Alley Cat: X.x;; Man,I haven't updated in, like, forever. ...I'm sowwies everyone! (huggles everyone) And I'd also like to apologize right off the bat about the last chapter. I know that Yami's little schpiel with the little turn-around thing was a bit too dramatic and fast. I was wandering aimlessly around in that chapter about what to do and then it just suddenly clicked, like, in the middle of that chapter. x.x;; Which is why it was so sudden. If I had planned it a few chapters back, the transition would have been smoother. It's just, I need a fixed plotline and, at that time, I didn't have any. And, just to warn you, I was wandering around aimlessly in the beginning of this chapter too. ...If you ask anything about the beginning, I'll probably respond with: I have absolutely no idea yet!
Dark Conscience: Your way of writing scares me...
Alley Cat: No, really. I may not even use whatever information the first portion of this chapter, even though it may seem really important. (nervous laugh) But, thanx to Siris. DON'T YOU DARE LOOK AT HER REVIEW! (cough) But, seriously, don't look at it. It just spoils everything.
Dark Conscience: Well, now that you put something like that in there, they're bond to go search for it now... -.-
Alley Cat: N-no they won't! 'C-cuz you all love me, right? (cheesy smile)
Dark Conscience: (sigh) Well, on with the thanx...
emotional-writer - Wowzzers. n.n Such enthusiasm, even though my writing/idea in the last chapter was really retarded. x.X;; (cough) Ehehehehehe... (uber-sweatdrop) Anyway, Anippe, Marik, and Bakura may not be mentioned much for a while now...but that's just my prediction. I'm glad you review so fast. Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy this chappie.
Sesshomaru's Heiress - (blinkblinkgasp!) New reviewer! (tackleglomps) Hewwo! (gives cookie) xP Lookie, I updated! (points) After about two months... (uber-sweatdrop) Well, I hopes you enjoy? n.n;;
SirisAnkh - My goodness, why didn't I think of that? (pouts) Are you trying to make me look bad or something? And don't worry about the length of your reviews. n.n I like long reviews. (huggles) Anywayz, I know Yami's name was Atemu but, the thing is, I'm more accustomed to calling them Ishizu instead of Isis, Seto instead of Seth (according to some people), Yami instead of Atemu, so on so forth. Thus, I just decided to call them by their usual names to make it easier on me. n.n;;
Amazoness Archer - (blinks and looks around innocently) What? I did what again? I didn't do not'in'... As for all your questions... (ebil grin) Read and find out! (tackles you and gives you a cookie)
Black-Lightniing - o.o;; OMG, you ACTUALLY REVIEWED. (cough) That's...different since usually I have to nag you to read and review for at least a month or something before you actually do it... x.X;; Anywayz, Layla's attitude is supposed to change. I realize that she's kinda a weakling now but I wanted to show how badly palace life had damaged her. You can't expect to stay the same the whole time through, can you? That'd be a dull character, though there are books that have characters like those. I want change, whether it be for better or for worse. As for Anippe's imprisonment... (pokes the message above) I said I was sorry! T.T The idea just came on the spur-of-the-moment thing and I needed a plot desperately... (huggles) Wells, RandR this one too, will you? n.n Thank you for your feedback. I'll keep it in mind.
sweetmidnight - Merf. You're the only one who's actually told me much that I wanted to know so I might as well go with that then. They're all villagers living in the palace whom...you just don't see very often. X.x;; How strange. (cough) Well, anyway, I think I'll have it that way. Elegant and simplistic. x.X;; Sounds like I'm talking about a dress... Erm, anyways, thank you for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. n.n
darkforestchick - I got your email. n.n And thanx. My apologies for not reviewing recently and I probably won't review for a while, just to warn you. x.X;; With finals coming up and I'm kinda gonna go on vacation from writing and stuff... But I'm glad you like the twist and I'm happy you like my reviews. Anippe...you'll see what will happen with her. I, earnestly, don't even know. n.n;; (ish such a failure as a writer) x.X;; Well, read and enjoy?
