necessarily not disobeying. This was what kept his attention until he arrived at his own room.

Groaning he prepared for bed, the next would no doubt prove to be taxing. Muttering a chant to the moon goddess and the goddess of his personal element he laid down for the night. Missing the flicker of an emblem on his forehead. Though this wasn't for the first time he'd missed the flaring of his birthright.


Seto stared ruthlessly at the man before him, feeling raging to be rid of the idiot. Motioning to his guards the man fell to his knees, groveling before the ruler, and shouting out pleads to be freed. The guards yanked the man from the room, marching him down to the dungeons. Seto sighed, rubbing his temples in order to alleviate his oncoming headache. Some stupid villager had come to demand Seto free his daughter from slavery. He hadn't taken kindly to the rulers mocking laugh and sending his ass to the dungeons.

"I shall take no more audiences today, Migizal. Good day."

With a sweep of his robe the ruler left, heading towards his quarters. The guard shook his head wearily and went out into the waiting chambers, unready to yet again rid the rooms of the patiently waiting commoners.

Yugi twisted in his bed, unwilling to awaken. It wasn't until a hand grabbed his shoulder and roughly shook the smaller man did he even consider joining those already awake. Letting out a small groan of protest he sleepily peeped at his most hated person, for the moment any how.

"Whaaaat?"

There was a pause. "I am most sorry sir, but you did ask for a wake-up call before today's meeting with the master, did you not?"

That was all Yugi needed. Like a cat whose tail was stepped on, he jolted out of bed and tore into his clothing, scanning for something—anything to put on. He was yanking off his top when he realized that the slave was still there. Clearing his throat loudly, not at all liking how the slave was eyeing him, he waited for him to raise his eyes.

"You are dismissed." He scrambled from the rooms.

At the bottom of the stairs Yugi found Jounouchi, sitting and watching the proceedings. For some reason the master never made Jou join in on the inspections. It was rather peculiar, but then so was the master.

Yami's eyes roamed over the forms before him, firing off questions and inspecting the servants as if he expected a traitor among them. He paused when he reached the tutor, eyes dragging on the lithe form. When he reached Yugi's face he slowly nodded, stopping before skipping onto the next in line.


END OF CHAPTER

Review: tell me if I should consider continuing/end it here