Soliel-Princess90 - Wow my reviewers are so enthused! n.n That makes me happy. Thank you for taking the time to read my fic and review it. (huggles) I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
starskittle410 - Yeah, the Yami and Anippe transition there wasn't very good. X.x;; My apologies, it was my fault for making the shift so shaky. But thank you for telling me that it was good. n.n It makes me feel better. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a long time and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well as the last. n.n;;
chaotic pink chocobo - n.n Thank you! (gives you cookie) Well, enjoy this chapter too, will ya?
Robin - I will, I will! xP You really luv the story that much, hmm? (giggles) That's great! n.n Now then, read and review and enjoy will your at it, will you?
Kaiba's Slave - Shush you! (clamps your mouth shut) I know it was obvious but you weren't supposed to actually point it out! The boy doesn't have a name just yet but you'll find out in this chappie but just don't bring it up! (ninja) It's supposed to be a secret... As for the Yami and Anippe thing, I kinda think I already explained it up there somewhere. n.n;;
Cat - o.o;; Okay, okay! I'm updating! n.n;; I luv it how everyone likes this story so much. Thank you all for luffling me so much and I luffles all of you. Please keep reading and enjoy youserlf, okies? n.n
Alley Cat: Anywayz, let's move onto the chapter.
Seto: Alley Cat doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh so :P.
Layla's face paled when she was told the news. She stared at Seto's grim face. "Wh—what?" she asked, flustered. "A—are you sure?"
Seto sighed and collapsed into a chair. The day had really taken a lot out of him. "Pretty sure anyway," he said solemnly. "Anippe has yet to admit it but…" His eyes locked on Layla's. "What else would Anippe be doing in the dungeon? Can you think of anything else, Layla?"
Layla bit her lip. "I—I don't know," she said tearfully. She closed her eyes, trying to prevent her tears from showing. "A—anippe just…she doesn't seem like the type!" she exclaimed.
" 'Type'?" Seto asked curiously, cocking an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
Layla hesitated before answering. "The type to betray," she said softly, hiding her face. …No. She just couldn't accept this!
Seto sighed and pulled her toward him, hugging her tightly but was unable to do anything beyond that…
"What are we going to do?" Layla whispered softly. "What's going to happen to her?" She wrapped her arms around Seto's waist and pulled him closer, burying her head in his chest.
Seto was soothed by this gesture and relaxed a bit more in his chair. His fingertips wandered over to her back and under her shirt…
Layla squirmed slightly and her face heated up. …She had made this mistake one time…and it had cost her virginity… Dare she do it again? …Her heart battled her mind… Her heart wanted to give in so bad, but… Her mind refused to cooperate…probably traumatized from the last time the deed was done… Her heart put up an equally fierce battle, claiming that what was important was already taken from her so what other consequences were there from doing it again? Finally, after what seemed like hours, she pushed herself away from Seto. In fact, she did it so forcefully that she collapsed onto the floor with a thud.
Seto sprung up from the chair anxiously and knelt next to Layla faster than Layla could figure out what happened. "Are you all right?" he asked worriedly, anxiety clearly showing in those clear, blue eyes of his.
Layla nodded shakily, hugged him once, and ran out of the room.
Seto had reached out to grab her by the wrist but was too late. …Layla had already exited the room. His mouth hung open, as if to say something, but it never came out…
Anippe tugged at her chains but already knew it was a futile effort. The High Priest had taken great care in creating them. One without a very keen eye wouldn't even be able to tell that it was strands of light weaving themselves in and out of each other, interlocking…creating such a tight bond that it was questionable whether or now even air could get through… Anippe sighed. The High Priest was either very experienced at making these things or he made hers out of anger…and the second choice seemed the most likely.
She lowered her head. Here she was…all alone… …So this is how Musa felt, trapped and hopeless… A small smile painted her lips. Musa.…it meant "of the water." …Perhaps that was why she had felt such ways toward him, why she had favored him so much…for she was the daughter of the Nile…and would be prone to be attracted to that of the water… It was destiny, fate, that they would come together, to cross paths…
Musa…she had kept her promise, kept her vow of secrecy. She was a person of honor, one who would not go around breaking oaths…even if her life was at risk. If she were to die, if she were destined to die…because of this…then so be it. A look of defiance crept into her eyes as she became more and more convinced. …If she was to die…she'd die fighting. …She wasn't going to give in…she'd never give in.
"…A promise is a promise. Never can you tell the secrets that are given to you…for it is you who are destined to keep them until the right time is allowed to reveal it, if that time ever comes…" Her mother's voice rang clear in her head. Yes…she was always taught this…and she'd always keep with what she was taught… Even though her mother was dead…she could still embrace her memories…and her words of wisdom. …She'd hang onto them as if they were her only lifeline…
Anippe stared at the ground, strands of her blond hair fell out of their place and onto her shoulders… Her eyes were a hazy blue now…as if she were somewhere else… …Reminiscing of another time…lost in its wonders…
As soon as Yami reached his chambers, he collapsed on the floor, hugging his sides. And there, he cried. He cried for what seemed like hours on end.
His heart had been broken… …Anippe had decieved him all along… …She just played just played the damsel in distress to win his heart over… …But in the end…she had just been acting…
He was a simple puppet, a mind slave, used to do her bidding! Of course, how could he have not seen this? Anippe's strange behavior recently…being so tender and kind to that boy who had attacked him… That boy…he must have been working for Marik as well! Yes, they were in it together! Which would explain why Anippe had been so friendly toward him…and then there was her odd disappearance into the dungeons… She must have gone to visit Marik for further instructions…
Yami growled. He had called the Dark Magician back from that place because of his shock that Ishizu had been there… Anippe must have taken that to her advantage… And the guards would be more than glad to let a noble enter and leave…
And then there was Anippe's bold suggestion to question Marik over what became of Ishizu… He thought she was crazy at the time but…now he realized that she was just trying to get Marik back into his best regards… He clenched his fist. Damn it! He had been played! Used like a doll and he made no resistance what-so-ever! He slammed his fist at the floor, the anger boiling inside him only rose more as he thought about it. He had been played like a fool! Right into her hand! His teeth clenched tighter together, and he kneeled there, seething. Only one word repeated in his head: Why?
Layla stood, shaking, in her room. What was wrong with her? …The High Priest had been there to comfort her and…and she just ran away from him…and so rudely too! She sighed. …She'd had enough of this. …Doubt, pain, torment, anxiety, hate, fear…she'd had enough of it all… …Yet it was something she could not escape…
She sighed again. Anippe…how could it have come to this? She refused to believe Seto. Didn't he himself say she had not admitted it yet? Then…perhaps it wasn't true. NO! She refused to believe it. Anippe would never betray…
…Everything Anippe did…everything she has done…was nothing but pure and light, good and innocent. Kind, generous, righteous…the sole thing she wasn't was evil. She was a noble…but she was also a noble person as well. …She was as just as the dieties above, the gods themselves, and as honorable as any knight in the Pharaoh's army…as well as any army in the world. She was like a goddess…flawless, perfect in every which way, beautiful, smart, vibrant, full of life…
Tears fell from Layla's hazel eyes. …She just couldn't believe this… How could Anippe, of all people, work for Marik? …To get into the Pharaoh's graces through deception? To act as a double-agent? She shook her head. There had to be some other explaination…there just had to be! …And she was determined to find out what that explaination was. …It would be the only way to clear Anippe's name…
Seto tossled his hair. Layla wouldn't…couldn't be doubting again, could she? He had already talked to her about this subject so much… …Could she still be in denial? He growled. …Maybe this wasn't even worth the effort, worth the trouble… He closed his eyes. His tiredness must have gotten to him. How else could he think such thoughts of Layla? …She was his love and his life. He chuckled coldly. And here he was, thinking about her as if she were a simple object, a luxury.
Oh I give up, he thought exasperatedly and collapsed into his bed, inviting the softness and comfort that was radiating from it. He'd have to talk to Layla some more…get her to confess what was bothering her so much… …But he could do nothing of it now…so why worry? He'd waste his energy worrying tomorrow… It'd be best if he got some sleep now… Soon enough, his breathing changed and he was fast asleep.
Seto found himself in a meadow…a beautiful meadow of grass and flowers… The wind was blowing softly. Here, he felt at peace…everything troubling left him.
Disturbing the silence of the wind, a sweet melody drifted across to him.
Seto cocked an eyebrow. The melody seemed to be drifting with the wind, meaning the person playing it must be in the direction the wind came from. He started walking in that direction, his curiousity taking over.
It took what seemed like hours…but the music gradually got louder, showing him that he was going in the right direction, right? The High Priest began doubting himself. Maybe it was just some magical enchantment that came from nowhere…but he pressed on.
Finally, when it seemed like the music was just a mere illusion, a figure came into his sight. …A girl…sitting on a rock. She was…she was playing a flute. She was dressed in pure white…a pure white dress. …She was glowing…she was radiant.
Becoming more intrigued, Seto walked forward to get a better view of this girl.
As the wind picked up, the underfolds of the dress tumbled out and her blond hair swayed with the wind.
Seto gasped, his voice caught in his throat. It was…it was Anippe! …But why? He shook this head. Now he knew this had to be a dream… Anippe worked in alliance with Marik! Why would she be appearing her as a…as a…
"Goddess" the wind whispered, finishing Seto's sentence.
Seto backed up, probably out of fear…though the mere thought was ridiculous. He wasn't afraid of anything! …Much less a girl that he could easily dispose of…
Suddenly, interrupting his thoughts, the music stopped and Anippe looked up at him with her crystal-blue eyes.
Seto backed up even more. Her stare was…riveting, as if keeping him in place. …He couldn't turn away… "Wh—what do you want from me?" he asked meekly, barely even to get those few words out.
Anippe clutched her flute firmly and looked down at the ground, as if contemplating something. Then she looked back at Seto and got up from the rock. She stood there for a few moments before advancing on him.
Seto backed up even more…and stumbled. He fell to the ground with thud. However, he expected it to be a hard landing…but it wasn't. The ground seemed to…catch his fall and…
Anippe had reached him and fear overwhelmed him, making him immobile. Her hard, cold blue eyes stared into his and she took his hand. She unclasped them, seemingly oblivious to how much they were shaking, and pushed something round, cold, hard, and smooth into his palm. She then reclasped them and then…darkness.
Seto woke up with a start, cold sweat trickling down his face. His breathing was hard. What exactly had happened? Why was Anippe a goddess? …Well, she wasn't necessarily a goddess, it just appeared to him as such… …It was quite possible she just appeared as a spirit, for they shone the same brilliance as she did but… …Did this mean that the Gods were telling him that she was destined to die? …And if she was shown in pure white…that meant she was an innocent…a fighter of good. …Where the Gods intending for them to kill an innocent person?
Questions swarmed in his head, making him very dizzy. Perhaps it was some type of trickery, an illusion, a powerful sorceror who cast a spell on him…heck, it could even be Anippe, though he doubted it, considering they had her locked up and she had nothing to use… Those shackles he bound her with were magic-resistant… She couldn't use magic with them on… So then…what was it?
Only then did he vaguely become aware that there was something clasped in his hand. He slowly opened his hand, his eyes bulging with astonishment, that…the item Anippe had given him was there… A simple blue stone, which seemed to glow, even in the dark…but there was something about it, something more to it… It seemed like there was…there was a dormant power lying within it, just waiting to be awoken…he could feel it, trembling in his bones, throbbing in his veins… He stared into the blue stone, realizing it wasn't just any shade of blue, but a light blue that was soothing to the soul and pleasing to the eye… It was a seemingly blue that was taken from the water…with the sun shining on its surface…
He shook his head. These illusions were going to drive him nuts after a while. He looked out the window… It was still nightime…the sun had not risen yet. He sighed. With the scare he just had…it's not like he was going to sleep any time soon… …That only left him to ponder at the item in his hand… What was it for? …Why had the gods granted him this item? Was he just a simple messenger, meant to pass it on to someone else? …Or was he something more?
Yami woke up on the hard floor of his bedroom chamber. His face was tear-stained. …He had been crying in his sleep… The pain he felt in his heart…it would never go away, would it?
He slowly got up. He had to stop acting like this. He was the High and Mighty Pharaoh, meant to protect his people from anything…and everything that came their way. …How could someone so brave…and so powerful…act like this? He looked in the mirror facing opposite of him and then quickly turned his face away in shame. How could he go on? He was blinded by love…and now he realized how weak and pitiful he was… He wasn't fit to be the Pharaoh…
He shook his head. He had to snap out of this. If he wasn't fit to be the Pharaoh…he could start redeeming himself now. There was no use crying about it…only to learn from his mistakes… He wiped the tears away from his eyes. He'd turn his heart to stone if he had to… He wouldn't let his people down…not again…not ever again…
Layla was deep in thought and walking at the same time…staring at the floor… She was walking to the dungeon… She just had to talk to Anippe… And…she wanted to confront Seto… She wanted so badly to have him on her side… But it had looked clear enough that he was thoroughly convinced and there was no talking him out of it…
"Halt!" a soldier cried out upon seeing Layla.
Layla looked up in amazement…surprise at the sudden disruption from her thoughts. She stared at the soldier for what seemed like ages until she came to her senses. There were two soldiers at the doorway… They must have been guarding the dungeon day and night… "Wh-why are you here?" she asked, being the first thing that came to her mind…though it was not a smart comment to make at all… She paled as she realized this mistake… She was a slave…she was not allowed to talk like that…with…anyone…
Both soldiers stared at her, obviously disgusted by such a bold statement. Then, one shifted slightly. "There's really no reason for you to know, slave," he began coldly but was obviously going to give Layla the information she wanted… "But the Pharaoh has ordered for the security to tighten in the dungeon as an effect of the recent events."
Layla paled. "H-he tightened security?" she squeaked, barely able to keep herself calm…
The other guard grunted. "Yeah, slave. Now, be on your way and don't bother us." He waved his hand at her, shooing her away. They had been kinder to her than most of the people higher than her…
Layla blushed and then bowed. "Y-yes master," she said quietly and left, realizing she was on dangerous ground.
She returned to her room and slammed the door behind her, breathing deeply, trying to control her heart rate and anxiety welling up inside of her… The Pharaoh had…actually tightened security…because of Anippe? …He'd made up his mind…he'd labeled Anippe as a traitor… …The hard truth hit upon her. She was helpless… She couldn't help Anippe…no matter how hard she tried… Tears brimmed her eyes. …How could the Pharaoh do such a thing?
Ishizu sighed. A sudden gloom had set over the palace. What it was, she did not know… All she knew that…this mustn't have been good. She closed her eyes. This gloom…she could not help…but believe she was the cause of it. Why had she not simply asked permission to see his brother?
…Because they wouldn't have let her… She already knew…and that is why she went without asking at all… Tears flowed down her cheeks. They tore her brother away from her…and wouldn't allow for her to see him… What did they expect she'd do?
She let out a shaky breath. She couldn't change what has past…so she might as well get over it… But the visions…the memories…the recollections of the recent events…she could not stay away from them… No…they would haunt her…haunt her until the end of time… Yami…Seto…they hated her now…and she couldn't do anything to stop it…she couldn't do anything to get back in their graces…
For a moment, suicide seemed like a very good idea to her… She had nothing to live for anymore anyway… But then she shook her head, trying to get rid of such thoughts… Even if she wanted to, she could not do that. She was the Pharaoh's High Priestess for heaven's sake… She couldn't do that. She just couldn't. What would the people think? How would they react? If she was just some random person out on the streets, no one would care…but being the High Priestess and committing suicide…had to send a certain message to the people, no doubt a bad one…
She sighed again…she'd been doing that a lot recently… Carefully, she got out of bed. As wobbly as she was…she needed to continue… She couldn't sit and rest in bed right now… She needed to sort this out as soon as possible…and hopefully that was soon…
She needed to decide who to talk to first…whether it be the High Priest or the Pharaoh she did not know… The Pharaoh was in a higher position…but he was kinder… The High Priest wasn't in a much higher position than herself but…his coldness was well known to the lands… She groaned. This predicament of hers…was out of control… She had no idea where it was supposed to lead…where her fate lied… She was the High Priestess! She wasn't supposed to be treated like this! She shook her head. But she didn't act like a High Priestess when she went to visit Marik, now did she? She scolded herself. And because of that one mistake…a vital one at that…it had cost her…everything she knew… The security of the High Priest and the Pharaoh by her side…the respect of the people in the palace…were all lost…gone with the wind…
As she grasped the table's edge to keep her from falling, a surpressed cry escaped her lips. That's precisely what she wanted to do… She wanted to be five again…where she could cry and cry until her mom made things better… But my mom isn't here now to help me, she thought bitterly. She left me here…to take care of myself…and I cannot even do that much. …How did she expect me take care of the people? Take care of all of Egypt? She needed her help…her guidance…the guidance of a loving mother who had known her so well… She couldn't do this on her own…
The Pharaoh no longer trusted her…his probably trusted Joey, Tristan, Duke, Mai, Serenity, and Tea, mere villagers who were very good friends with him, more than he trusted her. …They were such good friends that he brought them into the palace to live with him… And yet they now ranked above her!
Tea… Her mind lingered on that name… If anyone were to help…she would, right?
Crying…someone was crying… Seto groaned. Layla was crying…again. Maybe he should just let her out of this wretched palace…let her return to her family and be done with her! …Even though he loved her…he could not stand to see her like this…
He had just wanted to walk to her room to see how she was doing… He slammed his forehead against the wall. What had he done this time?
Layla gasped silently, stopping her tears when she heard a thud outside her wall. She wiped the tears away. She didn't want anyone to see her like this… She didn't want anyone to see her crying again… She clenched her teeth in anger at herself. She was always so…so…weak and useless. She couldn't do anything…she could never do anything… The palace life she lived in now had told her that…no…the life she now lived had proved that.
…And she thought she deserved to have the High Priest? The thought had hit on her like cold water. The High Priest was out of her league… If they got married…however they were going to do so…she would bring nothing but trouble and misery… He'd never be happy… And she wanted him to be happy so much… She wanted it so much that she was willing to give up her own happiness for it…
"Layla," Seto murmured disappointingly through the wall seperating the two. "Please stop crying…" he pleaded. For some reason, he couldn't act cold and desolate to Layla…not like to everyone else… He had fallen for her charm…her innocence…her ever-lasting faith that happiness would come… He'd fallen for it all… Her looks…her attitude…her cute little pout…had taken his breath away… She was so different…so simply amazing in her own little unique way…
He clenched his teeth. He couldn't stand this anymore! Having her live with him would only bring her misery… He suddenly had an image…a flashback…a memory…of when Layla had first been bought by him. He remembered how afraid she was, yet she had her own little spark of hope… He remembered how livid he was at Layla for ruining his potion chamber… He remembered how broken she was when he came to her after her punishment, with her head bowed down and tears running down her cheeks…
He let out an exasperated sigh. That's it…he'd made up his mind… "Layla…" he whispered through the wall. "I want to give you something… Can you come with me to the stables please?" he begged.
Layla slowly stood up. "S—seto?" she inquired nervously, unsure of where he was getting at. She sniffled softly and wiped the fresh tears away from her face.
"Layla," Seto cut off. "Just do this for me, please?" he pleaded, practically leaning on the wall as if he could just pass through it to talk to her…
Layla unlocked the door and ran into his arms, hugging him. She wanted his comfort…she needed his comfort…
"Come on," Seto said gruffly, hugging her for a moment before letting her go and walking to the stables.
Layla followed silently behind, still unsure of what exactly Seto had planned for her… He seemed more distant than usual…as if…something was troubling him…and troubling him dearly at that…
"Wait here," Seto's deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
Layla looked up. They had reached the stables…but time seemed to just fly by… She never thought it'd be so fast…
Seto looked at Layla worriedly, as if he was making some vital decision and wondering if it was right or not… Then he disappeared behind the clay walls, most likely off to tend to the horses…
Layla shifted uncomfortably. An awkward silence filled the air…and she couldn't help but feel an undeniable sense of foreboding…
Not much later, Seto came out slowly. His eyes were no longer focused on what was in front of him like usual…but rather the ground beside him as he continued to walk toward Layla. In his right hand were the reins to a milky chocolate-brown horse with a white spot on its forehead. His left hand was rested gently on its back to calm it down.
Layla's eyes grew wide, now filled with apprehension. "Seto…you're not thinking—"
"Layla…I want you to be happy," Seto said softly, interrupting her before she could get any farther. "What I wanted to give you…is the best thing that I think I can give you." He threw the reins over to Layla. "I'm giving you your freedom," he said, his voice cracking just slightly. Never would he thought he'd say those words…
Layla's eyes only grew wider. She was rooted to the ground, stricken with surprise…so stricken that she was completely speechless. The reins lay limply in her hand…
"Layla…I want you to get out of here," Seto said softly, looking away from her. "I want you to live a happy life…free of such miseries that I have put upon you since you stepped foot into the palace. Go back to your family… I'm sure they miss you…" His voice caught in his throat for a second but he forced himself to continue. "Leave Layla. It's for the better… That horse that you have now…it's well-bred and quite fast…but I especially picked it because…" he gulped down the lump in his throat and tears threatened to overwhelm him but he forced himself to proceed. "Nobody will notice it's gone…" he finished softly.
Layla opened her mouth to say something but nothing would come out. She could see tears glistening in the corners of Seto's eyes… "You want me to…leave?" she asked, the last word coming out in a croak. She couldn't believe this… She didn't want to leave him…not after what they'd been through together… But then she gritted her teeth, memories of that morning arising. She was a coward, weak and feeble, unable to defend herself. …She didn't deserve to have Seto… She gripped the reins tighter. "Okay," she complied quietly. "I…I guess your right," her voice came out shaky, her eyes holding back tears. "Just understand…that I'll miss you…" She let go of the reins and walked over to Seto. She pulled his chin toward her so that they were looking each other straight in the eyes. "And…that I love you…" Without a moment's hesitation, she kissed him sweetly and softly, wishing him the best of luck in his life...
As she pulled away, Seto gripped her tightly and reeled her back in, matching her kiss with a kiss of his own. A kiss in which he put all his passion for her in. He'd never get the chance to show her how much he loved her again… She was going…and this was the end…
They stood there, together, embracing each other for what seemed like hours on end. Neither wanted to part…neither wanted their time together to end…
Seto was the first to speak. He took in a shaky breath. "Y—you'd better get going," he suggested, parting from her reluctantly.
Layla nodded numbly. She took the reins again until another thought hit her. "Seto… It'll take a day at least to get to my family… I need food, water, and supplies for the trip…"
Seto sighed and combed his fingers through his hair. "I'll cast a spell on the horse to make it go faster until you reach your destination… But…I'll escort you out to the desert first, okay? I don't want anyone to suspect you're gone…"
Layla nodded. "Thank you," she whispered, hugging him tightly.
"Come on. Let's get going," Seto said softly, taking the reins from Layla and walking out of palace grounds…
"S—so I guess what I'm trying to say is…" she closed her eyes, unable to bear the truth. "I am hated by everyone…because I made some terrible mistake… Tea…please. Help me…advise me…critique me, I don't care! Just…" her voice got softer. "Save me from this monstrosity I have become and this predicament I have dug myself into…"
Tea bit her lower lip. She wasn't used to hearing Ishizu talk about herself in such a way… And she wasn't sure she could help. Her story was tragic, yes, but…she wasn't positive what exactly Ishizu could do about it to make the situation much better… "Ishizu," she said softly. "I…I don't know what to say…"
Ishizu practically burst into tears when this was said. If Tea couldn't help her, no one could… What was she to do?
"Priestess Ishizu…" Tea said kindly. "Pharaoh Yami, as well as the High Priest, have temper problems. It's one of their flaws, their weaknesses. It's something you have to live with. But, Ishizu, trust me, the anger they feel now, the flaming hot passion they have right now, will burn out in no time. You'll be back to your normal life. I'm afraid there's nothing you can do except to wait it out…"
Ishizu gulped down a sob, trying to think it through. Perhaps Tea was right… All fuses burn out sometime but… She shook her head. This fuse just seemed so big that it'd go on to the eternity of time. "T-thank you Tea," she managed to stutter before going. Tea had been no help at all…
"High Priestess Ishizu," Tea said softly. "Take care. It'll all blow over. You'll see."
Ishizu nodded numbly but didn't believe a word of that.
Alley Cat: I am aware that I put too many "..."s in my writing. More than one of my friends pointed that out. x.x;; But it was after I wrote this chapter and there's no chance that I'm going back and taking them all out. But I'm working on it and there shouldn't be that much in the next chapter...
Dark Conscience: What was with the dream?
Alley Cat: That's the part where I had no idea what I was doing, remember! It might hold some significance but I really, really doubt it. x.X;;
Dark Conscience: Geez, you're pathetic...
Alley Cat: I know. You needn't tell me that again and again. Anywayz, I wish to tell you all a little something.
Over the course in which I have written The Two Slaves, I have come to love all my reviewers and have learned so much in my time writing the story. My writing skill have improved so much and the gratitude I feel toward my reviewersis so much more than I can describe in words. I thank you all very dearly--for helping me with my writing, for helping me through life.
I regret to inform you, however, that I will not update for a period of time. I have decided to take a small break from writing, although I am sorry it took me so long to post this chapter since I wrote it about amonth ago. The point is: I'm going to take a vacation for at least a month or two, maybe more but five at the most. I don't wish to abandon you for such a long time. I'm sincerely sorry that you all must wait so long but I'm doing this to improve my writing and piece together what little thought I have for the oncoming chapters, though, I assure you, I will still be quite clueless on the happenings in the story, almost as clueless as the readers. So this 'sabbatical' that I'm taking is for a little rest for your favorite author. (Besides, finals are coming up.) You can at least grant me that much, can't you? Of course, I would still love to get reviews from all of you on what you thought of this chapter. The feedback is amazingly helpful and I assure you that my writing has much improved since I last wrote this chapter. I felt the month or two that you all gave me between this chapter and the last helped me so much. Thus, I feel that taking a long one may not be a bad idea. Is that okay with all of you?
I am also afraid that, while I'm gone, I do not believe I will read and review any of your fics that I have promised to read.
Darkforestchick, I realize you update super-fast and I am afraid I cannot catch up. But do not slow down your pace because of me. I do not wish for that to happen. I'll catch up in due time.
Kaiba's Slave, Harmful Crush is an awesome fic (way better than mine) and I am thoroughly happy to have you reviewing my fic. At some points, I feel you simply review mine just because I review yours and you say all those kind words merely so that I would not get angry with you. Please, I hope you don't find this offensive, but I just feel that I'm not worthy of so much praise, especially from such an amazing author like you. Then again, so many other people have praised this fic that I'm kinda surprised myself that I haven't given into this fact yet. Still, you ought to update more often but that's purely because I'm sure your reviewers are so anxious to see what's coming up next.
I promise you two that I will try to get to your fics as soon as possible. Who knows? Maybe I may return to reading sooner than I expected. It will probably depend on my mood, but don't expect me to update any time soon. Therefore, if I don't, you won't be disappointed and, if I do, you'll be surprised and happy. See? Yes, my logic is warped. How did I know what you were thinking? I'm psychic.
Now then, I wish you all ado for now and remember than reviews are most welcome. Who knows? Perhaps the more reviews I get, the sooner I'll get back into continuing this fic! But, rest assured, The Two Slaveswill go on. I'm not abandoning you all now when we have come so far. I'm simply taking a break and that is all. I'm not dropping the fic nor am I trying to get away from you all. I just feel a need a small rest.
Now, get press the button that says "Submit Review" and tell me what you truly, truly thought about this chapter/fic. Any feedback of any sort is good as long as I find it reasonable. I'm sure that I will benefit much from it. Once again, I thank you all. Until next time...
Alley Cat